Terrence Johnson

“Sworn won’t dethrone the giants of the roguelite space, but it’s a strong, enjoyable entry with a clear identity. If you love games built around progression, combat experimentation, and dark fantasy settings, this one is worth your time; especially if you have a few friends ready to dive into Camelot’s ruins with you.”

“Death on the Nile may not be a big-budget spectacle, but it’s a well-crafted mystery with charm and ambition. If you enjoy piecing together clues, catching liars in their contradictions, and unraveling classic stories in new ways, this is a cruise worth boarding.”

“If you admire The Long Dark but bounced off its punishing survival mechanics, Arctic Awakening might hit the sweet spot. It’s a game that feels like spending a weekend in the cold; you won’t stay forever, but while you’re there, it’s an experience worth having.”

“Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny more than likely won’t compete with the likes of Diablo or Path of Exile, but it doesn’t need to. Its goal is smaller and more focused: to give Nickelodeon characters a new stage to play on while delivering a lighthearted RPG that works for both kids and nostalgic adults. On that front, it rolls a nat’ 20!”

“As you push into tougher runs, the game leans more on your unlocked strength than clever tactics. Sometimes you’ll find you survived more through upgraded stats than actual skill or planning. There are boss fights, and those can hit hard; but a lot of the grind feels like you have to pile on upgrades just to not get steamrolled, rather than learning new strategies.”

“Echoes of the End won’t be for everyone. If you need endless sidequests, checklists, or high-octane action around every corner, this might feel too subdued. But if you appreciate a more deliberate pace, strong presentation, and a story that respects your time, it’s worth diving into. At the end of the day, it’s not a perfect package, but it’s a memorable one. And during a time where there are more games than we have hours in a day; that may be Echoes of the End greatest strength.”

“Firefighting Simulator: Ignite isn’t going to be for everyone. If you come looking for high-octane action, you’ll probably bounce off quickly. But if you’re patient and willing to embrace its deliberate pacing, there’s a rewarding experience here. It’s niche, no doubt, but it’s a niche worth exploring.”

“Abiotic Factor is ambitious and often fun, but it’s also clunky and uneven. When it clicks, it really feels like what would happen if Gordon Freeman never picked up a crowbar and only used science. When it doesn’t, you’ll feel the grind, the jank, and the imbalance drag things down. It’s still easy to recommend to survival fans looking for something fresh and cooperative, and the fact that it’s on Game Pass but know going in: this feels like more of a brilliant experiment than polished product.”

“Metal Eden doesn’t try to be everything. It isn’t a sprawling open world, and it isn’t a 40-hour epic. What it is, though, is a concentrated shot of kinetic energy. If Doom is the power fantasy and Titanfall is the movement masterclass, Metal Eden is the scrappy cousin that blends the two into something that’s lean, stylish, and just plain fun but repetitive.”

“At the end of the day, Titanic Scion is a step forward for the series in some areas but still weighed down by the same problems that kept the original from reaching greatness. If you loved the first game, you’ll find more of what you enjoy here, and the mech customization remains a highlight.”

“If you’re already invested in Cobra’s universe as I am, you’ll find things to enjoy here. If you’re not, this probably isn’t the game that’s going to win you over.”

“Discounty isn’t trying to be a sprawling life simulator, and that’s exactly why it works. It focuses on shopkeeping and small-town charm, and in those areas it succeeds. The store management loop is fun, the characters are memorable, and the atmosphere is cozy in a way that few games pull off.”

“Sengoku Dynasty is a game I wanted to love. I see the pieces of something truly unique, but those pieces never come together. The constant grind, poor villager AI, empty world, and clunky systems overshadow the good ideas. It’s not unplayable; it just isn’t enjoyable for long stretches.”

“Fantasy Finds is exactly the kind of DLC Two Point fans have come to expect: not earth-shattering, but smart, funny, and designed to deepen the systems you already love.”

“Ra Ra Boom has style and ambition, but style alone can’t make up for undercooked gameplay that never fully clicks. Combat is rough around the edges, the lane system just feels ‘there’ and the story lacks any real staying power. Ra Ra Boom feels like the type of game that presents well in motion and in screenshots but the fun starts to waiver the more time you spend with it.”

“For fans of Black, Sigma, or even the NES originals, this is the closest we’ve gotten to the true spirit of Ninja Gaiden in over a decade.”

“Ruffy and the Riverside is one of the most creative games I’ve played all year. It’s a puzzle-platformer that puts puzzles first, throws platforming in for flavor, and somehow wraps it all in a technicolor cartoon aesthetic that shouldn’t work but totally does.”

“Killing Floor 3 is a weird one. It looks better. It’s technically deeper. The gore and co-op moments still slap. But it’s also slower, clunkier, and more controlled than the chaos we used to love.”

“Robocop: Unfinished Business doesn’t reinvent the wheel; it just straps some spikes on it and rolls it through a burning tower full of mercs.”

“Wizard of Legend 2 is a smart sequel. It grows the formula, expands the world, and doubles down on build variety without losing the core “magic” that made the original stand out. Yes, the combat feeling has changed, and no, it’s not quite as tight. But the added depth, visual upgrade, and co-op potential more than make up for it, if the technical side keeps improving.”