Of Lies and Rain demonstrates how a small studio can interpret VR with personality, making you wonder what Castello Inc. could do with a different budget. It's an immersive adventure that thrives on gestures and sensations rather than statistics, and it restores to VR the physicality too often sacrificed for comfort. It's not a perfect game, especially from a technical standpoint, but it's authentic to the core and thrills: in a market where special effects are often emphasized over substance, this is more than enough to recommend it without hesitation to anyone with a headset.

Sonic Collection is not only a (guess what?) collection of the first games featuring the blue hedgehog and friends cleverly remastered and with an improved gameplay, but it’s also a long platformer – if we consider the Story mode which will take us by hand through all four chapters – which I would recommend also to those who are unfamiliar with the franchise and are simply looking for a fun and fast paced game with colorful graphics and an awesome level design where there’s always something new to discover. Highly recommended both for Sonic lovers and newcomers.

Those who love the traditional WoW modus operandi will be well rewarded by Dragonflight, but the expansion could have aspired to other goals with a little more courage in terms of creativity and design.

Milestone hold the reins of driving pleasure, shaping the raw material as they wish, finally exploiting all the Unreal Engine has to offer.

Cross Blitz is an RPG deckbuilder with two souls: the narrative mode Fables, structured on a hexagonal map with events and turn-based card battles, and Tusk Tales, a Slay the Spire-style roguelite with branching paths, relics, and permanent upgrades. Combat takes place on eight slots per side, where positioning determines attack and defense trajectories. Mana grows each turn, enabling increasingly powerful play curves. Over five hundred cards, synergistic abilities, distinct archetypes, and variable enemy decks make deck building strategic and highly experimental.

BioShock The Collection brings the famous trilogy in the hands to the newcomers of the current generation. Despite some bugs, it's a must have, on consoles especially.

Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon offer a great many new things, making them a must have for newcomers and fans alike. The younger audience will appreciate the lower than average difficulty level, while hardcore fans will like the endgame and its tough challenges.

Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon offer a great many new things, making them a must have for newcomers and fans alike. The younger audience will appreciate the lower than average difficulty level, while hardcore fans will like the endgame and its tough challenges.

Injustice 2 is a clear improvement over the predecessor: bigger, faster, stronger. The subtle changes to the combat system make for a deeper gameplay, and the huge customization options are a perfect match for less dedicated players.

Broken Arrow is a solid RTS that can provide good fun to anyone who’s willing to spend a bit of time studying its systems, but the lack of campaign saves and an occasionally unclear UI are definitely areas where there should be improvements.

Whispers of a Machine tells a fascinating post-cyberpunk story, where the destiny of the world is decided in the streets of a tiny suburban town. The writing is brilliant, as tense as only a good thriller can be, while the investigation is always stimulating, supported by good gameplay ideas and clever puzzles.

Tales of Graces F Remastered is a shining example of how to revisit a beloved classic. With its refined combat system, deep character customization, and emotional narrative, it retains the charm of the original while adding meaningful quality-of-life updates. The transition from PS3 to modern platforms is commendable, despite minor technical flaws like Switch's capped 30 fps. The vibrant world, endearing characters, and intricate battle mechanics make it a must-play for Action JRPG fans. While the sugary tone and Wii-era visuals may not appeal to everyone, its competitive price and rich content make it a worthwhile addition to the Tales saga.

Despite some camera issues and a low longevity, Wartile is an enjoyable game and a perfect mix between two worlds: RTS and board games. Even if you love just one of them, you should give it a chance.

I'm glad that Gestalt: Steam & Cinder has made significant progress compared to the demo I tried a long time ago, because it would have been a shame to waste such beautiful pixel art on a mediocre game. At the same time, however, what we have in front of us is a "only" good Metroidvania: a valid product, therefore, for fans of the genre and also for those who are simply intrigued by it, but it certainly won't make you forget about Silksong.

An immersive, immense MMO sandbox survival game that captures the fierce and mystical essence of Dune, with a merciless and seductive Arrakis. The combat system is subdued and there are technical uncertainties that limit its potential. But what fun.

Few games offer the precise mix of escapism and relaxation that is the basis of New Pokémon Snap. It's an exquisite game that improves on its predecessor on Nintendo 64 in every way, smartly taking advantage of the Switch's merits. If you adore Pokémon, this is certainly the well-deserved vacation for you.

Bloodhound is an excellent and well orchestrated FPS that takes its inspiration from the great classics like Doom and Quake. On the narrative side I would have liked more insight, even if the rest reaches its goal. Must have absolutely.

Hell is Us is a third-person action adventure that combines semi-open exploration and Souls-like combat. There are no maps or indicators: the level design guides the player through areas connected by environmental clues and dialogue. The combat system relies on stamina and light or heavy hits, and as hit points decrease, so does stamina, creating a vicious cycle that can be broken with the Healing Pulse, a technique that converts damage dealt into healing. The KAPI drone adds variety with support functions, while fights against Hollow Walkers and Haze offer a mix of interesting but not always varied patterns. The highly evocative atmosphere is marred by monsters that don't live up to the setting.

SnowRunner is a dirty game with spotless physics. A truck-sized open world, tiring, slow yet extremely adrenaline-fueled work simulation. Maybe sometimes too tiring, but capable of giving enormous satisfaction.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is a game tailor-made for speedrunners, and played alone it risks losing its appeal in a short time. It's a creature made for a well-thought-out competitive ecosystem, which with online challenges could keep the interest of its select audience high for a long time, or at least until the arrival of an eventual SNES Edition. Perhaps not for everyone, but intriguing if the challenge doesn't scare you.

The Last Broadcast is a very interesting DLC, with new characters, new locations and all the main features of This War of Mine.

If attempting to describe what Tomodachi Life: A Life of Dreams actually is proves complicated, venturing to evaluate it feels like an almost subversive act. It can be one of those games that ends up sneaking its way into the routine of daily life, or an experience that feels immediately off-putting. I found it both adorable and challenging—challenging in the sense that its particular brand of humor would put anyone to the test—though I happen to be the kind of person who enjoys being destabilized by a bit of culture shock.

It is the best version of an epic game that has made the history of RTS and the worthy celebration of its twentieth anniversary.

Insurgency: Sandstorm is a convincing online FPS. It's not for everyone, but the hardcore gamers will find a satisfying tactical shooter where a good coordination with the team members is vital for success.

Now that's how you do a remake! Virtual reality and a keen awareness of the past and new technologies has awakened Henry Stauf from a slumber that has lasted since 1993, giving a new, topical youthfulness to an unforgettable classic like The 7th Guest. The ideal companion for your Halloween.

A worthy spiritual sequel to Strange Horticulture, in Strange Antiquities we run an esoteric shop as an apprentice thaumaturge. Customers arrive with vague requests, and it's up to us to identify the correct object among relics and amulets. Gameplay revolves around observation and deduction, analyzing objects, exploring maps, interpreting symbols, and consulting manuals for clues. Progression intertwines complex puzzles and narrative choices, influencing events and endings. Challenging puzzles, a relaxed pace, and a dark atmosphere define the experience.

Trials of Mana is amazing and, by itself, makes this compilation essential for all of those who have poured tears and hopes on the photos of the game during that torrid summer of 1995.

Rogue Flight is a fast-paced and adrenaline-filled rail shooter. It has an excellent artistic component that brings to mind some of the great classics of Japanese animation from the 1980s and 1990s. The plot and structure of the campaign are good, the latter with five difficulty levels to allow anyone to appreciate it. The only shame is that the roguelite mode is only sketched out and that there is an exaggerated presence of visual effects that are too shiny and annoying.

Teslagrad is an excellent platform inspired by the classics of the metroidvania genre, with focus on exploration and puzzles. There are some minor shortcomings, such as some uninspired boss fights, but the title from Rain Games is still a worthy addition to the rich roster of indie games on Switch.

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is a first-person 3D investigative horror adventure strongly focused on exploration. Gameplay revolves around collecting clues, reading documents, and solving environmental puzzles, with the combination of scanner and sonar helping to mitigate classic pixel hunting. The absence of fast-paced combat is offset by a strong atmosphere. The integration between classic H. P. Lovecraft elements and modern technology, such as the AI assistant Key, works very well. The need to read notes and logs to progress may not appeal to action-oriented players, but this approach feels like a natural evolution of the adventure genre. And it works.

Triangle Strategy knows how to tell an exciting story, and that's its greatest asset. The strategy mechanics are unfortunately inferior to the great classics from which it takes its inspiration, but the great replayability should keep you glued to the Switch screen for a long time.

Eastshade is a wonderful surprise. A videogame in which violence is not contemplated and which gives free rein to the exploration of the world, as well as the discovery of the characters that populate it. The artistic direction is also fantastic, lending itself perfectly to the protagonist's brushes. Despite some small technical issues, Eastshade is an incredibly deep and relaxing experience.

Minecraft Legends demonstrates the ability of Blackbird Interactive to also range over genres other than the classic RTS, given the more action imprint of this title. There is some doubt about its accessibility to the youngest, given the dexterity it requires in giving specific orders and the limited independence of our allies in the field, but otherwise it is a great way to pass the hours for those who want to pass the whim for strategy but look for something more relaxed than the standard RTS.

Hob is an action adventure that stands on the shoulders of giants like Legend of Zelda, and offers an experience based around a constantly-growing world. There are some camera and technical issues, but fans of the genre should definitely consider it.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is a very worthwhile expansion that provides a host of tasty endgame content in the company of Aloy. It doesn't revolutionise the base game as intended, but Guerrilla Games' stunning Los Angeles is worth the price of admission alone.

Everybody’s Golf VR mixes the arcade soul of the series with a pseudo-simulative approach of the gameplay.

Trek to Yomi is a solid and well-executed trip to a black-and-white tale of swords and souls, where a simple but satisfying gameplay is paired with a charming narrative that offers three different endings. Enemy and setting variety could be better, but overall this is a game worthy of your time.

Recovering from the mists of time an old game like a Dragon: Ishin! may be a risky choice, but the restoration operation can be considered perfectly successful. Perhaps the overall variety doesn't quite reach the heights of insanity of the very latest chapters, but the fun offered by the classic arcade combat system is still very much up to date, classifying Ishin! as a successful exponent of the celebrated series.

GreeFall: Gold Edition is an update that offers more defined textures and adds 4K and 60fps support. A good addition to Spiders’ best game yet.

DOOM 3 is the ideal choice for virtual reality and its environments have never felt so vivid. The game remains an old school shooter, however the main campaign and the two expansions will give you a great reason to dust off your Aim controller. This adaptation is not perfect, but we should count our blessings.

Thanks to a constant hint system always suggesting what our next step should be, Keplerth guarantees a casual approach to the usually hardcore survival genre, as long as you select a low difficulty level. Just like in other sandboxes, you decide how to play, choosing whether to run along the main quest or dedicate to hunting, fishing, breeding, farming, expanding and improving our base. By activating permadeath the gameplay gets as tough as the meanest roguelike and it's worth a try.

Haters will say that nothing has changed in Just Dance 2024 Edition and that the few new features are nothing more than a remix – to stay on topic – of modes already included somewhere in the more than twenty releases of this franchise. Although this corresponds to the truth, in reality there is no way to improve an already perfect format, so one can only smooth things over and provide a better and better experience. Despite a somewhat underscoring playlist compared to a some previous chapters, Ubisoft delivers a complete and fun party game that offers its best in local multiplayer, that is, with real friends to go wild with.

Daemon X Machina is the perfect meeting point between Armored Core and Zone of the Enders, offering a quick and exciting gaming system, without sacrificing a good dose of depth and customization.

For a first foray into the RTS genre, Iron Harvest 1920+ is a very good proof of competence. It’s not perfect; while it’s rich in singleplayer content, six maps is too little of a pool for multiplayer, and the gameplay could use some refinement. But it’s a solid start, and the potential for greater things is definitely there.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands can really be an exhilarating game, thanks to the huge possibilities given to the player and the beauty of the Bolivian scenery (and the great fun when played in coop with other three friends). Unfortunately, a bunch of not insignificant flaws turn it into a missed opportunity, something that could've been bigger and better.

Golem is a very interesting indie game, with its original mix of adventure, puzzle and platform elements. Controls can still be improved, but it's fun and well done even in its current state.

Blazing Chrome is the coin op you didn't play in the arcade, the cartridge that never came out for Neo Geo, the game you didn’t know you missed so much. A game with spasmodic, sadistic and punitive action, just as we liked in the 90s.

A game like Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night deserves a second opinion, and here it is on PS4: Iga gave Castlevania classics fans exactly what they wanted; we can find weaknesses, but the substance is a love letter to Symphony of the Night.

Gamedec was a nice surprise: a cyberpunk detective story with a progression system that rewards intuition and perseverance without holding the player's hand. The dense network of questions and answers, together with the different endings available, guarantees robust replayability.

Empty Shell is a twin stick shooter with a horror-themed top down view, similar in gameplay to Hotline Miami but with a less frantic pace and a completely different look, here entirely in grayscale with various filters to simulate the nowadays ancient CRT monitors. The variety of weapons and enemies is quite good, and when life points begin to run low there is a definite anxiety in opening the next door without knowing what we will be fighting. The gameplay is simple and the story takes up the classic experiment where everything went wrong, yet the dark, claustrophobic atmosphere will manage to catch even the most demanding players.

With its horror setting, slow-paced gameplay and unforgiving permadeath Hunt: Showdown is one of the most interesting FPS of this generation. An easy game to recommend if you like the idea of hunting big bad monsters and don't mind the random server problems.

Children of the Sun is a puzzle game disguised as a first person shooter, in which it seems that the protagonist is The Girl when in fact it is The Bullet. The difficulty of the levels increases gently, without placing insurmountable barriers on the players, but it is unfair not to have a complete overview of the situation from the beginning, which usually happens in this genre of games. Exploding the heads of enemies in super slow motion guarantees double satisfaction, first of all because a kill is always a kill, secondly because it is proof that our strategy works. The pulp atmosphere and the tragic story greatly increase the charm of the game.

If you're a fan of My Hero Academia, All's Justice is a perfect product to experience all the heroes, especially in their form from the latest story arc. The 1v1 and 3-on-3 team battles work very well, provided you disable automatic combat. All the game modes are also excellent. There's a feeling that a little more could have been done, but it's certainly the most complete project dedicated to the franchise.

Some minor balancing issues aside, Battleborn is a pretty good title: the gameplay is solid and fun, the roster of characters is rich and guarantees a lot of variety in combat, and the multiplayer modes will keep you entertained. The real problem, here, is the lack of a true, genuine personality that would allow it to rise above its competitors.

For a virtual rider, RIDE 4 is like a trip to heaven. Milestone’s latest game is simply what every two-wheeler and video game enthusiast needs, the best in handling, motorcycle variety and selection of tracks. The simple pleasure of driving lies at the heart of a technologically excellent title, that will soon become a much-welcome haven for those who love riding on two wheels. A pity, however, that the purchase of new motorcycles is locked behind progress in a career bound by classic (not to say old) game design concepts; the races in themselves are fun, but penalized by a weak AI and too strict penalties for minor errors. Despite these issues, RIDE 4 is one of the best racing games of the generation thanks to its excellent presentation and gameplay feel.

Haven is a great comfort game. Relaxing music, pleasant color palette, dialogues that are often light but never empty. Yu and Kay’s adventure on source never fails to be entertaining, and if the combat seems a bit shallow at first, it will certainly put you to the test as you progress. Some things could be better, of course; but after the excellent Furi, Haven is another proof of The Game Bakers’ competence.

Days Gone is a very nice game. It’s not original or perfect, but it’s really enjoyable from the title screen to the ending credits.

I had high hopes while downloading Go! Go! PogoGirl and luckily I wasn’t disappointed! The game offers exactly what it promises and nothing more: a colorful, valuable and exciting return to the nineties, with a 2D platformer that unaltered the dynamics of the time, adding that touch of Hoppin' Mad (a C64 classic) that absolutely adds to the experience.

Chaos, bullet hell and brutality. These are my three tags to describe Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef. A horizontal scrolling twin stick shooter with a gameplay reminding old arcades like Green Beret and Contra, filled with devastating weapons, avalanches of enemies armed to the teeth and die-hard bosses. The game only requires skill in aiming and shooting while dodging storms of bullets, and although it may not seem that much these days, in this case it's absolutely fine, you simply have to turn off your brain and have a blast crazily dismembering enemy orcs.

Crimson Curse builds on Gwent’s tense gameplay introducing strong and quintessential easy-to-learn-difficult-to-master new abilities, even though the studio will also need to keep an eye on faction usage for balancing.

Despite the slightly rushed ending, this Italian survival horror does not disappoint: the story is well-written and engaging, the environmental puzzles are good, and so is the non-scripted AI. The icing on the cake is the price, definitely right.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall is a great 4X, but it lacks in accessibility.

Star Wars Pinball continues to bring credit to the developers of Zen Studios. If you want to experience the thrill of a pinball machine on the move, this title is really for you.

The Knight Witch is a solid shoot'em up with a metroidvania progression where exploration of beau-tifully designed levels is mixed with frantic shooter action, which sometimes turns into a bullet hell. The card system for managing special abilities invites us to experiment trying to sort out the most appropriate build for each type of situation, and the character build, although quite simple, requires tactical choices that influence the gameplay. The narration is maybe too trivial, often tempting you to skip some dialogues, but the shootervania formula works and the game is challenging and a lot of fun.

Midnight Fight Express is a brutal beat ‘em up whose only goal, despite a story with a weird plot, is to slaughter enemy after enemy. Really enjoyable in the early levels when each new skill learned improves the way you fight, it becomes repetitive when you try to complete the secondary challeng-es, which require players to retry a lof of times the same game sequences. Those seeking for perfect completion of the game, however, will find a tough challenge, as the unlockable techniques are quite a lot and all beautifully animated. To be played at a very loud volume to get even more exalt-ed.

This title marks the long-awaited debut of Wargaming on the Sony console. As with the Xbox One porting, the PS4 version of World of Tanks works very well, especially the controls. World of Tanks can be fun and addictive, and less tough than the PC counterpart, nowadays overcrowded by extremely skilled players.

The original fascination of Skyrim is fortunately preserved in this Special Edition. Despite some bugs and a non perfect porting, this version is a must have for those who did not buy Skyrim in the past.

Obduction is a heartfelt tribute to the classics developed by Cyan in the past, like Myst and Riven. It drags the player in a mysterious, fascinating remote world, and despite the simple puzzles and a lot of linear exploration, you're in for a really captivating adventure.

Despite an inconsistent combat system, Darkwood is a very original and insane top-down survival horror, with some rogue-lite elements to complete the offer.

Endling - Extinction is Forever is, first of all, a survival adventure for everyone since the difficulty setting is deliberately easy, so everybody will be able to enjoy the game at its fullest. The story is compelling and it deals with a pressing issue, exasperating the drama, but never declining into the banality of the so-called “educational games” thanks to the excellent storytelling. The artistic side is also awesome, and we can say that if extinction is forever, a diamond is forever too, so the game can be considered a small diamond that is worth playing.

Excellent throwback to memories of our younger selves, Total War: Rome Remastered reminds us how good the basics of this series were and how far it has travelled in the last seventeen years.

Mario & Sonic at the 2020 Olympic Games is definitely the best chapter in the series, and will surely make the joy of younger gamers and those willing to climb the online charts, aiming for gold.

We don't often have the opportunity to put ourselves in our enemies’ shoes, and Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Manager succeeds at bringing a slight breeze of novelty to a positively overcrowded genre, these days. It offers a casual approach, thanks to extremely fast runs, but completing the game with all three available classes requires some commitment, and the variety of monsters and traps never makes it repetitive despite its simplicity.

Recent unfortunate events led us to think that the Commandos-like genre would struggle to come up with new quality games, but here comes Stargate: Timekeepers to turn the tide, while rehabilitating the SG-1 IP that had fallen somewhat into oblivion. Vast and highly structured levels filled with enemies to avoid, overcome or eliminate by taking advantage of the environment, an AI that knows when to turn a blind eye and charismatic characters with exclusive abilities make this game a must buy for all stealth RTS lovers.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 expands the previous game in every single aspect with new modes and a delightful RPG twist.

The strong point of Another Fisherman's Tale certainly lies in the narrative. Indeed, in the metanarrative. The puzzles are not a miracle, and it almost seems that the developers have calibrated the duration of the game to avoid excessive repetitions. The two or three central chapters are spectacular and in practice alone would be worth the price of admission.

No More Heroes 3 is a glorious sequence of boss fights, spectacular, fun and crazy, but surrounded by a really bland open world. If you're a fan of Travis it remains a recommended game, especially considering the previous games adopted a very similar structure, but everyone else would do well to wait for a price drop.

If even the original game wasn't able to take that extra step and stand out among its competition, you shouldn’t expect that its remastered version will be able to accomplish this task. Nevertheless, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning remains enjoyable despite its age. It is a "vintage" game, capable of entertaining for hours (and hours and hours and hours) with its classic fantasy story full of fantastic creatures, epic legends and fairy lands.

Empire of the Ants is wonderful for many reasons. First of all, it is wonderful to look at, and then it is also wonderful for its naturalistic value, for the theme that is rarely seen in video games and for how it manages to open our eyes to a world that is everywhere around us, but we do not see. From a gaming point of view, the developers have created a gameplay that is not very deep, perhaps to attract a wider audience, and this brings with it some limitations that could alienate veterans of strategy games.

Grab some Left 4 Dead, a splash of the much-loved arcade VR flavor, and mix it up with a hefty dose of frozen zombie apocalypse. The result will be After the Fall: not a perfect game – variety could use some work, especially – but the best action co-op ever developed in virtual reality, thanks to the experience and talent of one of the most skilled studios when it comes to injecting adrenaline and fun in VR.

Krypto is back... well, not the original one but an all-in-one clone that this time must face the KGB menace. This second adventure is better than the previous one, thanks to wider levels, new powers and a better mission design.

The console version of Assetto Corsa is a story of courage and ambition. If you love motorsports and you have a driving wheel, this is a must buy for the simple reason that you won't find a better simulation on consoles. If you play with a traditional joypad, you'll find a much more difficult (and sometimes frustrating) title. Assetto Corsa is a very good porting, and like its PC counterpart, it's bound to improve greatly in the upcoming months.

The Crysis Remastered Trilogy gives new life to three outstanding shooters of the recent past.

Project CARS 3 is a good meeting point between arcade and simulation. It’s not a perfect product: there are some flaws here and there, such as for example a not too impressive audio department. But overall, it knows how to entertain, thanks especially to an impressive amount of content and to its accessibility.

Despite some excesses in the levels structure, and the evident low budget, The Spectrum Retreat is a real game design diamond, with a well-structured and engaging narration.

Rise of the Ronin on PC confirms the strengths highlighted upon its arrival on PlayStation 5: an open world that was perhaps too banal is lifted up by a satisfying combat and progression system against the backdrop of a compelling and exciting narrative, set during one of the most particular periods in Japanese history. The technical limitations encountered on the SONY console are fortunately a bad memory, and this not insignificant element makes Rise of the Ronin on PC the ideal choice for venturing into the Bakumatsu era.

There are games that do not necessarily have to innovate or dare to propose new mechanics because they are simply already perfect as they are. Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble fits into this category by offering the classic Super Monkey Ball gameplay while introducing nothing more than the spin dash to add further speed to an already frenetic racing. This seems to be the franchise's fate: to occasionally offer hundreds of new levels until gradually interest fades, but so far we have a fun racing game that is easy to complete yet requires a lot of practice to find optimal paths and trajectories. Good.

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is an excellent sequel, improving almost everything over the predecessor, and with an art direction true to the Warhammer universe. The gameplay is bound to be a little bit repetitive, and the RPG elements aren't so deep, but the co-op experience is excellent: fighting the hordes of Chaos with three other friends is exciting, and definitely recommended.

Halo 4 comes to PC with a good remaster, even if there are flaws here and there, while preserving its excellent gameplay.

The Rogue Prince of Persia presents itself as a solid and engaging roguelite action platformer. While strongly reminiscent of Dead Cells, it manages to carve out its own identity thanks to the protagonist's agility and fluid, rewarding gameplay. The variety of equipment, meta-progression, and procedural level structure offer a good amount of depth, although the moderate difficulty and limited content may disappoint more demanding players.

A totally different Bayonetta than usual, told like a storybook but not without intense phases both from a narrative and a playful point of view. Cereza and her demonic companion Cheshire embark on a dangerous mission, as improvised adventure companions they will discover affinities that go far beyond their imagination. PlatinumGames proves once again that they have a talent for storytelling.

No campaign, no alternative modes. No frills, in short. PEAK focuses on doing one thing, and tries to do it as best as possible. In this case, then, it is one of those rare examples in which the level of fun is directly linked to the people you play it with: its nature makes it perfect as a co-op title to share with a small group of close friends, as long as we are not too scared by the roguelike component.

Blood West is an FPS with a strong stealth component and a soulslike difficulty that will see you try over and over various ways to wipe out enemies. The penalties assigned whenever you die in the long run can make your character almost unplayable, but once you tame the insane difficulty curve, the various possible builds are very different from each other and you will definitely have fun experimenting. The sound is excellent and the lowpoly graphics are good, although it would have been nice to make the maps a little richer. Some will find it very punishing, and the absence of difficulty levels does not run to its aid, but the Wild West is a ruthless world.

F1 22 manages to improve on last year’s game by evolving its driving model based on the new Formula 1 regulations. Unfortunately this happened to the detriment of the amount of content present in this iteration. Right now we have a foot in the new era, but the other is still in the past.

King Quake is alive, and WRATH: Aeon of Ruin is here to prove it to us. Kudos to KillPixel, which has been able to create very maze-like maps full of secret rooms, hordes of enemies who rely not only on numerical superiority but also have an intelligence that guides them to encircle us and catch us from behind, and a range of weapons that really give the impression of doing harm. The only drawback is a certain sluggishness in the controls, especially in using the dash in the air to jump a little farther. Be aware that this is a very difficult game, and advancing will be a challenge, but isn't that exactly what boomer shooters are supposed to be?

MLB The Show 24 could almost be called 23 ½. The new features are more quantitative than qualitative, with a gameplay that follows the path of the last edition without the slightest deviation. What changes are mainly the contents, among which the excellent second season dedicated to the Negro League and the section starring Derek Jeter stand out. Little to report on Road To The Show, Franchise and Diamond Dynasty, which remain at fair/good levels without the addition of extra details that have a considerable impact on the gaming experience. No particular flaw in the graphics/sounds, which however would require some global cleaning and modernization, with particular attention to the player models.

Shadow of the Beast is a genuine tribute to a timeless classic, that manages to capture the original vision of Martin Edmondson, including some flaws here and there (like the disappointing bosses and some dull maps).

Downward is a good platform with parkour elements, featuring an imaginative art direction and some open-world ambitions. Albeit a bit rough on the edges, the gameplay is challenging, robust, and with some nice quirks that will surprise the player.