Jessica Orr

“A true step forward for open-world gacha games, Infinity Nikki finally brings some much needed competition to the miHoYo monopoly.”

“There's a deceptive depth to Zenless Zone Zero, even with its smaller scale, thanks to this dual focus on pleasing both casual players and those looking for a deeper challenge, mirroring its dedication to both chilled exploration and fast-paced combat. Instead of feeling like a game warring with itself, however, these wildly different vibes weave together to make Zenless Zone Zero what it really is: a successful fusion of ultracool action with slice-of-life goofiness.”

“Stellar Blade has a fair bit of weirdness, but its killer tunes and vibey, flow-state combat - plus a transformative hard mode - are enough to leave you entranced.”

“A standard management sim with a coat of cosy paint lies under the short-lived novelty of using love as a resource.”

“Some subtle improvements to the grind and flexible turn-based tactics mean Honkai: Star Rail's off to a fine start.”

“Svoboda 1945: Liberation is an excellent learning tool, but unfortunately isn't a very good game. That doesn't mean you should skip experiencing it, as the way it tells Czech history through small 'minigames' is excellent, as is its beautiful black and white animations. As a collection of key historical World War 2 moments in the Czech Republic's history, it's a triumph - but if you're looking for meaningful character exploration and a fulfilling main story, then you'll be disappointed. Still, I recommend Svoboda 1945: Liberation to anybody with an interest in history who wants a better way to learn outside of stuffy classrooms and textbooks.”

“Take a break and deliver mail in the beautiful town of Providence Oaks with Lake, an indie title from developer Gamious with a lot of cosy content—if you want there to be. Can Lake really satisfy that wholesome itch, or do technical flaws ruin the experience?”

“Triple-I Games offers a morality tale for fans of decision-based gameplay in Hindsight 20/20: Wrath of the Raakshasa. The action-adventure also ties this moral choice to its combat system. Can the interesting design make up for some combat flaws?”

“Experience a visual novel with a Venti-sized portion of snark, melancholy, and style in Route 59's Necrobarista: Final Pour. Excellent writing and cinematography help tell its coffee and death-themed story, but technical flaws leave a slightly bitter taste.”

“Godstrike is a small indie title with big ideas. This first game from OverPowered Team is a solid start, but its interesting mechanics are let down by inconsistent difficulty and lack of personality. This review goes into what works and what needs improvement for Godstrike to reach its divine potential.”