Plucky Squire is a charming adventure that lacks just a “little something” to make it truly magical. Packed with visual and gameplay discoveries, All Possible Futures' software doesn't take enough time to delve into its universe, its characters and its 3D phases, which are well integrated into the rest of Jolt' epic. These shortcomings prevent the journey from being a memorable one, but make no mistake: this is still a very fine videogame tale, calibrated for the whole family.

We'd probably have preferred to wait for a more accomplished version of the magical sport in the next Hogwarts Legacy, but “Quidditch Champions” at least has the merit of existing. With a lifespan shorter than watching all 8 Harry Potter films, the latest title from Unbroken Studios and Warner Bros Games seems to be a foretaste of what fans can expect in the near future. With its free-to-play packaging, it's a complete experience where you can play every role on a Quidditch team, for less than 30 euros.

For its first major adventure on PS5, Astro Bot can boast a near flawless performance. Although we feel it lacks a “real” final world, Team Asobi's title is quite simply THE new benchmark for 3D closed-level platformers. Packed with excellent gameplay and level design ideas, it also takes full advantage of the PS5's power to bring new things to the table, offering a veritable fireworks display that takes players from surprise to surprise.

Space Marine 2 offers a gameplay experience that's both short and intense. It's very satisfying to shred hordes of enemies in the middle of an epic battlefield. It's beautiful, polished and easy to get to grips with, but its lack of content will grieve all those who were hoping to invest more time in its cooperative mode. The gameplay quickly becomes tiresome, while the lack of variety in the enemies and missions on offer doesn't help either. But there's potential here, with a very good base. We'll be keeping an eye on how Space Marine 2 develops over the coming months and years.

Visions of Mana is a good game that follows in the footsteps of its predecessors with brio, featuring action-packed combat and an interesting storyline, even if the set-up leaves little room for surprise. Nevertheless, it succeeds in taking us on a journey through its richly colorful universe, thanks in particular to a fine soundtrack and its diverse environments. And if you're still in doubt after reading this review, don't hesitate to try out the demo, which is free and will enable you to form your own opinion.

Age of Mythology was a banger for its time, and even today it remains a good game for RTS fans, especially those who appreciate a slightly slower gameplay system than Warcraft/Starcraft. Only Retold offers little more than graphical improvements and a slightly reworked campaign. The new game mode to be added post-launch may change this opinion, but today, it's hard to see a compelling reason to buy this version.

Helldivers 2 is by far the most fun we've had with multiplayer in recent years, and Arrowhead Game Studios has really created something special here. It's absolutely addictive to dive into the action again and again, validating objectives under a deluge of explosions and enemies. Unfortunately, many flaws seriously spoil the party, even months after release. Each new update introduces new bugs, while many of those present since release are still present, as are the huge performance problems. The studio has also shot itself in the foot by nerfing the most effective and popular weapons with each patch, rather than seeking to make the dozens of others interesting.

Concord is too daring a gamble for Firewalk and PlayStation Studios, who are releasing a 100% multiplayer pay-to-play game in a pool of already famous free-to-play games. While the game isn't fundamentally bad, it's slower and less dynamic than its rivals, which will hold some players back, and in no way revolutionizes the genre, which might have justified the entry fee. The game aims to be that “hero-shooter for casuals par excellence”, but does this genre have a place in today's ecosystem, and a paying one at that? Unfortunately, it's hard to see a bright future for Concord without some radical rethinking.

An epic adventure awaits you if your machine can run Black Myth Wukong properly. It's one of the best-looking, best-realized games we've ever had the pleasure of playing. Battles are nervous and intense, but the gameplay is easy to master, with enough tools at your disposal not to get bored with the dozens and dozens of bosses awaiting you. Finally, it's a shame that the story is difficult to understand for the vast majority of players, and that the immense potential of the level design is ruined by the invisible walls, which are placed haphazardly.

In Star Wars Outlaws, studio Ubisoft set out to create an original adventure with new characters that have nothing in common with the other games in the license. The challenge was to make Kay Vess and Nix interesting enough to hook the player, and although this seemed difficult at the outset, it was largely successful. Despite a definite lack of polish and a linearity that can make the nose blow for a title that claims to be open-world, the adventures of this would-be rascal are rich and exciting. But be careful where you step: Outlaws is first and foremost an infiltration game with one strategic mission after another.

With this HD version of Luigi's Mansion 2, Nintendo allows players to have the entire license on their Nintendo Switch. The least well-known episode of the trilogy, Luigi's Mansion 2 still deserves to be discovered today thanks to its quality level design, but we expected more work from the developers for this version. It's more or less the same (good) game, with the same old-fashioned "mission-based" progression that does so much harm to the rhythm of the adventure. A good pick-up, but far from indispensable, especially at full price.

With some forty hours of content, Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is indeed a massive expansion, rich in challenging combat and spectacular landscapes to explore. The new weapons may also offer new ways of playing for the more invested. Despite its price and development time, this is still a DLC, so don't expect to see any major changes to the game's mechanics. If you liked Elden Ring, you'll probably love Shadow of the Erdtree, and if not, it's unlikely to change your mind. We can't help thinking that the studio shines more brightly on more compact games, which allow their level designs to really shine, and spare us the outrageous recycling of certain enemies.

Solo Leveling Arise is a game that has the potential to be a good one, but suffers from a lack of optimizations and a business model that will try to make you pull out the blue card in order to save a few options and time. Despite this, it does have a good combat system, pretty good graphics, a fairly high quality soundtrack and plenty of content, but it's a shame that this is spoiled by a few immediate details. However, if you really want to try it out since it's free, we advise you to turn to the PC version, in the hope that the problems will be rectified fairly quickly.

Nintendo continues to play it cool on the Switch's end-of-life, offering a solid remake of a Paper Mario episode considered one of the saga's best. A game that is bound to resonate in the hearts of many Gamecube gamers, thanks to its impeccable graphical restoration and welcome comfort options. The Thousand Year Door, however, retains the shortcomings of the original, with incessant back-and-forth that highlights the weaknesses of the level-design (excluding dungeons) and chapters that are often too long.

As a singular, contemplative experience, Hellblade 2 perfectly fulfills its contract: visually dazzling, Ninja Theory's title can only be fully experienced with a good pair of headphones screwed on your ears. As a "video game", on the other hand, it's immediately more complicated: between repetitive combat from the second encounter and poorly calibrated, uninteresting puzzles, Senua's Saga is easy to follow but never enthralling. There are a few intense scenes, but they don't make up for a conclusion that comes as a bolt from the blue.

Stellar Blade is a great success, with some serious arguments to give you good reasons to play it. It's beautiful, with top-quality production on every level, and the highly satisfying combat is at the heart of the gameplay. The confrontations are as numerous as they are demanding, and players looking for a challenge should only be disappointed by the somewhat limited number of bosses. The world is also interesting to explore, and lasts a long time. In the end, it's the small hiccups, particularly in the story, that break the immersion.

Princess Peach Showtime! is a real show designed to have fun from start to finish. By playing all the main roles, young and old will find their account without getting bored even if the Switch exclusivity suffers from some latencies, a little long loading time and not very interesting boss fights. All in all, this new Mario will convince you if you need a light, colorful and entertaining adventure to consume in a few hours. The variety of levels is a real plus since each room offers a unique decor and as many treasures to find.

Rise of the Ronin is certainly Team Ninja's best project to date. A complete game full of good ideas, it could have been rated even higher if it hadn't been so graphically poor - a frustrating flaw, given the game's maximum potential, which makes it hard to justify the price tag. Nonetheless, it remains a good experience, with its qualities and faults, well worth exploring, in a captivating universe faithful to 19th-century Japan, as well as a rather qualitative gameplay that may not suit everyone.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is a game of contrasts, excelling in certain areas such as combat and exploration, while blatantly neglecting other aspects usually found in modern games, such as playability and narrative. It offers a grand adventure rich in epic confrontations, but in the old-fashioned, no-frills way, with all the satisfaction and frustration that can entail. It's definitely not for everyone, but that's probably just as well.

This reboot of Alone in the Dark is mainly driven by its characters and its story, whose particularly meticulous narrative resources immerse us in an intriguing atmosphere and scenario. Fighting and puzzles are unfortunately disappointing, with only a handful of memorable confrontations and a few (too few) devious puzzles. This 2024 version of Alone in the Dark won't become a genre staple, but it will keep survival-horror fans busy until the release of the Silent Hill 2 remake.

It's been a long time since we've been treated to a tactical RPG with such original, well-thought-out combat mechanisms. It's a breath of fresh air. Although very classic, the main story also innovates in its own way, letting us tackle its content with great freedom, via the open-world map. Add to this a large cast of colorful characters, with pleasing art direction, and you've got a memorable time in Unicorn Overlord.

There are plenty of things to criticize, from its dated technology to its dungeons with wearying mechanics, but Final Fantasy VII Rebirth manages to hit the nail right on the head. Beyond its fantastic battles and its ever-crazy reinterpretations of scenes from the 1997 game, it's the feeling of having accomplished a great and beautiful journey in the company of an unforgettable group of characters that prevails once the credits have been reached.

Last Epoch is the perfect game for you if Diablo 4 has disappointed you and you're wisely waiting for PoE 2. After 4 years of early access and listening to the community, Eleventh Hour Games has succeeded in creating another great Hack'n'Slash, a perfect blend of the genre's ARPGs, Lost Ark and Dr.Strange. A well-stocked endgame content and thousands of items to farm follow an interesting but not memorable campaign. The game will easily hold you hostage for dozens of hours and more if you're a fan of the genre, and will suit veterans and neophytes alike, even without being as accessible as a D4.

Skull and Bones isn't incredible, but neither is it a nameless wreck. For those who didn't play Black Flag back in the day, it's still a good experience to have as a pirate, with then some pretty memorable battles and also the pleasure of customizing your ship and equipping it with the best weapons. But if you've ever had an experience with the opus released in 2013, it's clear that this title will certainly leave a bitter taste in your mouth. While the sea battles are a real highlight, the rest of the game seems bland, with redundant missions and a feeling of limited exploration. Despite this, the whole game remains pleasant to play, with a campaign lasting between 25 and 30 hours.

Overall, Mario vs Donkey Kong is good, even very good. The remastering work is clearly perceptible, and it's a real pleasure to (re)play these levels, which have been redesigned to suit the videogame standards of modern Mario games. Unfortunately, we can only regret that this overall success has been sabotaged by some really annoying flaws, giving the impression that we're being wasted. Mario vs Donkey Kong is therefore, in our opinion, a good game to play from time to time to relax, provided you're not too much of a stickler for detail. A good game for the young, the very young or video game neophytes, who won't pay too much attention to the small details we've pointed out, and who will especially frustrate regular players accustomed to more accomplished optimization.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden really could have been a great game that could have made its mark on the narrative RPG genre. With an innovative concept, a poignant story and choices that make the player think and affect, there was enough to satisfy, not to mention some sumptuous landscapes, successful immersion and a well-thought-out combat system that could have been developed further. All these good ideas are ravaged by poor technique, NPCs from another decade, boringly repetitive gameplay and exploration, and uninvolving combat that deserved better. The whole RPG aspect of the game is unfortunately far too superficial and obsolete, and we're simply content to move forward in the story to find out what's good about it.

If you take away the game's classy art direction and particularly well embodied main characters, there's not much left for Suicide Squad to convince. Its service-oriented looter-shooter mechanics break the rhythm into a thousand pieces, and the shameful repetitiveness of the mission objectives (5 different types over 10 hours of play) undermines what little motivation there is left to dig deeper into its botched endgame. It's just a decent, pretty romp to be enjoyed with friends, but certainly not at full price.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink is the A-JRPG that many gamers have been waiting for, and which will delight fans of Monster Hunter, Tales of, Kingdom Hearts or Genshin Impact with its depth of content that can keep you playing for hundreds of hours if need be. With addictive gameplay, an interesting cast of characters, a satisfying story mode and an endgame that holds you hostage for long hours, alone or with others, Cygames' game is one of the pleasant surprises of the new year. Despite its frustrating shortcomings, which we hope will soon be rectified.

Persona 3 Reload makes all the changes and improvements you'd expect a worthy remake of a cult title. The original is vastly improved in almost every respect, with far more satisfying and dynamic gameplay, richer social and relatively modern graphics. This almost perfect if a massive amount of content hadn't been left out. been left out. The lifespan remains massive, and it's an excellent way of discovering or rediscovering Persona 3, but it's far far from being the complete version of the game we've been dreaming of for years.

After spending a hundred hours at the side of Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu, the verdict is clear: Infinite Wealth is one of the most solid episodes in the saga that began some 18 years ago. Well-paced and better constructed than its predecessor, this new Like A Dragon engraves its turn-based gameplay in the marble of the series, thanks to some excellent ideas that allow it to assert its own identity against other JRPG greats. With its concrete narrative and gargantuan content, it manages to be interesting from start to finish, before stumbling at the end with a conclusion that is likely to be debated and a new game plus at $14.99.

Tekken 8 is a more than generous game, and a wonderful love letter to lovers of the license. It's a shame that its story mode is too redundant in terms of gameplay, and that its solo modes are a little less interesting than those of some of its rivals, because it would otherwise have been the best fighting game released recently without any possible dispute. The heart of the game will really be to fight with other players, the other modes being rather limited and relatively short. If the balancing follows, Tekken 8 will also be very interesting on a competitive level, even more so than Tekken 7.

Prince of Persia The Lost Crown is a pleasant surprise at the start of the year, with a satisfying gameplay offering everything that's best in the Metroidvania genre, without forgetting to innovate. The cartoonish art direction, clichéd story and extravagant action scenes may be a quality or a flaw depending on your sensibilities, but that shouldn't discourage you from playing it, as it's so much fun to explore, fight and perform incredible acrobatics with disconcerting ease.

Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising is an excellent surprise. The game features an original combat system, has a cast rich enough for everyone to find something to their liking, and boasts an excellent online mode. Comparisons with the previous opus are inevitable, but the recycling seems to have been done intelligently: we keep what's good and improve the rest while adding things on top. The game is well worth the price for a new one, even if Versus players may be left a little hungry, with few additions to the single-player section (and not the best part either). In fact, it's this lack of single-player content that prevents us from considering it a must-have, unless you're a real fighting game enthusiast or a fan of the license.

Dragon Quest Monsters Le Prince des Ombres will bring back memories for fans of Dragon Quest IV, and will be convincing for fans of the license or of J-RPGs. However, it may also hold back the arrival of new players, as its technical aspects may pose a problem, despite a really advanced synthesis system, an excellent soundtrack and good ideas such as the season system. In the end, the best way to find out whether it's for you or not is to play the demo.

Rogue Trader delivers everything you'd expect from an RPG set in the vast Warhammer 40,000 universe. A dark atmosphere, numerous cruel choices, excellent companions, exploration of the galaxy and its dangers, good tactical combat and even some rather successful space battles. Realization is also quite good for a game of this genre, but it's far from mainstream, with a lot of text to read on the one hand and daunting character progression on the other. Our biggest regret is that, like many other games, Rogue Trader will probably come out full of bugs that will take a while to resolve.

Avatar Frontiers of Pandora is a well-made licensed product. Without ever making a fuss, Lightstorm's title immerses us in the universe imagined by James Cameron thanks to a visually superb open world, but whose recipe has been around for a long time. Far Cry's skeleton is no longer solid-boned, and while it's more than enough to keep you going for 20 to 25 hours, it's unlikely that you'll retain anything from the experience, unless you're a hardcore fan of the license it's based on.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar Realms of Ruin has a lot going for it, including high-quality production, numerous game modes and a variety of factions, but it suffers from one of the worst flaws of any video game: it's not very interesting or fun. Managing your army is unsatisfying, lacking control and options on the one hand, and on the other, the game is slow, cumbersome and punishing. It takes a lot of effort to get used to its particular gameplay, and is likely to put off many players.

Persona 5 Tactical is a good little tactical game that should please fans of the licence, as well as gamers looking for original gameplay. It could also appeal to those who regret that Mario + The Raving Rabbids is exclusive to the Switch. Some of Persona 5's strengths, such as its music and cast, can be found here, although the Chibi design, linear progression structure and lack of ambition in the story greatly limit its potential. Waiting for a promotion to get your hands on it seems to us to be the wisest option.

Like A Dragon Gaiden plays out like the filler season of a good anime: we meet up with characters we love around an adventure that has no significant impact on the story, with the exception of two or three elements distilled along the way. This is a title that retains the usual qualities of the series, which is enough to make it a very good game, but it is unfortunately marred by haphazard combat collisions and a story that is too long for its own good.

Despite its substantial content and solid gameplay, Warcraft Rumble is not a game that players will be unanimous about. It suffers from a number of shortcomings, such as the fact that free-to-play progression is slowed down, that load times can be a little long, that there's no fun to be had, and that it can be frustrating. However, it will also find its target audience, who will love the universe and be able to enjoy it even if they don't spend much time on it each day.

If you've been waiting for Modern Warfare 3 to deliver an incredible, never-before-seen campaign, then you'll have to pass, but if you're in it for the Multiplayer, then this Sledgehammer Games title will win you over. Despite a timid campaign that may seem far too short and empty, the Multiplayer and Zombies modes make up for it. We rediscover the sensations we've come to know through previous opuses, and the Zombies experience is a pleasant surprise. Despite our initial skepticism, once we're into Operation Deadbolt, it's hard to stop.

Super Mario RPG is one of the strangest Mario games in its history: with its world of characters seemingly drawn from an entirely different universe, its darker-than-usual graphic style and its turn-based gameplay, the late Squaresoft's game is one of the Super Famicom's diamonds in the rough that had never before made it to the Old Continent, with a proper localization. A mistake that has now been rectified, with a meticulous translation, a graphical overhaul that does justice to the 1996 game and gameplay adjustments that allow younger players to enjoy it.

In the end, and fortunately, the story is well-paced and fairly well executed. Alan Wake's highly immersive narrative is its strength, and we can't wait to discover the DLC that will doubtless answer our questions, offer us new ones and flesh out the Remedy-verse, as well as certain characters we'd very much like to see again - whether in additional content, Alan Wake 3, or why not Control 2.

Mission accomplished for Robocop: Rogue City. It's a pretty good game for fans of the license and 80s action films. Everything is faithfully reproduced and even enriched, while offering a gameplay that makes good use of Robocop's particularities, both as a cybernetic policeman serving the city and as a killing machine. In this context, it's quite amusing, even pleasant, to follow Alex Murphy and his little phrases before a big massacre. However, the game won't be of much interest to other players. Its content won't appeal to them, it's too short, too repetitive and too poorly produced to justify its price tag.

Star Ocean The Second Story R is the kind of remake we'd like to see more of. Thanks to a host of changes and additions, it manages to bring up to date a title that has always been considered the must-have episode of the saga. Whether it's the graphics, the soundtrack or the more dynamic combat, this title has won us over and taken us back in time to rediscover the second opus in a licence that deserves to be brought back to the fore. Of course, it also has a few shortcomings, such as the fact that the real challenge awaits you only on Universe difficulty, or that the perfect counter-attack isn't always intuitive.

Wario Ware Move It! is a decent addition to Nintendo's series of absurd microgames: with a concept that brings it very close to the Wii's Smooth Moves, this new episode mixes dozens of convincing challenges with other, much more imprecise proposals and sometimes very vague instructions. It's also one of the sparsest Wario Ware releases in terms of content, taking 6 to 7 hours to play through all the microgames, with no real reason to come back to them afterwards.

We didn't think a new 2D Mario would manage to surprise us in 2023, but it has. The new team at the plumber's bedside have outdone themselves, offering Nintendo Switch players a fun platformer that surprises from its first to its last stage, and is absolutely delightful. We can only criticize the game's lifespan and its somewhat limited challenge in the quest for 100%, but nothing that will prevent you from having an excellent time.

Endless Dungeon surprises by offering a well-thought-out, modernised evolution of its original recipe. It manages to mix genres and offer multi-faceted gameplay, with a certain complexity, but without becoming too heavy-handed or untenable in co-op. What we end up with is a rogue-lite with a good balance between strategy and action, with a strong tactical twist in single-player, and which requires good teamwork and a lot of communication in multiplayer. In both cases, it's a game you should try out for yourself to discover a fresh, innovative game that you can't help but want to play again and again.

This should probably boost the popularity of Marvel games. Spider-Man 2 is a real slap in the face when it comes to game-movies, but above all it's a great way to end the year. While a few redundancies in the ancillary activities may detract from the 100% enjoyment, the well-crafted storyline, comfortable gameplay and attention to detail make this third opus the autumn blockbuster that many have been waiting for.

Even though it's much better than the first title of the same name, like its previous iteration, Lords of the Fallen struggles to emulate the delicate recipe that made Souls such a success. All the ingredients are there, and it even brings its share of interesting new features to distinguish itself from its models, but the result falls a little short of expectations. The gameplay is a little disconcerting, and the difficulty can very quickly turn into intense frustration due to some ill-advised balancing. It's all the more of a shame given that the game has the makings of a great title in terms of production and content. It's best reserved for fans of the genre who aren't afraid of all that.

Like its predecessor, The Return of Detective Pikachu is a kind of visual novel that tells us a story, with the difference that this time it offers us greater freedom of movement and side activities in addition to the main adventure. It's a pity that no progression system has been implemented, but the scenario is a priority here, and it's not for nothing that it was easily adapted for the cinema. The title's Japanese and English dubbing has been very well done, encouraging us to leave the cinematics behind. In short, Returns may seem a little empty, but it's a breath of fresh air that does the license a world of good.

Assassin's Creed Mirage is the return to basics that Ubisoft had hoped for. Without reinventing the JV tricks of the trade, it relies on solid fundamentals (infiltration, parkour, exploration), simple but effective characters and storyline, and is one of the pleasant surprises of 2023. More than just Valhalla's DLC, Mirage takes us away and immerses us in a splendid Baghdad, full of life and activity, where it's easy to get lost by stealth.

All in all, EA FC 24 already seems to be a clear departure from previous editions of FIFA, and that's just as well for the launch of this new era. EA Sports has succeeded in seducing the majority of FIFA fans, who will rediscover what they loved about the game, while discovering new ways of playing the universal game. This 2023/2024 season has not seen the last of its surprises, and even if a few imperfections still remain, we hope that the big back-to-school update won't make the game boring and unbalanced. Beware, however, of the PlayStyles, which could quickly prove too powerful for some players. All that's left is to wish you a good game, or rather, a good match!

Phantom Liberty is a worthy expansion for Cyberpunk 2077. The new zone isn't huge, but there's still plenty to keep you busy, especially with its action-packed plot and new activities. The story is gripping, and it's hard to choose between its various branches, all of which deserve to be explored. There are a few missed opportunities, but we came away satisfied nonetheless. Allow 10 to 25 hours on average to discover all it has to offer.

Lies of P emulates FromSoftware's games with skill, style and just a hint of originality. Nevertheless, it sometimes inherits the rigidity of the old titles it takes as a model. It might have done better to move away from this to offer more distinctive gameplay, and to avoid distracting the player with a patchwork of familiar elements and references - it gets to the point where it's just too much. It does manage to stand out in other ways, however, as the game looks great, with settings and characters bursting with personality, as do the music choices. Overall, the result is really good, and it's an excellent game in this specific genre, and we'd highly recommend it if difficulty doesn't scare you.

The more farm games you try out (and the more you appreciate the genre), the more you see a pattern emerging. To appeal to the majority of its audience, a farm game has to be addictive, and Fae Farm is undeniably a sweet little treat that you want to keep coming back to. It has to be interesting enough not to bore you over the long term, and Fae Farm offers a range of activities and areas to explore, so you can still marvel at the game even after dozens of hours. Of course, Phoenix Labs' newcomer is not without its faults, but on the whole it corrects so many of the mistakes of its predecessors that it's impossible not to fall under its spell.

For mecha fans, Armored Core 6 is an absolutely phenomenal game that should fulfill all or most expectations. Without reinventing the genre, its content and gameplay are very solid and satisfying. You build your own machine piece by piece, choosing your own gameplay without getting too technical. Then it's off to intense, spectacular battles that demand a fairly high level of skill. You can redesign your machine for each battle, both solo and in the arena against other players. But it may well put off players who are not looking for such a special experience.

Blasphemous 2 is a successful blend of Metroidvania and design elements from From Software's games. Without reinventing the wheel on any score, The Game Kitchen delivers a clean copy with an engaging concept, satisfying progression and successful art direction.

The gameplay works perfectly, and the level design is polished down to the last detail. There are no particular surprises, but you'll enjoy discovering a new world with a host of new skills and, above all, a great deal of freedom, notably the free composition of your squad from among several complementary characters. Everything has been well thought out and works perfectly. If we add in the presence of funny mini-scenarios between missions, to bring a little change to the game and give it a pleasant rhythm, as well as the great replayability, there's not much to complain about. A new license is probably born.

Far from being a simple sequel to a cult license, Baldur's Gate 3 is a new monument to role-playing. It never ceases to impress, both in terms of its high-quality production and its incredible richness on every level. But perhaps the most astonishing thing is the sheer range of possibilities on offer, almost unheard of for a game of this scale and complexity. It's a great adventure in which you can progress in your own way, without feeling restricted. The game has almost everything it takes to become a new absolute reference in the genre, and apart from a few finishing and interface problems, the criticism that can be levelled at it is that it may prove too much of a chunk for many players. You need to have hundreds of hours ahead of you to really appreciate it fully.

We're still wondering why Capcom didn't make its new multiplayer title free-to-play from the outset: its early-access content and the presence of a store and a premium combat pass leave no room for carelessness when it comes to the product we're holding in our hands. And despite a catchy concept and cool exoskeletons to hold in your hands, Exoprimal doesn't manage to be interesting for more than a handful of hours, the time it takes to see its 3 maps and take part in the rare original events it offers. It's a big waste of money, and we really don't recommend buying it as is.

Perhaps a little too close to its predecessor, Remnant 2 remains an excellent co-op experience, at the crossroads between TPS, hack & slash and souls-like. An explosive mix that quickly comes into its own, with demanding boss battles, randomly generated maps full of surprises and an RPG aspect with a plethora of build possibilities. We do regret, however, that the number of new worlds is a little low, and that collision masks are sometimes clumsy, leading to unjustified deaths. Nonetheless, there's nothing to spoil the enormous pleasure of playing what is sure to be one of the best games of the summer.

Master Detective Archives Rain Code offers players a rich investigative game that keeps them on their toes throughout. Whether thanks to its story or its gameplay mechanics, it will bring beginners and experts alike into a universe where the cards are shuffled in order to uncover the dark secret of the town of Kanai Ward. However, not everything is rosy, as it also has a few shortcomings, such as the graphics, which may bother some of you, or the fact that the queries are not particularly interesting. If we had to sum up this title in a few words, it would be: A real pleasant surprise.

Solid is the first word that comes to mind when we think of Final Fantasy XVI as a whole, with its interesting universe and hard-hitting gameplay, including some of the most impressive boss battles ever seen. But there's still a "little something" missing, in the form of a whole host of small flaws which, when put together, detract from the game's enjoyment. There are many avenues for improvement, but with this new episode, Square Enix and Creative Business Unit 3 have fulfilled their contract with flying colors, laying solid new foundations for the FF saga.

Not content to keep its promises to hardcore gamers, Street Fighter 6 can be a good experience for neophytes. The game does, however, make a few mistakes, some forgivable given that it's a fighting game trying out new genres, or that a balancing patch can fix, and others less so, such as the lack of dubbing in some directions (even though the dubbers are generally good). The game may find it hard to get casual gamers to invest a little more, but whether it's a question of dosing out the online mode or having a good romp, the mission is accomplished and this opus has the weapons to bring everyone together around a complete versus fighting experience.

Diablo 4 manages to combine the best elements of the license. We're back to the simple but enjoyable gameplay we've come to expect from Diablo, combined for the first time with a well-thought-out, well-filled open world. The majority of players should find what they're looking for, with varied classes, a satisfying campaign, and top-level content worthy of the name while waiting for the seasons. They are accompanied by an atmosphere as dark as it is gripping, wrapped up in a AAA package of great quality on almost every level. A few details may disturb, such as the online mode, or the announced monetization, but this is probably the price to pay for a good game that should continue to enrich and refine itself over the years, if you're prepared to be patient.

Warhammer 40000: Boltgun is a nice retro FPS that takes elements from 1993's DOOM by making the fights more nervous and in a recent packaging, which makes it enjoyable to play. Nevertheless, you shouldn't ask too much of it, because basically, it's just about liquidating dozens of enemies in a succession of arenas. Only for the trigger-happy.

They did it! Six years after the kick in the pants that was Breath of the Wild, Nintendo is back with a second installment that will widen the gap with the competition in terms of open-world. If there are still many ways to improve and there are even a few small disappointments along the way, we are indeed in the presence of an exceptional title, with undeniable gameplay qualities and a total freedom of exploration, which is still far too rare in 2023. A masterpiece, quite simply.

Already made complicated by its niche Xbox exclusive aspect and high price despite access to Game Pass day1, Redfall and Arkane miss their opportunity to release a great game. This "most ambitious project" is also one of their least successful. FPS, RPG, single player, multiplayer, open world and other keywords, a little bit of everything for a lot of nothing and inconsistencies. This accumulation of good ideas and the few very good points of the game are ruined by the many problems (AI, optimization in particular) that tarnish it. A world, its exploration and bad guys nevertheless pleasant, with which we would have liked to get more involved and that the developers give it an even stronger identity.

Minecraft Legends is a good multiplayer RTS that we recommend to all those who want to discover the genre. Especially since the graphics are not bad if you like pixel art and the game is fluid. Accessible while offering some difficulty, it still takes a little time before fully appreciating this new spin-off which promises wild games with friends.

All in all, Dead Island 2 is an excellent surprise and a must-have for all the fans of the genre, that seems to us undeniable. And if, despite its rather minor problems, Dead Island 2 can lose credibility at first sight, there is no doubt that its important strong points will make you forget these small details as you progress in the game. The work done in many respects is colossal, and you feel it throughout the progression. A very good game that we highly recommend!

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor occupies a bit of the same niche as Hogwarts Legacy. It's a very attractive game for fans of the license, and it's good enough to appeal to a wider audience, but it doesn't excel in any area. While the graphics are far from state-of-the-art, the animations and art direction are very good. The combat is dynamic and satisfying, with swordplay styles adding a welcome touch of variety, but it's sometimes very poorly balanced, with incomprehensible spikes in difficulty. Its main flaw lies in its world, which is larger than before and had great potential, but was poorly realized. Progression is artificially blocked all the time, and its filling with elements, often without interest, makes exploration too often a source of frustration rather than wonder.

Even if it looks rather sober at first sight, Wartales is a rich and interesting game, with a neat content. Leading your mercenaries around the world, taking advantage of local opportunities in your own way, and fighting freely is addictive. There's also enough variety in exploration and encounters to keep you on your toes. The combat system is well thought out, with solid fundamentals and innovative elements. While a lot of effort has been put into making it accessible, it still rewards observation and experimentation, which may appeal to players who don't like to be held by the hand, but others may feel a little lost.

By trying too hard, Crime Boss fails on many points and it's a shame. It has indeed good ideas with its concept of crime management in strategic roguelite, and we want to believe in it, especially with such Hollywood stars accompanied by a neat soundtrack. Unfortunately, everything is only touched upon, and far too succinct. The actors themselves don't seem to feel really involved. If we add to this a technique that can be a bit slow and an old school gameplay, as well as a lack of rhythm and an exacerbated repetitiveness, we understand that Crime Boss has missed its chance. Only the character missions and the 6 mini-campaigns in cooperative mode stand out a bit.

The Walking - Dead Saints & Sinners: Chapter 2 - Retribution still shines with its physics engine and the interactions it allows, offering a nice immersion in its universe with a successful atmosphere. Apart from new interesting weapons and night exploration, it brings very few novelties and is much more directional, putting more action on the confrontations than on its story or its characters. It is still a very good game, but it looks more like a DLC than an original title. So newcomers should rather go to the first episode before playing it, especially since it doesn't help much to understand the context if you missed the beginning.

With this remake of Resident Evil 4, Capcom offers us the ultimate version of a title that marked the history of video games. As beautiful as it is good, this new vision of Shinji Mikami's classic erases the imperfections of the original by fixing its clumsy sequences and adding new ones, for a result of a flawless consistency. More rhythmic and pleasant to play than ever, it is simply everything we expect from a video game remake.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a lazy game, devoid of ambitions. It copies and superficially applies the Souls' recipe, in a way unworthy of the studio to which we owe Nioh. It is a generation or two behind graphically, and its poor gameplay, unbalanced on many levels, doesn't make you want to dwell on it. There are some interesting ideas in the package, but they were so under-exploited that they might as well not exist.

Company of Heroes 3 is the continuation of the second opus: a well-made, well-packaged and complete real-time strategy game. The active pause and the dynamic map are two novelties that refresh a formula that unfortunately has not changed deeply in ten years and does not bring any great upheaval in the small world of real-time strategy. Nevertheless, Company of Heroes 3 remains a refined strategy game, more accomplished than the previous opus, which we recommend to specialists of the genre.

Blood Bowl 3 should delight the ultra fans of the first hour of the license, or at least those whose team is part of the line-up of the game from its release. If you can get past the roster issue and the (potential) business model issue, then it's still a game that "does the job", without reinventing anything. The atmosphere is still great, beating up the opposing teams is still satisfying... Special mention to the menus and customizations which have really evolved since Blood Bowl 2.

With its theme based on a dystopian USSR at the cutting edge of world science, Atomic Heart offers us a rather exciting action-RPG title. Its universe and atmosphere are particularly successful, with a lively world and omnipresent humor, without ever really taking itself seriously. Efficient, the software is however quite classic in its FPS proposal, with far too many resources to pick up. But its gameplay, incorporating puzzles, and its spectacular graphics, combined with its universe and its delectable soundtrack, manage to keep us hooked throughout its not inconsiderable life span.

If we are obviously very happy to see this spin-off episode in Europe, it's hard not to see it as a step backwards for RGG Studios. The game is very well written and the city of Kyo is exotic, but the dated gameplay brings us back to the time of Yakuza Zero, while the efforts made to flesh it out are not enough to give a boost to the whole. Moreover, the wacky side missions and mini-games are far from being at their best in this episode, which is quite correct, but far below Yakuza Kiwami 2.

With 8 interesting destinies to follow, an HD-2D aesthetic more charming than ever and a divine OST, Octopath Traveler 2 has absolutely everything it needs in its bag to make old school Japanese RPG lovers have a good time. Beware, however, of this particular structure, character chapter by character chapter, which can still put you off, despite the developers' efforts to make the whole thing much more pleasant to play.

Wild Hearts doesn't just copy Monster Hunter, it also has plenty of good ideas, such as the changing environment and map installations. But the overall lack of polish and questionable balancing nevertheless proves to be unfortunate, and it still never manages to be as satisfying as its model. Whether it's the combat, the graphics, or the different systems of the game, the basics are there, but it's not quite accomplished enough to fully indulge in the pleasure of hunting big monsters.

If it doesn't revolutionize the VR experiences mixing exploration, combat and narration, Horizon Call of the Mountain offers one of the most beautiful executions of all the best VR games have brought in recent years. From its movements to its action phases, Firesprite's title knows how to make itself interesting: the fights are precise and demanding, the climbing phases are well done and the graphic quality is crazy for an experience on this support: what more could you ask for?

Hogwarts Legacy is so extensive and ambitious that sacrifices have been made. It's not perfect in its finishing touches, but that's not a penalty: it's indeed the game that all potterheads dreamed of, but it's also a too classic RPG for those who are not familiar with the Harry Potter universe. If the gameplay is not always interesting, the scenario hides some remarkable surprises and the work done on the conception of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade is quite impressive. Visiting these two emblematic places of the saga will amaze you and will take you a long time, to add to an already colossal life span.

It's been a long time since a game has conquered us like Hi-Fi Rush did. From the very beginning, Tango Gameworks' title grabbed us by the collar and never let us go until the end credits, and we're asking for more. From its original concept executed with a cheeky mastery to its setting filled with a fine and universal humor, this is a project of enthusiasts for enthusiasts, you can feel it and it obviously warms your heart. You were looking for the first essential of 2023? Well, here it is!

Forspoken barely avoids disaster thanks to its gameplay and its two main characters, two aspects that are not without their faults either. Its few good ideas simply don't manage to make up for its huge shortcomings: Luminous' title quickly gets bogged down in a rousing structure, which will take you through areas that are certainly huge, but empty of interest. The activities all look the same, the level design is very poor, as is the bestiary... In short, it is impossible for us to recommend it at full price.

Even if we are still a bit hungry and we were hoping for more novelties to stretch the story or simply more content and side missions, too few and quickly solved, Dead Space Remake remains a success overall. The total immersion provided from the beginning to the end thanks to the suppression of pauses and loadings, as well as the captivating atmosphere of the different areas of the Ishimura. We are in turn amazed, then terrified, but never bored, all the while crushing necromorphs in spades. A 2023 version of a respected and greatly improved classic, which will please those who played the original and surely even more the neophytes, who will discover this classic in this spectacular form, making it one of the best survival-horror of this generation.

Fire Emblem Engage is a very unbalanced title, on the one hand, it is very affordable for all players, and we loved the challenges it offers at high difficulty levels. But on the other hand, its story and characters made us roll our eyes all the time. Fortunately, the quality realization, at least for the Switch, makes up for it. Also, real efforts have been made to improve the gameplay, and the interface is well thought out. It's a real pleasure to play and watch the fights, which are always accompanied by good animations and music. This can be a great game, if you can ignore the bad parts of it, and focus on the tactical battles.

After a very nice first chapter, One Piece Odyssey gets bogged down in a tiring structure that multiplies the back and forth to excess, with numerous narrative cuts that chop up the rhythm of the adventure. The completely out-of-touch combat balancing finished convincing us that Bandai Namco's JRPG didn't have much interesting to offer, except for a few convincingly staged cutscenes. Nevertheless, it is a game that is just neat and addictive enough for hardcore fans of the cult manga to enjoy.

Need for Speed Unbound surprises with its graphic style inspired by street art. But the characters look really cheap. The cops are a bit too sticky, so the title offers an appreciable challenge with an efficient risk-reward concept, and a great soundtrack. We would have appreciated less limited winnings on the races to quickly buy real cars, as well as being able to play with a cockpit view, but that didn't stop us from enjoying driving, with the desire to go back each time.

The release of Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion is excellent news for all the fans of what has become a full-fledged franchise, thanks to the phenomenal success of FFVII. But be careful, you have to know what you're getting into: if the remaster allows you to enjoy this prequel with a new visual comfort, the few adjustments made by the developers are not enough to hide the great age of a formula. For the endearing piece of history it offers, fans should be able to get past it, but it might be much more complicated for everyone else.

The Callisto Protocol is a title that will not disorient the connoisseurs of the genre with many features undeniably coming from Dead Space. Nevertheless, it remains in its own right with many innovative features. One thinks in particular of the infiltration phases that are reminiscent of The Last of Us and the combat system that is much more nervous than usual. Striking Distance Studios' latest game has a breathtaking technique that will be remembered, but suffers from a certain lack of creativity for its bestiary and the depth of the characters. Hopefully, the DLC will be able to improve the game's shortcomings. To let off steam and live a somewhat horrific experience, The Callisto Protocol remains a good survival.

Marvel's Midnight Suns offers gameplay that should not be underestimated, it is rich, fun and satisfying. Fans of TCGs and tactical puzzles should also appreciate its high replayability. The social RPG aspect of the abbey also proved to be much more interesting than expected, but the poor graphics seriously hinder the immersion. On the other hand, the exploration of the territories around the abbey turns out to be heavy and uninteresting. The result is a very contrasted game, which will not please everyone, but which clearly deserves to be played.

While waiting to see what season 2 of The Dark Pictures Anthology has in store for us, The Devil in Me closes the first one by bringing a few novelties and an interesting character. This episode is a little bit better, but it has a hard time renewing the series and, despite some improvements, it still suffers from the shortcomings of its predecessors, especially on a technical level. It is still attractive, with ordinary characters and a plot that is not very well written, but a serial killer and a Murder Hotel that have an effect, with, moreover, delicate decisions to be taken and jump scares that can make you jump.

Football Manager 2023 is a step in the right direction. It adds eye-catching new features such as UEFA licenses, as well as gameplay and match engine tweaks. You can still ask for a little more to a game that is already excellent, such as improvements to press conferences, or even women's football, but it is undoubtedly worth playing if you are a fan of the saga.

If Pokémon Scarlet and Violet offer us an invigorating adventure in the colors of the Iberian Peninsula, we can feel that some sacrifices had to be made, on the graphics and technique in particular, in order to let players explore the immense region of Paldea. Breathless, it's not on Nintendo Switch that the pocket monsters will shine, but this 9th generation will at least have the merit of offering us something new in the license. The open world gameplay is what many fans have been waiting for for ages and Game Freak succeeds in offering interesting scenarios and a worthy end-game with mechanics borrowed from Arceus' success.

If Pokémon Scarlet and Violet offer us an invigorating adventure in the colors of the Iberian Peninsula, we can feel that some sacrifices had to be made, on the graphics and technique in particular, in order to let players explore the immense region of Paldea. Breathless, it's not on Nintendo Switch that the pocket monsters will shine, but this 9th generation will at least have the merit of offering us something new in the license. The open world gameplay is what many fans have been waiting for for ages and Game Freak succeeds in offering interesting scenarios and a worthy end-game with mechanics borrowed from Arceus' success.