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In the end, Wild Bastards doesn't hit the high bar established by Void Bastards five years ago. While it's more ambitious in terms of mechanics and interlocking systems, it's not quite as fun or immersive. Still, it has a lot going for it, including a fascinating premise, 13 unique playable characters, excellent moment-to-moment action, and outstanding production design. With a better story and more nuanced strategic and relationship-building gameplay, it would join its predecessor as a GOTY contender.

I have deeply conflicting feelings towards Ys X: Nordics, to such an extent that it turns out to be difficult to score. The part of me that really enjoyed the battle system and sense of exploration, which are both better than ever before in a Falcom release, would opt for a high mark; the part of me that's disappointed with the characters, narrative, and visuals would score it lower. The first 'me' probably wins out in the end, because my impression of Nordics is still very positive overall, but I get the feeling that Falcom didn't put its very best effort into the game.

Hunt: Showdown will go down in the annals of not merely extraction shooters, but of first-person shooters in general. Hunt: Showdown 1896 will (currently) go down as an… appreciated-if-also-misguided expansion/revival that's capable of reaching those empyrean heights in due time. Past the nettlesome launch-window complaints, certain design nuances – both on and off the map – lead to something that partially dampens its legacy in understated ways. At the same time, most of the fundamentals that made Crytek's shooter what it is still result in some of my favorite multiplayer memories in recent history.

Symbolizing the twilight cruise of DREDGE, The Iron Rig feels like a great mix of old and new. While an artificial, towering spire disrupting this world's ecosystem seems less enticing than a new biome, Black Salt Games utilizes it in a way to subtly reshape how players engage with the endgame. The slight mechanical refinements bolster one's yearning to fish, the newly-unearthed species are visually distinct, and the new storylines retain the same Lovecraftian horror. Perhaps these hooks aren't quite as eye-catching as The Pale Reach's accomplishments, but there's a lesson to learn when certain gimmicks don't quite stick the landing: sometimes getting a consistent & more bountiful haul with less thrills can be a greater reward.

All in all, Age of Mythology: Retold is both a solid RTS and reimagining, but a bit of an odd one as well. It brings enough changes to the table to offer a new experience, but at the same time one that is in other ways bound in the past. Both this and its less than optimal visuals make it feel a bit stuck between old and new. For those simply looking for a nostalgia fix, the added features and changes don’t necessarily outweigh the more classical feel of the Extended Edition, which has been out for many years. For completely new players on the other hand, Retold would make for a perfectly good entry point into the RTS genre, if not quite a definitive one. In the end, those likely to find the most enjoyment in Retold might be existing fans of Empires or Mythology who are looking for a shake up, or any players that simply find themselves starved for a good RTS. Ultimately, even if it might not win over everyone, it can’t be denied that Mythology was indeed a tale worth retelling.

Turning an old-school single-screen shooter starring a pixelated fly into a modern Metroidvania with a Gen Z hacker might seem odd, but it's less of a stretch than you'd think. The original Yars' Revenge had an unusually deep narrative for its time, after all, and WayForward has found a way to expand upon it in an organic way. Unfortunately, the final product doesn't do much to elevate the Yars franchise, due to an excessively flippant tone, an over-reliance on unsatisfying stealth and hacking mechanics, and generally straightforward, unsurprising gameplay. The controls are solid, the power-ups are interesting, and the exploration is rewarding, but that's not quite enough to save the game from mediocrity.

Cat Quest III successfully taps into and refines many appealing traits from its predecessors, while taking at least a moderate step forward. The combat and world design are especially fleshed out nicely. I do feel there's still some untapped potential as a whole — especially regarding the simplistic questing system. But Cat Quest III is nonetheless a delightful ARPG that embodies what I love about the genre: colorful themes, adventuring, and thrilling, fast-paced combat that also yields subtle depth. It’s purr-haps the most entertaining and cheeky in the trilogy, and certainly worth its $20 price tag.

Creatures of Ava serves as a useful illustration of that. What begins as a breezy jaunt through an alien world becomes a creature-collector where you don't so much remember said creatures but rather their designed utility. Through both its modernized fixations and fetch-quest design, the once-brimming potential becomes inundated by unadventurous templates. That doesn't altogether discount Inverge's sincerity for this subject matter, nor how most mechanics at least function, but it's telling how saving animals felt less like conservation and more like homework over time.

Last month the publisher brought the world the near-great Natsu-Mon, and now it's delivered an even better experience in Bakeru. Thanks to engaging combat, impressive level variety, rewarding exploration, an immersive hub area, and vibrant art, it's one of the very best games of 2024. The story isn't anything special and frame rate issues cause some frustration here and there, but these are relatively inconsequential problems in such a joyful, entertaining, inventive adventure.

This is still just a taste of the amusingly wild (occasionally jarring) ride that is World of Goo 2. The game starts things off slowly, providing a goo-laden “bridge” for veterans of the original and newcomers. But after the first fairly tame chapter, the game hits the ground running, launching players into a slew of exponentially off-kilter bouts, throwing gooey curve balls to keep gamers on their toes. While it can get a bit out of control — and sometimes fails to delve more deeply into certain concepts that do work — the ride is still thrilling and satisfying as a whole. World of Goo 2 is worthy sequel to its classic predecessor, while also standing tall (albeit a bit wobbly) as a distinct experience.