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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 could easily be a better game if some things were simply removed. Still, despite the unnecessary stealth sequences and other roadblocks, it truly does get better over the course of its 15 to 20 hours. It isn't a perfect modernization of all we love about Castlevania, but it certainly feels like a proper part of the bloodline. Diverse, connected environments, creepy characters, and fantastic boss designs speak to a journey that resonates stronger than the plot itself.

Mirror of Fate leaves a poor first impression, but the game gradually becomes more enjoyable as you move through it. The game takes time out to puzzle near the halfway point for a welcome change of pace, and has its best moments coming at the end of the game, which you can reach in around ten hours. Taking on the form of what most players associate with classic Castlevania, Mirror of Fate seems to stumble around in an unfamiliar body. It’s at least playable if not always enjoyable, and the game wants so badly to be Castlevania that it manages to tell an interesting tale and in the end.

Deadlight is able to create a mood and a purpose as you work your way through dangerous and sinister spaces, but despite the interesting and involving concepts it struggles in its expression. You feel more as if you're performing a repetitive series of tasks rather than surviving by your wits, but there's still a certain satisfaction in overcoming the game's challenge. There's some real light breaking through here, but it's unfortunate that it couldn't shine a little bit brighter.

Once you overcome the game’s own antithesis mechanics, Jericho boils down to a first-person shooter. And even here the game drags. The controls are simply unresponsive for fine shooting. Your teammates need a miracle to take down any of the infernal demon horde, while said horde will almost always beeline to whichever character you’re currently possessing. There are some fun experiments with swapping players and applying different powers in quick succession, but it’s still disorienting, and ultimately not as effective as sticking with a commando you like.

Gods Will Be Watching strives to be meaningful. The story ruminates on how hard it is to find purpose in a world where things are often outside of our control. Many may never get a chance to appreciate that message, since the game ruins its own potential. At no point does Gods Will Be Watching make the struggle worth the effort.