STWGames Italia

Man of Honor is an honest expansion that lacks any real creative spark, relying almost entirely on the introduction of a young Ennio Salieri for its charm. Narratively speaking, the future Don's characterization works well and delivers great moments for long-time fans of the franchise, even if it ultimately remains a self-contained detour that has no real impact on Enzo’s journey. The gameplay holds no surprises and actually feels downgraded compared to the main game: ditching horses and melee duels turns shootouts into more conventional affairs, while rigid exploration boundaries and barren countrysides lay bare the flaws of the level design—further hindered by a bizarre 'winter' Sicily that sports the exact same spring/summer climate as the base game.

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Shift At Midnight turns out to be a delightful surprise, full of personality, capable of taking the anxieties of working with the public and transforming them into a fascinating nightmare. The idea of blending the routine of a management sim with a detective investigation works wonders, creating an anxiety-inducing gameplay loop that reaches its peak in the excellent environmental storytelling. It’s a real shame that the game stumbles just when it decides to flex its muscles, offering shooter sequences and stealth mechanics that don’t measure up to the rest of the game. However, setting aside a clunky combat system and an infinite mode that’s still a work in progress, the nocturnal odyssey crafted by the developers is absolutely worth experiencing, especially when played in co-op. A little gem where the real fear isn’t dying, but receiving a one-star review from a shapeshifter.

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Duskfade hits the mark perfectly: it brings back the genuine magic and carefree excitement of PS2-era action platformers, while updating the formula with a more modern and fluid structure. Although the game has a few limitations, what really stands out is the passion and care put into it by the development team. After reaching the end credits, we can say that Zirian and Cucù’s adventure is much more than just a “nostalgia trip,” proving itself to be a little gem capable of entertaining both veterans of that era and new players from start to finish.

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Asobo Studio has done it mission accomplished. After Innocence and Requiem, the development team realized that the series needed a major overhaul, especially in terms of gameplay. In our opinion, not only have the developers succeeded in this endeavor, but we’re confident that this third installment will captivate not only fans of the series but also those experiencing A Plague Tale for the first time. A graphical gem, masterful audio, a deep story, a dynamic combat system, and standard replay value. There are a few minor flaws (enemy AI, environmental interaction, and frame rate drops) that, however, do not detract from the overall quality of the game. A must-play title, no ifs, ands, or buts… one of the best action-adventure games of the year.

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Although Agefiled High: Rock the School is an indie game, its lack of punch makes it difficult to play, especially when combined with technical issues. The animations, along with the dialogue, aren’t impressive and, like much of the game, feel underdeveloped and poorly executed. It’s a shame: there are few school life simulators out there, and this could have been a golden opportunity to fill that niche.

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Mexican Ninja hits the mark, presenting itself as a fresh and irreverent beat 'em up, perfect for those seeking an old-school experience enhanced by modern roguelike progression. While it doesn't reinvent the genre and shows some limitations in long-term variety, the adventure created by Madbricks entertains with intelligence and charm, offering several hours of genuine fun.

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Slayblade proves to be a genuine love letter to early-2000s pop culture and the timeless legend of battle tops. Although it suffers from a certain underlying repetitiveness—the result of a narrative progression lacking major surprises and a formula that starts to show its weaknesses after the first few hours—Henry’s House’s game delivers fun, fast-paced, and stylish hit-and-run sessions. It’s certainly an imperfect experiment, but one animated by a nostalgic spark capable of bringing more than a few smiles to those who lived through that golden age.

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STALKER 2: Cost of Hope achieves a feat that was by no means a given: two years later, it brings to fruition the vision that GSC Game World had in mind from the very beginning. The conflict between Duty and Freedom finally takes center stage again, supported by mature storytelling and two characters capable of carrying its weight, while the new areas offer some of the best-orchestrated moments in the entire series. The 2.0 update accompanying the release significantly transforms the overall technical experience, making the Zone more stable and believable than ever.

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Diving into a game as massive and content-rich as this one isn’t for everyone; more than ten years of development take their toll, despite the various measures the game employs to help new players get settled. The Switch 2 port opens the door to new, more flexible and relaxing ways to enjoy the game, boasting impressive technical performance and effectively becoming one of the best ways to begin your adventure in Eorzea.

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Security 51 turns the mundane routine of a security guard into a tense bureaucratic thriller, sitting halfway between Papers, Please and the horrors of the SCP Foundation. Backed by a claustrophobic atmosphere that still knows when not to take itself too seriously, polished pixel art, and oppressive, Carpenter-esque soundscapes, Alawar’s title surprises with its variety: beyond stamping paperwork, you'll manage elevators, conduct bizarre cell experiments, and contain an outbreak with devastatingly weighty choices. Despite occasionally punishing difficulty and a core gameplay loop that might not win over those outside this niche, it remains a cynical and thoroughly successful inspection simulator—highly recommended for fans of the genre.

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After a few hours of gameplay, we can say that Arc System Works has succeeded in delivering a product of exceptional quality, with great attention to detail in both gameplay and visual design. The single-player mode could have been expanded a bit further, but in fighting games, these modes are often secondary to matches with friends or online multiplayer. But what makes Marvel Tōkon memorable—beyond its combat—is precisely its unmistakable visual style, which blends Eastern and Western influences, Marvel comics, and anime aesthetics. These are two sides of the same coin—contemporary pop culture—which has been fueling the passions of generations around the world for decades. Marvel Tōkon pulls off this combination with remarkable ease, while also succeeding in creating a fighting game that speaks the same language to both newcomers and veterans of the genre.

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The Sinking City 2 is a classic success story in an industry that has often proven inhospitable. Frogwares shows courage in setting aside much of its detective-game identity to embrace a survival horror title inspired by the genre’s classics but decidedly more action-oriented, succeeding for the most part in achieving the desired result. The narrative is full of surprises, and the technical aspects demonstrate commendable scalability even on older hardware. There are still a few rough edges—an action pace that isn’t always well-calibrated and a monster roster that’s a bit too sparse—but overall, this is one of the most successful survival horror games of the year, capable of doing justice to Lovecraft’s creative genius without ever losing sight of the fun.

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Agent 64: Spies Never Die is an excellent tribute to the unforgettable Goldeneye 007, especially thanks to the sheer volume of content available, but it fails to rise to the level of a good game in its own right and ends up feeling overly derivative. Furthermore, although the project boasts exquisite art and level design, the issues plaguing both end up dragging down the entire experience.

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Ghost Keeper started out with everything it needed to fill a void that had lasted over twenty years, boasting a pleasant Victorian atmosphere, excellent voice acting in the original language, and mansions rich in detail and featuring remarkable lighting. Unfortunately, the gameplay experience ends up getting lost in a maze of missed opportunities: the NPCs’ overly passive and erratic AI, combined with clunky controls, a restricted camera, and an unnecessarily complicated set of powers, disrupts the rhythm of what should have been a thrilling domino effect of terror. The result is a lackluster title, at times repetitive and lacking the bite and immediacy of its illustrious spiritual predecessor.

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Gambonanza is an experiment that’s as crazy as it is successful, capable of taking the dogmas of chess and shattering them through the lens of the roguelike genre. Although the influence of giants like Balatro is evident from the very start, Blukulélé’s game immediately establishes its own strong identity thanks to a magnetic gameplay loop, the devastating introduction of “Gambit” modifiers, and an art style that exudes a love for detail. Setting aside an AI that can be erratic at times and a certain degree of repetitiveness in the early stages, we’re looking at a little indie gem that will keep you glued to the screen, move after move.

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Verho – Curse of Faces is a bold and intriguing game, a true time machine capable of transporting players back to the dark and ruthless atmosphere of the 32-bit era. Kasur Games didn’t just emulate the worlds and mechanics of King’s Field; it managed to imbue the title with its own strong identity thanks to the mask system, a fascinating lore, and level design that rewards pure and simple curiosity. The absence of hints and the oppressive world offer a breath of fresh air for those seeking an uncompromising old-school adventure. However, its ambitions inevitably clash with obvious technical shortcomings and a grueling endgame. It’s definitely not a game for everyone, but those patient enough to come to terms with its inherent rough edges will find a rough diamond—imperfect yet magnetically charming.

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The Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is, by all accounts, the best version currently available of one of the most beloved JRPGs in Nintendo’s entire catalog. The leap in resolution, stability, and overall image quality is enormous, finally allowing players to enjoy Alrest with visuals that live up to its stunning settings, while the new content makes the adventure significantly more engaging and accessible for new players. Considering that the upgrade is available for just 10 euros, it’s hard not to see this as an extremely good deal, especially for those who already own the game; and if you’ve never played it before, this is probably your best chance to do so.

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Unfortunately, The Relic: First Guardian disappointed us. It has plenty of ideas, quests, and bosses, but everything feels a bit slapdash and poorly polished. You can sense the passion and dedication, but productions of this scale require more structured teams and a significantly larger budget. It would have been better to lower the bar a bit, reducing the quantity of content in favor of higher quality—both in terms of the combat system (the game’s core) and the technical aspects. We hope this first project will serve as a learning experience for the developer to understand where they went wrong, because there’s no shortage of ideas, passion, and love for the genre.

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DragonSword: Awakening is a prime example of how a radical change of direction can save a solid project from a saturated market that has lost its identity. Despite structural compromises inherited from the past and some artistic naivety, Hound13’s game manages to carve out its own niche in the genre thanks to an excellent structure that keeps players entertained for dozens of hours. In our opinion, this is a decidedly successful venture that will reward anyone looking for a thrilling action RPG packed with grinding and content.

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Dinoblade is a remarkable example of how an idea that started as a bit of fun can turn into a tangible and entertaining product. Jean has managed to craft a solid and satisfying game, albeit one with quite a few rough edges. Overall, this is an imperfect but charismatic debut, recommended for anyone looking for a pure, visceral action experience without too many plot pretensions.

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