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Wild Bastards feels scaled back and lacks the immersion that its predecessor excelled at. Being a “spiritual successor to the award-winning game Void Bastards” sounds great, but tends to feel like an out-of-body experience. Thankfully, the new mechanics and systems are great to interact with, and assembling a varied and diverse crew of thirteen outlaws gives you a lot of wiggle room for experimentation. Add in the personality layer, and needing to manage relationships is a welcome addition. Wild Bastards is about strategizing and optimizing your not-so-merry band of outlaws for a tactical first-person experience that’s more style over substance.
After the six hours it took for me to complete Caravan SandWitch (many of which were spent trying to find a single door that I kept missing), I can confidently say I’m not in a rush to go back, even if in the final moment of the game I was presented with an unexpected potentially story-altering choice. Though I am glad such a story exists in such a well presented package, I just hope it finds its audience who can see past the awkward driving and repetitive puzzles.
The Jackbox Naughty Pack is a fine bundle of games. There are only three, so it is light on the variety, but it is just a fun little morsel to tide you over till the eventual Jackbox Party Pack 11. It is an M-rated game, and the prompts and artwork really nail that M-rating. If you have kids or usually play these games with kids, maybe skip this one. But you know your kids best, though, so if you’re ok with them playing Jackbox with these sexual tones in the prompts, then by all means, have a blast with them! Think of this as a few Jackbox games with the tone of Cards Against Humanity. There are hours of fun to be had with this Naughty Pack, which I would recommend adding to your game night rotations.
I Am Your Beast twists the formula of the prey becoming the predator, you’ll never tire of the “he’s-in-the-walls” reactions from enemies. The short runtime works in its favor to not overstay its welcome, but a healthy amount of replayability will keep you coming back for that next “S” rank. The game’s soundtrack will get your blood pumping as also you empty it from your enemies. I Am Your Beast is a blissful mix of speed and brutality that will make you a bogeyman among men.
Let’s be honest, WHAT THE CAR? isn’t for everyone. The chaotic physics engine and the constant barrage of unexpected challenges can be frustrating at times. This is a comedy racing game, with an emphasis on the humor first. With its impressive physics engine, it’s exceptionally well made and silly. WHAT THE CAR? is a game that defies definition. It’s a racing game, a physics playground, a comedy show, and all wrapped up in one ridiculously entertaining package.
Tactical Breach Wizards is a fantastic game that is less “must own” and more “why haven’t you bought this yet?” kind of turn-based tactics games. Those looking for something a little different will have that here, in spades. With its unique blend of strategy, humor, and character, it’s a game that is both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Tactical Breach Wizards is accessible, brilliant, and most of all: Game of the Year contender.
Star Trucker competes with the likes of American Truck Simulator and is able to keep up without needing to catch its breath. Monster and Monster’s truck simulation is a game I thought would be a novelty, but it turned out to be so much more. There’s nothing like cruising through a system to deliver cargo while you’re leaking oxygen and you’re about to exceed the deadline given to you – do you risk it for the extra money? This and many other questions is what you’ll be asking yourself. Star Trucker is as challenging as it is rewarding, and it’s out of this world truck simulation not to be missed.
Sumerian Six is immensely replayable, both as a whole game and individual levels. The game is not as an impeccable as the games it was so clearly inspired by, but it is very good at what it does. I did find Sumerian Six to be a little easy, even on its hardest skill setting. That said, this is a game that’s very approachable and accessible, and could be someone’s first game in the genre to acquainted. Artificer is keeping the real-time tactics genre alive with Sumerian Six, an enjoyable romp as it delves into the occult and science, and of course killing Nazi’s never gets old.
Intravenous 2 is what sequel dreams are made of. If the first game didn’t click with you, the sequel won’t do anything to persuade you otherwise. It’s exquisite top-down stealth, and regardless of the difficulty chose, won’t be an easy game. It requires planning and improvisation in order to get through every level. The developer really cares about the player experience, and has been updated regularly. Intravenous was an evolution of the stealth genre, and Intravenous 2 is a stealth revolution sequel that can’t be overlooked.
Iron Meat is a bloody good time, offering a grotesque and beautiful arcade experience. Retroware once again nails the nostalgia of playing games like Contra while going above and beyond to deliver a retro experience on modern systems. Don’t let its short runtime be a deterrent, this is still a must-play because it is so well done. Iron Meat modern classic that’s accessible to everyone at any age to play and enjoy, solo or together.
What Respawn did with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Massive has done with Star Wars Outlaws, and that’s creating a unique Star Wars experience we haven’t had before. Star Wars Outlaws does a lot of things, and at no point does it fumble with its ambition, and executes on it with truly epic moments, fun stealth, and freedom of choice. Massive Entertainment really knows how to make their game worlds feel lived in, and there’s no better setting than Star Wars, especially during the latter episodes of the original trilogy. Star Wars Outlaws epitomizes the Han Solo line, “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid” so wonderfully.
“Sins of a Solar Empire II” is more than capable of standing on its own even without a proper campaign. It already has great features, more depth than you can imagine and quality of life features that makes it very hard for me to get back to “Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion”. I know that I’ll jump back into the game, play more matches against the AI, check out mods and maps created by the community and perhaps annoy a couple of friends so we can set a match during a weekend. Will we be friends after 4 to 8 hours of multiple skirmishes? Only time will tell. 2024 has been one heck of a rollercoaster ride for strategy fans. Botched releases, broken promises and lackluster games. After playing “Sins of a Solar Empire II” I have only one thing to say: we are so back.
I’m not going to stop trying to progress in Arco, I am invested. But maybe I need to be less stingy and hire the mercenary I met several towns back for some assistance. Maybe I shouldn’t have spent all of my XP levelling up my attacks so that I could curve arrows and should’ve focused more on increasing my health. Maybe I shouldn’t have fought the possessed skeletal remains I found in a burnt out shack for a dark knife, resulting in having to devour the last of my healing items. Your past actions all lead into the strategy before the next fight even begins. Arco is not a game to be rushed, but absorbed and considered.
Volgarr the Viking II is sometimes unfair, but it’s a throwback to the 8 and 16-bit platformers it is so clearly inspired by. It’s a game that requires precision, patience, and practice. It’s a straightforward game that has multiple endings to encourage replayability, but is a game that’s more about the journey than the destination. Volgarr the Viking II is a hardcore and uncompromising sequel that delivers.
SteamWorld Heist II can be as relaxing or as challenging as you want it to be thanks to its wide array of difficulty modes, it’s pure fun the whole way through. The shift from the first game taking place in space to this game shipping out to sea might seem like a step back, but it’s such a fantastic setting, filled with sea shanties and naval combat. Having direct control of your shots, being able to ricochet them, or perform a trick shot is still an incredible feeling each and every time. SteamWorld Heist II everything great about the first game, only more and better that you have to sea to believe.
If this is a part of a resurgence of the classic adventure game genre in the same way souls-likes have become the genre-to-copy, Coal Supper and Thank Goodness You’re Here! Have set the bar very very high for how to make them hilarious and engaging while keeping them at a perfect length.
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 is an evolution and successor to EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5 both in gameplay and as a game. There’s so many quality of life improvements, more missions, a far more intriguing storyline, and the best enemy variety the series has ever seen. EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 is a triumph of mindless fun. It delivers everything fans of the series have come to expect and more. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it refines the formula to near-perfection. With its over-the-top action and addictive replayable gameplay, EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 is a must-have.
CLICKOLDING is the best three dollars you can spend on Steam right now. It’s short, sweet bitter, and sure to leave an aftertaste. Strange Scaffold has crafted a fantastic thriller leaving you degraded at the whims of a deviant. CLICKOLDING is a different kind of clicker game, and you’ll be edging for more.
While there’s a competent racing game here, it’s perfunctory. This is going to be solid on Switch or even the Steam Deck, but on desktop PC this is really disappointing. It’s a game I found mostly frustrating because of its AI, which needs some serious work, and can be patched. A workaround is to qualify in first place, but then it feels too easy and not the right amount of challenge. For the asking price, Hot Lap Racing is missing a wheel or two and is not a game that can’t be recommended in its current state.
Anger Foot takes the trial-and-error formula, and puts its best foot forward. The game does a lot with a basic concept and amps it up with modifiers, objectives, and a bumpin’ soundtrack. The game can be downright challenging at times, but being able to get past that level you were stuck on or pull off some really cool reactive feat is so satisfying. Free Lives made a really kickass game, and the unlock system gives a lot of incentive to change-up your playstyle and experiment. Anger Foot is all killer, no filler.