REVIEW: The Boss Gangster: Criminal Empire (2026 Video Game) - Out On Early Access on Steam

Review by Jon Donnis

The Boss Gangster: Criminal Empire sits in that hybrid space between simulation, RPG and open world crime strategy, where management and mayhem are constantly pulled together. It builds its identity around the idea of running a glamorous nightclub empire while also steering a criminal operation that stretches into gang wars, bribery and street level control. It is an early access release, and that context matters when judging how far it currently reaches and where it still stumbles.

At its best, the game presents a clear and easy to grasp loop. You meet the main figure of authority, take on some starting funds, and begin building your nightclub empire from the ground up. From there, it expands into hiring staff, improving your venue and managing the flow of guests and money. It never feels overly complicated in those early hours, and there is a certain satisfaction in how quickly it lets you get into the rhythm of building and upgrading.

The presentation also helps carry the experience. The top down view will feel familiar to anyone who remembers older crime management games such as Gangsters Organized Crime. There is a similar sense of overseeing a living system from above, watching your influence spread across a city that feels like it is constantly shifting between business and violence. Visually, it does enough to make the world readable and appealing, and the soundtrack, made up of custom in game tracks, does a solid job of supporting the nightlife atmosphere without becoming intrusive.

Where it becomes more ambitious is in its mix of systems. The game pushes you to juggle club management with criminal activity, from handling VIP guests and running your venue to dealing with rival gangs, illegal trading and corrupt officials. It wants you to move between legitimate business and organised crime almost seamlessly, and when it flows properly, that combination gives the game its identity. There is a clear attempt to make your decisions matter across both sides of the empire you are building.

It is also worth noting how straightforward the core structure feels at its best. You are essentially growing a business while building a criminal family, assigning roles, upgrading your influence and expanding into new areas of the city. There is a sense of progression that is easy to follow, even when the systems begin to stack up.

However, the early access label is impossible to ignore, especially when it comes to usability. The controls are one of the biggest barriers right now, feeling fiddly and inconsistent in places. There is also a surprising lack of clarity around them, with no option to review controls in the menu, which leads to unnecessary confusion early on. Even simple things like adjusting the viewpoint take longer than they should, which interrupts what is otherwise a fairly smooth gameplay loop.

There are also moments where the ambition outpaces the current polish. The idea of switching between nightclub management and open world missions without loading screens is strong on paper, but in practice the experience can feel uneven depending on what you are doing at any given time. It is a game that clearly has systems with potential, but they are still settling into place.

As it stands, The Boss Gangster: Criminal Empire feels like a solid foundation rather than a finished statement. It has a strong concept, a readable structure and enough variety in its systems to suggest something much bigger underneath. The presentation and atmosphere already work in its favour, even when the mechanics are not fully refined.

There is a good game here waiting for more time and development to bring everything into sharper focus. It is ambitious, occasionally messy, but built on an idea that is strong enough to carry it forward if the rough edges are smoothed out.

Out Now on Early Access

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2774040/The_Boss_Gangster_Criminal_Empire/

REVIEW: Dialoop (2026 Video Game) - on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

Dialoop arrives with a clear intention. It wants to shake up a very familiar formula and wrap it in something louder, brighter, and a bit more unpredictable. At its core it is still a puzzle game about matching and scoring, but the way it layers roguelite systems and deckbuilding on top gives it a different rhythm. Every run feels slightly reassembled, as if the game is constantly nudging you to rethink how you approach the board.

The most immediate draw is the presentation. The visuals are bold, colourful, and almost hypnotic in motion. Blocks shift, flash, and collapse in a way that feels satisfying on a basic level, even before the deeper systems start to click. The voxel character designs add a playful edge, and the customisation options give you a small sense of ownership over the chaos. There is even a strange tonal twist with the defeat animations. Losing a run triggers an unexpectedly intense voxel demise that leans into dark humour. It is a jarring contrast, but one that sticks in the mind.

Mechanically, the sliding grid is the big talking point. Instead of simply swapping pieces, you shift entire rows and columns. It sounds like a small tweak, but in practice it changes how you read the board. You are not just reacting to what is there, you are constantly planning a few moves ahead, thinking about how one shift will ripple into another. It can feel awkward at first, especially if you are used to traditional match three systems, but there is a quiet satisfaction when it starts to make sense. Whether it was necessary is another question, but it is at least an honest attempt to evolve something well worn.

The roguelite structure adds another layer of tension. Building a deck that shapes how the board behaves gives each run a sense of identity. Cards trigger chain reactions, relics stack into powerful combinations, and suddenly a simple match turns into a cascade of points. Some relics feel transformative, especially when they boost multipliers or reward specific patterns. When the synergies line up, the game hits a real high. It becomes fast, reactive, and genuinely exciting, particularly in competitive matches where quick thinking matters.

That speed carries into the multiplayer side as well. Head to head battles can become frantic, with large combos disrupting opponents and shifting momentum in seconds. It is here that the game feels most alive. The systems that might feel a bit abstract in solo play suddenly have clear purpose when you are trying to outplay someone else.

There are drawbacks, and some are hard to ignore. The same visual intensity that makes the game stand out can also be overwhelming. The constant movement and colour can feel like too much, and for some players it may go beyond discomfort into outright nausea. It is not just busy, it is relentless. That alone will limit who can comfortably spend long sessions with it.

There is also a lingering question about depth. While the deckbuilding and relic systems add variety, the core loop still circles back to a familiar place. After a few runs, you may start to wonder if the added layers are enough to sustain long term interest. The game thrives in short bursts, where the quick pace and bright feedback keep you engaged. Stretch those sessions out, and the cracks begin to show.

The attempt at narrative, tied to ancient ruins and powerful guardians, is present but not particularly strong. It adds context rather than meaning, giving you a reason to move forward without ever becoming the main attraction. The bosses themselves are more interesting as gameplay challenges than as characters.

Dialoop ends up sitting in an unusual space. It is inventive without being essential, energetic without always being comfortable, and engaging without quite becoming absorbing over the long haul. There is a lot to admire in how it tries to push a familiar genre in a new direction, even if not every idea lands cleanly.

In the end, it is a solid and often enjoyable experience that feels best when taken in small doses. The visuals will pull some players in and push others away, and the mechanics will either click or frustrate depending on your patience. It does enough to stand out, just not quite enough to fully redefine what it is building on.

Dialoop earns a respectable 7 out of 10.

Out Now on PC Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3020550/Dialoop_Roguelite_Puzzle/

REVIEW: The Day I Became a Bird (2026 Video Game) - On Playstation 5

Review by Jon Donnis

There is a gentle kind of charm running through The Day I Became a Bird that feels almost old fashioned in the best possible way. This is not a game chasing spectacle or complexity. Instead, it leans fully into warmth, simplicity, and that slightly awkward innocence of childhood emotions. It follows Frank, a shy young boy trying to win the attention of Sylvia, a girl whose fascination with birds sparks his rather unusual plan. What unfolds is a small, heartfelt story told across a handful of days, presented like an interactive bedtime tale.

The core of the experience sits in its light puzzle solving and exploration. You guide Frank through everyday moments, from cycling to school to wandering around the park, picking up items and working through simple challenges. The puzzles are never demanding, but they are consistently engaging enough to keep things moving. There is a clear focus on accessibility here, and it shows. Younger players will find it easy to grasp, while older players may simply enjoy the relaxed pace without feeling pushed or tested.

Visually, the game is a real highlight. The hand drawn art style gives everything a soft, storybook quality that suits the tone perfectly. Characters move with a gentle fluidity, and the environments feel alive despite their simplicity. It all ties together with a soundtrack that quietly supports the mood, adding to that sense of warmth without ever becoming intrusive. The presentation as a whole carries much of the emotional weight, and it does so with confidence.

That said, the simplicity does come at a cost. The game is very short, spanning just four in game days, and it never really expands beyond its initial ideas. While the puzzles are enjoyable, there is not a great deal of variety, and seasoned players may find themselves wanting more depth or a few additional mechanics to keep things fresh. It feels very much designed with younger children in mind, particularly those who might be playing alongside a parent.

Even so, there is something quietly effective about what it sets out to do. It captures that nervous, hopeful feeling of a first crush in a way that is easy to understand and easy to connect with. It does not overreach, and perhaps that is part of its appeal. It knows exactly what it is and sticks to it.

The Day I Became a Bird is a small, heartfelt experience that leaves a lasting impression despite its brevity. It may be aimed primarily at children, but there is enough charm here to resonate more widely. Simple, warm, and gently amusing, it is the kind of game that does not demand much of your time, yet still manages to leave you smiling.

8 out of 10

Out Now on Playstation

https://store.playstation.com/en-cz/concept/10017714

REVIEW: Noir Mafia Simulator 1960s American Crime (2026 Video Game) - on PC (steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

There is a clear sense of ambition running through Noir Mafia Simulator, even in its current Early Access form. Set against the smoky backdrop of 1960s America, the game drops you into a criminal underworld built on risk, improvisation, and split second decisions. It promises freedom in how you approach each job, and to its credit, that part mostly holds up.

The core loop revolves around planning and executing heists across a mix of locations, from banks to museums and even police stations. Each environment presents its own layout and set of risks, which gives the game a welcome bit of variety early on. The choice between stealth and outright aggression is always there. You can creep through corridors with lockpicks and forged documents, or walk in armed and deal with resistance as it comes. That flexibility is one of the game’s stronger points, even if the systems behind it feel a little thin.

One small highlight is the lockpicking. It is not reinventing anything, and feels very familiar, almost lifted from other games in the genre, but it works. It is simple, responsive, and adds just enough tension in the moment. It is the sort of mechanic you do not think too much about, which in this case is a good thing.

The ability to take hostages adds another layer. It is a straightforward system, but it creates moments where you can control a situation that might otherwise spiral. Moving through an area with a hostage in tow, knowing it is the only thing stopping you from being shot on sight, brings a bit of edge to proceedings. It is one of the few mechanics that genuinely changes how you think in the moment.

Where things begin to fall apart is in the presentation and overall feel. The visuals are a real sticking point. For a game releasing in 2026, even in Early Access, it looks dated to the point of distraction. Character models, environments, and animations all feel like they belong to a much older generation. It makes the world harder to invest in, especially given the strong theme it is aiming for.

Controls are another issue. The lack of gamepad support is difficult to overlook. For a third person action game, it feels like a basic expectation, and its absence makes the experience more awkward than it should be. It is the kind of omission that stands out immediately and never quite stops being noticeable.

Combat does not help matters. Shooting lacks impact and precision, and the decision to require multiple shots for something as simple as a headshot undermines the feel of the gunplay. It turns what should be tense encounters into slightly clumsy exchanges, where the mechanics never quite match the stakes.

The planning side, which should arguably be the backbone of a heist game, also feels underdeveloped. There is the outline of something interesting, but in practice it does not go far enough. You are given options, but they rarely feel deep or meaningful enough to fully support the idea of carefully orchestrated jobs.

Even so, there is a sense that something better could emerge over time. The variety of missions and the basic structure are in place, and there are moments where the game hints at what it could become with more polish and depth. Right now though, it struggles to hold attention for long.

As it stands, Noir Mafia Simulator feels like an early build in the truest sense. There is potential, but it is buried under dated visuals, limited systems, and a lack of refinement. A score of 5 out of 10 feels fair at this stage. It is a game worth revisiting if development continues, but in its current form it falls short of what it is trying to be.

Released on Early Access from April 21st

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4457110/Noir_Mafia_Simulator_1960s_American_Crime/

REVIEW: ROGOLF (2026 Video Game) - on PC Steam

Review by Jon Donnis

ROGOLF takes a very familiar idea and nudges it somewhere slightly stranger. On the surface it is mini golf, plain and simple, but wrapped inside a roguelite structure and dressed up in a quietly bleak office setting. You are not just lining up shots for the sake of it. You are climbing floors, chasing a contract, and trying not to get fired along the way. It is a small twist, though a clever one, and it gives the whole thing a sense of purpose that basic mini golf games often lack.

The central loop is easy to grasp. Each run has you playing through a series of mini golf levels on an old computer, with success pushing you higher up the building in the real world. Between floors, the lift becomes a kind of lifeline. Here you meet a robot smuggler who offers upgrades, equipment, and small advantages that can make or break a run. It adds a bit of character, but more importantly it gives the game momentum. You are not just retrying holes. You are building towards something.

What keeps things engaging is the way each level introduces its own rules. One moment you are avoiding walls entirely, the next you are counting every shot against a strict limit. These variations stop the game from becoming too predictable, at least in the short term. There is a steady push to adapt, and that fits nicely with the roguelite structure where no two runs play out exactly the same way.

The scoring system adds another layer. Every shot costs you points, which creates a constant tension between caution and efficiency. At the same time, collecting coins boosts your multiplier, encouraging riskier play if you want to post higher scores. It is a simple system, but it works. Combined with the ability to buy power ups and extra balls in the break room, there is just enough strategy to keep you thinking beyond the next swing.

Still, for all its ideas, the core mini golf mechanics are quite basic. The act of hitting the ball never really evolves, and after a while you start to notice the limits. The visuals lean into a dated look, which may well be intentional given the office setting, but it does not do much to elevate the experience. More of a sticking point is the lack of variety in actual course layouts. You begin to recognise holes fairly quickly, and that repetition can dull the excitement, especially during longer sessions.

Even so, there is something appealing about the way ROGOLF ties everything together. The climb through the building, the small interactions in the lift, and the idea of pushing back against upper management with the help of a hidden ally all give it a bit of personality. It is not trying to reinvent mini golf completely. It is just trying to give it a new frame, and for the most part it succeeds.

ROGOLF ends up feeling like a modest but worthwhile experiment. It is easy to pick up, occasionally frustrating, and quietly satisfying when a run comes together. It does not quite have the depth to sustain endless play, but there is enough here to make the journey to the top floor feel earned.

A fair score of 6.5 out of 10 feels about right.

Out Now on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3810020/ROGOLF/