Lost Awakening is a point-and-click adventure game which asks the question...what would it be like to play a dream or a drug trip? And it completely commits to this idea for good and bad. The trippy visuals, along with the deadpan humour, carry the short game through once it hooks you. It is a short, simple and memorable experience. However, this recommendation is keeping in the fact said is an acquired taste and is not for everyone.

Unwording is an adventure and spelling game that tries to showcase depression in the life of an average individual. The game is based on how one perceives it and has a unique way of saying this. The change of perspective is what the game shows and how one turns their life. This mechanics of showing the perspective is what carries the game. And its short length does not overstay its welcome.

It's easy to say "Dark Souls with cute girls." It's hard to commit to it. What will likely forever be the point of contention with Lost Ruins is the implementation of its extreme difficulty. How much suspension of disbelief can players afford when it comes to teenage girls with heavy weaponry, and will it be enough to justify the slow combat? Despite great fidelity in pixel artistry/animation and concrete battle conditions, it will always be the difficulty at center stage. That will likely be the deciding factor on whether or not it's worth playing.

Even when the beat is done, Radio Squid remains an entertaining and challenging distraction for those seeking such. A solid foundation, quirky visual design, and an interesting blend of coin collection and self-created bullet hell allows the title to hold some distinction from the Arcade-inspired crowd. What fun may be had will be determinant on how much tolerance a player has for stringent stipulations, some seemingly unintentional through an unforeseen lack of polish. If the beat doesn't grab you (and it certainly may not), the in-game strategizing will do more than enough to last at least one or two playthroughs.

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.

All in all, WRC 9 is the best rally experience you can have on the Switch, and up there with the best racing games. With a generous career mode, countless rallies, and great driving, it’s pretty hard to fault its core. But every visual concession made to get it onto the Switch means that every race is much harder. Trees flickering and shadows dropping right out of nowhere make it hard to actually see what’s going on. And that’s pretty important when you’re travelling at speed.

Destroy All Humans is a fun game, there’s no doubt about it. A slick coat of paint and a control reconfiguration helps make the game feel fresh, but the bones of a fifteen-year-old game are everywhere, especially in mission design. In this sense, Destroy All Humans feels like an aberration in terms of gameplay and content. Franchise fans will find an enjoyable chaotic stroll down memory lane, but it might be a hard sell for anyone who hasn’t played the original.

What Body of Evidence lacks in story, it makes up with fun references to beloved pop culture. The overall presentation stands out with a deliberately dull art style and fantastic music. The gameplay is simple but fits well. However, it does little to stand out from the crowd. As a game, it takes the perfect amount of your time; any less and it would've felt a bit pointless; any more and it would've outstayed its welcome.

Although I found enjoyment in The Casting of Frank Stone, the title's main problem is that it jumps from two different stories both trying to set something up. Both the stories are building towards something greater, but sadly, the payoff comes very late and hinders the overall vision. It's still worth checking out, but with expectations in check.

Overall, Project Downfall succesffuly presents a challenging first person alternative to Hotline Miami, showcasing fun updated gameplay that many old-school shooters paved the way for. The story having a branch narrative with multiple endings is great and I'm definitely going back to see all them but the lack of an interesting plot does stop it from being perfect. Some irritations with AI, lighting, and some gameplay mechanics hold it back, but there's enough here to keep you playing and smashing heads in the name of John Wickian Justice.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is the perfect game to curl up with this Halloween if you are looking for a scary game to play alone or with friends. However, there are too many stretches where you can put the controller down and forget it is a game at all. For anyone who enjoyed previous titles from Supermassive Games, House of Ashes is more of the same.

Ultimately, Spellbreak is clearly still going through its paces; think about the drastic changes we've seen in games like Fornite since its release in 2017. Thus, I do believe this title will age nicely and continue to develop and evolve as time passes. This does seem to be the case, especially as the game has also adopted Fortnite’s successful formula of being free-to-play, as well as containing an in-game cosmetic store. Nowadays, this a tried and tested format for Battle Royale titles, and it works well for Spellbreak, making it accessible and playful, as well as offering dedicated players something to spend their money on.

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

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

Even though the developers followed the general outline of a proven formula, the overall experience is genuinely enjoyable and becomes a fun challenge once you get past the first run. That said, the game can’t really be compared to more popular titles. Pairs & Perils is great if you’re looking to kill some time or if you’re the kind of person who likes to keep their hands busy while talking or listening to something—but it’s not the kind of game you’ll likely spend hours on just for the sake of it.

If I was to review Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin on its story and production value then it would be an easy nine out of ten at least. The writing and voice acting is superb and the in game models are near perfect recreations of the table top models. Sadly the gameplay itself is sorely lacking, with an awkward juxtaposition between traditional RTS missions and more MOBA styled fast paced gameplay.

Blood Bowl 3 is a wonderfully charming game that is even more fun to play. Even so, the game falls short with it's numerous bugs and missing features. Unless you're playing offline, the microtransactions and server issues are constantly apparent and getting in your way. If you're looking for a game solely for offline play, Blood Bowl 3 may be for you. Otherwise, you probably want to skip it. Hopefully, with a few updates, Blood Bowl 3 will be as great as it can be.

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

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.

The conclusive episode to Telltale's Expanse series didn't leave us wanting more. Instead, we were satisfied with the ending (or should we say endings). Of course, the short episode length instills the feeling of something missing, yet episode 5 manages to bring everything together and tie it down well. As a result, we can accept this as a respectable effort from Telltale as their game wasn't too bad in the end. Dull gameplay elements, not enough time with the crew, really short episodes, and the occasional illusion of choice is what prevents this game from being a Telltale classic. Nevertheless, for fans of the television series, this episodic game is definitely one you can enjoy.

After waiting for the chance to play it on PlayStation 5, The Last Case of Benedict Fox doesn't give me everything I wanted, but gives enough for a decent trip into the world of Lovecraft. Though its story and parts of the combat do let the game down, the art style, puzzle solving and the exploration that Metroidvania's provide really did save it from me putting it down and never playing again.

Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Volume 1 is a mixed bag of nostalgia. As a groundbreaking piece of hardware at the time of release, I’d highly recommend SNK fans to check this out. As games, time has taken its toll on most of them. Ranging from solid to nearly unplayable, these games hit the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Fighting fans or those who want to carry a fun golf title around will be satisfied with their purchase. Retro RPG players will find something to love here too. If you want that Metal Slug fix, you’re better off looking elsewhere. Overall, the selection is a strong start. With some key titles missing, a second go-around with included improvements will be a welcomed addition when it eventually releases.

Genesis Noir is a shooting star – an engrossing, mind-blowing marvel in the moment, but its glitter does fade away, and its story does not necessarily stir the soul. The interactive sections of the game gave slices of ingenuity in the storytelling of its world but ultimately lets down its fantastic visual presentation. Still, the ambitious and creative forces that banded together to create such a rich experience are worthy of admiration. If you enjoy artsy games with a whole lot of flair, the game is worth checking out for its style alone.

Super Meat Boy 3D successfully preserves the fast-paced, challenging gameplay fans expect, offering plenty of content for those who enjoy mastering difficult platforming. However, its shift to 3D reduces precision and introduces camera and control issues. While some will enjoy the added freedom, others may find it frustrating, making it a solid but imperfect evolution.

Mia and the Dragon Princess is an entertaining FMV game with branching storylines and great action sequences. Other than those strengths, nothing else stands out as the story isn’t developed enough for an impact. Railroading forces the story to go in certain directions, removing the choices that most players are making. While the story itself is decent, playing to unlock all the scenes peels away the exterior to show you the flaws.

Full Metal Sergeant gives you an interesting roguelike experience with a training simulator. You must train your soldiers to fight against enemies who get progressively stronger the deeper you go. The game is short, and sometimes not being able to retain your experienced veterans doesn’t make much sense. But there is a solid training simulation experience if you stick around, and it can provide some fun for a few hours.

While offering little to sink your teeth into, Kirby's Dream Buffet is some of the sweetest chaotic fun you can get for only $14.99 USD. I would recommend picking it up if you and some friends are hungry to get a taste of something bubbly and cute. While it is still fun on your own, there's only so much you can get out of the limiting offerings. I personally had a blast and will definitely open it up every once and a while. Especially whenever I feel bored and hungry at the same time. If you just want something to play with friends, you can't go wrong here!

I used to have a motto of sorts for finding good restaurants. "Authentic doesn't mean good." You can't base the quality of something purely on how close it mirrors the thing it's representing. Trans-Siberian Railway Simulator is very authentic. Authentic stretches of kilometers filled with nothing but snow. Authentic silence. Authentic cold. It tries to spice things up with the absurdity of your Mafia missions, like being asked immediately to blow up a bridge. That shininess wears thin very quickly though, and the absurdity quickly turns to monotony. There's a decent game in here. If you like train sims, it's perfectly functional. If you like shooters... maybe look elsewhere. If you're looking for both, well, that's weird. But so is this game.