Alessandro Barbosa's Reviews
Hollow Knight's sprawling world, precise combat, and wealth of content make its trip through Hollownest engrossing and rewarding.
We Happy Few's borderline broken systems and unremarkable quest design make it an unentertaining slog through an intriguing world.
Overcooked 2 is a lot more of the same, but it's a well-rounded sequel that improves on its established gameplay with small, clever refinements across the board. Add to that new online multiplayer support, a quick-fix Arcade mode and more devious kitchens to conquer, and Overcooked 2 is a perfect choice for your next co-operative craving.
Captain Toad Treasure Tracker is the same compelling puzzle adventure that it was on the Wii U, but now on a system that feels far more suited to its bite-sized levels and rapid pace. Its strange control quirks in docked mode make it a less alluring prospect at home, but if you're looking to kill some time anywhere else you'd struggle to find something this good to scratch that itch.
20XX's great gameplay is let down by inconsistent procedural level designs and underwhelming boss battles.
Mario Tennis Aces gives the arcade tennis series a massive injection of depth, turning this family friendly sports title into a tactical, fast-paced chess game that is a thrill to play against other people. Its depth is well explained in a limited story mode that has some interesting ideas, but it's a tougher sell if you're not looking to lose yourself in hours and hours of online play.
Golem's gorgeous presentation is undercut by poorly designed puzzles and frustrating navigation.
The Forest's survival mechanics are captivating, but its unforgettable horrors steal the show.
Quarantine Circular asks fascinating questions about humanity in a well-written narrative adventure, but it struggles to stick the landing.
Frostpunk is an ingenious blend of city building systems and morally ambiguous decision making. Its mechanics are streamlined enough to be easy to grasp, but it's tension and demanding nature make it an apocalyptic experience you shouldn't skip.
State of Decay 2 implements some interesting mechanics but fails to engage with them in a meaningful way.
God of War reinvigorates an ageing series with a Kratos you can care for, a host of new characters that are both exceptionally acted and wonderfully written with action and exploration that sets new standards for games of this ilk going forward. It's a triumph in storytelling and design, making it one of the most exceptional experiences gaming has ever seen.
Minit might impose a daunting time limit on each of your lives, but its cleverly designed world and enriched puzzles make the cycle of exploration and death well worth investing into.
Sea of Thieves has a startlingly gorgeous presentation and well-thought-out pirate simulation for you to get excited over. But its spell on the high-seas is short-lived, with a lack of incentivising quests and lacklustre combat forcing you to make your own compelling reasons to stick with it rather than it not loosening its grasp on your attention.
Q.U.B.E. 2 presents satisfyingly complex puzzles, but a messy narrative underpins its lack of personality.
Bravo Team embodies some of the worst traits in a VR game. It's lackluster gameplay and stale shooting never take full advantage of VR as a medium, and stumble across all the worst hardware pitfalls PSVR has to wrangle with. It's a mercifully short experience that doesn't justify the price, especially when better games that fundamentally understand VR hardware exist already.
Moss makes it easy for you to connect to its adventurous, adorable protagonist as you accompany her on a whimsical journey though a surprisingly inventive platformer.
Rust's dated survival mechanics and overwhelmingly unwelcoming player base make it an experience more interesting to talk about than actually play.
Though the first game's starting to show its age as far as visuals go, the relentless action remains timeless. Fast, frantic and frivolously fun, it's still worth playing. The sequel, however, improves upon everything; deliver a more focused, more nuanced and more refined. It's a glorious masterclass in design and flow.
Dragon Quest Builders is every bit the captivating building adventure on the Switch as it was when it first released. It's strong sense of progression, charming aesthetic and easy mechanics make it great for casual play, while its robust worlds and interesting characters make for a charming tale. It takes a misstep or two along the way, but Dragon Quest Builders isn't an adventure you want to skip out on.