Fifteen years have passed since the last Commandos, and Mimimi Productions managed to revive the legacy of Pyro Studios. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is an excellent tactical game, deep and profound, albeit some minor and forgettable flaws (probably due to the inexperience of the German software house).

The coin operated “classic which has never been” comes back to life thanks to one of the most visionary and iconic game designers of the 80s. And it’s gorgeous.

We would have preferred a proper sequel, but the gigantic roster gives JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R that encyclopedic value that will keep Hiroiko Araki's fans busy for a long time. The partly revamped audio-visual presentation still holds up well against the weight of years, and the variety of characters is put at the service of a sufficiently complex and satisfying combat system. Too bad about the lack of rollback, but never say never.

MotoGP 25 continues its streak of victories in the motorcycle simulation genre, presenting itself as very solid in its Pro mode and fresh in the new Arcade, which simplifies without trivializing a riding model that is now refined, physical, exhilarating from the start until you take it to the limit, getting the best out of it.

Just Dance 2020 will ignite your parties and make you dance until exhaustion. It is so immediately fun that it is easy to overlook the issue of track discoverability and the lack of a proper story mode.

A complex, amazing Zelda-style action adventure set in a beautifully crafted world with plenty of towns, creatures, buildings, shops and NPCs. There’s a lot to discover and a lot to play, although some mechanics might feel dated to younger players. The game suffers from some still-to-be-fixed bugs which can be annoying. Overall, NAPS Team did a great job, and brought us a game that Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli could have done themselves.

The new features included in Shadowbringer further refresh gameplay and storytelling of this remarkable MMORPG. Even with the typical weaknesses of the genre, which however requires several hours of repetitive activities such as FATE events and secondary quests to level up, Final Fantasy XIV still proves to be among the best massive multiplayer online experiences, especially together with a close-knit group of friends.

Space whales! Before We Leave brings us space whales! And along with them, a polished city builder which takes known tenets of the genre to forge its own direction. Repetitive assets are a minor flaw in an overall extremely enjoyable experience with a lot to do even in the absence of a real game over.

EA Sports FC 25 is an interesting (and more importantly, fun) new edition of the EA Sports football saga, with many small tweaks to the pre-existing game modes and two big new features, Rush and FC IQ. In both cases, it can be said that the target was hit, and that the overall quality stands at very good levels. A few bugs and glitches in the menus do not affect a more than enjoyable gaming ex-perience, which promises to keep fans busy for a long time with careers, multiplayer challenges and trading cards...

There is nothing to say, Dotemu has a real nose for those games in which the nostalgia effect is not mere marketing, but a basis on which to build solid and satisfying gaming experiences. Who would have thought that the formula of the turn-based strategy would have adapted so well to one of the most famous run'n'gun franchises ever? Dotemu would have said it, that's who. And in fact, here we are singing the praises of Metal Slug Tactics, which only lacks a few additional bosses to add that variety that in a roguelite adds hours of longevity for players.

It's almost impossible not to compare Kingdom Come: Deliverance with the Witcher series: there's absolutely no fantasy in the Warhorse production, but it boasts a strong character, an enormous quantity of content, choices that matter, and an adult and mature storyline. You can't expect the same visual quality or a comparable level of polish (pun intended), but the battles are like nothing you've ever seen, and the depth of the simulation really drags the player into a beautiful medieval novel.

Terminus: Zombie Survivors is an excellent turn-based strategy with a character creation and growth system worthy of the best role-playing games, where before facing zombies you have to think about your vital parameters, just like in survival games. Fifteen classes, multiple endings, procedural map generation and tons of items to find, craft and use guarantee hours of playing time. Combat is simpler than what we've seen in the XCOM series, with gameplay more similar to board games than video games, but anyone who loves zombie culture will want to get to Terminus at least a few times.

Courage should be rewarded, always. And Pacific Drive is a brave game, offering unique gameplay focused on the exploration of the Zone and the relationship between man and vehicle. We will feel helpless and powerless most of the time, banking on car upgrades to have any hope of surviving in this bleak and hostile environment. The action is slow paced as the protagonist is not an Invincible Super Soldier but an ordinary man in his beat-up car, and this may turn away some fans of driving games, but the high point of this production is the story.

Shotgun Cop Man is an atypical twin stick action shooter platformer, which does not include traditional jumps and you fly through the air exclusively using the recoil of the weapons. The Super Shotgun projects with powerful shots, while the pistol allows you to glide and correct the trajectory. Infinite ammo, reload only on contact with the ground and short but intense levels require precision and planning. The gameplay blends creative movement and tense combat, with additional challenges to eliminate all enemies, avoid damage and complete the levels within time limits. Minimalist graphics, an adrenaline-filled soundtrack and an integrated level editor complete an experience designed for fans of technical and hardcore platformers.

MotoGP 21 is the best MotoGP simulator you could wish for and on PS5 it's even better. There are some technical imperfections, but none of them can ruin a rewarding, fun and addicting gameplay.

Griftlands is an atypical deckbuilding roguelite with an addictive gameplay formula and a top notch narrative. I can see myself playing this game for a very long time while trying to master everyone of its aspects.

Not only do we have a new Tetris, but finally we find a version of this eternal classic with a single player campaign, whose narrative is entirely entrusted to the audio-visual mix that combines perfectly to create moments in which the multi-sensorial experience elaborated by our brain joins the logical work necessary to complete the levels. The only real flaw of Tetris Effect is the absence of multiplayer.

The Journey and the Frostbite engine are the two big innovations of FIFA 17. The game is enjoyable in most of the offline modes; conversely, if you are a multiplayer gamer you should beware of the excessive use of skill moves and dribblings from other players, too often decisive in the economy of the matches.

State of Decay 2 proves to be better than the first chapter in all aspects despite the limitations of the new multiplayer mode. On Xbox One it's weaker on the technical side, but the price is great in all cases.

World War II according to Relic once again graces our PCs, and while there's certainly a few remarks to be made here and there, it's really hard not to look extremely favorably upon Company of Heroes 3, which brings a dose of enviable content and a personality that few other strategists are able to express at the same level.

Wildermyth is the best turn based strategy game out in the latest months, and also a great RPG. I would have preferred a unique big campaign rather than small stories that aren't even that tied together, but smaller episodes could be more attractive to a casual audience. Artistically beautiful to the eyes, with a very particular style, capable of keeping you glued to the monitor for a long time, although there isn't that much to do when we aren't engaged in turn-based combat. To be played at a high difficulty level, turning the game into an epic chess battle.

After the heartwarming Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons, Josef Fares extended the scope of his unique co-operative gameplay, addressing a much wider spectrum of players. There are many gameplay opportunities that, together with a top-notch narrative, create a highly engaging and original experience. The execution may not be perfect, but it's a deep and bold work.

Cosmodread is an excellent sci-fi roguelite VR developed by a studio that was truly a pioneer in virtual reality gaming: their first game, Dreadhall, brilliantly experimented with some new concepts. Cosmodread follows in the same vein, and with a little more variety and graphic detail on PC VR, it might have been a true masterpiece. Nevertheless, it's still a masterful exercise in good mechanics, horror mood and style.

Grid is back to establish itself as one of the most exciting racing games in recent years. Missing a bit of courage, but the amount of cars and disciplines manages to keep high the desire to play. There are some technical limits and only 30 frames per second, but also wonderful weather and lighting management.

Fire Emblem Warriors is a good title for all the fans of the musou genre, that takes advantage of the hardware it's been designed for. The roster could have been better and the storyline is nothing but ordinary, but the action is furious, with an unexpected strategic depth.

Avowed isn’t going to be the next Baldur’s Gate 3, or this generation’s Skyrim, being closer to The Outer Worlds than either of those games. And exactly like The Outer World, it’s a great action-oriented RPG set in a bizarre but not unpleasant world that is easy to recommend despite a few flaws.

Despite some uncertainty regarding the framerate The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is an excellent remake, which enhances the original experience in every way and makes it modern thanks to a very valuable series of improvements.

Monster Train 2 builds upon the winning formula of its predecessor, enriching it with new factions, mechanics, and game modes that expand the content of the original title. Without radically changing anything, it delivers a deep and highly replayable experience, featuring a rewarding progression system and a steadily increasing difficulty curve that encourages dedication, learning, and experimentation. Unfortunately, the random element plays a significant role in high-difficulty matches, but that's both the charm and the challenge of roguelite deckbuilders.

The last tactical RPG from Tomohiko Deguchi deserves to be explored thoroughly, thanks to its variety of situations and the deep gameplay. The PS4 and PS Vita versions are almost identical, with cross-play support.

Dystopika is a relaxing city builder without any of the ambitions typical of management video games. It's a pure sandbox game with which to unleash your creativity and build your dream cyberpunk megalopolis.

The perfect mix between two great puzzle games, much more enjoyable in multiplayer than in single.

Since no one else can take advantage of the official license, it's not like Frontier Development has to make its way among a thousand competitors, but in any case the developer has worked hard this year too. The innovations introduced in F1 Manager 2024 improve the gaming experience substantially, offering important innovations both during the actual races and in the more strictly managerial phases. Now that we know that the level of this management system stands at high quality levels, it would be appropriate to also focus on the performance, to make it less aseptic and more in line with the motorsport it simulates.

The Operator, developed by Bureau 81, is a video game of very good quality due to the many options it offers in solving the various puzzles it puts into play, also demonstrating a remarkable attention to discovery and reading, which Bastien Giafferi himself has never hidden as his great passion. The title, capable of engaging, could lead you to reflect on society and what really matters.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster is more than just a nostalgia operation: it is the celebration of a precise idea of ​​role-playing game, rooted in tradition but refined by brilliant intuitions and design choices that stand the test of time. The combat system, with the Brave/Default dynamic, remains one of the most successful inventions of the genre, while the writing and the sekaikan manage to enhance even a story with initially familiar traits. Sure, some narrative passages that are too diluted and curious choices regarding unlockable content risk breaking the rhythm, but overall it is a return of class, which does not look out of place at all in today's panorama and, in particular, in the newborn Switch 2 game library.

The Switch version of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a truly wonderful game, yet another potential killer application for the new Nintendo console. Despite occasionally showing the fact that it was originally released in 2011, the game is still one of the best fantasy experiences out there.

51 Worldwide Games is an excellent collection that lives up to its name, which includes fifty-one games from all over the world: although most of them come from Europe or Asia, some of them are typical of Africa and South America. The latest Nintendo game proves to be an excellent pastime both for those who want to tackle each game alone, and for those who love to have fun in the company of friends and family.

The peculiar gameplay of Into The Restless Ruins combines familiar but only seemingly incompatible game elements. Dungeon crawling, deck-building and roguelike blend to perfection in Ant Workshop's title, which rewards skill as much as daring and curiosity. Longevity is not its strong suit, but the experience is undoubtedly worth it.

Dishonored 2 is a big "more of the same". A gorgeous level design and an inspired art direction are the two main PROs; on the other side, the story is not as good as the previous one and the PC version really needs a patch quickly to fix a myriad of performance issues.

Bravery and Greed is an enjoyable game with lots of clever ideas, but it seems almost left to its own devices. Excellent co-op, but too many useless equipment items, few bosses, and a not-so-clear overview during the combat phases. Still, it remains a wonderful experience with friends.

Harry Potter fans will go mad at the chance to experience an epic adventure within a familiar setting recreated with such passion and accuracy, but those who crave it for action RPG soul should know that Hogwarts Legacy is not it features exceptionally deep mechanics. It's a game with a lot of heart, there's no doubt about it, it's simple to play and effective in catapulting you into the Wizarding World thanks to a fun combat system, a narrative component with the right attitude and an open world that may not be huge but certainly with all the curves and POIs at the right point.

The second (and final) DLC of Dark Souls III proves to be a far more robust and articulated experience than the first one. The level design is tangled yet magnificent, the content is richer and never ordinary. The perfect conclusion to an unforgettable chapter of the Dark Souls series.

Highwater is an effective and essential video game, well written and with a confident plot and a context capable of hitting the mark. It is a prequel that manages to fit uniquely into the experiences of the past, with the team having embraced a turn-based combat system that is excellently implemented but not so deep. It is a dynamic adventure that bases its total focus on narrative.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a beautiful and substantial Metroidvania with excellent presentation and fluid gameplay that avoids becoming frantic. It's a shame about the trial-and-error platforming sections and the overly cryptic exploration, but fans of Metroidvania games will find plenty to enjoy (though you might want to keep a guide handy).

RUINER is surely a title not suitabile for everyone because of its top-down shooter mechanics; it's easy to learn, but very, very hard to master. The solid cyberpunk setting gives the game a dark-neon atmosphere that perfectly fits around the gameplay: this should be enough to turn on the attention of the genre lovers.

Dragon Quest Builders is not perfect, but it is accessible and exciting. If you're searching for a Minecraft-like product with a nice graphic and some good ludic dynamics, this could be the game you should buy.

Atomfall is a simplified immersive sim that transports the player into a Quarantine Zone filled with mysteries, where moral decisions shape the course of the adventure and its conclusion. Featuring a retrofuturistic sci-fi setting that is distinctly "British", Rebellion’s game offers non-linear progression and a fair degree of freedom. The survival and combat mechanics are solid as well, although the final stages suffer from a sudden and unjustified spike in difficulty.

Yakuza Kiwami isn’t that big and deep like the prequel, and it’s not a must-buy if you've played the original title on PS2, but it’s a good game, available for a very fair price. The combat system has been revamped, and the huge amount of secondary missions and minigames are bound to keep everyone entertained for quite a while.

While MLB The Show 25 closely follows the aesthetics and gameplay structure of the previous edition, albeit with some pleasant refinements, it is the new game modes that bring a breath of fresh air and elevate the level of excitement. From the single-player career mode to the collectible card system known as Diamond Dynasty, passing through the management of an entire franchise, the implemented changes are particularly well-thought-out. They inject vital energy, intensifying the passion of fans and compelling them to take the field daily in an endless cycle of pitches and hits.

Narita Boy is an extremely competent 2D platformer. The guys from Studio Koba have succeeded in the uneasy task of giving a unique personality to a video game whose basic mechanics could sometimes appear derivative.

Gunfire Reborn has great gunplay, huge variety in builds, and a formula as simple as it is immediate: you get in, you shoot, you hope to get to the end. It might not sound like much, but it’s more than enough to make Duoyi’s game incredibly compelling and almost addictive.

Total War: Warhammer is an excellent beginning for the new franchise from SEGA. You can see the game as a traditional Total War on steroids, where everything is more powerful and more spectacular. The gameplay changes drastically depending on the race you choose, and that's a really nice addition for everyone eager to experiment a little bit, or for newcomers to the series.

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales certainly does not reinvent the original work, but manages to tell a particularly intense story by introducing and deepening an extremely positive character with a compelling personality. More compact than Peter Parker's adventure, with an elegantly told political subtext and a warm family dimension that you’re going to want to protect at any cost, Insomniac’s game also showcases what PS5 has to offer from a technical point of view, with an impressive lighting system that benefits greatly from Ray Tracing and a world that loads in an instant thanks to the new and powerful SSD, which virtually eliminates pop-ups, while also allowing incredibly fluid action, a great sense of scale and an absolutely breathtaking overall visual impact. Some repetitive secondary missions and not particularly exciting environmental puzzles dampen the rhythm a bit here and there, but at the same time the game does not lack incredible scenes, both scenographically and emotionally. A very good stand alone episode, a must for those who loved the Marvel’s Spider-Man, and a great appetizer for a more than likely sequel.

The Final Shape is one of Destiny 2's best expansions and a worthy conclusion to the Light and Darkness saga. Lots of content, all beautifully crafted, including an outstanding campaign and exciting endgame activities, are matched by a new subclass and the introduction of some brand new enemies. The latter are not very inspired, to be honest, but in some specific situations they require changing approaches to confrontations to get the upper hand. All in all, a big yes for The Final Shape and for Bungie, which can thus redeem itself after the débâcle of Lightfall.

Dark Souls meets Diablo and spices it up with a bit of Tetris in this original “shifting” action-roguelike that will test both your combat skills and your wits.

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster reintroduces the legendary mix of first person shooter, survival horror and role-playing game. It offers a large map to explore, full of interconnected paths and dangers to eliminate with weapons, psionic powers and hacking techniques. The research system adds tactical depth, allowing you to analyze enemies in order to increase their vulnerability. On the technical side, the remaster enhances the experience of the original with targeted refinements such as updated resolution, mod support, fifty achievements and cross-play co-op modes. The magic that made the game a cornerstone is still alive, even if some gameplay mechanics are starting to show their age.

Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior is a passionate and engaging video game, which expresses its best through game design, one of the most valuable and focused that I have had in my hands. A greater commitment regarding progression would have been appreciated, but the work presents vast possibilities for different choices and approaches based on the clashes. It's a hack'n slash that achieves its goal, and much more, also supported by an exciting story.

Kona 2: Brume is an exciting and engaging video game, biting and well presented. If on the one hand it offers a wonderful and solitary glimpse of Canada, to be precise the Quebec region, on the other there is a thick mystery to be solved that is as complex as the world. Strengthened by an extremely elegant, high-caliber game design, the production achieves its goal without hesitation and with the maturity of someone who wants to say "Present!" in one of the busiest months on the scene for several years now.

Behind Children of Morta's pixel art, lies an excellent hack’n’slash which has little to envy to the pillars of the genre. The RPG aspect is well defined, and the growth of the characters is never trivial.

Subnautica is a survival game worthy of competing with the most noble titles of the same genre. The PS4 version has a bunch of technical issues (loading times and frame rate above all), but nothing that can undermine the gaming experience.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is a second round of collections that focuses entirely on fun and nostalgia. The gameplay formula is still highly satisfying, perfect in this summer period to recall a few games, two minutes of essential gameplay and dozens of tricks to perform. The new graphic coat is excellent, with the updated roster of skaters and some new maps. The usual problems persist around the use of the camera, to be left on automatic since in manual it is truly a terrible experience. Excellent longevity for those who have played them in the past, but a clever and usable package even for those who are approaching it for the first time.

Songs of Conquest is a turn-based strategy game that fits into the mold of Heroes of Might and Magic, trying to fill the void left by the latter, now missing from our screens for almost a decade. Despite a few flaws in the single-player campaign, Lavapotion's video game features a near-perfect balance of the four playable factions, all of which are well characterized, as well as a huge amount of content, including full support for community-made stuff.

Halo 3 for PC is an excellent re-release of an already amazing FPS, despite being held back by a few issues (no advanced graphics settings and the heavy changes of the netcode).

Persona 3 Reload is a necessary return, a bridge between past and present that confirms the strength and sensitivity of a saga capable of reinventing itself without betraying itself. Atlus demonstrates its ability to respectfully restore, giving the game a modern look and splendid art direction, even if it fails to completely smooth out the wrinkles of a dated design. The experience remains intense, emotional, and deeply human, with a refined combat system and a narrative that continues to shine. The Switch 2 version, unfortunately, shows some technical limitations that partially dampen its magic, but not enough to obscure the greatness of the work. An essential journey for fans, and an excellent entry point for those who have never experienced the Dark Hour.

Although fishing is an intrinsically repetitive activity, Dredge is proportioned so well that it is able to give you every virtual day a reason to take your boat and push your limits a bit further than yesterday, fighting against everything and everyone but above all against yourself.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is an excellently packaged rhythm game overflowing with options and good music. If the genre suits you and the soundtrack of Kingdom Hearts holds a place of honour among your memories, you can't go wrong.

Need for Speed ​​Heat is the greeting of the series to this generation but also a new beginning thanks to its solidity, aesthetics, and playability. Ghost Games has combined the simplicity of the inputs with a great sense of control, in a beautiful open world to see and full of events.

Dragon’s Dogma shines on the new consoles in its final form, free from the limitations of old hardware. It aged pretty well, and still manages to offer a challenging and intriguing gameplay. Content-wise, there's really nothing new compared to the first release of 2012.

Yooka-Laylee is an excellent homage to the best works of Rare on Nintendo 64 (with the notable exception of GoldenEye 007). It's challenging, fun, albeit a little heavy on the hardware requirements. If you still love the old-school platforming, you should definitely consider it.

Little Nightmares VR: Altered Echoes takes the series into virtual reality territory, skillfully reworking its structure and perspective. VR could have been used more with the puzzles, and the visual polish on Meta Quest 3 isn't perfect, but Iconik's experiment is certainly a success: it's too short, but what an atmosphere.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 is a RPG that mixes game elements in a wise and detailed way, managing to do something excellent. It’s doesn’t that step than its predecessor, but it improves its qualitative in every aspect. Must have absolutely.

Supergiant Games just gave us another gem: despite some verbose sections and the amount of text to read (that can be overwhelming at times), Pyre has a sophisticated art direction, a compelling and charming story, and an original and unique take on the RPG genre.

System Redux brings the original Observer to new heights thanks to revised gameplay mechanics and redesigned visuals. Looks gorgeous on next-gen consoles.

Knock on the Coffin Lid aims to expand on the gameplay of the Slay the Spire-inspired games by adding an interesting story to follow thanks to charismatic characters, excellent speech, and a highly polished graphical style. Forget the forked progression until you get to the boss, here there is great freedom allowed for exploration thanks to very large maps full of interconnected points of interest. Fighting takes place in the typical style of this genre of video games, and although the many cards available do not introduce great innovation, we are in front of one of the best card battlers around.

With its gorgeous, minimalistic visuals, Forma.8 is a cool metroidvania game with something to say. Backtracking is well-implemented, while the lack of a detailed map could be considered one of the few weak points of an awesome production.

EA Sports WRC manages to bring the sensations and essence of rallying to our screens, revealing itself to be an engaging, at times overwhelming, racing game. Some details are less refined than others and there is various room for improvement, however if a good day starts in the morning I would say that, as regards the future of the series, fans can celebrate.

The Case of the Golden Idol is an excellent debut. Color Gray has learned the lesson of Return of the Obra Dinn and reinterpreted it with its own style. The cases to be solved are well thought out and to come to grips with puzzles that require deduction and intelligence rather than skill with the classic mechanics of the genre is quite satisfying. The Latvian developer duo in his first game shows they have personality, including in the graphic style that does not mind being disturbing and in the appropriate background music, all of which conveniently mystery-themed.

Fans of sandbox management games will be in their element with Timberborn, though those less familiar with the genre might initially find it disorienting due to the absence of more guided game modes. Once these initial hurdles are cleared, however, it becomes evident that this is a title offering a potential playtime measured in the tens—if not hundreds—of hours, thanks in no small part to robust community mod support.

Sonic X Shadow Generations was a must-play a year ago, and if you haven’t played it yet, it definitely is now that you can do so virtually anywhere without too many compromises in terms of performance. It’s a shame that SEGA didn’t think about those who decided to buy it on Switch last year, who for now are at least forced to pay full price to play what is effectively one of the best Sonic games ever released. Which is not a great compliment.

With plenty of quality content, a revamped progression system and many intriguing features like Torgast and Covenants, Shadowlands is an artistic triumph and one of the best expansions ever. It doesn't revolutionize World of Warcraft and the leveling phase doesn't really develop the character that much, but who cares? The Afterlife is fun.

When I was young, my parents told me that patience is a virtue: I never believed them. WWE 2K22 taught me that was true. The two years hiatus gave Visual Concepts the time to make things right, tuning all the parts of the game that weren’t good enough in the past. You can always do better, so some aspects (like the MyGM game mode) could be improved, but WWE 2K22 feels like a fresh new start.

After nine years, Secrets of Grindea finally leaves Early Access. The finished product is undoubtedly a fun, charming action RPG à la Zelda with a great build variety and an emphasis on loot and farming. However, it does suffer a little when compared with other, similar games that released during its long development cycle.

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster is still an excellent FPS today, almost thirty years after its first publication. The many improvements introduced by the developers, both on the graphics and gameplay side, manage to modernize the original to make it enjoyable both by the older ones and by those who have never had the opportunity to experience the adventures of Kyle Katarn.

A Like a Dragon a little bit different from the usual. A fun adventure starring the mad Goro Majima. All the elements of the previous chapters return in a Caribbean version, but the rate of madness reaches unprecedented levels.

Remnant: From the Ashes is, in all honesty, a breath of fresh air. A solid and alluring co-op action RPG with a good lot of innovations. Don’t call it a “souls-like with guns”, it’s much more than that.

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.

Like its predecessors, Yakuza 6 is a beautiful, engaging and deep title. Nonetheless, after seven main chapters, countless spin-offs, remastered versions and remakes, a slight whiff of deja vu is almost inescapable. Having said that, The Song of Life is a great conclusion to an unforgettable saga.

Octopath Traveler 0 is not only an ambitious bridge between past and present, but Square Enix's most mature attempt to reconcile the mobile nature of the original project with the expectations of a JRPG for home consoles. Its monumental structure, the dark, melodramatic, and uncompromising narrative, and the richness of its strategic mechanics deliver an experience that, while stemming from a gacha title, manages to establish itself as an authentic and significant chapter in the series. It's a long, at times challenging journey that requires patience and dedication, but one that rewards with a sense of growth, community, and discovery that is rare even in the modern landscape of the genre. Octopath Traveler continues to represent one of the most consistent and passionate interpretations of the classic JRPG.

Fun, light-hearted, stimulating, ghostly and adorable, Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is a great game that mixes joy, brilliant ideas and ghosts with expert craftsmanship. It's not perfect because the original wasn't perfect, for example the level setting can make you turn up your nose as can the repetitiveness or the resulting rhythm, but there's no doubt that those who appreciated the chapter on 3DS will also love this revisitation. Those who have never played it before can finally fill the gap with a game suitable for adults and children, full of passion, attention to detail and curious ideas, both in single player and multiplayer. As usual, when Nintendo is involved: if we had more video games like this, the world would probably be a better place.

Gorgoa is an elegant piece of art, but also a unique journey through a wonderful surreal world. Jason Roberts puts the player in his own lifetime puzzle, and finding a way out requires to look everything from a brand new fascinating perspective. Maybe the journey is too short, but it’s definitely worth a ride.

Unravel Two introduces new mechanics on the already excellent gameplay of the first chapter. It's necessarily less evocative, with some locations not so exciting, but manages to make you fun and feel deep emotions.

Going Under perfectly combines the Rogue-lite genre in an irreverent and sarcastic environment. The frenetic and immediate action with a good level of difficulty without ever being frustrating goes hand in hand with a fun and ridiculously original story, a real breath of fresh air for those looking for a solid dungeon crawler without necessarily having to rescue a princess or recover fragments of some cursed artifact. A must-play if you love this genre of games, and also highly recommended if you want to give a try to a nice action game able to make you laugh between one kill and another.

The Last Faith is an exciting and lucid video game, the son of two souls capable of chaining players to the chair and doing nothing else. In this sense, the work focuses on this: to increase a playful depth that incredibly manages to impress fans and beyond. You will never do without this nightmare again.

The King is Watching integrates city building, strategy, and resource management into a seamless and incredibly satisfying gameplay loop. A few tweaks would be nice, but it's still an original experience that exudes passion from every elegant pixel. It's like when the boss is away at work and you take it outrageously easy, with one difference: here you're the boss; you're the King.

The Survivalists is a fun survival sandbox which can be played both as an arcade adventure, hunting for every treasure and secret hidden around the island, and with a more casual approach by trying to just build some kind of boat and leave. Plenty of situations to face, a huge amount of structures, artifacts and recipes to unlock and experiment with. Each run will be an unique adventure. Monkey training is the icing on the cake. Pretty, fast and responsive, it will keep you in front of the screen for a long time.

Inspired by a piece of history that most people never heard of, Last Train Home is a competent mix of management and RTS gameplay, although the stealth mecanics leave something to be desired. Those eagerly waiting for Frostpunk 2 should consider adding it to their Christmas wishlist.

The musou genre set in the world of Zelda is once again a success. A top-notch cast delivers a story that feels a bit familiar but manages to captivate and excite. The gameplay remains a bit monotonous and suffers from some balance issues, but the many elements and characters introduced throughout the game manage to freshen things up and provide constant stimulation to the end credits... and beyond.

Game Garage Builder is wonderful. Nintendo has come up with a new programming language made up of hilarious characters, tasking the player with having them interact with each other to code their games. A real video game laboratory, where you can experiment and learn with a smile on your face.

House Flippers 2 is a simple game that couldn't be simpler. While it focuses on simplicity, in fact, and on a fabulous and effective game design, it manages to blend in a fantastic way with a context that gives emotions and leaves you with a smile. Yes, that's right: just like Unpacking.