Brokenlore: UNFOLLOW highlights the negativity of social media. Moreover, it has some horribly creepy moments as you search for clues and overcome an array of problems. Although it is short, it is great to play.

Aesthetically, I really thought that MIO: Memories in Orbit was beautiful. The stunning visuals mixed with the vocals were super pleasing to experience. This element pulls me in as a player, and it grabs my attention from the very beginning. The developers did a fantastic job in this area. If you believe you are the right kind of player, then I happily recommend you pick this one up, just for the visuals alone.

If you are looking for the definitive way to play Aaero 2, look no further than the Black Razor Edition; a superb pulsating soundtrack and addictive gameplay makes this the best rhythm shooter in years. Coupled with great multiplayer modes, great audio design and solid graphics, you have the recipe for one hell of a game. More games like this should be made and more developers should take more chances. Innovation over imitation!

Shroomtopia could have been an amazing puzzle experience. However, the lack of guidance or hints holds it back. This was a shame as the core concept is fantastic.

A wonderfully written examination of what on earth it means to be an adult. Gameplay and art both feed back into the central themes, creating a heartfelt story, with a dash of pretentiousness.

Asfalia: Panic at the Mansion feels like a soft story that invites players in for relaxed play sessions whether it’s a long train ride or a cosy evening in. There are plenty of massive games with 100’s hours off action and countless side quests. How about a game about fear, comfort, imagination, and kindness, told through a beautifully crafted world full of heart and creativity.

If I had to summarize my experience in one sentence, it would be this: Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch feels like a game made by people who understand why XCOM works, and wanted more of it. That combination won’t be for everyone, but for players that enjoy games such as XCOM or WarTales but without restarting the game because ‘you can do it better’. Those who enjoy calculated risks, tight tactical decision-making, and learning through failure, it’s an incredibly satisfying experience.

House Fighters: Total Mess is a fun arcade experience where dogfighting and other simple missions sit at the fore. It is colourful, enjoyable, and a blast from the past!

DeadCore Redux doesn’t chase trends. It doesn’t bloat itself with systems or dilute its identity. Instead, it doubles down on what it does best: pure, demanding first-person platforming with a razor-sharp focus on movement. And all that in a very affordable package. It’s a game about learning how to navigate it, and then how to navigate it faster. When everything finally clicks, when you clear a section flawlessly, it feels incredible. Highly recommended for players who love challenge, flow, and the quiet thrill of doing something difficult well.

For players craving something different, a game that combines light storytelling, frantic shooting, and a darkly witty take on retail and survival then Service With a Shotgun is well worth your time. At its best, it’s a brilliantly bizarre love letter to indie game ambitions; at its worst, it’s still a fun little experiment that’s more satisfying than many high-budget titles could hope to be.

Fiz and the Rainbow Planet is a game that knows exactly what it is, and just as importantly, what it isn’t. It’s not flashy, it’s not huge, and it’s not trying to reinvent the genre. Instead, it offers a short, colourful adventure that prioritises accessibility, charm, and heart. This isn’t Celeste but if you enjoy Gameboy era platformers I can recommend you give this a try.

Dark Deity 2 is a great addition to the franchise. Although it broke me repeatedly, I love the characters, the story, and the old-school ways. It is tough, but it has a gentle learning curve and it is pretty fair.

If you enjoy detective stories, narrative-driven games, or mysteries that reward careful thinking under pressure, this game is shaping up to be a compelling experience. Clue: Murder By Death understands the appeal of a good mystery and respects the player’s ability to solve it. Placing strict limits on time and information, it creates a sense of urgency that makes every choice feel meaningful. It is not about finding every answer, but about finding the right one before time runs out.

It’s offering a quiet escape, one road at a time. If you’re willing to meet it at its pace, Cozy Caravan delivers a warm, thoughtful experience that sticks with you long after you’ve parked your caravan for the night.

The Fortress offers a dark fantasy dungeon crawler that leans heavily into classic design sensibilities while embracing modern systems like procedural generation and choice-driven progression. Each run feels unique, with shifting layouts, unexpected encounters, and branching decisions that shape your story. Players must carefully weigh every action. From combat choices to alliances, survival is never guaranteed in this unforgiving, gothic world.

Saborus is an interesting horror experience. It combines many genres to great effect. The result is an uncomfortable game that'll keep you guessing throughout. My major complaint is the short playtime, had it been longer and more expansive, it would have thrived.

Project Motor Racing is not a good game. The frustrating vehicle gameplay, the violent A.I that comes to make your life a living hell and the fact the game punishes you for its own mistakes, really bring this game down. It isn’t fun to play and the online mode is evident that a lot of people don’t care about this game. Despite having nice looking cars, tracks based off of iconic locations and a career mode that does offer lots of freedom, it doesn’t make up for the poor gameplay. This is one race simulator you need to steer clear of.

Legends BMX is a casual racing sim that was missing something. Sadly, it isn't as in-depth as its peers and this holds it back. However, it is addictive and I liked playing it casually.

Street Racer Collection is a dated racing game that will appeal to a niche audience. Although I enjoyed the trip down memory lane, it will not be for everyone.

If you’re a big fan of roguelites and enjoy less complex indie ones then you might just get some value out of Bail Force: Cyberpunk Bounty Hunters. It will set you back £8 which considering how long it takes to beat the game with both characters is not the worst price, but I’d wait until it’s on sale like it is now for around £6. For that price I’d say it’s worth your money and short time.

P0: Byte-Sized Brilliance has a lot of anomalies to spot, but doing so was more frustration than anything. The central concept, a ten second timer, doesn't hold up too well once it gets going.

Overall, despite my many confusions, I enjoy the game’s complexity. The narrative is super enticing and has my attention and is full of twists that I was not expecting—and I’m only a few hours in! The gameplay is yes, complex at times and can be slightly confusing in the beginning, but I think that’s part of the charm to the game. Once you get more comfortable with the many elements in play, things will start making a lot more sense. As someone who went in completely blind to the Pathologic series, I thoroughly enjoyed my time and will continue to play, potentially after I give the previous installments a try. This is one that I can happily recommend!

Time Treker isn’t a genre-defining masterpiece, but it is a fun, affordable roguelike with a lot to offer fans of mech customization and top-down action. Its chaotic battles and deep loadout systems make for addictively replayable runs, even if the meta progression could be more satisfying long term. If you enjoy experimenting with builds, diving into bullet-hell arenas, and taking on ever-changing challenges, there’s real joy to be found here. Just don’t expect an emotionally engaging story or a slow, methodical campaign, this one’s all about fast, frantic fun.

Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders - Highlands is a stylish addition to the incredible base game. I love the smooth controls, challenging stages, and chilled action. A brilliant DLC.

Confidential Killings spins a dark yarn about the media and drug empires. It's an intriguing set up, but the gameplay is simple enough that a lot of it solves itself. Still, it's an entertaining ride while it lasts.

For long-time fans, this is a satisfying conclusion. For newcomers, it is a reminder that horror does not need excess to be effective. Sometimes all it needs is a broken cartoon, a flickering screen, and the feeling that you should not be watching this.

Overall Netherworld Covenant was all in all an okay game, despite the weak and basic narrative, average graphics, and the randomly generated labyrinths which become rather boring and tiring after a while, I still found myself getting some enjoyment out of it even if it wasn’t as consistent as I would have liked it to be. There wasn’t anything special about it, nor did it have anything which made it standout in its subgenre, making it average at best.

Drywall Eating Simulator is a bite-sized comedic adventure. Developed and published by Peripheral Playbox, the game consists of four scenarios and plenty of contemporary satire. Players must manage their stress levels in order to complete tasks and find the exit. Interacting with NPCs and hearing the annoying things they say will increase stress, which reveals new walls to break down. To calm down, players can break these walls down and eat the pieces of drywall. Gameplay is simple and straightforward, but is a bit lackluster overall. This might be a game best played by content creators as a fun indie side game rather than having a large player base on its own. I remain hopeful for more content to be added in the future, but I suppose we will have to wait and see!

CloverPit doesn’t live up to the dizzy heights of Balatro. Although I enjoyed it, it doesn’t grab you in the same way. Instead, it felt more casual and a little less powerful. Accordingly, despite my slight reservations, I enjoyed it and recommend buying it.

Xenopurge's central concept is a brilliant spin on the auto-battler format. While its story is a bit awkwardly implemented, there's no doubting the excellent atmosphere the gameplay generates.

I would say I had a fun time playing through Arcane Trigger. The game is very easy to get into and runs generally don’t take very long. Although that sentiment changes based on what difficulty you’re on. There are a variety of ways to create builds via focusing on one element or splitting focus on two or more. The success of your runs will greatly depend on what bullets you choose and how you position them.

Gridz Keeper is a zombie puzzle title that could have been fun. However, the lack of depth and challenge hold it back. It was a shame as I wanted it to thrive!

If you are buying Master Detective Archives: Rain Code Plus for the first time you will find a great compelling story full of mystery, intrigue and superb characters. Great visuals, beautiful art style and stunning voice acting make this game a truly must play game. However, gameplay remains a true mixed bag, making it a shame for returning players that there is not enough new content or quality of life improvements to really warrant returning to this game.

Avatar Frontiers of Pandora - From the Ashes is a fantastic addition to an already impressive game. The story is dark and captivating. Furthermore, the inclusion of a third-person perspective was welcome. If you love the base game, you must play this.

Simon the Sorcerer Origins is a brilliant prequel to a much-loved series! It is colourful, witty, and great fun to play. The story is well told and I enjoyed every moment. A must-play game!

For fans of idle games, clickers, or quiet, story-driven experiences, this is essential. For sceptics of the genre, this might be the game that finally makes it click.

Space Chef should have been fantastic, but I couldn't get past the lack of multiplayer action. Although it has fun concepts, there wasn't enough to keep me hooked through the madness. Furthermore, the combat was disappointing.

Supermarket Simulator is a Game Pass title that is oddly addictive. If you like sim games and playing with friends, this will tick many boxes. Although it is dated, I liked the core elements and the simple mechanics.

If this is your first time experiencing the Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy, then you’re in for a treat. It has an intriguing and engaging story, great combat and exploration and beautiful visuals and score. If you are a veteran of the series and already own these three games, the disappointing additional story content may leave a sour taste in the mouth. Still, the addition of a new combat mode, improved crafting and exploration and solid QoL updates help soften the blow. A wonderful trilogy that could have been crafted into the perfect one.

Death Howl will undoubtedly attract more players in the future and retain its positive reviews It's a fun, unique and somewhat addictive deckbuilder with appealing artwork, multiple different card combinations, along with some vibrant locations. Whilst the difficulty and constant grinding put me off of it, I still think there's a great game to be found amongst the enemies you'll constantly have to overcome to progress further.

GIGASWORD is a fun and challenging Metroidvania that has a fun twist. Furthermore, if you love retro-inspired action, you'll adore every moment. Despite its cruel ways, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Lumo 2 is a fun and interesting retro-inspired puzzle experience. I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek mindset, the mini-games, and the silly elements. However, the camera angle caused some issues.

For players who enjoy thoughtful progression, cosy aesthetics, and the quiet joy of making things work better, Little Rocket Lab is an easy recommendation. It’s a game that understands that optimisation doesn’t have to be cold. And that sometimes, the most satisfying systems are the ones tied to the heart.

Satisfactory is addictive as hell. Its concept is simple, but this is a game that keeps on giving. New ideas, new resources, and plenty of aliens await every pioneer.

Retrace The Light has smooth combat, challenging puzzles and a smart, relevant story. Just plain fun to play.

For fans of idle games, clickers, or quiet, story-driven experiences, this is essential. For sceptics of the genre, this might be the game that finally makes it click.

The House of the Dead 2: Remake made me smile. However, I know it'll be niche. This genre is dying and that is a shame. This dated experience highlights the beauty of arcade shooters and the brilliance of retro gaming.

Though the game feels a bit lackluster in content and complexity, I believe it was made with a younger audience in mind. This game might appeal more to new gamers as it keeps things short, sweet and simple. If this is the case, some credit is certainly due to the developers!

Kriophobia fully embodies the lessons learned from the elders of the survival horror genre. A fantastic art style and great ideas in the gameplay makes for a wonderful, anxiety-filled experience.

Puzzle Parasite is an insanely well-crafted game that needs way more eyes on it than it does. With only 15 reviews on Steam, as of writing(all positive, Btw), it would be a shame for a game with this much love and design prowess to be left to die unplayed. Smart, atmospheric puzzle adventure with a cricket-bat twist that hits far more often than it misses. Get it, you won’t regret it.

Montezuma's Revenge - The 40th Anniversary Edition is tough, frustrating, and often unfair, but I loved it regardless. I adore the old-school vibe, the interesting stage design, and the unforgiving gameplay.

When S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chornobyl clicks on all cylinders, the game is an atmospheric tour de force with a mysterious and unique story, haunting environments and enemy design and exhilarating gunplay. Add in industry leading sound design and a beautiful musical score and you’ve got the recipe for a great survival horror game. Unfortunately, erratic AI, some visual and performance issues, uneven voice work and a gruelling campaign length will put some players off. However, if you can look past these deficiencies you’ll fall in love with this truly unique game. I am in awe of how this game exists for developers in circumstances I cannot begin to fathom. Long live the Zone!

I do think it is a solid game, a fine entry into the survival genre. The airship mechanic is fun. Gathering supplies to survive is engaging and customising your airship is great. There is even a co-op mode for friends to play with. But a weak combat system and exploration being repetitive does bring it down.

I’m not going to say that Hymer 2000 is a game for everyone. Most people are looking for experiences that are filled with spectacle, excitement, and high levels of interactivity. In spite of this, those looking to be lost in other people’s heads (and willing to do a bit of detective work) may hail this as one of the more fascinating indie experiments of 2025.

Ayasa: Shadows of Silence has some potential in its world and atmosphere but is so broken and awkwardly designed that it becomes a miserable experience.

Captain Wayne probably won’t appeal to everyone and won’t have the longevity with just this one game, and I think that’s okay. For Ciaran Games LLC’s first game on Steam, the game does its job and has a clear image of what it wants to do. The developers could focus on making new Captain Wayne games, each one playing like a new episode in the series. I could see a future where there’s an “Ultimate Captain Wayne” bundle with five Captain Wayne games together at a cheaper price than buying them individually. Personally, I’m not sure I will be tuning in, as its not my genre of game. However, I’m still hopeful that this is just the beginning for Captain Wayne.

A Pizza Delivery was a short narrative game which made up for that with its intriguing characters, appealing artwork, and landscapes. However, due to its short length and story which I felt could have been explored more in-depth I don't think the £12 price tag is justifiable, so you're better off picking this game up on sale. If you want a short yet touching experience then look no further.

Duskpunk provides an engaging experience for those who enjoy decision-based story games. Strategy is still an important factor on how you play this game, but it’s all worth it to experience this game’s rich story. Take this with a grain of salt as I had been reviewing the demo of Duskpunk, so I am unaware of what’s to come after a certain point.

Let's Sing 2026 is a fun singing game that will impress those who love to entertain. It is colourful, easy to understand, and amazing with friends. Furthermore, the VIP pass creates an impressive roster of songs.

From the opening gambit, I knew this would be a special game. Yet, it was the sheer layers of complexity and the never-ending content that took me by surprise. Furthermore, the story is a wonderful blend of parody and tongue-in-cheek humour. As such, this will make you chuckle even though every mission can be demanding of your time and attention. If you want a brilliantly casual title that is amusing and addictive, then look no further.

A.I.L.A has a great story that becomes more interesting the more you continue, and it has a really great idea and demonstrates it very well. The gameplay is good but has much more potential due to the game’s settings and different timelines. Visuals are good, but I expected more from a UE5 game, especially regarding how the enemies look. The sound design is amazing, always making you feel watched, which makes the game a lot scarier.

It is not a bad idea. It is just unfinished in spirit, like a proof of concept that made it out the door too early. With more time and clearer direction, this could have landed. As it stands, it just doesn’t.

KAKU - Ancient Seal is a fun adventure RPG. However, it lacks originality and this holds it back. If you fancy wasting time with a familiar romp, this could be the game for you.

Zooseum doesn't evolve the basic formula of Two Point Museum too much, but the animals are adorable, the simulation gameplay is deep and the humour balances the perfect amount of chuckles and groans.

Overall, a super enjoyable game that kept hold my attention! Will you have the detective intuitions in order to solve the mysteries before the séance?

Tiny Bookshop is insanely repetitive but with an addictive quality to it. The customization options reinforces the fun, and the slow narrative progression is rather soothing instead of boring. It’s a short and sweet, cozy time. Most of the gameplay is just waiting around though. Aside from the recommendations mechanic, I wish you could interact more with customers. I also wish that the environmental interactions could be more involved or elaborate. Regardless, I highly recommend this game. I think with the upcoming cold front and the tendency to become hermitic for the holidays, this is the perfect time to open up your tiny, digital bookshop.

When it comes to the category of remasters and remakes, I am becoming disillusioned by the minute with every release. Anima: Gate Of Memories 1&2 Remaster is a needless and quite cynical attempt at porting an older game to current generations. Whilst new visuals will attract some fans of the franchise, there are far too few new additions and updates and this is very disappointing. The developers could have made some vast improvements in the quality of life department but ultimately they chose to make it quick and easy. Overall, it is a profound disappointment. I cannot in good faith recommend this remaster to anyone who already purchased these games almost 10 years ago.

The Last Case of John Morley is dripping with atmosphere and the story has a lot of potential, but it's dragged down by uninspired gameplay and an underdeveloped protagonist.

Now I can't let all of the bugs & glitches I come across completely change my opinion of Winter Survival, though I'm certainly not letting them slide. It's no doubt graphically one of the best survival games I've played, pair that with the big and appealing open world, along with the challenging aspect to it then you've got yourself a solid sandbox game full of hungry animals which will sniff you out rather quickly, note to self, make sure to always have some kind of weapon equipped instead of always running away...

Reus 2 is a fun god-like city builder where your giants rule the roost. Although it is a little grindy, it is enjoyable controlling every human and massive beast. If you've played the original, this will be familiar. However, if you are new to the franchise, some trial and error is needed.

Tormented Souls 2 does a good job emulating the survival horror greats that came before, ensuring that younger players are able to experience the older style of gameplay even as bigger brands continue in other directions. It certainly has a learning curve for newcomers, but those who persevere will discover why the genre was so popular during the 90s and 2000s.

Of Ash And Steel has promising notes in its tangle of systems, and there were sparks of enjoyment here. But its so broken and frustrating at the moment, and frankly terrible at letting the player know where to go.

Schildmaid MX is a fantastic shoot 'em up that has some fresh ideas. Furthermore, it is great to look at and has a loud but impressive soundtrack. As such, this will appeal to many gamers.

I believe the developers at Haemimont Games made a great decision in relaunching the original Surviving Mars. Many reviews claim that the game is too similar to the original. However, I think this should be obvious given that it is a “relaunch.” The game isn’t designed as a sequel to the original. Instead, it serves to bring the game more up-to date with modern gaming, running on more advanced engines. It is a relaunching on the game’s life and for that, I think it is doing it’s job well. Plus, with future DLCs, the game will hopefully continue to be worked on and improved. I can see a bright future ahead of Surviving Mars: Relaunched, and a bright future for life on Mars!

Escape Simulator 2 is easily one of the most enjoyable puzzle games of the year, and a near-essential experience for escape room fans… digital or otherwise.

Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus is dark and sinister. Furthermore, it is a great addition to the franchise. I loved the puzzles, the cruel story, and the brilliant characters. If you adore the original, you will want to play this!

Painkiller isn’t bad but it isn’t good either. It is another co-op shooter that has little content in it and doesn’t stand out from the other competition. Boss fights are fine, and the gunplay is decent. Unfortunately, they get old fast and the game just isn’t fun to put hours upon hours into. Honestly, just play Warhammer: Darktide or DOOM. They are more fun and worth your time.

Depending on how you play and enjoy games, Skopje ‘83 is very divisive in that regard. Some people may like a game where it doesn’t hold your hand and you’re allowed to explore wherever. There is enjoyment in finding things out on your own, but even that has its limits when you end up repeating the same moments with very little change. This is a hard game to recommend to most people and it feels like one where you would need a guide to help you through it. The gameplay and art style carry this quite well, but the lack of direction is one of the main proponents knocking it down in terms of enjoyability.

R-Type Delta: HD Boosted is brilliantly addictive. I love the old-school edge, the rapid gameplay, and the step down memory lane. In short, it is fantastic.

EARTH VS MARS is a solid strategy game. But that’s mostly it. It doesn’t add any interesting characteristics that we haven’t seen before, and it takes few risks with its gameplay. After a while, I did find myself wanting to play a different strategy game, one that really makes me think and one that doesn’t take an absurd amount of time to show the damage being committed to enemy combatants. In the end, Earth VS MARS doesn’t do much wrong; on a different side of the same coin, it doesn’t do too much great either to separate itself from an ever-competitive genre.

Princess of the Water Lilies is a cosy platformer that has an old-school edge. The story is simple, but the action is fun and familiar. Furthermore, it has a wholesome charm that is tough to ignore.

VORON: Raven's Story is dazzlingly beautiful and makes flying around a delight. It's only fault is that it doesn't dive enough into either its world or its puzzles.

DOG WITCH is a roguelike deckbuilding game of dice that offers strategic planning and a challenge. Developed by Heckmouse and published by Mystic Forge, the game features over 150 unique items and various witch hats to don, allowing for a different experience with each run. After customizing your pup, you will face off against a wacky cast of enemies, such as gun wielding nesting dolls and a triangle trio, as you make your way to confront the evil wizard who calls you a bad dog. With six different die faces in quick, snappy combat, its important to create an evolving strategy and have a bit of RNG luck too. DOG WITCH is a game that will having you barking up all the right trees, offering an enjoyable experience to dog-loving players everywhere!

Second Sun is a Hi-octane FPS with RPG elements, set in an open world, filled with intriguing landmarks, procedurally generated dungeons and tons of loot! Explore a vast, picturesque map and use your abilities to save the Empire from devastation and prevent the world from falling into darkness.

Vivid World improved massively in many areas compared to its predecessor. The many combinations made each units, gems, and orbs different from the last dungeon, which completely removed the boredom factor. Whilst it's one of the shortest and smallest RPGs I've ever played, it was an enjoyable experience and one most fans of the genre would get a lot of fun out of.

Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel is a breath of fresh air. This familiar game has enough originality to make it stand out from the crowd. Furthermore, the action has enough depth to keep you coming back for more. Consequently, it is one of the better titles from this genre.

Syberia isn’t going to be for everyone, and it likely won’t be for you. Point-and-click games aren’t very relevant these days for a reason, and it’s largely because the industry has moved towards more player-friendly experiences. This remaster is a great opportunity to experience a bit of the past, but I doubt it will have many people reminiscing about the way things used to be.

To put this as simply as I can, Dispatch is a game that will stay with me forever. It’s easily my game of the year so far and one of my favourite stories ever told. A tale of discovering a true identity, packed with emotion, comedy and romance, it’s more than I could ever have hoped for in an interactive drama. Add in the superb and unique gameplay mechanics, and AdHoc have managed to catch lightning in a bottle. Stunning visuals, pitch perfect audio design and a killer soundtrack make this the perfect game. I just pray the developers decide to revisit this world, whether that’s on television or hopefully another season in video game form. Bravo AdHoc, you have achieved true perfection! I’m going back to Dispatch!

Winter Burrow is a cute and wholesome adventure title. However, it treads familiar ground and this may disappoint hunters of original action. I enjoyed the calm and adventurous moments, the simple quests, and the visuals.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & The White Guardian truly is the definition of a mixed bag. An uneven story led by two vastly differing protagonists fails to deliver a memorable tale and outstays its welcome for far too long. Bad visuals affect the delivery of the narrative but thankfully a strong combat system helps keep this title afloat. The beautiful art style and gorgeous soundtrack save this game from being a true disappointment. Far too many repurposed assets from the previous mobile game make an appearance, making this game feel like an update rather than a brand new title. Hopefully this storied franchise can weather the storm!

Overall, both Dragon Quest games are a blast to play. The remakes give both a visual upgrade with more characters and brilliant soundtracks. Both games have beautiful open worlds, while offering challenging fights. The first Dragon Quest is hindered a bit by not having a party system but is still fun to play. Both games also stumble in the story department but the exploration, combat and open world are too good to ignore. If you want to check out these classics, the remakes are the best way to do it right now.

Hellstuck: Rage with Your Friends is a hellish game that broke me repeatedly! The action is simple but the execution will destroy your soul. Accordingly, it is far too brutal and it will put off mere mortals.

Dark Quest 4 successfully transforms itself from board to video game but loses something in the process, leaving it feeling a little flat and cold.

Without going on for too long, I could talk about this game forever. This coming from someone who is a longtime fan of the Digimon franchise. Though for those who are new and want to try out a different style of a monster-taming game, I cannot recommend Digimon Story Time Stranger enough. Much of the discussion online of this game comes down to the comparison of this to Pokemon. It’s been over 25 years since these franchises began and there is still discourse about the two. A favorable comparison I would give to Time Stranger is the Shin Megami Tensei series solely based on the gameplay. Regardless, this is a solid monster-taming RPG with a diverse variety of Digimon to Digivolve and fight with.

Star Wars: Beyond Victory is a fantastic addition to the entertainment franchise. I love the combination of MR and VR, but I wish there were more VR action. If you love Star Wars, you'll adore every element of this game!

I do not recommend buying Blood of Mehran. They’re asking £21 for this; you can get a modern Assassin’s Creed or Dad of Boy for cheaper than that. I could barely stomach 2 hours and in that time I learned all I needed to know. It’s not even bad in way that’s entertaining or campy, it’s just mediocre at its core, kinda nostalgic in a weird way, like a clumsy PS2 game that’s been given a fan made texture mod. Both the gameplay and storytelling are beyond archaic and it has no place to stand in an industry with increasingly high standards. Sat next to me when I was playing it, my flatmate said it “looks like a mobile game from 2011”. And he’s right.

I won’t deny that it’s an experience worth trying once, especially for those curious about experimental design. Slots and Daggers is one of those games that dares to gamble with its own ideas. It just happens to lose the bet somewhere along the way. So yes, play it for the curiosity, but don’t expect it to pull you back for another spin.

If you come to Bloodlines 2 purely for a moody, well-acted vampire story and some clever investigative beats, it’s worth the time. If you come for the old-school, systems-forward roleplaying that made the original a cult classic, you’ll have to make do with the first game. The mechanical scope has been narrowed, and the promise of freedom is more about moment-to-moment play than the long arc of building your unique vampire. In short, it’s a respectable vampire game with sharp writing and a few memorable moments, but it shouldn’t be wearing the “Bloodlines” badge.