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.

Unfinished Business as a whole is a worthwhile addition to the RoboCop lore. Its thoughtful narrative and empowering gunplay are unique within the first-person shooter genre and loyally translate RoboCop’s core tenets into an interactive form. Some of Rogue City’s issues, like abysmal lip syncing and awkward dialogue camera, have carried over into this standalone expansion, but those are relatively small dents in this game’s shiny armor. Like most bullets, they bounce off RoboCop’s chassis and don’t impede his ability to serve and protect.

Donkey Kong Bananza is, without question, one of my favorite Nintendo games of the past decade. Not only does it serve as a fantastic new entry in one of Nintendo’s oldest franchises, but it’s the best reason so far to go and pick up a Switch 2. While I thought I wanted a sequel to Super Mario Odyssey for the past eight years, I’ve instead found myself far more thrilled by what Nintendo has done with Bananza.

There’s nothing particularly glaring about the game, but it does have a few blemishes. It is undoubtedly a step up from CFB 25 and a must-play game for college football fans, for no other reason than hearing “Enter Sandman” blast through your speakers at a night game against Virginia Tech is essentially a religious experience.

It’s really easy to nitpick THPS 3+4, but that’s because the games it’s pulling from are so memorable. However, those issues are rather small when looking at the whole picture. Against all odds, Iron Galaxy created a solid follow-up to THPS 1+2, and one that I know I’ll be playing for hours on end. It may not be a faithful recreation of two of the best video games ever made, but whether you’re a long-time fan or newcomer, THPS 3+4 is absolutely worth playing.

Enchanted by Nature feels like a robust pack that truly delivers a lot of new stuff for Simmers to explore. I didn’t run into any new bugs that seemed pack-specific, so the added content appears to be working mostly as intended. There are some great little details, like how Fairy Sims “go for a fly” instead of a run, and how they can shrink down to play in various household items. The world really sticks to its theme, offering a magical place for Fairy Sims to hang out. This is probably one of the bigger, more involved new The Sims 4 expansion packs we’ve seen lately. If you enjoy the magical, natural living side of things, Enchanted by Nature is probably going to deliver.

Overall, Hitman is a solid game on Switch 2. It’s still the game you know and love performing as you’d hope, but with the added novelty of being on a console/portable hybrid like the Switch 2. However, its reliance on being always online, lackluster support for Switch 2’s features, and general lack of options bring it down quite a bit. If you just want to be able to play Hitman on your couch or in bed on a portable device without much care for a touch screen or gyro aiming, by all means, give this a go. It’s a showcase of the Switch 2’s power and capabilities, but not necessarily its features, for better or worse.

Although Hideo Kojima wants to make games that are somewhat divisive, I find Death Stranding 2 to be one of his most refined and enjoyable works to date. I feel confident this will be recognized as one of PS5’s defining masterpieces.

FBC: Firebreak is a perfectly serviceable cooperative first-person shooter, and Remedy hits the mark it aimed for. For players looking to periodically hop in a session for a couple of Jobs will find some fun if they have a group to play with. However, the lack of an in-game voice chat makes this hard to recommend for people who exclusively play with randoms. If you’re into Remedy’s games, have a group of gamer friends, and have PS Plus Extra or Xbox Game Pass, FBC: Firebreak could be a good departure from the normal cooperative experiences out there for a weekend. But anyone looking for a game that can provide more than that should probably look elsewhere.

As somebody who loves survival-crafting games and the world of Dune, I am still getting hours of entertainment out of Dune: Awakening. With the updates that it’s currently receiving and maybe some bigger content patches in the future, I think that it can turn into a polished homage to the world of Dune, perfect not only for fans of the franchise but also for fans who simply want to try a new survival-crafting title. It’s especially fun to play with friends, but it can feel lonely if you pick a random server without others. Like any game, your experience will vary, but I’m glad that I was able to play around in Arrakis, and I’ll be returning to be eaten by sandworms again.

Lies of P: Overture’s ability to augment and improve goes beyond the story; it’s the ideal companion to just about every part of the base game. Its wealth of new enemy types present fresh new obstacles to overcome, the stages they inhabit are intricately detailed and narratively justified, and its boss battles hit or exceed the high standard set in the original release. Even though an overture is the musical portion that comes before a symphony or performance, Overture is a remarkable note to go out on and raises the bar even higher for the upcoming sequel.

Elden Ring Nightreign already has a phenomenal foundation, and an online-focused game like Elden Ring Nightreign should be the pinnacle of FromSoftware's post-launch support, so I'm more excited for the future of Nightreign than I have been for any of FromSoftware's games before it.

Blades of Fire is a promising game, especially for a new IP. MercurySteam has laid an excellent foundation, picking and choosing the best elements from other action RPGs and combining them with new ideas to create this engaging amalgamation. The world is fleshed out and a delight to discover, and the combat is the perfect balance of challenging and rewarding. The story of Blades of Fire needed more time and attention, but it served as a fine enough vessel to propel me through the delightfully dark world.

DOOM: The Dark Ages is chronologically the first DOOM game in the most recent trilogy, but it also feels like it was developed first. While it’s got rousing gunplay that prioritizes parries and weaponized defense, it’s also got enough fluff — a less tactical Glory Kill system, merely passable vehicle sections, a campaign that meanders near the end — that’s unbecoming for a game that came after two tightly tuned installments. But even with these flaws, id has still crafted an experience that stands tall in an ever-shrinking market of single-player first-person shooters.

The Midnight Walk works its magic through its twisted visuals and captivating designs, crafting an utterly beautiful world filled with mystery. While the narrative and gameplay didn’t necessarily reach the quality seen in the rest of the game, The Midnight Walk molds itself into one incredible display of stop-motion storytelling that lets the clay do the talking. MoodHood brought the best out of claymation and knows how to handcraft something unique and heartfelt in immersive horror games.

In all, Oblivion Remastered is exactly what I hoped and wanted it to be. It feels like an authentic representation of what OG fans love about the game, with the graphics of a more modern entry. It balances between being a remake and a remaster, and for the most part, keeping the original heart of Oblivion, bugs and all, was the right choice. Though some UI elements and those bigger quest bugs certainly show the age of the original game, Oblivion Remastered is a game I know I’ll be playing for weeks, months, and years to come.

With aesthetically pleasing visuals, Tape Two hits its mark when it comes to tackling the harsh realities of life. But with an unsteady pace and lack of depth, Bloom & Rage puts a bow on a present that hasn’t arrived yet. In the attempt to continue the story afterwards, it’s hard to accept the experience of loss and regret that Don’t Nod presents within its short playtime. Scratching the surface to make way for a deeper story later on feels off-putting, even after a story that gives the impression of facing the past has fulfilled its role. Velvet Cove isn’t the same anymore, so it’s best to move on with life rather than wallow in the past.