Styx: Blades of Greed has everything going for it- bigger levels, better abilities, and an increased budget. What’s stopping it from being far better than it is right now are the engine-related issues and the floaty controls. If Cyanide can get some of these things fixed in time, then I’ll have no qualm in declaring it as the best Styx adventure yet. There’s nothing like Styx out there, at least, not anymore. Cyanide, hold onto it.
It would be unfair to judge a 30-year-old video game’s re-release, especially when it arrives with minimal alterations. Instead, the more fitting response is to commend GMedia for its role in preserving gaming history. Thanks to this effort, a new generation of Edgar Allan Poe enthusiasts can experience The Dark Eye in its original form. With renewed interest, perhaps more adaptations of Poe’s work will emerge in the years ahead. That said… out of all the possible titles, Edgar Allan Poe’s Interactive Horror: 1995 Edition was the best you could do?
Cairn is a deeply rewarding survival-climbing experience built around manual, physics-driven traversal and thoughtful resource management. Its minimalist storytelling, puzzle-like design, combined with gorgeous visuals and a mesmerizing soundtrack, result in an unforgettable and deeply cathartic climbing experience.
On the one hand, I had a good time with Blood: Refreshed Supply. I’m glad that the makers of Marrow and Deathwish are being compensated for their work. I love the new cutscenes, the fixes, and the Vault. It’s a no-brainer purchase for console players. On the other hand, when it comes to the PC, I’m torn. As someone who purchased Fresh Supply at full price and got disappointed, I believe this should have been a free upgrade or, at the very least, a $4.99 upgrade. Moreover, asking $30 for a nearly 30-year-old game is just crazy in this economy—I’m sure Atari had the final say in this. Blood: Refreshed Supply is good. The business model? Not so much.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion delivers on its promise: a soulful tribute to the Marvel Universe wrapped in a competent, if a bit by-the-book beat ’em up package. Dynamic combos flow effortlessly, seamless co-op supports up to four players with drop-in/drop-out, stunning sprite work captures comic authenticity, and the OST fits the controlled chaos perfectly. Adding one or two more game modes could cement its longevity beyond the short campaign.
Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster is a fitting tribute to an underrated gem from the glory days of FPS. As usual, Nightdive has done an excellent job of updating the game without sacrificing the original style and substance. The Outlaws remaster is one I’d suggest checking out, though you can decide for yourself if it justifies the $29.99 price tag.
Neon Inferno is a drop-dead gorgeous shooter with an exhilarating OST backed up by frantic gunplay and fantastic animations. Extra gameplay modes, additional levels, and a balance patch would do wonders to uplift the game.
Painkiller is a hard game to recommend. It’s certainly not made with the loyal fans in mind and does little to appeal to the new crowd. Even if you’re dead-set on getting on sale, I recommend buying your best mates extra copies because the real painkillers are the friends we made along the way.
2025 has had a deluge of top-tier games, and I fear Metal Eden might not be remembered for long. The game already has decent accessibility options, control customization, and difficulty settings – but there is not much encouragement to continue once the game is over.
Agatha Christie- Death on the Nile is a globe-trotting, laid-back detective adventure that’s best enjoyed in sips. What it lacks in technical prowess, it more than makes up for with its witty writing, logic-driven investigations, and a vibe to kill for.
Just when you thought he’d finally caught a break, the POSTAL Dude gets yanked out of vacation mode by a full-blown nationwide ginger purge. The new President is an old-news flag-humping lunatic, redheads are officially public enemy number one, and a tech-nerd Vice President just ran off with The Dude’s personal arsenal.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a fully reimagined tribute to a beloved classic. With its stunning visuals, satisfying combat, smooth controls, and thoughtful modern QoL features, it’s the complete package and might end up being one of my favorite games of the year.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is the best thing to happen to Ninja Gaiden since Itagaki. The Game Kitchen understood the assignment and delivered a slick action game worthy of its namesake. Now we wait for the return of Ryu Hayabusa!
RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business is, well, more RoboCop doing what RoboCop does best. If you were already sold on the first game (and honestly, who wouldn’t be?), you’ll be just as happy to clock in for another shift. It’s like Teyon is secretly testing the waters for a future Judge Dredd title while binge-watching The Raid. Unfinished Business is clearly a labor of love, and honestly, I’d happily buy it for $29.99 just for the privilege of dishing out more cybernetic smackdown.
The System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster stays true to the original’s eerie vibe and immersive sim core, but takes a step back by skimping on modern quality-of-life tweaks, making the $30 price tag feel like a stretch compared to the modded classic. Suppose you’ve got cash to burn, grab the remaster to back Nightdive’s game preservation efforts. If your wallet’s crying, the original’s still there, ready to fill you with cosmic dread.
The publisher argues that while Captain Blood might rate as a 4/10 today, it would’ve scored a 7.5/10 back in the mid-2000s. But let’s be honest—even if this game had launched on its original schedule, it would’ve still been panned. Broken mechanics don’t magically become acceptable just because they’re old. As someone who values game preservation, I respect the effort to revive lost projects, but that doesn’t excuse selling a fundamentally unfinished product—especially one that may never be properly fixed. Dodge Captain Blood like your character dodges non-existent i-frames.
Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy is a faithful remake made with love by people who care for the game and for the legacy of Benoît Sokal. It’s certainly made for people who grew up with the original and might disappoint ones who are used to more complex adventure games. But if you like Amerzone and what it stands for, Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy certainly won’t disappoint. Pouring one out for Sokal. May you rest in power.
This Rosewater review alone should speak volumes of how memorable of a game Grundislav Games has cooked up. It would be an understatement to say that Rosewater is the best point-and-click adventure game I’ve played this decade. The wholesome, choice-driven narrative, its cast of colorful and relatable characters, and clever puzzles make Rosewater a tour de force of the genre.
Beyond the Ice Palace 2 has nearly all the makings of a great action-platformer. It’s got gorgeous pixel art, satisfying combat, and music that sets up a brooding dark-fantasy tone. Some frustrating platforming sections and somewhat unresponsive controls hinder the game from attaining greatness. A quick refinement of these will make a 50-year-old somewhere very, very happy.
Split Fiction is another golden feather in Hazelight’s impressive portfolio. Filled to the brim with a wide variety of themes, tones, genres, and gameplay mechanics that are polished to a shine, Split Fiction is a visual marvel and a certified GOTY contender.