Armored Head is a highly enjoyable romp of non-stop robo-violence that will make for a fun and memorable afternoon or two. It doesn't set the world on fire, but it knows exactly what it wants to be and achieves that goal perfectly.

Do it for your mother. Moon Raider has the style and aesthetic of a memorable sci-fi action-adventure. Where it falters is in the department of innovation and experimentation, proving a little too complex for a developer historically known for mobile titles. Nevertheless, there is enough knowledge and polish to make for an entertaining journey to the moon and back, and if playing as a martian treasure hunter with a giant gun sounds appealing, there's little reason not to give this a... shot. Just watch for secret walls.

To Summarize, it's hard to recommend Blazing Sails at its current price point. It isn't a bad game by any means, and it is in early access which hints plans for expansion later. However right now there simply isn't enough content. It'll be interesting to see how it develops in future, but a game of this genre depends on having a large community and that's something Blazing Sails is struggling to acquire. [Early Access Provisional Score = 65]

All in all, Space Elite Force is a simple and solid arcade shoot 'em up that will scratch the itch for those who infrequently need it. With local co-op, SEF becomes a great way to play with somebody without a laborious setup. Ideal for short play sessions or the odd multiplayer marathon, it's an inexpensive treat that provides a fun play experience without compromising on quality.

Great Conqueror: Rome isn't for players looking to imitate Fire Emblem or Age of Empires. It's an informative presentation of the military events involving the Roman Empire and presents this through a technically satisfactory gameplay system. The controls can be problematic, and that did ultimately take away from my enjoyment with the game. But if you're looking for a smaller title that will let you take your time and really strategize how best to overtake your enemies, Great Conqueror: Rome is a solid option for you.

Plastic Rebellion’s gameplay premise is very promising. It encourages constant player involvement, setting it apart from traditional Tower Defense titles. Unfortunately, it is let down by inexcusably broken core mechanics that will prove immensely frustrating. There’s an undeniable charm to the presentation and gameplay (and jank) that ultimately makes the game reasonably enjoyable for most of the play through, despite its glaring problems.

You will die. A lot. iota is a game that heeds the call for the challenge enthusiast in many players, employing restrictions that call back to even retro-level difficulty. Whether this appeals to you will be the deciding factor in giving the game a chance, as much else is too bare to provide additional motivation. Difficulty for difficulty's sake, it's a challenge to the world. If not for the pleasant audio/visual presentation, this would be a fantastic game for the hardcore and completely passable to all else.

Animal Rescuer has a lot to offer and it mostly ticks all the correct boxes, barring a few. The world is incredibly well-detailed. Animals have been given digital lives that makes you wish they were real. A basic storyline does set the premise but I would love for the story to expand in the future. The music is a masterpiece but the text-to-speech dialogues reduce the game's overall appeal. The soon-to-launch Prologue on Steam should definitely help players get an idea of the game and see the game for what it truly is. Animal Rescuer is a truly unique concept and has been wonderfully executed by Turquoise Revival Games.

Gothic Murder: Adventure That Changes Destiny is a great little visual novel with an intriguing story, good gameplay elements, a great style, and a soundtrack for each moment. I would definitely recommend this to anybody who enjoys playing visual novels, or players looking for their next mystery.

POSTAL Redux didn't need to come to Nintendo Switch. But I guess part of what makes a game like this, that puts you in the role of a character hopefully none of us would emulate, is that it doesn't need to do anything. It just needs to let you shoot little guns at things and make the blood go everywhere. If that's what you're into, POSTAL Redux will let you do that from anywhere. But if you prefer a game with any amount of meaningful substance, keep looking elsewhere.

Imperfections are just part of something's charm, aren't they? Despite the struggle of consuming a varyingly complete game on multiple occasions, the potential and intent beneath shine through beautifully. Effectively immersive and hits on most parts "fun" and "nostalgic," Prodigal is a feast for those craving a substitute for the long wait created by bigger, more expansive adventure titles. Even with its size, it juggles the question of whether bigger is better by making a relatively short journey one that resonates more deeply. And it has cute girls, if that's more your thing.

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.

All in all, 9th Dawn III is a solid RPG adventure, with all the side activities and exploration you could ask for. While the combat difficulty is sometimes poorly balanced, the grind to improve has an almost addictive quality that kept me coming back for more. The visual style, a throwback to a bygone era of open world games, was used well to keep the visuals both simple and exciting. By putting together some of the best parts of hit games, 9th Dawn III succeeds in breaking new ground while tapping into nostalgia for classics.

Outpost Delta manages to stand out thanks to an enjoyable combination of Metroidvania and Twin-Stick shooter mechanics. Unfortunately, instances of poor design and numerous glitches keep this sci-fi romp from achieving its full potential. At a price point that is significantly higher than comparably better games in the genre, it is difficult to recommend Outpost Delta to anyone other than Metroidvania junkies. That said, if some time can be spent optimizing the issues, I believe Outpost Delta can be a decent addition to the genre.

Endless Memories is a great first attempt at a Metroidvania and has plenty of reasons to entice fans of the genre to try it out. While the game drags at certain points and ultimately outstays its welcome. Great combat, beautiful visuals, and an amazing soundtrack made it a worthwhile experience.

If the arcade scene is your niche, you've found a surefire winner. Jetboard Joust will likely not find a large audience due to its arcade inspirations, which is evidenced by its mechanics and structure choices. Nevertheless, those looking for a brutal game to harness their skills, there's certainly a lot to like here. Colorful explosions, juicy crunch, and fluid animations will ensure that you'll pay attention for a good while. How much longer will depend entirely on your taste for its overall control and adherence to the retro mantra.

The game allows a casual experience for the novice but its true potential will only be unlocked when you crank up the difficulty and spend some time getting to know your army and what it can do. Do that, and you'll spend many hours beating back the German war machine with superior tactics to a very satisfying end.

This game was a great example of adjusting a classic formula to be more palatable to a modern audience. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, and it definitely doesn't try to be for purists, but if you find yourself wanting to scratch that JRPG itch but don't have time for long play sessions, then Crystal Ortha should definitely be on your list.

Wartile is a great example of variety within the strategy genre. The different cooldown mechanics, level design, and beautiful art style come together in a really satisfying way. While the end result is hampered a bit by the execution of the user interface, I really enjoyed my time with my tiny barbarian figurines.

While YesterMorrow succeeds in creating an interesting concept for gameplay, the implementation of time travel quickly becomes tedious, and without other interesting abilities, the platforming and puzzles quickly become boring. However, the story, visuals, and soundtrack help to make up for this, and will help drive you through to the game's conclusion.

DREAMO is a title that is probably bigger than it should be. The storyline issues and audio mishaps are problematic and do cause the entire package to suffer, but thankfully that package is built on some really solid puzzle mechanics. Moving around cogs didn't get old, and different layers of difficulty were introduced at a steady pace. Try out the demo before you commit to a purchase, and don't get stuck in the gears.

DeLight: The Journey Home has an important story to tell, about war and trauma and difficult choices. While the first two episodes didn’t quite hit the bullseye, I’m nevertheless curious to see whether the remaining instalments will be able to carry it through. It needs some revamping of the choice mechanics and the effects they actually have on the world and the people you meet, but I hope they manage it, because it really feels like a story worth telling.

I Am Your President: Prologue is a short and sweet story-driven political game that leaves you wanting more. It is brilliantly conceptualised and I definitely expect I Am Your President to take it up a notch once it releases. The game offers a fresh take on the very generic political genre of other titles and manages to make politics fun and everything else other than politics. I do wish the Prologue was a little longer as the cravings I now have won't let me rest until I play the main game. But all in all, a very good package.

Android Hunter A has a lot going for it - great music, timeless gameplay, and tight controls, but it lacks originality. If it weren't for the bugs I encountered, I would feel much safer recommending this game, even though I have faith that DigiPlox is working hard to fix 'er up. I want to revisit the game once they have had time to iron out some of the creases, but for now, Android Hunter A falls short of its true potential and lofty ambitions.

Although Speed 3: Grand Prix has an interesting gameplay concept, it fails to pull together the arcade and simulation sides of racing games in any memorable way. With a boring main tournament mode that recycles the same sort of gameplay over and over, not even solid visual design and a good soundtrack can save this game from being distinctly mediocre.

Ruinverse ended up being a middling entry in the KEMCO catalog. What it does, it does well, but the larger twist it was going for with the dual-soul feature doesn't really land as intended. For fans of the genre, it's a fine bone to chew on, but if you're looking for something more in your games, this isn't the one for you.

When compared to its peers, Millions of Minions does little to stand out. A few strange design choices and the lack of an engaging combat loop and item economy leads to a rather underwhelming experience. With a few changes, the game could be improved into something worthy of a decent first attempt.

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.

Charge Kid is a bite-sized idea that could turn into something great with some additional work. At this point, it's great for the price if someone is looking for a challenging platformer, but for players on Switch or PC, you'd be better off picking up something fully-formed, like Celeste.

Whether bitter or sweet, high school will always be memorable. The strengths of Fujiwara Bittersweet comes through the energy and expressiveness of its characters. They make the experience work, and unless you find them unsatisfactory, there is a lot to enjoy going through their stories, especially for free(!). However, from a structural standpoint, there's much to be desired in terms of variety, with a lot of things recycled over or stretched out needlessly. Buckled with some minor technical shenanigans, it's not an immediately recommendable visual novel. But above all, the wholesome vibes (and it being free) are more than enough to at least take a peek. And Ichigo.

Colt Canyon is a refreshing experience for the start of 2021's gaming calendar. Rather than focusing on a deep story, the game gives you a hectic but rewarding gameplay loop, with a combat system that has enough variety to keep you hooked for hours on end. This game going for so cheap feels like a highway robbery.

Overall, Figment's mobile incarnation is a worthy version of the game. The accessible format can garner a new host of fans. The franchise shines not just because of the music and art, but for its lovely characters and message. A sequel is on its way, which will hopefully reach in, improve and involve gameplay and puzzles as deep as the themes it presents. It's a must-play for those who love meaningful game OSTs and art-core puzzlers.

All in all, I feel like Academia: School Simulator is a great game. It's very casual and laid back but also delightful. If you're looking for a relaxing atmosphere and a great simulation game, this may just be it for you! It is leaving early access very soon and will be officially launched, so exciting. I've enjoyed this game since it first came to early access in 2017, and I'm thrilled to say Squeaky Wheel has nailed it.

I can't in good conscience recommend Silver Chains. It's not for a lack of effort; I'm sure that the development team worked very hard to ensure their vision. But it's a small package, and the Nintendo Switch isn't the best way to play the title. If you're looking to spend time in a fright-filled mansion that has an evil resident, there are other ways to scratch that itch. If you're looking for a scary game to play while safely tucked under your blankets, this would do the job for a couple of hours.

The benefits of putting all in one is that nothing is left out. An obvious assessment to many, but it creates an unforeseen consequence of having the clearly better portions be a reward for braving a lesser product. If Märchen Forest were simply Episode 3 with an additional introduction period, this would be a more consistently good game. Though to some extent my own expectations with it, given my experience with the previous iteration, also likely affected the outcome. As it stands, it's 13-15 hours of a good game just after 7-10 hours of a mediocre game. If you can wait, there's definitely some fun to be had. Just take your time; no rush.

Main Assembly is a joyous mixture of a lot of individually strong elements to make one big promising game. The game has everything to offer for a range of skill levels and has hours and hours of content to dive into. The multiplayer section of the game is a delight to hang around with your friends. You can truly create as much as your heart fancies and barring the slow driving mechanics, there isn't any other feature of this game that may discourage you from playing more!

Castle Kong is an excellent game choice for Donkey Kong fans who want to look at something new. The controls and overall gameplay mechanics don't change from what you know, but it's a fresh coat of paint on a 40-year-old title with full portability on the Nintendo Switch. If you're into chasing down high scores and are confident in your abilities, this should be on your radar.

I enjoyed Asdivine Cross more than expected. Against other recent titles from this publisher, this title shows that we’re getting steadily closer to a true home run from KEMCO. There are still some things to work on, and some rough edges to sand down, but this is a great option for a lower-cost RPG that honors your time and still provides you with a good experience.

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.

Is Samantha worth finding? Or was it really the friends we made along the way? (It wasn't.) Where's Samantha? may whet the appetite of hardcore platformer fanatics with its lovely aesthetic and intriguing manner of puzzle-solving. Though what it gains in intrigue, it loses in untapped potential. Best served as passable entertainment for a pleasant day of gaming, it doesn't quite hit the highs it wishes to through its star cameo and distinct visual style. In-between the extremes of either objective direction, it maintains a feeling of pleasant monotony—never moving, never ending.

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.

Wildfire Swap is a fantastic little puzzle game, with an undeniably charming style to it and a really solid core idea. Whether or not you want to engage with its broader message of the seriousness of wildfires, you’re pretty much guaranteed a challenging and satisfying experience with this red-hot puzzler.

Bladed Fury is finally here on PS4, and it’s a game of two halves. Whilst the gameplay and artistic design are stunning throughout; the game is sorely let down by a frustrating narrative, poor sound design and a distinct lack of polish. Whichever way you look at Bladed Fury, like a blade without a handle - you're left holding the pointy end.

Sanity of Morris is an unfortunate case of an idea with promise that suffers due to the developers' lack of expertise with horror titles. It's clear that this game wants to be both scary and intriguing to players; however, throughout its 4-hour playtime, it fails to consistently scare or entertain with either gameplay or story.

Ruinverse is a charming RPG that's great for those who enjoy story-driven games. It's full of compelling characters and fun storylines, but the gameplay can feel quite slow. The audio and graphics do a decent job of making the game enjoyable, but overall the experience still feels a little lacklustre. If you prefer more intense gameplay, maybe give this game a miss, but otherwise it's worth checking out.

DOOM 64 does have its shortcomings - most notably, unskippable logos, a few less-than-fair traps, and tanky enemies dragging things on in higher skill levels. However, despite standing out, those flaws are undermined by everything else. The creepy atmosphere provides strong immersion, the level designs are well-structured and rewarding, and the action remains satisfying. This is a unique take on DOOM, and it works astonishingly well.

The usual Early Access caveats still apply to Orbital Bullet, but all things considered it’s a remarkably robust and enjoyable game experience despite still technically being in development. It’s not going to reinvent the genre, but it does what it does cleanly and impressively, and delivers a genuinely fun romp across its procedurally-generated worlds. With more content and updates likely to come as it nears its official release, you’ll certainly want to get in on the ground floor with this one (and then fight your way to the top). [Early Access Provisional Score = 80]

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.

Chroma Quaternion effectively stands as the new high-water mark for KEMCO games. If the developers could take the gameplay and enhancements that make this title shine and just elevate the storyline and writing, their next releases could be truly next-level. For anyone who enjoys these types of JRPGs, there's room to grow, but at this time, it's a fantastic way to spend your time.

Buildings Have Feelings Too! is a unique concept for a management sim game, but unfortunately falls rather flat when it comes to delivery. Whilst the initial tutorial stage is very helpful, it feels like we never progress past the tutorial stage because the whole game is just too linear. The amount of back and forth to fulfil quest requirements is pretty exhausting, and so unfortunately the gameplay just doesn't live up to the fun you'd want a game to deliver. All in all, it's an okay game, but it quickly devolves into boredom.

All in all, Flowing Lights is a pretty novel mash-up of a vertical shoot-em-up and a precision puzzler. It has a ton of style, but the Switch port is let down by some imperfect controls and performance issues. It’s worth a look if you’re into shmups or slightly more fast-paced puzzle games, but you’re probably better off checking it out on PC rather than Switch.

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.

How We Know We’re Alive is a dark and moving tale of self-discovery with an incredible art style, a pitch perfect story, and a story that feels deeply personal. The title however isn’t terribly interactive for an Adventure Game and it may be a little too short for some gamers.

This was one of the most completely average titles I've played in quite some time. Nothing about Alphadia Genesis 2 was memorable, or very enjoyable. Your mileage may vary, especially if you're a fan of the work that EXE Create Inc. has done in the past, or if you like the Alphadia series. But if you're looking for a solid JRPG to spend some time in, you're better off looking elsewhere.

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is everything you'd want in a cozy summer game. Its story is enjoyable for any animal lover; the gameplay is satisfying, the graphics are smooth and the audio design is uplifting. The culture and message behind the game are represented beautifully. If only the story could've been a longer experience for the price of the game. Overall, if you're looking for a wholesome experience, you don't want to miss this.

I can't say that I'd recommend Naheulbeuk. For fans, it's great that this world is being released in English for the first time. But the overall execution is poorly affected due to technical issues. Beyond the bugs, the humor can be way too much, with the characters constantly cracking crude jokes throughout the experience. If you want something a little less polished than South Park, this might be a good fit. Otherwise, wait to see if it gets patched.

Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a dense experience that feels - thanks to its fantastic execution of story and gameplay - lightweight, making it easy to pick up and play. A beautiful and touching experience all throughout, the game introduces elements and a cast of characters that opens up an interesting world worth exploring and coloring in.

Luciform is a great and maddeningly tough platformer. It manages to balance the difficulty of its levels with some well-chosen anti-frustration features which generally helps to keep it challenging rather than infuriating. It’s not going to be for everyone, though, and even the ‘easy’ mode has plenty of hard moments. The only thing missing, really, is a bit of extra polish for the Switch port to really make it shine.

Mighty Goose is a love letter to run and guns of yesteryear, yet in the modern era, remains fresh and full of new ideas to reinvent the genre in an incredibly fun way. It is a triumph that once again proves that Patreon is a fantastic resource to support developers that you believe in. Whether you play through it once, or drill down into its core to gain those high scores, Mighty Goose is an experience to remember.

A massive improvement over the original, Eiyu*Senki Gold - A New Conquest is an outstanding tactical RPG and a feel-good title all around. Simple yet endearing characters with a plot that just serves as a backdrop for waifu collecting, Eiyu*Senki Gold is well worth it.

Sometimes it's hard to gauge just how much a developer personalizes their game with a soul in mind. Yet here, it's evident in the first few minutes. Raptor Boyfriend supplies a sufficient amount of humor and relatability to a story only somewhat within the mortal realm. No matter your choice, the presentation of the characters is only skin-deep; they all contain the deepness that any human can provide. Neglecting the considerable amount of nicks that bring it down as a replayable experience, this story has all the '90s flair to transport anyone to simpler times.

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.

Foreclosed is an ambitious attempt at combining the style of a graphic novel with the action of a video game. It flourishes as an interactable comic book, but clunky combat and an empty city lets Antab Studio's take on the Cyberpunk genre down. Despite these frustrating gameplay quirks, and an uninspiring protagonist, I can't help but recommend this futuristic dystopian experiment. Anybody after a short, stylish adventure, and willing to overcome some gameplay flaws will find something to love.

On the whole, Intravenous is a finely crafted homage to early Splinter Cell titles. It’s definitely worth picking up for its solid stealth gameplay, but a few key aspects of its design really holds it back from being anything really fantastic.

Hindsight 20/20 is a repeatable slice of choice-based gameplay that enticed me to play its short story multiple times to see just how much I could alter the outcome. Unfortunately, this approach means the same combat scenarios and puzzles must be repeated in every run, with no variations. This soon became a major bore, even though the fighting flowed so well at the beginning. A lacklustre cast of characters and uninspiring plot add to the action-adventure's problems.

Sometimes you need to imagine yourself as what you fear most to know true bliss. Webbed manages to create a fulfilling experience through one basic prospect: swinging around as a spider and going really fast. Barreling through forested areas is its forté, with an enamoring excitability that few games can replicate without outright copying the formula. Though it cannot remain stable throughout—the physics-based puzzles and activities outside of this freeing feeling aren't nearly as enjoyable, and some may travel aimlessly until they stumble upon progression accidentally. Nevertheless, it's an overall memorable homage to a prospect both weird and terrifying, which is generally what makes it worth 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!

Stranded Deep has a great team of minds behind it, and the game definitely has the potential to excel in its field. But for Nintendo Switch, it just doesn't meet the criteria. Starting a new adventure is exciting, but there isn't really enough to keep me focused or compelled.

As a whole, my time spend with Momolu and his welcoming friends was definitely enjoyable. I can see myself going back to this game in the near future if I need to take a step back from how busy and fast paced day to day life is. It's certainly not going to be every adult's cup of tea, but Momolu for sure has a friend in me.

A Juggler's Tale might not be a long game, but that by any means doesn't make it a bad one. It's a game with a beautiful story and strong cast of characters that is well worth delving into, and you'll love Abby, routing for her right from the beginning until the very end. The role of the narrator is also powerful and innovative. Puzzles that the game presents are challenging but not impossible to solve, as well as very creative, although some are harder to work out than others. Gameplay is good fun, although some mechanics take time to get the hang of, such as throwing, but you get plenty of opportunities to practice and work on it. Graphics and music help bring the story to life, showcasing the best and worst of the world and any situations you're put in. If you're looking for a game that features a short yet powerful story, A Juggler's Tale is one you should check out, while also pushing your puzzle-solving skills.

Teacup is an undeniably adorable adventure for anyone facing anxieties or looking for a wholesome way to pass the time. It promotes the idea of stepping out of your comfort zone, even when you really don't want to, which is valuable for anyone who needs it. I would highly recommend this game, it even features wonderful recipes for your own herbal remedies!

Mascot horror dominates the video game industry, but this game takes the cake with its unique use of the trend. The game effectively uses its strong points to its advantage to bring fear into players. Instead of using jumpscares to create fear, it builds tension to spook the player. It creates an illusion of being safe when in reality, the danger is still lurking within. As this is the first chapter, it is relatively short, only ranging from 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the player. Even with its short time frame, it packs an impressive punch into what's to come into future chapters. Poppy Playtime could easily be one of the best indie games released this year from its production quality and effective use of scares.

Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot: The First Cases is light on the "game" but successfully unravels a story like a page-turning mystery. It doesn't play out like a typical detective adventure, but instead uses a narrative that feels in line with the Mind Map mechanic. I appreciated the simple tale that allows the player to experience Poirot's process - no magic, no tricks, not even godlike intelligence - just the power of good old logical thinking. This detective game accomplishes what it set out to do: turn a mystery story into a compelling audio-visual experience.

It's a long path to the truth; good luck getting there. Though my score is somewhat low, those particularly fond of Point & Click will find more to digest here, if not a sufficient challenge. Trouble Hunter Chronicles: The Stolen Creed is a pretty packed adventure with a lot of dialogue and puzzle-based trials. If one can get past some rather apparent technical visual and auditory mishaps, it's a perfectly satisfactory mystery title geared towards retro veterans. But I really must stress: good luck.

This outstanding masterpiece from Playground Games keeps its charm after hours of playing. A well-thought-out title with endless driving fun. Whether you're a car fanatic or not, playing this with your friends will be a well-spent time and there aren't many skills required to understand this game. Fairly easy racer, yet very entertaining. The studio has undoubtedly succeeded this year again, with frequent post-launch updates and free content likely to come regularly, you will always find a reason to come back and play this game.

There’s no denying that survival games are a well-liked genre, and for all its flaws, This Land is My Land does do some interesting things. Having a Native American protagonist, for instance, is a genuinely exciting prospect, although the developers could certainly have done more to work with the people they were trying to represent. In a lot of ways, this game feels like it’s on the verge of being something really worthwhile; the setting and the mechanics are both, in theory, really interesting to explore in a video game. It’s just truly frustrating to see them get lost amid the game’s indecisiveness on what it wants to be and the sheer uninviting nature it presents for new players.

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.

At the end of the day, I'm in a bit of an awkward position with Myth of Empires. It's by no means a bad game. All of its parts function as they mean to, and it can be quite absorbing. However, it lacks the staying power of other MMOs. This can be fixed with a smaller map, to increase player interaction and speed up building by giving you more access to materials. Some sort of story might help as well, considering how quite a few MMO fans play for the story, and the added context would give more meaning to the experience. However, even without any of that, Myth of Empires is a solid game that I can reccomend to anyone looking for a survival-crafting fix. Happy building!

Deck Nine have done a wonderful job in bringing Arcadia Bay back to life in this re-telling of a beloved story. Max, Chloe and Rachel's bonds feel stronger than ever with the brand new animations, lip-synching and model overhauls. Unfortunately, the prequel isn't quite as hard-hitting as the first story and the countless bugs currently across both games can potentially ruin the immersive experience unless you manage to avoid them. The lack of 60 FPS on next-gen consoles upon launch is a little disappointing, too.

Overall, a really solid game. It may surprise some of you that I didn't give KungFu Kickball an 8, but like I said, there was nothing that really stood out about it. None of its problems are deal breakers, but none of its good points are super exciting. However, do remember that this is a new release, so improvements could very well be on the way. I'm really excited to see how it grows, possibly with the addition of challenge modes, or match types. Maybe one or two new characters with a totally different playstyle. Regardless, this is a strong start for a well-designed game.

Birds With Guns is a fast-paced and fun action game with a great arcade flavour, a little roguelike spice, with a garnish of a great soundtrack thrown in. However, as fun as it is, the gamepad controls feel undercooked, and the overall game might feel too short for gamers hoping more a longer experience.

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.

This title just doesn't bring enough to the indie market for the price it's being sold at. If at all possible, my final suggestion would be trying to get a mobile version up and running. I really think Eggcelerate! would crush it on the IOS and Android markets. However, as it stands now, the Winter Expansion doesn't really add enough to justify paying $8 for it, the base game feels more like trial-and-error than a test of skill, and there's little to no reason for me to beat the allotted time in this time trial racer. Pick it up if it seems fun, but I would recommend waiting for improvements.

Ogre Kingdoms is a fine DLC to open with for Total War: Warhammer III. It features a faction that is fun to play as with some great characters and some decently powerful units to use. However some elements of the game are poorly explained to the player and the faction doesn't really fit into the Realms Of Chaos campaign as well as they should.

I walked away from Raven's Hike with a bitter taste in my mouth. It didn't feel like a challenge at the end, but a waste of time. However, looking back at it, Raven's Hike doesn't deserve to be called a bad game. The controls are smooth, and while it could explain things better, it is a very fair experience. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone I know, but use your discretion. If you're looking for a tough, but fair, puzzle-platformer then you could certainly do worse. For me, I found the game to be mediocre at best, and exhausting at worst. Still, the creativity on display is pretty cool.

If Dwerve is what a tower defense dungeon-crawling hybrid looks like, sign me up for the genre. With its fun and dynamic gameplay, the game managed to quickly dispel any reservations I had about this type of game prior to playing it. Although sometimes a bit too straightforward for my tastes lore-wise, the game is a fun journey through a fascinating world. And the feeling of winning a 1 v infinite, eventually triumphing against seemingly impossible odds, is one beyond compare.

Very Very Valet hits its mark as a family-friendly co-op game in the style of Overcooked, but doesn't quite deliver when it comes to the variety and amount of levels on offer. It's still fun to play whether solo or with friiends, but it only takes a couple of hours to complete. However, upping the difficulty with the Expert Rulebook, and playing the minigames adds a bit more longevity to the impressive indie.

Smilemo is primarily a game about challenging yourself to get past difficult obstacles. You will spend hours trying to complete stages, making small steps of progress. Your work can easily be undone by a few mistakes, and this will be frustrating for casual players. If you are looking for a challenging 2D platformer that will test the limits of your patience, this is the game for you. If you are a casual player looking for a fun game to relax, it would be better to look elsewhere.

Dragon Forge has the makings of a solid base management game, providing a solid foundation for getting you started. However, having to wait for mana generation and awkward construction elements make base building harder than it needs to be. You are also thrown into the deep end when it comes to learning other parts of the game, such as combat or flight. The game has potential, but it seems to stop itself from being fun without realizing it.

Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate is a lot of fun. It combines a host of different gameplay styles and traits into a single title in a way that doesn't feel like it clashes with itself. This creates a game that is great to pick up and play for a short break or something longer. But be warned, this game can be hard as nails at the best of times.

Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition, for the most part, is an excellent remaster of the fantastic original 1997 game. The story, writing, and voice acting still hold up today, and you will be hooked from start to finish. The gameplay, while basic, is exactly what it needs to be. The only core issues are the gameplay and audio bugs and some of the default options not being ideal. For only $9.99, it is an absolute steal considering the game's high replay value.

More than a lot of games I’ve played, this one is not for everyone. It is very important to stress that if you are hoping for exciting, varied content, then this is absolutely not the title for you; you’ll end up bored within the first hour. However, if you’re interested in a little creativity and experimentation, or perhaps just have a genuine flair for city planning, then a lot of work has gone into making Urbek City Builder something really special. The constant shifting of the buildings never stopped being exciting for me in hours of play. The staggering variety of possible buildings and city structures promise near endless content if you’re the type of person who enjoys that laid-back, Sunday morning project atmosphere. If you are, then you’ll have a lot of fun with this game.

Franken is a brilliantly written and designed Indie JRPG and in all honesty, is possibly one of the best written games of 2022. With a sharp and well-written script, there is bound to be something you'll find funny along the way. However, the title might be too short and lacking in gameplay nuance for some.

Hillbilly Doomsday is a fine indie shooter with a solid gameplay loop, imaginative baddies, and an enjoyable soundtrack. Fans of the genre will find a lot to enjoy from this one. However it is rather rough around the edges, with frequent slow down in some areas and the platforming sequences feeling a tad imprecise at times.

CrossCode is one of the greatest games of all time. It manages to combine varied top-down combat with ingenious puzzles in a focused and purposeful way. Its beautiful graphics, gorgeous music, heartwarming story, and topical message make this a game you cannot miss.

After the bar set by its predecessors, BioShock Infinite had a lot to live unto yet it carried the legacy of the franchise perfectly. It does suffer from few gameplay related problems but those can be easily forgiven. In closure, anyone who can afford to play this game should play it at least once.

This The Ascent - Cyber Heist review ends on a positive note. It is absolutely worth playing and a wonderful experience in addition to the base campaign. Neon Giant put a good amount of love to please their fellow Indents with this add-on and may we hope to see more reasons to return to Veles.

For a casual management game, Paragon Pioneers knocks it out of the park. The game is easy to pick up, is almost stress free, and allows you to take breaks. Anyone who wants a game that you can play in short bursts can’t go wrong. But long waiting times aren’t a great fit for players looking for a more intense experience. It’s hard to review previous knowledge if you haven’t been playing for a while, and there are many complex mechanics that are hard to come back to. Casual players will enjoy this game, but those who want more intensity should look elsewhere. [Early Access Provisional Score = 60]