"Rollerdrome" is an excellent game in a genre that is now almost completely extinct.
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"Cult of the Lamb" can convince more as an idea than as a product. Minor defects exist at all corners and ends. The balance of the game leaves much to be desired, and it seems as if the progress of the cult is almost twice as fast as intended for the story. Nevertheless, "Cult of the Lamb" captivates not least thanks to the look and the original setting. With around ten hours of play, it is without a doubt rather short for a roguelike adventure.
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"Stray" had inspired the imagination of many players with his first attempts as "HK Project". The bottom line is that the final product feels far more familiar and generic than you might have hoped for from the first pictures. Nevertheless, "Stray" has its strengths, especially in the level design and in the atmosphere that it builds up again and again through great graphics and music. Playfully, the work moves rather on the easy side and offers experienced players hardly a challenge. But that's not what this is about anyway. "Stray" wants to take you into a world that is dirty and broken, and shows you again and again the bright spots of hope and the beauty that lies hidden.
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While inevitably overshadowed by its big brother, Persona 5 Tactica definitely has its own legs to stand on. The accessible, yet engaging combat system, a new story with its own twists and turns, as well as the excellent art style make this an easy game to pick up and play. What it lacks however, is anything truly outstanding. While competent at all aspects of the game, nothing stands out as particularly new or captivating, dooming this to remain forever trapped a shadow in the metaverse that is Persona 5.
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"Steelrising" is like "Greedfall" a very positive surprise. Spiders has once again managed to put its own stamp on a very highly competitive genre. The balance of the game could certainly still be tightened, and the areas are not as impressive as we would have liked. The bottom line, however, is that "Steelrising" is one of the best Western interpretations of the "Souls" series and brings a breath of fresh air into a very rigid formula not only with a fascinating setting, but also with new elements in combat and exploration.
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"Ginsha" is an absolute must-see for Metroidvania fans. The game cleverly combines elements from video game classics with newer ideas and manages to pack these elements into a very pretty and great sounding package. Only the difficulty level and the lack of almost any navigation aids can deter less experienced players.
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Few fictional universes are as dense and impenetrable as that of Warhammer 40k. Owlcat Games (previously known for Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous have managed to create a gripping story of the darkness that lurks in man, accentuated by stellar writing and a combat system that masterfully increases in depth as the game goes on. Despite some bugs and technical issues, this easily counts among the very best delves into the grim darkness of the 41st Millennium.
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Last Train Home tells a gritty and emotional story of Czechoslovakian legionnaires trying to reach their distant home after the conclusion of World War I. As foreign armed forces in a now war-torn Russia, players not only have to manage scarce resources, but also their allegiances. While the core elements of RTS gameplay and survival management sim work well together, a large part of your enjoyment will depend on the balance of those two. For large stretches of gameplay, Last Train Home isn’t an RTS with management sim elements, but a Surival Management game with occasional RTS missions.
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Sonic Superstars won’t change anyone’s mind on the Sonic franchise, but instead serves as somewhat of a soft reboot.
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Despite some technical rough edges, "Age of Wonders 4" offers an excellent gaming experience for all strategy fans and those who want to become one. Not only does the campaign require tactical skill, but it also presents you with an interesting challenge as you create the ideal race for each scenario. The fact that you'll slowly build up your pantheon between saves and unlock new customization options for your races in a separate talent tree provides more long-term motivation than many other 4X titles.
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"Railgrade" is an absolute must for players who like to trim a system for efficiency. Borrowing from games like "Factorio", "Satisfactory" or even the more abstract "Magnum Opus", "Railgrade" pushes itself to the top of the genre thanks to charming presentation, short but crisp missions and an excellent price-performance ratio.
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Islands of Insight feels like the developers took the Korok challenges from the recent The Legend of Zelda titles and crossed them with The Witness. It’s a wonderful playground full of different kinds of puzzles, some deviously crafted into the environment itself. While there’s little story to latch on to and no real fail-state, the thrill of discovery has definitely kept us going far longer into the night than we thought possible. This review was tested before general multiplayer went live, therefore we can’t speak as to how well the MMO-like aspects blend into general gameplay.
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Dark, Depressing and Difficult. This interesting mix of tactical combat, existential horror and rogue-like elements punishes mistakes with brutal defeat. Thanks to open information and a boatload of tactical options however, cunning strategists can keep the upper hand and guide their daughters to fight another day.
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While some issues concerning UI and controls occurred from porting this game to consoles, Pathfinder: Kingmaker brings a true pen & paper feels onto the screen. This is easily one of the best console RPGs currently available, as it manages to surprise players with a challenging and long journey into the world of Dungeons & Dragons that’s full of meaningful choices and interesting characters.
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"Jagged Alliance 3" perfects the mix of management simulation, tactical battles and role-playing elements and inspires with humorous dialogues and a constantly surprising game depth. Even if minor flaws in controls, camera work and overview in the battles are occasionally frustrating, the game is one of the best titles of the year for strategy fans. However, one drop of bitterness for all those who want to get excited about the series for the first time remains: The high level of difficulty and the very many, very poorly explained elements make the introduction to "Jagged Alliance 3" a test of patience. But if you take the time, you will definitely be richly rewarded here.
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One thing should be said right from the start: "Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition" is and remains an excellent strategy game with an incredible number of hours of play for strategy fans. We think it's great that a piece of video game history has made it to consoles, even if you have to make some compromises when it comes to controls. So, unsurprisingly, for hardcore purists, there's no reason to play the game on console instead of PC. But that's not necessary, because it is precisely through the availability in Gamepass that the game reaches a new audience, which now has a chance to experience a classic of video game history at its best.
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Temtem follows a rather simple premise. What if Pokémon’s first generation was made today? The result is an excellent dose of nostalgia with many modernized features such as campaign co-op and a rich endgame. It’s about time Nintendo’s stagnant franchise gets serious competition and as things stand now, Temtem is the game for those who have dropped off the main Pokémon games for lack of innovation and challenge. A relatively low price and a ton of very polished content makes this an easy recommendation.
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Thymesia may look like an Indie-Developer trying to do Bloodborne, but it ends up being more than that. Thymesia seamlessly blends the fast, often frantic combat of games like Devil May Cry with a more thoughtful approach, giving the players the tools to quickly leap between enemies, while strategically switching between light and heavy attacks, as well as flashy specials. While regular combat is often a fun power fantasy, the game truly shines in its boss fights, where two equally deadly warriors dance around each other parrying and trading blows. The only sore spot in the gameplay is that there isn’t already a Thymesia 2 to sink my teeth into.
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Lies of P blends a dark and gritty reimagining of the classic Pinocchio tale with FromSoftware inspired Action-RPG gameplay. While it stumbles in some smaller ways, the result is one of the most polished and consistently enjoyable dye Souls-Likes I have played. The combat with its many special maneuvers and nuances can be overwhelming to newcomers, but the atmosphere, the variety in building weapons and the unique take on a familiar story more than make up for the shortcomings.
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The sadly last title of Mimimi Games sends the German developer out in a blaze of glory. While there’s nothing really new or unheard of, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is an absolute love letter to the tactical stealth genre and blends in excellent, varied gameplay with a charming, albeit superficial pirate story and a vibrant, colorful look. The gameplay style may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you enjoy the idea of planning the perfect heist with a band of undead pirates, this is your dream come true.
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