Corsair Cove arrived carrying some mixed expectations. Developed by the team behind Tropico 6, what could be considered a below standard Tropico release, some strong interest was created by it’s demo. Fortunately, the developers set sail in entirely their own direction, and the result is one of the most refreshing city builders in recent memory. ...
Shards of Order initially gives the impression that it may simply be another game inspired by Darkest Dungeon. The dark hand-painted artwork, grim atmosphere, and side-view combat certainly point in that direction. Fortunately, the similarities become much more superficial once the adventure begins. While the opening story takes a little time to find its footing, the world becomes a little more entertaining and engaging as you go along. The writing proved stronger than expected, balancing the darker themes with well-placed humor as the journey progressed. ...
Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand takes an unusual approach to expanding an existing game. While technically a standalone release, it functions much like a new game mode for Company of Heroes 3, even integrating with the base game for owners while also being sold separately. The centerpiece is Last Stand, a roguelite-inspired survival mode where increasingly powerful waves of enemies must be held back through smart unit choices, a little RNG, upgrades, and tactical positioning. It offers a fresh spin on the traditional Company of Heroes formula. ...
Dead Reckoning: The Long Drift is cold and dark. Charged with guiding a generation ship carrying humanity’s hopes for a new home, players spend decades making the major choices that will determine whether the expedition succeeds, or quietly fades into history. ...
Imperial Ambitions arrives as an indie 4X strategy game that proves appearances can be deceiving. Its pixel-inspired presentation suggests a relatively modest experience, but beneath that visual style lies a surprisingly deep and ambitious strategy game with several ideas that feel refreshingly original within the genre. The opening hours are not without their struggles. Certain mechanics lack the clarity needed for first-time players, and there were several moments where the game could have done a better job explaining how its systems work. And work together. Learning often came through experimentation rather than guidance. ...
Apocalypse Express arrives at the station following nearly a year of Early Access development, with a full 1.0 release just around the corner. Although this evaluation was conducted prior to the launch version, the game was already giving a full and enjoyable experience. Built around a roguelite structure, the game places players in command of a train attempting to survive a hostile world through careful upgrades, resource management, and increasingly difficult encounters. The core gameplay loop quickly establishes itself as both challenging and rewarding. ...
Wall Street Raider arrives on Steam in Early Access carrying an unusual distinction: while new to the platform, the game itself traces its origins back to development efforts that began in the 1980s. The current release pairs that decades-long legacy with a modernized user interface intended to make its famously complex systems more approachable. Whether it truly qualifies as the deepest economic simulator ever made remains difficult to determine after a single session. What became immediately apparent, however, is the sheer scope of the financial systems available to players. ...
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II proves itself to be a worthy continuation of its predecessor, preserving much of what made the original memorable while introducing enough structural changes to justify its existence as a sequel rather than a repetition. The core tactical gameplay remains familiar, with some returning heroes and similar overall combat. At the same time, the sequel adjusts several systems, most notably the overall campaign structure, alongside a variety of smaller refinements and mechanical changes that help differentiate the experience. Picking up the pace of combat a little is a stand out change. ...
Civilization VII returns to active duty following the release of the major free Test of Time update, a substantial overhaul aimed at blending the game’s newer systems with more traditional Civilization structure. No, not the Civilization II remake Test of Time, this is a bit different. ...
Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes arrives from Alt Shift, the developers behind Crying Suns, and immediately carries traces of that studio’s earlier work into the Battlestar Galactica universe. ...