The Invisible Hand is a valiant effort to uncover the world of big finance for the uninitiated. While the gameplay is fun and delivers a good progression of challenge for the players, the campaign runs its course and doesn't offer much replay value. Still, the experience is a great satirical slice of a larger-than-life industry, and the highs and lows in between.

The Quarry's narrative easily surpasses previous The Dark Pictures Anthology entries with an engaging cast of characters and interesting mystery. Unfortunately, The Quarry plays better as a film rather than a video game as there aren't a whole lot of opportunities for players to explore or interact with the world. Still, with a fun story, difficult decisions, and an all-start cast, The Quarry is nonetheless a step in the right direction for developer Supermassive.

Overall, Promise Mascot Agency is a charming and absurd experience that would fit perfectly in a Like a Dragon game. The story isn't as thrilling but the wacky world building and the characters that occupy it keep you from moving on. The gameplay may get tiring but there's still enough here for a good time. I'd recommend everyone play on hard if you want some challenge. Now, if you excuse me I've got a business to run.

Little Hope is a step forward in Supermassive's anthology series, but the bar is still set high from their big hit Until Dawn. It doesn't quite reach that same level but excels in its twisting narrative and interactivity. For a horror game, its scares are few and far between, but it still holds up with its heart-racing monster encounters. Its unique cast of characters is intriguing on the surface, but they're very vaguely explored in the actual story. Little Hope is a quick experience that's still enjoyable with friends, and worth playing for the ending.

Circus Electrique is a perfect balance of circus management, dungeon exploration, and story. Each aspect works perfectly with the other, and the result is a fun and satisfying experience. Unfortunately, the slow pacing and large amount of information show the limitations of the perfect balance. While everything works well together, it never goes beyond a good experience. It’s like a middling circus performance; it’s fun to watch, but it isn’t remarkable.

If you want a good narrative game that gives you great control and influence over the story and the characters, then you should definitely consider Where the Heart Leads. Because it contains so many different choices and outcomes, it's one of those games that you'll want to replay, so you can find out what may happen if you make different choices. The cast of characters are likable and intriguing, and their realistic flaws and scenarios draw you into their lives. This game will surely take you on a journey of reflection and exploration on how lives can be affected by seemingly the smallest of choices.

There are a lot of series out there that don't change much with each installment, like Madden, Pokemon, and Call of Duty. You should already know what you're getting into, it's guaranteed to please you if you already like it but will do little to convince you if you've already tried it and didn't like it. Earth Defense Force 6 fits into this role, comforting and familiar, like a nice family dinner, or that TV show you've watched a hundred times and always come back for more. I've heard it described as a perfect game to play with a podcast or a YouTube video in the background, and I wholeheartedly agree.

Svoboda 1945: Liberation is an excellent learning tool, but unfortunately isn't a very good game. That doesn't mean you should skip experiencing it, as the way it tells Czech history through small 'minigames' is excellent, as is its beautiful black and white animations. As a collection of key historical World War 2 moments in the Czech Republic's history, it's a triumph - but if you're looking for meaningful character exploration and a fulfilling main story, then you'll be disappointed. Still, I recommend Svoboda 1945: Liberation to anybody with an interest in history who wants a better way to learn outside of stuffy classrooms and textbooks.

Dread Hunger is a fantastic Social deduction game, putting a lot more emphasis on survival, which makes its gameplay more interesting. With nobody feeling left out of the fun, the hours can fly by without you even noticing. It's by no means perfect and has quite some bugs, but its premise is executed flawlessly.

Kill It With Fire is an enjoyable indie game with a fun premise and plenty of destructive toys to deal with the spider threat. However, the game is short and whilst it never overstays its welcome, it can easily be completed in an afternoon and doesn’t have much in the way of content beyond that, aside from some achievement hunting and time killing.

Union of Gnomes is a challenging roguelike deckbuilder that gives you a variety of strategies and options to work with. The difficulty is great and you will spend lots of time experimenting. If you can find the winning combinations and luck swings in your favour, this game can be a joy to play. Otherwise it might be best to play in short bursts.

In conclusion, Mostroscopy is a classic return to the glory days of arcade fighting games. It may have some rough edges but its unique theme, fun roster of characters, simple to learn controls and amazing soundtrack makes up for it in spades. I'd recommend Mostroscopy to anyone looking for a new fighting game to master.

Chess Survivors is a ton of fun. Providing gamers with a challenging Rogue-Like Survival game with an innovative twist. With plenty to unlock as well as find across your many runs, there is much to keep players coming back for more. However, the game lacks variety and may feel too repetitive for some. And those who don't have a basic understanding of how chess works may struggle initially. But it makes for an over all refreshing experience.

The latest in a series of games trying to find the next winning iteration of the roguelike deckbuilding genre, Roguebook has all the character and charm it needs to avoid being just another Slay the Spire clone. Introducing fresh and interesting new mechanics it proves to be a good addition to the genre, but not quite an amazing one.

Narita Boy is the perfect game for anyone craving the look and sound of the 80s. It tells a surprisingly deep and emotional story, but you must overcome some gameplay issues to experience the whole thing. I loved meeting the characters and listening to the music of The Digital Kingdom and can't wait to see what Studio Koba does next.

Shadow Man Remastered is a great improvement to the game. Nightdive Studios crammed in a bunch of cut content from the original. This includes three huge new levels, enemies, some voice dialog and more. The soundtrack is remastered for better sound quality, and all textures were redone in higher definition. You can also play using the original low-res textures if you want. Nightdive Studios is listening to the community as it fix things for the first major update, including a few things that weren't ready for launch day, like the Seraph Queen boss. Overall, this is a great remaster for a cheap price.

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is a decent expansion to enhance the existing Diablo IV's systems. It is lacking elements of excellence, but it mostly gets the job done. If you were a fan of the base game, there's definitely stuff that's going to make this game more appealing to play in the long run.

Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator ticks many boxes for those who enjoy driving simulation games, as this title provides the players with responsive driving mechanics and gives options for those who enjoy manual or automatic transmissions. However, the lackluster AI drivers that can hinder our enjoyment and breaks the immersion almost destroy my experience while playing the game. However, once the developers acknowledge and address this issue, then Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator is a solid game for you to kick back and enjoy your down time after work or college.

If you like narrative games, then you'll like Inner Ashes. It's a memorable game that will take you on an emotional journey. The story of Henry and Enid is engaging and will drive you to play until the very end, and the gameplay will challenge you. The way that Inner Ashes portrays a character with Alzheimer's was very well done. Every element of the game came together to tell a moving story and also show what it's like to live with Alzheimer's. Inner Ashes is certainly one of those games you should consider playing.

Super Sami Roll is undeniably a fun and charming game with a lot to love, from its pleasing art style to its fun gameplay. However some controls don't feel quite as tight as they should. And some sequences can feel a little too long between checkpoints and exits.

Sir Lovelot is a great 2D platformer. While it does nothing new, what it offers is some tight platforming, a decent challenge, and some gorgeous visuals. Since the game is short, its lack of innovation doesn't stand out, and at a cheap price, it's worth a buy for any fans of Celeste or Super Meat Boy.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Shadows of New York managed to build a compelling and catchy story, but is lacking some core gameplay element, even by visual novel standards. However, while having few negative points, the title works just as well as a standalone one despite an obvious lack of player choices and the evidence of the main intrigue. The narrative is riding on a highly relatable protagonist and a few other vivid characters, which keep your attention from start to finish. While as a visual novel the game is not perfect, it works just fine for newcomers or anyone who wants to immerse themselves in The World of Darkness universe.

Where Winds Meet is a massive triumph, mixing genres and embracing the complex world of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. It's a fun game filled with all sorts of interesting things to do, people to meet, and mini games to play. The world is massive and feels real and full, and the combat is varied, flowy, and fun. Unfortunately, it does have a lot of issues with bugs and translations. It is a gacha game, but basically only for cosmetics and a season pass.

Pumpkin Jack succeeds in capturing the essence of older action-platformers while adding its own new innovations in a way that keeps the overall experience fresh. With excellent cartoon visual style and a well-put-together soundtrack, my biggest gripe with the game is that it is not a few hours longer.

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.

Sunday Gold has a fantastic blend of turn-based combat and point-and-click adventuring. The story is set up well, puzzles are fun to go through, and you really feel the pressures of criminal activity. The game does end by the time you get a grasp on the gameplay, and you are often left feeling like there could have been more. There are also enough bugs and crashes that stand out when the immersion is disrupted too many times. But for the time you are playing Sunday Gold, you are a criminal expert running against the clock, and it’s a fun thrill to experience.

Overall, The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny is a good game. It wont blow your mind, but it will provide you with a lot of fun. Its charming pixel art is some of the best among any 8-bit hand held console. SNK made a super competent fighter that deserves to be played. Unfortunately a lot of people outside SNK fans don't know about this game. Luckily the release on Switch allows those who may have never heard of it to easily pick it up and play it.

The enjoyment you get from Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York will very much depend on your willingness to endure reams of static dialogue. If that’s an obstacle you can easily maneuver, then there is a lot to like here. Learning about the complexities of Vampire society has left me hungry to learn more. The game’s artistic character portraits and backgrounds bring the City that never sleeps alive in a way I haven’t experienced in a game before.

Forsake is a solid new entry within the ghost-hunting genre. Unseen Interactive manages to capture and expand upon what makes the genre great. The stages are well-made, and the Entities in this game are solid, all having their unique behavior. While there's a game-breaking bug that prevents us from finishing a Ritual, overall Forsake is a fun ride that many players, both veterans and newcomers alike, can enjoy.

While the only purpose of Lacey's Wardrobe is to disturb the player at all times, it is a good analog horror experience that matches the original YouTube creepypasta of the same name. And even if it remains fairly short and quick, it has been expanded and made six times longer than the "original game". Hopefully, the existence of this fan-made game also means the future inclusion of the next seemingly innocent adventures of Lacey!

There aren’t any mechanics that set Peril on Gorgon apart from the rest of the game. If you like The Outer Worlds, you’ll like PoG. While the expansion delivers more world-building, a few meaningful choices and solid gameplay, it does so in a way that’s virtually indistinguishable from what came before. If you absolutely cannot wait to return to Halcyon, Peril on Gorgon will scratch that itch just fine. If you’ve had your fill of The Outer Worlds, PoG doesn’t offer anything new and you’re safe to skip it.

Overall, the refresh of The Sims 4 Spa Day Game Pack was a great success. A trip to the spa now feels like it has more purpose beyond just getting a massage or participating in a yoga class. Getting your Sims more involved in the Wellness activities was a great move, particularly as the Wellness Skill now feels like it has more value to it rather than just helping your Sims to feel more relaxed. The new aspirations and trait also give your Sims more of an excuse to hit the spa more often. It's also great that children can be a part of it now, even if they do have some restrictions. Additionally, the new nail feature has been fantastically done. There are one or two teething issues, and there were some missed opportunities to add some new content such as clothes, objects and music. If you are still considering getting The Sims 4 Spa Day, hopefully these new add-ons will persuade you to go and get it!

If you're a die-hard Fate fan or are looking for a good point to jump into the series, Fate/Samurai Remnant is a must-play experience which meaningfully expands the Fate lore, introduces some compelling new Masters and Servants and let's you harness the catastrophic power of the Heroic Spirits like never before while still housing many helpful onboarding features to help with Fate's infamously complex lore and terminology. However, if you're just looking for a good clean action game, Fate/Samurai Remnant is going to disappoint, largely due to its messy mix of combat systems and extremely large focus on narrative above all else.

Crush the Industry is a great starter Roguelike for people looking to try out the genre, or have failed to properly enjoy one before. The addition of deck-building and RPG mechanics allow for more customization and a heightened focus on skill and strategy. However, there are still luck-based occurrences that can get annoying, and people who despise repetition won't get much off of the experience.

Bleak Faith: Forsaken is a great addition to the genre and the fact that three developers created all this is quite impressive. The exploration alone is honestly enough to start an adventure in the Omnistructure, with the rest of the game being a lovely distraction. Enjoy the thrilling boss fights and impressive arsenal of weapons to use against numerous enemies. It's story may be too vague and uninteresting and some technical issues may get annoying, but Bleak Faith is worth the anguish to see the potential of what Souls-like can truly become.

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.

Combining sharp visuals, smooth animations and tight, responsive controls, Within The Blade is all-round a pleasure to play. The pleasing variety of weapons and tactics invites players to experiment and perfect their skills and execute levels as quickly and stealthily as possible. While it might be a bit thin in terms of story, it has a lot to offer for those who are looking for a challenging stealth platformer and have an appetite for destroying the hordes of evil.

For a quick cozy puzzle game, Raccoon Cocoon ticks the right boxes. With 60 different puzzles to solve, these will keep your mind ticking but in a calming way rather than stress inducing. There's no story to follow, but this really isn't an issue when all you want to do is just play some puzzles. The puzzles are nicely challenging without being impossible, and you always have free hints or even the option to skip if you do get stuck. The pixelated art style and calming music complete the cozy experience. Raccoon Cocoon is the perfect game to play if you want something that's short but also fun, relaxing, and getting your brain gently working, whether you're having a lazy, quiet day or catching a quick break during a hectic day.

Rune Factory 5 certainly has its flaws. But don't we all? At the end of the day, the FPS drops and asset pop-ins were easy enough to ignore, and don't prevent the charm of Rune Factory 5 from shining through. It is still a very solid title on the Switch, and one that I would recommend to any lover of the farming sim genre.

We Should Talk is a short experience that seems to be missing a lot of the normal bells and whistles you would expect to see in more modern games. However, there is a great charm to the stylistic artistic approach and it isn't distracting. This is a short experience that is very accessible to even the most casual of gamers and is sure to leave a lasting impression on players far beyond the very short run time.

The Precinct sets out to do what it has promised in the trailers and a bit more. It's a chaotically good time and one worthy of picking up in-between some of the larger AAA titles. It doesn't succeed in everything but more than enough to warrant a large following.

Overall, I found myself enjoying the concept of Magical Delicacy more than the actual gameplay. I had fun, but it was a little frustrating to run into the aforementioned issues. In my opinion, the cooking aspect was more restrictive than anticipated. I adored the artistry of it all, but the mechanics were much more strategic - pushing the coziness to the back burner. I would highly recommend to those that can thoroughly enjoy a management game.

Finding Frankie is an interesting horror experience that aims to combine scares with parkour thrills. It pretty much succeeds in most areas but lacks the danger of their created threats for the enjoyment in the obstacle courses. Luckily, the both the story and overall aesthetic keeps you playing to see how quickly you can get through the game. For anyone looking for a new horror experience, take Finding Frankie for a spin... but remember, don't try to cheat; Frankie doesn't like that.

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.

Signs of the Sojourner is a unique deck-building experience that is inviting to begin, but depending on your style, is finicky to finish. The overall tight production value is a joy to immerse yourself in, and the heartrending story and gameplay balance to present this reality even further. Perfectionists beware, as this game will have you endure as many failures as there are triumphs – but isn’t that the beauty of traveling and connecting with strangers?

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.

When I first started playing Unsolved Case: The Scarlet Hyacinth, I wasn't sure I was going to finish it. However, I did, and I'm pleased I got to play this title. The fact that it's a Collector's Edition is a bonus. The extra chapter was especially good at expanding the existing story, which alone was quite intriguing. My favorite part though has to be the puzzle solving itself, whether it's searching a scene or working out a tricky puzzle. If you like detective games and enjoy puzzle games as well, especially hidden objects, then you'll like Unsolved Case: The Scarlet Hyacinth. I especially recommend the Collector's Edition with the bonus chapter to get the full immersive story.

As an interactive album, Sayonara Wild Hearts excels. Simplistic gameplay, paired with the amazing music from Daniel Olsén Jonathan Eng, creates a memorable experience. As a game, though, the story didn't resonate with me, and the sometimes overly busy visuals bring it down a notch.

Oblivion Remastered successfully breathes new life into The Elders Scrolls IV, which is going to be great for the mature gamers that already knew about this title from the original release in 2006. Whether you beat the game back then or not, this remaster is, as of today, the best way to experience Oblivion. We still have Skyblivion to look out for, even if this remaster may have stolen some potential players from that project. However, no amount of make up and re-texturization can mask the classic Bethesda jank, which makes the game just as endearing and frustrating as the original.

Midnight Fight Express stands out as a worthwhile brawler. The exciting gameplay is well supplemented by an intricate story, which sometimes interrupts a well-paced level. While some enemy types and certain levels may be aggravating they do not overstay their welcome. The nearly infinite replay value may have you coming back hours after you replay the story to crush your high scores and unlock some sweet new costumes.

The follow-up to ATOM RPG has the same quality writing and polish, alongside improvements to the graphics and mechanics. Despite suffering from some of the same issues, this makes ATOM RPG: Trudograd a strict upgrade to its predecessor and a must play for lovers of cRPGs.

Nine Witches: Family Disruption is a really funny game, riding high on its quirky jokes and the comedic timing of its lines. As a whole, it could have benefitted from focusing on developing its characters and polishing the story and presentation. While Nine Witches hits all the right notes to create a charismatic graphic adventure, it has some growing up (both literally and figuratively) to do before becoming an attention-grabbing franchise.

Mortal Shell is a reimagining of what a Souls-like game can be. Although it's not a near-perfect game, it pushed the boundaries of what a smaller studio can do. Through all of its hiccups, this dark RPG brings unique mechanics and heavy combat to a different level, but leaves behind some important features that would've improved the experience altogether.

Starport Delta is a solid experience for those who want a more casual city building sim set in space, it's simplicity belies a surprising depth in terms of gameplay. Accessible to those new to the genre, while providing a decent challenge to those experienced with it, the 2-man band known as Cloudfire Studios has done a stellar job at creating a well-rounded RTS experience.

A love letter to the transient state, No Longer Home exists to frame a very specific experience that has haunted many people in the course of their lives. This slow-paced shoegaze tale isn't for everyone, but if you love going on a nostalgia trip every once in a while, this game might help you reminisce those long-lost days.

Five Nights at Freddy's: Secret of the Mimic is one of the best Five Nights games in recent memory, despite its issues. It reaches highs nearly comparable to the series' heyday while never quite reaching the lows of Security Breach. It's also a good entry point for new fans, which is a rarity in this franchise.

Since I played Among Ashes last year, I've wanted something on that level of horror and A.I.LA pretty much fills the gap though not 100%. It has a strong start and end with some hit or miss moments in the middle (looking at you Ghost Ship), but its overall a solid experience with entertaining puzzles and scares.

Overall, Battle Cry of Freedom provides a fun and immersive Civil War experience that I hope to see grow further with future updates. For Civil War buffs, the game offers a good amount of historic immersion through the character creator, the available classes and combat roles, and the background music. The war simulator fan can enjoy combat that strikes a solid balance between historical accuracy and enjoyability. The game makes some ambitious promises, with massive maps and large amounts of people playing simultaneously, combined with a user-friendly gameplay. In this goal, it seems to have largely succeeded.

Telltale's resurgence is evident with a solid first episode. Graphical quality has increased immensely, as well as aspects such as; movement, sound and cinematography. Hopefully, Telltale and Deck Nine can capitalize on players' excitement and continue delivering fun episodes. For now, it is too early to judge the exact quality of this game as a whole. However, Episode 1 proved to be a promising start that can be built upon.

GolfTopia surprised me with how well it blended sports and management games. It's a game I see myself returning to often to touch up on my course and build new holes. But the frequent moments of waiting make me wonder how long I'll stay interested each time. Overall, if you're a golf fan, this is a game for you. If you're not, it's still worth a look.

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.

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.

If it's darkness you want, it's darkness you get. Angsty and emotionally turbulent, MAMIYA is a layered story of dealing with the complexity of the mind. While not entirely free of the stereotypes people attribute to these "edgy" narratives, there is a notable intellect to the way it progresses and alters the direction. If it were a little cleaner on the technical side and more level in its portrayal of sympathetic circumstances, this would be a game well worth remembering. In its current state, it's still a very entertaining, and impactful, tale of people.

You could say that Demon Turf is one Hell of a time. So much variety in worlds and challenges. Heavy emphasis on speed, flexibility, and experimentation. With all the freedom afforded to the player, Demon Turf manages to be a generally great platformer-adventure with just enough on the side to keep things eventful and fresh. If not for some bloated level design, and with heavier polish on outside elements such as combat, this would be a bonafide classic. Even now, it's a phenomenal option for platformer fanatics new and old.

The Suicide of Rachel Foster is a tense, thrilling experience for anyone who picks it up. If you are searching for something similar to PT, but without the horror aspect, then this is for you. But if you're looking for something to unleash a scream too, this may not be the title for you. Either way, if you want to understand the truth behind the suicide, then delve right in.

Aerial_Knight's Never Yield is a towering accomplishment in a genre that is often relegated to micro-transaction filled phone applications. "Never Yield" combines stunning artistic direction, fluid controls and a killer soundtrack to create an incredible project of passion that encapsulates solo developer 'Aerial_Knight's' immense talent. Boost that difficulty up for some of the best gameplay the genre has to offer.

While its main draw may be boring for some, I really enjoyed my time with The Pathless. The graphics and movement are especially brilliant, and the exploration always felt rewarding, even at its repetitive moments. While the writing is nothing to write home about, the connection between the player and the eagle companion keeps the story grounded emotionally.

Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is a love letter to a pair of games that absolutely did not deserve it. It is also a difficult game to rate, considering its laser-focused vision. This is one of those schlock cases, where things that would normally be considered bad are instead good for being bad. That certainly works for the presentation, but I'm less sure when it comes to gameplay. Are things like the darkness and easy bosses legitimate flaws, or are they supposed to be bad because they were bad in the CD-i games? I'll certainly commend how faithful it is, masterfully recreating such a unique artstyle, and anyone who ever laughed at the myriad Youtube Poops those games spawned would get a kick out of this.

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.

Rail Route is a charming game that satisfies the simple desire to design a railway network, with all its quirks and challenges. Its minimalist vibe lets the game boil down to this one, simple concept. If you enjoy building a network, automating it, and watching it come to life based on your strategic insights and guesstimates, you'll have a blast. And with near-endless maps, this game offers a lot of molds for you to live your wildest network designer dreams.

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, I think Sweet Surrender VR is a good game, especially due to its mechanics. However, the content of Sweet Surrender could do with more polish. I recommend it to fans of VR games who are looking for a visually satisfying experience. Sweet Surrender gets the fundamental concepts right as a VR roguelike first-person shooter. Yet, the environments and limited enemy and weapon selection will have players grow tired of the industrial halls, cities, and laboratories. Sweet Surrender's constant stream of updates show a promising future, but also has to contend with other VR roguelikes such as In Death and The Light Brigade.

A Tale in the Garden might be one of those games that could be easily overlooked, but it really shouldn't be. Although it is short and relatively simple in its nature, it's a beautifully crafted game with relaxing gameplay, which is ironic given the mysterious and even dark theme the story brings. The story is intriguing, and the gardening aspect is therapeutic, but also incorporating some subtle time management. The background music provides an appropriate setting for the mood, whether you're working on your garden or battling with Filomena's lost memories. Overall, A Tale in the Garden is an attractive game if you're looking for something with a compelling story and relaxing gameplay in a short timespan.

Arms Trade Tycoon: Tanks is a great way to learn about the development of this throughout World War I. With a solid look into one of the most underrated aspects of warfare, you'll be tasked with developing your nation's battle tanks. Will you lead your nation to victory, or get ground to dust by your competitors?

Outriders fails in many areas as its story is useless, lines are delivered terribly and cutscenes are awful. Despite this, PeopleCanFly has created an amazingly fun gameplay loop that will entice any loot junky out there. It may feel like a 15-year-old game at some points but once you get into the combat all of these woes will be forgotten.

Touhou New World is a chill gaming adventure through the mystical realm of Gensokyo. It's got a pretty good soundtrack that aids you on your adventures and battles throughout the game. The game is laid-back and includes loads of missions and side quest. There's a lot of unique ways to customize your character and build stats. Just keep your cool when you hit a rough patch with some levels due to some of them being a bit challenging. If you're all about that haptic feedback, this game might not hit the spot. Hardcore gamers might find it a bit mellow compared to the grand RPGs or high-intensity action games.

In a market where games are defined by either an intense combat system, a deep narrative, or both, there’s a place for relaxing experiences like TASOMACHI. The story and gameplay keep it simple and manages to achieve its desired pace and style. The surprising depth and detail of the game’s gorgeous landscapes are strained by the lack of variety and meaningful characters – leaving the areas full of exploration potential but devoid of life. Despite this, the game succeeds in building a chilled-out, unique world for players to immerse themselves in.

Game Over - A Musical RPG?? blends RPG mechanics with rhythm-based musical duels, reminiscent of Guitar Hero. Its pixelated art style, humor, and morality-driven choices make for a unique experience. While its music-driven battles, soundtrack and gameplay shine, minor bugs and the potential for overwhelming audio may affect long play sessions.

Nanotale - Typing Chronicles raises the bar for typing games across the board. This is a title that proves teaching tools can make entertaining games as well. The version of the game I played will need some patches before release, but after the bug fixes, I have no qualms recommending it to anyone looking to brush up on their keyboard skills.

Pacific Drive: Whispers in the Woods is an excellent DLC that lets you step into a wild ride of 8 to 12 hours of content. The design of Whispering Woods is totally unique to the Exclusion Zone, and it always surprises you with new challenges, the more time you spend in it. All the new characters give the vibe of a fanatical group obsessed with anomalies, which matches the theme of Whispering Woods. Moreover, the fact that the DLC includes full voice acting for the new content is very appreciable. However, there are some rough edges in the overall gameplay loop of the DLC. One of my biggest critiques is the use of Harmonizer to repair the new Attuned Car Parts. It takes a lot of time walking around and clicking dozens of times to transfer harmonic energy around the car.

As it stands right now, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is a quirky and fun game with some interesting ideas and an adorable mascot. The gameplay didn't leave a huge impression on me, but I wish I could have committed more crimes with Turnip Boy before the credits rolled. While I currently have a hard time recommending a game this short with its current price tag, it is encouraging to see that the developers plan on expanding the game's mythos with free updates in the future. I can't wait to see what responsibilities Turnip Boy avoids next.

Backbone seduces you into its world with its incredible style and characters. I was shocked by the game's first major twist and didn't want to stop playing. The writing is a highlight, and the music is dazzling. I was a bit let down to discover that my choices had little impact on the game's narrative, and the conclusion left me with more questions than answers. I don't know if a sequel is on the horizon, but Backbone is an overall interesting game worth checking out.

Many smaller games outside the triple-A realm, want to achieve the hidden gem status, but a hidden gem is exactly how I would describe Sword of the Vagrant. Its radiant quality shines through for such an encapsulating fulfilling experience. It doesn’t rewrite the genre, but it certainly punches well above its weight and should be high on the list for anyone wanting to experience a great little gorgeous adventure.

DariusBurst Another Chronicle EX+ is a decent game that heavily leans into the arcade genre. It fully commits to the theme, sometimes at the expense of player enjoyment, although you can’t deny the immersion. Gameplay is quite repetitive, and overly challenging, meaning there’s a skill barrier to enjoyment. The high production value definitely wins the game some points, and the audio and graphics are both very impressive throughout. Whilst I have no doubt that fans of arcade games will enjoy this, the difficulty and unvaried nature of the game makes it relatively inaccessible to gamers outside the genre.

The multiplayer action of Chivalry 2 has depth, replayability and, most importantly, it's fun. Torn Banner Studios have built upon the success of the original to create a game that could have a lasting impact on the gaming landscape. However, there is a distinct lack of variety in other modes and many key features are missing in regards to quality of life and accessibility. Modern multiplayer games are an everchanging experience, regular support and updates is a promise that the developers need to keep. Perhaps in a few months, the game will be in a better state with the inclusion of new modes, added customization and a greater parity between platforms.

Overall, The Red Lantern was a fascinating and unique experience. It feels like a modern version of The Oregon Trail but instead of traveling across a map and dying of dysentery, you ride behind a dog sled and die in a much colder climate. Creating a team of dogs and then sticking with them for every run until credits rolled was both rewarding and allowed me to connect emotionally. The Red Lantern does not provide the most complex inventory management but will almost always have you considering when to use which item. The loop of the game did begin to become predictable near the end, but The Red Lantern always brought me back for one more chance to find the path home.

EA Sports FC 24 gets the job done. It delivers a familiar 'FIFA' style game with its own few touches here and there. Fans who have grown accustomed to this formula will be satisfied as it stays true to what makes these games special. Ultimately, EA FC 24's most popular game mode 'Ultimate Team' is what truly makes or breaks a game. So far with Evolutions, it seems promising. However, it is not until EA begin to release content throughout the year that we will be able to reach a proper verdict regarding this game mode's full effectiveness. With Pro Clubs, Career Mode, and even Kick-Off seeming solid, it's safe to say this is a football game that you can sit back, relax, and enjoy playing. (Except for when you rage playing UT Champions of course).

Tour de France 2023 is polished enough to stand out in the sports simulation category, and it comes with some much-needed improvements over last year. However, the game is a bit too pricey for the changes alone, and it feels almost like its predecessor. Overall, it's a fun experience, but you'll be disappointed if you're looking for some major overhauls.

Bounty Star does a decent job of mixing mech combat with base management. You slowly build stronger mechs while earning money and starting a farm. Objectives can be unclear and farming doesn't feel as integrated as advertised. It's a decent game with good fundamentals but the farming aspect may disappoint you.

For all of its faults, Monster Harvest is still a unique experience that has the potential for a large payoff, if the team can rectify some of the problems. The premise is amazing, the execution is pretty great, and there are just a few more things to iron out before this title achieves legendary status. At this time, it's not a perfect game, but I can't stop playing it.

With my disappointment in Half-Genie Hero in the foreground, it's a bit easier to enjoy Shantae and the Seven Sirens's good points in relation to its abundantly minor issues. Controls are fantastic, the pacing is solid, and it harkens back (somewhat) to what made Pirate's Curse so beloved. Some may decry its simple difficulty, but for me, so long as the journey is immersive, other aspects can be excused. Neither a perfect game or a perfect Shantae game, Seven Sirens has enough magic to make it a welcome addition to a franchise with a bountiful future ahead of it.

Biomass is a hard game to pin down for me. There were parts of it I thought were executed perfectly. But there were other times when I could see that the game still needs some work. The RPG leveling system, for example, gives a nice feeling of growth throughout the game. But the stats are never explained, and it took me a while to figure out what each one did. The world is huge, and fun to explore, but I often found myself wandering into places I’d already been. A map would have made the game much better. There is an NPC who offers you one, but the price he asks deterred me from using it. The boss battles are excellent, but the difficulty means you’ll die a lot. That wouldn’t be an issue were it not for the tedious journey from the save point back to the fight. This is a game with strong potential, but the lack of clarity drags it down.

Tinytopia is the sort of game that I'd have my children play if they were interested in architecture or UFOs. They'd have a great time, but it's not something that will hold my attention beyond the time spent together. The absurdities are the game's strength, but it's ultimately held back by dull scenarios and poorly handled interface mechanics. You'll have a super cute time playing, but I can't promise it will last very long.

There’s something to be said of Sable’s casual, meditative charm and truly enchanting presentation. Unfortunately, however, it can occasionally feel empty and remains fraught with technical errors and performance issues. Hopefully, there'll be a bug-fixing patch on the horizon. Otherwise, Sable's fresh, intriguing world and solid mechanics could be overshadowed by its assortment of glitches.

Weyrdlets ties productivity and casual gameplay together by letting you raise a pet on your desktop. It's nice seeing your pet come with you even as you work or play on your computer. It does take a long time to get set up and enjoy the cute activities that are advertised. But if you want something soothing that doesn't take up much time, Weyrdlets is a good fit for your schedule.

Overall, Call of the Elder Gods is a good time for any fans of cosmic Lovecraftian tales and Puzzle solving. The characters are entertaining and the environments you visit are pretty. Yes, outside of the puzzles the gameplay turns into a walking sim, but it doesn't hurt the game too much for it to be an enjoyable experience.

It’s like watching a VHS version of a Blu-ray. The film is incredibly good, it just looks rough. And I really want to emphasise, this game is still very good, and I had such a good time playing it. But the trite phrase ‘you should play this elsewhere if you can’ definitely applies here. While I don’t mind visuals being under par, that’s a personal preference. I’m sure there are people who would find it hard play this game because of how rough it looks at points.

The Last Faith does not pretend to overcome its prior inspirations but impeccably attains a satisfying length and experience. It carefully adopts classic sensations, covering players in some of the genre's finest moments. Thus, in a gaming landscape inundated with overly ambitious Metroidvanias featuring ambitious maps, this game's convincing approach makes it an exciting challenge to complete at least once and a fair experience with increased difficulty for those who seek tougher battles after the initial completion.