The Definitive Edition offers Stronghold in its purest, most beautiful and best form to date. Unfortunately, the remaster is only “good” and not the ultimate gaming experience promised.

Thanks to some small improvements, the dungeon building part is the best in the series, but aside from that, its pretty much the same experience as in Dungeons 3. Which means the overworld with its RTS-styled combat still feels undercooked and is lacking some real improvements. It's fun (if you can stomach the horrible writing), but it plays more like a big expansion rather than a true sequel.

Call of Duty has lost its magic. Modern Warfare 3 is miles away from the epic campaign missions of the franchise. The new open combat missions are boring and we are missing the scripted action sequences of the prequels. After only four hours the story is completed, even for a Call of Duty that’s short. We still have the feeling, this game should be a DLC and not a sequel of MW2. [Campaign Review Score = 40]

Short but sweet Yakuza action: Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is more than just a glorified expansion, but it does have its weaknesses in terms of playability and mission design.

The love for the source material really shows and it is evident that Teyon understands what fans want from a RoboCop-title... The game drifts a bit too heavily into fan service from time to time, which is excusable but still a valid point of criticism.

Sandrock is a fundamentally solid life and farming sim with RPG and adventure elements and, above all, one thing: a matter of taste.

Are you looking for a party game for a Saturday night with friends? Then Party Animals is just the right choice! Provided there are not more than four people. For some casual fun, the party brawler is definitely worth the money. However, long-term motivation is not its strongest suit.

The Invincible is a walking simulator that refuses to be seen as one. While it does show some potential in its narrative, the game simply doesn't follow through on all its foreshadowing. Factor in the seemingly pointless and boring gameplay and you're left with a rather disappointing experience.

Wario Ware is probably the TikTok of video games. With Move It! Nintendo has finally managed to conjure up a movement game with a party factor par excellence. Only a few problems with the controls caused small moments of frustration. But we can happily overlook that.

Don’t Nod shows that they distanced themselves from the formula of Life is Strange. But fortunately they kept their strength of storytelling. Jusant is a great mountain adventure that is perfect for the cold autumn days with a great climbing system and a lot of melancholy.

Remedy has done it again: Alan Wake 2 looks absolutely stunning, has one of the most crazy storys in gaming history and makes overall everything better than the prequel. The gameplay and the locations are showing so much variety and the charakters are incredible interesting. Only a few bugs and one very annoying bossfight destroying the high score.

Just Dance 2024 is a lot of fun as a party game. Unfortunately, the online compulsion and the pressure to take out a subscription for the full range of games hinder the enjoyment of the game. Because a subscription is almost mandatory when selecting the music for the new part.

Ghostrunner 2 is better, stronger, and faster, but it has lost some of its charm.

Cities: Skylines 2 has exciting new ideas, introduces improvements in the right places, but tears down these advances with indisputable performance and questionable design decisions. You keep getting the feeling that the game was released too early.

Action, tower defense, tactics, rogue-lite and co-op in one package: Endless Dungeon is a stylish successor, but in the long run it lacks surprises and variety. Content updates could have a big impact here.

The few flaws that the game undoubtedly has are annoying. Apart from them, though, Super Mario Bros Wonder is 2D platforming fun close to perfection.

With Spider-Man 2, the developers at Insomniac continue the adventures of Peter and Miles with a gripping story, taking many of the strengths of the predecessors and making meaningful improvements in the right places.

The reboot of Lords of the Fallen doesn't reinvent the genre, but it is a well-executed soulslike.

High replay value, enormous depth and massive demands: Total War: Pharaoh is strategy food for advanced players. The game requires a certain amount of training, but it also rewards it with an overall motivating gaming experience.

The new Bomberman impresses with energetic music and numerous personalization options. But in the long run the game becomes too repetitive.

Quotation forthcoming.

Quotation forthcoming.

New gameplay mechanics, better - but not stunning - graphics, a good balance between the game elements, a quite exciting 2.0 story and less demanding challenges. All in all: a solid story adventure from the Pokémon universe.

Assassin’s Creed: Mirage is a decent reflection on the essentials, but is often too timid and unimaginative.

Payday 3 is fun to play, but there would be so much more potential in the game. More stealth features could make things more varied and better. Particularly because the shooter gameplay has also some weaknesses like the spongy controls.

Strong, straight-forward retro-shooter with its own interesting flourishes.

Paleo Pines is overpriced and not worth it, because it doesn't come close to good farming sims or cozy games like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley. The graphics and animations are lackluster. In addition, many mechanics are very tedious and annoying. The only unique factor, the cute dinosaurs, is simply not convincing enough to outweigh the flaws.

A worthy expansion with great scope, exciting characters, great mission design and an absolutely fantastic spy thriller story.

The Crew Motorfest doesn't reinvent the wheel and the simple controls put off anyone who likes demanding simulations. But the size, fleet and playlist variety are enough to keep up with the racing game competition.

The 99-player highspeed-races are a fun experience but you can't call it a traditional battle-royale game. With a great ranking system and its nostalgic tracks and fun modes for added variety F-Zero 99 shows what the series always was about while still being unique on its own.

The expansion has even more technical problems than the base game and features similarly empty areas. But it offers a nice story with typical Pokémon characters and is particularly suitable if you not only want to explore the game world, but above all want to follow a storyline again.

Gunbrella probably won't appeal to everyone, but if you like fast gameplay with fun movement, you shouldn't miss the game.

Lies of P has got a unique setting and the uncanny atmosphere shows the influence Bloodborne had on the game. But it doesn‘t feel as good as it looks and seems to have misunderstood what makes the difficulty in Soulslikes so rewarding.

Quotation forthcoming.

A couple of annoying bugs and a lot of unrealized potential turn The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo into an ambivalent experience, despite its carefully crafted presentation.

Quotation forthcoming.

Baldur's Gate 3 is also on the PS5 the masterpiece that all role-playing game fans have been hoping for and so much more. The gameplay freedom, the great characters, the top-notch narrative, the satisfying combat system are unparalleled and blend in perfect harmony to create a true work of art.

Starfield delivers an exciting new universe with terrific design, fun quests and interesting characters, capturing almost everything whe love about Bethesda RPGs. It's big and ambitious and often times beautiful, but certainly not perfect: Space travel becomes a bit of a chore after a while, combat between Starships feels undercooked and exploring the huge amount of planets is way less rewarding than we hoped. But if you play it mostly like a Fallout 3 in space and don't expect a fully-fledged space simluator, you are in for a treat.

Under the Waves is one of the biggest positive surprises of the year. The developers of the indie game have crated one of the most beautiful gaming worlds in the last months. Water effects and the life under the sea looks stunning. But the adventure offers more than just beautiful graphics. The Story about our main character Stan and his sad past is so good and heartbraking at the same time. For people who are in love with slow paced adventures, Under the Waves is the perfect game between the blockbusters Baldur’s Gate 3 and Starfield.

After the big success of Elden Ring the developers of From Software now celebrating the release of their new game Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. In our review the Mech-Shooter convinced us immediately with spectacular action paced robot fights. Gameplay, controls, graphic and soundtrack working perfectly together and also the mission design brings a lot of variety into the game. But we have to say, AC6 is not made for beginners. While most enemies are not really hard to beat, the bossfights kept us a very long time on our toes. Armored Core 6 is not perfect, the menu navigation is very laborious and there are a few unfair moments while fighting the big bosses, but nevertheless fans of the franchise and the genre will be satisfied.

With a charming cast of undead pirates, lots of style and all the bells and whistles from Desperados 3, this is another excellent addition to Mimimis considerable catalogue. The unusual freedom of choice however proves to be a double-edged sword: It's fun to pick a crew and play the missions as we see fit, but it also takes away some of the challenge we loved in the previous games.

Red Dead Redemption on Switch is not a remake and also no remaster, it’s just a port of the ps3 and xbox 360 version. Nevertheless Rockstar's Wild West masterpiece also rocks the Nintendo console. The graphics look great on the Switch and the controls are doing their job. Only two things could stop players from buying the game: The missing multiplayer part and the high price. But in contrast to the multiplayer the Undead Nightmare DLC is also included. So we can not only play the main story with John Marston, there is also the zombie add-on in this version. That’s a great thing.

The developers at Larian Studios have created something very special with Baldur's Gate 3. And even if developers of large studios fight tooth and nail against it: This role-playing game sets new standards, and future RPGs will have to be measured against it. It is a video game in its purest form that holds a mirror up to the industry. It shows us how video games used to be and how they should be, something the industry has forgotten far too often. It is a work of art, born from the passion and love of a studio that has not been corrupted by the industry's rampant greed. You can tell in every fiber of Baldur's Gate 3 that it wasn't created to generate maximum revenue. Instead, it is a product of the love for video games that characterizes Creative Director Swen Vincke and his team.

Quotation forthcoming.

Quotation forthcoming.

Quake 2 was amazing 26 years ago, and it is still a lot of fun - even if its age shows quite a bit. The remaster is superb, with new content, crossplay, tons of options and meaningful upgrades under the hood. So if you want to experience a true classic in id Software's history or simply have a taste for kick-ass retro action, this is the version to get.

Quake 2 was amazing 26 years ago, and it is still a lot of fun - even if its age shows quite a bit. The remaster is superb, with new content, crossplay, tons of options and meaningful upgrades under the hood. So if you want to experience a true classic in id Software's history or simply have a taste for kick-ass retro action, this is the version to get.

Even though the developers deserve praise for changing gears after The Surge 2, we cannot shake the feeling that Deck 13 aimed a little too high with this one.

Atlas Fallen has a lot going for it, open world exploration, fluid movement, interesting combat and even online co-op. But it is all hampered by bland storytelling, unrewarding loot and some odd design choices.

The F1 Manager 2023 is better than the last years prequel, but some more management options are still missing. The game has lots of potential, although for example we still can’t create our own team. Overall the game from Frontier Developments makes a step forward in the right direction.

Disney Illusion Island looks great, feels great and is full of heart. It is, however, held back by being way too easy for experienced gamers and devoid of any new ideas.

Quotation forthcoming.

Thanks to its improved but very similar formula, Remnant 2 will prove especially satisfying for fans of the first game. If you like tinkering with builds and being challenged while doing it, you’ll have a great time here, alone or with up to two friends. You and your team should be prepared for a bit of frustration in the chaotic bossfights, however.

A well done reinterpretation of the old Jagged Alliance gameplay with great characters, a great dynamic campaign and tactically diverse combat, but with a few weak points, especially for veterans of the series.

Quotation forthcoming.

Viewfinder is a great indie game that doesn't quite know where it's going with the narrative, though. The basic puzzle premise is ingenious and doesn't wear out over the short playtime. Solution approaches are repeated, which diminishes the puzzle's fun a bit. The game was often compared to Portal in the run-up and the gameplay is very close to Valve's puzzle hit. We hope that Viewfinder will take the same step as Portal and follow up a very short but fun first part with a really great sequel that could revolutionize the world of puzzle games.

Oxenfree 2 is a great time. We enjoyed the gripping story with significant decisions that promise a high level of replay value. The art style and the characters are also very well done. The only major problem are some pacing issues. But especially for the price with that amount of playtime, you can hardly complain.

For the most part, Aliens: Dark Descent is a really pleasant surprise. It combines real-time tactics, solid mission design and a good amount of suspense with some interesting mechanics that fit really well with the movie. If you are a die-hard fan of James Camerons Aliens (1986), you will find a lot to love here. The story however is mostly uninspired, it has its share of bugs and some encounters can lead to some serious frustration, especially with the limited save system, which might be off-putting for newcomers. But even with all these drawbacks, there is no denying that Dark Descent is still one of the best Aliens games ever made. Just keep your expectations in check.

Wrestling-experts Yuke's put the focus on old-fashioned, tried and tested wrestling action with AEW Fight Forever. They however failed to add anything new or distinct to the genre.

We liked Pikmin 1+2 a lot. Especially the improved visuals and the solid port to the Nintendo Switch are positive points. However, those who expect any new content or other improvements besides better graphics might be disappointed.

Quotation forthcoming.

Quotation forthcoming.

Great action role-playing game with an exciting storyline, epic moments, fast-paced combat and a dark setting that is light on RPG elements.

Surprisingly, EA and Codemasters deliver one of the biggest and best F1 games with F1 23 – a massive playground for those who love motorsports and high speed. And thanks to F1 World, casual gamers are now more welcome than ever.

Despite some technical and gameplay weaknesses, Layers of Fear is an entertaining horror adventure that looks fantastic thanks to Unreal Engine 5. Clear purchase recommendation for horror and graphics fans. People who have already played the series might want to stay away, due to a lack of innovation.

Quotation forthcoming.

The biggest and darkest Diablo yet, with a huge world to explore, robust mechanics and tons of quests to do along the way. Some features feel a little undercooked, but provide a great foundation for updates and improvements, much more than Diablo 3 ever could. The MMO design does not hurt the experience and the current monetization is easy enough to ignore. However, this might change in the future, as new mechanics, shop items and seasonal content are rolling in. Blizzard will have to be careful not to ruin what has been an amazing launch so far.

As with its predecessor, Railway Empire 2 is a clear recommendation for railroad and business simulation fans. Thanks to its beginner-friendliness, even newcomers will find their way around, and veterans can get even more out of it thanks to the new options. In any case, you should plan for a lot of time.

An economic simulation for railroad fans that does little wrong and has developed sensibly compared to its predecessor.

A great remaster of an ingenious classic that captures the charm of the original very well and, thanks to variable difficulty settings, shouldn't overwhelm or bore anyone too much.

Nice graphics, a mix of old and new mechanics and tons of cool little details make Street Fighter 6 the ultimate Street Fighter.

One or two nice ideas and the unconventional main character do not save Gollum from boring gameplay, clunky controls and a technique that even Sauron would find too cruel.

Outstanding, outrageously big action-adventure that builds on the strengths of its predecessor and puts playful freedom above everything else. It offers a good mix of the familiar and the fresh and just barely misses the perfect rating.

The setting is a good fit for turn-based tactics and the bite-sized approach really works in its favor. Just don't expect a game that will last you for weeks, and once it's finished, you have seen pretty much everything it has to offer. However, if you are looking for an accessible tactics game that is fun to play and doesn't overstay its welcome, Showgunners is an easy recommendation.

Quotation forthcoming.

Redfall is such a game where every positive point is followed by a "but". A pity!

Redfall not only has big performance and balancing problems, but the story is also boring and the characters are annoying. This shooter is already one of the big disappointments of the gaming year.

The survival game Stranded: Alien Dawn from Haemimont Games is a great mix between The Sims and Rimworld. We enjoyed the long term satisfying campaigns and had a lot of fun while building a new civilization on a foreign planet.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor presents itself as a successful and sensible further development of its predecessor. The technical shortcomings are a pity, but should not distract from the otherwise good overall impression.

Dead Island 2 never aims for unreachable heights and knows what it wants to be: A fun zombie slasher with brutal combat, beautiful levels, robust mechanics and a few jokes along the line. If that sounds like a great time to you, there's a good chance you are going to love Dead Island 2.

Dead Island 2 is not as ambitious as some of the other zombie slashers out there, but that actually works in its favor: With solid game mechanics, gory combat, good level design and some well-written characters, you are in for a bloody good time. Just don't expect a game that pushes anything forward.

The Minecraft saga continues: Minecraft Legends is a beautiful strategy game, made for beginners of the genre. The campaign and the versus-mode are fun to play. If there wouldn’t be some bigger pathfinding issues with our A.I. compagnons and with more options of commands, the game would be even better.

While not quite the Freelancer killer we were hoping for, this is still one of the best space shooters money can buy. Everspace 2 is packed with content, full of areas to explore, fun combat, great graphics and a robust loot system. The story is a big step up from the first game as well, only hampered by its weak presentation and sometimes underwhelming atmosphere.

Quotation forthcoming.

With great looks, new features and refined gameplay, Capcom has made the survival horror milestone fit for the current generation.

All in all, Anno 1800 is one of the best building games on the market, even on the console. Of course, the port in its current form is not very interesting for those switching from the PC. There is simply too much content missing and the change in handling can't be ignored. But as a pure console player, you can look forward to a top-class building game that will excite you for countless hours.

A visually stunning storybook adventure that relies on atmosphere and varied features to balance occasional unimaginative plot and strenuous characters.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a really fun game, but it just squanders its potential at every turn. Things like lack of enemy variety and boring loot don't exactly help the title stand out from the crowd. Fans of the team ninja combat familiar from the Nioh series will definitely enjoy Wo Long, but at least for the PC version, you should wait until the developers get a grip on the numerous performance problems.

Company of Heroes 3 is a well-done real-time strategy game, with great mission design, intense battles, diverse strategic options and a large scope, but it could have dared a bit more modernization in some places.

New Allies is pleasing to look at and offers a relaxed experience for newcomers, as long as you keep your expectations in check. But if you are looking for a deep city builder or a long-lasting multiplayer strategy game, by all means, look elsewhere.

The small innovations, the visual upgrade and the new Magolor epilogue make it more than just a nice remaster that really comes into its own in co-op mode.

With enormously fun, varied gameplay, great art style, interesting story and great sound, Atomic Heart manages to outperform its many small blunders.

Quotation forthcoming.

Horizon: Call of the Mountain certainly doesn't reinvent the VR wheel, but it convinces with a fantastic presentation, an unparalleled attention to detail, and great moments that literally transport the player into this impressive world. Horizon fans in particular should not miss this experience.

Ishin is playfully outdated in some areas and the technology is not entirely convincing. Series fans will still have fun with the atmospheric title. Newcomers, on the other hand, should rather choose another game from RGG.

New fodder for hungry Monster Hunters: Wild Hearts isn't in the same league as the original, but it offers fresh hunting fun and cool monsters... erm, kemonos.

Quotation forthcoming.

Another prime example of how PC ports should be done: Returnal looks brilliant on high-end machines, but shows fine performance on medium-sized PCs as well. There are plenty of options to choose from and the rogue-like action feels amazing with keyboard and mouse. If you haven't yet experienced Returnal in all its glory on PS5, this version is just as good, if not even better.