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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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