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.

Although I would have liked to see some visual changes too, there’s nothing wrong in using the same assets if they proved to be so popular among players. Fuga: Melodies of Steel series remains an indie gem that has yet to receive the attention it deserves. If you love turn-based strategy games with serious themes, I can’t recommend this enough.

When it comes to the sound of Massive Chalice the voice acting for the huge piece of silverware itself is great, both funny and sat, and the music itself manages to underline the tense moments of combat and to illustrate the way time influences the world of the game.

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.

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.

I wish that the game could have created a better shell for the entire experience. I like the look of the characters and the world, but it does need a little more variety. And the fantasy-driven story feels a little undercooked. The gameplay in Unbound: Worlds Apart is good enough to keep fans of the genre entertained, especially if they love the occasional challenge. But future titles from Alien Pixel Studios need a little more when it comes to narrative to deliver a truly great gaming experience.

Mare Nostrum is one of the good but not extraordinary expansions for Europa Universalis IV, and the most refreshing change that it makes is the way it uses spy networks, claim creation, and the espionage idea group to place more limits on reckless expansion and force players to plan their long-term moves.

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

Go Home Annie is a well-plotted psychological thriller that makes good use of the SCP Foundation universe. Our protagonist is fully realized, and the core mystery is engaging, with memorable characters and a few nice twists. Even better, the focus is not on jump scares and the developers work hard to create an atmosphere of subtle horror. Sneaking sections aside, gameplay is decent if predictable. Engaging with anomalies is a highlight and I wanted the game to feature a wider array. Go Home Annie shows how the SCP Foundation fictional universe can be used in the video gamer space, especially if the development team focuses on narrative and atmosphere.

Company of Heroes 3 is too conservative in terms of gameplay and fails to make its big new mode work as expected. Battles, from skirmishes to bespoke missions in the Italian campaign, are great fun and offer cool tactical puzzles to solve. The strategy map does add another dimension to the experience but patches are needed to realize its full potential. The multiplayer offers variety and will satisfy those who loved the first two installments. What disappoints me the most is the lack of innovation. Everything that’s entirely new is either marginal or doesn’t work as it should. Company of Heroes 3 does have great real-time strategy battles but the rest of the mechanics fail to deliver on their potential.

Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles is a complex and engaging dice builder. The universe is interesting, even if the lore is mostly expressed via gameplay and presentation. There are a ton of dice to choose from as players build their own playstyle around their favorite hero. Any combat encounter delivers interesting tactical situations, and the boss fights are suitably difficult. There’s innovation in the dice system and the Corruption and Purification mechanics but I feel the rogue-lite elements are a little classic. Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles has variety, and depth, and will give fans of this genre tens of hours of dice-driven fun.

The game admirably blends dark Warhammer motifs and a wide array of tactical and strategic decisions on the battlefield. Although Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is not without faults, it's one of the few games in the Warhammer sci-fi setting that I wish it had a sequel. The high amount of customization, the appealing story and narrative, as well as the deep turn-based strategy elements make Mechanicus a must-play title for all Warhammer and TBS genre fans.

King Arthur: Knight’s Tale is a clear departure from the King Arthur titles that Neocore Games is known for. It’s not just the new setting, but also the combat mechanics and the management aspect of your base of operations that makes the game very engaging. Although I’d hoped King Arthur: Knight’s Tale would be something different than what we’re used to, I certainly didn’t expect it to be so good. If you’re a fan of turn-based strategy games and love a compelling, yet dark story, I can’t recommend King Arthur: Knight’s Tale enough, it’s an exceptional game.

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

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.

Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny is a fun, simple action RPG with a great heart. It features a wonderful story, and the fact that you can play as one of 9 different Nicktoons characters is great. There are various skills you can access, tons of loot, and the game doesn’t shy away from bringing all kinds of interesting worlds and enemies in front of you. With that in mind, variety is limited, yet what’s there is very well-made, and it makes you want to play more and more in this creative world. Sure, you won’t have the build variety of something like Diablo, but if you want a more casual action RPG with a colorful world and a great heart, this is definitely something you want to play.

Unruly Heroes is not a long game (8 hours), but it's tense and quite entertaining. It challenges both your reflexes and your brain, but it will also amaze you with its graphics, music and animations. If you're a fan of the genre, Unruly Heroes is a title you don't want to miss.

One of the biggest surprises of this year, Jagged Alliance 3 breathes new life into a series that was mediocre at best. There are a lot of reasons to play the new Jagged Alliance game, but the most important one is the overall gameplay experience that’s incredibly addictive if you’re fond of turn-based tactical games. Despite some minor issues with the camera and weapon variation, Jagged Alliance 3 is by far the best game in the series. It’s challenging, fun, and extremely addictive, so there’s absolutely no reason not to give it a try.

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 biggest criticism that can be leveled at the title is that it is a little too conservative in its approach to the role-playing and action genres and fails to introduce something entirely new...At the same time, the developers have managed to carefully polish the core tenets of Dragon Age and fans of the series will be happy to discover how easy it is to tailor Inquisition to their own play style.

Deathless. Tales of Old Rus is a carefully constructed experience that gives players variety when it comes to heroes, cards, relics, opponents, and more. Battles require both planning and on-the-spot improvisation, successfully creating that one-more-run feeling. The presentation and fictional universe are somewhat limited by the genre, but the soundtrack is very good. Deathless. Tales of Old Rus does not revolutionize its genre but strong execution and one interesting new idea make it a good choice for fans looking for a new way to test their skills.

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.

Battlesector is a good mix of setting and mechanics. It shows how fun and engaging a properly scaled and designed Warhammer 40,000 experience can be. The campaign has interesting choices as it progresses and offers a good level of challenge. Fans can also set up varied skirmishes or face friends in multiplayer (a Slitherine account is required for full functionality).

Europa Universalis IV continues to be one of the most complex and immersing titles on the market, especially for strategy lovers, and long-term fans will certainly find the new concepts interesting, while those who have not played the game yet are better served by getting the core package before trying the expansions and the DLC.

The Executive - Movie Industry Tycoon is a good movie-making business simulation that doesn’t do anything particularly original. The setup is simple, and the movie-making progress has been distilled into a loop that gives gamers crucial decisions to make. The experience isn’t turn-based but manages to successfully create the same feeling of “just one more” movie. The presentation, with its bright colors and easy-to-understand interface, adds to the immersion. Over time, the mechanical limitations and the repetitive nature become clearer. The Executive - Movie Industry Tycoon works best in small doses and as long as players see the process of making a movie as more than a series of choices to repeat until they get the expected result.

Nordhold takes the core ideas of the tower defense genre and executes them with care and attention. The game doesn’t aim to innovate but its core loop is rock solid and will be engaging for anyone who likes the concept. Even better, the developers at StunForge have a clear idea of how they plan to expand their game and looking for extra input from the community. The management side of the game has plenty of depth but doesn’t overshadow the combat. The game successfully creates a “just one more run” feeling that basically makes time disappear. Nordhold doesn’t revolutionize its genre but its rock-solid gameplay will appeal to both newcomers and long-term fans of tower defense.

Scathe is a good first-person shooter for anyone who loves the genre and appreciates a challenge. The story is good enough and the combat feels visceral. Moving through the same rooms can become repetitive but the FPS mechanics are good enough to keep players engaged. I would have liked for the game to offer at least another difficulty level. Frustration can also appear if the re-spawn puts the player in the middle of a big fight, with no way out. But, overall, Scathe understands what makes an FPS tick and adds enough new ideas to keep fans engaged.

There’s no doubt that Dying Light: The Beast is best game in the series, but that doesn’t make it the perfect zombie game. Taking the signature elements from both previous games, enhancing and wrapping them up in a much nicer package was the best decision Techland could take. The Beast Mode is a new gameplay mechanic that perfectly blends into the Dying Light formula, so that’s another positive change the series has gained with Dying Light: The Beast. The story is strong and there are no longer average or boring side-quests. Also, Kyle Crane is a more believable character than Aidan Caldwell. He perfectly fits the gritty tone of the game, and it elevates Dying Light: The Beast to the best entry in the series.

Decktamer is a rock-solid card-battler with a big and cool unique twist. The idea that taming rather than simply destroying monsters adds complexity to every decision. It also makes it more satisfying to pull off a complex plan, especially when players manage to recruit one of the more powerful creatures. The fact that there’s no node map focuses attention on the rewards and dangers of each battle. The game’s story is decent, but combat, with its many opportunities and what-if situations, is the big draw. Decktamer rewards patience and focus with great combat and interesting creature design.

I had a lot of fun playing Sacre Bleu, I haven’t enjoyed a platformer so much since the days of Captain Claw. It’s a great game with a fun style, interesting characters and powers, and a ton of heart. Yes, it can be difficult at times, but it’s not a very punishing game, so you will find yourself cruising through Bastille and following the story, as you try to figure out how it all comes to an end. Plus, if you really want to test yourself, there are modifiers, secrets and speedruns to check out as well!

If you never liked the larger-than-life humor of the series, the often dry and dark jokes, or you grew up watching South Park there is nothing here for you. Sam and Max Save the World Remastered is a reminder of a different era, and what was in your face 15 years ago, not will feel outdated or childish. Still the remaster offers a very warm and cozy trip back to the golden age of point and click adventure games.

Newcomers to the franchise will find Battle Brothers very hard to pick up, especially due to the lack of a proper tutorial. I do love those games that don't hold your hand, but I think Battle Brothers is in a league of its own and some more complex aspects should be made more clear. Although the learning curve is quite steep, once you get the hang of it, Battle Brothers is actually a very enjoyable experience. I strongly recommend those looking for a challenging turn-based RPG to give Battle Brothers a try, not just for the complexity of building the perfect company of brothers, but also for its stunning soundtrack and art style.

I didn’t have high expectations from Lost Eidolons, which is why I’m pleasantly surprised and can’t wait to see what’s coming next from Ocean Drive Studio. Despite the fact that it starts very slow, there’s a lot of enjoyable content hidden under the guise of a standard turn-based strategy game. If you love the Fire Emblem series or just looking for an XCOM-style strategy game, Lost Eidolons is well worth your time. With a little additional polish when it comes to presentation and more weapons/armor variety, I think this could have been close to a masterpiece.

Probably the bleakest episode in the new series so far, but this isn't a bad thing. The dialogue and conversations are top-notch and there are lots of decisions that need to be taken by players and Clementine, whether they like it or not.

Armored Brigade II is a solid, carefully researched, and varied military simulation strategy title that demands quite a bit of time and attention from its players. Battles are complex, offer plenty of tactical options, and the computer-controlled opponent is competent, if conservative. To fully enjoy them, gamers need to be familiar with the featured forces and learn how to read the battlefield. Newcomers should start off small, generating a scenario with a smaller number of units, while those who played the first title in the series can jump right into the campaigns. Armored Brigade II shows that military strategy experiences do not need to sacrifice depth to be accessible and pure fun.

Pyrene plays fast and the idea of making everything, from the player-controlled hero to enemies, objectives, and items, a card set in a square is a nice twist on familiar mechanics. The core loop is easy to understand but takes time and concentration to master. Even better, gamers can always tweak the difficulty of their next run to suit their taste. The rogue-lite elements are solid but lack the same level of innovation. The Basque lore and the title’s presentation enhance immersion. Pyrene could have taken a few extra risks with its structure but the moment-to-moment card action is tense and fun.

In Their Shoes is a great experience, even if it doesn’t fully deliver as a video game. The seven characters and the situations they have to deal with are beautifully constructed to be both relatable and interesting. The problems they have to deal with will resonate with anyone living in a big modern city, even if they’ve never set foot in Milan or Italy. I like that each moment is relatively short and that each encourages players to replay the previous ones. But there’s nothing complex about the gameplay, which involves paying attention and making dialogue choices. In Their Shoes will appeal to players who love great characters and solid narrative work.

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishment isn't anything groundbreaking, but it's probably one of the best narrative-focused mystery games on the market. It's definitely a polished experience and may very well be the best Sherlock Holmes video game ever created, with a tense atmosphere, satisfying cases, and varied mini-games and puzzles.

Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy is a remake with real heart, showcasing the care and passion put into revitalizing this classic. Far from a cash grab, it’s a project aimed at polishing a forgotten gem, giving it a new life while preserving its original charm. This is the kind of remake that will resonate with both veteran players who fondly remember the original and newcomers discovering its adventure for the first time. I can’t recommend this game highly enough. It’s a shining example of classic adventure games, perfectly blending exploration with creative problem-solving. A true stroll down memory lane, Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy offers beautiful visuals and modernized gameplay mechanics that enhance the experience without losing its nostalgic charm.

The system does not feel oppressive, and Ubisoft clearly hopes that most gamers will spend actual currency at some point during their career, but for some fans, its very existence is a problem, given that they already have to pay full price for the core package.

Lacuna is not very long, but it has really high replay value and it checks the correct boxes of an adventure game. But what makes Lacuna really memorable are the atmosphere and the fact that it focuses on consequences rather than morality. The pixel-art graphics and spot-on soundtrack complement the experience and make from Lacuna an experience that all adventure game fans should experience. The detailed scenario, intelligent story delivery, relatable characters and political intrigue make Lacuna a memorable experience.

Young Souls is a solid beat-em up that intelligently adds role-playing ideas to enhance its core gameplay. The bosses are well-designed and mostly fun to fight, especially if the player wisely diversified what the pair can do. The narrative is not groundbreaking but gives players plenty of interesting moments and cool banter (again, with plenty of swearing that can be filtered out). Players should not be afraid of dropping the difficulty level if they feel the game is too hard. And experimentation, when it comes to both equipment and tactics, can solve plenty of combat puzzles. Young Souls is fast, engaging, deep enough, a good example of how a classic genre can be updated for modern sensibilities.

Edge of Sanity features an interesting mix of ideas that will appeal to players who like management and appreciate careful planning and execution. The story has a good mix of personal drama and Lovecraft-inspired terror, enhanced by the art design and voice acting. I felt tense as I sneaked around the creatures, considering whether I wanted to risk and get more rations or if I should get out as quickly as possible. The camp job system is not very deep, and some character conversations feel unnecessary. The core loop can also become repetitive and frustrating. Edge of Sanity has great ideas but struggles to make them shine.

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.

The most interesting additions are the new planet types that can be colonized and the Titans that can be unleashed against enemy empires.

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.

I can easily see myself spending hundreds of hours playing Humankind but not before it gets at least a round of updates to deal with crashes and some performance issues. The core of the 4X gameplay is easy to understand but hard to master, with a very big possibility space. The main selling point, moving through civilizations as history progresses, creates plenty of potential for cool stories, overpowered empires, and surprising twists. But the overall experience sometimes feels like less than the sum of its parts. Amplitude has such a reputation for creating unique civilizations and mechanics that I expected more.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War is definitely an improvement over the previous title, and it would have been much better without the loot boxes. While it can be argued that it makes life a little bit easier for people that don’t have time to invest in the game, it ultimately detracts from the goal and that it to be fun. On the other hand, the loot boxes won’t stop me from replaying this game at least one more time, and to go through all of the expansions. I’m inevitably drawn to it, and I have to say that at least for me, the presence of loot boxes is not enough to stop me from enjoying it, probably much more than it should.

Even though it’s not a flawless game, Deathtrap has the potential to redefine the tower defense genre and make it more addictive than ever. The combat feels smooth and the multitude of choices you have to take during each scenario keeps you interesting more than other tower defense games.

Astronaut: The Best isn’t as deep or as varied as it seems at first sight, but it has good core mechanics. And the world it conjures is engaging in its weirdness, despite the relative lack of cohesion that’s evident at certain points in the branching narratives. The game’s presentation will not be for everybody, although it meshes well with both story and mechanics. Constantly playing through the same scenarios to get extra coins that unlock more options can be annoying. I also wanted more time to prepare for some challenges to limit the impact of luck. But the core ideas of Astronaut: The Best are all solid and the universe it conjures mixes weirdness and tough choices in creative ways.

12 Labours of Hercules is the kind of game that's promoted as casual, but I can tell you that's not a fair assessment. It's the perfect game to play when you have only a little time, but it will also keep you awake at night. It doesn't have amazing graphics or some powerful story. It's just addictive, fun, and that's pretty much all that matters.

Foretales manages to be both innovative in its gameplay and deliver an engaging story, a rare combination in the world of card-driven video games. It’s fast-paced, asks players to think about actions and consequences, and deals with the fate of the world and with more personal relationships. The combination of systems might be a little overwhelming initially, but it only takes about an hour before the game reveals its depth and variety. The developers at Alkemi have created a deep game that encourages players to think outside the box and minimize casualties as much as possible. Foretales will reward players for giving it their time and energy.

Newcomers to the series will find Fire Emblem Engage a great game, but they won’t truly know what a Fire Emblem game means until they play a previous title. Despite the few negatives, Fire Emblem Engage is a must for fans of the series, as well as newcomers who love turn-based strategy games.

Ale Abbey - Monastery Brewery Tycoon works best as a laid-back way to spend a few hours, thinking of potential ingredient combinations while big fermenters deal with customer orders. The game is also an excellent way to learn about types of beer, their evolution, and the impressively weird combinations that a committed brewer could create. The game’s presentation, especially the pixel art, makes it easy to spend time researching, building new rooms, and dealing with the needs of the workers. Extra content for the events and missions would have helped with immersion. Ale Abbey sometimes feels repetitive, but it manages to add new brews at a solid enough pace to keep the work interesting.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is worthy of the name, and that was no easy task for Infinity Ward. We also have to mention that Infinity Ward is only present in name, as the team that made the original 2007 iteration has long since departed Activision. I played the game on PC, and I have to have to say that it looks stunning. From the looks of it, each new edition of Call of Duty somehow manages to enhance the graphics without impacting the hardware. The only problem I found was the time it took to preload the shaders, a process that was supposed to take place only once. But it was triggered again after the update.

SteamWorld Build initially looks like a classic city builder with a cute theme and robots instead of humans. But the mine management, especially when they reach the third underground level, has solid new ideas, especially during the frantic moments when you’re dealing with a big enemy assault. Finding and getting all the rocket parts is not easy, mainly because the scientist class gobbles up so many hard to produce products. I like the gradual ramp up in complexity that SteamWorld Build delivers and the game provides an engaging experience for both fans of the franchise and newcomers.

Gloomy Eyes isn’t very complex in terms of puzzle design or too innovative in its storytelling. But the mechanics and the universe boost each other, while the two main characters are cute enough to keep players engaged. The game is relaxing and fun, even if the story doesn’t offer too many surprises. The Tim Burton-derived presentation enhances gameplay at first but becomes tiring after a while. Gloomy Eyes doesn’t fully deliver on its potential but offers a solid set of puzzles built around a charming pair of heroes.

Company of Heroes 2 – Ardennes Assault is a good standalone package and the campaign that Relic has created manages to capture the tension associated with the Battle of the Bulge, although there are some moments when the company deviates from historical reality in order to increase the dramatic element.

Sunset might ultimately be an unsatisfying game but the only way for a player to decide how he feels about it is to play through at least 15 days as Angela and see whether he starts to fall in love with her story.

Jusant is a bit hard to be included in a genre, but truth to be told it does not really need to. It is a breath of fresh air, an artistic production that is not scared to break away from the norm and the standard to walk its own path. It has its challenges, and the gameplay is simple yet interesting enough to keep you hooked. Jusant’s mysteries are never completely revealed, thus joining a select club of games that stir up an emotional response from their players.

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is a very interesting beat’em’up that’s short, but sweet. It has a wonderful story, one that seems to be taken right out of the comic books. But it’s something new, refreshing, and it allows us to control iconic Marvel characters, along with lesser-known ones. As a complete package, MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is a delightful return to the golden era of beat’em’ups. It feels great to play, the combat is very intuitive, and the character selection is outstanding. The game’s visuals and soundtrack are also up to par with expectations, with some levels being very impressive. Whether you are a child of the 90s, or a child today, the game is a delight to play, and it’s certainly going to push you towards reading more comics.

Academia: School Simulator is a medium commitment simulation experience, meaning that it’s engrossing without overwhelming. Gamers do not have to worry about coming tweaks or the introduction of entirely new mechanics because the game is content complete. The title also has a very extensive set of mods that can introduce variety when a player feels like a master of the core experience.

Rogue Spirit’s unique idea is great, enhancing the action game with its fun implementation. It’s a pleasure to move from body to body, discover their capabilities and then create a deadly chain of attacks, shits, and abilities. Bosses pose a clear challenge but are not unfair. The rogue layer doesn’t tweak the familiar formula in any way and requires some grinding to get the big permanent upgrades. The world looks good and the narrative is decent. Rogue Spirit is a great example of how a well targeted new idea can make some classic genre ideas feel fresh again.

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.

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.

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.

Reigns: The Witcher is a good, small, smart, and often funny game that remixes Geralt’s adventures in interesting ways. It’s a nice way to revisit the universe for anyone who has played at least one of the titles in the franchise and wants to experience it in a new way. But those unfamiliar with this fantasy world should stay away. It’s easy to understand the mechanics and quickly play a few sessions, pushing to meet one of the goals and trying to find new ways for the hero to die. The game is best enjoyed in short bursts. Stop when the action becomes repetitive or if the same death pops up twice. Reigns: The Witcher would have been better if it tweaked the series’ core mechanic a little to give players more control. It's still fun to see what tales Dandelion will spin.

I like Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi’s unique world and a great focus on platforming, puzzle-solving and incredible story. Sure, it’s more of a linear experience and it doesn’t have a ton of exploration. But the story is very emotional, its temple and shrine puzzles encourage you to experiment, and the 2 characters they chose complement each other quite nicely. On top of that, the villain is very memorable, both when it comes to the dialog, but also the intense voice acting. That being said, you can’t continue the game after you beat the final boss, and combat doesn’t always flow very well. However, it’s an overly interesting experience, and it continued to impress me with its clever puzzles and story, right up until the end. They did an excellent job creating this world, the voice acting is nice, and I really hope they will be creating a new entry in this series in the future. But even if this is all, it’s a wonderful story, and one that’s not too long, either.

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.

Mail Time is a delightful experience, filled with interesting characters and almost no conflict. All the different quests are fun to engage with and the game offers a nice sense of discovery. I love being helpful and trying to make this small patch of forest a better place for everyone. The party at the end is also a great reward for all the exploration. The gameplay is relatively limited and the title is short. It can serve as a great way to introduce younger players to platforming and a bright and colorful open world. It can also warm the heart of jaded veterans of the genre. Mail Time is nice and fun enough that I wished there was more of this world to explore and really hope the developers are thinking about a sequel.

Realpolitiks II is a good grand strategy experience. It has plenty of mechanics to engage with and cool ways to push the player to try new things depending on the nation he chooses. The international system is underdeveloped but the project concept is an innovation that works well. The development team at Jujubee has also focused on the modern world, a period that not many titles in the genre try to tackle (Paradox has not yet moved much beyond World War II). Realpolitiks II might seem complex for newcomers but its mix of ideas and execution will work well for anyone who has even a little experience with the grand strategy space.

This is the kind of experience where gamers will often know how to get to the base but will struggle mightily to remake the environment or defeat enemies while keeping all the darsanauts in line and alive. Moons Of Darsalon is clearly a labor of love and I like much of what it’s trying to do, even if I think the effort should have been spent on another core gameplay loop.

Atomfall takes inspiration from many games, including Stalker, the Metro series, Fallout, while also adding Rebellion’s amazing sandbox gameplay. What you’re getting here is an immersive sandbox with a wonderful, new approach to storytelling and fresh ideas. Yes, not everything clicks from the start, and you might be confused at first. However, as the story develops, you get engulfed into the story, and the choices you make will affect how you finish the game. I think it’s well worth a try for anyone who wants a proper FPS/RPG blend with an interesting story, and one that doesn’t overstay its welcome!

Pro Cycling Manager 2024 creates a complex mix of team management and race action that is designed to draw in cycling fans. The title features real names and likenesses for most riders and teams, which adds to the immersion. And races feel more exciting than in previous installments, although it can be harder for smaller teams to make an impact. It takes time and failure to figure out how to run a successful team. It is fun to discover what kind of sprint setups work best or the secret to mastering hilly finishes. But there are also moments when the game gets in its own way and makes players work harder than they should. Still, Pro Cycling Manager 2024 is a great way to rewrite cycling history in fun ways.

Deck of Haunts delivers an original take on the deck-building experience. It gives players the dual task of building a deep maze of scary rooms while putting together an effective set of cards to take down nighttime invaders. I like the snippets of lore revealed by the cards and events, but the world-building isn’t impressive. The title’s biggest issue is the limited meta-progression. Players unlock new cards when they finish a run but, after winning a few, the motivation to start over diminishes. Deck of Haunts has good ideas and good execution but might struggle to hold the players’ attention in the long term.

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.

Unleaving is a unique experience that will draw players in with its unique presentation, especially the painted art style, and its lyrical approach to narrative. The title does not try to explain everything but manages to communicate emotions, some of them deep and dark, others hopeful and bright. The puzzle design is good, although it's easy to struggle with execution after having a clear idea of the solution (do not be afraid to use the hint system). Unleaving is a short and heartfelt video game that showcases the unique vision an indie creator can deliver.

The base Crusader Kings II launch is a great way for players to check out the core features and see whether they suit their interests, and The Horse Lords is probably in the top three when it comes to expansion quality.

Simon the Sorcerer Origins is a great experience if you want to enjoy a wonderful story. There are lots of gags in there, and they don’t shy away from adding some creative gameplay ideas. Sure, there are small frustrations, like stiff animations at times or bad inventory management, but that didn’t push me away from the game. If anything, it’s a solid game that certainly earns its spot as one of the best adventure games in the past few years.

Total Tank Generals is more than just a modern Panzer General, it’s the best way to immerse yourself in the history of World War II and learn how some of the greatest military leaders have become famous.

The most recent installment in the Monster Hunter series is the best way to start experiencing thrilling hunts, deep combat mechanics, and a rewarding gameplay loop. It is the friendliest installment to newcomers and a must-play for veterans of the series – if they manage their expectations. I have no doubt that Wilds refines and enhances the existing Monster Hunter experience rather than redefining it. At the end of the day, those who embrace the franchise’s signature challenge and depth will find that this game stands as another solid and satisfying entry in the franchise, even if some mechanics may need some time to get used to.

Elden Ring Nightreign impressed me with its clever gameplay, stunning game world, but also numerous nightlords and enemy design. Sure, there were some issues at launch, but those were mostly ironed out, and matchmaking now runs very well. Of course, you can still choose to go on solo expeditions, if playing with others is not your cup of tea. However, Elden Ring Nightreign is clearly designed as a multiplayer-first experience. It’s very intense, fun to play, and there’s a reason to come back and do more expeditions. The roguelike approach might not seem great for everyone at first, but you slowly get engulfed in it and want to do one more expedition. I found myself spending hours and hours in Elden Ring Nightreign, switching between solo expeditions and coop. I hope the devs will continue supporting the game beyond its forthcoming DLC, because we have a great foundation for what could become an excellent soulslike live service game.

With this new fantasy themed title, and the previous science fiction themed Galactic Civilizations III Stardock has managed to corner the market when it comes to turn-based strategy, delivering a solid mix of both classic and innovative mechanics.

For me, Firefighting Simulator: Ignite was a joy to play, mainly because the game is very fun, engaging and all missions feel different and challenging in their own right. The visuals are stunning, the game world is beautifully-made and scenarios feel like something taken out of real-life situations. You receive plenty of guidance and training, but at the same time, you also need to focus on thinking quickly and finding the right solution. If you play Firefighting Simulator: Ignite, you’ll have a lot more respect for firefighters and the amazing work they do, but also the dangers they face. This game is maybe the best example of a firefighting simulator done right, with all the beautiful, but also challenging parts that come with this job. Missions are well designed, so you get to test your wits and challenge yourself to surpass mission times, but there are also mods that you can enjoy, which will surely increase the longevity of the game.

Torn Away is a narrative-focused game that explores some very difficult historical moments through the eyes of a child. Asya is a strong protagonist and the game works hard to give her interesting things to do from a gameplay perspective. Neither the platforming nor the puzzles sequences are hard to complete and most of the mechanics are familiar. Players need to be sure that they are ready to deal with some troubling and difficult moments before they engage with the game. After playing, it might be time to donate to a charity that helps children in danger. Torn Away is a good example of how video games can engage with complex themes and bring a level of engagement that other mediums cannot deliver.

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.

Gunbrella delivers a great combination of platforming and combat, punctuated by challenging boss fights and plenty of character interactions. The game introduces new ideas and challenges at a good pace and boredom never sets in. The narrative could have used some extra weirdness, but the universe is engaging and offers some cool moments. The game could have used more variety when it comes to battle scenarios and maybe a little less backtracking. Gunbrella implements the core ideas of action platforming well and adds plenty of fun new ideas that will appeal both to newcomers and genre veterans.

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.

Tiny Thor is a nostalgia-powered experience that takes the best ideas of classic action platformers and adds its own spin to them. The gameplay is tight and challenging, designed to give players opportunities to improvise while also rewarding careful planning. It’s exhilarating to nail a tough sequence on the first or second try. The title’s story is engaging enough to keep players immersed and the presentation enhances the entire experience. Any gamer that loves handcrafted levels, the thrill of figuring out solutions on the fly, and a high level of challenge will be satisfied with what Tiny Thor is offering. I only wished for the game to also offer more difficulty and accessibility options to open up the experience to a wider group of potential players.

Trepang2 is a solid first-person shooter that has plenty of FEAR vibes and will deliver hours of fun to any fan of the genre looking for challenging battles, supernatural elements, and boss fights. The game is filled with interesting tactical scenarios, tense moments, and plenty of over-the-top violence. The lore is decent and the revenge story is pretty basic, although it goes places. The graphics and sound design elevate the combat. The difficulty level can be changed if a section is too hard. Both veterans of the FPS and newcomers will have fun with Trepang2 and its impressive combat sequences.

Hyper Empire uses an innovative approach to tackle a classic problem of the strategy genre: it takes too long to play a campaign, which leads to abandonment. The development team at Fair Weather Studios has created a tight experience that offers interesting choices, decent automated combat, and five factions to play as. The lore isn’t original, and events don’t have a ton of impact on the campaign and the presentation isn’t impressive. Some extra balancing is needed when it comes to hymn and tech effects, as well as victory conditions. Hyper Empire’s core game loop is very good and the fact that you can get through a campaign in half an hour is an achievement in itself.

Return to Grace is an immersive narrative experience that shines when it comes to character interactions. The cast of Artificial Intelligence constructs is varied, fun, and challenges players to re-evaluate their approach and priorities. They are also beautifully voiced, as is the main character Adie. The story is also captivating, although some sections toward the conclusion feel rushed. Gameplay strives for variety but most of the featured mechanics feel shallow. It would have been better for the developers to focus on just one core idea and execute it with more complexity and a higher difficulty level. Despite this limitation, Return to Grace is one of the most interesting science fiction adventures I’ve played recently, and as many players as possible need to experience the banter of its A.I. companions.

Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine creates an interesting combination of platforming and puzzle elements. The gameplay is easy to understand and the levels deliver a stream of interesting new challenges. Fans of Meat Boy’s adventures are the obvious target audience but the mechanics are interesting enough to draw in players who don’t love extra-hard complex action. The presentation helps especially the very good soundtrack. The game’s choice to offer an invincibility option means that it’s actually possible to eliminate any kind of frustration linked to a lack of progress. Simply knowing that it was there made me actually try harder to get through Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine's more challenging sections.

Forgive Me Father is a good first-person shooter that, despite embracing the retro concept, does not rely on nostalgia to draw players in. I played it relatively cautiously, conserving ammo when I could, and I didn’t feel like the madness system worked against me. But the game is at its best in the big arena fights, with big groups of enemies, a shredding soundtrack, and no option but to take the fight to them. The limited narrative works well for it, mostly because players can focus on the combat and on how they can improve their performance. The game should deliver more combat arenas and fewer jumping puzzles, but overall Forgive Me Father is one of the best retro FPS experiences of the moment.

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.

The mix of comic-book aesthetics, exhilarating soundtrack, and solid shooter gameplay make Void Bastards an absolute delight. Sprinkle that with a bucketload of dark humor and bizarrely mutated enemies and you get an incredibly addictive game, which forces you to go through the same gameplay loop over and over again.

Decarnation is one of those rare video games that’s more than the sum of its parts. The story it tells is both important and carefully plotted. Gloria is an exceptional character and the game offers full access to her inner life. The gameplay is varied enough to keep players interested, although not all the mechanics are good by themselves. All these elements come together to deliver a great tale of discovery, resilience, and survival. Play it in two or three sessions, absorb the unique atmosphere, and try to push through the more annoying gameplay sequences. Decarnation is a very good game with a great main character and a unique twist on familiar ideas.

Tombwater is very good at mixing two very different inspirations into a coherent experience. Bloodborne, moved into two dimensions, supplies the core combat mechanics, the feeling of eerie transformation, the magic system, and the fire. The Wild West brings in the characters, the dusty town, and the taciturn main character. Anyone who loves both will have a lot of fun exploring this world, discovering its past, conquering its many challenges, and developing their combat abilities. It helps that players have the option to make the game easier in the Settings menu once they start their adventure. Tombwater can be frustrating at times, but its core combination of ideas is very good.