The Holy Gosh Darn is a great adventure game, especially for those who love irreverent humor. It has its flaws, especially when it comes to the precision of the control, but it is darn fun to play around with time manipulation and see Cassy become more and more aggravated with the folks around her who have no clue about what is going on. On the downside, having to travel back in time so much and the piling up of secondary tasks can become a bit overwhelming. It will take a long couple of hours before you get your bearings, and even then, it will feel like you have a lot to do. But when did that stop any true adventurer?

Silent Hill 2 Remake is at least as good as the Resident Evil 2 Remake and that says a lot. They explore the horror genre from different angles but offer the same immersive results. Konami seems to have learned a lot from Capcom, and they manage to offer their fans exactly what they expect. Silent Hill 2 Remake is not just the best remake of the year, but also one of the best games released in 2024. If you have fond memories of the original you will love this new release, and if you did not play it before you no longer have excuses to avoid it.

Selfloss is a great concept and has a tremendous atmosphere, that is let down by an unpolished gameplay. It is an indie gem with all the good and the bad, typical for this kind of title. The focus is on the story and the emotions it awakens in the player, while the control and the combat system could have benefited a lot from more careful planning. Overall, it is a game worth experiencing for its soul.

Bloomtown: A different story is a wonderful JRPG, with western inspired themes, beautiful pixel art graphics and a challenging yet immersive gameplay. Sometimes it can become overwhelming, but the diabolical black humor tends to give you the necessary jolt to continue. It might not be as polished as a Persona game, but it is coherent and exciting, being a great choice for the fans of RPGs that you can lose yourself in. There are some weak points, where I wish the game could have been a bit more mature, but overall, it is great fun.

Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged is a laudable effort that despite its merits annoys me. First and foremost because it’s part of the remaster trends that keep plaguing this generation. Secondly, because it made me realize that one of my childhood’s iconic games was a much more special experience in my memories. There’s nothing really wrong with this remaster, but unlike Full Throttle or Grim Fandango, it shattered some illusions I was holding onto regarding the golden age of point and click adventure games.

Rogue Waters is a good combination of pirate theme, ship battles, deck combat, and rogue-lite. The very fact that it mixes so many elements means that none of them have a ton of depth. I like the fast, turn, and character-driven boarding battles, even when the difficulty spikes and defeat seems inevitable. I would have liked extra options for the ship-to-ship engagements. The pirate elements work well with the run and upgrade systems, especially once players get a solid crew and start rotating them. All its systems can become repetitive, and the game starts off a little slow. Still, Rogue Waters is quick, engaging, and gives gamers the tools to create interesting pirate stories.

Frostpunk 2 blends classic city development ideas with an interesting take on political horse-trading. The need to secure votes will push player outside of their comfort zone. I like the extra tension, but the two sides of the game sometimes feel disconnected from one another, especially when factions act irrationally as the survival of New London is in play. 11 bit studios has taken a risk by creating a sequel that is too different in terms of mechanics for some fans of the original. Frostpunk 2 isn’t as personal or granular but the political aspect is a good innovation and enhances the more traditional exploration and city building.

Halls of Torment offers a good take on survival action mechanics. Many players will pick it up not only because of the strong core loop but also because of its presentation, which evokes Diablo in all but the smallest details. Anyone who loved the Blizzard titles and appreciates fast-paced combat with a focus on good upgrade choices will have fun. But nostalgia will not be enough for those looking for innovation in a crowded genre. The game’s world feels limited and the meta-progression mechanics aren’t enough to ensure the moment-to-moment action remains fresh. Halls of Torment does not transform its genre but can quickly become addictive for players who are into the mechanics and the general Diablo vibe.

I like Diesel Punk to some degree and I had some expectations from The Last Shot, at least to be refreshingly different and maybe memorable. Instead, I got a game that is neither fun, nor original. Sure, the visual style stands out at first, but it is not enough to keep you invested in a bad game. The Lats Shot feels like the result of childish enthusiasm, a game made by a kid who does not really understand game design and just threw together his favorite moments from his favorite games without considering whether they work together or not.

Dark Sky is a focused mix of card combat and more classic role-playing. The science-fiction universe is varied and interesting, although it’s sometimes hard to connect with the characters. All combat is tense, and players have to pay attention to enemy force composition and develop strong strategies around card synergies. It’s possible to breeze through normal encounters, perhaps with a revive or two, and then get stuck on a boss for an hour, which in turn can generate frustration. But for fans of card-focused combat with a strong deck-building focus, Dark Sky is a great experience that will test their skills and reward them with plenty of complex engagements.

Hands of Necromancy II is a great example of what a sequel needs to do to succeed. It introduces a new character, complete with a set of weapons and powers, to add variety. It offers first-person shooter mechanics with magic instead of guns that draw inspiration from classics but have their own unique flavor. Raising the dead remains a good concept. The entire experience is squarely aimed at boomer shooter fans with a particular love of Hexen or Heretic. There are moments when the difficulty ramp up is abrupt and level design isn’t always impressive. Hands of Necromancy II understands the genre it's a part of and knows how to mix modern and retro ideas to give fans the complex magic shooter they crave.

Disney Epic Mickey Rebrushed is a pleasant surprise and just as much a love letter to Warren’s Spector game as that creation was to the Disney Universe itself. The ability to change the surrounding world and see the consequences of your actions still feels fresh and engaging. The new addition might not be groundbreaking, but they help leave behind the shackles of the Wii and turn the game into an experience without frustrations caused by certain limitations. And even better news is that in the future we might see a remake of the sequel, making the story whole.

There are two parts to Funko Fusion. The fan service aspect works great offering fans what they would expect from their favorite franchises, regardless about how they feel towards Funko Pop. The gameplay itself is way too repetitive and it feels like the developers invested more effort in nailing down some of the worlds and neglected the gameplay part. Funko Pop can be considered a first shy step made in the right direction, but it still has a long way to go before it can be mentioned in the same page as the LEGO titles. We’ll have to see if there's going to be a sequel that corrects the hiccups of the first title.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a solid effort but falls short compared to other Capcom remasters. The fans of the original will feel nostalgic revisiting Willamette Parkview Mall, but younger players will feel a lot of frustration. The game looks like a modern production but feels and plays like a game from a time with plenty technical limitations that do not apply any longer. It is challenging and mostly rewarding but lacks the finesse of modern games.

Shogun Showdown has one of the most focused designs I’ve recently encountered in the rogue-lite space. It is very easy to understand its movement and tile use mechanics, but it is very hard to master them and get through a location with minimal health losses. Still, there’s enough variety that it rarely feels repetitive. The lack of a proper narrative is only partially compensated for by the character and world design. Unlocks, handled via skills, can feel slow. But Shogun Showdown is impressive enough mechanically to satisfy any fan of its genre and has the potential to draw newcomers to it.

Roots of Yggdrasil is a solid combination of different genres, designed to appeal to players who want to solve problems without committing to long-term city-building. The design is tight, focused on doing as much as possible using limited resources, reaching objectives in a short number of turns using every available card. The Viking theme is re-interpreted in cool ways, especially when it comes to characters, and the game has a good presentation. Play a run or two a day, focus on a clear objective for the Holt, and test out ideas. Roots of Yggdrasil’s mechanics will take some time to master for players who are unfamiliar with city or deck building but once gamers invest the energy they will get back hours of fun, tense action.

Pyrene plays fast and the idea of making everything, from the player-controlled hero to enemies, objectives, and items, a card set in a square is a nice twist on familiar mechanics. The core loop is easy to understand but takes time and concentration to master. Even better, gamers can always tweak the difficulty of their next run to suit their taste. The rogue-lite elements are solid but lack the same level of innovation. The Basque lore and the title’s presentation enhance immersion. Pyrene could have taken a few extra risks with its structure but the moment-to-moment card action is tense and fun.

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.

The Star Named Eos is a short adventure game with some interesting puzzles, which ultimately fails to stand out. At best, it flickers in some moments, but it does not shine. The pacing, the low-res cutscenes, the repetitive pattern of the level design, and the lack of real connection with your character make the experience a rather forgettable one. Fans of the genre will have some fun with the game, but I’d recommend to pick this one up when it’s on sale, so you avoid feeling bad for not having your expectations met.

Guayota is a good puzzle game, as long as players are willing to overlook some issues. The level design is great, and the title knows how to introduce gameplay ideas gradually and to gently ramp up difficulty. The concept of having two versions for all levels and having gamers move between them when their torch runs out is solid. I like that there are no threats in the dark version. But the developers should have offered a clear way to move back to the light level or give players more than one chance at solving it. The game’s narrative might not offer a strong enough hook if frustration sets in. Guayota’s world and puzzles are engaging but the game makes it hard for players to fully enjoy them.

Starcom: Unknown Space isn’t a complex game with deep space combat mechanics. It’s more interested in conjuring the feeling of discovery that the best space-based fictional works create. Players will meet aliens and fight hostiles while improving tech and adding modules to their own spaceship. The narrative beats are derivative, and the game’s presentation isn’t top-notch. Starcom: Unknown Space understands why space exploration is such a great fantasy and wants players to get lost among the stars.

Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open is a unique experience that uses familiar gameplay concepts. The setting, combined with the supernatural elements, gives players an interesting setting to engage with. The narrative is carefully constructed and has plenty of emotional moments. Ting is a great main character. The mechanics are pretty simple, with mini-games that are easy to master and some QTE sequences that aren’t too frustrating. Try to play just one or two episodes at a time. Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open nails the atmosphere and the story and I suspect many players will start researching Malay culture after playing it.

Knock on the Coffin Lid is a good representative of its genre. The core deckbuilding and combat mechanics are good but not revolutionary. After a while, it’s a good idea to turn on fast animations to speed them up. Still, there are cool synergies to find and a wide array of strategies to test and choose from. It takes a little too long to unlock all three heroes and battles can become repetitive when moving through the same spots. But the game is engaging, and the lore and presentation actually enhance the core loop. Knock on the Coffin Lid is fun and will keep gamers fighting and discovering new places across multiple runs.

TIEBREAK: Official game of the ATP and WTA is a good experience for anyone who likes tennis and really wants to control his favorite player. After learning the mechanics and how to best exploit computer-controlled opponents it is quite fun to dominate even the Grand Slams. The title’s presentation helps, with well-modeled players and animations. Individual matches can be thrilling. But there are gaps in the mechanics, like the lack of player morale, and the career mode lacks depth. Tiebreak is a good foundation and its developers need to squash bugs and improve gameplay to make it a good sports sim.

Artifice: War Tactics should be commended for taking some classic turn-based tactics ideas and trying to find a way to make new then again. Because enemies rely on overwatch strikes to take players down and because levels are relatively small, it often feels like combat is a puzzle with limited solutions. The game wisely offers an undo action, available as long as the player’s hero has not taken damage. Unfortunately, the presentation and story aren’t good enough to keep gamers engaged. Artifice: War Tactics will appeal to fans of the tactics genre who are looking for an experience that challenges conventions, even if it does not fully deliver on its potential.

Star Wars Outlaws is not a masterpiece or a major innovation, but it is a fun experience, and it shows that it was developed by people passionate about the Star Wars universe. It is a somewhat typical Ubisoft game that was better put together than most of the productions we have seen from them in a while. It is not perfect, but it is entertaining and immersive, with an overwhelming amount of content. Some of it can feel tedious and is repetitive, but it is up to you of much you want to grind. There are plenty of ways to earn credits, and the game allows different gameplay styles. The only major problem at the moment are the bugs that need to be fixed ASAP to be able to fully enjoy this experience.

My Lovely Empress offers an interesting mix of mechanics. Making sure the empire is growing and all classes are satisfied is pretty hard, even when bonds with the Yaoguai are strong. On top of that players need to woo neighboring rulers and decide how to best go about the complex task of bringing the empress back to life. I like the variety, but I would have liked some extra depth, especially for the title’s management side. But I suspect the balance is carefully crafted to appeal to long-term franchise fans. My Lovely Empress has strong mechanics, an interesting universe, and ten Yaoguai to interact with, a good package for anyone who likes both management and relationships.

Arco has a unique look and world and a set of mechanics that are easy to understand but grow in complexity as characters unlock more options. I never got used to the ghosts that randomly join the fight but was eager to replay engagements to avoid losing even one pip of health. The game might rely too much on Western tropes at times and the unique look will not be for everyone. But Arco tries to innovate, mixing and matching ideas, and manages to deliver a constant sense of discovery.