It's a well-crafted game within its own scale with a great story and emotionally resonant characters, but in the grand scheme of what a big open-world RPG could provide, Assassin's Creed Shadows doesn't maximize its potential.

The weapons already in the game are solid, although not all of their systems work as well as they could. But thanks to early access, there is potential for the future. Possible updates that can expand what is already there and improve some of the game’s weaker aspects. Hopefully, it can leverage its position and early strengths to ascend to a special place within the genre. [Early Access Review]

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land is an enthralling experience that pushes the Atelier franchise into a new era. There is so much to see and do while uncovering new mysteries that affect the world and its inhabitants on a profoundly personal level.

Ivy Road has made a game that has impact and one that doesn’t change its protagonist, but you, the player, too. Wanderstop is monumental because it provides comfort by simply giving us all permission to slow down.

The most impressive element of Split Fiction is how well it ties everything together. Its disparate locales and subplots all share a beautiful, unified art style with a story that melds perfectly with its gameplay.

PGA Tour 2K25 is not a perfect game, but it does a solid job of bringing golf to life for new and experienced fans. Some new game modes and more improved visuals and performance would make the next installment a true classic, but PGA Tour 2K25 is a good step forward.

Warriors Abyss has its heart in the right place and some interesting ideas, but its particular blend of musou and roguelike doesn’t feel like it’s fully realized. A novel blueprint for something down the line, but as-is, it’s hard to justify for anyone but the biggest fans of the Warriors series.

Compared to its predecessor, with a well-defined motif, Everhood 2 will give you whiplash from how often the story changes directions. That indecisiveness is ultimately its downfall, leaving you scratching your head and wondering, “Is that really how it ends?”

While Waiting turns the most boring parts of a person’s life into an equally reverent and irreverent look at life itself. The 100 minigames offer plenty of variety – even if some of them add to the boredom rather than disperse it – and the overarching story will tug at your heartstrings and tickle your funny bone.

Two Point Museum is a fantastic addition to the Two Point management sim title list. It lives up to the studios' past games but never feels derivative. Everything about the game feels special, providing a blended experience that is accessible to new players at first before it begins to layer new systems into the game, building depth for the more seasoned management sim fan.

Monster Hunter Wilds starts with big hunts and breathtaking action scenes. By the end of the story and beyond, you’ll be hunting even larger monsters with impossibly larger attacks, harvesting materials from their bodies to make stronger weapons and tougher armor.

Despite these issues, the power of Afterlove EP‘s story manages to shine through. It is an incredibly touching slice-of-life story that explores the forms and layers of grief with the variety and depth perfect for a video game.

Like a Dragon Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is one of the best Like a Dragon/Yakuza spin-offs, joining the likes of Judgment and Like A Dragon: Ishin. It's a fast and frenetic pirate adventure that constantly calls the player back to its high seas, and it's an adventure you won't want to miss.

When Lost Records: Bloom and Rage is strong, it's strong. But without the Tape 2 Rage, I'm unfortunately left with too much gap to close, not enough life lived, and not enough of a tactile interactive experience to immerse me in Swann's life and Velvet Cove.

Avowed marks another triumph for the folks at Obisidan. Through its gorgeous world, memorable characters, frenzied combat, and intuitive yet deep customization system, it highlights player agency. Everywhere in its gameplay and narrative, ensuring that each playthrough offers something new. More importantly, it does so while never compromising the strength of its core story.

Besides the abysmal UI, Civilization 7‘s simplifying changes come down to personal taste. For newcomers or fans hungry for a more pared-back or guided experience, there is a lot to love in them. More experienced players or those who value self-driven strategy will find more friction despite some changes being more universally beneficial.

While the narrative has its share of tedious moments and some repetitive missions, The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II is still a great sequel. It delivers a compelling, immersive story and exhilarating combat, improving upon its predecessor in many ways while upholding the series’ JRPG excellence.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector tells a powerful story that, combined with a soft thought-provoking soundtrack, will leave you ruminating long after the credits roll.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is your new favorite cozy exploration game. While it looks similar to others in the genre, once you start playing, the truth is that there is nothing like Hello Kitty Island Adventure when it comes to exploration.

The Stone of Madness delivers a puzzling experience that forces players to be creative and quick. Its gameplay elements largely succeed at providing a unique challenge, while its world and characters are easily forgotten.

Sniper Elite: Resistance offers an experience that its series has largely cornered the market on. And it provides that experience very well. But it is disappointing to see just how little it has iterated on the foundation laid by Sniper Elite 5.

Sure, it’s not perfect yet. But with its gorgeous landscapes, detailed systems, and a roadmap full of potential, Manor Lords has all the makings of a future classic. [Early Access Score = 70]

While there is some fun to be had, SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada offers a mostly tedious experience in many ways. The gameplay is ridiculously arduous and painfully repetitive, the performance is barely acceptable, and its monetization model is questionable.

With its whimsical art, fun mechanics, and the ever-lovely voice of Laura Bailey bringing the story to life, Worlds of Aria is a great addition to any Switch owner’s library. Just make sure your Joy-Cons are up to the task—or grab that Pro Controller—and get ready to roll the dice on a new kind of adventure.

Tokyo Xtreme Racer is a modern arcade racer, for better or worse. Even with its unique depiction of races with its SP system, and Tokyo highway setting, the monotony quickly sinks in. Regardless, there is the promise of a fun racing game that is reminiscent of PS2-era grunge racing games. That potential can be reached with refinement and by valuing the player’s time. [Early Access Review]

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a bit of a hard sell at full price, especially if you still have a Wii with a copy of the original lying around. Its visual improvements are welcome but are marred by enough inconsistencies and technical setbacks that fans may find themselves dreaming of what could have been.

Aloft is an ambitious undertaking of a game. There is a lot here with one to eight-person co-op, an island editor (which I could not use in the current build), a vast world, and a really engrossing building system with over 600 parts to play with. However, with technical issues, a repetitive game loop, and too much empty space, early access feels like missing essential elements that help create longevity. That said, if the team can smooth out the jagged edges, Aloft can reach its potential. [Early Access Review]

Tales of Graces f Remastered is a great way to experience a wonderful journey about friendship and staying true to yourself. It shows its age at times but is still a great RPG experience worth exploring.

Despite a couple of minor annoyances, Turnip Boy Robs a Bank delivers a fun, charming action adventure that doesn’t overstay its welcome. If you are looking for a light-hearted experience to occupy a day, this is one that is easily recommended.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a brilliant new iteration of a classic formula, with some breathtaking bouts and intense action. It might not be exactly the Dynasty Warriors formula that got me into the series, but it feels like the right step for right now.

Despite its issues, Freedom Wars Remastered is a bold and ambitious title that offers a compelling blend of action, strategy, and unique storytelling. Its interesting concept and intricate combat system set it apart from other games in the genre.

Balatro’s genius is exposed when you take the simple individual components of a run and combine them in the perfect mixture to create something far greater than the sum of its parts. And then you start trying to see how far you can push it, or what other combinations can help you reach e-notation. And then you’re there. You’re a Balatro fan.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is more than just a game—it’s a celebration of everything that has made Power Rangers a beloved franchise for generations. Digital Eclipse has crafted an experience that pays tribute to the past while embracing modern sensibilities.

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remastered is an impeccable remaster collection. While it has a few flaws, the narrative, world-building, soundtrack, and voice acting make the games a gratifying experience.

Path of Exile 2‘s difficulty, combat, art, and map designs are something that keep pulling you in. No matter how many times you die, or how many times you have to adjust your build, you just keep coming right back. This is a game that is firing on absolutely all cylinders and shows no signs of slowing down. [Early Access Score = 95]

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle does what this franchise has always done best. It takes the theft of a seemingly unimportant artifact and thrusts Indy into a cataclysmic mystery, ensuring that charismatic man shines. Punch Nazis, celebrate history, explore the world, and then save it. What more could you ask for?

Mouthwashing is a must-play horror experience and has cemented Wrong Organ as a team to continue to watch moving forward.

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is a beautiful adventure from some of the best RPG creators of all time, and they are at their best here. An emotional story combined with fun combat mechanics and an incredible atmosphere makes this one of the best RPGs of the year and well worth checking out.

But for all its ambition, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 feels weighed down by its own shortcomings. This is a simulator that demands time, patience, and perhaps a little forgiveness. For those willing to embrace its imperfections, the horizon holds incredible promise. But that promise feels like it’s out of reach, lost somewhere in the clouds.

Stalker 2‘s bugs and issues are numerous and severe, but it stands as a testament to how great the game buried underneath them is that it still manages to shine.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an exciting, albeit imperfect adventure that brings the Mario Bros. to a whole new world. There is plenty to see and do and it is well worth taking the time to slow down and immerse yourself in this brand new adventure.

LEGO Horizon Adventures won’t do much for anyone who doesn’t like the LEGO formula, while also being let down by bland level design and an average hub world, it’s still worth an adventure through.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake made me a fan of Dragon Quest. This remake is an excellent introduction to Square Enix’s third RPG pillar.

The Rise of the Golden Idol scratches a very specific puzzle-solving itch and provides plenty of “Eureka!” moments.

Planet Coaster 2 has a lot of fun and engaging elements—if you can take the time to figure it all out.

If you are looking for a truly punishing challenge, even if it sometimes feels unfair, Telebbit may provide some enjoyment. For most, however, overstuffed platforming puzzles will bring far too much frustration to enjoy.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is a worthy graphical update to the beloved original. The overhauled graphics are beautiful, breathing new life into a world many care about.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a return to form and gives a great blend of action, intrigue, and beautiful chaos. It is exactly what the franchise has been missing and is a wonderful continuation of the Black Ops storyline all while setting the stage for the story to continue.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a journey I'm thrilled I got to go on... Great characters, a wonderfully crafted world, and a twisting narrative all help elevate the game over what holds it back.

Dragon Age The Veilguard is a massive new world full of thoughtful stories, epic battles, and beautiful visuals to accompany them. This round of companions is among the most interesting, thoughtful, and downright charismatic, and adventuring with them made for an unforgettable journey.

With great enemies to battle, unique elements that shake up the formula, and some of the genre's best-ever gameplay/customization, [REDACTED] is a must-play for enthusiasts and casual players looking for a great time.

Alan Wake 2: The Lake House refines the Remedy-verse by pushing Alan Wake and Control’s story together in one tight DLC package. Its new enemy is terrifying. The latest weapon is impactful and fun. And Janina Gavankar does a fantastic job of showing what it’s like to be a Control agent living in this messed-up world of cleaning up Altered World Events. Even though its mechanics are a simplified version of Alan Wake 2, it uses simplicity in its favor by focusing more on the story and the world-building Remedy does best. After wrapping everything up, The Lake House leaves you wanting more of the story Remedy is connecting across its various properties.

Ys X: Nordics is an incredible entry in the Ys series. While not without faults, the JRPG’s narrative and gameplay provide a great experience that elevates the series to new heights.

Yakuza Kiwami is completely playable on the Switch and by no means looks awful. The port offers a good experience that can be taken on the go, but the console notably holds back the title’s excellence. Regardless, Yakuza Kiwami is still a fantastic game that showcases why the Yakuza series has become such an excellent franchise.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake resurrects an old fan favorite title from the early 2000s. While it has a shiny new coat of paint and an engaging gameplay loop that’s sure to make long-time fans marvel, it’s nonetheless bogged down by incompetent AI-controlled allies, curious design decisions, and oversights when it comes to core mechanics.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a spectacular RPG. Its story is massive and expansive, leaping across time frequently. The combat is tight and satisfying, with plenty of freedom for exploration.. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is one of the best RPGs of 2024 and should not be missed.

Super Mario Party Jamboree is chaotic fun for the whole family and is the best of what Mario Party has to offer. Unique minigames, fun maps, and the opportunity for a new experience every time make this an all-time Switch classic that everyone should check out.

What really stands out in A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is how willing it is to experiment and build entire mechanics around its central conceit of managing sound.

New World Aeternum struggles to be worthwhile for many players. The MMO genre is stuffed with excellent dug-in titles that are difficult to pull players away from for long, just as the original release of New World saw. With its unimpactful combat, lackluster story, and its most interesting content only being accessible to the most dedicated of players, this spiritual successor just doesn’t mix it up enough.

Sonic X Shadow Generations is a fun, albeit mixed experience. The Sonic side of the game remains as fun and creative as its original release. Shadow’s story has some fantastic level design, and any opportunity to play as the angsty antihero is a welcome one. Let down by dated bosses and a messy hub world, it’s still entirely worth a run through.

Unknown 9: Awakening boasts great combat and an ambitious story, but performance issues are too many to look past.

Until Dawn for PS5 is very much for a specific audience. Despite its technical issues, it is the way to go for those looking for the newest or best-looking way to play the classic horror game. For anyone else, the original holds up just fine.

Metaphor: Refantazio is the culmination of everything that came before it. It's a mixture of Atlus' RPG track record crafted into something bold and new.

It's not to say that Dragon Ball Sparking Zero reinvents the arena fighter wheel. It just reminds players why we loved the genre in the first place... Dragon Ball Sparking Zero feels like a collective celebration for Akira Toriyama and the characters he created.

Starfield: Shattered Space is a solid addition if you’re looking for a deep, story-driven experience or a chance to level up while exploring a new society. But if you expect a major shift in the game’s scope or mechanics, this isn’t it. Still, it’s a satisfying ride for fans of the universe.

Despite some small issues, Vessel of Hatred is an absolute blast to play. Its flagship features, the new campaign in the region of Nahantu and new Spiritborn class, are both great reminders of what makes Diablo 4 such a great entry in the series to begin with even if neither is perfect. But it is the small additions where the expansion really shines. The tweaks to leveling, new party finder system, and plethora of other fine tunings grant a lot of hope for the future of Diablo 4 since it just keeps getting better.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom twists the typical Zelda formula while still staying true to the franchise. It is a truly innovative experience that Nintendo will hopefully continue to explore in future entries.

I have no doubt that Throne and Liberty will find a niche in the MMO community that it somehow speaks to. And I’m happy for those people that they will find something to enjoy here. But for most players, I don’t think Throne and Liberty will have anything valuable.

Ultimately, Epic Mickey Rebrushed is a warm welcome, even if several aspects leave you wanting more improvements. This game deserves to be played by more people and beyond the confines of a multi-generation-old game system with an awful control scheme. Particularly with this game’s historical significance to a massive company like Disney, Epic Mickey Rebrushed does Mickey Mouse justice in a light that we rarely see the famous mouse. But, instead of being a modern classic, it just feels like a fun piece of Disney history.

By the time I reached the end of my journey and my nation stood above all the rest, I was left with one of the most satisfying gaming victories I’ve ever experienced. While Ara: History Untold asks a lot of players, it rewards those willing to put in the hours with a deeply rich gameplay experience that makes them feel like every choice they made shaped their nation and helped their people achieve greatness. From large-scale design innovations to the smallest details, the game delivers an almost flawless experience.

Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis – The Answer serves as a challenging, combat-heavy epilogue to Persona 3, that can be a divisive experience. While it, at the very least, provides closure for the characters and story and includes some new and fun elements, its focus on grinding and dungeon crawling at the expense of the series’ beloved social elements leaves it feeling incomplete.

EA Sports FC 25 looks, feels, and plays like a truly upgraded version of the franchise. It isn’t a perfect sports simulator, but it does a great job of making the game feel alive and takes another step forward for the franchise.

What is most impressive about Frostpunk 2 is how well it blends its emotional narratives with its gameplay mechanics. It challenges the player on an emotional and moral level while also challenging them to grapple with some of the most intricately linked and well-refined gameplay the strategy genre has seen in years.

The whole third act will especially leave you smiling like a fool, because at its core, The Plucky Squire is good, simple fun. It presents an earnest story with enough twists, fun references, and jokes to keep you looking for more, and it inspires us all to be more than we are.

While not without its issues, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is an impeccable remaster that feels more like a remake and offers hours of great entertainment.

Enotria: The Last Song is a solid entry to the genre. Its beautiful design, deep customization, and satisfying gameplay invite players to experience its take on the soulslike formula.

I Am Your Beast is a fantastic action game, one that really hones in on speed, adaptability, and efficiency. Memorizing levels and finding creative ways through them is a necessity for top times.

NBA 2K25 radically improves gameplay and presents the most authentic NBA experience to date. It builds on systems introduced in last year’s version to give a more complete package for players to enjoy.

If this is how The Worldsoul Saga is kicking off, then this new WoW era will be its best yet. And if you’re thinking about returning to Azeroth, there is seriously no better time because The War Within is just that good.

While the experience is marred by its many drudging moments, Emio—The Smiling Man is a highly entertaining, engaging, and well-produced entry that fans will likely enjoy.

The Ace Attorney Investigations Collection does an excellent job of bringing the spin-off titles to a new audience through great features that support both games’ stellar narratives and gameplay experiences.

Considering the entire package, Space Marine 2 sets a new high bar for Warhammer 40k games. It showcases the setting with more intricacy and beauty than even its most successful kin. Its gameplay is extremely rewarding and uniquely engaging. It has been a long wait for Space Marine 2, but the emperor is good, and the wait has proven more than worth it.

Gundam Breaker 4 lets players live out their Gunpla creation dreams in a well-made package. A repetitive gameplay loop and mediocre story are a bit of a letdown but the creativity and action help make the experience worth checking out.

Visions of Mana simplifies modern action RPGs to fit the classic brand for better or worse. On the one hand, combat can be exhilarating as you get in the groove and make every character work in the best way for you. On the other hand, the story, while beautiful, is too paper-thin for its own good. But this culminates in a game that feels like any player of any age can enjoy it.

Even with the hiccups, Star Wars Outlaws is a fantastic story that effectively uses the heist genre and never keeps its characters in focus.

Black Myth: Wukong is an incredibly engaging and entertaining action RPG in many ways. While the overarching narrative leaves a lot to be desired, and the technical and balance issues can be a hindrance, the game still provides an epic, unforgettable gameplay and cinematic experience that not many games can rival.

Dustborn’s narrative beats are also the most enjoyable part of the game, but there’s too much stopping it from reaching its full potential.

Thank Goodness You’re Here! is one of the most creative and zany gaming experiences out there. It grabs at you constantly, surprising the player with every narrative beat and new character.

With Stormgate launching in early access, there is always the chance that it will improve with sufficient development time. As it stands at release, however, it is difficult to see why an RTS player would pick Stormgate over more established competition. Its simplistic mechanics make matches grow boring quickly. Its story and world are so poorly developed that they are not even worth mentioning. With its heavily in-progress state, it seems better to wait and see if it improves before investing time in checking it out. [Early Access Review]

Cat Quest 3 pulls off a balancing act that few games manage to. It is accessible enough for nearly anyone to jump in while being fun and engaging enough for players who prefer more mechanically dense RPGs to still have a ton of fun. It is oversaturated with personality and charm, making every minute of playing it filled with something funny, interesting, or unique.

Creatures of Ava, even with lots of rough edges, deliver an impactful message. How can we help those who we don’t understand? If you’re looking for a game with a new take on the conservation topic, there is no better game to represent it than Creatures of Ava.

SteamWorld Heist 2 is set to be a great new entry for dedicated SteamWorld fans and a great jumping-on-point for newcomers and strategy fans alike.

Dungeons of Hinterberg is a fantastic adventure with an addicting gameplay loop based on exploration and wonder, tight combat, and an exciting cast of characters to interact with.

While some of its changes are more impactful than others, most of what is on offer in the Dynasties update for Total War: Pharaoh are net positives. The additions and tweaks bring some much needed depth to the game’s campaigns and help keep things fresh on subsequent playthroughs. However, it does not address some of the core issues that longtime fans have voiced and will likely not be enough to bring them back to the Bronze Age despite it being free.

F1 Manager 2024 pushes the franchise forward and is more realistic and exciting for players in different and challenging ways. The gameplay remains as fun as ever as it tries to continually tweak the winning formula as the peak of racing management games.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn tries to chart its own path down the ever-growing souls-lite genre. In some ways, like exploration and its reputation system, it succeeds. In others, especially with its late-game combat, Flintlock shows more rust than polish. More balance felt needed in the grand scheme of things. Simple amounts of grinding or just getting into the groove of things trivialize most challenges that previously made you sweat. Everything together creates a package that at first feels hopeful and intriguing but ends in a chamber full of wet gunpowder.

EA SPORTS College Football 25 adeptly brings the joy and chaos of college football to life in a breathtaking way. Nothing has ever captured that gameday feel quite like this and fans should rejoice that the franchise they know and love is back and better than ever for them and new generations to enjoy.

Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus is the most beautiful game you will play. The hand-drawn art is ethereal and whimsical and captures the beautiful mythology in which the game is grounded.