Digitec Magazine

"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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“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Like so many Pokémon games, "Legends: Z-A" is stirring up controversy, and the reasons are the same as always – outdated technology, annoying design choices, wasted potential.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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Keeper plays like a dream come true. The scenario, featuring a walking lighthouse that embarks on a fantastic journey with a bird, is wonderfully fresh. Add to that a pinch of friendship and melancholy, and you have a feast that will keep me satisfied for a long time to come.

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The hand-drawn animations are beautiful, and the voice acting is excellent. The gameplay, on the other hand, is simple and sometimes frustrating.

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Dreams of Another is unlike anything I've played before. The dream simulator is a playable work of art that raises more questions than it answers. The fragmented storytelling perfectly captures the surreal feeling of dreams and leaves plenty of room for interpretation. The gameplay is also surreal. The game confronts me with familiar game mechanics and completely turns my expectations upside down. I shoot around with a machine gun and create order out of chaotic piles of pixels. There are no major challenges. The goal is to navigate through the dream sequences and the associated search for meaning and sense. Only the lack of variety in the shooting gameplay and the sometimes annoying soundtrack detract a little from the otherwise dreamlike experience.

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"Little Nightmares 3" is a contradiction that works—at least sometimes. Few other games understand how to convey fear through sound, light, and silence as well as this one. But the gameplay (unfortunately) lags behind. The duality of Alone and Low sounds exciting, but quickly becomes a test of patience in solo mode. Too often, the game repeats its mechanics. "Little Nightmares 3" is also frustrating, because it scarcely provides any explanations or hints and relies heavily on trial and error.

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Battlefield 6 is sure to thrill new and old fans alike. Nowhere else are these huge, chaotic mass battles staged so well and so much fun to play.

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"Digimon Story Time Stranger" captivated me more than I expected. As a newcomer to the series, I quickly got to grips with the system – even though it is complex. What's particularly great is how all the gameplay mechanics interlock, so that even the smallest interaction affects the big picture. It's addictive! My main criticism is of the presentation. The graphics are mediocre and the linear dungeons can feel repetitive. But these are minor issues that have little impact on my excellent overall impression.

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Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are timeless classics and milestones in the platformer genre that are well worth the steep price tag. The wealth of ideas and variety in gameplay remain unmatched to this day. Jumping through weightless levels with Mario still feels magical even after all these years. Only the pointer controls sometimes remind me that these are fairly old games. The timeless art style of both games shines in the remasters with the brilliance it deserves. Especially on the Switch 2, the games look stunning in 4K and with updated, crispier textures. Although it is unfortunate that Nintendo did not add new content to the games beyond the visual refresh.

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Even in 2025, Final Fantasy Tactics remains a monument to game design and storytelling. The morally ambivalent story about class struggle and religious fanaticism has lost none of its relevance. The job system offers a depth that even modern games rarely achieve, and the tactical battles are both challenging and rewarding in equal measure.

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While the open world in other games is a character in its own right, here it serves as a beautifully designed and sometimes cheesy eye-catcher between adventures. Behind the cheesy façade lies a samurai action epic with Atsu as the protagonist, who captivates me as a cool and torn anti-heroine. The story is fun but predictable, much of it a single video game cliché. I love the fluid combat system, which is elegantly reduced to its essentials. Sometimes I'm a ninja in the shadows, sometimes a sniper, and then again a human tank. One thing I always am: damn badass. Some may find the overall gameplay experience too simple and one-dimensional. But I absolutely love the samurai action, which succeeds in focusing on what really matters.

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Pac-Man World 2: Re-Pac is the gaming equivalent of an argument against the unbridled remaster craze. It impressively demonstrates that not every old game needs a comeback.

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