Nicola Lecis

“Carmageddon: Rogue Shift is a solid, fast-paced, and engaging racing-action roguelite, capable of becoming addictive thanks to a well-crafted gameplay loop, rewarding progression, and a wide range of strategic options. The gameplay is chaotic and exhilarating, supported by a strong system of weapons and perks and a reliable technical performance. At the same time, however, the game abandons much of Carmageddon’s historical identity: iconic characters, vehicles, and maps are missing, the narrative remains marginal, and the overall aesthetic feels dark and somewhat anonymous.”

““For enthusiasts, Abathor is both a tribute to a golden age and a challenge — a battle cry that speaks the language of forgotten deities and worn-out joysticks. We’re talking about the dream of any kid who grew up between an SNES controller and getting pummeled in the arcade after feeding in 500-lire coins: at the heart of the experience is tight two-dimensional action, made of strikes, dodges, and carefully measured jumps, but also of constant cooperation and competition among players.””

“Ale Abbey is a surprisingly deep and coherent management sim, crafted with an artisanal care that perfectly mirrors its subject matter. Its slow, contemplative pace, detailed production phases, and ironic yet respectful tone make it a little gem for those who love beer and slow, nuanced management games. The pixel art warms the eyes, the soundtrack supports the mood with restraint, and the gameplay—once learned—offers a pleasant sense of “monastic routine.” On the other hand, the repetition of daily tasks and the limited number of music tracks may emerge after several hours, making the experience less stimulating for players seeking a faster pace. But if you embrace its cozy, contemplative spirit, **Ale Abbey** becomes a long and satisfying toast—one that blends humor with the quiet pleasure of thoughtful, deliberate management.”

“Alien: Rogue Incursion Part One – Evolved Edition is a game built on contrasts. On one hand, it delivers an atmosphere that’s faithful to the saga’s retro sci-fi roots, a captivating soundtrack, and a storyline that, while not original, manages to maintain momentum through cliffhangers and references to the expanded universe. On the other hand, it stumbles with gameplay that leans too heavily on action, limited gunplay mechanics and arsenal, and—most disappointingly—an underwhelming alien AI, far from the psychological tension that made Isolation a cult classic. The transition from VR to traditional systems works surprisingly well, and the small QTE sequences replacing physical interactions add a tangible touch—though one that grows repetitive over time. Ultimately, this is an imperfect yet worthwhile experience, capable of holding your attention and entertaining despite its structural flaws. It’s not a game for those seeking a refined survival horror, but it stands as a recommended purchase for Alien fans eager to relive the xenomorph nightmare in a fresh and engaging narrative context—with the promise that Part Two might finally fill in the gaps left open.”

“''Back to the Dawn'' is a deep and surprising prison RPG that blends mature storytelling, social simulation, and strategy. Beneath its pixel-art graphics lies a tough, never-relaxing experience where every choice truly matters. The story is the beating heart of the game: two campaigns (one still on the way), eight endings, and complex moral choices make each playthrough unique. The gameplay rewards planning, focus, and precision, with solid RPG mechanics and a coherent, living world. The combat system is minimal but functional, reflecting its secondary role. Perhaps the only real flaw in an otherwise memorable experience is the difficulty, which can be intimidating and frustrating. It's not a game for everyone, but those seeking challenge and narrative depth will find it genuinely worthwhile.”

“Do No Harm is a simple but ambitious indie title, which mix elements of Victorian medicine and cosmic horror in an experience reminiscent of Papers, Please. The idea behind it is fascinating and the game manages to convey a sense of growing tension, between increasingly complex diagnoses and supernatural presences that threaten our mental and physical sanity. However, a poorly refined technical realization, an unbalanced difficulty and characters that are barely sketched out make it a little frustrating and boring. Ultimately, Do No Harm has the potential to be a unique medical/horror experience, but it needs corrections and improvements to reach the level of its ambitions. Corrections that fortunately Dart Games are committed to releasing soon.”

“Age Of Darkness is an great RTS, with a narrative campaign that is not excellent but certainly enjoyable and long enough, considering however that the survival mode is the real point of interest for hardcore gamers. The graphics and sound are also excellent; the only flaws we found in this game, which are not insignificant, are the many bugs that made our games unnerving, together with path finding problems for allied troops and frame rate drops when the enemy hordes became really numerous.”

“Surreal, irreverent but also deeply dark and dreamlike. A deep and multifaceted story, one of the best investigation experiences, a cross between a recent Cartoon Network product and True Detective, with a few sprinkles of Twin Peaks-style lysergic acid dissociation This game has three flaws: the risk of having to lose a run for not having put together clues and dialogues in the right way (and it's not easy) and the mechanic of moving time forward, and by the third/fourth run, once you have seen everything and spoken/mindsurfed with everyone, the game becomes quite repetitive.”

“Iron Meat is a classic run-and-gun that doesn't want to innovate, but simply proposes the best that the genre has to offer, adding a grotesque and ultra-violent design carefully crafted. A great old school pastime that will keep you busy for several hours, depending on how many achievements and characters you intend to unlock and how good you intend to become at playing it.”

“In short, Edge Of Sanity is a great survival game that combines stealth, management and exploration elements, but it suffers from a certain monotony and frustration due to the forced grinding and a not entirely satisfying aiming system. However, the narration, voice acting and dialogues are of the highest level, giving the game a distinctive identity as a Lovecraftian horror with deep psychological thriller elements. The art design and audio department are very well-finished, contributing to creating an immersive and engaging atmosphere.”

“Rungore is a really intriguing title despite some graphic and sound choices that didn't particularly convince us. Inspired on a conceptual and humorous level by Flash titles and on a technical level by the 8Bit era, the title is an interesting mix of frenetic rhythm and great personality.”

“Take Tetris and Asteroids, mix them with a huge branching gamebook and add a hilarious story based on science fiction and the Cold War. Original, replayable for at least 15 runs, extremely satirical, fun and really addictive for experienced players of this genre, an all-round Must Have.”

“Lightyear Frontier is a title that need more upgrades. Still heavily limited in the quantity and quality of its mechanics, we hope that the developers continue to expand it, as despite its flaws, it's a good game, due to the very good chillout mood and for its technical qualities.”