Killsquad can be passingly fun in short doses, but it has too many significant issues to be an easy recommendation for even the genre's biggest fans.
You can roll credits on Oxenfree 2 in 4-5 hours, but every minute of that brief runtime makes a lasting impression. It spins a captivating tale that masterfully balances its horror elements against the story's more intimate side, and combines that with a simple yet engaging gameplay loop, with an excellent dialogue system serving as the centerpiece. The end result is a short yet memorable game that you definitely shouldn't miss out on.
Pikmin 1 and 2's Switch ports might not be much of an upgrade in a technical sense, but the games themselves have stood the test of time wonderfully well, thanks to their timeless game design, addictive loop, intuitive controls, and healthy dose of charm.
Pikmin 1 and 2's Switch ports might not be much of an upgrade in a technical sense, but the games themselves have stood the test of time wonderfully well, thanks to their timeless game design, addictive loop, intuitive controls, and healthy dose of charm.
Park Beyond delivers a fun and addictive theme park builder and management sim experience, and elevates it with its delightful impossification mechanics. Some technical issues and console-specific problems do hold the experience back somewhat, but this is still an easy game to recommend for fans of the genre.
Layers of Fear is gorgeous to look at, but its beauty is skin deep. From rudimentary, repetitive gameplay to predictable attempts at scaring you, this definitive reimagining of Bloober Team's horror franchise stumbles too often to be able to make a meaningful mark.
Humanity delivers some excellent puzzle gameplay in a weird, unique setting, and constantly ups the complexity and challenge in new and creative ways that should be experienced by all fans of the genre.
There's fun to be had with LEGO 2K Drive's snappy driving mechanics, vibrant biomes, and creation and customization mechanics, but issues such as its inconsistent AI, dull open world implementation, and somewhat grindy progression hold the experience back.
Redfall is Arkane's most underwhelming game to date. A fascinating setting and some remnants of the developer's beloved gameplay formula aren't enough to overcome the game's numerous issues, from stiff controls and disappointingly rote design choices to lackluster storytelling and technical deficiencies.
Burning Shores builds upon Forbidden West's strong gameplay in smart ways, while also telling a story that series fans can't afford to miss.
Dead Island 2 isn't ground-breaking, but it's a hell of a lot of fun. With its vibrant yet bloody take on the undead streets of LA, its brutal and enjoyable combat, and its gleeful excess of gore, it delivers a solid experience that's well worth your time.
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened blends Cthulhu and Holmes very well, but the strengths of its story and premise are let down by the weaknesses of its meandering and opaque gameplay.
Forza Horizon 5: Rally Adventure might not feel as different in its offerings from the base experience as last year's Hot Wheels expansion did, but it proves to be yet another chance for Playground Games to showcase how fundamentally fun the Forza Horizon formula is.
Resident Evil 4 perfectly captures the tone and strengths of the original game, while also managing to improve upon it in truly meaningful ways. In doing so, it once again becomes a standard-bearer for the survival horror genre, while also setting a new bar for Capcom as a developer, for video game remakes, and for the Resident Evil franchise as a whole.
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is worth looking into for fans of the series and the genre, especially since this is its first official release in the West, but be warned that it's a game that's held back by several significant issues.
Gamedec has plenty of rough edges, but thanks to its emphasis on choice and consequence mechanics and its unique premise, it's still very much worth a look.
Everyone will have to make their own choice on whether or not to engage with Hogwarts Legacy, but if you do choose to play it, you'll find it to be a well-made and densely packed open world action RPG that adapts the Wizarding World universe in excellent ways.
Deliver Us Mars is an easy game to recommend to those looking for a captivating and well-told story, but at the same time it's weighed down by significant gameplay and technical issues.
Dead Space is one of the best survival horror games ever made, and one of the greatest remakes of all time. It takes a masterpiece of the genre and allows its biggest strengths to shine brighter than they ever have, while also improving upon it in meaningful ways with smart changes and additions. Motive Studio has delivered an instant classic and a true giant of the genre.
Children of Silentown isn't exceptional by any means, but thanks to its intriguing story, fun and simplistic gameplay, and excellent art design, it's still worth checking out, especially if you're a fan of point-and-click adventure games.