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Sword of the Sea is a visually stunning and atmospheric game, incorporating some of the most flawless water graphics and satisfying sound effects found in games today. With a heart-warming narrative, fun snowboard-style tricking, rewards for those who love exploration, and the occasional ride on the back of a marine animal, this is an experience to be savoured.
Grit and Valor 1949 is an enjoyable roguelite experience, offering compelling mech tactics with punchy gameplay and a cool aesthetic, though repetition does eventually set in.
Hellclock is a solid game that offers something new to both the roguelike and Diablo genres but may not have the wider appeal of titles such as Hades due to its focus on min-maxing and DPS over skill. The confused approach of offering game modes that actively undermine the title's central gameplay mechanic, and the current performance issues in the latter stages, are real negatives but the first can be avoided and the second is being worked on. If the idea of a roguelike Path of Exile appeals, then Hellclock may well be the game for you.
Lost Soul Aside is, ironically, a mostly soulless experience that never really comes together.
Peglin is a bit of a missed opportunity. It's fun at first, but once you realise that your success depends almost entirely on what the game randomly serves up to you it begins to lose its lustre. This also makes its difficulty very inconsistent, you can win your first ever run by accident and lose your best run because the randomisation screws you over. If you just want to do some pachinkoing - which is definitely a word - this will give you plenty of variety to keep you going for a while if you can put up with losing through no fault of your own sometimes.
The debut release from Gylee Games has a lot going for it; a charming cartoony aesthetic and reliably punchy fisticuffs being at the forefront of that particular list. Yet, it also feels too light on content, suggesting we might have to wait for a sequel before Ra Ra Boom's true potential is realised.
If you've had a couple of years off, or even if you haven't, this is an ideal time to return to Madden. This is a great entry in the series, and being able to take it on the go with Switch 2 and having the game in its fullest form is what NFL fans have been waiting years for.
Cronos: The New Dawn is a great new survival horror property and I hope we see more of The Traveller's adventures in future. The clear influences from genre legends are combined with some original touches to make a game that feels familiar but also manages to innovate and surprise players too. The intriguing narrative, the enjoyable progression, and the challenging combat all combine to make an experience that cements Bloober's place as horror specialists.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is a sci-fi blast. While it wears its influences on its sleeve, it comes out the other side as a unique and enjoyable mech-based action-RPG.
Echoes of the End is annoying, because it just needs a bit more time to iron out the niggles and give it that extra layer of polish. As it is it's got a lot going for it but some will lose sight of it through some issues that get in the way.
Hell Is Us is a genuinely interesting game that many will adore for its commitment to letting you spend your time exploring mysteries and unlocking lore. The fact that you'll want a notepad near you will send some of you rabid, and that's great. For me though, Hell Is Us is a game that looks beautiful in every respect, but ends up feeling a little bit too paint-by-numbers when it comes to the actual mechanics at play. I like Hell Is Us well enough, but I don't know that I'll remember it.
The Knightling is one of the most characterful adventures of the year, with Twirlbound crafting a large, bright, engaging fantasy world, and giving you the tools to truly enjoy it. You won't regret picking this one up.
Shuten Order is an excitingly fresh new kind of game, creating the same sort of one-of-a-kind identity for itself that Danganronpa did when it first released. I can't wait to experience more of this terrific terrifying world.
Dead Take isn't trying to out-monster anyone. It's interested in something scarier: how performance and power warp people, and how easy it is to mistake a good cut for the truth. The house is empty, but the screens are crowded with ambition, with compromise, with the awful clarity that comes when you choose which version of someone to believe. Imperfect puzzles and a few cheap jolts aside, this is a confident, claustrophobic horror piece that sticks because its actors do. When the credits roll, you're left with exactly what it set out to give you: not a scream, but a shiver.
Fresh Tracks gives a fresh take on the rhythm genre and I really the story set up and some of the songs, which are legit great pieces of music that could be released as singles. It is a game that will attract those who want to perfect runs, and the challenge it provides is tough but worth the entertainment.
I like the idea of Herdling and for the most part it does work well, trotting along behind the beasts is wonderfully relaxing. The herding mechanism lets things down, as does the repetition of the dangers, especially when the game is only four hours long. One to play on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land Switch 2 Edition + Star Crossed World is the definitive version of one of the Switch's best games and this game in any form is practically an essential purchase. The new content is well worth the upgrade price too, but if you sold your copy of the Switch version then the full price to return is pretty steep.
In the crowded roguelite genre, The Rogue Prince of Persia stands apart, thanks to super-smooth animation and deliriously fun free running. Whilst it never quite escapes the traps that occupants of its chosen genre often fall into, it still provides plenty of top-quality platforming fun.
Gears of War: Reloaded is a blast of 2000s-era sci-fi, appearing here in better shape than ever before. It's not particularly smart or clever through a modern lens, but it remains a hell of a lot of good old-fashioned fun.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is the game that a legend like Joe Musashi deserves. Fast, frenetic and utterly absorbing, this is how you bring a long-dead series back to life. Lizardcube have set a new benchmark in 2D platforming and in the process have me salivating at the prospect of Sega franchises they could tackle next.