A near-perfect rendition of fairytales with a modern twist, Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly is easily one of 2023's best narrative efforts, with consistently engaging gameplay alongside it.
A powerful narrative journey that utilizes a time loop mechanic for commentary on the cycles we find ourselves in and utilizes its gameplay to play perfectly alongside the story beats.
A puzzler that challenges as much as it inspires, full of life and passion, even if its narrative offerings tend to stumble towards the end.
As a player, Fatum Betula hosts fulfilling gameplay, rewarding exploration with an atmosphere of thick nostalgia and childhood fear. As a curator, it is a brief exploration into auteur theory, and that direction is never necessarily important, only context.
A toy box sprawled out onto the floor of game development, Tux and Fanny is a brilliant mini-game parlour, with a satisfying narrative to match when it isn't too busy trying to be a stoner-inspired stream of consciousness.
Keeping a satisfying gameplay loop at its most energetic for as long as it possibly can, Agent Intercept's worst sin is being just long enough that the simplicity drags the core experience down over time.
A hearty journey that remains tonally consistent despite its joyous mechanics, with its pointless combat and customization not being enough to drag the experience down.
The Fatal Frame that time forgot finally gets its time in the spotlight, showcasing just enough of the legacy’s qualities, alongside being a perfect introduction to the series itself.
A storybook with half the pages missing, Little Bug rushes towards an ending whilst attempting to leave everything in the dust, including its fantastic gameplay. Take your time and you'll find a shining core of fun, challenge, and excitement, failing to be extinguished by its lacking narrative.
Traveller's Tales return to the LEGO fray is a double-edged sword of good intentions, and the over-complication of its famous brand of gameplay. At its best, The Skywalker Saga sees itself touching greatness it hasn't seen since the seventh generation of gaming.
The Cosmic Shake houses a fantastic recreation of the adventures that SpongeBob SquarePants has gone on throughout the years, only let down by an inability to provide adequate context for its gameplay mechanics.
Fans of the original slow-burn thriller may not find much fulfillment here, but newcomers to Kona may find warmth in how polished Kona II: Brume's potentially unnecessary mechanics are at times.
A quick burst of platforming goodness, unafraid to be set back by its lack of variety in challenges, and instead focusing on consistently uplifting level design, with a fantastic soundtrack to boot. (Review Policy)
A speedy roguelite with confusing narrative content that bogs down an otherwise fulfilling blueprint of satisfying moment-to-moment gameplay and positively off-putting visual design. A case of carte blanche backfiring in the face of a finale that fails to uphold a promise on one end, betraying that quick-thinking nature.
The hit drumming series' arrival on Xbox and PC is with several caveats, as without the famous Taiko drum controller, it's thoroughly restricted. Thanks to a fantastic tracklist, however, the numbed sensation manages to provide infectious gameplay.
What could've been a bridge between the veterans and the newcomers to Gundam instead becomes a product that will cast aside anyone looking for a crash course. The veterans should find more than their money's worth, though.
Beginning as a visual spectacle, Lunistice can frequently fall into 3D platforming tedium as it fails to recognize its own potential or characters.
A beautiful world of exhilarating gameplay that wants no more than to burst out with originality and excitement, which is marred by a want to rush to empty platitudes without thinking of the ripple effect it has on everything else.
Another installment of a satisfying yearly franchise fails to be beset by fatigue, but instead, the greed that tries to make everything else suffer alongside it.
In an ironic twist, what was once a shining jewel in Xbox’s catalog, and the apex of simulation, has now become a timid companion piece to the infinitely more fulfilling Forza Horizon.