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Park Beyond delivers a fun and addictive theme park builder and management sim experience, and elevates it with its delightful impossification mechanics. Some technical issues and console-specific problems do hold the experience back somewhat, but this is still an easy game to recommend for fans of the genre.
Greyhill Incident is a frustrating slog through the cornfields and farmlands of the fictional town the game is named after. Stealth combat is plodding, robotic, and frustrating. The dark visuals only contribute to the problem. While the idea is intriguing, Greyhill is severely underwhelming and undercooked. This is one alien invasion you should probably avoid altogether.
Layers of Fear is gorgeous to look at, but its beauty is skin deep. From rudimentary, repetitive gameplay to predictable attempts at scaring you, this definitive reimagining of Bloober Team's horror franchise stumbles too often to be able to make a meaningful mark.
F1 23 is the pinnacle of the Formula One series to date. If ever there was a jumping-on point for new racing fans, this latest entry from Codemasters in the long-running licensed series is it. This F1 simulation manages to innovate the most prominent and constructive aspects of what came before. Using a controller as input never felt better in a racing sim with highly responsive and precise movements, and elements that used to be unnecessary, such as F1 Life in F1 22, have been upgraded into a multi-faceted progression system worth your time and effort. F1 23 is a remarkable package for fans of the sport.
We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie is an absolute blast to play. Its gameplay is addictive, the story is hilarious, and the soundtrack features music that will end up haunting you for days.
Diablo 4 will provide dozens, if not hundreds, of hours of entertainment for those seeking a solid action RPG looter. However, some may be left wanting by the story, power fantasy and some of the endgame.
Amnesia: The Bunker is Frictional's best entry in the series since The Dark Descent. Its environmental design and mechanics offer multiple solutions for problems, and its use of darkness leads to some genuine dread. Just don't go in expecting a very long experience.
With heavy doses of action platforming, a dash of Metroidvania and some striking visuals, Convergence: A League of Legends Story provides a compelling side-story for Ekko.
Forspoken's In Tanta We Trust feels like an earnest attempt at addressing criticisms the game got when it was first released. Its writing is much improved, the smaller scope helps make the DLC feels like a more focused experience, and the game's combat is improved quite a bit with the addition of new spells and abilities. The only real downside is that you'd have to play through the story of Forspoken for the DLC to make much sense.
The System Shock remake is the best way to experience the original System Shock in all of its glory. While this is a largely faithful remake, the changes it introduces, like the modernized interface and controls, are a welcome change and make System Shock an absolute joy to play.
Street Fighter 6 is more than the sum of its individually excellent parts. It's a return to form for a franchise that's been on the back foot for years, and a stellar fighting game as a whole.
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 is a game that will appeal to those looking for an accessible tactical RPG, but it sticks too close to the rulebook of the original for its own good. Fans of the original game are in for a great time, but those disappointed by Melodies of Steel wouldn't find much redemption in this sequel.
Blasting the demons of the dark into pixelated piles of bloody mush never felt so good. With a vibrant world, an engaging gameplay loop, and an ever-expanding arsenal of catastrophic weapons at your hands, you, too, will find glory in taking out those pesky demons.
Despite being presented as a lonely creature, Gollum gets more attention than he might deserve in The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. With average by-the-books platforming and stealth gameplay, there actually is a thoughtful and engaging story at the heart of Gollum. It's up to fans of the genre to decide whether time spent on ordinary gameplay is worth experiencing Gollum's history.
Despite its sometimes-awkward writing, Miasma Chronicles manages to tell an interesting story full of twists and turns in a world that's incredibly interesting and well thought out. And while its aspects of exploration are lacking, the game still manages to be a fun time thanks to in-game special abilities and the fun world-building that goes alongside making the story a blast to play.
After Us combines solid platforming with a wonderfully realized post-apocalyptic vision of over-consumption. Even if Memories feel like a missed opportunity, the overall narrative and gameplay make it a worthwhile trip into a morbid future.
Humanity delivers some excellent puzzle gameplay in a weird, unique setting, and constantly ups the complexity and challenge in new and creative ways that should be experienced by all fans of the genre.
Despite its focus on co-op, The Outlast Trials presents a strong early showing through its early access release. It runs well, has an interesting setting and story, and the co-op can be incredibly fun if you play it with the right group. The only downside is that jump scares might not be everyone's cup of tea.
Planet of Lana is an incredible journey. It's a down-to-earth traipse through a unique but endearing off-world setting, with tight pacing and excellent presentation underscoring a tale of camaraderie and familial devotion. Whether it's the incredible visuals or the stellar gameplay, it's worth your time.
There's fun to be had with LEGO 2K Drive's snappy driving mechanics, vibrant biomes, and creation and customization mechanics, but issues such as its inconsistent AI, dull open world implementation, and somewhat grindy progression hold the experience back.