With excellent performances, improved mechanics, and more than just a fresh coat of paint, Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 is one of the studio’s best projects to date. A sinister and compelling return to Silent Hill that you won’t forget in a hurry.
Thanks to the beauty of the RE Engine, and some desperately needed QoL improvements, there has never been a better way to enjoy Dead Rising.
What CYGNI: All Guns Blazing lacks in tightened combat it makes up for in visuals, though sadly that might not be enough to win over die hard shoot ‘em ups fans.
With the added ease of a modern platform release, and all the benefits of new quality of life features, there’s never been a better time to experience this underrated classic. While Tomba! Special Edition very much feels like a retro title, its unique gameplay merits the attention of a modern audience.
Despite a midpoint lull, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is a stunning expansion with an evocative soundtrack, challenging dungeons, and emotional story. An exciting kick-off that leaves you hungry for the future of FFXIV.
It doesn’t hold much in terms of replayability, but the emotional and concise story is well worth experiencing. Pine Hearts is a great game to cozy up with for an evening, and one that’ll definitely leave you misty-eyed before the credits roll.
Paper Trail is a beautiful indie puzzle game with unique mechanics that isn’t afraid to present its players with a challenge. Its strong color schemes and charming characters will make this a great addition to your cozy games collection, especially if you’re looking for something to put your brain to work. However, finicky controls on console creates some very minor hindrances which, if you’re already feeling a bit stumped on some puzzles, can lead you to stepping away for a short spell.
Fluid gameplay, challenging puzzles, and a heart wrenching story — all wrapped up in a roughly 8 hour journey that will rest with you for far longer. My hope is that Tales of Kenzera: ZAU inspires other developers to explore the stories of Africa with as much love as Surgent Studios. I’m certainly yearning for more.
For fans of JRPGs, it’s unmissable, and features all the typical tropes: turn-based combat, minigames, emotional beats, and fishing (obviously). It encourages you to take your time, explore every corner, and rewards you with something new continuously.
Fans of House Flipper 1 might find the base content lacking in comparison. But, it’s still relatively early days for House Flipper 2, and there’s plenty of room for expansion content to arrive in future updates. I might not ever own the house of my dreams, but I can at least pretend to in House Flipper 2.
If you enjoyed Hi-Fi Rush, or Metal: Hellsinger and are looking for something to scratch a similar itch, then you cannot go wrong with Beat Slayer. However, if you’re looking for a unique experience, you won’t find it here.
If there’s one game that you pick up for the Meta Quest 3, it should be Asgard’s Wrath 2. Aside from providing more than 100 hours of gameplay, it really showcases just how much the headset can do in a full-scale RPG adventure. While the story might not be enough to draw you in alone, the immersive combat and the presence you have in the world is an experience you shouldn’t pass up. And with a rotation of characters, combat styles and more, there’s plenty to keep you interested throughout the game’s runtime.
There’s very little to dislike about Loddlenaut. It ticks all the boxes of an ideal cozy game, with adorable companions, a calming atmosphere, and uncomplicated mechanics. You’ll be zapping away goop and caring for Loddles during this roughly 4-5 hour clean-up adventure, making it a great game to curl up with on a lazy afternoon. Its only downsides are its upgrade limitations and bare-bones story, which could have seen this little indie float to the top. Despite this, if you’re looking for your next wholesome game, and one with an ever-important message, you and Loddlenaut will get along swimmingly.
Colossal Order already had a winning formula to work from thanks to the original Cities: Skylines. This sequel deepens the level of interactivity available to players, with more tiles to build on and more complex systems to design and implement. New players might need a little persistence to get to grips with the mechanics, but you’ll be able to transform a meek little hamlet into a sprawling concrete jungle — it’ll just take you a while to get there. Those returning to the series will feel right at home, with plenty of adjustments that mark Cities: Skylines 2 as a natural evolution for the series.
If you’re after something casual to engage with that respects your time, offers you an intriguing story and lets you flex some creative muscles, then The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a narrative journey worth embarking on.
Despite a few shortcomings, System Shock still remains an engaging game. It might not click immediately, but if you allow yourself to match its flow you’ll come away feeling satisfied. Aspects of System Shock that were ground-breaking back in 1994 feel primitive now, such as emergent gameplay or reliance on audio logs, but this remake gives a long-overdue polish to one of gaming's most revered titles. Its respect of the original material combined with an impressive visual refurbishment will undoubtedly delight core fans, but new players might need a bit of perseverance. If you can look past the awkward combat you’ll be rewarded with a unique experience, one that never insults a player’s intelligence. Both challenging and intriguing, System Shock is still deserving of its legacy and, in remade form, it’ll live on that little bit longer.