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Sneak instead of shoot: Desperados III is surprisingly restrained with shoot-outs and classic Wild West action. The bottom line is that it takes over too many features from Shadow Tactics and thus distances itself quite a bit from the core of the template - but it's still really good real-time tactics that will still be fun in 2020.

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F1 2020 expands with the My Team mode and continues to offer a great driving experience. Unfortunately, the rest changes only slightly.

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Nadeo mades a great job and works finally side-by-side with the community to improve the game. Now time will tell how succesfull the game will be in esport.

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Beyond Blue is neither fish nor whale and remains in every respect a trial dive, which as a game as well as an interactive documentary only scratches the surface of the possible. It's not about exploring and getting to know this fascinating habitat by yourself, but, as in underwater tourism, about grazing spot by spot and scanning as many animals as possible on the way. I appreciate the work that goes into Beyond Blue. But the bottom line is that it's just a trial dive with an omnipresent guide.

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Moving Out is pure chaos. But at the same time you don't have the feeling of completely losing control of the game. The physics are sometimes bitchy and smaller glitches force a restart of the level in rare cases, but all in all Moving Out is great fun for in between. Moving Out can convince me with its clever gameplay adaptation in both single and multiplayer. If you are looking for a funny skill game and want to play a round with friends from time to time, Moving Out is definitely the right choice. Additionally, the game is so accessible and customizable through the "Supported Mode" as I have rarely experienced and offers a fun and challenging experience for absolute video game beginners as well as for experts.

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The humor really is the most fun for me, because there is not much playfulness offered here. The missions are monotonous, the performance on consoles is insufficient and I still had to struggle with the camera even after nine hours, as there is no option for fixed targeting of prey. But I don't want to leave this ship in too bad a mood. The graphics are quite respectable and there are some points where you can see better ambitions. It's great that there can be such wacky games and I hope for a more polished and interesting second part.

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This ride on the sine wave is delightful! Wavey the Rocket captivates the gamepad hour after hour with its creative game idea, precise controls and fair learning curve. Apart from tact, you should also have patience, because none of the more than 80 rocket courses is easy.

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Nioh 2 leaves me very divided. The combat system is extensive, varied and is one of the best I've experienced in action role-playing games so far. Besides, the hunt for better equipment and armor sets is just as motivating as in Diablo or Destiny. The bosses are originally designed and many have interesting mechanics. But then there is this balancing, which was only really right for me in a few moments. I like hard games, have played through all the titles from From Software several times since Demon's Souls, and I've also enjoyed defeating titles from other manufacturers - except Lords of the Fallen, which was a bummer. I never had the feeling that the difficulty was so strongly defined by the boss' life energy and my character level as in Nioh 2, which could be compensated by grinding a little bit, but it just doesn't feel quite right. Friends of the genre and the scenario should definitely have a look into the game, because despite all criticism I liked the game. But it is not enough for the throne, which is still occupied by Bloodborne.

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Curious Expedition is a likeable and unique indie game from the group of Roguelikes. Until now I have mainly shredded my way through games like Dead Cells, Rogue Legacy or Binding of Isaac. Curious Expedition offers a welcome change both from the setting as well as the game goal. Despite the charming look Curious Expedition should not be underestimated or taken lightly. Even after several rounds it still happened to me occasionally, despite good preparation, that I maneuvered myself into a corner to such an extent that my premature death became inevitable. Unfortunately, there are, typical for roguelike and due to procedurally generated levels, some parts that even with the best equipment are almost impossible to survive. The fights are also not one of the strengths of the game, but fortunately they don't take up a large part of the game either. With its short playing time of 15-20 minutes per expedition, the game nevertheless lures me to undertake a small expedition again and again. Because of the different characters and the resulting play styles, as well as the challenges and achievements, you shouldn't have to worry about long-term motivation.

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Yeah, it looks like Fortnite. Yes, it's based on the same engine as Fortnite. But no, it is not Fortnite: Darwin Project hides exciting new approaches under the familiar look. The reduction of weapons, the low crafting effort and the full focus on surviving in the environment in constant cold are a welcome change. Also the small map and the reduced number of simultaneous players makes for entertaining fun. But the fight for survival can really turn up the heat with its Game Master: With the right person at the lever, who actively participates in the game and makes a real show out of the classic Battle Royale, Darwin Project is unbelievable fun that knows how to entertain round after round. But if the director drops out, then there is "only" one more genre representative among many.

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Half-Life: Alyx is not just a prequel. We are dealing with a tangible, independent entry into the franchise. It's a shame that not every fan can experience this story for themselves, because Valve did such an incredible job in the final that I couldn't stop being amazed. I don't want to give too much away either, because this, this is something big. End Episode Two big, to stay in the familiar terminology. However, the 15 hours before the credits are also fun and keep you in a good mood throughout. The reunion with old acquaintances, learning new skills in VR or a deeper immersion into the stories around the legendary "Gordon Freeman", whom the young Alyx only knows from stories and rumors: I approached the title with high expectations and Valve actually delivered.

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This speed, so much more enemies and the scope: id Software has done more in all aspects than its predecessor. The player is demanded as much every second as it was in DOOM 2016 for the final... and that already in the tutorial. The choice of the right weapon against the Cacodemon hovering above me, the dodge set to the left to avoid the approaching Pinky and the firing of the flamethrower must go into your blood to have any chance at all against the deluge of demons pouring over the Slayer. There's so much going on on the screen at the same time that my computer should have been down on its knees by now. But it keeps on rattling happily. The postponement of DOOM Eternal seems to have done really good. Such a solidly functioning piece of software needs time to be polished and unnecessary frills thrown out. The latter didn't necessarily work with the upgrade system, but in terms of performance this shooter is at the forefront. DOOM Eternal has shown me again after many years what is still possible in the first person shooter genre.

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The lovingly designed world of Iron Danger projects partly really breathtaking panoramas on my screen. A harbour quay bathed in twilight enchants me as much as the duel between a several meter high fighting machine and my, in comparison, tiny heroes. Even if this colossus can crush me with a kick, I still manage to keep the upper hand due to the well implemented time manipulation. It's a great feeling when you jump out of the line of fire with split-second precision or parry a deadly blow. I have never regretted immersing myself in Finnish folklore for about 12-15 hours, and on top of that I was offered a sophisticated game mechanics. More of it with pleasure!

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With Dreams, Media Molecule has set itself a monument in the gaming scene. The story is quite manageable in scope, but it offers the perfect insight into what is possible with the editor of Dreams. With a little bit of dedication and creativity, everyone can realize their own game dreams. With all the community features, the great remix functionality and the community jams, I see no reason why Dreams shouldn't last for many years to come. Media Molecule has already confirmed that Dreams will run on the PS5, so I will probably be able to admire my creations and those of many other players in the next generation.

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I look forward to see how the community deals with Bloodroots. Speed runs and the most effective mission completion possible promise entertaining actions on the screen. But, too many little things and annoyances have spoiled the game fun for me. Whether it was missing animations, inaccurate camera work or delayed hits - in the end it's the sum that counts. It's a pity, since I had such high hopes for the small indie team in the middle of last year. But nothing is lost yet. Maybe patches and updates can put it in the right light, there are dozens of good approaches.

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For switch owners who only want to do a short quest here and there, Snack World: The Treasure Hunt Gold is definitely the right choice. The short quests can be completed quickly on the bus or on the way to work. But they are not really captivating and even reminded me of one or the other mobile game, which can be played quite nicely for a few minutes every day, but doesn't offer any depth. The level 5 studios have left a lot of potential behind and offer a maximum of average fare, which can hardly motivate in the long run. After all: The online mode is mostly stable and players who want to play the same quest can be found enough at the moment. Nevertheless there is a lack of content, especially in the endgame. To bridge short distances, Snackworld: The Treasure Hunt Gold is ideal - for the home screen, however, it is unfortunately a rather boring waste of time.

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Persona 5 is considered one of the best games ever for me. The style, the characters, the gameplay, the story, the variety, all this has made it a great title for me, which not only JRPGs will have to measure up to in the future. So I was all the more curious to see how Tokyo Mirage would do in comparison. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore does not quite reach the quality of Persona 5. However, it is a wonderful game for all those who like the crazy Japanese setting. The thrilling story, the varied, sometimes amusing, sometimes serious side missions, the partly quirky companions, the easily understandable and yet tactically mature combat system, the individual graphic style, which reminds of Persona and yet goes its own way and the modern soundtrack, which should not only please friends of J-Pop or K-Pop, make Tokyo Mirage one of the best roleplaying games on the Switch.

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The Pedestrian is a highly creative, well-balanced and pleasantly challenging odyssey through the sign forest of a big city - and a real gem in the puzzle genre.

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Pokémon Sword and Shield are cheaply produced, antiquated in every regard and no longer come even close to living up to the great name of the brand. "It's Pokémon" can no longer be an excuse - it's exactly the fact that it is Pokémon why it has to be more than what it is. And right now, Sword and Shield are one thing above all else: two really bad video games.

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In his third appearance as a ghost hunter Luigi experiences his biggest, most beautiful and best adventure so far! Next Level Games stage an incredibly loving horror holiday with the charm of an animated film and an impressive attention to detail from beginning to end. For me, Luigi's Mansion 3 is one of the switch highlights of 2019.

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