Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon is a good turn-based strategy experience, but in the future Slitherine should try to innovate a little more and introduce more unique mechanics that suit the nature of the universe it is working with.

Investigating a 20-year-old murder wasn’t something I expected to do when playing this game, but I am impressed with the game’s intriguing premise and how it all unfolds. The fact that you get to be a detective during the 40s is a highlight too, along with some of the puzzles you encounter. It’s not meant to be a very long game, however I wish it was longer, because there are many points where the gameplay feels very satisfying and intriguing. Then again, The Last Case of John Morley is not without its faults. Its mechanics are very simple, which leads to a lack of diversity when it comes to puzzles and challenges you encounter. The use of AI assets is also a downside that me and some of the playerbase won’t appreciate, either. I also wish the game had more leeway when it comes to how you solve the case, instead of feeling so linear. So yes, it’s not perfect by any means, but it’s a satisfying detective game that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Supreme League of Patriots is kind of a mixed bag: you have a decent adventure game that tries to work in a new direction, driven by plot and dialogue more than random puzzles and inconvenient coincidences that force you to play MacGyver or to do random strangers favors and run errands in exchange for items that could have easily been acquired from any department store.

The game will clearly appeal more to casual gamers than to the hardcore, but it does show how the Wii U can deliver interesting games when the developers try to introduce some innovation.

Despite some technical issues, Cloudpunk remains a memorable game with an atmosphere that almost makes you forgive the technical issues. You will thoroughly enjoy the story and some questions about human nature will remain with you even after the credits. Sadly, the traffic on the skyways and the moments when the NPCs are affected by amnesia will break the spell and yank you out of the immersion. But there is nothing a patch could not fix, restoring Cloudpunk to a hidden gem worth experiencing by everyone.

GreedFall: The Dying World has a strong combat system, more versatile and expansive when compared to the previous game. It feels more tactical, and you have to consider different weapon types, status conditions, team composition and so on. Granted, the enemies can feel generic, but you have an expansive skill tree to ensure that you mix things up as you go along. I also enjoyed the great world building, and bosses were a highlight for this experience. The team at Spiders surpassed themselves by creating an even better game than the first GreedFall, although this title has shortcomings. There are pacing issues with the story, the romance arcs are weak, and some areas/character arcs felt unfinished. It takes a bit to pick up and feel great, but once it does, you will find yourself spending many hours in this interesting world.

Overall, Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland does great justice to the Arland trilogy, as well as the Atelier series as a whole, becoming a great game in itself.

Punk Wars offers a very classic take on the turn-based strategy space. The four corporations have personality and their own deranged charm but there’s not enough here to make the setting truly compelling. The tactical combat is solid but favors the defensive so much that battles never feel exciting, with too little space to execute complex plans. There’s pleasure in methodically moving forward, expanding the base slowly, putting more units in the field, chocking the adversary, gaining a tech edge that helps with the final assault. But the developers at Strategy Forge need to be a little more adventurous with their mechanics if they want to make Punk Wars an actually exciting game to play.

Second Sun is one of those games that tries to combine multiple genres, and it does a very good job at that. The moment-to-moment FPS gameplay is very slick and engaging, and the RPG elements are also great, without feeling overwhelmed. It’s important to treat Second Sun as an indie game and time your expectations. It’s not going to be the ultimate game in the genre. However, it has a very interesting story and world. I like how Second Sun knows what it is and it manages to do all the core things right. The NPCs are interesting, the combat is very good, and the loot-based progression will keep you going even when things get repetitive. Granted, the game has a shallow narrative, and its visuals are not the best, but the gameplay stays interesting until the end. Plus, the game is not very expensive, it’s priced correctly for what it is, and it offers a good time for the 8-10 hours you need to go through all of its content.

In a time when many game studios are playing it safe, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii proves once again that the Like a Dragon series thrives on reinvention. With its engaging pirate theme, deep mechanics, and classic Yakuza charm, this is an adventure that will keep players hooked for countless hours. Whether you're sailing the high seas, brawling in the streets, or belting out sea shanties at karaoke, one thing is certain—this is one voyage you won’t want to miss. Fair warning for hardcore fans though: while still fun and over the top it still feels like the lightest and thinnest entry in the series.

If you always wanted a fun WWII-themed tank game, then Sherman Commander is definitely right up your alley. Sure, it’s more of a simulation and crew/team command game rather than an arcade tank title, but it works well and it has amazing destructible environments. I enjoyed the campaigns, the open-ended nature of these maps and the tactical freedom that comes from this game. On top of that, the atmosphere is very immersive, and it pulls you in. Of course, no game is perfect, and Sherman Commander certainly has some detractors. It has some visual issues, especially with aliasing making it difficult to identify targets, and its voice acting for friendlies is not the best. However, those things were not a major deterrent, at least in my case. I enjoyed blowing up other tanks, destroying buildings, while also refreshing my WWII knowledge during these campaigns. It’s a fun game for tank enthusiasts and history buffs, even if it does need a bit more polish and it focuses too much on micromanagement sometimes.

Bonfire Peaks tries a little too hard to make relatively simple concepts seem deep and meaningful. The narrative of the unknown man is too laconic to be engaging in the long run. The gameplay, while delivering brilliant moments of discovery and achievement, is too repetitive. The two only connect in a meaningful way because of their lack of complexity. The game does have atmosphere and it’s clear that Corey Martin has designed every element of the experience to generate and sustain it. And whether you find that effort successful will depend a lot on personal preference. Give Bonfire Peaks a try, play for a few hours and find out whether this particular mix of puzzle and atmosphere appeals.

The Horror at Highrook is one of those games that has a unique mechanic, and it harnesses that very well. Yes, it might not be for everyone, but if you enjoy Lovecraft’s storytelling and visual style, you’ll find yourself right at home here. It also appeals to card game lovers, because you can find task cards, tertiary/buff cards, along with cards that have random effects. It can be a challenge to make the most out of all these cards, but that’s what sets the game apart. At the end of the day, The Horror at Highrook does a stellar job at carving a great niche for itself. In a world filled with games that copy each other’s style and mechanics, The Horror at Highrook is a breath of fresh air. Yes, it takes a bit to understand its mechanics, but once you do, you’ll find yourself spending hours trying to keep the investigators alive and unlocking more of the story. It’s a worthwhile journey, one that will require patience, yet it’s totally worth it.

Skyshine's Bedlam is a pretty good mix of turn-based strategy and rogue-like mechanics. However, the sheer difficulty at the beginning of a campaign and the randomized unit placement does make it very tough for players to survive their journey into the Wasteland.

Sanatorium is a very compelling, easy-to-play game that puts you in a very distinct role. It’s definitely unlike a lot of other games I played, but also an interesting experience that you will find yourself coming back to quite often. Granted, the gameplay can feel repetitive, but the freshness brought by each patient and their situation will make things feel more interesting as you play. It also helps that the staff and the institution as a whole have their own weirdness and quirkiness, which you will try to navigate as you reach your goal. Although Sanatorium might not be the most complex or the longest game out there, I think this is a worthwhile experience. The charming graphics, disturbing location, art deco visuals and odd staff all add up to creating a very compelling, yet exciting and beautiful game world for you to explore. Yes, the game does have a few bugs, and its core loop might feel unappealing at times, but the more you play, the more compelling the story becomes. And for me, this is a game I will gladly go back to dozens of times, just trying to help more patients and figure out how to treat them. It’s very engaging and treating people feels satisfying.

Anyaroth: The Queen's Tyranny is part of a big wave of action-oriented experiences that seek to evoke the titles that define childhood or early adolescence for many now-mature gamers. It succeeds in doing that while introducing a few modern ideas and refining the core gameplay. The story is nothing special but there are some fun character moments. I like the free aim system and appreciate that the game never aims to punish the player with difficulty spikes. I am disappointed that there’s no attempt to integrate at least one big innovation with the nostalgia. Anyaroth: The Queen's Tyranny is a fun action platformer that acknowledges the limits of its nostalgic approach but never pushes past them.

Although the developers are still tweaking the game, the steep learning curve and initial frustration at not being able to kill opponents in a timely manner, while at the same time seeing someone simply one-shot you are still things that need to be taken care of for the long-term health of Minimum.

Once I started playing Dragon is Dead, I got hooked. The game has a very satisfying gameplay loop, and it comes with an extraordinary visual style. In addition, they added a ton of loot, and you can easily swap between weapons at your own pace. The ability system is not very complex, yet it manages to deliver great depth and it’s just a joy to experiment with. When it comes to controls, I think it’s much better to play this title with a controller. That being said, even keyboard controls are fine, although the layout takes some getting used to. Games like Dragon is Dead don’t come by that often. This combination of platformers and roguelikes, with Diablo-like looting and inventory is rare, but it works extremely well. Granted, the game has its shortcomings, yet that didn’t deter me from trying out multiple runs, experimenting with loot and creating a very powerful build. It’s up there when it comes to great roguelikes, although it will need a tad more polishing and better music.

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.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is a good game for fans of World of Darkness who are willing to invest time and energy to solve its puzzles and experience the narrative. The game can be needlessly complex and the writing isn’t always as evocative as it aims to be. The three main characters offer a nice variety of personalities but they sometimes feel like novices rather than hundred years old vampires with a deep pool of abilities to draw on. The presentation is too ambitious for its own good, although there are moments when it makes this vampire-dominated universe come alive. I found that Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is more enjoyable if I abandon the idea of optimizing my character and the goal of getting the best result out of all situations. Play the game once, accept outcomes, and see where the story of these three vampires and their effort to protect the Boston Camarilla take you.

Dark Quest 3 is a very good adaptation of a tabletop game to the digital environment. Of course, you will not have to rely on your imagination, and you will not be surrounded by friends turned into trusty allies, but the overall experience is still a fun one. Some might feel it is too generic, and there are some rough edges that could have used more attention, but overall, the game does not disappoint and offers a relaxing break and quenches the thirst of those looking to take a party on an enjoyable adventure.

A pretty fun racing title, but in the pursuit of addressing every bit of feedback after Grid 2, Codemasters hasn't delivered the most cohesive experience. You still need to endure some of the disciplines that you may not like in order to progress through the career, and the two cockpit cameras feel more like a fan-made mod than something devised by the developer itself. Throw in the erratic AI and you might get annoyed quite a few times while playing Autosport.

If you’re hoping for a breezy summer gaming experience, look elsewhere. This is a dense, challenging, and often unforgiving title that demands focus and patience. It’s not casual, it’s not streamlined, and it certainly doesn’t care whether you’re having a good time—at least not in the conventional sense. Ultimately, System Shock 2 remains what it has always been: a brilliant, brutal relic from an era when games weren’t afraid to be obtuse, ambitious, and just a little bit cruel. The remaster doesn’t change that. It merely ensures that SHODAN’s terrifying voice can continue echoing through the speakers of a new generation.

Souldiers has interesting core mechanics and the sort of art style that will certainly attract fans of the Metroidvania genre or those looking to activate their nostalgia. But the story is mostly there as a reason for the action and combat can quickly become overwhelming in terms of difficulty. The game also has significant problems with the camera and there are plenty of reports of corrupted saves. The developers at Retro Forge are promising to deliver fixes but anyone interested in the title should wait and check back later to see if they deal with the reported problems. And even then, the combat means that the title is best suited for someone who likes a stiff challenge. Souldiers is a good game for anyone willing to engage with it on its terms and doesn’t mind slow progress.

The title offers quite a bit of fun for those who love the idea of solving puzzles, while philosophically questioning the role that time plays in our lives.

At the end of the day, Dakar Desert Rally is a mix of good things and bad things, but on quite a lot of occasions, I feel like the game is still a work in progress. Sure, it’s hard to hit all the right spots from the very beginning, but aside from an enjoyable Dakar racing experience, the game needs refinements in many key areas. There still are a few performance glitches here and there, and the AI is ridiculously stupid every now and then, as it has absolutely no problem pushing you out of the track if it can’t get past you. The game system also requires more polishing. If there’s something you can truly enjoy, it’s the pure off-road experience on dunes, in water, and so on. The scenery is beautiful, so if you’re not playing the game to win races, you could have an absolute blast with this game. Otherwise, you may end up disappointed.

A Golden Wake is very sober, very grand, but it has a lot of pitfalls, both when it comes to actual gameplay mechanics and to its story, which has a couple of misses. But overall, it offers a pleasurable and, most importantly, memorable experience, with some pretty sharp and witty writing, and a flavorful depiction of a fascinating era.

Submerged: Hidden Depths is an interesting experience that will certainly bring back those who loved the first installment in the series. The exploration is engaging, the world has plenty of secrets to discover, there are plenty of cool moments to be a part of. The lack of conflict makes the game stand out from the crowd and will certainly attract an audience. Unfortunately, I never felt that the world or the story were engaging enough to keep me moving forward. The ecology undertones and the link between the siblings are only marginally interesting. I liked seeing the ruins and guessing what they represent but I never cared about the journal entries or the collectibles the game relies on. Submerged: Hidden Depths is a good indie effort that will appeal to players looking for non-violent adventures but fails to extract everything it can from its premise and mechanics.