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.

Project Motor Racing is a visually stunning title with a lot of potential for hardcore simulation fans who love to tweak gear ratios and suspension settings. However, for the more casual racer or controller user, the experience is marred by uneven difficulty, frustrating AI behavior, and a penalty system that feels unjust. It's a beautiful ride, but one that might leave you spinning your wheels.

With fun characters and an incredibly fun gameplay loop with a good amount of variety and unlockables sprinkled in, I can see Clawpunk being a fun time for lovers of both classic and contemporary titles.

Skate Story isn't particularly difficult or demanding of skill, and that works in its favour. Rather than worrying about completing board rotations in time to get the wheels on the ground, the focus is on the path ahead in a way that feels like our demon skater was something of an expert in their past life. This helps make the animations look tight, the gameplay flows through levels, and the initially-scary timing mechanic becomes second-nature. At a certain point the feel of those trick patterns overtakes the visuals, but even without hitting the sweet spot you're still skating like the best of them. I just wanted more to do with all of it. The existing levels are great, but without the ability to play any one of them on-demand it means sitting through dialogue that goes a tiny bit slower than I would like, pushing and Ollie-ing tutorials, and all the other first-timer experiences again and again. But still I do it. Perhaps as I go through more of the story will continue to break through the obscurity it's baked in, and maybe I'll find those missing collectables, but all of that is supplemental, because Skate Story's unique approach to skateboarding feels, looks, and sounds great.

Although I loved the absurdism and the art, it did lose its charm after a while because EVERYTHING was absurd, and so I found my absurdist baseline shifted while playing.

Dispatch isn't a perfect game, but it's about as perfect a game for me as I've played. AdHoc has crafted a wonderful superhero world that I hope to revisit, but more than that, they've created a remarkable cast of characters filled with nuance, growth, humour, tragedy, and everything else that you want to see in great stories. I cheered. I cried (on the inside). I laughed. What more can I ask for? As a good experience should, I've been left wanting more, and I'll be the first in line to pick up whatever this studio does next - Dispatch or otherwise.

This game is a brilliant callback to the era of beat 'em ups, and should be on the radar of any fan of the era or the Marvel Universe.

Voidtrain offers an incredibly satisfying gameplay loop, rich progression systems, a compelling art style, and a story that, while far from sophisticated is intriguing enough to keep you invested from beginning to end. In many ways, Voidtrain is the quintessential AA game, and players interested in a more casual approach to survival gaming should definitely take the time to step into the void.

Whether you're a long time Tales Of fan or just a fan of RPGs in general, Tales of Xillia Remastered promises to engage its players in music, story, characters, and a combat system that takes a bit of getting used to but is very satisfying to pull off as you weave multiple Artes into each other - it very much feels like learning fighting game combos once you adapt to them. Tales of Xillia Remastered comes very recommended.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a resounding success. It maintains the dizzying complexity Anno fans crave but packages it within an elegantly streamlined system and a truly mesmerizing aesthetic. The economic juggling act between class needs and production chains is deeply rewarding, and the management of trade routes is an engrossing sub-game in itself. For players seeking a sophisticated, visually stunning simulation that demands strategic patience and logistical prowess, your new empire awaits.

Had it been an early access title, House Fighters: Total Mess might be able to excuse some of its more obvious technical issues and lack of gameplay refinements. However, for something presented to the public as a finished product, House Fighters: Total Mess is anything but. From all appearances, its developer seems to be quite active in responding to community concerns via Steam's discussions forum. It is quite feasible that, in a matter of just a few months, this game might be almost unrecognizable compared to its present state. One can only hope...

Wreckreation wears its influence in its presentation, mechanics, and throughout many other aspects of the gameplay. It retains some of the bad aspects, sticks a bit too close to some of the good, and is missing maybe a little of both, all at the same time. Ultimately, the act of driving and crashing feels pretty good, but the awkward fast-travel and menus, which feel close to carbon copies, are in dire need of modernization. While the large map has enough variety for a bunch of open, mountainous spaces, the lack of a dense city feels like a step backwards in just about every way, and gives the entire world a more empty feeling. There are plenty of tools at each player's disposal to create tracks and events, but relying on a social experience focused directly on friends means that larger scale multiplayer is hamstrung before it has a chance. If Wreckreation has the opportunity to grow, the foundation is solid, but if it can't or won't, it risks feeling like a knock-off of its primary predecessor to some, and simply an awkward experience to others.

I was prepared to give the game a pass at the rough animation and frequently dodgy art direction. That was until I beat the game, and a lovely ending cinematic played that could boast some excellent animation and disturbing visuals that were not present in the game. Where was that the entire game!?

With each successful run taking no longer than twenty minutes, Ball x Pit is perfectly paced. It's ideal for a quick session, making it a dream pairing for a handheld device like the SteamDeck, ready to consume your daily commute. But be warned: the loop is so tight and the rewards so constant that Ball x Pit will inevitably consume far more than just your travel time. It's an exceptionally polished game that understands the fundamental mechanics of player compulsion, delivering a roguelike experience that you simply won't want to put down.

I certainly enjoyed my train ride but I really can't speak to how much better the graphics in game are compared to previous game versions but I can say that the in game environment looked very good to my eyes. It is reported that an older Unreal Graphics Engine 4 was used instead of the much improved Unreal Engine 5; however, my old(er) eyes took great pleasure in what they were viewing as I drove my train along some visually pleasing locations. Over all I would have to say that the new Train Sim World 6 game is a worthwhile purchase for the new and experienced Train driving enthusiast!

Reaching a singular verdict among the HG team is like getting a group of dogs to share a single bone. However, all of us involved conceded that in regards to the game's visuals, destructive environments, and optimization, Battlefield 6 excels all expectations. However, its mediocre story campaign, its bizarre attempt to clog up maps to favor close-range combat while simultaneously awkwardly trying to keep vehicles marginally viable, and its disappointing new multiplayer modes all detract from the experience. We cautiously recommend Battlefield 6 to casual fans, but more fervent diehards might want to think twice, because this may not necessarily be the Battlefield for you...

In Enter the Gungeon, each run felt distinct because you would find different weapons from the game's huge arsenal. In Out of Time, however, your abilities are locked to the gear you bring with you before heading into each mission, so there is no real room to be surprised on each run. That said, there is some fun to be had customizing your equipment and build in between runs. However, even here, it feels like you need to invest a tremendous amount of time into grinding to get better equipment. Ultimately, the game just feels boring and repetitive, and while there's some fun to be had playing it with a group of buddies, you would probably be better off with a more engaging co-op game.

Baby Steps succeeds at everything it tries to do, and does so with very few blemishes. Foddy, Cuzzillo, and Boch were able to expand upon previous games like QWOP by bringing the subtext forward, creating an intriguing world, and giving us a flawed character that is more relatable the further into his journey you get. It's not easy, but the rules are made clear, so tackling and overcoming these challenges results in pure joy from beginning to end. It may end up being a footnote in the "walking simulator" and "puzzle platformer" genres, but I'll never think about walking the same way again.

As a longtime Killing Floor fan, I was beyond excited at the initial announcement of a new entry. I was more than happy to speak briefly with Tripwire developers at PAX East about what they were most excited for with this newest release. Even with a rough start during the public testing period, the developers' commitment to transparency was laudable, and helped reaffirm the much-needed goodwill. However, the final product simply does not meet either the ideal or minimal standards expected of a Killing Floor game. While this may change over the coming months and years, it is difficult, if not impossible, to recommend this game as it currently stands.