Charles Harte
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Writing For
Game InformerLatest Reviews
"No two runs are the same" is an oft-spoken line in reference to roguelikes, and it has perhaps never been more true than with Monster Train 2. With five new Clans, new card types, and a side mode of dimensional challenges, every run is distinct, but combat never becomes less satisfying. Despite some cutscenes that leave much to be desired, Shiny Shoe has crafted one of my favorite roguelikes of the year so far, improving on the previous title in every way.
"Cozy" and "horror" seem like words with opposing definitions, but developer MoonHood Studio has repeatedly marketed its debut game, The Midnight Walk, as a cozy horror game. I understand where the studio is coming from; despite jump scares and chase sequences, the Tim Burton-esque art style is nostalgic, reminding me of watching Corpse Bride or The Nightmare Before Christmas as a kid. That said, cozy and horror are both genres that describe a game's aesthetics rather than its mechanics, and ...
Mysteries are one of my favorite elements in storytelling, and that goes double for video games. Whether you look at its roguelike, puzzle, or narrative design, Blue Prince expresses utter mastery over mysteries. The act of hunting for clues, unearthing secrets, and piecing leads together on the mental equivalent of a red yarn-covered corkboard is an unmatched thrill. It's a game that has consumed my every waking hour, and even after hitting credits, I'm eager to play a hundred more runs.
Western storytelling loves to use mythology as worldbuilding, but it fixates on Greek, Roman, and Norse myths so often that it's easy to forget other parts of the world, like the American South, have plenty of folklore as well. South of Midnight, the new action-platformer from Compulsion Games, uses this underrepresented roster of cryptids to great success, telling a heartfelt story centered around a girl and her mother. Its decent combat and platforming are elevated to great heights by stell...
Atomfall is committed to creating friction. It's an open-world survival shooter that wants you to struggle to make success feel sweeter, but it does so with varying levels of effectiveness. When tuned correctly, it's a blast. The survival elements, exploration, and quest structure are positive examples, but poor skill progression and a thin plot hold it back from the greatness it strives for.
Like a masked superhero, there is more to Marvel Rivals than meets the eye. "Overwatch with Marvel characters" is a formula that sounds so lucrative on paper that I initially doubted its quality, fearing it was nothing more than a cash grab. After playing a few dozen hours and removing the game's metaphorical mask, I can see the mild-mannered, hardworking hero at its core. Marvel Rivals executes a simple concept with immense skill and finesse. With a huge roster of free playable characters at...
In the opening minutes of Mouthwashing, the pilot of a spaceship crashes head-on into an asteroid, stranding the crew in the far reaches of space and brutally maiming the captain within an inch of his life. What follows is an existential horror show with unique visual effects, brutal dialogue, and surreal consequences that kept my eyes locked to the screen for the entire three-hour playtime. I am not typically a horror fan, but chose to brave the expanse of outer space in search of a good sto...
Despite its popularity, Monster Hunter is notoriously hard to get into. Each new release conjures a crowd of eager but intimidated gamers asking, "Is this the one to start with?" Thanks to its refined combat, thrilling cutscenes, and endlessly engaging gameplay loop, Monster Hunter Wilds is an excellent entry point. While the tutorials are still lacking and many mechanics are far from intuitive, Wilds accommodates those interested in a simpler approach without compromising its most exciting e...
In Tales of Kenzera: Zau, the debut game from Surgent Studios, the use of the word "Tales" is more literal than it initially seems. To kick off the events of the game, protagonist Zuberi reads a book written by his late father about a place called Kenzera. He uses fiction to cope with his grief, just as the player might do with the plot of the game, and as the studio founder, who lost his father as well, did when creating the story to begin with. While combat and map design in Tales of Kenzera falters at times, this strong, emotional core was what pulled me through to the credits.
Sometimes, all it takes to get started on a great game is to come up with a compelling mechanic, and Pepper Grinder is a prime example. The titular grinder is as powerful as it is versatile, able to drill through the ground and power all sorts of wacky devices. The difficulty curve can be choppy, and ends more quickly than it should, but that core mechanic builds a sturdy foundation that kept me entertained from start to finish.