Hell is Us is a game that doesn't try to appeal to everyone. No map, no quest markers, no help systems – anyone who plays this game has to be prepared to get involved. And that's exactly what makes it so appealing: we stumble, wander around, doubt our decisions, and feel more drawn into this mysterious, torn world as a result. The story relies on hints rather than clear answers, sometimes seeming almost brittle, but that's what makes it intriguing. I have to say, though, that I found the first few hours of gameplay difficult in terms of narrative. Until about the second hour, I had trouble really getting into the story because I lacked context. Only gradually did the game grab me, as the fragments began to fit together more clearly. The gameplay, on the other hand, impresses with a powerful combat system that forces us to use weapons selectively, manage resources wisely, and understand the Lymbic system with its glyphs. Those who get involved will discover depth and tactical diversity, even if the whole thing can seem overwhelming at first. The game's greatest strength is its atmosphere: the mixture of silence, strangeness, and subtle menace creates a mood that is not easily forgotten. Whether we are following a baby's cry into a menacing basement or simply roaming through deserted landscapes, Hell is Us knows how to give us goosebumps. Of course, there are also weaknesses: technically, the game is solid, but not outstanding. Textures, animations, and depth of detail cannot compete with the big names. The narrative restraint will not convince every player either – those who expect a clear story with lots of cutscenes will be rather disappointed. In the end, Hell is Us remains a bold experiment: an adventure that deliberately eschews convention and forces us to really look, listen, and question. For players who embark on this journey, an intense experience awaits that will not be easily forgotten.
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Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + The Star Fragment World is more than just a spruced-up remaster. It's a successful blend of technical rejuvenation and genuine new content that will lure even veterans back to the console. The basic framework remains unchanged: an accessible, charming adventure full of cute animations, clever abilities, and fun boss battles. But the Star Fragment World makes all the difference. It expands the gameplay with new level structures, collection mechanics, and challenging enemies, ensuring that the trip feels like a real upgrade rather than a simple reunion. The performance on the Switch 2 is flawless, the soundtrack is still a treat for the ears, and the mixture of childlike lightness and adventurous excitement remains fresh even after hours of play. Sure, there are a few points of criticism: the co-op mode could have been expanded more boldly, and the story remains typically simple for Kirby. But let's be honest: if you're looking for Shakespeare in a pink dumpling, you're playing the wrong game anyway. The end result is an adventure that appeals to fans and newcomers alike. Kirby remains the walking bundle of good cheer, and on the Switch 2, he shines brighter than ever before.
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Dying Light: The Beast is the title with which Techland makes up for much of what didn't work in its direct predecessor. Instead of getting lost in experimental ideas, the game focuses on its strengths: a dynamic parkour system that conveys a real sense of flow, intense close combat with tactical demands, and a game world that impresses with its density and atmosphere. The Beast mode in particular stands out as a gameplay and narrative enhancement. What might seem like a power fantasy gimmick on paper turns out to be a cleverly balanced element that creates new dynamics and at the same time complements the existing gameplay in a meaningful way. Although the world is no longer as high as in part 1 and the gameplay focus is more on horizontal exploration, this hardly has a negative impact. On the contrary, the reduction to more compact structures ensures better level design and less idle time. In terms of technology, structure, and narrative, Dying Light: The Beast is also superior to the “official” second part. The story remains compact, credible, and embedded in the environment without getting lost in meaningful monologues. At the same time, the crafting system offers depth without seeming overloaded. And if you want, you can spend hours in the world without ever feeling like you're being artificially held back. Dying Light: The Beast is not a complete reboot, but it is a liberating step back to the essentials – and thus exactly what fans have been wanting for years.
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Sensei! I Like You So Much! is a little love letter to fan culture – colorful, playful, and astonishingly detailed. Those who indulge in the dominant visual novel element will find a charming blend of storytelling, creative self-realization, and easy management. The mechanics surrounding fanzines, conventions, and merchandise are motivating, even if they serve more as a spice and don't reach the depth of classic business simulations. Technically, there's little to complain about: The look is coherent, the music underscores the feel-good setting, and the countless collectible and decorative elements invite experimentation. Weaknesses like the bumpy translation and the sometimes lengthy VN passages should be taken into account, but they don't take away the game's soul. The end result is a title aimed primarily at players who enjoy immersing themselves in fandom worlds, being creative, and expanding their little virtual fan existence. Anyone who wants to crunch hard numbers and fill out Excel spreadsheets is out of place here. However, anyone who enjoys sweetening their digital life with pins, fanzines, and blogs should feel perfectly at home.
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The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree confidently plays its trump cards. Jamboree TV is not a cosmetic side room, but the new centerpiece when we think of the party as a show: more precise thanks to mouse mode, louder thanks to the microphone, more personal thanks to the camera. The classic game remains the familiar stage with colorful charm and calculated dice madness; technically, it doesn't keep up everywhere, but it benefits indirectly from the fresh rules and additional energy. The bottom line is that we had constant fun, and that's exactly the currency Mario Party is measured in.
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Ritual of Raven is perfect for anyone who wants to run their farm with a touch of magic and a generous dash of convenience. It impresses with its charming setting, unusual core mechanics, and a calm, almost meditative gameplay style. Technically solid on PC, visually appealing, and pleasant to listen to, it invites you to play at your own pace. It's not perfect; complex economic systems and extreme gameplay variety are missing. But the mix of automation, exploration, and character interaction has its own charm. And sometimes that's all you need for a successful evening.
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Donkey Kong Bananza is a prime example of how to place well-known series characters in a fresh environment without losing their core essence. The mix of vertical level design, creative destruction, and clever transformations ensures that the game feels both familiar and new. Audiovisually, it impresses with its attention to detail and a harmonious overall composition. There are minor technical weaknesses in co-op mode and complex scenes, but these are overshadowed by the game's strengths. Anyone who wants to experience Donkey Kong in a mixture of classic platforming and modern game world interactivity will find a worthy, standalone addition to the series here.
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Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma stays true to the DNA of the series, but brings noticeable improvements – especially in terms of comfort and accessibility. The fast leveling of relationships, the useful automation provided by the villagers, and the pleasantly fluid combat system make for a motivating gaming experience. The combination of farming, role-playing, and village life is successful and allows enough freedom without being overwhelming. A few minor stumbling blocks, such as the awkward placement of buildings and a somewhat old-fashioned menu design, prevent the game from achieving the highest rating, but they hardly detract from the positive overall impression. Technically, the game runs smoothly, the English voice acting is solid, and Azuma as a world invites exploration and creativity. For fans of farming RPGs looking for a fresh but familiar experience, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is definitely worth recommending.
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Survive the Fall isn't a blockbuster, but it's a small, ambitious survival adventure with soul. The mix of base building, exploration, and atmospheric world works well. The creative camp building and open world are particularly appealing. However, the game sometimes gets in its own way: too much loot, too little voice, too little focus. But if you're willing to embark on the adventure and have patience, you'll find an atmospheric representative of the genre and maybe even a new home at the end of the world.
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Pivot of Hearts is a quiet, thoughtful story about love, self-discovery, and the uncertainties that arise when you get to know yourself anew. With a lot of heart, it tells the story of Wén Xiàn's journey through memories, new friendships, and the bittersweet realization that not every story needs a clear happy ending. It shines with authentic characters, an emotional story, and loving design, but stumbles over technical weaknesses and repetitive background music. Those who are patient, willing to engage with the quiet tones, and ready to immerse themselves in a complex, realistic narrative will find a game here that will resonate for a long time.
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Commandos: Origins is a declaration of love to an almost forgotten genre - and at the same time proof that classic real-time tactics can still be fun in 2025. The game is clearly aimed at fans of the series (and people with patience). Newcomers might be put off by the level of difficulty at first, but those who dig in will get a rewarding, challenging gaming experience. The biggest strengths are the clever level design, the tactical depth and the co-op mode. The biggest weaknesses? Small technical glitches and a limited choice of characters.
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Guidus Zero is not a game for hectic mouse clickers or spontaneous after-work runs where you just want to whizz through. It requires concentration, planning and a certain amount of frustration tolerance. But it rewards everyone who gets involved - with intense battles, a clever progression system and a surprisingly dense dungeon flair. The boss battles challenge us, but they also motivate us. The grid movement feels strange at first, but becomes a pleasant rhythm over time. And the small design decisions - notes instead of walls of text, random stores, portable resources - make Guidus Zero a game that doesn't try to be bigger or more epic than it is. But simply: damn good. Of course, there are weaknesses. The automatic dialog navigation feels like an unnecessary stumbling block. The lack of a hint to “reset run” after saving almost borders on sabotage. But these are annoyances, not deal-breakers.
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Sugardew Island does a lot of things right: it offers some clever convenience features, charming graphics and a relaxed atmosphere. But despite these strengths, the game lacks long-term motivation. The sales system drags on unnecessarily, there are hardly any side activities, and the technical quirks disrupt the flow of the game in some places. The basic idea is nice, but the gameplay simply doesn't offer enough in the long run. Those looking for a purely farming-focused experience may be happy here - everyone else will long for more variety after a short time.
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Threefold Recital is an extraordinary game - but definitely not for everyone. Those who can engage with a deep story with philosophical undertones, complex characters and calm but creative gameplay will enjoy a captivating experience. However, those expecting action-packed battles or rapid progression may quickly become frustrated. The world of Bluescales is breathtaking, the puzzles challenging and the story full of intrigue. At the same time, the game requires a high willingness to read and patience for its leisurely narrative style.
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Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is a charming game that perfectly captures the essence of the book series. With its humorous style, varied level design and lovable characters, it is aimed primarily at fans of the comics and younger players. However, adults looking for an easily accessible and entertaining adventure will also find what they are looking for here. Despite minor weaknesses - such as the occasional camera problems, the somewhat simple story or the sluggishness of the movements - the game impresses with its fresh approach and lovingly designed comic style.
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Infinity Nikki is an enchanting journey into a world filled with fantasy and color. With its mix of fashionable challenges, open-ended exploration and magical elements, the game offers an experience that is both relaxing and creative. The story starts strong with an engaging opening, but loses some depth as the game progresses. The world of Miraland is beautifully designed and invites us to immerse ourselves in its magic, even if it sometimes lacks interactivity and vivid details. The gameplay shines thanks to the variety of outfits and their creative uses. The magical abilities in particular make for exciting puzzles and varied exploration. However, the constant changing of outfits and the sometimes empty passages in the open world can slow down the flow of the game. The atmosphere is excellently supported by the music, the soundscape and the lovingly animated characters. Momo, our companion, also plays a central and charming role. The in-game store remains an element worth discussing: it is purely cosmetic, but makes it easier to complete collections, which some players may find an incentive to spend money. Infinity Nikki is not a perfect game, but one with a big heart. It is aimed primarily at fans of relaxed, creative adventures and those who enjoy strolling through a fairytale world while being enchanted by outfits and magic.
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Sengoku Dynasty is an ambitious title that attempts to combine several genres in one game - with sometimes impressive, sometimes mixed results. The combination of survival, city-building and role-playing creates a unique gaming experience that particularly shines with its atmospheric depiction of the Sengoku era. The focus on authenticity in the design of landscapes and buildings as well as the clever use of sound and atmosphere make immersing yourself in the game a real experience. On the other hand, however, there are some weaknesses that cloud the overall picture. Technical problems such as performance drops and graphical glitches repeatedly slow down the flow of the game. The battles are solid, but could have done with more depth and variety. It is a particular shame that there is no voice acting, which could have made the game even more immersive. The simple presentation of the text boxes also seems rather unkind in comparison to the otherwise impressive game world. Despite these shortcomings, Sengoku Dynasty offers something that many games fail to do: A world that invites us to discover and shape it. If you are patient and don't mind the technical problems, you will have many hours of fun building your own dynasty - whether alone or with friends in co-op mode.
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Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a worthy successor and at the same time an attempt to modernize the series. The new mechanics such as the “Luigi Logic” and the “Battle Plug System” add interesting levels, while the proven gameplay of the predecessors is retained. There is criticism mainly on the technical side: performance problems on the Nintendo Switch and occasional backtracking tarnish the overall impression a little. Nevertheless, the strengths outweigh the drawbacks - especially the charming narrative, the creative characters and the captivating battles. Fans of the series and newcomers alike can look forward to an adventure that will leave them with a big smile on their face.
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Astral Flux cleverly combines the nostalgia of classic pixel platformers with modern roguelite mechanics to create an intense gaming experience. The procedural structure and the new submerged update provide variety and a unique atmosphere that will definitely appeal to fans of the genre. The pixel art visuals and the matching soundtrack round off the interstellar adventure and make the game a strong choice for anyone who wants to embark on a cosmic voyage of discovery. However, be warned of the somewhat higher level of difficulty.
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With Sonic x Shadow Generations, Sonic Team has made an impressive comeback, taking the best elements of Sonic Generations and combining them with the drama and intensity of Shadow's storyline. The switch between styles and the different abilities of the two heroes bring a breath of fresh air to the Sonic formula without neglecting the roots of the series. The visual overhaul and the smooth presentation in performance mode round off the gaming experience. Nevertheless, a little more fine-tuning could have been done in some places, especially when it comes to long-term motivation in White Space - a more dynamic soundtrack and smaller mini-games would have made the exploration more varied. But that's criticism on a high level: all in all, Sonic x Shadow Generations is a thrilling adventure that offers plenty of fun for both long-time Sonic fans and newcomers alike.
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