Shadows shines brightly in terms of presentation, as well as some combat and progression elements, but overall feels like a “jack of all trades” and a Samurai master of none.
Gamers shouldn’t expect a spiritual sequel to Skyrim or a fleshed-out Pillars of Eternity follow-up. Yet, Obsidian’s ARPG impresses and entertains on its own merits, providing a satisfying template for fans of the genre.
Cat Quest III is a delightful ARPG that embodies what I love about the genre: colorful themes, adventuring, and thrilling, fast-paced combat that also yields subtle depth.
World of Goo 2 is worthy sequel to its classic predecessor, while also standing tall (albeit a bit wobbly) as a distinct experience.
Snow Day is pretty thin when it comes to both style and substance, offering not quite enough of either to hold up long-term, even with decent multiplayer support and interesting Roguelike bits.
While feeling more “evolutionary” instead of “revolutionary” overall, this enriching Mario journey is still as memorable as ever, and makes a terrific swan song for the Switch.
Move It!’s fun factor doesn’t quite reach the heights it could, thanks to occasionally spotty controls, ambiguous commands, and brief microgames that vary wildly in toughness. Still, the series has always thrived on this balance of simplicity and unpredictable microgame chaos - traits that Move It! unapologetically leans on.
This attempt to “meet in the middle” between styles, while it should appeal to a wider range of fans, doesn’t really excel in the realms of stealth or ARPG. The result is a fairly average action-adventure with glimpses of greatness, but which lacks cohesion and doesn’t quite rise to its potential.
With so little in the way of content or progression, bland level design, awkward mechanics, and a generally cheap feel throughout, Hammer of Virtue feels more like a strange tech demo than a game.
I was mostly enthralled exploring Sanctuary, dungeon-crawling, and wreaking havoc. However, the experience was marred by some spotty online issues, bouts of repetition, and uninspired lore.
Squanch Games is certainly onto something when it comes to the satirical motifs laced with chaotic action, but the formula could use some refining and further fleshing out.
Scarlet & Violet bring alluring open-world gameplay and a slew of colorful new monsters to the fold, but quirks and spotty performance keep it from being the Titan it could've been.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land reminds fans of what makes this charming franchise so uniquely fun. At the same time, Nintendo and HAL elevate the formula with Kirby’s range of strong and often absurd powers, dense 3D settings, and (relative) depth through upgrades and extras.
If you can appreciate this one for what it is - a polished, fleshed-out homage to Golden Era-Mario Party - then this gem really shines.
Lost Words is a heartfelt adventure that’s more interactive storybook than standard game.
Those seeking to experience Tetris with some flashier modern-day flair and neat gameplay twists won’t be disappointed.
Beyond some slight blemishes and the somewhat “slow burn” of both the combat and story, there’s much to love about this gripping Norse epic.
An amusing, atmospheric journey that succeeds in fusing new concepts with a familiar retro style.
A dynamic, polished remake of the classic Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & 2 - with new skaters, challenges, unlockables, online gameplay, and an all-new soundtrack to complement the classic tracks.
Phobia taps into a very visceral sensibility with Carrion’s fluid, action-based mechanics, which are both simple and fun to execute.