Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a strong game, it’s a contender for game of the year and it’s ultimately one well worth playing. It’s a stunningly astute and whimsical take on death, life, and where we fit in all of it. The game is about Kena finding her place and helping others find there’s too. Beautiful, immersive, and dynamic, I can’t recommend this game enough.
In Chapter 1, there is a line: “Survival isn’t a neat and tidy process but its better than the alternative.” This isn’t just a one-liner, but the thesis of the entire game. And with that, Life is Strange: True Colors lands itself as one of the most cathartic and resonate video game’s I’ve played in a long time.
Boyfriend Dungeon is the perfect combo of thirsty and thoughtful. Whether it’s the deliberate decision to embrace an inclusive gameplay experience or the choice to use the characters you meet to explore insecurities and then fight those fears in the dunj, this game succeeds in hitting the feels.
Overall, Backworlds is a short and sweet game that offers up ample amounts of wholesomeness and challenge in the best way. Painting your way through the world isn’t just a gimmick; it’s an integral part of the game, which is important for niche travel mechanics. Plus, there are a few surprises in-store, including teleportation. So if you’re looking for a game to play on the go and puzzles to keep you focused, then Backworlds is definitely for you. A port from the PC, this one takes full advantage of the way you play your Switch and just works.
Days Gone on the PC is a great experience that brings a stellar upgrade for graphics that take full advantage of the dynamic weather system. And, with a much smoother ride than it got on console, this is well worth the buy for PC-players looking to get in on zombie action. While it definitely plays better on controller, the experience is still a great one.
Resident Evil Village is a great game that embraces the elements of the series that we know and love while also carving out its own space nestled deep in dark fantasy. In fact, this game beautifully finds a middle ground to please existing fans of the franchise but also serves as a great entry point for new players.
Overall, The Medium is a great game, when it comes to the actual nuts and bolts the game is superb. It’s scary, it’s visceral, and it showcases how Bloober Team understands horror and how to execute concepts unrestricted by location. That said, its story is less than stellar, but at 8-10 hours of gameplay, with its fantastic cinematics, it’s a hurdle you can get over.
When all is said and done, Hitman 3 has a few hiccups, but it’s a stunning finale to the series and a fantastic game to play even if you haven’t played the ones before it. The way the writing of the game lays out past events helps ensure that even if you didn’t beat the last two in the franchise, you’re up to speed with the story so far. Throw in the added elements to get you playing missions multiple times and the more expansive online elements I have not mentioned here and you have a game worthy to pick up on launch day.
Overall, Iris.Fall is a phenomenal game. It’s gorgeous, emotive, and not exhaustively long. It’s an immersive game that aims to blend a somber tone with an innovative design. While there are some tedious moments and less than ideal elements that don’t map to controllers well over a mouse, this isn’t enough to make it a game to pass on. Having found success on PC, I’m excited for fans of the genre to play Iris.Fall on their consoles. For the beautiful world and score alone, this is one game that I want more of.
Immortals Fenyx Rising is a visually stunning, heartfelt, and welcoming game for everyone and easily lands the honor of being my game of the year.
Monster Camp is an accessible and fun dating sim that allows each player to create an experience that works for them while also providing a story and cast of characters that will pull anyone in. Monster Prom was a phenomenal dating adventure and Monster Camp hits that high benchmark as well.
Overall, Alpaca Ball: Allstars is absurd and fun. It’s a whole lot of chaos and nonsense that is just the game a lot of people are looking for to play on and off stream. Come for the cute alpacas, stay for the chaos, and make sure you pick it up for some wholesome animated joy.
I don’t really know how to quantify this remaster since it isn’t bad but it also isn’t great. Instead, it lands deep in the middle. When all is said and done, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning will be for someone who loved the game and maybe lost their old copy, for modders, and for people who are just looking to bask in nostalgia. But for the rest of the RPG fans, you won’t be missing much if you don’t head back to the Faelands.
When all is said and done, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is a wonderful game. It’s humorous, nostalgic, and something I would recommend to both existing fans and new ones alike. While there is a lot to be gained when you already know the story, prior knowledge isn’t necessary and I can easily see this title making new Jack fans out of many players. By nailing nearly every element, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is just the game I was looking for.
Overall, Parkasaurus is a wonderful management simulator. There are intricacies to the management system that will delight hardcore sim players. That said, simplified building mechanics, specifically the grid feature and color-coding biome environment elements help to break down some of the more daunting characteristics of the game-type for newcomers. Plus, who doesn’t want an exhibit of T-Rexes in witch’s hats?
Neversong is a challenging cinematic platformer with beauty, whimsy, and elements of horror, that has a touching story to tell. While the game will be frustrating for some, it’s a challenge worth undertaking especially on the Nintendo Switch. While the game was out on PC before, the Switch is the perfect platform for both the game-type and design of the game.
When all is said and done though, Röki is a lovable game with deep storytelling, and while the mechanics behind crafting and puzzle-solving isn’t my cup of tea, the narrative and art are. This game offers beauty in its design and emotion in its narrative. At only 12-15 hours of playtime, this is an easy game to pick up and play through.
When it’s all said and done, “Hot Garbage” is an amazing addition to Journey to the Savage Planet and offers up an entirely new world to explore. With new collectibles and even the ability go underwater, Typhoon Studios built out a comprehensive new planet that adds more to the game in a way that makes it well worth the $7.99 it costs.
A Fold Apart is full of emotion and heart that you can feel in the story. Additionally, the story can help people understand what their significant others go through when miscommunication happens. That empathy-building is to be commended. While the game isn’t perfect, it is charming and makes for a relaxing playthrough, especially as some are separated from their partners while the world is in self-quarantine.
“Seat of Power” is a relatively small DLC, where other like the “Sunken Treasures” and “The Passage” added more to the World Map, this one’s impact is more about how you can add both difficulties and ease to your playthroughs, by adding a new mechanic to city management. With that goal, “Seat of Power” succeeds and is a wonderful addition to the Anno 1800 and start to the game’s season 2.