Forspoken feels like a breath of fresh air for open-world adventures with its stylish engine, but is held back by pacing and other foibles.

Dead Take has got some great atmosphere, wonderful voice acting, and a real creepy story, slightly hampered by simple puzzles and an over-use of jumpscares.

LEGO Voyagers is a simple game, with a big imagination, and at the end of the day, that’s what playing with LEGO is about. It’s a heartwarming, highly enjoyable experience that doesn’t ask a lot from the player, but doesn’t require a lot to have fun. I think parents will definitely enjoy playing with their kids the most, but there’s enough here for two friends to enjoy.

Stellar Blade presents a novel new vision of post-apocalyptic Earth, utilizing some familiar conventions as it strives for new heights.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD brings everything good from both the Wii and 3DS versions of the title to the Nintendo Switch, including the extra levels included in the 3DS version.

Diablo III: Rise of the Necromancer boils down to a pack that is tailored for people who love the series already. The character feels well thought out, visually striking, as well as being fun.

Not at all afraid to reveal its sense of humor, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a solid remaster of its original, camp-filled 2002 incarnation that both franchise fans and newcomers are bound to enjoy.

There’s no shortage of story in this golf adventure around a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Wolfestein 2: The New Colossus is a gorgeous, fluid shooter with an delightful story and characters filled with good ‘ol Nazi killing satisfaction.

Gotta Protectors is a frenetic and charming celebration of retro Japanese games that rises above its low-fidelity presentation to deliver one seriously addictive experience.

Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero is a near-perfect representation of the legendary Shounen series, which comes with its own set of pros and cons but ultimately is a must-play for fans.

Whispers of a Machine is a puzzling enigma, a fascinating story, and a bit of an ugly beast, but well worth your time.

Code Vein is some fun anime nonsense is a slickly designed package with some minor failings.

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.

Tales of Vesperia continues to hold its spot as one of the best entries in the franchise, and was definitely an epic tale worth retelling for a new generation.

Wizard of Legend is a surprisingly deep game despite its simple premise, fans of dungeon crawlers, roguelikes or just anyone in the market for a fun couch co-op game should definitely check out Contigent99 debut title.

LEGO Jurassic World is a fun, wild romp through the Jurassic Park films that not only lives up to their legacy and the expectations of fans but also those of Tt Games’ LEGO franchise as a whole.

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

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is perfect for anyone looking to experience the best of the early Yakuza titles without sacrificing the refined gameplay mechanics and visuals.

Knights in Tight Spaces takes all the good ideas of its predecessor and not only adapts them to a fantasy setting but builds on them in interesting ways.

The new bells n’ whistles don’t add much, but when something this good ain’t broke why fix it?

Although it can be tough at times to jump into an era that you’re unfamiliar with, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles masterfully offers all of the gameplay you’d hope for without leaning on other iterations for story content.

Scott Pilgrim EX takes the beloved franchise into new pixelated heights, offering fans of the 2010 original a worthy sequel to jump into, Mario-style.

Gunheart is an over-the-top arcade shooter that plays excellently in both 2D and VR modes, thanks to the inclusion of some tight and fluid controls.

Starfield on PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro offers new players a solid port of a great game made better with new content and QoL improvements across the board.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves might not be the flashiest fighter in the ring, but what it lacks in quantity is made up in spades thanks to its rewarding fighting mechanics and unwavering commitment to hardcore players.

In the torrid desert of the AAA industry, Ever Oasis stands out as the rejuvenating refuge so desperately needed.

Wreckreation feels like a breath of fresh air, or rather, exhaust in a world of overly serious racers, giving player agency and fun the top priority with its robust set of tools and activities that let you tailor how you play the game.

The team at HB Studios and 2K has found the mark with PGA Tour 2K25. The game is a significant improvement on everything that made the previous title good and, when it comes to sports titles, that’s exactly what the doctor ordered.

There has never been a better time for System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster to grace consoles once again, and it’s a must try for fans of Sci-Fi.

Crusin’ Blast is a new take on an old classic that doesn’t abandon its roots and will introduce itself to a new audience of young gamers, who I think will love it.

Layers of Fear (2023) is Bloober Team’s magnum opus and a must-play for atmospheric horror fans who have yet to play the originals in the series.

The actual affair of playing hockey is more exciting than it's been in years.

For Honor is a great example that Western developers can make some great innovative twists on a primarily Japanese-built genre. It’s so safe for AAA titles to resort to going action, open-world, or FPS, but this is a real risk that Ubisoft is taking on a brand new IP and I hope it pays off for them. This is the best combat system I’ve had the pleasure to experience since the death of character action games. I hope to see you on the battlefield, even if you fight for Valhalla or the Emperor.

The biggest issue for me is how dense the complexity makes the game. Crafting, particularly cooking, requires a lot of experimentation or wiki-diving, and finding out the game’s systems isn’t always represented, even in the quests. There are always quests that give you reasons to gather or play the many mini-games—moving a wheel-barrow requires you keep a cursor in between two points, and the fishing system is actually rather fun.

Thanks to stellar mechanics, a great netcode, and beautiful visual and audio design, Guilty Gear Strive is a fighting game you don’t want to miss.

Super Mario Galaxy is now readily available for all to enjoy, free from its 2020 limited compilation release, made better on Switch 2 with improved controls and graphics.

Detective Pikachu is a title that fans of Pokémon shouldn’t miss out on, especially those who are fans of the anime series or those who can’t get enough of Pikachu’s rosy red electric cheeks. For those looking for a bit more substance in their Pokémon games are encouraged to check out one of the numerous RPGs based on the series available on the 3DS.

Pikmin 4 brilliantly shows how to take the same set of mechanics and throw them into a new mode or challenge in order to keep things fresh, even if it can come off as repetitive at times.

Pyre’s battle system is excellent and delivers upon thrilling competitive play, but whether it has any future in that space could rest on whether it gets online play.

Deliver At All Costs is a wildly chaotic and immensely fun experience that channels classic GTA and almost makes it a parody of itself.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a finely woven story with strategic elements that is a satisfying addition to the Vanillaware lineup, but fans not into anime or Sci-Fi may feel isolated in this futuristic world.

Scarlet Nexus is the fresh, new Action JRPG that gamers weary of the “Tales of” series formula have been needing to see from Bandai Namco for a while now, and it shines especially bright on next gen consoles.

Once Human is a fantastic MMO based in an interesting post-apocalyptic landscape, but still has some growing to do to reach the peak of the genre.

Guacamelee 2 is a gorgeous, fun game with a sense of humor that makes me want to cry.

Golf Story is another must play Switch exclusive for more than just golf or RPG fans.

We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie is another joyous re-release of a beloved game filled with the best kind of nonsense.

TMNT: Splintered Fate - Casey Jones & The Junkyard Jam is a welcome addition to Splintered Fates, more for its playable hero than its new level.

Control combines the best elements of Remedy’s third-person pedigree with a well-realized open world that any sci-fan will enjoy.

Kill la Kill: IF has done a lot of work to push the arena fighter genre forward, even if its story mode won’t build up new fans.

Metro Awakening is the full Metro experience tailor-made for VR and is a must-play for fans of the series and VR enthusiasts alike.

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.

Magical Delicacy is a game that requires patience, but once you find that, the story, art, and overall vibe are more than worth its price tag.

Priced at a lower entry point than most retail releases, Astro Bot: Rescue Mission is a must play for owners of the PlayStation VR headset, even for those who may not necessarily have a fondness for platformers or are turned off by the cute, cartoon-like aesthetics of the game.

It’s a simple premise that’s executed perfectly.

The game is just fun to play as a whole. Matches don’t drag on for longer than they should, and firefights happen frequently with a large degree of nuance to the action. While top-end players will revel in the opportunity to theorycraft the current meta and its propensity for counterplay, casual fans will have no trouble acclimating to most of the characters on offer

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined is an excellent return to form for the beloved Super Nintendo-era action series.

Nicole Martinez and Brad Kane clearly care a lot about this world, and with episode four, they’ve introduced a lot of critical momentum to the season that makes it feel like the series has turned a corner.

It’s refreshing to play a Fire Emblem that places such an emphasis on tactical depth as Fire Emblem Engage. Not because the series wasn’t known for it, but because recent entries have placed a stronger focus on the social aspects. Engage is, in that sense, a return to form for the series.

Though not perfect, what the Nintendo Labo does and what it has the potential to do outshines its minor flaws as a product.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an excellent 2D action platformer, and is a must play for fans of ninjas, action titles, or fans that want a great game for half price.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the the perfect jumping-in point for newcomers to the Yakuza franchise who want to experience what all the fuss is about without all the baggage, but with Ichiban Kasuga as the fresh new face of the franchise, a genuinely entertaining story and a surprisingly solid RPG battle mechanics as the game’s backbone, there’s a good deal here for series veterans like myself to discover and enjoy as well. No question I still want my traditional Yakuza beat-em up adventures, but if we could look forward to seeing another Yakuza JRPG of this game’s quality every other year or so, I would definitely be down.

Pragmata, with its marvellous merging of hacking, movement and gunplay, was a blast to play from start to finish. While the story stumbles a little in the early hours, it wasn’t enough to slow down what ended up being a great experience.

Breakneck speeds, industrial music, and a shiny metallic beetle in a cybernetic reality come together to make one of the most original and difficult rhythm games in years.

Helldivers is hands down one of my favorite multiplayer experiences of this year.

Even having never played these specific games before, Grandia HD Collection ended up giving me a sense of nostalgia. Grandia may be one of the best examples of what a quality JRPG was during its era and still holds up to this day as a title which fans of the genre should experience. Grandia II might not stand the test of time as well as its predecessor does, but it is still worth checking out for its continued use of a nearly perfect battle system, especially for any fans of the first game.

Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted isn’t breaking the mould in gameplay options, and it isn’t flawless, but I have still been glued to my controller since I got it. There is tons to do, the game looks great, and it's the perfect game for families.

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

I might not be as hypnotized with Stardew Valley as a lot of other folks, but it's pretty much the Harvest Moon follow-up I've been waiting for since the SNES and Nintendo 64 days.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords remains a masterful and compelling story with enough lore to keep fans satisfied, but for the Nintendo Switch port, remember to save often.

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled breaks casual expectations, delivering a much needed jolt of speed and a high skill ceiling to reinvigorate my love for the genre.

What Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars really needs is just a set of tweaks, because the foundation is clearly there. If you're the type of person who loves spending time crafting the perfect plan and becoming immersed in a completely new world, it's worth diving into.

Resident Evil 2 excels at putting the player in close quarters with things that will upset and unsettle them, always drawing them into ever more tense, disturbing fights.

Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut on PC is a fantastic port and an absolute joy to play, far eclipsing its PlayStation 5 equivalent.

With its much-welcomed next-gen improvements in framerate, resolution, and load times plus the inclusion of all previously released DLC, the next-gen remaster of Judgment is hands-down the definitive version to own.

If you even remotely enjoyed Limbo, you'll feel right at home with Inside.

Monster Hunter Stories was a game I didn’t expect to enjoy so much. It managed to forge its own identity while retaining many of the beloved staples of the series. If a non-fan like me could find so much to like about this title, fans with prior knowledge of the series will definitely love it even more.

Light Fall is a simple platformer designed great for speed runners but with enough lore for any casual player to enjoy.

It’s a surprisingly faithful and endearing approximation of playing a pen-and-paper RPG like Dungeons and Dragons, taking core pieces of the culture and structure of a D&D game and stripping it down to basic, easy-to-understand mechanics.

Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure made sliding-block puzzles fun and interesting. That in and of itself is the highest praise I could give it.

Sausage Bomber is Light-hearted, hilarious, and full of addictive chain reactions.

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.

Stray is a game oozing with charm and can be considered a must-play for cat lovers looking for something new to pounce on and sink their teeth into.

Call of Duty: WWII is an excellent return to form for the franchise that unfortunately comes with a lot of hang-ups due to being a multiplayer shooter in 2017. However, the campaign is a blast, the shooting and combat mechanics feel tight, and it looks gorgeous on a 4K screen.

Unholy Heights is so good, it’ll make you feel sympathy for the devil.

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.

Despite being a 2D rip-off of Dark Souls, Salt and Sanctuary is an excellent game that brings From’s famous gameplay to a side-scrolling plane.

It might sound strange to call an anniversary repackaging of a decades-old title a “must own” for a new system, but Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is just that well produced. If you own a Switch and love Street Fighter II, then you quite simply need to have this in your library.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is a bloody good time and a must play for Warhammer 40K fans or third person shooting games in general.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 make for a lovely addition to the Switch’s library – a touching experience for new and old players.

Absolver is a game that rewards players with a unique Kung-Fu fighter to master.

Telltale’s Batman tale continues to impress and overcome its minor technical glitches to deliver one hell of a dark knight mystery.

Escape from Tarkov may have spawned an entire genre, yet it remains one of a kind. Its complex mechanics, visceral gunplay, and unpredictable pacing aren’t for the faint of heart, but with the release of 1.0 on Steam, there’s no reason for fans of hardcore tactical shooters not to enlist.

If you haven’t enjoyed previous Jackbox volumes, this one might win you back. It leaves most of the humour up to you and presents a well-rounded sampling of tasks. Just be sure you can enjoy the party safely.

Borderlands 3 isn’t a franchise altering game, but it does manage to combine great gunplay, an expansive world, and stellar co-op into a great overall package.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is an exhilarating game to play that has massive narrative shortcomings.

Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection is a slice of action gaming joy well worth a look for fans of the series and an absolute must-own for newbies. If you’ve never dabbled in Uncharted, get it immediately. You are about to have so much fun with a controller in your hands that it should probably be illegal.

Mario Party Superstars somehow manages to entertain and impress while bringing almost nothing new to the table aside from some annoying stickers and appreciated save features. Nintendo knows the road to success is nostalgia, and they manage to use it to hit the mark every time.