A gorgeously crafted stealth adventure that’s full of mood, momentum, and mystery. Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream falters slightly when it loses tension, but remains a memorable, artistically distinct journey worth experiencing.
Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is a masterclass in remastering. It retains everything beloved about the original while adding enough polish, content, and convenience to justify its existence to new and returning players alike. While a few outdated design quirks and bugs persist, they pale in comparison to the sheer depth and charm this title continues to offer. For strategy fans and nostalgia hunters alike, this Definitive Edition more than earns its name.
Everdeep Aurora is a niche, atmospheric gem that trades gameplay intensity for mood, narrative, and artistic charm. While its loose structure and lack of conventional progression may alienate some players looking for more mechanical depth or direction, it succeeds as a relaxing exploration experience. If you’re in the mood for a gentle, thoughtful journey through a beautifully drawn underground world, this game might just be for you.
The System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is a faithful update to a horror classic, keeping its old-school spirit intact with upgraded visuals and new co-op multiplayer. But make no mistake—this is still a remaster, not a remake. The dated combat and clunky systems are all here, for better or worse. It’s a must-play for horror fans and genre history buffs; just don’t expect something modern.
Shuffle Tactics looks incredible, but the nuance of its game design falls a bit short with an uneven difficulty curve, bugs, and less-than-meaningful progression. While still worth giving a try if you find the game interesting, it feels as though it could have really benefited from a playtesting period and may be more worth your time after some post-launch support from the devs.
While its gameplay systems feel more restrained than they should, and its progression mechanics lack the depth or reward loop found in stronger roguelikes, the visual direction and narrative intrigue are more than enough to carry curious players through. Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is a game that shines best as an experience, not necessarily a system-heavy time sink, but for the right kind of player, that may be more than enough.
FBC: Firebreak is bursting with personality and fascinating concepts, but collapses under the weight of underwhelming gunplay and shallow progression. Though the game’s setting shines through and the later stages of the game are full of incredible concepts, until major gameplay improvements are made, the game feels more like a concept pitch than a polished product.
Rematch stands as a rare and bold attempt to faithfully translate real-world soccer (or football) into the online competitive gaming space—and it pulls it off really well. Though it can feel rather punishing to learn, this competitive game is there for anyone looking to experience the thrill of a real-world sport in an online space.
The Alters may not reinvent base building or survival gameplay, but it masterfully frames both around a fascinating narrative hook. This is a game that asks the player, “What if you could meet who you could’ve been?” and makes that question its core mechanic.
Despite some underwhelming powers and the uncertainties around its learning curve, Wizard of Legend 2 stands out as an ambitious and visually appealing roguelike that fans of Hades and the original will likely appreciate. While there is certainly nothing stopping you from taking the game on solo, Wizard of Legend 2 just feels like a game that would be better in a group, so I recommend getting the game for a few friends as well.
Despite a few technical hiccups and some shortcomings in long-term replayability, Elden Ring: Nightreign is an ambitious and surprisingly well-executed twist on the Soulslike formula. Its roguelike structure, new cooperative gameplay mechanics, and signature FromSoftware difficulty combine for a thrilling, fast-paced experience that rewards teamwork and adaptation. For fans of Elden Ring looking for something familiar yet fresh, Nightreign is a confident contender.
Section 13 may not be the game that fans of Blackout Protocol originally signed up for, but it successfully reinvented itself into something more playful, aggressively action-oriented, and engaging. Though the progression gets kind of old and the style and writing won’t appeal to everyone, Section 13 is still good; not revolutionary, but definitely worth your time if you’re a fan of fast-paced roguelikes and don’t mind a few rough edges.
Islands & Trains is a charming and relaxing experience that offers a slice of calm creativity in a world of high-stress, fast-paced games. While it has its limitations—from a single train to missing quality-of-life features—it still delivers a unique and satisfying sandbox for those looking to unwind. With more polish and expanded features, it has the potential to be a standout title in the cozy gaming niche.
The Siege and the Sandfox is a beautifully realized Metroidvania that succeeds in every artistic aspect, from its pixel-perfect visuals and soundtrack to its intricate worldbuilding. While it stumbles somewhat in its necessary backtracking and stiff controls, the overall experience is both compelling and memorable. For fans of stealth, fantasy, and classic Metroidvania exploration, this game serves as a rewarding adventure.
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon delivers a refreshingly dark and engaging RPG experience with a strong narrative, a reimagined take on familiar mechanics, and a world that feels both mythic and original. Fans of classic Bethesda titles who’ve been left cold by Oblivion Remastered should absolutely give this one a shot.
Survive the Fall is a solid take on colony management that tasks you with not only keeping your survivors alive, but manually retrieving the goods yourself via open-world exploration. The latter of this combination, however, could use a bit of work, and the game’s choice of aesthetic, characters, and narrative failed to really wow me.
Monster Train 2 doesn’t just earn its place in the crowded roguelike deckbuilder genre—it sets a new bar. From the intense, multi-layered combat to the unforgettable art and music, every part of the game feels purposeful and polished. It’s rare to find a sequel that not only stands alone but also pushes the genre forward in such a confident, satisfying way.
If some clunky mechanics don’t bother you and the more mundane aspects of police work get you excited, The Precinct might be the game for you. Working best when it leans into its ’80s cop movie aesthetics, this title can feel more like a promise of something great at times, but for the right audience is definitely going to feel like a refreshing and exciting entry into a decidedly small genre.
Get past the slow early game, and Blades of Fire really opens up into an interesting and highly satisfying souls-lite action adventure game. Though the defining forge mechanic could still use some work in my opinion, it still sets the game apart from other titles and makes for a very personalized ARPG experience.
If you can ignore the game’s pointless day-one DLC, you will be in for a uniquely themed construction sim with a lot of attention to detail in RoadCraft, albeit one that is not free of its bugs.