Echo Boomer

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is a new adventure for the Turtles, and their foray into the roguelike genre is mostly positive, though ultimately unremarkable. The game features various systems to explore, plenty of customisation and progression options, and all four Turtles have been designed for close, mid, and even long-range combat with unique abilities. Unfortunately, the fights become predictable, difficulty spikes often feel unexpected and even undeserved, and the campaign’s linearity — with no option to choose the next arena — eventually becomes tiring due to its rigid, repetitive structure. It’s a good game with solid ideas and a narrative focus that fans of the franchise will appreciate, but it’s far from the most replayable roguelike currently available.

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DOOM: The Dark Ages is a solid and striking entry in the series, with its own identity and unique elements that earn it a special place within the saga. The absence of some key components – like a powerful soundtrack that has always defined the experience – doesn’t stop it from standing out thanks to its design, brutal combat and artistic ambition. It may not have the same impact as the previous titles, especially now that the series has lost the surprise factor of its 2016 reboot, but there’s no denying it adds a new flavour to the legacy of DOOM, and will surely be remembered for it. What remains to be seen is exactly what kind of flavour that is, and how popular it will become in the future – though it’s bound to stick in our memory longer than a viral meme on social media.

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of those rare surprises that will stay with us for a very, very long time. It’s ambitious, distinctive, and confident in what it does, unafraid to be strange, poetic, and even unsettling. The artistic direction shines; the combat is fun and addictive; and the story grips us, hurts us, but also lifts us in a whirlwind of emotion. It may be short (around 30 hours of gameplay), but it never feels like anything is missing. And there’s always something to discover, try out, or simply enjoy – whether it’s an optional boss that forces us to rethink our playstyle or a game of volleyball with the Gestral. Everything in it feels crafted with care and passion. And for that, I’m simply grateful.

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After several years of waiting, Post Trauma is finally available on PC and consoles, but what could have been a solid tribute to the horror genre turns out to be a series of disappointing choices that only make us appreciate the classic survival horrors even more.

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There are moments when the title from Primal Game Studio works as a solid 2D action RPG, but the closer it leans into soulslike and metroidvania territory, the more it feels hollow — and even infuriating.

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The puppet who dreamed of becoming a real boy gave rise to one of the most notable soulslikes in the genre, which, two years after its release, still enjoys remarkable popularity.

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Updates are always welcome, but the latest release of Days Gone Remastered for PlayStation 5 feels more like a repackaging of the game than a new experience worthy of our attention.

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Haste stands out within the roguelike format and will certainly find its fans, but it becomes repetitive in the very moments where it should grow and evolve mechanically.

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A soulslike that sticks closely to the formula in terms of level design and combat system, but manages to introduce a few mechanical elements that refresh its gameplay and raise it to the level of a “solid pick” for fans of the genre.

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A heavyweight collection featuring two absolute classics of the genre that will delight any fan — and, unfortunately, confirmed that I’m not a huge fan of Suikoden.

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows is an excellent new chapter in Ubisoft’s popular saga, with countless reasons to dive in and fall in love. However, the way Ubisoft delivers its games, and the lack of care in post-launch support, can quickly become a barrier that brings the adventure to an early end.

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South of Midnight is clearly a product of care and dedication, an adventure that bets on its strong visual identity and emotional connection with the player through resonant stories of a protagonist as strong as she is fragile. Its artistic style, inspired by Southern American folklore and stop-motion animation—rare in video games—sets it apart, while its soundtrack, rich in orchestral themes and immersive vocal compositions, adds even more emotional weight to the journey. The simplicity of the gameplay, with functional yet somewhat limited combat, may leave something to be desired, but it never compromises the essence of the experience. In the end, it is a game that does not seek to appeal to the masses but offers a memorable journey filled with striking moments and a unique atmosphere, in a style that deserves further exploration in the industry.

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An analysis shaped by the stress of daily life and personal doubts, in a branching narrative that does not reach the inventiveness of The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide, but makes up for its shortcomings with sincerity and humanism. Unfortunately, the gameplay does not keep up with the narrative, falling into clichés that undermine the themes when it should be elevating them.

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There's no time to stop in this roguelike inspired by ultra-violent anime, set in a world of streaming and billionaires, where views are the future, and our lives only matter as long as the audience keeps cheering for us.

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After much uncertainty, we're back in Bohemia with the long-awaited sequel to Kingdom Come: Deliverance, a medieval RPG that took us by surprise by dropping any notion of fantasy in favor of a medieval fair simulation.

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Split Fiction is not just an excellent co-op game but a memorable experience that challenges genre conventions and raises the bar for future titles of its kind—and beyond.

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Monster Hunter Wilds represents a modest yet logical evolution of the series, serving as an excellent entry point for new players with its robust, accessible, and relatively short campaign. However, it risks being "enough" for many, becoming a barrier to its true form in the post-game.

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Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii adds to the series' legacy and claims its spot as one of the most entertaining wild fantasies, flaws included.

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Love is a curse in Sorry We’re Closed, an action-adventure game that presents itself as a tribute to horror titles while seeking a new, more narrative-driven and provocative identity.

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Aspyr concludes its journey into the past with the final three chapters of Lara Croft's classic saga, now featuring a new visual style and improvements aiming to achieve the impossible: making Angel of Darkness a bug-free experience.

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