The Outer Worlds is Obsidian Entertainment’s magnum opus, an RPG with an enticing and multifaceted ruleset set in a dystopian capitalistic society. Its only flaws reside in the combat system and gunplay, but these are easily counterbalanced by the excellent writing and the many possibilities offered to the players. Let’s hope Obsidian will explore this setting further, possibly with a much needed sequel.

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

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is the perfect example of how a minor classic should be brought back to life: without distorting its identity, but updating it with intelligence, respect and a healthy dose of courage. The work done by Atlus is not limited to a coat of HD paint: it is a real redevelopment of the original game, which today can be played with pleasure even by those who have no nostalgia to redeem. The new combat system, the more balanced pace and a more modern general direction give new life to a title that, at the time, had brilliant ideas but a rough realization. It is not perfect, nor does it want to be: it is a fascinating piece of a larger story, a bridge between the old Megaten spirit and its more accessible incarnations. In short, Raidou awaits you in better shape than ever, and finally ready to be discovered by everyone.

The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante is an interactive novel in which interaction is reduced to the bare bone, allowing us only to turn the pages of the book and choose our next moves from a list of options. So it should not be evaluated as a game but as a story. And from this point of view it is a brilliant tale, which manages to capture attention from the very first pages, making us suffer for the unfortunate protagonist. Like all products of this kind, however, after the first intense run you will only want to see the multiple endings, skipping most of the rest of the story.

Cult of the Lamb looks like a roguelike in The Binding of Isaac way, but in reality, it is also a deep god game. The message behind the title is: you have to be afraid of losing those who the day before you treated as pawns. You feel omnipotent and invincible, but the truth is that you are a slave to others like anyone else.

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.

Mix the feeling of weakness of the movie Open Water with a compelling story, a world to explore in metroidvania style kind of like in Don't Starve, add the maniacal detail of In Other Waters, shake and there we have Subnautica: Below Zero, an intriguing sci-fi survival with just a bit of horror. While at first it might seem a little limited in scope, with a bit of patience you will soon realize how great of a game it is.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a good collection, but more because of the games it contains than because of Nintendo's effort in making it. The absence of extras and of Super Mario Galaxy 2 are an unpleasant disappointment.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a sequel that builds on the legacy of Relic Entertainment. It does so by offering an exciting campaign that perfectly conveys that feeling of perpetual war and all the “grimdark” typical of its setting. Even without ever reaching the depth typical of other games in the same genre, the combat system infuses all the physicality and brutality of the Astartes. The optimization is also good, despite some small flaws that can be easily solved with a round of patches. The only let down is the soundtrack, light years away from the epicness of the first game.

As the final chapter of the trilogy, The Banner Saga 3 should not be bought with the hope of finding some kind of gameplay innovations, but to savor the last part of an epic journey in search of safe place and truth.

Slightly better than Innocence in terms of storytelling, gameplay and world building, A Plague Tale: Requiem still needs some tuning on the technical side.

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

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

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.

An action-adventure that repeatedly quotes the old Resident Evil games and uses their mechanics to offer the more nostalgic audience an experience very close to the survival horror of the PS1-N64 era. A hint of modernity in the controls makes it palatable even to less veteran gamers, but a few balancing problems and a fairly short longevity take it away from the pinnacle of the genre.

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

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

Synergy will mesmerise you with its art and setting, however there’s not too much innovation in it, and its user interface doesn’t do a great job at making the game complexity digestible and manageable.

Black Jacket transforms blackjack into a surprisingly deep roguelite deckbuilder, where hitting 21 is merely the starting point. Modifiable cards, special effects, increasingly absurd combos, and tables with unique powers turn every match into a war of manipulation and infernal sabotage. The gameplay manages to evolve continuously, shifting from a simple card game into a true turn-based strategy title. The decadent horror atmosphere is also excellent. There are, however, a few limitations: the grinding required to build a truly competitive deck can feel repetitive, and—as in all games of chance—some matches ultimately depend more on luck than on pure skill.

Death Stranding is a good game, as well as the most ambitious work born from the mind of Hideo Kojima. It's not perfect, but successfully captures the player in a dark and fragmented world, so it's really worth fighting for.

Vectronom should be in a museum, taking the place of one of those interactive, experimental installations, in front of which perceptions become fluid.

Mortal Kombat 11 is probably the best chapter in the entire saga. Visuals, soundtrack and gameplay have reached an astonishing level of depth. Unfortunately, being forced to be always online and a progression system that seems a bit too random prevent this fighting game to become the masterpiece it deserves to be.

Toys for Bob managed to do justice to the original gameplay, improving (almost) everything else. Spyro Reignited Trilogy is great for the hardcore fans of the purple dragon, but it’s also suitable for the younger audience.

Super Hydorah is an old-school shoot'em up full of surprises, and it's incredibly polished. Fun, challenging, and rewarding, the new game from Locomalito is a must have for all the old gamers out there. Beware, though: it's really tough.

Little Nightmares II is based on the relationship between Six and Mono, both from a narrative and a gameplay perspective, and there will be heart-pounding situations where you will come to wonder how much you are willing to push yourself to get both children safe from this spiral of pure terror. If you enjoyed the original game, this new chapter is another little gem worth buying.

I’m not kidding when I say that Jamboree is quite rich and varied with many minigames and activities. So rich in new features, so many additions and new discoveries that it is the best installment of the Mario Party franchise that anyone can remember. However, there are tons of works in the franchise: so many, different and peculiar that they have become fundamental to the creative development of the Big N. The only recommendation is to try not to make some friends angry because they conquer a star before they can reach it. In that case, play dead.

Konami scored an amazing goal with eFootball PES 2020, improving an already effective gameplay to make it almost perfect. Evolution has only partially involved the game modes, but the result is the best chapter in the series and a divine football simulation.

Battlefield 6 arrives in grand style to remind us that all-out war, when it's virtual, can be magnificent. EA, Battlefield Studios, and the community were eager to move on from the disappointment of Battlefield 2042, and we can finally say it: Battlefield is back.