Atelier Sophie 2 is a lighthearted yet engaging experience that is well balanced. Sporting first-class character design, music, visuals and combat. There is potential to get lost in this dreamworld, with most of the grind being trimmed allowing the player to simply engage. It does have it's rough edges, but depending on your interpretation and expectations of the story. Not for the hard of heart, it's plain to see that the team behind Atelier has a deep love for their craft.

While Sengoku Dynasty offers a promising experience with a compelling theme and enjoyable core mechanics, it remains a work in progress. It excels in providing a single-player, feudal Japan sandbox but stumbles with unfinished features, lackluster immersion, and optimization issues. Despite its flaws, it has potential, especially if future updates address its shortcomings.

Everdream Valley is not just a great farming game, but just a great game in general. It's not perfect, due to the issues with lagging and bugs that I've had, but otherwise I've had a genuinely good time playing this game. I feel this game is suitable for all ages, whether you're a child or an adult. It's not babyish to put older players off, yet it's easy enough for a child to play and enjoy. Even if farming games aren't really your thing, you should really consider giving Everdream Valley a go. You really will feel like you've escaped to the farm of your dreams.

Sucker for Love: First Date is a perfect experience for anyone unfamiliar with dating simulators who want something with a bit more substance. This title is amusing for anyone who plays it and doesn't focus on the dating element to the point where it's uncomfortable. It's got a good few hours of gameplay and despite it's lack of story it's still got several mechanics which will no doubt keep you coming back until you've seen every possible ending.

Is this the best Outbuddies has ever been? All scales are pointing to "Yes." While still carrying along some nagging inconveniences and some less-than-presentable pixel people, the DX version is deserving of its nifty moniker. The journey has been an enjoyable one to watch for this developer, and their efforts have given modern consoles an indie face that is more than its cartoon mustache. Not only is it among the best metroidvania games I've played, but it reasonably contends with some of the higher-profile games available for current-gen systems. Personal preferences for its accessibility measures aside, it was well worth the time it took to make (and update).

Cosmic Top Secret is a fun exploration of ordinary lives hiding away incredible secrets. Cosmic Top Secret succeeds as a documentary and as a video game, effectively using the gameplay to encourage players to push forward with the narrative and discover more things within its surreal world. Despite the finicky controls, the puzzles and presentation of this surprisingly personal and vulnerable interactive experience make it a mystery well worth diving into.

Killing Floor 3 is a worthy sequel that upgrades everything they did well for the better. It may have a few audio bugs, lackluster story missions and some drops in frame rate when playing online with a full lobby but its addictive gameplay loop, fun arsenal of weapons and gadgets and the high replayability courtesy of the revamped perk system will keep Killing Floor 3 trucking along. Bring on the Halloween update!

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!

All in all, Death and Taxes is a very enjoyable game, and fans of point-and-click games like Papers, Please will absolutely love it. The story offers us interesting routes which we can explore to get alternate endings, the emporium allows us to add some interesting features, and the quirky graphics and audio adds to the overall atmosphere. I will point out that while the game is fun to play, it does get quite repetitive after a while, as with most games of its kind. We can mix things up a little with the choices we make, but ultimately, the gameplay remains the same. Death and Taxes is probably best played in short bursts.

Whether or not you're a horse lover, The Sims 4 Horse Ranch is an Expansion Pack worth checking out. Horses lived up to expectations, being beautifully modelled and animated, not being overwhelmingly challenging to manage, and providing plenty of fun new gameplay. The mini goats and sheep add a little extra fun and cuteness as well. The world of Chestnut Ridge is perfect for the new gameplay in Horse Ranch and is one of the most scenic and tranquil worlds in The Sims 4. There was some great new stuff added in Create-A-Sim and Build Mode as well, although I feel some extra stuff could have been included. All-in-all, The Sims 4 Horse Ranch will give you a smooth ride in a classically rustic and tranquil setting.

All in all, I really enjoyed playing Venba. I just wish it was a bit longer. Saying this, I was pleased with what I was offered. Venba isn't like other cooking games I have played. If you make a mistake, you have to start again, but you don't feel frustrated or embarrassed. I also liked the puzzle element thrown into the cooking gameplay. The story of Venba and her family helped me to be further engaged in the game. I also enjoyed learning about Indian culture and cuisine, and loved how the story explored keeping hold of the cultures of your homeland while in a new country.

F1 2020 continues to be one of the best racing simulator franchises out there at the moment. Whilst the game is visually lacking in places, that doesn't take away from the game's overall consistent quality. With tonnes of new additions, and some I didn't even mention like the new split-screen mode and two new tracks, F1 2020 is terrific value for money. It has a couple of flaws, but is overall a great racer that is welcoming to new players and challenging for grizzled veterans.

Journey of the Broken Circle succeeds in creating a beautiful and heartfelt narrative that will touch players struggling with loneliness. Though there are some heavy-handed moments, the effective use of gameplay and storytelling made it clear how the game won a narrative award. While the gameplay is simple, the game is a well-produced and thoughtful package - perfect for any gamers looking for a calm and cozy experience.

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

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

UnderMine provides a very enjoyable, familiar experience for anyone who enjoys roguelite games, with slow progression and methodical unlocks that feels classically inspired. The combat is simple, but it is extremely well-executed. The difficulty curve has some serious jumps, but it's never so tough that a few extra runs can't balance the scales in the player's favor. While tedious at times, each run always feels productive, and it's not easy to put the controller down. Even after the credits roll, there is a ton left to do, from exploring the Othermine to conquering increasingly difficult bosses in the main campaign. No matter how many times I played, "just one more run" kept me delving over and over into UnderMine.

Revenge of the Savage Planet is a beautiful, bizarre, and bitingly satirical romp through corporate space colonization gone horribly wrong. Its gameplay loop is fun and rewarding, especially with a friend, and its world design is undeniably striking. But its relentless satire sometimes trips over itself, burying useful info under waves of chaotic, screechy FMV nonsense or worse, a screen blocking contract. If you can tolerate a bit of style-over-substance and like your sci-fi with a side of snark, this one’s worth jumping into—just don’t expect to always know what’s going on, and definitely don’t trust your boss.

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

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.

White Day dares to be actually terrifying, something that many modern horror games fail to accomplish. And even if the story ultimately fails to be as interesting as it initially appears to be, the simplicity of White Day's gameplay elements and mechanics make you remember times when horror games used to haunt you with nightmares.

20 Minutes Till Dawn is a fun and exciting horde survival game that offers a good variety of weapons and abilities to fight off massive swarms of enemies with. The varied upgrade system allows for a multitude of different builds to use in each run. While the game has relatively low content in terms of enemies to fight and environments to fight in, the game still has a good amount of content overall for its price.

Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach is an excellent addition to the FNAF timeline, and also introduces a new approach to the title without feeling repetitive. New characters and terrors await each new player, and you don't need background knowledge to enjoy the game straight off the bat. Not only will you love this game, but you'll also for sure acquire some new nightmare fuel along the way.

If there's any simulator out there that is very simple but still engaging enough to keep you doing the same task for hours without waiting for any particular reward (other than personal satisfaction), that is definitely PowerWash Simulator. The co-op is also a great way to spend a chill time with your friends and clean together in a relaxing and satisfying manner that clearly real life cannot offer!

Resident Evil Village never reaches the highs set by its older sibling, but it is far more consistent throughout while also delivering far more content. It does not overstay its welcome and delivers a quality experience that values its time. It is both a beautiful and thrilling game that is a must-play for any fan or newcomer.

While the original Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons had a charming artstyle, the graphical update is a vast improvement, the attention to detail adding depth to the already mysterious world. The narrative and innovative control system remain in place, making this the perfect on-boarding for new and returning players. The addition of local co-op allows you to team up and play the game together, although I strongly recommend playing the game single player in order to achieve the full impact of the experience. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake sticks close to its roots and remains the pinnacle of game mechanics being used to convey a story.

RESTLESS SOUL takes nostalgic minimalism and runs with it. The game presents enjoyable challenges through a combination of simple and familiar gameplay elements that anyone can pick up and play. I'd say this is a must-play this Halloween 2022, and even beyond - especially if you're a scaredy cat, like me!

As an example of integration between story and gameplay, The Last Show of Mr. Chardish shines. A beautiful title in its own right, fans of this type of story-driven experience will find plenty to love. Don't let a few bugs scare you away, this is a title that's absolutely worth your time.

13 Sentinels is a visual novel unlike any released this year and offers a unique experience that is unlike any other game. It's refreshing to play during a time of first-person cinematic open-world shooters, to find a story unraveled in a non-linear way to draw the tension and mystery of it out. There's no one way of summing up this experience, and that's the beauty of it. 13 Sentinels is something players will have to experience for themselves.