More than an Animal Crossing clone or South Park joke, Hello Kitty Island Adventure offers one of the more fulfilling exclusives for Apple Arcade.

Remnant 2: The Awakened King is an excellent addition to an already solid game. It offers a unique new Story and provides a new perspective on a previously explored zone. Additionally, it offers new lore, weapons, gear and Archetype for veteran players to experiment with.

Enter the Gungeon has a few questionable design decisions that prevent it from reaching the same echelon as its competitors, but it’s a fine little action game that will satisfy bullet hell enthusiasts and those of you who love twitch shooters.

Tiny Bookshop deftly blends slice-of-life elements, business sims, and word puzzles into a perfect game to chill with after a long day.

Somewhere underneath the broken gameplay and terrible camera controls lies a lot of potential for a great game.

The puzzles hit that perfect blend of complexity and intuitiveness that keep them immensely satisfying.

NEO: The World Ends With You may not be as great as its predecessor, but it's still a good game in its own right.

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is an indie megaton mic drop from Team Reptile on how it’s done, paying serious homage to the genuinely unique, visually arresting and musically ahead-of-the-curve games that Jet Set Radio and Jet Set Radio Future originally were.

Hitman’s updated VR Access version is everything enthusiasts of Hitman and VR could have asked for. It doesn’t change the DNA of what makes Hitman incredible; it just bolsters out another way to experience the world through Agent 47's eyes.

Trails of Cold Steel III marches the long-running series ever closer to an explosive climax with satisfying combat, characters, and music.

It’s a solid enough game and it does offer a lot for serious baseballers while still being pretty fun and approachable for guys like me who might just want to play some arcade-style baseball with friends. While I did wish it had a little more to make it a more complete experience, I don’t regret my time with it.

It knows what it does well and does that extremely well. There are games that I play when I just want to decompress and enjoy myself, and this is one of them. Fans of baseball and sports game enthusiasts alike will find something to enjoy with this title, and I will be playing it as much as I can.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a pure kart racer that feels like a return to form for the series and a fun racing experience regardless of your affinity with the blue hedgehog.

I may be older now, but thanks to my time with Creepy Castle, I was able to reconnect—if only briefly—with all the wonderful moments in my childhood that have led me to this very moment as a games journalist. That’s a magic that, as a lifelong player, I can’t put a price tag on.

Nikoderiko: The Magical World – Director's Cut takes an already solid platformer and elevates it to new heights with added content, new secrets and polished graphics that make it the definitive release of the game.

Pioneers of Pagonia is not only one of the cutest, but also one of the most substantial city builders I have played—if you want it to be. Its endless content, ability to be as hands-on or hands-off as you’d like and its sliding difficulty make PoP one of my favourite games of 2025.

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is an engaging, challenging multiplayer game that succeeds in spite of loot and matchmaking issues thanks to clever level design and thrilling combat.

Gears of War 5 bravely adds new mechanics to an aging series, but ends up being worse because of them.

If you're a fan of old-school survival horror, My Friendly Neighborhood is an essential playthrough that feels fresh yet familiar to fans of the genre.

Prey is a game that is a patchwork of other titles with no swatches of originality added to the mix.

Tekken 7 has the barebones basics for a good fighter, but it’s missing the trimmings that make it worth recommending over bigger, and cheaper competition.

The Thaumaturge blends cosmic horror, mature themes, brutal combat, and a sense of exploration like no game before it. A perfect fit for any horror fan looking to dive into the horrors of the real world.

Through taking the classic formula and supercharging it, Mega Man 11 offers a welcome return to our sapphire hero, one that will keep dragging players back in.

Another excellent addition to the Switch’s expansive library of quality platformers.

Finally! A football game that literally anyone could play, but that does not mean everyone will enjoy it.

Viewfinder is an incredible mind-bending puzzle game that never stops innovating and never stops being fun.

Resident Evil Village VR practically becomes a new game on the PSVR 2, thanks to Capcom taking every advantage of the hardware and wrapping its gothic horror goodness around players to maximum effect.

She Remembered Caterpillars is a beautiful puzzle beset with gorgeous art and music and a somewhat frustrating difficulty curve.

Life is Strange 2 ended as it began: an emotional, uncompromisingly political story that succinctly represents player choice in its final moments.

Wandersong is an incredible experience.

Ninja Gaiden 4 brings a bloodsport of epic proportions to AAA gaming, a must play title for fans of hack and slash, action, and anything ninja.

While nothing made by humans has yet to withstand the test of time indefinitely, Burnout Paradise Remastered managed to escape the last decade with only a few wrinkles here or there.

With a dash more depth to its gameplay, and a lighter touch to its narrative, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga reinterprets the nine-film epic into a solid experience that all generations of fans will want to revisit.

As challenging as it is rewarding, Severed is a reason to dust of your PS Vita and get slashing.

Marathon is an addictive extraction shooter featuring the same masterful gunplay that has made Bungie legendary, making it a must-play for fans of the genre and even those adverse to it.

OlliOlli2 has extracted the very essence of skateboarding and poured it into two-dimensional bliss.

With two comparable games from veteran action platformer developers, this dual pack is worth picking up even at full price.

Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark desperately wants to recreate the experience of a tactical RPG and it does so with a few added flourishes.

Tales of Graces F Remastered is a worthy return to one of the more underrated entries into the series for a brand new console generation to enjoy.

Readers looking for an engaging and dark story, one that isn’t afraid of embracing the harsh realities of the middle ages during its tail end, are encouraged to try A Plague Tale: Innocence.

Burning Shores excels with stunning visuals, engaging story, and Aloy & Seykas' growth—raising the bar for DLC and delighting Horizon series fans.

It’s simple, charming, it looks great, and has a ton to offer.

Progression can be slow at times, while still feeling too brief in the grand scope of the game, and the combat can be a bit of a yes/no gear check, but critically, none of this mars the experience, nor can it ever upset the beauty of the game’s randomly generated worlds, the vibrant colour palettes, the stunning parallax, and the overall “feel” of the game.

Yuppie Psycho is a solid adventure game that plays rough with first-timers, but offers enough hidden content to make exploring worthwhile.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is how you do a proper Konami TMNT videogame anthology; all the games have been faithfully emulated to look, sound and run their best on modern consoles.

Torment is the purest expression of Infinity Engine RPGs we will ever see in the modern age.

The Jackbox Party Pack 3 is an excellent collection of games perfect for parties, made even better now that you can conveniently take that party anywhere with the Switch.

Hellblade’s mundane mechanics help underscore a powerful story of overcoming your demons, if you’re willing to subject yourself to the honest portrayal of mental illness it presents.

The ridiculousness of plants facing off against zombies but the serious controls and competitiveness of any triple AAA shooter,

Danganronpa V3 unravels the series' tightly wound coil of bloody intrigue in spectacular fashion.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is a fun sim with great stories, unique challenges and a sandbox that you can get lost in, all in a game that has the potential to become a favourite sim, no matter what kind of sim you are into.

Fantasian Neo Dimension is not only a charming adventure, but a lovingly-crafted tribute to the genre from some of its biggest pioneers.

I had a blast with this game, and it might challenge for my favourite in the series. It’s crazy, it’s fun, it’s satisfying, and it’s badass. I am shocked at how much fun I had with Kirby: Planet Robobot.

It’s been 28 years, but Live A Live finally gets its proper dues outside of Japan with an excellent remake.

While Superstar Saga may be a bit simplistic for more advanced players, its nostalgic appeal and overall fun is enough to justify its existence.

Even after six years, Sea Of Thieves remains a great time with friends, and now, with the PlayStation 5 port, even more friends can join in the hilariously fun high sea adventures.

With Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ubisoft has finally delivered on the feudal Japan setting fans have always wanted. However, some elements have been left behind in the wake of the modernization of Assassin's Creed.

This is easily one of the most purely enjoyable titles available on the Wii U and given that’s exactly what a Nintendo game should be, it’s impossible not to recommend it through giddy superlatives. Get thy ass out there and purchase thee a copy post-haste, fellow Nintendo ninnies.

Even more worthy of your attention than it was on PS Vita, so do yourself a favor and give this game the love that it deserves.

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a sweet, charming and uniquely interesting game that perfectly captures the heart and spirit of the Moomin series.

Life Is Strange: True Colors is an unforgettable journey with some meaningful messages.

Although not quite on par with an MLB, Super Mega Baseball 2 is a great entry for its price, offer-ing enough simplicity in gameplay to be enjoyable to practically anyone.

The Lion’s Song is a masterclass in storytelling and a great fit for fans of portable Switch gaming, especially those looking for a narrative-driven experience.

LEGO Party is a great party game for all ages. The customization, the minigames, and the way the boards are laid out all make it feel like a match made in heaven.

Overcooked! 2 may not feel like a fully realized sequel, feeling mostly like more of the same with just a dash of new mechanics and online gameplay, but I suspect that's enough for most fans of the original game. I'm certainly not burnt out just yet.

If you're a fan of the Dragon Quest series and haven't picked up Dragon Quest Treasures on the Switch, its release on Steam is easily the better option and is worth checking out if you're a fan of the series or DQXI.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is an intoxicating blend of style, accessibility and fun. Even if you don’t know the franchise, you’ll love this incredible fighter.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is the best the series has been so far, balancing a playfulness that is approachable for newcomers with a maturity that is perfect for longtime fans.

The follow-up to Planet of Lana attempts to recapture lighting in a bottle by doubling down on its signature 2-D platforming and puzzle elements, but a handful of visual and gameplay inconsistencies make the experience considerably less enjoyable.

Life Is Strange has already proven itself to be capable of making an interesting story out of its premise, but it’s in this third episode that it has begun to develop a real level of confidence in its narrative.

Much like its predecessor Darkest Dungeon II takes everything that was good about its previous release and perfectly tailors it to the Nintendo Switch

This is Borderlands perfected. A game that takes the foundation of the series and elevates it in every conceivable way. Funnier, smarter, richer, more thrilling, and absolutely overflowing with reasons to keep playing long after the credits roll.

Cities: Skylines is definitely a must-own for fans of the genre, or gamers with a nostalgic itch for SimCity that EA certainly won’t scratch.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 brings with it a solid mix of both 2D fighters while also, for the first time in recent memory, reintroducing players to a collection of 3D fighters from Capcom's storied past.

EVERSPACE 2 shakes things up in the aerial/space combat genre, resulting in a unique shooter with solid RPG mechanics that feel fresh for the genre.

If you have time to dig into the indie fighting scene, Night In-Birth Exe:Late should suit your needs just fine.

A surprisingly strong contender in the Nintendo Switch launch library, VOEZ is well worth its modest asking price for rhythm fans who need to scratch that IIDX itch.

Elroy and the Alien captures all the heart, charm and inventiveness of the golden age of point-and-click adventure games.

The Superchargers aesthetic fits in perfectly to the continuing Skylanders franchise. Not much has been updated in the way of gameplay, other than the addition of the Superchargers, but if it ain’t broke...

Intelligent Systems has done an excellent job of bringing a classic title forward into the modern age.

Despite its awkward dialogue and handful of plot missteps, Life Is Strange’s conclusion cements its story as one of the more noteworthy in recent videogames. This final episode may not be the strongest, but its impressive level of wit and emotional honesty encapsulates what makes Dontnod’s titles special.

Rune Factory 4 Special feels like a game where you always have something to do, offering so many different systems to play around with.

When Dark Room moves beyond its initial twist in order to return to the mystery at the centre of the game’s overarching plot, it succeeds at offering exciting gameplay in lieu of maintaining its thematic focus.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a gorgeous throwback to the days of the Arcade, but one that ultimately feels a little too safe and short for its own good.

Bugs and shortcomings aside, the last time I found myself this absorbed and invested in a Telltale game was with Tales from the Borderlands. If A New Frontier continues to build upon its characters and story arc with the same momentum of these first two episodes, this season could well turn out to be some of Telltale’s best work yet.

Children of the Sun built upon some concepts from other first-person puzzle games, and came up with something charming and uniquely fun.

While lacking in diverse combat, Samurai Shodown’s intentionally slower combat offers a fresh style of gameplay worth experiencing.

Firewatch is narrative-driven adventure game dealing with adult issues in ways unlike any other game out there, and is one of the best looking games so far this year.

For the price, Zombie Night Terror is a fine way to spend a weekend or more.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is WayForward’s finest entry in the series yet. Platformer enthusiasts and people who can’t get enough of collecting virtual trinkets will undoubtedly find something to get lost in here.

Torchlight II on the Switch is an excellent addition to its library of fun, multiplayer-oriented games for both new fans and those wanting to return to the world of Vilderan after an extended absence.

Darkest Dungeon II keeps everything good from the original and elevates it to create something different but equally brutal.

Life is Strange 2 sets up a very different story that cares a lot of the original game’s strengths with it, and leaves some of its weaker points behind.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice has some flaws in its testimony, but it’s ultimately a winning entry in the prolific series, and a welcome return to form. No objections here.

Sifu is a masterfully crafted lesson on patience.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War is an improvement over its predecessor in every way imaginable.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits – Premium Edition for Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles has arrived at just the right time, delivering a challenging, high-quality, old-school action-adventure/puzzler that’s bound to keep gamers on the Xbox platform busy during the end-of-summer gaming doldrums.

Persona Q2’s has a lot of fun dungeon crawling to offer, but doesn’t make the most of its great cast’s time together.