It will take quite a bit of time to learn the controls and get used to the visual style this game has. But, once you do, you will find yourself trying to finish the game. It’s not going to be a game for everyone, especially due to its weirdness and strange story. But it’s an artistic game, and one that brings a sense of self-expression, while also embracing horror in a way that I think is quite satisfying. Yes, it needs more polish and guidance when it comes to the lore and story, however it's a solid effort, especially as a first release from the studio.

Mosaica: Arboreal is one of those games that you want to try out after a challenging day at work or a serious day/night of gaming. It’s meant to be relaxing, enjoyable and a way to chill out after all the stress you had until then. And for the most part, I think it succeeds. Its puzzles vary in difficulty, and there’s always something new to uncover. Plus, elements such as loot help expand the experience, while still keeping it very rewarding. It's clear that Mosaica: Arboreal won’t appeal to everyone, especially when it comes to its use of AI art. However, the puzzle-solving side of the game carries it through, and it can become very fulfilling the more you play. Don’t expect a lot of depth and keep your expectations in check when it comes to AI usage. But as a whole, the game delivers if what you want is some great puzzle-solving, if you are willing to get past a few shortcomings.

When you play a game like Banished Stone with its rather old school graphics and style, you either love it or you hate it. As someone who enjoys the old school visuals, I still think that Banished Stone could look better, especially when it comes to animations and backgrounds. However, if you get accustomed to the gameplay loop, it’s pretty solid, it just takes some getting used to. Banished Stone was an interesting game for me, but I found it very repetitive and the lack of enemy variation on each level ended up leading to boredom at times. However, I appreciate the fact that they went with the side scrolling approach, the music is quite good, and the gameplay gets better as you play. I think the game’s beginning is a bit of a rough patch, but if you get past the first hour and its shortcomings, you’ll have over 20 hours worth of fun here.

As someone who loves tinkering with car parts in real life, I had a fun time with this part of Underground Garage. You have multiple cars to work on, and they did manage to provide a great level of detail for these vehicles and their parts. With that in mind, the game doesn’t feel ready for a 1.0 release, because it still has a lot of bugs and some of the title’s features feel undercooked. I encountered a lot of small bugs, but also some progress-breaking bugs that ended up being quite frustrating. Additionally, Underground Garage relies quite a lot on the use of AI-generated assets and tools, which might end up rubbing some players the wrong way. It’s clear that the game’s scope was grandiose, and some shortcuts like using AI had to be used in order to achieve that goal. Was it worth it? It depends on what you expect from Underground Garage. I like the work you do in the garage, when you tinker with vehicles and parts. However, the racing side and performance need heavy improvements, which hopefully the game will get, eventually.

Code Vein II is the best example of a game that looks amazing on paper but in reality, fails to be stellar in any aspect. This isn’t necessarily a bad game, but it’s strange to have a sequel that has a lot more mechanics, characters, and story bits than the original, and fail to surpass it. The open-world aspect should have helped Code Vein II elevate it from the typical corridor-like soulslike, but it doesn’t. It’s nice to freely roam a world like the one Bandai Namco built for Code Vein, but not if it’s completely empty. One other major issue with Code Vein II is performance, which is, once again, all over the place. When it rains outside, your frames drop considerably, so combat is a nightmare. Things look good in dungeons, but the moment you step outside, everything seems half-baked. If you’re itching for a soulslike and consider Code Vein II, I would recommend playing the first one instead. Even if that would mean playing it a second time.

Terrifier: The ARTcade Game tries to bring the Terrifier movie series to life in videogame format, and it’s a decent beat’em’up. While it’s not going to be the ultimate game in the genre, it’s interesting, both when it comes to its gameplay and music. Its visuals are an acquired taste, and not everyone might find the visuals appealing. However, the core gameplay is reminiscent to those old-school brawlers, and that will keep you going over the multiple missions available. Unfortunately, Terrifier: The ARTcade Game has its quirks as well. There aren’t a lot of combo options, you will encounter collision detection issues, and the fact that you need to do a QTE whenever you get hit can slow down the enjoyment you have. Even so, I think that Terrifier: The ARTcade Game is worth a shot, if you’re a fan of the series and you want to see a videogame representation of this dangerous clown. The same thing is valid for brawler fans. Otherwise, if you just want to play a retro game, there are other options that might be a better fit.

RENNSPORT knows very well what it wants to be, and it goes all-in on the simulation aspect. I think that’s where the game truly shines. It has very realistic driving mechanics, the visual design is astounding, and they do a stellar job of keeping things engaging with every race. However, the game also has stability problems, bugs, crashes, and it’s very light on content. It’s definitely not something up to par with a game like Grand Turismo 7, however if you like simulation racing, it’s worth a shot, thankfully it has a free version where you can test it out. I wish they had more content, and the stability issues would not be there.

Of Ash and Steel is one of those RPGs that are the clear definition of the “eurojank” genre. It has a lot of ambition, both when it comes to the world’s size and scope, but also in regard to the story. It does lots of things right, like creating a very compelling and long experience which you will enjoy for dozens of hours. However, the game is also marred by technical issues, at least at launch. I didn’t have major stability issues, aside from a few hiccups as the game loads different areas. However, the game is filled with bugs, and some things like the battle or facial animations lower the overall appeal of the experience. It’s certainly a love letter to the old-school RPGs with a modern coat, but it’s definitely one that needs a bit more time in the oven. I hope they will solve these technical problems, because Of Ash and Steel is a promising RPG. It’s just not in the best state at launch.

At first, I had no idea what to expect from Dreams of Another, as screenshots and trailers don’t make it justice. It seems like a generic, pixelated shooter, although the game is much more than that. It’s a game that focuses on creating a great, different experience, and it mostly sticks the landing in my opinion. Yes, it’s not flawless, nor does it try to be. These days, most people want to play titles like Call of Duty or Battlefield, just to blow off some steam. Dreams of Another manages to bring us an entirely different experience, where we question our meaning on this planet, and it becomes very meditative at times. I don’t think Dreams of Another is for everyone, it won’t fit the backlog of action-focused gamers. But if you like puzzles, philosophy and exploration, it’s certainly a title that you should play.

The premise of GUG is very interesting, at least for people that love creature collecting or turn based battles. The idea that you can write anything and create a creature is amazing, and they do have some impressive creatures. However, it all comes down to experimenting, figuring out what words give you the best results and immerse yourself in the experience more and more. GUG has its drawbacks for sure, it’s not perfect. But if you like turn based gameplay and the idea of creating creatures at your leisure, then it’s worth a shot. The lack of a proper tutorial does hurt the game, and the fact that you can spam certain keywords to basically cheat and create overpowered creatures is definitely something to keep in mind. I think despite that, GUG is worth checking out, as its core framework is great. I do hope that the devs can improve upon it if they make any sequels or similar games.

All in all, I think the game is a great choice for those who love survival-horror games, although you should be prepared to die and repeat levels countless times. But it’s all a part of the experience, and realistically, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thumbs up for a very solid experience that proves you can still do a good game in an oversaturated genre.

Grand Emprise 2: Portals Apart is an ambitious game, but one that clearly tried to bit off more than it can chew. It’s a game that wants you to survive through dangerous, yet engaging worlds, some of which have more polish than the others. It’s definitely a game that oozes creativity, but the lack of resources is clear here. Yet if you get past that, I think Grand Emprise 2: Portals Apart is a pretty interesting experience, especially considering it costs around $10. It won’t be your go-to survival game, but if you’re into a more curated survival experience with portals and creative worlds, you’ll get your money’s worth. Just don’t expect the ultimate level of polish, stellar graphics or exceptional animations, because you won’t find them here.

I found Clutchtime to be an interesting, fun deckbuilder that successfully implements the idea of having a sports-themed card game. Yes, it does take a little bit to figure out how to use some of the cards and how to play, but once you get the ball rolling, this title is a lot of fun. I do see the game becoming very repetitive in the long run, since it only has 2 main game modes. But if you like the game loop, I am sure you will get a lot of fun out of it. Clutchtime might not appeal to everyone, but if you’re into card games and sports, it’s totally worth considering. The gameplay is addicting, and I found myself spending a couple of hours in the game, not knowing when the time has passed. Yes, it’s not the most visually impressive game, nor does it have a Grammy-worthy soundtrack. But as a package, it’s one of those timewasters that are worth a short, who knows, maybe you can become the next Jordan.

Ultimately, Gex Trilogy feels like a product designed more to honor the past than to ignite a new future for the franchise. It’s a loving archival effort that will undoubtedly please those who grew up with the sarcastic lizard, but it’s unlikely to convert new fans unfamiliar with his antics. With platforming having evolved significantly since Gex’s heyday, these titles feel more like relics — albeit entertaining ones — than evergreen classics. Gex Trilogy isn’t a reinvention; it’s a digital museum exhibit. Polished just enough to be playable by today’s standards, it offers a fun — if dated — experience for retro enthusiasts and collectors. But outside of nostalgia, its appeal is limited. A charming preservation effort, not a platforming revival.

Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition is not for everyone. It doesn’t offer flashy graphics, casual mechanics, or streamlined progression. What it does offer is a dense, narrative-driven, choice-heavy RPG grounded in the rules and spirit of Dungeons & Dragons. For those who love complex characters, meaningful choices, and tactical gameplay, it delivers an experience that’s hard to find in today’s market. If you’re a fan of the D&D universe, have the patience to wrestle with some old-school quirks, and value narrative depth over visual fidelity, then this is a must-play. Whether you’re returning for nostalgia or discovering it for the first time, Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition is still one of the finest examples of what classic RPGs can offer—warts and all.

Is it flawless? Not quite. The new weapons are hit-or-miss, the flashbacks drag, and the performance issues are a blemish on an otherwise polished expansion. But in those moments when you’re stomping down a fluorescent-lit corridor, Auto 9 roaring, as RoboCop delivers a dry one-liner before blasting a goon’s head clean off—it’s pure, unfiltered nostalgia. For anyone who found themselves unexpectedly hooked by Teyon’s take on RoboCop the first time around, Unfinished Business is a worthwhile detour. It doesn’t aim to revolutionize the formula, but it doesn’t need to. It’s not a bold new chapter—it’s a brutal encore. And for fans of chrome-plated justice, that’s more than enough.

Void Sails felt like a very promising game, and to some extent it does manage to deliver on that promise. The ship design is great, and the story, albeit not very long, was engaging and fun for me. It’s nice to see that there are indie devs that continue to take chances and a shot in the dark. There will always be challenges, and Void Sails is a prime example, it certainly has its issues. For me, the changes in combat difficulty killed the momentum a lot of the time. And unfortunately, you can’t lower/raise the difficulty, so you have to make due with their approach, which for me didn’t work out very well. Also, there is an illusion of choice, however a lot of the choices you have will provide the same/very similar results. Even with all of that, I think Void Sails is worth playing, but keep in mind all the pros and cons before you get into it.

Overall, I had a great time with KIBORG. It has good melee combat, along with parries, dodges and intense shooting. It’s also not very expensive, which makes it even easier for me to recommend it. And yes, it has a lot of replay value, thanks to its roguelite approach. I think it does a lot of things right, and while it won’t win any awards, it’s definitely one of those titles that you come back to over and over for one more run.

I think Twilight Wars has a lot of things going for it, from the great cyberpunk aesthetic to the roguelite system they used to advance during missions. Despite that, it doesn’t feel difficult to play, nor does it feel hard. Yes, it can take a bit to get used to the art style, but it definitely grows on you as you play. On top of that, I found the game to continually add new challenges with each mission, and the fact that you are forced to get back to base and re-evaluate/improve/change your team does add a lot of replay value. If you want to play a fun dungeon crawler with intense, yet fair turn-based combat, I think you won’t go wrong with Twilight Wars. Granted, it has its flaws, like insane difficulty spikes at times or a limited mission variety. Does that matter in the end? For some people it might, but in my case, I found Twilight Wars to be a great game to play, especially when you just want to get a few missions in. Then again, it can be just as entertaining for hours and hours.

The journey through its levels is great, the action is excellent, and they do offer a curveball when it comes to new mechanics and challenges, which I liked quite a bit. All in all, Captain Blood is definitely worth it, especially if you miss those Xbox 360-era hack and slash games. It’s like someone locked it in a vault and released it 20 years later.

It’s one of those games that seems rather simple and straightforward in the beginning. Yet once you go through it, you’ll start questioning your morality and choices. And that’s where Beholder: Conductor shines, to be honest. It has a deep story, lots of ways you can spend your time on the train, and many unexpected moments. I found myself glued to the screen, trying to figure out how the story might progress, and ended up being completely wrong with my expectations. It’s an excellent game with some creative ideas, and it certainly fulfills that dream of becoming a train conductor. Plus, it also serves as a great spin-off to the Beholder series as well.

Empyreal is a game built with care and ambition, but one that doesn't quite know what it wants to be. It aims to balance a carefully curated single-player story with the replayability and variety of a multiplayer RPG, and in doing so, it falls short on all fronts. The result is a product that plays it safe in too many areas, delivering an experience that’s competent but rarely compelling. For players who thrive on loot grinding and don’t mind completing familiar gameplay loops over and over again, there’s value to be found in Empyreal. But for those seeking a bold, story-rich action RPG that breaks the mold, this is one expedition that is worth skipping.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is a decent effort that stays true to the original games while adding welcome minor refinements. The visual upgrades, new control options, and extra content make this a must-have for longtime fans and a great entry point for newcomers. Unfortunately, not fixing the bugs still feels lazy, even if some may say it is part of nostalgia. If you modernize the graphics, you should have made an effort to also improve the technical parts of the game to alleviate frustration. Once again, this remaster could have been great with a bit more care.

Overall, Urban Myth Dissolution Center offers a lanky narrative-driven experience, blending eerie folklore tales with the gameplay familiar from other visual novels. The investigative aspect is very discreet. The painfully slow pacing combined with repetitive dialogue, and localization issues result in a not-so-great overall experience. While the game successfully immerses players in the unsettling world of urban legends, it struggles with execution. Those who enjoy visual novels and Japanese ghost stories may find it worthwhile, but players expecting a more interactive detective experience will be disappointed.

Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles is a nostalgic throwback that fails to transcend its origins. For those who grew up playing the original, it offers a bittersweet reminder of the early 2000s, warts and all. Yet, as a remaster, it falls short of expectations, offering little more than a cosmetic update to a flawed but beloved classic. For fans of Star Wars and retro gaming, it may be worth a visit, but newcomers and casual players are unlikely to find much to enjoy in this uneven return to a galaxy far, far away.

For fans of the originals, this is a chance to revisit a beloved classic in HD. For newcomers, it’s an opportunity to explore a piece of gaming history that continues to inspire and captivate. If you’re prepared to brave the depths of Nosgoth and confront its haunting mysteries, while curbing your expectations somewhat, the Soul Reaver remasters are an experience you won’t regret.

Unknown 9: Awakening may not be a groundbreaking title, but it offers a fun and engaging journey through an imaginative world that fans of mystery and light fantasy may enjoy. Clocking in at around 10 hours, it offers just enough intrigue to encourage players to see it through to the end, even if it doesn’t spark an immediate desire to dive into all other Unknown 9 media. While the game isn’t flawless and doesn’t belong among the year’s best, it provides a pleasant surprise, outshining initial expectations. The biggest shortcoming is that it often feels like a limited budget production, that would have needed more polishing to hide the rough edges.

The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication is better than its predecessor, but not by much. I have a hard time taking it seriously as a horror game, and I have seen much better walking simulators. It lacks in almost every aspect, and I could choose much more suitable games for a Halloween scare. Yet, if you are a fan of J-horror you will most likely enjoy it, especially if you are into Taiwanese lore. If the developers manage to fix the pacing issues and rely less on cinematic storytelling the next episode might be quite interesting.

Frostpunk 2 blends classic city development ideas with an interesting take on political horse-trading. The need to secure votes will push player outside of their comfort zone. I like the extra tension, but the two sides of the game sometimes feel disconnected from one another, especially when factions act irrationally as the survival of New London is in play. 11 bit studios has taken a risk by creating a sequel that is too different in terms of mechanics for some fans of the original. Frostpunk 2 isn’t as personal or granular but the political aspect is a good innovation and enhances the more traditional exploration and city building.

I like Diesel Punk to some degree and I had some expectations from The Last Shot, at least to be refreshingly different and maybe memorable. Instead, I got a game that is neither fun, nor original. Sure, the visual style stands out at first, but it is not enough to keep you invested in a bad game. The Lats Shot feels like the result of childish enthusiasm, a game made by a kid who does not really understand game design and just threw together his favorite moments from his favorite games without considering whether they work together or not.

There are two parts to Funko Fusion. The fan service aspect works great offering fans what they would expect from their favorite franchises, regardless about how they feel towards Funko Pop. The gameplay itself is way too repetitive and it feels like the developers invested more effort in nailing down some of the worlds and neglected the gameplay part. Funko Pop can be considered a first shy step made in the right direction, but it still has a long way to go before it can be mentioned in the same page as the LEGO titles. We’ll have to see if there's going to be a sequel that corrects the hiccups of the first title.

Caravan SandWitch is a solid casual game, with a very atmospheric world and a fun gameplay loop. Sadly, even though the game is meant to be easy to complete, the plethora of bugs makes the experience quite frustrating. Once these issues are ironed out, I’m pretty sure Caravan SandWitch will become the hidden gem it aspires to be – an indie game that has some good ideas and memorable moments. Until then, it’s just a lot of potential waiting to be fulfilled.

The Star Named Eos is a short adventure game with some interesting puzzles, which ultimately fails to stand out. At best, it flickers in some moments, but it does not shine. The pacing, the low-res cutscenes, the repetitive pattern of the level design, and the lack of real connection with your character make the experience a rather forgettable one. Fans of the genre will have some fun with the game, but I’d recommend to pick this one up when it’s on sale, so you avoid feeling bad for not having your expectations met.

Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery may be a casual title, catering to a specific audience, but even for them it is hard to justify its existence. As a DLC pack it would have been more than fine, but as full release it fails. Overall, it does not offer enough content to be a standalone release. And it is a shame because the previous game offered a hardcore experience for the fans of the hidden objects genre without feeling like a rip-off. The value proposal of Discovery is missing completely.

There are exciting and pleasant strolls down memory lane, and then there is the remastered Star Wars: Bounty Hunter (sadly). Yes, it is updated! So, it can pass as a functioning game, but it is by no means modern or enjoyable. It completely lacks the atmosphere of the original release, and the entire game feels as tedious as it was 22 years ago. With some more tinkering under the hood, this game could have been reborn from its ashes as a cult classic, but the scope once again was different: a cheap remaster that can be sold for a quick buck.

Still Wakes the Deep has an interesting premise for a walking simulator mixing the mundane and ugly with the supernatural and deadly beautiful. Unfortunately, the whole project just creaks at the joints and fails to deliver a memorable experience. The linear gameplay is not counterbalanced but the story, rather they go hand in hand towards a very simplistic approach. The entire game lacks coherence and that “something” that would turn the originality of the basic idea into an outstanding game.

Undead Inc. can deliver a decent management experience, as long as the developers continue to deliver updates that eliminate crashes, deal with the other bugs, and introduce better balance. It is fun to create a thriving pharma entity that manages to invest in weird research and fulfill major black-market contracts while deceiving everyone. Aside from technical issues, the big issue is that the game never feels as cool as it should. Managing rooms and staff is a bit too repetitive. The rogue-lite idea of extracting doesn’t feel satisfying. Undead Inc. shows how easy it is to have a killer idea while failing to find the right mechanics to realize its potential.

Astor: Blade of the Monolith is a project that clearly has potential, and it shows that it was developed with dedication, but it feels like more attention was invested in how the game looks rather than how it plays. The combat system and the game mechanics feel a tad archaic and too repetitive. By no means is the game a bad one, but it cannot be called remarkable. It offers fun moments, stylish visuals and an interesting story, but the repetitive gameplay makes it best played in limited doses.

Crown Wars: The Black Prince creates a decent mix of tactics and history, with some management elements thrown in. The game does mixes actual history with low fantasy elements in ways that often work. The combat mechanics, with their focus on mixing ability use and good positioning, are engaging, especially for missions that feature bespoke challenges. But battles can also feel repetitive because of the small number of templates. The presentation isn’t always impressive. Still, anyone who appreciates a video game that uses history in some interesting ways and wants to customize a squad that can deal with any type of tactical challenge, Crown Wars: The Black Prince will offer many hours of fun.

Bounties of Babylon offers players a good board game-like design, built around careful placement of tiles and lucky or unlucky rolls of the die. It doesn’t take long to pick up the mechanics and then discover how to exploit synergies, complete quests, reach the turn point requirement, and push forward. Unfortunately, the title doesn’t support its solid gameplay in any way. No effort is made to create a compelling universe, the tutorial is text only, the graphics are functional and nothing more, and the game doesn’t feature multiplayer. Bounties of Babylon has laser-focused mechanics and creates interesting puzzles but never found a way to keep me engaged enough to master its gameplay.

Harold Halibut is an adventure game that although reminds us of a walking simulator due to its simplistic gameplay, thanks to its atmosphere and unique visual style manages to become a memorable title. It is a slow burning adventure that prioritizes the story and presents it through engaging dialogues and plenty of details hidden in plain sight. Despite the leisurely pace, the game remains pretty short and has no real replay value. It is an intense and almost poetic experience that holds up a mirror to both the individual and society, making it a worthwhile experience for the fans of the genre and for those looking for a great story.

As I mentioned I have struggled with this game more than usual. I wanted to make sure that it is not an art installation that requires patience and examination from different angles to reveal itself. Ultimately, I had to admit that Shines Over: The Damned is just an uninspiring experience completely failing to immerse the player. It can hardly be called a game since it does not have a story or coherent gameplay elements, and the mysterious atmosphere crumbles without any anchor points. If at least it would have been so outlandish that it became interesting, but alas. As it stands Shines Over: The Damned is a 30-minute complete waste of your time.

It is a combination of gameplay elements borrowed from different genres and mashed together to form a feel-good experience. Moonglow Bay is not just a fishing adventure, a time management game or a skill-based cooking game. It is a glimpse into the life of a virtual community and a lesson of how each member plays an essential role to make it thrive. It is worth experiencing for any fans of casual games looking to get lost in an optimistic narrative.

Highwater could be the dictionary example of an indie game: it is based on a trending topic with social implications, it marches to its own tune without trying to fit into one specific genre, it has a distinctive visual and musical style that build a great atmosphere, and the developers cannot be bothered to fix the bugs they left in the game. It is an artistic production and a social statement that would badly need some polishing and fixing to be a completely enjoyable video game. By smoothing down the edges it can become the atmospheric trip the developers imagined, and the magic wouldn’t be broken by the hiccups.

Alone in the Dark checks all the boxes when it comes to gameplay elements you would expect in a modern survival horror, but these seem to be stuck in the past. It feels like a project made with passion but enough budget to hit the AAA expectations. The archaic mechanics do not involve a pleasant nostalgia, rather make the entire game feel outdated. Overall, it is not a bad game, but it does not have enough oomph to make it compete with the best games out there, let alone reconquer the throne of the genre. With a hefty discount it can become an interesting choice for the fans of the genre, a period that should also give time to the developers to fix the bugs that are still present.

Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator feels like an unfinished project or one that was rushed to meet a deadline and some parts have been left out. Somewhere in the rush to make the coziest experience possible, the fun took a backseat and as a result the basic idea backfired. It is cozy, but after a point it is hardly engaging. There is no real motivation beyond designing and building your dream garden using a limited variety of plants and decorations. Still despite all the shortcomings, the game delivers exactly on the promised atmosphere, that is completely cozy, but can hardly be called a simulator.

Reveil is a walking simulator, but it is a remarkable one. Yes, the puzzles are simple, but they are balanced by the game world full of things to explore and find. There is no monotonous pace, and the stealth and chase sections are more than just tense or strained, featuring a few truly scary moments. It may be short, but the story with its unexpected twists, the multiple settings and the constant questioning of what is real and what can you believe from what you go through, makes it a worthwhile experience for all the fans of adventure and horror games.

Sixty Four mixes idle and automation mechanics and will capture the attention of players who like the two genres with its focus on digging deep as efficiently as possible. The core design is clean and makes it easy for players to plan expansion or upgrades. Some might even be interested in the weird dialogue that anchors the limited narrative. But the game doesn’t do much with its premise and gameplay becomes repetitive pretty fast once players reach the green cubes. Alt-tabbing to wait for resources to accumulate is not fun. The entire concept is better suited for mobile phones. Sixty Four has some clever ideas but does not engage with the limitations of its genre.

As Dusk Falls is fair experience, but compared to the other representatives of its genre, it manages to stand out only as being the closest to a tv series, rather than a videogame. The plentitude of choices creates numerous ramifications that will encourage the fans of the genre to go through multiple playthroughs in order to discover every outcome. Still, compared to other relatively recent games like The Quarry or Detroit: Become Human, As Dusk Falls feels like an indie production that had to cut several corners due to budget restrictions. It is a commendable effort, but there is still a long way to go to reach the level of the best interactive dramas.

Airhead is based on an original idea and has some clever puzzles and vivid graphics. Yet these qualities are not enough to redeem a short and forgettable experience. Unfortunately, the puzzles can become quite frustrating due to the bugs and glitches the developers failed to remedy. Overall Airhead would be a decent game if it would not be so short. Still if you look past all the shortcomings and you focus on the original idea, a really original world awaits you that can be engaging to explore after some more polishing from the developers.

Cricket Through the Ages is a simple game, played using just one button, that works best for two players who are ready to have some dumb fun for about half an hour. Any longer than that and it becomes clear how limited and repetitive it all really is. Play against the computer and all the silliness isn’t worth very much. The developers understand how to make awkward physics work, but the game really needs more variety in terms of equipment and conditions. Cricket Through the Ages will draw some laughs but is best enjoyed in short bursts before its repetitive mechanic becomes frustrating.

I fell in love with Tomb Raider the moment I played the first episode on my PC a very long time ago. That is why the ups and downs of the series hit me on a more sensible and emotional level. I was hyped about this remaster, and I have to admit I got what I hoped for: the original three games, with new shiny graphics and controls that are closer to the standards of 2024. But after playing through the remastered trilogy, I have to admit that my memories about the game were romanticized compared to reality. The gameplay and level design that worked over two decades ago, today feel dated and clunky. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is hard to recommend for anyone but the hardcore fans of the series.

Skull and Bones spent seven years in development, but still feels like an unfinished beta version that was released way before it’s time. And while many expect this kind of patchwork from Ubisoft, it is still a reprehensible industry practice that is in no way fair to the players, who despite all the warning signs have waited and hoped for the game’s release. Just as another live service game recently released based on the DC universe, Skull and Bones feels like a cash grab attempt that maybe fixable in the future with many patches and updates but even in its ideal form is far from an AAA title. At best it could be a relaxing and engaging, albeit repetitive activity, but in its current form is a beta version sold at full price.

Taken individually there are some aspects to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League that are enjoyable. The problem is that cloning the same few basic gameplay mechanics seen in most live service games creates a negative overall experience. As a result, even if playing alongside your friends as a full party, you will feel like participating in a chores marathon. The monotonous endgame can be fixed by adding new content, but seeing the already existing one it is hard to believe that we can expect a major improvement. It is a shame that such a fresh and unexpected take on the superhero universe is wasted on a live service model that fails to fix the mistakes of the genre.

Immortality requires patience, plenty of it, and an inquisitive mind. It does not offer instant gratification through frags or victory screens, rather a slow burning mystery that requires you to have the focus of a detective like Poirot. The game refuses to follow current trends and chooses to be an homage to the movie industry by showcasing what is hidden from the viewers. It is not for everyone, especially due to the limited gameplay mechanics it can become monotonous. Yet, there is something fascinating in uncovering what happened to Marissa Marcel.

Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic may be a casual game, but it offers a hardcore experience for the fans of the hidden-objects genre. It is a puzzle game that has a catchy visual style, it is full of details and offers many hours of fun. The lack of replay value of the basic levels is balanced out by the level editor, that hopefully will be embraced by the community. All in all, Hidden Through Time 2 is a good example of how to implement a simple concept in an engaging way.

Forest Grove is not the stocking filler I have hoped for. It is a mediocre game at best, that does not offer any real challenge or satisfaction. The game mechanics are way too simple and repetitive, the hardest part being to decern what is relevant for the case and what is not. While I appreciate what the developers tried to build here, I cannot recommend the game as long as there are so many better alternatives out there. You are better off watching your favorite TV series.

Pixel Cafe might look cozy and warm in the still images, but in reality, it is a challenging experience with a very fast and dynamic gameplay. It reminds me very much of a mobile game and I still believe the control would feel much more natural on a touchscreen than it does on a controller. But overall, Pixel Cafe's journey is an engaging one, with some interesting characters and developments along the way. If you’re up to the frenzy of hectic nights and busy days, you like Chibi style characters and want to see how good you are behind various countertops, Pixel Cafe is right up your alley.

Overall Weedcraft Inc. stands out like a lonely bong forgotten on the shelf of a tobacco store. The interesting premise does not translate into an interesting gameplay, the general theme of the game being repetitiveness from gameplay structure to soundtrack. The control scheme is simply horrible and the main reason most players will get tired of this game, even before having the chance to get fed up with the mediocre story and monotonous gameplay. Although developed for PC originally, Weedcraft Inc. feels more like a mobile game, and not one of high quality.

Despite its outdated graphics and often basic visual style, Achilles: Legends Untold manages to put a spell on you with its atmosphere and well thought out combat system. But it doesn’t take long for the randomly fluctuating difficulty levels, uninspired dialogues and characters, as well as the countless errors to turn you away from the game. This could have been a great game if the developers paid more attention and had thoroughly thought out the game mechanisms. Achilles: Legends Untold ends up feeling truly unfair towards the player, replacing skill with luck and lending cheap shots due to the inability to counter the many issues.

Let’s see what you get if you are willing to pay not just the full price, but also the over-the-top cost of Modern Warfare III: a short and uninspired single player campaign, a solid co-op and multiplayer experience, both relying on recycled maps, and an overwhelming amount of micro and not so “micro” transactions. It is not just the regurgitated and uninspired content that makes Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III one of the worst games in the series, but also the absurd pricing scheme that pushes over the edge both the industry professionals and players alike. Ultimately, it’s up to each and every one to decide if the game is worth all the basic and extra costs, but I definitely don’t want to encourage anyone to support these more and more questionable business practices, so wait for a sale if you really want to check this one out.

Animal Hospital as a mobile game is mediocre, as a console game is an insult. Why? Because beyond the bare minimum it does not address in any way the transition from a freemium game to a premium one. It asks a console game price for a free mobile game. Sure, the microtransactions have been removed, but no value has been added. While it can be very short fun for kids to kill the time, there are much better games out there focusing on taking care of animals and building a virtual career. Stay away from this one!

Despite the poorly put together trailers and the lack of experience from Nacon’s side to promote games, Robocop: Rogue City could have been a good game. It has the potential to exceed any kind of expectation, if it launched as a finished game, rather than in this stage that can be described as still in development.

Stray Souls is a great example of how hard it is to create a horror-driven experience that manages to marry an interesting narrative with some solid mechanics. The story setup is somewhat intriguing but almost every beat after that is something gamers have already seen better executed in other places. Worse, Daniel and the sister aren’t believable as individuals. And players can’t ignore the story to focus on the gameplay. The puzzles do not impress and there’s no reason to like the combat or exploration aspects. Stray Souls will make for an interesting Halloween game for anyone who has already played the hits and wants more of the genre. But the title simply doesn’t offer enough to keep players engaged.

Life of Delta, despite its gloomy setting and premise, is a lighthearted story with plenty of humorous moments and pop culture references. The atmosphere and visual style are great, but the story would have needed much more attention to turn the game into a memorable one. Overall, the experience is not bad, but you cannot help but feel that it could have been much more. Despite the modest marketing campaign, I hope enough people will pick up the game, giving the developers the motivation and resources to develop a sequel that will improve on this game.

Hellboy: Web of Wyrd is a fan letter that suffers from too much enthusiasm and not enough substance. Beyond the undisputed visual style, it lacks originality, creativity, and challenge to keep you pinned in front of the display. The biggest difficulty is conjuring the patience needed to finish the game, which should take around 7-8 hours. The elements needed to make a great game are all there, at least on paper, but it feels like the developers got lost in trying to recreate the visual style and forgot about everything else. As such, Hellboy: Web of Wyrd is even more of a footnote in the franchise’s history than the latest movie.

Haunted House is a very challenging roguelite game, that needs a lot of patience, not just for the gameplay mechanics, but also to stomach the bugs and start all over again if needed. It is a great upgrade over the original game, that emphasizes stealth and a tactical approach, but can feel grindy. If you are looking for a game to entertain you for Halloween or for a roguelite that will test your mettle, Haunted House is a great choice. But if you do not have the patience to try over and over again, many times not because of your fault, you will only experience frustration.

Paleo Pines is another cautionary tale about wasted potential: such an enticing premise based on cute dinosaurs would have deserved much better treatment. The junior players might enjoy the game for a short while, but the repetitiveness and lack of originality will bore them quite soon as well. For those looking for a relaxing farming themed game there are plenty of alternatives out there, that do a much better job of entertaining, with a price point similar to Paleo Pines.

The developers of Ad Infinitum seem to have spent too much time on developing the atmosphere and the game itself. It is a completely linear experience, with plenty of bugs that often make progress impossible, if things do not happen according to the script. Because of that, it becomes increasingly frustrating to explore the levels in order to puzzle together the story. Also, once you pique behind the curtains and understand the mechanisms that break down so often, the magic is gone. The plenty of bugs and concept errors ruin what could have been a memorable experience.

I am a fan of interactive dramas, but Fort Solis proved to be a hard sell even for me. Despite its potential, the game just feels empty and despite the effort of Troy Baker and his colleagues it fails to create an emotional connection with the players. It is not even a popcorn movie you might enjoy when you are terribly bored. It is an experience that does not look bad but does not really offer anything to make it worthy of your time.

Everdream Valley tries to walk its own path, one that is not very different from other games of the same genre. There are some odd game design choices and a couple of bugs, but nothing that affects the fun of the overall experience. However, after about 10 hours, the time it takes to completely finish it, I can’t help but feel like that’s something still missing. The game feels a bit rushed, as some features seem to not have been fully implemented probably to release the game faster. Luckily, all these issues can be fixed easily, but even with those Everdream Valley is still an enjoyable, cozy experience.

Ultimately, Itorah isn’t a bad game, just an uninterested one that doesn’t bring anything new to the table. That wouldn’t be an issue if it didn’t have the issues that I’ve already mentioned. Play this only if you’re desperate for a good-looking platformer.

Combat needs a bit more polishing, but it’s serviceable for what Liberte wants to be. I did enjoy the story very much and the voice acting, but I feel that the game needs more varied environments and enemies. I wasn’t too impressed with the progression system, which requires a lot of grinding. Thankfully, you’re allowed to skip this aspect if you’re mildly skilled.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a good game if administered in small doses. Unfortunately, after a couple of hours, it becomes tiresome due to the repetitive design. Taking breaks will put it in a different perspective and chances are that you’ll find your way back to it for another short session. There's some replayability in this, since you can go back and to try and complete the levels on higher difficulty, as well as unearth any secrets that you might have missed in your previous playthrough. More importantly, the atmosphere is catchy and almost rises up to the expectations created by the trailers. Well, almost, but not entirely. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun feels like a pretty good start for something bigger. Hopefully, Auroch Digital’s take on the retro FPS genre will get a sequel that will bring exciting new mechanics and more varied content.

Rule the Waves 3 isn’t a visual feast and does not have a deep and immersive set of narrative events. Its systems are deep and well-designed but require the player to have or to seek knowledge about shipbuilding and naval warfare. The interface is very busy and it takes time to learn all its quirks. These are significant barriers to entry. Even fans of the historical strategy genre might be unwilling to break through them all. But, if you give Rule the Waves 3 time and energy, it can deliver a gaming experience that’s unlike anything else on the market, filled with deep design work and cool combat moments.

Unwording is a short experience with a small number of puzzles and a barely sketched-out narrative. Tom is entirely unlike other video game protagonists, uninterested in most things around him and unexceptional. I’m not sure if he is depressed or if the spartan nature of his existence simply signifies his disgust with the modern world and its demands. The two types of puzzles are initially interesting but after solving two or three of them they become busy work. The game needed either a bigger world, with more variety in terms of puzzle design, or extra focus on mechanical innovation. I wanted to like Unwording more but its core ideas are limited and the story is too simple.

Trinity Trigger feels like a safest approach for a JRPG. The game certainly has its charm thanks to the cartoonish art style, but it doesn’t introduce any new mechanics in the world or JRPGs. The combat has been stripped of any complexity to make room for an in-depth weapon customization system that pretty much carries this entire aspect. It’s unfortunate that just about every location in the game is very low populated and that dungeons are almost the same, but Trinity Trigger makes up for it by providing players with a compelling narrative experience. Although it’s not really a “must play,” Trinity Trigger is definitely worth exploring.

Road To Devadatta is a relatively short and very story-focused game. Its narrative thread is pretty interesting at first but fails to maintain pace once fully supernatural elements are introduced. The levels are relatively small and the puzzles are pretty good, designed to challenge players without frustrating them. There are some interesting attempts to integrate aspects of Buddhism into the story.

All in all, Unheard – Voices of Crime can be a pleasant distraction on a rainy afternoon, but nothing more. If you're craving for a detective game that focuses on the audio aspect, this will definitely quench your thirst for a little bit.

Despite its generic story, the worldbuilding is great and so is the soundtrack. The art style is pretty good as well. One thing that I’d recommend to fans of the action-adventure genre is to avoid playing Stray Blade like a soulslike game because they’ll have a frustrating experience. Stray Blade is a thing of its own and can be enjoyed without being associated with the Dark Souls series.

Arcana of Paradise – The Tower might not be the best roguelike deckbuilder out there, but I have to commend the developers for taking the risks and adding their own twists to the formula. Even if some of these innovations don’t seem to fit the genre, at least it’s a breath of fresh air from the traditional roguelike deckbuilding recipe. Overall, this is a decent game that needs a bit more variation when it comes to cards and enemies. Character progression is another aspect that needs more work too because right now it’s quite uninteresting.

The adventure game genre has been revived in the last couple of years, so it has become harder for such a game to stand out. Rendezvous is trying to offer its own take on the genre by adding action elements, but more often than not it’s these moments that make the game worse. Even though it’s set in a futurist Indonesia and adopts a cyberpunk aesthetic, the generic story and some frustrating puzzles doesn’t help Rendezvous make it above the mediocre line. I think Rendezvous would have been a much better game without the stealth and combat mechanics. If you’re a cyberpunk fan and can put up with a few frustrating moments, Rendezvous can be enjoyable for just a few hours, but don’t get your hopes too high.

Escape From The Red Planet isn’t the most complex tower defense hybrid experience. The story is thin and the gameplay is easy to learn. Mastering might take more time but failure is linked to limitations like the slow aim rather than the tactical complexity. The Martians themselves are a failure of design. The entire experience mostly works as a streamlined introduction to the tower defense genre. The first-person combat moments add some extra excitement but don’t feel like a big innovation. Escape From The Red Planet is a decent game for someone who wants to see what the genre can offer but there are plenty of better alternatives for more experienced players.

Crime Boss: Rockay City doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but I would have expected the content to be a bit more varied. Just about every piece of dialog is cringe, but so are many of the 80s and 90s B-movies these actors are known for, so I guess it fits them perfectly. The mix of resource management and first-person shooter mechanics is interesting but doesn’t save the game from mediocrity. Everything about Crime Boss: Rockay City screams “obsolete,” but the co-op mode might offer players some fun, even if it’s just for a limited time. This isn’t a bad game, just one that feels like it traveled forward in time from the 90s.

I think Ravenbound has a solid foundation as a roguelite, but it’s buried underneath some mechanics that aren’t enjoyable enough to keep you engaged. Also, if you’re one those people who don’t like “always online” games, skip this one because you won’t be able to play Ravenbound otherwise.

Tiny Troopers: Global Ops has easy-to-understand mechanics and delivers some solid combat moments, especially when playing with other humans. But there’s little depth to the core experience and the campaigns themselves are uninspired and filled with attempts at humor that rarely work. I wanted the tiny troopers to go on weirder adventures, not on some warmed-over ideas taken from action movies. There’s also a big disconnect between the tone of the game and the actual gameplay. These seem like children engaged in war, which is weird and not in a good way. Tiny Troopers: Global Ops has a few good ideas but is unable to create an interesting universe or deliver varied encounters.

The Forest Cathedral is an interesting experience but does not fully work as a video game. The narrative it is telling is based on a real-world person but introduces many elements that are anachronistic to the period and to her life. Maybe the main character should have been named something else and her story should have only hinted at the real-world scandal surrounding DDT and other pesticides.

It is really hard to recommend No Longer Home as a game or even as a meaningful experience. It is way too personal for it to be largely relatable and way too shallow to hit truly hard or touch some emotional topics. Not to mention that there’s literally no gameplay at all. No Longer Home lacks puzzles or any other adventure-like elements. Judging by how the story flows, this feels more like a visual novel with dialogue choices having no influence on the final outcome.

I am pretty sure that the developers had the best intentions, but the end result cannot be even recommended as educational neither for the animal care part, nor for the business simulation. Ultimately, Animal Shelter Simulator is just a bad game that you should not waste your time playing. There are dozens of similar titles that are much more worthy of your attention if you’re a fan of animal simulator games.

Ultimately, Redemption Reapers is a mixed bag that probably can’t redeem itself even after a few patches. For all its faults, diehard turn-based strategy fans will find something to enjoy playing this.

Although at first glance GRUNND presents players with an interesting mystery to solve, the game’s narrative suffers from lack of cohesion. Despite its intriguing plot and eerie atmosphere, the game fails to convey a clear message. GRUNND is trying to tell a Kafka-esque story under the disguise of a philosophical journey, but fails to make itself enjoyable in the process. The eerie atmosphere and top-notch soundtrack are not enough to make the journey interesting. Not to mention the ending feels rushed and leaves a lot of questions unanswered.

As a whole, Helvetii is an uneven product. The game’s nice visuals and solid combat are way above everything else. Roguelike fans will probably get something out of it, but my advice is to try and beat it fast and move on to another title.

Ultimately, Deliver Us Mars is a walking simulator that wants to be more than it is and does not understand that small changes are not enough to reinvent the wheel. Despite that, it remains a pleasant enough experience that players can finish in about 8 hours, yet one that does not beckon you back for more.

If you’re a veteran of soulslike games, you’ll find Thymesia enjoyable, yet frustrating at times due to some unfair mechanics. Unfortunately, this is not a welcoming game for newcomers to the genre, so you’ll want to skip this one if you’re finding games like Sekiro and Bloodborne too difficult.

There are some good ideas hidden under the contrived combat system and very basic RPG elements, but Broken Lines fails to be enjoyable. It will probably scratch a certain itch, but I expected a lot more based on how it’s advertised.

Many of the puzzles are unintuitive and the writing is all over the place. Also, playing almost the entire game without soundtrack (because there isn’t one) doesn’t really help with immersion at all. The Sundew is a rather short experience (3-4 hours), but not an enjoyable one, that’s for sure.

If Forspoken had been a tech demo, it would have been amazing. As a game it is just a collection of inexplicable decisions that ruin the entire experience. The game - just as its hero - does not have a clearly defined identity, the pace is slow while the world is huge, the controls are clumsy at best, the animations are stiff, and the AI is limited to a few patterns. The around 30 hours required to complete the main story feel painfully long, and it is hard to justify investing twice as much time to uncover everything. You can see the hard work put in some aspects of the game, which makes it even harder to explain the neglect of the rest. Forspoken is nothing more than a foot note in an essay about wasted potential.

City Eye could have done something interesting with its core idea. It could have commented on the nature of surveillance, the ubiquitous presence of cameras, and the way the urban landscape is affected by their existence. It could have found ways to make players question the nature of their actions and how they affect people they don’t actually know or understand. It could have created an interesting management game by adding more mechanics. But the game is very basic and direct and fails to offer anything of value other than its setup. Everything happens in the same way, with the same people. There’s no sense of progress. City Eye shows that a decent idea is no guarantee of a good game and the development team should take the concept back to the drawing board and see how they can extract interesting gameplay and stories.