Ocean’s Heart is a good game with a specific audience in mind. The overall atmosphere and the presentation will capture the attention of anyone who has had even a casual relationship with the classic Zelda releases. But the game has more to offer than a simple homage and adds humor, cool levels, solid combat, and a quirky look that make it unique. Using the sword, bows, and bombs to get through enemies and puzzles is simple and engaging throughout. There are moments when the difficulty spikes a little too harshly but that’s compensated by the simple continue system. The map can be unhelpful and the borders between spaces a little hard to always detect. But Max Mraz knows how to make the player feel welcomed inside the world he builds and I cannot wait to see what he can deliver next, after Yarntown and Ocean’s Heart.

The Perfect Pencil is a great video game for anyone who likes the mechanical mix of the Metroidvania genre. The balance tilts toward exploration, which is a good choice given the weirdness of the universe and the beauty of its biomes. Scanning is a nice little additional idea that feels a little underused. The ability to heal through combat is solid, even if the more complex set-pieces and the boss battles move too fast for it. A balance pass for checkpoints is also needed. I like The Perfect Pencil’s originality and found it best enjoyed in sessions just long enough to get to a new save point.

I had a great time playing The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow, so I’m compelled to recommend this to anyone who loves point & click adventure games. The outstanding voice-acting, stellar soundtrack and well-written story are easily among the best things this game has to offer. Hail, Abraxas Rex!

Life Is Strange is an imperfect video game and the actual mechanics of playing it, including the time rewind, can become annoying of frustrating, especially when the development team tries to borrow from another genre. But the game makes it easy to create a connection with Max and to care about her choices and trials, a rare feat, and that means any fan of narrative-driven experiences should try it out to see how he deals with the feelings of the protagonist and the impact they have on Arcadia Bay.

REPLACED is a beautiful, narrative driven experience, and that’s where the game is at its best. It tells a very interesting, gripping story, and I found myself fascinated with the great locations, mesmerizing backgrounds, but also the intricate characters found within the game. Sad Cat Studios hit it out of the park here, the game is not only visually impressive with its pixelated art style, but also the well-written story. REPLACED also brings excellent social commentary, making us think twice about our society and its path forward. It’s certainly not without its small issues, like combat being repetitive and platforming not shining that much. But it’s definitely one of those games that will make you pause and look at the scenery often, while pondering about your life and your role in society. Plus, if you are a completionist, there’s plenty of lore and extra info to be found here. All in all, it’s a delightful game, but keep in mind that it’s all about the story rather than action.

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is a great sequel. It innovates just enough to feel fresh but, unfortunately, takes a bit of player freedom away through its fixed characters.

I had a great time playing Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and I strongly recommend the game to anyone who loves games like Nioh. It’s a lot easier and has some interesting new mechanics that are definitely worth exploring.

Trinity Fusion is built around a combat system that’s easy to understand but hard to master. I like the focus on picking the best mix of weapons and Amplifiers, creating synergies that make handling both groups and individuals easy. The rogue-lite elements are not very deep, but they offer players extra options to tweak their playstyle. Choice matters and there’s plenty of space for experimentation. The narrative is just interesting enough to keep players engaged in the long term. The apocalyptic theme should have been used to increase the weirdness level of both worlds and enemies. Trinity Fusion has good mechanics and i8t will welcome both newcomers, thanks to the Hyper system, and veterans.

When I started playing Constance, I had no idea what to expect. Releasing a metroidvania so close to Silksong was a gamble, but I think it paid off. Constance might not be the 30+ hour juggernaut that game is, but it has a heartwarming story and its platforming is excellent. The narrative is amazing, and the unique painting mechanic adds risk, but also rewards strategic thinking, too. You’re also rewarded if you explore, which is important for this type of game. Constance has its caveats, like limited fast travel or the main character not speaking at all during the game. However, those things are by design, and they tie into the game’s approach towards stress and mental health. This is a type of game that can help you rethink some of your choices in life, while also giving you 4-5 hours of intense platforming goodness, and it’s a breath of fresh air for the genre.

Still the new art direction will not be to everyone’s liking, and it remains one of the compromises made by the developers to ensure that Return to Monkey Island is relevant for 2022. And they managed to accomplish so much more, by developing a great game. It works both as a fan service for the point & click aficionados and also as a modern-day adventure game for newcomers. It has some minor shortcomings, but overall, it is once more a shiny standard of how good adventures should play and feel.

Newcomers to the genre or the series should pick up the core Company of Heroes 2 at first, to get themselves familiarized with the series and its ideas, and then make the jump to The Western Front Armies in order to experience more varied matches.

Even if it’s a very short game, Neon Inferno is memorable and it brings one of the best side-scrolling shooting experiences in recent times. Zenovia Interactive has improved on the already good Steel Assault core gameplay. Their new game, Neon Inferno, feels more polished, and despite its shorter length, it brings a great story and wonderful moment-to-moment gameplay. Neon Inferno is an ode to the games of a golden era, and an excellent introduction to arcade shooters for those that never played one. It’s a must-have for any fan of action shooters, and a great way to take a break from demanding, challenging games.

Halls of Torment offers a good take on survival action mechanics. Many players will pick it up not only because of the strong core loop but also because of its presentation, which evokes Diablo in all but the smallest details. Anyone who loved the Blizzard titles and appreciates fast-paced combat with a focus on good upgrade choices will have fun. But nostalgia will not be enough for those looking for innovation in a crowded genre. The game’s world feels limited and the meta-progression mechanics aren’t enough to ensure the moment-to-moment action remains fresh. Halls of Torment does not transform its genre but can quickly become addictive for players who are into the mechanics and the general Diablo vibe.

Persona 3 Reload is a complete reimagining of the original. It feels just as modern as Persona 5, although it is less complex it does not feel rushed or less engaging. The developers managed to combine the best elements of the third and fifth episode into a remake that feels completely fresh. Beyond the grindy nature of Tartarus there are no real negative aspects to mention. Persona 3 Reload looks better, works better and plays better than the original, making it a must play for the fans of the series.

Space Adventure Cobra - The Awakening takes a mostly forgotten fictional universe and builds a good game around it. The narrative is directly drawn from the anime based on the manga, while the mechanics competently use the action platformer template. The Psychogun’s guided attack is a unique mechanic that makes combat, especially boss engagements, more exciting. Play cooperatively, if possible, and don’t skip the cutscenes, even if they seem cheesy. The protagonist’s relatively imprecise movement could lead some players to quit playing, but Space Adventure Cobra - The Awakening compensates with retro charm and a cool hand cannon that can stop time.

If you’re a fan of JRPGs, there’s a lot of fun to be had in Fuga: Melodies of Steel. The series deserves more games like this and a lot more people to play them. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a very interesting take on the turn-based strategy genre.

En Garde! offers a tight core idea and executes on it well, although in some predictable ways. It’s fun to constantly scan the battlefield and evaluate incoming enemies to decide how to use the environment and Adalia’s superior fencing skills to separate groups, stun some enemies, and, finally, take all of them down. The unlockable reveals even more options to spice battles up and create interesting scenarios. The title’s platforming and exploration are limited, which will limit its appeal for anyone who doesn’t quickly enjoy the combat. En Garde! is a happy adventure dedicated to fans of pulp and complex battle situations.

Hue promotes itself as a platformer and a puzzle game, and as far as I’m concerned it managed to do both genres justice in equal manner. The unique color-based controls is also something worth praising, and those of you that suffer from color blindness will be glad to know that the game also has a feature that will allow if you to play it without problems. All in all, if you’re the type that loves short games with a compelling story and a memorable gameplay experience, then Hue is definitely a title you should take into consideration.

If you ever wished you could play a necromancer, battle dragons and date a Khajiit, or, why not, all three, Elsweyr delivers on that and then some. Just don't give up because of the flavorless storyline.

Murderous Muses is a rare full-motion video-driven video game that uses the concept in interesting ways. The central mystery is compelling and it’s worth exploring the weirdness of the island where everything takes place. There are plenty of videos to unlock and investigate and some decent extra puzzles to solve. The gameplay is relatively limited, especially when it comes to hunting down that last keyword required to unlock a police interview. The presentation, the acting, and the plot are strong enough to keep players moving and thinking. Murderous Muse's quality should attract new players to the FMV genre while satisfying long-term fans.

Suzerain is a good experience that sometimes feels like it needs a little more game. Following the career path of President Rayne and facing the many challenges can be both thrilling and boring, with a side of frustrating at times. The developers clearly have a lot of talent for world-building and dialogue writing, which makes the game a treat for anyone willing to learn about the world and play with its possibilities. Come to Suzerain first for the feeling of power and the scheming, stay longer to discover the characters and the way choices are interlocked in an interesting way.

Worth the investment for its stellar story. Bear in mind that the combat and the camera issues are still present.

Passing By - A Tailwind Journey mixes flight and platforming in almost equal quantities. None of its mechanics have a ton of depth but the process of navigating, spotting islands, evaluating needs, and then exploring is engaging. The unique visual style and good soundtrack help immerse players in this world of floating islands. It would have been nice for the characters to have more dialogue, perhaps exploring the challenges of life among the clouds. Passing By - A Tailwind Journey successfully combines two different mechanics with a good central character and a unique world.

Backpack Hero has a unique core mechanic that works. I liked constantly thinking of what I wanted to pick up and how I could create combos by placing items just right. There are a ton of possibilities, even if combat itself often feels limited and repetitive. Story mode adds an interesting twist with town building and management, although the story hooks aren’t that strong. The game is best enjoyed in short sessions, exploring just enough to put down a new building or reach another milestone. Backpack Hero succeeds at creating a fun gameplay loop for a very specific audience.

It's clear that Watch Dogs Legion is Ubisoft's first step toward innovation after so many years of generic formulas. I'd say it's a good start, but the “play-as-anyone” system is quite basic and doesn't offer that variation and richness that you would expect. It's a great and ambitious idea, but the execution is far from perfect. Despite these shortcomings, I have to admit that Watch Dogs Legion is actually a good game. I'm not familiar with Ubisoft's plans, but Legion opens up a lot of potential for the future of the series. Anyone who liked any of the previous games will absolutely love Watch Dogs Legion. It offers a lot of content that you can go through with a customized team of hackers, so no playthrough should be the same.

Wizard with a Gun creates an effective mix of action combat, building, resource management, and rogue elements. The narrative has just enough mystery and quirks to keep players engaged but the focus is squarely on exploration and combat, which involve a lot of repetition but remain engaging. I love how player choices feed into the fights and I appreciate the tension introduced by the Chaos timer. The game’s art style enhances its mechanics and makes the world a pleasure to spend time in. Wizard with a Gun is fun both in single-player and when played cooperatively and gives fans of the genre a chance to find a unique playstyle.

The Talos Principle 2 is just as brilliant as the first game was, being larger and more detailed. During the over 30 hours it needs to finish, the fans of the puzzle genre will be delighted and immersed in a world that serves almost as a philosophical lesson. The already great puzzle design is now joined by a brilliant narrative and a pretty good pacing. There is no real replay value, but the content is rich enough to keep you engaged for a long while.

Nitro Kid doesn’t deliver anything entirely original, in terms of ideas or implementation, but the final experience is more than the sum of its parts. The battles are solid and require good planning to get through with minimal HP loss. The rogue layer is decent but could use a little more variety. Discovering floor layouts and boss designs is exciting, as is working solutions to overcome them. Make sure to play a run or two at a time, enough to allow the soundtrack to wash over you and make a little progress. Nitro Kid is quick, fun, and varied, a great experience for players who love card-driven titles that focus on close-quarters engagements. Saving kids from an evil corporation never felt better.

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

Dark Sky is a focused mix of card combat and more classic role-playing. The science-fiction universe is varied and interesting, although it’s sometimes hard to connect with the characters. All combat is tense, and players have to pay attention to enemy force composition and develop strong strategies around card synergies. It’s possible to breeze through normal encounters, perhaps with a revive or two, and then get stuck on a boss for an hour, which in turn can generate frustration. But for fans of card-focused combat with a strong deck-building focus, Dark Sky is a great experience that will test their skills and reward them with plenty of complex engagements.

Gunhead is a fast and action-packed experience. There’s plenty of variety when it comes to both mech suits to choose from and weapons and systems to equip them with. The procedurally generated ships are complex. The game constantly asks players to choose between priorities, while taking down one of the name bosses feels exhilarating. I think players should make a few runs on easy to get the money needed to unlock most of the suits. It opens up the game, creating more space to choose the mech that fits a play style. Gunhead doesn’t reinvent any of its mechanics but offers a polished mix of FPS and rogue-lite that will create tons of fun hours for fans of both genres.

As a fan of the cartoon and someone who already played Cosmic Shake, the Patrick Star game and the other previous 3D games in the series, I was looking forward to SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide. And the game does not disappoint. It delivers the best platforming gameplay in the series until this point, and the world design is excellent. That SpongeBob SquarePants music is very memorable, too, and it’s stuck in my head already. While the game’s story has an awkward pacing at times and some cutscenes feel forced, that didn’t deter me from the overall experience. The game promises great platforming and a funny story, and for me, it delivered on those fronts. You can also unlock a lot of costumes and even find lots of collectibles. It might be on the shorter side, but SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is an excellent 3D platformer, especially for kids or families.

Night Swarm takes a familiar set of mechanics and adds just enough innovation to make them feel engaging again. The actual missions are quick, with quests thrown in to add variety and plenty of abilities to mix and match. The randomized runs cannot fully compensate for the repetitive action gameplay, but they come close. The title’s biggest weakness is that it gives players a few too many resources to juggle. Boss battles also fail to shine. Night Swarm is a good Vampire Survivors-like that shows there’s still plenty of space for the genre to try out new ideas.

Fall of Porcupine is a nice slice-of-life adventure experience. The main story moves a little slowly but the main attraction here is the anthropomorphized animal characters. Finley interacts with plenty of them and they slowly reveal personalities and quirks, while often behaving in unexpected ways. The medical-focused mechanics are also pretty charming at first when the player is healing a tortoise by playing a short rhythm game. Their increasing variety is not enough to keep them engaged as players experience new days in the town. Fall of Porcupine offers an original take on the narrative adventure genre and has enough cool character moments to compensate for the repetitive gameplay.

Geometry Dash is a really good and extremely challenging game. While it can get a bit frustrating sometimes, you can always complete the stages using the practice mode and then jump into the many different user-generated levels.

Ten Dates is a very classic full-motion video experience. It has a clear theme and manages to make the dating elements, especially for the initial speedy encounters, feel fleshed out. There are some interactions that feel forced and a few changes of tone that miss the mark. But this is a competent romantic narrative with light gameplay. The game wisely allows players to skip the sequences they have already seen, which makes it easy to explore most if not all the story branches. I did wish for the characters to comment a little more on the speed dating concept itself. For gamers who like the FMV approach, Ten Dates is a well-put-together title that’s great to play with friends, commenting on choices and romantic possibilities.

Ultimately, if you liked the first game, you will most certainly enjoy the sequel. It offers a much more solid RPG experience with lots of options for almost any type of playthrough. The writing is superior, the character progression system makes a lot more sense, and the level design is top notch too, along with voice acting.

Terraformers is an engaging game that can deliver that “one more turn” feeling that strategy fans crave. The interplay between resources, cards, leaders, and terraforming efforts requires careful thinking and asks players to make difficult choices. There’s a lot of variety both when it comes to scenario objectives and the planet setup. The card flow might be too random for some players but I find the uncertainty it creates a good way to keep tension and difficulty up. After a while, there’s also a sense that leader abilities repeat a little too often. But these are minor issues with a very good strategy and resource management game. Terraformers captures and translates into gameplay the lofty ideals of Mars-focused science fiction.

World-building is pretty good, and the presentation adds to it with its striking black-and-white. Only the combat can sometimes feel like a chore, especially when enemies with long names start showing up. I never got tired of listening closely for bug sounds but some players might. Cryptmaster is a perfect example of how wonderful an indie title with a strong innovative mechanic can be and it should find as wide an audience as possible.

Grotto is an interesting experience that might lose many of its players around halfway through the first play-through. The idea of telling a small number of characters what to do, from the small to the big questions, is an intriguing one. The universe that the developers create is intriguing. I like the way the game moves towards a deeper plot and begins to show the player something deeper than the first few interactions. But everything is too repetitive, and the core narrative needs more variety. I truly wanted to be as careful as possible for each interaction, getting just the right constellation for a supplicant’s needs. But I found myself losing patience at times and simply moving as fast as possible to get to new story bits. Grotto has a solid core concept that never delivers on its promise but I still think that everyone who picks it up should play through it once to see what it has to offer.

Wealth of Nations adds quite a bit of both major and minor changes to the grand strategy experience and can make the game feel fresh for even the most experienced long-term fan, which makes it a worthwhile investment, especially for those who have already sunk around 100 hours into the game.

Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak is a good mainstream real-time strategy title that offers a solid prequel story and shows that the core ideas of the series can easily be adapted for planet-based warfare.

Radiolight is an interesting game, certainly great for anyone who enjoys compact, creative and very engaging stories. If you liked Firewatch and other similar games, but you wanted a horror component, I think Radiolight fits right in. The radio mechanics are unique, and they actually matter in the game’s world. Not only that, but the fact that this game is made by a solo developer raises things up to the next level. It certainly feels like a game made by a small team, that’s for sure. Aside from the story and atmosphere, I am also a fan of how cohesive the dialog is, and the fact that you have plenty of stuff to explore. When we talk about solo-dev games, a lot of the time they need to cut corners due to a lack of resources. It doesn’t seem to be the case here. You do get to have someone to connect with as you play, the story is fun enough to keep you entertained and interested, but at the same time, there are spooky moments as well. It’s a nice change of pace from regular walking sims, while retaining the great atmosphere and gameplay that these titles are known for.

Anomaly Defenders is a good final hurrah for the tower defense series from 11 Bit Studios. It has gorgeous maps, fun and hectic gameplay, and a lot of strategic opportunities via the deployable powers and the complex tech tree. What's more, the difficulty modes that affect the layout of the maps are quite impressive.

Even if Orbyss is not a very long game, it’s definitely intense at times. There are puzzles that will make you scratch your head, until you realize the rather obvious answer. I had a great time playing and I think it’s one of the better ball-themed puzzle games. It looks great, it’s not imposing a massive difficulty right off the bat, and in the end, it removes a lot of the frustration that many games like this tend to have. It's rare to see a game that’s simple, yet well-designed and which knows exactly what it wants to be. Orbyss doesn’t bit more than it can chew, instead it offers you the puzzle experience you’re looking for, and it certainly puts your brain to work, maybe even more than you might expect. The entire world the dev created is beautiful, and a delight to go through. Yes, you will have some obstacles along the way, but the entire journey is amazing, and the puzzles you will solve will certainly require all your wits and attention.

News Tower is an innovative management video game that uses the journalism theme well. The 1930s setting is a great choice, as is the fact that many of the bigger stories players will report are based on real-world events. The editor role, focused on deciding which stories to chase based on what can attract the most readers and create a solid newspaper profile, means gamers constantly make choices and quickly see their results. The building and employee management systems don’t have much depth but serve the concept. News Tower won’t teach players about journalism, but it delivers fun and tense weeks of management and printing.

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

Zen Studios seems to have an almost uncanny ability to understand what makes big franchises tick and appeal to large numbers of gamers, and then take the concepts and create impressive tables based around them.

Pony Island is a small game that will never manage to get the audience of an AAA release but in many ways, this game is more engaging than plenty of the big launches of last fall because it features some truly innovative moments and can deliver a narrative that it's disturbing and interesting to the end.

Wildwood Down is a fun adventure game with a retro look that’s designed to appeal to players who like the core ideas of the genre and aren’t afraid to try weird ideas out to solve puzzles. Protagonist Daniel‘s Down syndrome is not at the core of the story, but it does make the entire experience unique. The solid hint system makes it easy to play through and experience the narrative, even for players who don’t have a ton of patience. I struggled with the graphics at first, but they become more tolerable when night falls over the boardwalk. And players do have to accept that logic doesn’t always work when looking for solutions. Wildwood Down doesn’t try to reinvent the adventure game template but delivers fun moments, solid puzzles, and clear ways to make progress for fans of this genre and newcomers.

DOOM: The Dark Ages is a masterclass in how to evolve a classic franchise without losing its identity. It’s still the frenzied demon-slaying bloodbath fans adore, but now it’s wrapped in a darker, more atmospheric package that respects both gameplay and story. With creative new weapons, a cinematic presentation, massive set pieces, and deeper lore, this is more than just another DOOM game—it’s a celebration of everything the franchise can be. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the series, if you crave high-octane action, heavy metal carnage, and just the right touch of fantasy madness, The Dark Ages demands your attention. DOOM has once again reinvented itself—and somehow, it still rips and tears.

Gamedec is ambitious and fun for the adventure game fan who is willing to put up with some issues. I like the variety of the cases and the way the main character has options when it comes to dealing with NPCs. I enjoyed the mysteries, despite the sometimes convoluted way that leads to an answer. The future it envisions is also a pretty plausible and weird one. I wanted the developer to have the resources to deliver the amount and quality of writing to match their ambitious universe. But for players looking for a smart cyberpunk narrative and willing to overlook some problems, Gamedec is a good way to spend 10 or so hours.

Ultimately, Near-Mage is a likable game that doesn’t quite realize its full potential. The foundations are solid: the magical setting is imaginative, the art is appealing, and the premise holds promise. But much like Gibbous, it’s a case of style over substance. The narrative unfolds slowly and lacks urgency early on, the gameplay rarely challenges, and the moral choices — while present — lack meaningful weight. This leaves Near-Mage feeling more like an interactive storybook than a deep or dynamic adventure. Still, if you enjoy whimsical fantasy worlds, Eastern European folklore, or just want a light magical journey with a touch of humor, Near-Mage is worth the trip. Especially if Gibbous didn’t fully click with you, this spiritual successor presents a very different flavor of storytelling and world. Even if you may find yourself briefly enchanted, don’t expect it to cast a lasting spell.

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

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

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

Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition is a solid package that feels designed to bring a classic experience to a new generation of gamers. The three titles and their unique combat system can provide tens of hours of tactical fun as players move through the world, find the best combination of powers and equipment, and engage with both normal enemies and bosses. Repeatedly failing to make progress will become frustrating, so lower the difficulty after the first loss. The game also fails to impress when it comes to writing or graphics. But the match-3 system is solid enough that Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition is worth playing, even for those who don’t feel any kind of nostalgia toward the series.

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

Overall Superliminal is a great puzzle experience, and you feel throughout it that the developers had fun putting it together. This is a dream therapy that actually works, being funny and creative at the same time.

Land of the Vikings is a decent to good city building and survival experience. The narrative elements are not very engaging, and the Nordic theme exists mostly for visual flair. All the gameplay mechanics will be familiar to gamers who have tried other entries in the genre before. But there are some nice touches, like the boat building and the way statues and decorations improve the village and its inhabitants. The game needed more innovative elements for both its core concepts and its story. Land of the Vikings is engaging and creates a nice sense of progression and the developers are saying they are planning to add more ideas in updates, while also squishing bugs.

Zen Pinball 2 - Balls of Glory is a solid collection of tables for Zen Pinball 2 that can deliver tens of hours of gameplay for a gamer who is a fan of all the featured television animated series included.

Party Hard blends a novel concept with a great mix of gameplay mechanics. Throw in the random behavior of NPCs and the tongue-in-cheek style and shutting down parties feels quite good. Gameplay might become repetitive in some situations but, overall, you'll have a nice time with it.

Kentum is a blend of different genres, and it shines in most areas. The base building and crafting aspects are excellent, and then we also have the beautiful world that we explore and gather resources from. I wish combat was better, but even so, it’s competent and not that frequent to be a major drag. The platforming aspect is excellent, and the map is also very well designed. There are secrets to find, although they are quite easy to find most of the time. You can easily spend dozens of hours in the game, especially if you want to play in creative or sandbox modes. You have lots of great things to find in Kentum, from the automation and crafting system to the wonderful exploration, and that’s why this is a must-play for survival enthusiasts.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen for the PC delivers a compelling RPG experience with great combat mechanics and a varied world to explore. It can be quite tough if you’re trying to speed through the main quest, but patient players who complete side quests and gear up their character, as well as their Pawns, will find plenty of things to enjoy in Capcom’s RPG.

Windy Meadow - A Roadwarden Tale is a short video game designed for players who liked the fictional the main game established. The Ten Cities are only mentioned, and the threats are much smaller but the focus on just three characters allows the game to tell a more emotional story. It has interesting characters and some great moments. But the mechanics are very light and the branching paths for the protagonists are limited. The game manages to create a sense of place and flesh out the village. But, going forward, the franchise needs to take Windy Meadow – A search Roadwarden Tale as a baseline and aim for more ambitious targets, both narratively and in terms of gameplay.

Airscape: The Fall of Gravity is a tough but entertaining platformer experience that throws in quite a few interesting concepts and mechanics and makes them work quite well. There is plenty of trial and error, and sometimes the cute octopus might not seem so loveable, but you'll have a pretty great time with it either way.

I had a great time playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and at first, I felt quite overwhelmed by the huge amount of content that it provided. The game’s campaign is not the best out there, but it’s worth playing for the creative story, new-to-COD elements, and the unlocks you get towards your multiplayer experience. Speaking of multiplayer, I still think that’s where Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 manages to shine the most. The new game mode Skirmish will be an acquired taste, but generally, it’s pretty immersive and enjoyable. And of course, the Zombies mode is one of the top highlights, it has a great campaign and with 4 different game modes there as well, you have lots of content just to play that side of the game. As a complete package, I think that Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has a lot to offer, and everyone will certainly have its favorites. It’s a great game for casuals that want to get into an FPS, and hardcore COD players will surely enjoy unlocking weapons, attachments and mastering the weapons they like the most.

Devouring Stars may seem simple enough at first, but things get pretty complex as you progress through its randomized campaign and you'll certainly have your strategy skills tested. Fortunately, the great visual design and the impressive soundtrack make spending your time in the indie title a worthy investment.

The Create-A-Sim and Build Mode systems are much more accessible yet offer a lot of depth for those that desire it. Sims are smart, can multitask, and interact in lots of nifty ways. However, there are still plenty of missing core items while the existing set of options are limited, to say the least, no doubt to ensure that the upcoming expansions bring lots of highly desirable things.

Ravenlok is a great introductory experience for players who might be interested in the action-adventure genre but don’t want to take on the bigger titles in the genre. The story is familiar but mostly works, with some nice characters. The voxel graphics are a big initial draw. The biggest problem for me is the very shallow combat system. But, again, this might actually draw in players who want to battle bosses without encountering any annoying setbacks. Ravenlock is a collection of good ideas and weird choices that fails to deliver on its initial promise.

Cross of the Dutchman is a fun history lesson that not only attracts through its source material and the alluring visuals but also through the simple yet entertaining combat. You'll have fun learning about the story of Pier Dosia while rampaging through Saxon soldiers in medieval Frisia.

Mordheim: City of the Damned is the kind of game that can occupy tens of hours for a player who quickly understands its core mechanics and is prepared to accept that missed attacks, failed battles, and bankrupt mercenary companies are just temporary obstacles in the quest for wyrdstones and greatness.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 is the best football simulation experience that Konami has delivered in years, and next year the series might actually be a challenge that EA Sports needs to take into account as it develops its own FIFA series.

Blackguards 2 takes the formula of the initial release and expands upon it, but there’s nothing truly innovative, apart from the origin story of Cassia and her frequent moments of near madness.

Although it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, Showgunners adds its own twist on the formula, and I think it works pretty well. If you’re an XCOM fan, this is a no-brainer.

Unlike the first game where multiplayer was kind of a mess, the sequel offers a pretty solid multiplayer experience. Playing Watch Dogs 2 co-op is definitely a blast, especially if you're experiencing the game with a friend.

The sound design is the most interesting part of the title’s presentation. All weapons sound weighty and the chorus of multiple types firing at once makes every encounter feel deadly. The soundtrack is also very good, keeping the tension up and pushing players to move fast and kill efficiently.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate is a game for the fans of the series, a step forward when compared to Unity, but not the great comeback that many loyalists were expecting.

Olija is a god game built for a specific audience. If you loved classic exploration and combat titles on the PC from the ’80s, then this experience has plenty to offer. The graphical style will be charming, the gameplay challenging enough but not impossible to master. The narrative is not too engaging but it will keep players interested. Unfortunately, there’s little to bring in those who simply lack those gaming memories. The pixelated look can easily be judged as hard to understand, stifling experimentation and making it hard to enjoy the exploration. The harpoon mechanics are solid but they cannot sustain the game on their own. More care to make it accessible for a wider range of players would have made the entire experience more attractive.

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical isn’t for everyone. There’s not a lot of actual gameplay, although everything the player does is important. The premise and universe are well-executed while the presentation enhances the experience. More importantly, the songs are good, and the way gamers can shape them is unique and engaging. One has to like musical numbers that express big feelings to enjoy this deity-featuring murder mystery. Grace’s three approaches should have delivered more variety in terms of reactions, and I really wanted some extra character development for the gods. Still, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical is a unique game and features a unique blend of choices and musical moments.

Ninja Senki DX features some good improvements over the already tough as nails freeware experience from several years ago. It’s quite fun to experience as a newcomer, provided you sharpen your skills as fast as possible and don’t lose your temper with the constant restarts, and quite challenging for veterans through the extra modes and revised elements.

Conan will forever be engraved in our collective memory as the name of the greatest fictional barbarian that has ever lived, and with such a great legacy to live up to, the burden of pulling off a good game based on the Conan mythos is great. The people at Petroglyph, a gaming studio renown for their great RTS titles of the past, challenged themselves to accept this burden, and as far as I’m concerned, they pretty much pulled it off.

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

Growth is a very relaxed but also complex puzzle game that expertly uses a limited number of mechanics to create interesting scenarios. Sending out animals is intuitive, and the game gradually adds new creatures and associated abilities. There’s no narrative to keep players interested, so this is an experience squarely aimed at those who like the mechanics. Growth is a puzzle experience that’s best enjoyed in bite-sized pieces, by gamers who are aiming to chill out and enter a flow state.

The Biggleboss Incident might not have the marketing muscle of major studios or the ambition of sprawling indie epics, but what it offers is something many games forget: heart. It's a reminder that games can be clever, personal, and genuinely funny without being grandiose. For fans of Monkey Island, Grim Fandango, or even Dilbert, this game will feel like coming home. Whether you’re an aging gamer looking for a hit of nostalgia or just someone in search of a good laugh and a short escape from reality, The Biggleboss Incident is worth your time. It's an ode to creativity, a small triumph of storytelling and design — and a testament to what a single dedicated creator can achieve when driven by passion and a deep love for the medium.

Freaking Meatbags is a fun combination of the tower defense and real-time strategy genres. Throw in the witty dialog, the lovely visuals, not to mention the crazy combinations possible when it comes to DNA splicing between humans and aliens, and you'll be quite entertained with it.

Bullet Noir is a fast, unforgiving, and gore-filled top-down shooter. Its core mechanics are designed to appeal to players who want to master both characters and levels, pushing their performance during every run to gain more points and place higher on the provided leaderboards. The appeal will be enhanced for fans of Hotline Miami and Sin City. Unfortunately, the game’s characters aren’t very different in their approach to combat, and the story doesn’t do anything special. The top-down view might also be an issue for some action fans. Bullet Noir will create a very fun time for competitive gamers who want to really master a system.

AK-xolotl is a solid action rogue-lite mix that might struggle to stand out. Sure, its protagonist is an axolotl, and you get to save young members of the species but there should have been more weirdness to the world. The combat mechanics are good, with a focus on movement, but I wanted more weapon variety. The experience works best as a way to cleanse the gaming palate. Get into a run, try a new approach, and see how well you’ve learned boss patterns. The developers of AK-xolotl understand the genre well and I really want to see what they try to create next.

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

The idea of creating a game world built around knowledge is a good one. But the developers at Souris-Lab should try to better define their mechanics if they expand on the world of Hemeide and to make clear what kind of players they target. Their puzzle design ability is solid, A Tale of Synapse is a good debut title, and it will be interesting to see what kind of experience they can create next.

Despite coming with its very own set of cons, Sniper Elite 5 is still brilliantly glorious. It’s indeed repetitive if you want to always take the fastest route to complete a mission, but at the end of the day, the more time you spend doing everything right, the more Sniper Elite impresses. Rebellion has clearly improved the parts that fans have been asking for, so you’re getting not only larger maps, but also more varied levels, better equipment, more troops, more vehicles, more weapon customization options, and so on. The new invasion mode also makes missions more challenging by allowing human players to enter your game and take the role of an Axis sniper, though you can obviously disable this mode if you just want to stick with single-player action. So overall, Sniper Elite 5 has a little bit of everything, eventually creating one of the most solid gameplays of the year so far.

Volgarr the Viking II is designed to appeal to players who liked the first installment, with its mix of difficulty and reward. The Norse-themed universe does not offer much in the way of story, but it has tight gameplay and plenty of challenges for players to face. Accept the fact that you’ll end up as a zombie at one point and get ready to delete saves to try again. The game’s presentation captures what made action platformers stand out in arcades in the ‘90s. Anyone who hung out in those will like it, others might have trouble connecting with it. Volgarr the Viking II is a throwback that tests players’ skills and is not afraid to frustrate them.

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

Cities: Skylines is the best experience for a gamer who wants to play a modern city builder that has a solid set of mechanics and manages to avoid all the traps that have sunk the reboot of SimCity that Maxis and Electronic Arts created.

The premise of the story is interesting and gets you hooked, and even though the game is linear and demands near perfect execution for many of its puzzles, it's still an interesting mechanical and visual experience, but A Story About My Uncle ultimately disappoints by ending very abruptly and not getting anywhere.

Tamarak Trail’s unique idea is to give players dice to roll while also allowing them to choose exactly what action is on each face. This creates opportunities for interesting interactions, enhanced by the random way the dice bump into each other when thrown. Artifacts that can be slotted into die add to their power. As engaging as combat can be, the rest of the experience is too close to the genre’s standards to be compelling, especially the node structure. The game might also want to be somewhat more generous with its currency. Tamarak Trail does offer something new to veterans of the combat rogue-lite mix but for me, it became too repetitive too quickly.

Sail Forth might appear a little too simple at first, but it has mechanical depth. It is hard but satisfying to put together a solid fleet with varied capabilities and find ways to constantly improve its effectiveness. The game offers quite a few narrative threads to pull on. Even if the story and characters are not its best element, the sailing and management more than make up for them. Players who expect a full-on open-world experience might be disappointed. But the smaller areas deliver extra meaning for each encounter, regardless of whether it is another pirate fight or a race, or something else. Sail Forth doesn’t deliver on all its mechanics but it nails the sense of freedom and exploration.

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