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

Patapon 1 and 2 Replay remasters and presents the first two games in a satisfying package. For fans of the original games, there aren’t many surprises, but newcomers will find a cute and fun, albeit repetitive, experience.

The Pathless is an indie title that aims to be more of an experience than a standard video game. It is a carefully curated journey that requires players to play in a certain way while enjoying its unique and idyllic world. While The Pathless does not have the excitement or action of titan indie tiles like Hades, its tranquil experience is a rewarding way to slow down, breathe, and think along the way.

Ghost Trick Phantom Detective, even with its quite obtuse puzzles, is a joy to play. Particularly with its interesting story full of twists and turns and unique characters.

Exoprimal has a lot of heart and plenty of exciting moments, but you’ll need to go digging for them.

Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe is top-shelf 2D Kirby platforming. It’s visually as good as non-stylized Kirby gets, rife with every copy ability you can dream of, and as nice and fulfilling a platformer as any Nintendo game should ever be expected to be.

Sea of Thieves is a great game that offers a lot. Between the PvE elements, PvP chaos, story missions, added content, and the upcoming Season 12, there’s a ton to engage with. Playing solo may be a mixed experience, but when it clicked, there was so much to enjoy with your time on the sea. Hitting the high seas with a crew is a genuine blast, leading to absolute chaos in no time flat.

Easy to pick up and hard to master, God of Rock has to be one of the most engaging games to come out so far this year.

GYLT provides a solid entry point into the horror video game genre, especially for those who are not typically drawn to such games. The presence of a child protagonist, simple controls, and relatable themes of bullying and self-worth make it accessible to a wide audience. While there are moments of tension and scares, the horror elements are relatively mild compared to other games in the genre.

Sunderfolk pulls off a balance of depth and accessibility that few titles do. With its responsive and intuitive smartphone controls and fun co-op strategy, Sunderfolk offers something special, well worth adventuring through.

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

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II won’t be for everyone. But if you are looking for a brutal continuation of a fantastic story that feels like you’re actually playing a movie, you’ll have a great time here.

Honkai: Star Rail provides some fun characters and gameplay, despite layering them under lots of unnecessary elements.

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.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s simplicity is its greatest asset as well as its greatest weakness. It makes it a fun and simple platformer filled with great copy abilities and a drive to work towards upgrading them all into cooler and more deadly versions. But it won’t likely have the staying power of some of the franchise’s earlier entries either. It’s a AAA Switch game though made by Nintendo, so surely it’s fun and will have its fans nonetheless.

Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader delivers a solid option for players who are looking to lose themselves in the darkness of the franchise’s universe.

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly succeeds in what it primarily sets out to do. It gives the player a chance to peek into an intriguing world where people mingle with members of fantasy races and shows what their lives are like as they stop in at the coffee shop that is always open when they need it to be.

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.

EA Sports FC 24 shows the franchise has no intention of slowing down without the FIFA license. New tweaks to popular game modes and a brand new player animation system help bring the franchise into a new era.

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.

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.

LEGO 2K Drive is classic LEGO fun with hours of exploration and racing to enjoy at any age.

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.

APICO is a tightly constructed and well-presented simulator about a topic loads of people are curious about but few people dive into. It’s a good way to quietly spend some time thinking about the majesty of these little animals while having a complicated enough gameplay loop to keep you invested for hours upon hours.

Stray Blade delivers a lot of content in its fantasy journey. While most of the game comes together well, key elements greatly hurt the core gameplay. But, if you are willing to weather these added struggles, this game has some rewarding exploration and combat to deliver to gamers.

Date Everything! thrives on its sharp writing and stellar voice acting, which breathe hilarious, heartfelt life into a world where your most intimate connections might just be with your coffee table.

Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3 does feel so much more complete than the first two iterations of the series, but it still has a little more room to grow…Even when I was frustrated at some of those things, the tracks, karts, and characters kept me coming back for more. It’s definitely worth checking out for fans of racing games and Nickelodeon shows and characters.

Another Crab's Treasure is a fantastic soulslike for those looking for an entry into soulslikes. Its storytelling and embracing of an unfamiliar setting make it stand out.

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.

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.

Aztech Forgotten Gods is a really great time, even with its stumbles. It’s a beautiful world with a character you can see yourself in, especially if you’ve lost a loved one. Additionally, the design of the gods is a sight to behold. Truthfully, I can’t wait to see what other stories Lienzo tells next.

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.

Despite some gripes, Chernobylite brings players an excellent sci-fi horror experience with great ambiance, quirky characters, and survival mechanics that are challenging and satisfying.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a highly entertaining game, and the remaster enhances the experience with more approachable controls and modern visuals. As such, despite some of its flaws, both new players and returning fans can still enjoy the new package.

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.

Thirsty Suitors’s main story is deep and really aims right at the heart, even if it feels disjointed at times. Regardless of your relationship with your parents, loved ones, and past friends, you will find ways to connect with Jala’s troubles. Beyond that, the game feels quite simplistic, for better or worse. The combat is stylish and fun but quickly gets repetitive.

Trek to Yomi raises the bar high for historical accuracy. It's clear how hard the developers worked to make this game feel like an act of love and admiration for the Edo period of Japan. However, the well-written story, great voice acting, and beautiful set pieces are held back by the combat.

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.

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.

Hindsight 20/20: Wrath of the Rakshasa sets out to deliver an engaging action story that forces the player to make important moral choices that will determine the shape of their world. And despite some moments where the combat struggles and some less than clear decisions the game presents players with, it largely succeeds. Given its short playtime and unique approach to both combat and choice-driven storytelling, I would say the game is certainly worth a look if what I have said about it intrigues you.

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

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is an intricately crafted and highly engaging action RPG. However, it has many frustrating mechanics that could potentially alienate many players. Despite its disappointing narrative, it still provides a highly entertaining experience that Dragon’s Dogma and hardcore action RPG fans will undoubtedly enjoy.

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

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.

Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic simply wants players to experience ease in finding objects. Finding lost or misplaced items in our lives can feel frustrating and dire in our moments of need.

But while I enjoyed the visuals, had fun figuring out the puzzles, and had plenty of laughs, In Sound Mind doesn’t quite impress anything upon you. There’s nothing particularly wrong with the game, but it also doesn’t strike me as extremely inventive or revolutionary. On the other hand, if you’ve played any psychological horror games in the past and enjoyed them, you’ll like this one for much the same reasons.

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.

RoboCop Rogue City’s level of emersion is impressive, and the mechanics like crouching that it removes from the modern FPS formula don’t feel missed in the one-man-army, high-octane firefights that make up the core of the game.

F1 24 does not reinvent the wheel, but it does bring in some changes that keep the series feeling fresh and fun to play. The new Driver Career changes and Dynamic Handling system might not seem like massive upgrades at first, but their addition to the game makes it worth checking out.

Ultimately, while Atlas Fallen‘s narrative is a bit of a hit-and-miss, it still offers players, especially action RPG fans, a highly engaging gameplay experience in a well-crafted world.

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.

SCHiM is worth jumping at. It's approachable for most players and unearths a deeper story about life's unexpected lows and highs.

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.

What Lake was for me was not a peaceful, slow-paced reflection on what matters most in life. Instead, it was an anxious and difficult exercise in letting go of things that don’t bring me joy, even if they might hold other values. And it was a reflection on queer experience and the radicalness of choosing what’s genuinely best for yourself despite others’ expectations. However, while some moments of my time playing was difficult, it was because of how I saw my own ongoing experience through Merrideth’s eyes. And if a game can make me do that through expertly crafted gameplay, a perfect soundtrack, and captivating characters and relationships alone, you can certainly color me.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 2: Rage delivers a ton of power in its exploration of fear, death, and friendship. It doesn’t always bring its elements together smoothly, but when it does, it delivers a summer that you will never forget.

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.

Call of Duty: Vanguard brings a surprisingly engaging campaign and some amazing graphics. While some character flashbacks are better than others, and the length is a bit disappointing, the campaign is nevertheless a fun jot through the theatres of WWII.

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

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

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed what Foreclosed had to offer, and a circular narrative is always a good way to get on my good side. The game effortlessly makes you feel like you’re in a comic book, and it feels immersive. But while there are some outstanding elements to the game, I just want more of it—more story, more action, more mechanics. Furthermore, I want to see Antab Studio use these same elements to build a longer game with more complexity.

Despite having some sparse storytelling and a lot of annoying gameplay elements, the System Shock remake still succeeded in providing an enjoyable experience and proved that even after all these years, the game is still worth the time of new and returning fans.

Whether you’re a seasoned fighter fan or just looking for some lighthearted fun, Fight Crab 2 delivers on its promise of shellfish shenanigans in spades.

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

Dunk City Dynasty is an enjoyable arcade game, and it is easy to lose track of time in the fast-paced game sessions. There is plenty to enjoy for NBA fans and those new to the game, even if it doesn’t offer the most in-depth experience.

Conclusively, Alone In The Dark properly writes its love letter while creating appeal to a wider audience through cinematic aspects. The classic horror elements and nods to its origins are seen, heard, and felt from beginning to end.

Patron is an ambitious game, working hard to stand out in a genre that is saturated with countless clones of each other. The social system is intricate, although I think it still has some work to be done to make it feel as massive as Overseer Games would like it to be. Still, there is a lot to like about Patron, and it is a perfectly enjoyable city builder.

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

Long-time fans of the Pokémon franchise should be very excited about the future of the Pokémon games, even if not everything in Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a home run. Despite the flaws, I really enjoyed my time and can’t wait to see what comes next.

Throughout my time with Lost Judgement, I felt torn about how I ultimately felt about the game. There were moments that I really enjoyed, especially the combat, but the handling of sexual assault and some unimaginative mechanics left me frustrated at best. All in all, I would say Lost Judgement is a perfectly okay sequel that fans of the original Judgement are sure to enjoy. It may not be amazing, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth playing. If you can handle the negatives, some genuinely great moments in Lost Judgment are worth experiencing.

Into The Pit is a good way to reintroduce a genre one could have assumed a relic of the past. It’s a tad slowly paced and can get repetitive as any roguelike might, but it’s a strong innovation on a tried and true genre.

Seven Deadly Sins — Greed is a lean DLC but it sure is shiny. The Greed Enumeration Escalation does a good job of building on itself, utilizes elements from the past to impact the next stage, and it offers different challenges not previously available that will push you to interact with Dubai in different ways. Plus, the suit is phenomenal.

Weird West is like a love-hate relationship. It can be extremely frustrating one minute, and you want nothing to do with it. Then, the next minute, you want nothing more than to keep playing…However, all of it comes together to create an impressive world that WolfEye Studio should be proud of.

Despite some flaws, RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is one of the most unique Atlus JRPGs in the Devil Summoner series. It might not have the polish of modern SMT titles, but it makes up for that with originality, rich humor, charm, and atmosphere.

Dragon Ball Z Kakarot DAIMA Part 1 delivers enough fun and enjoyment that fans interested in returning to Kakarot will find plenty to experience for the handful of hours it lasts.

Dawn of Ragnarok has rich immersion and story in its epic family tale with great emotional weight.

Almost everything about Returnal is working towards making it the premier PS5 exclusive. Stellar graphics, a great story, and amazing gameplay make it a joy to play, but a lack of saving and the constant fear of crashes make it hard to recommend at the present moment. At the end of the day, Returnal is a fantastic game, but whether or not you want to risk wasting hours of your life on potential crashes is really up to you.

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.

If the ultimate goal of the game is to have fun by turning your brain off and brutally defeating your enemies in elegant yet deadly combinations for hours on end where the story doesn’t matter, then Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection.

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider succeeds more than it stumbles, providing a short but enjoyable experience.

Castle Morihisa delivers a solid entry in the card-based roguelike genre. The numerous styles of deck you can construct provide a robust variety of play, and the challenges the player is faced with are just as creative and varied. While some losses felt a bit cheap, the triumph of victory always feels sweet.

Pro Basketball Manager 2022 is a promising management game that still has room to improve. However, it will absolutely scratch the basketball management itch, and options are plentiful.

Ad Infinitum is a little off balance when it comes to how difficult and unfair a few of its challenges are compared to the rest of the game, but with enough patience or guidance to make it through those sections, the rest of the game is set at an intense pace, while an excellently creepy atmosphere and a family whose horrors and the trauma they and the war have imparted onto the protagonist fill the game with character.

Blades of Fire is a well-made package focusing more on crafting creativity than physical battles. It forces players to take a more thoughtful approach instead of prioritizing fast-paced action.

While not perfect, The Gunk is a fun game that carries a great and important message. We need to save our environment. A compelling story, relaxing yet sometimes boring gameplay, and stunning visuals.

Justice Sucks has some very minor faults. But, overall, it provides a lot of quirky fun and 90s humor with a unique twist. I just wish it was a longer game so I could have more time with its chaotic action.

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.

Negatives aside, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R is a wonderful remaster with great visuals and aesthetics, smooth gameplay, and tons of content that JoJo fans will especially appreciate. And while the game is mainly tailored toward series fans, I believe it still offers an experience most fighting game fans will enjoy as long as they don’t play online or expect any cohesive narrative or story mode based on the franchise.

Despite the mulligans I wish Mario Golf: Super Rush could take, it’s still a strongly delivered game any fan of party games and party sport simulators in particular can enjoy alone or with friends.

If it weren’t for the prevalence of strange control issues, Monster Hunter Stories on PC would be an easy recommendation for fans of Pokémon or other creature-based RPGs. Without those issues, it is a charming and smart RPG with some fun, unique ideas and smart design.

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.

Millennia is a perfectly adequate 4X strategy game that will be easy for players to pick up and play. It does not try to reinvent the wheel, for better or for worse.

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.

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.

Zapling Bygone is not a memorable experience compared to some of the more well-known Metroidvania titles…However, even if it is somewhat derivative and unpolished, the story has enough charm and 16-bit art to make it a worthwhile experience.

There’s so much to dig into for Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator; I’m only scratching the surface of it. While players won’t get to experience calls like “Yes, Chef!,” “Behind!,” or the hauntingly distinct ticket machine crunching out order after order…the underlying stressors and demands of working in a restaurant are still there.

Slay the Princess is a straightforward choice-driven visual novel that slowly breaks at the seams revealing a rabbit hole of possibilities that prey on player anxieties and paranoia.

Bahnsen Knights is a short ride with fun highs brought on by its timely features and mini-games that move the story along and keep players in the driver’s seat.

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.