Game8's Reviews
Abyssus is a thrilling and addictive roguelite FPS that shines brightest when played with friends, as the chaos and challenge ramp up the deeper you venture into the ancient civilization hidden beneath the dark sea.
A clever control scheme and flashes of competitive brilliance can’t hide the fact that the rest of Drag x Drive is running on fumes. The basketball matches are fun, but they’re weighed down by awkward hardware ergonomics, lopsided AI, and a hub world that is just devoid of anything fun. There’s a potential here for something great, and I wish Nintendo explores this some more in the future. But right now, it plays too much like a really polished tech demo.
Heretic + Hexen is aimed squarely at those nostalgic for the originals. Without that, most won’t stay hooked, though these classics still stand as genre-defining works now showing their age.
Mafia: The Old Country isn’t the longest, flashiest, or most replayable game—but what it offers is clarity. This is a lean, linear mob drams focused on story, atmosphere, and character. It knows exactly what it wants to be, and it doesn’t waste your time getting there. If you’re after a grounded narrative with a clear creative vision, The Old Country delivers something memorable.
Chained Echoes: Ashes of Elrant is a DLC made for fans of the game, especially for those who enjoyed the gameplay. It mostly expands on certain characters’ backstories and builds on top of its existing gameplay systems, which is what the game is known for. That being said, the DLC feels like it's a few years too late, as it solves issues that exist within the base game. The additions are welcome, but most of them don’t feel as impactful or as massive as initially advertised. Also, don’t expect any resolutions to many of the story’s plot holes here, as it mainly serves to support the worldbuilding and add context rather than answer many of the questions.
Artis Impact is a masterfully crafted, imaginative odyssey that paints its post-apocalyptic world with heart and pixel-perfect precision. Though its narrative occasionally wavers, the game’s seamless blend of cozy mechanics, nostalgic JRPG flair, and a sharp-tongued yet endearing protagonist delivers an experience as memorable as it is meaningful. Impactful Indeed.
With its richly developed characters, Iwakura Aria is a slow-burning, character-driven visual novel that draws strength from its emotional subtlety and refined execution. Its painterly art style and measured pacing create an atmosphere that feels both intimate and deliberately crafted, in both narrative and presentation.
Tiny Bookshop is, dare I say, a fine example of what a cozy game really is—warm vibes, chill but fun gameplay, a heartwarming narrative, pleasant visuals, and calming music. Even if you’re not particularly a book enthusiast, the game is a joy to play for the gameplay and the narrative, and just for some lighthearted and relaxing fun.
Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 carves its mark among the elite of anime games, honing nearly every edge of its predecessor. With tighter, more fluid combat and a cinematic presentation that nearly rivals Ufotable’s legendary adaptation, this sequel feels like a true evolution from the very first swing. It's not flawless, but the sheer volume of content and pure fun it delivers more than makes up for its shortcomings. If the original was Hinoe rank, this one unquestionably earns its place among the Hashira.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a spinoff that revitalizes the series and the genre with its callback to its original side-scrolling gameplay. With well-crafted levels, dynamically engaging combat, and gorgeous pixel art, it uses the simplicity of the side-scrolling gameplay to its maximum potential. It has a few flaws here and there, like its short runtime and balance near the end, but is otherwise a great way to keep the hype for the series’ upcoming title.
Death Relives is the kind of game that makes you question your life choices because of the slow drain of wasted time. Its ambition is buried under poor execution, lifeless AI integration, and half-formed mechanics. Even its better ideas, like the puzzles, are let down by clunky design. There’s simply nothing here worth your time, money, or patience.
Abiotic Factor stands out in the survival crafting genre by fusing humor, tension, and sci-fi absurdity into a deeply replayable experience. It’s clever, strange, and thoroughly satisfying, but not without its rough edges. Several mechanics are left entirely unexplained, and playing solo can feel overwhelming without companions to share the burden. Yet despite its flaws, it’s an experience that thrives on discovery, rewarding those who approach it with curiosity and a willingness to experiment.
Tales of the Shire is a decent life-sim game with an engaging cooking mechanic, but that's the most stellar thing about it. Bywater, while picturesque in its own way, doesn't feel like home, and it doesn’t help that the game is also flawed by its technical and optimization issues, which only turns the experience more sour.
The Great Villainess: Strategy of Lily is an outstanding and absurd, yet equally self-aware story with a cast of wild yet surprisingly relatable characters. Despite messy pacing, its sharp writing, stellar Japanese voice acting, and bold style make it a memorable ride.
Luto is a masterclass in psychological horror atmosphe—rerefined, personal, and haunting. It lingers not through terror, but through tension. However, immersion falters at times due to rough edges like placeholder text, untranslated lines, and puzzles that verge on the inscrutable. It's a powerful experience, just shy of perfection.
Killing Floor 3 is NOTHING like the older games—and while that’s not all bad, it loses much of the chaotic charm in trying to be something new. It takes itself too seriously, trading identity for polish, but without the baggage of its predecessors, there’s still fun to be had.
Wildgate feels like what you'd get if you mixed Overwatch with Sea of Thieves—a bold, chaotic fusion of hero-based teamwork and ship-to-ship space battles. It’s not without its flaws, but at its best, it delivers fun, frantic gameplay that thrives on cooperation. Space piracy mayhem at its finest.
Wild Hearts S is the Switch 2 version of the original and is a solid monster-hunting game with a strong identity, thanks to its Karakuri building system. But a shaky camera, finicky combat, and a paper-thin story weigh it down. As a port, it brings little new to the table—so unless you’re a first-time player or a handheld-focused hunter, it’s hard to recommend a second purchase.
Super Mario Party Jamboree is still the same friendship-ending game you may or may not have loved a couple of months back, and Jamboree TV sprinkles in a few bright ideas. Frenzy Rules and mouse-control minigames are very fun. The problem is that everything else feels like a tech showcase in search of a reason to exist, and the awkward separation from the base game doesn’t help its case. What’s worse, there isn’t even a new game board! When the highlight of a $20 add-on is a handful of quick novelties and minigames that force you to buy a peripheral, it’s hard to imagine this being worth picking over other party games.
Fia and her band of lovable disasters in Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy might not cast the deepest spells, but they’ve got just enough magic to keep things moving. The dungeon crawling is light, the combat mildly engaging, and the school life fluff adds just enough variety to break up the loop. Thankfully, it’s all wrapped in a silly, self-aware package that leans into its anime logic and wears it proudly. There’s not much depth to uncover, but you might end up smiling more than you’d expect.