Umair Khalid's Reviews
I Hate This Place is a bite-sized survival horror game that pairs striking comic-book-style visuals with solid combat mechanics. Its flexible approach to encounters, allowing players to choose between stealth and all-out gunfights, creates a satisfying blend of chaos and strategy. While the game world is relatively small, it makes effective use of its space and delivers a consistently fun experience. Crafting is straightforward without feeling shallow, and the simple base-building systems make it accessible to players of all skill levels. If you’re a fan of survival horror, you’ll find plenty to enjoy while looting, crafting, and fighting to survive in I Hate This Place.
MIO: Memories in Orbit features a beautiful and artistic world, inspired by paintings, comics, and sci-fi, that is rewarding to explore, and the combat is satisfying. It ticks all the green signals of a brilliant Metroidvania and is the perfect game to start your 2026 list of great games to complete. The levels are brilliantly designed, and the enemies are challenging and look cool. It also features an excellent soundtrack with a brilliant audio design that completes an amazing Metroidvania experience. It is still an indie game, and some elements do tend to show that. Still, I loved playing it, and if you like playing Metroidvania titles, MIO: Memories in Orbit is the perfect game for you to jump into.
Apart from the frustrating nature of ‘Of Ash and Steel’s no handholding, the game is filled with bugs, and some of them are game-breaking. At the time of this review’s publication, the game is already over a month old, and it is still filled with different bugs, and the optimization is still very poor. While Of Ash and Steel could have been a great hit back in the early 2000s, sadly, for today’s gamers, it lacks the right amount of fun and difficulty. In its current state, the no-handholding sits way back because the game needs optimization and bug-fixing. It is a shame because the game, on the other hand, has a great world and a lot of different things to do that can keep you busy for hours. I recommend that you sit this one out for the time being and try some other RPG for your fill.
Orbyss is one of those puzzle games that reel you in with its simplistic visuals and easy gameplay mechanics, but you quickly start to realize the logical aspects of its puzzles. Orbyss starts simple but gradually increases the puzzle difficulty while unlocking more mechanics for you to play around, and it looks beautiful while doing it. The visuals are simple yet impressive and feature just the right amount of colors and aesthetics to keep you interested. It does not overwork in visuals to counter its simple gameplay design, and that is what really sets Orbyss apart. If you love playing puzzle games that not only look great but offer puzzles that tickle your brain in the right places, you are going to love Orbyss. Highly recommended for players who love simplistic puzzle games where gameplay and logic go side-by-side.
If you played the original Puzzle Quest titles, the new Immortal Edition is a must-have purchase for you because it not only brings the first game, but also the two released after it in one package, with tons of new content to explore. Coupled with an amazing new art style that looks fresh and a sound design that goes hand-in-hand with gameplay and visuals, Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition is a unique mashup that you never thought you needed in your life. It is equally fun and entertaining for new players as well as returning fans.
Roadwarden deserves a perfect score, but the Nintendo Switch version is not well-optimized for the console. The UI feels a little clunky, and there is a weird lag, whether you are using the touchscreen or the controls for playing the game. Still, if you ignore its laggy UI, Roadwarden is the definition of a true RPG. It shows that you do not need fancy visuals and a 100 GB game size to deliver the true experience of an RPG. The stellar writing and the immersive visuals, although simple, will get you hooked right from the first five minutes, and it makes it very hard to put the console down. At the Nintendo Switch, Roadwarden feels right at home because you can take it everywhere you go, and it will keep you engaged for hours to come. If you own a Nintendo Switch and you love RPGs, no matter what type, Roadwarden should be on your list and installed on your console at all times. It will not disappoint you in any capacity.
Cave Crave is a great example of how VR can allow players to experience something that they may not be able to experience in real life. If you have always wanted to dive into claustrophobic caves and experience what it is like deep down in the world of cave diving, but are too afraid to do it in real life, Cave Crave can satisfy your cave exploration needs. Featuring great gameplay mechanics and a haunting atmosphere, Cave Crave brings the intense feeling of actually being in the down under without the actual phobia. It is a great, polished release that does not feel incomplete at any level. It is a great addition to any VR library that loves extreme sports, daring world adventures, or is just curious to explore some caves.
Not only does Ruffy and the Riverside offer a charming story that is fun to experience up to its very end, but it also offers a beautifully designed world that is full of quirky characters and fun activities to do even after the completion of the main story. Ruffy and the Riverside manages to bring back the charm of the early PS1 and Xbox platforming action games back to life with its own unique mechanics and nostalgic visuals. The Swap mechanic is flawless, and the 2D characters in a 3D world bring out a vibe that no modern platformer has managed to deliver in a long time. It is easily one of the best platformers of this generation and will serve as a foundation for all future platformers to follow. Ruffy and the Riverside is a crown jewel for both Zockrates Laboratories UG and Phiphen Games, and one that should be on every player’s must-play list.
FBC: Firebreak is a solid co-op title, and it is evident not only from its classes but also from the missions that you undertake. The Oldest House will throw some of the most intense situations at you, where only the most cooperative team will survive and make it out alive, whether it is wiping out hordes of enemies or handling ice anomalies with heaters. Each level brings something unique to the table, and with different level modifiers, you can tailor the experience according to your skill level and gameplay style. If you have played Remedy’s Control, you will find a lot of references and similarities in different elements, so it is also a fun new take on an already established franchise. If you have been waiting for a solid co-op shooter akin to Left 4 Dead, FBC: Firebreak will certainly offer a lot to you in terms of world design, gameplay, and shooting mechanics.
The Alters is a gorgeous-looking sci-fi space survival game that offers high replayability thanks to its diverse choice system. It ditches the micromanagement aspects of a base-builder survival game and simplifies mechanics to offer a more focused gameplay on the narrative and the choices that you must make to shape your journey. Featuring amazing gameplay, beautiful locations, a solid sound design, and plenty of choices to make, The Alters is simply one of the best sci-fi survival games to launch this year so far. It caters to a diverse range of players, ranging from sci-fi lovers to base-building fans or players who love making tough moral choices. If you love playing games that offer them, The Alters should be on your must-play list.
Nice Day For Fishing is a highly addictive pixel-art RPG that will keep you busy for hours. With its charming cast of characters, beautiful world, and satisfying fishing mechanics, it does justice to the franchise that inspires it. Despite some backtracking and repetitive quests, the game does not feel like a tedious chore, thanks to its simplistic approach to humor and straightforward quests. It is rare for a video game to have a perfect balance of humor, solid gameplay, and great design in one package these days, but Nice Day For Fishing manages to do it flawlessly. If you love playing cozy RPGs with solid gameplay mechanics or if you are a fan of games that offer a little twist on known genres, Nice Day For Fishing will be a great title for you to try out. Highly recommended for RPG and fishing game fans.
Big Buck Hunter: Ultimate Trophy is an arcade shooter, but for the consoles. It brings the frantic action and challenge that you expect from arcade shooters, but it is also manageable. It features cool visuals, solid shooting mechanics, and a large amount of content that will keep you busy for a long time. If you are looking for a simulation hunting game, this is not the title for you, but it is still a challenging game, nonetheless. If you love playing Big Buck Hunter on arcade machines or any other shooters, or if you are into hunting games, Big Buck Hunter: Ultimate Trophy is a must-have title for you to try and add to your library.
With Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft has picked the best elements from the previous titles and mashed them together in one gorgeous setting. The Feudal Japan featured in the game will definitely make you fall in love with the world, and the two characters are equally solid and grounded within the world. The gameplay is refined, and the game itself is very well optimized for the PS5 console. If you have been waiting for Assassin’s Creed Shadows for some time, we are happy to report that you will not be disappointed after playing it. Everything about the game is beautiful and great to experience. Highly recommended for new players wanting to jump into the franchise as well as long-term fans.
X-Out: Resurfaced marks the return of the classic Commodore 64 shmup back to life in its best form possible. It not only keeps the spirit of the original title alive with its retro visuals and hard difficulty but also brings some added features for the new players, like some cheat codes and 2-player multiplayer. Intense boss battles, the challenge of surviving, plenty of customization options, and the threat of constantly returning to the main menu screen make it an intense shmup of modern times. If you loved playing the original Amiga release or, in general, love playing shmup titles, X-Out: Resurfaced is a gorgeous title to try out. It will keep you busy for hours as you try to master its levels and challenging boss battles. Highly recommended for all shmup fans out there, whether casual or hardcore.
With Split Fiction, Hazelight Studios has continued its streak of delivering yet another Game of the Year contender. It is very hard to find something negative about Split Fiction. It features gorgeous levels, excellent gameplay design, and a co-op experience that only Hazelight Studios can deliver. It is baffling to see how Split Fiction delivers specific genre experiences better than AAA titles that are specifically built for those genres. It not only shows how dedicated the developer is to promote healthier gaming activities but also manages to create experiences that just show the entire industry how it is done. With a free Friend Pass, Split Fiction is a no-brainer for every fan of co-op games, whether they love action games, shooter games, wacky games, or everything else.
MACROSS’s unique approach to strategic shooting rather than spamming attacks pays off in the end because it is more satisfying in the long run. The kills feel satisfying, and having to engage multiple factions in the same campaign keeps things unique between missions. Excellent enemy design, solid shooting mechanics, multiple combat perspectives, cool soundtrack, and intense boss battles really make MACROSS an excellent shoot ‘em up. Whether you are a fan of the franchise or you are just getting into it, the new MACROSS -Shooting Insight- is the perfect title to experience the iconic anime in video game format. Highly recommended for fans of the anime in the West who were looking forward to getting their hands on this action-packed franchise.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is DON’T NOD’s finest release to date, and the level of mystery, voice acting, 90s aesthetics, and suspense just keeps you on your toes. The game does an exceptional job at hiding its best-kept secrets, and this sparks an interest that just wants you to experience the whole game in one sitting. It surely touches on some sensitive topics, but it never goes too deep into them to make it uncomfortable for anyone to play it, and this makes it one of the best releases by DON’T NOD so far. Tape 1 sets the perfect premise for Tape 2 and even beyond the first title in the series. If you love playing DON’T NOD’s signature choice-based narrative releases, you will love playing Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, and even if you are just starting their lineup with it, it is a strong title to kick things off.
Mini City: Mayhem is a deceptively challenging city-building game. While it lacks the complexities of modern city-building titles, it hides a mind-bending challenge behind its charming visuals and simple gameplay mechanics. You jump into the game thinking it would be a simple game where you will build cities by putting down blocks, but it really pushes your city-building skills to the max as every game mode brings its own challenge. It is fun, diverse, and a brilliant change from most modern complex city builders. If you are looking for a challenging city-building game but without the hard and deep gameplay mechanics, Mini City: Mayhem will keep your brain tickling with its puzzle-like game modes and simple city-building mechanics. Highly recommended for a diverse range of players including city-builders, puzzle-game lovers, and cozy game players.
Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap proves that switching the core formula of an established franchise can be fun too, but it has to be done right. Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap ditches the formula of its previous titles and instead goes for a roguelite formula which still holds up the fun and challenge level that this franchise is known for. Most maps and the core gameplay formula are aimed at co-op gameplay, but it is equally fun in solo with tons of traps to choose from and plenty of enemies to slaughter. If you are looking for a fun tower-defense game with added roguelite mechanics, Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap will highly appeal to you. If you are a fan of this franchise, it is a fresh concept but still highly playable and immensely fun. It comes highly recommended by us.
The Fox’s Way Home is not your traditional video game, but it surely gives your brain a little exercise. Behind the sultry For Maiden’s moves, you will need to focus on the little details and then figure out what is different in the next dance. We have certainly played some strange games in the past but The Fox’s Way Home does not feel weird gameplaywise. It surely seems a little weird because you are staring at a Fox Maiden who is dancing again and again but if you consider the overall gameplay, it is fun for a little time as you try to remember everything but still get it wrong. It does tend to get tedious and repetitive after some time but until then, you will have unlocked nearly everything in the game. If you are looking for something calm and a little brain-trickling with cool animations, you can give The Fox’s Way Home a shot.