CODE VEIN

CODE VEIN

Code Vein is an anime-flavored action role-playing game where players step into the shoes of a vampire like Revenant with the gift to save the world. The similarities to Dark Souls are immediately apparent, but Code Vein has enough of its own unique quirks that prevent it from feeling like a straight-up copy. The story is interesting, as are the various companions you meet along the way, but levels that are boring in both layout and design detract from the experience. The game still has plenty to offer for those willing to put in the time, but there are better souls-like titles on the market.

Gameplay: Code Vein sticks closely to the soul-like formula of fighting enemies, collecting materials to level up, and defeating bosses to unlock new areas.

Graphics: The character designs are great, although the game is heavy on fan service, and some levels look very drab.

Sound: The soundtrack features a couple of memorable tunes, and the quality of the voice acting is generally good

Penko Park

Penko Park

Penko Park hands players a camera and encourages them to take photos of weird critters that dwell in the park. It’s an on-rails experience, but various unlocks keep things engaging. The charming visuals, which live up to the promise of being creepy and cute, will draw players in, but although short, the game is still a lot of fun to play.

Gameplay: The premise of Penko Park is straightforward, but capturing photos of critters in various poses is a fun challenge.

Graphics: The visuals look like a children’s storybook come to life, and the designs of the Penko are pretty imaginative.

Sound: The game lacks music during levels, but the ambient noises compensate for this

Shank

Shank

Players must take control of an ex-hitman and go on a blood-fueled rampage against the people who ruined his life. Shank feels like a Robert Rodriguez movie captured in comic book form, but while the violence is impressive, the game can become repetitive. There’s a decent amount of levels and enemies, but boss battles are a let down once their weaknesses become apparent. Fans of hack-and-slash games will enjoy Shank, but it is not quite as memorable as other titles in the genre.

Gameplay: Defeat waves of enemies using melee and ranged attacks while also doing some light platforming on the way to bosses.

Graphics: The comic book art style is eye-catching, and the animations in Shank are really good.

Sound: The music is fitting for the style of the game, and the voice acting is passable

The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection

The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection

The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection delivers exactly what it promises in the name, with eight polished and very addictive variations of solitaire. Seven of these titles were originally launched as mini-games for Zachtronics titles released between 2016 and 2022, but the collection also includes one new variation. The convenience of having all these titles as part of one collection is excellent, and the updated 4K graphics are also a big plus. While solitaire fans will have a blast with this collection, it is also accessible enough to appeal to new players looking for a way to kill some time.

Gameplay: All of the solitaire variations included in this collection are very polished and highly addictive.

Graphics: Each game in the collection has its own unique look, and the overall presentation is very good.

Sound: The music is excellent, which is good as you’ll be hearing the tunes for hours while playing

Planet of Lana

Planet of Lana

Planet of Lana is a cinematic puzzle adventure where players must help a young girl find and save her sister from the alien robots that have invaded. The only real challenge in the game comes from the puzzles, but it also features some platforming and stealth sections. Planet of Lana is a beautiful-looking game, but the gameplay can feel slightly shallow compared to similar titles. While Lana herself is not a particularly memorable protagonist, it’s hard not to love her little alien cat companion, Mui, who is an invaluable asset during her quest.

Gameplay: Planet of Lana is very short and the platforming as well as puzzles are not too taxing.

Graphics: The game’s visual style is superb, and a big reason to keep playing is to see where the adventure will take Lana next.

Sound: The soundtrack is excellent, and while the voice acting is sparse, it perfectly conveys the emotions Lana is experiencing

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Help a young spirit guide named Kena reach a sacred Mountain Shrine by freeing the spirits trapped in a forgotten village. The game features a combination of exploration, combat, and puzzle solving but doesn’t offer anything terribly unique or original. However, the visuals are beautiful, to say the least, and the soundtrack is exceptionally well done. Even with multiple difficulty settings, the combat can be challenging, and the story is much darker than the visuals suggest. Kena: Bridge of Spirits is an impressive debut title, but it can feel a little shallow for players expecting a full souls-like experience.

Gameplay: The combat is enjoyable and challenging, but apart from the Rot, there’s not much that players haven’t seen done many times before.

Graphics: The stunning visuals can put many AAA titles to shame.

Sound: The game features a stellar soundtrack and excellent voice acting

Elden Ring

Elden Ring

Elden Ring is a souls-like title that takes all the best elements of the genre and wraps it up in a massive open-world setting. Playing as a Tarnished, players venture into the Lands Between on a heroic journey to become an Elden Lord. Unlike many open-world titles, Elden Ring is a joy to explore and features plenty of hidden dungeons, catacombs, and caves to keep players busy. Simply completing the main storyline will take hours, and the addition of different endings, tons of secrets, and lots of optional bosses extend the playtime even further. It’s more accessible than other FromSoftware titles but still offers a challenging experience that should not be missed.

Graphics: The world of Elden Ring is visually distinct and filled with memorable bosses and scenic locations packed with detail.

Gameplay: Elden Ring has so many options for weapons and spells that very few players will end up with the exact same experiences.

Sound: The game’s soundtrack, sound effects, and voice acting are all superb

Harmonia

Harmonia

Harmonia is a short kinetic novel featuring an emotions-capable robot, or Phiroid, waking up in a decayed factory with no memory. Players view the story through the eyes of this robot named Rei, as he is taken in Shiona, a kindhearted woman living in a small town. Rei attempts to be helpful to the townspeople while learning about emotions, which he feels he lacks. The story is set against a post-apocalyptic backdrop, and as is usual for a title by Key, it has its fair share of drama and heartbreak. Unfortunately, the pacing is a bit off, and despite the short runtime, some players will guess what some of the story twists are before the end. Nevertheless, the game is certainly worth a playthrough for fans of the genre and is also a good entry point for newcomers.

Gameplay: The story and characters are intriguing, but the pacing is a bit off.

Graphics: The backgrounds and sprites are good, but even with the limited number of characters, the men look a lot more bland and generic compared to the women.

Sound: Harmonia features plenty of great background tracks as well as Japanese voice acting for three of the four central characters

The Blackwell Legacy

The Blackwell Legacy

Players must team up with a ghostly assistant and help other spirits pass on to the afterlife in this retro-style point-and-click adventure. It’s not an original premise, but the game features interesting characters and doesn’t overstay its welcome. Some of the puzzles are a little too obscure, and the game has some frustrating aspects, but it’s an impressive debut for the series.

Gameplay: Roseangela Blackwell is not your typical point-and-click adventure game protagonist, so experiencing the world from her viewpoint is a unique experience.

Graphics: Although low-res, the visuals are very detailed and well-animated.

Sound: The soundtrack is good, but some tunes feel a little out of place,, while the full voice acting is quite impressive for an indie title

Zombie Derby: Pixel Survival

Zombie Derby: Pixel Survival

Zombie Derby: Pixel Survival is a simple arcade game where the goal is to drive through a gauntlet of zombies and obstacles while trying to prevent damage to your vehicle. This is impossible on the first attempt, so players must use the money they earn from killing zombies to purchase vehicle upgrades. This simple loop of dying and upgrading until a level is passable won’t appeal to everyone, especially players who hate seeing mobile releases on PC. Nevertheless, the game can be fun, and the new art style is an improvement over the previous two titles in the series.

Gameplay: The gameplay loop is straightforward, as all players have to do is kill zombies and make it to the end of the level with their vehicle intact to proceed to the next.

Graphics: Pixel Survival features a new art style for the series, making it look less gruesome and much more lighthearted than the previous titles.

Sound: The guitar-driven soundtrack is decent, and the sound effects are suitable for a zombie game