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Thankfully, these weaknesses are overpowered by everything else and never become apparent until after the halfway point. From beginning to end, My Friendly Neighborhood is a wonderful game full of mystery, tension, clever design, and phenomenal performances. This is a must-play title that will hopefully gain the traction and attention it deserves.
Exoprimal is a strong game that lacks the it-factor necessary to keep players coming back for the long-term. It has incredible combat and aesthetics that are a joy to engage with but that enjoyment only lasts so long when it takes a couple of hours to experience new game modes. The story is interesting but is told in a limiting way that risks players feeling confused and, at worst, uninterested. It's hard to tell if this will be a title that really hooks players in, but with its release on Game Pass and new content coming very soon, Exoprimal is well worth jumping into and keeping up with.
Whether Ed-0: Zombie Uprising is right for someone will largely depend on their threshold for jank and clumsy design. The new v1.0 release, while feature-rich, could also be further improved with a little more bug-cleansing, items, and side quests, and some placeholder text in the UI seems to imply that additional updates are forthcoming. It's not going to make or break it for anyone still on the fence at this time, but a little more variety and chaos in character builds would do wonders to soften the game's clunkier content. Regardless, what's available is a truly one-of-a-kind, uber-violent, irreverent and addicting treat, so let this remain as a confident recommendation of Ed-0: Zombie Uprising for action-roguelite fanatics with a masochistic sense of humor.
Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg is a mostly excellent update to a classic RPG and a great game for series fans who want some quick and easy alchemy. A polished approach to modernization brings a host of improvements, with a mistuned rate of progression presenting the only notable downside. Although Atelier Marie Remake may not scratch the roleplaying itch for hardcore gamers or provide the expansive experience of the Atelier Ryza games, its unique charms help it rise to the standard of quality that the franchise is known for delivering.
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is an undeniably interesting experience limited in minor regards by the challenge of following up on its predecessor. Subtly evolved walk-and-talk gameplay and eminently human characters largely make up for the more familiar moments in the central mystery, drawing players through the story with minimal friction. Fans of the first title or of story-focused games in general can find plenty to chew on here, and the artwork alone could make the experience engaging even with a less interesting narrative. Oxenfree II may not always be operating at its highest potential, but when it is, there's still nothing quite like it.
As a casual player, Railway Empire 2 can get incredibly overwhelming quickly with the number of different things to pay attention to, such as: resources, connecting lines, what the competition is doing, and budget. This is a strange contrast to the slow-moving nature of the game and the peaceful feeling that the theme and graphics provide. For anyone who is a fan of train simulators or management games, however, Railway Empire 2 is an enjoyable experience that can provide countless hours of entertainment.
Dave the Diver is an absolute delight to play. Its core gameplay loop is wonderfully relaxing, but before too long players will be finding all the different options in its nooks and crannies. It’s surely one of the best games of the year so far, and players will love taking on the role of our goatee'd hero.
Toys For Bob set out to make a unique multiplayer experience with Crash Team Rumble that's supposed to be more of a strategic multiplayer platform brawler than a MOBA. And while they succeeded in doing so, CTR feels more like a multiplayer mode for a more feature-rich game rather than an entirely new game with a Crash Bandicoot title. With more characters and modes planned for the future, Crash Team Rumble may become a bash worth playing. Still, as it stands, it's a rumble that struggles to stay fun for long.
It's surprising to see how much Nimbus INFINITY is struggling to deliver the level of polish that Project Nimbus did nearly 6 years ago. Not only that, but it has been in Early Access for over a year and throughout that time, players pointed out the very same issues in this review. This is a team that clearly knows how to make a satisfying mech-based action game, and maybe this will turn into one with some post-launch support, but as it stands now, Nimbus INFINITY is a poorly optimized experience that wasn't ready for a full release.
Truthfully, our stay in Kanai Ward was a lot of fun, and we want to see more of the game's setting in the future. Master Detective Archive: RAIN CODE is a great narrative adventure with some truly satisfying detective work. It mostly comes down to this: approaching RAIN CODE like a visual novel with some unfortunate action elements means it's an enjoyable jaunt, and well-worth a look; expecting more from it beyond its engrossing world, charming mysteries, and charismatic cast, however, might make for a less than stellar stay in Kanai Ward for would-be master detectives.
Despite the game not having much more than its single-player and endless mode, Brotato is capable of being can't-put-down fun. Thanks to quick rounds, accessible controls, and easy upgrade options, each run has the potential to be intense and memorable. Still, Brotato's adorably violent art style and characters are begging to be more thoroughly fleshed out with lore. The game would also be a blast on handheld or mobile devices, and with a multiplayer mode where friends could join their spuds together in chaotic cooperative combat. Still, Blobfish has proven itself with Brotato, a fun action game that stars a six-weapon-wielding potato who fights alien hordes.
With an incredible score, an enthralling story, and an eccentric and electric gameplay approach, Final Fantasy 16 is, quite simply, a modern masterpiece.
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life manages to toe the line between the core features that made the original great while adding and improving upon aspects that needed a little love. If all the systems had been completely modernized, it wouldn't maintain the charm that made the game so beloved in the first place. The differences between Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life and most other modern farming games will likely be somewhat jarring and divisive among players, but it's a unique journey unlike any other, and one worth going on for veterans of the genre especially.
Park Beyond feels like a throwback to the tycoon games that crowded shelves twenty years ago, intent on recapturing the more manic elements of a genre that sobered up over time. Players interested principally in simulating the management of an actual business might find that Park Beyond's quirks could drag it behind competitors. For gamers looking to scratch the imaginative itch, however, the game rises to the mantle admirably, encouraging the devious designs and flights of fancy that other games might reject. A little more polish could make Park Beyond great, but even with some rough edges, its charm is largely irresistible.
Centering around simple minigames and slice-of-life stories, Fall of Porcupine isn't an incredibly complex title at its core, but it still manages to feel meaningful. This year is full of games billed as cozy and wholesome, but this one manages to set itself apart through an interesting healthcare focus, quaint aesthetics, and impactful characters. Although it's not perfect, Fall of Porcupine is a great option for players looking to have a unique and emotional journey that may very well make them shed a few tears.
Layers of Fear is a game that will strike a chord with players, in one way or another. Bloober Team and Anshar Studios take what strong foundation had already been laid with the first three titles, and improves upon it substantially with fresh, impactful mechanics, excellent visuals, and a brand-new, overarching tale that spans the length of all artists' stories. For both new and loyal fans alike, Layers of Fear is a worthwhile venture back down the rabbit hole.
Here's hoping Star Trek: Resurgence leads to more Star Trek video games. With such a rich history, the world of Star Trek has so much that could be explored. For a series based on exploration, Resurgence does not allow the player to explore much beyond the designated path of the story. With a story as good as this one, that hardly matters, but future Star Trek games may want to consider a different approach. If storytelling and characters like the ones in Resurgence were incorporated into an open-world Star Trek game, for example, it would likely have a much wider appeal. Still, the future for Star Trek gaming looks promising. Star Trek: Resurgence gets Star Trek, embracing the optimism and hope that sets the franchise apart, and celebrating humanity at its best.
All in all, Killer Frequency is a clever slasher puzzler that is well worth the time. Horror fans will get a lot out of its knowledge of the genre as a whole, and its fresh take on telling a slasher story means that even within its tropes there's still something to find. It doesn't always land, and the Switch version does have the odd issue, but Killer Frequency is bloody good fun.
Though We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie is certainly not a game for everyone, with its occasionally wacky mechanics and bizarre at times story, there is no doubt that those who choose to pick it up will be pleasantly surprised by its quirky, colorful, and addictive style. Not to mention that hanging around after the credits will allow players to complete a very satisfying final Katamari level that ties up the game beautifully and will leave players with overall satisfaction both in terms of narrative and gameplay.
As far as survival horror games go, Greyhill Incident is capable of delivering some intense moments. With more fleshed-out characters and aliens as intimidating as Greyhill Incident's atmosphere, the game and its empty world would be much more exciting to interact with. As it currently stands, however, this is one best left alone unless someone is desperate for any alien content, no matter how rote its mechanics.