Ultimately, Itorah isn’t a bad game, just an uninterested one that doesn’t bring anything new to the table. That wouldn’t be an issue if it didn’t have the issues that I’ve already mentioned. Play this only if you’re desperate for a good-looking platformer.

Tiny Thor is a nostalgia-powered experience that takes the best ideas of classic action platformers and adds its own spin to them. The gameplay is tight and challenging, designed to give players opportunities to improvise while also rewarding careful planning. It’s exhilarating to nail a tough sequence on the first or second try. The title’s story is engaging enough to keep players immersed and the presentation enhances the entire experience. Any gamer that loves handcrafted levels, the thrill of figuring out solutions on the fly, and a high level of challenge will be satisfied with what Tiny Thor is offering. I only wished for the game to also offer more difficulty and accessibility options to open up the experience to a wider group of potential players.

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.

Solasta: Crown of the Magister is a great entry point for those looking to play a D&D-inspired game. The streamlined ruleset makes everything easy to understand and you don’t even have to spend hours creating your character (unless you really, really like to roll your stats until you get certain values). The only thing that I couldn’t get past are the character models, which look absolutely terrible. However, the dungeons, which are designed both horizontally and vertically, as well as some of the ground locations are beautiful and immersive for a D&D campaign. The voice acting is also top-notch most of time, and the same goes for the soundtrack.

Tennis Manager 2023 is a good if slightly uneven sports management experience. There’s a lot of depth to be found in the athlete-focused mechanics, with plenty of available choices when it comes to training and match strategy. Managing the academy itself adds another layer of decisions. I also like playing out matches, trying to evaluate the situation to find the best way to tweak tactics and improve player performance. The problem is that simulated matches often deliver weird results, something that the developers need to tackle. For the more die-hard tennis fans, the lack of real names for players will be the biggest barrier to entry. But Tennis Manager 2023 has a good strong core and shows how well the sports management formula can work for sports other than football.

Killer Frequency is a good narrative experience with some decent gameplay ideas. The story of the Whistling Man and his killing spree seems very familiar at first but benefits from nice twists and turns that actually pack emotional power. There’s not much depth to any of the mechanics but they add a lot of interactivity and give players opportunities to learn more about the universe of Gallows Creek. The voice actors deserve a lot of praise, especially for making their narratives interesting enough that I often forgot to constantly try to make crumpled paper free throws from my DJ station. The title does not outstay its welcome, at around 4 hours for a first run, and there’s replayability if players really want to keep everyone alive. Killer Frequency doesn’t reinvent its genre but it is engaging and simply fun.

Street Fighter 6 is not perfect, but it is revolutionary. It manages to cater to so many tastes and expectations, without dropping the ball that the developers deserve all the praise they get. Of course, some of the fan favorites all not in the initial roster, but this probably will be addressed by the nowadays mandatory Battle Pass. But, just this once, instead of crying wolf about the greed of publishers we have to admit that we are pleasantly surprised by all the content included in Street Fighter 6. Whether you are a fan of fighting games or not, this is one title you should not miss.

Decarnation is one of those rare video games that’s more than the sum of its parts. The story it tells is both important and carefully plotted. Gloria is an exceptional character and the game offers full access to her inner life. The gameplay is varied enough to keep players interested, although not all the mechanics are good by themselves. All these elements come together to deliver a great tale of discovery, resilience, and survival. Play it in two or three sessions, absorb the unique atmosphere, and try to push through the more annoying gameplay sequences. Decarnation is a very good game with a great main character and a unique twist on familiar ideas.

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.

Return to Grace is an immersive narrative experience that shines when it comes to character interactions. The cast of Artificial Intelligence constructs is varied, fun, and challenges players to re-evaluate their approach and priorities. They are also beautifully voiced, as is the main character Adie. The story is also captivating, although some sections toward the conclusion feel rushed. Gameplay strives for variety but most of the featured mechanics feel shallow. It would have been better for the developers to focus on just one core idea and execute it with more complexity and a higher difficulty level. Despite this limitation, Return to Grace is one of the most interesting science fiction adventures I’ve played recently, and as many players as possible need to experience the banter of its A.I. companions.

If I were to make a list of games that people should play, the remake of System Shock would definitely be on that list. The folks at Nightdive Studios did an excellent job at breathing new life into the cult game, so if you’ve been holding back from playing System Shock due to outdated graphics, check out the remake. Despite the fact that some mechanics have been modernized, I believe that the presentation, new visuals, as well as the quality-of-life improvements fully make up for it. The blend of modern and retro graphics in the cutscenes and some of the environments are absolutely gorgeous.

Combat needs a bit more polishing, but it’s serviceable for what Liberte wants to be. I did enjoy the story very much and the voice acting, but I feel that the game needs more varied environments and enemies. I wasn’t too impressed with the progression system, which requires a lot of grinding. Thankfully, you’re allowed to skip this aspect if you’re mildly skilled.

I’m a big fan of the Tolkien universe, and I really wished Gollum, a game that no one wanted and asked for, would at least meet my already low expectations. I sincerely hoped to find a decent game hidden underneath all the technical issues. I also hoped that fixing the crashes and some of its other problems would eventually lead to an enjoyable experience. Alas, this game does not seem to be redeemable. Even if the development team manages to fix the plethora of crashes and errors, the game itself is faulty at its core. There is no trace of an enjoyable experience, and Gollum is doomed to remain in the game’s industry bin.

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.

Rule the Waves 3 isn’t a visual feast and does not have a deep and immersive set of narrative events. Its systems are deep and well-designed but require the player to have or to seek knowledge about shipbuilding and naval warfare. The interface is very busy and it takes time to learn all its quirks. These are significant barriers to entry. Even fans of the historical strategy genre might be unwilling to break through them all. But, if you give Rule the Waves 3 time and energy, it can deliver a gaming experience that’s unlike anything else on the market, filled with deep design work and cool combat moments.

Do Not Feed the Monkeys 2099 is an excellent blend of ideas and watching the various cage narrative is thrilling. There’s enough of them and they are randomized at the start of a new run, to encourage replayability. The game makes mass surveillance immersive and engaging, which is icky on a conceptual level but makes playing the game very fun. The survival and interference mechanics also mesh well with the dystopian future world. I wanted more future wikis to explore, with even weirder concepts and incidents. Do Not Feed the Monkeys 2099 is weird and compelling, with cool ideas for both the cage stories and the meta-narrative.

Planet of Lana is sure to capture players'attention with its visuals and music, which are on par with those of modern big studio animation movies. The game’s world is shrouded in mystery and players will have to work to find all the shrines to get a full picture of what’s happening. At times, finding a kidnapped friend seems too flimsy a motivation for Lana to continue her adventure. But gameplay is good enough, with limited reasons for frustration and some very clever puzzles, to keep players engaged. Planet of Lana has heart and engaging gameplay sequences, although these could have used extra variety.

Firmament is clearly designed to appeal to players who loved the concept of Myst, showing them how impressive such a narrative-driven puzzle experience can be when built using modern tech. Stepping out into the three realms creates a powerful sense of wonder and there are plenty of moments when the world impresses with its scale and beauty. But these feelings do not last forever and the core gameplay loop struggles to keep players pushing forward. There’s some clever puzzle design to wrap one’s head around but there’s too much friction when it comes to the implementation of the solutions. I wanted Firmament to be more ambitious, with more twists to its narrative and puzzles that require less grunt work and more exploration of its gorgeous levels.

Although I would have liked to see some visual changes too, there’s nothing wrong in using the same assets if they proved to be so popular among players. Fuga: Melodies of Steel series remains an indie gem that has yet to receive the attention it deserves. If you love turn-based strategy games with serious themes, I can’t recommend this enough.

Blooming Business: Casino is a good tycoon management game and will satisfy gamers who want to create attractive gambling rooms, keep them in tip-top condition, and find the best ways to satisfy customers and VIPs. The title’s mechanics are good and the presentation and narrative offer a laid back atmosphere. Given these strong foundations, I’m a little disappointed that the developers at Homo Ludens didn’t include at least one big twist to the genre. The VIP focus is about half an innovation and I wanted a bigger new idea to work with. Blooming Business: Casino is a perfectly pleasant game with strong core concepts but should have aimed for more.

Miasma Chronicles is one hell of a ride from start to finish. Although the package comes with a compelling story, my number one enjoyment was to find new ways to finish a fight faster since I treated these as puzzles with complex solutions. If you love turn-based games, Miasma Chronicles is a must-play.

A true masterpiece by today’s standards, the newest Zelda game is a technological wonder considering it’s been made to run on a rather outdated console. This is a must-play even if you haven’t played a Zelda game before, but you might not enjoy it if you’re not into sandbox experiences.

Dead Ink’s core gameplay is built on ideas inspired by the very popular Dark Souls but it is not part of the forgettable recent wave of titles that simply copy them. The vertical layout of the tower is a big twist with major consequences for exploration. Players need to move carefully and pay close attention to ladders and ledges that will lead to new places. Combat is all about careful dodging and strikes delivered at just the right time. The narrative is pretty limited. But I like the feeling of discovery and how the game encourages players to create mental maps and unlock shortcuts. Dead Ink should have tried to tweak the formula it’s working with a little more but it has enough unique elements to keep fans engaged.

This Means Warp is designed to appeal to players who can get a group of friends together and get them to join in cooperative play. The main mechanics of combat and repairing are easy to understand but as soon as more than one human is involved, everything can quickly devolve into chaotic fun. Time and energy will allow groups to become expertly-drilled crews. The title’s biggest issue is how repetitive the gameplay loop is. This is mitigated when more than one player is involved. But a solo game with computer companions will be frustrating. Get This Means Warp if you have a group of friends who like science fiction and ship-to-ship combat and are ready to get together for some controlled chaos and some laughs.

Tin Hearts has clever puzzle design, interesting ways to interact with the environment, and a good ramp-up for its difficulty level. The time manipulation system makes it easy to try out new ideas and see how they play out. There are no difficulty spikes and the level of frustration is kept to a minimum. The title’s presentation works well with the mechanics but the narrative never made an impact. The focus on toys makes the game well-suited for younger gamers, even if they might need help when it comes to figuring out solutions. Tin Hearts is a carefully calibrated puzzle experience and offers a great way to unwind.

Arto is the rare indie that impresses visually without relying on the classic pixel art style with a layer of nostalgia. Each of the deities creates its own picket universe, with a unique theme, and the idea that players are constantly spreading color while moving works well with all of them. I literally spent one full hour simply making sure that Goya’s world is fully covered in color. The spectacle only works because the game also has good mechanics. Combat is fast and Liv is responsive, able to deal with bosses without generating too much frustration. The game’s fantasy world also meshes well with its mechanics. Arto is bright and fun, a lovely experience that shows the power of a great idea combined with an impressive presentation.

Ravenlok is a great introductory experience for players who might be interested in the action-adventure genre but don’t want to take on the bigger titles in the genre. The story is familiar but mostly works, with some nice characters. The voxel graphics are a big initial draw. The biggest problem for me is the very shallow combat system. But, again, this might actually draw in players who want to battle bosses without encountering any annoying setbacks. Ravenlock is a collection of good ideas and weird choices that fails to deliver on its initial promise.

Mia and the Dragon Princess is limited even when it comes to the classic full-motion video approach. There are some player choices, the narrative does branch, and it can take some time to put together the best way to get characters to one of the positive endings. Even with the ability to skip scenes, there’s little incentive to play through it for more than 2 or, maybe, 3 times if you really feel a connection to one of the main characters. The biggest problem is the lack of narrative coherence. The villain is just a collection of ticks and tropes and, while I like the central pair, their characterization is also scattershot. FMV experiences can be interesting and engaging, both in terms of story and gameplay. Mia and the Dragon Princess fails to deliver on either of those fronts and would have worked better as a straight-to-streaming movie.