Nat Smith
This author account hasn't been claimed yet. To claim this account, please contact the outlet owner to request access.
Writing For
PCGamesN Latest Reviews
Team Cherry has done the impossible. In the face of colossal expectation, it has bottled lightning twice. Silksong is a masterpiece, not because it’s bigger and better than what came before, but because it doesn’t lose itself in trying to escape Hollow Knight’s shadow. Its massive scope extends beyond Team Cherry’s initial influences to become a definitive Metroidvania epic that challenges players to rise to the occasion.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers exceeds all expectations as this year's GOTY-level soulslike. Leenzee finds new remedies for the chronic pains endemic in the genre, and its semi-open world is enriched by Chinese culture and masterful level design. However, framerate drops and familiar UE5 optimization problems can't be ignored.
Elden Ring Nightreign shoots for the stars with a clean retrofit of familiar assets into a roguelike format, but it’s dragged back down to earth with repetitive encounters, overtuned bosses, and lacklustre meta-progression. Random chance and an urgent pace rewards blind haste over careful buildcraft, but I'm confident its biggest issues can still be fixed.
Atomfall is a diamond in the rough for survival RPG fans. While it doesn’t hit the emergent heights of its genre contemporaries, Rebellion’s beautifully crafted quarantine zone is a joy to explore, with enough pulp and mystery to propel the player through to the end. If you’re looking for a cozy throwback to classic science fiction, it’s hard to go wrong with this very British sandbox.
Citizen Sleeper 2 is everything you could want from a sequel, building on its predecessor's strengths in storytelling and character design while also bringing new complexity to the dice and clocks that govern its capitalist dystopia.
Infinity Nikki takes all the best bits of Genshin Impact to deliver the definitive dress-up game for girls. With a vast wardrobe of exquisite outfits to collect, its whimsical open world is a treasure trove of activities that distract from the gacha grind.
Neva is a poignant platformer that's a worthy successor to the award-winning Gris. Its intricate and stunning Ghibliesque world is a visual marvel, and while its combat isn't wholly free from frustration, its stirring narrative ensures no dry eye in the room.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is a sublime semi-open world that champions quality over quantity, but unrefined combat puts a damper on A44's original gunpowder fantasy.
Zenless Zone Zero sets slick, responsive combat against a backdrop of cassette futurism and ‘90s nostalgia, but it strains against the yoke of HoYoverse’s built-in gacha system.
Pacific Drive offers a road trip like no other, boasting immaculate sound design and a classic '90s conspiracy delivered through a compact survival-crafting roguelike loop.