In this chapter of Ace Combat, the gameplay is stripped down to a bare minimum and the air-to-ground combat is plain boring. The jaw-dropping graphics and production values will probably be enough to attract the fans of the franchise, but if arcade air fighting is not your niche, you'd better steer away.

Shadow Labyrinth is a madness with a lot to say, but much like its mouthless protagonist, it can't always communicate as it would like, finding itself at the mercy of events. A little more quality of life wouldn't have hurt (even the markers you place on the map have to be unlocked), yet somehow there's a certain perverse charm that permeates the entire experience. And it's not just because Pac-Man has never been this dark.

An almost impossible game to evaluate with objectivity and using "standard" rules: the gameplay is truly basic, and the story can be as touching as your personal sensitivity to a very delicate and serious matter.

Mulaka is a traditional action adventure, ispired by Okami, that tries and tell the roots of the Tarahumara culture. The game developed by Lienzo is constrained by an all too linear gameplay, a bland level design and a boring combat system (except the boss fights). It's presented in an elegant package, it can be played peacefully, but it's not bound to leave a mark.

Skully has everything it needs to impose himself as a mix between a frantic platformer like Marble Blast Ultra and an original take on Metroidvania genre, but it wastes too much time before showing its true potential. The lack of enemies and situations to deal with does not help to keep you engaged until the game unleashes all its features, and it is a shame because it’s a pretty game, and also very responsive to player input. Anyone willing to bear with the first few hours will be rewarded with fascinating gameplay.

Another good, yet predictable iteration in the LEGO series, with the usual mix of humour, references to the Marvel universe and a gazillion of characters to unlock. The gameplay works, and the game is really fun to play, but the formula really needs a breath of fresh air.

There are not that many space combat games out there, so Chorus could be a good pick if you like an action packed and ready-to-go game that doesn’t require you to study astrophysics like Elite o Star Citizen. The drawback is that, mechanics wise, Chorus is fairly repetitive, and not that mechanically deep. It could still be a good choice if you’re aching to shoot space lasers, but in a couple of hours you might realize you’re becoming more of a space tourist than an ace pilot.

Pumpkin Jack is a hilarious 3D adventure platformer, with clear and obvious references to MediEvil. But while the pace is good and the aesthetics charming, the repetition of the same gameplay loop becomes tedious already halfway through the game. The controls are also a bit slippery, but Pumpkin Jack is still a very enjoyable action platformer.

Chocobo GP is a decent alternative to Mario Kart, hampered by the presence of such an important opponent on the same console. It lacks that flash of brilliance, that uniqueness that allows it to outdo its elusive rival, and a future that already leans towards microtransactions doesn't help. Try the Lite version, it might just win you over.

An action-platformer that revives the flames of a genre that disappeared for almost two decades. Abathor isn't a perfect title and doesn't invent anything new, but it does what it has to in a balanced and polite manner, with an entertaining co-op mode capable of attract players of all ages.

Encased is an old school RPG with lots of content and an exciting story. However, it is perhaps a little bit too faithful to the classics.

A classic and enjoyable metroidvania, which does not offer any particular creative ideas and delivers a challenge in line with most games in the genre. Platforming, combat and environmental puzzles alternate through scenarios inspired by African culture, in which an important story comes to life, well told and punctuated by a well-shaped cast of characters.

Black Ops III Salvation's outcome results comparable to the previous DLCs in the competitive section, but comes close to the excellence in the Origins epilogue, aesthetically pleasing and full of gratifying secrets.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered updates the technical aspects of the renowned RPG through the use of Unreal Engine 5, enhancing lighting, animations, and sound. However, it suffers from instability, with frequent crashes and significant drops in frame rate, particularly in open environments. The original issues persist, including the notorious auto-leveling system and an outdated combat system. Additionally, some changes made to the character progression risk amplifying the problems already present in the original version.

This third entry in the survival horror series developed by Nippon Ichi doesn't add so much to the original formula, but it feels more mature and brings more content to the “explore, hide and resolve” side.

A new chapter in The Dark Pictures series attempts to remain anchored to its roots while simultaneously seeking to distance itself by offering something new. Mission accomplished? Not exactly. Although it is an enjoyable and well-crafted experience, the balance between gameplay and cinematic elements once again tips excessively in favor of the latter, and the freedom granted to the player seems even more limited than in previous installments. A game structure that is a bit too fragmented and permissive diminishes the sense of tension and immersion in the story—a narrative that, in turn, leaves itself open to criticism due to its heavy "inspiration" drawn from certain classics of the sci-fi horror genre.

You were expecting me to write, “that’s what everyone says,” weren’t you? Well, think again—not least because Alt Shift’s game strikes me as the polarizing sort: those who manage to click with the gameplay loop and find the challenge posed by the Extinction levels truly galvanizing could easily sink dozens of hours into it; personally, however, after just seven or eight runs, I’d already had my fill due to the lack of situational variety. What is undeniable, though, is that the Battlestar Galactica-esque atmosphere hits the mark perfectly.

After the bizarre variations on the theme of Night Springs, The Lake House brings us back to the survival horror genre, giving us another of the infinite facets of the increasingly stimulating Wakeverso. In less than three hours, the essences of Control and AW2 are condensed to distill them and put them aside for the future... which promises to be nothing short of exciting. Perhaps one or two more hours to give more breathing space to the events, however, would not have hurt.

Abyssus is a good cooperative roguelite shooter, featuring a beautiful setting and decent gunplay, but it suffers from lack of variety, being too chaotic at times (especially with four players) and also, let's face it, having a subdued soundtrack. It must be said, however, that when you're shooting, you don't ask too many questions.

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.

This low-budget adventure from Daedalic, based on the uber-popular Ken Follett's novel, kicks off very slowly, but it gently gets under your skin. Don't expect too much point'n'click gameplay, but soon enough you'll find yourself engaged in a compelling story (well, congrats) and challenged by a series of choices that will impact the rest of the story.

Minds Beneath Us is a very peculiar graphic adventure with few puzzles and lots of dialogue. Its strength is the connection it manages to create between the narrative cue and what it requires of the player. The reward for the patience required is a game with an eerie atmosphere that is hard to find elsewhere.

In its attempt to mix STALKER and Escape from Tarkov, ZERO Sievert does a good job overall. Be careful, though, because this is not a game where shooting relaxation is the priority: you have to plan a little, you have to carefully evaluate when caution is the wisest choice, and you have to expect that sometimes your character will not return home. And yes, sometimes this game setting can be frustrating. Other times, however, there is the satisfaction of having risked a lot and still managed to come home safe.

X-Out Resurfaced is a faithful remake of the 1990 classic, preserving its challenging gameplay, retro visuals, and customization system, but missing opportunities to modernize key mechanics.

Ringfit Boxing 2 is a strange mix between WiiFt and Just Dance, but it works. Since you can’t get out a lot nowadays, if you like training having a fitness app you can use and enjoy everywhere may be a good idea. Motion detection is quite accurate and the daily training program has a good variety of exercises. It won't last forever, but it should do its job until the lockdown ends.

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.

The Thin Silence is a charming narrative adventure filled with puzzles on the lines of Limbo and Inside. Tw PM was courage was courageous in dealing with issues such as depression and the socio-political issue, but the experience is sometimes a little repetitive and frustrating.

The idea is intriguing and it works, but the technical implementation leaves something to be desired and there are balancing problems. However, the question is not whether the game is fun, but for how long it will be with so little content.