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Cyberpunk 2077 was an ambitious game on release, maybe too ambitious. It soon became a stable and phenomenal game overall. It was full of great characters with great gameplay and visuals. Phantom Liberty took what Cyberpunk 2077 had already provided and has given us so much more. The game has now incorporated a new area different in style and tone with gameplay to match. The new expansion drags you into the seedy, rough, and ready part of the city. You are bound to get lost in uncovering mysteries full of action and intrigue. I’d recommend anyone buy this if you are already in love with Cyberpunk 2077 as it offers up a new and interesting side to the game’s story.
The time I’ve spent in Moonstone Island was a much needed breath of fresh air. It feel like we’ve only scratched the surface in this genre. Playing the game between keyboard and mouse, controller, I feel that this game is better played off a controller. With the tool wheel, it’s a bit of a hassle to switch between weapons with a mouse and keyboard. Where a controller is made for the tool wheel’s function and capability. The villagers themselves have such rich and vibrant personalities that makes me want to know more. Dating them all just is the only way to get more lore about them. But, my heart will always belong to Ferra because I just love the chaotic innocence she represents in my heart. The achievements they placed in the game are by far well worth the look and fun to obtain. I cannot wait to continue this venture throughout the islands. And I’ll finally get my answer on what is going on with Wally and his Baba Yaga home. Also, be kind to your muscle girlfriends, you never know what poetic justice they might deliver.
Ironically, a silent game could become such a topic of conversation. In a year that boasts an array of exceptional games, Cocoon manages to stand out due to its distinctive mechanics and unparalleled level and puzzle design. The game’s intriguing sci-fi world keeps players engaged, while its puzzles spanning multiple worlds present a challenging and rewarding experience. The game’s controls, which are both accessible and intuitive, facilitate an immersive experience, while the minimalist presentation adds an extra layer of elegance. Cocoon stands alongside some of the best games of 2023.
I found The Lamplighters League quite challenging with when it came to managing resources and making sure my team survives. The characters are great, and I enjoyed the conversations between them after missions. The levels reuse the same layouts too much, and I don’t like the Undrawn Hand game mechanics. The enemy variety is great and always kept me on my toes. I wish the skill points weren’t shared, but instead, each character had their own. I’m glad the game gives players a way to get dead Agents back because, at the start, I lost a good few in silly ways. The audio is choppy at times when running around missions. I did find it tedious to place characters individually since when I placed one, another had a high chance of being spotted. The devs should implement a manual crouch feature since auto doesn’t always work.
Thief Simulator 2 is a great improvement on the first instalment. I enjoyed playing the story missions and scoping out houses and found it fun to run from the police station. I love the lockpicking mini-game. It’s easy and fun to do. I also love that the game doesn’t take itself too seriously, leading to plenty of comical moments true to any good simulator game. For simulator lovers, fans of the first game, or a player who loves stealthy games, this game is for you.
I find the puzzles in tandem fun and tedious. For example, when entering Limerick Encounters, having the player do the three puzzles three times each (nine times total!) was annoying and boring after some time. I enjoy some of the stories found in notes to learn about the overarching story and find out the fates of some of their authors, but I feel that there are too many notes, sometimes too many close together. The controls were quick and easy to learn, and the environments were fun to navigate. The sprinting bar replenishes at a rate that you don’t easily outrun the monsters but doesn’t leave you at a disadvantage. Limerick: Cadence Mansion is a solid puzzle game and an engaging, smooth experience. I highly recommend this game for lore lovers and puzzle fanatics.
I enjoyed my time with The Fabulous Fear Machine as it delivered a fresh take on horror video games and had an interesting story. I really liked how it leaned into the pulp horror and Tales from the Crypt style both in theme and visual and audio design. The design and satire & dark humour couldn’t keep the mechanics from feeling repetitive and stale. Perhaps if more content or DLC comes I will give it another go.
Overall, Party Animals is a great game, and as mentioned previously, it is a fun addition to your collection without having to be an essential buy.
If I’m being completely honest, I couldn’t find fault with the game at all. Dave the Diver is a fantastic game. The setting is beautiful, the characters are funny and interesting and its content is diverse. Yes, it can get infuriating when you’re killed and lose your haul. But that’s on me, not the game. It’s an enchanting tale about a man’s love of the sea… and sushi! 7.8 out of 10. Too much water.
Does the Bomberman game mechanic work in an open-world environment? I didn’t feel that it did quite frankly. The Castle mode was just pure chaos as well. I think I am getting old as I really only enjoyed the traditional battle modes. Perhaps it was the nostalgia or the fact that I prefer to play as myself and without a team.
Stray Gods surpassed all of my expectations, the big musical numbers alongside its captivating story had me hooked. I am aware of several bugs that were in its original release however, I didn’t experience any in my playthrough. This could be partly due to patches that have been released since its original release.
All in all, Bilkins’ Folly is a highly enjoyable not-a-pirate romp with charm in spades. The logic puzzles are well executed and the cartography and navigation mechanics are wonderfully immersive and satisfying. VO aside, the graphics and audio lend themselves perfectly and showcase delightful eccentricity. The technical hitches are hard to ignore, particularly when they halt things completely, but the love that went into this game shines through. It’s well worth a purchase.
Overall, I will say that SPRAWL is an enjoyable game. If you can manage the mechanics. It just seems to lack the longevity you’d hope for to get the most out of it.
This well-polished love letter to retro cartoons stirred up so much nostalgia from the get-go. Its visuals and sound were a pleasure to behold and I’ll be revisiting it to check out the other characters to marvel at it all time and time again. I thoroughly enjoyed my time playing this game. It is a must if you love the look and feel of retro cartoons and love roguelike adventures. Even if you are not, Mythforce is worth a try as it’s unique, well-made, and action-packed to entertain regardless.
Do you like wholesome, relaxing puzzle games? Are you a fan of trains? Would you secretly like to quit your job and become an urban planner? Yes? Then this is a game you’ll love. Galaxy Grove has created an experience that can cater to both times when you want to relax your mind with some casual creation and when you want to give yourself a mild challenge.
Shuyan Saga was a revelation for me having not previously been on my radar. While its combat is fairly rudimentary, it is its epic storytelling, deep lore and compelling characters who are excellently voice acted that make this journey truly worthwhile. I was left wanting more as I was totally hooked by the epic saga.
While Alchemy Garden has some effort, the game fails at fleshing out any of its systems resulting in it feeling incredibly barebones. While there is some fun in creating a garden and shop that feels like your own, the progression is too slow and crafting is far too tedious.
The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation has areas that are great, especially when it is setting atmosphere. I felt the initial section of the game should have provided some direction, which would have reduced the early frustration. The jump scares are for the most part well-done, unexpected, but effective. The initial frustration really set the tone of what to expect in the first hour. I did not enjoy the game as much as I had hoped.
With some exceptionally engaging gameplay and intelligently designed heists, payday 3 delivers on being a successor to Payday 2. While it will not have nearly as much content for quite a long time, for now, the foundations are much more solid than its former entry- I can see Payday 3 having just as long a life span.
If you’re looking for an unsettling low-poly adventure to get under your skin, The Tartarus Key is right up your alley. With crunchy yet slick visuals, puzzles to sink your teeth into and atmosphere you could cut with a knife, it’s a psych-horror fan’s dream. It occasionally tells a little more than it should show and some key loose ends are left frayed (if not hanging), but it’s very difficult to come away feeling unsatisfied.