Octopath Traveler 0 is at its best when it leans into what the series does uniquely well: spectacular HD-2D artistry and a combat system that turns turn based battles into momentum management. Those pillars are strong enough that I frequently wanted to keep playing even when the story wasn’t pulling its weight.
Death Howl is a tough, atmospheric, and surprisingly emotional experience. Its blend of deckbuilding and tactical combat is clever and demanding, its visuals are hauntingly beautiful, and its story hits harder than you might expect from a game built around cards and grids. It’s not for everyone – the difficulty alone will put some players off – but if you enjoy games that challenge both your strategy and your resilience, it’s absolutely worth your time.
Through all the corporate meddling, snarky dialogue, and frenetic shootouts, The Outer Worlds 2 sticks to the formula that made the original fun, but shakes things up in some unexpected ways; some for better, others for worse. Specialisation feels more distinct and meaningful, though it comes at the expense of experimentation. Companion storytelling looks and sounds great, but its timing diminishes the emotional punch.
Devil Jam enters an already crowded arena of “Survivor” roguelikes and auto-battlers, but struggles to carve out a lasting identity. While its beat-driven combat and metal-inspired aesthetic offer a fresh twist, the lack of stage variety, limited boss roster, and underwhelming progression system make it hard to stay invested beyond a few runs. The single looping arena and sparse backstage hub contribute to a sense of repetition, and without meaningful unlocks or evolving challenges, replayability suffers. In a genre overflowing with inventive alternatives, Devil Jam feels more like a novelty than a staple – fun in short bursts, but unlikely to hold attention for long.
The House of Tesla is a well presented, brain-teasing adventure that clearly aims to honour the legacy of Nikola Tesla through intricate puzzles and atmospheric design. It succeeds in creating a moody, immersive world, but the experience is often undermined by fiddly controls, inconsistent logic, and a hint system that feels more like a monetisation relic than a genuine aid. Despite this entry in the series not launching on mobile, the game’s mobile-first design is hard to ignore, and while it doesn’t ruin the experience on PC, it does make certain frustrations, like the push toward using hints, feel more deliberate than accidental.
The King Is Watching strikes a smart balance between kingdom-builder and roguelite, offering a run-based experience that’s both strategic and refreshingly unpredictable. Its layered meta progression and clever prophecy system give each attempt a sense of momentum, encouraging experimentation and long-term planning.
If you’re into Soulslike games, this one ticks the boxes. Combat’s all about timing and precision, with weighty weapon swings, tricky stamina management and enemies who absolutely do not hold back. The aesthetic is moody and dripping in atmosphere, with fog-shrouded villages, twisted spirits and grim lore tucked around every corner. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it does pack a serious punch with its art style and haunting setting. Looks like the balance is just about right.
Two Point Museum Fantasy Finds is a fun new addition to the Two Point Museum experience. The emphasis on sending your adventuring party out to explore, slay dragons and bring back new shiny objects to show off really offers a fresh experience for players that may now be well into micromanagement mode.
Ultimately, How 2 Escape: Lost Submarine isn’t trying to be a blockbuster title. It’s tight, focused, and unapologetically niche. But it succeeds at what it sets out to do: deliver an intense, collaborative escape-room experience across two very different platforms. Whether you’re the one piecing together circuit boards in the dark or decoding pressure systems from afar, the feeling of shared triumph when you finally break free is undeniable.
All in all, The Alters delivers a unique and memorable experience. It’s the kind of game that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll. For those who enjoy deep storytelling and intriguing character dynamics, it’s absolutely worth exploring.
All in all, Best Served Cold delivers a unique blend of detective storytelling and bartending mechanics, creating an experience that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Its strategic approach to conversation and investigation challenges players to think critically, while its richly developed world provides a compelling backdrop for the unfolding mystery. The game’s noir aesthetic and atmospheric visuals enhance its immersive quality, making each interaction feel meaningful. While some pacing issues (in story and gameplay) and minor technical inconsistencies exist, the game succeeds in crafting a memorable journey through a world of secrets and deception.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Blades of Fire. A lot of people online seem to be comparing it to a Soulslike, which I just don’t see. The team over at MercurySteam have put a lot of time and effort making a very unique system that encourages a completely different approach to combat than I’ve really experienced before. I’m usually one to stick to one style of weapon, if not just one weapon, but Blades of Fire stops you from doing that. You are a master blacksmith and a master at arms and you need to use every tool available to you to save this cursed world.
The multi planet design means things are a little more linear main quest wise, but if you’re jumping in with a friend or hunting out all the crates and goo you’ll have a plenty of do even after you’ve hit credits. If you’re a fan of the first game, or if you just want something silly and entertaining to blast about in after a hard day not getting fired, then I can wholeheartedly recommend Revenge of the Savage Planet. Although I wouldn’t recommend pissing on your boss and calling it self defense in real life.
Rosewater’s overall experience is shaped by its engaging narrative, well-designed puzzles, and atmospheric world. Its blend of Western themes and investigative storytelling makes for an intriguing journey. The game may feel slow-paced to those unfamiliar with point-and-click adventures, but for fans of the genre, it delivers a satisfying tale with memorable characters. While minor frustrations in pacing and puzzle repetition exist, they are outweighed by the strengths in writing, art direction, and interactivity.
All in all, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is a visually impressive and narratively engaging action RPG that melds Metroidvania exploration with Soulslike combat mechanics well. The combat on the whole is fun, the world layout is full of interesting little hideaways and secrets. The story is solid, and it’s told in a darkly beautiful world, enhanced by the broad brushstrokes of the art style and the fantastic soundtrack. Nonetheless, repetitive combat, occasional technical issues, and certain design decisions may put some people off.
I said above that I won’t spoil the story of Koira. What I will say is that it did make me tear up more than once. The game’s themes: friendship and understanding between the forest spirit, their new dog and the animals in the forest; contrasted with the humans greed, need to overcome and essentially conquer nature is something that we see too often in the real world I fear.
Two Point Museum offers a refreshing take on management simulation with its innovative expedition mechanic and diverse museum themes, injecting both challenge and charm into the gameplay. The journey from being a novice curator to mastering the art of exhibit curation is thoughtfully structured through its tutorial-like start at Memento Mile and the subsequent themed museums, each with unique challenges and engaging mechanics.
Sometimes I think I may be a little to dumb for some games, and Rogue Conflict definitely had me thinking that during the first couple of hours. I’ve played games for nearly 30 years now and even though one of my first titles was Command & Conquer strategic thinking and more importantly – patience has never really been my forte. But after my first few hours of bad decision making and rushing in, I started to slow down and really pay attention to all of the moving pieces on the board. That’s when Rogue Conflict clicked for me, and when it clicks it really clicks. I won’t say it’s not still incredibly difficult – it is – and it certainly won’t click for everyone. But when you take the time to examine all of the interplay of the systems and make them work for you rather than against you, you’ll be in for a great time.
Going into to Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector I had high expectations based on my experience with the first game, and I’m so happy to say that it absolutely smashed those expectations out of the park. It builds on the world and mechanics of this first game – changing and expanding enough that it feels like a fresh experience. For fans of TTRPGs, the two similar but distinct gameplay loops will scratch that mechanical itch. And for those that love storytelling, the choices you make as you play through the game will absolutely leave you eager to fire up a second playthrough to explore what happens at the end of another road.
Overall, my thoughts on the morphing feature reflect my thoughts on Project Tower as a whole. It’s a small and very ambitious project from a tiny indie team, and what they’ve accomplished is great, but it seems like a jumping off point for a bigger more fleshed out game.