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While the game’s difficulty is a bit uneven and movement can be stiff at times, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge largely succeeds as a love letter to not only the classic TMNT side-scrollers of old, but the franchise as a whole. With Shredder’s Revenge now in the wild and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Cowabunga Collection set to launch on consoles later this year, it’s safe to say that fans of the Heroes-In-A-Half-Shell have no shortage of retro-style gaming action in 2022.
Overall, Mothergunship: Forge comes out of the gate strong and gets more fun with each subsequent run. The randomization of the roguelite mechanics ensures almost endless replayability. Mothergunship: Forge feels far different than other wave shooters in the best way and gives players multiple customization options to build some incredible, zany creations. Despite the somewhat simplistic premise, the possibilities and variety do feel endless. With a few updates, the gameplay experience can be even stronger and easier to master. The graphics and sound design in Mothergunship: Forge are also well-done and contribute to the immersion, but the standout is undoubtedly the gun-building physics and the use of VR technology to put players more directly in the game. Mothergunship: Forge is a must-have VR experience and demonstrates so much potential, both for the future of virtual reality games and for its own future and the future of Terrible Posture Games as a developer in the VR space.
For those who’ve been patiently waiting for an up-to-par follow-up to the immensely popular Until Dawn, The Quarry might not be it. While its immersive gameplay and dynamic characters are enough to carry the majority of the game, the title is a narrative adventure with no resolutions for its heroes. A post-credits scene revealing how The Quarry survivors escaped - and what came next - or even just a reunion between the friends after their ordeal would have gone a long way in saving what ended up to be a disappointment. While The Quarry is an impressive graphical showcase of new-gen possibilities, it seems that in terms of story, players will have to continue waiting for a true successor to Until Dawn.
Despite the noticeable issues and difficulty with maxing out characters, Diablo Immortal is still enjoyable and offers a lot of options for gear and XP grinding. Dungeons, events, PvP fights, hidden lairs, and other activities make this new title fun and interesting for casual players that aren't focused on the competitive side of the game. Of course, the major downside is that those who want to compete and create a top build will almost assuredly need to pour a lot of money and time into strengthening their characters. Diablo Immortal can still be fun, but there are some undeniable flaws that hurt the experience.
Mario Strikers: Battle League is a fun and colorful game that lacks some of the depth players might expect, and strays pretty far from soccer.
While it may not tick every box in the quality department, there is something to be said for a game with an interesting core and Out There: Oceans of Time does hit that mark. It’s a story and universe that really offers a unique feeling sci-fi experience, and with a little time this ocean of stars could be more than worth flying through, even if there needs to be some more stability prior to that occurring.
Despite having some problems, Moo Lander is a ton of fun that delivers on its premise of being the first "Mootroidvania." The humor is hit or miss, but there are plenty of times players will find themselves smiling as they navigate the various biomes and try to solve puzzles to move the story forward. The story may not be that great, but the gameplay is - and it definitely makes Moo Lander worth checking out.
Despite its cute and nostalgic presentation, TOKOYO: The Tower of Perpetuity contains a considerable amount of challenge, and players should expect to die many times while playing. However, there is also plenty of variety, as the constantly changing layout and random power-ups ensure that no two playthroughs are identical. Overall, TOKOYO: The Tower of Perpetuity is a fun-yet-punishing platformer that can be enjoyed in bite-sized intervals - though longer playthroughs might be tedious for some.
Daemonhunters is a challenging game and can often tip the scales a little too hard against the player, but overcoming the odds is part of what makes it fun. Fans of the strategy genre who are seeking to be tested should check it out, as should fans of Warhammer 40k, as Daemonhunters is one of the best games to ever hold the Warhammer 40k license, even with its brutal difficulty.
LEGO Builder's Journey is an absolute delight overall. With wonderful design choices and a truly calming atmosphere, it's a moment of relaxation that puzzle fans will enjoy. Its simplicity may be a doubled-edge sword at times, but this is exactly the right kind of game for players who want to turn on and switch off.
Overall, Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy does what it sets out to do. It creates a genuine sense of adventure that is only intensified by its procedurally-generated structure. The game does have its issues, with combat that struggles to really make the player feel involved, but nonetheless it's an enjoyable experience.
The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is worth looking into for novelty alone, but it also manages to be an effective and interesting tale makes it just that much easier to recommend. Mystery is a genre that demands a puzzle worth solving, and this one is a case that delivers all the requisite twists and turns to make the experience feel like time well invested.
Some of the collectibles can be tough to find, and the platforming puzzles are occasionally challenging. However, Kao's journey is essentially a simple adventure game in which 100% completion is easily achieved in the first playthrough. As a throwback to classic 3D platformers, Kao the Kangaroo does a good job of capturing the spirit of its predecessors, but the actual gameplay has nothing truly challenging or thrilling. Even so, Tate Multimedia has created a laid back and vibrantly colored adventure that's fun to play through casually.
Longtime fans of Vocaloid music will likely enjoy Hatsune Miku Project Diva Mega Mix+ for its nostalgic song list and updated character models, but this game isn't a good choice for casual PC gamers. Those without a good Steam Controller option and powerful hardware will want to skip the title and wait for a possible console release at a future date or try the original version on the Nintendo Switch instead. However, for serious PC gamers who enjoy a fun rhythm game rooted in 2000s J-Pop, Hatsune Miku Project Diva Mega Mix+ could be a great addition to player libraries. Hopefully, patches to improve keyboard controls and framerate issues will be released to help create a more intuitive experience, improving overall accessibility for any Vocaloid fan wanting to give the game a try.
Overall, Sniper Elite 5 is a truly enjoyable tactical action game. Sniping Nazis never gets old, and Rebellion has provided a brilliant platform to one again partake in one of video gaming's oldest pastimes.
That said, the story is far from the focus of the game and its strong gameplay and striking visual design more than make up for it. The pounding electronic soundtrack is worth shouting out as well because each song manages to perfectly match the energy of the player at any given moment. There are also a ton of minigames present to shake things up in the post-game, such as a speedrunning mode and a bunch of collectable game cartridges that can be played via the arcade machine in home base. Through its marriage of bullet-hell gunplay and fast-paced platforming of games like Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Soda Crisis stands out as a phenomenal side-scrolling action-adventure.
It might take some time to get used to Hardspace: Shipbreaker’s controls and zero-gravity movement, but tearing apart abandoned shuttles in the void of space is surprisingly soothing and engaging. While some areas of the game are somewhat unpolished, Hardspace: Shipbreaker is a solid time for those looking to live out the fantasy of a space salvager.
Those looking to learn more about bees, conservation, and genetics will likely enjoy the colorful world and endearing narrative of APICO, making it a great adventure for any player.
One of the most thrilling parts of Dolmen is the horror element that grows exponentially as the monsters become more difficult and much better at hiding. At first, most enemies can be seen from a distance, but they quickly begin to hide around corners, on the ceiling, or within the environment. A few jumpscares will lead to cautiously approaching every turn and inspecting all of the walls. Horror mixed with features like an intricate upgrade system, daunting combat encounters, and the ability to take on difficult bosses alongside some friends makes Dolmen an exciting title that delivers constant action and intense challenges.
It's possible to restart each chapter of Swansong if the player wants a do-over, but that's not the best way to experience the game. Swansong should be treated like an ironman experience, as it is tough on player consequences. Swansong tells an excellent story about betrayal and bloodshed, which can play out in a number of different ways, and the player has a staggering number of options for how they want to proceed. Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong has some design and technical hiccups, but it offers a dark and compelling story that is told in a unique manner, where situations must be resolved through deduction and intelligence, and each choice puts the player further down the path to victory or defeat.