VGamingNews

“Moonlighter 2 is shaping up to be the game Digital Sun always wanted to make. The gameplay walks the same path trodden by the inaugural entry, but is now more polished, and studded with new options and embellishments that only improve the adventure experience. Some players may lament the same old shop mechanics and loss of the pixel art visuals, but I love the new 3D stylings, which fills the world with a warmth and softness that emphasises the game’s cosiness perfectly. Fans of the original Moonlighter should rush to play the sequel (even in Early Access), and I’d encourage new players to take this one to the counter and see what all the fuss is about.”

“A Game About Digging a Hole isn’t about plunging into the depths of humanity, or a critique of capitalism; it’s a game about digging a really large hole and enjoying your time doing it. If you’re after a game where you can switch off and dig a hole without causing any real-world damage, this is a must-have. There are a few glitches here and there, and with only one environment to dig through, some will find it boring, but if you want to reminisce about days spent at the beach trying to get to China, then this is a game for you.”

“Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping is a perfect follow up to the excellent debut episode, and offers more of the same hilarious crime fighting antics. Rightly or wrongly, the folks at Happy Broccoli Games haven’t taken any risks with this sequel, choosing to use the same tried and tested format to tell a brand new story for Eugene McQuacklin. The story may not be told quite as well this time around, but toting a host of new quirky characters, more witty dialogue, and the same playful visuals and voice-acting, returning fans are sure to love this tale of the otherworldly in the outdoors.”

“Despite the graphical shortcomings and the game ultimately becoming as predictable as a regular 9-5, The Mortuary Assistant offers a lot of fun. The story does plunge into a typical horror trope, but it is executed brilliantly. The randomly generated spooks are where the game shines, as you never know where the next scare is coming from. But like any job, the longer you spend inside the mortuary, the more the novelty wears off. In the space of 10 hours, I went from someone scared to pick up the controller to a jaded employee swearing at the various spirits as they’d moved my embalming stuff around the room for the 100th time.”

“We Were Here Together might be the third instalment in the series, but it’s the first of the lot to really flex its muscles. Armed with a bold new look, a clearer sense of style, and some great puzzle design, Together accentuates all the positives from the previous instalments whilst growing a whole new sense of character. There are some UI gripes and small graphical hiccups on the Switch, but as a game that leans much more on brains than on brawn, We Were Here Together fits perfectly in the Nintendo-sphere. While it lacks the final spit and polish of the later episodes, it’s fantastic to see the series opened up to a whole new raft of explorers on the Switch.”

“OVIVO is an interesting platform experience that succeeds thanks to its mechanical simplicity and its artistic nature working completely in tandem. Simple one button controls allow you to instinctively wobble your way through beautiful monochrome environments, as a thoughtful synth music score pulses on in the background. There’s an intriguing mysticism dripping from the otherworldly images that make up the levels, if only you’re inclined to look, making OVIVO a game best enjoyed by players who value a contemplative artistic expression over tough, technical gameplay.”

“Koloro is a simple little puzzle platformer that can help you while away a few hours – especially if you’re in one of those moods where absolutely nothing looks appealing. But despite some cleverly designed levels, pleasant hand drawn backgrounds and chill lo-fi inspired soundtrack, I found that things got stale long before I reached the end. Whether it was the sheer volume of levels to get through, the slow pace of the autorun mechanics or just the general lack of variation, Koloro is best enjoyed a few levels at a time before moving onto something with a little more substance.”

“Mudborne is a niche, fun puzzle adventure that succeeds in so many areas. It boasts a deep and well thought out core mechanic that makes breeding and rearing frogs genuinely enjoyable, and offers a cozy sense of exploration that coalesces into a very enjoyable game. The mechanics demand a reliance on a lot of menus and submenus which can get a little fiddly, but the chill soundtrack will easily soothe any of those stresses out of you as you play. Mudborne is a thoroughly unique premise that’s just patiently waiting for more players to hop into.”

“Fitness Boxing with Hatsune Miku will only appeal to a small section of gamers; those who love boxing/fitness games with a slice of anime-trance music. If you fall into that category, then I wholeheartedly recommend this game. If Miku’s upbeat J-Pop vibe isn’t your thing, you’ll probably lose interest fast. But if you want some pumping beats and a good workout, then look no further.”

“Unboxing the Cryptic Killer is an enjoyable little co-op puzzler that’ll let you wile away a couple of hours with a partner, should you want a short break from yet another true crime documentary on Netflix. While the art style might not be for everyone, the puzzle design is solid, and the game doesn’t hold your hand until you ask it to, which makes for a moderate and fun challenge. But, despite no major knocks to report, there’s nothing especially noteworthy either. All told, Unboxing the Cryptic Killer is the gaming equivalent of a ‘straight-to-DVD’ movie (remember those?) – it’s inoffensive and entertaining enough, but it isn’t especially memorable one way or the other.”

“Jack Axe has the opportunity to be a fun little platformer, but it suffers from horribly unreliable mechanics that make it more frustrating than it is enjoyable. Between the endless unrecognised button presses, janky hit boxes and your abilities routinely failing to launch, there’s enough to discourage some folks from going very far at all. But for those who show a little faith and push on -fear not- you too might be rewarded by a terminal crash and a deleted save file at the crescendo of the game. Sadly, it’ll take a lot more than the delightfully sweet visuals to keep this one off the chopping block.”

“Devil May Cry harkens back to simpler times, offering fun hack and slash action that you don’t need to take too seriously. Capcom treats us to some very cool environments as we wander across the spooky Mallet Island, smashing through some excellently designed enemies along the way, and what gets in the way can mostly be put down to inexperience on the developers’ part. The fixed camera angles that served them so well in the past are a real pain this time around, and the slow and deliberate menu system detracts from the fluid pace they were going for. This debut entry offers a fun peek back at the origins of a popular franchise; it might be fun for fans of the modern entries or videogame historians, but the average man in the street probably isn’t missing out by not revisiting it in 2025.”

“Syberia is absolutely of its time, offering a point-and-click adventure that now seems outdated in almost every aspect. With aging character models, an archaic and ugly UI and whole townships blatantly designed to facilitate a few oddball puzzles, it’s unlikely to win over many new fans in 2025. That said, it’s not all bad – the pre-rendered environments still look pretty decent, and there’s a few moments so ridiculous that you’ll likely get a laugh or two. Perhaps like the clockwork automatons in the Voralberg factory, Syberia is a product of a bygone era, but not without significance to those curious about days gone by.”

“A simple but effective throwback to simpler times, Knights of Pen & Paper +1 Deluxier Edition is a love letter to tabletop roleplaying games and the fun you can have acting daft with your mates whilst throwing dice. If you’ve come looking for a deep and layered plotline or a finely balanced battle system, you’ve come to the wrong place. This is the land of the min-maxing, meta-gaming meat shields and their party of pals. Best enjoyed by existing TTRPG fans who want to churn out a few micro quests whilst taking a break from something more taxing, there’s fun to be had here if you enjoy the simple things in life.”

“Mindcop is an incredibly entertaining whodunit that expertly blends level headed crime solving with laugh-out-loud foolishness in a way that just shouldn’t work – but it does. Questioning the folk of the Merrylin Crater Camp and scouring for evidence is delightfully simple, and the pivotal time mechanic creates an incredible sense of urgency that’s often lacking in crime games. It’s a game that takes itself just seriously enough, as showcased by its combination of derpy cartoon-noir visuals and saxophone laden soundtrack with its cast of well rounded characters and layered storyline. Fun from start to finish, Mindcop is dripping with tongue-in-cheek playfulness that you won’t need a forensic team to uncover.”

“We Were Here Too is a regression from the original in almost every way, setting it up as the low point of the franchise so far. While the visuals continue to evolve into the characterful style we’d come to love in future entries, the sound design takes a nosedive, as does the puzzle design, which feels bland, flat and somewhat repetitive. Lacking the sense of atmosphere and immersion that makes other entries such fun, there’s the feel of a workplace teambuilding in We Were Here Too – sure, you’re working together, but it’s because you have to, not because you especially enjoy it. Thankfully, I know that future titles soar to significant heights, and I’m thrilled that the team at Total Mayhem Games found their groove with time.”

“As much fun as I’ve had with Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos, the game does feel like a DLC that has somehow been spun out into a full release. In my short time with Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos, I had a lot of fun despite the limited gameplay options and lack of variation through the levels. Because of this, along with the quirky and niche humour that the franchise is known for, I’d find it hard to recommend to anyone who isn’t a diehard fan of Neptunia and the Goddesses.”

“Overall, Wargroove 2 may not add too much to its predecessor, but when you already have a good thing going, why change the formula? The long levels and occasional screen clutter can be annoying, and the story of the campaign is not especially cohesive. However, despite the lack of new features, at its core the tactical gameplay and the gorgeous visuals are a true throwback to the brilliant Advance Wars series. If you’re a fan of that formula, then look no further, as Wargroove 2 is available on Xbox Gamepass, Steam and Nintendo Switch.”

“Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition is the equivalent of a classic car getting a detail, a fresh wax, and being rolled out to wow an all-new audience at the car show. Under the hood, it’s still very much a product of its time, but that doesn’t make the final product any less enjoyable to drive. Boasting the same hilarious and addictive gameplay as 1999 but with a lovely new set of 2025 HD visuals, old-school fans will be thrilled to have this absolute gem available on their modern machine. Just how much this release will move the needle with new players remains to be seen, as it’s very much a port that comes ‘warts and all’, eschewing a few layup modernisations in favour of offering a thoroughly faithful remaster instead.”