Telltale Games had no room for error with this episode after missing the beat with the two previous ones. We were rather pessimistic, but this one turned our frown upside down and proves that the studio was not brought back to life for nothing. This multifaceted conclusion admirably displays the quality of the writing and the talent of the scriptwriters. Every player will experience this final chapter differently, as their respective choices will have altered it. With a truly generous replayability, The Expanse: A Telltale Series finally manages to make up for its technical weaknesses.

Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle is a must-have for fans of old-school games. It proposes an immersive experience that will delight fans of classic survival horror whilst introducing new ideas to a beloved genre. The developers at Invader Studios have once again succeeded in seducing fans with a visually pleasing title, an excellent soundtrack and some decent enough cinematics. Despite an effective gameplay and a mostly enjoyable adventure, Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle suffers from a cruel lack of emotion and surprises. Despite a convincing atmosphere, the game’s horror aspect is below par. The action is often predictable and repetitive, leaving no room for chance or doubt. Enemies that are a little too clingy also quickly become annoying… Although Invaders Studios pays a real tribute to Resident Evil with its licence, our game struggles to stand out in the survival-horror scene, both in terms of its story and its gameplay. Does that necessarily make it a bad game? Absolutely not. If you focus on the action and atmosphere, you will still have a fairly entertaining experience.

It would have been very easy for Electronic Arts to rest on its laurels, given that there is no competition whatsoever, but they decided otherwise. EA Sports FC 24's new name brings with it tons of new features such as an improvement in the Frosbyte engine, which looks as good as it feels on the controller. The physics of the athletes is a delight, both in attack and defence. Special mention must also be made of the additions to the career modes, which offer unprecedented depth of play. As for the Club mode, it finally gives the player the chance to fight to the bitter end to reach the Playoffs, giving this co-operative game mode a new lease of life. Whether you are a fan or not and despite a few occasional glitches, FC 24 deserves its place in your game library.

Considering it is coming to the Xbox Game Pass as soon as it is released, everyone should give Party Animals a try. With its cute animals, the game offers some amusing confrontations and, provided it is played with friends, can make for some memorable nights. The gameplay can be frustrating at times due to messy combat, but the fun and extravagant situations are never far away and compensate this well enough. With convincing content from the outset, both in terms of different game modes and avatar customisation, Party Animals has what it takes to make a name for itself.

Cyberpunk 2077 has come a long way, and so has CD Projekt. Even if some technical weaknesses persist despite three years of updates/patches, the Phantom Liberty expansion rekindles V's adventures in a wonderful way. We were carried away by the storyline, worthy of a James Bond film. Between gunfights, political betrayals and lies at every corner, we enjoyed every minute of it. With a lifespan that can easily reach twenty to twenty-five hours, depending on the player, this expansion is well worth buying.

Ultimately, Mortal Kombat 1 is an episode fully in line with the licence's latest releases, exploiting the foundations that have made the series' revival such a success since Mortal Kombat X and 11. By revamping its scenario, NetherRealm has opened the door wide to accessibility and taken the opportunity to reintroduce a number of familiar faces, while simultaneously disrupting fans' habits. With the controller in hand, a certain nervousness pervades the fights, mainly due to the arrival of the Kameos which are support characters who can be used both offensively and defensively. As for the rest, we are back to the best the series has to offer, emphasising the gruesome effects and mind-blowing animations (pun intended) for a most definitive “Konvincing” finale.

Without a doubt, The Crew Motorfest is an absolute hit. It features a rich and varied content, with effective gameplay that's quick to pick up, and a lively map with many distinct biomes and playgrounds, as well as a convincing summer ambience. Although we were a little disappointed by the aircraft handling and the slippery feel of the turns, we enjoyed every second we spent on land, at sea or in the air. We're definitely going back at it!

The Total Mayhem Games studio surprises us with a new series of We Were Here games. However, we're divided between the pleasure of rediscovering new puzzles spiced up by a scoring system and the disappointment of the game's format. Despite being rather short, we found the experience amusing, and some of the crazy situations even provoked a few laughs. Although it won't appeal to everyone, the game will serve as a nice introduction for the most curious players who have missed out on the first four excellent opuses, especially since we can all enjoy it for free from today until mid-October!

Sea of Stars is one of the finest tributes to the great J-RPG era we've seen in recent years. Sabotage Studio has captured the quintessence of the genre and adapted it perfectly to today's standards, without betraying it or falling into the trap of simply copying it for a limited audience of die-hard nostalgics. Following the adventures of Zale, Valere, Garl and their companions is a constant source of delight, with every plot twist, every new setting and every hard-fought battle keeping us eager for more. With all these qualities, there's no reason to resist the appeal.

With this penultimate episode, the Telltale Games studio had to be convincing, especially after a rather lacklustre mid-season storyline. The result is more than a little disappointing. With a long, soporific section at the beginning of the chapter, it's hard to be satisfied with the dynamism brought by the conclusion of this opus. The development team has put itself in a difficult position and no longer has the right to make mistakes to convince. The final episode will have to be a real big bang if The Expanse: A Telltale Series doesn't want to end up forgotten on the edge of explored space.

To be frank, we were not quite on board as regards the outcome of this test during the first few hours of play. In the end, we unknowingly went with the flow and, like narcosis, the emotions we experienced slowly took our breath away. The wave knocked us on our feet and we drowned in the abyss of the narrative. Even if the technical production struggles a little in some respects, the immersion remains total and it is hard to get your head out of the water to avoid staying trapped “under the waves”.

The cat is out of the bag! Developed by AnnaPurna Interactive, Stray features a well-designed introduction that gets players fully immersed in the adventure. Shame for its sometimes-basic gameplay and somewhat short lifespan. Throughout the game, the sublime art direction, worthy of the best triple-A studios, endows the title with an exceptional atmosphere that is very much its own. Do not hesitate to get your paws on it as soon as possible!

Four years after its predecessor, Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy still is very much bathing in its comfort zone. It is a particularly enjoyable game to play on your own, of course, but playing with others is the bee’s knees. It would be criminal to miss out on the multiplayer experience, which guarantees many hours of fun, laughter, grunts of frustration, name-calling and even temporary misunderstandings that fade into a big smile when you finally get the hang of it. Too few games today offer this explosive mix of action, platforming and thinking to share with friends, whether they are on the other side of the world or on the sofa beside us. And when we are faced with such a qualitative, there is no reason why you should not want to join Trine’s heroes on their adventures for the first or fifth time.

The middle episode of a mini-series is a difficult turn to negotiate for a scriptwriter. You have to set the final course without giving away too much or too little. In our opinion, with this third instalment in the adventures of Camina Drummer, the Telltale Games studio has almost got its recipe right. Although we would have appreciated a little more action, we were delighted with the writing of the characters and the dramatic turn the story can already take. Despite a few camera angle problems, already encountered in the second episode, immersion remains total. However, whether in terms of action and storyline, we are expecting a lot from the second half.

Let us cut to the chase: we were over the moon with Starfield. The number of available quests is remarkable, but the writing’s quality is what truly amazed us. Bethesda has delivered a masterful experience here by intelligently guiding us through the multiple narratives as we discover and explore the universe they have created for us. Even after +100 hours, one can still find a way to keep busy whilst feeling the same exhilarating sensations of the adventure’s kickstart. The expected journey is there, and the space adventure is almost limitless. Unfortunately, exploring on our own is not as exciting as we had hoped. In our opinion, the promises of freedom are only half-fulfilled: yes, one can travel and roam the galaxy, and yes, some rich adventures can be experienced, but space and planetary exploration are barely on a par with games like No Man’s Sky or Elite Dangerous. It all depends on what you are expecting for that point, which is definitely there, but sadly lacks depth and possibilities. Starfield encompasses and combines all the studio’s know-how on a highly ambitious game that delivers a stellar experience, but one that needs to be accepted for what it is.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is undoubtedly the best opus in the licence, as well as being an enjoyable reboot of the series that quickly plunges us into the core of its plot. Despite being incredibly rich and offering everything that fans of the series have come to expect, it may well put off new players with its obscure technical terms, more arcade-style approach and astonishing difficulty.

With Ride 5, the Italian studio Milestone has brought us a game that is as accomplished in terms of gameplay as it is in terms of graphics. Make no mistake about it: the sound is highly qualitative. With over two hundred vehicles and thirty-five circuits, the career mode guarantees long hours of play. The addition of endurance races and dynamic weather add a significant and desirable element to the title’s content. If beautiful motorbikes are your thing, it is definitely a game that needs to be in your library.

For its first major title, Ascendant Studios has big ambitions, and by recruiting talented developers, the studio has done everything it can to live up to them. As far as we are concerned, that is a big yes. Aveum's universe is rich and deep, and its artistic direction is coherent and immersive. Even though the diversity of the gameplay tends to make mapping a little complex, we did not see the hours go by with the controller in hand, and for us that is the mark of a successful game. We are curious to know what the studio has in store for us next.

We really enjoyed playing Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara. More than just a platform game, it is an excellent pirate-themed adventure title. By giving us the chance to develop the island of Qalis by collecting various resources, it offers great replayability. With a great narrative, beautiful graphics and great content, embodying a seasoned pirate and completing the various challenges to uncover the secret hideout of Grantloom (the pirate leader) was enjoyable from start to finish. Rhythmic and original, the discovery of the title went off without a hitch and no glitches were noticed on Xbox Series S. The title has been translated into French and whether you are a fan of platform games or pirate adventures, it will certainly appeal to young and old alike.

Writing a review of Blasphemous 2 is no picnic. We enjoyed it because we could both feel a real increase in our abilities as players and in those of our character. Simultaneously, we were disappointed by the lack of difficulty encountered, with the exception of a few completely unbalanced, sudden and infuriating peaks where we could see the strings of skill validation, all mixed with mechanics that were sometimes poorly thought out and frustrated us more than necessary. Fortunately, its polished atmosphere and the design of the NPCs, bosses and other creatures of the underworld offset the setting’s quite bland artistic direction. It is not a bad game, and it is even really enjoyable at times, but The Game Kitchen still has a long way to go before it manages to repent for its previous sins.

We had our fair share of concerns after the first episode’s conclusion. Even though the technical blemishes highlighted in our previous test have not been, and probably will not be, fixed, this second episode is reassuring. We gradually get a glimpse of a quality writing, and are pleased to discover that our previous choices now have an impact. We also become increasingly attached to the characters as we learn more about their dark pasts. Let us hope that our current positive impression will be reinforced in the next episode, which we cannot wait to put our hands on.

The darkness of Gord reminded us of the excellent Cult of the Lamb, but without the irony. The Polish studio Covenant has delivered a first quality title that we clearly did not see coming! The mix of survival, management and horror topped with solid gameplay mechanics works wonders. Additionally, the random events and the way the game unfolds tend to be reminiscent of a board game. However, we do regret the player's lack of involvement in the confrontations, during which we are forced to remain passive with no possible interaction to change the course of the automatic battles.

Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm has certain qualities. It has a pleasant storyline supported by a relevant soundtrack and polished graphics. Alas, despite the various inspirations from The Legend of Zelda licence, which may appeal to some, one tends to feel frustrated by the confusing menus and an unfortunately outdated gameplay. However, even though we were not able to fully complete the game due to these shortcomings, we still enjoyed the main storyline for the ten hours or so it took.

From Worms to Overcooked! and The Escapists, SMG and Team17 have once again delivered a well-made party game to spice up our days out with family and friends. With the addition of new mechanics, a cross-platform online co-op mode and versatile accessibility, there is no reason to miss out on this title, which heralds the end of quite a “moving” season!

Despite the plethora of flaws listed and a major feeling of wasted time, we are convinced that Atlas Fallen can find its audience. Given the lack of big releases this month, Deck13's title could use this brief dip in the calendar to its advantage. Even with some good ideas, a pleasing art direction and level design, Atlas Fallen still struggles to convince in its current state. Considering we wholeheartedly believed in it, the pill is all the more difficult to swallow. The waves of sand were not enough to win our hearts.

With F1 Manager 23, we were hoping that Frontier Developments would make some big improvements and iron out the imperfections present in F1 Manager 22. As regards those improvements, it goes without saying that we are in for a treat, as there are plenty of new features that add more fun, depth and immersion to this management game, which remains fantastic in many respects. The graphics inevitably drag the title down, which smears all the new features. On the other hand, we are still having just as much fun playing the game. So, yes, the British studio is offering us a major update rather than a complete overhaul, but that should not hold back fans of the genre.

After having flown too close to the sun and burnt its wings, the Telltale Games studio arose from its ashes with the undisguised ambition of trying to reproduce the success of The Walking Dead. Will The Expanse: Telltale Series be up to the task, and will players forgive the mistakes of the past? That is not a question we will be able to answer clearly from the first episode. Although technical progress has been made, there are still a few kinks in the engine. Therefore, everything remains to be done if the studio is to return to its former prestige. We are confident, however, that the teams are determined to do the right thing, and look forward to the sequel to flesh out our opinion.

Sanuk Games offers us here a very timid rewrite of the supercharged space skirmishes that have delighted arcade fans since the 90s by adding an oh so fashionable of today dash of Roguelite. Whether in the mechanics and the technique used, this attempt is sorely lacking in ambition. Nova Strike remains an old-fashioned shoot'em up that's far too generic in its conception, and while it's far from bad, it missed the boat to be a suitable alternative to the current offerings in this very niche videogame branch.