A charming, oldschool top-down shoot 'em up, with a great soundtrack, The Chaos Engine is still worth a shot nowadays. Cumbersome controls and a selfish CPU partner can make the game more challenging than it needs to be but playing with a co-operative human player can help alleviate these problems.
Carmen Sandiego is faithful to the Netflix series and its core gameplay loop is similar to the original games, although a lack of cities to visit and lazy clues makes for repetitive and frustrating gameplay.
I came across a showstopper and couldn't progress the game any further despite my best attempts. This means I can only judge the game's first few hours and while what I experienced is a decent enough hack 'n' slash RPG accompanied by a fantastic soundtrack, it's also a game that hasn't aged well with buggy audio, graphics and somehow coming across as really horny. If you really want to experience the original Witcher, you might be better off waiting for the remake to be completed as in its current state it's a challenge getting it to behave with modern operating systems and even if you do, it's in desperate need for Quality of Life updates.
Just like every Dragon Age before it, Veilguard is different. It feels more like a fantasy version of Mass Effect 2 or Marvel's Midnight Suns where a lot of the experience has been condensed and streamlined in order to focus more on arcade combat, companion backstories and customisation (both character and story). Sure, the game has its flaws such as a copious amount of dialogue that sometimes falls flat as well as a finicky targeting system for Companions, but by every other measure it's a well polished RPG with high production values and plenty of meaningful quests to keep you busy.
A decent enough idea on paper, Into the Stars has okay graphics and a fitting soundtrack by renowned composer Jack Wall. However, a plethora of text and numbers, and little in the way of actual gameplay means this game turns out to be rather boring. Worse, there are certain situations you can stumble upon where the game is unbeatable, not because you made poor choices, but because it's broken.
My favourite game to play with the kids. While the game is a competent enough cosy farming sim/RPG and an amazing feat when you consider all aspects of it (the coding, the graphics and audio) were developed by one guy, **** Valley really shines when playing co-op with others.
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be an Emergency Services Operator this is actually not a bad game to give you a small taste of what it's like. Multi-tasking is key, and things can definitely get stressful if you're trying to keep someone on the phone alive while catering to multiple other emergencies at the same time. Gameplay can get repetitive after a while but the ability to download maps of cities from across the globe and create your own emergency calls, helps increase the game's longevity.
A combination of a rough launch, basic UI, dumbed down gameplay and the splitting of the game into multiple acts with sometimes convoluted victory conditions, makes this iteration of Civ a hard pill to swallow. It's not all doom and gloom though: Firaxis are committed to updating the game and there have been many improvements in the few months since release. Civ VII is heading in the right direction, but in the meantime, if you're able to appreciate the game's idiosyncrasies, there is still fun to be had.
While The Making of Karateka doesn't have every single version of Karateka included, it does have the "holy trinity" of Apple II, C64 and Atari versions, and has many playable prototypes, videos, documents and photos to give you a through understanding of how Jordan Mechner came to creating his breakout 1984 game. Best of all, the 2023 reimagining of the game is top notch and means just about anyone can now experience this early foray into cinematic games on PC.
Humankind is a tough sell for fans of Civ as where Civ does micro, Humankind does macro, where Civ celebrates humanity's achievements, Humankind is cynical and downplays them, and where Civ streamlines war, Humankind makes it more realistic but changes the focus onto securing war support. The game does look pretty, offers lots of customisation options for your leader and civ, and some of its gameplay design choices seem more mature and realistic than Civ, but it ultimately lacks any soul and isn't really much fun.
Unpacking is a casual game that employs a novel approach to environmental storytelling and while it should be commended for what it achieves, it is a bit lean on the gameplay and over within a matter of hours.
While I'm disappointed Phil Collins didn't feature on the soundtrack, I loved the themes of recovering from trauma, parentification and not taking things at face value. True Colors is a beautiful looking game and will feel familiar to Life is Strange fans but some might be put off by the seemingly weak superpower and the occasional plot holes. Ultimately, while it may feel less accomplished to previous entries in the franchise it was still entertaining and thought-provoking enough for me to enjoy it.
Dragon Age: Inquisition tries to do more of everything and this can be somewhat intimidating for a Dragon Age fan or for those who are worried they lack the time to invest in an open world RPG. The game is also starting to show its age and there are still bugs and graphical issues despite it being over a decade old. However, for the fans of Dragon Age, this is one I still recommend they persevere with since they'll be rewarded with memorable new characters, reunions with older characters, a game where you literally dictate the fate of Thedas and one of the best epilogues to be experienced in a AAA title.
A truly authentic experience for the Star Trek fans with great attention to detail, compelling characters, and an epic soundtrack. The only thing holding it from true greatness are some annoying animation issues and frequent framerate drops.
If you love trucks and America, American Truck Simulator has you sorted. The game can be as chilled or challenging as you want and the high attention to detail is impressive. For those with a managerial bent, you can even start your own trucking business. There's quite a bit you can do here and with over 50 DLC packs on offer, this game has the potential to keep you entertained for a long time, but there are better options out there if you're not totally sold on trucks and are looking for a bit more action to go with your transporting of cargo.
Although Midnight Suns could've done with a bit more polish in the graphics and audio department, especially towards the end of the game, this is a solid card game mixed with turn-based tactics where you get to play the hero leading a motley crew of Marvel superheroes in their quest to vanquish evil. Top voice acting talent, an epic soundtrack and a huge amount of characterisation and dialogue shows Firaxis went all in on this one, but despite all this, it looks like a sequel for the game isn't on the cards (no pun intended) and since the game ends on a cliffhanger, it's a damn shame.
Firewatch is an example of an exceptional walking simulator: a game that motivates you to explore Shoshone National Park in the 1980s and discover the secrets hidden underneath. The wilderness isn't the only thing you'll explore as you'll also experience complex relationships between characters, which is rarely done convincingly in computer games: Firewatch manages to pull this off and this is what elevates it above its peers.
Ultimately, it's the story and its narration that elevates this competent yet minimalist puzzle platformer to one that's still worth a look over a decade later. There are some infuriating parts to the game if you're not into jumping puzzles but it should be a breeze to those that are veterans of the genre.
Escape from Monkey Island is probably the weakest entry in the Monkey Island series with average graphics, cumbersome controls, bugs and a bit too much moon logic for my liking, but it's still a Monkey Island game meaning you'll stick around for its trademark humour, a whole bunch of returning characters and an excellent soundtrack.
An addictive and entertaining RTS from the makers of Plague Inc. that shines a light on the political dilemmas faced in bringing about a liberal and free republic to a country ravaged by insurgents. While it makes assumptions that the West are acting in good faith, there is still value in playing this game regardless of where you sit on the political spectrum: its adept at showing how precarious a fledgling democracy can be when there are many factions hoping for it to die before it even gets a chance.
Detroit: Become Human is a game that is many things. While you'll be experiencing it all as an android, it allows you to feel like Neo from "The Matrix", Andy Dufresne from "The Shawshank Redemption" and sometimes even Murtaugh from "Lethal Weapon". It borrows heavily from pop culture and actual history but if you're okay with that you'll be treated to a cinematic and emotional experience with top notch graphics, voice acting and music.
If you want a modern, funky and artistic take on Tetris, Tetris Effect: Connected is the game to get. Despite the campaign being rather short there are plenty of activities to do in single-player and multi-player to keep you entertained for a while: the Connected multiplayer mode is especially recommended for those ever wanting to play Tetris as a co-operative experience.
If you like flippant Christmas games with lots of humour, great characters and a rockin' soundtrack then Cthulhu Saves Christmas is for you. It doesn't even matter if you're not really into JRPGs since playing on easiest difficulty will allow even novices to experience the genius of casting a sassy Cthulhu, villain turned anti-hero, sleighing the enemies of Christmas.
In Other Waters is a slow but immersive game similar to a walking simulator on rails or an interactive fiction game with minimalist graphics. The game has an impressive 70s sci-fi soundtrack by Amos Roddy and will keep you engaged with an intriguing story that should appeal to environmentalists, biologists and sci-fi fans in general.
If you like the game Cluedo but want to try your hand at determining the fates of sixty crew and passengers on a 19th century East India Company vessel, Return of the Obra Dinn might be the game for you. If you have a morbid curiosity on the creative ways people can die or you enjoyed playing What Remains of Edith Finch this game should also appeal. Whether you enjoy the story or not really depends if you're content with less characterisation but are at home with the nautical setting. Frankly, I found the characters in Papers, Please and the Soviet-era politics more compelling but Return of the Obra Dinn was still enjoyable if only to experience a trip down memory lane thanks to its early Macintosh monochrome graphics.
Jurassic Park: The Game was made shortly before The Walking Dead was released and, for better or worse, there are a lot of similarities between these two titles which are both narrative rich, survival horror adventure games. However, Jurassic Park is rougher around the edges, and still contains many bugs as well as graphical and audio issues. What is most annoying about the game is its overabundance of QTEs, which I'm glad became scarcer in the Telltale adventures that followed.
It's obvious that as soon as you boot up this game, the developers are big fans of Transport Tycoon. While they mainly succeed in making a fun experience reminiscent of Chris Sawyer's masterpiece, the game is rough around the edges in terms of a steep learning curve, unintuitive controls, and a lack of planes and ships.
A functional endless runner where you play a knight that can dispatch foes by firing arrows while jumping. It could do with some improvements with respect to audio, artwork and Steam integration but otherwise, it's a solid game.
If you like indie metroidvanias that channel the vibe from 90s cinematic platformers like Another World (but you play the role of a bird instead of a particle physicist), Secrets of Rætikon might be worth a try. However, if mindlessly flying around, activating machines while avoiding predators sounds kind of boring to you, avoid.
A cut-down version of open world Ubisoft games, Submerged does away with combat and focuses on the climbing of towers as its core game mechanic. The game is short, only clocking in at three hours but it's also a nice calming diversion from other games out there and lets you explore an environment wracked by the effects of global warming.
Fans of the first two Cook, Serve, Delicious! games will have to go into this one with an open mind as it's a slight detour from the old recipe. It seems that Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?! wants to live up to the franchise's reputation as the Dark Souls of cooking games which means honing your skills and strategy is paramount if you want to make it to the final destination: Nashville, Tennessee, the capital of a near-future, dystopian America. It's the most challenging Cook, Serve, Delicious! I've played to date, but once I got used to the changes, I really enjoyed it.
If you're a Counter-Strike fan, you've already got the game so this review isn't for you. If you're like me, a casual FPS player that has been playing since the beginning of the genre, is it worth returning to this franchise? Well, yes and no. Counter-Strike 2, just like its predecessors, is a no frills, back-to-basics, multiplayer FPS that's hugely popular and it's free. So, there's really nothing preventing you from giving it a try.I'm however already bored with it. I prefer First Person Shooters like Rainbow Six Siege or Battlefield 2042: they're nowhere near as polished as Counter-Strike 2 but working as a team seems more rewarding in these games, and the weapons, vehicles and gadgets on offer encourage creative solutions for achieving victory.
Concrete Jungle is a bright and colourful game with a humorous campaign but if you're looking for a city builder, be warned, this is not one of them. While Concrete Jungle may appeal to those who enjoy card-based puzzle games, the high degree of chance involved is most likely off-putting to others, myself included.
Underground Blossom has a hard story to follow that can either be interpreted as a metaphor for emotional trauma, loss and grief or something else entirely, something supernatural and a bit unsettling. In terms of how well it functions as an escape room game, I'll have to say it does exactly what it says on the box. The difficulty of the puzzles seem to hit a sweet spot too so almost anyone should be able to enjoy the gameplay, just don't try to question the weirdness too much.
While Stray Gods occasionally sounds discordant if the player happens to pick musical passages at random, you've got to at least respect the unique and innovative gameplay mechanic that enables you to experience musicals in a new medium. Even if you're not that keen on musicals though, at the very least, the game is a high quality visual novel with memorable characters, great voice acting and an interesting take on Greek mythology.
Poosh XL like any good arcade game is simple to learn, hard to master, yet addictive enough that you'll be coming back again and again to beat your high score. Only requiring one button to play makes it one of those games where you can enjoy a cup of tea with one hand while playing the game with the other. If you like cheap and cheerful endless runners with an 80s aesthetic, why not give it a go?
Gameplay is very similar to the original and the game can feel like a bit **** when you get to higher levels, but before you reach that stage, you'll most likely enjoy this sequel to Cook, Serve, Delicious! as it's bigger and better in every way. Not only are there more recipes to cook but there's also the ability to design the interior of your restaurant. You can even enjoy some local co-op and if difficulty is ever an issue, there are options to make it as easy or challenging as you wish.
While Senna Forever is a considerable improvement over the Summer Vibes DLC, it's more of the same with Formula One cars. I genuinely enjoyed learning more about the highlights of Ayrton Senna's career while playing the single-player campaign and there's a decent amount of content, but they're definitely targeting a niche here: those who like video games and are Formula One fans, but want something more casual than a simulation game.
Life is Strange 2 risks alienating its original fanbase by making your character lack any superpowers and placing you in the role of raising a frightened young boy who does. However, the way this boy reacts to how you talk and how you handle the racial discrimination, sex, drugs and other challenges you will face as you make your way down south through the United States, makes it all worthwhile. Although the game might become too cynical, overbearing, even triggering at times, it's an epic adventure that deserves to be experienced.
At times, Tilly's Tale feels like a high quality visual novel, with great artwork, voice acting and a punny story based on a universe rich in lore that Quest for Glory fans are very familiar with. However, it's debatable on whether this game offers anything new to visual novel fans in general and bugs can potentially ruin the experience too.
VVVVVV is a retro puzzle platformer with a twist, where jumping is replaced by the ability to reverse gravity. The game has a phenomenal chiptune soundtrack by Magnus Pålsson to boot but it's not enough to be a retro aficionado when playing this game: you've got to actually be good at puzzle platformers to fully appreciate it. If you're (like me) a bit uncoordinated when it comes to these sorts of games, it might become a bit too frustrating at times to enjoy.
For better or worse, Crazy Taxi is a relic of the early 2000s thanks to its low-poly visuals and punk rock soundtrack. It's easy enough to learn the basics in this game but there are some tricks that can give you the edge (although they are harder to pull off). The game is fun for the first few goes but after that, mileage will vary (mind the pun). If you're into arcade driving games and don't mind playing a game over and over, hunting for a high score, this game should suit. If, on the other hand, that sounds incredibly boring, you might want to give this one a miss.
Need for Speed Heat is a fun, open world racing game with many cars to choose from and a myriad of customisation options in terms of performance and looks. The game even grants you the quirky ability to turn seemingly boring vehicles, like the Volkswagen Beetle, into supercars, an ability I haven't really seen since Need for Speed Underground 2. There are many events you can participate in across Miami-lookalike, Palm City, and while I had no qualms about participating in most of them, the grind can sometimes become too much and you'll just want to get back to the main storyline instead of pottering around with side quests. Performance issues can also rear its ugly head for those running the game on hardware from a few generations ago. Is it the spiritual successor to Need for Speed Underground 2? Not quite, but it's pretty close. And when the game goes on sale for only a few bucks, it's worth the price of admission.
Disco Elysium is a point 'n' click adventure that looks and plays a lot like a 90s RPG and is a delight for those that seek games with rich lore and a plethora of narrative options. The game's mature themes and exploration of the protagonist's shame, loss as well as political views, should appeal to older gamers that want a bit of introspection in their game without it becoming too abstract. The game also has well-written, convincing characters that you won't be forgetting in a hurry and a satisfying conclusion even for those of us that aren't the next Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot. The only criticism I have of the game is that there probably should have been a redesign or at least more transparency with respect to the "thoughts" system as it's not very forgiving and could potentially lead you to unwittingly waste experience points when they would've been better spent elsewhere.
Kapia is a short but sweet, family friendly point 'n' click adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world. It has gorgeous graphics, solid puzzles and an intriguing plot yet the occasional shonky camera angle and lack of coherency in the narrative hold it back.
Moonshine Inc. introduces a novel concept to the business simulation genre where you're in charge of an illegal alcohol production and distribution business. The game has great artwork, animations and music, and can be quite addictive when you're trying out recipes in order to unlock new ones. However, the game quickly loses its charm once you discover the myriad of showstopper bugs and lack of feedback with its core gameplay mechanic. While bugs can be fixed, core gameplay is a tougher nut to crack which means for those who are novices when it comes to homebrewing (such as myself) the game will forever require an amount of luck or black magic to succeed. You need to be well versed in the subject matter or have a lot of patience in order to appreciate this game fully.
Snow Problem is an addictive physics puzzle game that's a bit like Lemmings except you're funneling snow down a screen instead of rodents to an exit. For those that lack patience or good hand-eye coordination, this is not for you but most people should be able to get a few hours of entertainment out of this and if you want more, there's always the level editor to try out.
Return to Monkey Island is a quality, modern point 'n' click adventure that should appeal to fans of the Monkey Island franchise and newcomers alike. An intuitive, easy-to-use interface, an easy difficulty setting and an in-game hints system will be welcome to those unfamiliar with point 'n' click adventures and everyone can appreciate the crisp visuals, professional voice acting, beautiful soundtrack and funny humour. The ending is the only thing I had mixed feelings about. It doesn't detract from the fun I had playing the actual game but I did feel it could've been wrapped up better (just don't ask me how).
Gathering Storm delivers what fans generally expect from a Civilization expansion: new gameplay that creates interesting new opportunities along with a bunch of new civilisations, buildings, technologies and units to play with. Some may be annoyed at how brutal climate change and natural disasters can be in this game, or the fact that there is yet another victory type to keep tabs on to ensure nobody usurps your position as a superpower, but others will welcome it. Overall, I'm in the latter camp and am pleased with how Gathering Storm turned out.
Although DICE has tried their best to refresh the Battlefield formula by making it more like a hero shooter, sometimes trying to implement whatever was popular a few years ago isn't the best strategy and sticking to what you do best actually makes you stand out from the crowd. Also, it's still relatively easy to find bugs in this game and performance is sluggish on anything but the most recent PCs. The game has its fun moments though, and there are still a few Battlefield die-hards playing this game. With some TLC, it could be better, but it's been a while since release and the game is still being polished.
