It's a pretty good game with a handful of hindrances that prevent it from being great. It's solid for an indie game but feels a bit flimsy somehow, as more depth would have greatly improved the experience.

In a nutshell, it's a great table for newbies and pinball wizards alike, that can offer tons of fun even to those who are not particularly crazy about flipping metal balls around, but are into Portal.

A great racing simulator with a huge amount of cars, tracks, and options to customize. While newcomers might not appreciate the heavy-handed driving aids or get overwhelmed by the staggering number of things to experience, it's worth the commitment.

Farthest Frontier manages the hard task of being both accessible and deep, especially when players engage with its economic side. Players can jump in, tell their villagers to cut down some trees, build a few houses, and get engrossed as they try to keep villagers alive and thriving. The crop rotation system is so good that other titles in the genre should steal it. The user interface can be a little overwhelming, while the lack of any historical context might make it hard for players to keep their motivation. Farthest Frontier doesn’t try to remake the foundation of its genre (it still works on a grid), but it is focused, detailed, and well-balanced.

Forgive Me Father 2 is a good boomer shooter that builds on the ideas of the original. The action is fast and pretty brutal, with a focus on delivering as many headshots as possible while moving constantly to avoid damage. The Asylum and its unlocks allow gamers to try out strategies and find weapons that match their approach. The game’s atmosphere is designed to appeal to players who like Lovecraft vibes, although it does not offer much in the way of straight-up horror. Forgive Me Father 2 improves on an already established formula but needs extra weirdness or one big innovative mechanic.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a solid effort but falls short compared to other Capcom remasters. The fans of the original will feel nostalgic revisiting Willamette Parkview Mall, but younger players will feel a lot of frustration. The game looks like a modern production but feels and plays like a game from a time with plenty technical limitations that do not apply any longer. It is challenging and mostly rewarding but lacks the finesse of modern games.

Sultan's Game has an engaging world and a ton of narrative variety but can struggle to make its actual mechanics interesting. I like the setting and how it’s inspired by One Thousand and One Nights but puts a unique twist on it. The game constantly asks players to consider what they value and how far their avatar will go to stay alive. The presentation helps with immersion. Placing cards into situations is an easy-to-understand gameplay that’s stretched to cover a wide variety of challenges. It becomes repetitive and can be unwieldy. Sultan's Game will reward gamers who are willing to experiment, like moral dilemmas, and don’t mind reading a lot.

I always found city builders to be a very relaxing game genre, and ISLANDERS: New Shores is no exception. Granted, you can’t build the city of your dreams, instead you try to create small establishments on lost/forgotten islands. But it’s a lot of fun, and I am sure tons of people will strive to get the highest scores they can. And they should, because the game is engaging, but it can also be something you play on the side, as you wait in queue for your MMO’s dungeon crawls. I think ISLANDERS: New Shores’s main appeal is that it adds a whole lot of new stuff when compared to its predecessor. And it shows, the gameplay has evolved, the boons system is creative and enjoyable, and the sandbox system is exceptional for creatives that want no barriers. It’s the type of game you can enter, play for a few minutes or an hour and never get bored. Plus, the minimalist aesthetic and beautiful graphics serve the game, as it differentiates itself from the predecessor, while also adding some creative elements that make it a worthwhile city builder.

Fresh Tracks is a great game with very good music designed to appeal to those who already know they love the rhythm genre. On the higher difficulties, it will challenge anyone to get past a level’s challenges but also makes accommodations for those who might not be as in sync with the rhythm. The rogue elements might help with the game’s longevity but feel somewhat like an afterthought. Play on the lowest difficulty level if the rhythm challenges seem too hard, and try to unlock as many of the songs as possible. Fresh Tracks works best played in sessions of around two runs, when players hit the right balance between enjoying the music and mastering the rhythm mechanics.

As always, NBA games try to offer a plethora of options to people, and everyone will find their favorite. For NBA 2K26, they built upon the feedback received from players, and the movement, along with gameplay, all feels a lot more natural and realistic. That’s key, because you have so many modes, you do want to enjoy every match and improve, which now has become a whole lot easier. I like the fact that they continue to add new game modes and clearly, some things like the MyGM and MyCareer are immediate standouts. I’ve always enjoyed NBA 2K games and I think 2K26 has become my favorite. Not only does it have everything I want from a basketball game, tons of modes and realism, but its online features are robust, and the game also didn’t crash on me even once. Yes, there are microtransactions in there that ruin the fun a little, but as a complete package, I think NBA 2K26 is well-worth trying, and you’ll find yourself playing for hours without stopping.

s.p.l.i.t has a lot of things going for it. Not only does it bring a wonderful narrative intrigue, but you get to feel a sense of progression as you ramp up towards the end. You can unlock clues and tools gradually, which helps because you don’t feel overwhelmed with option. It’s not a game that you rush through, though. Sure, it’s short, but it requires your full attention and persistence if you want to reach the end. The game deals with important topics like self-harm, and it covers that in a rather direct manner. Despite all of that, it’s well worth checking out, especially for its great story.

The adventures through the Kingdom of Glenbrook provide a compelling experience, more so for those who love choice-based games that involve intriguing plots and tactical combat. Triangle Strategy is one of the few games where making decisions that matter is harder than actually winning battles. This is one of those games that could leave a mark on an entire gerne if Square Enix decides to turn it into a franchise.

Betrayal at Club Low might not the best-looking game and its gameplay might sometimes feel limited or unfair. But the game has plenty of weirdness, a clear goal, great moments, and the ability to get players to explore, take risks, and deal with failure. A small universe and well-defined mechanics make this one of the first titles I have played through three times (with another run planned) in quite some time. The title could benefit from a decrease in the difficulty of the first sequence before gamers actually get into the club, but its other limitations are clear and well-communicated. I encourage players who like a good narrative and dice-focused gameplay to get past the limited graphics and potential initial failures to see as much as possible of what Betrayal at Club Low has to offer.

30 Birds is a wonderful experience with a great world and impressive presentation. Zig is a fun protagonist, and the development team has innovated a lot for its varied mini-activity line-up. Music is an integral part of the game, with a focus on creativity that gets highlighted when players get a chance to get on a synthesizer and create some tunes of their own. Exploration is mostly a pleasure, as long as players don’t rely much on the smartphone map. The four Lantern hubs are stunning and feature a mix of characters and secrets. 30 Birds is a unique game that showcases how variety, both in terms of gameplay and influences, can create a wonderful world for players to get lost in.

Between Horizons is a pretty traditional representative of the adventure game genre, with some solid modern touches. Stella’s story is affecting, and The Zephyr works well as the setting for a science-fiction mystery that features fundamental ethical dilemmas and big emotional moments. Gathering clues via scanning and discussion is mostly engaging but it can be hard to deal with the amount of evidence stored in the PDA. I suspect the game’s graphics will also be hard to engage with for some players. Between Horizons is immersive and tense, although it doesn’t massively tweak the adventure game formula.

Is FIFA 19 better than FIFA 18? The answer is yes. There is no doubt about that. But what if we ask a harder question? If FIFA 19 as good as it should have been? The answer is probably no, but it’s very likely that the game will be more than enough for some people.

Linkito is clever and varied, offering players more than 100 puzzles to tackle. The simple idea of moving a wire between yellow and blue sockets to let the electricity flow is simple and gets tweaked in a variety of innovative ways. Each location gives players a certain type of challenge, using both normal puzzles for progression and more complex ones for those who want a challenge. The narrative is also pretty good, offering gamers a reason to persevere if a puzzle becomes frustrating. The presentation isn’t spectacular but mostly works. Linkito is a good introductory experience for anyone interested in puzzles and is willing to learn a variety of new mechanics as the game progresses.

Shadow Tactics: Aiko’s Choice is a good game for a very specific audience. Fans will need to be both interested in character-driven stealth-action sequences and in the universe that the first game in the series has established. Taking down a complex enemy setup with careful planning and timing is challenging and satisfying at the same time.

TR-49 is delightful, a game that takes an interesting core concept and builds an intriguing and complex story around it. The two parallel narratives unfold slowly, while the atmosphere remains dark and mysterious. The voice acting, both for the protagonists and the people whose writing was fed into the machine, is impressive. Sure, the core gameplay loop of inputting codes to move from page to page will become repetitive for many players. Thankfully, the players do a lot of thinking, and the game’s puzzles are constructed with care. TR-49 is one of the best mysteries of the past few years and is best enjoyed in short sessions to make it last.

Overall, Mortal Kombat 1 is an enjoyable experience, that tries to walk a fine line between old and new. Every part of the game shows that the developers tried to put their right foot forward and deliver a polished experience. The only downside is the presence of microtransactions, but those who care enough to completely pimp out their characters will probably be willing to invest the time to do it.

Neva is a solid video game, but a true masterpiece if we look at it as an art piece. As is often the case, the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts. The adventures of Alba and Neva are incredibly memorable, leaving you eager to relive them immediately after you finished a playthrough, just to bask in the beauty of its stunning scenes. While it’s not a game for those seeking adrenaline, it’s a beautifully crafted tale that forges an emotional connection with anyone patient enough to let the story unfold. For indie fans, Neva is a must-play—an experience that should not be missed.

A Highland Song looks good and has plenty of impressive moments. Moira is a great character, able to take her love for her uncle and Scottish legends to imbue the world around her, harsh as it might be, with magic. The combination of mechanics means there’s variety but also leads to limited depth for each. It will probably take players two or three tries to get to the lighthouse and many more to find characters and secrets. A Highland Song is a good exploration-focused game that puts Moira’s spirit and Scottish charm front and center.

Rogue Waters is a good combination of pirate theme, ship battles, deck combat, and rogue-lite. The very fact that it mixes so many elements means that none of them have a ton of depth. I like the fast, turn, and character-driven boarding battles, even when the difficulty spikes and defeat seems inevitable. I would have liked extra options for the ship-to-ship engagements. The pirate elements work well with the run and upgrade systems, especially once players get a solid crew and start rotating them. All its systems can become repetitive, and the game starts off a little slow. Still, Rogue Waters is quick, engaging, and gives gamers the tools to create interesting pirate stories.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns is clearly a departure from Firaxis’ typical turn-based strategy formula, but it’s a successful one. Bar some performance issues, the game is very enjoyable despite locking you into a loop that requires you to take part in both aspects of the game: combat and social. There’s a lot to do outside of combat in Marvel’s Midnight Suns that it’s hard to get bored. The way that Firaxis manage to “port” the entire base-building and ability upgrading parts from XCOM to their new game is absolutely genius. Marvel’s Midnight Suns is the perfect example that we can actually have great superheroes games, it’s just a matter of choosing the right studio to make them.

Spyro's original adventures have been lovingly recreated in the Reignited Trilogy, so if you're ready to fire up the legends again and explore a vast and beautiful realm disguised as a fire-breathing dragon, then you simply can't miss this one.

Steel Division: Normandy 44 will challenge players in a way that’s not achieved by other titles. It might not have the brightest AI or the most balanced multiplayer, but it’s more than enough to reveal an important fact. We haven’t been playing strategy games before; they were just some hollow mock-ups.

Overall, Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Remastered is a great experience. It shows the care that went into polishing the original episodes to bring out their whacky qualities so they can shine as a classic adventure game with some truly inventive elements. This release also marks the end of an era, and inevitably raises the question of what is next in store for Sam and Max, as well as the other loveable characters of the franchise. Hopefully, the franchise will continue to live by adding new adventures to what’s been a crazy ride for decades.

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.

There is no doubt that Assassin's Creed Origin was excellent and Assassin's Creed Odyssey is better. I think that this should have been Ubisoft’s goal, to make something better, not necessarily perfect. Odyssey builds upon the foundations of a beloved franchise and I like the way it’s going forward. If Ubisoft doesn’t get too greedy and takes its time to build a proper game, the next one is going to be even better, although I have to say that it’s going to be difficult since this one is almost perfect.

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.

This is a good way for fans of The Walking Dead to get past the fact that the second season is ending and to pass the time until 2015, when a new episodic game series will be launched.

Floppy Knights has a clear mechanical core and executes it well. The tactical and card puzzles of the levels are well-designed, with plenty of scope for experimentation and moments of surprise. Making progress can be surprisingly hard, given its cute presentation, for players who don’t examine enemy capabilities and prepare potential moves at least one turn in advance. But the core concepts are not innovative in any meaningful ways. The narrative space does what it can to add reasons to move forward but, despite their bubbly nature, Phoebe and Carlton don’t have much depth. Rose City Games understands the mix of genres it is working with but needs to take more risks to stand out in an already crowded space.

Doomblade has a strong hook and an engaging core gameplay loop. The idea of attack-as-movement transforms how players see environments and approach the world. All Metroidvania systems are implemented well, especially the escalating upgrades that allow Gloom Girl to basically break the rules of this universe as she searches for the Dread Lords. The game is also demanding. It takes some time to learn how to properly use the attack move and then how to master it and other abilities to deal with capable bosses. Doomblade’s universe is not as interesting as its core mechanic but mixing combat and movement into one action is special enough to keep players trying to find and end the Dread Lords.

If you’re into quirky, weird and comedic stories, then Hank: Drowning on Dry Land is your cup of tea. It’s one of those games that not only ends up making you think, but it’s exciting, engaging and it continues to bring interesting, new ideas into the mix. Being able to rewind time is a nifty feature, and it adds a lot of value to the game experience. It’s cleverly added to the point where it’s not overused, yet vital to the gameplay. Hank: Drowning on Dry Land is a short game, but a well-made one. It knows what it wants to be and it definitely doesn’t overstay its welcome. The focus is on sharing a great, relatable story and one that only gets better as you play. Granted, you can finish it in 30 minutes, but it ends up being a very fulfilling, albeit sometimes frustrating game that you will remember for quite some time.

Invisible Inc. has a ton of deceivingly complex interactions hidden behind its glossy exterior, and although it lets you take your time when it comes to plotting, due to its turn-based nature, it's always reminding you that you’re running against the clock.

Killer Frequency is a good narrative experience with some decent gameplay ideas. The story of the Whistling Man and his killing spree seems very familiar at first but benefits from nice twists and turns that actually pack emotional power. There’s not much depth to any of the mechanics but they add a lot of interactivity and give players opportunities to learn more about the universe of Gallows Creek. The voice actors deserve a lot of praise, especially for making their narratives interesting enough that I often forgot to constantly try to make crumpled paper free throws from my DJ station. The title does not outstay its welcome, at around 4 hours for a first run, and there’s replayability if players really want to keep everyone alive. Killer Frequency doesn’t reinvent its genre but it is engaging and simply fun.

Some fans will be disappointed with the limited new features that are part of the game, but FIFA 16 is more balanced than its predecessor in terms of gameplay and superior in the graphics department.

Black Ops 6 sets a new standard for Call of Duty campaigns, blending familiar mechanics with fresh ideas and a story that keeps players engaged throughout. The extra development time allowed the developers can create an impressive and polished experience. This is a must-play for fans of action-packed storytelling, offering a unique blend of combat and narrative that’s sure to leave a lasting impression. Whether you’re here for the story or the multiplayer, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 delivers an experience worth diving into.

Lost Judgment is more of the same with some fine tuning, but there are no revolutionary updates. There are more activities than ever, but the interface is the very same. There is a more fluid a spectacular combat system, but the AI is just the same. The analysis of the environment for clues still feels underdeveloped, and the tailing of people is still clunky, despite the new mechanics. If you liked the first episode, you’ll love this one, despite the high school drama. If you did not play Judgment you can start with the new game to see how well it suits your tastes, since it can be enjoyed without knowing past events. All in all, it is a good sequel to a promising franchise.

Xenonauts 2 is a great modern take on the ideas of classic X-COM, made popular, focused on complex systems, solid tactical battles, and an escalating challenge. Players will handle shadowy political influence campaigns, research and manufacturing, base building, aerial interception, and, of course, tactical battles. The game is mechanically sound, tense, and rewards good planning and careful execution. Each turn-based engagement, whether against humans or aliens, is engaging and tense. Xenonauts 2 isn’t accessible or dynamic enough to bring in new fans, but it will satisfy anyone who loved the first X-COM or the Long War mod for modern XCOM.

The Banner Saga 2 is a very solid sequel, improving both on the story and the gameplay mechanics of the first title in the series, with the only major downside being the fact that newcomers will have to play or read about the first title to have a clear idea about the narrative and the choices that they will have to make.

PowerWash Simulator 2 is a game that’s definitely suitable for those who want a soothing, relaxing time when playing games. It’s colorful, it’s fun to play, and it gives you a way to unwind after a long day. It doesn’t have challenging gameplay, tons of monsters or a plethora of quests, like many other games do. But don’t get us wrong, it knows very well what it wants to be, and it caters to the right audience for that. The visuals are great, the multiplayer aspect they have here is exceptional, and the game continues to offer interesting places and items for you to clean. It’s, overall, a mesmerizing, very enjoyable and downright fun experience that everyone should try out for themselves. Yes, it might not be for everyone, but those chill gamers looking to unwind will find this their go-to. I can see people spending dozens or even hundreds of hours cleaning stuff, just because PowerWash Simulator 2 is so fulfilling and rewarding.

Expelled! might be built on the bones of Overboard! but it manages to improve on it both mechanically and in terms of story. Verity is a great protagonist, and the many mysteries linked to the characters and the school itself are a pleasure to unravel. A run can end in 15 minutes and in utter failure but still feel like progress. The idea that turning more towards evil opens up new options is a good one but simply choosing the red option to get results sometimes feels artificial. And the characters are strong enough that I wanted to interact with more of them. Expelled! doesn’t innovate mechanically but the narrative is engrossing and fun, with a great heroine at its core.

Playing SUPERHOT is fun even when I constantly fail because I know the game is now cheating in any way and that next time I have a chance to be more stylish, better prepared, smarter and faster to reach a new high score in Endless Mode or deal with another of the challenges.

Captain Velvet Meteor: The Jump+ Dimensions has an emotional premise and some charming character interactions, although the narrative is not very deep. The turn-based combat scenarios move fast, which is great given their repetitive nature. Boss characters are well-designed and create some interesting tactical puzzles. House exploration is disappointing, with very limited interactions that only yield stickers and short comments. The developers should have also found ways to add more innovation to the combat, especially when it comes to character moves. Captain Velvet Meteor: The Jump+ Dimensions is a fun adventure for anyone who knows and likes the featured companions but has limited appeal for non-fans.

I had an excellent time playing Hell Clock, especially as a fan of Diablo, Titan Quest and other ARPGs. The fact that it also has a Hades-like gameplay makes it even more interesting, and the Brazilian-focused story and characters certainly help the game stand out. It’s definitely a one-of-a-kind roguelike, and one where you want to continue progressing through the story as much as possible. Aside from that, the gameplay is intense, and the level-tiered system where you have a boss every 3 major levels is incredibly addicting. Plus, you can start collecting gear and artifacts, which for me was a delight. It’s certainly a lot of fun, especially if you like the ARPG loop. I always wanted a good combination between Diablo and roguelikes, and I think Hell Clock nails that. It’s fun, intense, you have tons of loot, great music and an interesting story, so for me, it feels like the complete package, if you’re into this genre.

The story is masterfully crafted and it's complemented by very well thought out game mechanics, very detailed graphics, and challenging gameplay, that never feels like a chore. This is maybe one of the greatest merits of Desperados III, even when it makes you sweat and go back to the drawing board, it remains fun and never becomes a dull repetition of the same actions. Although it's priced as a triple-A game, the content it offers makes it an experience you should not miss. If you were a fan of the original game, Desperados III is the sequel you have been waiting for since 2001.

Howl is very good without being too complex. It’s turn-based tactical gameplay has depth, designed to satisfy fans of this genre, but is accessible enough for newcomers. And the narrative elements are strong enough to keep both groups engaged, trying to collect as much confidence and skulls to open up new options. If a battle becomes frustrating, try as many different approaches as possible first but don’t hesitate to activate the Assist mode before frustration sets in. Howl is a great experience because it blends strong narrative and engaging combat in interesting ways.

As a whole, I found Crashlands 2 to deliver that quirky, beautiful and engaging isometric survival experience I always wanted. I enjoyed the first one quite a lot, but I can happily say this new one blows it out of the water. The plot is great, the game is easy to get into, and there’s plenty of replay value, along with some cool end-game activities you can do over and over. Knowing how the devs continually updated the first game, I am expecting great things to come for Crashlands 2 in the future as well. Even if it would remain in this state, this is the quintessential survival experience that everyone should try. I guarantee you’ll die laughing, while also feeling the need to explore this eye-catching alien world for at least 1 more hour.

Backfirewall_ has a unique premise and uses it pretty well, creating a variety of puzzles linked to the smartphone as a world. The game’s many quirky characters and moments create a weird universe and manage to generate emotions. But the puzzle-driven gameplay is what will keep players engaged. The game will never deliver the highs of something like Portal but it tries to move the first-person puzzle genre forward. It achieves that by mixing puzzles and narrative efficiently. Backfirewall_ is enjoyable and I especially appreciate the variety of puzzles it can pack in relatively small spaces.

Achilles: Survivor adopts a relatively safe approach, adopting most elements of the survival action genre with no tweaks and adding one big new concept. The idea of gathering stone to set up turrets is interesting and creates some cool tactical possibilities. Depending on their chosen hero, players can create a variety of builds and then deploy turrets to keep the monster hordes at bay. But this new idea isn’t enough to make the rest of the mechanics less repetitive. It doesn’t help that the fictional universe doesn’t do anything interesting with its Greek inspiration. Achilles: Survivor will give fans of its genre hours of combat fun, but might struggle to appeal to anyone who hasn’t played Vampire Survivors or its many clones.

Hero’s Hour shows how compelling and fun the Heroes of Might & Magic formula can be when a developer gets the core mechanics right. It takes a little time to get used to the real-time battles and the limited direct control, but the formula works well and delivers interesting choices and solid challenges. There’s a lot of variety when it comes to both maps and setup options, while the AI knows how to play to win. The only thing I feel is missing is a core campaign that uses the mechanics and the factions. Even without it, players who love the genre will spend a lot of time exploring the variety on offer and finding the best strategic approach for each side. Hero’s Hour might seem derivative at first but it is a joy to play.

Aether & Iron is one of the most atmospheric video games I've played in recent memory. Even characters who show up for a scene or two seem to have an inner life, and the aether-powered New York is an excellent example of alternate history. After a while, I started playing in shorter sessions, completing only two or three quests at a time, to extend my time with the game. Car combat is a good gameplay system, adding variety and tension, but the mechanics do not match the storytelling. The vehicle customization is a little fiddly, while the idea of environmental dangers for flying cars is a little incongruous. These are minor issues for Aether & Iron, which is impressive in its ability to marry a cool world and strong characters with decent, if not innovative, gameplay.

FIFA 15 is not a revolutionary title but it has the potential to fill hundreds of hours for a football fan, be it in classic multiplayer, Ultimate Team or the classic Career Mode.

There is no doubt The Outer Worlds is almost a masterpiece. Sure, it could use some work here and there, but it's a perfect delivery system for the hungry human imagination that longs for the stars.

Cult of the Lamb has all the elements it needs to succeed in the modern action and rogue space. All combat mechanics are tight, the premise is weird but easy to grasp, and almost every action the player engages in has a clear payoff. I like the way being a good cult leader makes it easier to deal with combat sequences, powering a cool feedback loop. The biggest issue is that, for all its wealth of ideas, the game emphasizes spectacle over substance. And it’s a good and fun spectacle but many fans of this mix of genres might find it shallow. Cult of the Lamb makes a great first impression but it’s left to the players to discover whether it has staying power.

Children of Morta is one of the best rogulite games I played in a while, so I can't recommend it enough to those who love the genre. It's easy to pick up and the story, even though it's a bit on the generic side, will keep you hooked till the end (yes, there's actually an end to the story).

Given the history of Endless Space and the many post-launch updates it got, we’re bound to see a lot of support for Endless Legend, fixing bugs and tweaking mechanics and improving on the already exciting experience.

For what is worth, The Banners Saga 3 is a fitting end for a great adventure that's meant to highlight the qualities and downsides of the human spirit: sacrifice, love, heroism, friendship vs. malice, hate, thirst for power, cowardice. The story and the objective in The Banner Saga 3 doesn't change, it only becomes bleaker and more intense. On top of that, the sense of hopelessness and despair is present now more than ever, making The Banner Saga 3 a journey full of angst and melancholy.

The game does justice to the franchise by not changing any of the mechanics that made it so loved by fans, while allowing you to delve deeper into the protagonists murky past. The new missions, game modes, and replayability will have you glued to your console for hours on end, and when you'll finally earn that last achievement, you'll still feel like playing some more!

Sam and Max Beyond Space and Time Remastered targets the same audience as the Save the World Remaster. The same developers, the same recipe, the same heroes and references. So, there was little chance for things to go off-track. Still, Sam and Max Beyond Space and Time Remastered is a precious lesson in how a remaster should be put together. Without altering too much the original content, the developers managed to make the game feel relevant and modern. Just as the previous remaster, this one is mandatory for the nostalgic and the point and click fans.

The Last Spell is a great package, integrating great core combat mechanics with both management and plenty of progression opportunities. Trying to take down mutant waves by using the minimum amount of resources, while pondering what upgrades can improve character performance never gets old. The title’s mix of chaos and control delivers plenty of tense moments. The meta-progression also works, although there were times when I found the pace a little slow. The Last Spell is polished, fun, and challenging, offering hours and hours of tough decisions and difficult yet enjoyable battles. [Early Access Provisional Score = 90]

The Lullaby of Life is pleasant and relaxing, a perfect game to unwind after a long day of trying to learn complex mechanics or tackle massive bosses. Its setting and its characters are colorful while the story is mostly suggested. The sound-driven puzzles gently increase in complexity, but the focus is not on difficulty.

Synergy puts an interesting new spin on some well-known gameplay mechanics. I like how alien the world feels and the way the systems encourage players to pay attention and discover ways to exploit the environment without destroying it. Sure, sometimes water is needed fast and gourds should be ripped out of the ground, but that doesn’t translate into a solid production chain. The game also looks great, with a unique art style and a lot of attention to detail. Tighter integration between the environmental analysis and the expeditions would have been cool. Synergy’s systems have depth, the scenarios are challenging, and the mechanics offer just the right mix of familiar and innovative.

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping is a nice detective game that plays everything a little too safe. The idea of taking the hero out of the city is a good one and I like all the characters. Some very high stakes emerge later in the narrative that feel unearned, but I mostly like the light tone and the way characters interact with each other. The investigation process, with its focus on getting the words needed to fill in a sentence, is well-structured. But I wanted to see at least one new way of interacting with the environment to pick up clues. Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping will deliver new fun mysteries for those who played the first title in the series.

I have no doubt that Mortal Kombat 11 is the best game in the series thanks to the incredibly deep combat mechanics, customization options and addictive addictive extra activities. Not the mention that game brings new meanings to the word “bloody.”

Crown Gambit is one of the rare video games that effectively combines a gripping story and engaging gameplay. The premise is a little familiar but the title, while borrowing from popular culture, focuses on three very likable characters and spins plenty of narrative threads smartly. Choices matter and replaying to test different paths is viable. The card-focused battles are fast and varied. The many boss engagements and the artifact fights ask players to carefully consider each hero’s abilities and when to dip into artifact use. Crown Gambit has only one slightly annoying idea, the chases, but all its other ideas work together beautifully to tell a good story using solid mechanics.

When all is said and done, we can only marvel at what Konami is doing with PES, despite being the underdog. The latest eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer 2020 is fun and great to play, and that’s always what people truly want.

Nightmare Reaper is a good retro FPS experience that will be incredibly satisfying to all gamers who liked the genre since Wolfenstein and have kept up with its recent evolution. Shooting enemies, juggling weapons, and looking for secrets, all these ideas work well. There’s enough difficulty to make progress a challenge without too much frustration and death is never the end. The biggest obstacle to a bigger audience will be the graphics. I understand why developers choose this pixelated, low-fidelity approach and I like it in small doses. But it might drive some players who are used to more modern graphics away. Nightmare Reaper might not be for everyone but fans can look forward to tens of hours of enjoyable FPS action.

Tiny Terry's Turbo Trip is not for everybody. This is not a massive open world with a ton of complex systems and a variety of objectives. The game is focused on getting Terry and his car into space. The town is small but serves a concentrated dose of positive weirdness and mini-games. The search for money and junk never stops and can become frustrating. The world can come across as crass and unappealing. But I think Tiny Terry's Turbo Trip is worth playing because it doesn’t aim to be mainstream and because it works hard to make even the smallest interaction surprising.

The game looks better than ever but plays the same, so newcomers to the series should not skip one of the best JRPGs of all time, I would be “brokenhearted.” On a serious note, Ni no Kuni remains the same charming game that I've played several years ago and I'm glad that Bandai Namco has decided to bring it to a larger audience.

Cataclismo isn’t very deep when it comes to mechanics or narrative. But the freedom of taking chunks of wood and blocks of stone to create defenses and a variety of other structures is very engaging and enhances everything else about the title. It helps that a player can choose between the more directed experience of the campaign and the extra freedom associated with endless mode and skirmishes. Using limited resources to plan sturdy fortifications is made easy by the copy-paste features and the fact that the entire Steam Workshop serves as a reserve of blueprints. Cataclismo’s core idea is good and extra focus on city management would make it even better.

Technobabylon is a must-play for every science fiction fan who enjoys point and click adventure games. Even if its low resolution façade puts you off, do yourself a favor and look beyond this impediment, as its personality will win you over in no time.

Ninja Pizza Girl is a great experience due in equal parts to its great story and its good gameplay mechanics that encourage replayability and offer enough incentives to explore the pretty big levels. Some moments might not be up to par, but for the most part, you'll have a blast blazing across the rooftops and delivering pizza to others.

Forza Motorsport 7 is a yuuge game, and by that, I mean that it’s massive, and by massive I mean gigantic. You get the picture. I can’t really picture myself playing it for less than half a year. With so many races in single player, with the multiplayer choices, and the option to build your own races, people are going to have this game installed for a long time. I can’t speak about replayability because you’re not going to uninstall it anytime soon. People are going to play it over and over again, with no end in sight. Surprisingly, the goal of Forza Motorsport 7 is not to win but to get credits to buy cars. If you don’t mind the presence of microtransactions, and you convince yourself that you can grind away for credits, you’re going to love Forza Motorsport 7.

If you’re the kind of person that enjoys story and an immersive experience over gameplay mechanics and action, you’ll surely have a blast with this game, in spite of its largely straightforward puzzles, empty world and some other issues that prevent it from being a true masterpiece.

Metro Exodus bets big on interpersonal relationships and world building, something that the other two games in the series lacked badly. Its more mundane approach on how Artyom's crew perceives the post-apocalyptic landscapes they explore in their search for the promise land is what makes Metro Exodus a great game.

Golden Realms packs everything that you would want to have added to the base game: a better late gameplay experience, quests that offer milestones as the game progresses, letting you know how everyone fares, some truly interesting spells, and a unique new faction to pilot.

Leila is a short and story-driven experience that manages to be touching and funny. I would have liked to get an extra chapter or two and see the main character interact with more people. But I very much like how it explores the complexity of modern life without veering into melodrama or fantasy. The puzzle mechanics aren’t very original, but the game wisely moves quickly from idea to idea, without giving any of them time to become annoying. The hint system isn’t sophisticated but will make it easy for players to make progress and experience the full narrative. Leila’s combination of storytelling and voice acting is very good, although its gameplay doesn’t shine.

In the end, if you fancy going for better loot, fight more powerful enemies, and unlock all kinds of cool items, Warhammer: Vermintide 2 seems like a dream come true. Even with the bugs and the slightly unbalanced system, it’s a game that still tricks me somehow into playing just one more map.

Resident Evil HD Remaster is a decent remake of the original survival horror title, retaining the challenging puzzles and combat, while adding the new control scheme or the easy mode. Unfortunately, its overhauled aspects aren't that impressive, so don't go in with high expectations, as there are still plenty of confusing sequences, annoying door opening animations, and other relics of the past.

The developers have nailed the sense of progression and the tension that the genre is built around. The presentation is very old-school, which can be a problem for players who have never interacted with MS-DOS titles. It is also integral to the spirit of this game. Loop Hero is a great game for fans of its genre and has plenty of cool mechanics and hooks for those who want to try it out for the first time.

Escape from Ever After is colorful, traditional, and provides surprisingly interesting commentary on the power of stories. Flynt isn’t the most interesting protagonist, but he has cool companions, and his story of battling a corporation is relatable. The combat system and the presentation are both heavily inspired by Paper Mario. Players unfamiliar with that series might find it hard to love the turn-based combat, mainly because of the repetition. Exploration and environmental puzzles only partially compensate for it. Escape from Ever After has a strong core narrative idea that should be paired with more innovative gameplay for wider appeal.

Citizen Sleeper creates a strong universe and gives the main character an engaging story with plenty of choices. Erlin’s Eye feels like a small part of a well-designed narrative space that can support more exploration. The visual design fits in with the wider themes of the game and the characters never become preachy. The problem is that the developer also cares about gameplay and the concept of investing for a result. The dice system is adequate enough, but everything takes so long and requires too many clicks. Citizen Sleeper would have probably worked better as a more classic visual novel, with the resources assigned to mechanics re-routed to deliver more story.

What’s even more exciting is that it gave me and most of the other players, a new reason to memorize gamepad combinations, and to find new ways to humiliate our friends. And I know that I can't ask for anything more than that.

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.

Lil' Guardsman is a fun game that expertly combines story and gameplay. It’s built around a loveable central character who finds herself at the core of an interesting although familiar narrative. The deduction mechanics require players to pay attention, but the game also smartly gives them a rewind ability if they want to retcon some choices. There are a few rushed moments toward the end and a few choices feel frustrating. But these are small problems given how good everything else is. I love Lil’ Guardsman because it kept me engaged, gave me space to interact with a wide cast of characters and allowed me to rewind time when my teasing didn’t lead to the expected results.

Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark is not a perfect game, but there aren't too many things that I would change. Its biggest flaw is the generic story, but there are some balancing issues as well. Also, some game system are thoroughly explained, so I strongly recommend reading the help page or the PDF manual that comes with the game.

Endling - Extinction is Forever is a warning signal about humans that should pay more attention to their environment and avoid it being ruined by the pollution born out of greed. At the same time it is also a truly engaging and immersive game with well thought out mechanics. It manages to combine the social message with a fun experience. It is the perfect example of games that challenge your intellect while leaving a lasting impression due to the emotional load they carry. It has both heartwarming and extremely sad moments, the atmosphere of the game accompanying you for some time after you have seen the end credits.

Wargroove 2 is one of the best smallish-scale tactics titles I have played recently, offering a wide variety of cool scenarios in its campaigns as well as extra variety with Conquest. The turn-to-turn action is compelling, and players have space to tweak the difficulty to suit their needs. The title’s presentation is charming while also informative. It might not innovate as much as fans of the original might want, but Wargroove 2 offers tens of hours of tactical fun and gives its player community the tools to create even more.

All in all, A Plague Tale: Innocence will leave you empty inside once you finish it, like any good book or movie would, and like any good game should.

Victoria 3 is a video game that existed as a hope and a meme for so long that it’s hard for any real-world product to satisfy every fan. But the game as it stands on launch, with its focus on pops, its economic model, and its diplomatic plays concept, should satisfy most newcomers and long-term fans. Some mechanics feel a little undercooked but will surely be built upon via expansions. I really want to see more depth for internal politics and diplomacy. The launch version of Victoria 3 still delivers a great grand strategy experience that allows players to engage with an exciting historical period, as long as they invest time and energy.

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.

I had a great time with Jurassic World Evolution 3, and this is certainly a big improvement over the previous game. It runs better, it looks stunning, and it also comes with a very beefy campaign. They also did a very good job when it comes to adding a ton of different dinosaur types, along with a multitude of environments. It gives you a lot more possibilities when it comes to creating the park of your dreams, and that’s incredibly rewarding when you roam through the park. It’s always a thrill to see dinos go out of the incubation center for the first time. Plus, there are tons of diverse species, from megalodons to t-rex, triceratops and so on. Plus, you have hybrid species in there as well. Jurassic World Evolution 3 streamlines the interface, adds baby dinos, and the scenario mode is quite impressive, despite not topping Chaos Theory from the previous title. But all in all, Jurassic World Evolution 3 is a lot of fun, and it’s one of the best theme park games out there.

Harebrained Schemes has managed to once again impress by adding a few, but only a few, good improvements to the recipe, while delivering a very interesting setting and some imaginative missions. However, it might not feel like a whole new experience, just "more of the same."

Strange Antiquities was a lot of fun for me, and I think it’s a great sequel to Strange Horticulture. The occult and spooky aspect fits the game very well, the item and store design are excellent, and the story is amazing, especially since you get many endings. Even if some of the puzzles feel challenging at times, you can go with trial and error to figure out the right solution. Strange Antiquities is one of those interesting puzzle games that will keep you hooked from beginning and up until the end. It’s fun to play, the mysteries are great to solve, and the music score is also fitting for this eerie experience. My favorite part: those Eureka moments where you get to solve complex puzzles. And rest assured there’s a lot of that to be had in Strange Antiquities.

Vampire Therapist manages to make the rather dry concepts of cognitive behavioral therapy interesting by linking them to interesting characters. I like how the sessions develop and how the game adds new concepts and asks players to find the best ways to use them. The voice acting is good enough to paper over some small issues with the writing. This is not an experience for players who want gameplay depth and variety. I could have done without the feeding or the meditation mechanics. Vampire Therapist tells good stories and has cool character moments but don’t take it as an actual example of how therapy works.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is definitely an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary installment in the series. Every mechanic from the previous games has been polished, refined to make more sense, but there’s really nothing new that would radically change anything for the better. I don’t think the extra year that Ubisoft used to make the game was worth it since Shadows isn’t much different than Valhalla, Origins, or Mirage. Yes, it’s much more polished and looks a lot better visually, but it doesn’t bring back the gameplay and mystery of the first games in the series. Overall, I had a great time with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but that’s because I’m a fan of the series. I have doubts that a newcomer to the series will find it equally interesting, especially since the overarching story is just serviceable.