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Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is a striking 2.5D soulslike action RPG set in a grim, crumbling fantasy world. With immersive exploration, challenging combat, and deep class customization, it rewards curiosity and skillful play. While its narrative takes a back seat to gameplay, its haunting art direction and oppressive atmosphere make it a standout experience for fans of atmospheric, challenging RPGs.
Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds Ultimate combines nostalgic, retro beat-'em-up action with modern co-op multiplayer thrills. Its dynamic combat and cross-platform play deliver high-energy party moments, yet a shallow narrative and solo mode pacing issues may leave some players wanting more depth.
As a point-and-click escape room game, I had fun solving the various puzzles and navigating the scenarios, but the writing encourages a deeper analysis. While overly obtuse in some moments, I enjoyed how it brings its themes together. I’m unsure if someone will have the same experience I had, but I easily recommend this nightmare.
Rusty Rabbit blends heartfelt storytelling and platforming action in a post-human world ruled by rabbits. While its mech controls require patience, the emotional core and worldbuilding shine through, delivering a charming experience that lingers longer than expected.
Lunar Remastered Collection lovingly brings two classic JRPGs, Silver Star Story and Eternal Blue, to modern platforms with updated visuals, nostalgic anime cutscenes, and heartfelt storytelling. While the gameplay remains simple and occasionally dated, the charm, character dynamics, and iconic soundtrack make this collection a must-play for fans of retro RPGs and genre history.
Star Overdrive delivers bursts of brilliance with its exhilarating hoverboard traversal and momentum-based platforming, but ultimately gets bogged down by repetitive combat, underwhelming upgrades, and an overly ambitious design that fails to come together cohesively.
The Talos Principle: Reawakened breathes new life into Croteam’s philosophical puzzler with thoughtful quality-of-life upgrades, stunning visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5, and a demanding new expansion. While not all enhancements feel essential and motion sickness concerns persist, it remains a deeply rewarding experience for both returning fans and first-time players.
All in Abyss: Judge the Fake is a chaotic blend of anime visual novel, investigative gameplay, and Texas Hold 'Em card battles with a sinister death game twist. Though its storytelling can be uneven and some visuals divisive, it delivers a surprisingly addictive poker experience wrapped in eerie charm and high-stakes horror.
Must-Play Promise Mascot Agency not only delivers on its eccentric premise, but is surprisingly wholesome and heartfelt. Its characters are both relatable and immensely likable. Meanwhile, the gameplay may not be complicated, but its explorative driving offers up a surprisingly chilled out experience, that'll see hours flying by as you lose yourself in Kaso-Machi.
Blue Prince stands as a puzzle adventure that balances trust in the player’s intuition with just enough guidance to prevent total disarray. Every discovered shortcut, every triumphant puzzle solution, and every unexpected twist makes your journey through the mansion feel incredibly personal. Gliding through these rooms with a mixture of awe and trepidation is a testament to the developer’s confidence in both the design and the player’s curiosity. If you’re looking for a game that thrives on your imagination and resourcefulness, Blue Prince is bound to leave a lasting impression.
Venus Vacation Prism: Dead or Alive Xtreme delivers more than its fanservice exterior suggests, offering a surprisingly heartfelt blend of relationship-building, character-driven storytelling, and light simulation mechanics. While lacking in traditional gameplay variety, its emotional moments, polished visuals, and quirky charm make it a uniquely relaxing—if sometimes absurd—experience.
South of Midnight feels like a game that wanted to soar but never really left the ground. It’s undeniably gorgeous and hints at a level of creativity that, under better direction, could have led to an unforgettable adventure. However, between the undercooked combat, stilted platforming, and a meandering story that can’t decide on its central theme, it’s tough to recommend without a few asterisks. Hazel deserved more, and so did we. For now, South of Midnight remains a curiosity—worth a glance if you’re keen on its aesthetics or folk-infused premise, but ultimately lacking the cohesion it needs to shine.
Bleach: Rebirth of Souls is a surprisingly robust and faithful adaptation of the beloved anime, delivering an expansive story mode, deep character exploration, and a combat system that blends accessibility with strategic depth. Though it suffers from occasional animation hiccups and minor visual bugs, it stands tall as one of the best single-player anime fighting game experiences in recent memory—especially for longtime fans of the series.
The First Berserker: Khazan is a masterclass in action combat, delivering thrilling boss fights, diverse level design, and tight mechanics that rival the genre’s best. While the narrative and side characters falter in depth, the fluid progression, customizable skill trees, and satisfying difficulty curve make this a standout soul-like experience—even for players unfamiliar with the Dungeon Fighter Online universe.
Dark Deity 2 is a clear improvement over its predecessor, offering streamlined, satisfying tactical combat and strong customization. While the story and presentation fall short, the engaging gameplay and replayability make it a worthwhile experience for strategy RPG fans.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a breathtaking evolution of the open-world formula, blending masterful storytelling, refined stealth mechanics, and stunning visuals. With a gripping dual-protagonist narrative and meticulously crafted historical setting, Ubisoft delivers one of the most immersive Assassin’s Creed experiences to date.
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land takes the beloved RPG series in a bold new direction, blending emotional storytelling with expansive open-world exploration. While its narrative depth and revamped synthesis system shine, underwhelming villains and uneven gameplay balance hold it back from greatness.
Angelic Chaos RE-BOOT delivers a delightful blend of romance, comedy, and soft fantasy in Yuzusoft’s latest visual novel. With an engaging cast of heroines, expressive animations, and high-quality voice acting, this moege excels in character-driven storytelling.
Wanderstop presents itself as a cozy tea shop sim, but beneath its colorful, Ghibli-esque charm lies a deeply emotional narrative about change, loss, and self-discovery. With an engaging tea-brewing system, lovable characters, and a stunningly vibrant art style, Wanderstop blends heartwarming moments with subtle, existential themes. While a few technical hiccups hold it back, its storytelling and atmosphere make it an unforgettable indie gem.
Suikoden I&II HD Remaster revives two beloved JRPG classics with enhanced visuals and quality-of-life improvements. While Suikoden I offers a solid, if rushed, introduction, Suikoden II stands out as a masterclass in storytelling, character development, and emotional depth. With strategic combat, 108 recruitable characters, and new difficulty options, this remaster reintroduces a long-lost gem to a modern audience—flaws and all.