Ben Sheene

“Once players round the hurdle of its initial difficulty spikes, Nioh 3 becomes a festival of player choice in its deluge of loot-based combat. A focus on open zones and a second combat style give the formula renewed energy to carry players into the rich endgame.”

“SLEEP AWAKE's psychedelic horror takes players on a delirious journey where the very world shifts and deceives. Mediocre stealth inflicts minimal damage on this mind-bending narrative that exists to confound with its captivating premise.”

“Sektori is an intense arcade classic that will leave players in a trance-like state. With a splash of modernity, this explosion of particles, color, and skill begs for constant replays once players master its finely-tuned difficulty curve.”

“A.I.L.A dabbles in the delicate space between the tricks developers can play on our minds and the complex places games can take us. Though made by obvious horror fans, it may be genre veterans who grow weary of its predictable paths and tropes.”

“Wielding incredible style, an emotional story, and layered action, Constance strives to be more than just another derivative Metroidvania in a sea of heavy-hitters. It may be overshadowed by some monoliths but this painterly tale has a few strokes of genius.”

“Minimalist yet poignant, The Berlin Apartment offers a handful of narrative vignettes allowing players to experience the tumultuous history of Germany across the decades. Though brief, its stories pack an emotional punch that won't be forgotten.”

“Equal parts original, absurd, goofy, clever, catchy, and sincere, Once Upon a Jester is a gem of creativity that uses hilarious writing and a wonderful soundtrack to punch well above its weight.”

“Godbreakers is packed with smooth, tight action and engaging boss fights that can be invigorating in co-op. But a lack of content outside of blistering difficulty modifiers may be disappointing for roguelike fans.”

“Tiptoeing on the knife's edge of punishing rage bait and profound accomplishment, Baby Steps will either victimize or enthrall depending on the player. That fine line opens the path for both a brilliant anti-game or a fist through your screen, your mileage simply may vary.”

“Wizordum has all the trappings of an early 90s first-person shooter, expertly looking and playing the part well. But Emberheart Games has gone the extra mile to incorporate modern flair, creating more than just homage.”

“LEGO Voyagers embraces a cooperative, child-like sense of play. While the game rarely tests the mettle of its participants in its short runtime, this charming journey is hard not to love.”

“Dead Take is a sharp turn for Surgent Studios after Tales of Kenzera: ZAU. But the developer's attempt at first-person narrative horror via escape room is a bold jab at Hollywood's dark underbelly, helmed by some incredible performances.”

“RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business takes the core of Teyon's extremely solid effort at recreating Paul Verhoeven's violent classic and merely provides players with more. It's a standalone experience that should scratch the itch of players who want more RoboCop.”

“Ruffy and the Riverside is a joyful and quirky collectathon that attempts to bridge past and present sensibilities. Bursting with personality and a novel gameplay mechanic, should enjoy a sense of discovery and a helping of clever puzzles.”

“Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker is a pristine piece of DLC. Forgoing the inclination to merely take on more of the same, Sabotage Studio diversifies what made the base game great and continues delivering a masterful understanding of RPGs.”

“Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is another feather in Capcom's cap as it works to revitalize marooned games in its catalog. Though distinctly for genre enthusiasts, the high-quality netcode ensures that decades-old titles could have their time in the competitive scene.”

“Once Upon a Puppet excels in its ability to build a fantastical world cobbled together from the dilapidated remains of opulence. As a 2.5D platformer, the game’s attempts to use the genre’s foundations are often mixed. Clever puzzles and bursts of action go hand-in-hand with movement that can often not feel fluid and satisfying enough. But players open to the game’s charm should be able to ignore the blemishes and enjoy the moments that truly shine.”

“SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered is another invaluable entry in Square Enix's increasing catalog of updated games. But this particular PlayStation 1 gem is distinct for its varying risks, impeccable style, and tendency to be different.”

“Despite an obtuse overarching narrative and minimal gameplay, Karma: The Dark World continually swings for the fences. Pollard Studio's debut heavily leans on artistic direction that will linger with the player long after the story fades from memory.”

“ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist takes the best elements of its predecessor, building a more confident game. Certainly a fantastic Metroidvania, it could still push the envelope to deliver an exceptional variation to a flooded genre.”