Balatro is a fantastic showcase of how to create complexity by establishing a simple ruleset and building on it. LocalThunk’s debut title turns the simplest of poker hands something magical with modifiers and special cards and jokers. At the same time, it pushes the player to try new strategies with its bosses and to skip blinds for a bigger reward. I felt like I barely scratched its surface and I still yearn for more. Get ready to devote all your free time to it and watch your “perfect” strategy fall apart just to try it again and again. A must have for poker, deckbuilder and strategy fans.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
“Islands of Insight” looks and feels like an “all you can eat” buffet of puzzle games that ranges from logic puzzles to hidden objects. It’s open-ended structure leans into a very chill experience that can provide challenge when you want it. But its online requirement and the lack of local saves undermines what it should’ve been a title I expected to play for months to come.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The biggest issue with “Granblue Fantasy: Relink” is its not-so-great camera, but that’s a small price to play in an RPG so full of amazing setpieces, well designed characters (from a mechanics standpoint), amazing quests and a very solid campaign. A fantastic entry to the “Granblue” franchise and a must play even if you never heard about it before.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
While its main “carrer mode” is more interative than I expected, “House Flipper 2” shines through its fantastic and engaging sandbox mode.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
In its remastered form, Nightdive Studios delivers the “Turok 3” we deserved to play all these years. Attention to detail and better level integration and coherency turns one of the late Nintendo 64 titles into the best one in the trilogy.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Although with fantastic visuals and a very much promising setting, “Achilles: Legends Untold” stumbles hard to fulfill its ambitions due to a very slow and clunky combat system.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
You will find one of the most fascinating, rewarding and in-depth souls like out there. Lords of the Fallen deserves to sit next to some of the genre best, such as NioH 2, Lies of P and so many others. It brings its own flavor to the table, even if it sometimes tastes sour. I’m more than sure that I will be back to it sooner rather than later. Mournstead is calling me, and I already have many planned builds to tweak with.
Cities: Skylines 2 is an ambitious sequel that manages to both implement amazing simulations systems while at the same time do little with them. It fails to recapture the magic of the original and the performance issues are a huge letdown. Maybe it will become the “ultimate city builder”, but that day is still far away.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
“Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged” is exactly what I expect from a sequel: better mechanics, more variety and depth. Milestone delivers that packaged with one of the best arcade racers of 2023. Definitely a must have whether you like Hot Wheels or not.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Is Total War Pharaoh a worthy successor to the historical franchise? Yes. Total War: Pharaoh takes more steps forwards than back, and I can live with that. At least, it didn’t crash and burn like so many civilizations it portrays, so that’s something.
“Mythforce” doesn’t have the staying power of other roguelites, there’s a fair share of grind in its meta progression and the first-person combat could use a bit of tune up. But, on the flip side, it is a great game to chill either alone or with friends. If there’s anything Beamdog picked up from the “Sunday morning cartoon vibes”, it’s how you can have low stakes and still have a great time with something.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
“Hellsweeper VR” is one ambitious title in the VR space when it comes to movement mechanics. It might not always stick the landing, most notably in regards to wallrunning, but once you get the hang of it – and that might take some time – it’s hard not to feel pure satisfaction of slashing through hordes of demons.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Much like the axolotls in real life, I’d rather watch than play more of “AK-xolotl”. It has a good foundation, but its unnecessarily complicated meta progression, lack of weapons and build variety makes its runs frustrating and repetitive.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Asagi and Karai steal the show in “Dimension Shellshock”. The roguelite survival mode is a nice addition but lacks enemy variety and more interesting power-ups. Nevertheless, it’s a great addition to an already excellent game, especially with friends.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
“Ride 5” is a great game for motorcycle enthusiasts, but Milestone still can’t find a good spot between realism and a more arcade approach. Most of its “innovations” will be seen and felt for those who dedicate their time to it. If you’re not willing to take part in 20 minutes+ races, then “Ride 3” is still your best option.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
An absolutely fantastic game whose campaign does not overstay its welcome but still makes every encounter feel fresh. “En Garde!” focuses on arena fights and funny characters to build an extremely memorable experience. Along with the endlessly replayable “Arena Mode”, I don’t think I’ll stop playing it anytime soon.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Beautiful visuals can’t do much when “Atlas Fallen” combat, story and encounter design is so shallow. It could’ve been an amazing game if its scope was more limited. As of now, it just stands as another “open world” game that was released in 2023.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
An amazing follow-up to “Remnant: From the Ashes”. Smooth gameplay paired with a great character building alongside some impressive bosses, setpieces and incredible locations. Remnant II is going to be one of those games I’ll be playing for years to come.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
“Arcadian Atlas” might not be the “Final Fantasy Tactics” inspired game if you’re looking at a gameplay perspective. But the Team at Twin Otters Studios more than delivers on the story and presentation front. An enjoyable, even if “short”, journey.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
“Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons” features an amazing cast with awe inspiring combos and styles. Sadly, the game ends up being dragged down by poor level design and a “roguelike” mode that barely fits the formula.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review