The visuals are great, the controls are exactly what they should be, and there's plenty of satisfying platform action to be had. Bloodstained: Curse of the moon 2 will make fans feel right at home like it's 1989.

Beyond a Steel Sky has some technical issues but it's excellent writing and interesting storytelling make it well worth experiencing.

Most games will attempt to “hook” you within the first couple of hours — this includes RPGs with run-of-the-mill introductory and fetch quests — combined with epic moments and multiple concepts. In Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris‘ case, those epic moments and engaging concepts happened far too little too late, and you had no choice but to sit through hours of banal and monotonous linearity.

A respectable recreation of hunting that serves far better as a simulator than an actual game. For some, this will be exactly what you're looking for. For most, probably not.

Superhot: Mind Control Delete somehow manages to give a lot more of the same slow-mo action without becoming tiresome or boring. However, things do get bogged down towards the end when the game has a little too much fun at the player's expense.

Supraland's Crash DLC is hilarious, entertaining, and definitely worth playing for lovers of Supraland, repetition be damned.

F1 2020 feels daunting for first-timers, but it lets you learn and adapt as you continue to progress and challenge yourself. Barring a few downsides with its My Team and Driver Career modes, it remains a true marvel in the sim-racing genre where every competition is nail-bitingly fierce and exciting.

The Almost Gone is like a fleeting memory; it's the tragic tale of abuse and loss, captured in a series of blurry vignettes. Its puzzle mechanics, although fairly simple, are refined, even if they aren't explored to their fullest. The two-hour story sits at the forefront of the experience and never overstays its welcome. In fact, The Almost Gone would likely benefit from an extra hour, but what we got is plenty good on its own.

The Innsmouth Case is a charming text adventure that brings the seaside town of Innsmouth into the twenty-first century, but leaves the horror behind. In its place is a humorous hunt for story bits that scratches a much different itch than was originally intended.

Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 is fast, flashy fun that fans of 2D action platformers will almost certainly enjoy. Just make sure you play the first game, otherwise, you'll likely be totally lost.

Deck of Ashes lets down its art with grinding gameplay balance and terrible font choices.

The Academy has a weak narrative, poor puzzles, and game-breaking bugs. This is one invitation you're going to want to avoid.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated adds lovely visuals to a classic 3D platformer that has aged better than I thought it would. Excellent controls, imaginative and compelling level design, and plenty of belly laughs make this game worth going back to nearly 20 years later.

Perhaps with a couple of in-depth quality-of-life updates, Waking can be something special. For now, the reality is its unique narrative is held back by some fundamental design oversights.

An excellent fighting game fine-tuned for tense, thrilling bouts. While the fighting is always fun, its feature set is slim, with only a handful of modes that don't stray far from the core gameplay. If you're looking for a fight, you've found a good one, but don't expect a big story mode or much side content.

A testament to mediocrity, but not awful. It can be acceptable if you just want to zone out for a while, but the constant stream of tedium and pointless running back and forth will try the patience of most.

If you enjoy competitive tactical shooters, but also wish you could show some flair with spectacular abilities, then Valorant has what you're looking for. It requires precision aim to win duels but allows a lot of room to get creative with the agents' varied skills. Sloppy play gets punished harshly, but when a plan comes together it's immensely satisfying.

A challenging real-time tactics experience in the old Wild West, Desperados III pulls no punches in its quest for old-school magic.

Europa Universalis IV: Emperor is a massive expansion that has a number of flaws that can be annoying to experience. Still, it's guaranteed to keep your next playthroughs refreshing thanks to tweaks and overhauls to existing systems, as well as new mechanics for the Holy Roman Empire and Catholics. New mission trees for dozens of nations like Bohemia and Austria will also change how you approach your campaigns.

Disintegration has its fair share of flaws, but it still delivers fast-paced action with a unique spin on the first-person shooter genre.

No aspect of 1971 Project Helios can make it a worthwhile gaming experience. It's not too ugly and it doesn't crash too often, but if those are the only compliments a title can get, you're in deep trouble.

Extremely dated and worsened by a clunky interface and missing content, Phantasy Star Online 2 probably won't have much to offer to modern players who aren't already invested in its world.

Shantae and the Seven Sirens is an entirely typical game in the Metroid-like genre that will be very familiar to anyone who plays them. Despite this, the game's gorgeous visuals, extremely responsive controls, strong level design, and witty writing make it a joy to play through.

On the surface, Atomicrops is a retro-inspired, top-down 16-bit shooter. However, even early stages start to reveal a much deeper experience, filled with love interests, guns, and unrelenting enemies. Perks can become permanent down the road, but the path to getting there is fulfilling and enough to keep you returning after each defeat for more crop production and bullet fire.

Although it often looks cool and has some strong level design, Those Who Remain is tedious, and loaded with boring item hunts and frustrating "stealth" sections.

Dungeon Defenders: Awakened is a fun time, especially with others. But it doesn't have as much content as the game it's remaking yet, meaning that people still playing that one might be reluctant to move onto this version.

The core strength of the Invasions expansion comes from what the Shakarn race can bring to the table. With their focus on infiltration and deception, as well as sonic weapons, they're a refreshing treat for Age of Wonders: Planetfall fans. Unfortunately, the other DLC inclusions aren't as noteworthy or remarkable.

Maneater can be entertaining, but it's extremely short and repetitive, with practically no story missions or unique activities.

For now, I can say that I am enjoying what Minecraft Dungeons provides. Having never played Minecraft before, and experiencing the charm and wonderment it has provided to millions only now, I do hope that its ARPG spinoff continues to entertain me as I progress further. Fingers crossed, so stay tuned for our updated review.

Flawed but fun, Saints Row: The Third Remastered brings back its ridiculously addictive formula to keep long-time fans and new players entertained for many hours. Sadly, it's a bit rough around the edges, and in no way comparable to a number of modern-day titles from the same genre.

Monster Train is a very unique take on the Slay the Spire formula, with great writing and art direction and gameplay that invites you back for many more rides.

The Persistence is worth playing overall, but the game is unfortunately plagued with artificial difficulty solely to pad out the length.

This anthology series of six short but replayable episodes has just the right mix of charm, melodrama, and creepiness to make it worth a look.

If you’re looking for a series of complex riddles and a stimulating discussion on apocalypticism, VirtuaVerse and its point-and-click adventure are right up your seedy back alley.

Anyone fond of multi-player centric games that require teamwork and likes to fill a specific role will almost certainly find something to enjoy in Deep Rock Galactic. It's a great way to spend time with friends and has a lot of content depending on how much you mind doing the same things over and over again. Anyone who strongly dislikes repetition will probably get sick of it after a while, though.

Jet Lancer is a souped up arcade shooter made for quick bursts of adrenaline-pumping aerial action. For those raised on Saturday morning cartoons and after-school arcade sessions, Jet Lancer is a childhood pipe dream come to life.

Hunt down Huntdown as fast as you can, because this game is just concentrated action movie goodness delivered straight into your veins.

Spirit of the North is a decent game let down some by subpar controls and underuse of the player character's abilities. It still manages to be somewhat entertaining but is far from a must-play.

Someday You'll Return is an immensely rewarding game with excellent visuals, world design, and storytelling. Poor signposting and trial-and-error can lead to frustration, but the experience is very much worth it regardless.

Trials of Mana is an entertaining game with grating, simple characters and a subpar story, but the fast action and colorful exploration make up for those issues.

A stunning modern sequel to a classic series, Streets of Rage 4 delivers great combat, wonderful music, and guaranteed enjoyment every single time. Once you get stuck in, you will be coming back for seconds.

Iratus: Lord of the Dead tweaks the team tactics formula of Darkest Dungeon but cuts down on the management aspect to focus firmly on moving quickly from combat to combat. It lacks the narrative flair or emotional punch of its inspiration but makes up for it with satisfying tactical options and a balanced challenge level.

SnowRunner is an excellent game with wonderful visuals and great controls. It also has a massive amount of content for players to sink their teeth into. The game is slow and can be frustrating, but it's very much worth getting down and dirty with this one.

Featuring a wonderful cast of characters with their own unique perks and capabilities, as well as the extremely fun Breach Mode, XCOM: Chimera Squad is a brilliant spinoff that provides a refreshing take on a classic franchise's long-standing formula.

Though not without flaws, Gears Tactics meets and exceeds expectations. Fluid and fast-paced action, along with tactical decisions, will keep you on the move. Meanwhile, brutal firefights and executions, as well as battles against massive bosses, punctuate a Gears of War experience for an entirely different genre.

Couch co-op that’s equal parts cathartic and chaotic. There’s no better way to bond than by tossing a TV or two into oncoming traffic. Moving Out’s charming, physics-based gameplay and equally quirky levels demand you bring a friend or three.

Cloudpunk absolutely nails the cyberpunk aesthetic, but it backs up style with substance. A thoughtful and sensitive story, interesting characters, and some challenging environmental puzzles all make its attractive setting really fun to play around in, even if there are limitations.

A deadly combination of challenging puzzles and curiosity-driven exploration, though it’s the puzzle fanatic that’ll walk away most satisfied.

The Shattering has some big ideas that it simply isn't able to deliver on. There's a distinct lack of narrative cohesion along with pedestrian plotting and boring gameplay. Still, the game does some things that make it worth a bit of attention.

A Fold Apart is short and pricey, for sure, but the few hours it offers are an arresting blend of devious puzzling and heart-rending storytelling. Infinitely more so if you've been in a long-distance relationship.

Alder's Blood is a functional game, beautiful, but not exceptionally exciting. On one hand, the game looks great and the writing, while clunky, can inspire a bit of wonder. The gameplay is, however, lacking, as you don’t get too attached to your Hunters, and you don’t do much hunting.

Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories is not a good game. Its design is archaic, its presentation is lacking, and its story is nonsensical. But anyone who enjoys janky, weird games will very likely have a good time with it. It might not be quality, but it's often very entertaining.

Despite its flaws, Pode is an enjoyable, manageable experience for all levels of players. With the added benefit of both single-player or cooperative modes, players can tackle the game out one stage at a time, or invest an afternoon for a four- to five-hour gaming session. Add in the memorable animations of the main characters (and some pretty expressive chirps and grunts), and Pode is sure to please all who choose to unlock its charming mysteries.

In Other Waters is an OK game. It misses out on some things by not explaining the shortcuts or the fact that you don’t need to return to waystations to go back to base. I don’t know if I can say that it will stay with me for too long. The story is somewhat bland and inoffensive, and minimal controls are somewhat clunkier than necessary. The visual presentation of it all is a highlight though. I guess you can grab it if you want to replace Nauticrawl’s combat with the secret life of underwater bacteria.

The Complex's potential gets lost amid weird subplots, throwaway characters, and a ton of plot holes. With so few meaningful choices, it's not an experience worth repeating more than once.

The port has some issues with videos, controllers, and optimization, and the game lacks some content in comparison with its predecessor. But it's still a worthwhile experience for One Piece fans.

The Resident Evil 3 remake manages to take the core elements from the original and make them new again. The RE Engine also provides the right platform for extremely detailed facial animations and environments. Although this remake might run a rather linear course, don't let that deter you from jumping into this punchy, solid, action title that's extremely well-paced from start to finish. This is yet another example of Capcom taking an already great property and somehow making something new out of it while still respecting its own source material.

Assemble with Care is quaint and contemplative but is short and lacks the challenge necessary to keep mature gamers engaged.

One Step From Eden provides a unique, fast-paced experience. The combat and deck-building are fun, but it does a poor job explaining game mechanics, and given the depth of the game's card system that makes it a little bit too difficult.

Half-Life: Alyx sets a new high standard for VR games, both in technical terms and gameplay itself. Visually impressive and customizable for accessibility, Alyx's 20-hour campaign strikes an enjoyable balance between action, horror, puzzle-solving, and humor. VR gamers shouldn't miss this one.

Iron Danger is a fun game that takes us to fantasy Finland and lets us play with time. This is a surprisingly good combination before you take interactive environments and the vibrant art style into account. If you want to play a fantasy RPG that’s lighter on the RP and heavier on G(ameplay), try this one out.

Doom Eternal does a lot of things, but it's really a masterclass in modern action game design. It improves upon its predecessor in nearly every way and has some of the most visceral, furious combat that gaming has to offer.

Great British Railway Journeys requires a lot of time and patience to get the most out of it. Built on an aging engine, it provides an adequate experience, but nothing spectacular.

TT Isle of Man - Ride on the Edge 2 provides an unforgiving and sometimes thrilling experience, and the physics make for a great racing sim. However, the sound design and graphics leave a lot to be desired. All in all, it's a good choice for someone itching for a motorbike racing sim.

This gorgeous anime-style fantasy fighter is great for beginners and fans of 2D brawlers. It's fun, and flashy with genuinely endearing characters. However, a somewhat underdeveloped single-player experience and dated netcode hold it back from being truly top-tier.

Although there are some questionable mechanics and odd issues on the side, Total War: Three Kingdoms - A World Betrayed manages to excite and challenge you, all while adding refreshing features via a free update. If you only need to choose one Total War: Three Kingdoms DLC, A World Betrayed definitely surpasses Mandate of Heaven and Eight Princes.

If you’re managing huge fields, the Bourgault pack will definitely be right up your alley. But, if you’re someone that likes to play on a map with either small fields or ones that aren’t square/rectangular, then you may want to rethink picking this DLC up. These machines are definitely best suited for flat, open environments due to their massive size. Believe me, if you intend to use AI helpers, or even if you try to maneuver these monoliths yourself—hills and curves will not be your friends at all.

My Hero One’s Justice 2 is a far cry from the esports-ready fighter you may have wanted. It skirts along the line between woefully undercooked and passable. But for fans of the series, you’d be hard-pressed to find something even half as faithful.

Panzer Corps 2 has some noticeable flaws with regards to in-game mechanics and performance woes. Likewise, it doesn't try to reinvent age-old systems. Though it can be a little tedious the further you are in the campaign, the game makes up for it with a ton of playable content.

Stela is a nice break from the hectic shooters and other competitive style games. It opts for impeccable sounds and visual design in order to convey emotion throughout the three-hour playtime. But, don't let the overall length steer you away from something that's more akin to a short story than a full, AAA produced title. It's a worthy experience from start to finish, providing the right escape for those without a lot of free time on their hands.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is aesthetically brilliant and offers familiar challenges with a new twist. An expansive world filled with interactive NPCs gives you plenty of game for your buck, making this a must for newbies and die-hards alike. Implementation of anticipated patches would bump this score up to a 9.

A whole heap of well-designed nonograms spread out across a well-written story which is delightful to look at and listen to makes Murder by Numbers an easy recommendation.

Black Mesa is dated in several ways and the new Xen levels have some issues, but this is an excellent experience that old fans of Half-Life and people who may have never played it before should absolutely check out.

Weakless's muddled execution soils the seeds it sowed with its captivating concept. The friendly dynamic between lead characters Blind and Deaf is underdeveloped, courtesy of undercooked mechanics and puzzles.

Eschewing role-playing aspects, depth, and fan-favorite features in favor of simplified pause-and-play automation, ridiculous map-painting mechanics, and lackluster strategic options, Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV is one of the most disappointing offerings from Koei Tecmo's popular franchise. It's the Liu Shan, not the Zhuge Liang, of the series.

Warlander's visuals and story are generic and it's a bit short on content, not to mention the irksome bug that removes your permanent upgrades. But the combat and cutting mechanics are extremely entertaining breaths of fresh air that make the game very much worth playing.

Overpass’s unique physics system and emphasis on balance might be enough to win over the most dedicated of off-road racing fans, but its shallow progression systems and monotonous gameplay loop greatly limit its appeal.

La Resistance has almost everything you could ever want out of a Hearts of Iron IV expansion. Numerous espionage and spying mechanics will keep you interested without getting in the way of your military conquests. Barring a few qualms, La Resistance sets the bar for future Paradox DLCs focusing on a particular gameplay concept.

Broken Lines has some noticeable flaws such as performance woes, a lack of weapon variety and utility, and a poorly implemented save system. Still, it manages to entertain you during its short campaign and there are additional replayability quirks. The pause-and-play concept rewards smart, tactical decisions while you revel in the action that unfolds.

Corruption 2029 might be set in a bleak future, but the only thing that looks bleak is the hope for something that's an improvement over Mutant Year Zero. Bland characters, a lack of map environments and weaponry, a streamlined approach to the campaign, and a barebones story that doesn't feel connected to previous offerings all combine to make Corruption 2029 a surprising release indeed. It's a surprise, to be sure, and not a welcome one at that.

Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem has all the tools thanks to ARPGs that came before it. Sadly, its online mode has had a litany of issues, the controls could use some tweaks, the loot pool isn't as deep as you could imagine, character skills need some rebalancing, and a slew of shortcomings lead to a questionable launch after four years of development. Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem can surely reach the cream of the crop among ARPGs with more improvements, but it's going to take time.

Anyone who likes walking simulators or solid mysteries will likely be satisfied with The Suicide of Rachel Foster. It's got a well-written story and is set in a convincing location. It's also very easy to blow through in a single evening in lieu of watching a similar movie.

Daemon X Machina doesn't break much new ground, but the gameplay is entertaining and anyone looking for an enjoyable piece of Japanese mecha will find plenty to like here. As long as they don't get completely turned off by the subpar story and dated graphics, at least.

Top-down, two-player food fights sure sound like a recipe for success, but Nom Nom Apocalypse lacks the mechanical garnish to distinguish itself in the competitive rogue-lite space. There's challenging battles, there's tactics, but nary enough depth to sustain long-term play.

Ultimately, Zombie Army 4: Dead War has the same feel as any later-day entry into a horror franchise does. It has delved all the way into the realm of schlock, completely unapologetic for its own existence. There’s something almost admirable about that, but the magic isn’t quite there. That said, if you and your buds are looking for a decent way to pass 10 or so hours, there are certainly worse choices than this. The shooting is among the best around and the X-ray shots are endlessly entertaining. I just wish there were more here to hold my attention past a single playthrough.

Through the Darkest of Times tells a compelling, historically grounded story of German resistance fighters who stood up to the Nazis. Its sensitive handling of difficult subject matter makes it a great game for anyone interested in a serious, emotional treatment of Nazi Germany. Unfortunately, the somewhat shallow strategy gameplay falls behind the deep themes.

Kunai is a bite-sized Metroidvania that’s well worth the pick-up for the fast, frenetic action alone. Once all the foes have been fought and the bosses have been bested, the Kunai content well has run empty.

Ministry of Broadcast is very much like the games it takes inspiration from. But the insanely unreliable controls and the obnoxious slog of the game's tedious, trial-and-error platforming sections will likely try the patience of anyone who isn't looking for a blast from the past.

Days of War tries to be Day of Defeat or Call of Duty 2. It falls short of both, hobbled as it is by a myriad of tiny issues that combine into a lackluster whole.

Elderborn is almost a good game. It's got most of the ingredients that would require, such as strong visuals, tight gameplay, and varied enemies. But the placement of those enemies is so terrible and ill-conceived that it basically ruins the entire game. That along with a third act that feels like the game just gives up do a whole lot to damage what could have been a very compelling experience.

The Pedestrian is visually, audibly, and almost completely mechanically sound. Be warned, though, there isn't much in terms of hints along the way. But in the end, you'll be surprised at how far you can make it with drive and a little brainpower.

With its surprisingly creative level design, architecture, and platforming mechanics, Journey to the Savage Planet will wow your eyes, while its quirky humor entertains you from time to time. Unfortunately, flaws such as uninspired combat, lack of enemy variety, and a fairly short campaign mar what could've been a truly unforgettable journey.

Kakarot is mediocre as a game, but excellent as a Dragon Ball experience. The combat is just okay, the world is mostly empty, and the game has too much fluff, but as a longtime fan I enjoyed myself a lot.

Frostpunk: The Last Autumn has a promising concept and setting, but it fails to do enough differently to justify the toil. If these are the people you're trying to save, you might as well let the world freeze over.

Total War: Three Kingdoms - Mandate of Heaven presents a massive conflict and an evolving sandbox campaign, with several features and events to keep you entertained. Sadly, it's also bogged down by its reliance on older concepts that lack strategic depth, glaring bugs, as well as missed opportunities. Though you could expect to log in the extra hours, it becomes repetitious to a fault once the rebellion has been quashed.

It might have some problems with its difficulty curve, performance, and the way it's being sold, but Lightmatter is a very solid puzzle game that offers a decent amount of playtime, some very good puzzles, and a great story.

When all the profanities have been said and all the odd jobs have been done, Orangeblood is a one-of-a-kind experience that’s equal parts endearing and incoherent. There’s just enough to see, hear, and do to warrant a two-day getaway to New Koza.

Iceborne adds a lot to the game and should keep players busy for a long time. The performance will hopefully improve and the price tag is high, but there's a lot more Monster Hunter to see with this expansion. Plus, you basically have no choice but to buy this if you're already deeply invested.