Cosmin Vasile
Children of Morta is one of the best rogulite games I played in a while, so I can't recommend it enough to those who love the genre. It's easy to pick up and the story, even though it's a bit on the generic side, it will keep you hooked till the end (yes, there's actually an end to the story).
The compelling story and incredibly well done combat system, along with the amazing art style and deep characterization turn Control into a trippy experience full of surprises and lots of mind-bending, Inception-like moments.
Despite its shortcomings, the story and the oppressing atmosphere of The Sinking City recommend it as one of the best Lovecraft inspired game to date. If you can get past the clunky combat and technical issues, there's much to like in The Sinking City.
Long story short, Forged of Blood is the best example of a project which was meant to be big but ended up being small. I wouldn't have been so disappointed if it was a "good" small rather a than "bad" small.
If you're a Metroidvania fan, this is definitely a 10/10 title, but newcomers to the series will probably not find the same joy in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
The number of weapons and gadgets that you can upgrade and craft, but also the consistent combat mechanics make turn Void Bastards into a must-play title, no matter whether or not you're a fan of the shooter genre.
If you ever wished you could play a necromancer, battle dragons and date a Khajiit, or, why not, all three, Elsweyr delivers on that and then some. Just don't give up because of the flavorless storyline.
Of course, if you like laddering and netdecking, Rise of Shadows is just as good as the previous expansions. It buffs some classes, it nerfs others, but overall tries to keep things as balanced as possible.
Druidstone is pretty great but not without flaws. Fortunately, the unforgiving strategic combat, charming art style and light puzzles sprinkled in between the fights, far exceed the balancing issues. You just need to keep playing it beyond the first 5-6 missions, you'll find that Druidstone is a hidden gem.
Of course, Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark is not a perfect game, but there aren't too many things that I would change. Its biggest flaw is the generic story, but there are some balancing issues as well. Also, some game system are thoroughly explained, so I strongly recommend reading the help page or the PDF manual that comes with the game.
However, Heaven's Vault is not about deciphering inscriptions for the sake of it, as with each successful translation you'll be one step closer to discovering a long-forgotten history that's about to repeat itself. Not to mention that you'll meet a myriad of characters that will change their attitude depending on how you interact with them.
I have no doubt that Mortal Kombat 11 is the best game in the series thanks to the incredibly deep combat mechanics, customization options and addictive addictive extra activities. Not the mention that game brings new meanings to the word "bloody."
Unfortunately, I can't recommend Dance of Death: Du Lac & Fey to anyone who wants to play a solid adventure game, but it's definitely worth getting when it's on sale.
The main problem with The Occupation is that it hides all the good things (i.e. great concept, strong narrative) under a layer of wrong design decision, bugs, glitches and awkward controls. I had high hopes for this one, but in this state I would not recommend The Occupation to just anyone.
As for those who haven't played any of the other titles, Devil May Cry 5 should be the reason to rectify the error. It took CAPCOM quite a long time, but at least they got it right, Devil May Cry 5 is a masterpiece.
Retribution is definitely worth playing and if you heavily invested in the game, you'll most likely find some enjoyment revisiting the Galactic Civilizations universe, just don't expect too many great things, and ceartainly nothing revolutionary.
Metro Exodus bets big on interpersonal relationships and world building, something that the other two games in the series lacked badly. Its more mundane approach on how Artyom's crew perceives the post-apocalyptic landscapes they explore in their search for the promise land is what makes Metro Exodus a great game.
Unruly Heroes is not a long game (8 hours), but it's tense and quite entertaining. It challenges both your reflexes and your brain, but it will also amaze you with its graphics, music and animations. If you're a fan of the genre, Unruly Heroes is a title you don't want to miss.
Although it does little to refine the Tales formula, Vesperia is clearly a must-play for any JRPG fan, if not for the rather uninspired and predictable story, but for the characterization, great voice acting and more often than not hilarious conversations.
Otherwise, if you can get past the fact that you need to “craft” rather than “combat” your way to the finish line, Smoke and Sacrifice is a pleasant experience that will keep you occupied for 15-20 hours.