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.

Though it undoubtedly belongs to the retro games strand, Casper Croes' relationship to nostalgia in the game is different from the more widespread one. In the case of Alisa, the past is understood not as an unattainable era of now, but as a model whose limitations can now be a challenge rather than an obstacle. The challenge is to recreate a game today that not only draws inspiration from Resident Evil, but also shares its technical characteristics, yet turns out to be palatable to modern gamers. The challenge can undoubtedly be said to have been met, thanks in part to the use of a good dose of (self)irony reminiscent of Lynch's.

Inkuinati is a rediscovery of who we were in the Middle Ages, of our long lost attitude about games event in serious context. A great strategic game full of jokes and farts diegetically inserted in the game experience.

What is most refreshing about Helldivers 2 is not just the fact that it’s an incredibly fun game, but that Arrowhead managed to grow in scope without losing its identity: this is, without question, a game made by the same people who created Magicka so many years ago. At present state, however, Helldivers 2 suffers from some stability issues, and employs an invasive anticheat.

Not a platformer but a puzzle-platformer dating back to the long-gone Game Boy Advance era, revamped on Switch. This time Mario will take you to an adventure a little different than usual, which will improve your jumping skills at least as much as your intuition and speed of execution. More than 130 levels (some of them brand new) with secret stages and direct challenges with Donkey Kong. A must-have challenge for Nintendo fans

An excellent action-RPG that follows in the footsteps of God of War and The Witcher 3 while proposing a very different but equally fascinating setting and two really cool main characters. Net of a few technical stumbles and some design naivete, Don't Nod's most ambitious project hits the mark rather well.

Ultros is a passionate and engaging Metroidvania, with excellent art design and level design, strong graphics and an artistic direction of absolute value. It is a long-lived and detailed video game, very original and multifaceted, with a game design that explores all its potential in a peculiar way. An absolute must have if you are passionate about the genre, and if you are a beginner. It is also particularly suitable for beginners.

One cannot conceive of combining the irreverent spirit of the Suicide Squad with a formula plastered around what one considers to be the most marketable fashions at the moment. The risk is twofold, namely that of creating a game that dresses poorly around the lead characters, but also that of arriving outside, deflated fashions. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League stumbles over both of these mistakes. Yet here and there flashes of fun situations emerge, the characters have charisma, the writing is good with spikes of excellent quality, and Rocksteady knows how to do their job technically. Let's hope the live service experiments with superhero groups are over here.

Anomaly Agent is a debut with a bang for Phew Phew Games, which arrives on our monitors with a beat'em up with Canabalt-style endless runner elements, a charismatic and crazy protagonist, plus music to shoot at full volume that accompanies the action in beautiful pixel art. The attack and dodge combination starts with the simple press of two buttons and gradually becomes more and more complex with combos and special weapons. Sudden gameplay changes and gigantic bosses each one with its own fighting style make this game unmissable for those who love action.

A brilliant and captivating video game with an excellent and detailed story. An original and brutal game model that shows great care in every area, from the hustle and bustle of battles to other noteworthy details such as the relationship between Crimson and the secondary characters of the experience. A video game not to be missed.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a diamond in the rough, equipped with a limited number of colossal opponents and various choices and concessions that contribute to making the challenge and long-term interest less rewarding. If you are passionate (or even just interested) in the universe created by Cygames, it is likely, however, that the rich and charismatic cast of playable characters may make you turn a blind eye. Definitely a game made for fans.

Persona 3 Reload is a sensational work that is not just satisfied with being a remake but is, consequently, something that reformulates the development of ATLUS video games for an even wider audience. Choosing one of the greatest and most powerful works of the JRPG genre, thus forging a title to improve and revisit a work of the genre, was by no means an easy and immediate task. Indeed, it was something extremely complex. A great return that can be summed up in the term "Masterpiece".

Howl is a puzzle game in which planning your moves and predicting the consequences play the lion's share. Keeping enemies' reactions in mind for the next six turns can prove very challenging, although with the assisted mode or a healthy dose of trial and error you will be able to complete all sixty levels in two or three evenings. The darkly grim story, medieval setting, and distinctive graphics make this a thoroughly interesting game. Once completed there is no reason to replay it except to try to earn all the achievements, but it remains a recommended experience for lovers of this genre of games.

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

It may have lost the console war, but this new incarnation of SEGA as a publisher is an unstoppable force of nature: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the perfect sequel, which corrects the mistakes and doubts that arose during a first episode that was perhaps too experimental. An incredibly satisfying combat system frames one of the most engaging stories written by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio in an adventure that is a serious contender for game of the year, and we're only in January.

Tekken 8 is yet another great chapter in a series incapable of making missteps. The new mechanics change the skin of the game and, although the historical detractors will not find particular reasons to change their minds (the famous "volleyball simulator" for the emphasis placed on juggles), all the others will find an incredibly deep game, which will accompany them for several years to come. Who knows, maybe thanks to Ghosts even those who are completely resistant to online gaming will find the courage to take their first steps in a new world.

An adorable cast that is impossible not to love, lots of extras (including DLC) and a greatly improved quality of life are further points in favor of this second Trilogy, dedicated above all to those who are discovering the series in recent years, but also recommended for those who want to relive these events after a long time. No objection, your honor!

In the first decade of the 2000s, Cing was synonymous with atmospheric adventures and extraordinary gameplay ideas. Two of those now arrive on Switch with a complete graphic makeover and modernized gameplay. Slow pace, plenty of atmosphere and intriguing storylines are strengths of two productions that have kept (quite) intact their charm.

A work as simple and fascinating as it is effective and powerful. Andrea finds himself experiencing himself in the eyes and behaviors of others within a powerful narrative adventure that brings to the table the hardships and problems of Generation Z. A concrete and successful test, in our opinion.

The Cub is a good game, a good platform, a pleasure to play for the five or six hours that it lasts. It’s nice that Demagog Studio is continuing to explore the same universe game after game adding pieces to this puzzle, even though in Golf Club the impact was stronger. The team has done many step forward from the gameplay perspective, but unfortunately the game is not perfectly polished. All things considered, The Cub is a really good experience.

Releasing a remaster of such a prominent game just over three years after the original was certainly a gamble. Fortunately, Naughty Dog has combined the audiovisual restoration work (adequate and perceptible in some parts of the game, almost superfluous in others) with a general optimization that has improved the quality of the experience with a much more solid frame rate and noticeably faster loading. To further increase the value of this version we find a challenging and fun new roguelike mode, three cut mini-levels, skins to unlock and various other extras that further delve into the world of TLOU2, allowing us to discover all the details and secrets.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it does everything it has to do in the best possible way. Or rather, almost everything: unfortunately the plot is negligible and the characters have the same charisma as a puddle. Beyond this, however, the structure of the semi-open world is very complex, the combat system is much deeper than the average of the genre, and the platforming borders on excellence. A return in style for one of the most beloved franchises of all time.

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.

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.

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

Radiant Silvergun is personally the best shooter written by Treasure, but it's not for everyone. The measured cadence of the action and the difficulty of handling the seven weapons make it difficult to approach for those who prefer the deflagrating action of more dynamic alternatives like danmaku, but the effort of mastering such unique mechanics is repaid by an extraordinary game.

After the excellent porting work on Gothic, Gothic II also deserves the same treatment, with religious care. DLC is also added to the game package to make the entire experience even more engaging.

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.

Cozy. This is PathCraft, a very comfortable experience which doesn’t really break any new ground in the puzzle platformer arena, but it makes you feel home and will challenge you with progressively more difficult puzzles. With its cute art and precise and immediate controls, it’s easy to recommend.

Green Quest VR is an intelligent conversion, which trades some of the complexity of the original title in exchange for a priceless feeling of immersion. Net of the predictable concessions in terms of graphics, the result is excellent and satisfying, tailor-made around a VR experience that requires a much greater effort from the player than what is experienced on PC. The original is superior overall, but from a virtual reality perspective, Green Hell VR presents itself as an excellent declination of a highly appreciated game.

A fairly classic Metroidvania in its gameplay formula, but artistically above average and embellished with a cast that wouldn't look out of place in an Anime. Some balance issues don't stop it from being a highly enjoyable title and telling a meaningful story that deserves to be listened to.

Hirilun doesn't mess around and immediately presents itself for what it is: an extremely fast, difficult, and punishing first person runner where even the smallest error can make the difference between a great and a failed run. It takes a long time to memorize the optimal route, only to have you bitterly discover that there is actually a much faster way to the finish line, although it requires even greater precision. Definitely intended for hardcore audiences who are not scared to try the same jump hundreds of times before finding perfection. A game for the few, but those few will like it.

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.

Ready or Not lets us play as the captain of a SWAT team and does so with bewitching skill, captivating you with challenging gameplay and intriguing gunplay. Between single player and online co-op, customization and progression, agent management and nuances galore, you soon find yourself hostage to a brutal FPS that just won't let you go. And that's fine, even if not everything is (yet?) perfect.

Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising is a fighting game that makes immediacy its strong point, easy to approach but incredibly deep. The mechanics of the first chapter have been properly refined, and a rich roster offers hours of fun in company. It's a shame that the content reserved for solo players is very limited, classifying the game as a party for the use and consumption of those who love to challenge themselves online. Then again, I really can't like those simplified commands.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader treats the Games Workshop board game license with respect, granting the opportunity of fully immersing into a universe that fully meets the expectations of franchise’s fans. Owlcat Games has crafted a role-playing video game that guarantees a fair amount of freedom of choice with concrete consequences both in the development of the plot and in the balance of power within the Koronus Expanse. It's a shame for the technical state it is in, otherwise we’d have a masterpiece in our hands.

Also on Nintendo Switch, just like on other gaming platforms, Outer Wilds is a visual and profound spectacle that goes far beyond expectations. It is a dense and emotionally charged journey, capable of bonding the player and showing how creativity can actually give an experience waiting to be discovered.

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.

SteamWorld Build is a pleasant and exciting gaming adventure, calm and capable of captivating the player on the screen and transporting him to a fascinating world in a masterfully thought out hybrid. Even if more could have been done in terms of plot, the game design, the heart of the work, enriches it with notable nuances and approaches.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a huge game in which exploration plays a very important role, as every corner of the Western Frontier is full of plants to catalogue, ingredients to collect and materials to use to improve our equipment. The fights are very exciting and it is essential to combine stealth actions with incursions based on the surprise effect. The proprietary Snowdrop engine offers us a wonderful graphic representation, which combined with a quality soundtrack guarantees an almost cinematic experience. Those looking for non-stop action might find a few too many dead moments, but it remains an extremely high-quality open world shooter adventure despite never trying to introduce any innovations to the genre.

Journey to Foundation is a game that is greater than the sum of its parts: the absolute merit of the original work is set against the backdrop of mechanics and ideas that are limited and already seen, but when put together manage to function as pieces in the complex and fascinating mosaic that Foundation has always been. Do not, however, expect a revolutionary or particularly challenging VR experience.

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.

A Highland Song is yet another confirmation for Inkle. A platform adventure capable of mixing the pleasure of trekking (beautifully rendered in 2D) with a delicate, enveloping and branching narrative like the paths that cross the highlands. An intimate story, the one that Moira constantly mulls over to herself, but also a cultural cross-section of a land rich in myths, legends, traditions and history, embellished with very human, slightly crazy characters, capable of becoming fun interlocutors with whom have a chat after a long climb, resting and sheltering from the cold of the mountains. Suggestive, audiovisually inspired, playfully fluid and very focused. Now I really want to visit Scotland.

Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn is a good opportunity to return to the role of Alphen and discover the facets of a new world that now only needs to be rebuilt. On the gaming side, unfortunately, something is missing and some new features could have been added, especially to draw a difference between the original chapter and the expansion, which is very useful only in narrative terms.

Remnant 2 The Awakened King is a solid DLC that follows the path of Remnant 2 success. The additions touch on the longevity of the game, increase the level cap and nothing more. Nothing revolutionary, but everything works perfectly.

Iron Marines Invasion is a Real Time Action Strategy that despite offering a casual approach, with very few options compared to most popular RTSs, manages to provide an excellent level of challenge. Colorful and fast-paced, with missions that hardly last more than ten minutes, it entices you to experiment thanks to the ability to change troops on the fly, although after a couple of defeats you will already know which soldiers to start with. A pleasant confirmation that even games initially designed for smartphones can be appealing on PC. Those looking for hardcore strategy, however, will prefer to skip it.

Worldless is an excellent, intelligent and well-packaged video game, capable of both offering brilliant platform phases and representing an extremely focused and addictive Metroidvania. Supported by a story to discover, it is a video game that focuses on both visual impact and its combat system, managing to be incredibly focused in both lights in an enveloping way. It's really a lot, a lot of stuff for a team making its first video game that arrives in such an aggressive and fierce market.

Sword Art Online: Last Recollection, has a good track record and an interesting, little communicated and evocative context in game design. In the end I ended up with a single player and a multiplayer, with a non-recurring effect in the Alcun mode of living with one another, presenting a mess that is not particularly effective. The bottom line is that it is only possible to distinguish between the two, but it is only subtle.

A modern sequel to Flashback could have been a title perhaps not as memorable as the original, but certainly a worthy sci-fi experience. Unfortunately, everything seems to have gone wrong as Flashback 2 is a disaster in almost every respect.

Astral Ascent offers the usual roguelite gameplay where you have to die a ton of times to get a decent build and progress a little bit, and the system of spells and power-ups at the beginning is a bit foggy. After the first couple of hours without any particular excitement though, the game explodes and shows us its full potential, especially when you manage to unlock the four heroes. At that point, it becomes one of the best video games in this genre, despite the fact that not much attention has been given to the platformer component. If you love characters to grow with thousands of combinations, you are in the right place.

For The King II perfects the winning formula of the first chapter by adding bonuses/maluses linked to positioning and some other pleasant innovations. The gameplay is improved and makes it a great starting point for those who have never played the IronOak franchise. It is not one of those sequels that shows off lots of new features, brilliant innovations or incredibly original ideas, quite the opposite: it is so anchored to its past that it also drags with it some of the defects of its predecessor.

Berzerk is a timeless classic whose gameplay has aged well, in fact it is even more popular now than it was at the time, thanks to progress in hardware. This Recharged edition reintroduces the spirit of the original in a modern guise, but fails to turn it into a more full-fledged game than just a casual score attack. While the effort to maintain some fidelity to the original concept is comprehensible, there has been a real misstep in offering additional content, with only a handful of extra challenges that are everything but challenging. This way it is likely not to be appreciated even by fans of the original game.

Dark Envoy is an interesting CRPG that has some good features such as customization, some not always negligible defects such as a flawed AI, a combat system that fails to express its potential, a weak story and, perhaps, even an ambition that seems held back by the constraints imposed by her independent nature.

Wartales is an intelligent and brutal video game, capable of exalting through excellent game design and mind-boggling contexts and secondary missions. It is impossible to read a very graceful and alive story in a modern way, and the work can be seen in the classic role-playing game as well as it can still be seen. It absolutely is there.

WarioWare: Move It! is a masterpiece of minimalist gameplay where a level is completed in a couple of seconds. Surprisingly, all of the more than two hundred challenges are quite different from each other and all of admirable quality, with none of them seeming to be added just to make up the numbers. The Story mode is very entertaining already, but the challenges designed specifically for local multiplayer are little strokes of genius. All this with a graphic design that highlights the devilishness of the production. At first it is not so easy to understand what is asked by the various mini-games, but it is all a matter of practice.

An exciting video game that engages and entertains. The Kindeman Remedy is brutal, with a mature and well-written story. Absolutely must have.

NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM is perhaps one of the most complete titles dedicated to the world of Naruto. The simplifications in combat system may not be appreciated by everyone, but the title remains a must have for all Naruto fans.

By borrowing here and there from the past Sledgehammer has played it too safe, but has forgotten to provide fans with truly new and valid reasons to dig into their wallets again this year. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III seems like a DLC that is saved thanks to more solid gameplay than ever, but much more is needed to enter the hearts of fans.

Wizard with a Gun is a half-successful hybrid: the survival mechanics don't go well with the roguelite nature of the game.

Laika: Aged Through Blood is a metroidvania that experiments in interesting way with stunts and slow motion in combat and exploration thanks to the motorbike mechanics. It has a wonderful diegetic soundtrack and a cruel plot well screenplayed with some great ludonarrative moments.

Risk of Rain 1 was already a very good roguelike, and this is an improved and expanded version of it, so what’s not to love? Wish Hopoo added the ability to save during a run, though.

The first Mario RPG is still damn fun. Even almost 30 years after its original release, it offers a fun, fresh adventure full of many little surprises. A difficulty level that is not particularly high allows it to be playable even by an audience not particularly accustomed to the genre, but veterans may find it a little too forgiving.

Persona 5 Tactica is a passionate and better work in every light and nuance. Enriched by a detailed game design, defined at its best by many approaches that can be performed as desired, its greatest advantage is being linked to the original title and involving, at the same time, with a particularly successful strategic vision à la X-Com . It's a video game not to be missed, full of many nuances and things to do, as well as enriched by a touching story.

Mix the madness of a blind date, the unknown of returning home and the slipper on your mother's teeth, and you get Thirsty Suitors, a video game that overturns the rules and follows its own vision, defining with awareness and maturity an enveloping and engaging game design. It is above all strong in game design that mixes with real life events and a number of events that follow one another, nevertheless outlining an extremely scholastic exploration. Worth a try if you are in a mid-life crisis (now in your thirties), if you have lots or lots of exes ready to take revenge and if, in a certain sense, you have finished Alan Wake 2 or any other work published in the last six months. In that case, you would understand why someone left you.

Ufo Robot Goldrake The Feast of Wolves is unfortunately a mediocre game, so much so that I would not recommend it even to the most die-hard fans of the iconic robot, except at a discounted price. Like the original material, it is a product aimed at a young audience, ironically at the antipodes of the old-timers who are supposed to represent the hardcore Actarus fans.

Wandering Sword is a journey into an ancient China to be explored from top to bottom, meeting wonderful characters and engaging in pitched battles in which tactics, party members and character build are crucial. Progression is quite fast-paced and debunks the cliché that would have Eastern games to be based on grinding. The main campaign is fairly linear, but there are enough side quests that provide variety to the adventure, meticulously narrated with plenty of text. The HD-2D graphics are particularly well-chosen in this genre of games and are another selling point.

A new League of Legends spin-off that tells a story of friendship through well-established gameplay but lacking any particular creative flourishes. The most "Disney-esque" of Riot Forge's products to date, it is a game unsuited to discerning palates or experienced players, but it can become an excellent pastime for younger audiences or for those who crave something well-told but undemanding.

RoboCop: Rogue City is the best video game dedicated to Verhoeven's character, and that alone might be enough of a recommendation for a slice of the old-timers. It is satisfying and brutal, a video game as gory and simple as those of yesteryear, and this is its trump card. What revolves around the shoot-outs is unfortunately not as exciting, but overall it remains a highly recommended game for fans of the film.

A fitting "Yakuza" that takes the old Kazuma Kyriu and launches him into a new life - how long and happy we are not yet allowed to know. On the gameplay side Like a Dragon Gaiden relies on well-established mechanics that still work well, adding a couple of new tricks that seem to wink at what we will see in Infinite Wealth.

Slay the Princess is a deep narrative adventure with the sole goal of telling a story, in a sort of big, deep What If? which succeeds in the complex task of surprising. To reach total completionism, you could even need six hours of play. It's a rich, deep and literally flawless title. A big, small and unexpected evolution for graphic adventures.

Lunacid is certainly an intriguing action RPG with plenty of old-school charm, but audiences more used to modern games might find some of its quirks – and its balance that heavily favors magic builds – a bit annoying.

Shattered Heaven takes inspiration from Darkest Dungeon and Slay the Spire, and does so without adding any particular innovations to the game formula. There is nothing wrong with this, especially if the end result is good. Besides, it manages to bring a mature narrative, including multifaceted characters and a well-written story. There are some flaws here and there, but all in all Leonardo Production's video game is well made.

While waiting for the revolution promised for the next chapter, Football Manager 2024 confirms all the qualities of Sports Interactive's game.

Gothic Classic Switch is a cleaned and revised edition of Piranha Bytes' classic masterpiece. The innovations around camera and inventory management are just a plus in front of a title that, despite being twenty years old, still works like it used to.

The Talos Principle 2 is the perfect combination of puzzle game and RPG phases. A philosophical story that starts from the game but reaches out to touch the player and the history of the human being. The Talos Principle 2 is one of the most complete gaming experiences of this year.

When you don't put all your eggs in the frenetic action, focusing on story and atmosphere, you absolutely must capture player attention to avoid falling into the walking sim trap. The Invincible succeeds in this task right from the first few minutes, immersing us in a situation in which the last thing we want is to run crazily into the unknown, preferring to move with circumspection knowing that each step could be our last. This is due to a superlative narrative technique combined with perfect graphic representation. It is not a survival horror but rather a novel written in the guise of an adventure, and lovers of the genre will love it.

Achilles: Legends Untold is a good mix between RPGs with hack and slash action like Diablo and souls-likes in which every checkpoint is an achievement. The wide range of weapons, each with unique characteristics and combat styles, invite experimentation even to just see the animations of the protagonist as he crushes, kills and rips apart enemies. The story set in Greek mythology could only be interesting, and the fights are fun, even if some enemies appear out of the blue due to the absence of zoom. There are no classes - Achilles is Achilles! - but quite different builds can be created.

Star Ocean The Second Story R is a superb remake that improves the original game all round, making the most beloved chapter of the famous tri-Ace series current again. Some improvements tend to further undermine the mechanisms of a game that was not particularly balanced at the start, but overall it is an old-fashioned JRPG experience that will not fail to excite fans of the genre.

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.

Jusant is a courageous, intense and detailed work. Full of originality, with a brilliant and intelligent plot, it tells of a cross-section of the world that is explored through long crossings and climbs that are always different, but still complex. Strengthened by an exciting, engaging and well-implemented game structure, it is proof of the passion of Do n't Nod, who is preparing to leave his mark in a panorama that he has known for seventeen years.

Thirteen years after the release of the first chapter, Remedy tries to improve itself and answer the questions that fans have been holding in for so long. Alan Wake II is another excellent step toward the ultimate maturation of the Finnish dev team, capable like few others of telling fascinating and engaging stories, surrounded by solid gameplay and a first-class cast. A few minor technical flaws and some knots yet to be unraveled (perhaps in a DLC?) are the only, small moles in a production that maintains the excellent levels already achieved with Control.

UFC 5 is a decisive leap forward compared to the past as well as a game that takes the discipline it tries to simulate into very high regard. The approach is profound and requires both commitment and concentration even in the least simulative mode. On the other hand, it can be very rewarding once you have mastered the mechanics. The transition to Frostbyte was positive not so much in the graphic leap, which was still evident, but in the animations and the links that connect them.

Cities: Skyline II expands, refines, simplifies and complicates where necessary the legacy of the first chapter, but right now it is above all a vision. It is the vision of what could be after the dev patches for technical problems and the community mods to increase the content, the two premises on which the foundations of a fortune rest that, hopefully, will accompany the days and nights for a long time of a large group of city builder fans.

With no major changes in the game modes, NHL 24 shows some interesting signs of life thanks to some new gameplay features. With convincing graphics and sounds, which manages to immerse the player in the atmosphere of an ice rink, the matches are quite enjoyable, with a good rhythm and a truly well-thought-out renewed control system. There are still some issues, but those who live on bread and hockey will find a way to have fun.

An enveloping production, complete and well composed in every nuance. It's really a lot, a lot of stuff, something that never abandons and that entertains, taking you back in time focusing on the present and the future without compromise. It is a language that can do good, that can be essential and unique, that can set the tone for the future. There is passion, there is love, there is a desire to do and, above all, there is a desire to go against the grain. Go beyond the market itself.

Fast and furious fights in a cyberpunk world, this time also on a futuristic bike exploring post-apocalyptic lands – who wouldn’t love that? Too bad a few too many puzzle keep the adrenaline rush at bay and distract from the most exciting parts of the game.

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

From the today’s Konami you would expect a lazy port of the HD Collection and of the original Metal Gear Solid. But in Tokyo someone still love the series, and this first of volume of the Master Collection really shows some heart in reselling three masterpieces of the video games history and a bunch of the 2D chapters (including Snake’s Revenge).

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

Crymachina is a touching tale that touches on the nuances of human details and its hidden and primitive insecurities. Speaking through a common language, already seen in the works of Yoko Taro and in the history of FuRyu productions, but nevertheless manages to find flashes of originality, especially when the three main protagonists are explored in depth. The game design doesn't shine but it doesn't disappoint either, managing in any case to stimulate the player's interest through a good skill-based combat system. It's a shame that the graphics, very dated and often an eyesore, don't offer further emotions.

Agatha Christie – Murder on the Orient Express is a timid attempt to modernize a classic of world literature. Aesthetically old with poorly implemented game mechanics I can't make this game shine.

At first it is exciting to unleash the destructive fury of the Red Demon on the unfortunate enemies in the realms of the Wyrd, the first clashes are brutal and pyrotechnic to the point of predicting great things. The truth is that one punch at a time the enthusiasm wanes until it shows, under the skin of a stylish aesthetic that adheres to the original, a roguelite structure that is not very courageous and a gameplay that fails to convince.

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.

Nintendo reinvents the two-dimensional platform game through the sheer power of imagination, looking to the past and using it as a foundation to create something new. No one else has done it so brilliantly, but ultimately everything is easy when you are the king.

The Fabulous Fear Machine must have been hatched by some really sadistic people, because it is one of the creepiest games you will find around, despite being a simplified 4X with a board game structure. The concept of spreading fake news to fuel panic is portrayed with a lot of sarcasm and a graphic depiction that recalls the old horror comic books of the 1950s. Like all games of this type, it becomes repetitive in the long run despite attempts to add new features to each mission, but the particularly engaging story will motivate you to continue.

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 - Turbocharged is what they say is a classic sequel: it enriches and expands the legacy of its predecessor by adding novelties to a consolidated game frame, without ever daring to dig deep or dare in terms of originality. Those who appreciated the first one and its gameplay will surely know how to enjoy every moment behind the wheel of the new Hot Wheels video game.

Endless Dungeon is a very good roguelite that, while it can be enjoyed solo, shines much more brightly when played cooperatively.

Marvel's Spider Man 2 is a true blockbuster, a chapter that cannot be postponed for those who have experienced the previous adventures of Peter and Miles, as well as one of the most important gaming events of the year. It plays a little too safe in several areas, but overall it remains an exciting title and a highly recommended adventure for all fans of Spider-Man and superhero comics in general.