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The Caribou Trail left me caring for an unknown war story. Fisher, Gordon and Lonnie’s human tale of small island men being cast into a global conflict is equal parts sombre and heartwarming. The title’s great voice acting and audio design immersed me into this short story deeply.
Looking at all of the evidence, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Crushed In Time is one of the best point-and-click adventure games, ever. I was blown away by the level of wiriting and humour, thrilled with how well implemented and thought out the pinch and stretch mechanic was, and left with a feeling that I had just finished the first entry in a belovd future franchise. Marvelously meta, wildy imaginative, and increidbly polished, Crushed In Time is a game that will stand the Beta test of time.
Slots & Daggers is a highly experimental, gorgeously stylised arcade distraction, but as a robust roguelite, it struggles to find its footing. The over reliance on pure slot randomness strips away the satisfying tactical agency that makes the genre so addictive in the first place, leaving you with a game that is fun for a quick, spin on a lazy Sunday afternoon, but lacks the depth to keep you hooked for the long haul.
While it may not prove to be the next step in evolution, Voidling Bound's strong visuals and polished gameplay make for an entertaining experience, one that is worth having in the creature-collector family tree.
Swan Song is an adorable and worthwhile cosy puzzle title, offering unique gameplay that fans of the genre will enjoy. What on the surface could appear to offer limited tricks succeeds in finding new mechanics that will keep players mentally engaged from start to finish.
If you are a Warhammer fan, throw it on easy and run through the story, have a laugh at machine men arguing on computing speed and you will not be disappointed. If you are a turn-based strategy fan, Mechanicus 2 is probably not for you.
007 First Light isn’t just a great Bond game – it’s one of the best action-adventure games released this decade. Witnessing the birth of the 007 legend through Bond’s eyes from the beginning is a tale that was long overdue for a video game adaptation, and IO Interactive has pulled it off flawlessly. Tie this origin story in with gameplay systems that prioritize the precision and creativity that 007 is known for, and you have what amounts to one of the best iterations of James Bond that we have seen in recent memory.
Schrodinger’s Call is a beautiful yet haunting visual novel touching upon the human condition. We explore love, grief, human connection, and the memories that haunt, harm, and heals us. Be it the little white lies we tell ourselves or the the strength we find to face the truth. It is at its core a visual novel which means the game play will feel minimal for many. It’s strength is in the story. It is how it causes us to reflect upon our selves. Schrodinger’s Call will call out to players, wanting them to connect with those important to them. It reminds you that you are not alone, you are loved, you are important, and you matter. There is someone out there waiting to hear your voice. Call them before it’s too late.
Yerba Buena is a tale of good and bad. What it does well it does really well. The Oscillator’s copy and paste mechanics and excellent level design make for a fantastic puzzle adventure that will test your puzzle solving skills in every way. However with its ho-hum narrative, boring characters and mind boggling restart level omission it fails to reach that upper echelon of puzzle games.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight creates a clever throughline between the imagination of the brick-building video games and the mechanical genius of Rocksteady’s Arkham series, resulting in the strongest LEGO game yet. Full of endearment to its source material and approachable for audiences of almost all ages, regardless of whether your childhood Batman was Adam West or Robert Pattinson. It may not be quite the hardcore video game comeback we wanted from the Dark Knight, but it’s a surprising win nonetheless.
EMUUROM is a delightful, layered, and intriguing Metroidbrainia, making its narrative just as much part of the puzzle as its mechanics. It has a satisfying gameplay loop that builds on what you have learned, all while creating a bizarrely beautiful ecosystem you must understand to progress in your mission to preserve it. It’s a title that borderline demands multiple playthroughs to uncover all its secrets, and while I can’t imagine ever having a full grasp of where to go or that certain elements won’t prove frustrating, it’s not enough to deter me from returning to its strange world. It’s safe to say that I won’t soon forget EMUUROM.
Over a decade on from Shovel Knight, Yacht Club Games has returned in full form. Mina the Hollower is a joyously ambitious modern take on classic action-adventure games, blending carefully executed mechanics with a world that isn’t afraid to bite back, making for an experience that continuously empowers the player and rewards curiosity at every turn.
Despite the missteps, Echo Generation 2 is a bold, imaginative follow up that fans of the original – and fans of quirky sci fi RPGs in general – will find plenty they enjoy in. Just be prepared: the final duel might test your patience more than your deck building skills.
Lumentale: Memories of Trey is a wonderful blend of the fresh and the familiar that offers a fully fleshed-out experience on both the RPG and the creature-collector fronts. I think it is a game that will appeal to and satisfy new, returning, and veteran players of the genre, which is a feat unto itself. With stellar visuals, an excellent soundtrack, loads of content, and a nearly flawless combat system, this is a game you want to have in your collection. With a few tweaks, I firmly believe that Lumentale: Memories of Trey has the potential to become one of the best, like only a few have ever been!
Causal Loop is a game that occasionally loses itself in its own systems but still delivers memorable puzzle design and an intriguing sci-fi mystery along the way. For players who enjoy puzzle games that reward experimentation, patience, and careful planning, there’s a lot to appreciate.
Well… I guess persistence pays off. While Bubsy 4D may be over too soon, it’s still an overall very fun platformer and Bubsy is finally a likeable protagonist. If this is what the future holds for the bobcat, What could possibly go wrong?
If you are looking for a cozy, no-consequence shop management game that features a robust amount of customizability in terms of decorations, then I highly recommend Thrifty Business. But if you are looking for something deeper, in terms of strategy, then…I might suggest looking elsewhere. That isn’t to fault the game – it just provides a very calm, surface level of gameplay with some interesting character stories. You might need to strategize. You won’t need to optimize. You’ll just play. And I enjoyed it for a time. But after a certain point, I found myself wondering “When is this going to wrap up?”
Perfect for a single afternoon of gaming, or even a daily commute, Echo Isle is a short, nostalgic experience that looks and feels like the titles it is clearly inspired by, but ultimately offers little more. Aside from the deliberate time/size limitations, Echo Isle doesn’t iterate on what came before, making it difficult to even call it an homage. Charming, polished, and very familiar, I enjoyed my single hour playing Echo Isle, but I wish I had seen some new ideas brought to this little world.
Coffee Talk Tokyo is a wonderful narrative in a short and sweet packaged form. While narrative driven stories are not for everyone, those who enjoy a good glimpse into different characters will enjoy their time with Coffee Talk Tokyo. One full playthrough will only take about 6-7 hours which allows players to squeeze this into their busy schedule. Does Coffee Talk Tokyo do anything overly new and original? No. However what it does, it does exceedingly well.
Overall, I had a fun time with Clockwork Ambrosia and its heavily moddifiable gun-based combat, stunning pixel art visuals, and vibrant soundscape. However, a lacklustre narrative and signposting, unsolvable tech issues, as well as missing quality-of-life and fundamental design elements, led to frustration, confusion, and left me feeling somewhat deflated by the end of my 16-hour playthrough.