Brandon Zachary

Charming worldbuilding, clever bosses, and tight gameplay make the retro-inspired Under the Island an absolute delight.

Lost Ember: Rekindled is a terrific refreshing of one of the most gorgeously rendered narratives in recent memory.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a short and sweet superhero throwback that is also one of the best "Beat 'Em Up" games in years.

Developed by Squid Shock Studios and the final game to be published by Humble Games, Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is an artistically minded MetroidVania riff that benefits from gorgeous visuals. A foundational genre of previous eras that has endured thanks to inventive reimaginings and stylish updates, the mix of natural exploration, varied combat...

Winter Burrow is an adorably cozy and visually appealing riff on the survival genre that is a bittersweet but enjoyable experience.

Anno 117: Pax Romana lacks the depth of other sims, but a streamlined approach, solid campaign, and great graphics make it easy to recommend.

A strong storytelling core makes The Haunting of Joni Evers a compelling horror, even as the walking simulator gameplay becomes repeitive.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage is a well-designed expansion of the classic fighting game that focuses on gameplay over story.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is a gorgeous park sim that doesn't reinvent the wheel but may still win over gamers who don't care for the genre.

The Outer Worlds 2 is goofy, gorgeous, and a delightful expansion of what made the first game so engrossing.

The tight controls and impressive visuals of Ninja Gaiden 4 can't keep the non-stop action from becoming too repetitive too quick.

Star Wars: Beyond Victory may only have a short story and quick gameplay, but the playbox mode showcases the potential of VR gaming.

Bringing the franchise to 1960s Japan, Silent Hill f's worldbuilding and atmosphere more than makes up for the frustrating combat.

Frostpunk 2's intricate city-building and immersive storyline overcome the challenges of bringing a strategy game from PC to consoles.

The absurdist cousin of Bus Simulator and Papers Please, TROLEU is a concentrated dosage of wacky gameplay packed into a tight package. Developed by andrground, TROLEU feels like the Adult Swim-style parody of simulator games. The addition of combat, chases, and dinosaurs complicate a potentially basic gameplay loop, adding funny touches of weirdness that give...