In many ways, The Weeping Swan is a much more polished game than its predecessor, and nowhere is this more evident than in the translation. The Hungry Lamb was littered with issues stemming from a rough, amateurish translation. Words were misspelled, sentences were confused, and occasionally the game became downright incomprehensible. There are still occasional flubs, but they are much more minor and less frequent than the issues with The Hungry Lamb, with most of the grammatical issues being related to using the wrong tense of a verb (a quirk of English that is notoriously difficult for Chinese speakers to get the hang of). However, the improved translation seems to have come at the cost of some technical issues. I ran into several instances where the game would repeat passages and seemingly get text out of order. Presumably, this isn't an issue if you're playing the game in Chinese, where there was greater editorial control, but for English speakers, this will prove to be an occasional issue.

Despite the occasional camera hiccup, I found myself completely glued to the screen. There is something immensely satisfying about cracking the code of a complex level and watching your fleet of cars roll perfectly into the exit. Rollick N' Roll is the definition of "easy to pick up, hard to put down". It is a delightful indie gem that captures the magic of childhood play and seasons it with a healthy dose of modern challenge and bite size levels that ensure that it is an ideal Steam Deck game for your morning commute.

Caromble! is a high-octane, polished evolution of a classic genre. While its insistence on mouse controls might alienate those looking for a casual couch experience on the Steam Deck, the precision it affords is necessary for the complex, puzzle-oriented levels found in the later game. If you're looking for a game that respects the history of Arkanoid while pushing the physics and level design into the modern era, Caromble! is an essential addition to your library. Just remember: avoid the red power-ups, and keep your mouse hand steady.

It's a horror game that isn't scary, an adventure game that isn't exciting, and a narrative-driven game that feels more like a glorified tech demo. There's nothing bad to be found here, but nothing worth writing home over either.

In all Crimson Desert is a fun experience, with engaging combat, a gigantic world to explore, and a ton of side activities that can keep a player playing for hours and hours on end. There are some issues like long loading times, janky camera angles, and a story that struggles to get its footing. If a gamer enjoys Action RPGs, then Crimson Desert very well might be on the list of games to check out, ready to pour ages into exploring, fighting, and finding things to do.

Project Songbird gives up a must-see story, for anyone who wants to understand the negatives of the creative process, or who can relate, with or without Dakota's level of tangible fame. Just because the game initiates a dialogue about creating against expectations doesn't mean it needs to be given credit for doing so when the end result just simply doesn't work, though. Both the actual combat and the stealth options lack satisfaction, and look much worse in contrast to the rest. In hindsight, while the ambition was clearly there, the stripped back version would have been better, and still would have had enough for a complete experience.

Screamer is a compelling purchase for any racing fan looking to trade technical simulations for pure, stylish speed. Its unique twin-stick drifting mechanics offer a refreshing challenge for those tired of standard controls, while the sheer variety provided by the 32 tracks and character-specific abilities keeps the gameplay from feeling repetitive. With its vibrant cyberpunk aesthetic, a pulse-pounding electronic rock soundtrack, and a wealth of game modes that cater to both solo and social players, it delivers a high-value package that captures the best of the arcade racing spirit.

I hate to say it because there is a good deal of potential in the The Saint, and its obvious that the solo developer has put a great deal of effort into it's spooky atmosphere, but it is not worth playing in its current state.

Ready or Not: Boiling Point is a blast to experience. While there are a few minor gameplay complaints to be had, this newest paid expansion makes a strong comeback for the game compared to its predecessor. Priced at only $9.99, Boiling Point offers pretty good value for both new and existing players. Hopefully the next DLC meets, and hopefully even surpasses, the standard set here by Boiling Point.

Visually, the game opts for personality over photo-realism. It features a bright, colorful, almost cartoon-like aesthetic. The cars themselves have a distinct Micro Machines vibe—slightly stylized, chunky, and full of character. This art style complements the "arcade" feel perfectly, making the whole experience feel like a celebratory toy-box version of professional racing rather than a grey, clinical simulation. iRacing Arcade succeeds because it understands that you don't need to be a mechanic to love racing. It captures the thrill of the chase and the strategy of the pit lane while keeping the barrier to entry low. It is accessible, vibrant, and surprisingly deep where it counts. If you love the idea of the Grand Prix but find "sim-racers" too cold and complex, this is the driver's seat you’ve been looking for.

While it may not win any awards in my book, Monster Hunter Stories 3 is a fun way to pass time, and a great game for newcomers to the JRPG genre. The turn based combat mechanics are solid, and there is a lot to unlock. The story and characters are fun to watch and exploring the environments is never boring. Here’s hoping that Capcom can refine this formula, and truly bring their A game with the next instalment.

Despite its flaws, or perhaps in part because of them, Bladesong is a remarkably charming game. Having put in over a dozen hours, there's still more to discover, more to unlock. Bladesong is definitely not a game that will appeal to everyone, but for those that enjoy a bit of challenge in an otherwise cozy sim game, it definitely has its appeal. [Early Access Score = 80]

Overall, Resident Evil Requiem is one of the series’ best outings in recent years. Delivering on the action and scares, the game shows what makes the franchise so special. It can fall into the trap of fan service, but never falters much in what it sets out to do. Yes, it’s February and, yes, it is cliché, but Requiem is already one of 2026’s best and an experience that fans and newcomers won’t be able to get enough of.

Reigns: The Witcher is a perfect marriage of IP and indie mechanics. By evolving the objective system into the deeper Inspirations mechanic, Nerial has ensured that every "Game Over" feels like a step forward rather than a step back.

Kotama and Academy Citadel is a solid entry into a very crowded genre that struggles to distinguish itself from its numerous peers. It does have above-average combat and tons of sexy anime girls, but really if you have played a Metroidvania in the past few years, this will feel pretty familiar. It's an enjoyable enough way to pass 20 hours if you have an itch for the genre, but if you're expecting the next Hollow Knight or Super Metroid, you're going to come away disappointed.

Romeo is a Dead Man has so much to offer and introducing some of those genre-splicing mechanics had me grinning ear to ear. Unfortunately, I think the one area where Romeo is a Dead Man stumbles is in the core combat gameplay loop, which you'll be engaging with every mission. I feel if it forwent the hack and slash elements and took on a more strategic style it would've been a lot more enjoyable, and there were several boss fights that I found quite obnoxious and mechanically frustrating. However, do not let the combat dull this blade too much, I am still so impressed with this level of creativity and ingenuity, and I found everything else to be such a joy. The world would be a boring place without Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufacture.

While it's nice to have this story accessible for newcomers, the reality is that the original Yakuza 3 was never the series' high point. Kiwami 3 fails to elevate the source material, instead hampering the experience with unfinished-looking cutscenes and a bizarre "chrome" aesthetic. With the original Yakuza 3 delisted from many digital storefronts, your only alternative is the Yakuza Remastered Collection. Given the high price point of that bundle and the lacklustre quality of this remake, there is very little reason to recommend Kiwami 3 as a standalone purchase.

Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined is full of everything that fans have adored about the Dragon Quest series since its inception in 1986, from the absolutely iconic intro theme to the charming character design, the easy to get a feel of turn based combat, the witty writing, and the compelling story that runs the full gambit of emotions. The cut content is a shame, but what is there is definitely a delight. For anyone that loves JRPGs, this is an easy pickup as you venture into a world and bring it back from the brink.

If you want an anime souls-like, I think you would be far better served by checking on AI Limit. If you want an open-world souls-like, Elden Ring is far stronger than what's on offer here. I can only recommend Code Vein 2 if you are looking specifically for an open world anime souls-like. Even then, I'd suggest you wait for a sale because $70 is way too much for such an unremarkable game.

All's Justice overall is a solid fighting game with a wide cast and combat that feels rewarding to try and figure out. There are some issues like the scale feeling smaller than intended in the original adaptations, or the presentation being a bit inconsistent, but fans of the My Hero Academia franchise will definitely be excited to both reexperience the events of the Final War and make use of the large array of characters, including several that were not in previous My Hero Academia fighting games.

Nioh 3 does it all. And just when you think it has finished doing things, it does some more. Frequently the combat feels akin to a fighting game, the loot and systems surrounding it are reminiscent of true ARPGs, and, of course, it's a soulslike at its core. Yet even as it is doing the most, it takes great pains to ensure the player has all the information they need. While the open-world formula is a little clunky in execution, it remains strong in so many other areas, so it overshadows those shortcomings quite a bit. And the game wraps all of its systems and mechanics in beautiful recreations of historic Japan that are both visually and audibly enjoyable. It's time for Nioh to come out from under the games that inspired it in the first place, and Nioh 3 is proof of that. It's a combat delight through its worlds, with two fighting styles seamlessly blended together, even as it offers a nearly endless stream of challenges and expectations.

Adaptory is a brilliant, polished simulation that replaces the stress of combat with the stress of logistics and empathy. It's a game that rewards players who pay attention to the small details — like whether or not their employees can inhale. If you want a game that lets you build, thrive, and occasionally feel like a total monster for neglecting your crew's basic biological needs, this is it. It's charming, it's deep, and it's a masterclass in "unintended consequences." [Early Access Score = 74]

Overall, Pathologic 3 is a thoughtful, stressful, exciting, and depressing adventure that is well worth playing through, though it's probably not one I'll want to revisit again in the future. That's not really a bad thing, though. The beauty really is in the journey here, not the destination. Though some mechanics can feel a bit too unforgiving or tedious, they're at least all interesting.

The verdict as far as Ancient Farm is concerned is that the game atmosphere is definitely a desert and Egyptian theme setting. It contains very nice looking graphics which aren't HD in nature but they are sufficient because it sets a nice casual gaming atmosphere. Game play seems to be rather scripted in a step by step manner which isn't a problem in this category of computer gaming. The over all environment can be a bit static in nature and you pick up sticks and stones, chop down trees with the ax and use the pick ax to smash big rocks which provides more of each, but the environment over all is just nice to look at. With all of that said, Ancient Farm does accomplish what it set out to do and that is to provide an enjoyable resource gathering and crafting gaming experience in a historic farming kind of ancient way!

The Director's Cut of Conscript is more than just a historical curiosity; it is a mechanical triumph. By stripping away the supernatural and focusing on the very real horrors of 1916, Jordan Mochi has created a survival horror game that feels more grounded and terrifying than many of its peers. With its focus on inventory management, tactical combat, and a hauntingly beautiful presentation, it is a game that respects the player's intelligence and rewards their grit. If you missed it the first time around, there is no longer any excuse to stay out of the trenches. This is a definitive survival horror experience.

If Hank: Drowning On Dry Land is meant to serve as a (second) proof of concept for this character and game mechanics, it does so pretty well without actually being hamstrung by that fact. It presents a self-contained story with enough information on our characters' backstories and avoids something like a hard cliffhanger that would drag the entire thing down. It may be short, but it also feels like that's part of the design, and that doesn't take away from the things it does accomplish. At the same time I can see a world where a player stumbles into the intended path and ends up completing it in a fraction of the time I did, and without the desire to view the option paths and elements that would naturally feel a little rushed. I don't hold it against it too much, but it's clear to me that the foundation is solid, so wanting an expansion of this world is expected, and likely by design.

Ultimately, the lack of single-player content, such as the boss fights and time challenges found in Transformed, leaves the experience feeling hollow. I don't know what critics are thinking calling this superior to Mario Kart World. At this stage, even Kirby Air Raiders is a better time than this middling pile of mediocrity.

If you can overlook the inherently frustrating endings, Tiny Bunny is a masterwork of coming-of-age horror. I cannot recommend this game highly enough.