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Stonemachia is the kind of debut that makes me still believe in indie gaming.
Mina the Hollower is another masterpiece from Yacht Club Games, a Zelda style game that manages not only to equal the series that inspired it, but in some ways surpasses it. The world is detailed, gorgeous, and overflowing with secrets. The writing is sharp and often hilarious while maintaining a gothic horror vibe. Best of all, it feels amazing to play, with tons of ways to customize Mina and the game itself to fit your playstyle. It’s filled with freedom and challenge in equal measure, but as a Hollower you are more than up to the task.
007 First Light is a top-tier game both Bond fans and stealth action gamers will love. It has all the hallmarks of a great Bond film with some of the best stealth action gameplay in the industry. I’m excited to see one of my favorite franchises in the hands of a studio that loves it as much as I do. 007 First Light is worthy of the Bond legacy and easily one of the best games of the year.
ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies is tense espionage, political dread and arcane philosophy wrapped up in a beautifully crafted CRPG package. The freedom to develop your spy in whatever faculty and fashion you wish is fun to engage with, and the narrative had me hooked from the moment I stepped foot onto the scene.
I'm pretty sure everyone on the LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight dev team could beat the rest of the world at Batman trivia. Sometimes that makes for fantastic jokes and cool recreations of iconic scenes, and sometimes it results in an overabundance of references without the substance to back it up. The Arkham gameplay is a great new spin on the LEGO formula, and this brick-built Gotham may be one of the city's best interpretations yet. If you go in with the right expectations, this could be your new favourite LEGO game.
Excellent multiplayer game centered around the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IP. Weapons handled well, there's a great hideout to hang out, and the game is designed to encourage fun. Overall this is a very good game best played with a group of friends who can explore and defeat the villains together.
The Horizon series is about the friends you made along the way. It is undeniably more of the same, but the thoughtful social additions and inclusion of non-racing activities into the grander Horizon world makes Forza Horizon 6 feel considerably better. Most of all, anyone can play it. And everyone should.
Mixtape is an immersive game as you follow Rockford, Slater, and Cass on the last night of High School. Spanning the highs and lows of the evening, the game’s Mixtape includes music from Devo, Iggy Pop, Lush, The Cure, and more. A full game you can complete in a 4-6 hour span with an hilarious, emotional story that will leave many in tears. If you’re a fan of 80s and 90s nostalgia, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off-style cutaways, and an ode to outcasts, you’ll enjoy Mixtape.
Motorslice can be a frustrating game with a weird tone, some bad writing, and almost malicious design at times. However, getting through those rough spots feels trivial compared to how good the game feels at its best.
I appreciate that Double Fine tries something unique with Kiln. We need more of that. But one cannot simply reward originality. It must also execute. Kiln is a scarcely functional and excruciatingly amateurish multiplayer game. This is an anomaly for Double Fine and, as such, it should be left in a furnace until it's burned out of existence.
Despite being so seemingly narrative focused, Aphelion really feels like it boils down to "nothing happens, the end".The cast gives some great performances and the score is great to listen to, but even they can't save the dull, meticulous gameplay from feeling any less tedious.
Saros is Housemarque's ultimate creation; the culmination of years of hard work and experimentation. Returnal is Game of the Year quality, no doubt. But Saros has taken what Returnal offered and refined it, only adding to the formula until the end result is Housemarque's finest release yet. In a sea of great April games, Saros' excellence stands out as another Game of the Year contender.
Dosa Divas hits all its story notes when it comes to its personal tale on family and how it can fall apart with time. Cooking as an activity to be done with others is at the game’s core, and with likeable characters and great voice acting, I felt immersed in its passion and rich culture. However, its other elements sadly didn’t taste as good as the rest of the meal, with turn-based combat that felt lacklustre, a cooking mechanic that became awfully repetitive, and a second half that fell flat. It made the game feel incomplete. Personality does all the heavy lifting here, which made the overall experience leave a lot to be desired
Sad Cat Studios has finally delivered the game they've been promising for years, and it's every bit as brilliant as I'd hoped. Featuring an incredible tale of what it is to be human, Reach touches hearts and rips some out as he hops and whacks his way across Phoenix City and beyond. This is an Indie Game of the Year contender, no doubt about it.
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is un-brie-lievable. Somehow, the lofty ambition they presented in 2023 has been surpassed by an excellent release. This spunky noir shooter is exactly the kind of game I wanted, and it's so much fun to play I might just start it again. Don't sleep on MOUSE; this is a premium and ingenious game in an indie package.
Don't space out; Capcom's PRAGMATA is a stellar, action-packed game that will have you over the moon... Well, on the moon. The multifaceted combat system, lunar setting, and gripping story come together to deliver a tense, atmospheric, and heartfelt story about survival and a meaningful bond, although it does suffer from some slight predictability.
Samson: A Tyndalston Story has a good idea behind it, but at present, it doesn't flow together with the gameplay. Combined with a story that only makes the vaguest of sense, I struggled to enjoy myself outside of breaking noses and forcing drivers off the road. There's something here, but more digging will be necessary to uncover it.
People of Note is a beautiful musical RPG starring Pop, Rock, EDM, Rap, and Classical styles of music with countless others showcased throughout the adventure. From witty puns of your favorite bands, engaging combat and puzzles, and even full music videos from heroes, villains, and more--People of Note delivers an adventure unlike any other. Help Cadence and friends save the world and learn about musical genres and mash-ups along the way! If you studied music, teach music, make music, or simply love music, People of Note is an adventure across genres you'll undoubtedly love.
Marathon is top-tier Bungie gunplay in a beautiful extraction shooter setting, and it makes for an addicting gameplay loop. Exploring the dangerous world of Tau Ceti IV and the looming colony ship with your gear on the line makes for some of the most intense PvP available, though the punishing early game might be too brutal for some.
Don't skip Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection or else I will take it personally.