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Forever Skies fails to live up to my (admittedly high) expectations, but it does offer a new and exciting perspective in the survival/crafting genre. I enjoyed my time cruising around in my airship, but I definitely feel this could have used a few more months before releasing out of Early Access.
The Precinct's combination of action and simulation is engaging to begin with, but the tedium soon sets in, leaving you feeling like you're processing paperwork more than capturing criminals.
There's a lot of fun to be had in Skin Deep, its entertaining and highly amusing story coupled with some clever and creative stealth action. Come for the head popping, stay for the cat love.
An amazing new array of systems reinvents DOOM once again, delivering a bombastic and brutal new way to smash demons. With awesome new cosmic threats dying to meet the serrated edge of your shield, The Dark Ages may well be the best age for any aspiring Doom Slayer.
Revenge of the Savage Planet is a self-assured sequel that successfully builds on what was started in the original game, making smart adjustments to structure and game feel while honing in on the satire. Not all of it is a success, but it's a great little romp that doesn't ask for too much of your time or brainpower to make its point.
Tempopo stands as a puzzle game full of heart and joyful melodies, easy or hard enough for any kind of player. It's satisfying gameplay loops and adorable designs help it shine, but hopefully there's even more content to come in the future.
Despelote is a nostalgic first-person exploration of childhood, time, and play. This short story is emotionally gripping while the playstyle of kicking soccer balls and listening to conversations is relaxed and contemplative. Despelote will capture the hearts of many, in similar ways to how soccer did for the people and communities of Quito in the early 2000s. An artful experience that made me feel sad, hopeful, and achingly human.
Slender Threads is a point-and-click adventure with an abundance of visual spunk and entertaining characters that knows how to respect your time and reaps the rewards as a result.
The blend of stealth and action in a mysterious sci-fi setting held so much promise. It's genuinely disappointing, then, to find a game that feels like it never quite coalesced…a bit like a seed that never quite sprouted.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a confident new IP, bold in its execution and not afraid to mix old and new ideas. It's a stunning achievement, born from passion and raised within technical excellence equal to the best in the business. Go in unspoiled and be ready for a truly rewarding experience.
After more than 10 years in the works, Asylum shows its age in some areas, but great atmosphere and an interesting narrative makes checking in at Hanwell Mental Institute a worthwhile time.
A pixel-perfect platforming adventure that fires on every hazardous industrial cylinder from start to finish. You'll struggle to put it down, as you madly hump your way up one ladder before flinging yourself to the next.
Although its gameplay is merely servicable, South of Midnight's dark yet compelling narrative is the shining light, elevated by excellent sound design, enchanting characters and a spectacular art style. It's proof that the industry still has the creative juice when allowed to be squeezed.
Promise Mascot Agency excels in precisely the areas you'd expect from the folks behind Paradise Killer – it's a phenomenal aesthetic piece and a genuinely gripping, off-kilter crime drama. The management gameplay at its core proves to be a bit surface level, sometimes even intrusive, but there's an undercurrent of beautiful weirdness here that makes even the iffiest contracts worth signing.
Two Point Museum is the culmination of years of learnings along with a ton of care and polish, beating out Two Point Studios' previous efforts in just about every conceivable way. The stellar campaign holds more variety than expected, the systems are as approachable as they are moreish, and it plays beautifully on a controller.
The journey taken across Koira's musically emotive world is exactly what my soul needed in these dark times, and it's one you'll likely enjoy in equal measure too.
The additions and improvements made in WWE 2K25 more than justify the series' annual cadence, but new mode The Island shows us a potentially grim future of monetisation and pay-to-win practices.
The underdog in Monolith Soft's Xenoblade Chronicles series has never looked or played better, giving new life to a game that could have been destined to rot in the ill-fated WiiU's library. By boldly refitting its systems and gently touching up the already-beautiful art, along with adding some welcome chunks of all-new content, this Definitive Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X is essential playing for fans new and old.
Ubisoft's big, bold swing with Assassin's Creed Shadows mostly connects, proving that it was right to hold off on the Hail Mary Feudal Japan setting until it had honed the series' RPG trappings. Shadows' attempts at new ideas don't all land the same, but it excels in the areas that matter most in these games with a gorgeous, rich and well-researched world to explore, compelling stealth gameplay and a story full of intrigue and fresh takes on historical figures.
Wanderstop is a well-intentioned take on the personal weight of societal burnout and the issues typically found in the cozy genre but struggles to find much ground beyond its initial premise as surface-level commentary and frustrating, awkward gameplay spoils the brew.