Rogue Lords presents an interesting take on the roguelike genre. Although it draws inspiration from many games, including Darkest Dungeon, Slay the Spire and Iratus: Lord of the Dead, Rogue Lords sets itself apart thanks to some compelling gameplay mechanics. Moreover, all the additions to an already traditional formula feel well thought out and extremely fun. The writing and the art style are top-notch as well, and so is the voice acting. If not for the balance issues and the repetitive nature of the formula, Rogue Lords could have been a truly great game. Even so, if you love games like Darkest Dungeon and Slay the Spire, you’ll certainly enjoy Rogue Lords.

Hot Brass is an intriguing game that restricts its ability to keep players engaged. The SWAT fantasy is well transferred into mechanics but the overall look of the game makes it hard to fully enjoy. The missions are designed for multiple approaches but different ways of engaging with the title do not deliver a variety of thrills or failures. The focus on real-time action is probably the biggest drawback because it undermines the importance of planning. While the pressure and tension work well the top-down action title is too confusing at times. Trying for an objective, again and again, becomes frustrating.

Rastakhan's Rumble radically changes the metagame, but not by bringing into focus more classes. Instead, the expansion simply empowers a single class and forces those who don't want to play the hunter class to build decks that counter them or simply choose to have fun playing OTK decks. Once again, Blizzard hasn't found a way to shake things up or bring some innovation to the game. Rastakhan's Rumble isn't something to be excited for, but the real problem is that it's a step backwards when it comes to changing the metagame.

DriveClub is a great racing experience which includes enough content, both single-player and social, to keep fans of the genre occupied for months, especially if they are determined to always be better than their friends.

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.

Heidelberg 1693 is a hard game and will not be to everyone’s liking. Just like old school platformers it shows no mercy and forces you to “git gud”. The replay value is pretty high, and the most dedicated players are rewarded with a Hard Mode that makes things even more nightmarish. Even though the musket mechanic is fresh and enjoyable, the game itself does not reinvent the classic formula. Those who remember fondly Castlevania or Ghost ’n Goblins will have a blast playing Heidelberg 1693, and the chance to revisit their childhood traumas.

I enjoyed my time with Star Overdrive, I think this is the best hoverboarding experience I have found in a game until now. The controls are very slick, and being able to customize the hoverboard is a lot of fun. Combat is ok, not too complex, but enough to keep you interested as you focus on finishing the game. When it comes to the story, I liked it, but I know it won’t be for everyone. However, chances are that if you play this game, you’re most likely doing it for riding a hoverboard and killing enemies. I am sure that for a lot of players, hoverboarding will take center stage, with the story being just an excuse to progress and upgrade your hoverboard. Star Overdrive has its shortcomings, but as a complete package, it’s a nice adventure for 10-12 hours, and a great excuse to peruse a beautifully designed alien world with a hoverboard.

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.

It cannot be denied that Spellforce III was launched more than five years ago and the new release while not bad at all shows its age. The good news is that with the DLCs included, the countless patches have been implemented as well, so the Reforced edition offers the best experience. The new crafting system is also a welcome addition, just as the possibility to upload your own maps into Journey mode. The main issue remains the control scheme. That said, if you are curious about the result of mixing RTS and RPG, I can only recommend the console version of Spellforce III Reforced only if you don’t own a PC.

If you like 80’s horror movies there are high chances that you will enjoy The Quarry. But, if you have played Until Dawn and you start this game with the same expectations chances are you will be disappointed. It rises up to the promise of a summer flick, but it is far from the best production of Supermassive Games. The replay value is affected by the structure of the game, The Quarry coming across as a needy teen that fails to captivate you after you given them the attention they seek. It can be a breezy and light experience for a hot summer weekend.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties manages to revitalize one of the weaker entries in the franchise. It brings transformative improvements to combat, which leads to more fluid battles. There are also excellent visual upgrades, along with restructured segments that help deepen the emotional investment you have in these characters. Granted, some of the pacing issues and story habits are retained, but the main campaign feels stronger than the original, thanks to these updates. However, additions like Bad Boy Dragon feel repetitive, whereas Dark Ties is short and rather limited in scope. Survival Hell was a surprise for me, because it adds to the innovative aspect we know and love in the Yakuza world. It has its shortcomings, sure, but Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a good entry in this franchise, with a very engaging story and interesting additions that help boost your play time. It’s not as great as the newer, turn-based focused games from the franchise, but if you want to experience the older story with some innovative ideas, it’s certainly worth your time.

Knights of Pen and Paper 2: Here Be Dragons is a good expansion for those who loved the base game and wanted to see a new class in action while also finding ways to take out the powerful new dragon enemies.

The Invisible Hand could have been a great if simplistic stock trading-focused game, if it dropped the satire elements, choosing to focus on how the market can be manipulated and on how rivalries develop between traders. The title could also have been a solid satire of modern wild capitalism and the way it lacks morals or compassion if it allowed itself to invest more in relationships and good dialogue and less in the actual stock-based gameplay. The problem is that the development team wants to deliver on both concepts and fails to reach the potential of either of them. The limited appeal of the presentation does not help with either of them.

Terrian Saga: KR-17 is a fun retro puzzle platformer with a lot of content and a great recreation of what made classic games in the genre so much fun. The controls may need a bit of tightening and the boss fights are frustrating, but overall, it's still pretty good.

Hard West is a good example of how a smaller team can take some already proven ideas and then tweak them to create an innovative experience that gives fans of a genre a morsel to enjoy while they wait for a bigger meal.

The game is worth playing and represents a new sign that video games have the ability to deal with serious matters, including censorship and the way even small tweaks can allow the news to shift our perception of reality and influence our actions.

Ultimately, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is both a departure and a return — a bold experiment that trades narrative depth for gameplay complexity. For those expecting a traditional sequel, the shift may be jarring. But if you're open to something different — something tougher, more replayable, and mechanically rich — this spin-off delivers. It’s not perfect, and at times the roguelite grind can wear thin, but it’s crafted with heart, style, and no small amount of ambition. Whether this is a one-off experiment or a sign of where the series is headed next remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure — Random’s dice are still rolling, and wherever they land, there’s magic in the chaos.

It takes the overall story to some interesting new areas, but some aspects, such as the Rodrik sequences, tend to feel repetitive and uninspired.

GRAVEN aims for an intriguing combination of exploration, combat, and puzzle solving. All are decent, neither is truly good and the game cannot seem to decide what kind of experience it wants to create. I really wanted to use the spells, especially fire, to kill enemies, without resorting to blades or arrows. It doesn’t help that the fictional world feels derivative, and it is feel a connection to our Orthogonal hero. The game really needs a map. GRAVEN could have offered an interesting update on Hexen but it’s just a sometimes enjoyable mix of combat and puzzle work.

Diablo II: Resurrected is a mixed bag of treats. On one hand it has the sweet allure of nostalgia, on the other hand it often feels outdated, with mechanics that evolved quite a lot in the last 21 years. The multiplayer is tremendous fun and will cause a lot of discord over splitting the loot and stealing the gold dropped by the dead players. If you feel nostalgic for Diablo II: Resurrected is the best way to scratch that itch. If you felt that it was overhyped back then, the new release will do nothing to change your mind. And if you are new to videogames, you better start with Diablo III, since you will not miss anything story wise, and the experience will be much more satisfying.

Base One is a mostly solid game that never impresses. The story and writing are not a big part of the management genre but here they are so bland that they actively hurt the experience. Managing a space station is a chore when the narrative gives me no reason to look forward to new objectives and cool interactions. The game also feels limited by the fact that everything happens on one plane. A futuristic base will need to use space in complex ways and three dimensions to truly maximize efficiency and create a structure that can be easily defended or moved. Base One is too conservative in its take on the future, its approach to mechanics, and its story to create an experience that can keep gamers engaged with the campaign in the long term. The custom game mode offers ways to engage with all core mechanics in a variety of player-defined scenarios.

Observer System Redux is a better game than the original and manages to convey the thought-provoking story in a more structured fashion, with added details. It does not offer just a graphical upgrade but also manages to better portray the surrounding moral and physical decay, improving the atmosphere and the overall experience. The bugs are annoying, but can easily be fixed. Those who did not try the game yet, should go ahead and dive into this adventure, they will not regret it. Thanks to the added extra content, Observer System Redux can be also recommended to those who already unveiled Dan’s story. Still, it feels that it would have been more appropriate to offer System Redux as a free upgrade to those who already own the game, instead of charging extra money for it.

Eternal Threads has an intriguing idea at its core and its small scope means that it can introduce a lot of detail to a situation, challenging players to find out everything they can before making choices. It will be interesting to see if gamers actually connect with the characters as written or if they don’t bother to get the best outcomes for the entire cast. The biggest issue with the game is that it asks for an investment of time and emotion that the narrative might be unable to support. Gameplay is both limited and repetitive, which means that the universe needs to carry all the weight of engagement. Eternal Threads has potential in terms of storytelling but it does need a little more than a solid premise to keep players watching.

The Thaumaturge offers a compelling mix of history, mythology, and storytelling that sets it apart from typical RPGs. Its richly detailed world, intriguing plot, and flexible mechanics create an experience that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll. But the technical flaws hold it back from perfection, and while the game’s unique vision makes it a standout title in the “eurojank” RPG category, the flaws leave quite a pronounced distracting aftertaste. With this warning in mind, for players seeking something bold and different, The Thaumaturge is a journey worth undertaking.

Overall, The Falconeer: Warrior Edition remains the very same game with an excellent atmosphere, beautiful visuals, but a gameplay that is not as engaging as we would have hoped. It is still a remarkable achievement for one man, and the game while not perfect it is definitely worth trying. Despite the fact that sometimes the pace is a bit off, due to the big empty traversal sections, and that the difficulty level can be inconsistent, soaring to the skies on the back of your trusted mount is a unique experience.

Fear Equation is a hard game that can frustrate players but offers a unique mix of management and terror that fans of both strategy and survival genres should try out.

The inclusion of all DLC tracks and customization features, as well as new exclusive ones, make the game even more desirable since you have a lot of terrains to explore. Overall, MX vs ATV All Out Anniversary Edition is a worthy way of celebrating one year since the original launch of the game, and fans of the genre will squeeze quite a few hours out of this title.

Despite its shortcomings, the game remains a well put together jump and run that can be finished in a weekend if you want to find all the collectibles, or in around 10 hours if you’d rather focus only on the main story. The costumes are the best example of the game trying successfully to be a fanservice experience, and it works for the most part.

The Smurfs Dreams is the perfect game to enjoy alongside family, or alone, as a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Thanks to its charming art direction, clever mechanics, and endearing characters it is a memorable experience, that offers plenty of replay value for completionists. It is a platformer that appeals to both nostalgic fans of the Smurfs and a younger generation of players, and arguably one of the best jump-n-run games published by Microids so far. I believe The Smurfs – Dreams is a nice surprise, which thanks to its friendly price tag can be an excellent gift for the holidays.

Maliki: Poison Of The Past is a fun, cozy game with a great story and some funny characters. Not everything lands perfectly, especially since some of the gameplay mechanics can be difficult to understand from the get-go, and they aren’t explained very well. On the bright side, I didn’t encounter too many bugs, although there are some things like the lack of a map, which can make finding ways to progress onward a bit difficult. Yet despite that, I think Maliki: Poison Of The Past is worth a shot, especially if you’re into old-school JRPGs. It has a lot of charm, it’s very fun to play, and it does an excellent job of introducing the new time manipulation mechanic. If you enjoy JRPGs or just want a good cozy game with an appealing story, definitely consider giving Maliki: Poison Of The Past a try.

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.

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.

Supreme League of Patriots is kind of a mixed bag: you have a decent adventure game that tries to work in a new direction, driven by plot and dialogue more than random puzzles and inconvenient coincidences that force you to play MacGyver or to do random strangers favors and run errands in exchange for items that could have easily been acquired from any department store.

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.

Despite some technical issues, Cloudpunk remains a memorable game with an atmosphere that almost makes you forgive the technical issues. You will thoroughly enjoy the story and some questions about human nature will remain with you even after the credits. Sadly, the traffic on the skyways and the moments when the NPCs are affected by amnesia will break the spell and yank you out of the immersion. But there is nothing a patch could not fix, restoring Cloudpunk to a hidden gem worth experiencing by everyone.

GreedFall: The Dying World has a strong combat system, more versatile and expansive when compared to the previous game. It feels more tactical, and you have to consider different weapon types, status conditions, team composition and so on. Granted, the enemies can feel generic, but you have an expansive skill tree to ensure that you mix things up as you go along. I also enjoyed the great world building, and bosses were a highlight for this experience. The team at Spiders surpassed themselves by creating an even better game than the first GreedFall, although this title has shortcomings. There are pacing issues with the story, the romance arcs are weak, and some areas/character arcs felt unfinished. It takes a bit to pick up and feel great, but once it does, you will find yourself spending many hours in this interesting world.

Overall, Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland does great justice to the Arland trilogy, as well as the Atelier series as a whole, becoming a great game in itself.

Punk Wars offers a very classic take on the turn-based strategy space. The four corporations have personality and their own deranged charm but there’s not enough here to make the setting truly compelling. The tactical combat is solid but favors the defensive so much that battles never feel exciting, with too little space to execute complex plans. There’s pleasure in methodically moving forward, expanding the base slowly, putting more units in the field, chocking the adversary, gaining a tech edge that helps with the final assault. But the developers at Strategy Forge need to be a little more adventurous with their mechanics if they want to make Punk Wars an actually exciting game to play.

Second Sun is one of those games that tries to combine multiple genres, and it does a very good job at that. The moment-to-moment FPS gameplay is very slick and engaging, and the RPG elements are also great, without feeling overwhelmed. It’s important to treat Second Sun as an indie game and time your expectations. It’s not going to be the ultimate game in the genre. However, it has a very interesting story and world. I like how Second Sun knows what it is and it manages to do all the core things right. The NPCs are interesting, the combat is very good, and the loot-based progression will keep you going even when things get repetitive. Granted, the game has a shallow narrative, and its visuals are not the best, but the gameplay stays interesting until the end. Plus, the game is not very expensive, it’s priced correctly for what it is, and it offers a good time for the 8-10 hours you need to go through all of its content.

In a time when many game studios are playing it safe, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii proves once again that the Like a Dragon series thrives on reinvention. With its engaging pirate theme, deep mechanics, and classic Yakuza charm, this is an adventure that will keep players hooked for countless hours. Whether you're sailing the high seas, brawling in the streets, or belting out sea shanties at karaoke, one thing is certain—this is one voyage you won’t want to miss. Fair warning for hardcore fans though: while still fun and over the top it still feels like the lightest and thinnest entry in the series.

If you always wanted a fun WWII-themed tank game, then Sherman Commander is definitely right up your alley. Sure, it’s more of a simulation and crew/team command game rather than an arcade tank title, but it works well and it has amazing destructible environments. I enjoyed the campaigns, the open-ended nature of these maps and the tactical freedom that comes from this game. On top of that, the atmosphere is very immersive, and it pulls you in. Of course, no game is perfect, and Sherman Commander certainly has some detractors. It has some visual issues, especially with aliasing making it difficult to identify targets, and its voice acting for friendlies is not the best. However, those things were not a major deterrent, at least in my case. I enjoyed blowing up other tanks, destroying buildings, while also refreshing my WWII knowledge during these campaigns. It’s a fun game for tank enthusiasts and history buffs, even if it does need a bit more polish and it focuses too much on micromanagement sometimes.

Bonfire Peaks tries a little too hard to make relatively simple concepts seem deep and meaningful. The narrative of the unknown man is too laconic to be engaging in the long run. The gameplay, while delivering brilliant moments of discovery and achievement, is too repetitive. The two only connect in a meaningful way because of their lack of complexity. The game does have atmosphere and it’s clear that Corey Martin has designed every element of the experience to generate and sustain it. And whether you find that effort successful will depend a lot on personal preference. Give Bonfire Peaks a try, play for a few hours and find out whether this particular mix of puzzle and atmosphere appeals.

The Horror at Highrook is one of those games that has a unique mechanic, and it harnesses that very well. Yes, it might not be for everyone, but if you enjoy Lovecraft’s storytelling and visual style, you’ll find yourself right at home here. It also appeals to card game lovers, because you can find task cards, tertiary/buff cards, along with cards that have random effects. It can be a challenge to make the most out of all these cards, but that’s what sets the game apart. At the end of the day, The Horror at Highrook does a stellar job at carving a great niche for itself. In a world filled with games that copy each other’s style and mechanics, The Horror at Highrook is a breath of fresh air. Yes, it takes a bit to understand its mechanics, but once you do, you’ll find yourself spending hours trying to keep the investigators alive and unlocking more of the story. It’s a worthwhile journey, one that will require patience, yet it’s totally worth it.

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.

Sanatorium is a very compelling, easy-to-play game that puts you in a very distinct role. It’s definitely unlike a lot of other games I played, but also an interesting experience that you will find yourself coming back to quite often. Granted, the gameplay can feel repetitive, but the freshness brought by each patient and their situation will make things feel more interesting as you play. It also helps that the staff and the institution as a whole have their own weirdness and quirkiness, which you will try to navigate as you reach your goal. Although Sanatorium might not be the most complex or the longest game out there, I think this is a worthwhile experience. The charming graphics, disturbing location, art deco visuals and odd staff all add up to creating a very compelling, yet exciting and beautiful game world for you to explore. Yes, the game does have a few bugs, and its core loop might feel unappealing at times, but the more you play, the more compelling the story becomes. And for me, this is a game I will gladly go back to dozens of times, just trying to help more patients and figure out how to treat them. It’s very engaging and treating people feels satisfying.

Anyaroth: The Queen's Tyranny is part of a big wave of action-oriented experiences that seek to evoke the titles that define childhood or early adolescence for many now-mature gamers. It succeeds in doing that while introducing a few modern ideas and refining the core gameplay. The story is nothing special but there are some fun character moments. I like the free aim system and appreciate that the game never aims to punish the player with difficulty spikes. I am disappointed that there’s no attempt to integrate at least one big innovation with the nostalgia. Anyaroth: The Queen's Tyranny is a fun action platformer that acknowledges the limits of its nostalgic approach but never pushes past them.

Although the developers are still tweaking the game, the steep learning curve and initial frustration at not being able to kill opponents in a timely manner, while at the same time seeing someone simply one-shot you are still things that need to be taken care of for the long-term health of Minimum.

Once I started playing Dragon is Dead, I got hooked. The game has a very satisfying gameplay loop, and it comes with an extraordinary visual style. In addition, they added a ton of loot, and you can easily swap between weapons at your own pace. The ability system is not very complex, yet it manages to deliver great depth and it’s just a joy to experiment with. When it comes to controls, I think it’s much better to play this title with a controller. That being said, even keyboard controls are fine, although the layout takes some getting used to. Games like Dragon is Dead don’t come by that often. This combination of platformers and roguelikes, with Diablo-like looting and inventory is rare, but it works extremely well. Granted, the game has its shortcomings, yet that didn’t deter me from trying out multiple runs, experimenting with loot and creating a very powerful build. It’s up there when it comes to great roguelikes, although it will need a tad more polishing and better music.

Call of the Sea is a beautiful adventure, and the first thing that will draw you in is undeniably the gorgeous visuals. The gameplay may not be perfect and the story may be a one-time experience, but the game still is worth a playthrough. The atmosphere of the game is an engaging one, though it will make you feel as safe as a baby in a cradle. If you are a fan of the Lovecraftian universe though, you might leave disappointed. The game lacks all the heavy and tormenting atmosphere that made famous the works of the American author. Call of the Sea remains an adventure game that will be enjoyed by the fans of this genre.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is a good game for fans of World of Darkness who are willing to invest time and energy to solve its puzzles and experience the narrative. The game can be needlessly complex and the writing isn’t always as evocative as it aims to be. The three main characters offer a nice variety of personalities but they sometimes feel like novices rather than hundred years old vampires with a deep pool of abilities to draw on. The presentation is too ambitious for its own good, although there are moments when it makes this vampire-dominated universe come alive. I found that Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is more enjoyable if I abandon the idea of optimizing my character and the goal of getting the best result out of all situations. Play the game once, accept outcomes, and see where the story of these three vampires and their effort to protect the Boston Camarilla take you.

Dark Quest 3 is a very good adaptation of a tabletop game to the digital environment. Of course, you will not have to rely on your imagination, and you will not be surrounded by friends turned into trusty allies, but the overall experience is still a fun one. Some might feel it is too generic, and there are some rough edges that could have used more attention, but overall, the game does not disappoint and offers a relaxing break and quenches the thirst of those looking to take a party on an enjoyable adventure.

A pretty fun racing title, but in the pursuit of addressing every bit of feedback after Grid 2, Codemasters hasn't delivered the most cohesive experience. You still need to endure some of the disciplines that you may not like in order to progress through the career, and the two cockpit cameras feel more like a fan-made mod than something devised by the developer itself. Throw in the erratic AI and you might get annoyed quite a few times while playing Autosport.

If you’re hoping for a breezy summer gaming experience, look elsewhere. This is a dense, challenging, and often unforgiving title that demands focus and patience. It’s not casual, it’s not streamlined, and it certainly doesn’t care whether you’re having a good time—at least not in the conventional sense. Ultimately, System Shock 2 remains what it has always been: a brilliant, brutal relic from an era when games weren’t afraid to be obtuse, ambitious, and just a little bit cruel. The remaster doesn’t change that. It merely ensures that SHODAN’s terrifying voice can continue echoing through the speakers of a new generation.

Souldiers has interesting core mechanics and the sort of art style that will certainly attract fans of the Metroidvania genre or those looking to activate their nostalgia. But the story is mostly there as a reason for the action and combat can quickly become overwhelming in terms of difficulty. The game also has significant problems with the camera and there are plenty of reports of corrupted saves. The developers at Retro Forge are promising to deliver fixes but anyone interested in the title should wait and check back later to see if they deal with the reported problems. And even then, the combat means that the title is best suited for someone who likes a stiff challenge. Souldiers is a good game for anyone willing to engage with it on its terms and doesn’t mind slow progress.

The title offers quite a bit of fun for those who love the idea of solving puzzles, while philosophically questioning the role that time plays in our lives.

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.

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.

Submerged: Hidden Depths is an interesting experience that will certainly bring back those who loved the first installment in the series. The exploration is engaging, the world has plenty of secrets to discover, there are plenty of cool moments to be a part of. The lack of conflict makes the game stand out from the crowd and will certainly attract an audience. Unfortunately, I never felt that the world or the story were engaging enough to keep me moving forward. The ecology undertones and the link between the siblings are only marginally interesting. I liked seeing the ruins and guessing what they represent but I never cared about the journal entries or the collectibles the game relies on. Submerged: Hidden Depths is a good indie effort that will appeal to players looking for non-violent adventures but fails to extract everything it can from its premise and mechanics.

Waves of Steel is not a simulation and does not want to be one. This is an arcade experience through and through, designed to give gamers a lot of options and keep their adrenaline levels up at all times. The ship design element adds to the core loop, offering space for every player to think up and then try to implement their perfect approach for each mission. Make sure to use the unlock all option in the designer to see the kinds of ships that one can put together. The biggest issue is the presentation. Some players will never get past the limited graphics. For those who do, Waves of Steel will be a fun and varied naval combat game that understands why an arcade approach is often more interesting than a devotion to realism.

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.

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.

Tennis Manager 2024 is a decent sports simulation experience that’s designed to appeal to gamers who already love tennis. They will appreciate the attention to detail evident in the extensive game plan options and in the match simulation. The title does not feature real-world names (mods can solve this issue) and the business side of the sim is pretty simple. Players who want a break from a long career can try out the new Fantasy Court mode, which allows them to put together their own tournaments. It’s a good way to fill a bracket with superstars and simply have fun on the court. Tennis Manager 2024 doesn’t have a great presentation and some of its mechanics are obscure but it delivers a decent tennis simulation for fans who want to win a Grand Slam of their own.

The Forgotten City would have been a good game, if the developers would have remained in the lane of adventure games. The action scenes are more of a miss, since the whole game was built on the idea of observing and solving puzzles. Although you have other means at your disposal, the strongest suit of The Forgotten City remains its slower gameplay focused on problem solving. For a small group of people, putting together The Forgotten City is no small feat, and they deserve the praise.

Dealer’s Life 2 is a niche game that’s best enjoyed in short sessions over a longer time frame. The haggling mechanics balances revealed info and hunches well and the special events add some needed variety. But after around one week of in-game time, I start to get annoyed at the randomness of the objects and the very rare items I lack the money to try and get. The game makes no attempt to reflect on the predatory elements of the pawnshop culture (newspaper articles could provide a decent outlet), although it lightly satirizes the many television shows based on it. The developers at Abyte Entertainment have a solid lock on their favorite game formula but Dealer’s Life 2 needs more variety to keep players engaged for a long time.

Artifice: War Tactics should be commended for taking some classic turn-based tactics ideas and trying to find a way to make new then again. Because enemies rely on overwatch strikes to take players down and because levels are relatively small, it often feels like combat is a puzzle with limited solutions. The game wisely offers an undo action, available as long as the player’s hero has not taken damage. Unfortunately, the presentation and story aren’t good enough to keep gamers engaged. Artifice: War Tactics will appeal to fans of the tactics genre who are looking for an experience that challenges conventions, even if it does not fully deliver on its potential.

SuperPower 3 is a massive game that will require time and patience from anyone who wants to understand all the mechanics and try out all the scenarios. But there are no grand strategy games set during modern times that allow a player to choose Brazil and try to become a nuclear-powered Southern Hemisphere hegemon and other outlandish ideas. The experience does need to do more to explain its concepts to new players and to make info clearer. The developers at GolemLabs have emphasized the potential for modding and plan for post-launch support. SuperPower 3 is a good choice if you want to see how much better than a real-world leader you can steer the destiny of a modern nation.

A Void Hope has a good narrative hook, deviating just enough from the real world to keep players interested. The platforming and puzzle elements are well-designed, with a focus on giving players tools to make progress rather than delivering complex and difficult challenges. Unfortunately, the mechanics do not evolve significantly, and the repetition is not engaging enough. The underdeveloped combat does not help and can be frustrating. A Void Hope is a good indie project that needs more variety to keep players immersed.

Bleak Sword DX is dedicated to anyone who wants a Dark Souls-like experience in 2D, delivered in small chunks, with good mechanics, hard difficulty, and a grimdark setting and presentation. Fights are very quick, which means it’s easy to play a few in a session just to decompress, without the pressure to make progress or explore some complicated narrative thread. The two new modes added to the game's PC version are good, offering a challenge to anyone who manages to complete the full campaign. But I still believe that any modern video game that emphasizes combat should offer the options to draw in more than just dedicated genre fans. Bleak Sword DX impresses with its minimalist, bite-sized combat but all its other elements could be improved.

Knight Crawlers had the good idea of mixing ragdoll physics with a set of classic action game mechanics. And it is fun, for the first few hours, to learn how enemies move and then find the best way to use the environment and the knight’s attacks to eliminate them. The entire experience is solid given that it was created by one developer. But there’s no narrative hook linked to the mechanics and both the levels and the combat situation can become repetitive. The presentation also doesn’t impress. Knight Crawlers will satisfy action fans that like the idea of adding traps and physics to classic combat but could have done more with its unique combination of ideas.

Farm Manager 2022 is a fascinating title that has just one problem: it doesn’t necessarily play well with consoles. I’m not talking about graphics or gameplay but about the controlling system, as this genre makes more sense on a PC where the mouse input is much more natural. But at the end of the day, Farm Manager is, as I said, not only a major upgrade over its predecessor but also a great way to see what the life of a farmer is all about. And since you end up learning a lot by simply playing it, no matter if we’re talking about crops, animals, logistics, or machinery, Farm Manager 22 is definitely worth trying out.

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.

20 Minutes Till Dawn is an interesting action combat with a rogue-lite structure. The narrative elements are minimal, the presentation doesn’t impress but makes the combat easy to read, but the core gameplay loop is very satisfying. The variety of heroines also gives players a range of play styles, which get further boosted when mixing and matching level upgrades in new ways. The core gameplay loop is familiar and the game doesn’t innovate in big ways. I enjoyed the game most in short sessions, playing two or three runs at a time, enough to unlock new options and see what strategies I can build around them. 20 Minutes Till Dawn is satisfying for fans of the genre but I hope its creators take more risks with a potential sequel.

Waterborne can offer hours of new excitement for those who loved the original Tropico 5, but most gamers are better off picking the title up when it goes on sale and then deciding how they feel about it before exploring the idea of extra content.

The Red Solstice offers a solid combination of mechanics and some impressive battle moments and can be a title that cooperative enthusiasts with solid friend lists will embrace in the long run.

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.

Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is the definitive edition of a seminal platformer, and my personal favorite from this series. Seeing this game’s new HD graphics, refined controls and great camera update made me very happy, because this is the best way to play an amazing classic. It’s also great that they added photo mode, alternative skins and lost levels from the original. As a complete package, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is worth considering for everyone who enjoys 3D platformers or who played the originals. Newcomers to the series will find some elements like platforming or swimming to be a tad difficult. Then again, the game is backed by an amazing story and exceptional lore, so it’s worth enduring those mishaps.

Master of Magic is an interesting remake of an old game that defined a genre. It’s clear that the development team loves the original and wanted to keep as much of it unchanged as possible. But the result feels old and might struggle to attract the attention of players who have not enjoyed the 1994 title. I grew up playing a ton of Heroes of Might & Magic, so I had a clear reference point for the mechanics and pace. For newcomers, the entire experience can be a little slow and somewhat bewildering. But for those who have a history with strategy and RPG mixes, Master of Magic will deliver well-executed classic ideas and tens of hours of spell-enhanced fun.

Wall World 2 does an excellent job on improving various mechanics from its predecessor. What you get here is a very fun roguelike experience that’s engaging, and which doesn’t feel repetitive. That’s something a lot of games in the genre tend to have a problem with, but Wall World 2 manages to get past that. Yes, there are some issues with long-term variation and content depth, but the overall gameplay is incredibly rewarding. Once you start playing Wall World 2, it’s very hard to put down. You always want to enter more caverns, find great stuff and grab those relics, when you can find them. Yes, there were a couple of freezes and problems with pacing, but overall, Wall World 2 is very good, an excellent and creative game which I will gladly come back to over and over again for one more run.

Normally, I’d say that Dawn of Ragnarok is just more Assassin’s Creed, but in a different environment and with different enemies. However, I do believe it’s time for Ubisoft to get rid of the Assassin’s Creed naming scheme from everything related to Eivor’s Viking saga. I think this is just piggybacking on the Assassin’s Creed franchise without bringing anything new into the mix. Despite all of that, Assassin’s Creed fans will find Dawn of Ragnarok an enjoyable experience. There are plenty of new activities and the main story is decent for the most part. The new powers look more impressive on paper rather than in-game, but props to Ubisoft for trying. My advice is to play this like a brand-new game rather than an Assassin’s Creed expansion, although it will be hard to get past the series’ dull grind mechanics, which are quite present in Dawn of Ragnarok too.

Hacker's Memory is more about gameplay and artwork rather than graphics, so if you've watched the anime you'll find it pleasing to the eye (I know I did). What I did not like is having to listen to the same tune every time I fight a random encounter, and since Hacker's Memory requires a little bit of grinding that could become annoying.

The levels are quite varied and imaginative, but the credit system is very punishing, although certainly attractive for those looking for a tough time.

Valkyria Chronicles is an interesting title that certainly takes some of the core ideas of the Japanese role-playing game genre and twists them in innovative ways, but the whole package has not managed to fully capture my attention.

The Ascent is far from perfect. It has so many issues that normally I would not give it a second look. Despite all the issues and the fact that the gameplay is pretty basic, the story completely forgettable and it lacks any depth, I had fun with it and once I started playing it I was lost to the rest of the world. It is more a twin stick shooter adorned tackily with superfluous RPG elements. It is raw, unrefined and basic, but the atmosphere and the overall experience recommends The Ascent as a game that is worth a shot after a few patches and a serious discount.

Gunborg: Dark Matters is in many ways a fun game not only for those who have already fallen in love with platformers but also for those who are new to this genre. In many, it’s a fun yet extremely challenging side scroller whose only shortcoming appears to be the very short story and the weird control system that takes some time to get used to. However, Gunborg is the kind of game that more or less grows on you as you give it more time. You may not be too impressed at first if you’re already a diehard platformer gamer but the more you play it, the more you discover its exciting side.

Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet can become boring quite fast due to its repetitive encounters and unevenly paced story, something that could have been easily avoided. The good news is SAO fans will find it a breath of fresh air, since Fatal Bullet plays and feels different than the previous games.

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.

Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia ends the trilogy on a higher note, managing to add a few new things and improvements over the last two installments. Unfortunately, it still falls of short of really impressing fans. The exploration is still a bit stiff, the combat is clunky while the timed sections are a pain to get through.

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.

Game of Thrones Episode 1 acts more or less as a prologue by setting the stage for the many events that will happen in the next five chapters. It delivers a decent experience in terms of dialog but falls short when it comes to action sequences or impactful choices. The visuals in particular weigh it down, so let's hope some improvement can be made with the next few episodes.

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remaster is fair game, that will be fun for a while, but it is an anachronic production. It feels stuck in 2010 and refuses to see all the evolution that happened to car racing games since then. Those who have played it have no real reason to buy it again, since nothing new has been added, and the graphic update is not breathtaking.This leaves those who have never played it as a potential audience. But honestly, they are better off with newer games than Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remaster, since this is a remaster only in title, stuck in 2010 practices.

Animal Gods feels incomplete in many ways, an experience that showcases some intriguing gameplay and a unique world but fails to flesh out either of them.

Biomutant is flawed from almost every angle we look at it but still manages to be fun. Nothing is truly original or innovative, but it is melded together in a fashion that makes the game work. It is an RPG in a huge open world, with tons of action, even more freedom, and its very own personality. For a first game, it is not bad. Some things can be improved, but you can lose yourself in the game world and you will have fun with it. Despite the flat jokes and repetitive secondary quests, Biomutant is a game worth a try.

Murdered: Soul Suspect could have been a really fun detective experience, but it's actually an average point and click mystery game with higher production values.

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.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remaster is worth playing it again, or for the first time, thanks to its story. It is a good example of the good in the Call of Duty series. But, you also have to curb your enthusiasm and accept the fact that the remaster yanks the graphic in 2020, but not the gameplay. It is not continuing on the path of the reboot from last year, it is merely a remaster, but one that you should not miss.

All in all, Sparklite is a nicely built game, if you scale your expectations to an indie title and you do not expect the bells and whistles of AAA game. There are flaws though, especially when it comes to the story. The narrative part occasionally feels neglected, Sparklite relying mainly on the thrill of exploration. Also even though it is fun, the game is rather short and offers no replayability, thus having a hard time justifying its price.

Need for Speed Heat is far from the revival of the series which fans have hoped for, and makes you wonder what happened to Criterion. Ghost games did a decent job steering back Need for Speed into safer waters, but it lacks the passion and the visceral fun which made Underground legendary. Need for Speed Heat is a decent game, but not a memorable one.

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.