With their first title, the developers of Nomada Studio are striking just the right chord. The art direction, which benefits from the talent of Conrad Roset, is sublime. It is a real treat to travel through Gris’s world and accompany her in her personal battle. Even though the gameplay of this metroidvania does not reinvent the genre, the quality of its realisation and its soundtrack make it a real video game gold nugget that you must discover.

Offering a horrific game with puzzles is nothing new, but combining a puzzle game and a survival horror: that is a more difficult challenge. The Illusion Ray studio succeeds in presenting a balanced game. Even if the title feels a bit outdated, its immersive atmosphere and well-designed narrative make us forget its little flaws. We cannot wait for its sequel, which is already in production.

We can say with full certainty that Blacktail will remain engraved in our memories. The Polish studio managed to captivate us with the story, the integration of our childhood tales and the beautiful art direction. The interactions between Yaga and the ever-present voice that accompanies her are a real added value in terms of immersion in the universe surrounding us. Unfortunately, not everything is perfect: the bestiary and the AI tend to tarnish the game’s overall image. Despite this, we had a really good time with Yaga. What a success for THE PARASIGHT’s first title!

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is what we could call a textbook case. Trying to sell us a remake without ever clearly saying it, Square Enix's title is more like a remaster in disguise, with the imperfections of a title that has already been around for fifteen years and was initially released on a portable console. Even though it is very pleasant to play, especially thanks to the complete overhaul of its combat system, it is still an anecdotal title compared to the behemoths usually made by the studio.

Past its lengthy and monotonous introduction, Marvel’s Midnight Suns finally becomes interesting when it gives the player full control. Offering a great deal of relationship management between characters while exploring the Abbey, labelling it simply as a tactical combat game would be too reductive. The result is an atypical experience, more akin to a Fire Emblem or Persona, with day-to-day management and activities gift-wrapped in a Marvel suit. Despite a pleasant combat system, it might be more enjoyed by fans of comics and the MCU than by those fond of tactical games.

During the trailer of Need For Speed Unbound, the cel-shading visuals made us grit our teeth a little bit. It turns out that after a few minutes of action, we realise that the British studio has expertly blended this type of graphics to the rest and it is quite stunning! As far as the story goes, it is well introduced and quite catchy. As regards the handling aspect, this is a pure NFS experience, therefore something close to arcade style. Thanks to an energetic soundtrack, the races are full off rhythm and the police chases keep us glued on the edge of our seat when we carry a large amount of money. The only downside might be the limited interaction between single and multiplayer. To cut to the case, whether visually speaking or with the controller in hand, this game is a real success. For fans of the genre, you will surely have a great time. For the others, we strongly invite you to give it a spin!

Even though the base idea is theoretically interesting, Save Room fails to convince. Its total lack of storyline makes us do the same type of puzzle from over and over, without really knowing why. It can still be fun to play during a short evening, or if you want to hone your sorting skills before the release of Resident Evil 4 Remake.

As fans of the survival horror genre, we were eagerly waiting for The Callisto Protocol: and what a ride. Glen Schofield and his new team of industry veterans master their art and offer us a very successful horrific experience with an exemplary artistic direction and production. The nervous and tactical confrontations are exhilarating to play and the discomfort can be felt throughout our undertaking. Fans of gore will be served. Despite all the studio’s efforts to diversify the game sequences, the title suffers from a dated level design linked to the cross-gen development. Spiritual son of the legendary Dead Space, The Callisto Protocol, if not having killed its father, can at least look him straight in the eyes with dignity. Thanks to a lore that looks promising, it has also earned the right to chart its own course. We are ready for the next one!

Despite some imperfections, Legend of Keepers is a very good game honouring France and the talent of our developers. Nevertheless, considering how bland the additional content is, this Complete Edition should only be destined to a well-aware crowd of amateurs or fans having discovered the game on another platform.

RWBY: Arrowfell is not a bad title, far from it. Visually speaking, we can feel all the work efforts done by Wayforward Technologies. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown to us, it all can be summed up in two words: too scarce. The metroidvania codes are reduced to their simplest form and the challenge is almost non-existent. By being stripped of all the richness inherent to this style of production, RWBY: Arrowfell is more of a scripted action game than an epic adventure in endless winding corridors with multiple ramifications and very well-kept secrets.

Less quirky and difficult than it once was, the developers are clearly trying to please long-time fans by revealing the coveted secret of Monkey Island while bringing in a new audience less used to the Point and Click genre. The whole thing is a nostalgic and well-thought-out adventure, all wrapped up in a stunning fourth chapter with quite a surprising finale. It’s enough to leave us with good memories of Guybrush who, in 1990, was looking to become a pirate and who is now looking for himself in the eyes of his son.

And one more to the list! Not trying to reinvent the formula of the previous games of its anthology, The Devil in Me is the annual guilty pleasure for fans of the genre. Supported by a relatively interesting cast and a gripping plot, this iteration follows the series's recipe. Unfortunately, there are no new ingredients and there is nothing to get excited about either, as the game is filled to the brim with glitches and technical problems, to the point where you end up preferring the dialogue scenes to actual gameplay.

Evil West manages to stand out from the crowd thanks to its efficient, cruelly brutal and well-orchestrated gameplay. The character’s increasing power is well designed and it offers dynamic, fluid and addictive combat scenes to the player. On the other hand, do not hope for a story worthy of the greatest westerns and exploration: this is a game based solely on action and you should not ask for more.

Gungrave G.O.R.E is a tribute to the first two installments of the franchise and a gift for the fans. The downside is that the game keeps its former weaknesses and struggles to find its place in the standards of today. Its numerous postponements are not without consequence on the production which is almost a generation late. However, the proposal remains rich in terms of gameplay and length. Let's hope that the presence of the title in the Xbox and PC Game Pass will allow it to find the success it deserves.

Broken Pieces is and will undoubtedly remain relatively confidential. By proposing an intriguing and visually convincing experience but a bit too short, Elseware Experience gives the impression to have developed an alternative universe maybe too rich to be satisfied with a single installment. Many questions remain unanswered once the credits roll and leave us with a feeling of being incomplete. By continuing the chronology of Elise's story, a few months later, two world-famous FBI agents could have said about the Saint-Exil case that ""the truth is out there".

Star Ocean The Divine Force doesn't live up to its subtitle as well as we would have hoped. Caught up with a good soundtrack, a sufficiently inspired artistic direction and a gameplay that is still enjoyable at times, this Star Ocean nevertheless struggles to stand out. Worse, the title of tri-Ace seems to be several years behind its competitors. Its realization suspended from the years 2005 to 2010, its singular chara-design and its pleasant but struggling to take off scenario, immediately push this opus into the limbo of the average games. We are aware that we are in the presence of a double A title, but that doesn't allow us to forgive everything either. We still enjoyed this adventure, even though it doesn't reach the stars.

WRC Generations is KT Racing’s farewell gift to the WRC licence that accompanied it for seven opuses. The French studio could have been satisfied with a last minimum service. Quite far from that, every pixel of WRC Generations exudes the developers’ passion and love for this bewitching mechanical sport that is rallying. Almost all the planets have aligned for this final opus: superb new Rally1, more realistic car physics, a long-awaited convincing artistic direction, and a plethora of content. Far from being perfect, the latter is unfortunately under-exploited. But if we had to keep only one in the whole series, this one would be the precious. A successful ending to a superb adventure! KT Racing will join the greatest of the genre. Our expectations for Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown have never been higher.

At first sight, Paper Cut Mansion is a gruesome and twisted experience due to the choices made in terms of graphics and sounds as well as its twilight atmosphere with a lot of jump scares. Yet, it turns out that the title proves to be particularly addictive. In addition to the collection of various clues and objects helping our investigation going forward, they also gradually reveal the story of our anti-hero. By offering us a videogame made of many parts similarly to Frankenstein’s monster, Space Lizard Studio gives life to this hybrid theory of a rogue-lite puzzle-narrative game resolutely horrific: that is quite a mix of genres.

With his previous works, Dino Patti got us used to dark and suffocating worlds and Somerville is no exception to this rule. Through his art direction and soundtrack, he completely immerses us in the drama experienced by our character. This narrative experience skilfully alternates between action and reflection phases and does not suffer from any break in the writing rhythm. Although the title deserves the status of a gold nugget, we would have liked the development team to step out of its comfort zone and take more risks to enrich the proposal.

We commend the work of Josh Sawyer and his team for this masterful writing and atmosphere. Being one of the very few out of this year's Xbox Game Studios' sweatshop, Pentiment truly is a hit! The adventure is credible, wonderfully blends historical, religious and socio-cultural contexts while proposing an advanced writing and an absolutely sublime and singular graphic layout in the video game industry. According to its creator, Pentiment will clearly not please everyone, but the result here exudes passion, giving life to a niche work of art with an excellent replayability. It is undoubtedly very personal for Josh but this seals the deal for Obsidian: that is what a real gemstone looks like.

Sonic Frontiers leaves us rather puzzled. On the one hand, the novelty of an open world full of activities and combat zones, the diversity of the paths through the portals and the number of collectibles enchants us. On the other hand, the outdated graphics, the mediocre dubbing and the poor story is disheartening. Striking a balance, the speed phases are successful, both visually and with the controller. Sega’s title suffers from shortcomings that could have been avoided, thus categorising it as nothing more than an “average and decent game”. What a pity for the long-awaited return of our blue supersonic hedgehog.

Beholgar could have been a good game, if it had been released in 1987. But its proposals are too weak and rooted in the bad sides of Metroïdvania to really convince. Heir of a genre that came back in force these last years, it doesn't compare with almost all the other titles of the genre. Even worse, by trying to position itself on the "retro-castlevania" segment, it suffers from an inevitable comparison with Infernax, released at the beginning of the year and a true paragon of the genre, managing to sublimate the old formula while adding incredible qualities. In fact, it is difficult to recommend this Beholgar, even to the nostalgic and to the lovers of the 8-bit era.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed clearly convinced us. There are few asymmetrical games where being in one or the other team leaves us so untroubled, as they are both enjoyable to play. Everything that makes the saga a myth is present, diving us totally into the experience to the point where it becomes difficult to stop as the games follow each other with ease. The absence of paid content is a real good surprise in 2022 and the pleasure of modifying one's equipment or ghost between games pushes us to quickly return to the hunt in order to experiment with new strategies. The games are fast but intense and if we strongly advise you to assemble a solid team in order to take full advantage of it, playing alone is still quite possible thanks to the tools at our disposal. A very good point for the ghostbusters license. Let's hope that the updates will be as good as the launch.

The Witch's House MV offers an atmospheric setting that still grips us to this day. Despite the frustrating side of the die and retry formula and some repetitive aspects, we remain trapped in the story and we desire to know the conclusion. Some cutscenes can be shocking and make you feel uncomfortable, so you have to be sure to embark on such an adventure before you regret it. But is it worth doing it again if you played the original version? Not really, because apart from the graphic aspect, the whole thing is identical. Nevertheless, it is still an excellent experience for a short evening shiver, or to extend the twisted magic of Halloween a little bit longer.

The studio’s desire to propose a short but well-crafted game is a risky bet that can fully satisfy casual players. The latter will undoubtedly find a challenge to their liking, without necessarily seeking completion. On the other hand, those who are used to this type of production and who have probably worn out their pads feeding armies of zombies with Hawaiian pizzas will only make mincemeat of this Fueled Up. The title is nevertheless very fun and introduces several original, but unfortunately played down mechanics. A pleasant way to pass the time for social gatherings with friends.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is the long-awaited sequel fans have been waiting for and it offers a much better gameplay experience than its predecessor thanks to a myriad of adjustments. Still as addictive as ever, the concept is once again foolproof and gives us even more freedom of choice in the adventure and the kingdom we build. Graphically speaking, it is much more up to date than Warband and this new opus will undoubtedly seduce previous fans and win over new players.

The Canadian studio Brass Token can be proud of its first game. Indeed, despite some visual shortcomings, the Chant is rather pleasant to play and is as good as some so-called AAA titles. As long as one finds the various clues on the island, a well-crafted story unfolds before our very eyes. The game mechanics are good, the graphics decent and the combat phases well-paced. Additionally, the truly immersive soundtrack allows us to plunge wholly in a rather scary universe. The stiffness of our character and the life span of the title are the only real downsides. All in all, we indeed had a good time with Jess and the Prismic Science Spiritual Retreat.

The 2019 Modern Warfare saga reboot had given a fresh coat of paint to the Call of Duty license thanks to a convincing multiplayer and solo campaign. Three years later, Infinity Ward has come up with an even more accomplished version. The campaign is enjoyable and benefits from a great deal of work on its staging to keep us on our toes. However, some bits and pieces tend to make us sigh. As regards the multiplayer, the 2019 base remains more or less the same with some welcome new features on the camouflage system. Yet, the unlocking of attachments is questionable. All in all, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II turns out to be a great vintage and will undoubtedly be successful.

Without being 2022’s GOTY, Gas Station Simulator truly deserves a spot in your game library. We are quickly introduced to the joys of business management, and this is done quite smoothly thanks to contextual displays and a correct handling. Even if the game is punctuated by display glitches, Drago Entertainment manages to immerse us in a rather new concept. Ultimately, we expected a little more content in terms of services offered to customers. A good game to play in off-peak periods.

On the outer layer, Kamikaze Veggies tries to be a fun and ironic popcorn game; nevertheless, we have the clear feeling that all this is only a pretence allowing the creative teams to make a sharp criticism of the title’s geopolitical topic under the cover of a vast “joke”, sadly without any wit. If Red Limb Studio’s precious initially makes us want to read between the lines, we quickly shut off our brains when grasping the lack of finesse and the ease with which one can get the best scores. Even if it sometimes makes us smile, most of the puzzles are bland and tedious. Despite this, the ability to play the entire experience in split screen is quite thrilling considering how rare it is nowadays. Ultimately, the most satisfying bit is the continuous unlocking of an achievement at the end of each level. Despite not being the worst experience ever, it nonetheless falls under the umbrella of “quickly done, and quickly forgotten” games we unfortunately all know too well.

As an action-RPG, Asterigos: Curse of the Stars offers a sensational experience. Whether in terms of story and combat gameplay, this rich AA production is more than generous. Unfortunately, the level design struggles to be convincing and clearly tarnishes the general experience. As regards the technical aspect, the AA production status and the usual lack of means it implies might explain why some corners were cut. However, the gameplay experience remains pleasant and the story and gameplay largely make up for the shortcomings.

New Tales From The Borderlands is not a bad game per se, but this format feels a tad’ ancient. The formula it uses is outdated and we expected much more from it. Let us be honest: it has some good arguments, especially in terms of its narrative, but its nowhere-to-be-found gameplay might irritate many players. Except for those fond of the Borderlands license who will be able to overlook this aspect and sincerely enjoy the universe, recommending the title to the rest of the players does not feel like the right thing to do.

Falling Out is a pleasant surprise that should, of course, be played in pairs for a maximum amount of fun, laughter, and probably a lot of name calling too. As a good retro title, it is hard to truly master it, but it will replace the ""by heart"" method with one’s skilful adaptability to the system and to the ever-changing environments. Our career as tomb raiders finds here a very entertaining alternative, full of good ideas and deadly traps too. We thank PolyCrunch Games for this first title which is full of passion and we hope it will find its audience.

With Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, the young studio Owlcat Games confirms its talent in the creation of C-RPGs. This new opus expands the winning formula of Kingmaker in all areas and even allows itself to bring in new game mechanics to the table. Unfortunately, those are not as convincing as one would have hoped. The game also suffers from a dated technique and an almost unpalatable number of fights. Nevertheless, the adventure is epic, and is backed by an impressive rise in power of our hero and a remarkable writing quality. Thanks to the countless playable classes and the addition of different mythical paths that radically modify the scenario, the title’s replayability is remarkable: who said you cannot have the cake and eat it too? We are eager to put our hands on the studio’s next title set in the futuristic world of Warhammer 40K.

Despite some wishy-washy fights and a somewhat empty open world, Gotham Knights is a title that honours the licence. Perfectly blending action gameplay and RPG mechanics, fans and other players will be delighted. Even if the 20 hours necessary to complete the adventure are not enough to satisfy our thirst for more content, the presence of numerous side activities will suffice in deceiving our need for more. The arrival of a more complete multiplayer mode on November 29, 2022 should also contribute to supplementing the initial offer.

Is Persona 5 Royal the best J-RPG ever produced? Is it Atlus' ultimate masterpiece, a once-in-a-lifetime creation? Everyone has their piece to say, but for us, it certainly is and the studio's following games can hardly compete with a title that is and will be remembered for many years to come as the quintessence of the Japanese role-playing game

Even though White Day: A Labyrinth Named School might not be the scariest in the world as rumours had it, or the fact that blood is very rarely shown on screen, Sonori proves that horror can exist without the overkill of gore that is very much in fashion at the moment by proposing a creepy and oppressive atmosphere capable of surprising us in the worst moments, to the point of systematically making us turn on the lights and feel anxious during each search. The puzzles make us think under pressure and one feels torn between the need to escape as quickly as possible from this nightmarish high school and the aspiration to solve every mystery. Once the game is over, we ultimately only have one yearning: diving into this maze while impatiently waiting for the next episode.

Logically enough, A Plague Tale: Requiem is a more beautiful, bigger, and complete continuation of its predecessor. Resuming the story where it left off, this new adventure embarks us in a story as well mastered as ever, filled with some very well-designed characters. The more open confrontations make the whole gameplay more dynamic without changing its essence. All in all, it is a beautiful narrative experience sublimated with some gorgeous sceneries that does not feel very different from the first episode. Players expecting bigger changes will be disappointed, but there is no doubt that single-player fans who liked A Plague Tale: Innocence will once again fall under its spell.

LEGO Bricktales could have been a good Flash game, or having a multiplayer mode would have greatly served its cause. In an era filled to the brim with construction games on our modern machine, it unfortunately feels way too limited to be sincerely recommended to amateurs. Only LEGO enthusiasts will find it interesting… or not.

With an official Dakar licence, a bewitching and gigantic playing field, arcade and simulation modes, vast improvements as regards the driving of the various vehicles compared to Dakar 18 and a navigation feature via road-book as exhilarating and immersive as ever, Dakar Desert Rally has enough solid foundations to become a prime showcase for rally-raid and its flagship event as long they keep on working hard on it. The new Career mode even welcomes neophytes with open arms to gradually introduce them to the discipline. Unfortunately, the title suffers from a premature release that spoils the game experience due to a feeble framerate, chaotic AI and a frustrating lack of content for fans of the simulation mode. In the coming weeks, the ambitious roadmap should meet the latter’s expectations. Let us hope the studio manages to solve the technical issues as well. If this happens, Dakar Desert Rally will surely become a must-have game for all motorsports fans.

Jack Move is a pixel art retrogaming wonder that benefits from a modern treatment on all levels and whose foretold inspirations are strikingly accurate. We gladly discover a game with simple and proven mechanics, a classic but efficient scenario, what appears to be authentic dialogues and a good dose of humour and derision. Our only regret is the adventure’s length which, despite some anthological parts, could have greatly benefited from the addition of a few levels so one could enjoy a bit more time at Noa Solares’ side.

I, AI is not a bad shoot ’em up but its realisation is lazy and below the studio’s previous productions. Its re-release on Xbox Series brings no real improvement or additional content. Seeing slowdowns during boss fights on an optimised title should not be possible, and yet, here they are. The combination of a soporific sound atmosphere with a limited number of levels available all converge into one blunt statement: turn around and aim for other (better) galaxies.

Circus Electrique is a remarkable title that deserves to be appreciated for what it is and not solely be considered a “niche game” amongst others. Far superior to what Darkest Dungeon could offer in its time, it also manages with a disconcerting ease to sublimate its management part. Some features could be improved and polished, but considering the quality and passion exuding from each of its pixels, criticising it would be ludicrous.

Castle Walker is a simple, yet very slow game to play. It will hardly suit fans of old school Castlevania because of the cumbersome gameplay and its disconcerting ease. Furthermore, on Xbox One at least, the game suffers from some pretty bad framerate issues in the later levels, which tends to make the experience even harder to enjoy. The title is nevertheless offered at a very low price and can still be a nice experience if you lower your standards.

Without being the best thing since sliced bread, FIFA 23 is undoubtedly the most accomplished title of the series. The introduction of cross-play is a refreshing add, as is the change in commentators. Whether in terms of graphics or gameplay, the few small improvements made to the best-selling sports title in the world are quite satisfying. Managing the defence finally becomes interesting and one has a real chance to counter the previously overpowered strikers. The career mode, whether you are a coach or a player, is very immersive, which will delight the most demanding fans. Although there have been few changes to the FUT, its well-oiled mechanics will allow fans to indulge in creating their dream team. Lastly, the interaction between Volta and Club Pro is well thought out as it allows one to play with friends in different game modes. Ladies and gentlemen, all you have to do is put on your boots and get kickin’!

You Suck at Parking proposes a tried and tested formula and is less demanding than a Trials game. Unfortunately, it is also not up to the fun level of a Supermarket Shriek. Despite this, the family-friendly nature of the title will keep you on the edge of your seat for a few hours, oscillating between personal satisfaction and frustration. For the substantial price of €19.99, it is a shame that Happy Volcano’s baby offers so few elements that can be unlocked in-game without using a credit card. Lucky for Game Pass owners, the game has been available for download on the service since 14th of September 2022. In the end, You Suck at Parking has all the keys in hand to become something worthwhile and is quite promising in terms of new challenges.

River City Girls Zero is clearly aimed at an ultra-specific audience who have been following the adventures of Kunio-kun's merry gang for years without having been able to get their hands on this historical opus and who are probably gnawing their teeth while waiting for River City Girls 2. We can salute the initiative of bringing out this particular episode which marked the timid beginnings of the hot-blooded Misako and Kyōko the ingenue as playable characters. Despite its new, tangy and shimmering coating, the twenty-eight-year-old pill is a bit hard to swallow nowadays.

Despite the developers' decision to address a quite unusual theme, To Leave will not leave an unforgettable mark in our hearts. Despite an annoying sound glitch, the title was nonetheless beautifully designed. However, its ill-balanced difficulty, its short lifespan and its lack of replayability push it down further into the ground. Incidentally, its price range will probably not help it find an audience either.

While surely aimed at young players, the title nonetheless develops a relaxing and pleasant vibe that is much appreciated by the big kids that we are. The OST contributes to this chill and bucolic atmosphere, as does the soothing rhythm of the adventure. However, you should not be fooled by the somewhat slow start or the long, childish dialogues, because Hokko Life remains a good alternative to the plethora of sim games available on the market. Even if not as well polished on certain aspects compared to its competitors, the freedom granted to the player, the palliative progression and the simplicity of the adventure allow us to take a well-deserved break in our daily life filled with ups and downs. Is that not what it is all about?

OPUS: Echo of Starsong - Full Bloom Edition is an excellent surprise, provided you appreciate the visual novel style: plenty of emotional scenes, discussions and a multitude of flashbacks. The ship management and the gorgeous exploration sequences are minimalist but very well thought out and fit perfectly with the nuanced narrative that is at the title’s heart. Although slightly too Manichean, the Thousand Peaks universe is rich, realistic and it fully deserves to be discovered so one can savour the adventures of its endearing heroes.

For their first title, the Canadians from Norsfell have designed what appears to be an interesting game filled with good intentions, but it is unfortunately not sufficient. We enjoyed the two game modes available, and there is room to add a few more including PvP and PvPvE modes that could undoubtedly attract more players. The combat and the exploration are both a bit dull and overly repetitive. On the other hand, the free Battle Pass, the less restrictive Survival mode, the challenges and the many associated rewards are reason enough to go on farming. Despite its shortcomings, playing Midgard in single player is far from torture, and it is rather entertaining in multiplayer!

Concerning the gameplay and the narration, Soulstice does not beat around the bush and offers a wide-ranging adventure. The approach to combat and the fighting style you want to adopt are fully customisable. The progression and the feeling of a growing power are well represented. Unfortunately, we could not sweep under the rug the camera issues and level design shortcomings that marred our gameplay experience. We would recommend Sousltice to those absolutely fan of beat-them-all games who will undoubtedly be able to overlook the flaws that annoyed us.

It is hard to really get excited about SBK 22: the game will not surprise anyone as it is essentially a carbon copy of the previous MotoGP games developed by the studio. Despite a slightly more accessible gameplay and a brand-new race format, we would have liked a bit more highlight on the Superbike Championship’s specificities. It nonetheless remains a decent and complete game that will allow fans to indulge with the pilots and tracks they love at a reduced price until a next episode that will hopefully stand on his own two feet.

Even one year after its initial release, Deathloop still is a one of a kind videogame that must be played. One needs to experience it first-hand to truly understand the ingenuity behind its intense gameplay with many different approaches, its exemplary level design and its spectacular art direction. Deathloop is not only an original concept (one that is assumed from start to finish), it is above all one of the best narrative FPS of the last few years. The concept “made in Arkane” is pushed to its paroxysm and it is probably one of the best immersive sim we ever played. Its arrival in the Game Pass will undoubtedly give it extra visibility and we hope it will receive the credit it deserves for all of its content and not just for what it could have been. We have waited a year for it, and now it is here: Deathloop is finally back home.

Hobo: Tough Life is a surprising game with great qualities. Unfortunately, by trying to overstep its bounds, the final product remains blunt around the edges. It is nonetheless a very original and pleasant adventure, but one that will quickly be forgotten.

Primarily aimed at a niche audience wishing to immerse themselves in the conflicts of the First World War and indulge in a realistic and demanding gameplay, Isonzo could still appeal to neophytes of the genre. The immersion in the battles is successful, notably thanks to the quality sound design. As long as our team makes the best use of the different classes’ abilities, the confrontations are quite enjoyable. However, one will have to overlook the outdated technical aspect that could put some people off.

Even though Islets is not a bad game per se, it vainly tries to mimic its predecessors' recipe without understanding their very essence. This results in a flawed and overly simplistic adventure that will only please children and neophytes.

For those fond of metal music and Doom, Metal: Hellsinger had all the ingredients to rock our hearts. The final product is as good as we hoped it would be and we loved the adventure albeit it being a little too short. Considering its efficient gameplay mixed with a delightful banger soundtrack, we were gutted to see the credits roll after less than 5 hours: we wanted more! If headbanging is your jam, Metal: Hellsinger is the way to go, especially as it is released day one in the Xbox Game Pass.

While the reveal of Train Sim World 3's content had received a mixed reception from fans of the series, it is clear that this new opus fully deserves its new number and is becoming the new benchmark for railway simulation on Xbox. Dovetail Games' title is all set for the ninth generation of consoles (and the arrival of multiple DLC), with the redesign of the user interface, the addition of a Training Center, both functional and well crafted, and the remarkable work done around the skybox, the lighting, the sound of the locos and the dynamic weather spread to all game modes. Only some technical issues tarnish the party a bit, but they don't spoil the captivating immersion and the intense passion for the train that Train Sim World brings.

To say that we liked Tinykin is an understatement. With great qualities (in its miniature universe), it almost leaves us with a taste of too little as we devoured it without restraint. Our character reacts with great ease. Navigating through the different levels is a real pleasure, especially since they are full of details and corners to explore. If you are a fan of platform games and completion, go for it!

To put it straight, Steelrising has won us over. Of course, the challenge might be a bit too easy for the fans of the genre, but Spiders' title opens the door to newcomers who want to try souls-like games, while remaining quite demanding. The universe is coherent and convincing, this uchronic Paris in the grip of the flames coupled to the madness of its ruler is as exciting to discover as it is dark and oppressive. Aegis and the emblematic personalities of this era participate to a pleasant scenario to follow, even if it lacks a little touch of epic and despite a convincing O.S.T.. A well-oiled adventure, close to be one of our favorite, congratulations Spiders!

80's OVERDRIVE is a title that will undoubtedly please the old-timers with its extremely simple gameplay, and without any headache... A kind of love letter to that era. Despite a career mode that is a bit flawed and the participation fees for each race can be a problem, the music and the time trial still make you want to go back.

CyberConnect2 once again tries to win over a large portion of gamers by proposing for the first time on the Xbox ecosystem a more generous, sexy and authentic as ever take on this JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R. Despite a single-player content that will undoubtedly be consumed very quickly by aficionados of Hirohiko Araki’s universe, it is ultimately the community’s devotion that will decide if the title is a success in the long run.

Despite what seems to be some outdated graphics at first, Midnight Fight Express is nonetheless a very good beat them up. Designed like a Hollywood blockbuster, it offers a coherent scenario with an escalating rhythm as the adventure goes on. Thanks to “cyberpunk” electro music pieces and perfectly animated combat phases, the player could be fully immersed. Unfortunately, the presence of dialogue windows between each wave of enemies kind of breaks the pace a bit. We will, however, forgive its few translation errors and occasional glitches. Its day one availability in the Game Pass (Xbox and PC) is also a significant advantage.

A worthy successor to the remake released in 2020, Destroy All Humans 2! - Reprobed has all the same ingredients, but makes a better recipe out of it. The graphics are beautiful, and the locations we visit all around the Earth and beyond are all well designed. The humour is still present; the narrative still cleverly written; the handling is ideal, and Crypto’s overwhelming power can still give us chills. If you enjoyed the first opus, do not hesitate: planet Earth will welcome you with open arms to scourge some humans. The Furons are superior to the human race and it is your time to shine!

Whether on foot or behind the wheel, the developers of Volition’s reboot offer us a wickedly fun title where one can take a perverse delight in making everything explode around them. The new characters are endearing and make us forget the old ones. Despite some successful quest sequences, the scenario remains too short. From secondary activities to the extensive customisation of the protagonist, weapons and vehicles, the game’s content is quite rich. This Saints Row is a pleasant and entertaining game to blow off some steam, but ultimately, it sticks to its guns and does not take enough risks to really set itself as a master of the genre.

Cult of the Lamb truly is a great gaming experience reminiscent of Moonlighter with its interdependent management/rogue-like aspect. The sadistic elements that one would expect from a demonic cult are cleverly designed and the whole experience almost feels as a God Game as one can do almost anything they yearn for with the cult. Both the management and the action parts do not take any risks and remain too classic. Nevertheless, their adequate balance enable the player to fully appreciate the title’s offbeat concept.

With its specific graphics, its hyper-intense gameplay, and its scoring system, Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 is a little retrogaming gemstone capable of charming only a small part of today’s gamers made of nostalgic arcade fans of the 90’s and the die-hard scorekeepers who will experience a fully satisfying challenge with this game. This title concludes the trilogy initiated in 2014 in a masterful way by reinventing itself with the addition of new features while relying on the proven recipes and fan service of the series’ entire cast.

Soul Hackers 2 follows the tried recipe of Atlus’ recent games. By borrowing all the ingredients from the previous productions without ever really trying to innovate, one is unfortunately forced to compare it to other titles of the genre that are far better. Despite this, it has some undeniable qualities, an extremely rich lore and a really pleasant gameplay – it will undoubtedly satisfy the J-RPG fan or anyone who has never played any of the studio’s previous games.

As it stands, it is difficult for us to fully recommend this Path of Titans. Technically, the concept is really good and original. Even if the lack of diversity in the missions is not very engaging and the Solo experience truly is boring as beans, one can be addicted to the exploration of this world untouched by any civilisation. However, the potential is real, and we have experienced some beautiful and strong emotions with some online encounters. Provided that the developers ensure a regular and qualitative follow-up of the title, getting your hands on it might be worth it!

Do not expect it to be a worthy contender to Dark Souls: Thymesia simply draws its inspirations from the latter while proposing its own, more nervous and dynamic formula. With the help of his sword and ancestral weapons, the hero gifts the player with some particularly memorable fights and moves that every respectable swordsman should try for himself. It is a shame the adventure is a tad short.

Two Point Hospital had charmed us, and we were looking forward to Two Point Campus. Ultimately, even if it does not meet all our expectations, we were not disappointed. Because of its solid foundation, we understand that the British studio did not want to alter its recipe. At first glance, one can easily recognise the graphic style and the ever so enticing animation of the franchise’s characters. After a few minutes, we were delighted to find its wacky humour and gameplay mechanics. After a few hours, we were pleasantly surprised by the game’s change of pace with the school years passing by and the building feature in the great outdoors: but that was not enough to satisfy our needs. One will experience a certain redundancy when facing the basic arrangements of the student life and the management of the planning of cultural events. Nevertheless, getting the three stars per scenario in a reasonable amount of time and the excitement of discovering new campuses and wild courses consistently pushed us in indulging some more with the adventure. Final result of the Jury: Graduation with Honours. Congratulations!

With its offbeat universe, its omnipresent dark humour and its numerous references, Charlotte Sutherland presents a pleasant Point and Click game to play. We were slightly disappointed by its extensive accessibility and a help option available at all times would have increased its complexity and allowed each player to approach the game freely. Nevertheless, the impeccable sound design, the extra-caricatural and fantastic characters and an ending with unexpected twists easily compensate for the few blemishes mentioned. In the end, we only have one wish: follow our two friends to the ends of the world in their next adventures.

Bright Paw Definitive Edition is a good puzzle game that benefits from an artistic direction with a strong personality – both visually and sonically – pulled by a dynamic narrative distilling its magic drop by drop. However, one might be disappointed by the blatant lack of challenge enabling the player to enjoy the story without too much effort at the expense of a real sense of accomplishment. Theo’s dreams double the pleasure, but their uneven difficulty can make a brain go from overdrive to completely fried.

Even if RimWorld is not presently the best CMS game on console, it is not far from it. With its unfettered freedom, infinite replayability and constantly evolving story, it is a time-consuming title intertwining rich content with a well-designed gameplay. The port is quite brilliant and offers us all the features available on PC without the slightest compromise, except maybe for a handling that is a little complex to grasp at first.

With the original and unpredictable concept of crossing spiders with dinosaurs, and despite a short lifespan and a relatively frustrating aiming system, Spidersaurs is a rather pleasant game. It is a love letter to Contra that we recommend.

Despite its more limited resources compared to other big productions of the genre, Hell Pie plays its cards right and is a declaration of love to 3D platform games. Sluggerfly injects a raw, irreverent, blasphemous and rebellious personality to its title with a good dose of bawdy humour typical of a half-witted teenager. However, the devil is in the details and the studio brilliantly fulfils its promise of reconciling "silly entertainment and meaningful art". Even though it is a bit short and lacks some ingredients, it remains a successful recipe best reserved for a discerning audience.

The fact that Hazel Sky is not available in the French language does not hinder the progression as its gameplay is enough to enjoy the ride it offers. Nonetheless, if the English language isn’t your cup of tea, you will miss out on the exciting lore that pushed us in willing to discover more about Shane's strange world through a sequel or spin-off. The fact that the Gallery is accessible in-game and from the main menu allows us to find the different items discovered and their descriptions, thus allowing us to read about them at our leisure and enjoy every little drop of detail the title has to offer. We hope that a French adaptation will one day be available to make it more accessible to the French crowd as it would be a real shame to miss out on such an enjoyable adventure with a rich universe due to a lack of it.

Even if Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2 comes from another era and tries to climb aboard the retrogaming hype train, it remains a pleasant and complete game for those who can forgive its mishaps and its glitches. This simple and lazy €30 port is best aimed for those fond of couch-coop and those nostalgic of the Forgotten Realms.

If you are looking for a game comparable to a John Woo movie, Bright Memory: Infinite hits the bullseye! Bullets everywhere, a high-paced rhythm and graphically speaking, it is phenomenal. It must be said that the game is really short with a lifespan of barely three hours on the normal difficulty, though. Fortunately, during this short period, one tends to feel like a godlike figure when switching between the multiple combinations of Lumi-Blade/abilities/weapons and this could almost brush under the rug the few glitches encountered during our sessions.

Despite being promising at first, DreadOut 2 has too many flaws for us to recommend in good conscience to embark on this adventure. Thanks to their level design, some locations manage to create a sense of uneasiness while others are simply bland and insipid. Generally speaking, the bestiary is very well designed and each new encounter sparks something in the player, but when it comes to confrontations, the excitement quickly dies down due to a cumbersome gameplay in these sequences. For our greatest frustration, the bad calibration, the few FedEx quests and the glitches greatly increase the life span of the title and hinder its overall fluidity. It’s in these second-rate conditions that the game’s seven acts end in 7 hours rather than 5. Let us hope the saga comes back in better shape.

Azure Striker GUNVOLT 2 is aimed at a well-informed public that tends to favour a lively gameplay and the mastery of a system over graphic prowess or a serious and intricate scenario. The game experience is straightforward, the progression is pleasant and unlocking the additional content when replaying it is rewarding. Nostalgic Mega Man fans will feel crawling back sensations and perhaps reflexes of yesteryear they thought were long gone while younger players will discover a good ol’ and typical “daddy’s game”.

In the very peculiar world of “visual novels”, few titles really stand out. Even though we tend to hear the same names over and over again, Long Live the Queen is likely to join this list. Whether for one or five games, its many qualities, its replayability and its bleak and mature side are reason enough to give it another go, even if it is to try and find out what else is still hidden. It remains a niche game with its own limitations, and may not appeal to everyone.

Bigger, better, funnier: Forza Horizon 3’s Hot Wheels expansion was already a success and this one exceeds the expectations. Similarly to Mexico, this new map is beautiful and has some spectacular panoramic views. Unlike what the licence has been adopting for the past few years, this expansion offers a satisfying progression system that gives a real sense of evolution and that is truly a blessing. Cruising around is still pleasing, but the absence of a new type of event truly is a shame. Forza Horizon 5: Hotwheels is a great addition and we are eager to discover what is next.

Considering it was a mobile game, the Xbox port of Rush Rally Origins is a great success. Available at a low price in a fairly complete and stable version, Stephen Brown’s creation is a fine tribute to the exciting world of rally racing with its telegenic aerial views and realistic art direction. Although the game suffers from rather poor graphics and environments as dead as a doornail, the gameplay, the car modelling and the smoke and dust effects caused by the cars are exhilarating and well designed. The lack of a multiplayer mode greatly impairs one’s long-term interest in the game, but Rush Rally Origins nonetheless allows us to quickly have some fun during short gaming sessions.

Even if the gameplay mechanics of As Dusk Falls remain specific to the genre, they are right on point. Its unicity comes from its artistic direction and the quality of its writing. The software leans back and forth between an interactive movie and a narrative game. The quality of the dubbing and the soundtrack are just the icing on a skilfully produced and savoury cake. With a substantial lifespan and almost infinite replayability, the title should be a well-deserved triumph. The possibility for co-op sessions or playing with one's community will certainly contribute to this.

Without being as effective as Mario Party, The Rabbids: Party of Legends offers a nice experience for a good dose of family fun this summer. The game’s Chinese folklore atmosphere is well made and, provided you appreciate the world of Rabbids, it will entertain the youngest as much as the oldest. The gameplay of the minigames is clear and quick to grasp, allowing everyone to have some immediate fun. Unfortunately, there are way too many similarities and duplicates between the various games.

House Builder truly is a pleasant surprise. Underneath its somewhat simplistic appearance, the title hides an everlasting fun factor and a well-designed progression system of our abilities. The variety of locations, missions, and types of buildings to be built significantly contributes to the overall fun. This is a far cry from the classic simulations with their excessive realism, which can quickly overwhelm players not used to the genre. For those who know squat about building things in general, House Builder might even teach you some basics in a casual way. The OST is chirpy and catchy. Who knows if this game won’t make certain players of the younger generation crave for a career in construction? There are no major drawbacks to the experience, except perhaps the lack of a free mode to let our imagination run wild. Apart from this, House Builder is undoubtedly a reachable diamond in the small and rocky sphere of simulation games and should be tried as soon as possible!

With its concept of discovering the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent, and a nice career mode, Matchpoint - Tennis Championships could have been a decent enough tennis game. Although one can sincerely appreciate the handling and the immersive view, this unfortunately does not compensate the monumental shortcomings as regards the art direction and the soundtrack. When playing the game, the only thing that comes to mind is how can such a technically poor game be released in 2022? Torus Games still has a long way to go to be taken seriously in developing sports games…

Adventures of Chris has left a sour taste of frustration and disappointment in our mouths. The title showed promise thanks to its gameplay revolving around a balloon that inflates and deflates. Unfortunately, the inaccurate hitboxes combined with a slightly too high difficulty tends to frustrate the player at an early stage. One feels eager to put the controller down despite the pleasant 90’s inspiration and the few comical notes here and there. Facing a tremendous competition on the independent market, it will be hard for this game to find an opening.

The distinct artistic direction of Eternal Hope does not leave one unimpressed. Despite some technical blemishes here and there, the musical environment immerses the player in the story from the very first moments, and we were moved by the narrative’s melancholy. The somewhat clumsy animation takes a little time getting used to, but one soon gets the hang of it. The simplicity of the puzzles and the short lifespan may be frustrating for some, but this enables the title to be experienced by a wide audience. It would be a shame to miss this heartwarming independent game.

The best way to describe Tate Multimedia’s title would be as a Madeleine de Proust. It really does feel like a throwback to the platform games of the early 2000s, and holy guacamole that feels good! Strongly reminiscent of titles like Rayman 3D, Super Mario 64 or Banjo-Kazooie, it certainly does not reinvent the formula, and one might even find it too unoriginal. There is indeed no risk-taking as regards the gameplay or the features. Nevertheless, even though Kao the Kangaroo rehashes a time-tested recipe, it does it with style and grace. It feels like we are jumping back in time twenty years with all the best features video games had back then: a fun, colourful title, adapted to all audiences and pleasant to play if one can sweep the few technical problems under the rug. Here, Tate Multimedia offers a nice tribute to the old-school 3D platformers – and with an extra dash of ambition – this title could have become a true classic. If your childhood or teenage years seem too far away, let Kao and its adventures be your ride to nostalgia!

Cuphead is a demanding game, and the Last Delicious Course is just as tortuous. The new gameplay, courtesy of Ms Chalice's arrival, provides the opportunity to encounter new and even more fearsome bosses. The addition of new weapons and charms also gives the base game a second breath. The art direction and soundtrack are as effective as ever. The developers at MDHR brilliantly took advantage of this long break to gift us with a true gem. Like a fine wine, this DLC has taken its time to age and give us its best and last delicious course.

With F1 22, Eletronic Arts gives more backbone to its sports games’ catalogue. The arrival of the new Formula 1 cars with their technical complexities and a different way of driving them is very well reproduced with the controller. Graphically speaking, the previous game was already gorgeous, and now it is simply exquisite. Nevertheless, why add the possibility of driving supercars, which will be completely set aside once you have played with them for an hour? F1 fans will focus on the My Team career mode, and particularly on the multiplayer. We were expecting a bit more from the pit stop –a mandatory part of all racing games. As regards the more than realistic new features, the AI is THE strongest point. F1 22 is without a doubt a roaring success!

The Quarry is to video games what most slashers of the ’90s are to movies: a guilty pleasure in dire need of a breath of fresh air. Despite it all, playing the latest title from Supermassive Games is bonkers if you get its numerous references and dismiss an uneven rhythm and some pointless gameplay phases. Fortunately, its story, its characters and above all its charming aesthetic are enough to keep you around for a while.

Roll7 reignites the spark with this first DLC. The introduction of tractor beams really enriches the gameplay and changes the rhythm and the verticality of the ride. The new biome and the new items to unlock are still very much in line with the zany spirit of the original art direction. The additional levels and challenges promise many hours of gameplay while waiting for the next expansion scheduled for Fall. Nonetheless, it is a pity that these additions are not present in the "Gnarvana League" mode.

TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is a nostalgic experience for fans of the series. The developers have managed to modernise the gameplay while retaining the essence of the 90s’ beat 'em ups. It is a cool game to play with up to 6 players simultaneously whether online or on your couch with mates. All that is left to do is order the pizzas and enjoy the ride.

The Tour de France franchise reeks of defeat. The technique is two generations old, the graphical assets are worthy of a trivial mobile game, and the studio shamelessly recycles the same single face for all the in-game riders year after year. Despite its staunchest advocates, the series is evolving too slowly not to disappoint them further down the road. And yet, this failure still manages to stay on course and share the passion surrounding the beautiful sport of road cycling. Once in the game, we are sucked in, immersed, and ravel in the tactical and strategic races at the core of the whole legend behind road bicycle racing. The gameplay and content are consistent and effective. The whole experience is very coherent and offers an interesting simulation. Despite all its flaws, Tour de France 22 will keep us on our toes, at least until the end of July, and this was not a foregone conclusion.