Overall, Kaizen: A Factory Story is a brilliantly made game that creates a difficult, but satisfying experience with likable characters and an engaging story to boot. It’s always exciting when it offers up a new tool to use, and you can figure out all the different ways it can be used. On top of that, the character interactions were always fun to read. Maybe this is better than a boring job in sales after all.

Kojima Productions’ best project yet is Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, and it’s largely thanks to how refined and an improvement it is on its predecessor, rather than being the perhaps expected unconventional sequel. The star-studded cast and their conjoined chemistry have helped craft a more interconnected and personal world this time, only bolstered by the unbelievably gorgeous, detailed and technically impressive open world where every journey is its own story. Every job and delivery is a delight and an immersive challenge against the greater elements. Picking you up off your feet and prodding you along are all the other players’ structures and creations around the world. In Death Stranding 2, you are never alone. That remains true whether it’s paying respect to those that came before, or paving the future of open world games that Kojima Productions, and even you, the player, are actively doing at all times. What a bright future it is.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a fun, narrative-led stealth game that doesn’t demand too much of you. Stealth game veterans are unlikely to find a challenge in these common mechanics, but the beautiful details built into the world of Rosmark make up for it. The character-driven story is supported by great vocal performances and cutscenes that would fit in alongside any modern triple-A.

I enjoyed my time with Everdeep Aurora, although it could have been better. Nautilus Games very deliberately nails the feel of an old Game Boy game from the mid-1990s, although it may turn off players looking for something more complex or challenging. With its charming art style and gameplay, it’s hard not to have a smile on your face as you drill down into the Everdeep. That said, the lack of clear guidance regarding exactly what the game is asking you to do a lot of the time left me longing for a quest log or objective marker. If you’re looking for a chill platformer with retro stylings and don’t mind a lack of clear direction, Everdeep Aurora is worth checking out.

ISLANDERS: New Shores builds upon what made the first game great and why I got it in the first place back in 2020. It added new elements to keep players engaged, while also providing a fresh improvement from the first game, by featuring better visuals, music, improved gameplay mechanics, and a points system that encourages you to reach the top of the leaderboard. It’s a cozy game if you’re after something chill or an intense puzzle game if you’re after that top spot. Regardless, it’s addictive and will keep you hooked.

Against the Storm’s genre hybridity does jettison some of the base pleasures of the city builder, but otherwise, Eremite Games has crafted a compelling ‘just one more settlement’ roguelike gameplay loop. With the combination of a beautiful and familiar fantasy aesthetic, strong foundational mechanics with a lot of variety, and a remarkably intuitive adaptation from its PC roots to a controller, Against the Storm is an assured and accomplished console port.

Tamagotchi Plaza is a flat experience in a bright, colourful package. The minigames are fun for an hour or so, but take too long to add new mechanics, leaving the gameplay repetitive and unsatisfying. It’s fun to see so many Tamagotchi characters walking around this world, but it would have been far more interesting if there was anything substantial for them to actually do.

A gorgeously presented modern twist on the classic 3D platformer, Ruffy and the Riverside is positively glowing with charm. Featuring a cavalcade of fun environmental puzzles that take advantage of its unique copy-and-paste “SWAP” mechanic, a delightful blend of hand-drawn spritework and rendered environments, and cheeky writing that makes you fall in love with its silly little characters, this is a perfectly lovely adventure with tonnes of heart.

PEAK is, well, the peak of climbing games. Aggro Crab and Landfall Games’ combined talent resulted in an incredibly tactile, aptly challenging and delightfully chaotic puzzle platformer. With lots of colour, whimsy and charm, every pitfall or plummet to your death on the trying climb is just another opportunity for you and your friends to pick yourself up off your feet, and get moving again. It’s dangerous to go alone, take this plush alien toy, healing balm and your best pals with you. You won’t regret it.

As a throwback to the old 2D Castlevania games, Chronicles of the Wolf is serviceable and mostly effective. If you’re after a nostalgia trip that doesn’t have many ambitions to forge its own identity or take note of the quality of life improvements that metroidvanias have been honing since the 1990s, Chronicles of the Wolf will be a satisfying romp through the French countryside. However, the game isn’t aspiring to anything more than a simple trip down memory lane, and would be hard to recommend for anyone not already a Castlevania fan or looking for something that evolves on past Metroidvanias rather than simply imitating them.

Rematch is a wonderful reinterpretation of football with just enough innovation to make the sport its own. Thanks to an amazing gameplay loop and beautiful art style, every match has been unforgettably fun. Unfortunately, some current issues with server performance and limited, restrictive content stop Rematch from becoming a must buy. Still, anyone looking for a hot new multiplayer game like nothing else should keep a close eye on Rematch’s future.

Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a wonderful return to a game previously locked behind the 3DS. With it, history is repeated: there isn’t all that much of a reason this should only be confined to the Switch 2, limiting audiences for an RPG classic once more. Yet it is. Still, A great game is a great game. My first journey with the Warriors of Light has been fantastic and magical, depicting beautiful environments full of rich tapestries, a classic fantasy story with some surprise twists and turns and an incredibly robust, creative and experimental combat system with oceans of depth. Whether returning to Luxendarc or a newcomer like me, this is one of the first no-brainer RPGs for the Switch 2.

Survival Kids doesn’t take any big risks in its kid-friendly approach to survival games. Yes, it is technically kid-friendly in mood and scope, but that’s also underselling the maturity and capability of children playing games. Its level-based approach doesn’t evoke a sense of wonder and exciting exploration that its counterparts are known and beloved for. Its tasks are monotonous and very quickly become repetitive, almost as if they’re not trusting you to understand the same thing they’re teaching and showing you every few minutes. With only nine levels, but with rough pacing in those missions, it’s an experience that somehow passes you by in a flash, but also feels like a slog. There’s fun to be had if you’re with friends in the silly and chaotic gameplay moments, also working together as a refined, well-oiled survival production machine. Still, at the end of the day, Survival Kids isn’t all that much of a successful return, remaining hardly a splash in the ocean.

Dune: Awakening builds on the solid foundation of Survival gameplay mechanics from Funcom’s prior entry in the genre, Conan Exiles. While aspects of the game, such as combat and questing, are less than great, these flaws don’t prevent players from enjoying the well-executed gathering, crafting and research-advancing progression loop, as well as simply existing in and exploring the world of Arrakis. Those who love survival games OR the Dune franchise will likely have a great time here, though others may have less reason to stick around to the endgame. The solo and group gameplay is distinct from one another, but either approach will allow you plenty of fun time in the sun, the sand, and (if you’re unlucky) the belly of a sandworm.

Crown Gambit is a gorgeous experience that successfully blends strategic card-based combat with a rich, dark fantasy narrative. It feels like it’s been ripped out of Game of Thrones, in the best way. The Ancestral Grace mechanic adds such a brilliant layer of tension to its usage, weaving your combat choices into the story with some meaningful consequences, though its overuse can substantially negate the challenge of combat. While there are occasional pacing issues, Crown Gambit’s incredible art direction and world-building make it a game well worth playing.

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army sets a new standard for remasters by offering more improvements and upgrades than many games that bill themselves as full remakes. As someone who never played the original, it feels like I’m playing a modern Shin Megami Tensei title, even though it still has many of the tell-tale signs of a 2000s game. I don’t know how the game could have been playable without such a smooth combat system and the countless quality of life features.

Rooftops & Alleys builds an incredible foundation with its dynamic and exciting parkour & freerunning. Although it can be very difficult to learn and is rife with inconveniences, slowly understanding how to navigate across rooftops becomes such a thrilling time. What holds the game back is how few options the player has to test their new abilities. Despite some solid foundations, a notable lack of interesting missions or enticing exploration makes Rooftops & Alleys feel a bit too empty.

Robots at Midnight is a solid enough romp for the action RPG space. The robot infested world of Yob is a curious and colourful place infused with retro nostalgic futurism, dusty droids and bright purple stormy skies. A lot of flowers should be given to Finish Line Games for making a palatable Soulslike that can be played by all, even offering some engaging play in the supercharged MITT abilities that have you soaring around environments or sucker punching bots. Thanks to other elements, such as a lot of stock standard combat pacing and flawed exploration, Robots at Midnight doesn’t necessarily do a lot to significantly distinguish itself in the hugely populated genre crowd, but it is a different flavoured experience for the space if you’re looking for yet another to eat up. It’s not quite a home run, but it’s a damn solid swing and crowd pleaser nevertheless.

TRON: Catalyst proves that there are still plenty of stories to be told on the Grid, even if it never fully realises this potential itself. Its narrative is well-written and engaging, it faithfully captures the aesthetic of the films and has perfectly function combat and exploration, but its repetitiveness and inability to fully take advantage of the possibilities of TRON’s ‘discfu’ leaves it feeling like version 0.8 rather than 1.0 when it comes to taking advantage of the possibilities of this series.

Despite being competent on many levels, FBC: Firebreak is an exceedingly familiar cooperative experience you have likely played before. Remedy’s signature flair for visual design and return to a familiar and beloved video game locale might be enough for absolute die-hard fans, but it is tough to see who the target audience for this entry into the RCU was envisioned for. While not a total misfire, FBC: Firebreak feels destined to be a footnote from the world of Alan Wake.

The GEX Trilogy won’t convert new fans, but for those raised on tail-whips and TV parodies, it’s a nostalgia-packed return. A solid, if safe, remaster that could’ve done more but still lets Gex channel surf once more with style.

Date Everything! is an exemplary example of what happens when game developers remember they have free will and can do literally anything they want. A classic dating sim style game but with a twist, Sassy Chap Games decided it would be really cool to basically hire the entirety of the professional voice acting industry and assign them all to sexy human versions of furniture, and somehow it worked spectacularly. Date Everything! is an experience dripping with charm, inclusivity and pride, and is the exact right amount of self-aware. Being able to make a hundred characters equally as unique and captivating as they are is such an impressive feat. This is a dating sim that breaks free from the mould, and even those who aren’t fond of the genre will find something to love within this world.

The Alters has taken the idea of choices and their ramifications and used it to create a world where you can only count on yourself to survive. It mixes these with literal elements of survival, such as mining for materials, keeping important items stocked, and keeping your base in working shape. All these elements made me think about my own choices in life, and what could have been if I had taken different paths. Therefore, not only was The Alters a captivating story and world to play in, but it also really made me think philosophically about life and what it really means to survive.

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is a smart sequel. It leans on the original’s strongest elements in the aesthetic and stylistic choices, whilst moving the gameplay into a new and entertaining direction. It doesn’t do anything groundbreaking, though it does succeed at producing a high-quality product that feels good to play. Thanks to an interesting upgrade system and in-built chance mechanics, The Eternal Die stands out on its own and proves to be a game absolutely worthy of your time.

Deltarune Chapters 3 and 4 are worth the wait due to the content and story presented. Susie’s character arc is very vulnerable and will bring you to tears, Kris’s mystery thickens, and the world expands meaningfully and emotionally. The humour and heart that made Undertale and early Deltarune chapters special are still here, with more polish, questions, and challenges. And with six chapters still to come, we’re only just getting started.

Deltarune Chapters 3 and 4 are worth the wait due to the content and story presented. Susie’s character arc is very vulnerable and will bring you to tears, Kris’s mystery thickens, and the world expands meaningfully and emotionally. The humour and heart that made Undertale and early Deltarune chapters special are still here, with more polish, questions, and challenges. And with six chapters still to come, we’re only just getting started.

Mario Kart World is incredibly easy to fall in love with, largely due to its solid injection of nostalgia and visual upgrades that help to justify the hardware upgrade. This is the best-looking and smoothest Mario Kart has ever felt, and Knockout Tour is sure to set the world on fire as the go-to game mode for this generation. I wish there was more to strive for in its Free Roam mode, but all of the other foundational parts that have made Mario Kart a success for so long are here, and better than ever. When playing with friends, it’s still the undisputed king, making this a must-have title on your shiny new Switch 2 that will be enjoyed for years to come.

A fun, cooperative puzzler with some neat ideas that mostly hit their mark, Parallel Experiment is an adventure that tickles your brain and challenges your collaboration skills. While its puzzles don’t always satisfy and its control scheme can be irritating at times, for the most part, this is an engaging teamwork experience with some rad artwork and solid voice acting. Recommended for escape room aficionados and patient puzzle fans.