War seen from below, from a cellar where you count the supplies and the survivors.

First thing, the preference ranking: chosen on gut feeling, This War of Mine only edges ahead of about one game in ten. That is low. And yet, look at the detail. The feel of a controller in hand climbs very high, ahead of nearly nine games in ten, and art direction follows just behind, up in the top tier. Fun is not bad either. Desert island and rediscovery stay low. There is the real tension: strong on the concrete criteria, but immediate appeal stumbles. Caution still, one to four votes per line, signals to confirm.

In survival, This War of Mine stands apart: no hero, just civilians who hold on or do not. Its austerity and moral weight may explain that low gut pick: you admire it, you recommend it, but you do not choose it to unwind.

So, who is it for? For you if you love grave survival, dilemmas that weigh on you, and a striking art direction. Much less if you want a light, comforting session.