Drop Rate - Video game reviews that'll make you think

Momento is an evolved unpacking game that uses excellently detailed visuals as well as organisation and puzzle mechanics to tell a heartfelt multi-layer story. Hosted by Kyle Pauletto and Naomi Jackson Read our full review here: Slowly picking up the pieces with MOMENTO Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcast...

Motorslice arrives with a genuinely cool premise, but clunky movement, and some unexpected creative choices mean it never gets close to its own potential. Hosted by Kyle Pauletto Read our full review here: MOTORSLICE had me Googling whether I was overreacting. I wasn't. Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocket...

TOMODACHI LIFE: LIVING THE DREAM is the absolutely bonkers life sim for Nintendo Switch 2. The game goes so much deeper than your average life sim, in ways you might not expect the characters took on not only lives of their own, but the lives of their inspiration. There are things it does well and things it may not excel at, but it did one thing as perfectly as it could and in a way that only it c...

Marathon, the new extraction shooter from Bungie, is harsh, competitive, and unforgiving from the jump. Intentionally so. Hosted by Kyle Pauletto, with Gianni Di Giovani and Chris Button. Read our full review here: Marathon is brutal, stylish, and not here to be your friend Pocket Casts:  You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here  https://pock...

DOOM: THE DARK AGES  feels like a reboot of its own, a sideways step back away from a lot of the changes made in DOOM Eternal. If you don't know your BFGs from your super shotguns this might be exactly the DOOM for you, a great entry point for newbie Doomslayers. Read our full review here: DOOM: THE DARK AGES gives you far more choice to play the way you like A copy of DOOM: THE DARK AGES on P...

One of the all time great roleplaying games modernised just enough for today's audience, THE ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION REMASTERED  is here. Gianni pops on the nostalgia goggles for a trip down memory lane. Read our review and check out all the screenshots here: THE ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION REMASTERED is almost exactly as you remember it and that's excellent ‍ Pocket Casts: You can now r...

THE DARK QUEEN OF MORTHOLME is a 20 minute long, self-proclaimed "anti-game" by Mosu Aijala, and is one of my most memorable game experiences in recent memory. Read our review here: The Dark Queen of Mortholme: A Short but Brilliant Subversion of the Hero’s Journey Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocket...

The team is bigger than ever before and we've got seven red hot recommendations for you, with lots of variety to choose from, and a great list of honourable mentions as well. Did your favourite game make the cut this year? Let us know on Discord, or leave us a rating or review. Read our written reviews for our 2024 picks on our website. Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts,...

As romance novels grow in popularity, so too do dating sims and visual novels. SIFTER's Courtney Smith and Steph Panecasio ( GamesHub ) discuss A DATE WITH DEATH , a free dating sim from Aussie devs, Two and a Half Studios. From blushing at the grim reaper in the computer to analysing how women's sexuality is catered to in video games, this episode of Drop Rate has it all. Pocket Casts: Yo...

There are only a couple of constants in this world, death, taxes and new CALL OF DUTY games. This semi-annual series keeps cranking out the shooter scenarios, with some great multiplayer and all over the place single player. Chris Button is joined by SIFTER's own Kyle Pauletto and freelance journalist David Smith ( Rhunwords ) as they make heads and tails of it all. Clicking on things is fun,...

‍ STAR WARS OUTLAWS might be the first game that actually feels like you're in the cities, spaceships and bases of the legendary scifi series. It's an open world game that doesn't feel bogged down with too much list ticking activities. Chris Button and Gianni Di Giovanni share their thoughts on Ubisoft's take on the world of Star Wars, what worked, what didn't and why Massive i...

HADES II has been on everyone’s radar since the first game launched in 2020, and this sequel keeps the favourite parts of the previous game but adds heaps of new abilities, battle mechanics and storylines in its early access release. Chris Button sits down with SIFTER Executive Producer Gianni Di Giovanni to unpack the mythical Underworld and see if HADES II lives up to the hype of its predecessor...

STELLAR BLADE  caught the attention of many when it first debuted, but not necessarily for its gameplay. Flashy in more ways than one, it's certainly generated plenty of heated discussion online. Stephanie Panecasio ( GamesHub ) and David Smith ( Kotaku Australia ) join Drop Rate to unpack the many layers of this flashy action RPG. Stellar Blade's methodical and stylish combat consistently...

With fun combat that never gets old, UNICORN OVERLORD by Vanillaware combines a dash of FIRE EMBLEM, some FINAL FANTASY XII and even a bit of auto-battler genre into a game that makes you change your plans again and again. Chris Button sits down with SIFTER Executive Producer Gianni Di Giovanni to explore the world of Fevrith, making allies and the unfortunately pervy character designs in overall...

The second entry in the ambitious modernisation of Final Fantasy VII series feels like it finally captures that wonder and fun of the original game. With plenty of fun silly moments and tight compelling combat that encourages variety, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH is the game you’ve been waiting for. Leah Williams ( GamesHub ) joins Chris Button on the latest episode of Drop Rate to race on chocobos,...

Yordles are fae-like creatures from Bandle City, a magical land where wondrous events occur. If you’re not careful, you may fall into one of the portals leading to the home of the Yordles. BANDLE TALE: A LEAGUE OF LEGENDS STORY captures the magic and whimsy of the lore behind one of League of Legends’ cutest and most mysterious races. You’ll craft, explore and converse with a sentient sock, and if...

The first time is an accident, one of your fellow soldiers stands just a little bit too close to the blast zone as you call down artillery from outer space. HELLDIVERS 2 actually makes it a little bit too fun to explode your allies. Whoops. It's all part of the shtick which really amps up the forever war jingoistic world of Super Earth as you blast across planets in the name of 'Managed De...

Like someone made a joke then just massively committed to the bit, LIKE A DRAGON INFINITE WEALTH has just so much in it you can spend ages just chasing what you find fun. Charlie Kelly ( Checkpoint Gaming ) and Jam Walker ( Kotaku Australia , GamesHub) join Chris as they visit Yokohama and Hawaii in search of madcap adventures. You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by ☕ Tippi...

It's hard to match the combat and minute to minute gameplay in the THE LAST OF US PART II and the new PlayStation 5 version offers more of the excellent nailbiting gameplay and deeper insights into the developer's creative process. If you treat this new version as premium DLC for the game you already own, the cut content, commentary and new roguelike mode No Return makes for an enjoyable r...

It's been a massive year for video games, with some of the very best games ever made packed into 2023. In our annual special we've collected the entire SIFTER team like Pokémon into one massive end of year episode . We've got massive titles and smaller indies plus our honourable mentions. What ever you choose to play next from this list you'll have a great time. Mitch - HI-FI RUSH...

Mario has been jumping on platforms now for a really long time, and SUPER MARIO BROS. WONDER takes everything you know and mixes it up, with some incredible design that'll challenge and thrill you in equal measure. Ruby Innes ( Pocket Buds ) and Adam Christou (SIFTER) join Chris for a big discussion about finding representation in Daisy, why elephant Mario is hot and the incredible sound desig...

Remedy has had a great run lately, the Finnish studio have build their wild and somewhat spooky games into a shared universe which reaches it's apex in ALAN WAKE 2. If you're a fan of genre television like Twin Peaks or the metanarratives in games like IMMORTALITY you'll get a kick out of this sequel. James O'Connor (Kotaku, Gameshub) and Fergus Halliday (Reviews,org) join Chris fo...

Can MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN 2 up the ante once again? Now both Spideys are back for some dual arachnid action in this PlayStation 5 exclusive. Have Insomniac been able to mix up the gameplay for this third game? Fiona Bartholomaeus (SIFTER, RTRFM) joins Chris Button in an ultimate team up as they take on their experiences with webslinger. You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism...

You'd be hard pressed to find someone who cares as much about the Forza series as Alice Clarke . This diehard racing sim fan joins Chris for a discussion of the new entry in the more serious technical half of the franchise with FORZA MOTORSPORT , a game where there is a little bit more fog on the road ahead. Find out if the track is full of potholes, or if Alice thinks Turn 10 Studios racing g...

ASSASSIN'S CREED MIRAGE is explicitly for those players wanting the simpler stealth action game play of the original games. Originally a DLC chapter for ASSASSIN'S CREED VALHALLA, Basim's adventures through Baghdad are a simpler, tighter experience with lots of the great improvements from 15 years of history. Read our review of the game , then listen to Chris and Gianni share their tho...