SpongeBob once again stars in a 3D platformer that rests its gameplay on well-established stylistic features, offering few surprises but still providing a fun and enjoyable experience.

Monster Energy Supercross 3 is a very fun racing game with a great rhythm, especially if played in a less simulative way. So many modes, intense competition, and a crazy amount of mud...

Unfortunately, Bossa Studios lost sight of what made the first Surgeon Simulator brilliant, transforming this direct sequel into a puzzle game ill-suited not only to the deliberately inaccurate control system, but also to the overall tone of the experience.

Some extra content wouldn't have sucked in addition to 4K, 60fps and New Game+, features that are welcome anyway. Playing Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, however, one gets the impression that the light technical dusting is not a matter of laziness, but rather of necessity turned into virtue. Behind a refresh that still doesn't hurt, in fact, there may be the awareness that touching up more deeply the technical foundations of an action-adventure with a powerful artistic direction and a crazy, visionary, deliberately exaggerated and grotesque style, would have turned out to be an unforgivable own goal. And now, thanks to this remastered, we all know what Garcia Hotspur is capable of doing for one mistake too many.

Grow Up expands the sandbox-like world of Grow Home, giving the players more gameplay possibilities and more room for movement, but the endemic flaws of the predecessor are still there. Despite all that, the experience can be pretty unique and mesmerizing at times.

That's you, the first title in the PlayLink series, has gameplay that works flawlessly, great production values, and astounding attention to detail. If you have a party of close friends with a healthy dose of self-irony, it can be an excellent filler for your nights together.

A fantasy FPS not very original in terms of storytelling and themes but still fun, fairly challenging and technically appreciable. The combat system based on the use of three different types of magic and a fair variety of customizations make for a solid and well-balanced experience.

The last chapter of this first season of The Dark Pictures Anthology confirms the desire to continue to produce products of thickness, balanced on the front of the gameplay, but not for this time still. Supermassive Games tries to do things right, improves some things, gives its best in storytelling and guarantees the player the entertainment necessary to continue and start again, looking for the new choice to make. Stay until the end of the credits, it will be worth it.

Blair Witch tries to do its job but can’t keep the player's attention highly enough throughout the entire experience. Despite that, Bloober Team put some interesting new mechanics on the plate, but the inspiration seems to get lost at the same rhythm with which Ellis's past tries to emerge.

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon maintains the peculiar neatness of the series, with a more than consolidated roguelike gameplay, and with enough fresh ideas to keep it fun and enjoyable, years after its debut on Game Boy Advance.

Bithell Games, what should we do with you? What is this game? As an action game, it is not very in-depth, it is not stimulating. As a narrative, the story is appreciable but does not leave any freedom to the player. Did you look for linearity so as not to alienate those who wanted to fight? Fine, but then you should have developed that part more. And instead the final result remains in a sort of limbo, far from being an excellence in the various souls that compose it. For those who see the glass half full, it remains a well-written story in a super fascinating narrative universe.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox is a videogame with an interesting and well-presented storyline. Net of some critical issues in the combat system and an uncertainty in the progression, what is offered is still good.

An exciting and enjoyable multiplayer video game, which knows how to give lightheartedness and beauty to its interior, while maintaining a bright and crackling appeal. Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game is a title that can offer several hours of gameplay in total harmony. It presents itself and is managed well, net of a certain repetition of events, which, however, do not weigh down the experience too much. In short, a good test.

Pure Farming 2018 is still a pretty sour plant (pun intended): technically modest, with a narrow roster of farming vehicles, and limited possibilities for the players. Despite the name, it's not a "pure" simulator, and the arcade approach may turn away the fans of the genre. The seeds have been planted; we'll wait and see if they will bear fruit.

Man of Medan is an enjoyable adventure. The story, albeit a little bit predictable, is quite interesting with a good amount of branches and different endings. Some dialogues do not seem to take into account what happened before and there are a few technical problems, but overall it’s a good experience, and an interesting start for The Dark Pictures Anthology.

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.

Deliver Us Mars is a sequel that follows in the wake of the previous title. Excellent narrative and environmental puzzles functional to the story, but it is a game without novelties and with absolutely mediocre cutscenes, animations and polygonal models.

Besides a graphics engine that is not aging too gracefully, and gameplay even more limited than in the past, this first episode of the new The Walking Dead miniseries isn’t as good as other Telltale’s productions. The storytelling is always great: the problem here is the story itself, pretty ordinary and based around events we saw too many times in The Walking Dead universe.

Eternal Strands is an action-adventure with a rather generic, if enjoyable, aesthetic and gameplay that takes a while to get going. However, when you manage to uncover its best cards, you'll find yourself immersed in a well-conceived, well-written and damn entertaining title.

After hours spent in the world of Age of Empires - Definitive Edition, we still don't have the answer to the real question: why should we play this remake? Gameplay-wise, the genre has seen a lot of improvements over the years, and the developers weren't bold enough to give a fresh start to the original title. At the end of the day, this seems more and more like a wasted opportunity.

The "rehydrated" version of Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom is an all-round entertainment product for a younger audience, who can take the opportunity to learn about the franchise, or on the other hand consolidate it with an original and fun adventure to play. Also confirmed by my teenage double, who enjoyed playing it from start to finish.

Not only is Rainbow Six Extraction a great cooperative shooter, it also differentiates itself from most of the competition by promoting a more tactical, reasoned approach: the Archean threat is not to be underestimated, as things are always a poor decision away from turning sour for your team. It’s a real shame that you have to unlock almost everything though, difficulty levels included.

Scars Above is an excellent third person shooter, in which the plot plays a leading role without stealing the scene from the action, which never fails. Each step of Kate Ward risks being the last, due to a wave of alien monsters or some environmental trap, and the above average difficulty always keeps us on our toes, hoping that after that battle there will finally be a checkpoint to secure the progress made. The growth of the character is not so decisive, but it remains a game that invites us to progress to discover what new surprises await us.

God Eater 2 is a sort of Monster Hunter with a permanent easy mode activated, drenched in a j-rpg sauce. Technically it's a poor porting from the PS Vita version, but it can provide enough fun to lovers of the genre.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition is a superfluous remaster. While it features slightly sharper textures, revamped audio, and updated 3D models, the changes are marginal compared to the original game, which is already playable in 4K and enhanced by the 2021 Anniversary Edition. Furthermore, the renewed UI partially undermines the user experience, while the changes to the control scheme make it less flexible. Despite all that, the qualities of the original game are still there.

Process of Elimination is a videogame with ideas poorly exploited and hastily managed. Despite of interesting an interesting context, it quickly loses interest. A missed opportunity.

Crime O’Clock runs smooth like a real clock, never losing a single movement of the hands and showing on-screen the perfect illegitimate son of Columbo and Where’s Waldo, with a tiny bit of Minority Report – or the MCU series Loki, for the youngsters.

We are not at the mythical levels of the first episode, it is evident. Outcast – A New Beginning is a sequel without infamy and without praise, net of a nostalgia effect which inevitably has its weight but cannot justify every shortcoming. Strengths and weaknesses are almost equal when it's time to take stock, appreciating it or not depends a lot on how much importance you give to both. This is one of those cases in which the price doesn't play in the work's favor, however with a discount it might be worth giving it a chance because there is only one Cutter Slade.

Asterix and Obelix: Slap Them All is a pleasure to watch, not as much to play. The main problem of the title developed by Mr. Nutz Studio is a too simple gameplay, repeated without any changes level after level. Excellent graphics, whose main limitation is the constant reuse of the same assets.

After The Witch Queen, Lightfall is a step back for Destiny 2, both story-wise and in terms of its gameplay mechanics.

Star Ocean: The Divine Force is yet another Tri-ace jrpg, beautiful in the combat system, while poor in the aesthetic realization of the game world.

Rebel Cops offers several interesting ideas, in particular in how to approach the various situations, but the implementation of these is rarely on point. There are too many ups and downs in a game with a rather limited scope, without any degree of replayability and plagued by many problems. The inspired setting, although full of clichés, the excellent art direction and an engaging soundtrack can't counterbalance the many issues of this spin-off of This is the Police.

Rogue Stormers is a frantic shooter with a fun co-op mode and a lot of blasting. Despite all that, it doesn't take too many risks, with a dull bestiary and a veeeery slow sense of progression.

Crysis Remastered lives up to its name by putting even the most modern and performing hardware under pressure. All in all, the graphical makeover is pretty competent, despite some smudges here and there.

After Grendizer, Microids brings back Space Adventure Cobra, which spotlights a sort of interstellar Lupin III who loves getting into trouble. Unfortunately for him, this time he has to deal with an adventure marred by incomprehensible design choices. What's completely flawed is the control system, which makes many stages of a game that otherwise had the potential to appeal especially to "old teenagers" of the '70s and '80s, unnecessarily difficult and unfun.

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.

AER Memories of Old is a pretty basic adventure title, with simple puzzles and no real action elements. You can expect a relaxing experience spanning a couple of hours, with some intriguing ideas, a distinctive personality and some touching moments.

An action horror clearly inspired by Dead Space, but also by Alien and Riddick's movies/games. The Callisto Protocol has promised a lot in recent months and after completing it we can say that it has kept almost all its words. Get ready for a thrilling experience from which it will be very difficult for you to tear yourself away.

Batora: Lost Haven is both a hack n' slash and a twin stick shooter, depending on the enemies we have to face, and very often it is both genres mixed together. The main component of the game is the fighting system forcing you to frantically switch combat modes, but there is also an exciting story to follow, with charismatic partners and some moral choices that affect both plot development and character growth. A great isometric action RPG, with awesome boss battles and multiple endings to increase its longevity.

Eight years after, unlike the always on-the-run Faith Connors, Mirror's Edge finds itself in the same, exact place we left it. Unfortunately, DICE promised something more. Like the original, Catalyst is the ultimate expression of virtual parkour, but it never manages to create a real connection with the player.

Star Fox Zero is an excellent shoot'em up, but at the same time an intimate tribute to an era where high scores and fun for fun's sake were king. The game offers solid gameplay, good variety and a frantic pace. A title that deserves a place in every Wii U owner's house.

A strange mix between a JRPG and a strategic game. Despite the first aspect has not been developed in a proper way, the second one represents the very point of interest of this strange and original product.

Fall of Light is a strange mix between ICO and Dark Souls. The narrative plot works in a proper way, while the battle system is not as deep as it should have been, though it doesn't show big defects.

Skelattack is a challenging platform game, which does not forgive any error but at the same time leaves no room for frustration. Skully and Imber journey counts on beautiful graphics, plenty of action and an inspired soundtrack. Some game design errors, especially when dealing with enemies, can slightly flaw the experience, and the sections you play with Imber are probably too few to justify its presence, nevertheless the game is absolutely recommended if you love platform or 2D action games.

The world of Metamorphosis is surprising, imaginative, intriguing and full of color, although a certain poverty of the 3D models and textures betrays the independent nature of the project. All in all, a very interesting twist on Franz Kafka’s novel.

A magical and fun Animal Crossing-like experience for those who love the Disney Universe, with a quite large amount of activities that does not achieve the same level of depth of Nintendo's masterpiece.

Legend Bowl is a game with some strengths and just as many flaws. Its retro look is exquisite, but the gameplay has some issues that can cause a certain sense of annoyance and frustration.

Truly, a game of paradox (pun intended). The concept of Ages is exciting but the way it is implemented forces players into science-focused gameplay. The system of resources is meant for hardcore player, but others like diplomacy and international economy are half-baked to say the least. This game wasn’t ready for release.

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.

Knack 2 is a "more of the same" nobody asked for. Despite some good new stuff, the game suffers all the problems its predecessor showed in 2013 (drunk camera, awful platform sessions, etc.). The new co-op mode is enough to let your children enjoy the campaign, but do not expect anything more than this.

Oninaki is strange. At first you think you love him, then the feeling changes and in the end you almost can't stand it anymore. The truth is in the middle: it is a good game with some interesting mechanics and others much less well chosen.

Sea of Thieves is a game with great potential, but it's undermined by a lack of variety and depth. Meditative alone, fascinating and epic in multiplayer, the navigation experience provided by Rare is truly unique and brilliant. On the other hand, the extreme freedom given to the player cannot be fulfilled because of clumsy boots on the ground mechanics and a quest structure that is far too repetitive.

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.

Biomutant on the PS5 is, for better and for worse, the same game published a year ago on other platforms. Its enhanced graphics are a nice addition, but the flaws of this action RPG still reside in its outdated gameplay formula.

How much potential is there in Shadows of Doubt’s ideas, its noir setting, and the special way it lets us experience firsthand every aspect of an investigator’s daily life? Too bad for the bugs, for sandbox cases that are less convincing than scripted ones, and for a sensational concept that isn’t fully exploited.

Tennis feeling, the physical feedback of the shots, the animations, everything is in place but the responsiveness that allows to move with more agility on the field is still missing. AO Tennis 2 remains a little rough, but its talent is crystal clear.

A short, boring, useless game, Kirby's Blowout Blast could be addictive for some younger players only.

Sociable Soccer 24 is fun and reintroduces the arcade spirit of 16-bit soccer games at its best, while also trying to keep up with the times with unlockable players, daily rewards, and various other mechanics typical of mobile gaming, strictly without in-app purchases – you dare! The 1990s are long gone, however, so exceptional depth and gameplay for that era can now aspire to the title of "casual" at best. It's not a criticism, but that Sensible Soccer capable in its day of filling a lot of afternoons, today is just a game to get in a quick game or two from time to time.

Hey! Pikmin is a decent game, a pleasant mix between platform and puzzle games. It offers a pretty different experience than the main saga, and it's light years behind the astounding Wii U version. Probably a disappointment for hardcore fans of the series, but entertaining nonetheless.

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.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games fails to revive the glories of the multi-event classics of the past. The development team's surprising choice in disciplines didn't pay off, with so many events lacking in appeal and quickly becoming boring. There are definitely successful moments (athletics, swimming) and with friends you can spend some pleasant hours, but in the long run there are no real reasons to keep playing and winning gold medals.

Arslan: The Warriors of Legend is not the best musou created by Omega Force, but it has a pretty nice story based on a good anime license. As far as gameplay goes, do not expect nothing new or fancy, though.

Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a valid cooperative shooter, one where you can just drop in and shoot stuff with glee, or put your coordination and teamplay to the test if you’re looking for a challenge. There are friendly AIs, but they aren’t great and solo play only works at the lower difficulties. Finally, while the game is competent and fun, it also shows its low budget.

Slave Zero In fact, this is what the project bases its roots on: the player's learning to strengthen themselves and improve their skills. It's a shame for the absence of an endgame, which could have really brought the score you see further down even higher.

Moons of Madness manages to balance the stylistic elements of the walking simulator with some different game mechanics and its puzzles. Rock Pocket Games has handled the available Lovecraftian material as it should, setting up an adventure that can easily walk alone with dignity.

The production, which tells of a world governed by megacorporations, involves and strikes in an unexpected way, leveraging complex themes and situations, while expertly detailing the story of Ayana, a young woman in difficulty on a razor's edge. Eraban: Shadow Legacy, a story characterized by many positive elements, is a work that does its job, committing itself to creating good gameplay.

Super Bomberman R 2 is an improved title from every point of view and in terms of quality. Many more game modes and many ideas. Finally, it's worth the price.

Incredible attention to detail, an impressive physics model and a focus on the bike maintenance make RIMS Racing a strong first entry for a new IP; however, the erratic AI and self-harming design choices reduce the overall enjoyment of the game. Also, day one DLCs are never a good look.

Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection is a crispy, entertaining and gloriously merciless experience... even on the PS4.

Narrative tells us a touching story in a proper way, but this is the only good point. Fragments of Him is a walking simulator with poor interaction and with some technical problems that can't be ignored.

It's been a while since we lost our temper with a videogame. The peculiar control system and the physics that rule the movement of a snake are at the same time the good and the bad of Snake Pass. Despite its cheerful appearances and the good level design, the game is difficult, and not always in a good way.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is particularly impressive when it comes to gameplay: the combat system is varied and creative, the exoskeleton customization is extensive, and the boss fights, when they work, offer spectacular moments. Multiplayer is also solid, thanks to cross-play that expands the possibilities for cooperation. The rest, however, isn't quite as impressive: the plot is weak, the cast forgettable, the filler missions slow down the pace, and the game world, while vast, feels empty and repetitive. Last but not least, on a technical level, the Switch 2 version reviewed here shows clear limitations, with slow loading times and an unstable frame rate. This is a game that will entertain fans of mechs and gear optimization who are willing to overlook the objective problems, but it's unlikely to satisfy those looking for an engaging story or a world to enjoy exploring.

Although the gameplay does not have much to offer, it is practically impossible not to love this dynamic adventure of Daedalic Entertainmen: thanks to its own style, State of Mind is able to tell a story that is worth living.

The Bearded Ladies is experienced in the turn-based tactics genre and Miasma Chronicles shows it convincingly, with the studio trademark mix of stealth and tactic providing an engaging approach to most combat situations (sometimes the enemies will get the drop on you. Life isn’t fair). A pity for a climax that is perhaps too sudden, and a plot that isn’t as good as the atmosphere.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX brings new life to the original games, confirming it as a good entry point into the world of dungeon crawlers for a generation of young adventurers.

Being harsh on video games—especially those from small studios—never gives me much pleasure; yet, the more I reflect on The Occultist, the harder I find it to identify any aspects that truly won me over. A few environments are salvageable, Doug Cockle does a fine job, and the diary illustrations are genuinely lovely—but there is little else. All in all, very little indeed.

Maid of Sker proves an enjoyable survival horror to play in one breath, paying particular attention to the care with which the story was developed. The presence of two different finals also highlights the intent to take it a step further, although it concerns only one choice during the final beats of the game. The fans of the genre will certainly appreciate it. Make sure you give it a chance.

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.

Although the gameplay of My Memory of Us might seems simple, or even trivial, I can’t help but notice that this game could be an excellent device to bring the younger ones acquainted with one of the darkest pages of human history. Using smiles and touching words, My Memory of Us ends up being the best method for us to understand our past so that the mistakes of our fathers won’t be repeated.

Vader Immortal: a Star Wars VR Series is practically a video game amusement park attraction, and I mean that in terms of length as well. But it’s still an enjoyable experience that will delight every fan of Lucas' opera omnia for a couple of hours.

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.

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.

Spacebase Startopia is a next-generation reboot of an amazing, 20-years old sci-fi strategy game, with the same approach to gameplay but a fairly renewed graphics style, perfectly fitting the funny dark humour that pervades our star bases. It’s incredible how Spacebase Startopia manages to look modern even today: further proof that good ideas never get old.

Unfortunately, I can’t say I have had huge amounts of fun with Galactic Civilizations IV. Although all the basics are there for an enjoyable experience, and Stardocks added a good amount of specific systems to make the experience unique, crucial aspects like war management and IA behavior ended up ruining my time with the game.

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.

Last Flag reworks the CTF formula, transforming it into a game of reading your opponent rather than one of pure skill. When matches click, the experience can be tense and unpredictable; however, the execution leaves much to be desired. The gunplay is merely decent, content is limited, and the player base struggles to sustain the system—not to mention a distinct lack of depth across various gameplay components. As things currently stand, the result is a multiplayer game that entertains for the first few hours but, in the long run, fails to maintain its hold on the player.

Conan Exiles shows some flaws and missing contents that make it still weak and incomplete. The potential of the game, however, is still good.

Rune Factory 5 is a good game, but it's hamstrung by a mediocre technical implementation. Fans of the series will be able to find the usual series of bucolic activities to do between dungeons, but those who appreciate nice-looking and fluid graphics will find it hard not to prefer Stardew Valley.

The third DLC of Black Ops III offers the most deliciously "pulp" zombie chapter of the Origins saga, together with a couple of good maps. Probably not the best DLC ever, but an expansion that will make the Call of Duty fans happy.

Despite some technical issues and a skimpy single player, Empires Apart is an enjoyable and well balanced old-style RTS. If you are in search of a competitive multiplayer game, look no further.

Lost Sphear is an honest and sincere tribute to the JRPG genre of the nineties: the storyline, the characters, and the art direction are all reminders of that era, with a combat system that's pretty engaging and not too hard to the player. Well, it's not the most original game ever released, but if you like the genre, you'll definitely find something worth your time.

Chains of Freedom is a turn-based strategy with action elements and simplified tactical management that sits somewhere between XCOM and Jagged Alliance, while renouncing elements such as targeted headshots, stance and reaction fire. Alien crystals to equip offer variety, customization and a touch of build strategy. Missions are linear but packed with optional areas, and the post-apocalyptic aesthetic feels polished, believable and well-directed. Suitable for those seeking accessible combat with near-infinite resurrection options, less for purists who demand depth and control of every action point.

The Signifier is an ambitious game that is also aware of its limits. Unfortunately, that is not enough to elevate it among the greats. It offers a great, alienating and at times disturbing atmosphere, but its strongest suit is tackling issues that force the player out of his comfort zone. Unfortunately, mechanics are not as strong as the atmosphere, which makes the short duration (about six hours) a good choice. The ending is a bit fuzzy, however – and probably a setup for a sequel.

Night Call is thriller on the importance of verbal confrontation, adapting to one's interlocutor, creating fluid dialogues without necessarily complying with all their thoughts. A visual novel that is so classic, even predictable in its police nuance, but brilliant in the micro-situations we will experience in every journey.

Gameplay wise, NBA 2K21 is once again an excellent product, and the best hoops videogame on the market (also due to lack of competition). While very similar to its predecessor, it is also evolved and revised. However, being a 2K title, microtransactions are inescapable.

Football Manager 26 is finally back, and the effort has certainly been tasteful and valuable. The primary goal was to revamp the game and start from scratch, but obviously the tried-and-true gameplay formula couldn't be completely overturned. The new drop-down menus are pleasant and touch-friendly. All the new features, such as the reorganization of some mechanics, including those incorporated elsewhere and others eliminated, need to be taken into account. We're on the right track as we await patches and additions with future versions of the game.

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.

A lazy job. The game is quite fun, despite the obvious repetition of the genre, but the porting presents the same problems of the original version. Tons of content is not enough to let the game get more than a modest appreciation.