Had it been released in the middle of the last generation, perhaps Unknown 9: Awakening would have had a different effect. Today it is really hard to be impressed by a video game like this, technically and conceptually too old in which the only thing that is promoted is the story.

The strength of the Just Dance franchise is that each edition will make the existing fan base happy. The weakness of the Just Dance franchise is that no edition will change the minds of those who can't stand party rhythm games. Just Dance 2025 Edition therefore goes its own way, pleasing fans and not caring about haters. Too bad the camera mode is still in beta and not present in the old songs, on the other hand the improved accessibility options make it a game truly open to everyone, meant to be danced to while jumping all over the house, sitting on a couch or locked in a closet.

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.

With its new title, the GRIS studio does not disappoint expectations at all. The story of Alba and Neva is told very well, with the right rhythms, and manages to touch the strings of the soul without ever falling short. Helped, in this, by an exceptional artistic style, with very few equals in the entire sector, and by music that holds up well in comparison with the rest. To play without a shadow of a doubt, but keep in mind that it has a rather short duration.

With Ys X Nordics, Falcom reconfirms the pedigree of excellent action role-playing games that it has always boasted in the Japanese production panorama. The new navigation mechanics enrich and multifaceted an exploratory system that, if it had only expressed itself in the contained three-dimensional maps that represent the islands, could have disappointed most. The battle system remains the jewel in the crown of the work, especially at higher difficulty levels, but perhaps it is time for the Japanese company to take a further step forward in terms of production values. Adol deserves to be the protagonist of a video game that does not seem to have come from a distant era.

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.

A multi-discipline sports title starring the Looney Tunes is a good idea... in theory. Unfortunately with only nine characters, four disciplines and two modes Wacky World of Sports translates it into a game poor in both content and depth

A Final Fight-like fighting game with a horror flavour seems the perfect recipe for success. Unfortunately Night Slashers Remake is an unrefined product that only in some elements seems to betray the laziness with which it was developed. A more “meaty” combat system and the addition of a new playable character are not enough to balance a disappointing graphical compartment and some technical issues. Despite all this, the four-players coop mode is still quite fun.

Mortal Kombat 1 Khaos Reigns is a DLC poor in content, which does not justify its excessive cost. The new balance fixes some issues from the past, but there is still a long way to go.

Shattered Space is a DLC that expands the lore of the world of Starfield, detailing a pleasant and well-conceiveded tale, which makes clear the gruesome and brutal plot of House Va'ruun, which absolutely deserves consideration, from now on. From a playful point of view, here, I would have expected a little more, with some additions as has happened in the past with other Bethesda works. The final result is still very good.

Finding the right “number” for Until Dawn Remake is a complex balancing act. On the one hand we have an adventure that works and is entertaining, on the other a re-release that raises eyebrows quite a bit. Taking into account the quality of the work it is impossible to go below the sufficiency, but it is equally impossible to go higher, considering that the original version costs less than a third and, in terms of gaming experience, does not have any substantial difference.

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero may be the first chapter of the Budokai Tenkaichi series not to be called Budokai Tenkaichi, or the first not to indicate the “Z” with which the second part of the series is famously indicated. Yet it is in all respects a chapter 4 updated to 2024, with lots of lights (and incredible particles) and some shadows that in the end you can easily ignore.

Undisputed has the flavor of an assault on the title launched too early. Steel City Interactive's ambition is evident and also well-founded, given the quality of the boxing model created, but it has led the studio to take a step a little longer than its legs can chew. The game was born already big and not all aspects have enjoyed the same care reserved for combat, such as the Career Mode that excites between the ropes, but is as flat as the office work in the background. It is still a good title, especially for those who pay little attention to the frills and are only interested in the blows, on which in the future a new and promising dynasty can be built.

A surprising narrative that has no problem touching on even rather delicate themes is the basis for creating an indispensable adventure for every lover of Japanese role-playing games. Metaphor ReFantazio is a sort of wild card that excels in every category, from the writing to the combat system, passing through a continuous series of surprises that will glue you to the screen for many hours. As far as I'm concerned, this is my choice for GOTY 2024, without even thinking twice.

Vessel of Hatred is the expansion that was needed to give a new touch to Diablo IV, let's say exotic and wild. I had doubts about the Spiritist and his ability to fit into the context of Diablo, Sanctuary is not an easy place, but I was pleasantly surprised by his flexibility on the battlefield. OK also the new region and the Campaign, as well as the numerous more or less flashy new features that, in different measures, contribute to enriching and modernizing the overall offer of Diablo IV, a macabre action MMORPG, abundant and versatile to the right point. Despite the Rising Hatred, the creeping corruption and the guts everywhere, mama Blizzard's boy is coming along well.

Bloober Team delivers us a remake of excellent quality that nevertheless brings with it some elements that are not entirely convincing. Fans of the series will appreciate the faithfulness to the original material and the fact that this blends well with the few but evident changes in terms of gameplay. Unfortunately for Silent Hill 2, in 25 years of fog under the bridge, a lot has passed and in town for some time there has been a new sheriff called Alan Wake 2, who has shaken up the horror genre, becoming the new benchmark.

Chock full of interesting elements, as well as beautiful gameplay, Kvark knows how to involve and take the player into a Half Life revisited in a nuclear apocalypse key. You kill which is wonderful, you spend your time dancing on the corpses of enemies and there is a not bad dose of gratuitous violence. It is what could lead someone to buy it, in fact, to make it their own. And I would recommend it to those who need to see some blood spilled on the ground. I needed it and, of course, I came out as the leader of the pack.

Vampire - The Masquerade: Reckoning of New York is the worst chapter of the visual novel version of the franchise. Listless, without bite and with an uninteresting protagonist. The trilogy ends with a chapter below expectations.

Disney Epic Mickey is back, this time as a multiplatform title. The game formula is still enjoyable thanks to the magic brush mechanic and the graphic facelift operated by Purple Lamp is appreciable, as are the improved camera system. Unfortunately, the longevity remains quite poor, also due to secondary activities that are not particularly stimulating.

Rogue Waters is a roguelite with turn-based combat that is certainly not among the most complete around, but it benefits from a fascinating setting and interesting use of pushing and projecting to create domino effects and quickly get rid of enemies. What's more, it has a story to be followed all in one go or by taking breaks while engaging in the many side quests. Unfortunately, the naval combat section was not articulated enough, but the battles and character growth lift the fortunes of this production, which will not fail to thrill lovers of turn-based combat.

Excellent and always on point, Kan Gao succeeds in the complex attempt to propose an adventure as usual special and touching, touching the right chords through a simple but effective plot. The goal of the production is to revive part of the experience of To the Moon, a goal that is achieved in an absolutely noble way. The gameplay, not particularly changed compared to the past, focuses on classic and already known dictates. Also on this front, but because the operations of the Canadian developer do not change, not much could be expected. He prefers to focus on emotions, showing them off. An excellent act of beauty.

A remastered work as simple as it is effective, and I will certainly be repetitive. Lollipop Chainsaw RePop arrives at the goal and with an interesting purpose: to be able to entertain old players and beyond. It could be fitting in after finishing other more challenging, such as a Frostpunk 2, or an alternative Black Myth: Wukong, in which knowing how to beat is an obligation.

Can the introduction of a jetpack, with related upgrades and powerups, give new life to Vampire Survivors like, which constantly flood us with new releases? If the technical implementation is as good as in the case of Hive Jump 2: Survivors, the answer is positive. It would have been even more interesting if it had procedurally drawn maps; knowing in advance the location of the most dangerous hives takes away that thrill of the unknown that would have made the atmosphere even darker, but it definitely deserves a place in the collection of enthusiasts of this genre of games. The door is closing though, the next ones will really have to come up with something new.

God of War: Ragnarok lands on PC with a porting that is perfect, prudent to the right point and wise beyond measure. Thanks to scalability and optimization, practically anyone can enjoy the exploits of Kratos and Atreus. If you also have a recent gaming PC, then your journey into the myth will be absolutely unforgettable.

Mechabellum might look like a simple game at first glance, and it’s very easy to get into – you drop some robots, watch them fight other robots and blow each other up. But it doesn’t take long before you realize that there’s a very deep strategic layer behind every decision, even something apparently as simple as “where do I place a unit”. Recommended for people who love the decision making in RTS games but have very poor APM (like me).

Anarchic, exciting and at times ingenious: The Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom is an adventure that will test your brains without overstressing your fingertips. It doesn't last long and hardcore gamers will perhaps complete it too quickly, but the journey is sensational and enveloped in the usual ‘made in Nintendo’ magic that makes it a must-have in any case.

Shift Legacy Collection perfectly embraces the definition “a blast from the past,” bringing back to the present day a game that marked a happy era of gaming. Sixteen years have passed, but the gameplay is still as captivating and engaging as on day one. It is a pity, however, that no new material has been added to the collection of the four Shift chapters; to be nitpicky, one could say that we are paying for a series of games that were once free and can still be launched on browsers, however, the required amount is small and allows us to have everything beautifully ready in our library.

Beyond Galaxyland surprises you from start to finish, it is brilliant and full of well-blended ideas. The audiovisual section does its job incredibly well, rarely have I felt so often the desire to stop to take a screenshot or listen to the OST of a game. The various souls - JRPG, platform, puzzle, creature collection, crafting, progression system - are not particularly deep individually, but put together they manage, as if by magic, to give life to an immersive, convincing experience, with delicate but successful balances. It soon becomes difficult to detach yourself also because, one planet at a time, you end up becoming fond of the characters, getting in tune with Doug and making his air of a fish out of water catapulted into worlds that do not belong to him your own. If there really is life in the universe, let's hope it is as EnrightBeats imagines it.