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Empire of the Ants is a gorgeous video game that gives players an ant’s eye view of both combat and platforming. It looks spectacular most of the time, especially the environments, but takes plenty of liberties when it comes to ant society and general creature abilities to create a decent narrative. The strategy game elements work well, although there aren't many complex systems to master, while platforming feels unnecessary. The single-player campaign offers some interesting tactical challenges, and the free-for-all three-sided multiplayer is pretty exciting. Empire of the Ants does not innovate much but offers a unique strategy experience.

The Smurfs Dreams is the perfect game to enjoy alongside family, or alone, as a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Thanks to its charming art direction, clever mechanics, and endearing characters it is a memorable experience, that offers plenty of replay value for completionists. It is a platformer that appeals to both nostalgic fans of the Smurfs and a younger generation of players, and arguably one of the best jump-n-run games published by Microids so far. I believe The Smurfs – Dreams is a nice surprise, which thanks to its friendly price tag can be an excellent gift for the holidays.

Unknown 9: Awakening may not be a groundbreaking title, but it offers a fun and engaging journey through an imaginative world that fans of mystery and light fantasy may enjoy. Clocking in at around 10 hours, it offers just enough intrigue to encourage players to see it through to the end, even if it doesn’t spark an immediate desire to dive into all other Unknown 9 media. While the game isn’t flawless and doesn’t belong among the year’s best, it provides a pleasant surprise, outshining initial expectations. The biggest shortcoming is that it often feels like a limited budget production, that would have needed more polishing to hide the rough edges.

Chicken Police: Into the HIVE! is a fun, often funny, and sometimes touching experience. It knows how to work within both the noir and the adventure game genres. The cast of animal characters is well-chosen, and Sonny makes for a great protagonist. Play the game in short sessions, soak in the atmosphere, and don’t be dissuaded by the more frustrating mini-games. There are a few moments when conversations feel out of sequence, depending on player choices. The puzzle elements rarely feel like they belong. Some locations feel too small. But these are limitations of the adventure game genre and Chicken Police: Into the HIVE! works hard to push past them and manages to give fans a good plot, great characters, and cool interrogation scenes.

Darksiders II remains a fantastic action RPG experience with a distinctive dark fantasy feel. It offers a rich, multi-layered gameplay experience with a unique protagonist, beautiful art direction, and a mix of combat and puzzle-solving mechanics that will keep you engaged for hours. The Deathinitive Edition, while not perfect, is still worth playing, especially for those who missed it the first time around or want to relive the adventure with a bit of extra polish and added content. With its discounted price and bundled DLC, it’s a great way to experience Death’s journey, even if the road isn’t entirely smooth.

EcoGnomix is easy to learn and has a satisfying main gameplay loop. Players have to constantly think about how their gnome workers can be positioned to extract resources, preferably a lot of them while dealing with threats. It takes careful planning and a dose of luck to get deep into the caves and get a chance to tangle with the boss. The surface town development elements are simple and there’s not much in the way of a narrative hook. The biggest problem is the limited control that players have, mainly when it comes to upgrades. EcoGnomix’s mix of ideas is engaging and the title successfully delivers the “one more run” feeling but it needs a patch or two to fully deliver on its potential.

Black Ops 6 sets a new standard for Call of Duty campaigns, blending familiar mechanics with fresh ideas and a story that keeps players engaged throughout. The extra development time allowed the developers can create an impressive and polished experience. This is a must-play for fans of action-packed storytelling, offering a unique blend of combat and narrative that’s sure to leave a lasting impression. Whether you’re here for the story or the multiplayer, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 delivers an experience worth diving into.

Technotopia is an atypical city builder that understands what makes the genre appealing. It is turn-based and built around cards, but it manages to give players freedom while making it clear the pressures of constant development. The narrative framing is good, although the characters do not shine, and the presentation is impressive. Its run-based structure keeps things interesting, although I would have liked a slightly faster pace of unlock for new buildings. A clear list of everything players can get and hints about how they can reach their aims is also needed. Despite these small issues, Technotopia is a very good game that should attract a wide audience.

The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication is better than its predecessor, but not by much. I have a hard time taking it seriously as a horror game, and I have seen much better walking simulators. It lacks in almost every aspect, and I could choose much more suitable games for a Halloween scare. Yet, if you are a fan of J-horror you will most likely enjoy it, especially if you are into Taiwanese lore. If the developers manage to fix the pacing issues and rely less on cinematic storytelling the next episode might be quite interesting.

Forgive Me Father 2 is a good boomer shooter that builds on the ideas of the original. The action is fast and pretty brutal, with a focus on delivering as many headshots as possible while moving constantly to avoid damage. The Asylum and its unlocks allow gamers to try out strategies and find weapons that match their approach. The game’s atmosphere is designed to appeal to players who like Lovecraft vibes, although it does not offer much in the way of straight-up horror. Forgive Me Father 2 improves on an already established formula but needs extra weirdness or one big innovative mechanic.