Few survival horror games have really presented compelling stories, and often have their gameplay at the forefront of the experience. Remothered: Red Nun's Legacy is quite the opposite, and while its gameplay isn't revolutionary, the game is nonetheless compelling and disturbing, complete with moments that will make your skin crawl.
Fire and Ashes is a fairly miserable experience, even despite the constant bombardment of technical issues. Animations are painfully bad, with enemy AI that only knows to move toward you, regardless if they are even facing you. With a story that doesn't appear until the game's final moments, and the developer's use of Generative AI, Fire and Ashes is an experience I'll forget by the time this is published.
Final Fantasy Resonance is a title that could very well reshape the series going forward, if enough people get behind it. The turn-based combat is fantastic, and while the Vision system could use a bit of a refresh, it celebrates the legacy of this storied franchise in remarkable ways. Rain's adventure is one that is typical of the series, but the attention given to every single character here does elevate that typical story to new heights.
Stupid Never Dies should be fun, but it rarely gets the opportunity to be anything more than its premise. The rogue-lite structure hurts the concept of this game, as it simply doesn't have the variety to remain engaging. Combat, level variety, and progression are certainly present here, in some form, but are disappointingly shallow and repetitive, even for a rogue-lite. While the Grasshopper influence is felt across most of the game, it lacks the soul of those titles, and is a largely forgettable experience on its own.
Boltgun 2 doesn't have anything in the way of a compelling story, or even anything to define its aesthetically pleasing protagonists. However, smart quality of life choices and those lifted from later versions of the original Boltgun do make for a more directed and refined sequel. With strong enemy variety and far more engaging environments, Boltgun is shaping up to be a fantastic addition to the Warhammer 40K universe. I just wish I cared about the characters, even a little bit.
It's hard to imagine a better game built in the Hellraiser world than what Saber Interactive has created here. From its violence, sex, and aesthetic, the experience here is unequivocally Hellraiser, both in body and soul. Few license games nail the source material as good as what Saber has done here, and fans of both the films and survival horror are in for the treat, just make sure to play this with the curtains down.
Dragonwilds is a slow and steady grind that while can be rewarding, still feels a bit rough around the edges, making me wonder if more time in Early Access could have refine certain parts of the whole experience. Still, if you've been itching for a survival game that isn't built around more realistic visuals, or you are fan of RuneScape, Dragonwilds does offer a compelling and fairly faithful conversion to the survival genre, just make sure you play with friends, and watch out for those blasted hunters.
Dawnwalker’s timer certainly wasn't something that initially sat well with me, but after seeing its execution, and the amount you can accomplish, when certain paths have been removed, I've turned around it, at least somewhat. Regardless, Rebel Wolves has crafted a stunning world to explore, with characters, lore, and a story worth caring about. While they have oddly shown their cards as to Coen's future adventures, I still find reasons to revisit and scour every nook and cranny this world provides. It's worth sinking your teeth into.
With impeccable platforming and engaging combat and mobility, Well Dweller is joyous to control. Few Metroidvania games feel this good, with a map so big that you're constantly finding new challenges, secrets, and wildly impressive boss battles.
Hot Wheels: Infinite Rush is damn fun, and fulfils those childhood moments of driving those metal cars through classic playmats and the abundance of play sets. The Switch 2 version is still enjoyable, but it's a noticeable drop in quality from the other console and PC versions. Still, with a ton of cars, races, and collectibles to track down, the vastness of each map makes this a Hot Wheels fan's dream come true.
Streets of Survival has a foundation for a great series, but the lack of some quality of life features in its combat, and a lack of co-op make this hard to recommend, given the genre has so many other options that are simply better games. The Walking Dead is perfect for videogames, but few games have really hit that high mark, and despite enemies having near perfect aim here, Streets of Survival can't quite say the same.
Second Chapter did everything it needed to do, and more. While the game doesn't refine or add new combat mechanics, the story and character moments that take place in this follow-up are some of the best of the series.
While some may be disappointed at some of the changes to core systems, or further leaning into its rogue-lite elements, Moonlighter 2 feels just so good, and that isn't just toward its combat, but its shopkeeper aspect too. Systems may feel streamlined, and many are, but these changes are intentional and do a lot to make each run slick and easy to jump into. Sequels rarely see this level of change, especially on the indie side, so I certainly applaud how much bigger in scale and scope Moonlighter 2 is.
While they certainly have produced a solid entry here, certain systems and menus leave a bit to be desired. While it certainly is a deeper game than Bus Bound, and that may serve its audience, I simply found Bus Simulator 27 to not always deliver where I wanted from it the most; the driving. And with a few bugs to iron out, the current experience is a tad buggy, to say the least. However, despite my few issues here, Bus Simulator 27 does punch its ticket with deep and rewarding simulation systems that will keep you just as busy in the bus as outside of one.
Nioh 3: Hell Rising is more Nioh 3, and if that is good enough for you, then you'll likely be set for enjoying this 8-10 hour expansion that provides a whole new location to explore, and a very versatile new weapon. While the new Guardian Spirit is not going to likely be part of your arsenal, it is the reuse of so many encounters that disappoints the most. Nioh 3 is a truly fantastic game, and while Hell Rising furthers my time with it, I remain cautious if my next trip with be looking to the future, or another trip down memory lane.
EA NHL 27 may not have delivered some ground-breaking systems that improve the game beyond its previous iterations, but it does present the game through more subtle ways like the playbook system and better goaltending on higher difficulties. Presentation is solid, but glitchy crowds and awkward animations still break through and can ruin your immersion, regardless of the vast improvements made to arenas. However, EA’s NHL has rarely looked or played better despite those annoyances, and if you meet the game on its terms, it’s bound to bounce the puck in your direction one way or another, just be ready to take that shot.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is some damn good fun, providing an action packed adventure I thoroughly enjoyed. Musashi's journey may obviously detour from his real life exploits, but the bond of strength he has with Ganryu makes for a compelling rivalry that sets this game apart from its peers. From compelling combat to a fantastic cast of characters and bosses, Way of the Sword was well worth the wait, and I can’t help but want more.
Shatterverse is surprisingly shallow for what it offers, but its fast paced combat does retain its signature feel. The multiverse appeal may be exhausting for some players, given its overuse in multiple forms of media at the moment, but a lack of creating your own Sam is an omission that is bizarre to me. Still, the cast here is fine enough, and at the end of the day, if it looks like Serious Sam and plays like Serious Sam, then I'm glad that the series is still kicking around, some 25 years later.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is astounding, but does suffer a bit when it comes to the game’s lacking boss encounters, and some moments where the game wears out its welcome in the last few hours. Still, Asobo is a remarkable flexible studio that clearly knows how to produce real emotion out of its characters and stories in ways that defy the genre.
War in the North: Legacy Edition is what it is, a modern port of the classic game. Its bells and whistles are few and far between, but the core game as it was is here and is a blast to play in co-op. Combat, progression, and the ability to swap between each character makes this one of the better LOTR games ever crafted. It’s certainly not without its issues, especially as those issuers are fifteen years old.