Platform: Xbox Series X|S
Arkane Lyon being laser focused & showing a broader audience what immersive sims can feel like. Aesthetic, feel, mapdesign & VA are all top-notch. I just wish the ‘solution’ wasn’t so prescribed.
Could probably afford to be a little shorter: not as many options as I would’ve liked, yet it takes a while to get through. Great VO and cool story - not exactly the game I expected, but still good.
Death’s Door is a triumph: combat & movement are tight and dynamic, the level design is great, the art and music are fantastic, enemies and bosses are interesting. Really well-rounded and executed.
Incredibly pretty little isometric puzzler. Never becomes particularly challenging, but the latter sections are a tad tedious. Didn’t expect the heartfelt story. Genuinely hope they make more!
Underrated. Brimming with ambition & scope, while it doesn’t hit the mark all the time, it’s still a blast. Had some balance and pacing issues at launch which have since been fixed. Gorgeous and fun.
At the micro, QOL level: more of the same but better. At the macro: a bit strangely paced and lacks some of the motivational drive. Absolutely worth a play, but I was just a little disappointed.
Strangely mismarketed as a Destiny competitor, but in reality more of ‘just’ a co-op adventure shooter than ongoing MMO. Some very smart ideas, but doesn’t stick the landing.
Great art & soundtrack, and generally does what it says on the tin - point n click, hidden object comfy exploration. The pacing is a little strange and it’s all a little shallow though sadly.
I wish there were more truly co-op games like this. I could have done without all the cutscene interruptions, but almost everything else makes up for it. Lovingly crafted and quite funny at times.
A wildly impressive mix of survival, creative building, exploration & combat primarily developed by five people. Valheim manages to find and maximise the special sauce within all of its components.