At the end of the day, the best thing that can be said about this entire release is simply that it exists. With Super Mario Galaxy previously locked behind the aforementioned Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Super Mario Galaxy 2 still gridlocked to Wii (and technically Wii U), it has become increasingly hard to play this series as time has gone on. Nintendo has now omitted one of its gravest sins by bringing Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 to Switch consoles, and with the movie set to hit theaters next spring, this release couldn’t have come at a better time.

Caveats aside, my friends and I really did just have a good time playing LEGO Party! and that’s about all you can ask for from a casual party game like this one.

Even with a few shortcomings, Ghost of Yotei is an exceptionally captivating experience. The combat is dynamic and uniquely cinematic, the story is thrilling and emotionally rewarding, and the world is unbelievably breathtaking despite eventually devolving into typical open-world fodder. Ultimately, Sucker Punch has managed to find beauty and catharsis in such a violent revenge saga.

Hades 2 is truly an impressive feat in gaming. It delivers on nearly every level, from gameplay to voice acting to visuals and beyond.

These insufficiencies get even more frustrating since they’d likely address the staleness that creeps into Forgive Me Father 2’s latter stages, as well as its difficulty that occasionally borders on being unfair. Boomer shooters don’t always have to be power fantasies, but Forgive Me Father 2 illustrates how one suffers when it submits too much of its power over to the Elder Gods.

Dying Light: The Beast’s inability to focus on the right aspects is its ultimate downfall. The parkour should be the focal point the title revolves around since it is its most unique feature with the greatest potential, yet it’s hobbled by inaccurate controls and incessant losses in momentum. Most of the other mechanics — like its stealth, melee combat, and RPG systems — are shallow or superfluous; flavorless gruel meant to pad out the menu. It’s hard not to see the breadth having anything but a negative influence on its depth, showing how this beast isn’t nearly as formidable as it should be.

It’s a tremendous work from Konami, developer NeoBards, and writer Ryukishi07 that invites plenty of discussion and theorizing on the part of the player. Silent Hill f lingers in the mind, in a way few horror games have in years. Silent Hill f is everything great about the series, told in a new J-horror style that perfectly fits the classic aesthetic. While it may not have the tightest combat, that’s reflective of a tone that values ambiance and thematic weight over the quick thrills of other games. Silent Hill f is the meditative, gorgeous, and absolutely terrifying entry that fans have been waiting for.

While the real-time strategy aspects of the city-building gameplay run into natural difficulties in the transition from mouse-and-keyboard to a controller, the execution of Frostpunk 2‘s story is enough to lure players back time and time again. The depth of the worldbuilding ensures the campaign can play out in several different ways, all dependent on the player’s choices amid tough situations. The result is an engrossing strategy game that’s hard to put down, even when the controls become frustrating.

Borderlands 4 earns a high rating because its innovations and polished gameplay deliver a return to form that the series desperately needed. While not every player will have a smooth experience, those who can navigate or tolerate its technical issues will find a game that rewards you for playing it exactly like you want to. It is a bold and energetic entry that revitalizes the series, and for me, a jaded veteran, the combination of core improvements and inventive design is enough to justify its final rating.

Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor doesn’t necessarily revolutionize its genre, but it doesn’t need to. With this entry in the action roguelike autoshooter genre, Funday Games has created a delightfully enjoyable game that will keep you coming back for more.

LEGO Voyagers also feels inspired by the mini-renaissance of cooperative video games led by It Takes Two and Split Fiction creator Hazelight Studios, and this title deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as those two acclaimed games. Despite some minor blemishes, LEGO Voyagers produces joy and nostalgia that anyone who loves co-op experiences — along with an affinity for plastic bricks — should play.

While it may be short, TROLEU might also be just the right length to keep the controls from getting aggravating or wearing out the wackiness of bit, ensuring gamers can leave the trolley satisfied and giggling.

Hornet’s tale isn’t likely to be rushed into a film or television adaptation, but it is another example of the growing quality and prevalence of real storytelling in video games. It didn’t have to be that way, either. The game has a wonderful atmosphere, enthralling gameplay, and tons of content, so the developers could’ve gotten by without adding a rich narrative to highlight it all. But they chose to anyway.

It is a game that does one thing, and it isn’t reinventing the wheel. It’s just golf, and without those extra levels of unprecedented creativity, it isn’t going to be the most memorable title to come out this year. If you don’t like virtual golf, this isn’t going to change your mind. If you do enjoy golf and miss the days of having Wii Sports golf be relevant, then it’ll be a fun, if not mindblowing, experience.

Truly, Star Fire: Eternal Cycle is a strong competitor in a genre that often feels oversaturated with content. I see so many games that are marketed as roguelikes, but many of them are unable to capture the foundation of the genre in a way that makes you want to sink hours into it. Star Fire is a classic roguelike at its core with the spirit of old arcade games, and the smooth combat and fast pace combined with the ability to choose the way you play each run within the limits of RNG make it the kind of approachable title that’s worth trying for yourself.

Cronos’ sweeping narrative issues speak to how thoroughly troubled the entire game is. Like the humanoid blobs that coat many of its buildings and streets, Cronos is an amalgamation of ideas that combine to form a messy whole. Its clumsily balanced combat is aggravating and regularly disempowers players, and its inane attempts at providing scares are woefully ineffective. And when underpinned by a badly paced narrative with questionable themes, Cronos: The New Dawn is anything but a new dawn for Bloober and is instead a remix of its same old deficiencies.

It’s adept enough to transcend a modernized version of the “DOOM clone” label and rip and tear its own spot in the genre’s hierarchy.

For players who are interested in Destiny‘s world and story but either don’t have a console or PC to play it on or don’t have the storage space to install it, Destiny: Rising is a fine alternative. With a more limited loot system and simpler loadout options, Rising offers a lighter Destiny experience without skimping out on any classic elements of Destiny. Set in a volatile but richly engaging part of Destiny’s history, Destiny: Rising delivers on everything it set out to be, with the potential to become something more.

After actually playing through Star-Crossed World, I still think this is an odd choice for the first year of Nintendo Switch 2. Having said that, it served as a great reminder why I enjoyed the original game so much in the first place. Kirby and the Forgotten Land was already one of the best Kirby games ever, and all of the extra content is just icing on the cake. HAL Laboratory has expanded on the established foundations and added a nice incentive to revisit one of the best games on Switch. Between Star-Crossed World and Kirby Air Riders in November, it seems like 2025 is shaping up to be a very good year for this franchise.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance loses its footing a fair number of times, but that doesn’t completely overwrite when it swiftly strikes its target with the kind of grace only a ninja can wield. Dropping combos because of sometimes unwieldy button combinations or unexpectedly long recovery periods is frustrating, but executing three goons at once after a lengthy juggle is always gratifying, especially when it’s consistently supported by some of the prettiest 2D art in the medium. Even though the “art” may be stronger than the “vengeance” in Art of Vengeance, they still come together to form an experience that’s still plenty sharp.

While much of MGS Delta does qualify as a remake, other aspects felt like Konami was simply cutting corners and, if anything, playing it a bit too safe. The result is a game that is still a ton of fun to play and is likely the best way to play Snake Eater in 2025. Still, with the original version of Metal Gear Solid 3 readily available on modern platforms, I would have preferred Delta to take some bolder swings and be reimagined from the ground up to truly differentiate it from its source.

While a more fleshed-out and better integrated trick system would have benefited Sword of the Sea, it is still sharp enough without it. Barreling down a sandy ravine near a massive dolphin while Austin Wintory’s lovely score plays is engaging on multiple levels. It’s visually pleasing enough to succeed on its atmospheric merits while also being mechanically rewarding due to its smooth, speed-based snowboarding-esque systems. A soothing game with exciting gameplay is an odd match but a pairing that works well, much like a sword that’s been turned into a hoverboard.

Madden NFL 26 is one of the most frustrating experiences of 2025 so far. The developers have several potentially great ideas that seem lacking in execution, to put it mildly. Madden 26 may be in a good place after a few title updates, but at launch, I think you’re better off taking a “wait-and-see” approach. Again, Madden 26 isn’t necessarily a bad game; it’s just one that needs a lot of work to iron out some of its many issues.

Tiny Bookshop offers a soothingly slow-paced gameplay experience where the depth is in the story and the details, not in quick reflexes or complicated mechanics. The shopkeeping sim element is straightforward, but still allows for strategy and variety thanks to character quests and calendar events. The story, like the gameplay, isn’t quick or overly complicated. But if you were hoping for a cozy bookish game that truly delves into the literary world, Tiny Bookshop is going to deliver.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a tightly packed platformer that heartily succeeds in realizing what Ninja Gaiden is and ends before it can even begin to waver. By prioritizing tight controls and deliberately crafting levels that push players to take full advantage of them, it’s able to resurrect 2D Ninja Gaiden without all the rage-inducing nonsense that’s better left in a bottomless pit. And The Game Kitchen does this while also injecting its own ideas and style into the game so it’s more than a simple retread of past concepts. Ragebound embraces history and modernity, and, in the process, sets up a promising future for Ninja Gaiden as a whole.

If you can get past a few little quirks in how the game runs, however, Tales of the Shire is going to be well worth your time. It is truly a cozy and wholesome escape to the Shire, full of the daily tasks a Hobbit loves best – cooking, eating, and enjoying time with friends.

Despite some flaws, Ready or Not is one of the most intense and shellshocking shooters I have ever played. It’s highly replayable, dreadfully suspenseful, and painstakingly detailed in the name of creating some well-earned immersion. While there are some rough edges, it’s a really impressive experience that will keep me coming back for more. Whether you’re seeking raw and unfiltered combat or highly coordinated and precisely executed raids, Ready or Not is a varied shooter with a strong hook.

Anyone who enjoys soulslikes should not skip Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, and it's also perfect for those looking to get into the genre.