TestingBuddies

Wheel World proves itself in testing to be a small but exquisite indie gem that pays homage to cycling, peppered with countless terms related to two-wheeled vehicles. The basic story about the demon Skully and the lost parts of his special bike provides a nice framework without becoming too outlandish. Unfortunately, it ends rather abruptly; perhaps there could have been more. The core elements are definitely the exploration of the picturesque open world and the cool races, both of which are very catchy and really fun thanks to the arcade-like gameplay. This is supported by the very well-implemented upgrade mechanics, which really force us to engage with the parts. After all, just like in real cycling, every detail counts if you want to be victorious. Unfortunately, Wheel World sometimes hits a few bumps in the road. These include stuttering during quick changes of direction or when there is a lot of traffic on the track, as well as music that doesn't reload, which is a shame given the atmospheric retro tracks. The playing time of around five to seven hours is manageable, but ensures that the game doesn't become tedious. If the game had been significantly longer, I think I would have gotten a little tired of it without any additional elements. Overall, I personally have very fond memories of Wheel World. I especially enjoyed the races and leisurely cruising through the picturesque landscapes, as well as figuring out the best components for more challenging stages, so despite its technical weaknesses, I can definitely recommend the game to all pedal bike fans.

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Mafia: The Old Country impressed me in almost every respect. It wasn't just the rural setting of atmospheric Sicily that I really liked. I was also thoroughly entertained by the story of the miner who gradually works his way up in the mafia family and gets drawn deeper and deeper into their machinations. In addition to the impressive graphics, it was the melee combat system with a focus on knives, the thrilling horse races, and the open world that is fully dedicated to the story that impressed me the most. If there's anything to criticize about the game, it's the somewhat wooden faces in the in-game graphics, the lack of footprints in an otherwise near-perfect visual presentation, and the short playing time of well under 20 hours. Overall, however, Mafia: The Old Country is a bull's-eye and a worthy addition to the legendary trilogy.

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We really like The Sims 4: Enchanted by Nature. The fairies are charmingly designed, and the many clothing items and options for customizing our Sims' appearance, from wings to face paint, are very well done. We particularly like that living in harmony with nature is central to the game in more ways than one. Finally, you can buy houseplants that you have to take care of, and Sims can become one with nature with the new “Natural Lifestyle” skill. Making medicines and the new, very relaxed career are also really fun. The pack also looks great. The playful furniture, such as the floating mushroom lamps, has a mystical quality and creates an enchanting atmosphere. The neighborhood is really well done and varied in design. Unfortunately, it feels a bit cramped, and the rabbit holes detract from the overall picture, as always. For all Sim players who love the supernatural and nature, we can definitely recommend this expansion pack.

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Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 is a worthy remake. It may not be perfect in every respect, but it has been created with a lot of heart and care. The return of the classic two-minute runs may not be to everyone's taste, and fans of the free career mode from part 4 in particular will be somewhat disappointed. The soundtrack could also have done with a dash more nostalgia. Nevertheless, the gameplay feels exactly as it should. The controls are precise, the scope is decent, and technically there's nothing to complain about. Anyone who enjoys arcade-style skating will get their money's worth here – whether they're newcomers or fans from the very beginning.

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The introduction of the College Football series last year was a revelation. The way the new series brought the feeling of college sports to the screen was extraordinary and provided a breath of fresh air alongside the long-established Madden. Now, a year later, EA's College Football 26 delivers just as much atmosphere and college spirit as its predecessor, with impressive walk-ons, great cutscenes on the field, and high-quality graphics. Added to this are powerful licensed audio tracks, which provide the perfect acoustic backdrop in the form of marching band music. We also liked the new control options on the field, which allow us to quickly and easily change the lineup directly in the game, in addition to providing an overview of important stats. The two major career modes remain faithful to last year's template and unfortunately miss the opportunity to move away from the menu-based gameplay. Yes, Road to Glory lets us make decisions and write text messages, but a real college story or a walkable campus would be something else entirely. We were also a little bothered by the rather obvious nod to Ultimate Team right after the game starts, because even though UT is certainly extremely lucrative, players don't necessarily have to encounter it everywhere. All in all, College Football 26 is extremely well positioned in terms of atmosphere, but we would have liked to see a little more innovation in the second part, with new features that aren't only noticed by real football nerds on the field or in the playbook.

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Rematch is a game that you don't understand right away, and that's what makes it interesting. It's not a title for people looking for quick wins. It requires patience, a willingness to learn, and frustration tolerance. But those who get involved will be rewarded with gameplay that is astonishingly precise, rewarding, and challenging at the same time. The controls have depth, the matches are competitive, teamwork is crucial, and when it works, everything feels fluid and satisfying. But beyond this core, the game lacks maturity. The presentation, atmosphere, and scope are simply not at the level one would expect from an ambitious sports game in 2025. Especially when compared to top dogs like Rocket League, it's striking how much polish, personality, and atmosphere are still missing. Rematch feels like a first chapter. A first idea that hasn't been thought through yet. Hopefully, the developers will continue down this path. Because there's more lurking beneath the surface. So it's a game with rough edges. But it also has a spark of originality that shouldn't be overlooked.

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With TRON: Catalyst, the iconic Disney license finally gets another video game spin-off, which is only natural given the scenario. The game does a very good job of recreating the world, especially visually and acoustically, so the license is put to good use in this regard. But beyond the beautiful facade, TRON: Catalyst unfortunately fails to fully convince. On the one hand, there is the very slow narrative style of the story, which simply fails to generate any real tension. Generic characters without any real unique selling points contribute to the fact that it is difficult to really identify with the story. On the other hand, the basic gameplay fails to ignite. The mix of exploration and combat is fun in principle, but ultimately all the components are very superficial. Both the combat and upgrade systems offer little depth, so that the passages outside of the dialogues feel just as tedious as the story progression. At first glance, TRON: Catalyst certainly shines with the typical TRON look and feel, but it fails in the areas that are actually important for a game of this genre. In addition, some serious bugs mar the experience. As a self-confessed TRON fanboy, I can only say: It's a shame, because there was certainly more potential here.

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In Ruffy And The Riverside, the special FLIP mechanic stands out, allowing players to reshape the game world however they want. Set in a compelling story with entertaining humor and peppered with varied, motivating puzzles and creative platforming sections, the game time flies by quickly. The charming, colorful comic book look, the cute characters, and especially the lively music create a cheerful atmosphere. Optional collection tasks provide additional long-term motivation. Only a few minor weaknesses detract somewhat from the gameplay. For example, there are occasional incorrect collision queries, which cause Ruffy to have heavy legs, especially when climbing stairs, and isolated bugs. Furthermore, loading stutters during some area transitions in the Riverside environment and, in some cases, long walking distances in the main quests without an extensive fast travel system slow down the flow of the game a bit. All in all, however, the positive aspects outweigh the negative ones. I surprisingly enjoyed my trip with the cheerful bear Luffy. I would therefore say that the goal has been achieved: Luffy And The Riverside can compete with well-known classics such as Crash Bandicoot, Klonoa, and Paper Mario, and makes its own unique contribution with FLIP.

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Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma stays true to the DNA of the series, but brings noticeable improvements – especially in terms of comfort and accessibility. The fast leveling of relationships, the useful automation provided by the villagers, and the pleasantly fluid combat system make for a motivating gaming experience. The combination of farming, role-playing, and village life is successful and allows enough freedom without being overwhelming. A few minor stumbling blocks, such as the awkward placement of buildings and a somewhat old-fashioned menu design, prevent the game from achieving the highest rating, but they hardly detract from the positive overall impression. Technically, the game runs smoothly, the English voice acting is solid, and Azuma as a world invites exploration and creativity. For fans of farming RPGs looking for a fresh but familiar experience, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is definitely worth recommending.

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Death Stranding 2: On the Beach perfectly captures the spirit of the first game while adding some meaningful new features. These include dialogues that we can now actively engage in, as well as new challenges such as earthquakes and floods, which further emphasize the unpredictability of the post-apocalyptic world. We also really liked the combat system in part 2, which is now a bit more complex and allows us to actively fight human threats and GDs with both armed force and various stealth mechanics. In addition, there are two atmospheric new locations that stand out more from the setting familiar from Part 1 than you might think at first glance, providing a welcome visual change. The biggest selling point of the sequel, besides the great emotional story, is the breathtaking graphics, which clearly show what the PS5 is capable of. The photorealism on display is absolutely stunning, both in the cutscenes and in-game, providing us with landscapes, facial features, and lighting effects that could easily be found in any Hollywood movie. The integration of the DualSense features is also excellently done, allowing us to experience the game world and, in particular, the challenges of the deliveries firsthand. One thing Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and that is the largely slow-paced, almost meditative gameplay. Those who found this too boring in the first installment will quickly come to the same conclusion in part 2. Those who, like me, loved this unique approach to the medium of video games will also be able to enjoy the sequel to Kojima's masterpiece to the fullest.

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RoadCraft breaks new and exciting ground within the Mudrunner series: instead of purely transport missions, the focus is now on building infrastructure – a refreshing conceptual shift that adds new depth to the genre. The idea of battling your way through undeveloped terrain with heavy equipment, building roads, and actively shaping the world is undoubtedly appealing. This is supported by an atmospheric game world with impressive natural scenery, dynamic weather, and a subtle feeling of loneliness that fits perfectly with the slow-paced gaming experience. The integration of a light storyline is also successful. It doesn't interfere, but motivates with small narrative impulses that give progress a personal touch. Technically, RoadCraft impresses with stylish lighting design, successful terraforming, and a large fleet of vehicles that offers the right tool for every task. But despite all these strengths, there are still some weaknesses: the controls seem overloaded and confusing, the AI is often unreliable, and basic functions such as lighting control and fuel management are still missing. Particularly annoying are long AI journeys, which end in frustration rather than a sense of achievement due to inaccurate route finding. Performance issues on powerful systems also raise questions, especially since modern technologies such as DLSS offer little relief. However, those who are willing to put up with these rough edges and have patience will discover that RoadCraft offers a rewarding gaming experience that aims to do more than just send trucks through mud. The vision behind the game is strong – it just needs some refinement in terms of implementation. If developer Saber Interactive follows up with updates in the future, RoadCraft could become a real insider tip for simulation fans and genre lovers in the long term.

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Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny Remaster is not a modern action extravaganza, nor does it aspire to be one. It is an atmospheric relic from another era that scores points with its charm, atmosphere, and a combat system that remains solid even today. The technical improvements are minimal, but sufficient to make the game accessible to a new audience. Those familiar with the original will find a more comfortable version for current platforms here. Those who missed it will get a piece of Capcom history for a fair price, which may have its rough edges but is still entertaining.

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Len's Island is a nice little indie game that has been rightly hyped. The combination of crafting, building, farming, and survival RPG is really well done. Building is also really fun and very relaxing. For me, it's clearly the perfect game to have some fun with friends after work, which also makes up for the lack of a story.

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the revolution that the turn-based RPG genre needed. It offers a touching story, a bold, challenging combat system, and breathtaking audiovisual presentation, all without tedious grinding. With enormous freedom in character building and lots of optional content, there's something for every type of player: completionists, story lovers, or fans of challenging combat. The worldbuilding also has potential for DLCs or spin-offs – for example, about past expeditions that made Expedition 33 possible in the first place. For me, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the must-play game of the year and a hot contender for the title of Game of the Year.

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Nice Day For Fishing is much more than just a quirky fan project. It's a charming, funny adventure with an unusual combat system that rewards timing and skill. The clever combination of classic RPG flair, parodic worldbuilding, and challenging fishing duels makes for hours of entertaining gameplay. The fact that all of this is based on one of the most blunt jokes in the Epic NPC Man series makes it even more impressive. Anyone who loves pixel art, indie charm, and a good dose of self-irony, or is simply a fan of the series, will enjoy Nice Day For Fishing.

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Even though Tour de France 2025 offers no gameplay changes except for modified catering and slightly adjusted menus, it is still probably the most watchable Tour de France of all time for many reasons. This year's Tour de France route offers so many highlights that you simply want to visit the iconic locations yourself. In addition, the Flèche Wallonne, one of the most beautiful routes in professional cycling, can now also be contested as an additional classic. However, the biggest and most compelling argument in favor of Tour de France 2025 is the great new graphics. Never before has the cycling simulation been so realistic, showing its landscapes and riders in such a great light. If you ignore the still rather limited commentary track and the somewhat strange decision to include the original jerseys but not the current squads in the two career modes, Tour de France 2025 is probably the best game in the series, which can now finally catch up with other sports. If they could now move away from the purely menu-based career mode and incorporate a few interactive elements, cycling could finally play at the forefront, even virtually.

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With annually recurring sports games, the question naturally arises as to whether you really need the latest edition or whether it's just a jersey update. In the case of Pro Cycling Manager 25, this question is not easy to answer, as a lot has changed, but not everywhere. The switch to the new graphics engine is a quantum leap in the history of the manager, as the races now look much more realistic and the environments more detailed, atmospheric, and lively. The difference compared to its predecessors is truly remarkable and takes the game to a whole new level. The expanded sponsorship system is also definitely a good thing, even if the impact on everyday management is not that significant. However, it is definitely an important step towards even more realism, as the importance of sponsors for the sport is now even clearer. On the other hand, I really liked the fact that the difficulty level can now be individually adjusted using numerous parameters, as this allows everyone to create a gaming experience that suits their preferences and challenges them exactly where they want to be challenged. However, almost nothing has changed in the basic game, so anyone who doesn't care about fancier graphics or doesn't want to deal with sponsors anyway doesn't necessarily need an update. However, Pro Cycling Manager 25 is a very important step for the future, as it has been given a new look and can now focus on other content.

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Survive the Fall isn't a blockbuster, but it's a small, ambitious survival adventure with soul. The mix of base building, exploration, and atmospheric world works well. The creative camp building and open world are particularly appealing. However, the game sometimes gets in its own way: too much loot, too little voice, too little focus. But if you're willing to embark on the adventure and have patience, you'll find an atmospheric representative of the genre and maybe even a new home at the end of the world.

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It's always difficult for developers to make a very good game even better, which is why it's clear that the improvements in EA Sports F1 25 compared to its predecessor are in the details. The most obvious improvements are, of course, the new, thoroughly successful edition of “Braking Point,” which once again shines with its outstanding presentation, and the revamped My Team mode, which now offers even more possibilities and also turns up the heat a bit in terms of presentation. The reverse-designed tracks and the sticker editor are also appealing and round out the overall package. Added to this is a largely outstanding graphic display, which is actually even a touch prettier than last year. The driving experience was already really good and could hardly be improved upon, and the same applies to the overall very well-designed career mode. In the end, it remains to be said that F1 25 is a first-class racing game that brings some useful innovations and additions, making last year's overall package even more attractive. Whether the improvements are enough for owners of last year's edition to treat themselves to the latest edition is ultimately up to each individual to decide.

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Pivot of Hearts is a quiet, thoughtful story about love, self-discovery, and the uncertainties that arise when you get to know yourself anew. With a lot of heart, it tells the story of Wén Xiàn's journey through memories, new friendships, and the bittersweet realization that not every story needs a clear happy ending. It shines with authentic characters, an emotional story, and loving design, but stumbles over technical weaknesses and repetitive background music. Those who are patient, willing to engage with the quiet tones, and ready to immerse themselves in a complex, realistic narrative will find a game here that will resonate for a long time.

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