Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake impresses with its visual upgrades and co-op mode, yet its unchanged gameplay and performance issues question its necessity for those familiar with the original. Best suited for newcomers, this visually enhanced journey offers little new for returning players, making it a beautiful but non-essential revisit.
Destroy All Humans! is a refreshing remake that harkens back to the classic times when developers were more concerned with experimenting with gameplay and story instead of creating the next cinematic masterpiece.
As far as remasters go, this one is an incredible jump over the original game in terms of visuals, however, it comes with its baggage on the virtue of being an old game that suffers from outdated design.
Hunt: Showdown takes the concept of survival horror into a new dimension by adding multiplayer. On paper, this idea seems hard to execute but the developers have managed to successfully transition it into a video game that is satisfying to play, especially with a group of friends.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 has its fair share of flaws with a slow story mode. It might not measure up to a game that is internally developed by Nintendo. Despite this, the quality of minigames has never been better in the series and the different control methods make it much easier to enjoy them without any artificial hurdles in the way.
No More Heroes 1 and 2 have aged like a fine wine. These cult-classics have found a new life with the definitive way to experience them on the Nintendo Switch.
In terms of Metroidvania aspects, F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch shines, but the gameplay is clumsy and the plot is hard to take seriously.
Far Cry 6 is more of the same, which isn't necessarily a bad thing if you've loved the previous games in the series. However, the series must reinvent itself to remain relevant.
The Diofield Chronicle has all of the components for an intriguing game, but it lacks a few key ingredients that may help it stand out.
Star Ocean: The Divine Force has a terrific battle system, a variety of unique exploration possibilities with a lot of vertical mobility, and a solid cast of characters, but the game's pacing can be a problem, and the writing is somewhat weak.
Harvestella is a Frankenstein creature of several genres with a golden heart. It's one of the year's most soothing games, with an addicting gameplay cycle and some intriguing quests.
Doraemon: Story of Seasons: Friends of the Great Kingdom is an enjoyable sequel with some great improvements, but it falls short of the franchise's full potential.
GrimGrimoire OnceMore is a remastered strategy RPG set in a magical world, boasting a captivating story and strong characters. Despite its repetitive gameplay and dated concepts, the game offers adjustable difficulty and a unique gameplay blend for committed players.
Townsmen VR delivers an immersive experience on PSVR 2, with intuitive controls and engaging gameplay for VR newcomers and RTS beginners. Despite some control challenges and the absence of a fast-forward option, it remains a well-implemented and entertaining VR adaptation.
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened, despite visual inconsistencies and limited accessibility for newcomers, remains a solid entry in the series. Its Lovecraftian twist, complex mysteries, and character development engage players. While some areas need improvement, the game offers a captivating experience for Sherlock Holmes and adventure game fans. Frogwares delivers a notable adventure, albeit not perfect.
Immortals of Aveum shines with Unreal Engine 5 graphics and a deep magic system, but falls short in narrative depth.
Sequels can reiterate and improve on the flaws of their predecessor but My Hero One's Justice 2 has settled on offering more quantity instead of improving its quality.
Grandia HD Collection offers two great JRPGs but the lack of polish and quality control has made this collection feel a little disappointing. It is still a good way to experience these classics if you missed them when they were first released.
Too ambitious for its own good, Cyberpunk 2077 attempts to do too much and falters in its execution as a result. Despite its issues, it’s better than the sum of its parts and might be worth checking out for fans of action RPGs.
Riders Republic is unquestionably a one-of-a-kind sports game with an exciting idea that feels like it will carry on for a long time.