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High On Life is easily one of the funniest games I’ve played in a while and is a great game to close the year out with.
I think they’ve done it. This is the classic Dwarf Fortress experience but with nice graphics, some quality of life improvements, and more robust mouse support. Strike the earth! Don’t slip on the puke!
The Callisto Protocol has potential, but its strange melee combat, average story, and average gunplay keep it from standing out in any way. It looks great and has fun moments, but the majority of my time with The Callisto Protocol wasn’t especially memorable.
Kukoos: Lost Pets is the sort of game I would have jumped on back when the genre was in decline. It might not have the staying power of the icons in its genre, but it has some fun ideas. Fans of 3D platformers should consider it, although its short length and rougher aspects might turn some players away.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are so, so close to reinventing the Pokémon series in a brilliant way. They’re just held back by unacceptable bugs and performance issues that simply shouldn’t be happening this frequently in such a monolithic and profitable franchise. I hope Game Freak is able to implement some much-needed patches, as there’s a remarkable diamond in this copious rough.
Pentiment is probably the most interesting, uninteresting game I’ve ever played.
If you’re hungry for a meaty action game to sink your teeth in, you’ll have a hell of a time with Evil West.
Save Room is a straightforward, compact, and delightfully satisfying game that will make anyone who played Resident Evil 4 especially happy. Given the price and bite-sized nature of the title, there’s no one I wouldn’t recommend Save Room to, as it’s a delightfully compact experience all around.
Sonic Frontiers could serve as the exciting basis for future Sonic titles. It has some definite issues, but Frontiers does a lot more right than it does wrong. I’m very excited to see the future of Sonic the Hedgehog, as Frontiers could be the first step towards a new era of the blue blur.
Bayonetta 3 is a strange mix of some of the series’ best moments together with some of its worst. At its high points, Bayonetta 3 easily stands with or even surpasses its predecessors, but its glory is marred by questionable decisions and missed opportunities. How much importance you place on the story will likely determine how you feel about this entry. If the story is an afterthought for you, you’ll enjoy the high-quality combat and intense action, but if the story matters, prepare yourself for tonal differences and storytelling that raises more questions than answers.
I think the real appeal of Victoria 3 and the series overall is it’s very self-directed. Picking one game can result in a completely different experience. Managing the diplomacy and economy of the British Empire at its peak is absolutely insane, then during the next run, you are trying to do things like “figure out how to even have diplomatic relations” and “wtf how do i economy???” in some backwater nation you are gracing with your benevolent rulership.
Star Ocean: The Divine Force might not set the world on fire, but it’s well-made and thoroughly enjoyable. Everything from running around to fighting is a blast, and though it looks a bit odd and can feel a little repetitive at times, the unique premise, snazzy soundtrack, and voice acting make The Divine Force worth any JRPG fan’s time.
Soulstice is an all-around decent character action game that is weighed down by a few odd mechanics and a bit of a lack of identity. It’s fun enough to fill the hack-and-slash hole that you may have, though I’d say to wait for a sale to get the most out of it.
After all these years, the final chapter of Faith turned out to be worth the wait, and with all three chapters bundled in the Unholy Trinity release, there’s never been a better time to play. The dangerous world of Faith requires some patience, but the unsettling atmosphere and intense demonic encounters make it worthwhile for anyone who loves the horror genre.
If you like roguelike deckbuilders, 80s action movies, and synthwave, Nitro Kid is a banger.
Despite some flaws, Signalis is a delightful addition to the survival horror genre in the style of the classics. A lot of care has been put into its world, and its gameplay never outstays its welcome. If you like traditional survival horror games and want another game that fills that niche, Signalis is a worthy title to keep in mind.
Dragon Ball: The Breakers is a very peculiar game that pulls off its concept but is held back by jank and ruthless microtransactions. With some changes (likely to a free-to-play model) and additional polish, The Breakers could be the dark horse asymmetrical multiplayer game. Until then, though, it’s just a fun but flawed game for Dragon Ball megafans.
Lego Bricktales is, for the most part, a brilliantly laid-back experience. It has the occasional annoying build and some technical problems, but the majority of your time with the game will be spent just putting Lego bricks together to make a bunch of things in whatever way you desire. It’s nothing like the majority of Lego games, but will hopefully serve as a springboard for a future subseries of Lego games that aim more toward creative builds and chill evenings.
Ooblets is an immediately charming game with its whimsical cast of characters, that does enough different in the genre to help keep you wanting to check back into it when the mood strikes.
I feel like you know if you want to give a World War 1 shooter a try. This is a niche thing and you know if you’re in it. Also hi, haven’t seen you at the niche meetings.