Christiaan Ribbens

“This is a game you can easily sink a few hours into. I haven't reached the end yet, as it's quite challenging, and you certainly won't encounter the first boss in the first hour. Seasoned platformers might blast through it a bit faster, but even then, you'll need to learn the patterns and stay constantly alert. All in all, The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest is a surprisingly strong and solid metroidvania. With its witty humor, strong enemy design, tight gameplay, and quirky presentation, this game is a definite recommendation for both fans and non-fans of the genre.”

“The Forsaken Hollows is a solid, well-maintained expansion that does exactly what you expect. Nothing more, nothing less. Some players may feel the amount of content is a bit lacking, and it's certainly not a reason to buy Nightreign if the original didn't impress you. This is more of the same, but well-executed. Would this content have worked better as a free update? Probably. Still, FromSoftware once again delivers quality, and there are few real technical or content flaws. For loyal players, The Forsaken Hollows is a welcome reason to return. For everyone else, Nightreign remains an experiment that still can't quite match the success of Elden Ring.”

“Slots & Daggers is an unexpected surprise. It's a fantastic roguelite that combines chance, tactics, and addiction into a wonderfully fluid whole. The balance between luck and strategy is cleverly struck. Every run feels worthwhile, and every reward earned. The presentation is delightfully spectacular. There are a few minor flaws; the enemies could have used a bit more animation, but that's a minor detail. Ultimately, Slots & Daggers is a perfect snack game: light, fast-paced, yet with enough depth to keep you coming back for another gamble.”

“Candy Rangers is a textbook example of how a classic genre can be revived. The combination of a clever color system, creative enemies, and small bits of freedom makes it a fun experience. At the same time, the feeling that there could have been more lingers. The quick introduction of all the mechanics and the lack of real progression mean the game is already over after twenty levels. But perhaps that's the best compliment you can give a short-lived game like this: I want to see more. More levels, more enemies, more crazy twists. And if a game leaves you with that feeling, it's done its job well.”

“Grief Like a Stray Dog is a remarkable title that demonstrates the breadth of the gaming medium. It combines elements of theater, music, and visual art in an interactive format not often seen. At the same time, the game falls short in terms of playtime, gameplay, and depth. The story is weighty, but handled superficially. For those who enjoy short, artistic experiences, this might be an interesting title, but those looking for an engaging graphic novel or a game that emphasizes choices and consequences probably won't find what they're looking for here. Ultimately, Grief Like a Stray Dog is primarily a beautiful art project, but not a game that will stay with you for long.”

“Roadwarden is a fantastic game on PC. A remarkably well-written adventure that sits somewhere between a thick book and an RPG. It's ambitious, atmospheric, and offers countless choices with real consequences. But the Switch 2 version is a disaster. Slow text, buttons that don't work, and an interface that's anything but clear. A simple arrow in the menu would have made a world of difference, but even that's missing. It's a shame, because it completely erodes all the praise the PC version deserved. Where Roadwarden should have drawn you into a dark, thrilling world, only frustration remains here. We'll definitely have to wait for a patch before we can recommend this game.”

“Giant Machines 2017 for the PS5 is a unique title. Graphically and technically, the game is clearly outdated, and the transition to the new generation yields few improvements. The concept—piloting immense machines in lumbering, precise missions—has a unique charm for a very specific target audience, but it doesn't quite live up to its promise. If you're looking for a simulation title, there are plenty of other great titles out there that offer more.”

“The King is Watching is a surprisingly clever and challenging roguelike with a unique twist. The line-of-sight mechanic is a clever invention that keeps the gameplay constantly exciting. Add to that the building and defense components, along with dozens of unlockables, spells, kings, and advisors, and you have a game that remains captivating. The learning curve is steep, the runs are (sometimes too) long, and there's room for some minor improvements, particularly in terms of save options and visual optimizations. But what matters is that every run feels like a new puzzle. For fans of roguelikes, kingdom builders, and strategic puzzle games, The King is Watching is an absolute must-have.”

“Split is short. After about 45 minutes, you can reach the first ending. If you want to see both endings, you'll have to replay the game, which, thanks to the terminal interface, is worth it. However, don't expect deep replayability or hidden sidetracks. This is a small experience, meant to be experienced once or twice. Split isn't a game that impresses with its technique or length, but it does boast strong game design. It's an atmospheric, cleverly designed experience that does something quite different from most games. For fans of horror, Half-Life, The Matrix, or similar worlds, this is highly recommended. It's a small slice of digital horror that really gets under your skin.”

“And yet, despite all these annoyances, you keep going. The world in Vessels of Decay simply looks fantastic. You want to see what's around the next corner. The gameplay flows quite smoothly, and you can get past the numerous bosses relatively easily. Vessels of Decay is one of those games that wins you over with one screenshot and one piece of music, but then partially disappoints you the moment you pick up the controller. The numerous bugs really hold this game back. The atmosphere is cool and the gameplay is extensive, but the world feels a bit too empty, even for a game set in a post-apocalyptic world.”

“How 2 Escape: Lost Submarine is a masterful piece of game design. If you’re a fan of escape rooms, this is an absolute must-have. You don’t need to buy two copies to play together, and the clever puzzles provide over six hours of intense co-op fun. Both the PS5 game and mobile app are excellently crafted. Fans of We Were Here or Split Screen Fiction rejoice: this is your next adventure. This is a game that will not only test your brain, but also your mutual bond.”

“The game teaches you more about James Ensor in a playful way, and perhaps even more importantly: it invites you to really look. At art, at details, at the stories behind the work. Please, Touch the Artwork 2 was made with great care and love by solo developer Thomas Waterzooi and knows how to combine art and play in an accessible way. It is creative, relaxing and above all original. It is therefore a pity that you get through it quickly, and the price tag is on the high side. But if you have any interest in old artists, it is good to support this game, hopefully we will get a nice compilation with all the Belgian masters.”

“Sunderfolk knows exactly what it wants to be: an accessible RPG experience that you share with friends. The controls on your phone are smart, the combat is tactical, and the world feels alive and full of choices. There’s no hassle of setting up a board or finding a dungeon master. The game is chock full of content, and for groups of friends who’ve always wanted to try a tabletop RPG but haven’t had the time or inclination to delve into the rules, Sunderfolk is a godsend. It may not be revolutionary in terms of visuals or mechanics, but it carves out a new niche. This should be the perfect introduction to both analogue and digital RPGs. But it still falls a bit short. The game is on the slow side and lacks some streamlining. The phones feel like a cool gimmick. The less than stellar visuals can be partly ignored, but the game simply doesn’t offer enough truly cool moments, whether as a video game or a board game.”

“Soulslinger: Envoy of Death is a fresh mix of genres that come together surprisingly well. Everything works. The weapons are fun to play with, the progression system is logical and the interface is clear. You can tell that the creators worked on this game with a lot of passion. The western-fantasy mix is ​​fresh, and the nice conversations between Death and our gunslinger make you go through large amounts of arenas with pleasure. Despite the limited weapon selection and the fact that the game does not offer much choice everywhere, it all feels cool. Soulslinger is stylish, challenging and bloody entertaining.”

“Turtle Knight Games knows how to add something fresh to the roguelike genre and that is great. The gameplay is fast, challenging and chaotic. This could be a perfect game to quickly play on the Nintendo Switch . But unfortunately everything around the levels feels a bit slow. Unlocking upgrades, changing levels and walking to the next subway happens at a snail's pace. This ensures that this entertaining game ultimately does not qualify for the Eredivisie.”

“The soundtrack deserves special praise. With a mix of EDM, industrial metal and other electronic styles, each track fits the gameplay perfectly. It is incredibly fun to switch between songs via the cassette player. You can even switch music during a run if you feel like the music doesn't fit the level or weapons. Robobeat is therefore a welcome addition to the PS5 game catalog. Dual-wielding two guns that are completely different from each other works like a charm. You can earn a lot of extras here and you don't feel like you have to grind endlessly to unlock something new. With four different levels and an art style that is very similar, the game unfortunately doesn't offer much visual diversity. The large amount of cool songs, weapons and power-ups specifically ensure that you come back to play a "short" level.”

“Nairi: Rising Tide is a solid successor to Tower Of Shirin. The graphic style now contains even more details and the story and the world contain a lot of depth for a game with childish characters. The puzzles are cleverly designed and the various tools are used cleverly here. It is therefore a great pity that the story is sometimes quite difficult to follow and the dialogues are on the long side. In any case, the makers know how to end the games in an exciting way and it makes us curious about what the next part will bring us.”

“Monarchy tries to recreate the magic of Kingdom Two Crowns, but only partially succeeds. For fans of the genre it can offer a nice change of pace, but ultimately it feels like a lesser copy that fails to convince with its own well-thought-out content. Kingdom Two Crowns remains the undisputed king of this genre and proves that a game that is well-finished and thoughtfully designed has much more to offer than a game that merely tries to follow in its footsteps.”

“Vendetta Forever shows that anyone can be a bad action hero. It is an action game with sixty missions that remains fun for a long time, as long as you do it in short sessions. It is a shame that the game can often be frustratingly difficult and the lesser finishing in certain areas can sometimes cause confusion. The game will not win any Oscars, but that is often not the case with action films.”

“Wilmot Works It Out is a creative sequel to Wilmot's Warehouse. It takes the soothing feeling of sliding blocks and gives it a creative twist to create something new. The perfect controls from the first game are directly carried over here and work even better. The different paintings that you have to puzzle together each time are creative, original and cleverly resemble each other, which provides just the right amount of challenge each time. This makes Wilmot Works It Out a nice addition to the Wilmot series and hopefully even more players will discover the simple but cool adventures of the square block Wilmot.”