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Just to sum things up, the game really is an absolute blast to play. The graphics, characters, soundtrack and stages really make for one hell of a journey. Each journey takes between 10-30 minutes. And is time well spent. This game has stolen many hours of my life. My life is now Vampire Survivors. If you’re like me and enjoy a good roguelike and want a game that just delivers a solid gaming experience suited to your taste. Vampire Survivors will do just that and more.
I did enjoy my time playing 112 Operator. It has a very solid foundation for a simulation game but isn’t one that you can turn off to. It’s the perfect addition to the PS Library of a simulator game fan but can be daunting to anyone that isn’t 100% sure of what they’re getting into. The game has also made many positive improvements from 911 operator. I am very excited to see what Jutsu Games plan on doing next!
Squirrel with a Gun is a great stress reliver and a great means to turn off your brain. I had a few of my friends wonder what the game was about. When I told them it’s exactly what it says it is, they seemed almost confused. Then upon seeing the steam page they realised it all made sense. This game just proves there is no such thing as being too silly. Also, I feel like I haven’t used the word “nuts” in this review….I should have said it more…NUTS NUTS NUTS NUTS NUTS NUTS NUTS! There, now all my nuts are on the floor for the squirrels to take and not point a gun at me.
Tactical Breach Wizards was exactly the strategy game we needed in this gaming economy. It engages my brain with the whole puzzle of each stage. Whilst the humour within the cutscenes and dialog options have me immersed. I honestly wish and hope for DLC to continue more of the story or something to keep me going. For now I will have to make do with the make my own stages mode. I believe anyone reading this review should pick up this game and love it as much as I did.
Akimbot is the best fix I’ve gotten to fill the void from the last Jak & Daxter or Ratchet and Clank games. From Exe style of destroying other bots, to Shipset crazy antics. These bots are everything to me. With the nice dodging mechanics and the change of pace every level will have you on your toes. Even the hacking mini-games change so much that you’re lucky you get the same one thrice. I can’t wait for the next game Evil Raptor will make with the experience they’ve gained from Akimbot.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a fantastic game. Not only play but to show off what is achievable on consoles and PCs in 2024. Highly polished, great game mechanics, awesome graphics and sound, crossplay throughout, PVE, PVP, and campaign capabilities as well as a serious amount of cosmetics and lore to get involved with. What is there not to love?
What more is there to say? If you’ve played the previous games and enjoyed them, you can expect more of the same great stuff here. If you’ve not played Cat Quest I or II, this can be a great place to jump in. Thanks to how the story has unfolded across the 3 games there’s no set linearity to the events. Therefore they can be played and enjoyed in any order. I can’t wait to see what The Gentlebros cook up next for The Apawcalypse.
If you are after a polished experience that is full of charm then Crypt Custodian is definitely worth your time and money. There is so much care and passion jumping right off every scene that makes this metroidvania an easy recommendation, not only for old hands with the genre, but also players who’ve never tackled this beloved style of game.
Overall, Shoulders of Giants: Ultimate is a solid entry to the roguelite library in my book. The gameplay loop may feel somewhat repetitive at times, but that’s kind of how roguelikes and roguelites are generally built. With only some minor frustrations, the game provides plenty of variety in both structure and building your character to suit your style.
There are a lot of positives to say about Monster Jam Showdown, and I hope reading this review gives a taste of what your experience will be. Having experienced the trucks in action I was able to appreciate the work that Milestone has put into this game. The effort to lovingly recreate the monster trucks in digital form. The love they have shown to the brand by putting all the different liveries into the game. All the while delivering a fun and exciting experience for the whole family to enjoy and take part in. In all my time reviewing games, this game has given me the most amount of smiles and the most joy.
Overall, Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is a delightful game that would resonate well with any age group. It’s a game that allows you to relax, unwind, and fulfil your dreams of being a little witch, working hard to fulfil her dreams, alongside learning lessons about life and building long-lasting friendships. It feels like a love letter that combines fans of Studio Ghibli and cozy games together in one neat package. This was a project made with love and care by gamers for gamers. Which is apparent by the immense support of their Kickstarter page. Whilst the flying mechanic could be smoother, it was a joy to experience. It also highlights a gap in the market of 3D games where you can freely fly around, uninterrupted. The main deterrent for players to not pick this up is how short the game is in comparison to the price. The game is still in Early Access, but some players may want to wait to see how it develops further.
Across the Obelisk is a standout title in the deckbuilding genre. It offers a deep and satisfying experience that is both challenging and rewarding. The game’s blend of strategy, tactics, and deckbuilding makes it a must-play for fans of roguelite and deckbuilding games. If you’re looking for a game that offers variety and keeps you returning, Across the Obelisk is worth your time. Its rich world, engaging mechanics, and deck-building make it a game that you can sink hours into. Overall, Dreamsite Games and Paradox Interactive have crafted a game that will captivate and challenge players for a long time.
House of Golf 2 is a fantastic mini-golf game that allows you to simply have fun. With amazing holes to play through as well as the fantastic setting that you get to enjoy them in, you will quickly find new and wonderful ways to get the golf ball from A to B. If you want something to play that is friendly, casual and enjoyable by the whole family then Starlight Games have certainly nailed it.
With what is possibly one of my favourite VR experiences, Something Random have created an absolute winner. Toy Trains VR lives up to the hype, it delivers on every element of the game design and the devs should be commended for making such an awesome game!
Racing isn’t a genre of game I’d usually associate with the term ‘thoughtful’. This isn’t to say they aren’t well thought out – more that they provoke a player’s reflexes and timing more than anything else. You focus on the next turn coming, not the third. Phantom Spark bucks this trend, however. I found myself invested in each track, willing my Spark to make a turn just tight enough to speed through, to shave a thousandth of a second off my time. If I came into this looking to redeem my eight-year-old self, I failed. This game isn’t a successor to Wipeout Pure. Instead it’s a great time trial game in its own right; stylish and smart. If you like racing games, you should give it a go.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ISEKAI Chronicles is an anime game adaption I hope can get others onboard. Although as a fan of the anime, the game contains some things I wished it didn’t, I know these were included as something needed for the story. There are also the huge leaps of time we go through in the game that had me questioning the order in which we played certain events. I wished the developers had instead placed us at other points in time and had the two arcs at another juncture, so cannon events were not spoiled. Luckily I’ve been reading the manga and light novels to know when certain events happened, but not everyone would have done that. Overall this game was a fun and joyful experience for both me and the missus. I would love for other game studios to use this game to improve themselves. If there are any developers reading this that are hoping to make an anime video game adaptation in the future, please learn from these mistakes. Don’t do this kind of story cutting. The anime fans will be grateful!
Just Crows Things has been a breath of fresh air and a great addition to my “turn off brain” list of games. You can simply enjoy flying through the sky. Or live your best chaos crow life by dropping items or flaming poops on anything and anyone. The only thing the game made me wish for, was more of it. Some co-op options to make crow chaos alongside friends would be amazing too. I would recommend anyone to play this amazing game.
Arcade Paradise VR feels like a natural adaptation from flat-screen to VR. A great job has been done utilizing the PSVR2’s features like haptics and adaptive triggers to enhance immersion. While this VR version will likely be more enjoyable for fans of the base game rather than newcomers, Arcade Paradise VR remains a unique and immersive experience. It offers some of the best gameplay you’ll find in the simulation management genre.
Hellbreach: Vegas is hands down the most fun I’ve had playing a zombie FPS in years. I cannot wait to get some more friends on board to spend some late nights having some old school fun. It has multiple game modes, several different maps, and unlocks to boot. I’m proud to award it the Thumb Culture Platinum Thumb Award!
Creatures of Ava is a peachy little pep tonic for those who crave exploration and discovery of a whole new world. The creatures are charming, the world is rich and stunning and the character interactions are first-class. While it may not be the deepest or most complex adventure out there, it warms the heart and delivers cosy adventuring in a way you don’t necessarily expect. And at 12 to 20 hours long (depending on your completionism tendencies), it’s the ideal length for adventuring. Neither too short nor too bloated. If you’re looking for the next Pokemon or Palworld, you won’t find it here. But what you will find is cosy fun and a journey that will leave you with a smile on your face and your cockles warmed.