Recent reviews by excal

Family Man may not appeal to everyone. Its visuals are modest, and the themes are darker than expected. The minigames and other activities can feel shallow and repetitive, and the impact of your choices is less significant than you might hope. Despite this, the game has an undeniable charm. While some of its tricks feel like sleight-of-hand, they are executed well enough to make the experience worthwhile.

Fabledom puts a distinctive twist on city-building, wrapping the experience in a storybook aesthetic and introducing a variety of fantastical challenges. Bright and charming while still offering real difficulty, it provides city-sim veterans with plenty to tackle, along with engaging political and romantic elements that keep the gameplay feeling lively and fresh.

This is easily the finest F1 game to date, packed with content that feels like it was crafted straight from fans’ wish lists. The thrilling racing is complemented by a robust team management system, split-screen multiplayer, and audio and visuals that are approaching perfection.

No.

Effie offers a lot of ideas but lacks clear direction. It brings a hint of nostalgia from other well-defined games but doesn’t fully capitalize on its inspirations. The open world looks appealing and pairs nicely with the fun shield-surfing mechanics. However, the game’s lack of mechanical focus and overly ambitious design hold it back. Effie could still be enjoyable for players who are happy with a simple, light platforming experience.

Dordogne isn’t a challenging game, and it won’t change the way you see the world, but it tells a sweet and tender coming-of-age story that makes for a perfect little escape. I spent three hours admiring its stunning watercolour visuals and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It’s definitely worth checking out on Game Pass, and even if you don’t have it, this gentle, memorable adventure is likely to leave a more lasting impression than spending the same time and money on the latest Marvel blockbuster.

Dome Keeper still leaves players wishing for more content to fully expand its addictive gameplay. Around the ten-hour mark, many will have explored most of the unlocks and will need to decide if continuing for personal enjoyment or leaderboard competition is worth it. A dedicated “prestige” mode caters to those seeking a high-risk, high-reward challenge. Even though the core gameplay remains consistent, it’s easy to crave additional weapons, base modifications, and artifacts. With continued support and sales, the game could grow further, but its unique blend of combat, time management, and resource drilling already creates a truly engaging experience.

Diluvian Ultra is a visually striking first-person shooter that recalls the classic style of Quake and DOOM. While some bugs can make the experience more frustrating than necessary, fans of keyboard-based FPS gameplay may find a lot to enjoy here.

Down in Bermuda provides a relaxing experience, but its mobile roots show. Playing on a PC for longer sessions makes the short length of around three hours and the repetitive puzzle design more noticeable, reducing their overall appeal. The port could have been improved as well, since the final map experiences significant performance issues.

Trash.