Its low-stakes, easygoing nature might not be to everyone's taste, but for those who land on the Stardew Valley side of the gaming coin, Bootleg Steamer is a curious, pleasant nightcap to the end of any evening.
Catan is a serviceable rendition of the tabletop classic – just don't go in expecting dedicated support or functioning online servers.
If you're a fan of indie games, JRPGs, or a combination of either, Wandering Sword is certainly worth the investment. But just keep in mind the cowboy's sad, sad song: every rose has its thorn – or in this case, thorns.
Rift Apart improves upon its predecessor in virtually every way possible, becoming a technical marvel for ninth-generation hardware from PS5 to Steam Deck – even if Insomniac doesn't quite run as far with the concept as I would have hoped.
Wo Long is fun and well made, but the features that allow it to shine aren't quite as developed as they should be.
When I compare Sword and Fairy: Together Forever to the heavy-hitting JRPGs of the 8th generation such as Persona 5, Final Fantasy XV, Tales of Beseria, and Xenoblade Chronicles 2, not only is the outcome favorable, it can flat out surpass them at will.
While The Quarry is by all means a decent game, it embraces being Until Dawn's shadow instead trying to step out of it.
The Radical Dreamers Edition isn't as bad as it's made out to be, but to say it's a far cry from what it should have been is an understatement.
Coromon isn't an RPG, it's a mental and physical skillcheck masquerading under the veneer of a beloved children's title. Should you go into it with a thinking cap on instead of nostalgia goggles, you'll walk away with a consistently great game in search of a strong player.
What we're left with is a Frankenstein's monster of a game, with nowhere to call home and no one to love it. The worst part is that it's a damn fun time that deserves attention for its merits.
There won't be a shortage of games to celebrate in 2022, but if you get the chance to rock out with your Wang hung Lo then, by all means, take it!
Blackwind is an ambitious game that proves it can do it all – just not at once.
While House of Ashes may fall just short of eclipsing Until Dawn's brilliance, it's easily the best entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology, representing that significant bump needed to move the genre forward in a meaningful way.
The most polarizing AAA game of 2019 receives a fresh coat of paint, elevating it beyond its 8th generation confines.
Afterburner Studios enters the gaming world with a very strong roguelite that has the gameplay to rival its ambition.
Intergrade continues the legacy of Final Fantasy VII with some great new content, but those coming from the PS4 version will have less to celebrate about.
Whatever Shantae's future holds, her past is worthy of dedication, but it's up to the player to prove themselves worthy of inheriting its legacy.
It almost feels like nitpicking to find flaws in ScourgeBringer, as it has an answer for almost anything that might be a problem.
Battle Brothers isn't for everyone, but those willing to take the beating will have access to a rewarding game with tons of replay value.
Chris Nordgren and Jordi Roca have captured lightning in a bottle with a highly original game that has the potential to become the next Undertale.