419 In this way, you soon find yourself trapped in a loop of contemplating how to forge increasingly complex synergies—weighing whether it is worth specializing in plains or forests, whether to upgrade a specific tile, or whether to hire mercenaries to patch up your faltering strategies. And in the event of failure, you start over with the bonuses unlocked thus far, hoping to stumble upon just the right boss or Tetrominoes. And so it goes.

Housemarque has taken the Returnal formula, cut it, sewn it, dried it, and enhanced it to create a stunning sci-fi cosmic horror tale that showcases the talents of its artists. More cinematic, more accessible, and more explicit in its depiction of the terrifying and wondrous imagery of Carcosa, it has all the makings of an instant cult, losing just a few fragments of its uniqueness in the attempt to broaden its sphere of influence. It's a game that blends the essence of old-school arcades with the best of contemporary expressive means, drawing inspiration from sci-fi and literary greats, injecting the addictive power of pure action gameplay right into the heart of the experience, and then building around it a backdrop that's as captivating as it is perfectly harmonious. Simply put, Saros is one of the best PlayStation games of this generation.

Tomb Raider takes us back to the origins of the new Lara Croft, with a chapter that remains damnably relevant in terms of gameplay and visuals, enhanced in this mobile version by a range of touch control optimizations that make the experience highly playable on the go and without the need to connect a controller, although the latter remains the best way to fully enjoy the gripping adventure developed by Crystal Dynamics.

Super Meat Boy 3D is a successful exercise in reinterpreting the series, transporting the protagonists of this historic 2D saga into a world of major aesthetic and conceptual changes. The former are easy to get used to; the latter require a bit more effort, even if it’s both pleasant and surprising to rediscover the responsiveness and speed of the original game. What truly changes, however, is the mindset with which you approach each level, which now benefits from an unprecedented sense of depth and scale, and requires the player—not only to rely on their usual exceptional reflexes and precision—but also to be able to read the path ahead. Perhaps it is precisely this lack of clarity that stands as the game’s biggest flaw, in what remains a very enjoyable experience (especially if you’re a bit of a masochist) and one that is packed with ideas that never run dry. In fact, quite surprisingly, they increase in the second and final stretch. Is this the new “skin” of the Meat Boy saga? I don’t think so, but it is certainly a successful diversion.

The Division Resurgence effectively translates the Ubisoft series experience into a content-rich mobile format with solid gameplay, also thanks to the many customization options available for both players who prefer the immediacy of touch controls and those who want to use a controller.

Replaced is a title that will inevitably divide opinion. On one hand, it boasts a staggering technical and artistic achievement that pushes pixel art into a new era through original, unprecedented, and extraordinary directorial choices. At the same time, one cannot overlook gameplay that feels unrefined at times, often reduced to the bare essentials in terms of interaction complexity, and further slowed down by clunky controls and combat that lacks the necessary depth. While we wouldn't blame those who choose to weigh these shortcomings heavily, we feel a duty to reward a production whose craftsmanship and aesthetic vision permeate every single frame. It is a visual journey that deserves to be experienced and one that raises the bar for indie quality, provided you are willing to accept its rough edges.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is a video game whose success depends almost entirely on the amount of imagination you are willing to invest in it. It is a life simulator that draws from the rules of absurd comedy and requires an active effort from the player as well, in order to populate its world with unique characters, each with strange habits, tastes, and ways of speaking. These personalities interact with one another, giving rise to an emergent narrative that can be exceptionally hilarious. There are no missions to complete, no objectives to achieve, and progression is represented solely by the structures that will unlock on your island and by the increasingly unusual traits you can assign to your Miis. If you put a lot into it, the game will reward you with its powerful and unexpected sense of humor. Tomodachi Life is genuinely funny, never takes itself seriously, and constantly surprises with its boundless imagination. However, be aware that when your fuel runs out, the great machine of laughter comes to a stop with you.

Mouse: P.I. For Hire is an adrenaline-fueled and extremely fun boomer shooter. It stands out from the crowd thanks to its art style, but in terms of gameplay it doesn’t offer anything truly new. However, fans of the genre will love it.

Pokémon Champions does exactly what is expected of it: providing an independent platform through which the competitive scene can evolve, shift, and thrive separately from the main series. And it does so the right way, avoiding pay-to-win pitfalls and refusing to stifle the experience with increasingly complex currencies or chaotic initiatives. The decision to limit the number of available Pokémon and items helps concentrate resources and strike the right balance, while the elimination of EVs and IVs breaks down one of the most significant barriers to entry. For series veterans, the latest effort from The Pokémon Works feels like the natural evolution of Pokémon battles. However, everyone else—faced with bare-bones tutorials and a lack of features—might find the game far too sparse. The onboarding process for newcomers has room for improvement, and there is a rather serious absence of options for testing teams offline or spectating online tournaments.

Pragmata is a great video game, just like the ones from back in the day. Drawing inspiration from its past classics, Capcom has placed pure gameplay at the heart of the experience, building the story of Hugh and Diana around it—a tale as simple as it is timeless, which is almost a unique case for the Osaka-based company. The development of the father-daughter relationship stands out against the backdrop of a fast, fluid, and engaging action experience that turns the clock back twenty years to an era of levels to complete, arcade-style challenges, and extra modes to unlock. Cho Yonghee's first directorial project aims to do a few things and do them very well. It runs smoothly until the credits roll, introducing a brand-new universe within the boundaries of a traditional formula. However, it doesn't quite reach excellence in any of its components, almost shying away from the very idea of ambition. Perhaps that is why it feels so close to old-school atmospheres: you press the start button and enjoy playing, without chasing transcendental goals.

Indeed, one must give credit where credit is due and point out that—especially in the final two worlds—Super Meat Boy 3D certainly doesn't skimp on ideas: wormholes, homing missiles, teleportation portals, and gravity spheres. There comes a moment when the game seems to have shown its entire hand, only to continue surprising you by introducing new mechanics and concepts for navigating levels that become increasingly complex, convoluted, and seemingly impossible. The boss battles, too, demand intense effort and rely on very precise trial-and-error mechanics—perhaps even *too* precise. In most cases, you have to memorize the enemy's attack patterns and simply wait for fate to take its course, since Meat Boy cannot directly attack the boss; it is up to karma to deliver the punishment. After all, if there is one thing this game proves, it is that you need patience—an immense amount of patience—to clear every level, collect all the hidden bandages, and unlock every character. There is certainly no shortage of extra content; the only question is whether the player's own patience—or "liver," as the game would have it—doesn't give out first.

Speaking of settings, Oceanhorn 3: Legend of the Shadow Sea features a very well-implemented touch control system—immediate and responsive—yet the game truly shines when played with a controller; in our case, the excellent SCUF Nomad. It is a pity, however, that the developers assigned the jump action to the Y button and interaction to the A button—the exact opposite of the long-standing standard in action-platformers—and "fixing" this requires resorting to some rather cumbersome workarounds.

Darwin's Paradox draws on elements from platformers and adventure games to bring to life the incredible retro-sci-fi saga of an octopus, managing to keep players hooked level after level. The start may seem a bit slow and the pace isn’t consistent, but you’re always left curious to discover what lies in the next level, thanks in part to constant variations that keep things interesting. A game from a bygone era, one that was sorely needed.

Nutmeg! is a management game that is neither particularly deep nor complex. It draws much of its appeal from a deliberately vintage interface, but anyone looking for a worthy alternative to Football Manager will undoubtedly be disappointed. That said, players who click with its gameplay will find it incredibly hard to pull themselves away from the screen, thanks to its excellent sense of progression.

Marathon is an extraction shooter for people who love team deathmatch, a mystery of moths and robotics you unravel match after match, a challenge for anyone who can make a mouse fly or dance across a controller. It’s a tightly sealed vault packed with secrets. But it’s also sterile, clinical, brutal, almost standoffish. It doesn’t try to grab your attention, but once you fall into it, you can’t stop thinking about it.

Rainbow Six Mobile is a solid and well-crafted adaptation of Ubisoft's tactical shooter, starting with a deliberately compact selection of modes, maps, and Operators, but aiming to expand over time alongside its players' experience. The framework, made more agile and faster for mobile play, works very well and offers a huge number of settings to accommodate a wide range of preferences, whether using a touch screen or a controller.

John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is a solid and entertaining cooperative shooter that takes the classic Left 4 Dead formula and introduces several important twists, from open maps (though they do end up looking a bit too similar to one another) to the use of vehicles, as well as special powers and a customizable arsenal. The starting content offering is fairly generous, especially considering the relatively low price, and the Swarm Engine puts truly massive and spectacular hordes on screen, creating a chaotic battlefield that is a real pleasure to tackle alongside friends.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly is not afraid of what it has always been. Despite its new and pleasant visual makeover, its heart draws heavily from old-school survival horror, where even the clumsiness of the controls and the feeling of never being fully in control played a fundamental role in unsettling the player. This remake, directed by the series’ original creator, deliberately aims to put you in a difficult position, casting you in the role – far from agile – of a young girl facing hell armed only with a flashlight and a camera. Everything contributes to this sense of discomfort: from the uneven difficulty balance to the rusty combat mechanics, issues that eventually start to weigh on the overall experience. In this sense, too, it remains pure, and as such it deserves respect. Just be aware that it may not be a game for everyone. It speaks to a very specific niche that will love it, just as it has loved every one of its reincarnations.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is the crown jewel of a series that has always been somewhat underrated, despite having succeeded in the extremely difficult task of effectively translating the original series into a turn-based JRPG. Every refinement to the formula was carefully considered by studying the genre's modern landscape and what has worked in the most important games released in recent times, and the result is a balanced and satisfying Japanese RPG from every perspective, yet still deliberately aimed at a fairly specific audience. Ultimately, if you enjoyed the previous games and love Monster Hunter, prepare to spend countless hours hunting for eggs, combining genes, and battling monsters with spectacular abilities alongside memorable characters.

Planet of Lana 2 is a real gem—a delightful adventure in a dangerous, fragile world that has lost its memory; in a word, beautiful. It is a sequel that can be enjoyed without any problems by newcomers, although it is still recommended to have played the first chapter, if only to appreciate all the new features. Planet of Lana 2 innovates, enriches, and consolidates everything seen in the past, taking on a more multifaceted (yet consistent) and, above all, less frustrating identity. It is an adventure designed to be completed by everyone, provided they engage enough with the environmental puzzles. Its aesthetic aims to reach everyone's heart, prompting reflection on vital themes such as identity, nature, loss, and growth. We hope that in addition to being entertaining (which every good video game must always be), its message does not go unheard.

In the ever-growing landscape of modern beat 'em ups, Scott Pilgrim EX undoubtedly manages to carve out a prominent spot for itself, thanks to a structure that cleverly blends classic genre mechanics with various RPG elements. While it isn't the first side-scrolling brawler to take this path, and certain aspects still need polishing—specifically a perhaps excessive number of random encounters and a rather pronounced grinding component—the overall result is more than solid. Indeed, we are presented with an excellent combat system that is deeper than it first appears, supported by seven playable characters, all of whom are well-differentiated in their style and approach to combat. This is further bolstered by a good variety of enemies and well-crafted boss battles that succeed in keeping the challenge level high. For fans of the graphic novel (or the animated series), the witty dialogue and numerous Easter eggs provide significant added value. The collaboration with the original creator is reflected in the care given to the atmosphere, while the art and sound design convincingly capture the work's identity, showcasing the development team's passion and attention to detail.

Behind the surface of a game as cozy as Animal Crossing and as customizable as Minecraft lies a long Pokémon adventure full of surprises, with even a bittersweet aftertaste. It is an experience that is easy to pick up, yet hides multiple layers of interpretation and a fair amount of depth, featuring increasingly complex tasks to complete and an almost infinite endgame—thanks to the ability to build a cloud-based island with three friends. That is, of course, if you choose to do so rather than simply losing yourself in these worlds awaiting reconstruction, free from instructions or requests.

Resident Evil Requiem is a creature split in two. Within itself it preserves some of the finest moments the Resident Evil saga has ever put on display: it’s rich in detail, brimming with love for the genre, and outstanding at staging horror, building it room by room, corridor by corridor—zombie by zombie. Like no one else in the world of video games knows how to do it. This talent comes through most fully in the moments featuring Grace Ashcroft. The first half of Requiem is the culmination of a journey that began thirty years ago. On the other hand, when the ball passes to Leon Kennedy, it fails to find the same balance. The second half is sloppy—adequate at best—with action that shatters the equilibrium between tension and release. What is unforgivable is that it forgets everything good it built in the first part. There is very little beneath the dusty surface of nostalgia—only the bitterness of having squandered the chance to deliver a new modern classic, in the usual, futile attempt to please everyone.

Squanch Games couldn't have made a better comeback with High on Life 2, the second installment of what has now become a full-fledged franchise, successfully getting back on track even without its creator. The narrative has seen the most significant leap in quality, featuring truly hilarious moments and genuinely unexpected twists, not to mention the numerous parodies of other games, movies, and anime that were so funny they forced us to pause the game. The gameplay refines everything seen in its predecessor; while there are no major overhauls, it expands our hunter’s toolkit with new sentient weapons and a handy skateboard that speeds up exploration, even if it isn't quite as effective in combat. On a technical level, there are still some minor issues that we hope will be patched soon, but there is no doubt that this is a shooter that—despite its flaws—knows its stuff and, above all, knows how to keep you laughing at every turn.

Rage is astonishing from a technical perspective but it has several problems with the gameplay starting from a lack of contents and the total absence of Game Center's support. However the game can be really enjoyable for short game sessions.

Continuing directly in the vein established by the previous chapter, Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse offers another interesting and disturbing tale, immersed in a Japanese maritime atmosphere. The writing is good and, as usual, the world-building draws us perfectly into the situation, although the more strictly playful parts are even more diluted and less interesting than those in Seven Mysteries of Honjo.

Reanimal aimed to represent Tarsier Studios’ coming of age and to create a spiritual successor to Little Nightmares. While it draws on some of the conventions of their previous work, it is clear that the vision here is decidedly more mature: it strips away the charming imagery that permeates the dark fairy tale overseen by Bandai Namco, resulting in an adolescent nightmare that is far more unsettling, typical of someone beginning to grow up and leaving childhood behind. The protagonists are older and angrier; they are able to rebel against the horror, refuse to be overwhelmed, and often fight back with a level of force and aggression equal to —if not greater than— that of their enemies. It is an intriguing first piece of the puzzle, boasting a remarkable visual imagination, yet for nearly half of its short lifespan it still seems to be searching for its own identity.

Mario Tennis Fever, compared to Mario Tennis Aces, feels like a more accessible and engaging game - more “tennis-like” - but also less deep, stripped of the beat-’em-up dynamics that made its predecessor, in some respects, almost too complex for the broader audience Camelot and Nintendo are aiming for.

Mara Whitefish's new adventure is sometimes irreverent, at other times sentimental, but it's always genuinely true. So much so that you find yourself getting angry at one character or another, only to realize that, as teenagers, we probably behaved the same way.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties fulfills a long-standing wish of SEGA series fans, finally delivering a proper remake of the third chapter in Kazuma Kiryu's saga, brought up to date with the latest entries both technically and in terms of gameplay and content. The main campaign is improved in many respects, the extra activities are highly enjoyable, and the Dark Ties expansion, despite its limitations, stands as an additional bonus to an already solid and convincing package.

Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel have delivered a simply outstanding roguelike, an adventure that unabashedly aims to seize the absolute pinnacle of the genre. Over 200 hours of core content, more than 100 bosses, upwards of 200 enemy types, more than 1,200 abilities, and 1,000 pieces of equipment: these are the cold numbers behind Mewgenics, but a boiling blood runs through its veins. By embracing the turn-based tactical RPG formula and distilling an explosive blend of cats and genetics, the authors have crafted a video game of extraordinary depth—a journey that leaves you slack-jawed almost entirely on the strength of its mechanics and pure game design, further elevated by irreverent writing and a completely unhinged soundtrack. There isn’t much else to add, because it is practically the Holy Grail for any fan of tactical RPGs and roguelikes: approach with caution, as it demands a considerable time investment and shows very little concern about kicking you squarely in the ass.

A step forward and a step back: that, in essence, is Octopath Traveler 0, a work by Acquire and Square Enix that presents itself as a sweeping tribute to the medieval fantasy tradition and that—miraculously—manages to turn what was once a mobile gacha title into a fully fledged JRPG. With an extraordinary wealth of content—over seventy hours of story campaigns and more than thirty playable characters—it opens a window onto the series’ past while offering an ideal point of entry for absolute newcomers. Yet it continues to suffer—partly for reasons of age alone—from several of the very issues that affected the original instalment. This is a colossal adventure that excels in many of the genre’s essential elements, particularly on the artistic front, and yet there is no facet of the experience that does not cast a faint shadow, from the narrative presentation to the ensemble cast, all the way to certain anachronistic systems. In short, it is Octopath Traveler in its near-purest form—but rather than looking ahead, it opts to keep its roots firmly planted in the past.

If Terminator 2 is one of your favorite films and you have a soft spot for early ’90s arcade titles, then Terminator 2D: No Fate is exactly what you’re looking for. The attention to detail in reimagining the movie as an arcade experience is remarkable: three distinct playable characters, run ’n gun sections, high-speed chases, and even stealth and beat ’em-up levels. Every scene is brought to life with gorgeous pixel art. It’s only a shame that, despite its variety, the gameplay remains a bit too basic in each of its different forms.

Nioh 3 is a bubbling cauldron of ideas and mechanics—undeniably fascinating—now featuring a dual combat system that lets you switch between samurai and ninja styles, both top-tier in terms of quality. Customization is through the roof: you’ll be swimming in thousands of weapons and armor pieces, happily getting lost among the sheer number of skills and moves available right from the start. That said, the game world—more open than ever—still feels like yet another liminal playground built purely for our rampages, lacking a story strong enough to hold everything together. There are no memorable legends or truly empathetic characters to light up its gloomy paths. Difficulty comes and goes in waves, swinging between relatively gentle stretches and brutal spikes of pain, especially when facing certain damn bosses with particularly messy and hard-to-read attack patterns. And then there are simply too many systems in play: too many blessings, the regular parry, the deflecting one, the purifying one, the anti-explosive one. Many of these layers don’t make Nioh 3 deeper—just more confusing, and noticeably less elegant.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined has been basically remade from scratch and yet it's absolutely faithful in intent and purpose to the iconic original JRPG. It's a valuable revision, especially given the various tweaks, additions, and improvements, but Dragon Quest VII remains by its very nature a fundamentally anachronistic title, entrenched in a specific way of telling stories and playing them. In the end, it's simply Dragon Quest, that's how it is, and otherwise it would be a different series. This Reimagined edition understands this and delivers it in a more contemporary condition, limited only by its conservative spirit.

Probably too easy and uninteresting for the hardcore gamer, Eufloria HD is an original, charming and relaxing experience. It's not supposed to be hard and challenging, but there is a peaceful joy in playing it during the night, headphones on.

Riot makes its console debut with 2XKO, kicking off Season 1 and the full release of its new fighting game. Predictably, the title adopts a standard live-service structure, featuring a Battle Pass, in-game currencies to unlock characters—provided you're willing to grind—and a cosmetic shop with rather steep prices. On the flip side, however, is a fighter with a rock-solid combat system and an excellent roster that makes every online match incredibly rewarding, thanks in part to its high-tier rollback netcode. The real question remains whether the game can attract and retain a large enough audience to sustain future updates. 2XKO falls into that 'easy to learn, hard to master' category—a trait that has historically alienated a significant portion of the casual player base.

In Cairn, two opposing philosophies coexist. On one side, there is a dry, nihilistic nature rooted in human incommunicability and in the ambition to understand one another—and to be understood. A stark, primitive soul. On the other, the game sometimes seems to reach for more: at times excessive exploration, quirky characters, and almost fantastical elements. These two identities clash within a videogame that, in its purest form, works wonderfully as a simulator—also a philosophical one—of climbing, and far less so as an adventure. What remains is a harsh and affecting title that succeeds brilliantly at what it was designed to do: convincing you to climb an impossible mountain.

Disc Drivin' is a genuinely entertaining multiplayer time-waster, and since it's free it's easy to overlook on its issues.

Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow is a solid entry in the series and a decent virtual reality video game. The “problem” is that Maze Theory’s work is exactly what everyone expected. The London-based team took its VR know-how and applied it to the world of Thief, without trying to make a real leap forward. VR—and therefore its users—don’t need another title with by-now well-established mechanics at this moment. They need new emotions. Something that does justice to a vocabulary with boundless potential, but which for too many years has struggled to truly take flight. Lately, as can be seen from our reviews of VR titles, the real strength of virtual reality games lies in the universes they are set in. Over time, this clearly translates into an inability on the developers’ part to create something memorable through pure, straightforward gameplay. Something that would make even those who aren’t fans of the comic-book character or the legacy video game brand want to put on a Meta Quest 3.

Trails beyond the Horizon represents a true turning point—the moment when The Legend of Heroes series breaks with the past and projects itself into the future. We know nothing about the next game in chronological order, but at this point Nihon Falcom can no longer turn back; it can only move forward. The studio has refined the combat system, set the narrative on a path toward its conclusion, and assembled an impressive cast. All that remains is to modernize the technical side; after that, even opening up to new players becomes a secondary concern. From our point of view, the appeal of The Legend of Heroes now lies precisely in the universe it has cultivated over many years of JRPGs—a universe that makes the saga a truly unique experience for genre fans who have the time and desire to catch up on the previous titles. Trails beyond the Horizon has shown that it’s worth it.

MIO: Memories in Orbit does not bring any real innovation to the metroidvania genre. Moreover, it suffers from a few shortcomings, such as poorly placed checkpoints and a certain lack of precision in the protagonist’s hitbox. Nonetheless, it remains a two-dimensional adventure with a striking artistic vision, a solid pacing, and an effective grasp of the mechanics and design principles that underpin the metroidvania formula.

Escape from Tarkov is a game with many flaws and limitations. And yet, its formula — which helped lay the groundwork for the extraction shooter genre — is extremely addictive. It’s not a game for everyone, but in its 1.0 version it stands as an almost essential title for fans of the genre.

Rocket Riot HD is a very stylized arena shooter, with fun presentation and tons of crazy power-ups. Unfortunately, the lack of multiplayer mode highlights the repetitive and unoriginal single-player levels.

Super Crossfire HD is an enjoyable arcade shooter, packed with a good number of levels and some very nice graphics.

MJ The Experience is nice thanks to a polished gameplay, but the 4 playable songs included are a shame.

The World Ends with You: Solo Remix is a more than welcome release on the App Store, taking one of the best recent Jrpg to the iOS platform. Even if the original still plays better, the adaptation to the touch screen could be considered a success. Shame on Square Enix for the absurd price, the separate iPhone and iPad versions and the lacking of support for the new iPad Retina Display.

Far to be fresh or polished as iNiS' previous games, Symphonica is still an excellent rhythm game. A must have for everyone who likes classical music.

Fifa 12 on iOS is probably the best soccer game available on the App Store; unfortunately there is some serious lacking of game modes - most of all the multiplayer -, and the improvements over the last year are mostly minimal.

Quotation forthcoming.

Skate Story is an enchanting sensory experience, one that Sam Eng set out to recreate by drawing on his nights spent in a nocturnal New York, headphones in his ears and a skateboard under his feet. It’s a bizarre tale, made of glass demons, talking rabbits, and capitalist penguins, an epic journey all the way to the moon. Defining it is a challenge: at times it’s an adventure game, at times a sports game, and you even end up using your board as a weapon against bosses. Everything feels original, even though the story, suspended as it is, isn’t always strong enough to fully capture the player’s attention. A greater focus on board customization could have added more depth, and certain choices—like the camera—lean more toward the aesthetic than the functional. But Skate Story remains a fascinating experience: a story about the skateboard not just as a means of transport, but as a tool for life and hope.

Forestrike merges action, strategy, and roguelite elements into a truly compelling formula. The ability to repeat battles as many times as you want to refine your strategy before actually implementing it is a very interesting concept and fully embodies the spirit of true martial arts. The replayability is excellent, although some technical and balancing issues are a pity.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is a title that offers an incredible amount of content and a compelling, well-structured gameplay experience. The pacing of Story Mode could have been handled better, and newcomers may struggle to fully get in tune with the game, but it is undoubtedly one of the best entries in the series.

Horses is an important video game that aims to scandalize by working within the uncomfortable space typical of provocative art. It has no intention of being harmless: it wants to unsettle you on every level. It is a reflection on the banality of evil, on the anarchy of power, and on how dehumanizing others pushes us to commit atrocious actions. While it evokes the horrors of twentieth-century totalitarian regimes, it is a highly contemporary work that stages mechanisms power still exploits to undermine our humanity. It is a video game that does not seek approval and has the courage to remind us how easy it still is, even today, to simply follow orders.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond stands to Metroid Prime as James Cameron’s Aliens stands to Ridley Scott’s Alien: a fine sequel that, while staying true to the original spirit, shifts it toward a more action-oriented and spectacular dimension. Despite the ugly desert area, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a great game – a worthy successor to a historic saga. Given its long and difficult development, this was anything but guaranteed.

Quotation forthcoming.

As a dominant genre, 3D platformers have become increasingly rare these days, and perhaps thanks to this situation, SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is particularly enjoyable. It revives the genre in its most classic form, focusing heavily on the typical characterization of the series from which it is taken. A well-made tie-in, obviously aimed at big SpongeBob fans but which could appeal to anyone looking for a light-hearted game, especially younger players.

News Tower is a tycoon game that puts you in the shoes of a communications magnate running a newspaper in New York’s roaring Thirties. The player is offered countless possibilities: you can choose an editorial line that highlights certain topics, or even try to go where the wind blows by aligning yourself with the interests of the city’s political forces, such as the mayor and organized crime. As in any job, routine eventually starts to weigh on you, and the sense of instability becomes palpable. It’s hard to stay afloat without turning to the banks, which sooner or later will come after you to collect their interest. Worth noting is the excellent historical reconstruction based on real news stories from the months, weeks, and years in which the game is set as a result of Sparrow Night’s careful and elegant research.

Marvel's Deadpool VR is exactly the virtual-reality videogame dedicated to the Merc with a Mouth that we expected. Varied, fun in both dialogue and gameplay, and pleasing to see and hear. It's a work that convinces, yet at the same time doesn’t innovate in any way and will therefore mainly appeal to the many fans of the character from the House of Ideas. While we can say we’re satisfied with the final experience, we also feel compelled to express our disappointment at once again seeing so little courage in a medium like VR—a medium that should thrive on the “wow” effect. On that sense of wonder visible on the faces of those who try a VR headset for the first time, yet which unfortunately seems a bit neglected here. Sometimes it would be better to strive to create a less polished but more surprising title, rather than an excellent product with a more classic feel. In any case, Marvel's Deadpool VR is a work we feel confident recommending to superhero-comic fans and to anyone who has ever dreamed of wearing the red suit of the Merc with a Mouth.

An episodic story that, through its characters, tells the tale of one of Europe’s symbolic twentieth-century cities: Berlin. It moves back and forth through time while remaining firmly rooted in a single place, an apartment in the very heart of the city. Within its walls, people have witnessed a century of history that the German capital has lived through, marked by a series of key dates which, from 1933 onward, saw it become the stage for wars, cultural revolutions, and events that changed the world. Each of these moments, with its own small gameplay idea, guides us for about four hours on a journey to discover how our presence always leaves a trace behind in the places we inhabit.

Dispatch proves that there is still plenty of room for narrative-driven adventures, especially when they are written and directed as masterfully as in this case. There are inherent limitations to this type of “game,” but Dispatch does everything it can to ensure that they don't weigh it down.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is a shooter packed with content. While its campaign focuses entirely on action and doesn't quite reach the narrative quality of the previous chapter, the emphasis on co-op play, the shared progression system, the spectacular new Endgame mode (which will continue to evolve over time), the most substantial Zombies mode yet, and a competitive multiplayer offering an impressive number of maps and modes right from launch - with Absolute Movement shining brighter than ever and further refined - all stand as strong points that are sure to thrill longtime fans of the series.

Quotation forthcoming.

Rue Valley is an investigative adventure about a man trying to escape a time loop. To do so, he must open himself up to the world, talk to the people living in that remote desert town, and learn about the history of the families and events that have shaped it. It’s clear that the main point of reference is Disco Elysium, and while Rue Valley doesn’t reach the same level of interpretive refinement or mechanical complexity, it still offers an interesting, fresh, and entertaining approach. Like all loop-based narratives, it can sometimes become frustrating - especially when transitions and events start to repeat without any apparent progress -but the “mind map” system is very detailed and holds all the answers within it.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a sequel that really delivers — which wasn’t easy, considering how good Anno 1800 was. The game feels more modern overall, and the new setting brings in fresh mechanics that don’t completely change the formula, but definitely make it feel different and exciting again for longtime fans. The land battles aren’t super deep strategically, but they’re fun from a management point of view — and that’s what really counts. As a city builder, this is the best Anno so far: you can finally build diagonally, and your citizens now react to shortages in a much stronger and more dramatic way than before.

Syberia was an excellent graphic adventure, and its Remastered version remains an excellent game; this is probably the most important detail. That said, as a remastered version that is somewhat of a remake but not quite, Microids' effort was not particularly bold. There was definitely room for the changed puzzles to be more interesting, and there was scope for greater attention to detail and remastering of the cutscenes. We recommend it, but we admit we were hoping for a little more effort.

Arc Raiders is pure fun — a smart and engaging product on which Embark Studios can build years and years of additional content. However, the long-term goals offered to players still feel a bit too vague, the monetization system has yet to reveal its true nature, and the inventory management could use some reworking or evolution.

Europa Universalis V expands on every single aspect of its predecessor, drawing inspiration from the best and most modern Paradox grand strategy games. It’s a true colossus that can easily steal hundreds—if not thousands—of hours from your life. There’s still plenty of work to be done in terms of fine-tuning and balancing, but the overall vision is crystal clear, the amount of content is remarkable, and the level of interaction is at its peak. Equally impressive is its engaging pace and the excellent tutorials. Europa Universalis V is a vast, ever-changing experience—an essential title for anyone who loves history, complex games, or, best of all, both.

Age of Imprisonment looks like an improvement through and through of the Hyrule Warriors formula, however it lacks on diversity and uniqueness: it feels like it sails on safe waters by taking away the most convoluted features of its predecessor for a more streamlined narrative driven experience while never shaking the divisive musou roots off.

Tormented Souls 2 is a pure, old-school survival horror, complete with all the classic strengths and weaknesses of the genre. It brings plenty of ideas that keep the player’s tension constantly high, but you need to be ready to endure its hardships without flinching: few save points, very limited resources, no checkpoints, stiff controls, and constant friction with a less-than-excellent game interface. In return, the experience feels authentic, one of those rare ones you can count on the fingers of one hand today. It’s not a game for everyone; it has a very specific and slightly masochistic audience that probably doesn’t even think about making things easier by playing on the lowest difficulty. For those who love this kind of game, Tormented Souls 2 is among the least compromising titles you can find.

Football Manager 26 is the new entry in the FM series — for better or worse. After skipping a year, Sports Interactive used the time mainly to migrate its massive database and core systems to Unity rather than to revolutionize the game. The result is a solid installment with a few interesting additions — most notably off-the-ball formations — and plenty of familiar strengths, especially its ability to captivate players for hours. Match graphics have improved but still fall short of excellence, menus are clearer yet not perfect, and the inclusion of women’s football expands the managerial options even further. If you love this kind of experience, nothing else on the market comes close; but if you’ve already conquered everything from Lega Pro or simply don’t care for football, this won’t change your mind.

To be completely honest, Dragon Quest II is practically worth the whole package on its own: it’s the game in the Erdrick trilogy that Square Enix has refreshed the best, thanks to an already solid foundation — particularly in terms of narrative and character development. By overcoming the limitations that plagued Dragon Quest III last year, this new release delivers a more complete and satisfying experience, even considering a first installment that remains somewhat raw — yet brave — despite its new HD-2D makeover. Will it change the minds of those who dislike nostalgic revivals and the inherent anachronism of Dragon Quest? Probably not. But it will definitely please anyone who loves diving into the history of the genre, surrounded by vivid colors and unforgettable music.

Ball x Pit has haunted our console for days, like a ghost that refused to leave, claiming more and more space, more and more time. It’s one of the most ruthless examples of those games that make you say, “just one more round and I’ll stop,” except you never actually do. Every match is engaging, every bit of character building grabs you by the hand and drags you into perfectly timed sessions that almost always — even when you lose — leave you with something useful for the next attempt. It’s a Machiavellian mechanism. The credit goes partly to the tried-and-true roguelite formula, but also to the creativity shown in designing power-ups, special balls, and characters. Ball x Pit is pure joy... as irresistible and alluring as a siren’s song.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is gorgeous to look at and fantastic in the freedom it offers for customizing your own park. Moreover, this time the campaign is much more engaging and longer than before. There’s plenty to play, and on PC—if you know what you’re getting into—it’s unlikely to disappoint. However, the gameplay remains the weakest part of the package: mesmerizing as it may be, it’s still quite shallow and far too similar to the previous title.

Overall, we decided to give Simon The Sorcerer Origins a high score because we genuinely enjoyed it — but rarely has it felt more important to properly contextualize what that number actually represents. We wanted to reward it as a clear signal to fans of LucasArts-style adventures and similar titles that this game was made specifically for them. It stays true to that vision to the point of making design choices that might not sit well with players who aren’t very familiar with the point-and-click genre. But Smallthing Studios clearly defined its audience, leaving no room for misunderstanding, and stripped away all the elements alien to the genre that other studios have added over the years in an attempt to attract people who barely know what an adventure game even is. It’s a radical choice, of course, and some may even see it as a flaw — fair enough. So make your own judgment, but hopefully our reasoning here is clear enough.

Powerwash Simulator 2 is precisely what you would expect from the sequel to such a simulation: an evolution that does not alter the unique original gameplay but adds a few details, refines some mechanics and improves the quality of life by offering a new and abundant dose of the same elements. If you loved the first one, you cannot miss this one, but its addictive mechanics could still make unexpected conquests.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a classic role-playing game from Obsidian Entertainment, as well as the excellent sequel to a series that we now hope will continue further. What most satisfies in this new adventure among the stars is the freedom of action offered to the player — both in character management and in the variety of approaches allowed in missions, dialogues, combat, and virtually every other aspect of the game.Like many other titles from the Californian studio, it’s not an experience without flaws, which are especially noticeable from a technical standpoint. Nonetheless, the overall quality of the adventure is such that any issues easily fade into the background. Ultimately, The Outer Worlds 2 is a role-playing game — and a remarkably well-crafted, rewarding sci-fi adventure. It will satisfy both those who simply wish to complete the main missions, taking around thirty hours, and those who prefer to dig deep, uncovering and savoring every fine detail of the elaborate role-playing system crafted by the studio.

Once Upon a Katamari takes the simple, brilliant idea at the heart of the series and rolls it through time, offering a hilarious snapshot of human history. It’s packed with clever twists that shake up a formula which, at its core, stays the same — and yet it never stops being fun, thanks to its absurd creativity, irresistible soundtrack, and a presentation that’s unapologetically, wonderfully Japanese. If you’ve loved this franchise in the past, this comeback will have you cheerfully humming for days. And if you’ve never played it before, now’s a perfect time to give it a shot and discover just how fun it can be to roll over a bunch of Greek philosophers or barrel through a pack of velociraptors.

Persona 3 Reload on Switch 2 is exactly the same game we played more than 1 year ago but the frame pacing took a heavy hit and it's in strong need of a patch. That being said, Persona 3 Reload is still an amazing JRPG through and through that fans of the genre should definitely play.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is exactly what we expected - nothing more, nothing less: an action game that focuses on combat and does so with great authority, showcasing all the power of an iconic franchise and the talent of a development team (actually, two) that needs no lessons from anyone.

With CloverPit, Panik Arcade has followed the contemporary trend of offering titles with a simple concept at a very affordable price (it costs €9.99, without discounts) — much like Vampire Survivors or the often-mentioned Balatro. It’s a striking game in its own way, precisely because of its limitations, and an excellent one to showcase on Twitch or YouTube — which, these days, is always a plus for ensuring strong sales.Its blend of mechanics based on both luck and skill, along with the satisfying sense of progress from match to match, does the rest — making it the kind of addictive pastime you’re always happy to come back to for one more game.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is an excellent game from a narrative standpoint, surrounded by other systems of varying quality — some justified by the pursuit of consistency with the setting, others clearly the result of production issues during development. Overall, it’s better than we expected and turned out to be an engaging and deep experience, certainly worthy of the first Bloodlines in how it portrays the vampiric world.Be aware, however, that the role-playing aspect is expressed more through dialogue than through the rest of the gameplay, and those looking for a title where combat is the most polished part have come to the wrong place.

If you’ve loved Pokémon but the latest releases have left you disappointed for various reasons, Pokémon Legends: Z-A won’t change your mind — yet it proves that Game Freak still has a ton of super-effective moves in its arsenal. Despite some rough edges in the story and balance, and a technical side hampered more by design choices than by execution, the new Pokémon Legends entry is fun, immediate, and engaging — though it could have been much, much more. The Japanese developer is still experimenting, adding and removing elements in search of the perfect formula, but continues to do so with the nonchalance of a studio that knows it can sell millions of copies with minimal effort. And that’s a shame, because Z-A is probably the best Pokémon game in years. With just a bit more effort — and the hardware potential of the Switch 2 — Game Freak could truly get back on track.

Double Dragon Revive was a real surprise — one of those games we didn’t expect much from, only to realize we had unfairly underestimated it. Yuke’s work is a smart evolution not only of the series it belongs to, but of the entire beat ’em up genre as well. It’s a genuinely satisfying title in its core elements, falling short only due to the lack of extra modes. Apart from that, it’s truly an excellent Double Dragon — one to be experienced, one punch at a time.

Beautiful to look at, powerful to listen to, highly optimized, and with gameplay that takes us back to the glories of the best games in the series, Battlefield 6 is the unexpected return we've been hoping for for years. The campaign is a concentration of explosions and uncertainty, but multiplayer is where you'll spend most of your time, and it's here that things take a turn for the better. The nine starting maps are a tasty appetizer for what's to come in the coming months; the feel of the weapon in your hand is just right, and when everything falls apart around you, you've definitely fallen in love. With the usual flaws, but also with strengths we almost forgot, this is, finally, Battlefield.

Absolum is a side-scrolling beat 'em up of exquisite craftsmanship, almost perfect, one might say, enhanced by a roguelite structure that still has some balancing issues, likely due to Guard Crush’s lack of experience with the genre. Most of the time, however, it manages to find its footing, also because in terms of scale and content it's not overwhelming, in fact, it can be completed in around fifteen hours. It must be said: when it comes to throwing punches, nothing else compares. The satisfying way power-ups synergize with one another, along with the impact and thrill of juggling enemies, makes progressing through the levels a sublime experience. Even after reaching the end, you’ll want to keep brawling, stacking upgrades just to feel increasingly powerful. A little gem to play and replay, after cracking your knuckles, of course.

Little Nightmares III is the usual small, exquisite nightmare built around the fears of two children escaping from a world of repulsive “grown-ups.” The most tangible novelty is the online co-op mode, which allows two players to work together by using each character’s unique abilities. However, in trying to find a balance between a game that can be completed solo and one where cooperation truly matters, Little Nightmares III never pushes this feature too far, it’s enjoyable, but never essential. Beyond that, it’s a repetition of moments and situations we’ve already experienced in the previous installments. We would have liked to see more of Supermassive Games’ own touch on this universe, rather than the reaffirmation of established formulas.

Quotation forthcoming.

Digimon Story Time Stranger isn’t perfect, but it’s undoubtedly the most ambitious entry in the franchise to date — both in terms of content and the depth of its gameplay mechanics. It offers an intriguing narrative, excellent longevity, and the chance to meet and collect over four hundred Digimon (some of which can even be ridden), all while exploring, in alternating moments, both the real and digital worlds. That said, it’s undeniable that this isn’t a flawless title. From a technical standpoint, despite the refinements and overall visual appeal, its origins as a last-generation project are apparent at every turn. Moreover, despite all the new ideas and innovations introduced, dungeon exploration remains rather static and repetitive, and the combat system doesn’t reach the depth that fans might have hoped for — even if it is, admittedly, more technical than in the past. In short, there’s still work to be done — but the direction is the right one. “All together,” then, “all for the Digimon,” as the old anime theme song once said.

The two Super Mario Galaxy games are so beautiful and imaginative that they transcend their own series. They are the dream of a child broken down into its basic elements, explorable through fantastical and extraordinary gravity-defying acrobatics, framed by Rosalina’s melancholic tales and those leaps toward the sublime, supported by symphonic outpourings—so rare for Super Mario and Nintendo. They are two masterpieces, and it is no coincidence that they marked the childhood and imagination of the first members of Generation Z.

With EA Sports FC 26, the Canadian development studio takes an interesting path, but the final result doesn’t fully manage to convince. The two gameplay presets are a smart addition, Career mode gains momentum with Manager Live and Unexpected Events, and Ultimate Team receives a few useful tweaks that help refine the experience. However, between a still spotty defensive AI, a midfield sacrificed on the altar of spectacle, a Realistic mode that is intriguing but far from brilliant, and a monetization system that permeates every mode, there’s still a long way to go.

Dying Light: The Beast marks a return to simplicity and straightforwardness for Techland’s series, a shift that also comes through in the comeback of the original protagonist. Angrier than ever and literally able to turn into a beast, Kyle Crane will lead us through a somewhat clichéd and predictable revenge story, fortunately enriched by a host of side missions, characters, puzzles to solve, and secrets to uncover within a map that alternates between urban settlements, forests, and mountains, all in an effort to best express the formula that made this franchise so successful.

We already knew it from the announcement trailer, and playing it for forty hours only confirmed our first impressions: Ghost of Yotei is exactly what everyone expected from a sequel of this scale, backed by a Sony that needs to strongly focus on some of the trademark elements of its biggest works. Sucker Punch doesn’t try to overdo it, doesn’t attempt the path of innovation, and has no intention of straying from those defining aspects that made *Tsushima* a success far beyond the rosiest expectations. Yotei refines the mechanics, increases variety, enhances attention to detail, and better defines certain narrative dynamics. The result is simply a game that works well and does exactly what it’s supposed to: entertain all those players looking for a new open-world, free-roaming action adventure in which to invest a few dozen hours. Clearly, this isn’t the place to look for a new benchmark or that extra something that boldly sets it apart from any other title in the genre, but five years later, anyone who wants to relive the Tsushima experience will feel right at home here, before the crackling of a warm and reassuring fire.

Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is the second chapter of a broader recovery operation, one aimed at reviving the main installments of the franchise in three dimensions and making them accessible once again, enriched with a technical sector worthy of modern times and enough additional content to spark the interest of a wide audience (or at least not to disappoint it, since the comparison with contemporary video games arises spontaneously). In this case, the developers at Now Production have done a good job, introducing into the main structure a whole series of improvements, variations, and aesthetic additions that, in most cases, have benefitted it. The game itself remains what it was back then, with its strengths and weaknesses (among the latter, mainly a not-so-exciting level design and a constant sense of déjà vu). However, thanks to a fair price and the success of the modernization itself, we can’t help but recommend giving the yellow ball a chance.

By leveraging a wonderful creative process in close contact with their community, Supergiant has created an extraordinary title, capable of soaring above all others in its genre in terms of overall quality, structural brilliance, balance of its parts, and beauty. Hades II is an impeccable work, and we've been unable to find any real flaws in it, game after game. Perfection may not be of this world, but Supergiant has come very close.

Final Fantasy Tactics aged like wine and the improvements to the story department show love and passion. Retail price might look expensive for a remaster that adds almost no content to a 1997 game except for a few QoL features but it's worth every penny if you never played it before or love tactical JRPGs.

Silent Hill f is a bold and strikingly timely video game: a political horror with a powerful message, unafraid to be provocative as every true work of art should be. At the same time, it carries within itself the spirit of folk horror: having left behind Judeo-Christian iconography, it is the Japanese tradition that casts its long shadow over both the aesthetics and the narrative, at times through choices that bring it closer to fantasy than to the urban horror the series is known for. Tradition and modernity clash in a work that feels suspended between what Silent Hill once was and what it could become. The balance doesn’t always hold, yet its voice remains strong, with no fear of offending longtime fans or alienating purists. Many will not like it, and some will not even recognize where Silent Hill lies within this story. But those willing to listen closely to the narrative crafted by Ryukishi07 will discover that Silent Hill f knows how to take root. And how to bloom.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds stands out as an excellent arcade racing title, arguably the finest in Sega’s mascot-driven series. Boasting a wealth of content, it delivers engaging experiences in both single-player and multiplayer modes, supported by a truly impressive track design.