NextPlay's Reviews
SMG Studio once again successfully managed to take the seemingly mundane task of moving and turn it into an entertaining cooperative action/puzzle experience. With core gameplay enhancements and diverse level design, Moving Out 2 will keep you and your mates entertained for hours and hours.
Stray Gods: The Roleplaying musical is another unique and well-established entry into Australia’s portfolio of games in recent years. With a captivating story, loveable characters, and some stellar performances by the cast, this one-of-a-kind game is sure to scratch that musical itch you have.
Disney Illusion Island is an engaging, modern take on the classic and beloved Illusion series that will spark enjoyment for gamers of all ages. While the game can feel too easy at times, the difficulty scaling can give ambitious gamers a slightly more challenging experience.
Unholy presents a compelling story that will keep the player engaged, even after enduring the poor gameplay design. While the innovative mechanics using ‘masks’ and ‘emotions’ are standout features of the game, the frustrating enemy encounters will find some players wanting to put the game down. Overall, Unholy offers an intriguing narrative with some unique gameplay elements, but technical flaws hinder its full potential.
Viewfinder reshapes the world into a beautiful reality that will have players completely engrossed in the thought-provoking puzzles it presents. Despite its often disjointed story, it offers a surreal experience that players will be talking about for years to come.
Planet of Lana takes everything we love from Studio Ghibli and Limbo and infuses it into one of the most breathtaking and exciting indie game experiences of the year. A must-play indie title.
Final Fantasy XVI is an exceptional departure from Final Fantasy’s RPG roots, showing the series can excel in the Action genre. From a gripping story to the epic Eikonic battles, this entry into the mainline series is one of the better ones in recent years.
Ravenlok is a game that will not please everyone with its shallow gameplay mechanics, but nevertheless offers a short and sweet adventure worthy of a playthrough. Cococucumber has piqued my interest and I am eager to see what they do next.
Respawn have taken Fallen Order’s formula and perfected it to produce what could be considered one of the best Star Wars games ever released. The combination of exceptional storytelling and cinematics makes Star Wars Jedi: Survivor an experience that I would easily recommend to anyone.
Despite some minor flaws, Bramble: The Mountain King is an entertaining and well-crafted addition to Dimfrost Studio’s portfolio which will tickle that itch of any horror fan.
Black Salt Games have ‘dredged’ up a surprise Game of the Year contender through the use of engaging mechanics, an atmospherically-rich world, and some of the most rewarding progression you’ll find in a game. While the main story is compact, the amount of side content available to sail through makes it well worth the price tag.
Resident Evil’s formula has been perfected in this outstanding remake of 2005’s Resident Evil 4 with revitalised gameplay while still remaining true to the original game. If Resident Evil 4 is CAPCOM’s new benchmark for a Resident Evil game, I can’t wait to see where the franchise goes next.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a casual yet meaningful addition to the Bayonetta universe. PlatinumGames has crafted a beautiful and charming story that showcases Cereza in a different light, which will allow players to fall in love with her all over again.
Scars Above has been a pleasant surprise that has cemented an already fantastic year in gaming. While it has its shortcomings with it’s uninspired story and weak world-building, it redeems itself with its fun and engaging gameplay.
Hogwarts Legacy is a beautifully crafted love letter to The Wizarding World that we all know and love. The fluid combat combined with an engaging experience cements Hogwarts Legacy’s place as a Game of the Year contender. While drawn back by the absence of a morality system and Quidditch, it really is hard to fault an experience this polished.
SEASON: A letter to the future is a poetic and wholesome experience with a narrative beautifully told through unique gameplay mechanics. Cycling across the beautiful landscapes of this broken world was a pleasure and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Scavengers Studio.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden delivers a dark world with a beautiful story and rich characters. DON’T NOD has mastered showing us the consequences of our actions in their previous titles, which translates very well into an action-RPG about life and death. Almost every decision is made in Banishers shapes the world around you.
Recent years have spoiled gamers with exceptional horror game remakes such as The Last of Us Part I and Resident Evil 2 and 3. Dead Space continues this trend by bringing a legendary horror game back onto our screens with an immense amount of polish and craftsmanship. Motive Studio have delivered a terrifying and intense experience that old and new fans alike will be talking about for a long time.
Mojiken Studio has set a high bar for Indie games in 2023, with its near-perfect storytelling and beautifully illustrated world, A Space for the Unbound is a must-play for anyone looking for a captivating, unique, and cat-filled coming-of-age story.
Before Your Eyes is an emotional and essential PlayStation VR2 experience with a heavy impact that will stay with you for years to come. GoodbyeWorld Games has masterfully crafted a unique VR experience that will set a benchmark for story-driven games in the virtual reality space.