Empire-building re-envisaged as managing elaborate production chains, then re-re-envisaged as another 4X with repetitive micromanagement and weak, bland AI.
Frostpunk 2 is an atmospheric, bold attempt to reinvent its society-moulding subgenre, but its story and building too often frustrate.
One of the classic draws to games as a medium is having a go at fictional jobs like wizard, space salvager, or landlord. This week I've been playing Times & Galaxy, a kinda silly but absorbing visual novel game about a sci fi concept called "journalism". It's good!
A fussy and demanding, but utterly singular and impossibly absorbing planning and logistical sim that other city builders can barely hope to match.
A few bugs and grumbles with Skald are utterly brushed aside by a charming and accessible modernisation of 80s RPG detail.
Songs Of Conquest is a colourful army building and smushing strategy game with clear rules and a heap of RPG levelling-powered possibilities.
A familiar yet solid revival of late 90s FPS action that brings back a few annoyances but still sticks the landing.
An underexplained but ultimately rewarding tactical RPG with a rich and broad character customisation system that grew on me the longer I played it.
