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At first, I had no idea what to expect from Dreams of Another, as screenshots and trailers don’t make it justice. It seems like a generic, pixelated shooter, although the game is much more than that. It’s a game that focuses on creating a great, different experience, and it mostly sticks the landing in my opinion. Yes, it’s not flawless, nor does it try to be.
Europa Universalis V is big, varied, and engrossing. Playing France is very different from starting as the Golden Horde, which poses a whole other set of challenges than guiding a Native American tribe or China through history. The game’s systems constantly challenge players to make big choices, even when they don’t engage with a dynamic events chain or ponder how to get out of a disaster.
Football Manager 26 is a good step forward when it comes to engine and tactics, but it can frustrate many long-term fans. I like the dual approach to tactical choices, and I feel that the title reflects real-world trends. The match day experience is good, and the integration of women’s football adds a new dimension to the sim.
It’s always a thrill to see dinos go out of the incubation center for the first time. Plus, there are tons of diverse species, from megalodons to t-rex, triceratops and so on. Plus, you have hybrid species in there as well. Jurassic World Evolution 3 streamlines the interface, adds baby dinos, and the scenario mode is quite impressive, despite not topping Chaos Theory from the previous title. But all in all, Jurassic World Evolution 3 is a lot of fun, and it’s one of the best theme park games out there.
But even so, Simon the Sorcerer Origins is a great experience if you want to enjoy a wonderful story. There are lots of gags in there, and they don’t shy away from adding some creative gameplay ideas. Sure, there are small frustrations, like stiff animations at times or bad inventory management, but that didn’t push me away from the game. If anything, it’s a solid game that certainly earns its spot as one of the best adventure games in the past few years.
BALL x PIT is impressive in its ability to build an entire experience around one core idea. Players will launch balls at enemies during their runs and will then use the same mechanic to unlock new heroes and gather resources. Variety, starting with heroes and continuing with ball powers and character perks, means every run is different and there’s plenty of space to experiment.
Sure, it can get rather hectic at times, but that’s the nature of the beast, after all. Yes, it can take a bit to learn all of its elements and figure out how to create an excellent build. But once you do, you’ll become unstoppable, as you rush through enemies. Shape of Dreams feels very satisfying to play, there’s never a dull moment, and you’ll always feel the itch for one more run.
s.p.l.i.t is a minimalist game, and honestly, I think that’s to its benefit. The game tells a great story, even if it does have a steep learning curve, especially for people who are not accustomed to command line controls. But keeping that aside, it’s definitely a one-of-a-kind experience. There are some slow sections, especially the chat sections, however those help build up to the tension, as you lead up to the endings.
Ultimately, if you liked the first game, you will most certainly enjoy the sequel. It offers a much more solid RPG experience with lots of options for almost any type of playthrough. The writing is superior, the character progression system makes a lot more sense, and the level design is top notch too, along with voice acting.
The fantasy story is decent but not on par with the combat mechanics, and the rogue-like elements are not as inventive as they could be. But, especially when playing with a friend, Absolum creates exciting and fun battles.
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is not just an enhanced version of the original, it’s the best way to experience what’s been considered the best tactical RPG of all time. The addition of a revised script and fully voiced dialog makes a very big difference.
I’ve had a lot of fun exploring Silent Hill F’s stunning town and story, and I am glad to say that this is by far my favorite Silent Hill game to date. After playing the Silent Hill 2 remake, I thought that would be the epitome of the series, but this new one is even better. It retains the aura and style of the series, while adding more combat to it, and exploring an entirely new location. It’s not a very long game, but it’s intense and visceral at times, not to mention profound and extremely immersive.
Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel is fast and mostly good fun, especially for anyone who’s looking for a new survival action experience that understands the genre’s core appeal. The heroes play very differently, and the game features a ton of godly powers to choose from, leading to many builds, some of them impressively overpowered.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a love letter to the platform games of the 90s, and at the same time, it also feels fresh. I don’t know how they did it, but this game is a masterpiece of the genre, and it stays true to the Ninja Gaiden universe. The level design is spectacular, and they did an amazing job at maintaining a high level of detail throughout the entire experience.
Mafia: The Old Country tells a traditional mob story without pushing the formula further, and that’s perfectly fine. Split into chapters, the tale of the fictional Torrisi crime family is both bleak and heartening. Even though the story lacks any plot twists, it’s serviceable enough to keep the player interested from start to finish.
Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson is one of those games that might seem weird to some, but as soon as you start playing, it will get you hooked.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers sets itself apart from other soulslike games through some unique features like the weapon upgrading system. Thanks to a very solid combat system and smooth traversal between areas, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers makes the journey more entertaining than usual.
Is it flawless? Not quite. The new weapons are hit-or-miss, the flashbacks drag, and the performance issues are a blemish on an otherwise polished expansion. But in those moments when you’re stomping down a fluorescent-lit corridor, Auto 9 roaring, as RoboCop delivers a dry one-liner before blasting a goon’s head clean off—it’s pure, unfiltered nostalgia.
I had an excellent time playing Hell Clock, especially as a fan of Diablo, Titan Quest and other ARPGs. The fact that it also has a Hades-like gameplay makes it even more interesting, and the Brazilian-focused story and characters certainly help the game stand out.
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a good game that works within the confines of the stealth genre and doesn’t aim to innovate much. The city itself is well-designed and fun to explore, but the mechanics don’t evolve much and can become frustrating if players aren’t interested in the story.