Aaron Bacabac

“While not a true successor, Mewgenics carries The Binding of Isaac’s roguelike spirit through its sharp cat-based tactics, dense content, and clear devotion to McMillen’s ideal vision. It’s pricey, brutally slow, and unapologetically harsh, but its addictive music, bizarre systems, and deep strategy make it hard to put down. Not quite purrfect, but very close.”

“It’s hard to make magic feel monotonous, but YAPYAP manages it. Despite a strong, well-executed premise, issues with map variety, economy balance, and progression hold it back from becoming the next big friendslop hit.”

“Like a low-budget ’80s horror flick, I Hate This Place is all flash and no bang. Though it nails the vibe with its visuals and sound, rough voice acting aside, the gameplay is too shallow to hold up. After the early thrills fade, it’s mostly cheap jump scares without the depth to stay engaging.”

“Cult of the Lamb’s latest expansion is a welcome return, adding new mechanics, biomes, and hours of play that enrich the world. The music, visuals, and added lore bring the Lamb’s ascension to a satisfying close. A slow start aside, it’s a rewarding expansion for both veterans and newcomers.”

“Constance shines with its vibrant 2D art, crisp platforming, and some clever progression ideas, but ultimately plays second fiddle to one of the genre’s greats. It’s far from a bad game—quite the opposite—but its strengths don’t make it easier to choose over a top-tier rival at the same price. Still, it’s enjoyable in its own right and serves as a refreshing break when Silksong has you worn down.”

“Flick Shot Rogues is tougher and deeper than it first appears, but all the better for it. Its precision, physics-based, pool-inspired gameplay makes every run engaging, while its storybook charm and high synergy form an addictive loop—just don’t expect much variety in bosses, enemies, or endings.”

“SplitGate 2 is, at best, a half-baked mix of better games. With a meager selection of classes, weak loadout variety, a forgettable battle royale mode, and even more battle pass slop, it’s a shooter that barely leaves an impression—let alone earns your time.”

“FNAF: Secret of the Mimic is carried by the franchise, not the gameplay, but it’s still more FNAF, and that’s more than enough for fans. Lore, world-building, creepy animatronics—it’s all here, and with great graphical and performance optimization to boot. Just don’t expect more than that, and you’re Golden Freddy.”

“Forever Skies stuns with its visuals, score, and storytelling—but its true magic lies in the freedom to build and pilot your own airship through a post-apocalyptic sky. It’s thrilling, thoughtful, and wrapped in a tight gameplay loop with real emotional weight. The launch had a few bumps, but with updates on the horizon, this game’s future is nothing but skyward.”

“Blood Typers is a wildly creative idea executed with impressive finesse—though not without a few stumbles. Its bonkers premise and unique gameplay make it worth checking out, even if sparse save points and stubborn bugs cause frustration. Still, the aesthetics and sound design nail the vibe, and at just ten bucks, it’s a steal. Not bad for a game where you type random words to cave in skulls.”

“Reality Break is a game of extremes. The combat is fantastic, the loot system is top-tier, and the in-run mechanics are engaging across the board (except, perhaps, the story). On the other hand, the metagame progression and accessibility options are about as barebones as they can get. For all its sci-fi pedigree, Reality Break comes with an equal share of issues that need fixing.”

“As the late Wayne June would attest, overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer. If Redhook had stumbled even slightly in reintroducing one of Darkest Dungeon’s most beloved characters, they’d have been six feet under by day one. But they didn’t — they knew exactly what fans wanted from the Abomination, and even threw in a new area and game mode for free, to much applause. Sure, the Catacombs could’ve used more development, but the Abomination is perfect as is. And if the worst thing you can say about a game is that you want more of it, that’s a testament to its quality.”

“It’s no surprise this game has been eagerly awaited for its full release. After years as a standout early-access title, it has matured into an RTS experience worth celebrating. With its polished mechanics, diverse playstyles, challenging yet fair difficulty, and a generous dose of stellar art direction and production value, it’s everything an early-access game aspires to become. If you’re ready to rise to the challenge, this game promises one unforgettable ride from start to finish.”

“Songs of Silence is a Fabergé egg of a game: exquisitely crafted, lavishly detailed, and undeniably beautiful, yet ultimately decorative. Its true value lies in its visual splendor and evocative soundscape, gracing a gameplay core that’s serviceable but lacks the innovation or excitement that would make it truly memorable. If you buy this game, it’s purely for the artistry—for its aesthetic appeal, not for a deep or groundbreaking gameplay experience. For some, that might be worth the price; it was for me. But for others, it may not be worth the gilded exterior.”

“ZEPHON’s post-apocalyptic world delivers on its promises, offering a solid and enjoyable experience with strong mechanics, striking visuals, and engaging themes. The audio is serviceable, if unremarkable, but overall, there's no faulting this game for being above-average. While it doesn’t revolutionize the 4X genre, ZEPHON remains a worthy addition, standing resilient in the shadow of more iconic titles without casting its own. It may be set in the aftermath of an apocalypse, but ZEPHON certainly isn’t the end of Civilization.”

“Europa is a game that’s fun enough to play but hard to miss, and not for the lack of trying. It’s clear that this game had some pedigree behind its creative team, as evidenced by its great visuals and equally stunning audio. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, a game has to be engaging, and Europa simply could not deliver on that front, at least not in a way that makes it worth remembering.”