LEGO The Incredibles is satisfying, although I can’t say that it’s as good as some of the other games that came from the same developers. In any case, the price difference might be small enough to be subjective. If you love the Incredibles and Lego, then getting this game is a no-brainer.

Cobalt is an instant classic for side-scrolling brawlers. The combat is varied and addictive, the mechanics sufficiently complex to satisfy dedicated players, and the competitive modes can entertain all sorts of fans. Throw in the pretty fun story mode as well as the support for the Steam Workshop, through which players can devise their own maps, and you have a great investment.

Clunky combat, flat story, repetitious gameplay, lack of enemy and loot variety make Oninaki a monotonous experience that no one should go through. I wanted to like Tokyo RPG Factory's latest game, but with Oninaki the studio is taking a backward step from its previous titles. The game's unique world can't save it from mediocrity. However, despite its shortcomings, Tokyo RPG Factory fans who liked Lost Sphear will probably find some enjoyment, at least to some extent.

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.

Calling Tannenberg a historical online FPS would mean trying to categorize it by genre, but as an experience, it belongs to that category of games that will never see the same success as the giants in the industry, but for the select few that love the historical accuracy and setting, it will become the go-to FPS. With a few patches here and there and maybe a better advertisement campaign, the game may even manage to fill up with enough players as to no longer need the bot auto-fill system.

The game fails to deliver too much in the way of story, and the graphics are a little limited, but the core building and optimization mechanics are captivating and give gamers plenty of interesting ways to tweak the layout of buildings and the paths that characters use.

Oblitus could have been a great game, but unfortunately it's not. It's hard to get into, what with the lack of story and context for your actions and the fact that you have to start all over when you die.

Unfortunately, the Basketball Pro Management 2015 can be a bit too dry at times and the lack of interaction with players, rivals or the media feels like a big miss.

Bricktales finally delivers the ability to piece together Lego bricks in order to build various things, but also shows why the videogames have shied away from this mechanic. Although it sounds good in theory, controlling the bricks in digital space does not really feel natural or comfortable. The camera, although functional, does not actually help with the endeavor of figuring out 3D builds in a 2D representation. We also have to mention that the game is fairly short, even if you aim to collect all the items. In barely 5 hours you have done everything you could have. It is far from a flawless experience, but it can be a fun activity for the family.

Clash: Artifacts of Chaos is an interesting mix of ideas, most of them familiar, with some unique twists. The hand-to-hand combat focus is good, although it takes a lot of experimentation to do everything right. The world is intriguing and surprising, especially when it comes to character and enemy design. This is a hard game and any sentient enemy can become a big problem fast. But the biggest issue with the game is how confusing it can be to move through the world, especially when doubling back through already known areas. Clash: Artifacts of Chaos rewards patience and quick reflexes and shows how being extra weird can make a game memorable.

Rising Lords is dedicated to fans of turn-based strategy with a historical element who don’t want to deal with unnecessary complexity. The game’s focus is on the economy and, specifically, the peasant-powered food supply. Small events can have big consequences and it is never easy to always give people full rations. The turn and hex-driven battles are also decent if lacking in surprises. The card system feels under-cooked. Rising Lords also offers players extra game modes, editors, and multiplayer, giving them multiple ways to engage with its core gameplay loops.

Resident Evil Zero HD Remaster represents a piece of gaming history, and it's nice to see it offered on modern hardware but playing it is only fun for those who already know what to expect and appreciate nostalgia.

Considered on its own, Pro Cycling Manager 2023 is a good cycling management simulation. It’s fun to create a custom team, fill it with youngsters, and try to dominate the sport in 3 to 5 years. Playing the official stages of this year’s Tour de France with any team in the peloton creates interesting situations and challenges. But the title fails to offer enough innovation when compared to last year’s installment. Anyone who still plays PCM 2022 should stick with that game until their favorite mod is updated. Pro Cycling Manager 2023 has solid core mechanics but the franchise needs to be more innovative going forward.

Memory Lost has an interesting core mechanic, and it creates complex combat puzzles around it. Playing on Normal, the game requires players to move fast and aim well but also to constantly plan when to swift into another body and consider which is best suited for the tactical situation. When everything clicks, battles are exciting and fluid. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t give gamers much to keep them engaged if frustration with gameplay kicks in. And the game’s presentation is decent but not spectacular. Memory Lost will please players who have a fondness for action and can tolerate some issues but might struggle to find a wider audience.

Tembo the Badass Elephant succeeds as a game about momentum but fails to make the overall package as solid as it could be.

At the end of the day, Dakar Desert Rally is a mix of good things and bad things, but on quite a lot of occasions, I feel like the game is still a work in progress. Sure, it’s hard to hit all the right spots from the very beginning, but aside from an enjoyable Dakar racing experience, the game needs refinements in many key areas. There still are a few performance glitches here and there, and the AI is ridiculously stupid every now and then, as it has absolutely no problem pushing you out of the track if it can’t get past you. The game system also requires more polishing. If there’s something you can truly enjoy, it’s the pure off-road experience on dunes, in water, and so on. The scenery is beautiful, so if you’re not playing the game to win races, you could have an absolute blast with this game. Otherwise, you may end up disappointed.

Miasma Chronicles is one hell of a ride from start to finish. Although the package comes with a compelling story, my number one enjoyment was to find new ways to finish a fight faster since I treated these as puzzles with complex solutions. If you love turn-based games, Miasma Chronicles is a must-play.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse is a fun and pretty innovative experience for both veteran fans and newcomers. Unfortunately, it's weighed down by some elements like the wonky camera, the fickle lock-on, the dumb companion AI, or the slightly repetitive combat.

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.

What Daemon X Machina gets right is the feeling that you're in control of a huge mech and wrecks havoc on the battlefield, and that's certainly no small feat. Unfortunately, developers seem to have focused on refining the combat mechanics to perfection but forgot that the game does have other parts that need their attention too. If you can get past all the negatives, Daemon X Machina is a very refined mecha game that truly catches the spirit of the genre but falls flat when it comes to narrative and characterization.

Galactic Civilizations IV has a solid foundation, in terms of mechanics and presentation, but needs to add polish. I like the wide-ranging customization offered at the start of a campaign and how the early game moves. But the experience needs more excitement for the middle game and extra variety in terms of events and challenges. The title is too sculpted to suit the tastes of those who has picked up the previous two titles in the series. It rewards solid planning and careful execution; it asks players to learn the connections between mechanics and to exploit them. But to truly flourish, Galactic Civilizations IV needs to try to add a little revolution to its evolution-driven approach to turn-based strategy.

Overall, SpongeBob Squarepants Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated is a zesty and refreshing remake of a classic. It is no masterpiece by any standards, and some parts of it still feel superfluous, but it offers a fun single-player experience. The atmosphere of the game is great, mainly because the developers seem to have understood the universe which the game is based on, paying extra attention to fan favorites. The length of the game is more than fair and the new additions, except the co-op, enhance the overall experience. The return of most of the original voice actors is also a bonus, making SpongeBob Squarepants Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated a fair remaster and a fun summer-y experience.

If the same effort would have been invested in the entire game as was in the voice acting of the narrator, Maneater would have been a mindless, but fun experience. The concept is not bad at all, the graphics look pretty decent, the night time cities being actually quite pretty, and, when it works as intended, the combat system is fun and spectacular. Unfortunately, the countless technical issues, the lack of quality content, the clumsy controls and stupid AI turn Maneater into a mediocre experience, which cannot be recommended in its current state.

Overall Shadowgate is another solid offering for puzzle-solving and adventuring enthusiasts, one that comes with a pedigree and a healthy dose of retro charm.

Lost Sphear is one of the few JRPGs that retains the Chrono Trigger feeling, but improves many aspects of the gameplay to offer a modern approach to fans of the genre. It's a true classic JRPG featuring a charming art style, nostalgic music and an interesting combat system.

Steel Rats comes like a breath of fresh air in the platformer genre thanks to the vehicle combat elements mixed in, which boost the game's intensity to a level any hardcore gamer dreams of. While you may start off cursing at how you control your bike, a few hours into the game you'll be going faster and faster, chopping through bots, dodging falling debris and speed running through levels like you've been born doing it.

The game will clearly appeal more to casual gamers than to the hardcore, but it does show how the Wii U can deliver interesting games when the developers try to introduce some innovation.

The Signifier has all the conceptual elements required to deliver a great experience. The world intrigues and engages, the personal relationships have potential, the brain scanning idea opens up a lot of gameplay possibilities. The game never quite reaches that potential but it’s still great to see such solid foundations for an indie title. Gamers who love immersion and emotional experiences should dive deep into the memories and dreams The Signifier offers, even if the gameplay is a little limited and the ending fails to live up to the initial excitement. And I truly hope that a sequel or a spin-off is in development to take advantage of all the solid groundwork that the developers created.

Football Manager 26 is a good step forward when it comes to engine and tactics, but it can frustrate many long-term fans. I like the dual approach to tactical choices, and I feel that the title reflects real-world trends. The match day experience is good, and the integration of women’s football adds a new dimension to the sim. Learning where everything is in the new interface, especially for the less-used options, will take time. Graphical glitches and some weirdness with on-pitch movement will probably be eliminated by patches. Football Manager 26 requires time and patience, but it will give football simulation fans hundreds of hours of fun, regardless of whether they are playing a superpower or an underdog.

Nanotale – Typing Chronicles manages to put words at the heart of both the action and the story in a unique way. The centrality of typing is justified in the world that the developers have created and makes for some interesting challenges for gamers. The more classic exploration elements, based around the word magic system, also work well. The biggest problem is that the constant keyboard action can become a little tiring. Keep sessions to a little under an hour to make sure that you do not simply burn out from spelling. Nanotale is also a video game that would benefit immensely from an investment in a very good keyboard.

Serial Cleaners has a very solid core idea and adds just enough variety with its four characters to make each level feel engaging and unique. I like solving the puzzle of how to get all the bodies while attracting as little attention as possible. The strength of the gameplay makes it easier to ignore the more undercooked elements of the narrative. The biggest issue with the game is that the opponent A.I. feels a little off but the saving grace is that this can create moments of weird, bloody comedy. Serial Cleaners delivers a good mix of careful planning and emergent moments that will satisfy every fan of the stealth action genre.

Metrocide has a very nostalgic overall sheen to it, but apart from that, the basic gameplay loop isn't all that great. It has potential but it just seems watered-down a lot, as if it were rushed around some simple mechanics instead of being built around a more meaningful experience.

Firmament is clearly designed to appeal to players who loved the concept of Myst, showing them how impressive such a narrative-driven puzzle experience can be when built using modern tech. Stepping out into the three realms creates a powerful sense of wonder and there are plenty of moments when the world impresses with its scale and beauty. But these feelings do not last forever and the core gameplay loop struggles to keep players pushing forward. There’s some clever puzzle design to wrap one’s head around but there’s too much friction when it comes to the implementation of the solutions. I wanted Firmament to be more ambitious, with more twists to its narrative and puzzles that require less grunt work and more exploration of its gorgeous levels.

The Gunk is a game that does a decent job of offering ideas that other titles have explored in better ways. The gameplay is fun at first barely evolves. The story, especially the interactions between Becks and Rani, is decent but has nothing especially memorable to offer. The game has everything it needs for some cool cooperative play moments but does not offer those mechanics.

Nom Nom Galaxy is an interesting hybrid, although the variety of experiences might mean that a lot of players will have to fail a lot before they discover exactly how to approach the problem of soup production and shipping.

Beautiful Desolation is a mature game for mature audiences. If you like dystopian stories, classic point-and-click adventures, and you miss the magic of hand-drawn environments it will be right up your alley. On the other hand, younger audiences will have a harder time with the game, since it does not offer instant gratification, and the action scenes are utterly useless. Beautiful Desolation raises a lot of questions but leaves the answers open for most of the time. It is an experience that makes you wonder about humanity and what the future will bring. It is fun only for those who are looking for deep-reaching experiences, that will stick with you long after you finished the game.

60 Parsecs! relies too much on the story and dark humor to keep players engaged, and that wouldn't have been a problem if the developer would have delivered. But the repetitive gameplay mechanics and the way the story bits are supplied to the player make 60 Parsecs! a hit-and-miss affair. Even so, I have no doubt that the game will find supporters among sci-fi and survival games fans.

Cartel Tycoon goes all in on the drug cartel leader fantasy and mines the setting for as many concepts as possible. The management game is good, with a mix of mechanics and with clear challenges for players to work through. I like the look of the game and most of the writing fits well with the ‘80s Latin American world it is evoking. The mix of two narrative-driven campaigns alongside a sandbox and survival modes is a solid one. But the development team at Moon Moose could have been less classic in their approach to core game concepts. There’s nothing here that the management game space has not already tried. Cartel Tycoon is well-suited for anyone who already likes the genre or the setting but it does not innovate in any meaningful way.

Overall, The Chant is definitely not a bad game. It has something of the charm and the shortcomings of the old VHS releases. The story is not new or unpredictable, but it does its job, the puzzles are not very hard, and the combat is basic. It is the kind of experience that engulfs you for a weekend day, being entertaining without expecting too much from its players. The limited level and game design are balanced out by the eerie atmosphere of the island. The Chant remains a breezy action-adventure with some horror elements, not that great, not terrible either.

Runers offers a truly enjoyable experience, with a good marriage of standard roguelike mechanics expanded by the real-time top-down shooter gameplay dynamic and by the spell crafting system.

Defragmented is a clever mix of varied RPG mechanics and hectic action-oriented shooting. While the camera needs a bit of work to use properly, you can still enjoy the great visuals and the stellar soundtrack.

The attention to detail and the graphics of the game make it a solid entry in the genre, but the title also suffers from some issues when it comes to the control players have over their shots and the way the PC port works.

Legends of Kingdom Rush is a competent if unimaginative experience. The universe has some quirks, but most players will be able to instantly tell the inspiration for each character or enemy. The mechanics are decent and deliver some tense battle moments, but there’s nothing inherently new to engage with. The gamer looks pretty good and makes sure players have all the details they need to make the best tactical choice but there’s not much personality for characters or bosses. The genre Legends of Kingdom Rush is working in is a very crowded one and, while fans of the series will certainly appreciate what the title has to offer, the lack of innovation means that other players don’t have too many reasons to play it.

A great entry point to the series for those who have not played it before and also makes a solid addition to the collections of all longtime fans as long as they have even the faintest interest in playing with other humans rather than only the Artificial Intelligence.

Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon is a good turn-based strategy experience, but in the future Slitherine should try to innovate a little more and introduce more unique mechanics that suit the nature of the universe it is working with.

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.

Hatoful Boyfriend is at times barely a full video game, but at the same time, this is an experience that would be impossible to integrate into any other medium.

While fans will certainly enjoy the "more of the same" nature of the new title, those looking for more new things might have to go elsewhere.

Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power is a worthy successor to the first two games in the series. The addition of 3D environments, while a bit tricky at first, ends up enhancing the experience. There are still a few quirks, such as camera angles or some complex platforming sequences, but overall it's still a blast to play through the new title, both for veterans as well as newcomers.

If you can get past the fact that you need to craft rather than combat your way to the finish line, Smoke and Sacrifice is a pleasant experience that will keep you occupied for 15-20 hours.

When you finish Warmind, and it’s not going to take long, you won’t get the impression that you’ve achieved anything special. The strikes, the raid, and all the rest do play a role, but it’s just not enough. We can only hope that Bungie will have learned the lessons of the first Destiny and give us the things that we desire, and not just what they planned a long time ago.

A Golden Wake is very sober, very grand, but it has a lot of pitfalls, both when it comes to actual gameplay mechanics and to its story, which has a couple of misses. But overall, it offers a pleasurable and, most importantly, memorable experience, with some pretty sharp and witty writing, and a flavorful depiction of a fascinating era.

It's challenging to find something worthy of mentioning, and that in itself is bad. I like the fast-paced gameplay, the voice acting, and the somewhat crazy story that makes no sense. It's the best anyone could extract. Now even the inclusion of a cooperative mode doesn't save it. The stale gameplay is probably the biggest issue. Not much has changed, and the concept feels old. The graphics are forgettable, the weapons are not interesting, the animations are not great, and the overall quality leaves to be desired. Playing on our melancholy can only go so far.

I desperately wanted The Callisto Protocol to be a success so that we can have another Dead Space-like franchise to look forward to, but as it stands, I can’t recommend this game, especially until its issues are fixed in a future patch. I do hope that if there’s a sequel, developers will come up with something fresh to make us forget about the first game.

The gameplay continues to be chaotic and the team-playing vibes are almost non-existent if you’re not playing together with friends. Portal is pretty much the only solid selling point right now, and unless the new Battlefield urgently receives massive improvements, it could easily turn into one of the biggest disappointments of the year.

Where the Heart Leads is not for everyone. If you like interactive visual novels and you enjoy dramas rooted in real life, the game will feel like a hidden gem. If you prefer gameplay over the story and you already have a bad opinion about walking simulators, there is nothing here for you. This being said, Where the Heart Leads remains a relatable experience, and going through it, you are sure to find some connections with your own life. It's that kind of game that surely triggers emotional reactions just by looking back at your life choices.

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.

MythForce is a great cooperative action experience for gamers who are nostalgic for Saturday morning cartoons and their limited fantasy universes. The overall narrative isn’t very engaging and filled with tropes. The four heroes each come complete with a unique approach to combat and their various abilities create some cool combo moments if players actually work together. The biggest issue is how quickly fun disappears when players take on a dungeon on their own. Characters gain power slowly and moving through the same spaces, battling the same enemies starts to become repetitive. Mythforce will deliver fun moments for players who have a good multiplayer group and like the presentation.

A decent experience, but it's weighed down by its random nature and the lack of good early game options for less combat-heavy characters.

Just Cause 4 is the perfect example of a game built around a concept or engine, which makes for a fun experience, without offering any depth or expectations.

The coolest effects are the flashlights and the bullet tracing, but the awe stops there. The textures are rather bland, the levels don’t have all that much detail, and the characters animations, for the protagonist and enemies, are almost at a minimum. When you put all of it together, you’re left with something that’s just there, with decent visuals and not much else. The sound department doesn’t help either. The only redeeming quality if the voice and the interactions with the drone, but they are few and far in between.

The writing is at its best when a situation escalates from relatively believable situations into absurdity and satire. But there are just as many moments when the results of player choices feel forced or when the game is trying too hard to draw from the real world. SuperPAC clearly understands how to make politics into solid game mechanics, they just need to better calibrate the tone of their world.

Ancient Space is a good game that fans of strategy titles will love to spend time with, but it might be too difficult and too limited in terms of content in order to attract new fans to the genre or to serve as a spiritual successor to Homeworld.

Overall, the mind-bending puzzles, unique gameplay mechanics and the fact that it is all wrapped up in an intense and heart-warming emotional story make it the go-to game for those who love romance, puzzle solving, and romancing while puzzle solving.

Stories Untold is an interesting experiment, that starts well, immerses you in a mysterious world of puzzles, but ends with a rude awakening. The first three episodes are great until they focus on the puzzles, but the walking simulator part puts the game experience on a slope and unfortunately, it never recovers. It is unfortunate that Stories Untold builds up such an immersive experience just to ruin it with such a humdrum story. If you are a fan of adventure games you will have to try it, even if in the end you will be left wanting more puzzles and a story that would do them justice.

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.

SOULVARS is a complex video game dedicated to fans of classic Japanese role-playing games and, especially, to those who love their deep combat systems. Newcomers might find combat hard to comprehend but the game does offer the resources to understand the mechanics and use them in cool ways. Because exploration isn’t very engaging and the narrative can be a little hard to follow, players need to really love the combat to remain engaged. SOULVARS is clearly a labor of love but it will mainly appeal to those who appreciate the same classic titles as the developer.

AEW: Fight Forever is a great video game for fans of wrestling who have been watching All Elite Wrestling since it launched. It gives them a chance to fight using their favorite performers, experience the spectacle of their biggest events, and create a custom character that can then aim to win against the champions of the moment. It’s also a chaotic and fun experience with friends. But I don’t think the title can bring new fans to wrestling or to AEW. Gamers need to know at least some things about this world to enjoy matches. The game never acknowledges that results are predetermined. AEW: Fight Forever offers a good foundation to build on if the developers aim to create a future title that will capture the entire breadth of wrestling and gives any gamers a way to become engaged with it.

Giga Wrecker Alt. redefines what it means to make a good platformer riddled with puzzles and obstacles, turning it into a core gameplay element that will keep you busy and second-guessing your choices consistently. If that isn’t enough to convince you, then the fast-paced combat and the unique bosses you will encounter will certainly draw out your inner warrior. The gameplay is addicting, a lot of the mechanics used are new, and even the humor is enough to at least make you chuckle from time to time. Either way, Giga Wrecker Alt. deserves a place in any self-proclaimed puzzle solver’s digital library!

Knights of Pen and Paper 2 will certainly appeal to those who liked the original and are looking for another trek through its trope driven world that packs some interesting surprises and a new set of characters and abilities for the combat scenarios.

Destroy All Humans! 2: Reprobed remains a good example about how a remake should look and feel. Although part of the PS2 era, the game has aged well, and it remains largely entertaining. The new elements do not feel out of place, but they also do not overhaul the game experience. If you loved the original, the remaster will be a pleasant stroll down memory lane. If you are a newcomer, I recommend starting with the remaster of the first game to understand the story and fully appreciate the evolution of the gameplay.

At the end of the day, Session: Skate Sim is either a brilliant release or a frustrating game to try. It all depends on where you are when it comes to a realistic skateboarding experience and your expectations towards a digital version of it. If you’re not a professional skater and just want to try out a new game, there’s absolutely no doubt Session: Skate Sim isn’t for you.

Unfortunately, limited player involvement is much clearer on the PC. I liked the concept, I liked the setup, and I was looking forward to seeing what the hollow Earth had to offer. But I never felt involved in the action and failed to connect with the universe. Little Orpheus has solid production values but needed more and better gameplay to link player and character, to drive a feeling of accomplishment into the experience.

Investigating a 20-year-old murder wasn’t something I expected to do when playing this game, but I am impressed with the game’s intriguing premise and how it all unfolds. The fact that you get to be a detective during the 40s is a highlight too, along with some of the puzzles you encounter. It’s not meant to be a very long game, however I wish it was longer, because there are many points where the gameplay feels very satisfying and intriguing. Then again, The Last Case of John Morley is not without its faults. Its mechanics are very simple, which leads to a lack of diversity when it comes to puzzles and challenges you encounter. The use of AI assets is also a downside that me and some of the playerbase won’t appreciate, either. I also wish the game had more leeway when it comes to how you solve the case, instead of feeling so linear. So yes, it’s not perfect by any means, but it’s a satisfying detective game that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

The generated terrain and towns are interesting and present both simple routes and more complex situations to get through and it’s a pleasure to simply watch the trains as they travel through hills and plains in order to move their loads or their passengers...Unfortunately some of the complexity of the game is hard to appreciate because the developers have not offered a clear tutorial or a series of explanations for newcomers, although the community has created some that appear on the official Steam page.

Say No! More is an example of what a small team with a clear message and design direction can deliver. Studio Fizbin has crafted a short but happy game that explains why uttering a certain word is necessary and makes players feel powerful while saying it. I felt like a better human being after I finished it, even if it might not actually lead to more instances of “No” in my own life. There’s a little bit too much earnestness in the writing at times, especially during the final third, but once one buys into the premise it is easy to get past it. Say No! More talks about the importance of choice and self-expression and curious players should ignore its thesis and say “Yes” to this narrative-driven experience.

Grit and Valor - 1949 offers a strong combination of alt-history universe and real-time tactics that should have taken a few extra risks. The World War II with big stompy robots concept is easy to grasp and players will quickly understand how positioning and good upgrade choices lead to victories. There’s plenty of variety when it comes to mechs, attached parts, and battle boosts. But given the setting. I wanted to see weirder mech abilities and a wider range of challenges. Grit and Valor - 1949 will satisfy gamers who like fast combat and a solid run-based structure but might struggle to find a wider audience.

In many ways, Gotham Knights is a game that does everything differently from the previous Arkham games, and maybe this is the reason why so many people seem disappointed. An open-world Gotham City, four members of the Batman family to defend civilians, lots of puzzles to solve, and so on, all are part of a package that takes time to discover and which kind of grows on you the more time you give it. Sure, it’s hard to ignore the clunky controls, the performance glitches, and the graphics that need more polishing, but otherwise, there’s a good chance you’ll have a lot of fun playing Gotham Knights.

Shao Jun's story is interesting but the chance to see the Templar vs. Assassins conflict in a new historical setting is even better. Unfortunately, the emphasis on stealth and some of the tough stages in terms of enemy patterns and behavior force players into a trial and error approach.

Beholder 3 has a few good ideas that fail to shine through the limited and repetitive mechanics. Some conversations, especially some with family members, elicit emotion and create genuine dilemmas. But I never was interested in the tenants, their problems, or my co-workers, and always played Frank as a survivor who can’t and won’t try to make the world a better place. I like how this actually fits well into the totalitarian framework of the game’s world. But much of my detachment is also linked to the mechanics, repetitive and lacking imagination, which eliminated emotion. Beholder 3 delivers a world worth exploring but fails to give the players the means to get engaging moments from it.

Power Chord enters a very crowded genre, where simple competency is no longer enough to guarantee an audience. The title’s mechanics are good and fun and the metal theme is used well. But all its core ideas are safe and there’s no significant innovation in the card battles or the rogue structure. For players who love this type of game, the experience will be fine, as long as they are willing to put in the grinding time required to get the better cards and the extra characters. But I wanted Power Chord to be weirder and more innovative to build on the positive reaction it initially creates.

Marvel’s Avengers has buried in it an excellent story and single-player experience. But all the good it does is overshadowed by technical issues and corporate greed. In its current state is more similar to a beta, rather than a fully polished AAA game. The main campaign of the game is truly delicious and is worth experiencing by every fan of action games. The several climaxes masterfully weaved into it manage to make you feel like a part of the Avengers. But even these moments cannot make me forget about the technical issues, and the sacrifices made to turn the game into a live service.

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.

Might & Magic Heroes VII is probably the best entry in the series since the original trilogy, an experience that understands what makes the series great and delivers slightly updated takes on the core mechanics without any revolutionary features.

Skyshine's Bedlam is a pretty good mix of turn-based strategy and rogue-like mechanics. However, the sheer difficulty at the beginning of a campaign and the randomized unit placement does make it very tough for players to survive their journey into the Wasteland.

War Hospital offers a decent management experience with nice flavor. There aren’t many games that use World War I as a setting and even less than ask fans to actually heal people rather than kill them. The game’s management aspect is well-executed, although the core gameplay loop tends to become repetitive. The development team also delivers a good recreation of the first worldwide conflict, with a focus on the frailty of humanity and the incredibly limited tools doctors and nurses had to save lives. I hope that Brave Lamb Studio takes the best ideas of War Hospital and refines them, either for DLC or a sequel.

Clue: Murder By Death will disappoint those looking for a direct adaptation of the very popular boardgame. It will also fail to deliver the level of humor and kitsch of the movie. But, with its simple mechanics and extensive storytelling, it does deliver a pretty cool murder mystery that starts off pretty slow and then delivers plenty of surprises. The presentation will be the biggest obstacle for detective game aficionados. Put on a crime-focused podcast and take breaks when the simple graphics start to grate. Clue: Murder By Death’s more than 100 rooms don’t all pack surprises, but they create a fictional universe with a ton of storytelling potential.

All in all, I think that Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr should provide more than a satisfactory experience. Just don’t look too much under the hood or try to find the reasons behind some of the developer’s decisions. It’s a decent exploration of the Warhammer universe, and it’s more than capable of gobbling up your hours, if you’re not careful.

Pro Cycling Manager 2014 is a solid experience for all fans of the sport who want to recreate history and try to win Le Tour de France with their favorite riders, but it might be a little too complex at first for newcomers who are looking to explore the simulation genre...But all should probably wait until the noticeable crashes are eliminated via patch.

The Park is an interesting attempt to offer a spin-off experience for those who love The Secret World and to deliver some Halloween appropriate content for gamers who are interested in psychological horror.

Mail Time is a lovely little indie adventure game, that tries not just to entertain, but also to gently remind us about being nicer and more accepting of each other. It is a lesson about not being afraid to fail and enjoying every moment of our lives. It is a game that can be finished in a couple of hours, and it has no replay value, yet it is one that is worth experiencing by all who are looking for a cozy adventure game set in a hidden magic world.

Frozenheim is a video game in search of an identity. It would have been better served by leaning into its city-building side, challenging players to find the best ways for their Vikings to thrive in inhospitable lands. The combat is so limited that it would have been easy to drop it entirely or just abstract it in some way. Neither the universe nor the presentation adds much to the gameplay. Given the Early Access period, Paranoid Interactive is delivering an experience that feels unpolished. The unique mix of mechanics is promising by itself, but Frozenheim fails to deliver on its potential.

Although it may seem short, the game is packed with engaging action and enough content to justify its price. Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is a must-play title for fans of the cartoons, and it should be picked up by those looking for an action game too, even if they are not familiar with one of the most famous ninjas ever to grace recent pop culture.

We Are Football is an intriguing attempt to offer another take on the football management genre. The game has a very good match presentation and some solid club-focused mechanics but I am not sure that this is enough to make it a contender. The developers really need to get at least one major league full license (the Bundesliga is probably the most accessible) to draw fans in. An editor that is both faster and easier to use just to engage with names would also help. The football management space needs more options and more innovation. The developers clearly try to focus on the match and the squad interactions while also offering more club-based features for those who want it. I liked the time I spent with We Are Football but it’s unlikely that I will use it to play a ten-year-long Liverpool campaign anytime soon.

The Precinct might fashion itself as an homage to the classics of the cop movie genre but seems to struggle to calibrate its mix of action, tedium, and humor. There’s a variety of police work to tackle, with a focus on direct interaction with citizens, but all of it becomes repetitive after a few shifts, and the special big events aren’t enough to compensate. The car chases, ludicrous as they might be in terms of collateral damage, are the most engaging part of the experience. Issuing parking tickets became boring in under five minutes. The Precinct has decent ideas and some fun moments but it will only appeal to those who already like open-world top-down action with a hint of chaos.

Among the Sleep is a horror experience that’s more interested in delivering on its premise of exploring traumatic events from the perspective of a two-year old than in shocking you with gore or employing jump scares in order to get a cheap reaction out of you, which is good.

PCM 2015 is not a perfect sports sim and Cyanide lacks the resources to make it one but it does deliver solid mechanics and impressive race moments and all cycling lovers should give it a shot and try and change history with their favorite teams and riders.

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.