GameSpew's Reviews
A cosy and intriguing sim game that you won't be able to put down, seeing your store in The Last Gas Station come together is wonderfully rewarding. Add in the game's mysterious storyline and its beautiful pixelated graphics, and you've got something rather special.
Aphelion may not impress all that much on the gameplay front, with its traversal and stealth sections sometimes marred by its clunky controls, but its story and presentation pick up the slack, making it an enjoyable trek across an alien planet on the whole.
The Spell Brigade doesn't do anything wrong, but it also doesn't do anything to make itself stand out in a sea of survivors-like games. Its gameplay isn't all that exciting, its art and sound design is ho-hum, and any meaningful upgrades take far too long to unlock. There are plenty of other games in the genre that are far more rewarding to play.
Making your own pots in Kiln using the ever-growing range of options is delightful, truly allowing you to express yourself. And it's fun to take your pots into battle too, at least for a while. With just one match type currently available, Quench, things can soon get a little repetitive.
Free of challenge and peril, Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth is a cosy hug of a game; the type of thing you play when you need to destress and escape into a new world. Whether or not you're an existing Moomin fan, you can enjoy this wonderful adventure, filled with quests, exploration and collecting. A truly beautiful game no matter your age.
Housemarque is back with yet another fantastic fast-paced third person shooter. Saros builds on Returnal, delivering deeper and more enjoyable gameplay, as well as a new permanent progression system and modifiers which allow you to tweak the difficulty to your preferences. All in all, it's Housemarque's best game yet.
After the disappointing Vessel of Hatred, Blizzard redeems itself with Lord of Hatred, delivering an expansion that serves up a very enjoyable campaign, two new character classes, and some new features that truly enrich the Diablo 4 experience. There's a sense of completeness and finality to the this expansion that makes it a must for Diablo 4 fans.
Mixing together adventure, stealth and a gripping narrative makes Tides of Tomorrow a very intriguing prospect indeed. It's just a shame that its novel 'online story-link' mechanic isn't as enjoyable as it should be, leaving you feeling like you're existing in someone else's shadow rather than carving out your own path through this unique world.
Jay and Silent Bob are back in another side-scrolling beat 'em up. Though while Chronic Blunt Punch looks absolutely fantastic and is genuinely humorous at times, its gameplay lets it down.
Vampire Crawlers is a weird spin-off, as it has almost nothing to do with Vampire Survivors other than it exists in the same world and contains the same characters and items. And yet somehow, this fast-paced dungeon crawler manages to be just as moreish as the game it is derived from.
While there are many games based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss stands out thanks to its focus on you conducting an investigation. With some genuinely tough puzzles to solve, it's just a shame that one or two are more frustrating than they are fun, and that there are numerous technical issues to deal with too.
Making use of a 1930s cartoon aesthetic, Mouse: P.I. For Hire is absolutely brimming with character and personality. It looks incredible, and it plays well too: this is a fun (if casual) first-person shooter that will keep you entertained from start to finish.
Undoubtedly one of the best roguelike games out there, Hades II offers up fantastic fast-paced action, gorgeous visuals and an excellent story steeped in Greek mythology.
As its name suggests, Find My Frogs is a game about, well, finding frogs. And gnomes, and insects, and other bits and bobs. With a gorgeous art style, this is a seriously pretty and relaxing hidden object game that's well worth its discount asking price.
Capcom has taken a gamble with Pragmata, blending together multiple genres to create something that feels fresh and unique. At the heart of it is hacking-infused third-person shooter combat, which remains engaging and exciting throughout. And when paired with a story that tugs on the heartstrings, the result is something rather special. Ultimately, Pragmata is not only game of the year material, but also one of the most exciting new IPs in recent years.
It's beautifully presented, and the puzzle of packing boxes is mildly satisfying. But A Storied Life: Tabitha lets itself down in its storytelling, which is little more than a messy headache of ideas. If you were hoping for something to rival Unpacking, this isn't it.
With its terrible voice acting and some minor gameplay issues, Dragonkin: The Banished isn't a faultless experience. As far as action RPGs in the vein of Diablo go though, it's one of the best there is, with a fantastic skill system and enjoyable city development.
Find Your Words is very short, and has a few issues – but considering it's available for free, any problems are easily forgiven. A cute little adventure about a non-verbal child communicating via a binder full of symbols, it's a must for any kid – or indeed any grown-up wanting an hour of cosy escapism.
A turn-based RPG with a unique presentation, People of Note not only looks fabulous but it's a joy to play, too. It mixes together traditional RPG elements with puzzles and music to make a game that isn't afraid to be different.
Taking on the role of a paranormal investigator, The Occultist gives you multiple unique abilities to make use of as you explore areas and solve an assortment of puzzles. It's a bit rough around the edges, but fans of narrative driven supernatural adventures will likely get plenty of enjoyment out of it.