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The Midnight Walk is a rare kind of experience—one that feels deeply personal, both in how it’s made and how it plays. Its imperfections are part of its texture: a few underdeveloped mechanics, some narrative murkiness, and an ending that may leave players with more questions than answers. But those are small shadows in a game defined by light.
Spirit of the North 2 has some great concepts and mechanics, set in a varied Nordic world. There’s certainly a lot to enjoy, and I did have fun with my Fox buddy a fair bit. When it clicked, it was great, but the litany of technical issues and some tedious, faffy traversal keep it from reaching the Northern Heights!
Cash Cleaning Simulator is a lot of fun, throwing around piles of cash. Stuffing it into mattresses, knocking over boxes, and spilling thousands of dollars across the floor. My only criticism is that it was too long. If it had been half the length, it would have felt less like a chore towards the end.
For anyone who are board game fans, Deck of Haunts feels like it takes some of the best mechanics of house building from Betrayal at House on the Hill. For those who are horror fans who always thought they could build a better house, this is absolutely for you. While you may not have marathon hours in this game, you will find yourself wanting to go back and revisit this game over and over to do it better.
I think it’s no secret from my review that I enjoyed it. The graphical upgrade with the small addition of a ton of quality of life features really makes me feel a special type of nostalgia that I haven’t felt in gaming in years. The game might still have its jankiness in most aspects, but I do think that is what makes it unique. A lot of people said right off the rip that this was a remake, and I have to disagree. It is very much the oblivion of old with a very nice, be it a little stuttery sometimes, paint job that feels like something new while also keeping the same gameplay aspects and story that made it so good back in the day.
The multi planet design means things are a little more linear main quest wise, but if you’re jumping in with a friend or hunting out all the crates and goo you’ll have a plenty of do even after you’ve hit credits. If you’re a fan of the first game, or if you just want something silly and entertaining to blast about in after a hard day not getting fired, then I can wholeheartedly recommend Revenge of the Savage Planet. Although I wouldn’t recommend pissing on your boss and calling it self defense in real life.
KIBORG is a huge leap forward from Redeemer for Sobaka Studios. I had an enormous amount of fun smashing my way through freaks and mutants, trying out all the different weapons and implant combinations. I just wish the levels were longer and you had more chances to get the implants you wanted. Each attempt consists of 15 (I think) arenas. With 7 of those being Implants that only leaves a few spaces for weapons and mutations to play with.
Rosewater’s overall experience is shaped by its engaging narrative, well-designed puzzles, and atmospheric world. Its blend of Western themes and investigative storytelling makes for an intriguing journey. The game may feel slow-paced to those unfamiliar with point-and-click adventures, but for fans of the genre, it delivers a satisfying tale with memorable characters. While minor frustrations in pacing and puzzle repetition exist, they are outweighed by the strengths in writing, art direction, and interactivity.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 2 is exactly what I needed it to be. From tying all the stories together and making me feel super connected to the characters, to bringing the big mystery to a close, I was quite happy with it. Where this franchise goes from here is anyone’s guess, but after this I do hope Don’t Nod continues it. Lost Records has proven that Don’t Nod is one of the premier studios when it comes to narrative and character building in video games.
Lushfoil Photography Sim exceeded every expectation I had and it is now my favourite walking simulator ever made, and to-date my 2025 GOTY. In a year full of AAA games and some incredibly exciting indies, Lushfoil is proud to stand as its own entity and it does something new in an incredible way. Matt Newell has transformed his personal love for photography into the video games medium and I truly hope this is something he has the opportunity to create DLC or a sequel for. This is as much a game for people who love photography, as those who love video game or real world exploration.
Blue Prince is a puzzle game for all time, and it deserves a place among the greats of the genre. Its design is masterful, its vision clear, and every moment spent within Mt. Holly Estate feels purposeful, crafted with care and a quiet confidence. I can easily see it becoming a touchstone for puzzle design in the years ahead.
Steel Seed is the perfect game to jump in to after Split Fiction and Assassins Creed Shadows. Its setting and combat reminded me of one of my favorite games, Star Wars Jedi Survivor. As a fan of stealth games, this game provides a solid experience that will not disappoint. The game never overstayed its welcome and constantly provided new experiences keeping the game fresh throughout my 12 hours with the game.
Overall, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves has perhaps one of the most enjoyable combat systems I’ve played in a modern FG and with the blend of strong offensive and defensive options it seems like SNK is really working to create a system that tries to force constant two way interactions. With strong mechanics and a cast that’s fun to use all around I do hope the game can really take off and find it’s place in the ever growing line up of Strong fighting games in a high point for the genre overall.
The biggest problem with Kaya’s Prophecy is that it doesn’t feel like it adds anything new to the genre. While this didn’t feel like a waste of time, it isn’t something that many may be quick to return to. Some of the elements are familiar but not as well executed as games that have come before it. At times, Kaya’s Prophecy feels like a love letter to the genre, at others, it feels a bit like a student project.
All in all, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is a visually impressive and narratively engaging action RPG that melds Metroidvania exploration with Soulslike combat mechanics well. The combat on the whole is fun, the world layout is full of interesting little hideaways and secrets. The story is solid, and it’s told in a darkly beautiful world, enhanced by the broad brushstrokes of the art style and the fantastic soundtrack. Nonetheless, repetitive combat, occasional technical issues, and certain design decisions may put some people off.
Commandos: Origins doesn’t blaze a new trail for the genre, but it’s an expertly executed operation, one that brings a legendary series back into the fight with confidence and style. It captures the spirit of the originals while shedding some of their more dated baggage, resulting in a game that feels both familiar and fresh.
With its smart sci-fi aesthetic, charming sound design and music, excellent puzzle design, and intuitive controls, The Electrifying Incident is a short, satisfying puzzle game. It may not blow your mind, but it just might shock you!
Exploring the world of Atomfall’s Wyndham, with its attention to detail, genuinely realised characters, and intriguing narrative, is truly endearing. Uncovering the mystery was a blast, even if the payload at the end fell a touch flat. The exploration, scavenging, and solving the mystery make it well worth your time. If you embrace Atomfall for what it’s trying to be, rather than expecting it to be Fallout Britain, then I suspect you’ll have a great time with Rebellion’s newest IP.
Leila tells a story that most people should hear. It gets to the truth of ourselves in the hustle of each day with who we are and how we navigate life. However, at times, the story feels a bit rushed. We explore these moments with Leila and she opens up rather quickly. Some of these moments felt too quick or rushed through. In some ways, I wish this game would have been a bit longer to elaborate on certain moments and feelings. We know her marriage has become stagnant and yet we get very few glimpses as to why. By the end, we see she is more hopeful and free after a full day with this game console. Was her journey to self-forgiveness simply one day long?
The MLB The Show series is the premier baseball game each year. The on-field experience from franchise to RTTS are core things we as fans look forward to every year. Even though most of my time is spent in RTTS turning my player into a future hall of famer, the improvements in MLB The Show 25 gives the game a breath of fresh air. I love the new upgrade system in RTTS, I really feel like I have more control over my players growth. I am overjoyed that I can grind and upgrade my cards in Diamond Dynasty, and they will not have to be retired after a certain period.