Matt Cox
It’s such a warm game. Touching and heartfelt, masterfully capturing the cosy excitement of the places and stories we explore as children.
The only good part of Code Vein is its combat, but for me, that turns out to be enough.
In 2019, a massive and meticulously-crafted open world just doesn’t cut it. Any life breathed into Ghost Recon Breakpoint will have to be pumped into it by you and your friends, and you’d do better to save your breath for other games.
Abandon Ship can’t escape FTL’s shadow. It’s too similar to avoid being judged based on the high bar its spacefaring cousin set, but it falls far too short of that bar for me to like it. Turns out those water pumps aren’t worth manning after all.
Bum-bo may have to deal with a lot of crap, but it’s all well worth pushing through.
It’s got heart, that puppy, but it needs more brains.
In my experience, AO Tennis 2 doesn’t do justice to tennis either, even though I wouldn’t exactly give tennis itself a glowing review.
Some games are like chips. Even if you’ve got pals to play with, maybe wait until this one comes as cheap.
Whether Might & Magic: Chess Royale can grow to the point where I’d recommend it to everyone rather than just genre newcomers is a different kettle of spuds, though. Perhaps more toppings will spice up the potato, but what’s here is tuna mayo. Predictable and nice, if you like that sort of thing, but quick to go stale.
Doom Eternal is a lot like the last game, but better.
We’re in a good place, Dunderlords and I. We’re comfortable, though you’d never have caught me using that word when I started.
The characters may be inventive, but everything else is bleeding out on the floor.
Overall, Chimera Squad is solid.
One of the most captivating games I’ve ever played.
Runeterra might not be packed with interesting decisions, but it is loaded with charm. It’s nice. It’s soothing. That’s enough.
On paper, Crucible was built for me. It’s a MOBA-infused hero shooter with an emphasis on mobility, with a diverse line-up and some interesting new ideas. In reality, I’d rather play any of the many games that grapple with just one of Crucible’s heads, and pulls it off far better. This hydra might be sprawling, but none of it looks healthy.
Valorant’s gunplay feels just as weighty and precise as CS:GO’s, with a structure that hits all the same highs and lows. Abilities sometimes let you outsmart people rather than simply outshoot them, and I’m excited about playing in a squad of friendly and coordinated pals. If and when they fall away, though, I expect I will too.
Christ. What a thing. Monster Train is at least as good as Slay The Spire. You really should try it.
I like the world and the writing, and I especially like how it can click its heels and conjure up a story – as long as you don’t get bogged down in overlong battles. It’s certainly worth keeping an eye on, and if any of this sounds interesting then an early access visit might well be worth your while.
A punishing battle royale with melee combat that frustrates before it elates, but rewards perseverance. Also it's got excellent grappling hooks.