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.

Rise of Industry 2 is a good industrial builder that emphasizes the role of personal relationships and strong management in the long-term success of corporations. Players will be challenged to find the best layout for their mining and manufacturing complexes. Mastering one type of industry doesn’t guarantee success when an investor requires expansion into another. The game’s narrative moments are decently written but sometimes seem separated from the circumstances, which limit immersion. The game’s look fits well with the 80s theme. Rise of Industry 2 creates fun challenges for city building and resource chain creation veterans, but it will not be easy to get into for newcomers.

The Precinct might fashion itself as an homage to the classics of the cop movie genre but seems to struggle to calibrate its mix of action, tedium, and humor. There’s a variety of police work to tackle, with a focus on direct interaction with citizens, but all of it becomes repetitive after a few shifts, and the special big events aren’t enough to compensate. The car chases, ludicrous as they might be in terms of collateral damage, are the most engaging part of the experience. Issuing parking tickets became boring in under five minutes. The Precinct has decent ideas and some fun moments but it will only appeal to those who already like open-world top-down action with a hint of chaos.

Trash Goblin is a very interesting game, I am not exactly into shopkeeping games, but it piqued my interest early on. I like the game’s cartoony style, the character design, along with the gameplay loop they created here. On top of that, uncovering gifts and trying to repair stuff feels like Christmas morning over and over. Is Trash Goblin a game for everyone? Realistically, we all like a cozy, fun game that helps us unwind and relax. I feel that Trash Goblin does that very well, and it feels very satisfying to unearth and clean items in this game. Yes, it can get repetitive, and that’s the pet-peeve for this game. Yet thanks to randomly generated items and customers, you can get dozens of hours of fun from the game and even uncover new stuff often.

Is Architect Life a game that can be used by real-life architects? Obviously, many aspects pertaining to an architect’s job are simplified, but the framework is there, and you can build some amazing places. I like the interface and building toolkit, not to mention the visuals are delightful and fit the game’s vibe and atmosphere. I think comparing this to “The Sims” is fair, but here you just focus on the building aspect, and Architect Life excels at it. Unlike games such as House Flipper or The Sims, here you don’t focus on buying/flipping houses or simulating people’s lives inside a home. Instead, Architect Life gives us some insight into how architects work, while allowing home designers to bring their craziest home ideas to life. The building tools are awesome, and the art style is stunning, not to mention you can play the career mode to challenge yourself or just go full-on creative mode for some relaxing builds.

Dustwind: Resistance is a mechanically solid video game that understands everything that made classics in its genre engaging. Battles are tough, even on normal, and the developers really want players to both specialize their characters and find the right combination of weapons and tactics to quickly deal with different threats. The difficulty spikes that pop up regularly, especially in defensive missions, represent the title's biggest issue. The game also struggles to deliver an engaging narrative, and the protagonists sometimes feel more like a collection of abilities and weapons than humans dealing with incredibly traumatic events. Dustwind: Resistance will be a fun tactical experience for anyone who likes the core concepts but there are moments when playing it can be frustrating.

I enjoyed my time with Star Overdrive, I think this is the best hoverboarding experience I have found in a game until now. The controls are very slick, and being able to customize the hoverboard is a lot of fun. Combat is ok, not too complex, but enough to keep you interested as you focus on finishing the game. When it comes to the story, I liked it, but I know it won’t be for everyone. However, chances are that if you play this game, you’re most likely doing it for riding a hoverboard and killing enemies. I am sure that for a lot of players, hoverboarding will take center stage, with the story being just an excuse to progress and upgrade your hoverboard. Star Overdrive has its shortcomings, but as a complete package, it’s a nice adventure for 10-12 hours, and a great excuse to peruse a beautifully designed alien world with a hoverboard.

The Alters brings you an amazing story, interesting survival mechanics, and stunning visuals. 11-Bit Studios did a masterful job creating this game, since it truly is a breath of fresh air. Anyone that enjoys sci-fi media will have a blast exploring this world they created, making choices and dealing with the consequences of their own actions. I think the main appeal for the game stems from creating alters, learning their stories and making you think about what choices you would change in their lives. There are some enemies you face on the planet, but combat is light and certainly not the game’s forte. Instead, The Alters shines when it comes to its world, great characters and the pressure that comes from pleasing your team and moving onto this planet, which can easily become your resting place.

Broken Arrow is the game for anyone who wants good RTS mechanics focused on modern-day military hardware. Combat, while centered around the classic concept of point control, is fast and fun, with plenty of tactical options. Players get a lot of choices when building their unique force for multiplayer or skirmishes against the computer. The campaign has some great missions with unique setups but also suffers because of its cast of characters and inability to save during a battle. Broken Arrow is a great experience for players who want to engage in multiplayer with a group of friends and aren’t too annoyed at having some limitations when other game modes are involved.

FBC: Firebreak is one of those games that can be hard to describe, yet once you get into it, this game will become very addictive. And it’s easy to see why. Control’s world is amazing, mysterious, and a pleasure to explore. The multiplayer experience is quite impressive here, and they do an amazing job at making the levels feel interesting and a delight to go through. Of course, that doesn’t make FBC: Firebreak perfect. The core gameplay loop, while fun, gets very repetitive due to the lack of randomized elements, and few levels available at launch. Right now, having only 5 levels is an issue, as you have to repeat them over and over, albeit with modifiers and various difficulty levels. I think it’s well worth playing for any team-focused FPS lovers, but keep in mind this is just a foundation. I am sure that Remedy will continue adding more levels and fun stuff for us to unlock and customize our characters with. Yet that will arrive in due time.

I enjoyed TRON: Catalyst a lot, as it feels like a great successor to older titles like TRON: Evolution, while still being able to stand on its own. The story is clever, it has many twists and turns, and the gameplay is simplistic, accessible, with some challenges sprinkled here and there for good measure. Plus, there’s plenty of stuff for completionists to find, if you can get past the lightcycle controls and other issues. TRON: Catalyst manages to deliver on its promise, while offering an enthralling, visually striking and story-focused adventure through the Grid.

Void Sails felt like a very promising game, and to some extent it does manage to deliver on that promise. The ship design is great, and the story, albeit not very long, was engaging and fun for me. It’s nice to see that there are indie devs that continue to take chances and a shot in the dark. There will always be challenges, and Void Sails is a prime example, it certainly has its issues. For me, the changes in combat difficulty killed the momentum a lot of the time. And unfortunately, you can’t lower/raise the difficulty, so you have to make due with their approach, which for me didn’t work out very well. Also, there is an illusion of choice, however a lot of the choices you have will provide the same/very similar results. Even with all of that, I think Void Sails is worth playing, but keep in mind all the pros and cons before you get into it.

Monster Train 2 is a successful follow-up to a very good game. The aim is not to take risks and try to remake the card-focused combat experience but to find ways to make it more engrossing for fans. The variety, which starts with clans and hero upgrade paths and extends to cards, upgrades, and artifacts, will keep players coming back to craft new strategies and fashion their unique way of taking the Titans down. The limited narrative and the uneven presentation might make it hard for newcomers to enjoy the combat. Even genre veterans will be surprised by some of the milestones they have to hit to unlock all the content. Still, Monster Train 2 creates engaging and fun runs and will reward players who are willing to invest their time and attention.

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.

Overall, I had a great time with KIBORG. It has good melee combat, along with parries, dodges and intense shooting. It’s also not very expensive, which makes it even easier for me to recommend it. And yes, it has a lot of replay value, thanks to its roguelite approach. I think it does a lot of things right, and while it won’t win any awards, it’s definitely one of those titles that you come back to over and over for one more run.

I am impressed with the things Islands & Trains manages to achieve, despite being a small game. You have multiple biomes, lots of building tools, a cozy environment and a wonderful railroad-building experience. Yes, it won’t surpass Train Valley or any other train management titles. But it doesn’t even try to do that. Instead, it blends railroad building with a cozy sandbox experience. It’s fun, beautiful in its own right, and with a good soundtrack. There’s no stress, no anxiety, just a cozy place where you can unwind and have a great time. I’ve spent quite a bit of time creating my own railroads over 3 different maps, and I am still coming back to it. Plus, it seems the game will continue getting more updates, and I am keeping my hopes up for a map sharing feature. But despite that, I think it’s one of the better cozy sandbox games, and one that can help cheer you up, while also letting your creativity run loose.

Ultimately, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is both a departure and a return — a bold experiment that trades narrative depth for gameplay complexity. For those expecting a traditional sequel, the shift may be jarring. But if you're open to something different — something tougher, more replayable, and mechanically rich — this spin-off delivers. It’s not perfect, and at times the roguelite grind can wear thin, but it’s crafted with heart, style, and no small amount of ambition. Whether this is a one-off experiment or a sign of where the series is headed next remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure — Random’s dice are still rolling, and wherever they land, there’s magic in the chaos.

Projected Dreams is a good puzzle game with a unique take on the genre. The shadow work starts off pretty easy, but the developers find ways to add variety and increase the challenge level. The rooms where shadows are projected are also fun to interact with, especially when hunting for a new cassette to play. The story and graphics are pleasant enough but don’t stand out. The shadow puzzles are the main reason to engage with Projected Dreams, especially for players who are interested in looking for multiple solutions for each album photo. The entire experience is even more interesting when playing with a kid who hasn’t yet had the experience of shadow play in the real world.

Decade is impressive in its ambition, especially for a video game created by a solo developer. It aims to create a complex take on our future, complete with new philosophies, new political systems, a range of larger-than-life characters, and an innovative take on time travel. It doesn’t fully deliver on its promise but is still a fun experience. Quite a bit of reading is required to enjoy it all, with conversations and descriptions that are sometimes too verbose for their own good. The structure of the time travel limits what players can influence. Decade shines when it reveals new and weird takes on how the future might unfold but sometimes struggles to fully connect its narrative and its gameplay.

Elden Ring Nightreign impressed me with its clever gameplay, stunning game world, but also numerous nightlords and enemy design. Sure, there were some issues at launch, but those were mostly ironed out, and matchmaking now runs very well. Of course, you can still choose to go on solo expeditions, if playing with others is not your cup of tea. However, Elden Ring Nightreign is clearly designed as a multiplayer-first experience. It’s very intense, fun to play, and there’s a reason to come back and do more expeditions. The roguelike approach might not seem great for everyone at first, but you slowly get engulfed in it and want to do one more expedition. I found myself spending hours and hours in Elden Ring Nightreign, switching between solo expeditions and coop. I hope the devs will continue supporting the game beyond its forthcoming DLC, because we have a great foundation for what could become an excellent soulslike live service game.

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping is a nice detective game that plays everything a little too safe. The idea of taking the hero out of the city is a good one and I like all the characters. Some very high stakes emerge later in the narrative that feel unearned, but I mostly like the light tone and the way characters interact with each other. The investigation process, with its focus on getting the words needed to fill in a sentence, is well-structured. But I wanted to see at least one new way of interacting with the environment to pick up clues. Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping will deliver new fun mysteries for those who played the first title in the series.

Tour de France 2025 is a great way for a cycling fan to take control of their favorite riders to either replicate their achievements or rewrite history. Racing is exciting and fun and creating the right conditions for a successful attack is challenging. The game’s selection of races is a little limited, but it does allow a player to move through a season relatively quickly. The move to Unreal Engine 5 makes all the action look better. Tour de France 2025 is a good cycling sim that really needs to add both Il Giro and La Vuelta in future installments.

Pro Cycling Manager 25 doesn’t reinvent the series’ successful sports simulation formula, but its enhancements are worthwhile. Finding the right sponsor for a team is engaging and it’s harder to satisfy all their requirements. The game looks significantly better with Unreal Engine 5 powering it, although a similar upgrade in the audio department is needed. I also like the customization options for careers. It’s unfortunate that modding will be needed for all riders and racers to have their proper names. Planning a full season still takes too long. Pro Cycling Manager 25 is a good sim for cycling fans but will probably struggle to attract new players.

I think Twilight Wars has a lot of things going for it, from the great cyberpunk aesthetic to the roguelite system they used to advance during missions. Despite that, it doesn’t feel difficult to play, nor does it feel hard. Yes, it can take a bit to get used to the art style, but it definitely grows on you as you play. On top of that, I found the game to continually add new challenges with each mission, and the fact that you are forced to get back to base and re-evaluate/improve/change your team does add a lot of replay value. If you want to play a fun dungeon crawler with intense, yet fair turn-based combat, I think you won’t go wrong with Twilight Wars. Granted, it has its flaws, like insane difficulty spikes at times or a limited mission variety. Does that matter in the end? For some people it might, but in my case, I found Twilight Wars to be a great game to play, especially when you just want to get a few missions in. Then again, it can be just as entertaining for hours and hours.

Once Upon a Puppet is a game of contrasts. Its world is imaginative, its narrative has heart, and its characters are full of potential. Yet it’s held back by technical shortcomings, awkward design choices, and a general lack of polish. It feels like a beautiful puppet show where the strings get tangled too often, pulling you out of the illusion. If you’re a die-hard fan of narrative-driven indie platformers, or if the puppet theater aesthetic deeply appeals to you, this title may still be worth a try—especially during a sale. There’s magic here, but you’ll need patience—and a forgiving mindset—to find it.

Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny does a great job at updating a rather old game with an outdated gameplay. They don’t mess up the things that made this game amazing at launch, instead they focus on modernizing and enhancing it as much as possible. And it shows, the developers used a lot of care and attention to update the game for new audiences, while also keeping the original intact, so even old school fans will enjoy it.

Ultimately, Near-Mage is a likable game that doesn’t quite realize its full potential. The foundations are solid: the magical setting is imaginative, the art is appealing, and the premise holds promise. But much like Gibbous, it’s a case of style over substance. The narrative unfolds slowly and lacks urgency early on, the gameplay rarely challenges, and the moral choices — while present — lack meaningful weight. This leaves Near-Mage feeling more like an interactive storybook than a deep or dynamic adventure. Still, if you enjoy whimsical fantasy worlds, Eastern European folklore, or just want a light magical journey with a touch of humor, Near-Mage is worth the trip. Especially if Gibbous didn’t fully click with you, this spiritual successor presents a very different flavor of storytelling and world. Even if you may find yourself briefly enchanted, don’t expect it to cast a lasting spell.

Pax Augusta is a unique take on Roman-era city building, with a focus on slow development and modularity. The effort to come as close to actual history as possible, when it comes to both buildings and citizen needs, is laudable. The fact that one developer created this entire video game is even more impressive. The cities look good, even if citizens tend to behave in relatively weird ways. But the game does need to improve performance and find better ways to deliver feedback, especially when it comes to building restrictions. Any fan of classics like Caesar or more titles like Manor Lords will have fun with Pax Augusta as long as he gives the game time and attention.