Chronos: Before the Ashes is a Soulsborne title in which your character becomes older each time you die. With well-timed dodges being an important aspect of the gameplay, hit-and-evade style gameplay makes this an experience that is just as exhilarating as it is nerve-wracking. The balance between battles and puzzles is struck well, but while the idea of aging with every death is an interesting concept, it doesn’t work well, as the ways you can level up become more limited the older you become. Furthermore, the idea doesn’t connect to the story either, making it feel like a wasted opportunity.

While the balance between punishment and reward feels a bit extreme, the satisfaction you get when finally beating a difficult boss is unmatched. Even so many years after its original release, this “theme park of death” is still as great as it always was. While faithful to the original, sudden invasions from other players can interrupt the flow of the game, which is something I had hoped to see the remake improve on.

With a story set 100 years before Breath of the Wild, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is packed with cool surprises and emotional character moments that fans will adore. While the action feels great and exciting, the lack of strategic depth is noticeable. Still, the fact that this is no longer an all-stars spin-off game, but a title with a clear theme and story, shows new possibilities for the Warriors series and makes this a great title in itself.

ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos is an even better VR adventure than developer MyDearest’s last game, Tokyo Chronos. The satisfying story feels like a full-fledged robot anime. While improvements could be made to the ambitious UI, which incorporates AR to make the player’s actions within the game’s world feel more natural, both the story and stellar presentation make this a game any robot anime fan should buy a VR device for.

Cyberpunk 2077’s biggest achievement is Night City, the most fascinating city in videogame history so far. While the combat outside of the main story does sometimes feel a little repetitive, the way it encourages the player to interact with the everyday lives of the inhabitants of this bustling city results in a roleplaying experience in the truest sense of the word. The game towers like a skyscraper in the Western RPG genre skyline.

Godfall combines common sword-fighting gameplay with typical hack-and-slash elements, but controls and enemy animations lack polish and don’t feel well balanced. There’s not enough of it either. Godfall also does not come optimized for PC: The UI is cumbersome to navigate through, and while in the end there’s still some good hack-and-slash fun to be had, there’s nothing unique here you won’t find elsewhere.

Sakuna’s deep rice-farming experience is truly unique. Making perfect rice is difficult at first, but you will become attached to the rice plants you have been cultivating over the in-game years. With intuitive controls, the side-scrolling action and dungeon exploration section is an enthralling experience as well. Sakuna is great at connecting these two different styles of gameplay, creating a well-balanced game with lots of variety all round.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster is the welcome return of a PS2 classic. With the addition of voiced dialogue, characters feel better portrayed than in the original. While the high encounter rate and few save points feel inconvenient in 2020, the highly strategic turn-based battles are still as tense as ever.

Ghostrunner is a masterful pure-parkour video game that has you athletically traverse through dangerous environments. The only downside is that you’ll be so busy maneuvering your way through that there’s no time to pay attention to the story.

Vigil: The Longest Night is a Soulsborne 2D Metroidvania action-RPG. While the game is a bit rough around the edges and has a lackluster story, both exploration and battles are full of surprises, creating a satisfying experience.

Remothered: Broken Porcelain has difficulty keeping a balance between its story and the game’s main gameplay feature of running. While the game’s worst bugs have been fixed since the PC release, the unique atmosphere is not enough to make the repetitive and often cumbersome gameplay worthwhile.

The Solitaire Conspiracy’s story about direction – which later transforms into a techno-horror story – is sharp and intelligent. But due to the card-based gameplay’s lack of flashiness and variety, you might get bored before it all comes to an end. While this issue was partially fixed with the Version 1.03 update, there is still work that needs to be done in order to make this a game that has not only literary quality but is also fun as entertainment.

Scoring by delivering a through pass to a sprinting player is a great feeling, but with too many options for the attacking player, it can become difficult to defend against so many different attack patterns. This results in too many goals for a realistic soccer game.

With a repetitive quest structure, too many loading screens, and a sense of humor that might not be for everyone, Bugsnax is not a game with the universal appeal its cutesy characters might suggest. That being said, the game’s absurd world and creatures are utterly charming and unique, and the wide variety of bug-catching mechanics are exactly the kind of evolution I had been hoping Pokémon would make for at least 10 years now.

Astro’s Playroom is an exciting 3D platformer full of surprise and wonder. While its task of introducing the PS5 controller’s new features can sometimes be a double-edged sword, full-fledged implementation of the DualSense’s haptic feedback creates a next-gen experience only possible on the PS5. The game design of adding new ideas for each level, iterating on them, and then switching them for something completely different is reminiscent of Nintendo’s design philosophy, and Astro does it just as well as Mario. At the same time, Astro’s adventure through the history of PlayStation is a journey only Sony can deliver.

With a campaign that has an interesting story and deep interactions between characters, tons of collectibles and action gameplay that is well tailored to each hero, Marvel’s Avengers succeeds in delivering the appeal of this iconic team of characters in game format. However, access to the game’s modes feels unnecessarily inconvenient, and an often cumbersome UI makes the experience feel less smooth than it could have been. Depending on the updates and new contents planned in the future, Marvel’s Avengers could very well reach its true potential, but at this point, there’s still a lot that needs to be addressed.

While being a new entry to the series, Crash Bandicoot 4’s stages are full of references to the first two games. And while it is without a doubt the hardest game in the series, amusing animations and a great score will make you want to keep going.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is a gem of the good old days, and this remaster aims to bring its former glory to the modern era by implementing crossplay and online multiplayer. The beautiful score and a visual style that stands the test of time make it feel worthwhile, and both are enhanced by this HD remaster. At the same time, this remaster also brings all the issues the original had, and doesn’t improve upon any of its flaws. Omitting a local multiplayer is the biggest mistake, as this stood central in the original experience.

While feeling a bit flat, this soccer game largely succeeds in faithfully portraying Captain Tsubasa’s world and atmosphere. The game’s slow pace can stand in the way of your enjoyment, but both the story and action are of great quality, and there’s a lot of it too. The simple controls make for an exhilarating soccer experience, but it’s hard to deny that the progression of each match largely feels the same.

While Mortal Shell’s story, volume of content and RPG elements all disappoint, it’s Dark Souls-like close-combat battle system is of great quality.

The core game design of No Straight Roads attempts to synchronize action and music, but unfortunately it misses the mark. Also, a lack of clear explanation makes this a flawed action game as a whole. That being said, visuals heavily inspired by Japanese video games, amazing sound design and lovable characters give NSR the potential to become a cult classic.

With a wide variety of crabs and weapons, and with each crab's claws controlled in detail with the analog sticks, Crab Fighter delivers a surprisingly deep battle experience. It’s great fun to play with friends, and the campaign mode offers plenty of satisfaction. However, the game is not balanced well enough for more serious competition, and online fights will be difficult to get into for newcomers.

Aria Chronicle makes the typical dungeon RPG gameplay loop of grinding your characters to face stronger enemies more accessible for newcomers. While heavily influenced by Darkest Dungeon, a more user-friendly design makes this a recommendable game in its own right.

SWORD ART ONLINE Alicization Lycoris has a great battle system that feels like a full-fledged fighting game. With some of the original characters being more fleshed out, there’s some good fan service here as well, but as a whole the game feels like a low-quality effort. There are just too many errors, bugs and so on that often make SWORD ART ONLINE Alicization Lycoris frustrating to play. The biggest problem is the game’s original story, which has none of the appeal of the work it is based on.

After being in development for many years, Indivisible is finally here. The graphics and sound are superb, and it’s fun to play too. However, its difficulty will not be for everyone, and the otherwise high level of polish is undermined by a lot of bugs. Furthermore, it can be hard to resonate with the protagonist’s actions, which creates distance between the game and the player. That being said, the story development towards the end of the game will bring you back into the experience, resulting in a game that is worth playing.

Rampaging your way through Carrion as a tentacle monster makes playing this violent metroidvania feel unique, and the grotesque and harsh visuals greatly contribute to that feeling. But flaws like having no map and a lack of gameplay variety cannot be overlooked.

The mysterious atmosphere that Amanita Design is known for is present in Creaks, but it never reaches the heights of the developer’s previous works. In particular, the puzzle gameplay feels old and pulls the player out of the experience. The only part where it feels like Amanita Design reaches its true potential is not the main game, but the collectable paintings.

While the weak scenario and some other issues drag Necrobarista down, its 3D model animation and cleverly positioned text create a unique experience. In that sense, it’s no exaggeration to call this the beginning of a brand new era for the visual novel genre.

After many missteps, Paper Mario Origami King is a return to form for the series. It fixes many of the issues that marred previous entries, and allows the player to casually enjoy puzzles together with a wide array of beautiful locations and quirky characters, while the wonderful sound alone is reason enough to play.

In this real-time tactics adventure set in the Wild West, you will engage in various missions with your main five eccentric units. The missions offer a wide variety of situations typical of Western movies, and it’s up to you whether to use stealth or go loud. But whatever play style you choose, the gameplay always perfectly complements the Western setting.

While flaws such as repetitive side quests and an often-annoying navigation system can sometimes drag the experience down a little, epic sword fights, beautiful locations, amazing discoveries and a deep Bushido story make Ghost of Tsushima a unique open-world adventure.

The Last of Us Part II tries too hard to differentiate itself from its predecessor. While astonishing cityscapes and more varied combat options are great evolutions, Part II lacks the poetic serenity that made the original road-movie-like epic such a masterpiece. On top of that, uninteresting new characters burden the story, making Ellie's journey feel conventional and not nearly as captivating as the original.

Jet Lancer is a shmup with a high difficulty level that becomes a bit tedious halfway, and the storytelling is pretty weak. That said, the refined controls do create an exhilarating experience, making this an interesting new entry to the multidirectional shooter genre.

While it definitely has its flaws, XCOM: Chimera Squad’s problems are outweighed by the positives. The breach mode brings the player right into the action, and a timeline is available during battle. These new features make the battle system of XCOM: Chimera Squad feel like a distillation of what makes the gameplay of the series so great. Skills and dialogue both do a great job in showing the unique personalities of your squad members, and choosing from these members and weapons to create your team is a lot of fun. The publisher promised a new story and play experience, and Chimera Squad delivers.

At first glance, Moving Out seems to be a fun multiplayer game like Overcooked, but in reality it doesn’t come close. Sure, it is a hectic game about moving furniture, but the multiplayer component comes off as a very shallow experience. Still, there’s some fun to be had in becoming a rogue mover and throwing around people’s furniture.

Quotation forthcoming.

While certain parts of Trials of Mana definitely feel retro, as a whole Square Enix has crafted an extremely well renovated experience. What makes this a great remake is that both gameplay and visual revisions faithfully represent the original experience.

The battle system that allows you to turn back time and retry is well done, and once you manage to stylishly defeat enemies after a long session of trial and error, it feels great. While the game offers many different situations to keep things fresh, sadly its story is not as captivating as its gameplay.

As a rhythm game Soundart has little originality, and the randomly generated music lacks great rhythm or sense of excitement. That being said, if you enjoy customizing and streaming videos, it might be worth a try.

With Resident Evil 3, Capcom again succeeds in delivering a game that, as a remake, is nearly flawless. The problem is that the original game it is based on was never so great in the first place. And while there’s some fun to be had with multiplayer component, it’s not clear what Capcom’s main focus was for the package as a whole.

Different from its predecessor, Life is Strange 2 brings more political themes to the table. Protagonist Sean’s little brother Daniel has supernatural powers, but is too young to distinguish between good and evil, and it is up to the player how you want to guide him. While interesting in theory, this results in a gameplay experience based almost entirely on making decisions, and supernatural elements are not put into use as cleverly as in the original Life is Strange. This makes Life is Strange 2 feel like it lacks focus, because most of its political themes are not fleshed out enough, and the ones that do work don’t really need supernatural elements in the first place.

The combination between deck-building and speedy real-time action make One Step From Eden a revolutionary title. While difficult and lacking in story, it’s definitely a game anyone should try.

Good Job! is a game that allows you to complete stressful jobs or puzzles simply by completely demolishing the environment. Tearing apart everything you see in an office can be fun indeed, and some of the stages have great design. That said, ironically Good Job! reminds you that destruction can get boring when no one is trying to stop you.

While unfair enemy-placement gets irritating, Nioh 2’s new Yokai powers make this an action game with almost infinite possibilities. And with a huge amount of content, Nioh 2 is simply one of the best Souls-like games to date.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon’s atmosphere is faithful to the series, and your favorite critters are as cute as ever. The visuals will remind you of the picture books from your childhood, creating a sweet and lovely experience. While gameplay-wise there may be few new surprises, this remake is a great entry point in the spinoff series for anyone.

Faithfully recreated hero characters and a scenario that makes it feel like you have been transported to the original manga are great for fans of the series. However, repetitive battles and a bad difficulty balance ruin what could have been a great experience otherwise.

In the super violent world of Bloodroots, everything becomes either a weapon or something to kill. Every time you die there’s something new to learn, and while it’s definitely a flawed experience, becoming better and stylishly killing everything coming your way is a thrilling experience nonetheless.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is a reconstruction on an almost unprecedented scale. Midgar feels like a real place, and strong character development sucks you into its fascinating world. The battle system is a great mix between real-time action and turn-based strategic elements, but with many consecutive lengthy fights in linear dungeon-like areas, it can sometimes become too stressful for the casual player, and the slow story progression won’t be for everyone either.

The maps in Cindered Shadows feel different from the main game in a good way, and with enjoyable character dialogue and an interesting setting, this DLC is a treat for players who enjoyed the original game.

Space Channel 5 VR is not challenging as a video game, and its exercise mode does not have enough content at launch to offer a serious workout. That being said, reuniting with Ulala in VR will be a memorable experience for fans of the series. If becoming a part of a short but atmospheric musical sounds fun and you already have a PS VR and two PlayStation Move controllers, Space Channel 5 VR is worth trying.

Mutiazone is a point-and-click game set on an island that brings in “gardening” gameplay. The story is moved on by sorting fictional plants in order to create gardens for the game’s characters. This is much more a personal story than a heroic one, and it leaves a warm impression. But while the game makes you think that you are reconnecting the island’s community, it feels like the real issue is being avoided.

It cannot be denied that Daymare: 1998 comes with many flaws, but you have to appreciate what it aims to achieve. Well-crafted locations, a unique reloading system and interesting storytelling are some of the game’s highlights, but since both the game’s story and mechanics take time to get used to, it can’t be denied that those strengths are a double-edged sword.

Frostpunk is a city-building simulation game that puts an emphasis not just on efficiency, but also the moral qualities of the player as a leader. Even if you normally don’t play simulation games, you will definitely be able to appreciate its uniqueness on a lower difficulty setting.

With a high-quality scenario and unique VR presentation, Yuoni Rises immerses the player in its scary yet nostalgic world.

With beautiful visuals, an epic soundtrack and an exciting world with interesting characters, this hardcore Touhou Project inspired shmup is well worth your time. While the multiplayer mode lacks significant depth, the story mode alone is enough to recommend Maiden & Spell to fans of the genre.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s turn-based battle system has a serious lack of depth and pacing issues so crucial that it’s dangerously close to simply falling apart. However, RPG-like elements such as a wide array of equipable items, charisma parameters and interesting job classes do create a customizability that is new to the series. In addition, bizarre side quests and well-crafted mini games make this an experience that is still unmistakably Yakuza. The story of new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga and his friends is simply one of the best in the series, and the communication between those characters is a breath of fresh air. While Yakuza 7 is pretty much a disastrous RPG in terms of its battle system, everything else is nothing short of amazing, which makes it a hard game to score.

Bringing unique mechanics from the Shikigami no Shiro series to present day, Sisters Royale is a worthy successor of the vertically scrolling shmup series. Some players might feel reluctance towards the “moe” anime-style characters, but the bullet-hell gameplay itself will satisfy hardcore fans of the genre.

Having the player advance through environments by rearranging rooms, The Pedestrian succeeds in creating a puzzle game with simple rules that is visually interesting at the same time. The difficulty is always well balanced, and the surprising climax makes great use of the game’s features. Yet, at the same time, The Pedestrian never manages to truly stand out of the crowd, resulting in a game that feels like a role-model student who lacks real personality.

As an action-adventure game, Giraffe and Annika may be rough around the edges, but its cute cat-eared protagonist and the visually stunning island feel so genuinely magical that you’ll be smiling throughout anyway. If you’re looking for good action and interesting puzzles, Giraffe and Annika won’t deliver, but if you’re the kind of gamer who treasures superb atmosphere and hand-crafted details above all else, you’re in for a real treat.

Faithfully recreated cutscenes – featuring not just Goku but all your favorite Dragon Ball Z characters – manage to surpass the quality of the original anime series. With even nostalgic memories from before the Z saga included, Dragon Ball Z Kakarot is best described as a huge treasure box of fan service. While the battle system could have been deeper, flashy special moves keep things from getting boring, and while most quests may feel uninspired, this is still the ultimate game for any Dragon Ball fan.

Coffee Talk’s atmosphere that incorporates the diversity of Indonesia is worth spending some time in, and the game succeeds in depicting something as mundane as people’s worries and how they learn to move on. That makes Coffee Talk the kind of game that you will actually want to enjoy while relaxing with a cup of coffee yourself. While the story has no great drama or impactful event, the message that the developer tries to deliver at the ending comes through.

While a sandbox game focused on magic spells feels like a fresh adventure at first, it gets old too quickly, and the lack of content doesn’t help. While there is a PvP mode, it doesn’t deliver anything unique to solve the problem.

Blasphemous is a high-difficulty metroidvania-like side-scroller. Its gory violence is not for everyone, but together with its grim yet beautiful background scenery, it delivers a well-crafted ominous world. Just like a splatter movie, this is the kind of game you might want to dive into if you’re looking for serious thrills.

With the environment changing from a factory to a city, The Surge 2 loses its appeal of heavy machinery. With a spiritual story and a confusing map, it was never really clear where The Surge 2’s gameplay or world atmosphere was heading. Luckily, changes in the game’s system are more clear. By making battles less challenging and improving the upgrade system, the game’s dismemberment-focused action has become genuinely more fun. That being said, there are just too many aspects that hold it back.

Just like Ginga Force and Eschatos, Natsuki Chronicles is a side-scrolling shmup true to the DNA of developer Qute. While it caters towards a wide audience ranging from newcomers to veterans of the genre, the balance between the story-heavy chronicle mode and the more traditional arcade mode isn’t great. There’s some great level design to enjoy here, but Natsuki Chronicles fails to exceed the developer’s previous titles.

From “moe” characters and hip-hop to cyberpunk and yakuza, Orangeblood is a 2D sprite-based RPG that provides interesting cultural juxtapositions. The battle system, which includes hack-and-slash elements, provides enough options for strategic combat. However, after the credits had rolled, I felt that both the story and combat needed a bit more volume.

While some of its new story feels unnecessary, and players who have already beaten the original will have to go through the dungeons all over again to access the new content, this is still one of the best RPGs of the current generation.

VR enhancement makes the 3D cutscenes and exploration all the richer in this remake. However, the rhythm gameplay has issues that weren’t present in the original, even when not playing in VR, and it doesn’t feel like you are playing the piano yourself like in the original. That said, this is still an interesting new way to experience Deemo, especially for fans.

Wattam is unlike any other game when Keita Takahashi's unique sense of humor and world building come together, but don't expect everything to click all the time.

The concept of an infinite loop has been masterfully visualized in this first-person puzzle game, creating a visually mesmerizing experience. It’s definitely worth playing, but keep in mind that the puzzles are of a high difficulty level, and some players might get motion sickness, too.

Mistover’s characters may look cute, but this is one harsh game. Influenced by Darkest Dungeon, this is a game only for players who are looking for a serious challenge.

What makes The Sinking City unique is that it really feels like you’re investigating while struggling with hallucinations and madness as you step foot inside the world of Cthulhu mythos. If that sounds like your cup of tea, definitely give it a chance. However, after you get used to the gameplay you will notice that as a game, The Sinking City feels like too much of the same. An open-world design was not the ideal direction to take for this developer specialized in a specific genre.

The Outer Worlds is an RPG with an incredible amount of choices to make, to the extent that it can sometimes feel more like an adventure game. While it becomes more linear near the end, there are few games that give the player this much freedom of choice.

While keeping the series’ essence intact, the newly introduced Wild Area makes Pokémon Sword/Shield feel significantly different, switching up how battles and party formation work. Pokémon Sword/Shield is an enjoyable game, and even if it doesn’t include every single Pokémon ever made, its changes could very well mark a new start for the series.

While keeping the series’ essence intact, the newly introduced Wild Area makes Pokémon Sword/Shield feel significantly different, switching up how battles and party formation work. Pokémon Sword/Shield is an enjoyable game, and even if it doesn’t include every single Pokémon ever made, its changes could very well mark a new start for the series.

While keeping the series’ essence intact, the newly introduced Wild Area makes Pokémon Sword/Shield feel significantly different, switching up how battles and party formation work. Pokémon Sword/Shield is an enjoyable game, and even if it doesn’t include every single Pokémon ever made, its changes could very well mark a new start for the series.

As the first single-player Star Wars action game to be released in a number of years, Jedi: Fallen Order provides a novel opportunity to visit a variety of planets and explore them in depth. However, it fails to build upon innovations from earlier Star Wars action games such as implementation of Force abilities and ease of navigation, with the result that part of its design feels stuck in a previous era.

While the story's climax left us disappointed, Shenmue III is a precious game nonetheless. Feeling the lingering presence of your deceased father in a country far from home, sharing a roof with someone you love, and overcoming the teachings of a stubborn kung fu master are only a few examples of how this game portrays deep human relationships. Shenmue III also has a very addictive gameplay loop that makes great use of the attention to detail the series is known for.

A fresh new gameplay experience with breathtaking photorealistic yet surreal visuals, Death Stranding provides an experience that goes beyond the usual boundaries of videogames. Future developers may draw influence from the game’s redefined concept of terrain and its traversal.

While action elements feel forced in, and the game’s system often feels like it doesn’t match the characters, Concrete Genie’s heartfelt story and dreamy visuals still make for a short but unforgettable experience.

Dragon Quest XI on Switch is a richer and more convenient experience than the original Japanese PS4 version. That being said, the additional scenarios have a slightly negative effect on the story as a whole, and it can not be denied that the Switch version is visually less impressive. While that makes it hard to call this the definitive version of Dragon Quest XI, it's still an amazing experience.

Etherborn is a surrealistic puzzle platformer that combines gravity mechanics with fantastical art direction. The responsive platforming action comes with camerawork that enhances the experience, making Etherborn a game that is both fun to play and aesthetically pleasing. It is too bad that the number of environments is limited, and the clichéd narration makes these mesmerizing locations feel more common than they actually are.

It’s no surprise that brand new visuals and sound make the alluring world and ephemeral story of Link’s Awakening all the more endearing, but I did not expect to fall in love with its 26-year-old game design all over again.

Borderlands 3 does not only have an amazing story, it’s also close to being the definitive looter-shooter... So close.

Everywhere in the world, people have fallen in love with this adorable goose and the friendly villagers who never punish it for its pranks. However, the village the game takes place in is way too small, and the harsh challenges that are thrown at you after beating the main game don’t match the cutesy atmosphere.

Code Vein is the kind of game that makes you think it could have benefited a lot from another delay. Animations, sound effects and more are heavily inspired by Souls-like games and definitely feel cheap. The game is not well balanced either, and the level design is especially lacking. Still, it brings interesting ideas to the table, such as a buddy system and the freedom to switch between a wide variety of builds. While there’s certainly a lot of bugs and other issues, if you keep playing, it does actually become fun.

While exciting new monsters and more freedom in equipment are definitely welcome additions, the Guiding Lands endgame content’s poorly balanced level design will make players feel uncomfortable.

AI: The Somnium Files has a lot of dirty jokes, and its story is not very surprising. But still, it can not be denied that Kotaro Uchikoshi has created yet another work of outstanding artistry.

While the more story-driven experience of the new Volta mode definitely makes for an ambitious soccer game, it’s too bad that the story itself is so monotonous.

Before setting on an adventure in the woods together with my dog, I didn’t really understand the link between this game and Blair Witch, the movie it is based on. However, it didn’t take long for me to understand that this inspiration source is exactly what makes this a unique horror game. Overcoming this bewitched forest together with your partner results in a stellar gameplay experience. However, the horror tropes are used a bit too often.

With eFootball in its title, this year’s PES comes with visual enhancements that make it even more realistic, while keeping the exhilarating soccer gameplay intact. The new finesse dribble mechanic allows the player to make slight adjustments with the right analog stick, which feels like you are directly in control. With legendary coaches and derby match scenarios, Master League is now more addictive than ever before.

As a combination between the River City and Downtown areas, River City Girls’ town warmly welcomes all fans of the long-running River City Ransom series. For new players, the cute, poppy characters and the over-the-top battles should feel entertaining enough. However, the story is not tightly plotted, and generally not interesting enough for someone not familiar with the genre.

Oninaki has an unbalanced battle system and lacks any guidance through its appealing story. Yet the unique setting and world should be interesting enough for most players to want to see it through.

Developed by Bombservice, Minoria not only implements many mechanics from the studio’s previous titles, but also delivers a tense experience packed with smooth action gameplay. More aggressive gameplay is a great new direction for the developer, and has us excited for what comes next.

While the user-friendly controls and loose collision make for a comfortable experience, Beats Fever VR lacks in uniqueness, and the visuals can make it difficult to understand what’s going on. Still, if you already have a PS VR and PS Move controllers and you like rhythm games, you might want to give it a try.

As a successor of Her Story, Telling Lies succeeds in delivering a deep and varied story with what is essentially the same system. However, whether that story is full of surprises or not, depends hugely on the player’s reasoning powers.

With low-texture pixel art and an FM synth-rock soundtrack, Blazing Chrome is best described as a spiritual successor to Contra games from the 16-bit era. A 16:9 aspect ratio, devastating enemy attacks and upgradable weapons give Blazing Chrome a unique sense of thrill and exhilaration. Heavily inspired by older games yet original at the same time, Blazing Chrome’s refined level design will have you learn each time you die. Fighting your way through this classic run-and-gun game is like reliving an experience that never gets old.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a masterful game that maintains the story and drama of previous entries, but allows you to train and grow your characters on a much larger scale than before. While the graphics, UI and level design are far from perfect, the addictive gameplay loop and dynamic story are of very high quality.