Portal

Portal

Playing Portal is a awesome experience and while the earlier levels might feature a bit too much hand holding you’ll really be proving your skills towards the end. With only its length really counting against it, this is a great game that should be experienced by all gamers. Portal 2 can’t come soon enough.

Gameplay: A refreshingly different take on the genre and an absolute brain scrambler. You’ll love every second of it though.

Graphics: Minimal but stylish..

Sound: Outstanding voice-overs

Dead Space™ 2

Dead Space™ 2

Dead Space 2 is a thrill a minute rollercoaster ride through an infected space station and while some people might be put off by all the action it does make for a very gripping game. The frights are less this time round, but the tension is still high and as far as sequels go this one is good.

Gameplay: The same core gameplay as the first game just way more action packed.

Graphics: While not the best I’ve seen the art style is good and the locations way more varied and interesting.

Sound: Ominous

F.E.A.R. 3

F.E.A.R. 3

The series is moving away even further from its creepy horror roots and starting to feel a bit like a typical “Call of Duty” style shooter. There’s still a few nice ideas, but the scares are thin on the ground and the story isn’t exactly gripping. The co-op seems to have been the main focus of the game and works well.

Gameplay: The shooting mechanics are solid but it loses that spooky “F.E.A.R” feeling along the way.

Graphics: Looks good and the environments are a bit more varied than before.

Sound: Nothing but silence from the lead character, but overall the voices and music is decent

JYDGE

JYDGE

A robotic cop that acts as judge, jury, and executioner? It might not be the most original idea, but JYDGE from 10tons Ltd certainly offers a lot of fun. It is a top-down shooter with tons of customization options for your character, as well as weapons. This means that it caters to various playing styles and offers a lot of replay value despite the relatively small number of levels. If you are a genre fan or enjoy games that allow you to experiment with how you approach objectives, you’ll have a blast with JYDGE.

Gameplay: Jydge is action-packed and offers lots of fun.

Graphics: The visuals are perhaps a little too similar to Neon Chrome, but it still looks good.

Sound: The soundtrack is great, and the sound effects are very impressive

Press X to Not Die

Press X to Not Die

Press X To Not Die is quick-time laden FMV game with b-movie levels of acting and effects. While this sounds pretty terrible in theory, it is actually quite entertaining when you sit down and play it. Unfortunately the game isn’t very long, but it is a lot of fun while it lasts and there is some replay value thanks to the branching storyline and the multitude of ways you can die. The game also sells for pocket change, so if you are in the mood for thirty minutes of goofball entertainment, then you can’t go wrong with Press X To Not Die.

Gameplay: Press “X” (and a few other keys depending on the difficulty setting) to not die (and perform a few other actions.)

Graphics: The visuals consist purely of HD GoPro footage.

Sound: The acting is as cringe-worthy as one would expect from an interactive movie, but this just adds to the entertainment

EVERSPACE

EVERSPACE

Everspace might not have millions of systems to explore or an open world galaxy of possibilities, but it does have action-packed dogfights, procedurally-generated levels, roguelike elements and stellar visuals. The end result is a game that is highly addictive and offers buckets of replay value. Like all roguelike titles it can feel like a grind at times, but with three very different ships and plenty of perks to upgrade, each new run is very entertaining. If you are a fan of pretty visuals, addictive gameplay and plenty of action, then you don’t want to miss out on Everspace.

Gameplay: Very polished and highly addictive.

Graphics: Space has never looked more spectacular.

Sound: Decent voice acting, great sound effects and the soundtrack isn’t half bad either

All-Star Fruit Racing (3DClouds)

All-Star Fruit Racing (3DClouds)

From Nintendo and Sony to Sega and Konami, there was a time where every developer with a semi decent roster of recognizable characters felt the need to shoehorn their mascots into a kart racing game. Some were good, some not, but the most memorable ones were usually the games featuring well-known characters. 3DClouds, an Italian indie developer doesn’t have the luxury of banking on familiar faces for their title, All-Star Fruit Racing, as it is their debut title. However, this doesn’t mean that the game isn’t worth a closer look as even though it is still an Early Access title, it already impresses

Crashday Redline Edition

Crashday Redline Edition

Crashday: Redline Edition might look a little dusty compared to some of the other titles currently on the market, but it still offers a fast paced and adrenaline fueled experience for racing fans. This re-release of the 2006 original packs a whole host of new features and improvements, which is sure to please fans. In addition to a plethora of content, this Redline Edition also has full Steam Workshop support, which has already paid off in the form of hundreds of new mods for the game. Whether you have fond memories of the original or simply want a racing game that offers speed, destruction and stunts, Crashday: Redline Edition deserves a closer look.

Gameplay: Tons of different modes and the ability to get on the track without having to waste hours tweaking your ride.

Graphics: An improvement over the original, but not quite up to the high standard of modern games.

Sound: The soundtrack is a mix of old and new, but the sound effects could have been better

Cat Quest

Cat Quest

Cat Quest is a very tongue-in-cheek role-playing game that is sure to appeal to fans of the genre who also love cats. Don’t be fooled by the bright, colorful visuals, though, as the game is every bit as fun and addictive as its serious counterparts. The streamlined interface and open world make the game a joy to play, and it offers hours of fun, although it can also be enjoyed in short bursts if you don’t have a lot of time. It is not as in-depth as more serious takes on the genre but remains addictive and entertaining throughout.

Gameplay: A very accessible entry in the action RPG genre that favors fun over statistics and inventory juggling.

Graphics: The visuals are bright, colorful, and very easy on the eyes.

Sound: The game doesn’t have any speech, but the soundtrack hits all the nostalgic notes

Fictorum

Fictorum

While there are plenty of games that allow you to play as a magic user, Fictorum is one of the few that makes you feel truly powerful right from the start. With an impressive arsenal of spells at your disposal and the ability to shatter buildings, it is definitely not lacking in excitement initially. Unfortunately, once the novelty wears off the game can become quite repetitive and doesn’t offer you much to do beyond blowing up the same enemies and buildings. The game also lacks some polish in terms of visuals and audio, but as long as you don’t expect too much there is still fun to be had.

Gameplay: Fictorum is quite exciting initially, but once the novelty of blowing up buildings wears off it can become a little repetitive.

Graphics: The destruction is impressive, but the overall visual style a little bland.

Sound: Decent enough sound effects, but repetitive music and no voice acting