Nightrein fulfils the dream of going of roaming a familiar universe with friends. Will you be hooked on it all night? Not necessarily. However, FromSoftware's DNA is clearly present in the learning curve, the challenges and the feeling of pushing yourself beyond your limits. Nightreign is a roguelike game whose addictive potential will depend on how much you invest in it. Its multiplayer aspect could be improved with for example the much-requested two-player mode, integrated chat, or simply cross-play. Still, it's a nice dip into multiplayer gaming, and we look forward to seeing how the studio integrates this aspect into its future productions.

Robots at Midnight presents itself as a light and stylised alternative to traditional Souls-like games. With its streamlined mechanics, visually distinct universe and deliberately accessible gameplay, it manages to offer an enjoyable experience, driven by a few original ideas such as the MITT space-gauntlet and the dynamic sequences linked to when midnight strikes. However, beyond this promising façade, the game quickly reveals its limitations. Its short lifespan, lack of gameplay depth and sparse world betray the constraints of a modest project that struggles to live up to its ambitions. The gameplay, while functional, remains too linear to inspire real engagement, and the narrative and aesthetic elements never find the scope necessary to transform discovery into lasting immersion. Ultimately, Robots at Midnight is no failure, but it never really goes beyond the stage of an interesting prototype. It lays intriguing foundations without exploring them in depth, and is aimed primarily at a curious audience looking for a short, unusual and relatively accessible adventure in an often demanding genre.

MindsEye had potential: a futuristic universe, an intriguing storyline and powerful themes about AI and its technological challenges, but the result is disappointing. The gameplay is sorely lacking in fluidity and originality, the enemy AI suffers from a glaring lack of responsiveness and consistency, and the linear and repetitive missions quickly become tedious. Even Redrock City, which showed promise, appears desperately empty with no side activities and, above all, no soul. And the disappointment doesn't end there. Visually, the graphics fall short of current standards with persistent technical issues such as flickering, slowdowns, popping and frame rate drops despite patches. MindsEye joins the depressing and growing list of games that were released prematurely and not really finished. The studio is trying to reassure players by releasing a series of updates to improve the overall experience. A multiplayer mode and a construction system have also been announced to enrich the content. But will all this be enough to give MindsEye a second wind similar to Cyberpunk 2077's comeback?

The problem with Star Overdrive is that it's just an average game in a market where hundreds of titles are released every day. So why give it a chance when there are other, better-made games out there? However, we must salute the achievement of the independent studio, which has managed to create a dynamic open world with a stable frame rate. So much so that we are sorry to have to give such a negative assessment of the game. Unfortunately, Star Overdrive is more frustrating than fun and fails to become the space-based Breath of the Wild it aspires to be, but who knows... maybe in three or four updates?

Joyfully absurd, Date Everything is a fun dating simulator that tackles real issues around mental and sexual health with a great deal of kindness. These are topics that it's perfectly possible to ignore in order to focus on ending a romance with a bath towel! The title is still imperfect due to bugs and a lack of accessibility options, but it already offers a concept that is fun enough to attract curious and open-minded players. It's not the game of the year, but we applaud the originality shown by Sassy Chap and Team17.

30 Birds is a poetic and funny game that blends an oriental tale with a detective story. In this enchanting journey, the player takes on the role of Zig who navigates through breathtaking landscapes and solves fun and complex puzzles in an attempt to unravel the mystery of Simurgh's disappearance.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to live with your double, The Alters might have the answer! The game is as varied as the multiverse that inspired it, accessible to newcomers and challenging for survival fans, comical in its misunderstandings and dramatic in its stakes. An original adventure brimming with good ideas that is definitely worth checking out. In fact, we are going back for more!

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.

Throes of the Watchmaker manages to complement Sea of Stars without weighing it down with a well-thought-out adventure that finally brings its heroes down from their pedestals to confront their deepest fears. It's a wonderful gift for fans and further proof of Sabotage Studio's talent. Since the game is still available in Game Pass and the DLC is free, fans of old-school turn-based RPGs have no reason not to give it a try.

Onimusha 2 remains an experience of its time. Visually, like its hero, the game hasn't aged a bit, and the gameplay mechanics are enjoyable, despite camera angles that will frustrate many players. There's no denying that Capcom has done a neat job of making it more digestible. The poor writing and its gallery of ridiculous villains,which by the way shouldn't be taken seriously, unfortunately drag it through the mud.

Despite a few imperfections, Blades of Fire stands out as an intense adventure where challenge and strategy are at the heart of the gameplay. Its captivating universe with unique characters and its varied and customisable combat system offer an immersive experience that rewards persevering players. However, the forging system may appeal to fans of customisation, but it may also confuse those looking for immediate gameplay.

Post Trauma does pretty well thanks to its immersive Silent Hill-esque atmosphere and its sordid and intriguing universe, enhanced by high-quality sound design. However, the rigid gameplay, the sometimes temperamental camera, the limited bestiary and a few texture and flickering issues, as well as collision bugs, detract from the experience. Despite these flaws, the title remains an immersive experience that knows how to play on its oppressive atmosphere to captivate thrill seekers. Indeed, given its modest price (€15), it remains an honest offering.

Right from the start, Despelote shows its offensive ambitions with its offbeat artistic direction. The mix of semi-photographic settings and drawn characters is instantly appealing. Unfortunately, the development team fails to fully realise its ambitions due to overly pixelated textures in certain environments. Simultaneously, a notable flaw linked to a lack of flexibility in the progression system warrants a yellow card. Upon analysing the inaccuracy of the shots, the title avoids a red card by a thread and we will stick with raising a white flag. Indeed, the appeal of the experience lies not in its football gameplay, but in its storytelling, which offers a universal message. This satisfying narrative therefore allows the game to score a short but sweet victory in our little football-loving hearts.

Preserve is a pleasant surprise. We were expecting yet another classic building game, but this is nothing of the sort. Thanks to its original and ingenious gameplay and its card-playing and card-laying system, it stands out and offers players a relaxing moment of reflection without frustration. Finally, its colourful graphics and nature theme make it enjoyable to create beautiful biomes that invite you to explore and discover them fully. We highly recommend this title as it offers a soothing and addictive escape that is good for the soul.

The Precinct aims to change the GTA-style genre by reversing the roles, featuring more structured police gameplay and a retro atmosphere inspired by 1980s crime films. While the concept, aesthetics and variety of patrol situations are appealing, the game suffers from a lack of narrative depth, repetitive gameplay and notable technical issues. The game offers an arcade-style police simulation, in which you shouldn't expect anything more than a sandbox world, but one in which you can still have a good time.

Revenge of the Savage Planet is a successful and improved sequel to its predecessor with a larger universe, four planets to explore and a change of perspective to third person. We appreciate its enriched and smoother gameplay, new weapons and the addition of local co-op which really add to the fun. We are also delighted to see the return of the game's slapstick humour and colourful art direction, which remain key elements that reinforce its unique identity. Despite a few minor bugs and some aspects that may divide opinion, such as the third-person view and the absurd parody, this intergalactic adventure, while not revolutionising the genre, remains enjoyable and will delight fans of exploration. We recommend playing it with a friend. Since it is already available in Xbox Game Pass, it would be a shame to miss out!

After a promising first instalment, this second one struggles to reinvent itself, repeating the same strengths and weaknesses of its predecessor. The pace remains slow and uneven with an onset that is slow to get going and lacks originality. As for the ending, it is vague and overly predictable, leaving several questions unanswered while raising new ones, which only adds to the frustration and may disappoint. Despite its undeniable qualities, the experience ends on a mixed note, leaving a bitter aftertaste as our expectations were so high.

Spirit of the North 2 fixes many of the flaws of its predecessor. While it still has too many frustrating issues, we still appreciate its peaceful and contemplative atmosphere, the variety of its settings, and the sense of majesty it exudes. The adventure isn't perfect, but it's far from disappointing. All that's left for Infuse to do is polish it up one last time, and we'll have the first game where the best part is actually getting lost.

Once Upon A Puppet stands out as an original and charming work, carried by remarkable artistic direction and poetic storytelling. Thanks to the ingenuity of its gameplay based on cooperation and the bonds between Drev and Nieve, the game skilfully blends emotion, reflection and combat, while immersing the player in a rich and theatrical universe. Despite a few technical flaws, such as imprecise movement and jump controls, objects that get stuck in the scenery, and a finicky camera, we had a great time discovering this adventure that blends platforming and interactive storytelling, and we hope it finds its audience.

For its first game, the young studio Unreliable Narrators has produced a rather successful work. Although the purely narrative aspect of the title will not appeal to all players, its story offers an exciting and highly rewarding adventure that is well worth discovering. One thing is certain: when you see the care and love that its creators have put into Two Falls Nishu Takuatshina, we are very curious to see what they will do next.

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is an ambitious action RPG with solid art direction and deep character customisation. The richly detailed world, increasing difficulty, multiple gameplay systems and numerous secrets hidden throughout the levels make for a captivating game. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, Mandragora suffered from a major save issue, which made the game unplayable. Additionally, the difficulty may discourage some players, but it is possible to adjust enemy damage and health. All in all, the title remains very interesting for demanding RPG fans, and we can only recommend it since the update.

In a video game industry that promotes non-stop fighting, Pilo and the Holobook stands proudly as a gentle interlude that we would like to see more often. The title skilfully combines the exploration of tiny planets in search of stickers of all kinds to complete a beautiful collection. However, the pages of our peculiar book fill up a little too quickly and could have been better organised for younger players. Despite this, the adventure is enough to keep you entertained for a few hours, unless you are afraid of hairy situations!

With Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive came up with a masterpiece. Beautiful, powerful, original, captivating... this turn-based adventure RPG has brilliantly modernised the classics that inspired it and surprises the player where you least expect it. Seeing a small independent team come up with such an ambitious title is a real breath of fresh air for a video game industry that seems to have been going round in circles for several years between niche games that never find their audience and big productions that are becoming increasingly uniform in order to reach as many players as possible. "To say goodbye is to die a little", and that is the issue when you love something like this game: you eventually have to say goodbye. When it is time to put down the controller, one thing remains clear in our head: is not creating a true masterpiece out of a game dealing with art the most beautiful mise en abyme there is?

L'Amerzone - Le testament de l'explorateur brilliantly proves that point-and-click games still have a bright future ahead of them. The Microids team has achieved a real tour de force by modernising and enhancing Benoît Sokal's universe while preserving its original essence. Thanks to a sumptuous graphical overhaul, captivating and immersive storytelling, fluid gameplay, thrilling puzzles and haunting soundtrack, this masterpiece has been given a new lease of life. Whether you are a fan of point-and-click games, nostalgic for the original work, or a newcomer eager to discover this timeless classic, this re-release deserves your attention and is an unmissable experience.

Despite a few flaws, including game mechanics that are not always obvious, a relatively short lifespan and some slight slowdowns, the title is brimming with charm and authenticity. Leila is an appealing work that combines charming visuals with hand-drawn artwork, immersive storytelling, clever puzzles and a soothing soundtrack for an overall rich, entertaining and moving emotional experience. Driven by strong and universal themes, the game invites us on a deep and poetic reflection journey, leaving it up to each player to find their own interpretation. The game is available at a very reasonable price (€12.99) and we highly encourage you to check it out.

Finding Frankie is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re gonna get! Thanks to a unique concept, this game cleverly combines demanding obstacle courses with disturbing mascots in a universe that contrasts the colourful style of cartoons with a few macabre elements. Despite the charm of Deputy Duck, the title failed to win us over due to numerous flaws ruining the experience such as imperfect handling, high difficulty, lack of real horror, uneven courses, patchy sound effects, and a way too short lifespan. This niche title will not appeal to everyone and is mainly aimed at seasoned obstacle course players, a category which is not, it must be said, our cup of tea.

A Monkey reaching for the Moon, in the end what beasts can see is nothing more than the Moon reflected in water, though they may struggle to capture it, they shall only sink to the water’s depths.” Even though we could technically sum up Bleach Rebirth of Souls in this poetic way, it would nevertheless be an offence to it. Whether it be through its desire to establish an “original” game system or its truly generous solo content, Bleach Rebirth of Souls has kept us hooked for many hours. The title offers a pleasant experience for fans who are not too fussy about the small issues and are willing to wait for a more decent price. Overall, there is no denying that we have a “fang” for it.

South of Midnight's adventure is likely to confuse a large number of players. However, the title has some serious assets, particularly with its poetic artistic orientation. In addition, the integration of American myths into Hazel's story offers sensations as pleasant as those felt when a subtle wind from the south comforts you. Unfortunately, the overall experience went south because of completely outmoded technique and repetitive action sequences. It was like discovering a game lost at the beginning of this century because of its overly linear structure. This is highly regrettable, as we would have gladly lost ourselves for a few more hours in the company of Prospero with his endearing characters and excellent soundtrack. Perhaps our wishes will be granted in a possible sequel? Indeed, Xboxygen wishes for this game to find its right direction!