Sins of a Solar Empire II is a great space-based real-time strategy game. It is designed to primarily appeal to those who liked the original, splitting factions into two, introducing variation to the star systems, and adding to the tactical complexity. The game does not offer a campaign, but each match generates its own unique stories. The multiplayer infrastructure is solid and there are plenty of options to work with. And the game offers quite the visual spectacle, as big fleets clash with energy beams and missiles striking targets everywhere. Sins of a Solar Empire II could have used an entirely new faction, like the threat the Vasari are running from, and a few more innovative ideas but I like its mechanics and every match feels unique.

To the Stars is fast and exciting. It takes a few minutes to get through a level and the pace of the action is often frantic. The tutorial is good and makes it easy for players to understand the stripped-down mechanics. Surprisingly, there’s also plenty of depth and variation, especially once players unlock extra civilizations. The experience’s focused nature means there’s not much in the way of world-building. But the immersion level is high, thanks to the presentation and the silly planet faces. To the Stars is a good innovative real-time strategy game that is accessible to newcomers and has enough depth and speed for genre fans.

Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery may be a casual title, catering to a specific audience, but even for them it is hard to justify its existence. As a DLC pack it would have been more than fine, but as full release it fails. Overall, it does not offer enough content to be a standalone release. And it is a shame because the previous game offered a hardcore experience for the fans of the hidden objects genre without feeling like a rip-off. The value proposal of Discovery is missing completely.

There are exciting and pleasant strolls down memory lane, and then there is the remastered Star Wars: Bounty Hunter (sadly). Yes, it is updated! So, it can pass as a functioning game, but it is by no means modern or enjoyable. It completely lacks the atmosphere of the original release, and the entire game feels as tedious as it was 22 years ago. With some more tinkering under the hood, this game could have been reborn from its ashes as a cult classic, but the scope once again was different: a cheap remaster that can be sold for a quick buck.

Star Stuff isn’t actually about programming, although creating command sequences for robots is an important part of gameplay. The game wants players to consider what actions need to happen and then work backward to create a solution that takes into account number of commands and robot capabilities. The universe isn’t as fleshed out as it could be and zooming in when Mija takes a drink from a vending machine isn’t a good idea. But for anyone who loves puzzles and wants to solve well-designed ones using a constantly expanding set of tools, Star Stuff is a great choice.

Space Prison combines a cool science-fiction premise with some innovative twists on combat and rogue-lite mechanics. I like that players have to worry about hunger and desperation more than they have to do about hit points. Using rats as companions early on feels a little weird but a mecha version can be created toward the game’s end, which is pretty awesome. Still, the experience can be frustrating. Encounters will become repetitive while battles don’t have a lot of depth. Space Prison is a very open video game that rewards careful preparation and extensive exploration, as long as gamers do not abandon it after the first few deaths.

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 Operator will attract anyone who likes a good mystery with some very contemporary themes and does not care too much about complex gameplay. The story moves at a good pace, the characters have personalities, and the general atmosphere of paranoia works well. But the mechanics are built around a computer screen, a few apps, and plenty of reading. It can become repetitive, even with its cleverly designed puzzles. But the game nails the atmosphere, the heady mix of paranoia and dark secrets, and will capture the attention of players willing to suspend their disbelief at the start. The Operator does a lot with limited resources and creates a good level of immersion while delivering a strong story.

Minds Beneath Us is spectacular when delivering slice-of-life moments, both if they involve the main character and when it comes to ancillary conversations in the background. It’s also good at creating an interesting vision of the future while offering a core narrative that tackles modern themes in engaging ways. Its presentation adds to the immersion level, although the lack of faces will be a little disturbing. Its mechanics do not stray from the adventure game standard and when they do QTEs make an unwelcome appearance. A few conversations are over-written, especially when the game tries to focus on emotions. But Minds Beneath Us offers a good enough story that these are small problems. Play around a full day at a time and savor every interaction.

Tavern Talk delivers on the coziness front, with a relaxed attitude and plenty of interesting stories to engage with. All the characters have something unique, and the game does a good job of blending fantasy elements with classic themes. Actually, creating the potions isn’t very hard and I like how they influence the outcomes of quests. Anyone who loves stories and does not care too much about gameplay will have a good time, especially if they only play one or two in-game days at a time. But the title will struggle to attract players who might want more control over their potions and their effects. Tavern Talk isn’t interested in changing the narrative-driven coffee-making experience but understands what makes it tick.

Vampire Therapist manages to make the rather dry concepts of cognitive behavioral therapy interesting by linking them to interesting characters. I like how the sessions develop and how the game adds new concepts and asks players to find the best ways to use them. The voice acting is good enough to paper over some small issues with the writing. This is not an experience for players who want gameplay depth and variety. I could have done without the feeding or the meditation mechanics. Vampire Therapist tells good stories and has cool character moments but don’t take it as an actual example of how therapy works.

Linkito is clever and varied, offering players more than 100 puzzles to tackle. The simple idea of moving a wire between yellow and blue sockets to let the electricity flow is simple and gets tweaked in a variety of innovative ways. Each location gives players a certain type of challenge, using both normal puzzles for progression and more complex ones for those who want a challenge. The narrative is also pretty good, offering gamers a reason to persevere if a puzzle becomes frustrating. The presentation isn’t spectacular but mostly works. Linkito is a good introductory experience for anyone interested in puzzles and is willing to learn a variety of new mechanics as the game progresses.

Fans of real-world sport will probably pick F1 Manager 2024 because it gives them the option to create their custom team and then take on the established powers of the sport. It’s fun to pick one of the origins and then strive to use every small competitive advantage to get at least a few wins against the likes of Ferrari or Red Bull. The morale system is a good addition, although it does need a little balancing, and mechanical issues add another level of excitement and dread to the races. The race simulation still creates some weird moments, but it generally feels solid. F1 Manager 2024 is a step forward for the racing series and a solid way to experience Formula 1 in video game form.

SCHiM is an indie gem that is both simple in concept, but also bursting of creativity and originality. The gameplay itself might be a bit too simplistic for those looking for an adrenaline rush or instant gratification, but those who love this kind of puzzle 3D platformers will truly appreciate the effort behind it. The end result is an endearing experience, that has a few gameplay issues but overall becomes a memorable game thanks to its atmosphere and innocent approach to life.

KAKU: Ancient Seal is a decent representative of the third-person action genre that doesn’t find ways to innovate in interesting ways. The core mechanics are decent, and the world is at times impressive. There’s plenty of depth to combat. But the narrative stalls after a few hours and fighting will become repetitive despite the wealth of new moves players can learn. Fans of the open-world action structure will enjoy the four continents and the unique content associated with each. But the entire experience would have benefited from being more focused, with a smaller number of mechanics and more innovation. KAKU: Ancient Seal is a solid game that fails to find a unique hook.

Tennis Manager 2024 is a decent sports simulation experience that’s designed to appeal to gamers who already love tennis. They will appreciate the attention to detail evident in the extensive game plan options and in the match simulation. The title does not feature real-world names (mods can solve this issue) and the business side of the sim is pretty simple. Players who want a break from a long career can try out the new Fantasy Court mode, which allows them to put together their own tournaments. It’s a good way to fill a bracket with superstars and simply have fun on the court. Tennis Manager 2024 doesn’t have a great presentation and some of its mechanics are obscure but it delivers a decent tennis simulation for fans who want to win a Grand Slam of their own.

Pine Hearts is a very cute experience that tells an emotional story. I like the exploration and the way Tyke gradually gets new abilities that open up new paths and options. The memory systems deliver some big emotional moments. Characters might not talk but the world is inviting and colorful. The adventure is pretty short but some of the gameplay elements still have time to become repetitive. Pine Hearts mixes light gameplay and fun conversations with an exploration of loss while giving players a beautiful world to explore.

Field of Glory: Kingdoms is a grand strategy game designed for players who love both history and complexity. The grand campaign offers freedom to change the destiny of most featured nations but only for those who carefully craft plans, invest resources wisely, and pick the right moments to expand. Players can create impressive narratives that remain rooted in the reality of the early Middle Ages even as they diverge from it. The game asks gamers to invest time and energy to understand all its mechanics (the manual is well-written and informative) and, more importantly, all the complex ways they interact. Field of Glory: Kingdoms rewards those who do with plenty of variety and tens of hours of fun.

Overall, Beyond Good and Evil 20th Anniversary Edition is a pleasant surprise and it was a pleasure to finish it for the third time. It is a nice fan service and the best way to experience an excellent game by those who missed it or were too young to try it when it was first released. Nonetheless, it is a remake that will scratch the itch while waiting for the second instalment, but it will also make the wait that much harder. It is a game that is worth trying for the first, second or third time since it aged very well and is still an enjoyable experience to this day.

Still Wakes the Deep has an interesting premise for a walking simulator mixing the mundane and ugly with the supernatural and deadly beautiful. Unfortunately, the whole project just creaks at the joints and fails to deliver a memorable experience. The linear gameplay is not counterbalanced but the story, rather they go hand in hand towards a very simplistic approach. The entire game lacks coherence and that “something” that would turn the originality of the basic idea into an outstanding game.

The Land Beneath Us is a good game for anyone who likes fast action, quick but thought-out decisions, and a rogue-lite structure. It doesn’t do much to innovate in any of these spaces, but the mechanical implementation is strong. The idea of wielding four weapons, one for each movement and attack direction, creates interesting tactical possibilities. There’s also plenty of variety for both relics and weapons, which keeps runs fresh. The presentation and story are competent, although nothing special when compared to other titles in this space. The Land Beneath Us delivers a fluid and fun experience as long as players don’t mind some runs that simply go nowhere.

Flame Keeper does not innovate much but its execution is solid. Combat is fast and fluid, even if the idea of adding shielding to increase difficulty can become a little annoying. It would have been cool for the game to do more with the idea of linking Ignis’ health to the fire camp and its lamps. And the final defense sequence for each level feels underwhelming. This is a good experience for players who are new to the action genre. Aim to complete one level during a session and carefully evaluate the best use for gathered seeds. Flame Keeper is a bit too grindy for its own good but it is easy to pick up and enjoy.

Undead Inc. can deliver a decent management experience, as long as the developers continue to deliver updates that eliminate crashes, deal with the other bugs, and introduce better balance. It is fun to create a thriving pharma entity that manages to invest in weird research and fulfill major black-market contracts while deceiving everyone. Aside from technical issues, the big issue is that the game never feels as cool as it should. Managing rooms and staff is a bit too repetitive. The rogue-lite idea of extracting doesn’t feel satisfying. Undead Inc. shows how easy it is to have a killer idea while failing to find the right mechanics to realize its potential.

Still Joking is an interactive novel experience with a good cast and a great protagonist. Iris is bewildered and fiery, determined to find out what happened to her real-world counterpart while also finding the best way to move past her trauma. The game’s writing works well with the theme, although there are conversations that feel much too long. The developers claim that there are more than 1,000 unique choices to make, so there’s a ton of space for multiple playthroughs. Sure, gameplay is as limited. The game has style, but immersion is negatively affected by the limited sound design. The entire experience is designed for players who already know and appreciate this genre. Still Joking does not innovate much but executes on its premise well and takes players through some wild narrative moments.

Tour de France 2024 is a fun cycling experience that is hard to master. It takes patience to prepare well for a race and decide when it’s the right time to force the pace or attack. Sure, players can pick real-world teams featuring the best riders if they want to dominate competitions. But I had much more fun as the underdog, exploiting opportunities and celebrating third places. For anyone who’s not already interested in cycling, the game will take some time to learn. Play the tutorials and then ride Le Tour with a smaller team, aiming only to fully understand the mechanics and get a feel for how races develop. Tour de France 2024 walks the fine line between realism and fun and manages to create a cycling sim that feels true to the sport.

Pro Cycling Manager 2024 creates a complex mix of team management and race action that is designed to draw in cycling fans. The title features real names and likenesses for most riders and teams, which adds to the immersion. And races feel more exciting than in previous installments, although it can be harder for smaller teams to make an impact. It takes time and failure to figure out how to run a successful team. It is fun to discover what kind of sprint setups work best or the secret to mastering hilly finishes. But there are also moments when the game gets in its own way and makes players work harder than they should. Still, Pro Cycling Manager 2024 is a great way to rewrite cycling history in fun ways.

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a delightful experience that will appeal to any gamers who like a good mystery, humor, and some solid investigative work. The small cast of characters delivers some great interactive moments and is fully voiced. All the investigative mechanics are easy to use, and the game really asks players to think about the case to reach its solution. The world is so interesting and the gameplay engaging enough that I wanted the game to be longer, which is a rarity these days. I’m hoping that McQuacklin will take more cases in the future and will have the opportunity to enjoy many more bread slices. Play Duck Detective: The Secret Salami in two or three sessions, enjoy the humor, and try to solve the mystery without resorting to hints.

Capes is clearly designed to appeal to anyone who has played and liked X-COM and its tactical puzzles. The game successfully moves the action to a universe featuring superheroes. I liked the theme, although the developers don’t do much new with it. Unfortunately, the presentation, especially the graphics, isn’t as good as the mechanics. This is a video game that emphasizes a thorough understanding of one’s team and a desire to execute a mission as well as possible. Revisiting levels to get more skill points is expected. Capes is challenging and complex and offers fans of the tactics space plenty of options to experiment and optimize.