Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is not a game for everyone. It requires a certain tolerance for technical clumsiness, a taste for free exploration, and an attraction to heavy, mystical atmospheres. The game does not revolutionise the genre, but it has a solid grasp of the mechanics it chooses to exploit. And for those who are willing to dive in, it offers a rewarding experience, rich in meaning and atmosphere, which unfolds and gains depth throughout the adventure. It is a work marked by the passion of its creators, who, despite their limited resources, have managed to propose a unique open world, challenging gameplay and an interesting alternative mythology. Despite lacking some proper finish, this adventure and its captivating universe and gameplay are worth spending some time on.

Like a mischievous cannibox, Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai knows how to lure us in only to bite us in the rear afterwards. The promise of reliving the peregrinations of Dai and his friends is partially fulfilled, but weighed down by an intrusive narrative that turns the player into a mere spectator, something connoisseurs can overlook, but that might upset the rest with its restrictive format. The combat gameplay lacks ambition, offering something less complete and enjoyable to play than other titles in the genre, even those bearing the Dragon Quest stamp. What is left is the roguelike spirit of collecting memories, which here is relatively scarce in its offering, questionably balanced and, above all, contradictory with the spirit of the licence: that of the gradual rise in power of the characters through epic confrontations. All in all, Infinity Strash is not completely off the mark, but it still falls well short of its objective of perpetuating the legend, at least by a good dragon's length.

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.

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.

Sand Land is an excellent surprise. Despite our fear of a 1:1 adaptation of the manga, it instead offers us a vast, rich and interesting universe that is thrilling to explore. Despite a few accessibility weaknesses and a frustrating slow dialogue flow, the game is satisfying in both its combat and its adventure phases. Lastly, while the second half of the story may be less convincing, it truly shows that no one is yet capable of taking up the torch of Akira Toriyama's legacy.

Even though Bad Dream: Coma is a classic of the genre among the multitude of point’n click games, it somehow manages to stand out thanks to its macabre atmosphere and, above all, its much appreciated replayability. With different goals depending on your decisions, Bad Dream is rather complete and offers interesting in-game possibilities despite the sometimes tricky puzzles. For €10 on the store, it would be a shame to miss such an enjoyable nightmare.

Toxic Commando delivers an effective cooperative stress-reliever, driven by an unapologetic B-movie vibe, spectacular hordes, complementary classes and vehicles that make for memorable road trip sequences. That said, a flimsy narrative, repetitive objectives, slow progression and shaky technical performance (particularly on Xbox Series X with dynamic resolution) limit its longevity and impact. When played as a team, the game hits its stride and offers genuinely exhilarating moments of chaos, but it reveals its shortcomings over time in single-player. If you’re looking for a cooperative shooter that’s immediately accessible and packed with enemies to blast, you’ll find plenty to enjoy, provided you can accept a fairly repetitive gameplay loop and uneven visual quality on Xbox.

Been so pleasantly accustomed to the narrative quality of DigixArt studio’s works, we were not prepared for discovering Road 96: Mile 0. Rather than capitalising on the previous episode's success by regurgitating its concept, the developers took a risk by proposing a totally different narrative construction in the same universe. This bold gesture did not convince us. Despite the quality of the production and the soundtrack, the game's life span is far too short to leave us with an unforgettable memory.

Thanks to its fast-paced trailers, Exoprimal had a lot going for it. Unfortunately, after just a few hours of play, we soon realise that the content is not up to scratch. Without being exceptional per se, it nonetheless has a certain charm: what a pity. The thrilling idea of putting pressure on the two teams during game sessions is quite clever, as are the various exoskeletons that delight us. But the whole thing is swiftly marred by the redundancy that sets in. If the Japanese studio does not get involved soon, Exoprimal could well disappear like the dinosaurs...

It is a mixed picture for Sniper Elite: Resistance. Far too similar to Sniper Elite 5, this spin-off does not really bring anything new and fresh to the franchise, but it offers a controlled and particularly enjoyable experience during the various missions. That being said, there are a few bugs and the graphics, while pleasant, feel a bit disused. Nevertheless, fans of the franchise will certainly feel at home and will find everything they love in this title, thanks to its effective gameplay and a formula that has proven its worth over the past twenty years or so. We can only recommend enjoying this game at a low price, as it feels more like an expansion than an entire new game in its own right.

Bladed Fury is one of those games that is hard to enjoy at first, but even harder to let go of once you’ve completed it. Considering how many different paths there are, it’s a shame that the main story happens to be so short. Nonetheless, NExT Studios offers us a perfectly-well-made piece of art brilliantly achieving the challenge of creating an action-oriented shadow theatre. What if this was the true definition of what martial arts are?

Little Nightmares III follows in the footsteps of its predecessors, without really taking any risks. While the introduction of online co-op brings a new dynamic, it's not enough to compensate a formula that struggles to reinvent itself. The lack of innovation, repetitive mechanics and overly directive AI in solo mode detract from the experience, especially for regular players. The atmosphere remains effective, the puzzles are well crafted and the universe, as disturbing as ever, may captivate newcomers, but veterans of the saga may feel a certain weariness. An honest sequel, certainly, but one that lacks the spark that made players shiver with excitement on day one.

Beautiful, lively and intense, Lego 2K Drive is as pleasant to watch as it is to handle. Based on classic karting game mechanics (turbo drifts, objects to throw, etc.), it does not forget to add its own touch by offering some well thought out subtleties. First of all, the story mode (the adventure’s core) has nothing to be shy of in terms of activities compared to Forza Horizon games and it can be played by two people simultaneously. However, it must be noted that the monetisation aspect is rather invasive with its integrated purchases and a season pass. We can only hope that this optional paid content will be used to finance additions to the title and that the support will be long-lasting, because the basic material is excellent.

Hot Wheels Unleashed is quite a positive surprise. It gained our attention when it was first announced and after testing it, we can easily say we’re impressed. Thanks to its 100% arcade gameplay and its easy handling, one is immediately having fun. Content-wise, the game is quite generous, both in terms of the number of cars and tracks available. The latter are a real success, magnified by superb lighting effects. The only downside is that collisions with the environment and opponents lack impact. Nevertheless, Milestone delivers a beautiful copy that will delight both young and old gamers.

Even if everything is not perfect, Outcast A New Beginning is entertaining and pleasant to play, offering us an adventure filled with action and exploration. The planet Adelpha proves to be spellbinding and the story of the Talan race is captivating. The improvements made to the graphics and gameplay modernise the title, and we had a great time. However, we would have appreciated a slightly more developed storyline, and even if the game does not revolutionise the genre, Appeal Studios comes through with flying colours.

Beyond its near-perfect graphics, The Invincible fails to keep us gripped in the long haul. According to our research, the game doesn’t strictly follow the book and takes certain liberties with the story. This results in a game following the narrative codes and pushing further and further away any kind of action. If it had been made entirely as a narrative game, the codes would have been in line. However, it was sold to us as an adventure game, which means that the plot had to be introduced more quickly to keep the player engaged until the end. Knowing this, it seems hard to enjoy all eleven endings. Nonetheless, The Invincible remains a high-quality space adventure game that is more than worthy of our attention. Yasna says this during his journey: “Faced with a beautiful landscape, an hour can seem like a minute.” This quote sums up the title perfectly. Despite its shortcomings in terms of action, its aesthetics compel us to linger, if only to contemplate what Starward Industries has to offer: space, its immensity, its stillness, peace and beauty. We could almost forget that this planet aims to exterminate us: some deaths are far more troubling.

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!

Clash: Artifacts of Chaos certainly suffers from a lack of budget and polish despite the few postponements already made. Adorned with a scrumptious graphic design and an enjoyable soundtrack, ACE Team's title unfortunately collects shortcomings. If in a tolerant mood, we would say it is just above the average line; in a more virulent one, we would say it is simply unbearable. We wish we could have ignored some of the flaws and game design choices, but the accumulation of a bland storyline lacking impact and emotion, the borderline useless RPG components and the quite ill-adjusted difficulty got the better of our patience, to the point of quitting the adventure before the climax. An unfortunate disappointment, that needs to be quickly forgotten.

Reverie Knights Tactics is an excellent tactical RPG. Its well-oiled combat system offers some real sensations and will make our brains go into hyperdrive. Going half-cocked will follow with an unprecedented demise. To move forward, you must take advantage of the confrontations’ richness, and this will be done with a large grin on your face thanks to an interesting and well-told narrative, and most importantly, thanks to choices that will have a measurable impact. All of this within an enticing visual environment on which great studios have contributed. Yes, what we have here is a very good game, although a little short if done straightforwardly.

Minecraft Legends is a potential gem in the making. While it does not revolutionise the genre, it brings a refreshing twist to strategy games with its unusual third-person camera angle. Once you get the hang of it, the title becomes a real pleasure to play. We still have questions about the multiplayer, which we imagine to be really fun and promising. Its potential remains to be confirmed, but the foundations are solid. All in all, without even taking this aspect into account, Minecraft Legends is a spin-off that we consider successful, accessible and enjoyable to play. See you on the battlefield, comrades?

Even though filled with good ideas, Strayed Lights gives us the impression of being unfinished. It is as if a polishing phase was missing, which would have done it the world of good. In the end, despite such good bones, we can only feel frustrated. Message to Embers Games: don’t rest on your laurels, you have a diamond in the rough in your hands. We are impatiently waiting for a sequel that will be able to take advantage of the universe we see in the background. We want to discover the truth about this falling civilisation and its Lovecraftian architecture. Unfortunately, here, some things are still missing.

Initially scheduled exclusively for PC, the release of Silt on console is a great opportunity to discover Spiral Circus’ beautiful first accomplishment. This game, which can be described as a puzzle/adventure game, plunges us into the oceanic abyss inspired by the dark art of Mr. Mead. Despite a very short lifespan and some rare display bugs, Silt offers a different experience from what we are used to. With its efficient gameplay mechanics and original art direction, the title manages to stand out. Silt is a treasure lost at the bottom of the sea worthy of being discovered.

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.

Annapurna Interactive truly is a well-tried publisher and Luis Antonio sets in stone his talent thanks to 12 Minutes. Despite feeling like swimming in a fish bowl during a few loops, the title manages nonetheless to absorb the player in a story that is both captivating and confusing for at least a good five hours if one enjoys solving puzzles as well as making their brain overheat. Graphically simple, yet efficient, the characters’ charisma and magnetism rely heavily on the amazing performances by James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley and Willem Dafoe. The game can be done again a few times if one wishes to unlock the alternate endings for curiosity’s sake. Even though 12 Minutes isn’t perfect, it can easily join the big boys.

Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game is an asymmetric multiplayer experience that pays tribute to the cult 1988 film, skilfully blending horror and black humour. While the game doesn't revolutionise the genre and has a few technical issues, it does stand out for its attractive graphics, dynamic gameplay and slapstick clownish cinematics: a perfect combo for evenings with some friends. We hope that frequent and consistent updates will enrich this entertaining universe.

If you like mythology, interactive comics and Visual Novels, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical is for you! The game tackles topical and sometimes difficult subjects, such as gender and sexuality, disability and post-traumatic stress disorder. The adventure is short but fast-paced, and brilliantly plays on both the codes of the musical and the ancient myths scene. However, its price (€29.99) might be excessive given how quickly it can be completed. Its few translations and responsiveness problems in no way detract from its fascinating storyline, and are nothing that an update will not rectify at a later date.

Endzone - A World Apart is a very good adaptation for the home video game consoles. The key mapping and the different options are cleverly designed for the controller. As for the game itself, it offers a good mix between city-building and management of our emerging society. The gameplay loop manages to renew itself and brilliantly succeeds in immersing us in this universe and keeping us there for several hours. The post-apocalyptic atmosphere is as real as it gets, and the different game mechanics result in a straightforward and enjoyable title for whoever likes to spend hours managing a city and a fictional society.

Unlike almost anything else made in recent decades, Harold Halibut opts for an uncluttered gameplay in order to concentrate on its storyline. Similarly to an interactive film, the game encourages exploration, is caring, inclusive and wickedly hilarious. With a final twist that is absolutely impossible to predict, Harold Halibut proves that, far from blockbusters and other AAAs with Hollywood funds that bet everything on their appearance, video games still have something to say.