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Anyone who has played a Hidden Through Time game and enjoyed it will love Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery, as it truly is just more of the same. While it could have been sold as an expansion or DLC to Myths & Magic, it still has a lot of content for a decent price, coming in at around $10, especially when you take into consideration that these maps are hand-drawn. The relaxing experience of searching for hidden items in the whimsical maps with aliens and monsters provides a cozy experience. Having more of the same isn't a bad thing, and not every game has to be fantastically updated or changed, although it still confuses me why Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery isn't an expansion.
Dustborn is a game that tries to be many things, and in the end does instill some of its charm in the player. However, the grating tone of the game's dialogue, which takes up the bulk of the game's run time, hampers the user's overall enjoyment. It's a bit of a missed opportunity, as underneath it all is a story and game world that begs to be properly realized.
Releasing an appropriate amount of time after Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC was the right move, as Deathbound can't really go toe-to-toe with the greats. Still, anyone with a tolerance for jank and an interest in the game’s new ideas should come away satisfied, even while recognizing that this pluckiness only takes it so far. Deathbound is an indie soulslike through and through, a scrappy moonshot with some interesting tweaks on the genre, and a satisfying depth of lore to boot. Its flaws hold it back, but that shouldn’t distract from its enjoyable character-switching combat and overall gumption.
The game also showcases a great sense of humor on every level, from eccentric gameplay and entertainingly-nonsensical arguments to small details like its ads, which are designed by fellow developers and feature Easter eggs for other games like Cult of the Lamb. Especially considering the game's $16.99 price, it's easy to overlook some of its flaws, like repetition or a few buggy conversations where characters spoke too far apart, when it's so genuinely clever on every level. Crush House doesn't require a preexisting love of reality TV to enjoy - only an appreciation for true ingenuity.
The story itself is not long, only lasting 10–15 hours for the main game. Once the game is over, players can also try it in New Game+ Mode or the upcoming "Mew Game" Mode, which will provide challenges such as not allowing players to equip anything or preventing them from leveling up higher than level one. Providing many more hours of enjoyable gameplay for Cat Quest 3 even after the main story is over.
Players old and new will inevitably find themselves immersed in Vic's journey and Ava's fate, somewhere between its unique creature designs, evocative soundtrack, and moving story. As a whole, Creatures of Ava is a wonderful experience, and is likely to stick with players for a long time to come.
Eden Genesis has a rich pool of references to giddily point toward, but very little unprecedented innovation or personality to uplift its genre, and that’s a big problem. As a time-trials platformer, it’s only just about average in terms of control quality, creative hazards, and challenge level. For the latter, it leans more towards achingly precise triggers, but muddies this water with mechanics that are more frustrating than fun.
To sum it up, SteamWorld Heist 2 is fun, pure and simple. The silliness combined with game mechanics make it a true gem that is a must-play for anyone with a sense of humor.
As much as one can applaud Aspyr for rejuvenating a classic game like Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, one has to question the point if so little has been done to bring it up to today's standards. The visual tweaks are appreciated but when so many other issues have been ignored, it's really only a game for diehard fans looking for a nostalgia hit. Coupled with the fact that there are plenty of better Star Wars games, Jango Fett's prequel is likely better preserved in fans' memories than in this remaster.
It's particularly impressive the way the game manages to subtly corral the player by changing areas slightly over time, creating a largely linear experience that still feels like it offers some level of free exploration. The very short length of the title and the fact that the overall gameplay is never that complex may be a drawback for some, but it's the sort of title that's more about the overall experience. Thank Goodness You're Here! is a wild, clever ride that's incredibly unique, and a great way to spend an afternoon.
While microtransactions can be tempting, and often viewed as a negative in today's gaming culture, it is important to remember that this is a free-to-play game and these microtransactions can help support the developers, while also providing fun cosmetics and things to purchase for the pets. This program would feel like a full, enjoyable game even if it did not have the ability to bring your little friend onto the desktop and enjoy the various productivity features. In short, Weyrdlets is a special blend of relaxation and productivity all wrapped up in an adorable package.
The multifaceted way combat works as a whole in the title is still impressive despite the aforementioned repetition, however, as is the overall gang hierarchy system concept. It's not perfect, but it has a good baseline of gameplay and has one of the most important qualities a roguelike can have, which is feeling a sense of learning something new each time around. For players looking for a new way to try out tactics in a rich sci-fi setting, Space Prison is certainly worth a look.
Overall, Vampire Therapy can be a fantastic tool for those wishing to learn more about cognitive distortions and how to better control their own thoughts. The ideas are never presented in a harsh manner, with a gentle tone always being held by Andromachos. Players need to be wary of their own personal triggers that the game can hit upon, and pay attention to how they are feeling throughout their time with Sam, and not be afraid to step away and have some quiet introspection when needed. Truthfully, the game would benefit from a subtle warning appearing before certain themes are presented, and perhaps the opportunity to skip past them.
Being the first college football game in a decade also works heavily in favor of College Football 25. Were this an annual franchise, elements like its clunky UI may be more of a sticking point. However, as it stands now, College Football 25 will bea must-play for any hardcore college football fans, and the excitement of the new release helps players ignore some of its flaws.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is an excellent start to what could be a very popular franchise for A44 Games. While the narrative is lackluster and borderline dull, the combat, exploration, and art direction are all top-notch and help to make what could have been another Dark Souls imitator stand out from the crowd. There's a lot to love about it, especially for those who've been put off the Soulslike genre and want to finally dip their toes in with an accessible, fun starting point - though veterans of the genre may want to be wary of what could be another Steelrising difficulty level experience.
Screenshots of the game may immediately summon games like Zelda vibes, but they wouldn’t be exactly accurate, and the wider regions of Dungeons of Hinterberg aren’t packed with secrets and interactive details; it’s almost a dialogue-oriented Zelda-lite sort of experience. Call it “cozy Zelda,” call it “Zelda Crossing,” call it “Persona of the Wild” if needed, it’s really just a charming blend of all these notions, and certain standout dungeons on their own are worth chartering a flight to Dungeons of Hinterberg.
Meanwhile, for the average first-party game price, players can also opt to treat themselves with the Deluxe Edition, which includes the game, pins, art prints, and a decorative Gold-colored NES™ Game Pak, which is a considerably great deal as well. Either way, you can’t go wrong and this is bound to be a joyous addition to everyone's collection.
Kunitsu-Gami isn't going to be for everyone, and even for those who do find it alluring, its gameplay loop might eventually start to wear thin. But it's hard not to love something this creative, especially when its seemingly disparate gameplay elements are so deftly unified with a consistent and compelling style. There might be hundreds of fluid action games with more sophisticated combos and hundreds of strategy titles with deeper mechanics, but there's only one Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, and that makes it worth a lot more than many of those games will ever be.
Simple but great gimmicks can be hard to stretch into a complete game, and SCHiM definitely struggles a bit to cross the finish line. It does cross it, though, and the inconsistent results are nonetheless charming and occasionally inspired. SCHiM is a diamond in the rough that really deserves a polish, but even without it, the sparkle can still peek through.
The main story is only a few hours, but finding every creature will take a solid amount of extra time. Flock doesn't just provide a great sense of wonder, but a large amount of relaxation as well, and forces you to be very present - the smallest movement in the grass can mean a new discovery. The world is remarkably beautiful, and the act of something like simply flying through the forest with an eccentric-looking flock as the sun rises, listening to the wind and the calls of animals, is amazingly serene, and makes Flock a truly special experience.