Mixtape isn't just a collection of songs perfectly suited to every scene; it's an atmospheric, poignant, and—at the right moments—serious coming-of-age story that feels relatable almost from start to finish. The narrative adventure is enriched with clever cutscenes and varied mini-games that keep the experience from ever getting boring.

Invincible VS is a well-crafted and stylishly animated 3-on-3 brawler. It stays true to the cool source material, and the characters are brought to life effectively. Unfortunately, it lacks standout features and thus falls short of some of its competitors.

Saros is not able to outshine the spiritual prequel Returnal in every aspect. But at least when it comes to the most important part, the gameplay, it certainly is an improvement.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream reveals a little too clearly that it offers a predetermined template into which Miis are simply slotted. It simply needs more variety and a more specific engagement with the characters. Nevertheless, the template itself still allows for the creation of a colorful world—one whose fate you will want to continue following.

With an exciting, innovative combat system that remains fun even in the endgame, a sympathetic duo of protagonists whose chemistry is perfectly balanced, and a fascinating science-fiction world, Pragmata is already shaping up to be one of the highlights of the year.

Life is Strange Reunion is fan service - but damn good fan service. If you love Max and Chloe, you won’t want to miss this installment, despite its lackluster main story.

Marathon is an extraction shooter that truly does its own thing. It is visually unique, yet complex and not easily deciphered. However, those who stick with it are rewarded with fantastic matches and a motivating gameplay loop.

Unfortunately, the story campaign is too linear and dialogue-heavy, but Screamer's gameplay is a blast and satisfies the hunger for classic arcade racing fun.

Crimson Desert is massive and visually stunning, but to truly enjoy its game world, you’ll have to be willing to make some compromises. The controls take more than a little getting used to and can be a real pain at times, whether you’re using a gamepad or a mouse and keyboard. The quest design and gameplay guidance are among the worst I’ve experienced in a long time. The story leaves me completely cold, the characters spark zero interest, and while Crimson Desert strives for immersion with its detailed, vibrant world, high-quality animations, and many features, it repeatedly undermines that immersion itself.

A fast-paced, brutal, straightforward shooter spectacle – the kind horror film alumnus John Carpenter lends his name to. If you want to unleash Snake Plissken-style co-op mayhem, you'll love it. Solo players should look elsewhere.

Planet of Lana 2 picks up seamlessly where its predecessor left off: Outstanding features such as graphics, atmosphere, and the cute sidekick Mui are just as appealing the second time around. The world is varied and the puzzles are moderately difficult. A no-brainer for fans of the genre.

Disco Elysium meets Dungeons and Dragons: Despite its reductive description, Esoteric Ebb delivers a unique experience and identity. A top-notch role-playing game that genre fans shouldn't miss.

Pokémon Pokopia seems to have received a lot of love during its development and therefore feels fully polished. This results in many different moments of pure gaming fun.

Despite some pacing issues, Resident Evil Requiem is an excellent entry in the series, delivering on both action as well as survival-horror.

The brilliant visual novel is almost as good as its predecessor, once again offering a thrilling case for fans of mystery and crime with great puzzles and an overall fantastic presentation.

I was really looking forward to High on Life 2, and the gameplay itself was solid – but the technical issues put me off. Even as a new iteration, High on Life remains one of the strangest games in video game history. Gameplay-wise, it remains solidly average.

One of the best racing games on the platform and due to more selection and the improved physics even better than the Wii-version.

Reanimal continues the tradition of Little Nightmares and garnishes it with disturbingly fascinating gore elements. The atmosphere and creature design are top notch, and the couch co-op option is the icing on the cake. Only the game length could be longer.

Romeo is a Dead Man is a wild fever dream, you probably won’t experience again. Not everything works, but a lot of it surprises.

Mewgenics is a fantastic roguelike with turn-based combat and cat-tactic power that quickly draws you in. Already a contender for Game of the Year 2026.

Thanks to larger worlds and more dynamic combat, Nioh 3 is a must-have title for fans of the series. However, boring loot, a weak story, and mediocre visuals remain core problems of the franchise.

Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined is not a hardcore RPG, it’s more like a vacation. A well needed remake for the original.

It is mind-blowing how time flies with this game. At first it seems like Eufloria just offers relaxed zengaming, but the more you look the more entertaining strategy for explorers and conquerors you'll discover.

If you're looking for a challenge and appreciate interesting game mechanics, Cairn is the right choice for you. However, the story and atmosphere fall somewhat short of expectations.

The open world is more of a con than a pro for Code Vein 2, but the soulslike-game still has some unique strong points to its name.

An indie gem where every pixel breathes love for its characters. An old-school point-and-click adventure whose story starts slowly but then develops an irresistible pull. Perfect Tides: Station to Station is great storytelling on a small screen.

A new star in the Metroidvania-sky: MIO: Memories in Orbit enchants with its magnificent art style, captivating atmosphere, and challenging but fair combat system. New abilities constantly motivate you to discover the world and push beyond your limits.

It's a pity that the visuals haven't been optimized for the retina display, but nonetheless it is a beauty. Stamped with a hefty price tag you'll get an exceptional roleplaying game that is as fascinating as it was a few years ago on the DS.

Samus Aran makes a strong comeback: Metroid Prime 4 is not only a great game on the Nintendo Switch 2 but also looks fantastic. The only things it really didn't need were the open world section and a few mission types that seem stuck in time.

Anyone who was bored in history class won't fall asleep here. The Berlin Apartment has a lot of heart, even more charm – and if you're looking for a well-told, interactive German history experience, you'll currently find little better.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Giant Tides is a powerful 3D platformer with sponge-tastic gameplay flow and perfect childish humor – only some annoying race tracks slowed down my fun.

With an emotional story, a strong message and sublime gameplay, Constance is one of the best Metroidvanias out there. Only small details diminish the overall experience.

Kirby Air Riders is clearly the product of a development team driven by passion. This is especially evident in the effort they put into elevating it to so much more than just a simple fun racer. Nevertheless, not every spark ignites.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 satisfies multiplayer and zombie fans, but the co-op campaign is a complete disappointment.

Mouse-drawn! Winter Burrow is a well-balanced mix of survival and cozy game and will be your perfect companion for the winter season. The game has only minor flaws and will captivate genre fans, at least for the duration of the story.

Leaves a bit to be desired when it comes to mechanics, but scores in terms of atmosphere, art style and characters. And a good time loop never fails.

New ideas, mechanics and a fresh setting combined with the known and loved formula of Anno provide an accomplished tightrope walk.

A fun return to Hyrule that doesn’t come without small obstacles, but nevertheless serves a diversified and detailed adventure for Zelda-fans.

Hardcore survival horror with an interesting story and great art style, but also a high frustration factor.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 exudes dinosaur love like no other game – making its predecessors completely obsolete.

The Outer Worlds 2 impresses with well-written dialogue, countless role-playing options, and surprisingly strong shooter gameplay. However, the title runs a bit flat in terms of quest design toward the end.

Ninja Gaiden 4 offers superbly choreographed action and is more beginner-friendly than any other game before it. The brilliant game design more than makes up for the weak story.

A creative, wacky solo adventure in which the highlight is the incredibly bizarre game world. However, Keeper remains rather thin in terms of gameplay right up to the end.

Those who are unfamiliar with the first Bloodlines will have a distinct advantage with Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. A compelling storyline, an atmosphere as thick as blood, and brutal action make for an impressive package – although the role-playing aspect has been noticeably reduced.

A great experience that invites you to pause and presents a concept so strong that it leaves you with an insatiable hunger for more.

With a well-rounded gameplay flow, seamless catching and fighting as well as a smooth performance, Pokémon-Legends: Z-A is the best game delivered by Game Freak in the last ten years.

Battlefield 6 is a top-tier destruction sandbox and multiplayer shooter that brings the brand back to the Champions League.

Little Nightmares 3 does what you'd expect from a game in this series. It's dark, scary, delightfully repulsive, and bizarre. The fact that the co-op mode is only available online is a bit of a bummer. The playtime could also be longer.

Not quite as well rounded as its predecessor, Ghost of Yōtei offers more variation, but falls short in terms of story and depth of side characters. Nevertheless a great open world-adventure with a fantastic presentation.

Even better than its already brilliant predecessor, Hades 2 offers more content, a crisp combat system, lovable and exciting characters, and so many details that even after dozens of hours, you won't feel a bit bored. A masterful sequel that could hardly be any better.

Cute visuals, lame puzzles, and fiddly building elements: The nice concept of LEGO Voyagers suffers from lack of ambition and moments of frustration.

The focus on action takes away from the spookiness, but Silent Hill f is nonetheless a really brave survival horror game that fans of the genre shouldn’t miss.

Focus instead of expanding: Unlike many other studios, developer Techland takes a different approach and presents Dying Light: The Beast, a game that knows what it's good at. There's no time for boredom or slow spells in this compact game...But apparently, there's no time for any special innovations either. A sequel, not a dimensional leap. On the other hand, it's just way too much fun to explore the world like a monkey climbing a tree and mauling zombies. It should get boring, but there are too many buttons being pressed for that.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is close to perfection, with only a few nuances that could dampen motivation. A worthy successor to what is (to date) probably the best Metroidvania game ever made.

Borderlands 4 motivates with tons of loot and tight gunplay – it is and remains one of the best loot shooters ever. Now that the story and endgame has returned to most of its old strengths, you can easily spend dozens of hours here before boredom sets in. Only the open world wasn't really necessary.

Feeling truly powerless and helpless again? The latest Bloober Team game can help. In this space-age survival horror, people seem to die every second. You have to like it – but it's a lot of fun.

Not without its minor flaws, but certainly one of the biggest surprises of the year: If you like to explore freely and don't want everything spoon-fed to you, you shouldn't miss Hell Is Us.

The Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade for Kirby and the Forgotten Land offers more of the same and will definitely appeal to fans of the original.

Small weaknesses almost disappear in the wake of big strengths: The remake is the definitive way to experience Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.

For me, in terms of horror, Cat People from 1942 is way ahead of Saw 3D or other cinematic torture masterpieces. If you feel the same way, Heartworm is a genre highlight.

A mafia adventure that is often rather mediocre in gameplay terms, but is still entertaining with charismatic characters and a competent, if hardly surprising, story.

A stylish open world and a great driving experience are held back only by minor niggles. If only those last two hours weren't there.

A narratively weak Soulslike, it nevertheless boasts a brilliant and challenging combat system and fresh ideas. On top of that, it has one of the best game worlds in the genre and stunning visuals.

Will this old-school odyssey become the new Monkey Island class leader in the click-along segment? Not at all! But a damn pixelated grindhouse movie to play along to has been born – with a hero like a whip crack.

An ambitious project that partially gets in its own way with an unattractive implementation. The interesting premise is offset by unmotivating gameplay.

For fans, Unfinished Business is a rather blunt but entertaining piece of fan service. Everyone else should think twice before buying.

Innovative, refreshing and incredibly entertaining: Donkey Kong Bananza inspires with new ideas without forgetting its roots.

A feast for nostalgics, albeit with one serious drawback. Anyone who just wants to focus on skating will definitely be happy here.

Stronghold Crusader Definitive Edition offers the core of the RTS masterpiece in a beautiful, fluid, and improved form – but this time with enough content.

It's a bit of a shame that Tamagotchi Plaza didn't take a few crucial extra steps, which I don't think would have been too much to ask. But the basic framework alone is satisfying enough to have fun with.

A technically solid, if not entirely flawless, implementation of Hogwarts Legacy. As entertaining as ever, but finally looking the same on the Switch 2 as it does on the other platforms.

While the Gameplay is more accessible, the story of Death Stranding 2 transforms into a completely new beast, once again breaking the limits of the medium.

Rematch is a strong, almost addictive soccer game with an arcade feel. However, its fundamentally good foundation is severely hindered by technical issues that prevent it from reaching its full potential.

Dune Awakening is a magnificent adaptation of the sci-fi original: thanks to the attention to detail and atmosphere, surviving on Arrakis becomes a true delight, only marred by minor bugs and rubberbanding.

The implementation of Cyberpunk 2077 for the Nintendo Switch 2 is absolutely successful: both technically and in terms of content, it offers a strong role-playing package. Only graphically, the version is clearly inferior to the PS5, PC, and Xbox competition.

Despite its rather lame open world, Mario Kart World is a blast for newcomers and seasoned hardcore fans alike. Fresh changes liven up the racing fun, and the knockout tour is a true stroke of genius.

Pixel by pixel, it's an old-school point-and-click adventure—and that's a good thing. Kathy Rain has survived the sequel unscathed, investigating better than Inspector Columbo and Mr. Monk combined.

While playing alone is a disaster, the multiplayer-portion of the game is surprisingly fun and diverse. Nightreign is an experiment that not always succeeds, but definitely a bold endeavor and if FromSoftware decides to tweak the balance a little, we might get a game that is eventually good no matter how you play.

Not entirely without errors, the Duck Detective sequel serves up a short, successful crime story for detectives of all calibers.

Sunderfolk is a good start to introduce beginners to the world of tabletop games without a complex set of rules and a lot of setup. The controls via app are technically well done, while at the same time the gameplay is challenging enough to allow the player to spend hours and hours in the world of Arden.

The trailers created high expectations, but the reality turns out to be boring and weird. The cops of The Precinct are worse than the gangsters they're chasing.

At its best, Doom: The Dark Ages is a fantastic first-person shooter with a brutal combat system that is convincing almost across the board. However, the dragon and mech missions as well as the uncreative open level structures make sure that the pacing doesn't always feel perfectly smooth.

Even though the look is the star of the game, The Midnight Walk has a lot to offer when it comes to gameplay. A unique and spooky adventure.

A return that could make fans of the series happy. Graphically and technically magnificent; a small roster and lackluster presentation of some modes prevent a better rating.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sets new standards for the genre of turn based RPGs with regard to the story, but even more so the combat. A new, shining star, who hopefully points the way for many future games.

An atmospheric coming-of-age adventure with a strong '90s feel, its strongest selling point being its well-written and drawn main characters. The soundtrack is smashing, but Don't Nod runs out of steam for the finale, leaving many questions completely unanswered.

An entertaining point-and-click puzzle collection with a deep narrative. Beautifully presented and a great addition to any cozy afternoon on the couch.

Simple but not boring in terms of gameplay, captivating but not overwhelming in terms of story: South of Midnight is an atmospheric game that harks back to the old days and transports you to an intriguing fairytale world that we're now eager to learn more about. The swamp awaits you.

inZOI offers a wide range of options for free design and few limitations in terms of gameplay. A more effective introduction to all the possibilities would be desirable. [Early Access Score = 80]

Atomfall is a refreshing alternative to Fallout and Stalker and shines in its first few hours with survival and detective work. After that, it quickly runs out of juice.

Assassin's Creed Shadows immerses us in a beautiful and, above all, atmospheric feudal Japan, where individual aspects of the game have been cleverly improved. However, an unexciting story, weaknesses in the AI and the repetitive, monotonous gameplay prevent the latest installment in the series from generating much excitement.

Xenoblade Chronicles X in it's best form to date. The Definitive Edition delights with all the strengths of the original version, pleasant changes and new content.

Split Fiction is further proof that Hazelight does coop-gameplay with excellence while still feeling like a unique experience. A tasty buffet of well-arranged gameplay variety.

Apart from too much focus on the story and a few hick-ups, Monster Hunter Wilds is offering exactly what one could wish from a new game in the series: Spectacular monsters, amazing fights and the feeling to fight for your life with real creatures.

Visually and playfully attractive role-playing game in a varied world with an extensive lore. The many dialog options and interesting characters as well as the powerful combat system are among the highlights. However, not recommended for Xbox Series S.

A successful Metroidvania that is particularly convincing in terms of exploration and combat systems, but lacks uniqueness.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 knows exactly where its strengths lie and takes full advantage of them. In some regards it lacks a bit of final polish, which is annoying but not too tragic.

Civilization 7 manages to surprise as well as challenge me and my expectations at a classic Civ-game. The developers dare to do one of the most drastic gameplay changes in the series and break with old patterns. It is a fine line between revolution and alienation.