Overall, the Resident Evil Village’s Winters Expansion comes with more than enough to make getting it worthwhile.

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.

Victoria 3 is a game that requires patience and homework, but once you get the hang of things can be tons of fun. The game offers so much variety both in terms of ways to play and succeed along with unique challenges in the array of nations to choose from to play with. Victoria 3 definitely has some things it can improve on and can be a lot to ingest for new players. However, we already know there are more updates and content coming in the pipeline so there will be continued support and Victoria 3 can only get better from here.

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.

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.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2, despite not being perfect, offers an excellent narrative and gameplay experience. It features several story and gameplay elements that Demon Slayer fans will especially appreciate.

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.

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.

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.

Sovereign Syndicate utilizes its pacing to gradually pull the curtain back on a world filled to the brim with character and detail. It allows its story to be delicately planned and comes together brilliantly while setting up possible sequels. I for one, will be extremely excited to return to the world of Sovereign Syndicate if any of those sequels come to fruition.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure serves as a minor getaway to a place that is cheery with friends and full of adventure.

Overall, The Ascent is a great addition to the cyberpunk genre. The graphics are stunning, the characters and story entertaining, and it’s available right now on Gamepass.

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut is the definitive way to play and is fantastic as part of the Switch 2’s launch lineup.

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.

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.

Kaiju Wars is a very fun spin on the turn-based strategy genre that brings a lot of style along with it. Its gameplay stands up to its striking visuals, and the few weaker points of its design do very little to detract from the overall experience.

The Dawntrail MSQ is salient and beautiful in the exact way that has made the Final Fantasy XIV narrative so beloved…It has its hiccups, and the future will determine its staying power, but in the end, it's an expansion that opens Final Fantasy XIV up into something larger and leaves the Warrior of Light with a vast new future to explore.

Them’s Fightin’ Herds delivers a unique and varied cast of characters that promise a high-caliber fighting game experience. If all you are looking for is that, I cannot find any reason not to recommend this game. However, if you, like me, struggle with playing online and need an enjoyable and robust single-player offering to get into the genre, this game will likely fall short for you.

Resident Evil Village is a great game that embraces the elements of the series that we know and love while also carving out its own space nestled deep in dark fantasy. In fact, this game beautifully finds a middle ground to please existing fans of the franchise but also serves as a great entry point for new players.

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.

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.

That choice, to ride how you want, to shape your experience not just through specs but through connection, is the heart of Wheel World. It’s a title that take you by surprise offering more than expected through its flexibility and reverence.

Cricket Through the Ages is minimalist in its visuals and mechanics. Its bright and bold color palette reflects the lack of seriousness and highlights its zany nature.

Knockout City is, indeed, a knockout. It’s absolutely a blast, and despite some small issues, it’s an entirely creative and sharp concept and execution. I only hope the fun lasts after the initial buzz and free play period dies down.

Miitopia is a simple RPG with a few very unmodern character-creating mechanics. Whether you are charmed by Miis or not is certainly your own prerogative, but the gameplay itself is perfect for beginner RPG players with its focus on relationships between your party members. Longtime RPG players may find a good time in its relative simplicity.

Sonic Colors: Ultimate may not be truly ultimate, but it’s a well worthwhile return to an oft-missed game.

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.

Young Souls is a great new entry in the beat ’em up genre that is bolstered by its RPG elements. The RPG aspects are numerous and well-designed so as to keep you constantly engaged with new things to try out or enemies to take a swing at again. The fact that the whole game can be played in classic beat ’em up co-op or solo is an added bonus.

El Paso, Elsewhere offers a remarkable fusion of narrative depth and engaging gameplay.

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.

Last Train Home does a great job of meshing a challenging strategic experience with an immersive setting and story. The difficulty curve can get overwhelming for less experienced RTS players, but the attention to detail and the wonderful character interactions make it worth taking the time to learn the ropes.

The modernization of the series has yielded amazing benefits that make it feel like the definitive Homeworld experience unless you are looking to go back and experience the whole story for yourself. It isn't easy to make a sequel worth a decades-long wait, but Blackbird Interactive has managed to pull off just that.

Tchia was a grand adventure that I couldn’t put down. Exploring these islands renewed my love of deep and well-realized open-world exploration games, all thanks to Soul-Jumping. Exploring the numerous land, sky, and sea creatures made what could be a long hike a joyous adventure.

LEGO Star Wars The Skywalker Saga is a massive achievement for a beloved anthology franchise that needed to change. There are so many new welcome additions that I hope become staples for the future. But there are just as equal parts that felt unnecessary. These 3 years since the LEGO games last release and recent revelations were hopefully taken in as a learning experience.

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.

Mail Time is a simple game with a simple reminder we often forget to hold onto when the world often can make us feel like we should run instead of walk.

Roadwarden is a fascinating take on the RPG genre that has a lot to love. Its setting is deep and well fleshed out, and the interactions players have with it are impactful and fun to navigate. The stories it tells are often somber but handled in an undeniably human and engaging way. While anyone who doesn’t like reading will want to skip it, I cannot recommend it enough to players intrigued by the possibilities of a detailed, text-based RPG.

Dandy Ace is a great first roguelike and a fun take on the genre. Its very fun combat, not too sharp too fast difficulty, quick load times, and lack of central hub or anything to drag the time between runs on makes it extremely playable and very easy to get sucked into.

When all is said and done, Nier Re[in]carnation delivers a package that revels in its tone, story, and artistic presentation, while pairing all that with relaxed, easy to grasp game play. While some of its options could be explained a little clearer, the game is simple enough that the player should be able to handle the mild challenges, even if they are not clear on every detail.

Victoria 3: Sphere of Influence is a big leap forward compared to the content packs that have been released since launch… As a player who enjoys building up the neighboring nations instead of conquering them, these new additions felt like great upgrades to the diplomatic system that keeps the game from going stale.

New Pokémon Snap is not perfect, but it is far and away the sequel to the 1999 classic we have all been waiting for. While I wish some pacing issues and nitpicks with what is no longer in the game have influenced my enjoyment, overall, I cannot wait to spend countless more hours perfecting my photography skills and engrossing myself in this absolutely stunning world.

Digimon Survive feels like it was made with every kid who wanted to be a DigiDestined. It’s a darker twist on a fan favorite story. While the story is amazing, it is brought down by okay combat. 10 percent of the gameplay weighs down the other 90 percent.

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.

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

While an older entry in the genre, Nuclear Throne is still creative and fun and feels totally fresh in the sea of bullet hells. It has just enough to it to keep you going, though, by comparison to more robust roguelikes, it has the potential to dry up after a while if you’re not mastering it fast enough. Nonetheless, it’s well worth a dive into, especially with its appearance on Xbox Game Pass.

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?

As Dusk Falls is a memorable experience. The generation-spanning story is intriguing with its many twists and turns and too-human characters.

Pokemon Unite is a fun, streamlined entry in the MOBA genre. It has something to offer both long-time franchise fans, as well as MOBA players who may be looking for something fun and rewarding, while not demanding their all to keep up with. And since it’s free, if what you have read sounds at all enticing why not give it a try. You don’t even need the Nintendo Switch Online service to play.

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.

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.

Lords of the Fallen is a massive improvement over its namesake prequel, and it provides many highs, but there are lows to match. For the masochist action RPG fan, though, there’s plenty to love, and it’s all going to hurt.

Days Gone Remastered is a solid upgrade for the game. The core game remains divisive, but with the right mindset, it can make the ride more enjoyable. The PS5 enhancements, including graphics, are solid, with the DualSense improvements being the most significant. The added content is also enjoyable, and while it may not keep you engaged for long, it’s a good addition to the overall package.

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.

When taken as a whole, Fire Emblem: Engage often succeeds, though where it falls, it falls a bit hard. With a largely less-than-stellar cast keeping you company for the 40+ hours you may find yourself playing this game, there are many times when the game’s solid narrative and excellent gameplay aren’t able to carry it through to the finish it feels like it deserves.

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.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a game that thrives on its dedication to not just replicating the Slaughter Family (which it does excellently) and planting easter eggs but on its goal to expand on it all. By using a unique storyline, the developers at GUN highlight the importance of honoring the source material and the necessity of making something unique from it.

An excellent entry in the series. It is an entry that should satisfy fans who are itching to blow up some giant ants and is a wonderful starting point for new players. The new gameplay style is a fun new way to play while keeping the heart of the series alive. The new voxel aesthetic also gives World Brothers its own style, but it also allows the game to have the best technical performance of any title in the series. The game easily handles a myriad of enemies with explosions, effects, and destruction without any hitch, which helps the action feel good and smooth throughout every mission.

Even with its faults, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a stunning visual achievement, much like the films on which it's inspired. Only here, a rich narrative pulls you deep into the Na'vi and explores more tangible means of fighting back against a colonial power that offers a cathartic experience... Blow up a pipeline, save an animal, and explore the vast world of Pandora. That's a heck of a way to close out a year.

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.

Kingdom Eighties is a fun detour in a typically serious series, and it’s definitely worth the trip. If you’re unfamiliar with all references, you’ll still find a short but enjoyable adventure.

Evil Dead: The Game is a blast. It’s fun to play, difficult in spots, and something I can see myself returning to again and again just to keep exploring and learning, as well as unlocking new things as I’m sure they’ll become available over the games’ lifespan. Plus, for Deadites out there, it’s beyond a great buy with lore plugged into just about every design choice, line of dialogue, and piece of the landscape. So pick it up and all the king baby.

Far Cry 6 has done a great job tweaking the mechanics typical of the series and creating some extremely fun and chaotic gameplay. While the main antagonist doesn't shine like some of the past baddies in the Far Cry series, you'll fall in love with the diverse cast of characters and the island of Yara.

Ultimately, much like one of Ryza’s alchemical recipes, there are a lot of great ingredients that went into creating Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key. The game may not look perfect, but there’s a lot of heart and fun to be found, and the ability to finetune new weapons, armor, and combat items to your exact needs is unmatched.

At its heart, Minecraft Legends presents a fun, new adventure that shows how versatile the franchise can be. It can be enjoyed in a variety of modes, and as long as your friends are along for the ride, it’s hard to resist coming back for more.

Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon is a very ambitious project from a young indie studio. It has traveled a long road in early access to reach this point, but it was well worth it.

Like a good dad joke, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin may not be for everyone, but it grew on me and in the end, I loved every minute of it.

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.

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.

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.

Mario Strikers: Battle League may be barebones, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. More characters, customization options, and game modes could really help improve the game, but the package delivered on release still holds incredible replay value. It’s a game worth coming back to over and over again, whether with friends or by yourself. Over-the-top action and the stylized Mario look make Mario Strikers: Battle League one of the most fun sports game experiences, I just hope more is added soon so it doesn’t get stale after a few months.

One Piece Odyssey is the best video game story set in the One Piece universe to date. A delightful story and beautiful worlds more than make up for some more frustrating and outdated JRPG staples. Non-fans of the franchise might have a harder time getting into the already-established world, but it’s a hurdle that can absolutely be cleared. Whether players are newcomers or lifelong fans, One Piece Odyssey is a grand adventure absolutely worth going on.

Cursed to Golf is a very creative and far more difficult than expected roguelike. It’s definitely going to scratch your golf game itch, given how truly few there are on current generations, as well as spice up the genre with its unique gameplay and concept.

Neon Souls is a great platformer with a nice difficulty spike. Its core gimmick doesn’t get old, instead really making the whole game. It gets quite tough after a while, but it always feels fair and creative as you go along.

Super Mario RPG does a great job of mixing charming characters and fun, intuitive gameplay into an easy-to-enjoy package. Despite a few stumbles along the way, this classic journey largely lives up to its reputation, giving fans, new and old, something wonderful to experience.

Despite some hiccups on the presentation side, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves delivers in all the ways that matter most.

Ghostrunner Project Hel is a fun DLC that is simply more Ghostrunner. It scratches that itch while we wait for its sequel, but it just didn’t feel like enough. There are some aggravating issues and lackluster bosses, but the excuse to play more content may be enough to get some back into this game. Just, be ready for an experience that doesn’t quite live up to the original’s vision.

Atelier Mysterious Trilogy offers up a lot of fun, though it might be frustrating at times. I think it’s a nice game to play a bit of at a time, each day, rather than all in one sitting. Not having a hard and fast time limit is definitely a perk. But there are still many little things that frustrated me at times while I immersed myself in the mysterious world of Atelier Mysterious Trilogy.

With Dead Island 2’s development history it is a very pleasant surprise to see the game release in as complete and stable of a state as it is. It ran flawlessly on Xbox Series X and looked beautiful to boot, especially its incredible new gore system. While it may not deliver the interesting stories or new concepts of its genre contemporaries, its sharp humor and satisfying combat helps make up for it.

Demon Slayer Sweep the Board! does exactly what it sets out to do by combining the excitement of a party game with the world of Demon Slayer. It’s tailor-made for the niche audience of anime enthusiasts and party game aficionados alike.

The joy of Outcast – A New Beginning comes from the freedom of its nonlinear concept.

Grounded provides some great survival mechanics and challenging combat in a rather novel environment with an intriguing plotline. The game can be very tough but also very rewarding. However, it can take a while to really get the game going with the analysis mechanic and the lack of explanation revolving around many other ludemes.

Conclusively, Zipp's Cafe is about the desire to start over. Life can be cruel, but you don't have to be, so come to terms with the past and brew the best cup of coffee in all the Wilderness.

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.

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.

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.

Minami Lane is well-crafted and full of charm. Its mechanics are all perfectly balanced, and the visual display is a total joy. While the experience may be brief, it’s well worth the trip down Minami Lane.

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.

World Championship Boxing Manager 2 is not a complex game, but it sure is an entertaining one…Fans of management sims or boxing fans looking for a game that represents their fandom are in for a treat here.

Remnant II: The Awakened King is a gratifying experience. As a one-shot adventure that players can jump into regardless of whether or not they have completed the main campaign makes it approachable for all players, new or veteran.

River City Girls 2 is a solid beat ’em up on account of both its aesthetic and its gameplay. While it’s hampered by some elements of its combat not being as clear or precise as I’d hoped, the overall atmosphere and experience of playing the game are quite fun.

WarioWare: Move It! is a great entry in the series, making excellent use of the JoyCons’ high-definition motion controls in classic absurd Wario fashion.

Blood Bowl 3 is undoubtedly the best new way to experience Blood Bowl. It is filled with character, brimming with options, and has plenty of depth for players to explore and toy around with. However, it is unfortunate that it doesn’t give new players the proper tools to break through its outer crust. For those that are hungry for more brutal sports action, however, you’d be hard pressed to find anything better.

Age of Wonders 4: Empires and Ashes gives players plenty of new content to dive into. This DLC is larger than the previous one and it feels that way while playing…If you love playing Age of Wonders 4 and are looking to try a new way to forge empires then “Empires and Ashes” really showcases that.

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.

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

Despite a couple of light typos and some choppy wording that may be more the result of losses in translation than writer error, Dull Grey is a visual novel well worth your time. It successfully delivers what every visual novel strives for—transcending words to pull the reader into its world and rewarding players who are curious and patient enough to see beneath its surface.

Cozy, dynamic, and fun, Fae Farm is well worth the many hours you’ll spend in Azoria.

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.