The Skinny's Reviews
If you enjoy games with impressively rendered visuals, an excellent score, and a story that is both compelling and moving then Everybody's Gone to the Rapture will provide you with a bountiful return on your investment.
Hatoful Boyfriend is a colourful title that utilizes a blend of photography and anime caricatures to tell its story. Animations are few and far between, with its style being more reminiscent of an elaborately crafted picture book than a conventional videogame title. This may disappoint some who will prefer a more thrilling experience, but it does well to set the game apart.
Frequent and humorous efforts within the game try to suggest otherwise, but Kerbal Space Program is an intelligent and inspirational game.
Like The Blair Witch Project, Her Story seems likely to foster a wave of imitators, such is its relative technical ease. However, writer Sam Barlow has certainly set the bar high with his reimagining of what a full-motion video game can be. Whatever it ushers in, Her Story is changing perceptions of what a game can be in the here and now. Case closed.
Yoshi's Woolly World is a game that's very easy to love. Sure, it can come across as overly simplistic at times, but it more than makes up for this with its incredible visuals and relaxing score.
Whether you are looking for a family friendly way to introduce a child to the franchise or simply fancy yourself a survival expert, Lego Jurassic World has plenty of fun to be enjoyed by all ages.
Unfortunately, these technical problems make it difficult to recommend Guns, Gore & Cannoli on PC in its current state. It's a real shame because underneath is a slick and well-designed side-scrolling shooter that pays homage to its noir and grindhouse inspiration while carving out an identity of its own.
Pillars of Eternity takes some of the best aspects of the Infinity Engine RPGs of yesteryear and hammers them into an impressive game that feels slick and intuitive even by modern standards.
As a rogue-like, it is, as we said, also left wanting – but as an overall package it presents a great challenge wrapped up in some pleasing aesthetics, with a classic 'one more game' mantra running through it.
Revelations 2 has plenty of action and atmosphere, but it's the emphasis on gunplay and tight mechanics that really make you feel like there's a glimmer of hope for the series again.
At this midway point, Game of Thrones is showing much promise, enough to invest in a season pass if you're any kind of fan. It's been a steady drip-feed so far but The Sword in the Darkness feels like a dam ready to burst and with three more episodes to come there's plenty of room for it to flow.
Whilst it has made some key improvements, Mario Party 10 still doesn't feel like that much of a significant step up from its predecessors, notably because of its inconsistent GamePad support. Nevertheless, it's still a fantastic title, which will no doubt provide a pleasant alternative to the stuffy board games that it draws inspiration from. If you're in the mood for an enjoyable party game then Mario Party 10 is definitely worth a roll of the dice.
The Fall is a compelling piece of storytelling in a medium that usually struggles to engage players beyond the surface spectacle. More importantly, it's a very good game in its own right but with both aspects combined it makes for a compelling case to dust off your Wii U pad.
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number has much to appreciate yet by comparison, the original game was perhaps a textbook example that, sometimes, less really is more.
For real time strategy fans, this is nothing short of a must-buy, while those with the patience to get to grips with Homeworld's idiosyncratic mechanics will find their time richly rewarded.
It's a flawed experiment, but one that nevertheless tackles a vital, neglected subject area with a whole lot of heart and thus still warrants admiration.
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is an incredible puzzle platformer and a stunning update to an already beloved game. Whether or not you own the original, this new version is well worth picking up, offering an equally rewarding experience for new and returning players.
Pix the Cat is a convincing facsimile of a true arcade classic where it counts – it delivers accessible, yet nuanced score oriented gameplay that can dig right through to the bone within just a few minutes of play. Highly involving and borderline addictive, it's an experience that's perhaps irresponsible to recommend, especially since – like the Shepard Tone it's recursive mazes evoke – it's structure fundamentally dictates that it can never really go anywhere or offer any obvious resolution.
Whilst not as immediate or as gripping as episode one, The Lost Lords wins out by keeping its various story threads warm and setting up the precarious pieces for what is looking to be a typically unpredictable story run.
Dying Light manages to keep its errand-style missions fresh because its world is so rich; even when you're doing something that feels familiar the inclusion of co-op helps rejuvenate the experience. It might not be perfect, but Techland should be proud that they've created something that's ultimately fun to play and really gets your blood pumping.