I really wanted to like Atomfall, as I said that first trailer I was already intrigued by its weird and very British world but its narrative was boring to me.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows marks the best this series has ever been. With its destructible environments, fantastic story and excellent characters, Shadows has managed to dethrone Odyssey as my favorite Assassin’s Creed game. If I can give you any advice, it would be to ignore all the haters on the internet and play this game; as of now its definitely a contender for my 2025 GOTY.
Omega Force’s attempt to enter the roguelite space with Warriors: Abyss is sadly quite underwhelming. I had some fun battling the waves of demons with the plethora of playable characters. But with some ugly graphics, no real randomization in levels/layout or bosses and limited gameplay features, this one is better left to the uber fans, even at its discounted price.
Split Fiction is a clear and early frontrunner for my Game of the Year for 2025. Every moment of this game was enjoyable, even just sitting on a bench and overlooking some epic landscape while the characters shared a bit about themselves.
Synduality: Echo of Ada presents an ambitious concept, trying to blend PvPvE gameplay with mech-based combat in a dystopian world. While there are some things that shine, like the strong visual design; it just doesn’t offset how extremely slow and grindy the early game is.
Fans of micromanagement sim style games will find lots to love here, not the least of which is the stellar radio station that plays during gameplay.
The new setting of the game is nice as well as the additions to the combat. The best addition by far is the ability to dial down the challenge, I love that we are seeing these sliders more and more in “soulslike” games. Whiskers of Winter is a solid sequel, even if it played it safe by not really making drastic changes to the formula from the original.
This was a really genuinely touching story and there is a ton of payoff for players who are caught up with the series; especially the ending, while I have not played all the latest games, I am aware of the things that occurred in the last two games. I honestly can’t recommend this game enough for newcomers and longtime fans alike.
Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator isn’t a bad game, it’s just a janky one.
Freedom Wars Remastered is a fantastic game. Blending the best of Monster Hunter and adding some kick-ass movements and abilities with the Thorn system, I really want Bandai to bring this franchise back. I am so curious what a new entry into this series built from the ground up with the new tech would look like.
But with brutal difficulty, playable War Mages whose albitites just feel lackluster and no real narrative to speak of this entry feels more like two steps back in the series rather than one step forward.
Sigh, I weep for my fellow Star Trek fans; as I fear we will never see the days where there were good games in our favorite sci-fi franchise.
Gameplay is tight, graphics are great, and there are some fun game modes. Truly, my biggest issue with the game is it just feels like it should be an expansion to Sniper Elite 5. Resistance isn’t though, it’s a full-priced game replete with season pass and the obligatory ‘Kill Hitler’ mission.
I have waxes poetic about Eternal Strands for quite a while here and I am not going to lie, friends, gamers; we are starting 2025 off with a banger. Yes, I do not like the stamina system but when players are riding a dragon, chopping at its wing in hopes of making it land with that stellar soundtrack pumping; I mean it’s just a great time. I forget all about the floaty feeling movement, the stupid stamina system and any other gripes, because fighting those giant monsters and exploring this destroyed civilization is just that much fun. If you are remotely a fan of Dragon Age, Monster Hunter, Zelda, the Colossus games then I think you too will find some fun in Eternal Strands.
Tri Breaker isn’t a bad game at all, in fact I found myself having some fun with it; despite me not being a fan of the vibe. There are some nice things along the way like various power-ups, and even boss fights which take away from the mundanity of block-breaking. Levels are all pretty varied which is nice, but that story is… well I mean its there.
Flint: Treasure of Oblivion has an interesting concept by exploring Captain Flint from the Treasure Island novel. But the execution here makes it hard to recommend; ranging from minor issues and frame drops to confusing game elements and a lot of pointless wandering around the maps make this one feel like it should have just remained lost at sea.
The very best things about Songs of Silence have nothing to do with its gameplay. This game has some of the best art direction that I have seen, with beautifully vibrant colored graphics and some stellar cutscenes; not to mention the excellent voice-acting and soundtrack. All of which just makes me sad that I didn’t like this more, If I was able to actually have more control over battles and their outcomes the inner RTS fan in me would love this game.
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is a mixed bag, while I enjoyed Alex’s story the journey to get to its end really felt endless at times. As I said, because players are forced to move through this world at a snail’s pace and avoid making sounds at all costs it really slows down the gameplay and thus the experience. There were points where just getting down a hallway felt like an eternity; I think this is an experience that just works better as a movie or TV show. Fans of the film may find this game to be much better than I did since there is an investment already in the world, but as a newbie the game did make me want to watch the films; so, I guess that’s something.
The Thaumaturge is a dark game that deals with some of the darkest depths of human nature. There is uncomfortable language surrounding disabled and homosexual characters, depictions of mental illness and more but these are all time-appropriate; no matter how harsh it may seem to view through the lens of 2024. In the hands of the developers at Fool’s Theory these themes are treated in a way to not glorify the past but it helps to shed the light on the negative stigmas from the past and show how they even still exist in today’s world. While I will admit, I almost checked out early on The Thaumaturge due to its somewhat boring gameplay loop, I am glad I didn’t because the story that it told made up for the moments of boredom.
With its breathtaking art direction, engaging gameplay and moving narrative it is a game that will resonate with players on a personal level much like this years Tales of Kenzara: Zau.