NBA 2K20 feels like a turning point for 2K, and not in the right way. The publisher got too greedy, and it's going to show, in the next year's earnings. It's actually detracting from a good game, turning into a casino experience. What makes it worse, is that there's literally a roulette wheel implemented, which only underlines what 2K had in mind. It's a shame, become the highlight of the NBA 2K20, like the addition of the WNBA, the improved ball control, and the multitude of other smaller changes are buried under a pile of microtransactions that make people wonder what they are actually playing. The only mode that seems to have escaped, somewhat, the microtransactions plague, is the story, which is almost good enough to keep the game upright by itself. But it's almost good enough.

Wall World offers a competent mix of ideas. Mining is pretty boring but combat sequences are exciting and tense, with a big ramp-up when the boss shows up. The rogue-lite structure works but the prices on most things are high enough that pure grinding is required. The narrative has an interesting premise but it’s too slow to build on it. The entire experience works best in short sessions, one or two runs at a time, to limit the impact of its repetitive elements. Wall World’s core is good and it would benefit from some tweaked values and expanded variety.

Game of Thrones Episode 2: The Lost Lords is a decent entry in Telltale's series, and while it takes the story to interesting directions, it still doesn't really pull off the whole presentation and still suffers from shoddy choices and poor visuals.

Severed Steel will be a massive video game for a narrow group of gamers. If you love perfecting a plan and then spending as much time as needed to both car3efully and quickly execute it, you will love this experience. Running on a wall, diving through a window, all the time dodging enemy attacks, only to then slide and kill two enemies before finding a safe space is a fun time. But the game can also frustrate and annoy. The levels could be a little bigger and more varied. I like the restrictions on weapon use, but some players will hate it. But the development team at Greylock knows that the first-person shooter needs to evolve to be interesting and they have some good ideas about whether the genre should go. Even if you don’t love Severed Steel keep an eye out for what they work on next.

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.

The Deadly Tower of Monsters is an interactive love letter to MST3K but also to those who love the old sci-fi movies that were featured on the show. You’ll have a blast not only playing the title but also listening to the commentary or trying to spot from where all the different elements originate.

Aragami: Shadow Edition is a welcome addition to any Switch owner's library thanks to the great gameplay opportunities it offers, as well as the DLC included in the package. You get to move around the environment undetected, or go all out and kill your enemies in so many ways it is almost impossible to keep count. However, if you want to experience the game in all of its visual majesty, you should greatly consider buying it on any of the other available platforms because, at least from a visual point of view, the Switch version seems like a shadow of its former self (pun intended).

Mafia: The Old Country tells a traditional mob story without pushing the formula further, and that’s perfectly fine. Split into chapters, the tale of the fictional Torrisi crime family is both bleak and heartening. Even though the story lacks any plot twists, it’s serviceable enough to keep the player interested from start to finish. Although it’s been stripped of important gameplay features like character progression system, side quests and other activities, Mafia: The Old Country remains an enjoyable ride for both newcomers and veterans of the series. Despite the fact that it doesn’t bring anything new to the table, Mafia: The Old Country is a valuable entry in the series, mostly thanks to the way the story is told and how it conveys its tropes.

For the most part, Far Cry New Dawn is fun, and that’s the only thing that matters. There is more than enough content to never feel that you’re grinding (although you are), and it fulfills one of the weirdest human fascinations, and that’s the life after a world-encompassing cataclysm. And best of all, the entirety of the game can be played in co-op mode.

Sons of Valhalla is fun but can become repetitive. Thorald is a good fighter, and the game makes him powerful enough, especially with a well-chosen set of runes on his belt, to tangle solo with big enemy groups. But teamwork and good use of the shield wall are crucial when taking on opponents hiding behind fortifications. But combat never evolves beyond that and the settlement development system is equally limited. The getting-back-the-kidnapped-princess narrative is decent but doesn’t do anything new. Sons of Valhalla is pleasant in short bursts but greater depth for all its mechanics are needed to make it engaging for long periods.

Caravan SandWitch is a solid casual game, with a very atmospheric world and a fun gameplay loop. Sadly, even though the game is meant to be easy to complete, the plethora of bugs makes the experience quite frustrating. Once these issues are ironed out, I’m pretty sure Caravan SandWitch will become the hidden gem it aspires to be – an indie game that has some good ideas and memorable moments. Until then, it’s just a lot of potential waiting to be fulfilled.

Battlefield V changes the way historical FPS games are told, as it puts the human psyche ahead of glory, fame, and frags, or at least it does so until you join a multiplayer match.

After the disappointing Cold War, Vanguard was the game that many fans have put their faith in. But due to rocky start, the countless bugs the completely unbalanced multiplayer and the incomplete zombies mode, this year’s Call of Duty is just another nail in the coffin of once great franchise. Shaken by various scandals on every front, it is clear that Activision does not care about anything else just cashing in the yearly checks. It is sad that the collaboration between Sledgehammer, Treyarch, Raven Software, Beenox and Highmoon cannot produce something more than Vanguard. The first Warzone season might improve things starting with 2nd of December, but I will not hold my breath.

Punch Club is yet another example of how small teams that focus on gameplay that's engaging can offer interesting long-term experiences even if they do not feature impressive graphics or stories.

Call of the Sea is a beautiful adventure, and the first thing that will draw you in is undeniably the gorgeous visuals. The gameplay may not be perfect and the story may be a one-time experience, but the game still is worth a playthrough. The atmosphere of the game is an engaging one, though it will make you feel as safe as a baby in a cradle. If you are a fan of the Lovecraftian universe though, you might leave disappointed. The game lacks all the heavy and tormenting atmosphere that made famous the works of the American author. Call of the Sea remains an adventure game that will be enjoyed by the fans of this genre.

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

Eternal Threads has an intriguing idea at its core and its small scope means that it can introduce a lot of detail to a situation, challenging players to find out everything they can before making choices. It will be interesting to see if gamers actually connect with the characters as written or if they don’t bother to get the best outcomes for the entire cast. The biggest issue with the game is that it asks for an investment of time and emotion that the narrative might be unable to support. Gameplay is both limited and repetitive, which means that the universe needs to carry all the weight of engagement. Eternal Threads has potential in terms of storytelling but it does need a little more than a solid premise to keep players watching.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a good game if administered in small doses. Unfortunately, after a couple of hours, it becomes tiresome due to the repetitive design. Taking breaks will put it in a different perspective and chances are that you’ll find your way back to it for another short session. There's some replayability in this, since you can go back and to try and complete the levels on higher difficulty, as well as unearth any secrets that you might have missed in your previous playthrough. More importantly, the atmosphere is catchy and almost rises up to the expectations created by the trailers. Well, almost, but not entirely. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun feels like a pretty good start for something bigger. Hopefully, Auroch Digital’s take on the retro FPS genre will get a sequel that will bring exciting new mechanics and more varied content.

Chariot is a pretty decent puzzle platformer with stellar visuals but it could've been much more, had it not been for the annoying enemies and the rather difficult task of escorting the coffin through the many different caves. Its design is sound but its pace is grueling and filled with trial and error. Playing with a friend alleviates this somewhat, so bring a buddy if you want to go through the game.

Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is the definitive edition of a seminal platformer, and my personal favorite from this series. Seeing this game’s new HD graphics, refined controls and great camera update made me very happy, because this is the best way to play an amazing classic. It’s also great that they added photo mode, alternative skins and lost levels from the original. As a complete package, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is worth considering for everyone who enjoys 3D platformers or who played the originals. Newcomers to the series will find some elements like platforming or swimming to be a tad difficult. Then again, the game is backed by an amazing story and exceptional lore, so it’s worth enduring those mishaps.

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.