Somehow the team over at Deck Nine has taken the franchise to the next level. Life is Strange: True Colors is an experience that can resonate at an emotional level that's rarely seen nowadays, delivered with both maturity and grace. You'd have to be crazy to miss out on this epic adventure in small town, America.

RICO: London can be good fun at times, but it's also janky, unpolished, and frustrating. Also, the co-op's broken. That doesn't help.

Not particularly offensive, but too repetitive, poorly written, and dull to inspire much admiration. Hindsight 20/20 has some nifty ideas, but they're not enough to act as a lifesaver.

Sonic Colors: Ultimate remasters the original 2010 release on the Wii, upping the graphics and offering more ways to enjoy the game. Despite some speed bumps, Sonic Colors: Ultimate is a worthwhile revisit to one of the series' greatest adventures, and stands heads and Tails above many other 3D Sonic games. This is Sonic done right, and having it modernized and on PC at last is a treat for fans and newcomers alike.

Tales of Arise is a genuinely exceptional JRPG that does little wrong. The reworked combat mechanics aren't perfect, but in the grand scheme of things that doesn't matter. Its storytelling, character development, visuals, accessibility, and PC version quality have all been produced to world-class standards. Bandai Namco should be proud, and fans should be thrilled.

Bus Simulator 21 certainly kicks things into high gear above its predecessor with a lot of appreciated quality-of-life improvements. But, it's brought down by an awkward driving system, UI clutter, AI clunkiness, and apparent optimization issues. Yet, it remains a solid new product in the active driving sim genre.

When Kitaria Fables works it works really well. But when its issues begin to arise, the experience of playing through it can get awfully frustrating. These unnecessary design oversights detract from the game's clear strengths. Regardless, it isn't bad, and given its relatively cheap retail price, it is probably worth giving a shot.

Featuing stellar depth and compelling storytelling, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is the next logical step for the franchise. It improves upon its predecessor in every feasible way, despite its intimidating exterior. This is an adventure that you won't want to miss.

Super Animal Royale is a wonderfully fun battle royale that is very welcoming of casual players. Combat is fast, and the mechanics are simple. You're never be left wondering what you did wrong. You just need to click on bad animals. Matches are short and you don't spend a ton of time looting, so the fear of death is much lower than in other battle royales. Super Animal Royale is the kind of game you should always have on your PC.

Making fantastic use of the VR medium, I Expect You To Die 2 picks up where the original left off, in the most literal sense possible. Sure, it may not be treading any new ground and is somewhat on the brief side, but even when viewing it as an expansion to the original, it still offers a stellar experience for all comers. Rest assured, that mission isn't firing any blanks.

The exploration, narrative elements, art style, and audio are all excellent in Recompile, but the platforming begins to feel redundant after a while. Especially since the level design doesn't provide any clear direction and leads to regular backtracking and second guessing. There are also missed opportunities where the gameplay could have been more interesting and balanced. Still, the game should scratch that itch for those always looking for something new to experience.

A generally enjoyable narrative game with strong characters and writing, Lake is a pleasant way to pass the time when its technical faults aren't making things difficult.

Both well-designed in some spots and iffier in others, Tormented Souls can be highly frustrating, but is an overall enjoyable classic-style survival-horror experience that fans will be happy to have.

King's Bounty II offers numerous options to keep you playing its 40-hour campaign. Unfortunately, it suffers from questionable design, janky movement while exploring, and confusing alignment system outcomes. It can be a treat for long-time fans, but it's also rough around the edges.

Entertaining to play, but light on content and too repetitive in spots, Aliens: Fireteam Elite isn't without its charms. But the purchase price is a little high for what you get.

A tour-de-force of sumptious visuals and world-class game design come together for a truly impressive feast for the senses. Psychonauts 2 is a must-play title for fans and newcomers alike.

Though a noble effort, the transition to HD has probably done more harm than good. Challenging gameplay has been replaced with a virtual walk in the park, devoid of damn near any difficulty. If you're looking to relive gaming's past, this one may be better found in the original.

Zany and hectic, Cosmo's Quickstop has a lot to offer, but it's damaged some by needless confusion and a bit of unfairness here and there.

Naraka: Bladepoint's movement and combat are beautifully fluid, and they give the battle royale more depth than any other. You will sink endless hours into soaring through above buildings and dueling with enemy ninjas. It only has a few minor technical issues that are bringing it down. If fixed, Naraka: Bladepoint will be around for a long, long time.

Twelve Minutes' strong narrative and star-studded cast of voice actors make it a solid mystery thriller that is slightly held back by clunky movements and occasionally janky controls.

This is far from a bad game, but it’s too generic to stick out for its presentation and too annoying to let its gameplay do the talking. If you just want a short beat ’em up to play with a friend, then there’s some amusement to be had here. But this is far from the best beat ’em up you can buy on PC.

Humankind is ambitious in size, scale, and scope, allowing you to try out multiple combinations of cultures as you progress through various eras. However, it's also hampered by limitations in certain mechanics and systems that don't mesh well with the overall gameplay.

Short, but unique and satisfying despite some frustrating elements, Greak: Memories of Azur is a winning actiony puzzle-platformer with some of the best 2D visuals you can find.

While it has a strong premise and some neat ideas, Foreclosed is let down by rote, subpar third-person shooter action and unimpressive stealth sections during its short runtime.

Patron is effectively a more difficult version of Banished. But there are enough subtle differences to differentiate them and the game's overall polish is fantastic. Some outlying issues need addressing but the developers have shown themselves to be passionate and willing to take feedback. It's already a very good city builder, but given time I think that Patron could become a staple of just about anybody's Steam library. For just $20, this is a steal.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: The Siege of Paris lets you meet a robust cast of historical characters. Unfortunately, many of its features and mechanics feel severely lacking. The concepts that it tries to introduce are either poorly implemented or limited in comparison to other games.

Button City is a good game that most people will have a fun time playing through. For just $20, it's reasonably priced and does a good job of putting a smile on your face. However, there is a missed opportunity to further explore certain topics which holds back the narrative's huge potential to be something more.

A simulator that's actually good instead of a jank factory? Lawn Mowing Simulator will only appeal to a specific niche, but it's a fun, relaxing game that offers almost all of what it should.

Grime is a stellar offering that stands ahead of the pack in both the Souls-like and Metroidvania subgenres. Its challenging combat and platforming mechanics add unique quirks that make for a refreshing experience. It does have a few notable flaws, but you'll have a great time in its bizarre world.

Tribes of Midgard has a lot of interesting concepts, from Norse Mythology inspirations to facets from other genres. Unfortunately, it's dragged down by poor pacing and rushing just to complete objectives. It's better if you have friends who also enjoy it. Unfortunately, as a solo player, you'll start wondering if there's anything else to look forward to.

Dodgeball Academia has all the potential to be an epic, superpowered sports RPG. The dodgeball battles are lively and fun, but the story never reaches the fantastical heights it alludes to at the beginning of the game. It's enjoyable but not one for the record books.

As much as I wanted Night Book to be good, not even FMV can salvage this otherwise lackluster experience. Despite solid acting performances from the entire cast, it isn't enough to elevate this paint-by-numbers slog to the next level. It's probably best to leave this tome on the shelf where it belongs.

Serene and pleasant, but short and uncomplicated, Omno has a lot of sights worth seeing.

Eldest Souls will punish you with its difficulty, but you're going to love it thanks to refreshing combat mechanics and ridiculously frantic boss fights. However, you might encounter a few issues due to visual miscues, and replayability is solely dependent on how much you wish to rerun tougher encounters.

For most of the game, everything kills you in a single hit. Some enemy attacks only do one or two points of damage though. You have three health points, so I’m not sure why almost everything in the game has to kill you in one hit. The answer that I’ve come up with is that this game is bad and you shouldn’t play it.

Fairly cliché and quite short, Unbound: Worlds Apart is still well worth playing due to its excellent gameplay, controls, level design, and constant variety.

The Ascent is for the most part a polished experience that's tons of fun to play and behold. The narrative will carry you along to many interesting places with different baddies to fry, though a few encounters feature enemies that are pure bullet sponges. You will need to pick the right equipment and keep up with leveling, but these issues can be overcome. Hardware requirements shouldn't hold you back too much, and glitches are few and far between. The overall quality makes this one a must play for cyberpunk and isometric shooter fans.

Deftly written, smart, and consistently clever, The Forgotten City makes for a rousing, spirited adventure that is well worth taking part in. I wish it were longer, but that doesn't do much to knock what has been accomplished here.

With a combination of multiple features and mechanics from different genres, as well as a setting that's steeped in mystery, Chernobylite attempts to be the jack-of-all-trades. Unfortunately, a mediocre combat system, repetitive mission structure, and dull gameplay loop lead to questionable results.

Samurai Warriors 5 runs well and has a solid story presentation, but it's barely different from the last entry in terms of gameplay, save for having less than a third of the movesets.

HighFleet is a good game. It can be challenging, brutally so, and it has some issues with the way it handles things. But you can see the logic behind most of the concerns (that aren’t bugs), so it makes it easier to accept.

Claire de Lune is a game that definitely has its enjoyable parts, but the heavily-advertised narrative is problematic and many of the platforming sections are downright disappointing. If the price wasn't so steep, this would be an easier sell to those who like challenging puzzle adventure games. All of this along with the bugs and lingering performance issues make it hard to recommend.

This court finds The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles guilty of being a bit uneven, but it more than makes up for it through the quality of the second game in this two-game package.

If you're looking for a proper Trials-like experience, look elsewhere. The focus on tricks and combos takes some getting used to, and is likely not even targeted at the same audience. This is a ride that will end far too abruptly, and lacks a majority of the variety associated with the genre.

This tremendously excellent Death's Door is a well-polished action/adventure hybrid that is worth your attention.

Neither lengthy nor particularly interactive, Last Stop succeeds on the strengths of its writing, narrative, and characters.

Despite its rather brief runtime, Mini Motorways shows what made the game so successful on mobile platforms. Featuring a gameplay loop that's hard to resist, the only thing holding it back is a lack of true variety. Luckily, when the gratification loop is this intoxicating and the price is so minimal, the limited replay value can be easily forgiven.

Aside from some doubts about the balance and the AI, and some Warhammer-specific quibbles, Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector is a great Blood Angels experience.

Guild of Darksteel is a short, simple game that only takes a few hours to get through. There's nothing offensive or necessarily bad about it, but it's hard to recommend all the same.

The latest iteration of Formula One racing games, the pinnacle of motorsport. 8. Overall, F1 2021 still provides an unrivaled and amazing racing experience thanks to its MyTeam and Career modes, as well as a multitude of options to help fine-tune your racing style. Unfortunately, it's marred by a disappointing and disjointed Braking Point flagship story. Moreover, the improvements and changes to existing modes aren't as impactful as I had hoped. As such, if F1 2021 isn't as compelling if you extensively played last year's offering.

Though initially promising, the mechanics of Sniper Elite begin to fall apart once the dual controller setup for Oculus comes into play. This could certainly be remedied in the future through the introduction of a proper gun peripheral, but as of now, we're stuck firing blanks.

Fantastic gameplay paired with a game structure that resembles a tech demo makes Boomerang X worthwhile, even if it doesn't live up to its potential.

While it can get repetitive and you don't have as much control over combat as I'd like, this is undoubtedly a very strong entry in the series on its own merits. If the idea of raising a horde of monsters and having them knock the crap out of others sounds good to you, I can't imagine you won't find anything to enjoy here.

A better version of a great game with lots to do and intrigue abound. Ys IX is another winner for the venerable series and it has a better port than the last go-around launched with.

Despite its strong first impressions, Curved Space lacks the true variety to stand out in the crowd. You will find plenty to enjoy over the span of its brief runtime, but it isn't substantial enough to warrant a replay. Only diehard genre fans need apply.

While undoubtedly rudimentary, Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World remains a solid action platformer suitable for all ages.

Filled to the brim with visual novel conversations and over-the-top action, Scarlet Nexus is a surprisingly endearing game that might be more linear than people expect, but more compelling than it probably needed to be.

Though it has all of the hallmarks of a solid remake, Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX likely sticks a bit too close to the subject matter to resonate with a modern audience. Don't let the lush visuals fool you. It's unapologetically brutal design, combined with control issues and unexplained mechanics galore, all make for an uneven and unrecommendable experience.

Chivalry 2 delivers plenty of intense, blood-soaked action, without taking itself too seriously. But you might eventually want to do more than blindly swing a sword around.

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights does have a few issues. Overall, though, it more than delivers thanks to vibrant visuals, top-notch Metroidvania platforming, and challenging Souls-like combat.

Dull and clunky, this is one hell of a weak, uninspired action game that's plagued with poor design choices and technical issues.

If you have the patience, Roguebook is an interesting adventure, worth exploring. Players will be treated to a multifaceted strategy title, that keeps you guessing constantly. Why not have them deal you a hand?

We Are Football lays the foundations for future titles to prosper. But as a game, it isn't all that great. The primitive match engine in particular is just not good enough in this day and age. Regardless, there are some good ideas present and it looks far more promising than most of the Football Manager clones that have come and gone. Even if you don't want to wait, it's not like We Are Football is necessarily bad. Some may find the streamlined, faster experience a refreshing change from Football Manager's more complex offerings.

Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 still manages to offer a decent romp with its blend of stealth and action. Unfortunately, it relies too much on "long shot contracts" as opposed to the sandbox-oriented exploration of its predecessor. Likewise, given a multitude of challenges in each level, the autosave system becomes noticeably restrictive.

Packed with plenty of hours of great gameplay, but a far cry from what it could have been, Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is both worth playing and worth being pretty mad about.

Ambitious in size, scale, and scope, Edge of Eternity offers a somewhat enjoyable romp that could last you over 40 hours. Sadly, it's also very rough around the edges, and poor pacing can be detrimental to your experience.

Charming, witty, and very replayable: Overboard flips the whodunnit on its head and proves that it can, indeed, be good to be bad.

Promising and lovely, Backbone can't live up to its stellar early chapters, but there's still a worthwhile experience contained within.

With Truck Driver, Soedesco is trying to break into an already spoken-for market with an offering that comes off feeling like a cheap imitation. While it spares itself the humiliation of being considered shovelware, it also lacks the heart needed to call it an actual truck simulator. Perhaps a second, stronger entry can prove the new IP's worth, but this is a pretty weak first impression.

Mighty Goose is a damn good game that neatly scratches the run-and-gun itch, all while keeping things moving with strong level design, zany action, and tight gameplay. If that’s up your alley, I’d recommend trying it out.

Wasteland 3: The Battle of Steeltown has a few notable flaws, and it's also a fairly short romp. However, there's enough content and tactical depth to make you want to keep adventuring in this post-apocalyptic landscape.

An amazing game only dragged down a bit by luck or prior knowledge being required to make it through side areas earlier, plus the most unnecessary bit of artificial difficulty I've seen in recent years. It's called the Ruins of Trash and I just wanted to say that one more time. I'd write that on a brick and throw it through a window if I could.

Well-written dialogue and top-quality voice acting can make The Magnificent Trufflepigs endearing, but a dull gameplay loop and narrative missteps might leave a bad aftertaste.

Brief and more of an experience than anything else, Sludge Life is a chill way to spend a couple of hours.

A very enjoyable EDF game that costs more than it should. But it nails all the important stuff, while adding some enjoyable new mechanics, even if some depth is sacrificed in the process.

Glider Simulator keeps things simple through and through. It's easy to learn for an up-and-coming sim fan, easy to run, and easy to get lost in for hours thanks to its small, but immersive virtual world. While it may be small, it's still a solid package if you look at it from the right perspective.

Necromunda: Hired Gun has some jank and some odd qualities, but when tearing your way through hordes of cyborgs is this much fun, I don't really mind so much.

It doesn't take a gumshoe to tell that Lacuna is a stellar, noir-inspired adventure, that is absolutely worth investigating further. Other than a few quality of life tweaks, it's hard to find much wrong with this narrative-driven hunt and click. Be sure not to let this suspect slip through your fingers.

With some major balancing issues that made a majority of its classes unenjoyable, Tainted Grail: Conquest redeemed itself by showing that when the game was balanced, it could be a fantastic experience.

Solasta: Crown of the Magister has a few notable problems, and it starts to stumble the closer you get to the finish line. However, it still manages to offer an engaging and highly customizable experience that will keep you entertained for many hours.

As long as you don't plan on making a repeat playthrough, Erica is a great experience. Only upon replay do issues like limited narrative variation, non-essential quicktime events, and the illusion of choice make an appearance. Despite that, this is a fantastic use of the FMV genre that more people deserve to experience.

Think of King of Seas as yet another spiritual successor to Sid Meier's Pirates! It has all the tools needed to keep you entertained for many hours. Unfortunately, it's also lacking in certain departments, leading to a more streamlined approach that can't compare to the classic.

Offensively mediocre in multiple ways, Biomutant was a waste of resources. It's not terrible, but there's no excuse for it to be this vapid and underwhelming.

There are plenty of secrets to find and the design is quite strong, even if I do occasionally find myself in an area I can’t figure out how to leave. It also runs very well, easily granting over 120fps on midline cards, even at 4K. Just Die Already is bright and colorful as well, and it’s easy to pass the time by just wandering and getting into trouble. It succeeds at what it sets out to do. Sure, it doesn’t have tight, rewarding gameplay, but it doesn’t need it. It does have scenarios where old people can get turned into piles of flesh by swarms of bees, though.

This delightful sprint is both beautiful to watch and engrossing to play. Aerial_Knight's Never Yield is a fantastic hour and a half long sprint, that features an outstanding score and plenty of narrative surprises, interweaved throughout. Now, if only we had a flow-chart to follow the actual storyline...

SMT III remains a great game, but an inflated price tag combined with some dated mechanics might make it a harder sell for some.

Siege Survival: Gloria Victis has several mechanics and concepts that look good on paper. Unfortunately, general clunkiness when it comes to the UI and controls, as well as a lack of attachment to your characters, lead to a rather uninspired romp. Once you're finished with a single playthrough, there's barely anything that's interesting to look forward to.

The visuals are strong and most of the elements are competent, but this is a middle-of-the-road game that squanders its potential with some baffling decisions.

Despite checking many of the most important boxes in the adventure game design guide, Retro Machina is a beautifully envisioned world waiting to be demolished. However, all of the best elements are derailed due to monotonous combat and drastically over-engineered puzzles. This will be a pretty ride, but one you might never see through to completion.

Though there are a few minor issues, Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids gives you a lot of reasons to continue Eivor's journey thanks to a lush and vibrant land to explore. Fighting the druidic cult is also a treat owing to their usage of wild animals, poisons, and flames. The additional activities you can do, such as building your trading posts and finding collectibles, add more hours to the experience.

Subnautica: Below Zero presents an exciting adventure as you explore the unknown. Whether you're trekking through the snow or diving down unfathomable depths, there's a feeling of dread as you try to survive, and a sense of wonderment as you discover something new.

Unfortunately, the biggest problem I’ve experienced in Hood: Outlaws & Legends is the atrocious matchmaking.

It jumps between gameplay styles more than I expected and doesn't scratch the same itch as its predecessor, but this is a damn good game that every fan of the series needs to play.

I was genuinely shocked to see how comprehensive the simulation experience was in Farm Manager 2021. The level of thought and detail that's went into all of the interweaving mechanics, is readily apparently and genuinely impressive. Anyone looking for a new sim to sink their teeth into should look no further.

Interesting and fun at times, The Invisible Hand pretends to be about gameplay, but it's all just an illusion.

Though admittedly basic, Skate City has brought a bit of the "pick-up-and-play" mechanics of mobile to PC, with mixed results. The basic visuals are countered by fairly complex controls, that are a fairly substantial time-suck to perfect. Some may not find this to be their cup of tea, but if your willing to invest the time and effort to 'git gud,' there's plenty of fun, just waiting to be uncovered.

Padded and tedious, but engrossing and enjoyable. NieR Replicant occupies a strange spot in the gaming pantheon.

While Star Wars Pinball VR has all of the fan service necessary to please any diehard fan, it runs up against a handful of minor technical and polish issues that prevent it from living up to its full potential. That said, it still outclasses every other pinball experience on the platform, so feel free to indulge your inner Jedi.