Transient Extended Edition is a great concept, but the implementation is flawed on every level. The art style is stunning, but the graphical engine can’t keep the pace. The game world is truly different, but there is not too much to do in it. The puzzles are too simple and feel like a filler so you wouldn’t call the game just a walking simulator. Also, this new edition does not make the game more user friendly. Yes, some of the previous issues have been fixed, but there are plenty of new ones. Even with the new ending, Transient remains a mystery that will make you wonder what exactly happened – if you are curious or masochistic enough to brave through the countless crashes.

Greak: Memories of Azur despite its strong points in the end fells short due to the flaws od the concept on which is based. The collaboration between the siblings is the worst part of the game, due to the severely lacking AI and the control system chosen by the developers. If you can get past that, you will find a charming game, that visually is a masterpiece. The puzzles and platforming elements may not be revolutionary, but they work well enough. The atmosphere of the game is undeniable, but it is affected by the combat that often feels unbalanced. If it would have given the option for couch or online co-op Greak: Memories of Azur would have been a true gem.

Faraday Protocol checks the most important checkboxes of the genre: easy to learn mechanics, puzzles that become harder and harder, stylish art style and a few collectibles. Still, you cannot help but wonder why you have the feeling that the game is a bit empty. Despite the AI and your limited interaction with it, most of the time you will feel alone, in a world that is so focused on puzzles that it feels synthetic. If you like puzzle games Faraday Protocol is one you do not want to miss. If you are a newcomer to the genre better start somewhere else and circle back later to this game, when you already have some experience.

Exodus Borealis is a good mix of genres. It creates tensions by asking gamers to constantly balance priorities and work with limited resources. It introduces quite a bit of complexity with its gems and challenges the player to create a solid tower system that will take down enemies and can be easily expanded. I, personally, didn’t love the choice to make monsters only attack targets in the village, rather than the actual towers. But I understand how it helps balance the experience while increasing the danger level. The main ideas of Exodus Borealis are good and it will be interesting to see whether Smug Marmot Studios will expand on them using the Vupfox or if they plan to use new protagonists for their next project.

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.

Time Master is one entry in a crowded genre that manages to stand out thanks to its unique mechanics. The fact that the game has a demo makes it easy for anyone to play it and see how they like the time manipulation concept. I, for one, appreciate the way players need to think about two timelines and coordinate their actions to move through levels as quickly as possible. The problem is that the unique time mechanic is the only thing about the title that really stands out. The narrative and characters are just sketches, with nothing to make them interesting. The presentation is almost the definition of average. Time Master is part of a big group of games that have one cool unique idea to show off but its developers at MorpheusZ need to deliver more to make their next title really stand out.

Nobody Saves the World is a fun game, where the story, the quests and every other gameplay element are in the service of the character and evolution system. There are no armours or weapons or potions, it all comes down to the forms that work as classes and mixing their abilities. Sure, it can become a tad repetitive, and the humour has its ups and downs just as the level design, but overall, the experience is a memorable and enjoyable one. Nobody Saves the World has a lot of soul and quite a few flickers of originality, worth to be experienced since it is part of the Game Pass Ultimate catalogue.

Dealer’s Life 2 is a niche game that’s best enjoyed in short sessions over a longer time frame. The haggling mechanics balances revealed info and hunches well and the special events add some needed variety. But after around one week of in-game time, I start to get annoyed at the randomness of the objects and the very rare items I lack the money to try and get. The game makes no attempt to reflect on the predatory elements of the pawnshop culture (newspaper articles could provide a decent outlet), although it lightly satirizes the many television shows based on it. The developers at Abyte Entertainment have a solid lock on their favorite game formula but Dealer’s Life 2 needs more variety to keep players engaged for a long time.

Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes has a solid core gameplay loop but lacks any extra elements that can keep players engaged for a long while. The narrative is almost non-existent, characters are bland. Even the rogue elements seem like an afterthought, a good way to justify multiple runs but nothing more. But the pinball and undead mix is just good enough to justify playing Zombie Rollers for more than just an hour or so. I think players should try at least six or seven runs to see whether they like the gameplay or not. The puzzles and the boss fights are the best moments, especially once one becomes familiar with the special attacks. Zing Games knows how to mash two classic concepts together and, even if Pinball Heroes lacks polish, I really want to see what they plan to combine next.

Quest for Infamy is an archaic game, that was not adapted well to modern consoles. It has several design and gameplay issues, yet after finishing it I had to admit that I had fun with it. It may be just the nostalgia for the games I played in my teenage years, but Quest for Infamy managed to engage me in its world and story. The humor and dialogues are just as ambivalent as the rest of the design, but the game has its moments when it can make you chuckle if not laugh. It is recommended for those who miss the games from the 90’s or for those who are curious about what fun meant back then.

What Lies in the Multiverse is a short, but intense experience. Unfortunately, the fun is overshadowed by the loose control scheme and the fact that not even the latest patch fixes the issues of the corrupt save file. It is too bad, especially since the character design and the dialogues are quite inspired. If you prefer games that focus more on reflexes than puzzles, What Lies in the Multiverse can be an interesting option after a few more patches. If you are hoping for a puzzle heavy game, not even the story will make you consider this title twice.

République is proof that mobile games can have depth and can be as complex as their PC or console counterparts. Despite the many improvements it brings, the Anniversary Edition cannot shed its touch screen heritage and the control on the gamepad is still cumbersome. The possibility to control Hope directly subtracts from the initial innovative experience, without offering a real added benefit. The five chapters offer around 15 hours of mixed experience, where fun will alternate with frustration. République: Anniversary Edition is a game that can thoroughly enjoyed only by the fans of older stealth games, like the classic Metal Gear Solid.

35mm tries hard to be more than just a walking simulator. It stumbles in this endeavor and forgets that a good walking simulator can still be a pretty entertaining experience. The game falls short of the experience offered by popular titles in the same genre like Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture or What Remains of Edith Finch. If you find yourself on a rainy weekend, looking for some brooding, short and not exactly challenging experience, 35mm might be worth a try thanks to its atmosphere. Otherwise, there are much more enjoyable and memorable walking simulators out there.

Circle Empires Tactics is an interesting take on strategy, with a focus on small engagements and careful preparation. I like the fact that the options to restart an engagement is always available, allowing players to try out ideas and push for success. The repetitive nature of the entire experience can only succeed if the price for failure is small and the developers understand this. The problem with the game is that, apart from love of its mechanics, there’s nothing to keep gamers engaged with the singleplayer. The lore is limited and there’s not enough variety. The game is more interesting in multiplayer, where humans can deliver some cool tactical moments. Circle Empires Tactics has some good ideas but needs more depth to appeal to modern strategy lovers.

Royal Frontier is a simple game that can serve as an introduction to the rogue space but does not have the unique or interesting elements of the best of its genre. Combat is interesting at first but becomes rote very quickly. Unlocking new blessings does not feel important or cool enough to keep players engaged. But this could still be a slightly fun rogue and combat experience if it weren’t for the QTEs. They cannot be avoided, add little to the gameplay, and make everything take a lot more time than it should. Rogue Frontier understands what makes its chosen genre interesting for players but fails to introduce any unique mechanics of its own.

orbit.industries is a good management experience that will appeal to anyone who has ever sketched a space station in a notebook or thought about the complexities of building in orbit. Its three core systems might not seem too deep, taken individually, but they interact to create satisfying complexity. It is hard but cool to put together a space station that functions as close to optimal as possible and also looks suitably sci-fi. But the game doesn’t seem to aim to expand to audiences that don't already loves this genre. The presentation is functional but never pushes past that. There’s little world-building to create a sense of immersion. orbit.industries is a clear sign that LAB132 know their mechanics but they need to work on their ability to create a sense of wonder to attract a wider slate of players.

Despite all the frustration, REDO! can be quite satisfying. In theory, you can finish the game in 5 to 6 hours. In reality, it will take you a lot longer, due to some of the flaws of the concept on which it is based. Despite the high-level challenge and numerous moments of frustrations, this game has a magnetic effect. If you are a Metroidvania fan this is a must try. The same goes for soulslike fans looking for a different kind of challenge. REDO! is a retro platformer that keeps you engaged no matter how mad it drives you.

Strategic Command: American Civil War is a video game for fans of turn-based wargames who also have a love for the conflict that defined the XIX century for the United States of America. It requires patience, careful analysis, and knowledge of history. The core mechanics are familiar but solid and can deliver pretty interesting results both if trying to replicate history or change it. But getting to the point where everything clicks requires time, patience, and reading. The title offers a bigger map, more detailed mechanics, and increased control. But it never attempts anything truly revolutionary. Strategic Command: American Civil War might not attract new fans to the genre but it will deliver a lot of hours of engagements for those already immersed in it.

Krut: The Mythic Wings is a competent game that never manages to become more than the sum of its parts. The gameplay loop is decent but fails to develop in any interesting way. The narrative is solid enough to push players forward but never impresses. The game does look good, especially during boss engagements. But the decision to use the same currency to get upgrades and unlocks checkpoints adds a layer of difficulty that was not required (always go for the save point). And the combat fails to grow in complexity or coolness as the game progresses. Krut: The Mythic Wings is worth playing for fans of the action platformer space but does not manage to innovate in any significant way.

It’s hard to judge NHRA Speed for All based purely on the gameplay experience, pretty much because this would make it one of the most disappointing releases of the year. So while the gameplay leaves a lot to be desired, let’s applaud the well-built career, which aside from the lack of an option to skip the dialogues, actually comes with lots of tutorials to introduce beginners into the world of NHRA. But at the end of the day, NHRA Speed for All feels like a half-baked game that’s still in development, and which is currently out for beta testers only. Well, it’s not, and if you want the PS5 version, you need to pay $79.99 for the Ultimate Edition.

Oakenfold is a clever game that makes great use of the TimeScrubber and the ability to play around with time and try out ideas. The story is not original, and the core concepts are not entirely new. But the gameplay is solid and the tactical puzzles are engaging. There’s a part of a gamer’s brain that will seek to optimize and the developers know how to activate it. The issue with a competent implementation of familiar ideas is that there’s little push for innovation. I like the three aspects of Aisha and the Timebank but the rest is derivative. Oakenfold will scratch the Into the Breach itch for fans but it needs to do more to attract new fans to its genre.

Simulacra 3 is a good horror-themed mystery game and will certainly appeal to those who are familiar with the series’ previous installments and like what they deliver. For newcomers, the lack of actual exploration will be a minus, but the game works hard to compensate with its videos, images, and maps. Try to treat the experience as a psychologically-driven TV series, engage with it in installments, and you will likely have a decent time.

Live by the Sword: Tactics will be a great experience for gamers who fell in love with the role-playing tactics titles of their youth and are susceptible to the draw of nostalgia. The story mode has solid battles, although the narrative does not impress. Adventure mode puts an interesting new spin on the core mechanics. But the game is unlikely to draw in players who don’t already like what it has to offer. It needs a stronger narrative hook or more innovation and accessibility. Live by the Sword: Tactics is a nice project for a small development team and fulfills its core promise of delivering a good classic tactics RPG experience.

Togges is one of the happiest video games I have played recently. It is focused on giving the player freedom to explore, then learn from his mistakes, and finally find innovative ways to deal with obstacles. Despite the easy-to-understand concepts, the experience also offers a lot of depth, especially for someone who wants to see everything in each world. Steam offers a demo for the game, for players who are intrigued by its ideas. I liked dropping a trail of living cubes, covering the world, having fun, and seeing secrets before finding ways to reach them. Togges mixes platformer and puzzle concepts in a unique way and is an excellent entry point for anyone who wants to explore these types of mechanics.

The Feast is more of an interesting experiment than a full-fleshed video game. I don’t have a problem with the short duration of its story or the small number of endings. The atmosphere and some of the emotional moments are very well put together. But gameplay is limited and the player is too much of a blank slate to motivate players. A little more context would have helped in this area. How players react to the entire experience will depend on their love for dark stories, absurdity, and creepy moments. The Feast shows the developers at Sever have a good grasp of their ability to create narrative and atmosphere, but they need to work on their approach to gameplay.

Flashpoint Campaigns: Southern Storm is one of the best-organized and most accessible titles in the wargaming space. It still asks gamers to invest quite a bit of time to understand all the mechanics and the historical period it is portraying. But the reward is a gripping Cold War alternate history game that creates a lot of choice-driven narratives. Start off with the tutorials and the associated PDFs. Then pick one scenario and try to really master it, making sure to understand why everything happens and what strategies work without relying on luck. I hope Flashpoint Campaigns: Southern Storm attracts both veterans of the genre and newcomers, allowing it to establish itself as the hex-driven strategy title for the late Cold War period.

Kainga: Seeds of Civilization has an interesting core idea, with its mix of classic city builder and rogue-lite structure. It offers an entirely new way of looking at simple actions, like picking techs or thinking about victory conditions. The game also has a well-defined style and is welcoming to newcomers. Make sure to consult the encyclopedia to see all the unlocks and how they can fit into different strategies. But I like its ideas more than their implementation. I love city building when it’s big, complex, time-consuming and Kainga: Seeds of Civilization simply has too many limitations to keep me engaged. But its short episodes and focus on opening up new areas and new thinkers will certainly appeal to gamers who want a new take on a classic genre.

Terracotta is a game for players who can appreciate its mix of tough puzzles, unique universe, and two-dimensional mechanics. The game slowly adds more complexity, which is a good thing given its overall difficulty level. It’s not recommended for newcomers but will appeal to anyone who needs a tough action exploration experience. My biggest issue is that there’s no way to deal with the frustration of failure. There’s no choice of difficulty levels and constant death is not a great teaching tool. Terracotta’s gameplay innovations are good but players will need to invest time and energy if they want to experience everything that it has to offer.