Laika: Aged Through Blood confirms the talent of the teams from Brainwash Gang. The title combines the best of a roguelite with the wealth of a Metroidvania without a single false note, all the while generously revisiting the genres. The difficulty is perfectly balanced, and although the game is designed to be punitive, it never becomes frustrating. Improved by a highly immersive soundtrack and an artistic direction that draws you in from the very first moment, the game is a real nugget. For us, it is a real coup de coeur that we cannot recommend highly enough.

Have a Nice Death is an excellent roguelite, full of humour and with a very nice artistic direction. For its second game, the studio from Montpellier (cocorico!) has set the bar very high. Long, demanding and addictive … while it may be harder to get to grips with than Moonlighter or Hades for newcomers, it remains an excellent pillar of the genre. Needless to say, once you have wandered the corridors of Death Incorporated, you will not be afraid of Death!

Pixel Cafe is a small-scale reflection about customer service in the restaurant industry. All the variables are in place to make us aware of the complexity of the job, while sitting behind a screen with a joystick in hand. Spoiler alert: it is clearly not easy. Despite the catering aspect, you have to learn how to manage your time and deal with unhappy customers, sometimes at the expense of another one. The game does not paint a rosy picture of the job, which has admittedly as many good sides as bad ones. But that is only one side of the story, as the bulk of the game focuses on Pixel's life and its evolution. One can easily identify with her, both in terms of life's hardships and her journey, making for quite an immersive experience. The formula works perfectly and strikes the right balance between narrative and time management. All in all, this Baltoro Games production shines with its rich content, fancy restaurants, well-designed story and clever gameplay. The pixel art is a real charm, and a perfect match for what Pixel Cafe has to offer.

Rough Justice '84 is a game with plenty of potential, both in its narrative and in its gameplay. Unfortunately, players will have to wait for several updates and patches to get the full experience of it. As it stands, the game does not let you get to the end of the adventure. It is a shame, because its graphic identity and atmosphere suggested it might be a little nugget.

Slava Gris’s work has the merit of immersing the player in themes that are rarely, if ever, exploited in video games. As a result, due to its heavy atmosphere and themes, Fearmonium is not suitable for everybody. A slight lack of finish prevents it from becoming a game one would wholeheartedly recommend. A general update of its ergonomics to address the troubles encountered during our test would be more than welcome. Nonetheless, it remains an attractive proposition in terms of its artistic direction, interesting in the themes it tackles and impressive in the work it achieves.

Howl came very close to being a real golden nugget. Thankfully, its low price will allow strategy aficionados to give it a try despite its repetitive nature. Notwithstanding its flaws, the game is nonetheless full of good ideas. All the more reason to hope that the studio's next creation will be a true masterpiece.

Song of Nunu is a real success. While the game does not try to reinvent an already well-known and tried formula, it shows that it has perfectly understood its codes and techniques. The story is perfectly paced, the adventure never runs out of steam: how pleasant. With a finale that foreshadows a sequel, it is sad to learn that Riot Games has decided to stop developing Spin Offs from its universe. Song of Nunu will therefore be the swan song of a series of games revolving around League of Legends’ lore.

KarmaZoo is a great lesson in cooperative gaming. By placing love at the heart of its identity, the title offers a positive and constructive experience in an era filled with multiplayer game revolving around violence. It is great to constantly have to think about the best way to help your partners achieve a common goal, and not be called names when you fail. In short, this is a true cross-generational masterpiece to be put in everyone’s hands, even for those a bit grumpy.

This new opus is enriched with mysteries and new graphics, enhanced by the Unreal Engine 4, and will appeal to old and new gamers alike. Let us face it, Evil Nun The Broken Mask is, to our great surprise, a little golden nugget with a successful art direction, exhilarating gameplay, a solid narrative and plenty of puzzles. It is a fine achievement for a low-budget studio like Keplerians, and one that almost won our hearts! We are sorry that Sister Madeleine does not strike fear into your heart, and that there are some glitches with the disappearance of objects linked to our goals. But we would like to say a big thank you to the Keplerians studio for making our wishes come true!

Spells & Secrets attempts to propose a refreshingly colourful take on a world steeped in chaos to deliver a magical gaming experience. The different parts take turns, but never look the same. The procedural generation of the levels allows for some well needed diversity to mitigate the redundancy of the genre, even though the biomes always follow each other in the same order. The roguelike aspect of the opus may confuse players not used to the genre. Spells & Secrets quickly becomes repetitive as you go from one game to the next, even if it does allow you to progress further and further through the levels. Fortunately, the game's cute and sweet side contrasts with the elementary storyline. The Greifenstein Academy welcomes you into its fold, but leaves you to fend for yourself, forcing you to learn the mechanics quickly and complete a series of runs in order to progress as quickly as possible. In the end, Spells & Secret is a cute game that requires you to persevere to reach the ultimate goal and save the school.

PixelSplit Games has delivered a successful title with a nightmarish atmosphere, albeit with a few shortcomings inherent to the indie scene. All the same, we were able to enjoy the unusual storytelling and well-crafted puzzles. It is a great story to enjoy, despite recurring pacing problems. The horror genre is highly subjective and sometimes hard to pin down, which is why we recommend this title to anyone who was intrigued by the trailer.

Hotel Renovator is a great hotel and interior design simulation game. With tons of objects and creative tools at your disposal, the title lets you design magnificent spaces with unique styles. The various quests in the story mode are, for the most part, quite fun, and provide a good introduction to the game. However, a few texture glitches, a number of slowdowns and the handling of certain objects sometimes mar the gameplay experience. There's no doubt that with a few patches, the game would be much more enjoyable. Despite these few setbacks, we still enjoyed fine-tuning, creating and decorating our hotel. There's no doubt that the title will appeal to fans of the genre and those looking for a relaxing, creative game.

Let’s face it, Quadroids is an excellent videogame experience. The way the levels are split between several screens is brilliantly executed and offers a real challenge throughout the adventure. The little trials to collect medals offer a replayability that also allows you to progress. We have our doubts regarding the random difficulty spikes and the Quark saving glitch, but ultimately, the game proposes a truly stimulating experience: it is a great way to rack your brains and keep your circuits from getting rusty!

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles has many good ideas, but as it stands, it lacks polishing. In addition to its overly minimalist storyline and gameplay, the game has a few glitches and some of its mechanics are rather obscure at times. Moreover, the controls respond poorly when you move around the world map. A shame, given its potential. Nonetheless, it is the brainchild of a very small and passionate team, so let us hope that the initial feedback will enable them to set things straight with an update.

Without being a perfect game, Terra Memoria will remain a unforgettable adventure for those who explore this uncharted fantasy world. The playable characters are as endearing as those you encounter, encouraging the player to complete the game's many quests. Additional activities quickly become addictive, providing moments of relaxation or stimulation. And, although combat doesn't evolve much over the hours, it remains captivating and tactical. It's with a slight twinge of regret that we bid farewell to this lovely experience, retaining for a long time to come the memory of an unforgettable adventure...

After 7 hours of play, it's clear that One Last Breath is much more than just a video game. With its easy-to-access game mechanics, dark atmosphere and thoughtful reflection about his univers, this game offers an engaging and meaningful videogame experience, an odyssey into the heart of a world in jeopardy, where hope and desolation exist side by side in a fragile balance. One Last Breath is more than just entertainment: it confronts us with our responsibility towards the Earth, reminding us that every action we take has an impact on our environment. Through its poignant message and immersive gameplay, the game invites us to reflect on our own role in preserving nature, and to act responsibly to ensure a sustainable future for our planet.

The Möbius Machine is a platform adventure game based on exploration and combat. The Madruga Works studio has pulled off an impressive feat! The art direction, story and atmosphere are spellbinding, and the gameplay is both smooth and precise, offering vibrant fights. It's a wonderful surprise, and looks very promising for what's to come. However, despite its many qualities, the title is challenging and should not be played by everyone, at the risk of making you drop the controller. A high-flying challenge to be recommended to enthusiasts of the genre.

Mix some retro survival horror with RPG ingredients, add a touch of roguelike and sprinkle it all with a hint of souls-like. Shake well! The result is Withering Rooms: a tasty 2.5D horror adventure that blends traditional horror with modern level design to deliver an original, captivating and moreish videogame experience.

Manor Lords represents an impressive feat, especially when you consider that it was created by a single, passionate developer. With its in-depth gameplay mechanics, realistic estate management and immersive strategic combat, it offers a unique experience that transports us right back into the Middle Ages. Despite the complexity of its mechanics, the game is easy to get to grips with, instantly immersing us from the very first minutes we lay our hands on it. The logic behind the villages and production lines is remarkably well thought out, making for a natural and satisfying town-building experience. Moreover, Manor Lords is constantly evolving with new features and game modes, adding to the already solid experience offered at the time of its early access release. The active community and feedback from the developer are helping to shape the future of the game, giving us a glimpse of an even brighter future. Despite a few minor shortcomings, Manor Lords has already established itself as a reference in the city-builder genre thanks to an immersive and captivating experience that promises hours of exciting gameplay. With its release scheduled for the 26th of April, there is no doubt that Manor Lords will capture the gamers’ hearts.

The World After brings a welcome breath of fresh air to the world of FMV games. It combines modern cinematic art with old-fashioned point 'n click mechanics. The title invites us to reflect on mankind's evolution in the face of environmental hazards and our ability to learn from past mistakes. However, it is regrettable that the adventure ends so quickly. Fortunately, Burning Sunset has already announced its next project, which will take place in the enchanting setting of the Frioul Islands in Marseille, and we cannot wait!

Nine Noir Lives unfolds a captivating detective story, packed with humour and puzzles, where mischievous felines take centre stage in a noir setting. The game’s visuals are sublimely designed, and the thriller-like atmosphere is perfectly enhanced by traditional point-and-click gameplay. It is just a shame that a few glitches can uproot one from the experience. This first title looks very promising for the Silvernode Games studio, and it will be interesting to follow its future development.

Gift navigates the tumultuous waters of the platforming genre with a certain ease. It makes up for its technical shortcomings with excellent level design and an appropriately bizarre graphic universe. While the story may be too cryptic for some players, fans of Inside-style adventures should be delighted.

As fans of the genre will know, it is all about blowing a fuse, and yet, we keep getting back for second serving! Reload the same save game 50 times, move a character one square to see what the consequences are, and gloat when you finally get it right! Capes offers exactly the challenge you would expect for any turn-based strategy enthusiast: neither too repetitive nor too exhaustive. The game manages to be funny without falling into the pitfalls of the unsubtle humour of some Marvel productions (hello, Thor: Love and Thunder!). While the title is not without its flaws, it is generous in what it offers and genuinely fun. In short, everything you would expect from a good video game.

As fans of the genre will know, it is all about blowing a fuse, and yet, we keep getting back for second serving! Reload the same save game 50 times, move a character one square to see what the consequences are, and gloat when you finally get it right! Capes offers exactly the challenge you would expect for any turn-based strategy enthusiast: neither too repetitive nor too exhaustive. The game manages to be funny without falling into the pitfalls of the unsubtle humour of some Marvel productions (hello, Thor: Love and Thunder!). While the title is not without its flaws, it is generous in what it offers and genuinely fun. In short, everything you would expect from a good video game.

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami has a clever concept, but its lifespan is clearly too short. Although the concept would probably have proved redundant if spread out over dozens of hours, we would still have liked to see the Salami Bandit's secret not revealed so quickly. A few more environments, new characters and more “crimes” would have been appreciated. As it is, the price of the game is a bit high for the entertainment it offers. A shame, really!

MiceGard offers a captivating epic, immersing us in a world inspired by Norse mythology, in which Viking mice face various perils in the name of honour and vengeance. Despite the sometimes simplistic graphics, limited soundtrack and fairly short lifespan, the gameplay experience is made enjoyable by accessible mechanics, an interesting story and a certain degree of emotional immersion. All in all, MiceGard is an entertaining journey for fans of action and adventure.

While Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge's environmental values and beautiful graphics are appreciated, it is impossible to ignore the weariness that sets in after a few hours. Once you have got past the wonder of the pretty pastel graphics, you realise that the game only has two or three gameplay mechanics in its sleeve, which it rehashes at every opportunity. The little creatures may be cute, but we would have liked to see a more advanced breeding system and more varied interactions. Goes to show that looks are not everything.

After more than 30 hours on Xbox Series X, we can say that Valorant is a successful console adaptation, albeit with room for improvement in our opinion. Inspired by Counter-Strike with hero shooter mechanics, the game offers an interesting strategic dynamic. Despite the aim assist and it's shortcomings, Riot Games manages to offer adjustments to personalize the experience. With its steady pace and surgical-precision approach, the console version of Valorant overcomes challenges where others have failed, offering a captivating, strategic gaming experience that succeeds its landing on consoles.