I’ve always liked games like Majesty, and Lessaria is meant to be the successor for those games. And honestly, I think it’s an excellent game in that regard. Not only does it manage to take the core fantasy kingdom simulation gameplay, but it adds its own twists, great buildings and a wonderful hero system. I am a huge fan of the combat system, which is refreshing, especially considering the fact that you can also join heroes in combat. Or you can just be passive and guide them, without being involved in combat yourself. The game’s story is very interesting, I felt involved in the overarching quest, and the game continued to impress with each mission. However, the primary focus is on the gameplay, and you can see that. It’s very polished, beginner-friendly, without being boring. And considering the genre, doing this is certainly a tall order. But Lessaria manages to succeed here, and they do that with flying colors. It’s definitely a must-play for anyone that likes strategy games, but honestly, it’s a good pickup for any cozy gamer that doesn’t mind a bit of combat as well.

Even though Greymoor adds about 20 hours of story content, depending on how many side quests you're willing to take on, the expansion keeps to the same formula. Instead of bringing meaningful changes to the world of ESO, Greymoor piggybacks on the previous installments to find new audiences. That being said, I do recommend the new expansion, just don't expect any mind-blowing improvements.

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

Martha Is Dead lives or dies by its core narrative and ability to immerse the player in it. I like the way it mixes the personal with the historical. I appreciate the care with which the developers have constructed the game world and I even like most of the photography-focused challenges. But, for me, the individual elements do not come together to form a coherent video game. Inconsistencies exist because the narrative needs to move forward. There’s frustration around the mechanics. Martha Is Dead is worth playing for its narrative but I want developers LKA to focus on a more streamlined experience for their next project.

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

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is a fun experience that shines when played alone but also with a few friends. Bear in mind that cooperation is key and you might need some time before you get accustomed to the problematic controls.

Neversong is a beautiful game, which manages to create a rarely seen atmosphere by putting in limelight heavy topics like mourning and the nightmares plaguing kids. While the story is interesting and the puzzles are immersive, the clunky fights, the imprecise control scheme, and the lack of consistency make it hard to keep players engaged. Artistically it is a beautiful, yet short escape into a horror realm, but gameplay-wise it is lacking depth and polish. Although visually charming and despite the unique atmosphere, the game world feels somehow empty. Most of the gameplay relies on the same simple ideas which are repeated from start to end. Although it requires precision from the player, Neversong does not offer the control scheme to support such a need.

Limerick: Cadence Mansion is a good game for spooky season because it has plenty of familiar mechanics while creating an interesting universe. It’s not horror by any means but there are some effective scary moments. The game creates constant tension between the drive to discover more and the need to run to a Panic room to avoid death and recover. The puzzles aren’t too difficult but contribute variety. Limerick: Cadence Mansion should have leaned harder into its theme but it still offers an interesting take on action horror for players to engage with during the spooky season.

Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson is one of those games that might seem weird to some, but as soon as you start playing, it will get you hooked. The vibrant, stunning pixel art will grab you into this weird, yet beautiful world, and you’ll stay in there for the creative combat and grueling combo attacks. Even more so, the game is continually offering you new ways to play with all kinds of guitar types, and it’s not afraid to take chances. I am a huge fan of the boss battles they added here and there, but make no mistake, all the other enemies are fun to tackle, even if the game can feel quite easy especially in the beginning. But as a whole, Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson feels like a complete RPG experience, with amazing music and fun quests to boot. I didn’t know what to expect from Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson, but I am glad I played it, as it was a great ride.

Lords of the Fallen is a decent role-playing experience with some innovative features but it's weighed down by the balancing problems and the technical issues. After a few updates, it might become a good and challenging RPG, but for now, it falls short.

Starcraft 2 - Nova Covert Ops Mission Pack 1 is not a great package because of the limited number of missions that gamers get access to, but that will not make too much of a difference for the most determined fans of the franchise.

Screamer is an exciting arcade game that likes taking risks, and for the most part, it succeeds in what it tries to achieve. The driving system, albeit annoying at first, grows on you, and eventually you feel like you’re one with your car. The game world is beautifully made, and the anime parts of the game are nicely done, too. Moreover, the game’s performance is great, I never experienced any major frame drops, crashes or something that would impede the gameplay. However, Screamer has a few issues. The story mode has forgettable characters and it’s not the strongest part of the game. Also, I felt that the sound design was not ideal. But as a complete package, Screamer is definitely an arcade racer that everyone needs to try out. The sense of speed is there, being able to attack others and work to load up your skills, that feels very satisfying. The game is very rewarding to play, and you will soon get past any of its mishaps.

Dead Island 2 is a poster boy for mindless fun. It is a gore fest that does not take itself seriously or the topic of zombie apocalypse. It’s mainly a relaxing stroll down the sunny streets of Beverly Hills littered with undead corpses. It has no ambition to revolutionize the genre or to be memorable. It’s safe to say that this is a game that you’ll enjoy for 10-15 hours, and, just like a good popcorn movie, you will probably forget soon after. If the developers respect their promise of fixing the most annoying bugs with the day-0 patch. Without it the game remains a playable, but very messy experience.

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.

The Valiant has a good set of mechanics, although less innovative than they seem initially, and a decent story, hitting all the notes that you expect from the premise and setting. The single-player campaign delivers enjoyable tactical puzzles. Players who love the mechanics have the option to engage in players-versus-player and players-versus-environment matches. But the game never tries to push its idea forward. There’s nothing here that has not been done in other contexts or with slight variations. The Valiant is a good squad-focused strategy title but KITE Games should try to introduce more innovation to their next project.

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.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is the best way to get acquainted with the Saiyan saga and the series in general. It's strange that the most advertised mechanics of the game, the RPG and open-world aspects, are also the least developed. It's the story and the bombastic fights where Kakarot really shines, so if you're approaching the game from these perspectives, you're in for a thrilling ride. To put it bluntly, stay away from exploring and don't expect any deep, meaningful RPG elements, and you'll have a pleasant time in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.

All in all, Rage 2 is a good way to pass the time, especially since this summer is going to be a long one and there aren’t major releases planned. The story itself can be finished quickly if you ignore the sidequests, but if you want to do everything, you’re going to spend at least double that.

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

Tandem: A Tale of Shadows is a good game for anyone looking for hours of well-designed puzzles in some interesting locations. I appreciated how it organically expands the ways the two characters interact with the world. I liked the puzzle design, especially when it emphasizes how important it is for Emma to create paths for Fenton. But the game needs much more than good mechanics to stand out. The story never manages to become truly engaging. The triumphant pose that Emma strikes when the pair solves a room quickly becomes grating. The presentation fails to add much to the game. Tandem: A Tale of Shadows shows the Monochrome Paris has ideas and the ability to execute but they need to work on how they package them to capture a bigger fan base.

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 game is positively gorgeous, the music is extremely engaging, and while not everyone might like the slow pace of this game genre, those of you who do will take part in an adventure that will leave you staring into nothingness, to the point where you may experience memories you never actually thought you had. All in all, it is definitely a game that deserves a place in any adventurous gamer's digital library.

The Flame in the Flood will impress players during the first few hours with its style and the way its survival mechanics interact with one another, but the game will likely only keep fans of the rogue genre engaged in the long term.

Evil West manages to do a great job entertaining players and that’s what all games should do. Despite some mediocre writing and lack of memorable characters, Evil West delivers on its promise to provide players with an exhilarating gameplay experience.

A pretty great standalone expansion that manages to deliver a much nicer character than Delsin with more fleshed out powers. Unfortunately, the missions are pretty repetitive and weigh down the experience a fair bit. However, the challenge rooms and the touching story make up for them, to some extent.

SCHiM is an indie gem that is both simple in concept, but also bursting of creativity and originality. The gameplay itself might be a bit too simplistic for those looking for an adrenaline rush or instant gratification, but those who love this kind of puzzle 3D platformers will truly appreciate the effort behind it. The end result is an endearing experience, that has a few gameplay issues but overall becomes a memorable game thanks to its atmosphere and innocent approach to life.

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.

Ninja Gaiden became an instant cult classic from the moment it was launched, thanks to its gameplay and “git gud” attitude. The level of difficulty was high back then and it is even more so nowadays. I appreciate the thought of dusting it off and presenting it to the current generation of gamers, but this series would have deserved more attention and love. With more effort and care it could have achieved the quality level Nioh can brag with, and prove to us again why gamers fell in love with ninjas. As it stands now, even with the Day1 patch released, the Master Collection is lacking on every front. The games are still enjoyable, but there is nothing masterful in this collection, the publisher being content releasing a mere port instead of a remaster or alas, a remake.

Best Served Cold has engaging mysteries, engaging characters, and limited gameplay. I like the setting, with its mix of historical inspirations and escalating social tension. And all the characters are fun to chat with, even if the killers tend to be a little predictable. This is a good narrative to experience alongside your choice of a cocktail. Unfortunately, actually mixing drinks is not exciting at all and serves most as a short pause for players to consider how they plan on steering dialogue. Still, some of the recipes are interesting enough that players should try mixing them in the real world. Best Served Cold is an enjoyable detective game that neglects its bartending side.

I can’t help feel (that word again) that Call of Duty: WWII is a definite improvement in the series, and I can only hope that they will choose to remain in this time period. Now that Sledgehammer Games proved they are up to the task, it’s very likely they will continue with some great releases. The community was not expecting this kind of quality from the franchise, especially after the declining trend of the previous titles, but it’s definitely a nice surprise and worth checking out, especially if you’re a PC gamer.

Devolver often delivers weird games that take familiar ideas or mechanics and deliver cool twists on them. Loop Hero is a very good example of how this approach can succeed. Sludge Life has good tunes and a new presentation style but it needed more in the way of either gameplay or narrative to deliver a truly cool experience.

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.

I don't feel that Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 is a major upgrade over the previous title, but the presentation got up a notch or two, and so are the graphics. While I love the sandbox and semi-open world aspects, I think the implementation feels artificial and ruins the immersion more often than not. Sniper Ghost Warrior Contract 2 doesn't bring too many new things to the table, so it more of a safe rather than an evolutionary sequel. The sniping experience feels satisfying enough to keep you entertained for the entire campaign, and the way the maps are designed leaves room for different tactics. I think this a solid entry in the Sniper Ghost Warrior Contract series, but it's nothing revolutionary.

Disciples: Liberation brings some interesting new ideas to the series, but that doesn’t mean they’re all good. I didn’t like the fact that the game forces you to choose between the bad guy and the very bad guy by making choices that many times don’t make sense. In the end, Liberation is saved by the incredibly well-done tactical combat system that provide a lot of fun, especially when you find that combo that wipes out almost all enemies on the map in just one turn. Although it’s not really what I expected, I believe Disciples: Liberation is worth playing and definitely warrants a sequel.

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

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.

We were hoping to find in Dread Nautical an uncut gem. In the end, we received a game that does not live up its potential and becomes monotonous pretty quickly. The lack of variety and depth turn this interesting concept into a mediocre game. The mix of RPG and tactics although well thought out, shortly turn into a routine without any joy. There is no thrill or scare, but plenty of annoying moments generated by the chores of item management. Dread Nautical wanted to be a place of madness, but it turned into another dimension of boredom.

Paper Cut Mansion makes a great first impression, with its original environments and characters. The adventure game mechanics, mostly linked to the NeoCortex, are also well-implemented, although a little more clarity in room layout would have helped. The ideas for the other two dimensions are less interesting but add important variety. The entire experience starts off a little slow but there’s plenty of intrigue to keep players engaged after a few hours. The game’s momentum is limited by its rogue elements. It needs to open up more options faster to keep players interested or to simply make it easier to progress without dying. Paper Cut Mansion has a good mix of ideas with some issues around implementation, delivering a good experience for adventure game fans who want a few twists on the familiar concepts of the genre.

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.

Tour de France 2023 captures the atmosphere of real-world cycling, which is crucial for this kind of sports simulation. It feels good to control some of the best riders of the moment, think about the strategy that best suits them, and then try to use limited energy resources at just the right time to secure a prestigious win. The game allows players to create some impressive narrative around their own created cyclist, taking them from humble beginnings to prestigious victories. But Tour de France 2023 is targeted squarely at fans of the sport and other gamers might struggle to fully engage with its mechanics and presentation.

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

Beyond is an impressive achievement and I don’t really want to think how long it would take a player to see all the more than 1,400 featured cards. The structure makes it easy to get a full-blown weird adventure in under 10 minutes. Stop after death, consider your choices, do something else, and return for another dose after a few hours.

Dicealot clearly aims to do for dice throwing what Balatro did for poker. The game mostly succeeds, giving players a simple combat system built around rolling dice that can be broken in a wide variety of ways through store purchases. Luck does play a bigger role than I would like, delivering the worst possible results at the worst moments. Gamers who fall in love with the core loop will have plenty of motivation to try out strategies and unlock new content. Others might struggle because the narrative universe is limited. Dicealot has a solid, unique idea and plenty of variety for those who want to discover the best ways to avoid a Farkle.

RuneQuest: Warlords is a good turn-based strategy experience that will mainly appeal to those who love this fantasy universe or had a great time playing Battlesector. Engagements, especially once the player controls a dozen units, are complex and require careful planning and on-the-spot improvisation to win with minimal losses. The game’s computer opponent can be a little dumb at times, but multiplayer, including using hotseat, is offered for those interested in challenging another human. I would have liked some extra story emphasis on what makes the RuneQuest setting special. Warlords’ core ideas are solid, but it needs more army variety and a few extra weird scenarios to bring in players who aren’t interested in the narrative.

I was excited to see how a port management and simulation game would look like, and I think that Docked successfully manages to balance both sides of the experience. Adding a narrative into the mix made things even better, because it’s all glued together extremely well, and the experience feels more organic this way. They also manage to add lots of tasks and varied missions for you, so there’s always something to do...Naturally, some tasks will be repetitive, but that’s by design when you play a simulator like this. I was happy to see that you can also manage your port’s finances, upgrade the port and do all kinds of things that other games in the genre don’t cover. There are tons of menus, lots of machines for you to own and use, but also plenty of managerial tasks that you need to check out.

While overall Mad Max borrows from past titles like Batman when it comes to combat, or Far Cry when it comes to the design of its open world and its activities, it still manages to stand out through its car combat. The story is also pretty compelling and manages to keep you invested even if some of the missions get repetitive after a while.

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

Honey, I Joined a Cult is an enjoyable game, as long as players know what to expect from this kind of management experience. The mechanics work well, there’s a constant sense of forward momentum, and the player is constantly busy contemplating how to increase experience and get the most out of his cult members. The game needs a higher top speed, as well as extra variety in the mission department. But the game does not deliver on any of the innovation and new ideas that the cult concept can support. The experience is well suited for newcomers to the genre but makes little effort to tweak its core ideas. Honey, I Joined a Cult makes it clear that Sole Survivor Games are good at creating a competent management title, but I really want to see them try to add a twist to the formula in coming projects.

Mahokenshi is very different from games like Slay the Spire. Its replayability is limited because you’ll be replaying the same missions with the same enemies and challenges all over again. Once you’re done with the main story, you’re probably not going to return to it just to run the same missions with a different class. That being said, I did like the gameplay loop and those who love games like Across the Obelisk will find Mahokenshi mildly interesting. I say “mildly” because Mahokenshi lacks the complexity of other deckbuilding card games. I definitely recommend it to anyone enjoying these types of games, especially since it brings some new to the table.

The Havoc add-on for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare offers a pretty compelling package to fans of the shooter. While the competitive maps are interesting and varied, by far the most impressive aspect is the Exo Zombies mode that makes the investment more than worth it for co-op fans.

UNBEATABLE is a labor of love, a game that celebrates music and wants players to love its tunes and vibe with them. The story is not always entirely coherent, but all the characters are lovely to interact with. The visual style is clearly anime-inspired but has unique touches, even if the world can seem a little empty. The game’s music is so good that even the menu tracks are bangers. Play the Arcade mode to unlock all its songs and steadily push the difficulty level up. But don’t forget to get through the story, even if it requires turning on the assist mode to get through some rhythm sequences. UNBEATABLE is a great experience for anyone who loves music and a ton of challenging fun for rhythm game enthusiasts.

Anno 2205 is good city builder with an interesting take on the future of humanity and with plenty of humanity, the kind of video game that a player can spend tens of hours with as long as he is interested in making all his cities run at peak efficiency all of the time.

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!

Hitman GO: Definitive Edition is a bold puzzle experience that takes the established franchise and simplifies its mechanics while retaining the complexity of the actual design. While its progression may not be all that great and some stages don’t leave a lot of room to experiment, the mechanics are easy to comprehend, and the challenges are still satisfying.

Despite the poorly put together trailers and the lack of experience from Nacon’s side to promote games, Robocop: Rogue City could have been a good game. It has the potential to exceed any kind of expectation, if it launched as a finished game, rather than in this stage that can be described as still in development.

The Blackout Club is one of those games that is sadly not very fun to play if you lack a group of close friends with whom you could play. More so, the player population is currently very low, and the high amount of bugs present, especially visual ones, might deter new player from spending money on a title that has almost amateur-level glitches. Lastly, if you would like the game to look a bit more decent, you're better off buying the PC version. While the graphics may not be all that better, and improvement is an improvement.

Sonic may be the fastest hedgehog alive, but the game is called Team Sonic Racing for a reason, and if you want to experience what it is like to put aside your ego and see how it is to win a race as a team, then this is your go-to game. This title blasts all naysayers out of the way with the impeccable gameplay, the fantastic graphics and the all familiar Sonic the Hedgehog feel you get throughout each race.

The scale of the new Mass Effect game, combined with the intense gameplay and exploration, makes this a must have. Don't be fooled by some of the issues justly reported by the community and give it a try. The trial version of the game is still available through Origin, and I'm sure that people won't need more than a couple of hours to decide if they like it.

The game is amazing from all stand-points, from the story to the mechanics and visuals, and I have to say that I was pleased that the Re-Mars-tered version did actually feel like a significant improvement, even if it was just a re-release of the same game with better visuals slapped on to it. All in all, Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered is a game I would definitely recommend to anyone, especially if they think too much time has passed since the last Red faction game release.

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

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.

Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance has a good real-time strategy core that is augmented by the mission design and the army management elements. The campaign features interesting situations and complex battles. The tactical pause makes it all accessible even for players who aren’t long-term fans of the RTS genre. The story and presentation do not match the game’s mechanics. Some secondary objectives and narrative choices are unclear until players actually interact with them. But Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance uses the franchise well and delivers engaging battles.

A great installment in the series. While it doesn't overhaul gameplay mechanics all that much, it delivers a fun experience that turns the table on the assassins and shows the conflict from a new angle. Shay is a great character and his assassin hunts are some of the most thrilling sequences in the series so far.

UnderRail shows that classic ideas and mechanics can deliver impressive gameplay results even in an age when even the RPG space tends to lose its identity under the assault of improved graphics and the need to make combat the best way to solve every situation.

If not for some annoying technical issues and the generic plot, Shadows: Awakening would have probably been one of the best aRPGs launched this year. Still, there are a lot of good things that I've experienced during my playthrough, such as the innovative combat system that offers lots of tactical options, the smooth switching between characters, as well as the eye candy landscapes. Heretic Kingdoms remains a franchise with great potential, so I'm very curious to see where developers are going to go from here. Obviously, there's room to improve the formula, but I'd like to see something new as well.

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

Born of Bread is joyful, designed to appeal to a wider range of audiences, with a quirky narrative that can draw some laughs and mechanics that are easy to understand. The story holds few surprises, but I liked the characters, even the background ones. I can’t say the same about battles. The idea of audience participation is intriguing but doesn’t mesh well with the rest of its systems. And the cycle of attacking and defending will quickly become repetitive. Born of Bread has a host of good ideas and will deliver hours of fun for players who click with all of them.

In between silly remarks, turn-based combat and puzzle solving, Sunday Gold provides enough entertainment to keep you going until the end, which is probably around 12-15 hours if you figure out the puzzles and finish the boss fights faster. Sunday Gold is a hybrid of two genres, point & click adventure and turn-based RPG, that simply works. It doesn’t make everything perfect, but at least it comes up with some interesting ideas that could be refined in a future title. BKOM’s game is trying to do something different and, partly, it succeeds. I enjoyed many parts of the game and some of the mechanics, and the story, while pretty generic, it did make me feel like I’m playing in a Guy Ritchie movie. Ultimately, Sunday Gold is entertaining and that’s what I expect from a game, so I consider this a successful experiment.

GreedFall fails to achieve greatness, but it's the start of something great. With enough time and money, a sequel would be much better since all the downsides of the original are easy to address.

The Political Machine 2016 has solid mechanics and delivers an approximate but engaging take on the American electoral process, giving players the tools they need to fulfill any kind of presidential dreams that they have. Unfortunately, the game has not evolved too much, other than when it comes to the issues that voters are interested in and the candidates for both parties, when compared to the 2012 edition and that's a shame given the possibilities to add depth to the experience.

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).

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.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning remains a solid RPG, but one that did not age well. Developed initially as an MMO turned into a single-player experience, the game is fun, but it is not an RPG for the ages. Some minor tweaks have been added gameplay-wise, but Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning remains a repetitive game, with inventory management that is a pain in the butt. For all these reasons, if you have already played the game, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning will offer nothing new, and will prove to be only a minor improvement over the original. However, if you missed the original and you are looking for an action RPG with fun combat, you might want to give it a chance.

While the game is pretty simple and far from being a compelling and engrossing experience, being merely good, if you like serene affairs that focus on exploration and let you choose your own pace, without being overly challenging, you’ll find Qbeh-1 to be a pretty good fit.

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.

Strictly speaking about the game, I enjoyed the atmosphere quite a lot, and the unique blend of medieval, steampunk and modern elements made the game seem quite unique. The zombie waves and the gameplay in general are extremely engaging, and combat can keep you on the edge of your seat at times, especially when you underestimate enemy forces. All in all, They are Billions is a game that definitely deserves praise, but playing it with anything other than a mouse and keyboard can be literally gamer’s Hell.

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.

Overall, Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is a good game, although the fact that it was made using the same resources as Yakuza is way too obvious. Fans of the series will no doubt enjoy the gameplay and the story, but if you have never seen the anime or read the manga, then you won't be impressed that much. All in all, if you are a fan of gratuitous anime violence coupled with some heartwarming moments that alleviate some of the guilt, Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is the right game for you.

Steelrising is an interesting take on the soulslike formula. Exploring the French Revolution in the body of an automat is definitely something that I never thought I’d enjoy. However, while things look promising on paper, the execution is quite poor. Although I did enjoy the combat and level design, I can’t get past many of all the technical issues the game still has on PlayStation 5. Even after two patches, the game still crashes after a few hours and there’s nothing you can do. There are a few other minor bugs present that don’t really take away from the experience, but it does make it clear that Steelrising needed more polish before release.

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

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.

For now, FIFA 20 is better than the previous edition in terms of gameplay, and that’s somewhat sufficient. But it dropped the excellent The Journey single-player only to replace it with a stale mode. With a little luck, we might get to play Volta outside of FIFA when it belongs. To sum it up, as Comrade Dyatlov points out, it’s not great, not terrible. For any other game, this would be a bad thing, but for FIFA’s microtransaction model, it’s everything that Electronic Arts hopes for.

DOA brings justice to a fighting game series that has stood the test of time, bringing a perfect mix of fun combat, the same interesting characters we all know and love, and clothes not suited for colder seasons. The graphics are good, the combat mechanics are polished and revitalized with the introduction of the Break-Holds and Break Blows, and the outfits are plenty and more customizable than ever. In fewer words, DOA 6 is the "DOA-est" entry in the franchise so far, and the new tutorial system is perfect for introducing new generations of players to the game.

The way it's all designed, with gameplay and narration interspersed with relevant background videos exploring the importance of the things you’ve just uncovered, further serves to make the entire experience meaningful and endearing.

WRATH: Aeon of Ruin is part of an already long line of modern first-person shooters that target players' nostalgia for the genre’s classics. The engine is built on Quake tech and both the levels, and the enemies are designed to trigger a nostalgia response. It’s unlikely that fans of more modern FPS experiences will be interested. The big combat moments are tense and get the adrenaline flowing, especially when players remember how long it’s been since they used a soul tether. Unfortunately, WRATH: Aeon of Ruin has too many corridors and relies too much on enemies who teleport in to turn into the classic that it wants to be.

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.

El Hijo A Wild West Tale is a stealth game that also tries to juggle puzzle elements, and the balance is lost along the way. It is not a bad game, but one that starts you hiding in the environment, but by the end of your adventure, you will remember mostly the puzzles. It teases you with all the possible approaches but does not grant you enough freedom to actually put them into action. Although it targets the whole family, it can be recommended only for those who are looking for the challenge due to the steep difficulty level. Still, El Hijo A Wild West Tale radiates candor and innocence, two qualities that recommend it to everyone.

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

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

Luckily, many aspects of the game are well above average, such as the anime artwork and the story. If you can get past the somewhat clunky combat and boring world, Code Vein can be appealing more often than not.

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

The Great War: Western Front is a good strategy game that tackles a historical period most titles in the genre overlook. Both the strategic and the tactical sides feature interesting mechanics and plenty of choices that affect the course of the war. The computer mostly puts up a good enough fight while the multiplayer side has plenty of options to create varied situations. But the game sits at a weird crossroads in terms of abstraction. It has plenty of realist elements but also allows corps to instantly move across the map. It rewards deep preparation but some battles can be won by simply carefully avoiding some enemy defenses. The Great War: Western Front captures the frustration and tension of World War I trench warfare well but struggles to make it a great video game experience.

The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication is better than its predecessor, but not by much. I have a hard time taking it seriously as a horror game, and I have seen much better walking simulators. It lacks in almost every aspect, and I could choose much more suitable games for a Halloween scare. Yet, if you are a fan of J-horror you will most likely enjoy it, especially if you are into Taiwanese lore. If the developers manage to fix the pacing issues and rely less on cinematic storytelling the next episode might be quite interesting.

Empire of the Ants is a gorgeous video game that gives players an ant’s eye view of both combat and platforming. It looks spectacular most of the time, especially the environments, but takes plenty of liberties when it comes to ant society and general creature abilities to create a decent narrative. The strategy game elements work well, although there aren't many complex systems to master, while platforming feels unnecessary. The single-player campaign offers some interesting tactical challenges, and the free-for-all three-sided multiplayer is pretty exciting. Empire of the Ants does not innovate much but offers a unique strategy experience.

Stargate: Timekeepers delivers a decent core gameplay loop. Working with a variety of characters to move stealthily and eliminate enemies can be fun, especially when players are dealing with the more complex enemy setups. The constant visual reminder about quick saving is a good idea. But the narrative fails to make interesting use of the complex Stargate universe and none of the characters will keep players engaged. There’s little in the game that actually involves the Stargate system itself. Timekeepers is fun for fans of the stealth tactics space who are looking for new challenges and for die-hard fans of Stargate who are looking for another story set in that universe.

Quantum Witch is a short experience that has very good narrative beats. Ren’s adventure starts off a little slow, with many visits to a hint skeleton and some cult interactions. But once she goes magical and visits new worlds, the characters become funnier and the questions bigger, exploring big themes in interesting ways. Unfortunately, the actual gameplay is pretty limited, with only a few situations where the plane-shifting power is engaging to use. The presentation is good but requires some love of the 16-bit look. Quantum Witch is fun but it needs extra mechanical depth and a few more places to visit to appeal to a wider audience.

Mighty Goose is a very good experience for a clearly defined set of players. One needs to love old-school arcade action to love it. An interest in wacky characters helps, as does a focus on gameplay and an interest in trying to best one’s old scores. The game knows what it can deliver and offers a very pure experience for those who know what they want from it. The problem is that the developers do not push the limits of the space they settled in. The companions and the special powers are attempts at this but limited ones. After three or four levels even the idea of battling new bosses failed to excite me about the game. Mighty Goose is another title that needs more than very good execution of core concepts to stand out.

Harold Halibut is an adventure game that although reminds us of a walking simulator due to its simplistic gameplay, thanks to its atmosphere and unique visual style manages to become a memorable title. It is a slow burning adventure that prioritizes the story and presents it through engaging dialogues and plenty of details hidden in plain sight. Despite the leisurely pace, the game remains pretty short and has no real replay value. It is an intense and almost poetic experience that holds up a mirror to both the individual and society, making it a worthwhile experience for the fans of the genre and for those looking for a great story.