With just a taste of what to expect for combat, puzzles, exploration, dialogue, EVERYTHING, this demo set my expectations right where I hope they’d be, “The release of Chicory: A Colorful Tale cannot come soon enough.” What was shown are all the pieces that draw me to a wholesome indie game; fun puzzles and being able to lose myself to hours of cute fun. Please, Chicory, announce the release date soon! I want to be sure I have that day booked off for a mental health day lose myself to this world.

Outriders feels very similar to a lightning strike. It hit me at just the right time that it really resonated with me. That doesn’t mean it’s a must-play, though. There are many bugs, many odd choices that can quickly take away from anyone’s experience. Plus, the bland story thrown in the mix could’ve set Outriders up for failure. The fast and explosive gameplay loop saved Outriders. Impactful abilities, customization options, exciting weapons, and easily changeable difficulty features are what kept me coming back. Outriders has created a good foundation, and I can’t wait to see how People Can Fly builds upon it in the future.

Paradise Lost had lots of promise. With beautifully crafted environments to explore and interesting world-building, the alternate 1980s Poland should have been fun to explore. Not because of excitement, but because of curiosity about what happened to the people who lived in an abandoned bunker for twenty years. However, that fun quickly gets bogged down. Bad voice acting that sounds worse than being phoned in, graphical glitches, a patchwork story, and ultra-slow gameplay even for walking simulator standards ruin what could’ve been, at minimum, an interesting game.

Cyanide and Happiness - Freakpocalypse needs a lot of work if it wants to keep releasing entries on a console. For being a game about a well-known dark comedy property, it succeeds in bringing Explosm’s world to life, but even then it feels like it misses the mark. Cyanide and Happiness is most well known for its short-form skits and even quicker comic strips. That doesn’t feel like it translates well to a longer form of entertainment, like a video game.

Little Nightmares II is the prime example of what a sequel should strive to be. It raises the bar with its storytelling, its gameplay changes, and how it adds to the overall picture. Throughout the 4-5 hours of game time, I felt drawn into the story of Mono and Six’s fight for survival in a darker world than what was introduced in Little Nightmares. Tarsier Studios has a gift with its storytelling and worldbuilding. For a smaller team, they create such an engrossing world that has made me want to know more. Seriously, I’ve been watching theory videos nonstop since playing these games. Regardless of what you think of horror games, the entire Little Nightmares series should be your next-played game on your list.

There are no excuses if you have a PC, a PlayStation 4, or 5. Maquette needs to be on your “Need to Play” list. Just be prepared to have some tissues with you for the ending.

Olija is a beautiful pixel art game that pays homage to all the swashbuckling tales of old. Throughout the five hour story, you’ll quickly believe in Faraday and his quest to save not only himself but all of his crew who got stranded on Terraphage. Not only that, but you will believe in the blossoming love between Faraday and Olija. This game finds ways to feel personal, from the chiptune speech to the chatter you hear from the crewmates, the locals, and Faraday and his ferryman who remind you what exactly is on the line even while Faraday finds any way he can to find his true love. That’s not the only way this game gets its hooks in you. Regardless of the negatives that feel only like gripes,  the snappy combat to the fun environments to explore every inch of make you stick around. Overall, Olija will find a way to stick with you for a long time. 

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is an amazing culmination of 13 years of work. While the world may feel overwhelming, it’s the towns and the lived-in feel of the English cities and countryside that make this feel like a living world. This is largely to the new systems implemented to encourage exploration, from the mysteries to the treasures that can only be obtained by invading villages. That’s not the only reason why Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a must-play. The combat feels dangerous and exciting, no matter your level. Stealth mechanics and assassinations feel like key mechanics again. Finally, the story may be one of the best ones told to date since AC 2. Eivor feels so fleshed out and not because you spend 60 hours with her. Kassandra and Bayek felt real, but not to the level that Eivor felt like they actually helped shape England's history.