The Perthro blog·154 posts since May 2026
Reviews, guides and notes on play.
What critics are saying about new releases, how to get more out of the games you play, and what's new in Perthro.
Should you replay GTA V before GTA 6?
Thirteen years later, Los Santos still holds up in places. Whether you need it is another question.
Games we've written about.
Newest first. Pick a cover to read the post.
Every post. 154 so far.
October2026 · 7 posts
Gears of War: E-Day and Star Wars: Galactic Racer review roundup
ReviewsTwo launches on the same day, both in the high 80s. One splits critics over its story; the other only over how long it lasts.
Why game delays are usually good news
IndustryA delay feels like bad news on the day. A few years later, it's usually the reason the game turned out well.
How to choose a difficulty setting, and when to change it
GuidesEasy, Normal, Hard: the menu asks before you know anything about the game. Here's how to answer it.
What to play while you wait for GTA 6
GuidesPick based on what you actually want from GTA: the city, the crime, the driving or the satire.
Minecraft Dungeons II and End of Abyss review roundup
ReviewsA safe sequel and a moody debut. Critics agree on what each does well, and split over whether it's enough.
September2026 · 31 posts
Horror games for people who don't like horror
FeaturesSpooky season, without the sleepless nights. Eight games that are creepy, strange or funny, but rarely terrifying.
Why there are so many video game remakes
IndustryRemakes used to be a sideline. Now they're some of the biggest releases of the year. Here's why, and what it means for players.
How to clear your backlog before GTA 6
GuidesYou have about seven weeks. Here's how to spend them so November 19 feels like a fresh start.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve and EA Sports FC 27 review roundup
ReviewsCritics call Ace Combat 8 the series at its best. FC 27 reviews are solid, but players are far less kind.
PS5, Xbox, PC or Switch 2? How to choose which version of a game to buy
GuidesMost big games now come out everywhere. The right version depends less on the console and more on how and who you play with.
Control Resonant and Silent Hill: Townfall review roundup
ReviewsTwo big September releases, both praised for their worlds and argued over for how they make you fight.
Well Dweller and Graveyard Keeper 2 review roundup
ReviewsA near-unanimous metroidvania about a bird with a matchstick, and a cemetery sim that critics either love or find exhausting.
How to start a video game club with friends
GuidesLike a book club, but everyone gets to complain about the final boss.
When to stop playing a game you're not enjoying
GuidesSome games get better after ten hours. Most of the ones you're dreading won't. Here's how to tell them apart.
How to rate video games on a five-star scale that means something
GuidesMost of us give everything three and a half stars. Here's how to make your ratings tell you something.
Short games you can finish in a weekend
FeaturesTwelve great games under 10 hours, from a two-hour hike to an eight-hour mystery, and every one worth finishing.
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter review deep dive: one of 2026's best-reviewed games
ReviewsFalcom's remake of Sky SC has critics calling it the series' high point, with one shared complaint: you've walked these roads before.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave review deep dive: why critics love it, and where it drags
ReviewsCritics say Nintendo's biggest Fire Emblem has the series' best battles. The question is whether you have 100 hours for everything around them.
Trails series: where to start and play order
GuidesThirteen games, one continent and one long story. Here's the order that makes sense and the three places you can actually jump in.
Marvel's Wolverine review deep dive: why critics love Logan but split on the game
ReviewsInsomniac's lowest-scoring Marvel game still has some of the best claws in the business.
How Metacritic and OpenCritic scores work
IndustryTwo numbers out of 100 that look alike but are built differently, and what each one hides.
Tactics RPGs for beginners: how to start and what to play
GuidesGrids, turns and permadeath sound intimidating. A few habits and the right first game make them click.
How to use a walkthrough without spoiling the game
GuidesGetting help isn't cheating. The trick is taking only as much as you need, from sources that won't show you the ending.
BrokenLore: DON'T LIE and Hot Wheels Infinite Rush review roundup
ReviewsA short horror game and an open-world toy racer, both with strong cores and thin edges.
Are video games too long?
FeaturesMost players never see the credits on big games. The real problem isn't length, it's length that doesn't earn its place.
How to play games with long-distance friends
GuidesA regular time, a game everyone can join, one voice setup and something to play when schedules don't line up. That's most of it.
Halloween: The Game review deep dive
ReviewsCritics agree IllFonic nailed the fear of being hunted through Haddonfield, and disagree on how much jank they're willing to forgive.
Why so many big games release in the fall
IndustryHoliday spending, March fiscal years and awards season all point at the same ten weeks. Here's how it works, and how to get through it.
How to find time to play games when life is busy
GuidesYou probably have more play time than you think. It just arrives in 25-minute pieces.
The Blood of Dawnwalker review deep dive
ReviewsRebel Wolves' debut wins critics over with its writing, then divides them on whether the 30-day clock and the combat pull their weight.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault review deep dive
ReviewsCritics agree the shop-and-dungeon loop is better than ever, but the new 3D look and a flat ending are where they part ways.
How to write a video game review people want to read
GuidesWho it's for, what it feels like, what's wrong with it. Get those three right and the rest is detail.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword review deep dive: why an 86 average hides a real split
ReviewsEveryone agrees the sword fighting is superb. They disagree on how much padding it can carry.
Why video game music belongs in the concert hall
IndustryGame scores were written to loop for eighty hours. Played live by an orchestra, you hear how much was in them.
August2026 · 34 posts
Blood Dungeon review deep dive: why critics split on its platforming twist
ReviewsA survivor-like where you have to keep jumping, climbing and dodging. Critics split on what surrounds it.
Resonance and Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 review roundup: reinvention versus preservation
ReviewsOne sequel changes almost everything; one collection changes almost nothing. Critics like both.
Star Wars Zero Company and Lou's Lagoon review roundup: precision and turbulence
ReviewsAn XCOM-style Star Wars campaign critics love, and an island escape whose rough edges break the calm.
Games are creative tools, even when you never publish a thing
FeaturesUseful limits, cheap mistakes and permission to make something you'll never share.
How Steam Deck is changing PC game design
IndustryReadable text, finished controller support and sane defaults used to be polish. On a handheld, players expect them.
Brigandine Abyss review deep dive: why a 71 average hides a sharper split
ReviewsThe army-building is absorbing. The battles it leads to often aren't.
Accessibility labels could change how we buy games
FeaturesYou shouldn't have to buy a game to find out whether you can play it.
Apple Arcade's September puzzles make the case for no interruptions
IndustryA daily score chase and a wildlife jigsaw, both with the ads taken out.
Why game preservation cannot depend on the store staying open
IndustryRe-releases come and go. What gets kept depends on archives, end-of-life plans, and the notes players leave behind.
Twisted Tower and STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT review roundup: two fresh releases, two arguments
ReviewsA BioShock-inspired carnival shooter and a revered visual novel's third version, both arguing with their past.
Virtual photography: when the game stops and the photographer takes over
FeaturesHide the HUD, move the camera, and the level you sprinted through turns into something worth looking at.
The Sinking City 2 review deep dive: why critics split on Frogwares' reinvention
ReviewsA tighter, scarier sequel. Critics disagree on whether it's also a less distinctive one.
How to find hidden indie games
GuidesSearch sideways from a game you already love, and stop wishlisting at forty.
Mortal Shell II review deep dive: why critics agree this sequel works
ReviewsCold Symmetry dropped the stamina bar and built a bigger world, and most critics think it paid off.
Heave Ho 2, Fading Echo and The Alters: Last Variable review roundup
ReviewsOne for a group of friends, one for a bright world to move through, and one for players not done with Jan.
Three 2026 game reviews worth your time: Mina, PRAGMATA, and Mixtape
ReviewsA Shovel Knight team adventure, a Capcom shooter with a hacking twist, and one last night with friends.
How to keep a game journal past the first week
GuidesOne sentence after you put the controller down is enough. The hard part is doing it again next week.
August 2026 game review roundup: Marvel Tōkon, Beast of Reincarnation, and Helix
ReviewsA confident tag fighter, a divisive Game Freak action RPG, and a wordless monochrome puzzle game.
When a subscription drop makes your backlog louder
IndustryFour very different games arrived at once. You only need to pick one tonight.
Big Walk review deep dive: why critics love House House's co-op game
ReviewsThe Untitled Goose Game team made a co-op walk where the puzzle is explaining what only you can see.
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game review deep dive: why critics split on the bending fighter
ReviewsA rescued licensed fighter that plays beautifully and still needs its training mode finished.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok review deep dive: why critics split on the grind
ReviewsHarder bosses, kinder farming, not much plot. Whether that's a deal depends on why you stayed.
Doom, Quake, and the odd comfort of old games getting new doors
IndustryA Doom cartridge with Vampire Mode and a new Quake episode, one weekend apart.
ReStory: Chill Electronics Repairs and Sovereign Tower review roundup
ReviewsA Tokyo repair bench and an Arthurian court: two small PC games critics want to keep.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword, The Blood of Dawnwalker, and Star Wars Zero Company preview roundup
ReviewsThree late-summer releases, no scores yet, and previews that already show where the arguments will be.
Splatoon Raiders review deep dive: why critics love Nintendo's solo spin-off
ReviewsSalmon Run got loose and became a full game, and critics sound relieved about it.
Beast of Reincarnation review deep dive: why critics are split on Game Freak's action RPG
ReviewsGame Freak's first big swing outside Pokemon: a ruined Japan, a parry-heavy sword, and a very good dog.
Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World review deep dive: why critics split on Strange Scaffold’s isekai joke
ReviewsAn isekai joke about a guilty delivery truck, and how long it keeps critics laughing.
Kusan: City of Wolves, Blue Reflection Quartet, and Case Solved review roundup: critic scores after July 30
ReviewsA neon Hotline Miami descendant, an uneven four-game JRPG set, and an afternoon of logic puzzles.
Truxton Extreme review deep dive: why critics are high on the shmup revival
ReviewsThe first proper Truxton since 1992 lands well, with a few critics grumbling about repeat runs.
Corsair Cove review deep dive: why critics are high on the pirate city builder
ReviewsLimbic's pirate haven wins critics over on the cliffs, then loses a few of them at sea.
July2026 · 33 posts
The Relic: First Guardian review deep dive: why critics are split on the Soulslike
ReviewsA Korean dark fantasy action RPG with real ideas and a 40-point review spread.
Denshattack! review deep dive: why critics love the train game, and why PC Gamer split
ReviewsA ramen-delivery train doing kickflips shouldn't work. Most critics say it does.
DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelations review deep dive: why critics think the DLC fixes the fight
ReviewsThe Slayer gets a spear, his dash back, and a campaign that assumes you already know the parry.
The Steam Machine files are a reminder that libraries should feel lived in
IndustrySomeone is going to make a GabeCube shell, and we're glad Valve is letting them.
Halo: Campaign Evolved, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, and The Incident at Galley House review roundup
ReviewsThree remakes in one week: a famous ring, a pirate memory, and a haunted deduction machine.
Mina the Hollower review deep dive: why critics love it, and where the cave walls close in
ReviewsCritics mostly adore Yacht Club's mouse adventure. The holdouts all point at the same thing: the map.
The King is Watching review deep dive: critic scores for the strategy sleeper
ReviewsA city builder where buildings only work while the king is looking at them.
Big Walk, Marvel Tokon, and The Sinking City 2 preview roundup: critic watchlist for August
ReviewsA walking game with friends, a 4v4 Marvel fighter and a Lovecraft sequel turning to survival horror.
Dinoblade review deep dive: critics are split on the dinosaur Soulslite
ReviewsA Spinosaurus with a greatsword, played completely straight. Critics mostly love it, with caveats.
Avatar Legends, Disgaea Mayhem, and Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster review roundup: critic scores for July 23
ReviewsOne surprise fighter, one shaky spin-off and one classic RPG asking to be bought again.
Steam Train Fest is a reminder that games need smaller shelves
IndustryOne week, one theme, and a lot of people who really like timetables.
Culdcept BEGINS review deep dive: why critics like this strange board game RPG
ReviewsA board game, a deckbuilder and an RPG at once. Critics love it, dice and all.
Hermit and Pig review deep dive: why critics are calling this mushroom RPG a sleeper hit
ReviewsA short, funny RPG where an awkward conversation can hurt as much as a fight.
Steam's AI disclosure is clumsy. Keep it anyway
IndustryThe label is blunt, the capsule art is getting worse, and players still deserve to know how a game was made.
Palworld 1.0 review deep dive: why critics still cannot agree
ReviewsPocketpair's full release is better than ever. Critics still can't agree what that excuses.
Splatoon Raiders, Halo: Campaign Evolved, and Beast of Reincarnation preview roundup: critic watchlist for late July
ReviewsA single-player Splatoon, a very shiny Halo remake and a Game Freak action RPG with a dog.
Moss: The Forgotten Relic, D-topia, and The Mound review roundup: critic scores after a strange July week
ReviewsA warm non-VR remake, a soft sci-fi puzzler and a hostile co-op horror trip.
The Mermaid Mask review deep dive: why critics quietly love SFB Games' locked-room mystery
ReviewsA locked-room murder on a submarine full of strange people, from the Tangle Tower and Crow Country studio.
Dave the Diver: In the Jungle review deep dive: why critics think this DLC is almost a sequel
ReviewsDave goes on holiday and comes back with enough new systems for a second game.
KAZ review deep dive: why critics are hooked on this keyboard roguelite
ReviewsA grid, a keyboard and a score target. Critics love it, and say to take breaks.
Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition review deep dive: critics praise the Switch 2 port, with caveats
ReviewsThe combat survived the move to Switch 2. A couple of Special Edition modes didn't.
Steam sale tips: how to buy games you'll actually play
GuidesA few habits for the Summer, Autumn and Winter sales, from a team with too many unopened games.
Star Fox review deep dive: critics love the remake, but want Nintendo to aim past nostalgia
ReviewsThe best version of Star Fox 64 yet. Critics would now like a new Star Fox.
Nintendo Classics and the slow work of keeping old games close
IndustryA few more old games, one menu away, and whether your memory of them holds up.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review deep dive: why critics are split on Ubisoft's remake
ReviewsThe Jackdaw still sails beautifully. Whether the remake beats the 2013 original is another matter.
Moonlight Peaks, Hyperwired, and EA Sports College Football 27 review roundup: critic scores after a busy week
ReviewsA vampire farming sim, a twin-stick shooter with a plug, and the annual college football game.
When Xbox resets, players need their own memory
IndustryMore than 3,000 cuts, one blog post, and the part of your library Xbox doesn't hold.
ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies review deep dive: why critics cannot escape Disco Elysium
ReviewsZA/UM's burned-out spy story gets praised for its writing and measured, every time, against Disco Elysium.
The Adventures of Elliot review deep dive: why critics are split on The Millennium Tales
ReviewsSquare Enix's first real-time HD-2D adventure looks lovely. Critics argue about the time travel and the fairy who will not stop talking.
Gothic 1 Remake review deep dive: why critics are split on the Colony
ReviewsThe Colony still wants you dead in the first hour. Critics disagree on whether that is the point or the problem.
TetherGeist review deep dive: why critics think this Celeste-like stands on its own
ReviewsA shaman whose spirit can only go so far, and a mountain of rooms built around that limit.
Rhythm Heaven Groove and Splatoon Raiders critic roundup: scores, previews, and what to watch
ReviewsOne Nintendo game with glowing scores, and one still being watched.
June2026 · 30 posts
Schrödinger's Call and Schrödinger's Cat Burglar review deep dive
ReviewsOne is about the last phone calls before the world ends. The other is about a cat in two places at once. Same joke, very different reviews.
The Drifter, Shadow Labyrinth, and Eriksholm review roundup: critics split the low-70s three ways
ReviewsA pulp noir adventure, a grim Pac-Man Metroidvania and a gorgeous but strict stealth puzzler.
Meccha Chameleon is the kind of Steam hit you cannot plan
IndustryPaint yourself, hold still, and hope nobody notices your elbow.
007 First Light review deep dive: why critics love Bond but argue over the Hitman problem
ReviewsEveryone agrees IO Interactive gets Bond. The argument is over how much of Hitman it traded away to get there.
Crimson Desert review deep dive: why critics are split on Pearl Abyss's huge swing
ReviewsEnormous, technically impressive and very messy. How much of that you'll forgive decides everything.
Dead or Alive 6: Last Round review deep dive: why critics are split on a good fighter in a thin package
ReviewsThe Triangle System still sings. The rerelease wrapped around it is the problem.
Capcom Spotlight arrives at the right time for a smaller kind of hype
IndustryThree games, one stream, and what we hope Capcom actually shows us.
Star Fox, Rhythm Heaven Groove, and Halo: Campaign Evolved preview roundup
ReviewsA remake with scores, a rhythm game with charm, and a Halo remake already arguing about its look.
Esoteric Ebb review deep dive: why critics found a Disco-like with teeth
ReviewsA one-person RPG about a cleric, an exploded tea shop and an election, and why critics think it earns the Disco Elysium comparison.
EA Sports UFC 6, Crushed in Time, and Junkster review roundup: critics find careful swings and odd little surprises
ReviewsThe mainstream sports pick, a stretchy meta puzzle game and a small platformer with a building hook.
Marathon review deep dive: why Bungie’s shooter is still splitting critics
ReviewsStylish, mean and brilliant in a firefight. Whether that's worth the first ten hours depends on you.
Windows handhelds are making game libraries feel strangely homeless
IndustryThe ROG Xbox Ally hides Windows well. It can't tell you why half your library is there.
Forza Horizon 6 and Lego Batman review roundup: critics find two polished crowd-pleasers
ReviewsForza Horizon 6 looks like the week’s safest bet. Lego Batman is lighter, sillier, and better reviewed than expected.
EA Advertising puts brands inside FC and Madden. Where's the line?
IndustryStadium boards are fine. Sponsored challenges in a full-price game are a different deal.
NBA The Run and eFootball Kick-Off review roundup: critics find old sports energy in smaller packages
ReviewsAn NBA Street descendant and a Switch 2 football game that remembers PES.
Mewgenics review deep dive: why critics call it catnip for roguelike sickos
ReviewsThe Binding of Isaac meets Into the Breach, with cats. Critics love it, and warn you about it.
Resident Evil Requiem review deep dive: why critics praise Grace and debate Leon
ReviewsGrace carries the horror, Leon carries the action. Critics disagree on how well the two halves fit.
Steam's redesign and the fragile business of indie discovery
IndustryPlayers see a cleaner store. Indie developers see a launch plan built on someone else's shelves.
Bluey, Echo Generation 2, and LumenTale review roundup: critics find comfort with caveats
ReviewsA family collectathon, a deckbuilding RPG gamble and a creature collector with rough edges.
The Ocarina of Time remake has to compete with your memory
IndustryNintendo can rebuild Hyrule Field. It can't rebuild the room you first played it in.
Invincible VS review deep dive: why critics like the punch and question the staying power
ReviewsQuarter Up's Killer Instinct lineage shows in the combat. The questions are about teaching and staying power.
Valheim 1.0 and the odd feeling of finishing a world
IndustryFive years of Early Access end with the Deep North. Do you start fresh, or take the old world north?
Pokémon Pokopia review deep dive: why critics made room for Ditto
ReviewsA cozy Pokémon builder starring Ditto sounded like an odd spin-off. Critics scored it like a main event.
Perthro is on the App Store
UpdatesThe social gaming journal for iPhone is out of TestFlight and free for everyone.
Saros review deep dive: why critics agree on the action and argue about the story
ReviewsEveryone agrees the combat is superb. The argument is over the story and the 20-hour loop around it.
State of Play, Tomb Raider and the pull of old names
IndustryA familiar logo gets a game a closer look. The trailer still has to give you a reason to play it.
Lost and Found Co. review deep dive: why critics found a quiet 2026 hit
ReviewsA hidden object game with one of 2026's best averages, praised for making looking feel good.
Paralives, Yoshi, Bubsy 4D, and Thick as Thieves review roundup
ReviewsA promising life sim, a gentle Yoshi, a better-than-expected Bubsy and an underfed heist game.
May2026 · 19 posts
Gothic 1 Remake, Solarpunk, and Hell Let Loose: Vietnam preview roundup
ReviewsA cult RPG remake, a peaceful survival game and a 50-v-50 shooter, each with one big question to answer.
Stop Killing Games wins a California Assembly vote
IndustryThe Crew started it. A California bill wants shutdown notice and a way to keep playing what you bought.
Mixtape review: why the 2026 sleeper has critics split
ReviewsA short, song-driven coming-of-age story. The argument is how much game it needs around it.
Mina the Hollower and the value of sharp edges
IndustryYacht Club's new game can take your bones when you die. It also lets you turn that down.
How to choose what game to play next
GuidesStart with the evening you've actually got, then pick from three games, not thirty.
Coffee Talk Tokyo and the value of games that wait with you
IndustryA game about making drinks and listening, released into one of May's busiest weeks.
A social network for gamers without the scoreboard
FeaturesFollow people, not trends. Share lists, not stats.
How to organise your game library after the import
GuidesAn imported library is an inventory. Half an hour turns it into something you'll actually use.
Subnautica 2 day one: seven critic reviews, two camps
IndustryHalf the critics loved the polish. The other half missed the silence.
Forza Horizon 6 finally lands in Japan, and the place was always the point
IndustryColorado, France and Italy, Australia, the UK, Mexico, and now Japan.
When your games live in five different storefronts
FeaturesSteam, PlayStation, Xbox, a tin of Switch cartridges and a GOG corner. A case for putting the library back together.
Dragon Quest at forty, and the journal we didn't know we were keeping
IndustryThe stream is on May 27. The first game came out on the Famicom on the same date in 1986.
What people mean by "Letterboxd for games"
FeaturesThe star rating was never the hard part. Games run long, change with patches and live on five storefronts at once.
Subnautica 2: when is Early Access done enough?
IndustryThe sequel arrives missing whole chunks of itself. We'd still rather write about it now than in 2028.
Hello from the TestFlight beta
UpdatesThe Perthro iPhone beta is open. Here's what's in the build, how to join, and how to send us feedback.
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