If it has been a while since you have visited Tamriel, then Blackwood is definitely a great place to jump back into The Elder Scrolls Online. There will be a familiarity to the game, as the new features of Companions and Oblivion Portal do not add too much to the game. Whereby the Greymoor expansion added Antiquities, Blackwood simply offers a friend to journey by your side. But in saying that, these companions are a welcome addition to the online RPG – allowing those singleplayer types to enjoy a pseudo multiplayer experience.

In a world where Doom Eternal is regularly on sale for $20, I can’t recommend paying twice that to play an inferior knock-off, even if it is fun with great environmental design. It might be worth picking up right away if you’re a Warhammer 40K fanatic or desperate for more Doom Eternal style action, otherwise wait for a sale, a bundle, or a price cut.

Sumire is a short, straightforward game that knows what it wants to do and doesn’t weigh itself down with fluff or filler. While those looking for more involved or complicated gameplay mechanics will want to look elsewhere, Sumire rewards those interested in a more relaxed experience with an emotional, well-written game that’s not afraid to approach emotionally mature subject matter.

Like many of my piratical favourites, King of Seas doesn’t take itself too seriously, and as a result makes it a fun game for casual players. My main gripe is that the side quests aren’t varied enough and do get a touch monotonous. Unfortunately, they are the quickest way to gaining experience when grinding through the levels is required. But that said, sailing across the map is a relaxing experience, with King of Seas allowing would-be-pirates to play the game their own way. Simple controls, and fun story, and enjoyable gameplay mean that it is a game for all wannabe swashbucklers.

Is this newest version of Pro Cycling Manager worth the price of admission? If you haven't experienced Pro Cycling Manager before, or if it has been awhile between laps, or indeed you just want a cycling game with all of the enhancements - then yes, it is worth putting some of your hard-earned dollars down. Previous Pro Cycling Manager titles have been highly mod-able games, and that hasn't change with this iteration. Pro Cycling Manager 2021 could be regarded as a niche title, but there is quite a large fan base for cycling and cycling titles. The large amount of fan created content such as custom team kit, races and so much more says that portraying bike racing in a game can be and is exciting.

All in all SMT III is a tricky game to review, particularly without comparing it to the Persona series that gamers may be more acquainted with, especially on Steam. The concepts and designs of demons are very clearly the same, but the combat and story play out in such different ways, not even including the lack of the social sim portion that Persona is known for. If you’re a fan of JRPGS or played SMT III on the PS2, then this reviewer recommends looking into the dark story of the Demifiend and what becomes of the world around him.

All in all this remaster is a fresh coat of polish on an already solid foundation, improving the visual and aural quality of the games (Most notably the original Mass Effect) as well as adding multiple quality of life changes and improvements that make certain that Mass Effect Legendary Edition will have fans new and old ready to hunt down Saren, travel past the Omega-4 Relay, and take Earth back, some all over again, and some for the very first time.

Ashwalkers has it’s issues with pacing during some of its more severely-weathered environments, but, even so, it stands as an immensely moody survival-lite game that tells its story of desperation, loneliness, and even hope surprisingly well.

In all Say No! More is a simple but powerful message in a simple but powerful style, that play to the strengths of Studio Fizbin and despite the meaning behind everything, the game knows not to take itself too seriously despite itself, allowing for a short but very well meaning experience that isn’t about never saying yes, or always saying no, but having the courage to just Say No! More.

Individually, each of the three games does just enough to make them playable for all, but enjoyable for those looking for a deeper experience. There is not the same level of depth as you would get of you bought the latest FIFA iteration, the latest version of AO Tennis, or Spike Volleyball, but each do an admirable job. The controls are simple to learn, visuals have a cheerful nature to them, and each of the three sports adds something different for gamers to play. And with each of the games having a local multiplayer option, there is always the choice to have friends over for a casual sports game party.

I Saw Black Clouds gets credit from me for attempting to tackle serious subject matter in an interesting way, but the execution just doesn’t rise to meet the ideas. I have some issues with the way the narrative plays out towards the end, but the more damning issues are technical ones. When the game does hit its stride, it’s still undermined by poor flow and scene stitching, which stayed as consistent issues from start to finish. There aren’t a ton of FMV games out there, so I still think you’ll enjoy your time here if you’ve already run through the other heavy hitters in the genre enough times, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that there’s a lot more potential here than actually comes to fruition.

You may be wondering if the kingdom that is now called Ellaria was restored? Well, you will have to play yourself to find out. Is LOE a worthwhile endeavor? Yes, I think it is but there are a few detractors which I think the developers will iron out eventually in future updates and versions. My thoughts about Ellaria are that the game has a whole lot of potential but it needs to concentrate on just one genre.

Dr. Who: The Lonely Assassins is an enjoyable game that different people are likely to enjoy for different reasons based on their previous experience with the Dr. Who tv series. Those who don't know much will likely find the mystery more engaging than I did, and those who have seen more of the show than me are likely to find more pleasure in easter eggs and returning characters. While I found myself a bit in the gray-area middle, knowledgeable enough to make the mystery fairly obvious but not knowledgeable enough to appreciate the references, I still enjoyed the game for its relatively tight storytelling, good pacing, and slick UI.

In all Totally Reliable Delivery Service is a huge open world that emphasizes teamwork and quick movement, and whilst the world is empty at first, as gamers play it fills up with more vehicles and missions to interact with, encouraging exploration so that players can figure out how they want to spend their resources, and if they even want to attempt the deliveries rather than just explore.

TOHU isn’t the best point-and-click out there. The confusing story and tedious puzzle solving leave a lot to be desired. Point-and-click adventure games of this style live in a weird place today. This one seems to take inspiration from Humongous Games’ portfolio and it is just too hard to live up to the nostalgia of playing games like Pajama Sam as a child. The art and interactions in that game are unforgettable and the story was fun and educational. TOHU starts going down this path and succeeds in some of that world building and light-hearted story telling, but it barely even scratches the surface compared to what already exists.

There is much more to praise this game for: the complexity of it’s deckbuilding and tile placements and how these can be a test of knowledge to maximise their potential; the superb blend of gameplay mechanics intertwined with the theme of entropy and destruction as well as the open-design methodology towards accessibility with a series of optional aids. But to talk about these more would be a disservice to the rewarding experience of discovering these mechanics for yourself, so here’s where I’ll leave it...I can think of no higher praise than to admit that even as I write this review, I have Loop Hero playing in the background. My adventurer, step by step, ticking away at his sisyphean struggle to restore the world.

Room to Grow provides for some wonderfully creative puzzles that will take some time to move through and is well worth it for puzzle fans.

In all Freakpocalypse is a point and click adventure filled with shenanigans that captures the dark, twisted soul of Cyanide and Happiness impressively. It breathes life into the genre once again through its satire tinted lens on the world. If any gamers love humour that ranges from dark to gross with everything in between, then Freakpocalypse is poised to deliver.

It’s hard to come up with many serious complaints about Polytopia. Would more game modes be nice? Would I like a few more units? Would I have appreciated more diversity between civilizations? Well...maybe. Part of the game’s charm is its simplicity. The game doesn’t pretend to be something more complicated than it is, and adding much more would start to push the game too far in the awkward space between casual and hardcore. Polytopia probably isn’t going to be your next Civilization or Stellaris, but if you’re looking for something a bit more laid back, there’s a lot here to enjoy.

In all Persona 5 Strikers is a fantastic game that is clearly made with heart, and isn’t just a reskin of the Dynasty Warriors series with Persona characters. This reviewer would look at other examples of this genre shift such as Hyrule Warriors or Fire Emblem Warriors and say that Persona 5 Strikers definitely went above and beyond to tell a Persona story with a fantastic blend of JRPG and Muso game styles that suits it, if not perfectly, pretty close!

Curious Expedition 2 suffers from some of the same frustrations that plague all games with any level of procedural generation, but, overall, it’s a fun romp filled with adventure and mystery. The structured story missions that frame the side quests provide a much-welcomed story to the game, and the myriad of characters, items, and gameplay options kept each mission fresh. Much like the mysterious islands you’ll explore and conquer, Curious Expedition 2 is worth checking out.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse- Earthblood may not be a game that’s going to gain widespread acclaim, but for fans of the World of Darkness franchise it’s great to finally have an outing that dives into the more wild side of things. If Werewolf: The Apocalypse is able to find its footing with Earthblood, then things can only go up from here. The old-school beat-em-up feel of the combat encounters steals the show, proving once again that some things don’t go out of style.

In all, Sword of the Necromancer is a fun roguelite with a heartfelt story. The usage of the titular blade adds a whole new layer to the roguelite genre, in that gamers will need to strategize about what enemies to take out first in order to have them fight on their side. If the genre interests you but you need a good story to feel at all invested, then this game is for you.

Nioh 2 isn’t a game for everyone. It requires real dedication to learn to an even functional level, and it’s not a game that lends itself to quick pop-in sessions or returning to after playing something else for a while. But, like a coconut or your really introverted friend, there’s beauty to be found beneath the hard exterior. Team Ninja has made a fantastic addition to the still-young souls-like genre, and I’m incredibly happy that the experience is no longer limited to the PlayStation consoles.

In all, Bonkies is a very entertaining game to play even by yourself, but it is clearly meant to be a delight enjoyed among a group of up to four friends. With careful maneuvering gamers can accomplish great feats of construction worthy of bananas (and added characters, if every banana on a planet is earned by getting a good time), or alternatively a cheeky player could cause all that hard work to come tumbling down. This reviewer will even admit to a certain satisfaction in finding comical interactions even in single player, so co-op is sure to be quite the treat as well!

If you are willing to spend countless hours to get into this game, I truly think you will enjoy it. Partially because you are probably the type of person the game is aimed at, but also because Amazing Cultivation Simulator offers a unique perspective on simulators as a whole. But tread carefully. The leap of faith you have to take to get into Amazing Cultivation Simulator is a big one, and it was one I couldn’t muster.

Shakes on a Plane is still enjoyable to play in single-player, but will be enjoyed more with a group of three or four. Working as a team and gaining the maximum three stars on each flight is highly rewarding. The simple controls, cute visuals, and upbeat music (that gets faster as the flight ends) make it a game that can be enjoyed by a family or with a group of friends together on the couch. The levels are varied enough – via the meals, seating arrangements and mission types – to keep the game fresh as gamers progress through the flights. And while we’re all in various forms of coronavirus lockdowns, this may be as close to air travel as we’ll get for the time being.

I’ve certainly had my share of fun and amazement soaking up what bits of Night City’s world that I could in my 80 hour playthrough, but nevertheless with a bad taste in the mouth when so many glitches and inconsistencies pulled me out of its overall experience.