Madden 25 is, without a doubt, an improvement from its predecessor. With better physics and gameplay features, it’s a way better game than it was before. Not only that, the game also ups the realistic graphics that it already had, with more animations, better scans, and more attention to detail. However, the game still keeps up with its online-only game modes, which may put some people off, especially if they just want to play certain game modes, like Superstar Mode. Ultimately, however, when compared to EA’s other recently released football simulation, College Football 25, it feels a lot less authentic than it could’ve been.
Knock on the Coffin Lid is an amazing roguelike deckbuilder that offers familiar turn-based card-battling gameplay, great visuals, fully voice-acted dialogue and cutscenes, and a compelling story. However, the game is also plagued by multiple bugs and a few problems that prevent it from catapulting to being one of the better deckbuilding roguelikes of the current era. Thankfully, the devs are actively looking to improve and fix the bugs quickly, so with enough time, it’ll only get better.
Volgarr the Viking 2 is an ode to the classic 2D platformers that were notoriously difficult. It has striking visuals, gameplay that demands precision, and a soundtrack that has you head banging and hyped even when you’ve repeated the same stage five times. However, this game is VERY difficult, that even with the QoL improvements and changes that it has, its reputation for being a hard-to-beat game still stands. If you enjoy Ghouls & Ghosts, Strider, Demon’s Crest, and other games of the same genre, this might be the game for you.
Deathbound is very unique, and if there was a score for uniqueness as a soulslike game, it would score an 11/10. It’s a fairly decent game with a great aesthetic and theme, but it is held back by a myriad of issues that affect the game’s core gameplay. It has enough variety to separate itself from the pack of soulslike games and even the giants in the genre. However, it may not be a game that a casual fan would enjoy because of the clunkiness and jankiness that exist in the game.
Warhammer 40K Speed Freeks is a fun reminder of the classic combat racing gameplay of old. With the game focused more on its gameplay and a bit of its cosmetics, adopting a live-service model works in its favor. It’s quite literally a game that you install and play immediately, and it’s actually simple to grasp and immensely fun. There are some missed chances with regards to introducing the Kult of Speed or other Warhammer lore with single player modes, music during actual gameplay, and other Early Access woes that it’s currently facing, but the game being free absolutely makes it worth it.