Out of the Blue has delivered another feast for the eyes and ears in a fun, chill puzzle game that still finds ways to balance the horrors of the beyond with the horrors of our own existence.

Directive 8020 is a love letter to the space horror that looks beyond just going bump in the night. The distrust sown across the small team, the dialogue choices, and the interactions all craft a game that feels like it belongs on the shelf alongside titles like Dead Space, Sunshine, Event Horizon, and even The Thing.

Mixtape offers a unique experience, even if it looks familiar at first. The narrative approach to memory and growing up creates a coming-of-age story that weaves through the messiness of teenage emotions. While the very small amount of gameplay can feel repetitive, the story mitigates that weakness.

Invincible VS delivers a fun, frantic, and brutal fighting game experience. While it can be unforgiving at times, it never feels like you don’t have the tools to survive the bloody battles it challenges you with.

Aphelion is a small game that hits hard with big emotions by embracing the very best elements of science fiction. It embraces humanity and connection while still showcasing the genre’s love of alien planets and condemnation of evil corporations.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is a chaotic breath of fresh air, even if it doesn’t offer a ton of things to do.

OPUS Prism Peak leaves a heavy, lasting impression thanks to beautiful environments and emotional storytelling.

Saros is Housemarque at its best. It nails the roguelike formula, with each run feeling completely different than what came before thanks to changing areas and a variety of weapons. The story grips you and doesn’t let go, with Rahul Kohli’s fantastic performance at the heart of it.

Tides of Tomorrow tells an exciting story through an innovative lens. It prompts players to think beyond themselves and their own stories.

Dosa Divas is so full of heart and charm that you can’t help but have a massive smile on your face the entire time.

Pragmata is a great sci-fi action adventure game that doesn’t demand much from its players and provides an entertaining experience throughout.

Town of Zoz leaves a lasting impression by centering culture, community, and connection in a vibrant adventure that’s easy to get lost in.

People of Note is a great mash-up of the people behind music. Music may have divided the people of Note, yet it also slowly brings them all together for a brighter, more rockin’ future.

KuloNiku: Bowl Up! is a delightfully cozy cooking game filled with mouthwatering recipes, fun character designs, and an intriguing, slow-burning story that unfolds at its own pace.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park is one of the best Switch 2 editions yet. It’s at its best when being played with other people, with the co-op challenges being a highlight.

Life Is Strange Reunion isn’t perfect, but it hits the most important notes. Getting to see Max and Chloe together again is a phenomenally emotional experience.

MLB The Show 26 builds on a rock-solid foundation and improves across the board, even if there is still room for improvement.

Midnight has quickly set up a base that could easily be one of World of Warcraft‘s best expansions in quite some time—possibly ever.

GreedFall: The Dying World leaves much to be desired. Despite offering an engaging story and a strong cast of characters, technical problems abound, making the experience far more frustrating than it’s worth.

This is a massive undertaking for any development team. It's ambitious to a point that it becomes curious that it was attempted. But unlike Captain Ahab, this is a level of investment and ambition that ultimately pays off in the highest order. The level of detail in Crimson Desert is unlike anything we have seen in this console generation.

Pokémon Pokopia is a massive love letter to the series, one that fittingly hits in the 30th year. It’s the gold standard of Pokémon spin-offs, letting you live in a Pokémon playground.

Marathon has me locked in, sitting in my brain until my next run. The barrier to entry is high, but it’s rewarding, with each death being a lesson learned.

Age of Wonders 4: Rise from Ruin expands even further on the base game, adding some new challenges and flavor for players to try out. Players who really like sand or the desert can rejoice as this expansion is for them. This includes worm.

Monster Hunter Stories 3 is an excellent installment by all metrics. It sets a new narrative standard for the series and franchise as a whole while providing several enhanced signature elements. As such, it’s a game that can easily be recommended to both new and returning players.

Tales of Berseria Remastered offers several new quality-of-life features that are great for new players but not necessary for longtime fans who have already experienced all the game has to offer.

For anyone who's started the series from Resident Evil 7 onwards, Resident Evil Requiem may easily be one of the best in the series. For everyone else, the bar is high to be considered one of the greats, but it definitely does a heck of a job jumping for it.

Whether you are a longtime Ys fan or a newcomer looking for a genuinely fantastic action RPG, you owe it to yourself to set sail with Adol and Karja.

Mario Tennis Fever is a blast, easily one of Mario’s best sports games in recent years.

PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse is an appealing and unique thriller visual novel that, despite some minor drawbacks, provides an enjoyable experience. As such, It’s a visual novel thriller and mystery fans shouldn’t miss.

BlazBlue Entropy Effect X pulls players in with fast and fun gameplay that is given incredible depth thanks to a myriad of elements players can use to craft their preferred playstyles.

REANIMAL, while not perfect, does an excellent job of building on what Tarsier does best—portraying childhood fears as their most intense expressions.

Romeo is a Dead Man's gameplay style, soundtrack, visual aesthetic, and peculiar characters and elements make it one of the most interesting games from the developers to date.

Nioh 3 is a fantastically crafted game that blends several intricate and engaging elements to produce a great combat experience. While it has some issues that hinder gameplay, it’s still one of the most engaging soulslikes.

DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined uses modern visual and gameplay improvements to breathe new life into a classic game. It is a prime example of how to approach a remake, and there is so much to enjoy for both new and old Dragon Quest players.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins Visions of Four Heroes is a great DLC that is worth its asking price, offering engaging, enhanced, and expanded combat. The narrative alone makes the DLC worth it.

Cairn is an excellently crafted and engaging climbing game that will keep players entertained and immersed from start to finish.

Code Vein II is a deeply entertaining adventure that brings hope and life back to a ruined world, tears down massive beasts, and witnesses the most audacious segment in any action RPG.

Whether you’re starting a fresh island on the Switch 2 or hopping back in on your OG Switch, it’s never been a better time to get back into the daily swing of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is a strong technical showcase for the Switch 2, and a promising indicator for more third-party titles in the future.

Just like its literary inspirations, Escape from Ever After has found ways to not only make them lived-in but flesh them out with unique enemies and bosses.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon delivers the massive narrative convergence fans have waited decades for.

Even after finishing the game and getting the sense that much has already been discovered, there is still so much to explore.

Big Hops is an enjoyable platformer that nails level design, creativity, and a sense of momentum.

The Forsaken Hollows is a great excuse to jump back into Limveld and fight gnarly bosses in beautiful arenas and feel cool doing it.

Skate Story is a memorable, fun, and engaging game that, even with its odd details, offers an incredibly refreshing experience not seen in the genre.

Octopath Traveler 0 is another stellar entry in Square Enix’s HD-2D series that rivals not only the wonders of 2, but some of the best 2D turn-based RPGs out there.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion delivers fast, fun action with only a few hiccups. Despite these stumbles coming with some of its biggest moments, the game still offers a lot of good times, especially if you are a Marvel fan.

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 Legendary Edition is great for fans, both new and old. The game succeeds by bringing new life to a four-year-old game with some much-needed upgrades for next-gen consoles.

Yakuza Kiwami & Yakuza Kiwami 2 on the Switch 2 are as excellent as ever. Both still hold up entirely, from the action to the narrative to the ridiculous side quests; each entry is fantastic in its own right.

Yakuza Kiwami & Yakuza Kiwami 2 on the Switch 2 are as excellent as ever. Both still hold up entirely, from the action to the narrative to the ridiculous side quests; each entry is fantastic in its own right.

Kirby Air Riders is a fantastic follow-up to a GameCube classic. The racing is deceptively complex with a high skill ceiling.

Once your squad finds its rhythm, Pigeon Simulator becomes a hilarious, chaotic ride that keeps you coming back for more; hopefully with friends.

Demonschool’s stylish presentation, clever tactical combat, and charismatic cast certainly make it into the honor roll. However, the seemingly nonstop battles and myriad of technical problems prevent it from being at the very top of its class.

Egging On is a delightfully challenging but patient game. Its strong level design is matched only by the kindness it shows when you fail.

While its narrative is far from perfect in terms of engagement, Where Winds Meet is an impressive and ambitious game that, for the most part, succeeds in fulfilling its promises.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is an action-packed adventure that manages to overcome a disappointing story by providing exhilarating combat.

Combining great gameplay that is easy to learn but challenging to master, with visuals that look great and music that always nails the tone, Lumines Arise suffers from only a few minor hiccups.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a remarkably expansive game that I can sit and play for hours, even with its little notifications telling me to take a break. This is one of the best games I've played all year. There is a great deal of depth and customization that really showcases player choice and creativity, with an unbeatable replayability.

Surviving Mars: Relaunched is a must-play for any city-builder fan. There is plenty of depth and creativity from collecting resources to building and managing your colony to full-on terraforming a planet.

All in all, despite its flaws, Tales of Xillia Remastered is still a wonderful JRPG, even over a decade later. The remaster provides many reasons why fans of the genre will enjoy and appreciate the game.

Europa Universalis 5 is a fantastic addition to the franchise that will likely only improve over time as bugs and UI issues are addressed. There are so many different possibilities for replayability, not only from the selection of nations, but even playing the same nation over again will result in a different game.

Football Manager 26 is a revolutionary change to a longstanding franchise that has more than enough great updates to overcome a few small warts. If Sports Interactive can iron those out over time, Football Manager 26 could easily go down as one of the best in the history of the franchise.

Dragon Quest I+II HD-2D Remake is way more than just a fresh coat of paint, creating a truly memorable experience for newcomers and returning adventurers alike.

Pokémon Legends Z-A is a welcome change of pace in a series that’s been running for almost 30 years. Here’s hoping the Legends games continue to serve as testing grounds for new ideas, and that the core mainline games can bring some learned lessons in exciting ways.

The Outer Worlds 2 comes together to deliver a fantastic journey. Despite some narrative hiccups, the worlds, organizations and individual players encounter, and sometimes kill, are always engaging and frequently fun.

Once Upon a Katamari is a fantastic new entry in the series and provides an incredibly entertaining experience in all the right ways, despite its tedious parts.

Powerwash Simulator 2 really has hit at the perfect time once again. Its stress-free gameplay feels so much better to use, especially in ways where you wouldn’t expect improvement.

It’s hard to be both a great introductory game into management sims and also offer the die-hards a level of depth that doesn’t leave them wanting, but Jurassic World Evolution 3 does it perfectly.

Ninja Gaiden 4, while not perfect, is a solid new entry in the series. It offers an amazing and satisfying combat experience, great boss fights, and a memorable visual experience.

NASCAR 25 is a much-needed shot in the arm for NASCAR video games, bringing an authentic and fun experience to a new generation. Players will learn to appreciate the skill it takes to be the best on track, and it should draw eyes to the real-life sport as well, thanks to the incredible presentation.

Keeper is pure Double Fine brilliance. They don’t just convince you to care about a lighthouse, but their bird companion, too. While questions aren’t really answered, that ultimately doesn’t matter.

Sonic Racing Crossworlds is everything a kart racer should be. It has plenty of unique tracks, with the Transformation Rings adding another layer of chaotic fun on top of tight controls and map design. There’s so much to customize and engage with, keeping players locked in as they build their own karts and raise friendship with characters. While the lack of DLC voice-overs is disappointing, the rest of the package is stellar. It’s the best kart racer this year; each race is a white-knuckled sprint across worlds.

Battlefield 6 is a giant leap forward for the franchise, returning it to the peak of online first-person shooters.

Absolum delivers a truly special roguelite experience. By reining in some of the random elements, it’s able to create a smooth-running story that allows those with less than infinite time an experience they can enjoy.

Ghost of Yōtei is an incredible sequel that builds upon its predecessor while still finding ways to stand out on its own.

Hades 2 is a standout experience in a year full of highlights, keeping the player coming back run after run for just one more go. The art style and graphics are as impressive as ever, a visual feast at every turn.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger is a perfect entry point for newcomers to the Digimon world, without alienating long-time fans.

For Lego’s first party game, Lego Party is a strong entry, with lots of unlockable minifigures, the ability to create your own, and fun, distinct boards to play on.

Dying Light: The Beast provides highly entertaining and engaging gameplay elements, but falters with its lackluster narrative and mundane visuals.

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is an incredible package that brings back a classic to new audiences in stellar fashion.

Despite its somewhat underwhelming story and lackluster open world, Borderlands 4 is a fantastic new entry in the series that offers hours of entertainment through its new, refreshing, and engaging gameplay elements.

There is plenty to enjoy in EA Sports FC 26 for soccer fans of all backgrounds, creating a truly excellent experience. Minor changes going forward will only help turn a very good game into something special.

LEGO Voyagers is whimsical, charming, and honestly, the perfect game to play when you need to relax and connect with someone else.

NHL 26 brings new gameplay changes that bring hockey to life in a way that is better than ever. There are still some things to be ironed out, a typical issue for yearly sports releases, but there is a lot of fun to be had for hockey fans everywhere.

Is This Seat Taken? is a wholesome, bite-sized title that is a cozy fit for any gaming library.

NBA 2K26 combines improved visuals with some important tweaks to keep the series feeling fresh.

Cronos: The New Dawn is a lot of fun as a survival horror. While not terrifying, it is still stressful and does something unique with the genre.

No maps. No markers. No mercy. Hell is Us trusts you to listen, to feel, and to get lost. And in doing so, it offers something truly rare: a soul.

Shuten Order is a fantastic, incredibly unique game that stands out from the crowd. The narrative and world-building are captivating, the characters are endearing and entertaining, and the gameplay is engaging due to its variety. While not without flaws, the experience it provides is genuinely unforgettable.

Gears of War: Reloaded is a fantastic remaster of a superb game that’s worth its asking price. Although its dated gameplay style and execution hold it back, the game still offers hours of fun and gory entertainment.

While it doesn’t manage to deliver a flawless experience, with some annoying stages and the mini-map headaches I mentioned, the combat, visuals, and overall feel of the game more than paves over any minor issues I encountered. I can’t remember the last time I had as much fun with this sort of game as I did with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, and for fans of 2D action games, it is a must-play. Fans of ninjas continue to feast.

There’s a lot to love in Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar. It’s the perfect game to snuggle under a blanket with a hot tea, a welcome addition to the incoming fall and beyond.

Even if roguelites or rhythm games don’t typically grab you, Fresh Tracks expertly mixes both into a form that almost doesn’t feel like either.

Whether it’s the game’s not-too-subtle commentary about climate change or Nava’s explanation of the Wraith, Sword of the Sea is trying and succeeding at making an impact. No singular thing can change the world, but it can plant a seed, and with this title, I hope everyone feels hopeful for a time to rebuild.

Age of Wonders 4: Archon Prophecy shows that Triumph Studios and Paradox Interactive still have creativity when it comes to expanding the long-running world of this 4X strategy game.

There is enough depth to Madden 26 that makes it an experience worth the update. It still is not as strong as the CFB franchise, but it is making strides in the right direction.

Tiny Bookshop is a charming space to slow down, savor the moment, and make it your own. Quiet moments give way to meaningful choices, and small actions bloom into the joy of watching a story find its reader.

While not without its faults, No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files is an engaging game in many ways. While new gameplay elements could’ve helped the experience, the game still retains the series’ stellar humor and bizarre creative nature.