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.

This recent iteration of Lords of the Fallen has finally achieved what the original couldn't do back in 2014: it has carved itself a unique place in the Soulslike genre where it can belong, allowing it stand confidently beside its inspirations. By refining the traditional Dark Souls style to a finely honed edge and combining it with some compelling lore, a fascinating world and the absolute marvel that is the Umbral realm system, Lords of the Fallen adds another notch to 2023's superb line-up of games. If you're okay with a somewhat obtuse narrative structure and the fact that it is certainly one of the easier Souslikes, Lords of the Fallen is a must-play title for anybody interested in a great Souslike set in a beautifully grim fantasy land.

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.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon provides players with a robust RPG that provides ample freedom and combat capabilities, ensuring each playthrough is filled with unique emotions that will satisfy your craving for more Skyrim-like games. Whether you're drawn by its morally grey storytelling, sandbox gameplay, or the eerie Wyrdness that warps reality for worse, this is a dark fantasy RPG every fan of games like Skyrim or The Witcher should have on their radar.

Projection: First Light might have some issues with shadow mechanics, repetitive gameplay and a short duration, but the combination of visuals, narrative and gameplay are offering a compelling and enjoyable experience. Despite the annoying controls, which may be fixed in the future patches, Projection: First Light is a game worth playing, especially if you are into puzzle platformers. And even if not, its beautiful scenery, charming tale about self-enlightenment through various cultures definitely deserves attention.

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.

House Flipper 2 is a great installment in the ever-expanding genre of games all about doing chores we play games to avoid doing. It serves as a great creative outlet for people who love interior design, and to help people discover their love of it. However, it's not for everyone. And I can easily see some people getting bored with the admittedly repetitive experience rather quickly.

Loretta has a great story which has you follow a villain protagonist with the titular character. While not as intense as being an accomplice to the crime, you control how Loretta acts after her husband’s death. Controlling the story and seeing Loretta deal with the consequences makes you want to see what happens next. It’s a shame that unnecessary puzzles disrupt the story and take away from the game’s strengths, or this could be a game to remember.

Overall, Tell Me Why is a wonderful and thoughtful game that values both its characters and story. Every little detail that is scattered across the game works in harmony to create a believable and engaging world. It is a game that is constantly teaching us more about its interesting side characters and rarely gives the player a chance to want to put the controller down. Despite not having a wild and climactic ending, Tell Me Why is one of the best stories to come out of Dontnod studios and a must-play for any fans of the adventure genre.

While the original stories remain intact, they have been reworked and new ideas have been interspersed among them. Layers of Fear doesn't shy away from the dark side of the human mind, representing emotions and thoughts in sinister art forms. The visual enhancements are impressive, and a perfect excuse for fans wishing to visit the game again. The all-in-one package style of the reimagined Layers of Fear is also an effective way of introducing newcomers to the unsettling series.

Boomer shooters from indie developers have been quite successful lately and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun might be just what the genre needed right now. This throwback FPS has you mowing down countless hordes of Chaos cultists, mutants, and marines alike with a spectacular arsenal of weapons from the grimdark universe. It's the perfect game for fans of the franchise and those seeking an adrenaline-fueled journey through the grim future.

South of the Circle has beautiful story moments complimented by a striking art style that is clean, minimal and stylish. There are some amazing set pieces, terrific highs and lows, and plenty to sink your teeth into if walking-simulators are your thing. The pace is slow, but appropriately so, giving you time to soak in the visuals and stew in the more meaningful moments. It leaves something to be desired with its ending and interactivity, but still packs a punch and won't be soon forgotten. This game moves forward with the proud traditions of narrative-driven games in small steps.

The Outlast Trials is by far the best co-op horror experience on console right now. The intensity and the well-crafted design of each trial make you want to dive back in every single time you manage to escape alive. And being able to get jumpscared and disturbed with up to three friends just makes it much better. A must-play for any survival horror enthusiast!

The original Super Mario Bros. is a game that has been there for me since childhood. It's always been a nostalgic security blanket, the video game equivalent of comfort food. It's nice and familiar, but not especially challenging or exciting. Super Mario Bros. 35 took this classic and truly gave it new life. I feel excited, tense and downright giddy about this game for the first time since I was a child.

Despite some of the complaints I have, Ion Fury is still a fantastic game that can hopefully kick-start a resurgence in classic, FPS games.

Carrion sticks to its guns and nails the landing when it comes to its simple premise as a reverse horror game. It falls short on its lack of intuitive direction and inconsistencies with its puzzles. At times it can be tedious, but overall it is fun. If you need a smaller experience that has a unique perspective to the genre for an interesting experience then look no further to Phobia Game Studio's latest release.

All in all, this episode is definitely a step in the right direction. Although, there is still much to be desired in terms of improving the main exploration gameplay loop, so far the game has proven to maintain the standards of previous Telltale entries. The plot seems to be advancing well and the dialogue is, as always, well-written. It is too early to judge the season as a whole, but we hope that we get to see the consequences of our actions in future episodes to really signify that our choices matter. Great episode, the future is looking bright!

This highly immersive game surpasses most horror titles with its uniquely designed environments and chilling narrative. Powered by Unreal Engine, the game boasts stunning character models and environments that draw players deeper into its hellish world. With a strong emphasis on group participation and replayability, each playthrough offers new challenges making it great game for horror enthusiasts and cooperative gaming fans.

The whole point of The Sims 4 High School Years Expansion is to expand your teen Sims' lives - and it does not fail in that mission at all. Before this Expansion came along, teen Sims felt a little overlooked, but High School Years ensures that will never happen again. It's not perfect, there's always room for improvement, but this is certainly an Expansion worth investing in if you want to expand your gameplay, plus the new clothes, objects and world are a great addition.

UMAMI is simply a delightful game to whittle away some time playing. You just feel so chilled out and lost in this world full of beautifully-designed cakes and their matching surroundings. Plus, there's that little extra sweetness with petting the animals on each finished cake and finding a hidden card in each level. UMAMI is sweetly simplistic and a great escapism for puzzle lovers and cozy gamers. I just wish there were more puzzles to do because I was so blown away by the uniqueness and imagination with each one. This is a title I'll definitely be playing again.

With weak exploration which tends towards being more tedious, and even exhausting, combat which trips over itself to constantly interrupt the player, and an overall feeling of awkwardness in the presentation, getting through The Thaumaturge's low moments can be a real struggle. However, on the other side is a compelling and interesting political slow burn which weaves the role of magic and Thaumaturgy into real historical scheming, even if that means the more interesting aspects of the world take a backseat. This is alongside an engaging core combat loop and some excellent creature designs. If you can stomach the slow start and are willing to play into the game's more obtuse aspects, particularly the walls of emotive text, The Thaumaturge is sure to be another exciting CRPG for you.

MindSeize will certainly scratch the itch if you’re in the market for a decent Metroidvania game with a focus on challenging combat and enjoyable exploration. While somewhat marred by a clichéd and clumsily-executed story and some occasionally-frustrating gameplay moments, it’s nonetheless a solid offering with beautiful visuals that will appeal to fans of the classics.

Galactic Glitch is a cleverly crafted roguelike that blends classic twin-stick shooter mechanics with smart, physics-driven gameplay and a touch of narrative intrigue. With bite-sized runs, meaningful upgrades, and room for experimentation, it’s a must-play for fans of action roguelikes looking for something both nostalgic and fresh.

Despite having could have benefitted from a longer playtime, and its fading puzzle elements, Superliminal boasts a truly innovative and deeply entertaining experience. Its wonderfully crafted message of hope against adversity, along with its stellar soundtrack and voice acting, ultimately makes it a very worthy title.

Monster Sanctuary is a genuinely impressive Monster Collect-a-thon, offering far more customization and tactical variety than its competitors. All other aspects of the title fall spectacularly short, however. The story is abysmal, the environments have nothing interesting to discover, the Metroidvania elements are incredibly basic, and the level design lacks any notable features. If you’re here for the monster battling, you are likely to have a lot of fun with Monster Sanctuary.

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.

Gestalt: Steam & Cinder is a superb first impression from Metamorphosis Games. It doesn't revolutionize the 2D Metroidvania genre, but it creates an interesting world and offers action-packed gameplay with good challenge. However, there are a few issues with combat that need tweaking, and the presentation falls short in certain aspects when it comes to getting players invested. As well as a shop system that can be entirely ignored relatively easily.

DARQ: The Complete Edition is the perfect way to play this 2019 hit. With upgraded load times, an improved frame rate and the two packaged DLC levels, if you haven’t yet tried this melancholic puzzler, now is the time. Where the game falters in narrative building and sound design, it makes up for in snappy, addictive gameplay and an art style to both adore and be disturbed by.