Last Epoch is not exactly a revolution within the action RPG segment, but the creation of Eleventh Hour Games gets it right by delivering a fun, engaging and, above all, accessible adventure in a genre recognized for its often frightening complexity. By giving players the freedom to conquer Eterra however they want — online, offline, alongside other players or not, including dismantling and assembling builds without any penalty for doing so — the developer proves that excellence comes after the basics are well built.
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If you're looking for games that are easy to learn, difficult to master and practically impossible to put down, there are very few similar titles on the market like Balatro. Even with one or two mistakes, it's difficult not to recommend this game. I only advise you to be careful with your productivity if the Switch is always within reach and you like cards: suddenly just ten more minutes can turn into hours spent searching for the perfect joker, and this is not even remotely a bluff.
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Recently out of Early Access, Oblivion Override mixes robots, action, and a lot of speed in an excellent roguelike. By respecting its influences and understanding what makes them special, the debut work of studio Humble Mill sticks the landing and deserves recognition by fans of the genre. Be it on the third or the 20th match, there's certainly more than a single reason to don the armor and return to Crimson's mission.
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With the abundance of quality metroidvanias on the Nintendo console, standing out is an increasingly difficult mission. Still, due to the quality of its elements, large amount of content and great adaptation, TEVI easily joins the list of good games of its genre on Switch, offering a lot of action and fun for bullet hell and anime-themed enthusiasts. If you thought 2023 couldn't get any better, CreSpirit is here to prove otherwise with an instant cult classic. We, the players, benefit from this.
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With the abundance of quality metroidvanias currently available on Switch, standing out is no easy task. Nevertheless, with great visuals and animations, fun combat and a simple but intriguing narrative, 9 Years of Shadows fulfills its mission and delivers an adventure that deserves to be experienced. Its linearity and short duration may disappoint some players, but it's undeniable that the mix of color, musicality and action works well here — and, given the competent adaptation and its inherent versatility, Nintendo's hybrid console is the best way to experience it.
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Despite the specific observations above, Astlibra Revision is, in my opinion, one of the big recent surprises. Few times have I seen a similar game; each new chapter makes it clear that this is a passionate developer's life's work. Be it for the plot development, the excellent combat system or the surprisingly moving soundtrack, this is a title that must be experienced, especially for fans of the genre. A slip-up or two isn't enough to destroy the value of this diamond that, despite its imperfections, shines well enough to be a highlight in a universe of good games this year.
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SteamWorld Build fulfills its mission and delivers a fun construction game with the undeniable charm of the versatile and long-running SteamWorld franchise. A little more depth or challenge would be welcome, of course, but there will always be room for polished experiences that value fun and are capable of welcoming new players with excellence. Recommended.
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Tales of Arise - Beyond the Dawn fulfills its mission as an expansion, bringing new missions, challenging opponents and more of what made the base game one of the best and most fun JRPGs released in recent years. Without fear of touching on delicate themes such as prejudice and family abandonment, or showing that not every ending is as happy as it seems, this DLC is a great opportunity for both veterans and newcomers to visit this universe and enjoy its good visuals, great combat system and fun progression.
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In the end, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1 is, indeed, recommendable but with some caveats. If you're looking for a revival or first time to play these seminal classics, who are predecessors to the cinematographic adventures that are so common now in the game industry, this collection will give you that. However, it leaves an expectation that a future Volume 2 will get more attention; new and old fans will definitely appreciate.
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Borderlands 3: Ultimate Edition successfully joins the list of improbable - but very welcome - adaptations to the Nintendo console. Even with the inevitable graphic downgrade, all the chaos and insanity of the 2K series are still present and addicting in this version, proving that among weapons, psychopaths and dubious jokes, the worst sin is not to get in. Recommended!
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Every strategy fan should know: when we lose track of the real hours, but not of the terrain and virtual enemies to be conquered, we know that we are facing one of the good games of the genre. Fortunately, Wargroove 2 delivers this with flying colors.
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Total War: PHARAOH confirms expectations and delivers one of the best titles in the Total War series in recent years. Although its battles are logically slower and less spectacular compared to the great fantasies of the WARHAMMER trilogy, at no point do they prove less exciting or addictive. To top it off, we still have one of the most interesting campaigns in the series, with several branches and customization options capable of extending the game's lifespan for months and years on end. Becoming pharaoh (or king of the Hittites) is only half the battle; The story of Egypt's reconstruction is more complex than it seems. We, the players, benefit from this.
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Gunbrella shows that umbrellas can be as lethal as they are fun, at least in a dark virtual world where shoot first and ask questions later is very effective. Violent, stylish and thought-provoking, here's a short but well-worth journey on Switch.
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Summum Aeterna is yet another proof that mixing metroidvania and roguelite mechanics works when it's done well. The many surprises and agile, addicting combat system are fun and compensate for the blunders in the story and the absence of difficulty options (almost ironic considering the matches' customization). Thinking about its potential, it's a shame the title isn't in its better version on Switch and even face bizarre bugs such as the idiom change. I hope future patches fix these issues. Maybe this way the King of Darkness will be able to actually reign among the fellow members of the genre on the Nintendo system.
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If what you want are more pieces for the board of your campaigns in Total War: WARHAMMER III, Shadows of Change delivers this with flying colors, with new Legendary Lords that fit perfectly into the game map and provide hours of fun both in the Kingdom of Chaos as in Immortal Empires, constantly remembering that the third and definitive title of this crossover is still perfectly addictive. For content that has the word “change” in its name, however, it's worth tempering expectations. More than a revolution, here we have an addition, and the truth is that we've seen better ones since the title's launch.
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By understanding and amplifying what makes classic shooters so fun, Turbo Overkill proves to be a very entertaining and, honestly, essential piece of work for fans of the Boomer Shooter subgenre. Agile and surprising like few titles on the market, Johnny Turbo's journey proves that shoot first and ask questions later still works very well in the world of games. Who wins with this is us, the players.
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Blasphemous 2 is one of the best metroidvanias available on the market. From the impeccable visuals to the gameplay enhancements, the only real blasphemy here is not enjoying this carefully curated sequel by The Game Kitchen. So rise and accept your fate, Penitent: Cvstodia's fate is once again in your hands (and this is fortunately great news).
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Adore has some good ideas, especially when it comes to its fun combat system, but also the slight sense of wasted potential for a game that spent so much time in early access. Still, if the promise of collecting creatures and building the best team possible for fast-paced real-time combat appeals to you, there's plenty to enjoy here. Here's hoping, then, that in an eventual (and more ambitious) sequel, being a worshiper will be less repetitive and even more exciting.
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As a fan of action games, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have fun with Atlas Fallen. Though it's not revolutionary in any way, the new work by Deck13 is yet another competent release in 2023. Being the gauntlet wielder doesn't come without its issues, but defeating sandy monsters while surfing in a post-apocalyptic desert is way too thrilling to be ignored.
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Without any narrative outline or other way to connect the experience and with fewer tools at your disposal than expected, Super Dungeon Maker, unfortunately, ends up disappointing more than entertaining. The most extreme enthusiasts of his proposal will certainly find fun creating their own structures and playing other people's dungeons, but until new updates add more content to the game, all other players will be better served with the legends that have been around for a long time in other works.
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