Monark is an unrefined gem, but it is definitely a game worth checking out. While it certainly has some similar ideas as other properties, it pulls out enough tricks to make it different and individually inviting. Despite some issues, it’s a good first attempt with plenty of room for polish in any subsequent follow-up.

Re:coded is ultimately a highly competent action RPG. While it isn't likely to light anyone's world on fire, the degree of quality in all areas is to be commended and those who want a breezy and quickly paced game in the Kingdom Hearts mold for their DS's aren't likely to find the game disappointing.

Citizens of Earth could have been a modern classic, but a few questionable design choices sadly hold it back.

Unepic is not a perfect game by any means. Its tongue-in-cheek premise isn't everybody's cup of tea, and it doesn't particularly break any new ground. Instead what we get is a competent, if slightly linear, Metroidvania-style RPG that knows how to pace itself to keep the player engaged.

Nights of Azure 2 seems to follow a pattern with Gust in the past couple of years following its takeover from Koei Tecmo. Though the developer's output has certainly increased, it appears to have come at a cost. This is just the latest in a line of easily forgettable titles that bring some interesting ideas but have not been given enough to use them effectively.

It all adds up to a game that’s more commendable on paper than in its execution. GreedFall: The Dying World is an ambitious title by a smaller developer that tells a story from a perspective not often seen in the medium. A story about the horrors of colonization, not to mention told from the point of view of the colonized, is a laudable endeavor. But there isn’t much about the game that makes it a fun outing. Characters lack personality, and it’s entirely up to the player to seek it out where it exists, combat is an overly complex mess of options layered on a foundation made for brute-forcing, and both presentation and technical optimization are in need of fine-tuning. With the change away from the more action-oriented combat being a questionable one, fans of the previous installment may still be on board for another chance to visit the world of Teer Fradee, while all others may want to miss the boat this time around.

The biggest tell of how much of an improvement The Caligula Effect 2 is over its predecessor is how little of the game feels like a chore. Although it may lack those standout moments that top-drawer RPGs provide, it’s easy to find time whizzing by with catchy music and speedy combat and exploration. With characters and a story that keep things ticking along nicely, The Caligula Effect 2 makes for a satisfying use of one’s time.

Heroland is a game that won’t be for everyone, as the gameplay loop is fairly short and the music as well as combat can quickly become repetitive, but it remains worth the price of admission. It is ultimately saved by a strong, witty localisation that isn’t afraid to embrace the silly premise and run with it full tilt. The game made me outright guffaw multiple times, and even when I was chasing a frustratingly rare drop, I was still having a lot of fun raising affection levels and crafting the best strategies for different party formations. For those who don’t mind oft-repeated gameplay, there’s tons of fun to be found in Heroland.

Soccer Story provides some enjoyable basic entertainment that comes from just kicking the ball around and taking on the challenges and targets as players explore. Some of the puzzles and challenges are good fun and satisfying to complete, but there are also many that are made more frustrating than they need to be. With a flawed match system that becomes trivial once its workings have been figured out and technical issues that stack up as the game progresses, it’s incredibly tough to recommend.

The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered fails to live up to its promise of delivering a captivating dungeon-crawling experience. With its lackluster narrative, uninspired combat, and flawed progression systems, the game struggles to hold the attention of players and ultimately falls short of expectations. While the nostalgia may appeal to some fans of the original release, newcomers are likely to find little to redeem this lackluster remaster. As players journey through the world of Avalon, they’ll find themselves longing for a more fulfilling adventure, leaving The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered to fade into obscurity.

Rorona continues the grand tradition of creating an RPG experience that is all about the simplicities of life, coupled with the usual great cast of characters, and is a complete must for fans of the series.

Crymachina is continually plagued by its imbalance. The emotion can be impactful, especially with the relationships forged between the characters, but it is bogged down by a convoluted story. Combat is snappy and fast, but slowed down by an excessive upgrade system and grueling grind. Lighting and effects are gorgeous and colorful, while areas remain repetitive and bland. It takes too much work to get to the good of Crymachina and only those desperately itching for a sci-fi action RPG will enjoy completing it. It’s a shame because the concept it uses to explore humanity is an interesting one, but too many issues dampen its emotional punch.

While Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle isn't a poor game, it fails to distinguish itself from the multitude of tactical RPGs already around.

Unrest aims high and doesn't quite live up to its hype.

While Galaxy of Pen & Paper doesn’t push any boundaries, it stays true to its 16-bit roots, offering a fun exploration into outer space, and a great excuse to hang with your friends, eat some pizza, and roll some dice.

Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics is the kind of mash-up property that by all rights should have the right ingredients to hit that sweet spot. By all accounts, the original property actually does manage to do just that. But the digital adaptation lacks on several fronts, not the least of which is the unfortunate underusage of the occult element of its namesake. The grindy battle system with little enemy and environmental variety is also nothing to write home about. Cthulhu Tactics sounds like an intriguing mix of its two titular elements, but fails to deliver on the promise of either.

It looks, runs, and plays fine with the main downsides being the story and script and anything related to them. The problem is that everything Risen 3 does decently has already been done better. It's Assassin's Creed IV without the assassin mechanics or ship battles.

Strategy RPGs and visual novels seem like a suitable match given the history of great stories in this sub-genre. A fine union may still be possible, but Tears to Tiara II is certainly not it, and not because of a lackluster story.

Despite the action trappings, Valkyrie Elysium shows deference to its spiritual ancestors in terms of aesthetic, tone, and emphasis on strategic use of allies in combat. Those looking for an expansive narrative will be disappointed as there is polish missing in the presentation and story, but that does not detract from an exhilarating combat system and enjoyable interactions between the Valkyrie and the Einherjar. Valkyrie Elysium may not be the game long-suffering fans have been asking for, but it represents an organic shift for the series that can appeal to fans and newcomers alike.

Rising takes players to averagetown, population snoozefest and it doesn’t ever get exciting, even after its twenty-hour completion time. While it offers players a beautiful presentation and some ear candy tunes, these elements cannot help elevate Rising as being any more than a fetch-quest-heavy experience with little to no payoff. If I wanted to play Chores: The RPG, I’d just clean my house, because doing that offers considerably more tangible benefits than playing this game to completion did.

Ultimately, Daemon X Machina: Titantic Scion is difficult to recommend. While the bones of combat and customization are well executed, the open world element feels tacked on to an abysmal main narrative, and technical issues hold the game back even further. While these things are forgivable on their own, the full launch price tag feels extremely steep for such an underbaked game that has paid DLC customization options on top of it. Those who enjoy the mech-fighting genre will certainly find something to enjoy here, but others will find a game that feels incredibly undercooked.

Fairy Fencer F is an enjoyable way to spend the roughly twenty-five hours it takes to complete.

At the end of the day, Re: Hollow Fragment is lazy in every sense of the word, and just isn't worth the dollars that Bandai Namco is asking for.

While it wasn’t the game I had thought to spend much of my winter holiday pursuing, Pokémon Legends Z-A turned out to be a pleasant romp, a delightful return to a part of the game world I hadn’t seen in over a decade, and the chance to learn many new and interesting words in French. I shan’t be delving too deep into the post-game or DLC, so others may touch on those as they wish. All I may say is that this was, in the end, a very welcome Christmas present.

Although Maliki: Poison of the Past offers strong storytelling, great art direction, and a stellar soundtrack, it’s still a game, and games need to be fun to play. I want to stress that the strongest elements in Maliki are amazing, and I found myself absolutely loving the characters and their world, but the translation to being a video game wasn’t as smooth as it perhaps could have been. Maliki: Poison of the Past is an ambitious title that can’t overcome its gameplay issues, making it difficult to recommend, but if you’re interested in this series, there are thousands of comic strips to enjoy.

The Awakened Fate Ultimatum draws heavily on tired anime humor and noodling about transcending one's fate. Perhaps a smack with a cake pan or a high-intensity training montage would have fuelled its own will to power.

Those expecting an experience from Ragnarok Tactics on par with Final Fantasy Tactics or Tactics Ogre are likely to come away disappointed. While the game doesn't suffer from any major issues or grievances, there just seems to be a general lack of inspiration or anything to make the game stand out. However, Ragnarok Tactics is a decent time-killer that should at least be able to satisfy any tactical RPG itch, albeit one unlikely to make an impact on many favourites lists.

Dusk Diver inevitably invites comparisons to both Persona and Yakuza. Yet this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as while it doesn’t have the thematic aspirations of the former or the writing and attention to detail of the latter, the decent combat and low-key charm make it an overall pleasant experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Just keep in mind that it is very much cotton candy instead of a full-course meal.