Obviously, Galactic Civilizations III: Intrigue is now without its flaws, but it appears that Stardock managed to considerably reduce the number to just a few. Although almost every aspect of the base game has been improved, I feel that some of the newly added features need a bit of balancing or tweaking.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a good game that works within the confines of the stealth genre and doesn’t aim to innovate much. The city itself is well-designed and fun to explore, but the mechanics don’t evolve much and can become frustrating if players aren’t interested in the story. The cutscenes and the voice work contribute to immersion and create emotional connections with the characters. Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream will not challenge stealth veterans but creates a balanced mix of gameplay and narrative with a few great moments.

Blood Bowl 3 is a great video game adaptation of a popular board game, using an updated set of rules and great presentation. The 12 featured teams offer variety and plenty of surprises on the field. The mix of careful planning and chaotic execution means each match is filled with surprises and reversals. But the tech side of the game is in rough shape and might take some time to fix. Fans of the franchise who cannot wait to play with the new Games Workshop rules and are willing to tolerate some issues will find great fun in Blood Bowl 3. Newcomers and those still having fun with previous installments are better served by waiting for patches.

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.

Riders Republic is an action-packed game that’s not only exciting to play but also very fun to discover, pretty much because depending on the route you choose, everything feels new and fresh even if you’re not playing it for the first time.

Citizens of Earth is a great role-playing experience that manages to evoke the feel of Earthbound and other JRPGs while still doing its own thing. The gameplay is fun, the environments are varied, and the crazy citizens make the whole title feel refreshing. Sure, there are a few quirks here and there, but overall, you can't lose by playing this great title.

StarVaders starts off a little slow and it seems that enemies are much too numerous for one robot equipped with a hand of cards to deal with. After a few runs, it becomes clear that it has depth and variety, as well as a ton of style. Combat is fast and tense, with plenty of surprises. The narrative isn’t very original, but the promise of new cards and enemies is enough to start another run. StarVaders is one of the best run-based video games I’ve played recently, one that rewards planning and careful choices while also creating plenty of delightful chaotic moments.

Whether you’re a veteran who still remembers the hiss of a CRT monitor, or a newcomer curious about where fantasy shooters began, Heretic + Hexen Remastered is essential. It’s the return of true dark sorcery, two ancient spells, perfectly recast for a new age.

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.

BioWare has simply significantly increased the level of hitpoints on them all (a powerful Ogre has as much health as one of the first dragons in the core game) and at times that means many engagements turn into simple slugfests, with the player party and the enemies trading blows with limited tactical input until one of them losses all health.

All in all, Across the Obelisk is a lot of fun, but only after understanding its core mechanics and making peace with the fact that you’ll need a LOT of runs to be able to build and upgrade a decent deck. If you’re ok with that, I can’t recommend Across the Obelisk enough.

Arco has a unique look and world and a set of mechanics that are easy to understand but grow in complexity as characters unlock more options. I never got used to the ghosts that randomly join the fight but was eager to replay engagements to avoid losing even one pip of health. The game might rely too much on Western tropes at times and the unique look will not be for everyone. But Arco tries to innovate, mixing and matching ideas, and manages to deliver a constant sense of discovery.

Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga is surprising and a little underwhelming at first. But, if one gives it time to reveal its systems, it offers plenty of tactical depth and a solid narrative. The fact that there’s no direct control over combat makes it more important to think about force composition and careful squad deployment. I never became fully invested in the story, but the tactical puzzles were always fun to work through. Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga is best enjoyed in bite-sized chunks. Clear a map, prepare for another, watch the conversations between characters, see what a new area has to offer, then save the actual combat for another session. This keeps the gameplay fresh and the narrative interesting.

Backbone is a good game that will disappoint some of its players. The world is engaging and the detective mechanics are limited but cool. A sequence at the end of Act III is one of the most stunning I have experienced in a video game, both from a narrative and presentation standpoint. The game also delivers on its tonal shift and twist and does things that a simple noir detective story could not. Backbone understands the value of good writing and works hard to make words matter. The development team has already said that it has more stories to tell in this universe and I very much want to see how they expand on the best elements of Backbone and how they can make the world even more intriguing.

Pro Cycling Manager 25 doesn’t reinvent the series’ successful sports simulation formula, but its enhancements are worthwhile. Finding the right sponsor for a team is engaging and it’s harder to satisfy all their requirements. The game looks significantly better with Unreal Engine 5 powering it, although a similar upgrade in the audio department is needed. I also like the customization options for careers. It’s unfortunate that modding will be needed for all riders and racers to have their proper names. Planning a full season still takes too long. Pro Cycling Manager 25 is a good sim for cycling fans but will probably struggle to attract new players.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a fun experience that excels both in terms of mechanics and presentation and manages to showcase the kind of innovation that indie teams can deliver in a genre that has long been ignored.

There are many things that I wish Airship Syndicate would have done differently, but Darksiders: Genesis is definitely a title worth picking up. It's no Darksiders 4 and lacks the polish of any of the previous Darksiders games, but it's got the flavor, the pace and the combat mechanics that made the franchise popular among gamers. There's a compelling story underneath all the hacking and slashing, with interesting characters and extremely well-done level design. The puzzles are very clever, something that I would expect from a Darksiders game, and there's simply a lot of content to enjoy throughout a nearly 15-hour playthrough.

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.

Even though it lacks the presentation of a high-budget game, Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is one enjoyable nightmare that I can't recommend enough to cRPG fans. Bristling with mythos creatures, beautifully-drawn environments, and great Lovecraftian inspiration, Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is a fantastic RPG that no fan of the cosmic horror should skip.

Detective Grimoire is a well-paced adventure title that features a lot of talking, some good puzzles, a lot of weaker ones, quirky characters and locations, and a murder mystery that will be solved by most gamers before the protagonist has a clear clue about it.

Ground Zeroes is the perfect opening for a much richer experience that Phantom Pain promises to offer. Ground Zeroes is intense, philosophical, dark, brutal, but full of hope at the same time.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a solid installment in the franchise. It tweaks gameplay just enough to give veterans something new to engage with, while also being accessible for anyone new. Mastering production chains and finding the right ways to boost income and production is satisfying. Albion, with its conflicting cultures, is the cooler biome, and it would have been interesting for the game to explore something like Syria or Gaul rather than Latium. Unfortunately, the title’s campaign, while posing some interesting challenges, features twists that make little sense. Voice acting cannot bring to life characters that exist only to advance the story. The game also features solid multiplayer, including cooperative options, via Ubisoft Connect. Anno 117: Pax Romana is thoroughly enjoyable when dealing with building, production chain, trade, and bonuses, and a disappointment when warfare is involved.

The combat, especially the close quarters engagements, feel both exciting and perilous and only groups that work well together will be able to reach the end of the level and get a chance to try out for cool loot.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance does a great job at bringing us more Legacy of Kain lore, a new character and some interesting mechanics. After the Defiance remaster, I was not expecting to see yet another Legacy of Kain game being released, especially one that’s new. I think this is a great addition to the series, and the game does an excellent job at introducing Elaleth, along with some other characters. The story will be very familiar to fans of the series, and it certainly adds some nuanced stuff I did not expect to see. Moreover, the gameplay is very fast paced, engaging, even if at times it can become frustrating if you opt for a higher difficulty level. If you want to acquire all achievements, you will get quite a bit more gameplay out of the game, as it can take you 7-10 hours depending on the play style. Even if the game’s story is short, I found it very fun, and I am looking forward to replaying on a higher difficulty level, to spot any lore that I missed along the way.

The Division is an ambitious game when it comes to the world it creates and its mechanics, for both cooperative play and Player versus Player, are solid and engaging but much of its future will depend on how Ubisoft caters to the needs of the community and to the unique ways in which players come to enjoy this beautiful and derelict world of New York.

SpellForce: Conquest of Eo has an interesting structure and does a great job of mixing map-driven strategy and tactical engagements. Each of the three wizard archetypes plays very differently and there’s a ton of content to engage with. The world of Eo is beautifully represented, although it’s pretty standard when it comes to fantasy universes. I would have liked for the three core wizard types to offer even more variety in strategic and tactical situations. But campaigns offer a lot of variety, especially if players are ready to try out new approaches. SpellForce: Conquest of Eo is a solid entry in the franchise that should have aimed for more innovative mechanics.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is an exceptional RPG, which respects its classic origins, without being afraid to adapt modern mechanisms. With a fresh combat system and a story worthy of the most famous D&D games, it is highly addictive for the fans of the genre, while being a friendly companion to those who prepare to embark on their first quest. If the issue with the way too long and frequent loading times will be fixed, it will be a must-play game.

City of Beats mixes a good set of gameplay mechanics with atmosphere and some great music. Dashing across the rooftops, noticing a sound at the last second that lets you avoid an attack, and striking back at the perfect time, is very fun and engaging. The rogue-lite elements are very familiar and deliver a sense of progression but don’t add much otherwise. Despite the spareness of its classic cyberpunk narrative, I felt immersed in this universe. City of Beats has an innovative idea that’s very well implemented and will satisfy anyone who loves fast-paced combat, cyberpunk worlds, cool beats, and rogue elements.

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.

Slay the Princess takes the adventure game’s classic mechanics, including loads of dialogue and player choices, and uses them in cool new ways. It quickly becomes clear that killing the scion of royal blood is not what the experience is all about. And the story delivers interesting moments, tough choices, and satisfying revelations. These mix with the strong voice acting and engaging visual style to make the experience worth playing despite its limited gameplay. Fewer attempts at jump scares would have made it even easier to focus on the world's strangeness. Slay the Princess should appeal to fans of the uncanny who are interested a good story and solid twists.

Kingdom of the Dead is the work of a developer who understands what makes classic first-person shooters so fun and captivating. The game is unafraid to be a little unfair. It takes skill to chain headshots, it is hard to deal with big groups of mixed enemies, especially on the higher difficulties. But it feels very good when you ace a boss fight with just a bit of health left over.

Toy Tactics is a good entry-level strategy experience that finds a host of innovative ways to use its central brush mechanic. Players can direct a variety of warriors and activate spells by simply painting the ground, then use these violent tools to solve a lot of combat puzzles. The game offers a variety of modes with plenty of interesting quirks. The world-building is limited but the presentation, especially if players zoom in to watch the figurines take each other out, is good. Toy Tactics is easy to pick up and play but still challenging, a great way for someone new to the strategy genre to have fun while picking up the basics.

Pillars of Eternity: The White March - Part 2 takes gamers back to the snowy mountains of Eora, giving them a chance to revisit the mechanics of the party based RPG experience while introducing a story that's more engaging that the one in the first part and has higher stakes for the entire universe.

Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown was a positive surprise for me. Few of the latest Star Trek games were great, but this one is very exciting to play, and it uses the sense of exploration to its benefit. It remains faithful to the source material, while also allowing you to nurture, level up characters and manage the ship to your liking. The gameplay doesn’t get stale, and exploring planets always feels very satisfying. It's also nice to see that the story has some great, unexpected twists and turns. Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown also encourages you to make different choices, and those will affect your gameplay. The combat is engaging, the ship management part of the game is rewarding, and you always feel that you’re progressing in some way. The developers are also committed to solving core issues like saving problems, so that’s a good sign. Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown is a hidden gem for sci-fi fans, and you will find yourself pouring a few dozen hours into this, as you explore planets, follow the story and embark on treacherous missions.

I did not expect to like Tiny Bookshop as much as I did. It’s an excellent game for book lovers, but also for people who want to unwind, relax and play a simple management game. The fact that Tiny Bookshop doesn’t have very high stakes means you can easily play it as you do other activities. Yet at the same time, it’s very addictive, and it only gets better and better as you play. I still play Tiny Bookshop every week and will continue to do so for a while. The seasons mechanic is great, I enjoy seeing the world evolving around me, and finding the right book for other people is always exciting. The fact that you can also find some new books you never knew about is the icing on the cake, in my opinion. As it stands, Tiny Bookshop comes as highly recommended for cozy game fans and book lovers, but also for anyone who wants a relaxing time after playing all those new shooters and RPGs.

While not a fan of the racing genre in general, I do have my moments when I would like to just smash into someone else’s car (in a totally victim-free virtual environment, of course), and Wreckfest hits the spot perfectly. By comparison with what other games attempted in the past, I have to say that it is a true masterpiece and has pretty much taken the crown as the best title in a rather unexplored game sub-genre. So, gear up, tune up your car, rev your engines and try to make it to the finish line with a number of wheels that is higher than 1!

Legend of Keepers is a good mix of ideas that could use some more variety. For the first 10 to 15 hours it has the pace and content to throw new ideas and new options out. It’s very fun to take down new groups of more powerful heroes and see what’s the best combination of monsters and traps to sap their spirit or to destroy their health points. The game also has plenty of long-term goals. But once I learned more about the monsters and the enemies I found it hard to get excited, even when I got a new powerful creature or when a powerful hero dropped in. Goblinz Studio understands the two genres it is mixing but it should have added a pinch more innovation to make Legend of Keepers into a long-term fun experience.

Gordian Quest is focused on mechanics to both its advantage and detriment. For a player who has not explored the card and tactics space a lot, this is a perfect experience both as an introduction and for long-term engagement. For someone who has tried out a lot of titles in the genre, this game is a little too by the book for its own good. I like choosing a hero, seeing his cards, and finding out how I can tweak his arsenal via equipment or upgrades. I like to make a quick run, see what new enemies come my way, and how I can create new cool combos. But the limited appeal of the universe and lack of major innovations to the gameplay means that Gordian Quest might never convince me to finish its campaign.

Worldless shines when players enter battle with a new opponent for the first time, discovering its moves and weaknesses. It’s fun to watch for patterns and create attack combos, with plenty of tension added when trying to perform the Absorption move. Platforming isn’t as complex as combat but adds variety. The mostly abstract world and limited story will be the biggest stumbling block for most players. The game often comes close to pretentiousness without crossing that line. Worldless is not as poetic as it aims to be but offers a carefully crafted set of mechanics that work very well together.

Sworn is clearly made as an alternative to Hades and other similar roguelike games. The game has a lot of heart, and everything from the overall progression to the combat and story is well-made. The addition of coop is the icing on the cake. I don’t think that everything lands perfectly and there are definitely things to improve, but for someone who loves loop-based gameplay that’s typical to roguelikes, this title is worth picking up. Granted, it does have its issues, with the story being rather simple and short, and the combat being slower at times. But if you get past that, you will notice that the game is greatly-made, it has way more content than expected, and the gameplay itself is fun. The ability combinations, great visual style and game mechanics make it a worthwhile time investment. Plus, the fact that you can test your skills with some really high difficulty levels and bosses make it very enticing to try and play one more run.

Thanks to Battle for Azeroth, World of Warcraft doesn't feel like an obsolete MMORPG any longer, on the contrary, it's fresh, fun, surprising, and … addictive. Of course, the new expansion is not without its problems, but the overall feeling is that World of Warcraft is on the right path. And for those sitting on the fence about whether or not to jump into the action again, there's only one thing I can say: Battle for Azeroth is the perfect opportunity to come back to World of Warcraft. I have to give the folks at Blizzard credit for pouring their hearts and souls into the game once again, it definitely shows.

LEGO Voyagers is one of those perfect games that you can play with a friend when you’re done dealing with shooters, MMOs or more serious titles. It has the perfect visual style that engulfs you into the world, but also plenty of brain teasers and puzzles. Even if some of them can be frustrating at first, the solution is never too difficult. That allows you to continually play, explore the game and try out new things. That’s why it comes as highly recommended, because it’s a fun game with creative gameplay and innovative features. While LEGO Voyagers is a game geared towards children, I think everyone should try it out, be it with a friend, their significant other or a colleague. It tells a raw, emotional story, and let’s face it, we all love LEGO in one way or another. Plus, I think LEGO Voyagers seamlessly captures the beauty and freedom provided by LEGO, all while offering us a stunning world, quirky puzzles and some very creative music. It’s a great journey to be a part of, and the best part is that this is not overly long, either. It has perfect length, crispy gameplay and it’s definitely a great time for you and a friend.

There’s an immense feeling of joy and freedom that the racing experience from Playground Games can create, and the title can offer it to both veterans of the racing game genre and to newcomers looking for a fun title to spend time with.

Afterimage feels like a very well-crafted Metroidvania with spectacular vistas, solid combat, and deep character progression system. The only minor issues, like the colliding damage, that I had with the game are just design choices that probably can’t be addressed. I really enjoyed exploring the world of Engardin, searching for new weapons, fighting interesting bosses and trying to find the best weapons for Renee. I can’t say that the story was truly captivating, but it was serviceable enough to keep me going.

Fans of Europa Universalis IV should get El Dorado as soon as possible in order to experience a more complete set of game mechanics and to use the Nation Designer.

Lotus Lantern: Rescue Mother is, at its core, a fast and fun action game that aims to give players as many interesting choices as possible to build their character for each run. Experiment as much as possible with upgrades, weapons, and powers. It’s impressive how powerful protagonist Chenxiang becomes when gamer choices lead to a good build that suits their playstyle. The game’s rogue-lite structure isn’t new but manages to create a constant sense of progression. The world-building is less successful, although it’s good to see Chinese mythology serve as the basis for a game universe. Graphics don’t stand out but Lotus Lantern: Rescue Mother is a good mix of action and rogue-like that should please fans while being accessible to newcomers.

Despite some repetitive missions and cutscenes, there's a massive and complex plot waiting to be discovered in Phantom Doctrine. Although it might not feel that way at first, the game offers a mix of tactical and strategic decisions way more complex than any of the XCOM games. I also think the game perfectly catches the Cold War atmosphere of the early 80s, and delivers it in the form of a tactical stealth turn-based formula. Phantom Doctrine tackles a sensible but fascinating subject, the Cold War, and does a damn good job at it.

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.

Kingdom Eighties will satisfy any players who picked up one of the previous installments in the series and appreciates its indirect strategy concept. The four main characters are pretty cool, the rest of the kids do great work chopping down trees and battling demons, and the presentation is impressive in how well it evokes the ‘80s. The action is sometimes a little slow, and relying on others to act can lead to some frustration. Still, the universe of Kingdom Eighties is so nice, and the nostalgia vibes are so strong that it’s worth investing time to experience both its mechanics and narrative.

Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out is designed as an evolution rather than an evolution. Glorantha continues to offer a good setting for role-playing and management, although the apocalyptic element feels a little restrictive. I like the steady flow of events and the care that goes into creating interesting situations and engaging choices. Approach the game more like a journey through history than an opportunity to try and min-max tribe advantages and actions. Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out gives players a cool universe, complex situations to explore, and plenty of ways to fail as the world falls apart around them.

Modern Warfare II is almost a perfect game. But the almost part is more significant than you’d be tempted to believe, and unfortunately, it sometimes makes the game a work-in-progress. If you’re buying the game specifically to play the campaign, there is both good news and bad news here. The campaign is insanely awesome, and you’ll have a lot of fun playing it, but on the other hand, it feels way too short. Each mission feels like a different game, and it can be completed in a different way every time. On the other hand, the multiplayer side of Modern Warfare II is what seems to disappoint most of the fans. The bugs, the crashes, the lack of multiplayer options, and the behavior of some players ruin the experience. In case you’re wondering if the new anti-cheating system works, it looks like it does, though you may still occasionally come across players that kill you with a single shot in the very first second they spot you.

As a complete package, Tormented Souls 2 has a lot of things going for it. The atmosphere it creates is great, and the visuals are fit to the world’s unique ideas and challenges. That being said, the fact that they chose to go with limited saves does make the game feel more high stakes, but it can get frustrating at times because of it as well. It’s nice that you don’t have to play the first one to understand this game, and it’s definitely one of the better horror games made in the past few years. Yes, it doesn’t have the AAA flair and all the bells and whistles, but the self-contained story is very well-made, shared in a creative way, and the game itself doesn’t shy away from being very fun. It’s an easy recommendation for horror fans, but even if you never dabbled into the genre before, it’s a good starting point.

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

Starcraft II deserves its place as one of the most influential releases of the past five years, and this Protoss-focused chapter manages to deliver a fitting end to its core narrative while opening up the multiplayer in some interesting ways.

Headquarters: World War II features tense engagements and nice tactical scenarios, despite the familiarity of the Overlord campaign. The three factions feel suitably different in terms of units and approach. Players will be challenged by a wide range of combat scenarios. The game also gives players the tools to create their own battles, both against the computer and other humans, and has a good editor. I hope Starni Games uses the same system to cover less well-known World War II operations. Headquarters: World War II is a compact and engaging wargame with plenty of attention to detail.

Even though it draws inspiration from X-COM, Mutant Year Zero felt quite unique to me. The mix of real-time exploration and turn-based strategy elements, as well as the tactical decisions concerning each stalker's loadout, makes Mutant Year Zero one of the best games in the genre launched this year. The solid combat system, interesting setting and great voice acting, merge into an appealing formula that the alchemists at The Bearded Ladies unexpectedly discovered while experimenting with various concoctions.

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.

The Roottrees are Dead is a great video game for any players who like experiences like Obra Din or the two Golden Idol titles. It feels good to investigate, starting with a list of names, and reveal the rich history of an entire family. The feeling that there’s something more to learn, to understand, is always present and the game has a decent hint system to help players who get stuck. As cool as the feeling of discovery is, the game is limited in terms of mechanics. Players search for text strings, read results, and make connections. The cool soundtrack helps with immersion, but the loop can become repetitive after one or two hours. The Roottrees are Dead is unlikely to draw new players to the deduction genre but has all the ingredients needed to keep fans engaged in the long run.

GRIP: Combat Racing promises to fall into the first category, bringing justice to an old series of games that have become cult classics themselves. The graphics and physics engine aren't just there just to give the series a facelift, they take what it advertised as its strong point, speed and death-defying acrobatics, and crank them up to eleven!

The Library of Babel has a solid setup and some nice narrative moments. It’s well presented and the central quest is good enough to keep players engaged. The title’s problem is that it struggles to make gameplay fun or varied. Stealth is never very interesting while the platforming sections can become frustrating, despite the good placement of save points. This is the type of game that would really benefit from an option to simply skip a gameplay segment. The Library of Babel should tweak character movement and item interactions via patches if it wants to appeal to a wider audience.

There aren't too many things that Wings of Ruin doesn't do right for a turn-based game set in the Monster Hunter universe. Too many loading times and the rather ugly visuals (in the first part of the game) might detract from the game's appeal, but the addictive Pokemon-like monster hatching mechanic and the deep combat are more than enough to keep players invested throughout an entire playthrough. Despite the cliché story scenario, the game does have its surprising moments that can get you emotional rather quickly. At the end of the day, I believe Wings of Ruin's lighthearted narrative is perfectly suited for a Monster Hunter game that's all about hatching monsters to help you hunt the same monsters.

Saviorless shines when players control Antar, evaluating a puzzle that might stretch across a few screens, then testing possibilities and contemplating how to reach a collectible. Combat isn’t as engaging as the platforming or the puzzle solving, and checkpoint placement is pretty bad. Thankfully, the world is intriguing enough to counter potential frustration. The impressive art style is another draw and it’s worth playing through the narrative, even without getting all the torn pages, simply to see how the developers bring this fantasy universe to life. Saviorless is a solid debut title from an indie developer and its mix of ideas is good enough that I look forward to seeing what Empty Head Games delivers next.

Without a doubt, Back 4 Dead is all about the co-op gameplay and mixed with the newly introduced card system. If you combine the two, killing those ugly creatures is extremely fun, though be warned, it’s also extremely challenging as well. On the other hand, if you’re not the biggest fan of co-op multiplayer and would rather stick with the solo mode, this isn’t as exciting as it should be. Though, as I said, even the co-op multiplayer has a bad side, as the overall experience depends on your team and their way of playing the game.

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

Football Manager 2023 is as solid from the mechanics' point of view as any of its predecessors. Working out tactical problems is as engaging as ever. Winning championships, or even avoiding relegation as the right team, is thrilling. I will probably play at least a few hundred hours before spring, trying to improve some of my favorite teams, and maybe pick up a Premier League title and the Champions League in the process. But, while the game is engaging and has depth, it might be time for the series to take a break. Sports Interactive could release databases or other tweaks for a small price next year. And, for 2024, they can work on bigger innovations. Football Manager 2023 is game enough to keep fans engaged until then.

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

Ska Studios clearly loves Dark Souls and Salt and Sanctuary is a very effective love letter that can appeal both to long-term fans of that series and to players who simply want to feel challenge in a world that’s filled with mystery and clever opponents.

In all honesty, I have to admit I spent a good portion of my time playing the game in the level editor mode, and it all seemed so exciting knowing I could make a level just the way a like it. The story mode isn’t all too shabby at all, but the fact that you always know you still need more coins makes it feel a bit grindy as you always keep your eyes on the score, even if you don't do it on purpose. All in all, I have to admit I had fun testing Super Mario Maker 2, and as soon as I’m done with this review, I’m going back to designing yet another level!

Pepper Grinder has a very good core idea and builds fun platforming levels and puzzles around its big drill. The four worlds introduce new ideas and challenges, as well as boss fights. The pixel art makes the world come alive more than the narrative. The focus on replaying levels and collectibles isn’t up my alley but the design is good and will satisfy gamers interested in it. Pepper Grinder is fast and tense, with plenty of variety, a steady increase in difficulty, and has the potential to reverse grinding’s bad reputation.

Dungelot: Shattered Lands features an interesting mix of gameplay mechanics and pulls them off, offering a fun experience. The RPG mechanics are surprisingly complex, and you can sink a lot of time into its myriad of dungeons.

Fabledomis a relaxed city builder that doesn’t introduce revolutionary new mechanics but executes classic ideas very well. I loved spending time zoomed in, looking at my peasants and commoners as they worked and walked. It’s equally fun to find the way to another ruler’s heart by sending truckloads of tulips and running missions. The laid-back nature means the challenge level isn’t very high, even when some of the more annoying random events pop up. And the military aspect feels like a weird fit for an experience where making sure that everyone is happy and getting along is the natural approach. Fabledom’s gameplay and setting work well together and will satisfy any city-builder fan who likes a fantasy setting.

The Spirit Lift is a joyous and easy-to-play mix of runs and card combat. It uses familiar mechanics well, giving players multiple ways to engage with a solid group of enemies with unique designs. Its characters and their unique sets of cards can be mixed and matched in varied ways while players uncover more of the narrative. The exploration elements don’t add much, and the game needs more events and choices. But the characters and the atmosphere fit well with most of the gameplay. The Spirit Lift doesn’t try to revolutionize the genre but finds smart ways to stand out.

Wednesdays isn’t a traditional video game that gives players a clear problem to solve using a particular set of mechanics. The title seeks to explore a very difficult theme, sexual abuse during childhood while giving players the space to process their own emotions. The entire effort is sustained by good writing and by a focus on healing and what the future has to offer. The Orca Park game-within-the-game is simplistic but works well as a framework for the conversations. Gameplay is easy to understand and serves the theme well. Wednesdays manages to explore Tim’s life without being preachy and without giving into despair, offering hope that healing is possible.

HOTEL BARCELONA is good, with a unique take on combat and some nice narrative touches. Phantoms initially seem like a diversion, but they give players a ton of ways of influencing every level and, with some preparation, make it trivial to take down the powerful bosses. Fans of horror will also have fun exploring the hotel and the story. But the game will struggle to bring in players who don’t already like side-scrolling action titles, and even some fans might have an issue with the slow start. HOTEL BARCELONA wears its influences on its sleeve and is a bloody good time once a few phantoms roam through a level.

Cities: Skylines - Snowfall is a good expansion for dedicated fans of the city builder genre who have seen everything that the core game and the After Dark expansion have to offer regarding gameplay.

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.

Scarlet Nexus does a lot of things right, but it fails to offer a cohesive gameplay experience. I think it would be best described as a visual novel with action-RPG elements rather than vice-versa. While the story is compelling enough to keep you going until the end, the game is full of bloat that needs to be cut. Despite its shortcomings, Scarlet Nexus is one of the better action RPG titles coming from Bandai Namco. I just wish it would have more respect for the player's time, and do away with all the uninteresting fluff that doesn't tie in the story.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is an amazing game. I had a lot of fun with the new stances and the story is enthralling. If not for the performance issues, this game could have been easily among the best released this year.

Despite the focus on fun, the push and pull mechanics, linked to both gloves and throwing balls, are solid and power some decent puzzles. The game could have used a little more variety and, maybe, some more alternate exploration paths. Whalien – Unexpected Guests should also have had a cooperative mode, maybe with one small alien that could help Ernest. Otherwise, the game delivers a good mix of puzzles and platforming, with a side of charm, and I really want to see how the universe can be developed to support more experiences.

Pinball FX offers a great virtual experience of real world activity, with a focus on delivering tables that might not work outside of the video game space. Gamers can choose to invest in a monthly Pinball Pass to play the majority of the offered content or they can simply browse the extensive DLC list and outright buy the ones they love best. It would have been a better idea to have individual tables as purchases rather than bundles. The Borderlands table is the standout from the new content, designed to draw in the franchise's fans. The package that brings together tables built around the original Star Wars trilogy is also impressive from both a gameplay and fan service point of view. Pinball FX might induce some analysis paralysis in players with its variety but it plays great. Simply choose a universe and get lost in the quest for a high score.

Dying Light 2 is bigger and better than the first game. It improves on the original in every aspect while keeping the same formula. It’s a grindy game that can take either hundreds of hours to complete, or just a regular open-world action-adventure that you can finish in about 25-30 hours if you’re just interested in the main story. My main quarrel with Dying Light 2 is that it promises so much at the beginning, yet it fails miserably to deliver on that promise. If not for the exceptional combat and parkour mechanics, this might have been just a mediocre title, so this alone redeems it from among the mass of unremarkable triple A titles that are more show than substance.

Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa is an innovative take on the wargame genre because it shifts the focus towards the humans that decided the course of the war and the way their relationships can influence what divisions do in the field.

Dread Templar is a fun first-person shooter that will appeal to anyone who enjoyed the classic titles in the genre or the recent 2016 Doom reboot. It delivers over-the-top violence and classic combat sequences but also introduces more modern ideas, like the ability to slow down time when swamped by a ton of opponents. The old-school look and the thumping soundtrack create the perfect atmosphere for demonic culling. The levels are also pretty good, giving players space for a variety of approaches to combat without creating a maze. The developers understand the universe they are working in and make Dread Templar one of the best examples of the recent boomer shooter wave.

The Boomsday Project could be one of the most important Hearthstone expansions released in a while, but not because it bring very powerful cards and interesting gameplay mechanics. I believe The Boomsday Project is exceptionally well-balanced and very fun to play. It's got a little bit for every type of player, be it hardcore or casuals looking for pure entertainment.

ANTHEM#9’s combat innovates in some interesting ways, taking some cues from match-3 and some from turn-based role-playing battles to create something new, fast, and mostly fun. I like how the two decks, their skills, the blessings, and unique character traits interact to allow players to deal huge amounts of damage and cancel out incoming attacks, if everything goes right. The world-building is limited, and there’s not much in the way of story to uncover as players push through the mission. And the presentation seems to be directly aimed at bringing in gamers who like the Persona franchise. Players who pick ANTHEM#9 looking for good tactical puzzles and strong core mechanics, will not be disappointed.

Fate’s Theater has rock-solid, yet simple to understand, mechanics and one unique narrative twist. While Fortune and Misfortune are battling using humans as pawns, small stories emerge directly from the player’s actions. Each duel between the two forces of destiny, livened by the direct intervention of Fate itself, becomes a sort of slightly absurd, disjointed improv show. Play the game with another human, if possible, and try to only communicate using the generated stories. Against the computer, the repetitive nature of the rounds can be annoying. Fate’s Theater is a unique experience, and the developers need to find a way to evolve its mix of gameplay and narrative for a sequel or spiritual successor.

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.

I enjoyed Storage Hunter Simulator and its crazy gameplay. The idea of starting off in a trailer park, going to auctions with a few hundred bucks and hoping for the best is really cool, and it opens up many opportunities. It’s a very interesting business idea, and like in any business, sometimes you will lose, other times you win big. However, not knowing how much some items are worth, having to repair things or getting things appraised, that adds to the experience quite a lot. Not everyone plays simulation-focused games, but I think that Storage Hunter Simulator is accessible for anyone, regardless of their age. The gameplay loop is exciting, you always look forward to the next auction and what it could bring, and there’s always stuff to unlock and new ways to progress in the game. Overall, it’s a refreshing take on the simulation genre that’s getting stale these days, and a game that’s worth a look even if you’re not a fan of this niche.

DIG - Deep In Galaxies is a fast and fun experience that emphasizes freedom and variety. It does not have much in the way of narrative but the mechanics mix in an interesting way. Take on missions to deal with the Overlord’s minions or simply move from planet to planet and explore, it’s all engaging and tense. The game works best in short sessions with clear goals. The rogue elements need to be expanded the various unlocks should be a little more approachable. But DIG - Deep In Galaxies does not suffer too much because of these issues and will satisfy any player who loves exploration, fast-paced action, and a little chaos.

The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a unique game. It starts with a Faustian bargain and constantly adds fun and surprising ideas. I liked all the many witches I encountered and their stories, as well as the larger ethical questions gamers have to engage with. Crafting cards is a surprisingly fun process with a lot of variety. The pace of the game's final, more political section felt a little off. But the main narrative is very good, with complex choices and some tense divination moments. I liked how The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood created immersion, explored relationships, and forced me to make some tough decisions.

God of War is definitely good, but some aspects lack a certain depth that will make them interesting enough to turn it into a great game. There's a very meaningful armor and weapon upgrade system that allows you to increase your power level to make fights easier, but many of the skills you unlock throughout your journey feel absolutely useless.

Is Wrath of the Righteous a natural 20? Almost. Knowing the care that the developers invested in the previous game, I am pretty sure that the new Pathfinder will shed its initial issues and will be filed down until there are no more annoying edges, just a smooth experience. It is a dream come true for any classical RPG fans that want to be lost in an epic world, going through heroic adventures, while also exploring fulfilling side quests with quirky, yet charming companions. It has a high replay value, and you need at least two playthroughs to experience most of the content. It is a modern take on classical roleplaying that does not disappoint and manages to be newbie friendly as well.

Concierge is a unique video game with some great ideas. The atmosphere is impressive, especially early on, when players do not know much about their character or the hotel. The mini-games aren’t very deep, and some don’t fully deliver, but they are surprising. The game rewards patience and a willingness to use the camcorder to discover as many mysteries as possible. The hint system helps eliminate frustration, although the need for gold coins doesn’t make it as easy to use as it should. The story might also be a little too convoluted for some players. Concierge shows what a small team can create when they trust their ideas, and I look forward to playing KODINO’s next game.

No Place for Bravery offers an interesting mix of tough combat and exotic presentation. Some players might be driven away by the pixel art (the weird legs of the characters still annoy me) or the difficulty level. But the story and the gameplay have the quality required to keep players engaged. Given the clear love that the team at Glitch Factory has for the souls-like genre, I wanted the game to innovate more, to find ways to make the 2D top-down perspective add something to it. But No Place for Bravery plays it too safe and misses a chance to deliver a truly innovative gameplay loop rather than stick close to the classics.

Ronin is a good, engaging and often difficult game that will certainly appeal to those who are intrigued by the mix of stealth, sword killing, and impressive jumps.

Dust & Neon is fast, exciting, and often challenging. There are a ton of weapons to constantly compare and equip, enabling variety when it comes to the playstyle. The rogue side of the game does not offer a ton of depth but has plenty of reasons to try again when death comes for the cowboy. The game’s universe is a little too conservative and does not embrace the potential weirdness of the cowboy and robots mix. Boss battles can also sometimes feel unfair. But I like Dust & Neon combat and players who want solid twin-stick shooter action should give it a look.

Silent Hill 2 Remake is at least as good as the Resident Evil 2 Remake and that says a lot. They explore the horror genre from different angles but offer the same immersive results. Konami seems to have learned a lot from Capcom, and they manage to offer their fans exactly what they expect. Silent Hill 2 Remake is not just the best remake of the year, but also one of the best games released in 2024. If you have fond memories of the original you will love this new release, and if you did not play it before you no longer have excuses to avoid it.

All in all, Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is a game that encourages reflection by tackling philosophical and moral issues, while making you question each decision you made. It’s an experience that carries you, only asking to let yourself be engulfed by the emotions it breathes.