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Accomplished storytelling intertwined with satisfying gunplay and a truly tremendous island to explore, Crisol stands tall as an excellent AA horror title in a year where the genre will see some big hitters. Aside from a couple of over complicated, puzzles I sincerely hope this isn’t the last horror shooter we see from Vermila.
REANIMAL feels like the work of a studio unshackled. While based on the foundations originally designed and created by Tarsier Studios, the team has built on them with confidence and creative conviction. This is a game that understands what made the studio’s earlier work resonate, while refusing to be defined by it. Through its confident mechanical evolution, grounded and oppressive world design, and a thematic focus that’s as unsettling as it is confrontational, REANIMAL establishes its own identity; one that’s harsher, more ambitious, and more emotionally affecting than anything Tarsier has made before.
I went into Disciples: Domination with no prior knowledge of the series and have come out the other side a fan. Its grievance and resource system builds a solid foundation for a sequel and Nevendaar and its casts of characters is a world I want to see more of. If Artefacts can flesh out some of the new mechanics to have even more variety and get the combat to require just a bit more strategy they truly have something here. As is Disciples: Domination is a very good RPG that should be worth a look to anyone into turn based RPGs.
Though its level design and technical performance can be frustrating, I can’t help but love Romeo is a Dead Man. While it may not be their best, it is in many ways the ultimate Grasshopper Manufacture game, paying homage to the studio’s legacy with an unbridled level of creativity and style, and incorporating everything great from its past work into something fresh.
Even though I’m not familiar with the story or history of BlazBlue I had a very fun time with Entropy Effect X. It is genuinely fun to play, offering a loop of combat that is as challenging as it is visually stunning. The large Roster of very different characters and the interplay of the Legacy system make every run feel like a new experiment in breaking the game’s limits. And the Entropy system unlocked upon winning a run lets you push the difficulty as hard as you can.
Easy to learn, hard to master, perhaps even more difficult to complete. It is a roguelite so even if you complete one run, you probably haven’t fully seen everything there is to see. The positive with this DLC is that while it is more of the same Monster Train 2 you’ve come to love, there’s more than enough to rejuvenate the game. Especially for those who love the challenge. The addition of a separate logbook and the ability to make sure that no one can get the story out of order would probably make this a perfect DLC. Perhaps in time these small tidbits will be added. Even without this, the DLC is well worth your time. If you’re a Monster Train 2 fan who has stepped away for a bit, now is the time to return.
Team Ninja has done a fantastic job of bringing a demon-ravaged world to life. It’s grim, but not too grim. The Yokai are such an interesting enemy, and I find myself pausing and trying to find which enemy I’m fighting. The Onry? They’re terrifying, and I’m more than ok sneaking around them.
However, if there’s anything to take away from this review, it’s the deep emotional connection I felt during and after the climb. I felt frustration, happiness, sadness, despair, relief, and guilt. For a mostly solitary and quiet game about climbing a mountain, I learned much about myself. I may be exaggerating, I don’t know. But I loved this game! What a fantastic way to start 2026!
It took me roughly 9 hours to uncover the truth of I Hate This Place. The story, aesthetics, sound design (minus the VA), and combat were awesome. In fact, everything apart from the crafting was fantastic, making I Hate This Place well worth your time. Just don’t expect too much from the crafting and farm management elements.
Octopath Traveler 0 is at its best when it leans into what the series does uniquely well: spectacular HD-2D artistry and a combat system that turns turn based battles into momentum management. Those pillars are strong enough that I frequently wanted to keep playing even when the story wasn’t pulling its weight.
Woolhaven is everything you would want in a DLC. It only adds to what makes Cult of the Lamb special, with the visuals and characters all being as charming as ever. All the hard work you put into raising your cult is put at risk if you cannot calm the storm. A little piece of me died whenever a follower perished. You are forced to adapt to the new climate; it’s hard but not punishing.
In much the same way FEZ once did, Cassette Boy reminded me that perspective is not just a mechanical trick, but a way of thinking. By asking the player to actively look at the world differently, to question what exists, what doesn’t, and why, it creates moments of quiet wonder that feel increasingly rare in modern games. Cassette Boy may present itself as small, nostalgic, and unassuming, but beneath that familiar surface lies a game deeply interested in curiosity, perception, and the joy of discovery. Cassette Boy isn’t just about how changing our perspective can be important; it can also be incredibly rewarding.
To bring this all home, Kejora, despite the occasional flaws that I noted, was a pleasure to experience. The story spoke to matters of protecting those around you and what you would do to ensure the safety of others, and did so in a nice, concise few hour package. And in a world of video games that ask upwards of 100 hours of gameplay to finish (yes, I play JRPG’s if you weren’t aware), a brief tale like Kejora is a welcome experience.
Teamkill Media’s 2nd game in 3 years made by 4 people, leaves much to be desired. It’s a near full priced game on a closed platform like the PlayStation 5. Code Violet is a game that boasts player urgency, discovery, and the appreciation of a strong and beautiful female lead. However, their game didn’t reflect their talk. My overall experience was not the greatest, most of the time I was bewildered by what I played. It’s not a game I can recommend at release, especially not for the asking price. It’s a campy, playable game. A game one can enjoy in a several sitting, when you have disposable time and money to spend. And perhaps a much lower price point.
While its tight controls and emergent mechanics create a strong and satisfying blend of 3D platforming and involved, reactive game design, Big Hops’ structure feels at odds with itself. Its narrative focus limits the scope of its open-ended ambitions, resulting in an experience that makes some hops that are certainly big, but don’t always stick the landing.
Death Howl is a tough, atmospheric, and surprisingly emotional experience. Its blend of deckbuilding and tactical combat is clever and demanding, its visuals are hauntingly beautiful, and its story hits harder than you might expect from a game built around cards and grids. It’s not for everyone – the difficulty alone will put some players off – but if you enjoy games that challenge both your strategy and your resilience, it’s absolutely worth your time.
Terminator 2D: No Fate shines as a piece of homage to Terminator 2. A wonderful recreation of one of James Cameron’s best, that looks and sounds superb. The gameplay of No Fate is fun for the first few times you play through its campaign, though lasting appeal might falter when you have seen the three endings.
ROUTINE is an excellent, immersive horror experience that revels in building and maintaining tension, forcing the player to rely on their own wits to progress and survive. While some may be put off by the game’s slower, more methodical pace or its lack of handholding, those willing to meet it on its own terms will find a deeply unsettling and meticulously crafted experience.
If you’re looking for a relaxing escape, with puzzles to challenge your mind, and reflective story, Unpetrified: Echoes of Nature is one to pick up. With no rush, no pressure, no combat, it truly is a game to find peace in.
By now, I thought I’d be tired of the formulaic cat hunting. Alas, I am still here and I know the community is still behind the series, for now. ‘Cats’ fans can expect more of the same, though with little innovation I wonder whether the cat-shaped bubble will burst in the near future. For now, Istanbul has been a visual pleasure.