A flowery, gorgeous world that is enthralling to listen to, but abrasive to interact with, to the point where its structure can confuse players with its intent.
An asymmetrical horror experience that's varied, albeit slightly awkward to maneuver around, and different enough mechanically to stand out from the multiplayer crowd, asymmetrical or otherwise.
A beautiful picture book with an intriguing mechanic that devolves into flavourless surface-level commentary of consent, character, and childlike curiosities. (Review Policy)
A puzzler that challenges as much as it inspires, full of life and passion, even if its narrative offerings tend to stumble towards the end.
Another installment of a satisfying yearly franchise fails to be beset by fatigue, but instead, the greed that tries to make everything else suffer alongside it.
A beautiful world of exhilarating gameplay that wants no more than to burst out with originality and excitement, which is marred by a want to rush to empty platitudes without thinking of the ripple effect it has on everything else.
Fans of the original slow-burn thriller may not find much fulfillment here, but newcomers to Kona may find warmth in how polished Kona II: Brume's potentially unnecessary mechanics are at times.
In an ironic twist, what was once a shining jewel in Xbox’s catalog, and the apex of simulation, has now become a timid companion piece to the infinitely more fulfilling Forza Horizon.
A near-perfect rendition of fairytales with a modern twist, Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly is easily one of 2023's best narrative efforts, with consistently engaging gameplay alongside it.
A powerful narrative journey that utilizes a time loop mechanic for commentary on the cycles we find ourselves in and utilizes its gameplay to play perfectly alongside the story beats.
The Fatal Frame that time forgot finally gets its time in the spotlight, showcasing just enough of the legacy’s qualities, alongside being a perfect introduction to the series itself.
A quick burst of platforming goodness, unafraid to be set back by its lack of variety in challenges, and instead focusing on consistently uplifting level design, with a fantastic soundtrack to boot. (Review Policy)
The Cosmic Shake houses a fantastic recreation of the adventures that SpongeBob SquarePants has gone on throughout the years, only let down by an inability to provide adequate context for its gameplay mechanics.
A incredibly insipid journey of bad design, put through the minds of youth that fails to answer any of the questions asked, instead being the kind of point-n-click title that saw the genre die in the minds of the majority.
A hearty journey that remains tonally consistent despite its joyous mechanics, with its pointless combat and customization not being enough to drag the experience down.
A game seemingly fighting its own presentation and message, The Knight Witch instead alienates the player with smug self-awareness, milquetoast cynicism, and some truly awful genre meshing.
Beginning as a visual spectacle, Lunistice can frequently fall into 3D platforming tedium as it fails to recognize its own potential or characters.
Serial Cleaners' chance to grow brighter and bolder with neo-noir narratives, instead sees itself bogged down in run-of-the-mill nihilism that even affects the gameplay.
What could've been a bridge between the veterans and the newcomers to Gundam instead becomes a product that will cast aside anyone looking for a crash course. The veterans should find more than their money's worth, though.
After a promising start, PowerWash Simulator begins to expand in a way you cannot tackle feasibly, but only in scale. It's one mechanic polished well enough to get by for a short while.