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Hello Kitty Island Adventure from developer Sunblink isn’t going to replace Animal Crossing anytime soon. However, it’s a worthy cozy game that offers simple gameplay that is driven by quests, solid exploration, and a good crafting system, which will keep players coming back for more. It’s a good game, especially for a younger gaming audience. It’s a good way to waste time for older gamers.
Shadow Labyrinth is an earnest attempt at transmogrifying Pac-Man into something more than he is. While a futuristic Metroidvania makes as much sense as anything else, the game fails in many key ways that keep the genre engaging and not an absolute slog.
Wildgate from developer Moonshot Games and publisher Dreamhaven is a fun PvP multiplayer shooter that may seem a bit vanilla now, but it has room to grow. As it stands, you’ll get a lot more PvP co-op gaming out of this than anything else.
Dead Take is a sharp turn for Surgent Studios after Tales of Kenzera: ZAU. But the developer's attempt at first-person narrative horror via escape room is a bold jab at Hollywood's dark underbelly, helmed by some incredible performances.
Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game from developer Weta Workshop and publisher Private Division isn’t going to redefine the way a Tolkien license is presented in games, nor is it going to add more depth to the cosy life simulator genre. It’s a simple gameplay experience that brings easy quests, limited yet fun exploration, and an addictive ingredient and meal crafting component.
Edens Zero from Konami does a wonderful job of representing the source material it was born from. It comes with a meaningful and engaging story with great characters that are well-developed, while presenting an easy-to-jump-into gameplay design that is fun to dive into without much fuss. The hiccups lie with the lack of frequent enemy encounters and the choice of how you can play the game.
s.p.l.i.t. from developer Mike Klubnika brings mind-bending logic problems delivered through a unique command-line backdrop. While the command-line adventure doesn’t last long, it does enough to warrant a hard look for gamers in search of a good challenge.
Anyway, I just expected a bit more for the same price as a 2011 release. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition needed more justification for its release. I will certainly explore more of this series because of this release, but my expectations for the next game remastered from this series have now been set.
RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business takes the core of Teyon's extremely solid effort at recreating Paul Verhoeven's violent classic and merely provides players with more. It's a standalone experience that should scratch the itch of players who want more RoboCop.
I’m happy to say that what was delivered was an enjoyable experience with a lot of soul and love poured into it. Fretless is not the type of game to lock you in for hours on end, or change your life, but it shines in its environment and sound design. It’s a passion project turned into a downright fun experience.
Golden Tee Arcade Classics, from developer Digital Eclipse and publisher Atari, is a great trip down memory lane, but it feels and acts like it’s still in the 90s.
Arashi Gaiden is a great bite-sized turn-based action game set within the confines of a puzzle game. While it might be more difficult than others may expect, it will prove satisfying for those who enjoy solving puzzles with flair.
College Football 26, from developer EA Orlando, is a marvelous football experience that picks up where the series left off last year and the years prior. It brings a good personality, refined gameplay that feels optimized and natural on offense and defense, and plenty of modes to keep college football fanatics happy. The only real hiccup in the game is teammate reaction and intelligence. It’s lacking and needs some improvement.
Shujinkou from developer Rice Games is a surprisingly entertaining JRPG that features a design that harkens back to early elements of the genre, while mixing in a learning experience to further its beautiful complication.
Everdeep Aurora is more than a cozy digging metroidvania. It's a glimpse of what simplistic platforming can and should be, thoughtfully interwoven into a gameplay loop where discovery is the win condition. Its presentation might lack directness, but I would prefer a world where I can enjoy what I've dug up rather than being pointed to the next objective where I can surmise the outcome.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 offers that much-needed shot of nostalgia, from a time where all any of us wanted to do was feel cool.
Final Fantasy XVI from Square Enix still brings a wonderful story, well-defined characters, and a fantastic adventure on the Xbox Series X. It might not deliver the same graphical ‘wow’ that the other releases do, but it’s still a worthy game to take on for 50+ hours.
Ruffy and the Riverside is a joyful and quirky collectathon that attempts to bridge past and present sensibilities. Bursting with personality and a novel gameplay mechanic, should enjoy a sense of discovery and a helping of clever puzzles.
FBC: Firebreak makes a concerted effort to differentiate itself from the horde of team-based multiplayer shooters on the market. Despite making a poor first impression, Remedy Entertainment's charm does a lot of heavy lifting.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, developed by Kojima Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, is a new journey with a tonal shift compared to its predecessor, as the narrative is smaller in scope and far more personal. On the gameplay side of the tracks, the new game tightens a lot of loose ends from the first game, expands the world of Death Stranding through new environments and gameplay improvements, and exceeds all expectations with how a game should look on PlayStation 5. This is a solid contender for Game of the Year.