I have some mixed feelings, but as a video game, Spider-Man 2 works really well. Hopefully Nixxes can fix the random crash issues. I'd still say that the first part worked better for me.

As an update package, the Switch 2 Edition isn't all that special. It doesn't technically improve anything other than the Jamboree TV portion, and the game modes only offer short-term fun before they start repeating themselves. The best part of Mario Party, in my opinion, is the minigames, both in the entire package and in this update. But would I pay 20 euros for them? Maybe not.

Simon the Sorcerer Origins is a finely crafted and gorgeous throwback to the heyday of the genre. It is witty, fun, and wholesome in a way that should delight gamers of all ages. I loved it more than I could have anticipated.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is bettered by its sequel in every way imaginable, and while the enhanced offering does improve the technical side, it also highlights everything else where Henry's second adventure soars. It's not a bad game, but this release is for the fans only.

The debut game from French developer ZDT Games hides a surprisingly difficult and even frustrating combination of puzzle-solving and platforming behind its colorful and vibrant art style. I loved Darwin's Paradox, I hated Darwin's Paradox!

Luto works on the border between psychological horror and puzzle game. Unfortunately, the latter part doesn't always work and breaks the rhythm of the game. In addition, the plot, which verges on surreal, does not hold up until the end. Otherwise, the horror from the Spanish studio offers a great atmosphere, absurd events and a dark work of mourning.

The strategy classic has been transformed into a modern version that carries with it the joys and sins of the original game.

An agile stealth game leaves a bloody taste in your mouth.

People of Note is a musically themed RPG that shines brightest in its worldbuilding, humor and characterful music videos. Its genre‑based setting is clever and consistently entertaining, but the turn‑based combat never fully embraces the rhythm‑game twist the premise promises. While the story and presentation offer charm, the repetitive battles and uneven mechanics keep the adventure from reaching its full potential.

Patapon 1+2 Replay doesn't reinvent a thing, but it does remind us why this charming oddity became such a beloved cult classic in the first place. The whimsy is as timeless as ever, even if the rest isn't.

There are very few concrete improvements in MotoGP 26, compared to previous instalments in this generation. It still delivers functional and content-rich motorcycling, with some stupid and rude AI drivers.

South of Midnight is a melancholic action-adventure set in the American South, where Hazel embarks on a journey through a sorrowful magical world filled with monsters and dark family secrets. The game blends platforming and combat, but both feel unrefined—movement is stiff, fights are repetitive, and level design lacks depth. While the narrative and Southern folklore elements are compelling, the gameplay struggles to keep up, making it a title best experienced through Game Pass rather than a full-price purchase.

Promise Mascot Agency blends gracefully many different genres and charms with its originality, but the title, which relies heavily on visual novel-style storytelling, can be very boring at times.

What kind of experience is the new Just Dance from the perspective of a dance newbie? Well, first of all, everything is cheerful, lively, and colorful – which isn’t necessarily my cup of tea, but you get used to it. On the other hand, everything runs smoothly (at least on Switch 2), and the experience has been pleasant enough that I definitely plan to keep sweating it out on the "home dance floor". What bothers me more, however, is the lack of imagination, especially regarding the game modes. It all feels a bit too safe for my taste, even though there’s so much potential to do more.

Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall is a strong sequel to the original indie hit, blending narrative adventure with light resource management. Continuing directly from the first game, players once again balance the demands of ruling a medieval kingdom – making decisions for subjects, managing limited supplies, and navigating a branching story influenced by past choices. New mechanics, like prestige conversion and kingdom upgrades, deepen the strategy without overwhelming player. The structure remains approachable, with clear guidance and manageable consequences. While not radically innovative, Snowfall offers more of what made the original so beloved – engaging storytelling paired with meaningful, strategic decision-making.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE is a completely new version of the game initially made for Playstation 2 and later on Wii. The story revolves around twins Mio and Mayu who find themselves trapped in a village shrouded in eternal night.

There’s a reason why Pokémon are so beloved. LeafGreen and FireRed Versions are both still undeniably enjoyable, evergreen releases and have aged well, because their mechanics were so carefully designed from the very beginning. At their best, they take me back in time to a more carefree life – for example to those moments when I was a kid and sat on the yard swing for hours, playing with my Game Boy. As a re-release however, it is too lazy and cynical, topped off with a price tag that’s a bit too high.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is an ambitious and often pretty game that suffers from poorly balanced combat, terrible design choices, and some truly awful technical glitches. This one is for diehard fans of the genre, and even they should consider replaying something else first.

Herdling is a charming and emotionally engaging game where players guide horned creatures through beautifully crafted landscapes, using simple mechanics and thoughtful design. While the journey is mostly delightful, minor technical issues and a somewhat familiar ending may leave seasoned fans of Okomotive’s previous titles wanting more.

In The Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature expansion pack, you'll grow wings and experience what the world looks like from a mischievous fairy's perspective. The best things were the fairy-like clothes and the natural life skills, but the new area Innisgreen was a bit lacking.

With Mafia: The Old Country, Hangar 13 is definitely on the right track. Hopefully we get more Mafia in the coming years – with just a little bit better thought mission design please.

The annual hockey update arrived a little earlier this year, but it still feels very much the same.

The metagame-like hero motivation game feels fun, but lukewarm.

Lushfoil Photography Sim is, as its name suggests, a simulator that requires dedication and enjoyment of a peaceful rhythm. With small updates, the title can be improved even more, but even now it offers an excellent basis for enjoying photography and visiting world-famous landscapes in search of peace. Of course, it is not a substitute for a proper photography course, but it may give an impetus to a new or forgotten hobby. The game is not for everyone, but for its target audience it is almost a perfect match.

In short, System Shock 2 is better than ever in its remastered form. It managed to win me over, even though certain aspects have inevitably aged over the past quarter of a century and the graphics scream the late '90s. Despite its minor flaws, it has aged more gracefully than many of its contemporaries and absolutely still deserves its place on the imaginary Walk of Fame of video games. On top of that, it’s easier to recommend to newcomers than its remade predecessor.

Don't Nod's new release holds up almost as well as Life is Strange.

A high concept surreal experience drawing inspiration from the works of David Lynch, Terry Gilliam and George Orwell, Karma: The Dark World is a passable debut work of Shanghai based Pollard Studio. Technically the presentation is solid, but story is all over the place and writing borderline cringe.

Atomfall leans really heavily on Britishness. The atmosphere, the turns of phrase, and there are nods to several British media products, such as Doctor Who. If this is not your cup of tea, it will certainly affect your enthusiasm for the game. The title just failed to hook me. Atomfall is not a bad game, but it doesn't really resonate in any way. I was never really immersed in the world, but I constantly felt like I was playing a game, a kind of broader escape room experience.

Probably the wackiest Suda51 game ever. Fans will love it, others... Well, you just have to try it. As an action-adventure game, it is solid for the most part.

Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition offers an excellent journey into the origins and history of the first Rayman adventure. However, the absence of the original compositions lower the overall rating, as the atmosphere clearly suffers without them, and therefore it cannot be described as the definitive release.

A strongly performing sequel brings a long-awaited character back to the books of the living.

I think The Sims 4 Dynasties is a mid-range expansion. I like the clothes and crowns it offers, and the scandals are a nice addition to the game. Building and nurturing a dynasty isn't my style of play, but for many, they'll definitely add a lot more fun to the game.

Super Meat Boy 3D is brutal yet addictive and genuinely fun platformer. However, I can’t help but think it would be even better if its spatial perception issues and somewhat shaky controls could be refined into better shape. It’s enjoyable as it is, but with the difficulty level soaring through the clouds, it would admittedly be nice if not quite so many attempts didn’t end in death due to slightly clunky gameplay. Be that as it may, the action is enjoyable, quirky and anarchic, and that alone earns it a lot of forgiveness in my eyes.

Tides of Tomorrow is gorgeously crafted and features a brilliant take on asynchronous multiplayer. It's a shame that player agency is surprisingly shallow and limited, and the game is too long to entice multiple playthroughs and experimentation.

Little Nightmares III is an atmospheric title that continues the series' typical twisted horror with a too-unsurprising approach. The two-player element doesn't add enough to the package, and many of the levels don't offer enough to explore to make the adventure rewarding. The level set at a carnival comes closest to the atmosphere of the original series, but many other sections lag behind. The Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition, released at the same time, is definitely the best way to immerse yourself in the Tarsier universe; the sequels haven't achieved the same excellence.

Medieval swordplay plays a big role in Blades of Fire, where combat is the strongest part of the game.

Those who miss retro 3D platformers will certainly enjoy Ruffy's colorful world, but as a modern platformer it offers too varied an experience. At times the bear's own adventure is captivating, but the difficulty level too often swings from easy to illogical, and the adventure doesn't feel rewarding enough. Too bad, because there was potential for better.

In a nutshell, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is mostly as dull as the elementary basics and disappointingly lacking in meaningful content, which results in a largely flat emotional curve, aside from the ending.

Out of Sight is a fairly traditional horror adventure, for better or worse. It's not terribly scary, and the puzzles are relatively straightforward, but it's still a fun game to play. The innovative camera angles add just enough novelty to the genre that you'll enjoy the short single-player story.

Architect Life is a nice little design-your-own-house game, which is definitely not a hard core simulator, but should offer a modicum of fun for those on the highest rung of Maslow's ladder. There is little challenge, and some minor bugs and other annoyances, but at least this is an acceptable entry in a genre that is not too crowded.

Legacy of Kain: Defiance still isn't a particularly great game, but its remaster is nothing short of superb. This is how remasters are meant to be done.

Packed with anime influences and an occasionally thrilling story, Code Vein II is not a bad game, but it is overstuffed and aimless to the point that it feels less than the sum of its parts.

Gex Trilogy is undoubtedly a fascinating time travel back to the 90's, and I can recommend the trip to nostalgics, those who have missed the character's prime time, and simply for people who are curious about the 90's. BUT: it must be emphasized that it is very much a product of its time in both look and sound (yes, not all the jokes have necessarily aged gracefully), so it’s not something I’d recommend to newcomers right off the bat.

The wacky and murderous feast gets even better when the universes last hero gains access to a skateboard, a host of new weapons, and an even more diverse playground to wreak havoc in, among other things. High on Life 2 is a sequel that improves virtually every aspect compared to its predecessor, including writing and the jokes. Hopefully the occasional technical issues can still be ironed out – luckily the updates that have been released so far show that things are heading in the right direction.

Agatha Christie – Death on the Nile is the most enjoyable Hercule Poirot game I’ve played to date. With engaging puzzles, dual protagonists, and a well-paced mystery, it improves on its predecessors despite a few pacing and polish issues. Fans of Poirot and thoughtful detective work will find plenty to enjoy.

Patrones & Escondites' Your House stumbles in the most important thing, the puzzles. You are too often left feeling frustrated when you spend too much time on a particular puzzle. However, as a concept, it is interesting and in some ways also unique, which is supported by the clever audiovisual design.

Millennia is a grand and demanding 4X strategy game that caters to players who crave complexity beyond Civilization. Its deep resource management, alternate historical ages, and massive scope create a rewarding experience for dedicated strategists. While AI shortcomings and shallow diplomacy remain issues, a year of updates has turned it into a polished and engaging title.

The remake of Croc: Legend of the Gobbos is a lovingly crafted example of how decades-old titles should be brought into the modern era. It effectively smooths out the rough edges of the original game and offers a fun and faithful experience, complete with a substantial amount of bonus material for those interested in its development history.

Neverwinter Nights 2 Enhanced Edition now also brings the classic RPG to resent consoles with full controller support. From the outside, not much else has changed.

Killing Floor 3 doesn't live up to the standards of its predecessor, but rather offers a mediocre, basic shooter.

Marvel MaXimum Collection gathers a sizable selection of 90s Marvel games into one package, offering both genuine arcade highlights and titles best remembered as curiosities. While the collection shines brightest with classics like X-Men: The Arcade Game, uneven quality and limited bonus content keep it from matching the very best retro compilations.

This is probably the cutest game that I have ever experienced.

Henry Halfhead is essentially a semi-open playground that rewards curiosity and ingenuity. It works best for children as the tasks are not very difficult or demanding. At first, playing with everything seemed refreshing, but the idea quickly became boring. The end result is a warm, playful but not very memorable puzzle game.

X-Out: Resurfaced comes close to hitting the mark but doesn't quite make it. It stays true to its era and is overall a solid shooter, offering a refreshing experience that stands out both in gameplay and audiovisual presentation. However, its punishing difficulty level inevitably pushes less experienced players away, making it hard to recommend without reservations — except to fans of the original game and the most dedicated bullet-dodgers. That said, if you're feeling lucky and looking for new challenges in the realm of 2D shooters, feel free to add an extra star to the score. Once you master X-Out’s intricacies, it rewards you handsomely. Now, we can only hope that its sequel also makes its way to modern platforms for everyone to experience.

The Precinct is a peculiar case. Its roughly ten-hour campaign doesn’t offer many thrilling moments: mostly talking heads and crazy criminals. Yet, it's surprisingly enjoyable in small doses. One would have hoped Fallen Tree Games had focused more on the story and clear objectives, rather than just a day-by-day shift cycle.

Echoes of the End is hugely ambitious and often delightfully traditional in the best kind of way. It's also riddled with baffling design choices, clunky mechanics, and some truly clunky dialog. Nevertheless, it's a great calling card for a studio that will do better in the future.

Syberia - Remastered is successful re-release (especially visually) that remains faithful to the original, though it could perhaps have been refined a bit more towards a modern gameplay experience. However, in my book, the points of criticism are so minor that they don’t spoil the experience at all. On the contrary: even in its remastered form, Syberia remains one of the finest works of its genre from the 2000s. Hopefully the sequel will receive an equally polished treatment in the future, as the first game famously ends on quite a cliffhanger.

It pains me to say this, but Shadow Labyrinth feels somewhat like a relic in terms of structure, level design, and combat – one that seemingly never witnessed the birth of games like the Ori series or Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. In principle, it offers the foundations for a solid Metroidvania and is by no means a bad game. In practice, however, many of its competitors do things significantly better, especially when it comes to art style and combat. Unfortunately, not even the occasional nods to other Bandai Namco retro titles or the random Pac-Man mazes can quite make up for this.

Deliver at all Costs is a light-hearted, isometric driving game that simulates the trials and tribulations of package delivery. Players step into the shoes of Winston, a driver for WeDeliver. The game's narrative is largely forgettable, with its strengths lying in its humorous take on delivery routes, car upgrades, and the comedic interactions with customers whose property you might accidentally demolish. While the jazzy soundtrack and destructible environments are enjoyable, the game offers little challenge, providing unlimited attempts and moving checkpoints, making it overly easy. Collecting in-game currency and blueprints for car parts, which offer minor humorous upgrades, is not particularly motivating due to the lack of difficulty. Despite its charming cartoonish graphics and overall pleasant aesthetic, the game's simple mechanics and repetitive nature make it best suited for short play sessions, appealing to those seeking a laid-back, humorous delivery simulation.

Aphelion is a fascinating and visually stunning adventure that has some of the best audio work that I've ever witnessed. Gameplay-wise it is quite simplistic – and that may drive some people away.

The unique co-op approach captures the edgy feel of Control, but still offers only a sloppy experience.

The sequel to the legendary Bloodlines disappoints expectations, even though it constitutes a functional, narrative action game.

Lost Soul Aside is a particularly frustrating case. Yang Bing and his team have managed to create flashy and quite fun action game full of mostly well-designed boss fights, nice graphics and great music. But nearly everything else around it is so hollow and tedious that it was hard to muster the energy to see it through to the end. And I apologize for nitpicking about the price, but when a game drains roughly 70 euros from your wallet, certain aspects really should be in a much better state.

Wreckreation tries to bring Burnout back to life, but it lacks the things that made Burnout fun in the first place.

Bye Sweet Carole is a very frustrating gaming experience. The adventure is really beautiful, but the impressive appearance alone cannot save the game. The clumsy controls, the back and forth trotting and running away from monsters cause ultimate irritation, so it doesn't matter how beautiful the adventure looks. The thing would work better as a movie: Bye Sweet Carole is nice to watch, but not to play.

Swery and Suda together! What could possibly go wrong? Well, unfortunately, quite a lot of things. It’s just a true shame that personality and horror movie references alone doesn’t make for a good gameplay experience. Maybe masochists and roguelite veterans will get more out of this, but for me it fell disappointingly flat. Here’s hoping that Suda’s next epic will deliver on its promises better next year.

RENNSPORT promises much but delivers very little. A competent driving experience is ultimately ruined by several technical problems and general lack of passion towards racing.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is an interactive introduction to the new console’s features - the concept is fun and very Nintendo, but the execution feels dull at times, making the experience feel like doing chores.

Sacred 2 Remaster is an updated version of the nearly 20-year-old action RPG. It suffers from severe technical issues despite only modest improvements to controls and visuals. While the game still offers a vast world, countless quests, and the familiar loop of battling monsters and collecting loot, the remaster is plagued by bugs, missing tutorials, confusing mechanics, and the removal of multiplayer. Frequent glitches affect quests, inventory management, and trophies, leaving players frustrated even after multiple patches. Despite moments of enjoyment in its monster-slaying grind, the remaster cannot yet be recommended due to its instability.

I thought for a long time on how to rate this release. From a preservation perspective, Glover is an interesting case indeed, but as a remaster, it barely deserves two stars. However: when the game works and the level design shines (rarely), it does have some fun moments and quirky ideas. The music is also quite catchy in many places, so it's not a completely hopeless case. Nevertheless, Glover would've needed a lot more work to make it more appealing and relevant for younger generations.

Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator is pretty mediocre title. There are some realistic puzzles which keep you occupied for a while. However, don't expect to be driving around with an excessive sense of speed, where you're rushing through the city and saving the patient's life with heroic actions, defying dangers. It's not that.

MindsEye is still not a good game. It has received several fixes after the release and now it is at least playable. But the story, gameplay... Everything screams mediocrity. The driving is fun though.

Without a Dawn feels down-to-earth, even small-scale compared to Makkonen's previous games, but at the same time it's a truly heavy experience. The visual novel takes you straight into darkness, both literally and figuratively.

Kvark is an old-school shooter that pays homage to Half-Life, but doesn't bring anything new to the genre. While it successfully captures the aesthetics and design quirks of turn-of-millennium games, its low-resolution textures, clunky enemy models, and frustrating gameplay mechanics make it feel outdated rather than nostalgic. The story unfolds through diary entries, posters and videos with a touch of Slavic sarcasm, but ultimately, the repetitive action and rigid save system remind players why modern shooters have evolved past these limitations.

Despite its minor flaws, Stratogun is a minimalist, enjoyable, and visually striking arcade shooter that pushes players to their limits but rewards effort generously. It’s not the easiest game difficulty-wise, but thanks to its well-designed gameplay loop, frustration never really got the chance to set in.

Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition is the best way to experience the series' first installment. It's still a great game, even if it's a bit frustrating at times due to the difficulty spikes.

Stranded in the icy wilds with only a therapy bot for company, Arctic Awakening promises mystery and emotion but delivers frustration and bugs. There’s a great game buried in the snow, but it’s still waiting to be uncovered. Maybe the upcoming updates will help.

Earthion is an amazing shoot 'em up, that by no means revolutionizes the world, and those who are already lukewarm toward the genre may not find a new favorite here either. But it’s impossible not to appreciate how everything that Ancient and Bitwave have done radiates love and passion for the genre as well as for the Sega’s old hardware. Since the final product is simply a thoroughly well-designed and polished game with awesome soundtrack, why not reward it with five stars?

Playing an endless loop was a very fascinating experience in the DEATHLOOP release, but P1: Anchor Light gets on your nerves after just a few plays.

Project Motor Racing offers a very satisfying driving experience at its best. However, it definitely requires a dedicated steering wheel setup and preferably a group of like-minded people online as opponents.There are also better options on the market that cater to all players.

Sleep Awake is a few hours long horror-themed walking simulator. For a horror game, it's not scary at all, and playing it is a frustrating and boring experience.

Are you afraid of the dark and enjoy the adrenaline rush it brings? Captured traps you in it.

Minishoot' Adventures was stumbled upon on Game Pass by total coincidence, but it immediately charmed a bit sour game journalist, maybe forever.

A plain poker game whose main attraction is the four characters from various franchises. Serves to answer the question: what do video game characters do when they are off duty.