NextPlay's Reviews
Blue Prince’s endlessly clever design, crafted to gently assist you as you push for that 64th room, coupled with a bottomless well of riddles and secrets, make this one of the greatest experiences this year. It’s been over 15 years since I last set foot in my grandparent’s house, and having that same sense of wonder and intrigue evoked after so long makes this a strong GOTY contender in my books. Prepare a notepad and pen, and expect more challenges than you can possibly anticipate!
Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection is a solid collection of games that will appeal to long-time fans of the iconic franchise. Though this will hardly bring in new fans, half the titles in the collection offer incredibly engaging and varied gameplay and stories within the Yu-Gi-Oh! universe.
Atomfall has the foundations of a fantastic game but falls short by being a jack of all trades and a master of none. While the combat and survival mechanics often feel underbaked, the narrative structure and investigation mechanics offer an experience worth playing.
South of Midnight is a triumphant entry into Compulsion Games’s library, offering a captivating narrative with likeable characters in a sheer spectacle of a world that you just wish you could spend more time in. The combat, while robust, may not satisfy all gamers, but the narrative and compelling worldbuilding are more than strong enough to shoulder that burden.
Which Way Up: Galaxy Games is a solid party game that can be a fun way to pass some time, solo or with friends and family. The neat animations, visuals, and top-tier physics are very strong and are best showcased in Multiplayer. Its foundations are something to admire, and with a few quality-of-life updates and additional games, this game will be at the top of the list for your next family games night.
Pollard Studio has created something special in KARMA: The Dark World, perfectly depicting Lynchian surrealism with Orwellian dystopian themes in this unique psychological thriller experience. Featuring lifelike character portrayals, ingenious environmental storytelling, and stunning visuals, it delivers an unforgettable journey that will resonate with you long after the end credits roll. While the final hour feels rushed, I loved how the game challenges you to confront the complexities of control, identity, and the human mind, making it a must play for fans of the genre.
Hazelight Studios elevates the benchmark for cooperative games, excelling at level design, story concepts, and admirable technical achievements. Split Fiction is the best co-op game on the market, an experience that will create core memories to share with family or friends.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a great entry in the Assassin’s Creed franchise and a perfect entry point for newcomers. Its dual protagonists are fantastic and distinct, and while the villains are forgettable, the personal stories of Naoe and Yasuke help deliver a strong narrative. Shadows is visually stunning, with excellent cinematography, beautiful open world, a unique soundtrack and immersive sound design. However, a sparse open world, inconsistent parkour, and a disappointing hideout system, ultimately keep it from reaching true greatness.
Everhood 2 is a phenomenal journey shrouded in mystique and intrigue. It may not make a lick of sense up until the very last moment, but it remains enjoyable throughout regardless. The foundation that the game is ultimately built on, the soundtrack, is unsurprisingly mind-blowing and while the lean into more mainstream RPG elements didn’t do it for me, I can see a swath of the community having a blast with it. If you’re a sicko that enjoyed the first game, I think you’ll have at least a good time with this one.
"Two Point Museum is exactly what this series does best. Blending simulation game elements with that signature quirk of the Two Point series leads to this game being my favourite yet. The museum setting showcases that charm with ease while players get to curate their own collections full of wonders. It feels like that sim formula the series does so well, with some great new tweaks, such as the expedition system that really drives the game’s progression. My hype around curating my own museum has definitely been met, and I’m very excited to continue pouring my time into Two Point Museum."
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s PC release boasts impactful graphical and performance enhancements that allow one of the greatest Spider-Man games to glow gold. While riddled with a few very minor performance issues, the dynamic combat and engaging narrative slings this game to the top of my favourite Action/Adventure games.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii delivers a Majima-centric adventure with over-the-top pirate flair and a likeable cast of characters. I can confidently say this instalment provides the best combat in the series, with Twisted Metal-style ocean battles and exhilarating hand-to-hand combat. Despite some forgettable villains and slow ship-based exploration, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is genuinely fun and makes me crave more Majima games in the future.
Don’t Nod is SO BACK with Lost Records: Bloom and Rage. Not only does Swann and the camcorder feel new and exciting, but with a location like Velvet Cove oozing that neon-soaked Twin Peaks realness, one can’t help but be along for the ride.
Avowed offers a serviceable RPG experience that relies a little too heavy on its ravishing combat and compelling world-building. The story, while distinguished, can falter occasionally due to some unfair dialogue choices and suffered writing. Despite this, Avowed is still a game worth playing because it capitalises and personalises action-RPG tropes and mechanics found in its peers.
Eternal Strands has so many interesting ideas packed into its world. While none of the mechanics may be perfect, the ambition is clearly present, and that should be celebrated. Every person is sure to find something they love about this game, whether it be the over-the-top boss fights, layered character moments, or creative sandbox combat. I do hope we see more from Yellow Brick Games and Eternal Strands in the future because there’s a rather large spark here that I believe could build into a wildfire next time around.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a great remaster of a 2D platformer that shines the most with its engaging gameplay, likeable characters, story and slick performance. Albeit, the control mapping, some graphic changes and other small unfavourable elements drag this fun game down.
Sniper Elite: Resistance is a tried and true long-range shooter that’s comfortable being just that. Expansive mission areas allow players to engage at their own pace despite the stealth side of the game being a bit lacklustre. The sniper gameplay is certainly the main draw as you eviscerate Nazis with brutal X-Ray cams of devastating shots showing that force in all its glory!
Synduality: Echo of Ada is a ton of fun but ultimately struggles to capitalise on the addictive and satisfying gameplay loop it has with a subdued story.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle hits the exact spot with a whip-cracking precision, even if the fascist enemies are a bit one note. Troy Baker’s performance is incredible, which only furthers the game’s focus on immersion and exploration. MachineGames has more than proven just how incredible a first-person Indiana Jones game can be without sacrificing that tender and earnest aspect of the films. Fans will certainly appreciate this new era.
Sorry, We’re Closed is a marvel, not only visually with its ostentatious character design and gaudy depictions of heaven and hell, but in its daring storytelling of the warped depictions of love that we can get caught chasing. Its mix of fixed camera angles and swapping of third and first-person perspectives makes for tense scenarios throughout, and Michelle’s third eye and Heartbreaker are both satisfying additions to the combat. Sorry, We’re Closed is one hell of a survival horror!