Overall, Skydance's Behemoth holds a great concept and when it is running properly, it is a blast to play. Unfortunately, I do not recommend this game in its current state as you will quickly become frustrated at the bugs littered within this game. However, when they are inevitably fixed, this game will surely live up to its initial potential.

Metro Awakening is one of the best VR experiences I've had so far, and may even be my Game Of The Year. If you are willing to get scared a few times, I could not recommend this game more to you. If It wasn't for the lack of a knife, I think this would have been a 10/10, but because of this, I avoided experiencing a majority of the stealth options. I hope Vertigo Games keeps up with this momentum because they are one of the best in the business so far.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a love letter to the original trilogy. The game portrays the famed archeologist in the same way that the earlier three movies did - as an inquisitive treasure hunter who is often butting heads (both figuratively and literally) with the Nazis. The trademark Indiana Jones ingenuity is prevalent, whether it is using his trusty whip to get from one ledge to another, or using scattered objects to distract or incapacitate those that stand in his way. Most of the puzzles provide a challenge and the upgrade system requiring Adventure Points to open up the skill books encourages players to explore further. The homage to the movies goes even further with the iconic red line moving across the sepia world map indicating the flight pattern as he travels from one location to the next along with the signature score from John Williams. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is the sequel to the movies that fans of the original trilogy wanted.

Somehow Treyarch surprised us, and when we all thought we had seen everything Call of Duty had to offer, they brought us something new and exciting, yet familiar. I hope the other studios in the franchise follow their lead and innovate as much as we've been shown here. Forgive me for being a cliché for a moment, but this is the best Call of Duty in a long time, and I'm excited for what Treyarch does next.

The stealth in general is quite shallow and it could be greatly improved if the people you possessed panicked and caused a scene allowing you to sneak past guards in a new body. As it stands it's just tedious and dull. That said, gripes aside there is more than enough in Slitterhead to warrant a recommendation, even at a (frankly ridiculous) price of $50.

Threshold is more than just disparate cool ideas, it's the culmination of them. It has enough interactivity to allow the player to inhabit the world and experience a story obtuse enough to allow you to insert your own pieces. The graphics and audio design play an early and constant role in introducing you to the more sinister parts of your new mundane job. It all combines to make something that, despite its flaws, is worth at least one play-through, and probably cult classic status in this niche genre.

Kill Knight is a challenging but rewarding twin-stick shooter that will appeal to fans of the genre. While its steep learning curve and unforgiving difficulty may deter or frustrate some players, those who persevere will be rewarded with an intense and satisfying experience. And although the gameplay can be somewhat repetitious, particularly when you’re still getting the hang of all the button combos, mastering the movements and watching mayhem unfold is a pure joy.

I'm thrilled that Kong: Survivor Instinct exists because the Monsterverse - and the Godzilla and Kong IPs overall, deserve more representation in the medium. This game isn't the slam dunk that I'm looking for, but it's a perfectly reasonable way for fans of the characters to spend some time in their world. While the puzzles and exploration gameplay aren't anything to write home about, they're perfectly serviceable, and a lackluster story and some flat voice acting only moderately detract from the beautiful art direction and overall environmental design. Potential players with no inherent interest in Kong or the Titans may not find that to be enough, but this is still a fun entry in what is hopefully a long line of more kaiju games to come.

Folks, Farming Simulator 25 is a massive game with this version being even more extensive than it's predecessors. All of the vehicles and attachment tools carry their real world brand names, so Giant Software has all of the aspects of a very good farm simulator game lined up perfectly. Even though the worker AI could be improved upon, it works fine. The environment is interactive and it contains various weather situations like rain in the summer and snow in the winter. In addition to that, fog can often times be present at night and especially in the early mornings so be careful driving on the narrow and curvy country farm roads. Luckily, I haven't see my crops being blown away by a tornado yet, but as one of the new features to the game this year, but I'll certainly be aware of them when I plant my next crop.

420BLAZEIT 2 offers a fun, nostalgic experience but is only for some. If you are into calm and storytelling games, this may not for you, but if you have an open mind and quite a few brain cells you are willing to lose, there is heaps of fun to be had here. When I first saw the game I thought it was going to be one of those low-effort money grabs, but there was genuine effort that was put into making this game polished and exciting for the player. 420BLAZEIT 2 can be replayed, but for the majority of players once will be enough, but that single experience is well worth the smaller price tag.

All told, Veilguard is an enjoyable RPG with rich character customization and striking visuals, especially within the cyberpunk-inspired Minrathous. The freedom to shape Rook's backstory and outlook is a welcome touch, yet it is offset by the reduction in meaningful choices and the series signature moral complexity. While Veilguard might not capture the epic scope of Origins or the tightly woven, character driven narrative of Dragon Age II, it is a solid entry that hints at a new direction. If future Dragon Age titles can re-embrace the far-reaching choices and branching narratives that once made the series iconic, they may yet recapture the magic of Thedas. For now, Veilguard is a promising — if somewhat pared down — addition to the Dragon Age legacy, and fans of the series may find it worth exploring.

It adds up to a good game with a few shortcomings. For something with such a high level of customization and management, it's almost difficult to believe that things are as good as they are. A few more missteps would have had this game begging for a UI overhaul, but it's not quite that severe in its current state. Other strategic elements such as the power system end up being little more than busy work, and ultimately add little value to the experience. While I wish there were more themes, or a greater distinction between those themes, I will allow them the opportunity to make additions before judging how that strategy turns out. Most importantly for a simulation with hundreds of tiny people on screen: I didn't run into any performance issues, which surely helped me overcome the negatives. I can only imagine it is like starting an actual theme park, a bit of a grind, a ton of complexity, a large amount of choice, but a good pay off if you nail it.

Ultimately, Max Mustard is a delightful VR platformer that successfully captures the spirit of classic platformers. Its beautiful visuals, intuitive controls, and engaging level design make it a must-play for VR enthusiasts. While the VR experience can sometimes be a double-edged sword, the game's strengths far outweigh its limitations. If you're looking for a fun and accessible VR adventure, Max Mustard is a fantastic choice.

Metaphor: ReFantazio was the game I was looking most forward to this year and it didn't disappoint. I'm glad that we have you wealth of options to choose how we want to play our RPGs, and I am especially glad that there is still a place for games like Metaphor: Re Fantazio, one that feels familiar and new at the same time. It has never been a better time to be a gamer.

With engaging new abilities for Shadow, fun boss battles, and a celebration of the franchise's history, Sonic X Shadow Generations is a thrilling return for fans and an intriguing and compelling introduction to newcomers.

If my opinion counts for anything, Gunsmith Simulator accomplishes the task of being interesting and fun to play. Hopefully Game Hunters can expand the game with new guns, maybe add in a gun barrel making machine along with new gun shooting opportunities and different targets.

EA Sports FC 25 is a solid soccer game that builds upon the foundation of its predecessors. There is nothing groundbreaking in the latest iteration of the annual football release, but the new Rush mode is a welcome addition, even if it essentially replaces the Volta mode from FC 24. As well as that, the ability to create custom tactics and strategies gives players more control over their game. The Season Pass system provides players with a steady stream of new content to unlock, and the overall improvements to the game's visuals and gameplay make EA Sports FC 25 a worthwhile purchase for soccer fans, particularly those who haven't hit the pitch for several seasons.

The bar for modern horror remakes is justifiably high. The expectations for a series that has not seen a worthy entry (in many fans' eyes) in at least two decades might be even higher. Silent Hill 2, somewhat unexpectedly, delivers on both. We've got great voice acting, writing that understands the assignment, and gameplay to mesh it all together.

I have very much enjoyed my time so far with Aura of Worlds, and am impressed with the intentional emergent gameplay that it offers, of which I know I've barely scraped the surface. My advice to you as a player would be to suspend your disbelief and try unconventional environmental tactics, the kinds of things that would never work in most games, but that often do here. For instance, the launch trailer shows that you can use your shield to surf the Colossal Worm. For now, I'm going to return to the hub world, hope that a beach ball has rendered, and pick it up and throw it amongst my rescued companions.

17 years have passed since Budokai Tenkaichi 3, three generations of videogame consoles have come and gone, and tons of new plot points and characters have been introduced to the Dragon Ball series, and it is incredibly clear every way you look at it that Spike-Chunsoft took the time they had and created a real labor of love that is Sparking Zero. Enemy AI can feel a bit wonky at times and you can occasionally find destructible environments not cooperating with being blown up, but that's few and far between, with this game being a highlight of the wide variety of characters, forms, and gripping battles that have caused millions of fans to adore the Dragon Ball series since its inception 40 years ago. It’s good to have you back, Sparking. Fans have been waiting to enter the next Martial Arts Tournament.

Edge of Sanity is a highly-enjoyable Lovecraftian survival horror experience that walks the fine line between tension and relaxation, alternating moods to always keep the player uncertain of the ground under their feet. The gameplay is relatively easy to learn, but difficult to master. The narrative unfortunately is a bit weak, but if you accept that and stick around for the gameplay itself, odds are there will be enough to keep your interest for a decent number of hours.

Apartment Story is two ideas mixed together, and one of them works really well while the other drags the experience down quite severely. I can't help but imagine that the core concepts of an interactive home invasion that asks the player to make choices and deal with the consequences couldn't have made for an enjoyable and tense experience if it weren't for the confusingly repetitive and out-of-place sim elements that necessitate walking and waiting in-between everything interesting. At the end of the day, the good parts don't quite seem worth the bad, and it's difficult to recommend the title when technical issues are also holding things back.

Coffee Stain Studios has made something special. Satisfactory has the perfect balance of tediousness allowing the game to feel rewarding when creating new factories. However, having only one map with no randomised material spawns will shorten its longevity, (as of now), as there are no plans for a new map or any additional expansions of the current map. This is disappointing to see, as even though there is a lot to explore and thousands of hours that could easily be put into a single save file, players will likely become bored of it over time, and the game will slowly enter a decline in players. If it wasn't for this, I could have comfortably scored the game a 10/10. I must admit that I have put in an embarrassing amount of hours into the game, and will likely continue to do so. I love the experience it offers and highly recommend others to try it out for themselves.

Although coming out nearly 14 years ago (as of this writing), the Investigations series holds up remarkably well, and now with this new collection it can reach a wider audience. With fantastic updates like new HD artwork and the inclusion of the formerly region locked sequel, there no time like to present to start investigating.

Disney Epic Mickey Rebrushed is set to be a definitive edition for fans and newcomers alike. With its stunning visuals, improved controls, and the timeless charm of the original, Rebrushed is a delightful adventure for Disney and platforming enthusiasts. The playtime of Rebrushed remains similar to the original, offering roughly 15 hours for the main story and an additional 10 hours for completionists seeking every collectible. If you didn't get the chance to play the original, then Rebrushed is well worth your time. And even if you did play the Wii version, then Disney Epic Mickey Rebrushed is the perfect opportunity to head back into the Wasteland and get your artistic side flowing.

NBA 2K25 loves the history, and game, of basketball almost as much as it loves money. That much is clear. Just about every mode is dripping in reverence for one or the other, and it serves to enhance the experience. Despite its flaws, the gameplay is the best it has ever been, and the somewhat basic RPG additions to several modes make them feel more alive, even if they're still set in mostly barren buildings and cities. It also looks the part. The players look like themselves, in stills and in motion, and simply watching the game breaks the realism barrier at times. It's a looker, even on a modest PC, and I appreciated the inclusion of a dedicated Steam Deck graphics present too, which would make the grind a little more manageable, I guess. The day NBA 2K loses its microtransactions is the day it loses its identity, but it's also the day we have a chance at a near-perfect basketball sim. Until then, we're stuck with a game filled with increasingly promising modes bogged down by an insistence that you pay or treat it like another job. Depending on your desired way to play, that can break the deal.

In Wild West Dynasty you can be a rancher, a farmer, you can be a miner and dig for gold and you can be sheriff or mayor of your town and chase bandits away. Generally when new games like this are released time is needed for the game to mature. During this time inconstancy's and bugs are fixed with new and improved content being added. I see the same with Wild West Dynasty and I say that because the developers really seem to be dedicated to their game. The fact that they actually took consumers feedback to heart and essentially restarted their project from scratch means a lot.

In all, The Plucky Squire is a very delightful game with a lovely concept, a warm awareness of itself and the tropes it is interacting with, all wrapped in a gorgeous visual design that makes both parts of the game an absolute delight to witness. There is some slowdown in some areas when they are specifically cluttered with people and interactable objects, but even with that in mind, jumping into the pages of The Plucky Squire is sure to be an enjoyable time for many aspiring adventurers.