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Tunic is a charming and challenging adventure that celebrates gaming's more obtuse age
Paleo Pines is a simple but effective farming sim with a fantastic hook.
7th Guest VR is a nice surprise, a remake of a cult classic, that out shines the original in almost every way.
Overall DQM: The Dark Prince is a fine and serviceable game that would be a perfect pick up for any Dragon Quest fan. Also fans of games like Pokemon or Yokai watch may get a kick out of the gameplay, but do not expect a deeper battle system like those games. Other than that I would find it hard to recommend to a casual player especially if performance is not patched. I personally hope this sells well enough that we see future games in this story get a western English release!
Turok 3 is a blast for both shooter fans and anyone interested in games history.
Idiosyncratic, compelling and creative, Whateverland is a one trip this stranger in strange land would heartily recommend.
I'm conflicted about Raccoo Venture. On the one hand, it's a very pleasant entry into an underserved genre, at least from a presentation standpoint, and it runs great across a wide variety of hardware, including the Steam Deck. There's a huge variety of things to collect and unlock, and levels will no doubt require several playthroughs. On the other hand, I found it frustrating to play more often than not, in part because of this. Ultimately I found myself not enjoying it as much as I would have liked, but if you're a fan of this type of platformer then it might be worth your time.
So if you're a Baldur's Gate 3 fan hankering for another expansive CRPG adventure, your first glance may put you off Rogue Trader. But if you temper your expectations, and give it some time to grow on you, you'll find a lot to love. And if you're a Warhammer 40k fan hoping for some grim dark adventuring among the stars, you'll love it all the more.
The Invincible is a beautiful, mesmerising and contemplative adventure that fans of retrofuturism and hard sci fi wont want to miss.
Station to Station has come a long way since the demo and it's clear to see that the team at Galaxy Grove have big plans for the game. I'm quite impressed by just how challenging Station to Station is, and highly recommend any gamer looking for a good (but not impossible) challenge to give this game a red-hot crack. Even if the puzzles stump you, the graphics alone will make the headache worth it, especially when you watch a spider-train crawl its way around the map!
A complex and dense non-linear story told in one of the best art designs of this year.
Bang on Balls: Chronicles is a fun game that should provide you with hours of laughter. Playing solo I managed to knock it over fairly promptly, but I think if you were a completionist it would take substantially longer. Give it a shot, you may be surprised just how much you enjoy Bang on Balls: Chronicles.
An immersive first-person shooter and RPG hybrid experience faithful to the original films while standing on its own two (robotic) feet.
Solve physical puzzles while puzzling over your existence.
Jusant is a mesmerizing and almost melodic experience on the Xbox Series X and is probably the must play game of the year.
A mix of building and resource/people management in a tribal setting... fun, for a while.
Trepang2 is a great mixture of horror and action. It may not be the most original idea of the year, but it certainly packs some of the best aspects of many famous shooter games into a cohesive and unique experience.
Despite my gripes, about five hours in, I had already accepted the presentation for what it was and I was having a great time slaying baddies with bonkers weapons and meeting new allies with uniquely bizarre personalities. Of course, for those with other options, Borderlands 3 on the Nintendo Switch is certainly not the best way to play the game. But it's all here. There are loads of fun weapons to loot, exciting bosses to fight, and enough humor to keep anyone entertained from beginning to end. If the Switch is your only option, this is still a truly fine way to experience a great game.
As you would expect from the genre, both of the Baten Kaitos games are quite lengthy. Even if you use the speed up features like I did, they could still easily take you anywhere from 40-60 hours to beat. In that sense, Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster is definitely a solid bang for your buck – but how many of those hours are genuinely fun? That heavily depends on if you can put/keep up with the battle system – and even then the other aspects of the duology aren't winning awards either, with the exception of Monolith Soft's signature worldbuilding. The "quality of life menu" defines the remaster, for better and for worse – if its implementation was more mindfully done it could've actually made the originals great, instead of merely showcasing how flawed they were and making their worst parts more tolerable. I'd be willing to overlook these flaws – especially in the case of Origins because of its story and characters – if only they just let me pick my cards in peace. From my perspective, its age is the primary thing that holds the series back – in fact, I have no doubt that if Monolith Soft were to make Baten Kaitos 3 today, it would be amazing. I don't know who to recommend Baten Kaitos I & II to though – I suppose big JRPG fans could do worse for the price, as long as you're aware of what you're getting into.
Truly a contender for Game of the Year, Spider-Man 2 is a game that justifies the purchase of a PS5 if you don't already own one.