Sorry We're Closed is an action adventure horror that brings back to our monitors gameplay and techniques born in the 1990s, adding a modern story about love, loss, and acceptance, flavoring it all with combat and puzzles that integrate nicely into the experience and do not seem included just to add a couple of hours to the time it takes to see one of the multiple endings. Despite the strong personality of the protagonist and the other characters, the direction of the production is not always evident, with action and puzzler sections easy for veterans of the genre but almost too many for story mode lovers. An excellent debut, in any case.

Everspace is an unusual and well-designed roguelite, respectful of the genre and, at the same time, trying to create a fascinating space odyssey. Definitely worth a look, but only if you're a fan of the genre.

A huge and luxurious mansion, haunted and full of traps, becomes the setting of deadly challenges between complete strangers. What might seem like the beginning of a book written by Agatha Christie and Stephen King is actually a surprisingly fresh and entertaining party game with a thriller twist. Technically it's not a masterpiece, but if you have a few friends around it could become your favourite multiplayer game until Halloween and beyond.

Farming Simulator 17 combines the simulation of life in the fields to an economic farm management. The result of this combination is a good game, despite a non perfect net code and some minor bugs.

Part adventure horror, part digital representation of Tim Burton's dreams, The Midnight Walking must be played to be truly understood. Possibly wearing a VR headset, so that it can express the best of itself, involving and deeply moving, because in a flat version it loses effectiveness.

Mother Russia Bleeds is a great homage to the beat'em ups that ruled the arcades in the Eighties. Excessive, vulgar, ultraviolent, it offers a fun yet deep gameplay, improved by an inspired art direction and a good soundtrack. An excessive difficulty towards the end and some technical flaws prevent the game from becoming a masterpiece, but if you love the genre, you can't miss it.

Gears Tactics is not only a pretty good turn-based tactical game, but it also manages to keep the typical feeling of the Gears of War series unchanged.

Despite exasperating a few problems from the original version, Hunt: Showdown on console is still an experience worth living. Some graphic and audio limits on a normal PS4 and the 30 fps locked frame rate are not enough to ruin a truly unique gaming experience; it is still easy to recommend the title to anyone who is even minimally interested in a less chaotic and more strategic horror shooter.

The Nintendo Switch version of L.A. Noire finally does justice to a game that deserved a little bit more consideration when it first came out, six years ago. The porting is far from perfect (especially in TV mode), but the gameplay perfectly suits the idea of playing on the move.

Sea of Stars is a Vergil for all the Dantes that want to explore the Hell and the Heavens of JRPG. Sabotage Studio learned from the genre’s master, but took away the boring grinding part giving life to something very catchy to play.

The Sims 4 Snowy Escape is yet another proof of Maxis’ competence, thanks to a full-bodied expansion on the proposed theme, which will surely be able to please the fans of the franchise. The proposed activities, the Lifestyles system and the whole package of themed objects included will delight many, especially considering how loudly desired by the community they were.

Koira is a narrative adventure without text or dialogue, delicately depicting the bond between a mysterious being and a lost puppy in an enchanted forest. Through a language composed of gestures, sounds and images, the game offers an emotional and immersive experience, characterized by accessible environmental puzzles and a minimalist but highly evocative visual style. An interactive fairy tale in which the light of friendship guides the way through the darkness. Aside from its enchanting atmosphere, however, the short overall duration and low level of challenge may not satisfy players looking for a more challenging experience.

Snack World: esploratori di dungeon – Gold is a dungeon crawler that focuses on immediacy and action, presenting itself in an unprecedented Western edition with its load of explosive humor..

Tyrant's Realm is a roguelite with a – rather intangible – soulslike feel that aims to combine high difficulty with progression tied exclusively to equipment. Combat is essential: no jumping, only slow or fast attacks, dodges and parries by splitting milliseconds. The procedurally generated levels offer little variation, but all in all they are compelling, as are the boss battles. There is no storyline worth following, and the entire production is simplified compared to the major representatives of the genres from which it is derived. If you're looking for an immediate, no-frills experience, you might enjoy it; otherwise, it is likely to prove repetitive.

The Banner Saga 2 is the worthy sequel to one of the most acclaimed titles of 2014. The core of the game remains the same, further improved by a lot of new additions and tweaks to the gameplay. On top of that, the art direction and the soundtrack are simply amazing.

Momodora: Moonlit Farewell is a good metroidvania, that fully shows the 10+ year experience Guilherme ‘rdein’ has developed in crafting this genre of games. However, while it doesn’t have any flaws worthy of notice, it also lacks that “wow” factor. It’s just a good, honest game, but that is already something to be proud of.

Inscryption turned out to be a small surprise, an indie title that breaks the rules of card games offering players something more elaborate and exciting, by adding in a mixture of roguelite, puzzle and horror. A pity that the game has no voiceover: it would have made its particular setting feel even more alive.

Galactic Glitch is a twin-stick shooter roguelite in which you control an AI in the form of a spaceship trapped in a corrupted simulation. The gameplay focuses on physics to grab and throw objects, enemies, and projectiles, using mass and inertia for chain attacks, even taking advantage of friendly fire from opponents. Each run allows you to upgrade weapons, ships, and perks, but only after defeating certain bosses. More difficult than average, it rewards skill and perseverance rather than simply farming resources.

A lot of new stuff, even if recycled by old content: a good way to entertain ourselves, waiting for Destiny 2.

En Garde! focuses the whole experience on the charismatic protagonist and the spectacularity of the fights, which are truly reminiscent of the swashbuckling films that were so popular in the last century. It therefore offers a lot, but at the same time it offers only this: a hack and slash that in the end is little more than a beat'em up. Definitely a welcome surprise for those who enjoy action-packed games with a light and fun story in the background, but those looking for depth in gameplay, exploration or character growth will find this game too simple. In any case, I'm sure we will hear the name of Adalia de Volador again.

Nothing less and nothing more than an excellent porting of a very good game, with "touch" support and all the stuffs of the original version.

Atelier Ryza 3 confirms the amazing quality of this franchise, optimizing the combat system, strengthening the already excellent game framework, increasing its scope in terms of content, maps and longevity. A few bad aesthetic jokes don't ruin a game that makes adventure, lightness and relaxation its trump cards, taking home the loot with an obvious effort to be rewarded without hesitation.

Main Assembly offers many powerful tools to the most creative users with which to indulge themselves in building robots, as long as they have the patience to learn how the game works through a good dose of "trial & error" given the meager tutorial.

Life is Strange: Reunion delivers the series’ classic gameplay, built around exploration, branching dialogue, and the use of powers. Max can once again rewind time to revisit decisions and uncover clues, while Chloe adds variety through backtalk, verbal duels used to manipulate others. The stronger focus on environmental observation makes the experience more investigative and less linear. Its narrative strength is supported by excellent acting and direction, though the plot occasionally bends its own logic to tie everything together. Players unfamiliar with the series may also miss much of what the game has to offer.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is a good title, which would have deserved a much higher rating with more courage on the options and game-modes.

Playing Cronos: The New Dawn is a memorable experience, not so much for its moments of pure terror, but for the way it immerses you in a devastated, abandoned, and, at the same time, dangerous world. The constant sensation is that of walking through ruins and distorted memories, knowing that every step could change something, and that every choice has a real impact on the fate of the Traveler and that of the inhabitants of a humanity struggling against its own end. There's a subtle, persistent tension that pushes you to observe, plan, and carefully evaluate every action, as if you were truly part of that broken time flow. It's a game that lingers more for its atmosphere and worldbuilding than for its technical perfection or shrewd game design choices, which are often cumbersome and unable to work perfectly together. It's tough, at times frustrating, but ultimately satisfying.

Despite an aged graphic style, Ride 2 is an enjoyable racing game that corrects most of the issues of the first episode. If you love motorcycles in their essence, this is the game to buy.

Samurai Warriors 5 represents the state of the art of the Musou genre: a game with divisive mechanics, yet refined and ready to give hours of fun to those who can appreciate this long-lived series. The others are unlikely to change their minds, although a demo is available on all platforms that I recommend you try.

Evil Genius 2 on PS5 is as enjoyable as it is on PC, mainly thanks to the great work on adapting its controls for the DualSense and for the ability to use mouse and keyboard on console.

Mafia: Terra Madre is a compact work, a rarity these days, that makes storytelling its main strength. It's not a revolutionary video game, nor does it claim to be, but it manages to leave its mark despite the flaws of overly formulaic gameplay. The rendering of early twentieth-century Sicily is excellent, thanks to appreciable aesthetic and stylistic research and the presence of full Sicilian dubbing. It's a shame there are a few too many technical issues, which I hope will be resolved as soon as possible.

Parasol Stars is still a fun and colourful platform game, an heirloom from a simpler and more innocent era that is worth preserving. The low price and online leaderboards are a good incentive to embark on this journey into the past, minus a somewhat lazy and gritty adaptation.

Behind its souls-like mask, Thymesia hides a gameplay surprisingly dynamic, engaging and full of fun challenges. Even if it cannot really punch above its weight and reach the high levels of some of the greatest (due in large part to a story that doesn’t really shine), this OverBorder Studio game shouldn’t be overlooked, especially by the fans of the genre.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood feels like an expansion developed with a different degree of maturity. Rather than adding new classes or skill lines, it focuses on improving the new player experience, while also adding intriguing new story content and world events. The addition of AI companions also makes the solo experience much more appealing, although obviously you’ll still have to look for flesh-and-bone teammates if you want to tackle tougher trials and events. Overall, a solid expansion pack, although we wish we could have had a better look at the Seal of Endeavors system.

Dustborn is a very strange game: in its narrative and graphic adventure component, the game is of unique beauty. Then every once in a while you get some fighting sessions that are really bad and you wonder why they included them.

Toukiden 2 improves the first episode in almost every way, and it's definitely the best representative of the monster-slashing genre on PlayStation 4. It's not too challenging, considering how lethal and precise the AI-controlled companions are, but the graphics are always smooth, and the gameplay is varied and deep enough to keep you entertained for a while.

A good zombie slayer, heir to one of the first games of the genre in virtual reality. Arizona Sunshine 2 uses some references – dog à la Fallout, TLoU-style zombie mutations, mainly – to increase the fun and game solutions. It's a shame for a visual design that took into account the all-in-one versions of the game, especially in outdoor scenarios, and the graphic limitations are also felt on PS VR2 and PC. Better show, but not as much as it could have been.

Beautiful, fun, too expensive. Creative Assembly polishes the original gameplay and creates a nice and exciting mini-campaign, without taking any risk. An excellent result, overall.

After playing Adios I felt like I did when I first saw No country for old men, and I can’t imagine a greater compliment. Graphics are definitely not its strongest suit, but they do a decent job at supporting Adios’ touching story, that shines thanks to its fantastic voice acting. A couple simple minigames add a little variety to this walking simulator. All in all, Adios lasts a little more than an hour, but it’s an hour that is totally worth experiencing.

Despite an imperfect narration and a lack of longevity, P-O-L-L-E-N provides us with astonishing scenarios (in VR, and with "normal" monitors as well) and suggestions inspired by some masterpieces of the sci-fi literature.

Mario Party Superstars is a great episode, so respectful of the past that it's not afraid to pay homage to it by improving the basic formula, while adding a much-needed feature like online play.

Shift Legacy Collection perfectly embraces the definition “a blast from the past,” bringing back to the present day a game that marked a happy era of gaming. Sixteen years have passed, but the gameplay is still as captivating and engaging as on day one. It is a pity, however, that no new material has been added to the collection of the four Shift chapters; to be nitpicky, one could say that we are paying for a series of games that were once free and can still be launched on browsers, however, the required amount is small and allows us to have everything beautifully ready in our library.

The Descendant is dubbed in English, but the interface and subtitles translation (in Italian) is excellent, and that's a very good start. The gameplay is rather original, different from what you can expect from an adventure game. It won't last too long (10 hours, give or take), but the experience is claustrophobic, cynical, disturbing and often surprising.

Enjoyable, rich and long-lasting, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven arrives with the aim of carving out its own space in today's market. Coming out in a truly fiery October is a little self-destructive, it must be said, but the experience could - both for veterans of Metaphor: ReFantazio and Silent Hill 2 - be a great dive into the past and, at the same time, a great way to experience a truly atypical JRPG.

Immersive, deep and immersive... oh well, sorry for the sketch, Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss is a pleasant and detailed story that starts with the aim of detailing a painful story, made up of the various crew members, who have interesting subplots. The game design then focuses on offering a great way to tell one's story, especially to those looking for a fairly long-lived and intense experience. It is a video game that, however, could have dared a little more.

Voidwrought is a competent Metroidvania, in which, admittedly, not all the ideas are very original, but that does not make it any less enjoyable to explore the recesses of its occasionally a little too cryptic world or less than successful soundtrack. Overall, therefore, a game that is absolutely worth considering if you are a fan of the genre (or if you need something to calm the wait for Silksong).

Digital Eclipse is incapable of failing, and this first installment of the Gold Master Series is confirmation that Mike Mika's team is second to none when it comes to preserving and spreading video game culture. The reduced price only completes a really appetizing package for retrogaming enthusiasts.

The new episodic adventure from Telltale offers some welcome (some might say necessary) changes to the gameplay, and a revamped graphics engine (unfortunately not a new one). At its core, the “Telltale formula” still works well, and the choices we make during the game create a real and meaningful connection with the characters. The story is the best part, though, and it could really be a game changer for the Caped Crusader.

Amnesia: The Bunker is a labyrinth in which it is easy to get lost, but in which it will be just as easy to want to return. This new survival horror manages to be a challenging and tense challenge without falling into the easy temptation of jumpscares or holding the player's hand too much. Whether you have already memorized the previous chapters or have decided to give the Amnesia saga a chance for the first time, The Bunker therefore proves to be a new success achieved by Frictional Games and an experience to be recovered for all lovers such.

The Switch version of The Escapists 2 is the best way to experience the new title from Mouldy Toof Studios. The game is basically the same as the one already released on PC and console, but it better suits the idea of a "touch and go" approach. There are some small smudges here and there, but the online multiplayer is a real treat.

World of Warriors is a melee action game with tons of special powers and modifiers, and a frantic yet deep gameplay. The single player campaign offers a good variety of events and locations, and unlocks that do not need in-App purchases (although grinding remains mandatory if you want to succeed in the boss fights). A great and addictive time-consuming experience, even on PlayStation 4.

Void Bastards is based on a neat concept inspired by many things, especially System Shock 2. Too bad it's a bit too monotonous.

Forgive Me Father 2 doesn't last long to be a story driven game, towards the end it loses a bit of charisma and has some imperfections such as a questionable difficulty balance, yet it convinces in its evolutionary attempt. It succeeds by propping up the disturbing and "Lovecraftian" experience of Forgive Me Father with a clearer and more intuitive customization, blending it with a more mature and stimulating level design and applying it all to an old school context with a more intelligent pace, with areas with dizzying peaks of mortality capable of coexisting with exploratory phases in search of items/resources and puzzles to solve. To season the result, needless to say, the usual and abundant dose of amazing art direction, darkness, blood and madness, a weapon itself when horror reaches its zenith.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a fairly good game that qualifies better than the sum of its parts. Some mechanics aren't quite convincing, but overall the game is one of the most inspired representations of Akira Toriyama's work.

Three new stories set in the Alan Wake multiverse, starring alternative versions of familiar faces. Survival horror, unlikely love stories, caffeinated zombie-cultists and meta-humour condensed into three hours of multiverse gameplay, a condensed distillation of Remedy's signature madness.

Are you ready to play the role of a badass secret agent? Despite some undeniable flaws, Twisted Pixel's game let you do it with style. Poor interactivity with the environment and mini-games can awaken abruptly the player from the feeling of "presence", but the variety of action and a fair degree of replayability make Defector a remarkable example of a virtual reality mix, balanced between adventure and action.

The collaboration between id Software and Avalanche Studios brought us a nice open-world first person shooter, despite a bunch of issues with the world building and a shallow plot.

Final Fantasy XVI is a difficult beast to judge, a divisive experiment that would have found itself more at home as a spin-off, rather than in the awkward guise of the final official installment of a much-loved series. A passionate plot and a successful combat system keep their attention for the approximately 30 hours it takes to finish the game, but unfortunately they are forced to divide the scene with rose-water "role-playing" mechanics and a sadly arid and artificial world , net of a commendable artistic direction. On the JRPG front we are faced with a very controversial result, but overall a more than decent game.

Despite some minor flaws, MXGP2 provides one of the best experiences in the motorbikes racing genre. Be sure to activate the first person camera and the "pro" physics, and you'll be in for a real treat, made of a genuinely fun and thrilling gameplay.

Over-the-top violence? Check. Iconic memes from the original series? Check. A solid battle system that cleverly borrows the best ideas around to deliver something uniquely its own? Double check. Honestly, there are very few reasons not to jump on board.

Despite some invedent microtransactions, Total War Arena is a huge surprise, where the mix between RTS and MOBA's dynamics works perfectly. Beware: you have to make a close-knit and coordinated group of friends to play with, if you don't want to loose too many matches.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is "simply" a well-packaged soulslike, extremely derived from the previous work of Team Ninja, very unbalanced in terms of mechanics, but still fun and satisfying. An operation almost tending to experiment with some new mechanics that are not always perfectly blended with the rest of the game grammar, speaking more to the regular users of Souls, rather than to newbies. Fun and with a difficulty that rewards only towards the end but, all in all, it's a properly packaged game.

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration offers a lot, but the shadow of a legendary brand like Atari pushes to demand even more. The absence of Atari Games' historic coin-ops along with many of the more distinctive home machine games weighs heavily, but the new games created by Digital Eclipse somehow manage to save the party. As a work of preservation and divulgation, however, it plays in a league of its own that is really hard to approach.

Little Nightmare 3 is a commissioned work and could have been decidedly less inspired. The co-op mechanics work, even in single-player thanks to the companion AI, but they somehow make the scenarios easier to read and decipher. The saga's strong point, however, remains its atmosphere, and here Supermassive has hit the mark by creating a horror anthology in which Low and Alone move under the guidance of solid virtual direction. Perhaps the formula itself has reached its limit in terms of mechanics, but in terms of inspiration, Little Nightmares 3 always manages to convey something to the player.

Nine worlds of fantastic platform action peppered with generous doses of colorful swearing. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD has aged quite well and is still a pleasure to play, even though its sequel Tropical Freeze remains the high point of the series. Given the “full” price, we expected some additions that would justify the additional outlay for this fourth edition of the game, which instead (facelift aside) is identical to its 3DS counterpart.

A small-scope but excellent game with very clear ideas, enjoyable, sincere and particularly exciting when the going gets tough, like during very intense boss fights. Pimping our ride to make it look even more aggressive and suited to the post apocalyptic world feels great. A Mad Max-like shoot 'em up is exactly what we needed.

Bye Sweet Carole is a thriller/horror adventure that finds its strength in the visual arts: the narrative, aesthetics, animation, and music are meticulously crafted down to the smallest detail, resulting in a delightful, extremely inspired and well-paced work. This marriage is marred by a few sporadic bugs and some escape mechanics that might require more than one attempt due to the way the game maps are designed. None of this, however, manages to detract from the experience—primarily emotional—that the game offers, proving captivating in both form and content, drawing inspiration from classics like Clock Tower and Heart of Darkness.

Rogue Waters is a roguelite with turn-based combat that is certainly not among the most complete around, but it benefits from a fascinating setting and interesting use of pushing and projecting to create domino effects and quickly get rid of enemies. What's more, it has a story to be followed all in one go or by taking breaks while engaging in the many side quests. Unfortunately, the naval combat section was not articulated enough, but the battles and character growth lift the fortunes of this production, which will not fail to thrill lovers of turn-based combat.

Dice Legacy is a competent strategy/survival game with some neat and well-implemented ideas; the random element is there, but generally easy to handle, and good planning trumps sheer luck. However, it isn’t particularly rich in content, and it might get grindy if you’re aiming for the hardest difficulties.

A very pleasant and engaging adventure, Flint: Treasure of Oblivion reaches the goal without distorting the genre and not inventing anything particularly new in the scenario of tacticians with RPG elements. Shuffle the cards on the table by taking inspiration from Baldur's Gate 3, inserting the dice mechanic and, in the meantime, detail an intense story polished to reach as many players as possible. If you haven't read Treasure Island, you want to get closer to Stevenson and then buy this toy here, then this adventure could give you unexpected emotions.

The Wardrobe does not have some magnificent 3D engine nor some extra-cool special effects for your graphic cards, but it does have tons of black humour and a lot of abstruse puzzles that will please the old-school adventure fans.

Skylanders Imaginators is fun and does not disappoint, though it's not particularly innovative and it may exceed in being too familiar to longtime fans.

Psychic Specters is a sort of YO-KAI WATCH 2 Definitive Edition, that adds more and more contents: a perfect game for those who haven't played the main game yet, dispensable for everyone else.

This is a game of pure wrestling which aims to replicate the most technical and psychological aspects of the discipline by offering a rigorous, but very rewarding gameplay. You need an investment in terms of hours and effort to get satisfaction from Fire Pro Wrestling World, but you’ll get a game that can last, literally, decades.

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is simply huge, with an engaging story, an incredibly rich roster of characters - including some obscure (mini)figures - and an enormous world to play with. That is, unless you've had enough of the usual Traveller's Tales formula, basically unaltered from all the previous LEGO games.

Finally, after fourteen years, Red Dead Redemption also arrives on PC. The title has aged very well, unfortunately this conversion brings with it countless technical problems.

Warlander is a high-quality MOBA with a hack 'n' slash combat system that works well even in the most chaotic online situations. Regardless of the task at hand in battle, there is never a shortage of action, whether you seek for a fight to break through enemy lines or stay in the rear building defen-sive machines. Character growth and equipment provide satisfaction, and even without the Battle Pass, a lot of rewards can be unlocked. I am a bit afraid about the importance of in-game purchases, however, since the upgrades are not all merely cosmetic but directly affect player stats.

The Last Spell combines RPG, Tower Defense, and City Builder genres, with the extermination of numerous hordes as seen in They Are Billions, managing combat with the beloved turn-based system. The problem is precisely here: each run is a complex and slow chess match that can last a very long time, so those expecting quick sessions may be disappointed.

Pixel Ripped 1978 lasts less than ten hours and isn't particularly memorable to play, yet the spot-on humour, the abundance of hilarious gimmicks and the feeling of being in Sunnyvale during those pioneering years manage to pack enough of a context to make the game appealing to anyone interested in Atari's history and in the mood for a few good laughs. Overall, it is a game that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Berlin Apartment is a short but sweet walk through a century of history of the German capital, where the underlying theme is life under oppression; of the Third Reich at first, and of the DDR later. Good voiceover, pleasant visual style, but the “gameplay” is a bit clunky at times.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX is the n-th collection of the series. As usual, it's completely useless if you're a long time fan, but totally worth it if you want to catch up before Kingdom Hearts III.

Wolfenstein: Youngblood could be wrongly categorized as a "more of the same", but the many new features make it an indispensable title for fans of the series, even if these new mechanics aren’t without flaws.

Deadlight: Director's Cut is a beautiful and enjoyable game, although a little short and with a taste for trial & error. Highly recommended if you didn't play the original version, published four years ago on PC and Xbox 360.

Coming 27 years after its predecessor, Beyond a Steel Sky inevitably lacks the originality that made Beneath a Steel Sky such an instant classic, and a strong source of inspiration for many games that came later. Union City is now a 3D world, but it’s still filled of clever puzzles and interesting characters, shaped around Cecil and Gibbons’ view of society. It might not be as groundbreaking as the original, but Beyond a Steel Sky is still a good adventure that tries to offer a perspective on our society and how we should try to improve it without leaving anyone behind.

The only thing more difficult than making a revolution is to re-make a revolution. SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE is still a fun shooter, based on innovative and intriguing ideas, but no longer as effective as they had been in 2016. The roguelite approach certainly gives the game a more conspicuous length, but on the other hand ends up watering down at least part of the mechanics, making the overall experience less incisive than that of the original chapter. After all, as SUPERHOT has always taught, reality is all about perception.

Much like Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, Tacoma captures the player's attention from the beginning to the end, thanks to an intense story, a strong personality and a gameplay tightly connected to the sci-fi setting. It's a pretty short experience, but definitely worth your time, at least if you love a good sci-fi story.

Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition is a respectful and functional restoration of the role-playing video game originally developed by Obsidian Entertainment. The graphics and overall performance have improved, but the aesthetic remains dated. Modern accessibility features are missing, while companion AI is still lacking. However, most of the content, especially Mask of the Betrayer, shines with narrative depth. This is a faithful remake that aims to preserve the magic of the original, and it largely succeeds.

It doesn’t really introduce anything new to the genre, yet Warhammer: Chaosbane is a nice hack & slash ARPG with a deep and engaging endgame.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a powerful return, imperfect but full of character, capable of making us forget the years of silence with a combat system that borders on perfection in its fluidity and ferocity. The union between Team NINJA and PlatinumGames works: the action is brutal, visceral, and visually stunning, with an artistic direction that transforms Tokyo and its nightmares into a kabuki theater of soft lighting and blood. A clear limitation is the linearity of the maps and the repetition of enemies and bosses, which end up diluting the pace, making the second half of the adventure more tiring than exciting. Ninja Gaiden 4 has plenty of character and confirms itself as an aesthetically captivating game, but incapable of maintaining the tension it promises in its best moments. A convincing new beginning, even if it's not yet the masterpiece fans have been waiting too long for.

Characteristic, original and engaging, The Lamplighters League is a small pearl that offers an interesting and engaging story, also strengthened by a very valid game design.

Song of Horror doesn't hide its sources of inspiration, the milestones of the survival horror genre. It finds some elegant ways to pay them homage, sometimes succeeding very well, especially with the creepy atmosphere and music, some other times slipping clumsily (like in the case of some of the puzzle design, way too cryptic).

Fuga: Melodies of Steel is a role-playing game focused on storytelling and combat, cutting out usually fundamental elements like exploration: an atypical but successful recipe, drawing strength from a cast of young heroes that are impossible not to love.

It's almost impossible, for a CCG, to find its place in such a saturated market, but Bethesda plays its cards right (pun intended), with some new and interesting game mechanics. Give it a try (it's free): you may find yourself intrigued.

Phantom Fury is a classic FPS that manages to engage and entertain. It is a simple but well-finished evolution of its predecessor, to whom it owes a lot and which can still be an excellent yardstick in the panorama of boomer shooters. The new production, while not shining for originality, knows how to be a remarkable follow-up.

Shards of Darkness could have been an amazing stealth game, thanks to a witty and cynical main character, wonderful level design and a myriad of skills and perks. Unfortunately, the experience is partially ruined by a sub-par AI and some flaws in the control system.

While True: learn() is a nice puzzle game that manages to be both funny and educational.

The Escapists 2 improves on basically everything good the original game (released in 2015) had to offer. The mission system is complex and detailed, the combat system is pretty friendly and the quests alone are well designed and fun to play, whether you’re alone or with some friends in multiplayer.

Ride 6 is a lovely simcade that builds on its predecessors thanks to some new features that won’t revolutionise the franchise. The good news is that the riding bit is as exciting as ever.

Despite the lack of some great titles and a technically forgettable multiplayer, SEGA Mega Drive Classics is a good collection that offers dozens of hours in old-style fun.