Video Game Reviews

While there are a few difficulty issues and some iffy story beats, Returnal is a fantastically brutal, rewarding, and deeply atmospheric sci-fi action game.

Before I Forget is a strong, concise story tracing a woman suffering from dementia as she slowly uncovers pieces of herself as well as the story framed within this mental health journey. It doesn't waste players' time with a run-time that doesn't overstay its welcome, helped by a protagonist that doesn't divulge too much information when she speaks.

Sometimes, Mamiya gets you to analyse yourself in ways that are uncomfortable but those moments of clarity bring the narrative back down to a place that’s as fascinating as it is haunting.

Battle Axe doesn't care for your time and relies on cheap tricks like out-of-view trap placement and an astonishingly small pool of lives. Not to mention that there is an incredible amount of accessibility options missing, all of which detracts from the stellar pixel art. Battle Axe feels like a mess.

Judgment is a pretty good part of Ryu ga Gotoku's portoflio. Its new mechanics lack the agency required to realize the concept's potential. It's also sometimes painfully droll for studio veterans that have tread this formula a dozen times already. That said, when Judgment fires on all cylinders, it reminds us of why RGG is a force to be reckoned with.

Whilst Legend of Keeper's set up is good, little actual dungeon management and a fairly samey gameplay loop leaves the dungeon feeling a little unexplored.

The Lost Gods is, by far, the most adventurous DLC and the most fascinating to play but it’s still bogged down in the same mistakes made before it. This is absolutely the DLC you should play but it's still not as fun as the base game.

There aren't that many adventure games that are both relaxing or engaging. TASOMACHI tries to hit these notes by being about fixing an airship by exploring various ghost towns, but misses each one. However, it may work as an effective sedative.

Insurmountable is definitely a hidden gem of a game, one that provides the right mix of challenge and fun for the player’s delight. It is easily a mountain I would keep climbing, and that is as high of a recommendation you can give for anyone looking for something new to play. 

There things that constantly make us question reality. Whether they're glitches in the coding or interruptive dreams, we try to discover the meaning behind them. In the Hitchhiker, the protagonist is trying to do exactly that.

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is certainly not bad and has some genuine charm but the incessant need to add jokes to everything leaves the experience feeling a little taxing.

As you look across cityscapes, do you ever wonder what each structure is thinking about? Wonder no more with this puzzling-management game, Buildings Have Feelings Too!

Memories Of East Coast is an aesthetically pleasing visual novel that draws you in with stunning hand-drawn art and lo-fi beats in the background. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the same masterful execution when it comes to creative writing, but if all you want to know is how the story plays out, then game can be a non-demanding way to pass the time.

We take a look at Shadow Man Remastered, Nightdive's revival of the classic 90s action-adventure game. Has its resurrection been blessed by the loa?

Despite the chaos we associate with it, even Hell needs a cleanup crew. Taking the role of an anime teenager in the underworld, just forces with poison creature to clean up the personal hells of humans in Poison Control.

With the Vulcan TKL Pro, Roccat has adapted the original Vulcan in a few meaningful ways that make this a much more appealing choice, regardless of the compact size.

Karnage Chronicles is a close-to-perfect dungeon crawler, with jaw dropping VR presentation, fantastically challenging dungeons, and an unforgettable co-operative experience.

Emily is Away

Ashwalkers attempts to do something new with its blend of survival and storytelling, but it fails to be both compelling and a challenge for those who play it.

Deiland: Pocket Planet edition looks to the cosmos but gets pulled in by the inexorable pull of planets - leaving you to crash land after just a few hours. While the rebuild can be fun, the waiting often isn’t worth it

Rain On Your Parade is a clever little puzzle game that references and spoofs dozens of popular video games.

Cozy Grove is a life-sim game that takes a few pages from Animal Crossing while encouraging you to take some time to log off from the game. While the controls are finicky at best, it still provides for a comfortable experience.

Outriders is one of those rare games where it not only lives up to expectations, but completely surpasses them.

It's no wonder that Monster Hunter Rise's sales are through the roof worldwide. The series became mainstream with World, and many gamers are realizing just how addicting the formula for this series is. Monster Hunter Rise does a wonderful job of introducing new mechanics while feeling similar to past entries, and it even looks damn good too. I truly fear for society's free time, as I am sure it has diminished greatly for those who picked up Rise.

Say NO! More is game about saying "No" in order to climb the corporate ladder. Is it as empowering and satisfying as it sounds? Read and find out.

Scarlet Hood and the Wicked Wood is a fun and quirky retelling of storybook faves packaged nicely in an adventure game. There are multiple paths you can take to get to your goal, and supposedly multiple endings too—so if you can get past the odd mouse-slash-keyboard controls and the occasional rage-inducing puzzle, it’s a steal.

The Shore is the first game by 3D artist Ares Dragonis, telling the story of a man stranded on a mysterious island and beset by cosmic horrors.

Evil Genius 2 does a good job of reviving the spy-themed dungeon management game, but it's twice as long as it needs to be and it's sorely lacking for precision controls and policy settings.

As a player, I often felt appeased I Saw Black Clouds, like a child pretending to play their older siblings console. The controller is off and they’re really in charge but I certainly feel like I’ve done something. I Saw Black Clouds isn’t worth perpetuating that facade for. Sometimes, you’re just better off putting the controller down and walking away

We take a look at Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins, a new found phone game from the team behind Simulacra.