PC Game Reviews

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Our detailed reviews help you make informed decisions about your next PC game purchase. We provide a thorough analysis of gameplay, graphics, story, and more.

Minishoot' Adventures ReviewBig fun in an adorable little package.

IGN PC ArticlesMar 11

WWE 2K26 ReviewThis isn't a knockout blow for the series, but it's certainly a threat to the champion.

IGN PC ArticlesMar 11

Review: Fatal Frame II Remake Is Pure Beauty in Terror Despite being a big fan of survival horror, Fatal Frame remained a blind spot for me. It wasn’t until I played the new Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake that I got to appreciate what made the series and this entry so special and influential. Despite my initial apprehension for such rereleases, this feels like a more complete version of what Fatal Frame series creator Makoto Shibata intended back in the PS2 era. It stays very true to form, even if feels a bit bloated compared to its lean, original version. Mio and Mayu Amakura are identical twin sisters. One day, while visiting the forest where they used to play as children, the siblings are spirited away to the long-lost village of Minakami, where identical twins are at the center of the village’s dark, complicated, and cursed legacy. Playing as Mio and armed with the Camera Obscura shortly after reaching the village, we as the player are tasked with defending our sister Mayu, and finding a way out of Minakami. Coming into the game, I already knew about the plot and its secrets. Even so, I was still deeply impressed with the interpersonal stories of Minakami village and that of the Crimson Sacrifice ritual. Screenshots by Siliconera Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a visually stunning rendition of the original 2003. The original fixed camera angles are gone, which is always a bit sad as a fan of that style. However, the translation to third person over-the-shoulder feels seamless, even though it’s a very different adoption from that of the Wii remake. The character models are very expressive and the environments follow suit. The first area where I took control as Mio is lush with vegetation and detail, obscured in a thick darkness with only the sharp moonlight cutting through it. However, compared to the original, the remake makes some important changes to its visual identity. While doing some research for this review, I noticed that the environments in the PS2 version were a lot more decrepit and dingier. They looked emptier and more threatening. Surely, a result of hardware constraints. The higher fidelity of the remake makes the world look a lot prettier and almost inviting. I didn’t mind this change, but I can imagine it being divisive among purists. The trade-off here is the improved lighting. As I advanced throughout the game, the aforementioned moonlight dimmed through clouds and fog and darkness became oppressive. By the end of the game, I was very impressed with the directorial choices regarding the use of color moonlight. Returning fans will also enjoy it. Won’t say more. Screenshot by Siliconera The visuals go hand in hand with the sound design. Walking around Minakami, I was always under the impression that an extra pair of feet was walking behind me. It’s truly unnerving. The sounds of the crickets in the night, the tense ambiance and combat music, and the moans of the wraiths add various layers to the sound, each one a different type of uncomfortable. I played with the Japanese dub, which was gorgeously acted. Likewise, the original ending song “Chou” by Tsukiko Amano is an incredible track and I’m glad they kept it. While I’ve talked about visual changes, the gameplay side switches things around as well. Combat in Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is slow and methodical, but attempts were made at making it more proactive. The Standard, Paraceptual, Exposure, and Radiant filters substitute the lenses of the original, while remixing the properties of its special shots — now done by spending Willpower, a sort of stamina meter. Each one serves one function inside combat and for exploration. The Paraceptual filter is good for long-range shots, to deal bonus damage to unaware wraiths. The Exposure filter has a fast reload rate, and I changed to it every time to avoid being caught defenseless. But my bread and butter was the Radiant filter and its massive damage — its trade-off being its short range. A caveat is that the colors of the Paraceptual and Exposure filters look ugly, and I would have liked them to be a bit more vibrant and interesting, like the Radiant filter. You can also equip charms, but these truly shine on New Game+ when attempting new endings, as you can equip more than one, and the item shop truly opens up. Screenshots by Siliconera I really enjoyed the addition of side stories that flesh out the inhabitants of Minakami village and make it feel more lived in. However, I’m not sure if due to these or other changes to the game, but what was originally a relatively short game took me about 17-18 hours to complete. In that sense, it reminds me of Silent Hill 2 Remake and how that game padded its time a bit compared to its original. On that end, your mileage might vary. On the other hand, the cutscenes and everything regarding the story in Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a 1:1 recreation of the original, something that I find an improvement over almost every other recent survival horror remake. I’m usually a sceptic about remaking influential video games. However, I think Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake walks a fine line between revamping an old title, with its improved systems and added side stories, and keeping everything that made the original PS2 game a special and deeply influential experience at the time. It remains a very special game, and there’s more to chew on for fans. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake comes to the Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam on March 12, 2026. A demo is available. The post Review: Fatal Frame II Remake Is Pure Beauty in Terror appeared first on Siliconera .

PC News Category - SiliconeraMar 10

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake ReviewIt's not a flawless photograph, but this remake is memorable, terrifying, and artistically stunning.

IGN PC ArticlesMar 10

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection ReviewA perfectly integrated gameplay loop in a bright, fun monster collecting experience.

IGN PC ArticlesMar 9

Slay the Spire 2 Early Access Review So FarWorthy of being called a sequel, even if it's extremely familiar in its opening hours.

IGN PC ArticlesMar 6

Review: Esoteric Ebb Is a Disco Elysium Style Fantasy I think of the best things about Disco Elysium releasing and being amazing isn’t just that we all got a great game to play, but that it’s encouraging other developers to experiment and create gems like Esoteric Ebb . It’s a similar sort of adventure with a gameplay structure that follows in some of the same footsteps as the ZA/UM piece, but with Christoffer Bodegård doing something also totally original and equally entertaining by encouraging all sorts of D&D elements. It’s clever and entertaining in so many ways, regardless of how you choose to portray The Cleric on this journey. Players, after a comprehensive character building session, start Esoteric Ebb as The Cleric. They were assigned to investigate The Tea Shop that Blew Up. But this wasn’t a simple act of vandalism against a particular individual. It’s tied to the current political climate ahead of the very first election in Tolstad, and our previous progress on this quest led to our avatar waking up with amnesia, no equipment, and only the ability to Cure Wounds. The Cleric needs to spend five days investigating alongside Snell, a goblin assistant, and the voices in our avatar’s head tied to the Charisma, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, Strength, and Wisdom stats find out what’s going on and potentially save the city. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xayOde6o8J0 Part of what makes Esoteric Ebb such a delight to play is the commitment to make it feel like we’re going through a tabletop campaign and shaping both The Cleric and the narrative. This starts with a comprehensive character creator that involves assigning points to your Charisma, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, Strength, and Wisdom stats, your background focus, and two proficiencies. What’s helpful about this is that you can see the lore, uses, and role for each stat, with Bodegård flat out spelling out what The Cleric will be like if they have a high or low value in that stat. (Pre-built options are available, in case you want to quickly jump into the adventure.) It’s possible to spend so much time here determining who you are, and I really appreciated it. Once you get into Esoteric Ebb proper, the Disco Elysium similarities become more apparent. This is an adventure and you can avoid the main quest to explore other plot threads. But it is a situation in which many voices in our character’s head will discuss the situation and choices at hand, there is loads of political intrigue about, and it is very easy to get caught up in the mystery of what happened to The Cleric and that tea shop attack. At the same time, while it can be quite dramatic and socially poignant, Bodegård also offered the opportunity to meet some hilarious characters and enjoy some absurdism. Images via Raw Fury What I also appreciated is, while Esoteric Ebb does feel like Disco Elysium , the D&D influence Christoffer Bodegård incorporated also ensure it feels unique. Some of this involves references throughout the script and character background elements that reference the actual behavior of roles like clerics in campaigns. But the other elements involve actual gameplay. You will roll dice (sometimes multiple ones, depending on your build) to determine your success when it comes to certain actions. When this happens, we’ll also hear commentary from the stats that might help establish what happens for successes and failures. You’ll gain first, second, and third level butts and prepare them to use them. While we start with Cure Wounds, we get ones that can influence investigations (Charm Person or Speak with Dead) or can affect the environment or ourselves (Barkskin and Aura of Vitality). There are feats as well, which affect The Cleric’s performance. As a result, there’s a replay value to Esoteric Ebb that feels like it invites someone to return to the adventure and try new things. Even if someone went with the exact same build, the fact that the dice rolls determine success and the nature in which both conversations and encounters can go made me feel like I wasn’t always seeing the full story and every possibility. There’s so much there that immediately after I got through a run, I wanted to go again and see what would happen if I chose to pursue different paths. Images via Raw Fury Esoteric Ebb is an unexpected delight that pairs elements of D&D campaigns with Disco Elysium , which turns out to be a perfect fit. There’s an absurdist element that’s delightful, but the social commentary also feels quite apt and deep at the same time. The execution of the RPG elements also means that feels like there’s always more to explore, which I appreciated. Esoteric Ebb is available for PCs. The post Review: Esoteric Ebb Is a Disco Elysium Style Fantasy appeared first on Siliconera .

PC News Category - SiliconeraMar 6

Ratcheteer DX ReviewRatchet and crank The post Ratcheteer DX Review appeared first on WellPlayed .

Reviews PC – WellPlayedMar 5

Lost and Found Co. Review – X Marks The SpotFinders keepers.

KakuchopureiMar 4

Review: Scott Pilgrim EX Feels Even More Like River City Ransom Scott Pilgrim vs The World: The Game was a very River City Ransom- coded game that also felt strongly inspired by arcade beat’em ups like Streets of Rage. Pick a character. Fight through side-scrolling stages alone or with up to three friends. Scott Pilgrim EX ended up a similar sort of experience, only now the structure feels even more like Kunio and Riki could pop up at any minute. This sort of similarity comes up immediately as Scott Pilgrim EX begins. Like many entries in the Kunio-kun line, it begins with members of Sex Bob-omb and friends of Scott and Ramona abducted. Three gangs moved into Toronto, with their members being Demons, Robots, and Vegans. By facing bosses and reclaiming key items around town, as well as dealing with GCorp, we’ll come closer to freeing the city and discovering who’s behind these kidnappings and turf wars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vygm3XQUiE I must admit, I found myself a bit disappointed in the story. Bryan Lee O’Malley, the original creator of the graphic novels, is involved. The concept does offer a solid excuse for everyone to be running around on a new quest. However, the characterizations didn’t feel true to their established personalities in either that comic or the Scott Pilgrim Takes Off anime series. This isn’t to say that there aren’t some funny moments, but sometimes I felt like it was a more general action game that happened to feature folks who looked like characters from Scott Pilgrim , rather than it being a true Scott Pilgrim story. But then, that could also partially be because it is a rather short game that you could perhaps finish in a single day with friends. Now, essentially, some elements of Scott Pilgrim EX gameplay feel very similar to what we encountered in Scott Pilgrim vs The World: The Game . This is a side-scrolling, 2D beat’em up. We pick a character from the initially available roster and use their standard attacks, special moves, and items picked up off the ground to defeat enemies. After clearing out a space, there’ll typically be a clearly telegraphed “go” sign encouraging us to move on in a certain direction. These controls feel really tight, with easy to pull off combos that are fantastic for felling foes. Now, I will note that I’m also a little disappointed with the playable characters we can choose from as Scott Pilgrim EX , but it’s mainly a personal preference. While Ramona was someone I’d use in Scott Pilgrim vs The World: The Game, I liked fighting as Knives, Kim, and Wallace most, and none of them are ready to rumble. Instead, we got folks like Scott, Ramona, Roxie, Lucas, Matthew, and Robot-01. The roster that’s there is okay, but they aren’t the folks I expected or hoped to go fighting around the city with on this adventure. Images via Tribute Games When you’re not in the midst of clear the area or objective-related fights, you actually move around places in Toronto inspired by the series. This means entering and exiting stores to purchase healing supplies, stat power-ups, and equipment, popping in at the apartment to swap your playable character, or going to locations to advance the story. In some cases, these are locked away and require you to obtain a key item and a certain sort of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time style short playable riff to advance. These aren’t actually well-explained in-game, so you’ll pass at least two before even being able to interact with one, but they’re very easy to figure out once you are able to go into them. While things generally worked well, even when playing online, I will note that I experienced both major and minor issues in Scott Pilgrim EX ahead of launch. The smaller ones involved the person I was playing with and I not being able to see when the other was holding things. It wasn’t the biggest issue, but it was odd when I brought up how psyched I was to be holding and fighting with a yo-yo, only for him to say my character wasn’t using one on his end. Or that when we gained access to bombs we could use, he said he was carrying one with us to our next objectives and on my end his character was holding nothing. It’s not the biggest issue, but it was odd. Worse was the game-breaking bug. I’m going to be vague in order to avoid spoilers, but at a certain point in the PC version of the game we found ourselves needing to follow Goth Neil. He went through to the next area, so we did as well. Things then crashed on my end, resulting in a black screen and no way to get back to even the title menu. The person I was playing with, who was hosting the session, said it looked like I dropped. We tried a number of combinations of things, which included things like restarting, and each time I’d rejoin with the party code, it would load up to a black screen for me and him being on the character select with it showing as me “being” there, but not choosing a character. This issue happened on Windows-based devices that were up-to-date with the most up-to-date build of the game at the time, but it hopefully is the sort of thing that will be patched. Images via Tribute Games While there are a few things in need of patching, one thing that is perfect at launch in Scott Pilgrim EX is the design direction. It is on-point. Tribute Games did a fantastic job of bringing the characters and their city to life. Everyone looks as they did in the comic and anime adaptation, and there are a lot of references to the series. Also, Anamanaguchi’s soundtrack is a treat, as always. I admire the fact that Tribute Games embraced the River City style with Scott Pilgrim EX, as it really makes this beat’em up more of an adventure. The artistic direction and soundtrack are perfect too, and the combat flows well. I do wish the story were stronger and some of my favorite characters from the previous game had been playable, and the presence of launch bugs that can affect multiplayer is a downer. But at the very least, after a patch or two, those gameplay issues should be fixed. Scott Pilgrim EX is available for the Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. The post Review: Scott Pilgrim EX Feels Even More Like River City Ransom appeared first on Siliconera .

PC News Category - SiliconeraMar 3