The King’s Dilemma: Chronicles is an engaging narrative game with one of the better branching narratives in gaming. The story is well written and enjoyable to engage with, whether you want to be good, evil or somewhere in-between. Whilst the politics part of the gameplay feels underutilised, the dilemmas and intrigue will keep gamers playing, especially with so much replayability. If you think the game looks interesting, then you’ll most likely have a great time with it, especially with the price being so low.

A tragic case of wasted potential, Dust & Neon renders its formidable run-and-gun mechanics powerless with repetitive missions, trivial upgrades, and a nonsensical difficulty curve. The simple satisfaction of blasting anything that moves might keep some players happy for a while, but ultimately this one would be hard to recommend at even a quarter of its current asking price.

SokoChess White is a puzzle game about moving chess pieces so they are where they are supposed to be. The game is simple, and is straightforward to understand. This is a package with all its parts commingntogether well to be a cute distraction. Excpet the music does not really comtogether even though the rest works well.

Barbaria VR has a strong core that will appeal to fitness enthusiasts and medieval combat/rts enjoyers at the casual level. Given the unique nature of the game, it is worth adding to most VR libraries; and a must buy for those who have enjoyed titles such as "dungeon master' and 'Clash of Clans' as well as 'Gorn'. However, if graphics, story, and sound design are important to the player, one should perhaps wait for a sale or further development of the title. With light promises of further content, it is at least worth keeping an eye on. [Early Access Provisional Score = 60]

I knew nothing about Ninja JaJaMaru going in, but I came out pleasantly surprised. It's a simple and solidly built 8-bit throwback with a lot of content for retro fanatics to sink their teeth into. It might be a bit too simple for some people's tastes, but if you want dumb fun ninja action, than this is a strong recommendation. If JaJamaru ever makes another return, I will be interested to see it, whatever form that might take.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed has its heart in the right place. It looks, feels, and sounds like Ghostbusters, and with some friends, you can relive the days of playing pretend Ghostbusters. However, it doesn't do much with its gameplay formula beyond the bare minimum. It's great in short bursts, but wears thin after several matches.

Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! is an excellent, family-friendly game that tries hard not to become dull and succeeds. The presentation is smooth and logical. The pacing of the video game is nicely done. Where there are twists and turns, and different situations, the player will encounter throughout their path to greatness. Makes for a great game to pass the time, or to pick it up on the go whenever you feel the itch to play it.

Wanted: Dead is a game not for everyone. A lot of modern players will hate their time with this title, but if you have a fondness for that old-school challenge and love cutting people into Shish Kabob, you'll really like this game. However, even if you're in that camp, you should wait for a sale, as the game's not worth the $60 price tag with only five stages. Plus, other elements, like no additional melee weapons and poor performance at times, do drag the game down a bit.

Ten Dates does a great job of conveying the realities of going on a speed dating event and trying to make something of it. The stories aren’t long, but tell a wonderful story regardless of who you interact with. There can be confusion about what the optimal choices are, and it does take time before you can replay a scene. Despite those shortcomings, there are ten great stories to see, and ten great dates that can become something more.

Swordsman VR is a pretty game that offers a slightly different approach to sword fighting in VR. Among the current popular titles, Blade and Sorcery, Hellsplit Arena, Tales of Glory all fail to meet the physical challenge that Swordsman VR brings to the table. Its substantial progression system will keep many gamers engaged until completion. With the addition of personal modifiers and promise of new content and community events in the future, Swordsman VR makes a great addition to a VR library.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising has severe repetition, killing its momentum. Characters are likable & grow, presentation is top notch, and its gameplay structure has a certain satisfaction. However, the main story is overshadowed by filler for minimal reward. Combat takes too long to become enjoyable & grinding is required to upgrade characters but doesn't impact actual game difficulty. This is a decent 15hr story turned into a 35hr completion slog for those who choose to do it. Proceed with caution.

PERISH is one to four-player co-op FPS game with hints of rogue-lite. The game can be really fun and is mostly great to play with three to four other players. At the same time, the game crumbles under its many problems of bad matchmaking, bugs, bad objectives and bad enemy spawning. This game can oscillate from fun to frustrating throughout the experience. Buy it on a sale with your buddies.

If you like the gang of SpongeBob (such as Patrick, Squidward, Sandy Cheeks, etc.), and the concept of the game solitaire, then this game might be a video game to take a gander at. In all of its card flipping, patty tossing, squared shaped glory!

Hogwarts Legacy provides an expansive world of magic and mystery. With a main story that is both whimsical and gritty, and over a hundred side quests, there are countless reasons to ply out an enchanting life in the game. Occasional graphical issues are noticeable but overall negligible to the abundant sense of wonder. Hogwarts Legacy is a spellbinding and enchanting experience not to be missed.

Cuddly Forest Friends is a delightfully cozy experience with many adorable moments to be had. The animals are quite charming, the minigames are pretty enjoyable, and combined with the darling cutscenes all make for a snug time. Although, because of the high pricing, lack of difficulty, and repetitive gameplay, I can't recommend it to anyone but younger audiences or casual players.

Deliver Us Mars is breathtaking in terms of presentation and the underrated but extremely talented cast helps to bring the characters to life. While some of the puzzle mechanics can become repetitive, the detailed and layered story keeps you pressing forward. The sound design also plays a key part in the thick atmosphere delivered by KoekN Interactive, and wearing a headset will fully immerse you in the universe of Deliver Us Mars. A charming and unique game with a compact and deep narrative.

Piofiore: Fated Memories is an action-packed mafia otome with an intriguing storyline, handsome leads, and a mystery to solve. The art is beautiful, though it can become gruesome in the Bad Endings. The soundtrack is a delight and the voice acting is superb. The secret route, though short, is my favorite. Be mindful of content warnings as the game does not shy away from graphic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The misdeeds of the mafia are yours to have if you will accept their hand.

The Mortuary Assistant manages to capture the power of true horror with unpredictable jump scares at every turn. Constantly changing item locations and demon characteristics force you to pay attention and not get complacent. With well-timed audio and unexpected surprises, the fear factor never leaves and you have to adapt to the horrors. While controls aren’t perfect and visual graphics aren’t at their best, it’s still a horror experience worth diving into.

Fun isn't something one considers when choosing a map maker, but this does put a smile on my face. Everything Dungeon Alchemists claims to do, it does. It does it adequately and even manages to be fun for something that's not actually a game. I found myself constantly starting new maps to try out new settings and features. It was legitimately entertaining to piece together a little section of my imaginary world, hyper-focusing on every little detail. Is it perfect? No. But none of my complaints are anything that can't be solved with very minor updates. All in all, it does what it sets out to do - makes map-making easy and quick.

Risk of Rain 2 is an amazingly entertaining, atmospheric roguelike with tons of replayability. Although it has some sour spots for solo players, such as its quests, it's definitely worth your time! With over 110 items to theory craft with, it'll have you playing for hours on end, slaying intergalactic foes with a simple strum of an electric ukelele.

My take is that neither Portable nor FES should have gotten a re-release. Instead, Atlus should have, using FES as a base, made one final, definitive, ultimate version of Persona 3 combining FES's presentation with Portable's balance changes and Kotone's route. It would have been more work, but everyone would be happy. But they didn't do that, and that's a massive disappointment. Persona 3 Portable is forced to carry forward onto modern platforms a compromised design made for a console that's nearly two decades old instead of blossoming into the masterpiece it has the potential to be.

Hyperdimension Neptunia: Sisters VS Sisters won't scratch the itch if you're looking for the AAA experience, but it stays in its lane and plays to the strengths of the series. Fans will not be disappointed, while newcomers might balk at some of its shortcomings. Nevertheless, this game is put together well and offers hours of enjoyment that will not tax your mind with heavy plots and mechanics.

Clunky Hero isn't a bad game per se. It's mostly just very clunky. In its story, its audio-visual presentation, its choices, navigability, and gameplay, the game takes its name a little too close at heart. It's a mediocre Platform Metroidvania at best, and there are simply many other games that do Clunky Hero's job better. [Early Access Provisional Score = 50]

SEASON: A Letter to the Future is a beautiful game. If you enjoy an action-free adventure and intricate stories, then you'll thoroughly enjoy exploring the colourful world on offer. The innovative use of the DualSense controller creates a fun sense of immersion as you pedal through the landscapes. Although the interactions with other characters are few and far between, they all come with their own personalities and backstories, which I enjoyed more than the main storyline. Overall, SEASON: A Letter to the Future is a relaxing narrative experience with wonderful art and sound design.

Yuppie Psycho is a shining example of the brilliance in indie horror. In a time where every big indie horror property seems progressively more marketed to children, the unapologetic R rating is a refreshing change of pace. An interesting story, likable characters, and the lack of a reliance on a gameplay gimmick or main marketable antagonist make it clear that the developers truly cared and believed about the game they were making, and it shows. That being said, the game too closely homages horror games of old to the detriment of the experience.

Kandria has a great premise, a fitting soundtrack, and impressive visuals. It’s unfortunate that most of that is ignored since you are forced to spend time through precision platforming. Rather than drawing strength from other aspects of gameplay, Kandria wants you to solve puzzles. The adventure sounds great on paper, but turns out to be a frustrating experience that isn’t worth embarking on.

Rogue AI Simulator is a humorous game on the surface that doesn’t let up with the sarcasm or the silliness. But past its funny exterior is a simulation game that will have you thinking on the fly to succeed. You learn from your mistakes and quickly adapt to changing circumstances. Every run is different, though you must be careful of making mistakes. Despite the reliance on precision, there’s a good time to be had with Rogue AI Simulator if you put in the hours.

The story in Digimon Survive is an example of why fans of Digimon flock to the series. Fans enjoy the themes of the series presents to fans about the pressures of growing up. While the gameplay in this outing is limited and lacking in complexities when compared to its predecessors. As a visual novel, it more than holds up as a Digimon anime entry and is a great game that any Digimon fan could enjoy.

Chasing Static overall is a really well made game with a lot of potential. It doesn't quite reach the heights it could have due to the short length. However the developers have shown they know how to make the most out of the retro style so that it enhances the game. This combines well with the premise and creates a captivating game despite the limitations. It's definetly worth playing if you are intrigued, even if it's only going to last an evening.

Sail Forth is a game that knows what it wants to do and does it incredibly well. Its world is charming, its mechanics are well thought out and most importantly its gameplay is fun. From battling pirates to delivering packages, Sail Forth can be as relaxing or intense as you want it to be thanks to the free sailing mode. There's not much else like it on the Switch and even on other platforms where you have more options, it's one of the best.

The Chant offers the player a trip into horrors not in the usual settings but at a yoga retreat. An insane cult and neon cosmic terrors separate The Chant from other survival horror games for its unique tone. However, faults in the visual and gameplay polish hold The Chant back from reaching the point of an instant horror classic. Instead, it is a sure-to-be cult classic worth the short journey.

GunTech 2 delivers plenty of arcade-style action at the cost of coming up with interesting missions to set them in. Blasting away enemies and upgrading your ship feels satisfying, especially as you unlock crazier weapons to deck out your ship with. If only the missions had as much creativity. GunTech 2 comes close to being good, but it falls short in some critical areas.

My Universe: My Baby Dragon succeeds in being a game for what its intentions are. It's sweet and simple, as well as fun, although it can sometimes feel a little repetitive. The baby dragons are very cute and its easy to get fond of them, as well as sad saying goodbye to them. The fact that I wanted to start all over again with raising another baby dragon after the last one departed is a good sign that this is a game I want to keep replaying.

Without a shadow of a doubt Kirby And The Forgotten Land is one of the best titles to have released in 2022. And one of the best on the Nintendo Switch. Offering bright, breezy, and downright fun gameplay all wrapped up with some brilliant and characterful levels and characters. However it may be too easy for the more hardcore gamer looking for a challenge.

Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is a masterfully made Tactical-RPG which brings both color and flair. If you are looking for a light hearted adventure carrying the spirit of the Mario + Luigi series look no further than this game. It features visually stunning environments and incredible music all meshed together alongside amazing gameplay that never gets old. What it lacks in challenge Sparks of Hope makes up for in pure fun that will keep you coming back to play. The amount of polish and effort here is astounding and makes the game worth your time.

Mortal Shell: Complete Edition has the bones of a good Soulslike, but falls into the trap of being too ambitious for its own good and giving the impression that it's a lot more expansive than it is in reality. It does some things very well and is worth playing, but doesn't hold a candle to the game that it draws so much inspiration from.

While its main draw of playing with random people may have fallen flat, Be Funny Now! is still a great game to play with people you know well. Having such charming graphics and an incredible soundtrack to boot, Be Funny Now! is always great on the eyes and ears. With 2.0, you essentially have two game modes in private lobbies and the game being free makes those lobbies easy to populate with friends. A solid experience if you can get a group together to play.

Mad Adventures is a fun multiplayer platformer. Featuring bright visuals, a toe-tapping soundtrack, and some fun mini-games there is bound to be something fans of the genera are likely to enjoy. Sadly I do feel that in its current state the game lacks variety. And that some aspects of the game need better explaining or rebalancing to make them more worthwhile.

There's nothing wrong with Potion Craft. It's fun, it's chill, but it leaves me feeling like it's missing something. It feels less like a full game and more like a mechanic in search of a game. I can imagine a different game that incorporates Potion Craft as a part of it, maybe something like The Witcher with this game as an optional way to craft and sell potions. But without a story and with such monotonous graphics and music, it's hard to think of this as much more than a short diversion. If you're okay with that, there's definitely fun to be had. But if you're looking for more, well, this might be the wrong brew for you.

In regards to the shooting mechanics, there's a solid core with excellent flow. You unlock traversal options that make moving around fast-paced and hectic while shooting down enemies. There are enough guns to unlock that keep the fighting interesting while maintaining their personality. Literally, the guns are characters in the story. Where High On Life shines is the writing. Every character and scene is hilarious while also telling a compelling story. Fans of Justin Roiland's comedy will love High On Life.

Overall, Hello Neighbour 2 has too many problems to hit it’s full potential. The game looks great, and has some strong ideas, but ends up being neither ‘stealth’ or ‘horror’ as it bills itself. There’s enjoyment to be had, especially from the family-friendly angle and for those who like solving puzzles. However fans of the original and casual gamers will find it too short and unengaging to remember it much. Ultimately it feels like the game is stretched too thin. The lack of story and sparse open world leave it feeling directionless.

Terror of Hemasaurus is easily one of the best games I have played in 2022. Lovingly crafted, thoughtful and thoroughly entertaining - an overall well-realized title, I would recommend it to anyone as a must-play.

Thy Creature is a fascinating retelling of the classic Frankenstein story with a twist. The themes of memories and how they make a person is fun. The gameplay is fun with its exploration and relentlessly hard but fun gameplay. The game is brutally hard, and mostly it is fair on how it plays. The game takes almost thirty hours to get through due to its difficulty fully, and it is worth it all the way.

Intrepid Izzy isn't a bad game, but it's nowhere near as intrepid as the title suggests. It's a paint by numbers Metroidvania platformer that gets the job done and not much else. It's got colorful graphics and enjoyable gameplay, but it lacks originality. Blatantly copying other games only gets you so far.

Hubris does everything right when it comes to gameplay. The shooting is great and the VR mechanics are impressive. Swimming, climbing, and platforming are all satisfying and seamless. The visuals are amazing and beautiful, and it's a pleasure to progress through the game. Where it falls short is the story. The setup is fine and does well in terms of providing mystery, but once you get into it, everything is tonally off. Together with an abrupt ending, the story is rather disappointing.

Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem is an excellent addition to the series. It's short and sweet and half the price of Serious Sam 4 at only $19.99. It won't win over non-fans, but if you like the classic Serious Sam games but were turned off by the further sequels, Siberian Mayhem will be up your alley. Just try not to go too deep into the time travel stuff, and if you're an achievement or trophy hunter, wait until completion is possible.

The Forest Quartet is a musical narrative game which bends its puzzles with its great atmosphere. The game is a visual and atmospheric treat, while it may lack in terms of its gameplay with its simple puzzles. The game, on the whole, themes itself really well across the various stages to have a breezy and fun experience through its short run time.

The Callisto Protocol is a gripping science fiction horror game and a worthy spiritual successor to the Dead Space franchise. Some of the gameplay and mechanics choices may be off-putting but do not detract enough to ruin the terrifying experience. In the same vein as cult classic horror movies, The Callisto Protocol prioritizes doing things well enough to be fun and approachable.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide transfers the fluid and dynamic horde-based co-op gun and blade combat from Fatshark's critically-acclaimed Vermintide series into the sci-fi/gothic setting of the 41st millennium. Unfortunately, said combat is the brightest diamond among this rough, as the technical issues, unremarkable story, and lazy design choices greatly weigh down on the experience more than its positives can uplift it.

The Devil In Me is one of Supermassive Games' most interesting title to date. It's an entry that expands on their classic horror formula while never straying far from the decisions that made these games so fun. Unfortunately the plethora of bugs made getting through this title a nightmare. While there is still fun to have in the story and gameplay, it's a title that's recommended to play through in a few months when these issues are fixed.

Despite having a solid story plan, it is hidden behind awkward gameplay and slow paced speech. The game is not unplayable, but it is obvious that this was initially a PC game, with little effort given in creating more fluid controls for console. There is no way of keeping track of the story either. Therefore once you've solved the difficult puzzles, it is easy to have forgotten the relevant names and locations needed to proceed.

There’s plenty to like about League of Enthusiastic Losers, but there’s also a lot to improve upon. I could tell the developer wanted to make something worthwhile, but the gameplay and story don’t have enough substance to create a lasting impact. That being said, the creator has potential, and this is only the beginning of yookond. I can’t wait to see what else this developer has in store.

Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia is a standard installment into the series. Despite having fun and creative gameplay, there are still a few glitches to be patched. There is an urge when playing to explore further and see things in closer detail. Still, the game is fun to play and easy for younger players to take part with combat and solving puzzles. The game is a positive step in the right direction for the franchise.

This game is fun. Honestly? I think I had too much fun and that meant I wasn't paying attention to all the little things that built up and kept drowning me. But if you're careful, pay attention, and keep up with the game's demands, it's well worth it. The characters are amazing, the plot is fun, and the gameplay is addictive. It's a little tough if you're not good at multitasking, but if you're a fan of the shopkeeper genre, this is one you can't miss.

Evidence 111 can be a bit messy with its murder mystery plot it shows a great proof of concept for future games in this interesting format. While the story can be a bit lacklustre the game is carried by its excellent voice acting and sound design.

Star Ocean: The Divine Force is the breath of fresh air Star Ocean fans have been waiting for. The storytelling is satisfying and fun, the gameplay is innovative and exciting, and the visuals are colorful and fantastical! Even further, The Divine Force offers a beautiful soundtrack and a handful of challenging battles that ultimately provide a very rewarding experience! Although there are some imperfections, The Divine Force is a magnificent installment in the Star Ocean series!

Impaler provides solid shooting gameplay but with very little lastability. There is only one level, a small list of enemies and weapons, and only takes a few hours to collect everything. What it does do well, though, is refinement. It's boiled FPS elements down to a very satisfying core and discarded anything unnecessary. For me to consider it a full game, it needs more levels, more collectibles, more enemies, and more weapons. But for only three dollars, it's kind of hard to complain about it.

God Of War Ragnarok is an instant addition to the collection of PlayStation classics, standing as one of the best games of all time. It manages to outdo its predecessor in every way possible and despite some of its issues with its ending and a few plot points feeling rushed, it does not take anything away from the masterpiece this title is. Santa Monica Studio continues to produce excellent and masterful experiences with Kratos, and the door is most certainly open for more.

Manafinder pits itself as a classic JRPG-style game but it ends up being something different. While managing to riff off classic JRPGs Manafinder finds its footing in its interesting world, Streamlined combat. But it is not all perfect as it also loses some of the fun complexity of JRPGs.

The Knight Witch is an absolutely stunning adventure. It is lacking in neither gameplay, nor performance. The combat provides a healthy serving of challenge with exactly the right amount of fun. The combat is absolutely hectic and fully encapsulates the essence of adventure. The Knight Witch will grasp you from the very beginning, and it wont let go.

Insomnis is a slow walking simulator that carries itself through its atmosphere and jump scares. The gameplay of the game takes a backseat to the story. But the story is not the best. Even with its very short running time, the game manages to be repetitive. If you enjoy jum scares with a shallow story and interesting atmosphere, then Insomnis is the same for you.

Disappointment. That is the singular word this game leaves me with. Somewhere, buried under a pile of glitches and bugs, is a competent, beautiful game, but I am just not patient enough to wade through all of it to find that game. Normally I'd consider a glitch or two as just an annoyance that I can look past, but I legitimately didn't want to finish this game because of some of the glitches. Supposedly there's a patch coming that may or may not address this, and if it shows up, maybe this is worth checking out. As stated, this game without the glitches would easily gain another two points on its score. If you're patient and don't mind constantly resetting the game, there's something enjoyable deep, DEEP inside, but I am not the person to dig it out.

Sonic Frontiers has definitely brought back hope for the franchise with this new format. Between the smooth experience in the Open-Zone, cool combat (especially titan bosses) and an enjoyable quality of story writing. There are however still some polish to be done around the display of obstacles and platforms. And by far the least appreciable aspect is Cyber Space, both in its lack of originality and control which robs the game of a much higher rating.

Floodland gives you a great survival challenge where you have limited resources to rebuild society. You are taught what to do from the beginning, and will slowly learn how to take care of your people. The difficulty can be punishing and some game concepts aren’t properly explained, forcing you to learn by experience. But if you stick with the learning process, you will find a nice survival gem that teaches you about the challenges of rebuilding civilization.

Part rhythm game, part platformer, part boss rush, No Straight Roads takes the best parts of these genres and forms a fun, groovy whole that'll have your ears tingling, heart pumping, fingers twitching, and feet tapping. For Metronomik’s first game, you wouldn’t think it given how much of a blast No Straight Roads is. In fact, in this author’s opinion, the only major downside to it is that it feels too short. But even if that’s the case, the game doesn’t drag on to the point of fatigue, each little collectible or side mission or story beat sitting comfortably where it needs to be. I picked this game up for the premise alone, but the bosses and music definitely helped me stay.

Smurfs Kart is a well-made kart racer, but its best parts are all too often taken directly from the games it wants to emulate. Though visually striking, a lack of customization options and a small roster of circuits lead to a sometimes underwhelming, but ultimately fun Kart Racing game.

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration is about as definitive an Atari celebration as you can get. It doubles as both a game collection and an extensive history lesson on one of gaming's forefathers. Not every title is a winner, but in the end, younger players will gain a better appreciation for Atari's contributions and how far gaming has come.

Overall, as Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch joins the ever-growing list of horse games, it's certainly one you should check out for yourself. Is it perfect? No. The bugs are annoying, but hopefully patches will deal with them. Aside from the teething problems, you'll find yourself getting lost in this game as you want to explore every nook and cranny, collect resources, expand your ranch, help the locals, and breed new horses.

Resident Evil Village: Shadows of Rose is a worth story expansion to the game. Though it is rough around a few edges and brushes over some interesting points the DLC is a horrifying and emotional ride. Though short, it is a fitting end to the Winters' family story.

Skate City is a relaxed arcade-styled skateboarding game, with beautiful aesthetics and soothing soundtrack. The controls are easy to pick up, yet difficult to master, with it being friendly to skaters and gamers. There are nice elements of detail which could've been forgotten but really add to the game, such as the filming option. With an option to kickback and relax or to grind out a few challenges, Skate City is an underrated entry into the skate genre.

Bones of Halloween never tries to be anything more than it is. A simple survival game where you challenge yourself to get the highest number of points. It’s good for some short and simple fun, where you shoot skeletons and try out the different guns. Unfortunately, a lack of variety in gameplay means that you will quickly become bored. This isn’t a game that you will likely pick up again after the initial fun wears off.

Tanuki Sunset is a relaxing game about skateboarding down a hill as a racoon, and it makes that premise work reasonably well. You'll have fun customising your outfit and board, but probably won't be blown away by the obstacles and gameplay. It's worth playing, but you can play a mini-version free in your browser. Look it up!

Bayonetta 3 is a fantastically stylish game with invigorating gameplay, empowering music and a narrative that reaches deep to pull on the heart's strings. Despite its understandable graphical affordances and its slightly rushed story, it makes for a show-stopping, action-packed experience that can be enjoyed countless times over.

Some witty comedy and decent design definitely make it worth playing but when it comes down to the pure Souls-like gameplay, The Last Hero of Nostalgaia doesn't stand above average. All of the Souls-like stuff is there: weapon variety, stat leveling, losing your currency upon death, resetting enemy positions when resting. But when it comes to the core gameplay, it feels off. Animations feel slow and sluggish.

Unusual Findings is visually pleasing. The not-so-hidden pop-culture references throughout were a delight to find, and the voice acting enabled me to engage with the story. There is plenty of content in this 8-bit pixel world, and if you play without a guide will find yourself starting over to see which combination of actions works best. This being said, it would've been nice to have a better hint system in place, and text was hard to read in certain environments, due to it being placed directly on the backgrounds.

Hearts Of Iron IV: By Blood Alone is a decent expansion. With new trees for nations that sorely needed them and new features, it brings a healthy amount of content to the game. However, I feel that the new peace conference system is still a little messy. And some focus trees aren't as clear as they should be.

I can’t recommend Witchcrafty because the bugs and mediocre gameplay make it almost unplayable. In fact, it’s one of the most bug-ridden games I’ve played all year. I can tell the game is filled with passion, but it misses the mark on too many occasions to be enjoyable. I could have fallen in love with Witchcrafty, but I wish there were more to it instead.

A cartoon in the best way possible. Despite some hyperactive side games that take away from the full experience, The Wonderful 101 is an exciting romp that brings the laughs and serves the audience a unique and fun combat system. If you want something to lift the spirits this game gives you that times 101.

Atari Mania wants to be a love letter to the golden age of Atari. It wants to be a fresh spin on old games. The end result is the equivalent of trying to play an Atari 2600 on a modern TV. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The repetitive microgames and technical issues mar what should be a fun anniversary gift to a legendary company. This anniversary gift is a bit underwhelming.

This is a fun, punchy title that scratches that 4X itch. It may not bring much new to the table, but it clearly designed by veteran developers with a good eye for what makes the genre work. As a simple exercise in strategy, it provides just enough complexity to be worth learning, but never takes things too far. It's bright and cheery aesthetic makes for some easy, casual play that you can come back to time and time again.

All in all, Horror Tycoon is a very well put together project. The gameplay loop is a lot of fun for those into tycoon games and tower defence especially. The graphics and audio are fantastic, especially for a solo developer. However, the game isn’t perfect. There are bugs to fix, and the game is still in need of more attractions and scares as you can quickly run out of new ones and resort to repetition.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II isn't trying to do anything especially new or different and I think that's okay. With Call of Duty taking a break from yearly releases next year, Modern Warfare II feels like comfort food - reliable, predictable but still filling. Aside from a few bugs and technical issues, you have solid campaign experience, a great set of missions, and a tight entertaining multiplayer affair. Modern Warfare II is an impressive entry into the iconic shooter series.

The star of Lost Eidolons is the combat system, bringing together a lot of things and managing to make them enjoyable and complex at the same time. While there are minor issues such as the stiff facial animations and the choking Turn Limit, Lost Eidolons is still a great title to sink our gaming hours into. Even if you're not a fan of tactical turn-based RPG games, you should try this game out.

Ghostwire: Tokyo is an interesting new mix of horror 'shooter' with excellent enemy design and aesthetics, but relies strongly on its eastern thematic to stay interesting past a certain playtime. However, despite the repetition, it does it's best to offer enough to keep players invested and interested enough with its variety and story, especially if you have even a slight interest in Japan or its vast mythology.

Despite a few shortcomings, this game is fantastic. With several mysteries to uncover, it lends itself to multiple playthroughs. The artwork is beautiful, the characters are engaging, and the drip-feed of lore about this familiar, yet distinctly different world keeps my wanting to try another playthrough.

Medieval Dynasty is a great survival game, and it is a great city-builder. These two genres do work together sufficiently well enough to create this gameplay mix that niche gamers will enjoy. With the exception of the skill trees implementation, the rest of the RPG/Adventure elements fall flat. If you are approaching the game from a purely Survival and Resource Management Point of View, then you'll have a great time. Otherwise, this one may not be for you.

The Shadow Government Simulator is a nice game with good potential and an interesting idea behind it. It's very immediate and quite fun from the beginning. However, it fails at giving depth to the gameplay which makes it simple and repetitive, thus likely to bore many players after a few hours. All in all, it's definitely worth a try if you're into scheming, conspirations, and conquering the world with subterfuge.

Monster Hunter Rise is a brilliant addition to the Monster Hunter lineup. It delivers incredible combat with newly added monsters and highly-desired mobility. However, it does suffer from messy systems, a mediocre story and can become quite grindy. Despite these flaws though, I have had countless hours of fun and will continue to do so. The co-op aspect just adds even more enjoyment to an already enjoyable game. I just wish the system UI had been redone for PC.

The Pegasus Expedition in review has a strong story that makes you reflect on your actions. This combined with great visuals and sound design makes for a solid start for the game. However it's gameplay, whilst satisfactory, has yet to seriously impress. It works on the broad level, but less so in the small scale. This being said, with more player involvement in combat and a better tutorial it could become a great game.

Zombies Ate My Neighbors And Ghoul Patrol is a fine combo package of a cult classic of yesteryear. A credible and well spirited effort has brought these two titles to modern systems near perfectly. Any issue that I have are due to the problems inherent in either title; Ghoul Patrol is not as good as Zombies and both suffer from hard to navigate level design at times.

In Gas Station Simulator, you get to refurbish your own dessert pit stop in the middle of no where. While there may be minor bugs, weird physics, and repetitive game play, Gas Station Simulator still delights with all of its charms. With its variety of tasks, fast pacing, challenging progression, and overall enjoyable atmosphere, Gas Station Simulator is a must-play for lovers of this style of game.

Batora: Lost Haven's biggest strength is that it is full of passion. Some of it's ideas, particularly with the story, fizzle out and are lost in the dark. Others, like the inventive combat and fleshed out worlds, are a joy to see and are beacons of light. It isn't for everyone but if it's for you and you meet the game with the right expectations, there is no doubt that you will have a good time.

This is well-rounded for a solo project and would serve as a great portfolio piece. However it is extremely short and the puzzle are not very fun or challenging to solve. On top of that there are sections that are full of unnecessary padding. Many of the concepts and designs show a cool sense of taste and are very fresh. However it will take a little more for this game to worth you spending your money on.

The Bad Son is an interesting game. It is a game which I am not sure I want to ever recommend but what it does well it really does well. The odd story along with its great atmosphere is really well done. Somehow the corny horror vibes are nailed down very well. While at the same time as a game it kind of fails through the fact that gameplay is bad and boring. It is odd, to say the least. That is what makes the game unique and a tough sell.

NeverAwake is a simple scrolling arcade twin-stick shooter. It is nothing new, but it does not need to be, as it does what it tries to pretty well. The game is fun with its good gameplay and art style. The powerups are well-paced alongside the game's difficulty, naturally ramping up in a way that felt challenging but never frustrating. The story acts as an emotional backdrop that creatively drives the gameplay.

Broken Pieces has potential as a psychological thriller. Unfortunately, it takes mechanics from the survival horror genre and tries to weave them in. The result is a game that’s fun to play at the beginning, but loses its momentum with a lackluster story. The game isn’t sure what kind of genre it wants to belong to, which hurts the game severely. While some fans may enjoy the gameplay experience, the psychological thriller is missing its story. Without it, it’s just a mediocre experience that doesn’t know what it wants to be.

Asterigos: Curse Of The Stars is a fun ride for all players and is friendly towards those who prefer a lighter or more challenging playing experience. It may not be as big of an open world as its counterparts, but still offers exploration that can leave you lost wandering into new and engaging encounters. The title does not overstay its welcome and leaves enough room for replayability with its side missions and new game plus.

Splatoon 3 remixes and refines what makes Splatoon so fun and wraps it all in a style infused lavish of color and creativity. Many shooters these days lack the spirit that is shown so well. Even comparing to Splatoon 2 this entry blows it out of the water with how much more it has going for it, from entertaining to fresh there's no shortage here! No matter how much content is not new, what the game does to mix things up really makes the game feel unique. With plenty of Splatfests and updates to come I am excited for even more content for this already Inkredible game. Splatoon 3 manages to continue to show that Splatoon is one of Nintendo's best new IPs, and it's shining rainbow of colors will only get brighter and better going forward!