Stellar Blade is an unremarkable thrill ride, one with a forgettable story marred by predictable twists and a lack of compelling character development. While it's a visually stunning experience, it's let down by its lackluster cutscene direction and inconsistencies in the character animation. Fortunately, its combat is stellar, offering a rich and varied set of systems that feel endlessly fun. Similarly, exploration is rewarding, albeit a little clunky. If you're looking for a combat-focused experience, then Stellar Blade's 20-25-hour runtime will surely suffice. However, don't expect to come away having had a memorable time.
Dragon's Dogma 2 is a masterclass in open-world innovation, a game that strives to truly shake up the genre and prove that there's plenty left still to say. Its gorgeous environments, coupled with its varied and exhilarating combat, rewarding exploration, and richly detailed worldbuilding, make for a truly engrossing experience backed by emergent gameplay that makes it feel as if absolutely anything could happen. Despite some minor shortcomings, Dragon's Dogma 2 is a remarkable game, one clearly made with so much love, passion, and reverence for the original that it makes for a wonderfully special experience unlike anything else.
Minami Lane is a remarkable management sim that manages to perfectly balance its cozy atmosphere with its complex gameplay.
Persona 3 Reload is a remarkable remake, one that improves the majority of the original game while remaining entirely faithful to the source material.
Please, Touch the Artwork 2 is a gorgeous, meaningful, and terrifically fun hidden object game that explores both the phenomenal art of James Ensor as well as the world of art itself in an educational and thoroughly entertaining way.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden falls short of its potential. Its central protagonists lack the chemistry and development to make meaningful choices feel impactful. Its combat and exploration feel like they've been lifted from better games, barely iterating on established formulas and, in some cases, making them worse. While there are some enjoyable side quests and the occasional glimmer of hope in the main subplot, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden never reaches the heights it should.
Persona 5 Tactica's deep turn-based mechanics and intriguing story are great, but it fails to live up to the very game it is based on.
The MW3 campaign gets by on Call of Duty's expertly refined gunplay and little else. Its nonsensical narrative comes across as pitiful and dull, further hindered by the uninspired mission design that never extends beyond "go here and shoot them." Purchasing MW3 for its campaign is a massive waste of money, let alone time.
My Time at Sandrock is an exceptionally content-rich game with a satisfying gameplay loop, exciting narrative, and a mostly compelling cast of characters. Unfortunately, it is let down by the Nintendo Switch port, which is so fundamentally flawed that it ruins the entire experience.
Fading Afternoon is a sprawling masterpiece that has been meticulously and carefully crafted by some of the greatest artists in the indie space.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is a triumph in masterful storytelling, exhilarating gameplay and cinematic spectacle. It is a phenomenal experience from start to finish thanks to its rich, deeply emotional narrative, explosive set-pieces, refined combat and immensely rewarding side content.
Isonzo is another amazing entry into the WW1 shooter series. Its gameplay feels even more refined, offering up worthwhile innovations, engrossing modes and phenomenal maps. While its online component is exceptional, unfortunately, the same cannot be said for its offline matches. If you're looking to play Isonzo solo, maybe wait for an update. However, if you're hoping to play online, then there really isn't another WW1 shooter quite like it on the market.
Tinykin is undoubtedly the best game of 2022. Its satisfying platforming coupled with its open-ended approach to mission design allows for some of the best exploration in a video game. Furthermore, its phenomenal visuals and sense of scale offer up levels that are a delight to explore. Tinykin is perfect in every single way, masterfully executing each and every one of its creative mechanics. It is a fulfilling and extremely rewarding experience, and one you shouldn't miss.
Video Game Fables is a truly exceptional indie RPG. While it would have been easy to merely copy the tropes of the genre, developer Momiji Studios has crafted something entirely new. The game's myriad of systems revolutionise the turn-based genre in ways since thought impossible and its witty script and colourful cast of characters propel a unique and memorable narrative forward at a brisk pace. Despite its indie roots, Video Game Fables has been so expertly crafted, featuring slick UI, clever mechanics and gorgeous visuals, that you'd be forgiven for mistaking it for a triple-A experience.
Please, Touch The Artwork is an endlessly stylish puzzle game that manages to evoke such wonderful sentiments and feelings all while offering exceptionally fulfilling and rewarding gameplay. Its gorgeous visuals and ingenious puzzle design make it a truly unique game in the genre and one of a kind experience.
Despite being only developed by a handful of people, Edge of Eternity is by far one of the greatest JRPGs ever made. Its stunning visuals, incredible soundtrack, complex narrative and intricate combat make it an incredibly ambitious title that fulfils each and every promise it makes.
OlliOlli World's accessible mechanics, gorgeous visuals and easy to complete levels make it the perfect entry-level game for those who wish to live out the skateboarding fantasy.
To The Rescue! is a rewarding and fulfilling dog shelter simulation that perfectly encapsulates the challenges, stresses and difficulties of running a dog shelter while offering an addictive and meaningful gameplay loop that never gets old.
Moonglow Bay is another entry into the ever-growing life sim genre and feels as relaxing and stale as many of the other entries before it.
With continued support from both the community and the developer, Escape Simulator will quickly become the ultimate escape room experience.