Going into to Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector I had high expectations based on my experience with the first game, and I’m so happy to say that it absolutely smashed those expectations out of the park. It builds on the world and mechanics of this first game – changing and expanding enough that it feels like a fresh experience. For fans of TTRPGs, the two similar but distinct gameplay loops will scratch that mechanical itch. And for those that love storytelling, the choices you make as you play through the game will absolutely leave you eager to fire up a second playthrough to explore what happens at the end of another road.
Ara: History Untold is absolutely gorgeous, the ambient sounds and music and event dialogue is wonderful. The focus on building and developing your nation rather than combat, alongside it's great tutorial makes it feel very accessible to newcomers, while also being a lot fun for fans of the genre.
As I said in the intro to this review, you should absolutely play the first game; it’s fantastic, and you’ll definitely enjoy the sequel even more if you do. But, if you’re struggling to find the time for more than one game this weekend, you are absolutely not going to be disappointed by spending a few lazy afternoons running, climbing and swimming your way through Novo in Planet of Lana II. It’s a sequel that takes all the good things about its predecessor and builds upon them, adding new, well-thought-out mechanics and engaging additions to the gameplay, all housed within a breathtaking, captivating world.
Two Point Museum offers a refreshing take on management simulation with its innovative expedition mechanic and diverse museum themes, injecting both challenge and charm into the gameplay. The journey from being a novice curator to mastering the art of exhibit curation is thoughtfully structured through its tutorial-like start at Memento Mile and the subsequent themed museums, each with unique challenges and engaging mechanics.
All in all, The Alters delivers a unique and memorable experience. It’s the kind of game that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll. For those who enjoy deep storytelling and intriguing character dynamics, it’s absolutely worth exploring.
The King Is Watching strikes a smart balance between kingdom-builder and roguelite, offering a run-based experience that’s both strategic and refreshingly unpredictable. Its layered meta progression and clever prophecy system give each attempt a sense of momentum, encouraging experimentation and long-term planning.
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is another charming trip into the world of Moominvalley, this time telling a slightly more wistful story about loneliness, resilience and finding friendship even when times are tough. A masterclass in cosy game design, serving as a heartfelt love letter to Tove Jansson’s enduring world. While it may lack the mechanical complexity of more traditional adventure games, its strength lies in its atmosphere and its deep reverence for the source material. Hyper Games has successfully captured the unique duality of the Moomin stories – the whimsical charm of helping neighbors balanced against the slight, beautiful melancholy of a lonely Scandinavian winter
Sometimes I think I may be a little to dumb for some games, and Rogue Conflict definitely had me thinking that during the first couple of hours. I’ve played games for nearly 30 years now and even though one of my first titles was Command & Conquer strategic thinking and more importantly – patience has never really been my forte. But after my first few hours of bad decision making and rushing in, I started to slow down and really pay attention to all of the moving pieces on the board. That’s when Rogue Conflict clicked for me, and when it clicks it really clicks. I won’t say it’s not still incredibly difficult – it is – and it certainly won’t click for everyone. But when you take the time to examine all of the interplay of the systems and make them work for you rather than against you, you’ll be in for a great time.
I said above that I won’t spoil the story of Koira. What I will say is that it did make me tear up more than once. The game’s themes: friendship and understanding between the forest spirit, their new dog and the animals in the forest; contrasted with the humans greed, need to overcome and essentially conquer nature is something that we see too often in the real world I fear.
Rosewater’s overall experience is shaped by its engaging narrative, well-designed puzzles, and atmospheric world. Its blend of Western themes and investigative storytelling makes for an intriguing journey. The game may feel slow-paced to those unfamiliar with point-and-click adventures, but for fans of the genre, it delivers a satisfying tale with memorable characters. While minor frustrations in pacing and puzzle repetition exist, they are outweighed by the strengths in writing, art direction, and interactivity.
The multi planet design means things are a little more linear main quest wise, but if you’re jumping in with a friend or hunting out all the crates and goo you’ll have a plenty of do even after you’ve hit credits. If you’re a fan of the first game, or if you just want something silly and entertaining to blast about in after a hard day not getting fired, then I can wholeheartedly recommend Revenge of the Savage Planet. Although I wouldn’t recommend pissing on your boss and calling it self defense in real life.
If you’re into Soulslike games, this one ticks the boxes. Combat’s all about timing and precision, with weighty weapon swings, tricky stamina management and enemies who absolutely do not hold back. The aesthetic is moody and dripping in atmosphere, with fog-shrouded villages, twisted spirits and grim lore tucked around every corner. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it does pack a serious punch with its art style and haunting setting. Looks like the balance is just about right.
Two Point Museum Fantasy Finds is a fun new addition to the Two Point Museum experience. The emphasis on sending your adventuring party out to explore, slay dragons and bring back new shiny objects to show off really offers a fresh experience for players that may now be well into micromanagement mode.
Through all the corporate meddling, snarky dialogue, and frenetic shootouts, The Outer Worlds 2 sticks to the formula that made the original fun, but shakes things up in some unexpected ways; some for better, others for worse. Specialisation feels more distinct and meaningful, though it comes at the expense of experimentation. Companion storytelling looks and sounds great, but its timing diminishes the emotional punch.
Death Howl is a tough, atmospheric, and surprisingly emotional experience. Its blend of deckbuilding and tactical combat is clever and demanding, its visuals are hauntingly beautiful, and its story hits harder than you might expect from a game built around cards and grids. It’s not for everyone – the difficulty alone will put some players off – but if you enjoy games that challenge both your strategy and your resilience, it’s absolutely worth your time.
Even though I’m not familiar with the story or history of BlazBlue I had a very fun time with Entropy Effect X. It is genuinely fun to play, offering a loop of combat that is as challenging as it is visually stunning. The large Roster of very different characters and the interplay of the Legacy system make every run feel like a new experiment in breaking the game’s limits. And the Entropy system unlocked upon winning a run lets you push the difficulty as hard as you can.
Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime is a refreshing palette cleanser. It’s a game that doesn’t take itself seriously but takes its message of self-love very seriously. The Frogtime battle mechanics are surprisingly deep and I’m very excited to keep pulling from Booster Eggs to try and get a super rare Colossal Frog and make it to the top of the Battle Tower. It’s weird, it’s musical, and it’s deeply charming.
The small issues don’t detract from the fantastic 6 hours I had squidging around as an increasingly more neon gecko, solving sliding block puzzles and sunning myself in my boat. If you’re looking for a short, relaxing experience full of charm with puzzles just tricky enough that you’ll need to think, but not too hard, Gecko Gods is the perfect Sunday afternoon game to chill out with. Oh and yes, you can customise your gecko.
I’ve played a lot of deckbuilders over the years, and 2024 seems to be a great year for them. Pyrene included – it’s merging of intriguing and heartfelt stories with a compelling gameplay loop make it quite difficult to put down. There’s a lot of variety and this variety ensures that each playthrough provides a fresh experience, encouraging players to experiment with different strategies and hero combinations.
Despite it’s ropey start Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is being rightly praised for being one of Asobo’s best additions to the series. Its expansive content, realism, and immersive gameplay make it a step up from the 2020 outing I loved so much. The Career Mode especially made it feel a little more game like for me, and helped me focus on a progression path to learn new aviation skills. I’m not sure if this mode is exactly what die hard flight sim enthusiasts were looking for, but hopefully the core experience from 2020 and the new in depth plane upkeep and business owning mechanics are offering something for everyone.