If Shakespeare’s language has no secrets for you, how can one not fall under the spell of Wytchwood? But like many witches, its sombre beauty and intriguing story conceal some real flaws: outdated craft-based mechanics, a lot of back and forth and a below-average difficulty. No matter how one feels about it all, this witch will leave no one indifferent: whether you like it or not!

Praey for the Gods could have reached the “good game” category. Unfortunately, it only takes a short period of time with the controller in hand before one understands that the means used aren’t enough. The narrative is non-existent, there are no dialogues, the bestiary is scanty, and the fights aren’t thrilling. Similarly to Assassin’s Creed back in the day, we can also mention problems where the character gets stuck when climbing and the sum of all these flaws is further putting down No Matter Studios’ already injured title. It’s a shame considering that Praey for the Gods’ concept could’ve truly been original. Such a shame…

The Pedestrian is a clever mix between platform and puzzle. It brilliantly manages to dust off the puzzle game genre and is clearly worthy of the greatest. The level design is an intrinsic part of the gameplay, and that’s where the soft does its best. It’s a nice discovery for whoever loves this genre (and not only). Even though the soundtrack is sometimes too discreet, our enjoyment cannot be spoiled. We’re looking forward to the studio’s next title.

The rediscovery of Shadow Man was surprising, to say the least! The remastering work done by Nightdive Studios allows us to (re)discover the title at its best, even if the gameplay is not always enjoyable. This comeback to the world of the dead shows the extent to which videogame titles aren’t all identical regarding the inexorable passing of time and Mike LeRoi carrying the heavy burden of the first 3D action/adventure games is a fitting example of this. It is thus difficult to face the complete absence of indication and the rigidity of this gameplay, which did not bother us so much at the time. Despite everything, the magic is still in the air partly due to an artistic direction that is as deliciously morbid as ever. However, it seems difficult to recommend this game to anyone considering the recent and double-edged evolution of our medium. This makes us wish for a full reboot to carry on indulging in this unusual atmosphere which time seems to have no hold on.

Our aim is not to nail the studio to a cross, as we undoubtedly know that the team is working hard and trying its best with what seems to be very limited resources. Their respect for rugby can be felt in their wish to capture the essence of this complex and exciting game. But after 3 very disappointing attempts, we are losing hope and confidence. It is no longer possible in 2022 to publish sports simulations that are technically and graphically several generations behind. All the efforts put into developing a convincing gameplay are wasted on these pitfalls. If the form had at least been taken care of, rugby fans, for whom the title is solely aimed, could have forgiven a lot. Alas, the sloppy direction completely spoils the immersion and potential inherent to the presence of official licenses. Similarly to its older brothers, Rugby 22 remains a prototype rugby game, an alpha version sold at a high price. It breaks our heart to advise against buying it in its current state.

In DYSMANTLE, surviving has never been sweeter! The game simplifies the sometimes boring notion of survival by focusing on the essential: fun. Farming, although a bit repetitive after a few hours, is natural thanks to the character’s progression and evolution that are fluid and well thought out. Breaking everything becomes an addictive pastime and the mysteries of the island always make us want to dig deeper. With its insane lifespan, its well-balanced difficulty, its cartoonish art direction and its impeccable technique, DYSMANTLE is definitely worth checking out. We hope an online cooperation mode will be implemented as it is an essential feature of this genre.

Although True Fear: Forsaken Souls - Part 1 is not as fresh as it used to be, it stays a good puzzle game for those who can overlook its flaws. Despite the cinematic, sound design and horrific references of another era, the title gifts the genre with some well-designed ideas. The ability to instantly travel from one board to another or to set the difficulty of puzzles and in-game helpers is well thought out. Discovering this experience on Xbox or leaving it for “on the move” sessions on a tablet as it was originally designed will entirely depend on you.

PowerSlave Exhumed is a licence that fell into oblivion a long, long time ago. And few really expected its comeback in 2022 after more than 25 years of absence. Yet, the experience offered by this port is surprisingly decent. With a modern gameplay fitting the presence of the two sticks on the controller, the title is no longer as archaic to navigate. Furthermore, the levels are a mix of what was offered on the PlayStation and Saturn versions, which were different at the time. The presence of new secrets makes for a fresh experience, but the same flaws remain, namely the automatic aiming and the fact that our character is too wide, thus taking damage for nothing. Nonetheless, PowerSlave Exhumed is still a fun game to play through, albeit a little short.

Webbed offers us a pleasant walk in the countryside. Although a little short, the title provides an accessible and interesting bucolic experience. Some of the puzzles require a minimum of logic and reflection, but the solutions quickly become obvious. Other than that, the game is pleasant to play, the physics of the spiderwebs are well reproduced, but the ten or so quests and the few collectibles won’t be enough to keep you busy for more than ten hours. It’s still a nice experience for a short break between two triple AAA games.

Epitasis remains a good puzzle game that will please lovers of the genre, but its content is too scarce. Its uneven graphics and its very limited lifespan may disappoint most players. Finding a real narrative in a game of this kind happens to be quite rare and it’s a shame to have such a disappointing ending despite a decent starting point.

Cassidy takes us through her nightmares in a beautiful story. Even though the bestiary is rather scarce, the artistic direction and the mechanics quickly make us forget this bump on the road. Indeed, the weapons, powers, and items to defeat our enemies are well varied and it is with great pleasure that we alter our combat gear over the course of the game. Despite being paramount for discovering our young protagonist’s whole story, the redundancy of the levels still is a major setback. All in all, Dreamscaper is a good game that is both fun and aesthetically pleasing.

Travelling back in time through the completely delirious universe of Kraken Academy!! is not unpleasant despite its lack of striking resolutions, especially as the humorous dimension fits adequately. The investigation to discover The Perfidious’ identity is gripping, but the way to wrap it up is kind of repetitive. We would have appreciated more variety in the mini-games, as well as a real use of the Kraken-net social network to find clues for an added layer of substance. Without being transcendent, the side quests contribute to the title’s already crazy background, but they’re still too shallow to bring a real added value to the scenario. Kraken Academy!! thus graduates with honours. Teacher’s comment: “Kraken Academy!! is a studious but somewhat dissipated student, be careful not to rest too much on your laurels!"

Within an industry that sometimes struggles to renew itself, especially in the themes it tackles, Road 96 is a daring bet. Even though we freely admit that it is far from perfect, especially as regards its procedural part and its technical aspect, the title nevertheless offers an original experience that goes off the beaten track. This is portrayed by the narrative expressed through the iteration of encounters with the seven key characters. Despite being divisive, this mechanic leads to a rather unique game revolving around intertwined stories that puts the player in the position of a partial spectator of the events occurring before his eyes.

“Disappointment and disillusionment”: these are the first feelings that come up as you progress through Winter Ember. The game’s eerie universe and the Victorian environment are quite immersive, and the heavy atmosphere works especially well thanks to realistic lighting effects and an OST giving off a palpable tension at every step of the way. Sadly, the mediocre gameplay is a huge letdown! The fights are unbelievably slow, and the infiltration aspect is so erratic that they unfortunately do not make up for such a brilliant scenario. Arthur Artorias had the skills and the potential to join Sam Fisher, Agent 47 or Garett in the hall of fame of our favourite stealth masters! The title is truly paved with good intentions but unfortunately, one tends to quickly forget about them as the player’s experience is impinged by the gameplay’s inaccuracies. The title’s appreciation thus depends on the player and his tolerance towards the aforementioned problems: Winter Ember had a lot of potential, and while it is still relatively decent, we cannot help but feel disgruntled.

It is a shame that Outbreak: Contagious Memories has so many flaws. A considerable trim in the number of puzzles, and a better-suited difficulty setting, could undoubtedly have resulted in a more than decent game. Here, frustration reigns supreme, to the point where one wonders where is the coherence gone? All these blemishes are even less forgivable as this is the 6th Outbreak 3D game that repeatedly uses the same graphical resources without ever trying to correct all the problems in terms of gameplay and the rest. The developer settles for making new games with different content. All in all, unless you want to have a party paying tribute to bad games, this joke should absolutely be avoided: especially for €30.

Soundfall is quite a good surprise. It mixes a demanding, but also efficient gameplay with an eclectic and high-quality soundtrack. Country, electro, rock, funk: there is a little something for everyone. The game’s difficulty will vary depending on the musical genre, but it encourages you to try again even if you fail. Embellished with nice scenery, enemies and animations, Soundfall offers us a nice copy. The approximative aiming is kind of a drag and even though we can play in multiplayer with up to 4 players (even in local), we would have liked something else than a shared screen for all participants.

Innovating in the cruel world of brick-breaking games without going off-topic is hard. That is probably why the developers of Radon Break went for the addition of timorous novelties to the foundations laid by Breakout and Arkanoid. However, there are some good initiatives such as being able to play horizontally and the levels’ random progression. Without revolutionising the genre, Radon Break remains an enjoyable brick-breaking game that will certainly delight scorekeepers. Its low price allows it to easily find its place in our game library in order to have a breather in between two AAA games.

Deadcraft was at first quite enticing with its half-human/half-zombie hero concept. In the end, the title’s few good ideas are devilishly marred by missions devoid of any interest. After only ten hours or so, the game becomes wearying and takes precedence over the pleasure of progression. If making deliveries here and there is your thing, all your dreams will come true. On the other hand, if you are looking for a survival action RPG with advanced gameplay and a compelling storyline, chances are you will be gutted. Considering how good the hybrid hero principle looked on paper, this is truly frustrating. With a better script and less boring quests, this could have resulted in something a little more decent. We cannot advise you enough to check out the available demo to make up your own mind.

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.

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…

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!

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.

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In short, Sword of the Vagrant’s qualities and blemishes are elbowing on the same line. By largely taking its inspiration from the Vanillaware games, it offers us a polished visual prowess that has everything to divide the public, probably on the same points. Its gameplay has good elements to rally the aficionados of old-school action-RPGs, but only them. The others will probably prefer other more recent and flashier titles. With its replayability tailored for “completionists”, its attractive price may tip the scales in its favour. A little pleasure, one not so guilty, after all.

Make no mistake: this is not a cross between Mom, I missed the Plane and Doom. This is a game that uses well-established industry codes, sometimes taking things from Resident Evil, sometimes from Doom, but without ever thinking about or adapting its gameplay, all of this sprinkled with numerous nods to pop culture films. Sold as a serious, horrific and complex game, Krampus Kills is actually the opposite. Indeed, we have the feeling that DangerousBob Studio LLC is knowingly trying to hide the truth. This particularly annoyed us, but we must admit that, after the initial disappointment, we enjoyed going through the levels of this game which should show their true colours. Let’s hope that the developers understand this and come up with a future goofy production that is transparent and assertive, which will be all the better for it.

Jitsu Squad is a concentrate of the best the arcade had to offer in the 90s, obviously updated from a technical point of view. However, do not be fooled by its adorable design, the comical expressions of its characters, its many appreciable nods, and the sometimes discreet staging of an easter egg. The squad is not there to joke around but to slice and dice its way through its enemies. And with more than one player, it is always better.

It is rare to test a game that manages the feat of failing on all aspects. While offering us a borderline playable experience due to its many glitches it ALSO conveys a morally questionable message despite its good initial intentions. It turns out that Animal Shelter Simulator manages to do this non-sense with absurd brilliancy and a rare kind of talent. Everything within it is messed up in a sort of consistent way that borders on perfection.

Legendary Heroes is not a good game, or at least not on console. The handling is clearly not adapted to the controller, in addition to having a kind of latency, and being glitchy during attacks. Moreover, the progression is similar to the mobile version and you will have to wait tens or even hundreds of hours to improve your characters. There is nothing left to save except for the short games, offering several ways to win thanks to the weather or the destruction of the opponent’s base. Any MOBA fan will naturally head to the mobile version of the title which is far superior, or simply to SMITE on console which is an excellent free alternative.

This modern version of Persona 3 Portable has some solid arguments in its favour, a well-conceived storyline and a very appreciable, if slightly imperfect, translation. If you don't mind the few graphical problems and the old-fashioned look, you'll be embarking on one of the best J-RPGs to this day.

Even though one might regret that this version of Persona 4 Golden is solely a port of the 2020 PC version to which a few features and a French translation have been added, no one can take away all the qualities and the depth of writing. Persona 4 Golden was, is, and will remain one of the best J-RPGs ever created: to be discovered without any moderation.

Wave Break’s originality or gameplay are not its strongest points. On the other hand, it's really all the extras that make it so pleasant, lively and vibrant. Each session is a pleasure (especially with headphones on) and knows how to transport us in its 80's vibe. The local co-op is its greatest proposal, to the point of never leaving our list of must-have games for couch-coop sessions with friends.

Wavetale is a very pleasant modern fable to play, but its technical aspects could be improved. Even if the starting point is gloomy, this cartoon version of “Waterworld” focuses on family, ecology and mutual aid themes for a short but particularly “feel good” video game experience. Given its almost non-existent difficulty, it is perfectly suited to the youngest players as an introduction to 3D platform games, offering a resolutely accessible experience filled to the brim with positive vibes.

Tower Princess is not a demanding roguelite but it offers a quick progression to players who want to discover this kind of experience without pulling their hair out. Whilst the discovery of the different princesses imagined by AweKteaM is fun and hits the spot every time, we nonetheless regret the lack of content for the price asked, as well as the lack of replayability once reached a high level, thus making the whole thing far too simple despite a difficult setting. However, we are impressed by the quality and seriousness of the title developed by a three-person studio. You can feel the desire to offer an entertaining and well-crafted experience without taking advantage of the players. Congrats to this small team. If you are looking for a “casual” game to relax for a few short sessions: go for it.

Children of Silentown is an enjoyable add to to the point’n click category. Its luminous art direction at the service of a rather dark story is sublimated by hand-drawn environments. Its shy intention to dust off proven mechanics could have been more assertive. Even if the title suffers from small flaws, notably in the lack of musical diversity, it remains a pleasant video game discovery for lovers of the genre.

Shieldmaiden Remix Edition is an abject failure on all fronts. Unable to even reach the lower part of the spectrum of the games from which it vainly tries to take some inspiration, it adds to this another layer of abysmal content and sadness. One would be better off forgetting its very existence.

For a first game, the developers of Headware Games have done very well. Managing to capture the player’s attention and plunge them into a scary (but never terrifying) adventure, Chasing Static has enormous qualities and incredible gameplay ideas. It is a pity that they are spoiled by imprecise handling, old-fashioned graphics and a too short lifespan. Despite this, Headware Games is clearly a studio to look out for.

Raiden IV x MIKADO remix is clearly not for the occasional pilot, who should be advised to go for more affordable titles that are probably much less frustrating to complete. Saving the Earth has been a terribly serious business since the 1980s. This episode of the electrifying licence is hard to master and reminds us with a certain cheek and style that only training and perseverance are the keys to success. Of course, it is possible to confront the alien invasion with the difficulty settings at a minimum, but undermining the challenge would spoil the whole experience.

Technically, Backfirewall has everything to please: caustic humour, a minimalist and original art direction, a fresh concept and exciting puzzles. It is a shame that the handling and glitches are tarnishing the experience. It did not need much more to become a real favourite.

Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition is undoubtedly a great game. Despite some controller issues, it remains a must-have for all strategy fans, especially as it stays 100% true to the original content or gameplay. Primarily aimed at the most hardcore gamers and those without a powerful enough PC, do not expect to do more than the solo modes, especially in crossplay, unless you use a keyboard and mouse.

Albacete Warrior deserves neither our time nor our money. Between its questionable artistic choices, its omnipresent vulgarity, its numerous handling problems and its absurd lifespan, it can only be destined to a particular audience of diehard indie game fans.

Demon Hunter 2: New Chapter does not revolutionise the formula, but it nonetheless remains a safe bet for fans of the genre. Graphically, it is neat and well designed: you can find objects without having to squint and tilt your head sideways. It is a pleasure to find the basics of a classic point and click game, and you can appreciate the few new ingredients that are sprinkled here and there. As for the usual narrative that mixes the fantasy paradigm with everyday life elements, it works like a charm. There is no wow effect in this new chapter, but it is a good vintage where a few visual approximations can be excused.

“Shmup is not dead”. We are not the one saying it, but the game at the end of its rolling credits. With its stripped-down and minimalist look, Graze Counter GM invites us to learn or study one of the crucial gameplay styles of modern shoot'em ups in an almost academic way. Much more technical and less crude than one might think at first glance, it embodies a clear and precise user manual coupled with a progressive practice for the brave, perfectionist or unconscious individual who would like to master one day the incredibly difficult art of danmaku.

Ballotron Oceans is a simple game that allows you to relax after a hard day thanks to its very relaxing atmosphere. The title offers mechanics that, although simple, require the player to have some good thinking to complete. Hitting the green ball with the blue ball will not be so easy as there are many obstacles in the way and completion is all the more satisfying.

Clunky Hero had attracted us with its shiny visuals and its promises of Metroidvania tinged with RPG and humor. In the end, it's a visually successful game, but with an insipid base, a terrible level design and big optimization problems.

When you see the good ratings of Startup Company on PC, you can imagine that a majority of the flaws present on console are due to the clumsy port. Hell is paved with good intentions, may Startup Company burn there and rise from its ashes with a better copy for the well-being of console players. Thank you!

For those who wish to discover the pleasure and stress of running around in the shoes of a chef managing his business, Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator is for you. Cyanide studio offers us a complete immersion in the daily life of a restaurant owner. Unfortunately, the Michelin Guide logo is not there to acknowledge the brilliancy of the artistic direction and gameplay, which are completely outdated. On the other hand, if you do not care about the graphics and are looking for a real management game in the culinary space, then it would be a real pickle to miss it.

As a fast-FPS mixing 2D and 3D and the first project of an independent studio composed of only three people, Fashion Police Squad had all the odds stacked against it. Nevertheless, it turns out to be quite an intense and enjoyable adventure. Despite a life span that is way too short, it is a surprising and devilishly addictive little gold nugget.

Let us greet the arrival of Tales of Symphonia Remaster on Xbox One and Xbox Series the honourable way: by advising you NOT to buy it. Unless you do not have any other game system (like a PlayStation 3) and really want to discover this exceptional title, it is better to pass until Bandai Namco finally decides to offer one of the best titles of its saga the version it truly deserves... or a substantial price drop.

Rise of fox hero cannot claim to be a game that leans towards learning if it implements a boss at the end of the first level that is almost impossible for a rookie to beat. However, we feel that the target audience is indeed first-time players: a very attractive price, a non-existent scenario, recognisable enemies, small bonuses to brighten up the progression and a multi-purpose sword for everything else – ultimately, a quick to learn gameplay. As a result, with such an abnormal high difficulty, the game will inevitably upset some players. A child will not be able to do it and a more experienced player will be bored. Rise of fox hero missed its goal: too bad, its graphics were so cute.

We enjoyed the first episode of Dusty and Piper's adventures. We were therefore looking forward to this new title, and what a ride it was! The artistic direction is still as poetic and shimmering as ever. The realisation is flawless, even though we would have liked to fight more opponents. The musicality is once again omnipresent and we gladly rediscover the sarcastic ritornellos punctuating the adventure. Beyond its childish outer layer, Figment deals with mature topics. This second title is therefore the opportunity for a new introspection. If the studio plans to make a trilogy, count us in to keep on with this therapy.

Initially, Geometric Sniper - Blood in Paris sent shivers down our spine before comfortably warming us up. Tempted by the proposal of a “Where's Wally?” video game, the non-existent scenario and the repeated stereotypes as well as the bad memories during which the title takes place made our heart cold as ice. Once we put aside what can barely be called a storyline and we shift our focus on searching for baguettes around the Eiffel Tower, a warm smile came over us. When played among people, the game finally unveils its richness and enables us to rediscover the joy of having fun with others thanks to a simple but effective video game allowing everyone to have a good time, whether you are a gamer or not. All of this for a price lower than 3€: what more could one ask for?

Project Zero: The Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is one of the best games of the licence in the West in its finest habillage. Despite an impressive atmosphere and an excellent French localisation, it suffers from an unpleasant sluggishness, far from the genre's classics: something that might not be everybody’s cup of tea.

Mato Anomalies is a textbook case of something indefensible and beyond all reason. Aping (not to say plagiarizing) the entirety of what was set up by Atlus without even trying to hide it, this looks more like a cheap counterfeit than a real game. Too chatty, too long and without any originality: it’s art direction is the only thing worth a look. So why waste time on a copycat when there are four excellent originals available on the same console?