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South of Midnight has so many characters I want to see more of because of their natural dialogue and strong relationships, both built and pre-existing. It does feel like it tries to do a lot in a single game, in the event that a sequel can’t be made. But there’s so much to like here, that Compulsion Games should get to make another game set in this world, for it’s so lived in. South of Midnight is bona fide storybook classic full of character and culture, and a game to be remembered and treasured.
You know what is worth losing sleep? That’s right, fighting another boss in Khazan on New Game +, that’s what I’ll be doing soon. Probably as soon as wrap up this article. Care to guess what I’ll see? “Khazan has fallen”.
Commandos: Origins is an exciting return for the venerable series. It introduces new players to the world and the genre, and returning players will find a lot new and experience everything the series is known for. It delivers the challenging and rewarding gameplay you remember with a modern polish. Commandos: Origins brings old faces to new places for an exciting real-time tactics game that sits in its throne once again.
Breakout Beyond doesn’t go beyond anything we haven’t seen before. It has its issues with paddle sensitivity and endless mode not being infinite, but both of which can be fixed in updates or patches. NeoBreakout by Digital Eclipse or any of the other games within Atari 50 collection do offer a more complete experience. Breakout Beyond is still a solid Breakout experience, in a pretty package to justify its own existence with a style and visual flair the series has deserved for some time now.
Whether incidental or intentional, Spilled! is contemplative and reflective of the current state of our planet, and the help it needs. It feels good to be cleaning up these waters, and it is empowering to know that you can start small to have an influence. There’s satisfying visual feedback to show you are having an impact on this world, where Spilled! is absolutely sublime in design and execution.
Rebellion have made a fresh, exciting post-apocalyptic world we haven’t seen before, formed from the results of a real-world accident. There’s some fantastic player agency that’s unlike anything else we’ve been able to have from this perspective. Atomfall has deep systems to engage with, an impressively unrestricted world to explore, guerrilla-style combat, and a leads system that takes you to unpredictable places for one of the best surprises of the year.
To wrap this up, I remember talking years ago with a friend about an “Anno 2205” mod that added over 50 new goods. “Who would want that? That sounds like a nightmare,” he said. I want that, and “Kaiserpunk” delivers that and more, and oh so much more. Just be sure to check the time every now and then when playing it, okay?
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows breathes new of life into the aging Assassin’s Creed games, and one that brings back a lot of the stealth aspects the series is known for. Sneaking around and just wiping a base clean before ever being seen is just as satisfying as it ever was. The two protagonists have complement each other and are able to pick up where the other is weakest, but thankfully not to the point where you must rely on the brute force of Yasuke only. For us die hard fans of the Assassin’s Creed series, the ones who mourn for Desmond on December 21st, Shadows offers a refreshing welcome back to hidden ones.
FATE: Reawakened is a solid remaster that won’t compete with Diablo IV, Last Epoch, or Path of Exile 2, but it also doesn’t have to. I wish some of the menus, UI, and other gameplay bugs didn’t bog the overall experience, but thankfully there’s still a solid game here. FATE: Reawakened is a reminder of a simpler time, and while it doesn’t hold a torch to the original, it’s still a nostalgia trip worth taking.
Like Overboard! before it, Expelled! is incredibly novel and satisfying that’s high school drama at its finest. Just getting the right ending doesn’t mean you’re done. It’s rare, but this game’s achievements will drive you towards its completion. Expelled! is anything but academic, there’s payoffs aplenty for this incredibly cunning mystery follow-up.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is what a mainline Final Fantasy game should be. It’s showing us what could be, and where the series could go if given similar freedoms. I sincerely hope that when the remake project concludes, we get to see new stories told in the Final Fantasy pantheon with this level of polish. As for now, Rebirth is clearly the grandest feather in Square Enix’s cap, and it sets the high mark for whatever comes next.
Regardless, Dynasty Warriors: Origins plants a flag down and marks itself to be a true contender for a great game this year. Even if the series has been the butt of a joke for gamers over the years, its strategic improvements and modernized gameplay gives Origins a true next-gen evolution of the franchise while keeping the same charms of its past. For fans of the series, Origins is an absolute must-play, and for new players, it sets the stage for an exciting future of fandom for you.
Two Point Museum is the best the series has to offer. Playing this gives you an appreciation for what goes into making museums viable and sustainable. It might even encourage you to visit a local one you haven’t been to lately, or have never visited before. There’s plenty of laugh out loud moments, and things that will keep you smiling as you play, it’s simply a joy. Two Point Museum is a much more focused game, but one that’s near perfection in its execution of first-class management tools.
What Obsidian did with New Vegas to improve Fallout as Avowed does for Elder Scrolls. While in separate universes, this feels like Obsidian’s take on an Elder Scrolls-esque game, and does so much more. Avowed is gorgeous and delightful, but equally grim and dark as its story unfolds. You needn’t play Pillars of Eternity to understand everything, but you’ll be inclined to after the credits roll. Avowed asserts itself into the pantheon of great first-person RPGs, offering best-in-class combat.
X-Out is back thanks KRITZELKRATZ 3000 and Rainbow Arts, as the legendary developer returns in a big way for X-Out: Resurfaced. I can only fathom of a few retro remakes that look and feel this good to play. It was a game ahead of its time, and the depths it goes to be an engaging and challenging shmup. X-Out: Resurfaced is faithfully recreated, and this unique shoot’em up is for all to enjoy once again or for the first time.
Ultimately, Civilization VII feels like a safe bet. It’s a game where the additions are best for new players, and there’s not much new that returning players would care about. A lot of the changes feel like they exist simply for the sake of changing things up. Firaxis is aware that there are issues with the game, and successive patches have improved already since launch. Sid Meier’s Civilization VII introduces some interesting new ideas, streamlines the tech tree, and gives more control to city settlement and growth. It push the boundaries of the genre make it a refinement, not a revolution. In time this can be a great game, but for now, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is simply okay.
Keep Driving is a heartfelt homage to the open road, capturing the freedom, challenges, and introspection that come with long-distance driving. The management and logistics aspects are such a great fit, though the shoehorned “combat” left a lot to be desired. YCJY Games has crafted an experience that resonates with the wanderlust in all of us, offering a journey that’s as much about self-discovery as it is about reaching a destination. Keep Driving is a unique and rewarding adventure that’s well worth the trip.
Eternal Strands is an impressive debut from Yellow Brick Games, showcasing not only what they’re capable of, but how to make it all work. With its engaging narrative, easy-to-use magic system, and rewarding exploration, there’s a lot to love here. There’s a lot of familiar ground tread here, but Eternal Strands is appropriately priced and an amalgamation of your favorite games into a tightly packed action-adventure RPG that’s easy to overlook – so don’t miss out.
Reality Break is a really clever with its rewrite mechanic, allowing you to play the game as a roguelite on your own terms, or simply as a traditional engaging space ARPG. There’s endless possibilities here, and Element Games gives you a power fantasy you’re in complete and total control of. Once you wrap your head around it, you’ll clamor to see all the ways you can break the game and tips the scales in your favor. Reality Break lets you reshape the universe with a prestige loop concept that , is an absolute gem.
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is a solid fighting game that’s been remastered by the Like a Dragon developers at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio to be the “definitive edition” of Virtua Fighter 5. The combat system is deliberate and enjoyable for anyone to pick-up and play. Unfortunately the dated presentation and overall lack of content when compared to other fighters holds it back, but the inclusion of rollback netcode is essential. Ultimately, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is a 20-year old game that will likely only appeal to the most hardcore of fighting games fans that are fiending for something new, but it’s modest price should attract many.