Nioh 3 is the most ambitious and densely featured entry in the series, with a vast world to explore and extremely satisfying systems and combat to master. It does for the Nioh franchise what Elden Ring did for the Dark Souls world. Nioh 3 offers a huge amount of content and flexibility. It can be immensely challenging, but there are plenty of ways and an array of tools and approaches to mitigate the difficulty. Nioh has always perched between being niche and mainstream. Nioh 3 should help this excellent series broaden its audience while appealing to long-time fans as well. Lovers of Soulslikes, Team NINJA's games, and well-made action titles in general won't be disappointed.

From its art style to its streamlined mechanics, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined takes a classic and makes it feel fresh. A cast of engaging characters, sparkling voice work, and combat that can be tailor-made, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a substantial game that almost never wastes your time. Ardent fans of the original might be skeptical, but it’s hard to imagine fans of classic JRPGs not enjoying this thoroughly engaging journey.

Cairn accurately captures the thrill and intensity of scaling a mountain. Each tentative step communicates the danger of the climb, forcing you to constantly readjust and take calculated risks to succeed. Aava’s flexibility benefits the gameplay, though it can look awkward in execution. While the game’s visuals and overall design are wonderful, performance issues, such as regular framerate drops and odd bugs, occasionally hinder the experience. Even though there are a few kinks in the equipment, this is a great ascent for those seeking a truly unique adventure.

Obviously, any fans of the Paper Mario series will be right at home here. The mechanics and the art style are both familiar enough to draw you in, but it’s the original touches that keep you engaged. I’m fascinated by the anti-capitalist message, even if the soundtrack left me somewhat miserable. Even if you have no allegiance to the game’s inspiration, there’s still something cool to be uncovered. Escape from Ever After is a pretty great RPG in its own right.

Overall, I really enjoyed Cassette Boy. The combination of Legend of Zelda adventuring with Fez camera rotating was an excellent combo that blended incredibly well. The game has a unique retro visual aesthetic, and gorgeous lo-fi music. Its only issues are minor. Anyone curious about Cassette Boy from the trailer should definitely make the purchase. It’s a short game, but the under $15 price is right. I can’t wait to see what the developers make next!

Code Vein II is a deep, stylish, and highly accessible entry into the “Soulslike” genre that prioritizes player empowerment over brutal punishment. While it lacks the technical polish of the titles that inspired it – most notably Elden Ring – it successfully carves out its own identity through an exceptional character creator, a unique time-traveling narrative, and a “Partner System” that provides a significant safety net for newcomers.

Cozy Caravan is a triumph of vibes over complexity. It is a game designed to really cool down your heart rate. It succeeds pretty well in creating a world that feels kind, warm, and welcoming. While it may lack the mechanical depth to hold the attention of hardcore simulation players and fans for hundreds of hours, it is a perfect example of a palette cleanser game. Cozy Caravan is a delightful road trip that asks nothing of you but to slow down and smell the flowers.

BrokenLore: Unfollow is a creepy exploration of the effects of psychological scars. The atmosphere smothers you, allowing only brief gasps of breath while solving puzzles. At its best when scouring environments, the game falters in its execution of stealth and combat segments. Although it lacks polish, this short, sharp adventure still manages to leave a lasting impression that will echo in the silence long after you step away.

If you’ve got a history with BMX games, extreme sports titles, and trick-based sports sims, you’ve come to the right place. You can whittle away the hours mastering every trick in the book, while steadily improving your overall skills. That same patience and persistence causes the whole game to open up before you. All the different challenges, the various stages, and the potential secrets are yours to discover. But for someone like me, this game is basically untenable. I dug deep, searching for every ounce of grit and determination I could scrounge up. The assembled supplies were meager indeed. While I mostly struggled through this game, you might find yourself enthralled with Streetdog BMX.

For a free-to-play game, Arknights: Endfield offers a wealth of well-made content. The factory building, tower defense mechanics, exploration, and team-based combat elements offer engaging hours of play, certainly worth the price of admission for fans of those genres. Mid to late game, Arknight: Endfield loses a bit of luster, devolving into more tedious gacha mechanics and not evolving its systems enough to keep the fun going for more casual players.

At its height, TR-49 succeeds at making every player feel like its mystery is their very own to solve. It takes talent to distort reality like that.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on the Nintendo Switch 2 is a remarkable feat. Not only does the mammoth title run exceptionally well, but it also looks incredible. Compared to the PS5 version, the FPS is lower, however, there aren’t many other compromises to mention. Cloud’s epic adventure retains its cinematic punch, emotional weight, and exhilarating combat, making this one of the most impressive third-party showcases on Nintendo’s latest hardware.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition is a game of two halves. If you’re new to the franchise, this is one of the best social simulators available and an essential purchase for fans of the genre. Packed with content, there’s absolutely loads to do. The 3.0 update is great, and when mixed with the steady stream of content and addictive gameplay loop, you’ll quickly lose hours on the faraway island. If you own the original, the update doesn’t offer much, but at the low price, it’s still probably worth the $5.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a beautiful Metroidvania that features wonderful platforming segments alongside challenging encounters. The world encourages exploration, with each route rewarding you, further incentivising you to venture into the unknown. Although the game follows conventions, it delivers a fascinating adventure that fans of the genre will adore.

If you’re looking for a proper Warriors/Musou game for a portable console, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is exactly what you need. The battles are snappy, massive in scale, and crammed with cool mechanics. It’s perfect for a quick session whenever the moment strikes you. On the other hand, the writing and the English voice acting are shockingly bad. Plus, the frame rate gets a little slippy when the battles get big enough. Personally, my heart belongs to the spin-off Musou games out there. But who knows, maybe these epic historical battles are exactly what you’re looking for.

The Yakuza/ Like a Dragon series has become one of the most beloved video game franchises on the planet. They’re a combination of cinematic crime drama, fun third person brawl combat, deep open world exploration, and insanely wacky sidequests and minigames. Yakuza Kiwami 2 is the best version of the second game in the series. Cutting the Sotenbori is a major loss, but the new content more than makes up for its omission. Overall this is an excellent version of an all-time great video game.

Code Violet falls short of its inspirations. Although the concise adventure has some strong moments, with some great interior environments, it fails to create menacing enemies that evoke fear in the player. Bugs hinder the experience, often leading to clumsy moments that break the immersion. Unfortunately, fans of Dino Crisis will have to keep waiting for that spiritual successor they’ve been hoping for.

All in all, The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon is a great entry in the franchise. It sounds good, looks good, and the narrative is truly kicking into gear. New players will definitely be confused, but this is the thirteenth game in the series. Just play the rest, I promise they’re good too.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora From the Ashes is an excellent return to the world of Pandora, and addresses many of the original game’s minor faults. The new third-person mode makes the game feel brand new. Better pacing, more streamlined progression, and a darker narrative combine with effective combat and exploration. Players who enjoyed the original will want to pick up this DLC, and even if they don’t, the third-person mode carries over to the base game. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora From the Ashes made my return to Pandora a pleasure.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road perfectly blends JRPG mechanics with football to deliver a unique and refreshing experience. The story is beautifully presented, featuring high-quality cutscenes and an excellent soundtrack that enhances its emotional beats. While the main campaign does suffer from some pacing issues, it remains a strong tale with a satisfying conclusion. Add in a wide range of modes, and you’re left with an excellent package that’s absolutely bursting with content. A fantastic return to the pitch, Victory Road captures the heart of the series while pushing it forward.

Rogue Prince of Persia is an incredible roguelike that captures the identity of the franchise while perfectly adapting it to the roguelike formula. The slick, smooth traversal combined with varied combat creates an addictive system, making each run to save your beloved country a blast. A perfect title for handheld gameplay, the Switch 2 handles the frenetic action well, even though some load times are slightly longer than on other consoles. Regardless, this is an essential title on any system, and the Switch 2 version delivers a portable experience that rivals home consoles.

Unbeatable is an ambitious rhythm game that has a few major flaws. The main one is the camera during rhythm gameplay sometimes ruins what is otherwise a flawless system. The second problem is that the story mode struggles with pacing and features very little rhythm gameplay. And the third major problem is that a lot of the dialogue is going to be a major turn-off for many. Playing Arcade Mode a bit before starting Story Mode will fix some of these issues. And I love that Unbeatable has an extensive Story Mode. But I can’t recommend the game to everyone as it is. Still, Unbeatable’s probably a must-play for most rhythm game fans. I’m really rooting for it.

The Yakuza/ Like a Dragon series has become one of the most beloved video game franchises on the planet. They’re a combination of cinematic crime drama, fun third person brawl combat, deep open world exploration, and insanely wacky sidequests and minigames. Yakuza Kiwami is the best version of the first game in the series. There are some changes that aren’t for the better, but overall this is an excellent version of an all-time great video game. If you’ve never played any of the Yakuza games, this new remaster is arguably the best place to start.

The Yakuza/ Like a Dragon series has become one of the most beloved video game franchises on the planet. They’re a combination of cinematic crime drama, fun third-person brawl combat, deep open world exploration, and insanely wacky sidequests and minigames. Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut is the best version of the game that brought the series into the mainstream. There are some changes that aren’t for the better, but overall, this is an excellent version of an all-time great video game.

Terminator 2D: No Fate is a faithful reimagining of a classic, recast as a 90s-style 2D action game. While it captures iconic moments and adapts them naturally to the genre, Bitmap Bureau also introduces original segments that add to the narrative. The team adjusts the gameplay to suit each scenario, creating an experience that effectively mirrors its cinematic counterpart. Although the runtime is short and the movement feels a little too close to games of that era, the range of options available provides plenty of incentive to revisit the game. The result is a strong package and a heartfelt ode to a bygone era.

Elden Ring Nightreign has a solid core of fans, and The Forsaken Hollows is a welcome reward — albeit one that sets them back $15 — for their continued engagement. It might bring a few players back, at least for a while. The new map and Nightlords are quality FromSoft challenges, and the new day bosses are a relief for weary players, but the new classes are nothing truly special. The Forsaken Hollows brings a degree of freshness to the by-now familiar Nightreign, but it’s hard not to think the content could have been rolled out over the past six months for free.

Death Howl is not a comfort game. It’s a quiet descent, a journey stitched together from grief. It demands patience, attention, and a willingness to inhabit sadness without rushing to cure it. But for those who embrace its darkness, it offers one of the most hauntingly poetic experiences in modern pixel-art gaming.

If you approach it with an open mind, ready to embrace its surreal presentation and atmospheric pacing, you’ll find something profoundly satisfying here. It’s a testament to how video games can transcend genre conventions and deliver something that’s both technically impressive and emotionally moving. For fans of skating games, artful indie titles, or simply those who appreciate when music and gameplay merge into a harmonious whole, Skate Story is an experience worth savoring.