Digitec Magazine

If you like the "Octopath Traveler" series, you'll enjoy "Octopath Traveler 0". It sheds light on the history of the world of Orsterra and offers a strong combat system as usual. However, after a great start, the narrative loses momentum and the city-building system fails to reach its full potential.

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I was excited about “Routine” and prepared myself for the usual space horror experience. The somber atmosphere is unfortunately the only positive aspect of the game. The immersive handling of the terminals and my C.A.T. assistance tool quickly loses its appeal. What remains is an environment that I have to traverse dozens of times before I find the right detail to move forward. If the interaction options were better highlighted and the game were more intuitive to control, “Routine” would be a nice little horror treat. As it is, it’s thoroughly undercooked.

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The core of "Metroid Prime 4: Beyond" is impressive. It feels great to explore the maze-like levels, unlock upgrades, and slowly discover new areas of the world. The art design and soundtrack are awesome. The open desert area, which I explore on a motorcycle, is a perfect contrast to traditional "Metroid" gameplay. It's a shame that the game doesn't make more use of Samus' telekinetic abilities, though. The new characters are disappointing. They annoy me with unnecessary explanations or corny Marvel-like banter. I would also have liked a higher level of difficulty. These criticisms are likely to bother veteran "Metroid" players in particular. Despite its shortcomings, "Metroid Prime 4: Beyond" provides one of the best reasons to buy a Switch 2. The game ticks off virtually all of the console's technical features and delivers an extremely sharp (4K) or extremely smooth (120 FPS) gaming experience. The mouse control is particularly impressive – it fundamentally changes the way I interact with the game.

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“Dispatch” knows exactly what it wants to be: a narrative management game with emotional precision, carried by strong characters and a main character who, for once, is not defined by superpowers, but by self-doubt and responsibility.

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According to Activision, Black Ops 7 is the “biggest Black Ops ever.” That may be true. But unfortunately, this monstrous package feels like a soulless, cobbled-together package with no direction or identity. The campaign disappoints with repetitive gameplay and unnecessary technical hurdles for solo players. The confusing story feels like an AI fever dream that throws all kinds of generic monsters into an incoherent mess. The final “endgame” chapter can't keep me glued to the controller for long with its boring missions. Fortunately, multiplayer and Zombies are well done, with a huge selection of maps, excellent controls, new upgrades, cool gadgets, and a wealth of content at launch.

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Kirby Air Riders is perhaps the most chaotic game I have ever played. The racing game stands out thanks to its minimalist controls, which force me to rethink my approach. The races on the crazy tracks are ultra-fast and addictive – even in the cute Top Ride mode with its bird's-eye view. The heart of the game, City Trial, is chaos in perfection. It's incredibly fun to collect power-ups and knock out opponents on the open battlefield. The feeling of having assembled an extremely powerful machine that I can barely control is priceless. The approach of doing away with annoying live service rubbish is commendable. The downside of this decision is that in some modes, I would like to see more content that will never materialize.

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Football Manager 26 was supposed to be a major reboot: new technical foundation, revamped match engine, modernized interface. What I experience in practice is a game that hardly delivers on its promises and feels like a clear step backward in everyday use.

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The game skillfully mixes fast-paced levels and tricky boss fights with cozy storytelling and familiar characters from Bikini Bottom. The world is lovingly designed, funny, and rich in detail.

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Whether playing alone or with two others, Arc Raiders plays the same yet refreshingly differently than classic extraction shooters. This makes the game appealing to casual and hardcore gamers alike.

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"Anno 117: Pax Romana" is everything I hoped it would be. The campaign is short but entertaining, and the gameplay is easy to learn but difficult to master. Every detail feels well thought out and perfectly balanced. Thanks to countless quality-of-life features, I can concentrate on the exciting things: the layout of my city, efficient supply, and the expansion of my empire. The new mechanics force me to make interesting decisions. I only have two minor criticisms. First, Latium and Albion are pretty and lively, but a little too colorful and exaggerated for my taste. Second, I don't particularly enjoy the combat system with its sluggish controls. However, neither of these points detracts much from my overall impression – for me, “Pax Romana” is the best “Anno” game ever.

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“It Takes a War” achieves in less than an hour what most blockbusters fail to achieve in hundreds of hours. It moves something inside me. Using Counter Strike 1.6 as a backdrop for a larger narrative is daring, but it works brilliantly. Breaking out of the level means facing your own fears and confronting reality. This balancing act between virtual familiarity and a place beyond your comfort zone makes “It Takes a War” an experience that lingers long after, like the shot from an AWP.

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“Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment” is a delicious dessert after a sumptuous main course of “Tears of the Kingdom”. Was this sweet, nostalgic finale really necessary? No – and yet I still enjoyed my time with this crazy hack-and-slash spin-off. The game is particularly interesting for hardcore Zelda fans who want to delve even deeper into the world and lore of Nintendo's fantasy universe. But be warned: in terms of gameplay, this chaotic action game has little in common with “Tears of the Kingdom.” To enjoy the game, you’ll need to be able to put up with the repetitive gameplay structure and mediocre graphics. If you can do that, you’ll be rewarded with epic battles featuring an exciting combat system.

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Europa Universalis 5 is a dream come true for history buffs and strategy enthusiasts. The initial hurdle is enormous; I haven't even mastered a tenth of it myself. I've failed dozens of times due to minor oversights. If you need clear goals and predetermined challenges, then this game is not for you. If you like to be thrown in at the deep end and are keen to live out your medieval power fantasies behind complex mechanisms, then "Europa Universalis 5" is the strategy game for you.

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Like so many Pokémon games, "Legends: Z-A" is stirring up controversy, and the reasons are the same as always – outdated technology, annoying design choices, wasted potential. And yet, I'm still thrilled to be able to catch countless pocket monsters and battle with them again. Now even in real time!

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Square Enix delivers a charming remake of two JRPG classics. The opulent pixel graphics and orchestral soundtrack breathe new life into the over 35-year-old games, while modern features such as fast travel, battle acceleration, and optional quest markers make the game mechanics more accessible. Despite the successful modernization, the simple good-versus-evil stories and repetitive grinding cannot hide the age of the games. For fans of the series and JRPG nostalgics, however, the remake is still highly recommended.

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Bloodlines 2 doesn't get my blood pumping quite as much. The special moments don't quite measure up to those in the first Bloodlines. Even 20 years later, I still remember the horror detour to the Ocean Hotel and the “Sibling Rivalry” quest with the llama. Nevertheless, Bloodlines 2 still grabs me with its grandiose level design and soundtrack, which varies between classical, rock, and electronic music.

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I build ramps, race across them, fly, crash, laugh. And maybe that's exactly the point: Wreckreation doesn't need big goals to be fun. It thrives on moments. From the split second I land the perfect jump or fail spectacularly. Whether that's enough depends on your own preferences when playing racing games. Those looking for structure, progress, or competition will quickly wonder what they're actually doing here. Those who just want to drive, build, and cause a bit of chaos will find one of the most honest sandboxes the racing game genre has seen in a long time.

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"Once Upon a Katamari" is a journey through time, both literally and figuratively. The first new mainline game since 2011 plays almost identically to the series debut in 2004. Sure, the graphics are a little fancier and the gameplay has been fine-tuned a bit, but beyond that, there are no big surprises. For fans of the series, this is a blessing. For newcomers, it could be a problem. Those rolling through the world of Katamari for the first time may be put off by the steep learning curve and tight time limits. The game doesn't make it easy for rookies to discover the charm that lies beneath the often frustrating surface. But those who take the time and give “Once Upon a Katamari” a chance will be rewarded with one of the most fun and unusual gaming experiences ever. “Katamari” has never been perfect. And that's kind of the point.

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"The Outer Worlds 2" is Obsidian's magnum opus. All the elements that make the studio's role-playing games so unique are implemented better than ever in the second installment of this satirical space epic. The game impresses with its graphically stunning worlds, complex game mechanics, and a great deal of flexibility. Controlling my character feels great, the weapons are wonderfully crazy, and the new gadgets are a useful addition to the already excellent combat system. It's fun to see how the game world and its inhabitants react to my decisions and sometimes even exclude me from important game content. The relatively compact playing time is a matter of taste – it didn't bother me. On a technical level, the role-playing game performs amazingly well. The only annoying things are the menus and UI elements, which suffer from some annoying problems and bugs.

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Ninja Gaiden 4 is an incredibly varied game that leaves no room for boredom. The constant change of locations, gameplay mechanics, enemies, and characters in the short playing time creates a brilliant overall package that is second to none in terms of variety and density of ideas. The combat system impresses with precise controls and ultra-fast, bloody action. The tough difficulty level motivates me to keep going despite countless deaths. I never feel unfairly treated when I die – even if the camera doesn't always cooperate. Graphically, the game impresses with excellent art design, but disappoints with numerous unfinished-looking textures that pull me out of the experience.

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