STWGames Italia

“Dead Take is a short yet strikingly original experiment, weaving a disturbing story through a strong cast and inventive use of the medium, where atmosphere and writing outshine its technical flaws.”

“''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.”

“Completely Stretchy presents itself as an interesting attempt to offer a purely demented gaming experience, a refuge from the complexity we often seek in increasingly difficult titles. Its artwork and surreal aesthetics manage to hit the mark, drawing a crazy world that all in all attracts. The idea behind the gameplay, with elastic arms as its fulcrum, is undoubtedly intriguing, capable of providing flashes of genuine, light-hearted fun at times. However, the potential of this experiment is unfortunately stifled by significant technical and gameplay issues. Precarious optimisation and often imprecise controls turn originality into frustration, making it difficult to fully appreciate the rare moments when the mechanics work in harmony.”

“ANTRO proves to be a work of great value and ambition from the Catalan studio. A title that in its duration manages to communicate a powerful message: to transform music from a simple accompaniment to the beating heart of gameplay and narrative. Despite the evident passion of the developers, the title sometimes sins on the precision of the controls, which risks undermining the rhythmic flow. ANTRO remains an experience worth trying for those looking for a narrative adventure capable of leaving something behind, where art always finds a way of making itself felt.”

“The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom remains every bit the masterpiece it proved to be at launch, an audacious evolution built on the foundations of a game that redefined the open-world genre, and one that dares to push even further, delivering an experience so ambitious and visionary that few ever thought it could be realized.”

“The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild remains a revolutionary masterpiece to this day, still capable of astonishing with its bold ideas and the ambition of its open world, now shining even brighter thanks to a Switch 2 edition that finally gives it the technical polish it deserves.”

“Dragon Is Dead establishes itself as a 2D action roguelite with tremendous potential and undeniable charm, especially for those who appreciate fast-paced gameplay and a deep progression system. TeamSuneat wears its influences proudly, skillfully blending mechanics and atmospheres reminiscent of genre-defining classics to create an experience that’s both highly enjoyable and addictive. While the linearity of the level design may be a notable weakness, the sheer variety of build combinations and the fluidity of combat more than make up for it, ensuring that every run is a genuine pleasure. Get ready to lose track of time—this is a true gem with serious addictive qualities.”

“Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade proves to be a missed opportunity. The inspiration from Hades is palpable, but suffocating repetition and a banal plot, filled with bland characters and predictable dialogue, undermine its potential. The lack of arena variety, linear progression, and an ever-same final boss make the experience too monotonous and predictable, tending to fizzle out after a few hours.”

“Soulslinger: Envoy of Death is a title that has interesting ideas and classic roguelike mechanics, but unfortunately it still doesn't manage to be a 100% complete and interesting experience. The gameplay manages to entertain, albeit with some problems in terms of enemy artificial intelligence, while the level of performance is certainly the most negative aspect of the experience. It is a title to keep an eye on, which with some improvements and caution could certainly invite us to give it a second chance.”

“Asylum doesn’t reinvent the genre but pays a passionate and faithful tribute to it. With a carefully crafted atmosphere and engaging narrative, it marks a successful return for Senscape and a heartfelt homage to Scratches fans.”

“Koira is a very intimate and delicate experience, capable of transmitting emotions not with words, but through gestures and silence, thanks to a sensitive narration and an impactful artistic component. Although the "puzzles" proposed are extremely simple, the bond between the two protagonists, which evolves along the journey, makes this adventure short but intense.”

“Smart, unsettling, and expertly made, Look Outside stands out as a cosmic horror gem; ten hours of dread-filled exploration that far exceeds its modest price, even if some balance issues remain”

“Bleach Rebirth of Souls is a great homage to fans of the anime and manga series, adapting most of the story arcs while adding a few new ones. While most of the story has been summarized, the way it is told is very weak, with well-made but poorly animated 3D models. The combat is suitable for newcomers to fighting games, with not too many combos to learn and more strategy to exploit. Unfortunately, the online component doesn't have much to offer, and with a disastrous launch on PC it certainly didn't help players to grow fond of the title.”

“YOUR HOUSE succeeds in telling a complex story, supported by a refined artistic style. The overall experience is rewarding and worth living, especially for those who appreciate deep narratives.”

“The Darkest Files is an extremely engaging text-based adventure, capable of bringing us to the anguished post-war Germany thanks to an endearing writing and intriguing gameplay mechanics, even if not fully utilized. Although not free from flaws, including an excessive amount of bugs, the game manages to stand out for the depth of its message, today more than ever of fundamental significance.”

“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.”

“Enchantment under the Sea is a great DLC that represents a significant improvement compared to previous expansions, both from a narrative and gameplay point of view, setting itself up as the correct evolution of the base game. Unfortunately, an unimaginative setting that does not honour either the original work or its sources of inspiration, and some rooted problems since the release of the title, once again prevent Atomic Heart from joining the big names of the genre, although it still is considered another step in the right direction.”

“The Stone of Madness is an ambivalent experience, primarily aimed at a niche audience. The intriguing plot and well-characterized characters create a dark and engaging atmosphere, typical of The Game Kitchen's works. However, the cumbersome and sometimes frustrating gameplay partially ruins the immersion. If you are a fan of the stealth genre and are willing to compromise with the controls, you might appreciate the unique atmosphere of this game; otherwise, with some updates and a bit of patience, it could turn into a cult title even for those who are not fans of the genre.”

“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.”

“Warden's Will is a title that, despite having a good basis for becoming an interesting roguelite, struggles to stand out in a genre already filled with excellent and established products. We're talking about a title that might appeal to those looking for a fast-paced experience, but is unlikely to leave a lasting mark on the hearts of fans of the genre. With future updates and an expansion of content, the game may have the potential to improve, but at the moment it remains an incomplete work.”