Metaphor: ReFantazio is the ultimate culmination of everything Atlus has learned from its best games and is a huge step forward for the future of its JRPGs. The delightful combat, incredible cast of characters, and intricate fantasy setting all make for a brilliant experience that no Shin Megami Tensei or Persona fan should miss out on. It’s certainly a game-of-the-year-worthy title and a smash hit for Atlus to end the year with.
While Duck Detective: The Secret Salami has an incredible voice cast, colorful characters, and an intriguing plot, I was let down by the puzzles and gameplay. There were a few puzzles that I solved on my own with no issue, but many puzzles had clues that left me in the dark instead of guiding me.
Another Crab's Treasure is a colorful and lively platformer that's also a tough action RPG with Soulslike combat. They juxtapose each other perfectly, and I had a fun time discovering shells, collecting microplastics, and defeating grueling bosses.
Botany Manor is a colorful exploration game with clever puzzles to solve and an intriguing narrative to back it up. With each problem solved I felt gratified and smart for putting together the right clues and reading between the lines. The environmental storytelling and the relaxing atmosphere made me want to explore every nook and cranny of the manor.
Nightingale is both fun and frustrating in different intervals. It has interesting base building mechanics and beautifully-crafted Realms, but it's held back by a stale gameplay loop and some unfortunate quality-of-life issues.
While Sovereign Syndicate offered a rich world with colorful characters and an enticing story, I left it feeling like there was more to see. Luckily, its unique Tarot system and detailed dialogue kept me intrigued.
Avatar Frontiers of Pandora soars to new heights with its innovative gameplay mechanics and gorgeous world design. But I constantly found myself hitting walls and fighting against the game's combat instead of working with it. There were moments that I dreaded partaking in, and others that I reveled in.
Although Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections brings along some incredible battle mechanics and detailed customization elements, the game is lacking in a decent single-player story mode. Special Story mode wasn't very interactive or interesting for my tastes.
Alan Wake 2 is survival horror at its best, runs and looks stunning, and consistently left me enticed. It's a mystery-solving and ghost-fighting narrative experience that'll leave you wanting more.
World of Horror gets its art direction and gameplay mechanics right. But it comes with a learning curve, and can eventually feel stale after doing the same mysteries multiple times.
Moonstone Island refreshes my love for games like Stardew Valley and Pokémon, but still exerts its own unique identity. But sometimes with an amalgamation of genres, the details can get a little blurry, and there are certain aspects that sour the experience. Overall though, this was, and continues to be, a very adorable and compelling game.
You'd be missing out on a ton of amazing content if you don't play Separate Ways. This RE4 Remake DLC brings you back to some stellar combat and an engaging story, while also giving Ada the spotlight she deserves.
Baldur's Gate 3 rolls a natural 20 in all aspects. From the characters and story, to the gameplay and graphics, I highly enjoyed my time with Larian Studios' latest title, and I'm still playing and discovering things to do. Despite the few criticisms, none of them overshadow the incredible things this game achieves.
Marvelous Inc. recreated a great remake of the 20-year-old Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life. While there are some things that make it feel outdated, there are also plenty of quality-of-life changes that make this a worthwhile farming game.
The warm drinks you brew are as warm and satisfying as the atmosphere this game induces. Coffee Talk Episode 2 continues to be a relaxing and enjoyable drink-making game, while also having intriguing stories and interesting characters.
Capcom knows how to nail a remake, with Resident Evil 4 being a intricate mix of scares, humor, and fast-paced combat. Although I had a few complaints, I extensively enjoyed my time playing this third-person shooter.
Explore a beautiful island filled with flora and fauna as a young girl in Alba: A Wildlife Adventure. Discover different animals, clean up the island and save the wildlife reserve from being overtaken by a 5-star hotel. This cozy game is a must-play for anyone who appreciates wholesome adventures and the beauty of nature.
Supermassive's next installment in their scary anthology series Little Hope is a short but spooky tale. It's a step up from its previous title but still has yet to reach the level that Until Dawn set. With a cast of five characters to play from, co-op is the best way to play. It excels at telling an interesting narrative but after 4 short hours it doesn't stand out in much else.
Cold Symmetry's Mortal Shell is a love letter to Dark Souls fans. This deep-action RPG sets you in a world with beasts and bosses to vanquish, along with a dark world to discover. Although exciting in its own ways--through difficult encounters and unique mechanics--it still has dislikable issues that don't hold the brightest candle to its inspirations.