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Routine isn’t trying to be a loud, cinematic horror game, but slow, cerebral, and far more interested in tension than spectacle. It definitely has some rough patches – its stealth sections can be repetitive and the game sometimes hides important clues a little too well – but these issues don’t outweigh what it gets right: atmospheric environments, clever puzzling, and a palpable sense of tension that’ll constantly keep you on the edge of your seat. If you’re into more thoughtful horror games that rely more on atmosphere than constant jump-scares, Routine is well worth checking out – I just wish that I wasn’t in a constant game of cat-and-mouse with easily outsmarted enemies when trying to solve puzzles.
Sleep Awake isn’t a traditional horror game built around big scares or survival-based gameplay mechanics, but instead a haunting, unsettling, and memorable jaunt through a dark and disturbing world. It leans confidently into its strengths, offering a surreal and unsettling journey that consistently surprises with its striking visuals and eerie storytelling, and whilst the gameplay is a little bit bare-boned, the commitment to the haunting atmosphere makes it easy to get completely hooked into its strange, sleepless world. Sleep Awake stands out for how boldly it embraces the weird and how effectively it leaves a lasting impression, and for horror fans who value tone and immersion over action, it’s a must play.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a joyful and energetic celebration of what makes beat ’em ups so great, with the thrilling gameplay boosted by the presence of Marvel’s heroes, villains, and worlds. The varied roster, tag-team mechanics, fun combat, and ever-changing stages keep fights fresh and exciting, while the stunning pixel art and excellent soundtrack make it easy to get swept up in the action. It can be messy at times, sure, and a few difficulty spikes may frustrate, but these issues never stop Marvel Cosmic Invasion from being another brilliant beat ‘em up experience.
Demonschool is a real joy to play, with its clever combat, likeable story, and striking visual style helping it stand out in the tactical RPG genre. Combat is nuanced and has plenty of neat ideas on show, the characters and setting give the narrative a playful energy, and the game looks gorgeous, with it certainly ticking all of the right boxes to keep me hooked in. The only downside? The sheer amount of battles can make the experience feel drawn out, and the repetition does creep in over a long playthrough. Still, there’s a lot more good than bad in Demonschool, and whilst it does have some repetitive moments, the fun and creativity showcased across the adventure ensures that it always feels special to play.
A.I.L.A might take a few missteps in the delivery of its ambitious ideas, but it has enough personality and creativity to leave a strong impression for horror fans. Its uneven combat and occasional pacing dips hold it back from being something truly special, yet the wonderful variety of scenarios, great atmosphere, and intriguing concept still make it an easy recommendation for horror fans looking for something different. It’s flawed but memorable, and for a genre that’s constantly recycling the same ideas, A.I.L.A feels refreshingly unique – even IF it leans into a lot of those ideas itself.
Neon Inferno delivers exactly what it sets out to: a stylish, frantic, and super satisfying throwback to the run-and-gunners of the older days that’s more than just another nostalgia trip. Its clever mechanics, gorgeous presentation, and relentless energy make it hard to put down, and whilst the difficulty spikes and occasionally overwhelming visuals won’t suit everyone, fans of the genre (or anyone craving a modern spin on classic run-and-gun chaos) will have an absolute blast with the game.
Tales of Xillia Remastered shows just how well this adventure has held up over the years, especially with its modern polish and convenient quality of life upgrades that make it better than ever to play. The slick visuals and energetic combat make revisiting Rieze Maxia feel better than ever, whilst the lively cast and enjoyable storytelling ensure you’ll be hooked in right until the very end. Sure, a few dated elements and pacing dips still peek through, but they never outweigh all of the things that Tales of Xillia Remastered gets right.
As someone who usually considers the campaign the heart of any Call of Duty release, it genuinely stings to see it stumble this hard in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. The shift in focus and the rough execution make it a real missed opportunity to build upon last year’s wonderful experience, and honestly? It was almost enough to make me want to walk away from this year’s release… almost. Thankfully, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 isn’t defined by its weakest link, with multiplayer still fast, fun, and packed with variety, and Zombies the star attraction, offering a mode bursting with creativity, atmosphere, and reasons to keep coming back for more. It’s these two modes that stop Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 from feeling like a misfire and instead turn it into a solid, albeit uneven, package.
Possessor(s) has some imperfections, but it’s still an atmospheric, rewarding, and stylish Metroidvania that offers plenty for players to enjoy. Strong combat ideas, a compelling central duo, and the striking visual flair do a lot of heavy lifting, and whilst some mechanical hiccups and occasional pacing issues do get in the way, they never stop the game from being fun to play. If you’re looking for a Metroidvania fix that’s stylish with satisfying combat and forgiving exploration, Possessor(s) is well worth taking a look at.
Winter Burrow delivers a heartfelt and beautifully presented take on the survival genre that favours warmth, charm, and gentle progression over intensity or high pressure. Its relaxing tone, satisfying sense of progress, and gorgeous winter world make it an ideal pick for players who want something cosy to settle into, even if its repetitive quest structure, lack of navigational tools, and occasional pacing dips hold it back from being something truly exceptional. It’s not perfect, but Winter Burrow is a memorable and comforting winter escape that’s well worth curling up with.
Whispers in the Woods doesn’t just add more places to explore in Pacific Drive, but also changes how it feels to play, with its eerie Whsipering Woods setting, fresh gameplay mechanics, and unsettling enemy encounters creating an unnerving sense of tension that feels fresh (and, at times, more dangerous than ever). It’s darker, stranger, and more demanding, but it’s also incredibly engaging and rewarding to play. It really does prove that Pacific Drive has plenty of fuel left in its engine (sorry), and if future expansions are just as good as this, I’ll be coming back for a long, long time.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a shining example of how to celebrate gaming history without losing what made it so damn special in the first place. Square Enix have managed to take two of the genre’s most formative and beloved RPGs and rebuild them into something that feels both familiar and fresh, all whilst maintaining the classic spirit of the original escapade… it’s excellent. The HD-2D presentation is breath-taking, the accessibility options make these once-daunting classics approachable for just about anyone, and the additions to both the narrative and the gameplay help make the adventures feel more substantial than ever before. And sure, the high encounter rate can test your patience and some of the dungeons could have used a bit more creative reworking, but those are small blemishes on what is otherwise an exceptional revival.
Football Manager 26 is a bold rebuild that doesn’t quite get everything right, but you can feel it has the ambition and pieces in place to be something special. The revamped match engine and expanded tactical depth all show clear progress and push it in the right direction, even if the new UI and slower pacing do make it a tougher adjustment for veterans. There are rough edges, but beneath them lies the same endlessly addictive and rewarding experience that keeps us coming back season after season (after season after season… you get the point).
Slots & Daggers is one of those rare indie games that takes a simple concept and turns it into something far more compelling than it has any right to be. The blend of chance and strategy ensures that each run feels both challenging and satisfying, and sure, the randomness of the reels can occasionally turn against you, but any frustration fades fast once you secure that hard-fought win or find yourself equipped with the perfect addition to your loadout (I’m looking at you, x2). It’s stylish, clever, and dangerously addictive… the kind of game that makes hours disappear without you noticing (which was something I regretted after staying up until 2am playing). Whether you’re optimising your loadout for efficiency, fine-tuning your buffs, or just chasing that next perfect spin, Slots & Daggers makes every moment on the slots feel like a spin of destiny.
Arc Raiders blends heart-pounding tension, a gorgeous world, and pure cinematic spectacle into something truly memorable across its thrilling PvPvE action. It captures the danger and excitement of the extraction genre perfectly, offering a world that feels alive in every storm, every skirmish, and every fleeting alliance formed under pressure. It’s a not just a ton fun to play but also endlessly rewarding, with every victory or safe extraction bringing with it a deep satisfaction that helps push your progression through the game. And when you do die? It’s normally because of something exciting, so you never mind too much (except when it’s because you’re rolling solo and have simply been outnumbered by rival players). It does have a few little flaws, but these are small blemishes on an otherwise remarkable experience. Arc Raiders is consistently exhilarating, setting a new benchmark for cooperative shooters that’ll be hard for rival releases to match. With plenty of new content on the horizon, I can see myself playing Arc Raiders for a very, very long time…
The Jackbox Party Pack 11 is an entertaining mix of five new party games that showcase Jackbox’s trademark humour and creativity, even if not every idea fully lands. Doominate delivers sharp wordplay, Hear Say shines with chaotic audio fun, Cookie Haus struggles with clunky drawing controls, Suspectives brings clever social deduction, and Legends of Trivia adds a refreshing cooperative twist to trivia. It’s not quite a top-tier pack, especially with the restrictions of Hear Say and Suspectives as well as the pacing of Legends of Trivia, but there’s still more than enough variety and personality here to make it a great choice for any game night.
Ball x Pit is a brilliantly chaotic and endlessly satisfying experience that blends sharp physics-based combat with clever progression and city-building. Its fast pace, inventive fusions, and constantly rewarding gameplay loop easily put it up there with the likes of Vampire Survivors and Balatro as incredibly addictive indie experiences… it’s that good. Sure, it has some imperfections, with the building system taking a little time to grasp and some late-game runs feeling uneven when the right upgrades don’t appear, but these small frustrations barely scratch the surface of what is otherwise a masterfully designed loop of action, experimentation, and progress. I just absolutely love the game, and even after sinking close to twenty-hours in, I’m looking forward to many, many more.
Simon the Sorcerer: Origins is a heartfelt and comical return for one of point-and-click adventuring’s most endearing icons. It absolutely nails the witty tone, the clever writing, and creative puzzling that helped define the series, all whilst adding enough modern polish to make it accessible for today’s players without losing what made it special in the first place. A few overly obscure puzzles and the absence of a hint system occasionally make the experience more frustrating than it needs to be, but these hiccups don’t overshadow what is otherwise a genuinely charming revival made with a clear love for the source material.
Lumo 2 is a sequel that balances charm and frustration in equal measure, offering a colourful and creative adventure that’s as endearing as it is exasperating. It’s packed with clever puzzles, nostalgic references, and a genuine affection for the classics that inspired it, and when everything clicks, believe me, it can be a real joy to play. Yet for all of its personality, ambition, and charm, the clunky movement, awkward camera, and inconsistent platforming hold it back from greatness. It feels like a game that loves the past so much that it forgets to modernise it – for players who appreciate retro quirks and a healthy dose of nostalgia, that might be fine, but for those looking for a smoother and more refined experience, everything might just feel too clunky. Here’s hoping for a patch in the near future, just to smooth out some of the rougher edges of platforming, because with some fixes, there’s potential for this to be a special little game.
The Séance of Blake Manor is a masterpiece of atmosphere, storytelling, and puzzling, offering a detective experience that’s as haunting as it is clever. Every system, from its time-based investigation to its intricate deduction mechanics, work together perfectly to constantly reward both curiosity and intuition, with every discovery, decision, and hypothesis you make all feeling special in their own little way. Yes, the opening hours can feel overwhelming and the occasional technical hiccup can pull you out of the moment, but these are minor bumps in an otherwise a remarkable and unforgettable experience. The Séance of Blake Manor is simply outstanding, and easily one of the best detective games that I’ve ever played.