There is a bit of a grind to get the materials you need, but it doesn’t feel like it. You can freely explore all areas right away, though accessing the resources involves restoring the land and solving the mystery of the ancient civilization. It’s a great way to unwind at the end of a stressful day, and with the multiplayer function, you can bring friends along on the journey as well. [Early Access Score = 80]

Just like its PC and console versions, PowerWash Simulator VR is a bizarrely enthralling game. The to-the-point gameplay loop provides the perfectly formulated dopamine drip feed to keep me going longer than I ever actually plan to. It’s refined, calming, and super satisfying to see an absolutely ruined skatepark become squeaky clean. Compared to most games on the VR market, it provides an above-average level of polish and content. The biggest disclaimer I can give is that if you’re someone who wants action-packed gameplay with linear direction, you might find this game a bit underwhelming or directionless. For everyone else, it’ll have you putting power washers on your Amazon wishlist before you know it. [Meta Quest 3]

There are moments of beauty in Highwater, most of it instigated by environmental design – I loved coming across surprises and marvelling at how even after catastrophe, human beings continue to do their thing. But unfortunately, as much as I love the game’s aesthetics and very competent turn-based combat, it doesn’t have all that much to say about its complex themes, and finishing it felt like a relief.

The best part of this game, however, is that you won’t miss much by the time you complete it. You’re free to explore at your leisure, though you’ll be guided to the conclusion one way or another. How you interpret it depends on how much you’ve learned about Gilda and Keegan, and how much faith you have in their relationship. It’s a short, bittersweet story of love, devotion, and hope.

The Pirate Queen - A Forgotten Legend is an underwhelming game not worth your time. Its barebones gameplay and unmotivating storytelling failed to entertain or excite, and its disappointingly short runtime only disappointed me further. The story of Cheng Shih is a fascinating one that more people should become aware of, but this game does her legacy little justice.

As a long-time TRPG fan, Unicorn Overlord is everything I wanted it to be and more. I suspect that some people will read this review and think that it sounds tedious, but that’s the thing about games that deliver such a focused experience: they aren’t going to appeal to everyone. However, by being so specific in everything it does, Unicorn Overlord ensures that those who do “get it” will be thinking of it fondly for decades to come.

By the time I had located and freed Moomintroll, though, I had fallen in love with this version of Moominvalley, and only wished for a little more to explore, especially now that Moomintroll was free and by Snufkin’s side. Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a short but sweet glimpse into the world of the Moomins, and it plays out just like one of its classic stories or TV episodes.

WWE 2K24 comes closer than ever to bucking this trend, which alone is a cause for celebration. It’s a good time, and now, for the first time in years, I can pull out a few controllers and step into the squared circle with friends without fear they’ll be lost amidst a sea of impenetrable nonsense.

Penny’s Big Breakaway might be a bit unrefined, but behind the occasional bugs and argumentative camera is one of the best momentum-based 3D platformers I’ve ever played, with unique movement mechanics that rival Sonic at his absolute best.

Brothers isn't perfect. Its blend of serious tone and incomprehensible delivery doesn't fully work, and its characters (especially a female character introduced late in the game) are more archetypes than believable people. However, the remake's improved presentation of the original's unique gameplay make it well worth experiencing. Even if, like me, you're a decade late to the party.

Ultimately, while Solium Infernum is a niche game, players that fill the niche are likely to have the time of their lives with it. If, like me, you’re the sort of board game enthusiast who can’t get your friends to try your latest purchase because you turn into a ruthless Machiavel on game night, finding some online opponents in the pits of Hell is sure to be a devilishly fun time.

Part of me wanted Rebirth to capture fleeting moments of my upbringing, but I much prefer how this story and the people behind it have grown alongside me, perceiving an opportunity to present this epic in a different light that can only be achieved with the benefit of hindsight. I have no idea where it goes now, and that just might be its greatest achievement.

Pacific Drive takes each genre it tackles in a bold new direction, and creates something that’s not necessarily unheard of, but feels entirely unique in its design, care, and the way in which it pulls you into its world. You’ll immediately begin to care for your car as you keep it safe, and exploring the Zone consistently provides new, refreshing things to keep you engaged and daunted. Though the milder aspects can feel repetitive, it adds to a worthwhile experience that is absolutely worth playing.

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.

Whether you’re just in it for the vibes or you’re a history nerd like me, Inkulinati offers plenty of replay value, especially once you’ve unlocked more Beasts and can really get to tinkering with builds. The visual style may be the star of the show, but underneath the farting donkey bards and dancing-plague skeletons is a competent, compelling roguelite that will keep you up well into the night like a monk copying a manuscript by candlelight.

Mario Vs Donkey Kong is a capable remake of a game whose identity crisis between platformer and puzzler can't survive the journey from handheld to TV. Enjoyable enough but not that taxing - aside from rare spikes when it becomes too taxing - it's a good recreation that doesn't have the tools to venture into greatness. It will be an impressive enough glow-up for fans of the original, but mixes being straightforward and mildly frustrating into a colourful and charming milkshake (so close I can almost taste it), even if it's a little bit sickly. It's worth occupying a few hours with, but it won't live long in the memory, and underlines why few Mario fans would put this one in the plumber's highlight reel.

These are solid remasters of excellent games, and fans of the series will thoroughly enjoy the experience. It’s part nostalgia, part respect for its legacy, and part truth when I say Tomb Raider 2 is a perfect game for its era, and the titles either side of it aren’t bad either. I hope newcomers give it a chance, but it does feel like the remaster could do more to help that happen.

Like all the great expansions, Demon Scourge takes all the best parts of the base game and gives players new ways to experience them. While the new Demonologist is sure to get much of my attention for the time being, I’m also very eager to run back through the game as an Alchemist, mixing up industrial quantities of Sacred Water to splash in the Demon Lords’ faces, or an Artificer kitting out Troll soldiers with the best Glyphs available. This DLC is the perfect reason to reinstall SpellForce: Conquest of Eo, or to try it for the first time.

I got what I was expecting from the game: a damn fun time. What I didn’t expect, however, is to be thinking about it so much after each game, wanting to dive right back into hell with others alongside me. I can’t wait to get better at the game, face bigger threats, to see what planets this galaxy holds, and just what each planet will throw my way.

Banishers is a game I’m going to be thinking about for a long time, for better or worse. You’ll likely not find a better story than it any time soon, but there are plenty other better ways you could be spending your time.

Like the Sarcophagus, developer Hadoque is giving birth to something strange and potentially powerful. Ultros doesn't fully come together, but it's an interesting experiment in Metroidvania design that I hope Hadoque or another developer builds on in the future.

After the failure of Babylon’s Fall, Foamstars feels like yet another attempt from Square Enix to nestle in on the live-service market, and one I wouldn’t be surprised to see fail. It’s a shame, because on a foundational level, there is an aura of Jet Set Radio or Ghost Trick in its cool aesthetic and obscene lore, which in a better world could have been turned into something far less cynical. This is a game where foam has developed into a secretion from individuals who are basically soap-based mutants, and this is the most creative thing you’d have them do? If you get foam-o from this one, I promise you aren’t missing out on much. [Review-in-Progress]

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.

I was thoroughly satisfied with Hidden Through Time 2. Not only did I get to unwind and explore new environments, but I was able to create my own custom maps. There are a lot of details to fiddle with, and plenty of levels to work through. The plot for each time period is straightforward, but adds another layer of creativity and excitement to each level. If you’re looking for a game that will test your critical thinking skills and challenge you to look at the bigger picture, this is it.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a dynamic game that provides novelty with every chapter. The combat is packed with robust and interesting mechanics, and it is easy on the eyes. While there are a number of niggling issues, it manages to capture some of that old-school magic from an era of games that weren't afraid to go off the rails. Relink doesn’t nail everything it does, but it does quite a lot successfully. I expect that it will find an adoring audience, and surely the co-op aspect will give it an extended life among its audience. Just don’t come for the story.

Inconsistent graphics and the lack of a female protagonist we had in Portable aside, however, this remains a solid means of enjoying one of the finest RPGs of the past two decades. Its writing is sharper, combat is more satisfying, and it brings this world to life in ways that just weren’t possible several generations ago. Reload might lack its signature rough edge, but those coming around for the first time will find plenty to love.

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.

Ultimately, while Howl doesn’t do anything new or groundbreaking, it’s a solid indie title that knows what it wants to be. Its aesthetics and challenge make it a compelling experience, especially for players looking for something to work into their daily puzzle rotations - a crossword or Wordle for fantasy fans.