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Enotria: The Last Song is a compelling little soulslike which has enough of its own identity to be worth a recommendation, even if not all of its elements individually work as well. The emphasis on the game's melee combat leaves its magic system a little clunky, and despite an impressive amount of flexibility in the game's RPG mechanics, the ability to swap between different loadouts mid-combat wasn't all that useful. Despite these minor drawbacks, the challenging boss fights, gorgeous art direction and fun exploration make this a worthwhile addition to any soulslike fan's library.
All in all, Frostpunk 2 dishes up engaging strategy challenges that will have you balancing multiple resources, faction demands, and production all throughout a playthrough. While it may be challenging for first-time players for this reason, the game also makes it worth your while with an impressive level of overall depth. Frostpunk 2 feels like it's suffused with story in every possible way, and it's clear that the developers have made the effort to create an authentic world that comes with difficult and impactful choices. If you're a seasoned strategy buff with a penchant for story and you're not put off by difficult decisions in a dystopian world, Frostpunk 2 is sure to be a worthy addition to your library.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a great time largely thanks to the simple fact that the original game is so solid and timeless. It's still to this day a riotous schlockfest drenched in shopping mall Americana as you raid gun stores, run over psychos with a shopping cart or suplex a zombie. This all makes for some of the best and most joyful arcadey zombie-killing gameplay we've had to date, made better by a healthy dose of quality-of-life additions in NPC AI improvements and third-person handling. Though not all of the mall's residents fare the absolute best in their HD upscaling it is worth it for how gorgeously bloody and grisly the halls of that shopping district are. It's so damn good to be back as Frank West and this scoop is one well worth investigating.
The Plucky Squire may be one of the most exceptionally presented video games in recent memory. In moving from the 2D space to the 3D space, a sense of wonder is created that's unrivalled by the vast majority of other releases. That sense of wonderment is captured in the storytelling as well, which leans on the charm of children's fiction. Perhaps a little too scared to create complex depth to the puzzles or gameplay, more mature audiences may find the game lacking in some regard. However, that doesn't stop the title from being widely appealing and an absolute delight from prologue to epilogue.
Copycat shoots for the stars with its narrative ambitions, delivering an emotional, introspective experience that will have you reflecting on your relationship to the animals and people in your life. It goes to some truly unexpected places, some of which are questionable, but all of which are compelling. Despite the pieces not quite coming together in perfect harmony, this is an experience that will stick with you for a long time.
I Am Your Beast delivers an adrenaline injection of action with style. The game's intense, fast-paced gameplay is driven by its pulse-pounding soundtrack and engaging story. While a few rough edges in parkour mechanics and mission design prevent it from achieving mastery, its thrills and aesthetic make it an ultra-violence power fantasy. This is a game where every second counts and every kill is a testament to skill.
Wild Bastards is more dastardly delicious gaming to come from right here in Australia. Blue Manchu Games have done some building upon their Bastards universe to create a thoroughly fun and explosive experience. Though the game can go on a little too long and be a bit one-note, I could never accuse it of not being some of the best FPS and roguelike fusion we've had for a while. What awaits is a weird and creatively designed cast with varied playstyles, quality strategic roguelike thinking and build potential that'll more than satiate you. It's well worth going on your journey across the stars and finding yourself some weird alien outlaw friends. Family found.
Demon's Mirror is a hell of a good time. The way it combines deckbuilding and the grid battle system had me hooked from my very first run and it's so easy to learn. With an array of different cards to discover and modify, its inclusion of three characters with three different playstyles creates alot opportunity to play how you want. Even though the enemies can be repetitive and I found runs super quick to complete, Demon's Mirror may just be one of 2024's moore exciting new deckbuilders.
As the Entity looms overhead, The Casting Of Frank Stone is a cinematic run at an IP begging for further exploration. But with a strong set-up, the film reel birth of a killer lacks the flesh of a real rampage let alone multiverse caper. Thankfully though, this is still a decent game that is able to stand on its own. The Cutting Room Floor is a welcome addition to the Supermassive cinematic horror formula that needs to return in their other games. This is a love letter to Dead By Daylight fans but those outside the game's grasp might be a little bit harder to hook. I strongly believe we'll be seeing more from this partnership in due time.
Age of Mythology: Retold has made significant upgrades to its RTS formula. Expanding on pantheons by using the power of the gods more often lets you experience the true force. Improvements to accessibility means learning the basics is easier for newcomers to the series. While the experience stumbles with more advanced concepts and is perhaps too reliant on faith for victory, you can still learn as you go. Age of Mythology: Retold has never looked better for fans new and old.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 doesn't hold back in showing you what it's like to be a Space Marine. Combat is gruelling, intense, and punishing even in the best of times. It's also not easy to understand the importance of the Space Marines if you aren't familiar with the lore. But if you are willing to give the game a chance, it provides some of the best hack-and-slash shooter experiences and immersive settings. It's never been more enjoyable to be a Space Marine and understand the horrors of fighting in never-ending conflicts.
Squirrel with a Gun has a janky charm, from its crazy attack animations to occasionally ridiculous physics-based challenges. The concept of a platformer where the player character is so tiny that their gun is used to propel them into the air is a clever one that I wish was used in a more enjoyable game. However, despite some occasionally fun challenges and crazy cutscenes, Squirrel with a Gun feels overstretched across its roughly eight-hour playtime, with an overall lack of technical polish that goes beyond funny and becomes frustrating to play. It isn't bad overall and certainly has its fun moments (particularly the boss fights), but the bugs and general jankiness of the experience hold it back from reaching its full potential.
For a first-time developer, Janbeh Games has created such a lovely and cute time for fans of the cosy/wholesome genre. While a short game, it can be replayed multiple times just to find out the different couples and what each of their stories are like. Love, Ghostie is a pretty simple plot, and the art style is adorable, with each of the 12 characters' aesthetics really shining through. The music embodies the mood, awkward dates sound … awkward, and when your ghost is tired the music sounds deeper. It's really creative and helps evoke those feelings. Love, Ghostie is a tonne of fun and adorable. If Janbeh Games keeps up with this quality in future games, they'll certainly be one to keep your eye on.
Ace Attorney Investigations Collection delivers some incredible experiences for fans of the series, with memorable characters, intriguing mysteries, twists and turns that you won't see coming, and gorgeous remastered visuals. While the second game is undoubtedly stronger than the first, both deliver some excellent adventures. Ace Attorney fans rejoice, for Miles Edgeworth's finest cases have finally made their way here.
Astro Bot is not just another platformer; it's a vibrant celebration of PlayStation's storied history and a triumphant re-introduction to its newest mascot. Every world offers compelling gameplay that is elevated to the next level by the innovative use of the DualSense controller, and its heartwarming nods to the last 30 years of PlayStation ensure that the experience is charmingly nostalgic while still feeling refreshingly original. Astro Bot is whimsical, inventive and just feels downright fun to play. While Astro Bot's previous outings were impressive, this latest adventure solidifies him as a beloved character in his own right. They've truly done it. PlayStation has finally found the mascot it's always wanted.
Sumerian Six will more than suffice in filling the tactics-shaped hole you may have in your heart. Though its story isn't all there and it's far from original, it's made up for with an electric cast with devastating and creative abilities. This sandbox nature of killing in inventive ways is only bolstered by intricate and smart level design that allows for many a cool Nazi-slaying moment. Artificer have pulled off the difficult mission of replicating the giants that came before them while showcasing enough of their own creative juices. Job well done.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club improves on the old-school mystery visual novel mechanics that the 2021 remakes refined, eliminating some of the trial-and-error frustration while keeping things focused on interviews with witnesses. While the mystery of Emio isn't my favourite of the series, it's still a mostly well-crafted story with gorgeously animated characters.
Concord is a great shooter that will pleasantly surprise those willing to tune out the outside noise. Within is fantastic minute-to-minute gunplay and action, complimented by a diverse cast with diverse abilities that can mix up a game at a moment's notice. Though it's perhaps the least revolutionary game we've seen in a long time and still in need of small functions like leaderboards and a clearer vision for its future, what's here today is some of the best multiplayer gaming I've experienced in forever. I've found so many weirdo heroes I've grown a rich affinity for, whether it's via their deep-prosed lore or their chaos-causing gameplay. Concord's fate isn't quite written in the stars yet; it's far better than a majority are giving it credit for. I pray you join me and other Freegunners on this voyage. We need you.
I found myself very pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed Star Wars Outlaws. I became quite invested in its grounded heist narrative, even if its supporting characters didn't really rise above one-note stereotypes. It was a blast exploring the Star Wars galaxy, whether it was shooting down TIE fighters in space or just chilling in a Sabacc den playing cards with Lando Calrissian. Ubisoft Massive has done an excellent job in crafting an open-world Star Wars adventure, and this is one heist that is worth signing up for.
I have a lot of respect for Monster Jam Showdown, this is the kind of title that a lesser developer might have just gone through the motions with. But this time around the full force of Unreal 5 is unleashed, creating a frequently stunning and impressive-looking game. Despite their size, the superstars of Monster Jam handle brilliantly the different environments and challenges on offer. Given that most fans who attend the real-life shows or watch on TV will have their favourite truck and driver it is a bit of a shame that pretty much all of the trucks need to be unlocked via play time and challenges. Other than that though, believe it or not, I have played a tonne of Monster Truck-themed games in my lifetime and the bar is higher than you might think. Monster Jam Showdown gets a pass from me.