flowiscontrol

Just when I thought a few games had raised the bar this year, along comes Control Resonant. The story, tone and atmosphere, the Inception-style world, and the relentless combat and abilities are all packed with detail and crafted to perfection. The immersion is something special, that's hard to pull off. Dylan's character didn't grab me straight away but once I understood him, his quiet, fragile mental state made everything hit harder. He may lack presence but his forms and abilities don't and the art style is stunning. Control Resonant is an obvious GOTY contender.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword delivers the deepest, most satisfying combat system, every clash feels weighty and impactful, the animations and expressions are outstanding. Musashi is a unique and amazing protagonist; he's got that rare presence we haven't really seen since Kratos. The world is distinct and atmospheric, the story kept me hooked. Please let there be sequels. Capcom has had an incredible year, this is on the same level as Requiem. A serious GOTY contender.

The Blood of Dawnwalker's atmosphere and world are so gripping and immersive, a dark vampire setting that has some of that Witcher dna but more multifaceted. The time mechanic is what's really unique for me: every choice costs real days and when it comes to saving your family, that pressure makes decisions feel weighty in a way most RPGs never manage. The writing/story is fantastic throughout. The day/night combat split is the standout for me, it's so layered, very addictive once it clicks. For a debut from Rebel Wolves, this was impressive, amazing game and experience. If this is where they're starting, it's going to be a great future and can't wait for sequels.

Criminally underrated and one of the most atmospheric games ever made. Ready at Dawn crafted something special here, Victorian London drips with mood, tension and beauty, the storytelling is among the most compelling and had so much potential to expand. The combat is amazing, the weapons inventive and the pacing keeps you gripped from start to finish. This studio had vision, ambition and execution. Sony should have backed a trilogy without hesitation. Instead we got one brilliant game buried by lazy reviewers and years of forgettable releases since. Whatever these developers do next deserves every bit of support it gets. A masterclass.

The characters are boring and forgettable, hard to care about decisions when you're indifferent to who lives or dies and this is what happens when ideology is a requirement. The story fails to build any tension or intrigue for what the experience was aiming to be, which is damaging in this genre, don't get me started on the direction and editing. Cinematic horror lives or dies on narrative and character investment, this delivers neither. Worse, the gameplay mechanics are virtually non-existent. No combat, no meaningful interaction, just cutscenes and occasional prompts. The graphics and character movement are painfully average for a 2026 release. Narrative choice games can be brilliant but they demand so much more to accompany them. This belongs in a $10 bin, not the full retail price. Not just a disappointment, an embarrassment.

Even with all the hype and my own certainty this would deliver, Crimson Desert still found a way to surprise me. It takes time to click but when it does, wow. It opens into one of the most distinctive and breathtaking open-world experiences I've played. The world design operates on another level: landscapes that feel alive, textured and convincingly real in motion. Exploring and discovering areas organically feels less like playing a game and more like actually being somewhere. The gameplay follows the same arc: combat and traversal feel unfamiliar at first but the moment it connects, it locks into something deeply satisfying and immersive. It doesn't hold your hand or funnel you toward a prescribed experience and that restraint is exactly what makes it stand out. The story and character depth could carry more weight but it barely registers as a flaw when the world pushes you toward experiences you genuinely haven't had in any other game. Amazing!

Resident Evil 9 absolutely blew me away. The dynamic of switching between Grace and Leon felt unique and refreshing, adding real variety to the experience, while the gameplay is easily the most exciting and detailed I’ve seen in any Resident Evil title so far. The action sequences with Leon are on another level entirely, genuinely elevating the intensity and scale of the game. Incredible atmosphere, tension and cinematic horror from start to finish. Capcom set a new benchmark here.

The Alters is one of the most immersive and emotionally gripping games I’ve played in years. It doesn’t just tell a story - it puts you inside it. Managing the base and the different versions of Jan creates constant pressure, responsibility, and reflection in a way that feels genuinely human.