Sarim Irfan
Ufouria: The Saga 2 charms, almost delights, then falls flat on its feltwork face. The cutest dud of the year.
Content rich, mechanically deep, and stunning from an audiovisual sense, Tekken 8 cements itself as the current king of fighters for newcomers and veterans alike.
With equal parts heart, art, and spark, Invincible Presents: Atom Eve is a short and sweet visual novel that both new and existing fans of the series will have a ball with.
A deadly and delightful dance of blood and unholy darkness, The Last Faith is an enjoyable Metroidvania that honors its inspirations while being a fun time in its own right.
Gunhead has potential to be something great with its traversal and strategy, but is marred by uninteresting boss design, drab levels, and little use for its overblown arsenal.
Mortal Kombat 1 adds new systems, tells a new story, and introduces a new game mode while still being exactly what you know and love.
Bang-On Balls: Chronicles has its shortcomings, but when ball's said and done, it's a fun short romp.
Armored Core VI revives an old series and takes it to brand new heights, creating an addictive gameplay loop that will keep me playing to NG++ and beyond.
30XX quickly shifts into top gear to provide a memorable, addictive roguelike experience that might just earn a titular number of runs.
Like the savvy swashbuckling outlaws of yesteryear, En Garde is a daring romp that will most assuredly sweep (or kick) you off your feet.
A delightful moveset coupled with an overly punishing challenge ironically makes Mr. Run and Jump a balanced recommendation. It will be great, but it will demand the most of you.
Tai's trusty cricket bat hits a respectable over in this short and sweet dungeon crawler that'll scratch that back-to-basics itch.
The Bookwalker truly made me feel like the driving force of a narrative, with an engaging central relationship and a mystery that kept me turning to the last page.
Great use of an inventive central mechanic and tight combat make Nocturnal a fun, short romp that's worth exploring.
In a golden age of indie roguelikes, Death or Treat barely manages to eke out a silver lining.
Strayed Lights definitely tends to stray from what makes its central mechanic great, but manages to wander its way back to the light, and offer a truly charming time.
Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly is what every sequel should be. It revels in its identity but offers something new to explore, all while welcoming you back like an old friend.
Storyteller is delightful, innovative, and incredible fun in a stylish package. This is one book you won't want to leave on your shelf.
With art to die for but pacing that will kill you, Mato Anomalies is a fun time hampered by its own ambition. The city of Mato is worth a short trek, but maybe not as deep a dive as it invites.
With incredibly engaging combat and the greatest parry this side of Sekiro, the journey through this fallen dynasty only ever goes up.