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Gloomhaven as a video game is a faithful recreation of the board game into the digital world. This is both commendable and detrimental. It is a good game, but there is also a reason no one sits around a table and plays by themselves and this is pretty much it.
Gravity Oddity is a roguelike game that plays differently than other games in its genre. Instead of improving yourself every time you die, you actually improve yourself with every completed run, unlocking new game modes and mods. While each run isn't necessarily that long once you know what you're doing, getting the hang of the controls and mechanics can be a real challenge, especially when a lot is happening on screen. Once you can master that though, you'll find a game with a lot of customization, challenge, and replayability that's good to play in small bursts of time. Strap on your gravity boots, save your roommate, and pay your rent.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty proves once again that CD Projekt Red are the undefeated champions of DLC. At $29.99 it offers supreme value, with a compelling new story, location, and hours of content that outclasses many other full-blown AAA titles. After a few rough years, both Cyberpunk 2077 and CD Projekt Red have regained their footing rather triumphantly.
If you want the best experience possible with MythForce, play with friends. If you don't have friends, then play by yourself. If you hate yourself, then try playing with strangers. Visually, style-wise, I love MythForce. While there isn't enough dialogue what is there can be amusing the first couple of times. Combat takes some getting used to, but once you have the hang of that the game gets better. I love roguelike elements, I just need more randomness. With the exception of MythForce's style everything falls flat after a few hours. Buy this on sale and convince a few buddies to do the same and you won't be upset you did it.
An open world racing game that doesn't leave players wandering around lost, The Crew Motorfest has landed on a slightly derivative but much more propulsive structure with it's new playlists. With a ton of interesting events, a fun setting, and a wide swath of vehicles to earn, there is a wealth of content here, and most of it feels curated and fun.
NBA 2K24 delivers the most authentic on-court gameplay in the series' history thanks to the new ProPLAY technology. Gameplay feels less scripted, animations feel less canned, and modern players perform closer to their real counterparts than ever before. Some modes and features still feel largely untouched from years past, while MyCAREER caters to veteran and pay-to-win players, but I guess we can't have it all.
A bit of trailer trickery might have you thinking that Crossfire: Sierra Squad is more open than it really is. While it's not quite a rail shooter, the environments and scenarios are much smaller than you might expect. Still, a wealth of content and a ton of weapons make up for the surprise once you settle in to the fact that this is an cover-based arcade shooter above all. The guns feel good, the graphics are fine, and if you turn off your brain you'll probably have a pretty good time.
Wrestlequest has a cool idea on paper, but the battle system is clunky at best. That mixed with unlikable characters, and legends that deserve a better video game, make WrestleQuest very hard to care about at all. Like a certain wrestling companies PSA, "Please, don't try this at home."
Is it the system-seller that PS VR2 fans were hoping for? Not exactly, but there is plenty to like about Firewall Ultra. It's an extremely comfortable VR shooter with fun tactical gameplay that uses the headset's features in an interesting way, though it does take some getting used to. Sluggish progression and minor bugs need to be addressed, but First Contact Entertainment has been updating the game rapidly since launch.
I have played a lot of farm sims in my day. Fae Farm is one of the better options available, especially if you have three other friends that you can play along with. Fae Farm falls under the cozy game genre, giving off a relaxed and pressure-free atmosphere more so than hurry up and plant those seeds. It provides diverse customization options, including skin tones and pronoun choices; it also streamlines farming tasks and simplifies tool selection. Crafting and decorating are also present, as well as dungeon exploration. But like a lot of cozy farm-style games, this can feel repetitive after a while. Can Fae Farm hold your attention long enough to see it through? Probably, especially if you can do it with a friend or three.
When they are firing on all cylinders, Bethesda games deliver pure video game magic, and Starfield is no exception. Offering an enormous galaxy to explore, a ludicrous wealth of interesting content, well-written characters, and innovative mechanics that push the genre in new directions, Starfield is a (mostly) clean experience at launch that should be experienced by all action/RPG fans. This is a new classic.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a ton of fun, and though it has some issues it has been pretty addicting to play. This is one of those games though that you will get the most out of it if you are playing with friends and using mics, as teamwork is a must. Some great new game dynamics elevate this one above the fray, making it the best asymmetrical horror game in recent memory.
TMNT: SR is the game that keeps on giving. They've given us free updates, and now the first paid DLC. If this trend holds, and they keep adding characters and modes, this could become the greatest arcade game of all time. You get to unlock more stuff for nine characters. Do you deserve this goodness? No. Should you get it? Shell Yeah.
Top tier storytelling, environmental puzzles, and exploration make Sea of Stars a must play for RPG fans. Though the combat system wears slightly thin after a while, the rest of the game is absolutely stellar. Colorful, funny, and packed full of memorable characters and moments, this is a game that is not to be missed by RPG fans.
Farworld Pioneers had a promising premise, mashing together ideas from other sci-fi survival favorites, but it simply doesn't fulfill that promise in any way. Unintuitive controls, poor AI, and a lack of show-and-tell for the game's various systems are likely to frustrate, rather than entertain you.
EA was smart to snatch up the rights to Immortals of Aveum. It's an impressive debut from Ascendant Studio, featuring a refreshing take on FPS combat, a great fantasy story with loads of interesting lore, and an endearing cast of characters. Bottom line – I can't wait to see what Ascendant does next.
Dust & Neon is a fun isometric twin-stick shooter, enveloped by the trappings of a roguelite that won't be for everyone. Even so, it never felt unfair, thanks largely to its tight and fun gunplay mechanics that fans of twin-stick shooters will easily latch onto.
Mr. Run and Jump is a platforming clinic. You are not here to blast through on your first try. If you are easily frustrated, Run and Jump past this one, but for those that appreciate an extreme challenge, Atari has done it again. They didn't necessarily invent the wheel, but there is some very challenging stuff here. Tell your friends. Pack a lunch.
Hammerwatch II gets into the meat of its gameplay right away. I loved looking for better gear and never felt like I wasn't progressing toward something the entire time I played. I also loved the freedom to do side-quests when I wanted, no longer beholden to the linear story of the first Hammerwatch. Is it hard? You better believe it, but with multiple difficulty settings to choose from, anyone who is interested in Hammerwatch II won't have a problem getting into the game. With so many new RPG games this year, it's easy to see how Hammerwatch II could go unnoticed. While it might not look different, I challange anyone who is into the genre to spend two hours playing and not want to play more. If the developer can fix a couple of minor issues, like group loot in multiplayer games, this will hopefully find some legs to go the distance I feel it can.
The gameplay loop to UFO: Unidentified Falling Objects is simple enough, but addicting, at least for a while. You can watch a trailer for this game, and you can even play for a little bit and think you know what you are doing, but you would be wrong. The further I dig into UFO the further it gets away from just being a casual puzzler. The online multiplayer would probably help drive that thought if I could find a match. This is a smaller title; its price reflects that, but in a good way. The gameplay is sharp, pixels even sharper, and just a fun time overall, just don't rely on playing online.