The Tartarus Key successfully reimagines classic horror games in a way that suits modern storytelling. But rather than focus on guns and melee weapons, it offers some challenging brainteasers and eerie suspense. An enjoyable ride with multiple outcomes, this one was an unexpected fright that delivers some great moments.
Final Fantasy 3 is a fantastic amalgamation of all that’s come before it, streamlined in a way that sets the path for the future of the series. Players have freedom and choice with the jobs system and the benefits that come with each selection. But despite some important, marked differences to make the game more accessible, enticing, and player-friendly, this tale has started to feel overly familiar.
Humanity is one of the finest puzzlers I’ve had the pleasure of playing. I learned something from each stage and couldn’t wait to see what the game had for me next,. The developments and surprises keep coming along with the challenges and there’s plenty of long tail to come with user created stages and builders. Minor fiddly controls aside, this will be one I keep going back to and will surely stay among the best games I’ve played all year.
After Us may appear to be a game with a profound message at first play, but the deeper you get in, the more its grip lessens on the player between drawn out traversal sections, reptitive puzzling, clunky controls and a profound emptiness permeating throughout. While I appreciate what I think the game is trying to say, unfortunately, I don’t think it gets that message across as well as it would have liked.
Planet of Lana is the rare combination of potential and quality. With a soundtrack that will surely win awards, an unforgettable cinematic style that constantly impresses, mechanics and gameplay that evolve smartly, giving you just the right amount of challenge, and a friendship that warms the cockles of the heart. This is a wonderful adventure that, bar a few minor misgivings, has a bit of everything and will stick with you long after the credits roll.
Star Wars Jedi Survivor had a rough start at launch but the content was always strong enough to shine through past its technical issues. Now most of those are resolved or are in the process of being fixed, the game is an easy recommendation and may just be my favourite game this year. Everything is bigger, better, more elaborate and enjoyable and it makes for the best Star Wars gaming experience I’ve had since Knights of the Old Republic. Respawn have built something very special that has connected wonderfully with the current goings on in the Star Wars universe, while creating a product that is able to expand our understanding of this universe in new and interesting ways through great writing, direction, and gameplay.
Dredge is that rare breed of video game that successfully blends a mixture of great titles and creates something quite different and special. From its stunning atmosphere, complete with an ominous soundtrack, to its rich, well-developed mechanics, varied quests, and compelling core loop. To date, it’s one of the best indie games of the year, both because it’s incredibly difficult to put down and forget about
A tricky followup that doesn’t massively stand out in this collection, even though it has tons of historical significance and experiments with mechanics in some unexpected ways.
Wildfrost takes two of the most popular genres in gaming and mashes them into something quite different and mostly enjoyable. There’s a tough difficulty curve here, plus accessibility doesn’t appear to have been the game’s highest priority and there’s a few control issues on Switch, but what you have is a fast-paced, progress-centered battler that you’ll come to appreciate, maybe even love, the more time you spend with it.
Entertainment in education, Final Fantasy still holds up well, despite its dated mechanics, and benefits magnificently from the upgrades Pixel Remaster offers.
Monster Hunter Rise feels right at home on PlayStation 5. Between the DualSense support, 3D Audio, and the stunning 4K visuals, it’s a source of amazement and wonder just how well a handheld game has translated to such powerful hardware. Despite the disappointment of missing Sunbreak here at launch, this is a vast, valuable and enjoyable package that suits your playstyle, whether it’s a mission here and there, or a week of intense hunting.
Fire Emblem Engage is another fantastic entry in the classic franchise on Nintendo Switch. It moves away from some of the mechanics Three Houses implemented and goes back to the ferocious, epic battles the series is known for. To a degree, this does come at expense of the story but it also puts interesting new mechanics and possibilities in the limelight which fans new and old will love in equal measure.