Patattie Games is the two-person team behind Wax Heads, and I think they’ve created a wonderful experience full of creativity and heart. The game plays like an underdog story and feels inspired by grassroots movements that keep communities together. Living in big cities can be exciting and can open you up to wonderful people and experiences… like a Repeater Records. But it’s often those closest to you that truly make a difference. Wax Heads is a great example of a game that takes its love and care for art and friends and moulds them into something so much more. It’s funny, charming, beautiful, and celebrates what truly makes music and community special and unique.

Mullet MadJack is insane! And I mean that in the best possible way. Its over-the-top approach to almost everything it offers you can feel overwhelming, but there’s no denying just how fun it is to play! Dashing through stages that last mere moments is such a blast that I had a hard time putting down my Switch. It’s a breath of fresh air to play a game that has something to say, but presents it in a style that we rarely see or hear anymore. Mullet MadJack is a wild ride and one that almost every FPS fan should play.

inKONBINI: One Store, Many Stories dwells on the small moments that pass by all too quickly. A shift goes by, a customer leaves, a product runs out, a delivery is made — all of these little things come together to create the now. inKONBINI celebrates this, acting as a reminder to slow down and enjoy life for what it is. You don’t need gunshots, a crazy mystery, or an explosion; sometimes, all you need is to be seen in a conversation. inKONBINI isn’t perfect and doesn’t try to keep you in for hours and hours; it’s a small moment that passes by all too quickly, as so much of life does. It made me want to go back to a time and place I’ve never been to, but now it makes up a small part of me. Just like the impression Makoto leaves on those who pass through that small konbini’s doors, inKONBINI: One Store, Many Stories has left a small imprint on me, one that I’ll happily carry with me.

Invincible VS has a ton of potential to make a splash at tournaments. It’s brutal, frenetic, and fun, and it’s clear Quarter Up made this with love. This is undeniably a sound fighting game, and it really elevates the source material by giving you an outlet for aggression.

Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is the coziest game I’ve played so far this year, and it never outstays its welcome by offering a short, sweet experience. It’s beautifully crafted and evokes complex emotions you’ll feel because of its incredible, likable characters. It’s got gentle puzzles, stunning atmosphere, and it’ll stick with you once you’ve wrapped up. Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is a magical, heartfelt adventure that glows with warmth even in the coldest moments.

OPUS: Prism Peak is a reminder of all the beautiful moments in life, gently pushing you forward even when staying is all you want to do. We’re all made up of a collection of people, places, and memories, each one an imprint on who we are. It’s a beautifully heartbreaking story that moved me as much as 1000xRESIST did, another game that firmly sits in my heart. It’s a constant reminder to take things slow, breathe in every moment, and enjoy life for what it is when it is, before it all moves on.

Housemarque’s Saros feels like a proper evolution of Returnal’s mechanics. It’s bold, it’s exciting, thrilling even. Each time Arjun heads out in search of answers yields clues to the truth behind Carcosa and those burdened by its existence.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is an excellent life sim I can’t put down. Nintendo clearly listened to criticism and feedback since the last Tomodachi Life and offers plenty of variety to keep people coming back. Each day brings its own challenges, thanks to the personalities you’ll cultivate and watch grow on your island, so it’s enlightening to help each Mii find what they want and pursue it. There’s quite a bit to do, too, so be ready to pull out your island design tools. Once you catch the remodel bug, all you want to do is make the perfect destination for your Miis.

Mouse: P.I. For Hire features a gumshoe worth his salt. Every time I'd sit down to play it, I'd have a huge smile on my face, just like it was waking up to watch cartoons on Saturday morning (albeit a lot more violent). This game is an elite boomer shooter with witty writing, wonderful characters, and an affinity for the rubber-band style that's, sadly, been left behind by today's animation houses.

As far as I'm concerned, Capcom's developers hit a stride so few achieve. Pragmata clicks from the beginning, delivering an incredible campaign with stellar mechanics, held together by Hugh and Diana's relationship.

Crimson Desert is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in years, each moment of frustration giving way to excitement the next. It'll give you as much as you put in, even if that won't be for everyone.

People of Note is a surprisingly fun and adept RPG. With its excellent use of music, endearing cast, flexible battle system, and memorable locations, it's a surprise hit.

Everything in GRIDbeat! is visually stunning. There is layer after layer of grids, enemies, neon-soaked walls and lines, and flashes of light and particles. It’s a visual feast that always looked and felt on point. Add that to the music and gameplay that always work in tandem from the get-go, and you have one of the best modern rhythm games available! GRIDbeat! strikes a solid balance of arcade action and challenge for any type of gamer. Jump in for some solid tunes, stunning visuals, and well-crafted levels, or try to master all it has to offer. Either way, you’re bound to have a blast.

GRIME 2 perfectly embodies what it preaches. Its predecessor was near perfect, and so it would have been easy to stay safe and recreate that with the improvements time has allowed for. Instead, GRIME 2 offers atmosphere and combat that builds on the world and mechanics that made the first game tick. While I can honestly say I’m not a huge fan of the “parry or you’re toast” trend that this game personifies, I am happy that the combat here gives you the opportunity to free yourself with even more skills.

Mr. Sleepy Man is a wonderfully weird platformer filled with incredibly fun moments. It won’t overstay its welcome, but it’ll keep you entertained and engaged through the handful of hours it takes to get through credits. For a solo-developer joint, it’s filled with creativity, unencumbered by studio oversight, and wears its heart on its sleeve.

Timberborn is one of the most interesting city builders in years with a charming style, unique lore, and mechanics that are easy to understand but tough to master.

The Mega Man Star Force trilogy is worth the time sink, but I'm curious if it would've been worth the development time to craft a three-game scenario combining the content of the other games definitively.

Coming in fast and furious, Milestone

Etrange Overlord is fun and short, a perfect palette cleanser for those who are looking for a shorter experience. As a character, I like Etrange being a self-serving go-getter who knows what she wants and actively seeks it out. It’s unlike any of Sohei Niikawa’s previous games but takes the best aspects of Disgaea and Rhapsody and combines them nearly seamlessly. However, not everything works; combat is pretty basic yet rarely rewarding, but its use of Lanes offers something just different enough to press onward.

It feels like Nintendo has no idea what to do with Star Fox. Luckily, we have talented indie developers willing to pick up the slack and deliver a solid arcade space fighter in Fur Squadron Phoenix...The game is a colourful, charming, and exciting experience that offers a decent challenge and a rewarding system. Whether you have a history with Star Fox 64 or not, if you’re looking for a short but fun action game, Fur Squadron Phoenix will give you that and more.

As a life simulation game brimming with content, possibilities, and Pokémon, Pokémon Pokopia has what it takes to win over anyone, regardless of whether they have ever been fans of the franchise. With some patience and creativity, the world can be transformed into a beautiful landscape with unlimited customization options. However, the content Pokopia hides rewards those who dive in, something that is naturally reinforced by its history, giving the series, currently celebrating its 30th birthday this year, another, almost essential dimension.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection continues the spin-off series' success with a ton of style, brutal battles, and tons of monster hunts.

Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf is a truly special and emotional experience. The gameplay may not be the most innovative, but it works really well and provides lots of opportunities to explore this stunning world.

The Super Bomberman Collection is really just the cherry…bomb…on top of great ports. Red Art Studios and Konami have created a nostalgia-infused anthology that digitally captures the joy of ownership, which has become a positive experience over time for this four-decade-old series...The two have respected what Hudson Soft did so simply and so enduringly. As is often the case with nostalgia-baked remakes and ports, I tried so hard to find something here to convince me Super Bomberman was better left untouched. And all I could come up with was, “How can’t we have online multiplayer in 2026?” To end off, Super Bomberman really is the best of titles for a port thanks to its easy-to-grasp gameplay and its party spirit. For less than $30, this is an invitation to the party that is hard to turn down for fans and those who missed the lovable little ninja at his peak.

Scott Pilgrim EX is a wild ride that’s taking a new approach to how we play through beat ’em ups. The roster of fighters stands out as one of the best in recent memory and provides a ton of great variety, while the wild and wacky depiction of Toronto and alternate dimensions looks fantastic! This is a great way to pick up and play a game that tries out something new in the genre while bringing beloved characters to the forefront in an adventure only the Scott Pilgrim universe can provide.

Esoteric Ebb is incredible. Saturated with fantastic writing and memorable characters, its systems marry CRPG and TTRPG mechanics in clever ways.

Tales of Berseria Remastered is a bizarre pick for Bandai Namco to update, but it is uniquely the most adult title the series has put out. I really appreciate the shift to a revenge tale that delves into the possibility of redemption and a villain who is set in his ways. Berseria Remastered might not be the candidate Tales fans might want to see remastered first, but with this game out of the way, we’re now closer to possibly seeing Abyss resurface.

One of the most fascinating things about Resident Evil, as a franchise, is how often these games take on different interpretations as the series progresses. We don’t think of Resident Evil 5 the same way as when it came out, or Resident Evil 6, or Village. This is one of the few gaming franchises that meaningfully uses the past, both narratively and from a design standpoint. These are games integrally shaped by their place in time, the world, and the larger series. And similarly, I think Requiem is a game that we’ll be talking about for years to come, reevaluating more than once.