Aquanox Deep Descent isn’t a bad game. There are just plenty of opportunities for improvement. Piloting the ship throughout Aqua’s underwater world feels great. Honestly, I kind of wish the game had featured more of an open-world to explore, especially with the amount of salvaging and looting you perform throughout the campaign anyways. But that’s not the case, leaving little reason for me to dive back in after playing the game once through. Hopefully, a more robust online community will allow the game to thrive with its multiplayer component, but as it stands, Aquanox Deep Descent will likely be most enjoyed by hungry mech-genre fans who are looking for another ship to pilot. Just don’t forget to bring a towel.

Heroland excels in the visuals department, but unfortunately falls flat in its story delivery and gameplay engagement. It's the video game equivalent of visiting a theme park just to get cute Instagram pictures, but deciding not to go on any of the boring rides. Which, in today's day and age, might be someone's cup of tea. Unfortunately, it's not mine.

For older fans wanting a hit of nostalgia, plenty of these games don’t hold up to revisits almost 25 years later. With none of the usual gubbins we’ve come to expect from retro anthologies, all you’re getting out of Early Days Collection is having your rose-tinted glasses stamped on. Lacking in games, lacking in upgrades, and lacking in content, this feels more like a slightly heftier update for Nintendo Switch Online than a full ode to Yu-Gi-Oh!’s golden era.

While My Hero One's Justice 2 definitely "went beyond" the foundation My Hero One's Justice laid down two years ago, the developers certainly still have a ways to go before they figure out a video game formula that can be classified as "plus ultra!"

A perfectly fun experience with some replay value, but even in writing this review, I have reached level 33 of the Dun-Djinn with a level-capped Blood Drinker Railermaster and it already feels too repetitive to keep my interest for long. I suppose I could level new characters, but the drive for that is diminished knowing there is not much to do once that journey is complete.

Every group of friends will have their favorite games in the Jackbox Naughty Pack, like all the other Jackbox packs. We probably won’t go back to Let Me Finish, but Fakin’ It and Dirty Drawful both got lots of belly laughs. Some of the people in our group were meeting for the first time, and nothing bonds new friends together quite like having to justify why you picked a trumpet emoji when Fakin’ It asks about your sex life. The game will go over well with some folks, and I did enjoy my time with it, but if you’re friends with people who already find ways to make every Jackbox pack into a ‘naughty’ pack, then being forced to do so may sometimes feel a little constricting.

If you're looking for a psychological thriller to sink your teeth into, you could definitely do worse than Twin Mirror, but it's honestly only worth checking out if you're strapped for choices.

With the sheer number of excellent shooters available this year, it’s difficult to recommend Black Ops 7. It’s undeniably a highly replayable game tailored for fans, but that’s not what this franchise needs. Turning the campaign into another dumping ground of camo challenges and meta grinds really shows the current priorities of Activision. Zombies is the last bastion of innovation left, yet I fear it’s not enough to keep players around. The creativity that once made Call of Duty an industry trailblazer has long been forgotten.

No Place for Bravery surprised me in many ways. When I first started, I was ready for a gory festival of combat with a good story to go along with it. What I got was a beautiful, dark narrative that pushed me to reach the end credits far more than the promise of combat would have. The things I loved most are things I can’t talk about in this review for fear of spoiling the experience - No Place for Bravery feels fantastic to play, and Glitch Factory has created a story that will stick with me for years.

I imagine there are some big fans of the Blacksad stories that will get more out of this game than I did. But for everyone else, it'll only remind you how sad it is that we'll never get a sequel to Telltale's The Wolf Among Us.

I don't hate The Falconeer. I don't even think it's a particularly terrible game. There are great ideas here, and in the aesthetic department, it's a resounding success. However, it just needs more. It needs more polish, more reason to keep playing, and more reliable controls to navigate its interesting setting in. I would love to revisit this world at some point, and I hope that the dev can find a way to keep me more engaged next time.

If you enjoyed the first Red Solstice game, then perhaps this will be a satisfying sequel that continues the saga. But unless you got a bunch of buddies who are all itching to furiously click mutated aliens to death, you'll probably have a better time loading up another game of XCOM than trying to survive in the Martian wasteland of Red Solstice 2.

The gameplay is nothing special, and it isn't particularly trying to be. It exists as a framework to tell a story, and plenty of games have excelled with that mindset. But all it has to say is that pollution is bad and it's all your fault. It doesn't inspire change, it doesn't shock, it doesn't even highlight the plight of the animals we share this world with, becoming too wrapped up in casual visual metaphor than with showcasing the harsh reality of what we have done to this world. The bees are dying, but so is my patience.

I do truly wish I could call this a diamond in the rough or some classic in the making, but that’s just not the case. Aragami 2 is fine and while I am likely to revisit it one day, I wouldn’t say you need to rush out and play it right now.

Bee Simulator is a surprisingly fun game, but makes too many odd design choices throughout the short experience. Repetitive missions, over-simplistic gameplay, and an overall lack of depth hold the game back from becoming something great.

Pokémon Café Mix may not be the most challenging Pokémon game to ever grace your console, but its cheerful and addicting nature is a nice addition to the fighting franchise that's sure to make you smile.

Switchback VR is a steady rail shooter that offers decent variety and an interesting tour through some old levels, but never tries to earn The Dark Pictures name. The choices don’t matter, the Curator is just a creepy Where’s Wally?, and the stakes or even setup for rescuing characters was lost on me. However, it’s reliably spooky, action-packed, and has the best designed villain in the series. It’s a rail shooter obsessed with its own past, so it makes sense that it’s two steps forward and one step back.

For now, Shadowgun War Games isn’t a threat to any of the big competitors. Call of Duty Mobile, Fortnite, and PUBG can all relax knowing that Shadowgun War Games feels more like a proof of concept than a finished game. With that said, developer Madfinger Games is likely aware of the game’s shortcomings, and over the coming months there should be substantial additions in content, else we won’t be hearing much about the game.

Biomutant is a game that's still evolving. Plenty of bugs need to be ironed out, its combat system could use another coat of paint, and it desperately needs new puzzles – they rarely move beyond a simple "match-two-colors" format. Much of the game works exactly as intended, including a robust crafting system, a fantastic suite of side quests, and an open world that's begging to be explored. Dozens of great ideas are lurking just below the jank, and so is an enjoyable game if you're able to look past them.

From the gorgeously animated visuals to the expansive open world filled with mystery, there really is a lot to love about Windbound. Although bogged down by some rather technical gaffes, there’s a satisfaction that comes from exploring each area, scavenging for resources, and building an awesome sailboat to take you between islands. A little tightening up would take Windbound into the realm of open-world survival games that it’s trying to be a part of, but as it stands, it’s doing its best to stay afloat.

Despite its flaws, Scars Above's engaging combat and expansive toolkit keep it interesting for its entire 10-hour campaign. Though its world is gray and the story leading you through its levels is a let down, the moment-to-moment gameplay makes the journey worth taking. This space adventure isn't the final frontier of third-person action games, but it manages to offer roughly the same thrills as a pretty good SyFy Original movie. It isn't the cutting edge, but it's sharp in its own right.

The atmosphere, mystery, and overall feel of the game offer enough of a reason to see things through to the end, and, though it will primarily appeal to horror fans, Maid of Sker is definitely worth checking out.

As far as racing games go on the Switch, WRC 9 takes top honors. The realistic racing sim has been ported to the mobile device near-flawlessly, falling short only due to the hardware capabilities of the Switch. The definitive way to experience WRC 9 is on the PS5 or Xbox Series X. However, the Nintendo Switch version of the game is a solid option for players who are looking to take their races on-the-go.

While it may not be narratively compelling, the game itself is rock solid. Corruption 2029 is a good pick for strategy and stealth fans. Just don’t expect to care about the characters behind the futuristic warfare.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a disappointing remaster that fails to hide its age under the pretty mask of shiny new character models. While the concept and story are intriguing, they’re impossible to enjoy when you have to wade through the awkward, clunky gameplay at such a snail’s pace. This one was better left on the Wii.

Although there are lots of ways to upgrade and decorate your van - which, I suppose, is just about the only saving grace of this game - I had absolutely zero interest in doing so. Why should I bother putting the time into making my van look nice when the world is so devoid of character? There are dozens of cozy survival games that nail everything Outbound is trying to do, and go so much further. I do expect another developer to pick up where Outbound has dropped us off though: people want a cozy campervan game, and I’m certain someone else is already cooking one up.

If you happen to be craving a new isometric puzzle-platformer then this could make for an alright distraction, but you have many other better options out there. Retro Machina is a game that takes too much inspiration from the past, which may sadly lead to it being forgotten in the future.

If nostalgia is what you're looking for, then this remaster will definitely do the trick. It's a time warp back to a time where RPGs were tough as nails and devoted to making you suffer. It's not quite on the same level as anything in the Diablo series, but Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance might be worth a glance if you can look past its ancient flaws.

Disney Villains Cursed Cafe is best handled in short bursts to carry on the cafe vibe. Personally, I play one day at a time to help carry the story, but it can all be completed within a couple of hours if you just want to see how it ends. Bully the Villains if you want or try to help them become better people; at the end of the day, it’s your cafe.

While I had a blast embarking on this journey to Persephone with Ariane and Thomas, I do wish it were on the longer side. Even at seven hours long, there seemed to be room for the narrative to venture to deeper, more interesting places. Who knows, perhaps we’ll see that in the future. For now, though, this is a sci-fi epic well worth your time.

It reminds me of the games I loved as a kid, and without all the dark patterns modern games use to keep players hooked (and paying), it’s certainly one of the most ethical multiplayer games you can play this year.

Despite its flaws, I enjoyed my time with Forspoken. While the narrative is janky at times, the premise is compelling and the world of Athia is exceedingly well-built. The movement is where the game shines, making exploration a joy instead of a chore. The postgame is also surprisingly competent when it comes to dealing with the implications of the main story’s twists and turns, a rarity for open-world games. I didn’t know what to expect when I started playing Forspoken but I came out feeling satisfied.

It’s fair to say that I’m disappointed with Chronique des Silencieux, but mostly because there is so much here to appreciate. Held back by translation faults and a buggy experience, there are compelling mysteries, lush artwork, and strong characters to enjoy. It feels very much like a game in Early Access that needs a whole lot more cooking before it’s ready to tell its tale.

Cradle Games at least tried to make something that was somewhat original in its tone and presentation, which is commendable. It doesn't do anything truly awful, and there are some unique features that aren't present in a lot of these titles. Plus, this has now made me desperately want a split-screen co-op Dark Souls game. Beyond that, Hellpoint is simply another Soulslike that might be an alright diversion if you can't wait for Elden Ring to finally materialize but is otherwise forgettable.

For people looking for a ridiculous game to play with friends for an hour or earn Youtube views with, this may suffice. But even by that small metric, Totally Reliable Delivery Service feels like a completely inadequate video game.

I’m sure I won’t be thinking about Shadow Warrior 3 in five minutes’ time, but I’m okay with that. It doesn’t do anything to reinvent the wheel or the first-person shooter, but it moves away from the co-op looter-shooter nonsense the second game tried to pull and delivers a short, satisfying campaign that’s fast-paced and close enough to Doom to be considered good. It’s just a shame there’s no “shut the fuck up” filter.

Just Die Already has its charms, but the novelty wears off pretty quickly. I’d even go so far as to say this toes the line with the masocore genre. It’s a difficult game, but I did find myself chuckling often at the utter ridiculousness that I was witnessing. I could see it being a fun game to casually stream with an audience.

Making a game for the fans isn't inherently wrong, but with the first new addition to the series in almost 20 years coming soon, it would certainly be nice to attract some new fans, too.

You’ll probably get something out of Spy x Anya if you’re a massive fan of the show, but even if you're fairly enthusiastic about it like myself, you’ll find it lacking. It’s extremely faithful to the show in both humor and aesthetic, but it requires a prohibitively high tolerance for repetitiveness. There’s fun to be had, but it’s locked behind hours of taking photos, lackluster conversations, and repetitive busywork. It’s nowhere near the quality of a must-play title for a Spy x Family fan, and you can probably get as much satisfaction from rewatching the show.

If you can forgive a terrible ending, then perhaps The Suicide of Rachel Foster is for you. Otherwise, better take a rain check on your reservation at the Timberline Hotel.

It’s safe to say that Chocobo GP doesn’t out-do Mario Kart, but then I don’t think anyone would ever really expect it to. Most players, myself included, will simply choose this title because they love Final Fantasy, not because they think it’s going to be GOTY material. It’s a fun kart racer that you can easily while away your time with, but ultimately brings nothing groundbreaking to the genre. If you’re looking for a Final Fantasy fix, it might not quite hit that sweet spot for you, at least, not until you hand over your hard-earned gil for the season pass.

Any frustrations aside, from the boss fights to the platforming mechanics in the levels themselves, there is plenty of fun to be had here. While it may be difficult to wade through the countless games within the platforming genre, Skully is definitely a title that will roll its way right into your heart.

Giant mech battles are nothing new to the gaming scene. Unfortunately, also not new is that the genre has few examples of quality mech-battling gameplay. Override 2: Super Mech League recently added its name to the fray, bringing hectic arena combat to PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Although fun at times, it’s ultimately hard to recommend this particular arena fighter over other fighting games that are also available right now, unless you REALLY like mechs. After saving the planet from an intergalactic threat, giant mechs battle it out in arenas for the pleasure of the people they saved. These giant robots - controlled by a human pilot - vary in size and stature, ranging in everything from beefy and strong to smaller and elusive. You’re the newbie on the mech-fighting circuit, seeking to make a name for yourself as you rise through the ranks and gain influence and rewards in various Mech Leagues. via Modus Override 2’s career campaign has everything you need to experience the game’s various game modes. 1v1, 2v2, 4v4 free-for-all… even a King of the Hill mode is available to you as you duke it out as one of the game’s 20 different robots. Each mech has a handful of different moves while having a special Ultimate ability available to them once their special meter bar is full. Of course, just because your Ultimate is ready, it doesn’t mean an automatic hit. Therein lies part of the game’s frustrations: the controls. Related: Hitman 3 Review - Slick, Stylish, Smooth I never expect a mech game to have the tightest of controls. They are giant mechanical robots, after all. However, I feel like Override 2: Super Mech League just isn’t sure what kind of game it’s trying to be. I’d love to say that this game feels like a legitimate, heavy-geared robot fighting game, but it just doesn’t. There are times when controlling your robot feels great - like you’re behind the wheel, levers, or whatever it is that you use to control a giant mech. Then, there are times when the hand-to-hand combat - which rewards combo attacks - is fun and exciting. But there’s never a good mix of the two mechanics. Often, this results in you attempting to make some sort of offensive attack, but the wonkiness of the robot’s controls causing your robot to veer off in the wrong direction. As such, there is a lot of button-mashing that takes place, which really doesn’t work well from a strategy standpoint. via Modus Battles also include weapons that randomly drop around the arena, such as laser blasters and giant melee weapons. Weapons are limited-use items that eventually disappear. That said, some of the melee weapons well outstay their welcome. I have won multiple matches from trapping my opponent in a loop of being hit with my melee weapon, with them being unable to escape. For some reason, the weapon’s limited usage is greatly extended, allowing me to take full advantage. It’s an incredibly cheap way to win, and an even worse way to lose (speaking from experience). Not a great mechanic for any fighting game to have. This extends into the game’s online multiplayer component, which features the same game modes that are available offline. Online matches can be fun and more challenging than single-player mode, but actually connecting to an online match can take a very long time, that is if you’re even able to connect. There just aren’t enough players playing the game, leaving much to be desired in terms of replayability. https://youtu.be/cIWzzAzmUxU The main selling point of Override 2: Super Mech League is its playable robots. If you’re a fan of kaiju or large-scale mech battles, you’ll likely enjoy this game. This is especially true with the game’s DLC character of Ultraman. Override 2 offers plenty of fun characters to play as in the base game, but Ultraman shines as one of the most enjoyable characters to play as. It’s a shame that Ultraman is locked behind a paywall (in the form of coming with the Deluxe Edition of the game), as he should really be a major selling point for the game. Ultimately, your Override 2: Super Mech League experience will boil down to one simple factor: if you’re playing the game for its take on giant mecha/kaiju arena combat, you’re probably going to enjoy Override 2. Unfortunately, with its control woes and small online player base, Override 2: Super Mech League just doesn’t really have anything else to offer for fans of the fighting genre in general.

Alone in the Dark is, interestingly, a more communal game than I tend to expect from survival horror. You're frequently running into the other inhabitants of Derceto. I enjoyed talking to them, though the writing isn't especially good, but the game never really delivers on its title and all that company prevents it from ever really getting scary. This is a solid enough retread if you've played through Dead Space and the Resident Evil remakes and want more. But it won't bring many converts to the genre. We'll have to settle for being alone, together, in the dark. Which sorta defeats the entire point when you think about it.

Empire of Sin is one of the most accessible strategy titles I’ve ever played. It allows me to play the game in a way that’s in line with my playstyle while offering up rich and in-depth gameplay for those with more experience in this genre.

Platforming is effective, and the puzzles are decent. However, those hoping for the challenging puzzles of Limbo will be disappointed. The game is also rather short considering its price tag. Still, Stela will likely leave more of a positive impression than negative.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is the epitome of wasted potential. It’s one of the most beloved TTRPG franchises of all time, and the original game has become a cult classic over the years. This isn’t the sequel we hoped for, wanted, or even expected. It’s a Vampire: The Masquerade in name only.

I’m not going to say “buyer beware” in regards to the Switch version of Skatebird. By all means, if you have younger gamers or Switch is your primary gaming device, then playing Skatebird on Switch will probably be just fine for you. However, if you have the option, go with the PC version of the game, especially considering that the game is coming to Xbox Game Pass next month. Even though many of its tropes are a bit played out within the genre, Skatebird is a game that knows it’s silly, and embraces it in a way that makes it fun to play (on PC).

Disney Tsum Tsum Festival may not be the go-to party game option on a Friday night, but it’s a solid enough game for families with younger gamers. Disney fans will also enjoy the game simply because of the cute Tsum versions of their favorite Disney characters.

Last year’s Madden release was one of the best in recent memory, so - at least in my eyes - Madden 21 had a lot to live up to. For the most part, it did so. Madden traditionalists will enjoy familiar game modes (which are all par for the course in their own right) with improved control mechanics, while The Yard adds an exciting element for those looking for something new. The Yard still has room to improve, but, personally, I’m excited to see where the game mode goes and how its long-term placement in the game (and competitive esports scene) plays out.

Bookbound Brigade is an interesting game that will appeal to fans who are looking for a challenging Metroidvania that tries out some new things, so long as the player is willing to endure some issues along the way.

Fashion Dreamer was never going to be a Game of the Year candidate, however it did have the tools to be a favourite game for many. On a purely technical level it runs smoothly (as smoothly as games ever do on Switch), but with its aimless story, lack of depth, oddly colourless world, and misguided focus on influencer culture means it finds itself as one of 2023's worst dressed instead.

The best thing that Overpass has going for it is the fact that its niche uniqueness within the racing genre. Not too many racing games feature the complex, raw realness that Overpass offers, setting it apart from other titles. Unfortunately, that is also its biggest downfall, since, for most racing genre fans, it’s just not that much fun. While the game succeeds in its mission to simulate the more complex nature of racing that avid offroad fans will likely enjoy, it doesn’t really have much appeal to the masses, making Overpass a title that is probably worth passing over.

I wanted to love Destruction AllStars. I still do. There’s just not enough there to make it worth my while right now. A couple of times, I ran into a weird technical issue where I would jump into a brand-new car, but it just wouldn’t move. I think that issues like this can certainly be fixed in a future patch, though. I also know that the development team of Lucid Games has a year’s-worth of content planned for the game. As such, although I can’t recommend playing Destruction AllStars right now, I do have high hopes for the future of the game. Especially since the car combat genre is ripe for the taking with no new Twisted Metal in sight.

It doesn’t have a tidal wave of fans supporting it, and it isn’t free to try out or available with any subscription service, so it has a lot of work to do in order to make the effort of playing it worthwhile. Whether that be through trial periods, new modes not before seen in the genre, or even a boost from Secret Level when it airs months from now, but as a middle-of-the-road hero shooter, it can’t rely on any one of these things alone. Concord is good, but it’s not in a good place, and there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to not only keep it afloat, but to get the motor running.

House of Golf doesn’t necessarily do much to stand out as a must-own golfing title on the Switch, but it does have enough content to make it worth grabbing if you’re ever in need of a satisfyingly calm game.

Monster Menu is a competent game at best. It emulates the Rogue experience decently and does something very interesting with its food-based mechanics, but it doesn’t stretch far. There’s enjoyment to be had in the high-difficulty and grindy aspects- if that’s your thing, but you won’t find much depth or complexity here. More McDonalds than Michelin, you’ll wish that you’d opted for something more flavourful.

As of right now, Bleeding Edge has some positive qualities, but it's certainly not on the bleeding edge of the multiplayer scene.

Kingdom Under Fire 2 has some really cool ideas, but it would seem there's just too much baggage built up over the years.

Lost Soul Aside is not good, but it does serve as a vehicle for exciting, fast-paced boss fights and an entertaining, in-depth combat system. If you can stomach some truly abysmal writing, unlikable characters, and a painfully generic sci-fi/fantasy setting, then you could get something out of it, but for the most part, Lost Soul Aside is nowhere near the savior of the hack ‘n’ slash genre that I was really hoping it would be.

Tools Up! isn’t necessarily groundbreaking as a party co-op title. However, even with its issues, there’s a lot of fun couch co-op to be had (and fun extras to enjoy in the late-game).

Perish could’ve brought Hexen and Heretic’s medieval boomer shooter vibes kicking and screaming into the 21st century to the tune of howling metal riffs, topped off with a roguelite twist. However, it offers little to incentivise you to go back for replays. Every death feels like starting the whole game over from scratch, with so little changing that each run turns into a chore. The striking set-pieces, like the twisted Herculean monster, with a cage of heads for a, well… head, crumbling the moon just to beat you, are fantastic, but they’re too few and far between to justify Perish making you start from scratch and slogging through shallow mechanics to reach those exciting moments.

Predator: Hunting Grounds delivers on its premise and is a fantastic game. There are certain issues that should be addressed, but they do not overshadow the great-looking graphics, intuitive gameplay, and overall great job done by Illfonic. This one is an absolute buy.

Kaiserpunk is awesomely ambitious, and I respect the game a lot for what it’s attempting to do. Fans of both the series it draws from will find aspects of Kaiserpunk they’ll enjoy. However, I just feel like I’d rather play either Anno or Hearts Of Iron - both games that are available on Steam often for the price of less than a pint. I hope that work on Kaiserpunk continues and the developers flesh out some of the systems, rework the UI, and work on both key aspects of the game (city building and regional management) to add more detail. There’s a lot of potential here, but Kaiserpunk’s just not quite ready for war.

The Complex has some good ideas and solid acting, but for an interactive movie, there's not enough going on here that makes it more worthwhile than just watching something on Netflix.

A Gummy’s Life is solid for what it is. It definitely feels like a game that belongs on the Switch, even more than it belongs on PC. The overall experience is great for younger players, but can be equally as fun as an option for family game night. Nice and juicy.

At a glance, Tannenberg might appear like a dated first-person shooter, but playing in the authentic world that M2H and Blackmill Games has recreated is an experience that history buffs and fans of the genre will enjoy and appreciate. The game plays as well as other shooters on the PlayStation 4, so long as you’re willing to get down to the bleak grittiness and utter chaos that defined the First World War.

what is currently available feels like a prototype for something better. If the campaign were just longer, tighter, more refined, then Hellbound would be an easy recommendation. Saibot created something that feels solid in the hands but doesn't quite stick the landing. You can only play the campaign so many times before you've seen it all and Hellbound simply doesn't deliver much else.

There is still some fun to be had in the game’s single-player challenge modes, including things like controlling two characters in a race at once with the two separate Joy-Cons, which is far more difficult than it sounds. Must Dash Amigos is a good enough family game for those with younger players. But ultimately, Must Dash Amigos is likely not one of the games that will fall into my regular rotation of weekend couch party games.

With a clear design meant to accommodate players of all ages, Tilt Pack feels like a great addition to any player’s library and is a great choice for playing with friends. Although the objective of each round is the same - to be the last rectangular block standing - the dangers faced in each different arena and the power ups that can be obtained keep the game exciting. There may not be much to do after a while, but Tilt Pack feels fresh every time a group dives in, making it a perfect choice for short, frequent games.

Neon City Riders isn’t a bad game by any means. It is just severely hampered by some puzzling mechanics and design flaws. While the titular city itself may be oozing with personality and neon allure, wading through the game’s main quest feels far too cumbersome. It could, by all means, be a fun time for the ridiculously skilled or incredibly patient, but we can’t help but feel that a majority of gamers won’t put the time in to overcome the early-game difficulty curve.

Godfall is the quintessential launch game. This gilded PS5 exclusive shows off the power of the new hardware with its intricate, reflective halls of gold and obsidian, bioluminescent plant life, and enemies who explode in a shower of particles. “Next-gen is here,” it shouts, in a scream that’s barely perceptible over the whistle of high-speed steel. Underneath all of that sheen and noise, though, there’s nothing new at all.

Broken Roads is an ode to the cRPGs of old, but it’s also a step forward for the genre, showing that the ‘90s approach still has a place today. The turn-based combat is punchy and responsive, the art style is gorgeous, and the roleplaying capabilities brought about by its revolutionary morality system lift Broken Roads out of the shadows of its inspirations and into its own spotlight.

Thanks to uneven difficulty, grating writing, and a general lack of polish in every other area, its appeal is only skin-deep, and quickly outstayed its welcome.

Tour de France 2020 is just fun to play. While the game is best suited for competitive cycling fans, Tour de France 2020 does a surprisingly fantastic job of introducing newcomers to the sport.

What Happened won’t appeal to the masses, but the game does well to convey its message of the internal struggles that so many face on a daily basis. It’s a dark, gruesome, and treacherous trek through some incredibly difficult subject matter that is worth experiencing for those who gravitate towards games surrounding themes of mental health.

As is always the case with these types of things, install and play Delta Force at your own discretion. For a free-to-play shooter, it’s a solid game, but nothing too special. Worth trying out for the sake of a new shooter, but it probably won't tempt you away if you're happy with your current multiplayer game or if you object to kernel-level anti-cheats. [Review in Progress]

When I’m playing Shadow Corridor, I can’t help but get random chills while walking down every one of its dimly lit hallways. Even the open outdoor areas manage to give off unsettlingly claustrophobic vibes. I do think the game is probably best experienced on PC, but if you’re on the go or a glutton for punishment and feel like playing in the comfort and safety of your own bed, Shadow Corridor on Switch will provide you with a great survival horror experience. Just don’t blame me when you have nightmares.

Web of Wyrd’s loving recreation of Mike Mignola’s iconic art style and satisfying, if occasionally frustrating combat made me want to fall in love with it, but its half-baked roguelite mechanics, lack of challenge, and repetitive nature hold it back from greatness. This is still the best game Hellboy has ever had, but that’s a high bar to clear when your competition is The Science of Evil.

If Arms Race is updated and improved, then I could see it being worthwhile, but if this is all it has to offer, then Designer's Cut feels like something that should have been a free update rather than an integral part of a new season pass.

Drag x Drive isn’t destined to be the next big Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, but it remains one hell of a compelling case for its underused mouse controls and is a truly original sports title. It’ll take some time to get used to its oddball pacing and unorthodox mechanics, but once you’ve found your wheels on the court it’s hard to pull yourself away.

Mortal Kombat 1 hasn’t missed once with its post-launch DLC characters (and really, with its roster as a whole) so I’m sure that the rest of the expansion’s soon-to-be-released fighters will be great, but as it stands I can only talk about these three. While they are some of MK1’s strongest characters (in terms of how they play at least), they can’t make me overlook what is otherwise a weak expansion greatly overshadowed by NetherRealm’s last offering.

Fort Solis is all presentation and no substance. It feels like it blew its budget on getting this cast to build up some hype before launch, and then forgot it needs substance to make it worthwhile. With an appalling story, bumpy technical issues, frustrating UI, and a pace so glacial I literally fell asleep at one point, Fort Solis is a waste of everyone’s time. And not even the deliciously grizzled voice of Roger Clark can help that.

Conglomerate 451 isn’t a game for everyone. For those wanting a taste of what Cyberpunk 2077 will be bringing later this year, it’s likely that Conglomerate 451 will only satiate your visual senses with its dark, neon, cyberpunk aesthetics. But for fans of RPG and dungeon crawling games, you probably won’t regret adding Conglomerate 451 to your library.

Last Labyrinth is a haunting, melancholy work of art held together by a simple premise done remarkably well. Its aesthetics are lush, its mechanics simple but deep, and its core promise of taking care of a virtual child completely delivered on. Irrevocably, it’s one of the titles of 2019, and one of the absolute best things to happen to the medium of VR.

I came away from Disintegration with a feeling of total apathy. There's nothing truly terrible and there's nothing really exceptional. Even if its multiplayer is mildly popular, it's certainly not going to be the next Halo. It's an ambitious project that has some original ideas which could allow it to stand out from other shooters, but in the end, Disintegration fails to be anything more than another title to add to the ever-growing pile of generic science fiction games.

If you’re yearning for a test of skill – or at least something that can’t be beaten by taping down the attack button and pushing forward – Riverbond is unlikely to fulfill your need for hacking and slashing.

Terminator: Resistance is a scrappy little game with a lot of heart, ambition, and genuinely great design in parts. It definitely could’ve benefited from a more compelling latter half, and the presentation will throw off a lot of people. However, it’s the most accurate interactive translation of the franchise to date, and frankly, a better yarn than many of the films between Judgement Day and Dark Fate.

Gigantosaurus The Game doesn’t bring anything new to the table in terms of its overall gameplay, but it doesn’t need to. With its open-world levels, easy platforming mechanics, and fun kart racing mode, Gigantosaurus The Game successfully adapts the world of Disney Junior’s Gigantosaurus into video game form with plenty of content and fun to be had by younger players, as well as their parents.

I didn’t hate Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaague, but that’s only because it’s hard to feel anything too strongly about a game like this. This might be the most rinse and repeat a game of this stature has ever rinsed and repeated, and the fact it delivers good interpretations (though not Arkham accurate) of established characters is its only saving grace. With each new bundle of content likely to be low on narrative and chock full of the same missions (probably with a new name that play exactly the same way), it feels like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is only going to get worse from here.

Kandagawa Jet Girls won’t appeal to the masses, but those who enjoy lighthearted anime (and of course, SENRAN KAGURA) will find a lot to love. The visual novel elements outweigh the flaws found within the racing mechanics just enough to make Kandagawa Jet Girls a splash.

While Farming Simulator 20 is likely to be appealing to long-term fans of the franchise, I suspect it won't be winning over many newcomers.

The only thing that Liberated needs to be liberated from is its lackluster game design and bland story.

It doesn’t provide anything new, or even the basics of what people want from an ambitious pirate adventure, being overshadowed by Ubisoft’s own game 11 years older. Even with the solid naval combat mechanics we’ve seen in multiple games over the last decade, it’s just not enough to carry the promise of a pirate’s life on its own.

This is a competent survival game, adding nothing to a formula long since perfected by games like Subnautica, games that it falls far short of. It relies on the pull of Tolkien to keep players pushing through, otherwise it would be all too easy to give up on your mission and do something else, anything but mining. There are moments of magic, like when your team of dwarves begin to sing, deep harmonies echoing off the cavernous walls. But these moments are too few and far between, and the lore can only take you so far. As a space to hang out with fantasy-minded friends, Return to Moria is a nice jaunt. I just wish there was something more to do than swing this damn pickaxe at another damn wall.

The Dark Crystal wrapping on this robust tactics game leaves a lot to be desired, but those itching to get deep into a turn-based strategy game will find an absolute gem.

Even when my time leaping into enemies was interrupted by these technical issues, Unknown 9: Awakening’s excellent cast of characters and inventive soul-hopping combat mechanics kept me invested all the way through its gloriously last-gen adventure. With how depressing this generation has been at times, that is absolutely meant as a compliment.

Even though I spent so little time actually playing it, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles remains one of my favorite childhood games. There's something to be said for the experience, that it creates memories that powerful. But memory is all-too-often unreliable, often building things up to be better than they ever were. In this second trip with the crystal caravan, I did still delight to discover the cheerful tales and chipper tunes of days gone by. Less welcome were the dated systems for item management. Not welcome at all was the modern update to multiplayer. Turns out cross-platform is not always the answer. I'll take my beat-up old GBA as a traveling companion any day.