PLAY IT OR SKIP IT? Play it. Disney Illusion Island is a charming, cartoony platformer starring iconic characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. This enchanting Metroidvania only falls slightly short due to its lack of difficulty and lightly repetitive gameplay. Regardless of those issues, it’s one of my favorite games to play with friends right now and one of the best platformer titles I’ve encountered this year.

SHOULD I PLAY LIKE A DRAGON: INFINITE WEALTH? Play this if you’re ready for the next chapter of Ichiban Kasuga’s story, but not if you haven’t at least played 2020’s Yakuza: Like A Dragon. Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth spends some time reestablishing its setting and characters in the beginning, but only enough to jog the memories of players who are already familiar with them. While Infinite Wealth

SHOULD I PLAY SWORD ART ONLINE LAST RECOLLECTION? Play it, especially if you’re a fan of the Sword Art Online anime/manga/light novel series. Sword Art Online: Last Recollection is an action RPG set during the third season of the anime. It’s a great representation of the series, but it suffers in a few ways mostly tied to its presentation: ugly visuals, poor animation, and delayed actions. I’d still recommend it to fans of the series, though, who’ll find plenty to enjoy here.

SHOULD I PLAY BANISHERS: GHOSTS OF NEW EDEN? Check this one out if you’re a fan of other games from developer Don’t Nod, like Tell Me Why and Vampyr. In Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden you play a pair of ghost hunters—the banishers in the title—who have traveled to colonial New England to find their mentor and colleague, who has warned them of a terrible curse. It’s a great setting with some beautifully drawn characters filling out the story, but it unfolds at an awkwardly slow pace and features mediocre (if inoffensive) combat.

We're always looking for the perfect game for the Halloween season, and it doesn't get much more perfect than World of Horror. In the works for years now, World of Horror is like a love letter to everything about the horror genre—but with a special focus on the unsettling body horror of manga artist Junji Ito and the unspeakable cosmic horror of author H.P. Lovecraft. What's most amazing about World of Horror is what it accomplishes with so little, though. The visuals are extremely lo-fi—in fact, the game's black-and-white art was literally created using MS Paint! Despite those humble tools, though, solo developer Panstasz has created some memorable and truly disturbing imagery.

[Music credits: "Fantasy Orchestra 3 BGM 86" by Nico - "Fantasy Orchestra 2 BGM 112" by Nico]

I would say my favorite lore-rich game is Inscryption. It is not merely a roguelike card-game, but is an integrated presentation of intriguing gameplay and unexpected plot-twist. For me, the more interesting part is actually outside of this game, since on one hand, another two works (Pony Island and The Hex) from the same development team also share the same universe with Inscryption (but with totally different stories and gameplay), which somehow triggers more interpretation of the lore from different players; and on the other hand, some part of the lore is even connected with the real world we’re living in, and that also makes the whole thing more fantastic.

PLAY IT OR SKIP IT? Absolutely play it. Phantom Blade: Executioners is a flashy action game that mixes the best elements of classic side-scrolling 2D brawlers—think Streets of Rage and Golden Axe—with a deep yet approachable combo-based fighting system that feels like something out of Devil May Cry. The result is a brilliantly fun, bite-sized title that’s worth some time even if you’re tired of gacha games.

Step into the fantastical world of Figment, a game that seamlessly weaves together the ethereal tapestry of thoughts and fears. In this mind-bending adventure, players embark on a journey of rediscovery, facing nightmares head-on and restoring courage in a surreal landscape. Background Story: Figment introduces players to a serene mind disrupted by nightmarish creatures born from unsettling thoughts.

Without a doubt, the Runeterran lore of this game is one of the best there is. It's what got me hooked in the game. You can pick up a champ and eventually know who they are and what they are fighting for because their respective stories are reflected on their gameplay mechanics, voice line interactions and visual design. It's well-executed than other games and genres out there. Also, their alternate universes for their various skin lines are as vast and as rich with amazing storytelling. Arcane, the series on Netflix was based on this game's lore and set of champions.

I've never known a game like this before: Fancade, it's quite fun because it has games inspired by Mario bros even Tetris is included but in modern version.  Dino bros, I love them because they make an amazing duo, even though they have to be together in every level, based on mental skill games because you have to be careful if one dies or the other falls into the water. You can also create your own game but make it: interesting, fun and with a touch of logic. 

PLAY IT OR SKIP IT? If you’ve got any appreciation for the Metroidvania style of game at all, then you owe it to yourself to play Afterimage. Coming off a successful Kickstarter campaign just a year ago, developer Aurogon Shanghai has released the next masterpiece in a masterpiece-heavy genre. With tight controls, compelling progression and exploration, and especially a stunning hand-drawn art style, Afterimage pays homage to the classics while also undeniably forging its own strong identity via a fascinating and diverse fantasy world. It’s really good.

SHOULD I PLAY PHANTOM BLADE: EXECUTIONERS? Absolutely play it. Phantom Blade: Executioners is a flashy action game that mixes the best elements of classic side-scrolling 2D brawlers—think Streets of Rage and Golden Axe—with a deep yet approachable combo-based fighting system that feels like something out of Devil May Cry. The result is a brilliantly fun, bite-sized title that’s worth some time even if you’re tired of gacha games.

Lost Echo presents an immersive sci-fi mystery adventure that captivates players from the first click. As Greg embarks on a desperate quest to find his vanished girlfriend, Chloe, the game promises a visually stunning and emotionally engaging experience. Background Story: The narrative unfolds in the near future, blending suspense and sci-fi elements seamlessly. Greg's search for Chloe sets the stage for a thrilling journey filled with twists and turns, keeping players hooked with each revelation.

For a certain type of dorky kid growing up in the '90s, the Stargate franchise was a formative gateway into goofy-yet-fun, low-budget sci-fi adventures. Beginning with the 1994 movie Stargate, the series quickly expanded out into multiple TV shows, comics, cartoons, books, and yes, video games. And while there hasn't been much going on with this IP in recent years, that's finally changing this week, as an all-new Stargate game has just launched...and you can even play the first mission for free.

"The Mooseman" invites players to delve into the secrets of Finno-Ugric mythology, offering a unique and immersive experience across three distinct realms. As the Mooseman, journey through layers of ancient wisdom, confronting riddles and unlocking abilities to ascend to the Upper World. BACKGROUND STORY: Crafted from the egg-shell of the deity Yen, the universe unfolds with the Lower World in the ocean depths, the Middle World for humans, and the Upper World housing ancient gods. Spirits guard their secrets, setting the stage for a captivating journey through Finno-Ugric myths.

The Wolf Among Us" takes you on a gripping journey through the gritty streets of Fabletown, where fairy tales turn dark and the Big Bad Wolf is the sheriff. From the creators of The Walking Dead, this game plunges you into a noir-infused narrative that's as captivating as it is chilling. GAME PRESENTATION Narratives and Mysteries:   The storytelling prowess of "The Wolf Among Us" is nothing short of stellar.

Arc System Works is a legendary fighting game developer, so it was no surprise when they released a killer spin-off of Granblue Fantasy in 2020. After all, this is one of the most well-loved mobile RPGs ever made, even though it's technically never received an official release in North America. But a gorgeous, anime-style fighting game? That was the perfect way to appreciate this incredibly deep world developer Cygames had created.

Interested in Ashfall? Read more about it in this quick first impressions! 💬 Are you going to play Ashfall or do you plan on skipping it? Let me know down in the comments! [Music credits: "Hard Metal Intro" by WinnieTheMoog]

SHOULD I PLAY DRAGONHEIR: SILENT GODS? There are two main determining factors on whether you should check this one out: if you love old-school fantasy and tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, and if you don’t get immediately turned off by gacha and microtransactions. If you answered yes to both of those, then Dragonheir: Silent Gods is definitely worth playing. This cross-platform gacha RPG provides a much deeper and more unique experience than most gacha games, and it does so while paying tribute to the epic, imaginative fantasy of