The Devil's Playhouse Remastered marks the culmination of Skunkape Games' excellent work on the Telltale-era Sam & Max titles. Now as then, the ramshackle freelance cop duo experiences its most paranormal and bizarre adventure, but also its most experimental gameplay side, while preserving every feature beloved by fans of the series and the genre. A fantastic title that, however, is most appreciable only by respecting its peculiar lashing humor, and only if experienced after dealing with the events of Save the World and Beyond Time and Space.
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After its debut on PC, Darkest Dungeon 2 arrives on consoles marking the return of one of the most interesting roguelike games on the independent scene. Red Hook Studios does not simply improve on the excellent foundation of the first chapter, but rather takes its best features to revolutionize others by putting us at the reins of a caravan engaged in a real journey of hope between darkness and damnation. The end result, though high-level, nevertheless has to contend with high difficulty, a significant degree of randomness and an almost endless sea of tactical possibilities among items, altered statuses and more. A summation of elements that make it, paradoxically, less accessible than its predecessor and perhaps even less enjoyable. For all those who are not afraid of a rough, complex and challenging experience, you will find bread for your teeth here.
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CYGNI: All Guns Blazing started out with a glorious purpose: to renew and modernize the bullet hell genre. It was an ambitious goal that aimed to bring enough novelty to the contemporary landscape to be able to make a ludic typology born to satisfy the masochistic desire of a few more attractive to the general public. Unfortunately, not everything went right: while the graphical and musical aspects are fully promoted, the gameplay adopts some ideas that make it not only punishing but also far too confusing. The result is a title that, instead of opening up to the general public, ends up speaking to an even smaller, Mesozoic circle of fans.
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The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak is yet another demonstration of how much Nihon Falcom has worked on the series over the years. From being an extreme niche product to progressively wider audiences on the strength of irrepressible writing and progressively refined gameplay, Daybreak represents both a point of arrival and a new departure for the saga. On the one hand, it embodies the highest and fullest expression of the maturity achieved by the series, which, net of a modest technical compartment, will reward you with a great JRPG that is rich and layered narratively and ludically. On the other hand, the decision to shed some of the constraints of the past allows the title to be the best entry point to finally approach this saga, provided you get along with English. You will not regret it.
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate confirms all its good qualities, already appreciated at the time of its launch on Apple Arcade. A light and fun (yet challenging) action roguelike that is clearly inspired by the top of the class, that Hades capable of garnering major recognition even at The Game Awards in 2020. The excessive similarity to the Supergiant Games masterpiece is both a virtue and a flaw of the Super Evil Megacorp production, on the one hand wise in shaping an accessible and cooperative-friendly declination of the genre, on the other hand far too conservative in ideas. Kind of like a good all-you-can-eat pizza: you never turn it down, but there's definitely something more delicious out there.
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Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is an excellent return to the scenes for A44 Games, which once again proves to be a capable team in the perilous soulslike genre. The peculiarities of the title distributed by Kepler Interactive are such that they make it a recommended entry level for those who want to approach the genre, thanks also to some structural choices that make it less dispersive and more focused. On the other hand, the price to pay arises from a sometimes confusing and redundant implementation of mechanics, which end up diluting (or even hiding) some game design levity, particularly blatant in comparison with such fierce and all-embracing competitors. An enjoyable “Souls-lite” that can keep you entertained in the summer heatwave.
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SAND LAND is a complicated product to evaluate. On the one hand, there is the fascinating adaptation of one of the lesser-known stories by the late master Akira Toriyama, a manifest expression of his stylistic signature enriched by deep themes. On the other hand, there is an action RPG of an extremely classic mold, to the point of seeming to have come out almost two gaming generations ago (with all the pros and cons of the case). If each product is sum of each element, then SAND LAND is a fine adventure capable of providing many hours of entertainment. However, where you cannot get past an outdated open world setting as well as several barely sketched gameplay elements, this desert journey may not be what you are looking for.
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Another Crab's Treasure is a fun and colorful foray into the soulslike world in the shoes of a naive hermit crab who just wants his home back. The Aggro Crab development team, not satiated with proving that the genre is not just synonymous with tragic seriousness and leaden settings, goes even further by hybridizing its formula with action adventure platforming elements. The end result is definitely appreciable, although there is no shortage of ingenuities, especially in level design. Be prepared: fighting in the deep sea has never been so much fun.
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TopSpin 2K25 marks the return of great 2K-signed tennis, which has been guiltily absent from the scene for more than a decade. Gameplay in hand, the series shines brighter than ever with the enviable balance of its technical depth such that every winning point makes one rejoice. However, not everything goes right. The graphical compartment is disappointing, the content is lacking at times (especially the roster of tennis players, which at present “boasts” tragicomic defections), and some of the career choices may irk the sport's most dedicated fans. Hoping that it can become a series that can grow over time, for now TopSpin 2K25 is a must-play chapter for all tennis fans: for everyone else, the flaws present may be food for thought.
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DREDGE is a vibrant example of what can be achieved when a great idea is developed with love, passion and expertise beyond available means. The New Zealand team Black Salt Games debuts on the video game scene with a gem of rare beauty, dredged up from the deep sea fraught with unnamable dangers and pitfalls. Halfway between fishing simulator and Lovecraftian horror, DREDGE surprises and disorients with the magnetism of a ludic loop in which progression and sense of wonder constantly accompany the player. It doesn't matter if you are a sea dog or an inexperienced hubby: hoist anchor and venture into the fog.
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Pepper Grinder is like the sprinkling of your favorite spice: the one you put on the dish is fine, but you could easily have abounded. The title developed by Riv Hester is a genuine and intriguing platformer, thanks to the drill gimmick that manages to shape exploration, navigation and action at the same time. It's a little treat that will appeal especially to fans of the genre, even in the face of a rather restrained experience. But also given the meager price tag, well ... where there's taste there's no loss.
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After more than a decade of waiting, Hideaki Itsuno's creature finally sees the light of day: Dragon's Dogma 2 is not only the return of a title that has become a cult favorite, but also the leap forward that all fans have been waiting for with hope in their hearts. The same heart that is the cross and delight of Capcom's production capable of delivering a one-of-a-kind fantasy experience, uncompromising and without reaching out to the player. As futuristic at some junctures as it is pleasantly retro at others, this is an action RPG not to be missed!
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Withering Rooms marks the intriguing debut on the scenes for Moonless Formless, which successfully blends seemingly irreconcilable elements resulting in a bizarre but fascinating creature. Although some elements are not exactly flawless (above all, the confusing combat system, but also a far too nebulous narrative), the final product represents a pleasant breath of fresh air in a genre, horror, that is witnessing several experiments in the last period. Recommended for all thrill-seekers, but also for those who want to try something different and original.
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Unicorn Overlord may indeed be the breakthrough title for Vanillaware. While targeting a niche genre with bold game design choices, the Osaka-based developers remain true to their philosophy by churning out this time a tactical RPG of great depth and very high quality. Even net of a less inspired narrative than desirable, some choices may find little appeal in part of the audience, especially because of the enormous weight attached to the management aspects. But beyond that, the title represents one of the best original titles the genre has seen in recent years-don't miss it!
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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is an absolute masterpiece and the best Square Enix-branded title of recent years. A monumental work in which one breathes the love for the original work, here retraced and expanded, and which shows the new generations the true spirit of a saga capable of winning the hearts of millions of fans. There are those who will be able to make some criticisms against certain narrative choices (in our opinion, to be evaluated globally only with the arrival of the third and final chapter), the excessive abundance of content and some technical smears (especially of the Performance mode). But these are minutiae that disappear in the face of the greatness of this work, capable of reminding the whole world that Japan is always ready to amaze and wonder.
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Contra: Operation Galuga marks the return to the scenes of Konami's historic series after a hiatus of several years, especially if we go back to dredge up the last installment with a quality worthy of this IP's prestige. The developers at WayForward painstakingly reworked the classic run 'n gun action game of the 1980s, managing to replicate the original feel with a little splash of modernity. The operation is certainly successful, yet the more orthodox features of the saga (edginess of difficulty, primarily) may still be a relevant deterrent for many players today.
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The Outlast Trials is a bold experiment on the part of Red Barrels, which sets aside the established structure that has made the series successful in favor of a new interpretation devoted to online multiplayer. The creepiness and horror are constant presences, as is the rich content enriched by an interesting support on paper. What did not convince us 100%, however, is precisely the very choice to tackle an Outlast-style adventure with other people, given the structural limitations required to “make” the gameplay work in co-op in addition to the inevitable collapse of the oppressive atmosphere given by solitude. If you are a fan of the genre and have a good group to experience the title in the right way, Trials can thrill and terrify you. If, on the other hand, you plan to play it with casual players (or in single player mode), the production may show all its flaws.
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With Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, Saber Interactive decides to take its simulative series into the wilderness with a change of perspective. So here are scientific expeditions to be meticulously prepared, between retrieving precious cargo to rescuing lost vehicles, passing through the inevitable snags along the way to be solved with skill and craftsmanship. In this respect, the new spin-off installment of the MudRunner series surprisingly tends toward puzzle games, putting the player in situations to overcome with the right method at the right time through full awareness of one's resources. However, the purely simulative approach may not suit every palate: if you don't want to freak out over yet another vehicle mired in mud, paved roads may be more for you.
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Penny's Big Breakaway is a very pleasant foray into 3D platforming at the turn of the millennium. Somewhere between SEGA evocations and Nintendo suggestions, the Evening Star production convinces and entertains mainly thanks to the yo-yo gimmick, capable of inserting fresh gameplay dynamics even in a very traditional context. Unfortunately, not all sections come into focus, as well as some play mechanics lose sharpness to a keen eye. Nevertheless, it is a title that will entertain and amuse fans of the genre as well as nostalgic gamers.
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After years of militancy on PC and several revisions, Alisa: Developer's Cut also arrives on consoles bringing its developer's homage to the forefathers of survival horror. Casper Croes writes the most classic of love letters, yet goes about religiously replicating every aspect, from the B-series narrative to the PS1-era graphics and tank controls. A blast of nostalgia that will be viscerally loved by those who lived through this period of history. For everyone else, the trip back in time may be all too traumatic.
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