Jake Su's Reviews
All Will Fall does its best work when its drowned setting and precarious building systems make survival feel like a constant compromise. Every new floor, bridge, and supply line adds to a world that feels genuinely unstable, even if some of the wider management ideas do not always carry the same weight.
REPLACED is one of the most visually arresting games in recent memory, with pixel art and animation that constantly demand attention. Its combat and traversal can feel slick and satisfying in bursts, but repetition, lighter mechanical depth, and uneven pacing stop it from fully becoming as special to play as it is to behold.
Pragmata is at its best when everything clicks together at once. The bond between Hugh and Diana gives the journey real emotional weight, while the hacking and shooting combat remains sharp, demanding, and constantly rewarding. With a strong variety in weapons, mods, and hacks, Capcom has delivered a sci-fi adventure that feels both heartfelt and thrilling from start to finish.
People of Note earns its applause through sheer conviction. Its voice acting is excellent, its musical numbers genuinely memorable, and its combat has just enough tactical rhythm to keep things lively. What stops it from reaching higher is an RPG backbone that never feels quite as rich or rewarding as the show built around it.
Hozy turns cleaning and decorating into a soothing little ritual, and its real magic lies in shaping each room around your own sense of who belongs there. It may be small in scale, but the game is overflowing with charm and knows exactly how to win you over.
Screamer takes arcade racing to a louder, stranger, and far more theatrical place than most of its peers. Its combat systems, anime-fuelled world, and unusual handling model can be divisive, but the result is a racer with genuine personality and a sense of conviction that is hard to ignore.
The Coin Game is a strange, scruffy, and surprisingly absorbing ode to the old arcade experience. Beneath its awkward movement and uneven presentation is a game that understands the ritual of chasing tickets, wasting pocket money, and convincing yourself one more round will make it all worth it. That nostalgic authenticity is exactly what makes it work, but it may also push some players away.
Cupiclaw has an excellent central idea and the design chops to make it sing, but the climb loses some momentum before the credits roll.
Lost and Found Co. is a lovely reminder that visual fidelity alone does not make a game memorable. With expressive hand-drawn art, gentle humour, and an inviting hidden object loop, Bit Egg Inc. delivers a heartfelt adventure that is easy to sink into and hard to forget.
Baladins captures tabletop warmth through a looping week structure, turning planning into tension and co-op chatter into the real reward while struggling with the spectre of repetition.
Resident Evil Requiem sustains suffocating tension through Grace’s vulnerability and Leon’s disciplined firepower, delivering a strategic, replayable survival horror experience that feels just about right for the franchise.
ANTHEM#9 delivers sharp, satisfying combat built on clever gem-matching systems, yet its limited long-term variety is a giant hurdle in keeping you invested.
Fading Serenades is a carefully composed indie experience that values mood, music and quiet reflection. Its delivery-focused structure and gentle traversal systems create moments of genuine calm, even if repetition and narrative restraint prevent it from fully resonating long after the credits roll.
Night Swarm delivers fast-paced roguelite combat with strong visual identity and engaging build crafting, but uneven balance and progression pacing hold it back from lasting greatness.
I Am Future: Cozy Apocaplyse Survival is less about overcoming the end of the world and more about learning how to live gently within it, embracing routine and reflection over pressure.
Octopath Traveler 0 is a confident and polished HD 2D JRPG, where exceptional turn-based combat and thoughtful systems consistently outshine its cautious approach to storytelling and character development.
PowerWash Simulator 2 is a confident, thoughtful sequel that deepens its foundation through refinement rather than reinvention. It knows exactly what it wants to be, and it succeeds by committing fully to that vision.
Pioneers of Pagonia rewards patience and understanding, offering a city builder that grows richer the longer you stay with it.
MARVEL Cosmic Invasion bursts with colour, energy, and punchy team-based action. Its repetition and shallow systems prevent it from rising to true greatness, but even so, it remains a lively cosmic romp for fans who value spectacle and personality.
Skate Story is a mesmerising blend of fragility, speed, and surreal art, carving out a space unlike anything else this year. Its demanding mechanics can frustrate, but its emotional depth and visual brilliance more than reward persistence.