Joe Juba

“Disco Elysium can be thoughtful, funny, sad, and profound. To see how it artfully navigates that spectrum, you simply need to play it for yourself”

“Managing your base and bossing people around can be fun, but that simple joy is often obscured by layers of repetition”

“Haven finds a groove in its exploration and character-building, but the combat and big narrative beats throw it off”

“Combat is fun, and it ties into the simulation elements well. However, the pacing and repetition makes it difficult to fully appreciate it all”

“Assassin's Creed Valhalla is full of interesting stories and fun interlocking systems, making it an engrossing world you can easily get lost in”

“Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition is the best way to play an already-good game, but the fine-tuning doesn’t elevate the experience to new heights.”

“Astro's Playroom isn't just an introduction to the PS5. It is a charming and enjoyable game, even if it isn't trying to redefine the boundaries of the platforming genre”

“Even with lackluster battles, the constantly escalating stakes and evolving story pulled me in”

“Even though it's technically a game, Battletoads is not a good time”

“Spiritfarer taps into the fun of farming/lifestyle simulations, but adds a unique story layer that sets it apart”

“This remake successfully preserves the Destroy All Humans experience, regardless of whether it's fun or funny today”

“This remake successfully preserves the Destroy All Humans experience, regardless of whether it's fun or funny today”

“Though the narrative and puzzles don't ultimately ascend to great heights, Evan's Remains is interesting and unique”

“Streets of Rage 4 is a fun stroll down memory lane, but it doesn't have enough depth to completely pull players in”

“Final Fantasy VII Remake finds a satisfying balance between innovation and tradition, delivering flashy battles and fun systems mixed with nods for old-school fans”

“The novelty of traversal doesn't last, leaving you with a generic adventure inspired by Metroid”

“Though it seems to be a traditional adventure game at first, this is an enticing and bizarre tale unlike anything you've played before”

“The Diaz brothers are likable heroes with a believable relationship. Their journey is punctuated by big decisions, surprising consequences, and a satisfying conclusion”

“The mystery has a satisfying payoff, but the bigger draw is navigating the main character's competing thoughts and weighing what kind of person you want him to be”

“Finding your way through (or around) various problems is fun, and a streak of silly humor keeps the tone light enough to counterbalance the darker themes”