Includes PushSquare
Last reviewed: Mina the Hollower · 4 days ago
A referential and joyful deep dive into the world of Batman, the latest LEGO effort from TT Games is elite brick gaming. Legacy of the Dark Knight just wants to be an enjoyable time, and it refuses to falter from that commitment. This new LEGO Batman will be some of the best fun you have all year.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is an excellent action RPG that offers an even more hardcore take on the increasingly popular Soulslike formula. It's fast, frenetic, and hits like a truck, with one of the most mesmeric combat systems we've ever had the pleasure to master. It might scare off more casual players, but those looking for a challenge, well - you can stop looking.
Infinity Nikki, even in this early phase of its lifespan, is utterly essential – assuming you can stomach the twee, whimsical tone to it all. Its cosy vibes will prove an acquired taste, but its attention to detail and commitment to keeping the player engaged during every minute of exploration is impeccable. Moreover, its visual presentation is up there alongside the best you'll find on PS5 – an extraordinary achievement for a free-to-play game that also miraculously runs on mobile. Some control quandaries and an abundance of proper nouns prevent it from achieving perfection, but these are minor blemishes on an otherwise outstanding experience.
Alien: Rogue Incursion is a solid first attempt from Survios to capture the iconic sci-fi franchise. If you're a fan of the series like we are, then you'll be giddy as you first get to hold your own pulse rifle; you'll shiver as your motion tracker's pulsating tone gets higher; and you'll revel in the disgusting details of the H.R Giger-inspired Alien nests. It is let down at points with repetitive and lacklustre combat, trivial performance issues, and its hard cliff-hanger ending does leave you with far more questions than answers. But you'll be hard pressed to find standout VR moments quite like the ones sprinkled throughout this fun campaign.
Nightdive has greatly improved on a lost gem from the turn of the century, with a massive visual overhaul that further enhances on an impeccable atmosphere, even if aiming still underwhelms.
Taken as a whole, Naiad is a title with incredible art and sound as well as something to say, even if the gameplay isn’t always firing on that same level.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is a welcome reminder of just how engaging Raziel's tale of vengeance can be.
Fantasian Neo Dimension evokes memories of classic Final Fantasy. It's got an impeccable soundtrack, beautiful locales, and a world that inspires wonder. But it's let down a little by likeable but fiercely archetypal characters and a by-the-numbers story, and it's let down a lot by wild and uneven difficulty spikes that make combat a source of constant frustration in the second half of the adventure.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a fantastic co-op shooter that occasionally struggles under strain. The human character models don't exactly look great, but the game delivers what matters: strong gameplay and an excellent atmosphere that's a blast to play with friends.
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is an intricate ball of puzzles that's very pleasing to untangle. If you love a brain teaser and being challenged to think in new ways, there are few other games that'll scratch that itch quite like this one.
Nine Sols will test you, but the atmosphere is stunning, the combat is thrilling, and the story is a fascinating mix of mysticism and sci-fi — so you'll meet the challenge happily. This is the best Metroidvania out there right now. Don't miss it.
Really, it's 8-Bit Adventures 2's straightforward, but tidily balanced gameplay that ties the package together. Turn-based combat is, of course, the order of the day, with each party member bringing their own unique abilities to the fray.
LEGO Horizon Adventures has left us feeling somewhat torn. On the one hand, this is a charming, kid-friendly take on Sony's popular series that successfully translates the story, characters, and combat into the LEGO realm - and with real visual polish to boot. On the other, once the novelty wears off, level design feels vacant and repetitive, almost never engaging you with the sort of platforming or puzzle solving you might expect. There's absolutely fun to be had here, especially the combat, but some fundamental design decisions let the side down.
That eternal Dragon Quest charm is especially potent in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake - a thoughtful repackaging of a classic RPG. With its quality of life additions and delightful 3D visuals, it's easy to argue that this is the adventure's definitive form - even if some of its structural weaknesses remain in place.
Second is Tetris Time Warp, a new title that sends players through each era of the franchise via special warp blocks. This 2024 version should be played after absorbing all this collection has to offer; only then can you fully appreciate where the Time Warp Tetriminos will take you.
From the moment it was announced Metal Slug Tactics was a winner in our eyes. Marrying the SNK classic with the turn-based tactics genre is a golden idea on paper. Hearing it’s a roguelike in the vein of Into the Breach was the coup de grâce for this game being anything but a banger. And we’re happy to say it lives up to those lofty expectations.
Redacted has all the addictive core elements of an enjoyable roguelike: a good variety of weapons, abilities, and synergies with a well-polished presentation. The racing rivals and random events keep runs feeling fresh, although its comparatively short runtime and relatively lackluster melee combat prevent it from being one of the greatest.