Risk of Rain Returns shines thanks to a fantastic roster of classes, sublimely chaotic gameplay, and fever-dream like presentation. When firing on all cylinders, it's rare for a game to make the player feel as powerful as this one does, even if some runs take a little too long to get going.
When it comes to the world, the narrative, and the characters that inhabit the Weird West, there's a lot to love. If you're looking for a game that's well written and where your choices feel important and consequential, then it's likely you'll be able to forgive some of the lacklustre RPG elements that unfortunately weigh this one down.
While I wish there was a 'Story Mode' toggle of some kind, OlliOlli World's writing didn't distract me too much from an otherwise fantastic skateboarding game. The levels are beautifully presented, well designed, and diverse, while Roll7's approach to difficulty makes the game easy to learn but tough to master. There's plenty to see and do in OlliOlli World, and with some tough challenges and neat social features, OlliOlli enthusiasts will be playing this one for a long time to come
Deep Rock Galactic mixes incredible FPS action, addictive exploration, and endlessly entertaining gallows humour that combine to create one of the most compelling co-op experiences available in video games. Beautiful environments powered by incredible procedural generation will have me teaming up with friends to return to the hostile subterranean world of Hoxxes IV again, and again, and again.
Whether you're playing solo or co-op, Killsquad's skill-based, challenging, and fast paced combat is a triumph. While the lacklustre mission design and unexciting loot end up letting it down a little, this one can still be a blast to jump into if you and your friends are up for a grind.
Phoenix Point: Behemoth Edition offers the same wealth of content available on the PC, and the controller support is good enough for those willing to overlook some fiddly inventory and menu management. However, the technical performance is far beneath what it should be, so your best bet is to wait for the promised patches to arrive, or simply enjoy a smoother ride on PC if you can.
Whether you want to call it a rogue-like or an RPG, Skeletal Avenger is held up by top-tier combat that is challenging but never feels unfair. Unfortunately, runs in the core game don't last long enough for builds to really 'take off', and bland bosses and environments hold the game back from reaching the highs of similar games in the genre.
Jupiter Hell isn't afraid to wear its inspirations on its sleeve, and it does a great job in recreating that 'DOOM' feeling in a vastly different genre. While the build and class diversity is solid at first glance, the lack of gameplay and level variety doesn't provide that 'one more run' feeling. That being said, there is plenty for hardcore strategists to sink their teeth into should they want to master the game at the highest difficulty.
Behind The Frame: The Perfect Scenery offers a beautiful blend of Ghibli-inspired visuals and light puzzling that uses a unique storytelling technique to deliver a touching tale of love. While the gameplay is a bit basic, this one is perfect for a rainy afternoon inside or a way to wind down after a long day at work.
Grime is an expertly crafted 2D action-adventure game that combines satisfying combat, tight platforming, and rewarding progression to earn its place as one of the most enjoyable titles I've played this year. It's also got some brutally tough, memorable bosses that will truly test everything you've got. If you're a fan of a challenge and aren't too fussed about a story, you'll have an incredible time with Grime.
Overall, the upgrade for A Plague Tale: Innocence is a hugely successful one. I’m so glad I waited to experience the game on more powerful hardware. While I’m not sure it does enough to warrant a second playthrough, anybody who has not yet played the game is missing out on a treat, and the PS5 version is the definitive way to play.
Fights in Tight Spaces is a stylish roguelike deck-builder that uses a clever resource system to back up some truly satisfying cardplay. While the amount of content is fairly light in its current Early Access state, what's there is fun, entertaining, and polished. It may not be as deep as some other card games out there, but I have no concerns about recommending Fights in Tight Spaces to fans of the deck-building genre, or simply those who love a good action movie.