Echoes of the End has strong puzzle foundations and a good grasp on difficulty, making it the type of challenge that is just right. That said, these puzzles dominate gameplay with action getting less of the spotlight, making for a lack of balance. This is a fantastic pick if you prefer brain-teasers over fisticuffs. But if you were looking for a thrilling escapade, you may be disappointed, as the action in this adventure mostly takes a backseat.
Drill Core is roguelite mining at its finest but it also never manages to solve the problem of repetitive gameplay
Demon Slayer – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 gives you a strong fighting game that draws you into the story just like the original manga/anime. Prioritising teamwork and combos makes you utilise every moveset for maximum effectiveness. It's not an easy game to master, and the story can be finished in a few hours. Fans will love what this game has to offer, but you may not enjoy the game if you've never heard of the Demon Slayer series.
MADO MONOGATARI: Fia and the Wondrous Academy delivers a dynamic mystery dungeon experience filled with comedy. Moving around while fighting and launching magical attacks immerses you in the action. There’s a learning curve with a long tutorial that holds back some of the concepts. Give the game time to show its potential and you will have a memorable adventure.
The Great Villainess: Strategy of Lily is great strategic fun with situations that test you, but you must be prepared to invest several hours into its gameplay.
Crown Gambit has a great political story and tactical gameplay, but it can be dry and has a few bugs that disrupt the experience.
Locomoto brings your dreams of train ownership to life in a cozy environment. You visit destinations around the land while completing tasks. Expanding the train by finding collectibles and personalizing it is enjoyable. There are a lot of simple fetch quests and some visual mistakes are noticeable. For a cozy train experience that lets you manage your own train, Locomoto is fantastic.
The Alters lets you recruit alternate versions of yourself to survive on a desolate planet. It’s a unique concept that ties in with the story and makes you curious about what comes next. Figuring out what to do next can be difficult and having to progress to unlock upgrades feels inconvenient. This game has an interesting concept that knocks the premise out of the park.
SEDAP! A Culinary Adventure displays Southeast Asian cuisine like never before, but it must be played with a friend and is best played with an interest in the culture.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma perfectly blends the farming and combat experience with Japanese influences. The result is an immersive cultural experience that you don't want to put down. You actually feel like you are rebuilding villages and restoring prosperity to the land instead of just being a landowner. While it isn't perfect despite several improvements to the formula, it nevertheless delivers a fun experience that you won't soon forget.
Neon Apex: Beyond the Limit gives you an intense racing environment where speed is everything. Rushing past the competition is an exhilarating feeling. However there isn’t much that separates Neon Apex from other racing games and the other modes are ordinary.
Survive the Fall has a good survival foundation but the average narrative and gameplay bugs hold the game back more than it would like.
Blades of Fire brings fast-paced combat with a weapon-based combat system. Strengthen your weapons and understand your enemies’ weaknesses to succeed. Figuring out how all the mechanics work together is difficult and the story is predictable. The game puts a new spin on the action-adventure genre that pays off, though it won’t break much new ground.
The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- has its strengths, but the large amount of content is repetitive to complete.
Empyreal has a great combat system with lots of opportunities to try something new. Hunting for better equipment is exciting, and developing your character is a rewarding feeling. But there's not much else to do, and the shine wears off quickly. This is also a game that demands a good PC, or you might run into problems. It's a great game for fans of varied combat and boss rushes, but not much else.
Amerzone – The Explorer's Legacy revamps a classic adventure that's great fun for puzzle fans who enjoy scouring the environment for clues. It's easy to get lost in the wonder of Amerzone without feeling too frustrated. However, the experience also brings some flaws from the past that haven't translated well to the modern gaming environment. This makes the game great for a blast from the past, but a tough recommendation for modern puzzle players.
Inhuman Resources: A Literary Machination hits at the fears of every job seeker to provide a horror experience that has no equal.
MLB The Show 25 provides an authentic baseball experience that brings you directly to the field. Various gameplay modes challenge you and the settings let you further customise your experience. The niche appeal and high difficulty make it tough to recommend for players who aren't already interested in baseball. But if you have any passing interest or knowledge, you won't regret picking this game up.
KARMA: The Dark World does a great job in immersing you in a dystopian setting. The horror is prominent and challenges you to think. Some of the puzzles feel unnecessary and you have little guidance for the solutions. The experience is great if you can withstand the mature content and give the story time to flesh out.
Potion Shop Simulator provides a cozy business environment for making potions, but the immersion factor in other areas is lacking.