Star Fox feels like it’s on the cusp of relevance again with this masterfully done remake of an iconic classic. The same and familiar action from the original is wonderfully realized for the Switch 2 and adds more nuance, fleshed out cutscenes, and all the wonderfully weird secrets fans can expect to uncover.

If you have little ones in the family who have some experience with games and a handle on how to use a controller, I think Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen is a no-brainer. It does a fantastic job of introducing new mechanics to a less experienced audience and doesn’t create any high-pressure situations that could lead to frustration. While I was never on the edge of my seat with excitement or intensity playing this game, I knew I didn’t need to be. Instead, I was taken by the charming nature of the characters, the storytelling, and the overall gameplay, which kept me engaged even if it wasn’t the most complex thing I’ve played in recent memory.

Phonopolis really is like nothing I’ve seen before. If you think back to the days of Pixar and Toy Story, Jurassic Park, and early stop-motion films, the wonder and amazement the public had over those accomplishments should be seen here as well. The pure creativity and craft at work is the real draw. The gameplay isn’t anything too unique and isn’t all that complex most of the time, but it is still a good time. I came for the presentation and artistry, and stayed for what they brought to the table. Phonopolis is a perfect, shorter, and charming adventure I can easily recommend.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales could've been the next big action RPG, instead, it feels like a lesser version of a game you've played before.

Voidling Bound could be a real sleeper hit for me. I know the gaming lineup in 2027 is extremely stacked right now, but I think this is a fantastic game to jump into for some light challenge, unique sci-fi ideas, and incredible variety. The game controls well, has well-designed and well-realized planets, and features Voidling creatures that are always fun to play. Voidling Bound offers plenty of opportunities to explore fresh RPG mechanics, which I had a fantastic time learning and mastering.

Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis: Next! includes much of what you might expect and have seen before, but there’s still plenty of flashy, colourful fun to be had. It all feels good to play, with the real standout coming from the large roster of Nick toons, new and old. It’s pretty great to see Rocko, CatDog, and Invader Zim dash around the courts and all with their own fully voice-acted on-court quips. It’s not the deepest or biggest arcade sports game available, but it’s a pretty fun time.

Rune Dice is another roguelike with sneaky-good mechanics under its unassuming hood. The simple nature of tossing dice and increasing their value is surprisingly satisfying. The game offers a whole lot of variety through the dozens of heroes and dice you’ll unlock, adding to a satisfying gameplay loop. Runs never last too long, and the difficulty curve is nearly perfect. Rune Dice brings something new to the roguelike table and looks and plays great on both the go and on a big screen.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a remarkable achievement for Square Enix. As far as ports go, a lot of under-the-hood wizardry is required to get a game of this magnitude to run on the hardware and even more experience to get it to run well. There are clear visual compromises, but be aware of the visual drawbacks before considering where to play this game. And don’t get me wrong, this game is still pretty stunning, and it plays well.

IO Interactive’s 007 First Light is easily the best Bond game we’ve seen. Rare’s GoldenEye 007 was momentous when it launched, and it’s stuck around the zeitgeist because it was a portal into Ian Fleming’s world of shaken martinis and spy thrills we’d never seen before. What 007 First Light feels like is a playable, limited spy series that transports the player into a gripping and memorable espionage story.

It may not be the deepest and most complex deck builder and RPG out there, but Echo Generation 2 has a ton to offer. The game's story is a fantastic sci-fi epic that lands nearly all of its themes and ideas, and the core gameplay loop is a lot of fun.

Mina the Hollower proves that time, effort, and attention to some of the smallest details goes a long way. Mina is a great new hero that controls incredibly well in a difficult but rewarding 2D adventure.

Overall, NITRO GEN OMEGA is a solid mech tactical RPG. The combat takes a bit to get going, but it is fun and full of hyper-animated moments that look amazing. The team building and social systems are solid, making you care about your motley crew of pilots and their interpersonal relationships. It has some really cool moments that get weighed down by grinding and repetitive battles. It has its moments, and with some rougher patches smoothed out, it has a lot of potential. NITRO GEN OMEGA is a fun adventure for anyone looking for a new, flashy mech RPG.

Tales of Arise - Beyond the Dawn Edition is finally on the Switch 2, but not without concessions. The current-gen ports are undoubtedly the best way to play Arise if you have access to them. For those in the Nintendo ecosystem, you'll find better ports available. Really, though, this port is for those who missed out five years ago and now have a shiny new device that needs games, and frankly, that's justifiable enough to me because overall, Tales of Arise is a good game, only undercut by a few odd choices.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is everything a Batman fan would want. It honours the character, his rogue gallery, allies, and world with success. Whatever your favourite iteration of the Caped Crusader is, you can play as them. As a LEGO game, it is easily the most advanced and impressive we've seen yet. I haven't had this much fun with a LEGO game in a long, long time, and here I am, over the moon, elated by how coherent and fleshed-out Legacy of the Dark Knight is.

Nine lives later, Bubsy 4D does the best it can to revive a nearly forgotten franchise. The game may not be purrfect, but it's a big first step in reviving this snarky feline's 3D platforming adventures.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book varies from its predecessors by focusing on a sense of discovery. Each chapter in Mr. E's book is filled with wondrous creatures, and every encounter with them as Yoshi provides something new to learn and experience. The more I played, the less I cared about the absence of lives or health; I was far more invested in doing my best to learn about the remarkably cute creatures in front of me. And that's what makes this adorable adventure charming: the familiar mechanics paired with relaxed platforming for everyone.

ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies is a fantastic, dark, but also funny sci-fi spy story that hooks you and doesn’t let go. It gives you a lot of room to solve situations and build your own Sick Crew, for better or for worse. The new action sequences keep you on your toes and every narrative turn locks you in for the ride. ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies proves ZA/UM can still create meaningful, deep experiences.

Ever the safe driver when it comes to gaming, Playground Games rev their engines on yet another Forza Horizon experience that is both safe and still committed to racing ahead at the pace of good game development. Like the country that it visits on this road trip, Forza Horizon 6 is structured, ordered, and nearly accident free.

The Caribou Trail is a game that should be taught in schools. It teaches the facts of a battle that is too often not well known to most of us Canadians, solely because a group of us took part in it before they were Canadian. And it manages to tell this story in a way that is both happy and optimistic as well as fearful and sad.

Call of the Elder Gods delivers a worldwide adventure with a tinge of mystery, crafting an experience which exceeds its predecessor. Aside from some pacing issues, the puzzles, the characters, and the story are elegantly pieced together. I came away satisfied by all accounts. The attention to detail, the excellent puzzles, and strong performances elevate this Lovecraftian adventure.

Concessions aside, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle for the Switch 2 is impressive. The globe-trotting adventure takes Indy on another mystical quest, and one that’s worthy of the films at that. New characters and locations help this story feel fresh at times, and the exploration and puzzles are equally important in delivering the ultimate fantasy of being the beloved treasure-hunting archaeologist who’s been a staple of cinema for nearly 50 years.

Directive 8020 is the start of a new season for the Dark Pictures anthology, and it’s’s off to a good start. The massive leap from Earth to space effectively gives us a way to experience terror and mostly works. Still, it’s often undone by dreadful stealth sections that quickly scuttle the tension due to overreliance on staying quiet. However, for the things I don’t enjoy, Supermassive Games delivers a great game with a great sense of tension.

In 2026, Motorslice underwhelms, but for a game designed for the early aughts, it has a lot I could have enjoyed 15 years ago. Despite the simple gameplay, the platforming sections show some appeal, but the rest is bogged down by simple, forgettable combat and unnecessary sexualization of the protagonist. Add in a lack of a narrative, and there’s not enough on offer for players to really enjoy or even remember.

Tides of Tomorrow ultimately has some cool ideas, but the gameplay doesn’t live up to them. The story and writing are interesting, but also disjointed because of their design. The story never really felt like mine, more so a reaction to another. This might be mitigated by not following anyone, but that seems to go against the core of what makes Tides of Tomorrow interesting in the first place. Hopefully, DigixArt sticks with the formula and makes something truly unique for their next go-around, built on the foundation introduced by Tides of Tomorrow. It’s an interesting adventure and a new experience, which makes Tides of Tomorrow a worthwhile experience.

Mixtape‘s narrative is beautiful and fleeting; each song is carefully picked, and even though it goes by fast, Mixtape is incredible. The run time didn’t end up being a problem for me, as it feels like an interactive movie with absolutely no bloat or wasted sound. A song can repeat, but the memories you make to it and the people you do it with will never be the same. Mixtape is a celebration of fleeting youth, of the people who help make you who you are, and it is worth every minute.

Dead as Disco is a stylish as hell story about making a deal with the devil. Though story and world-building here are as obscene your favourite band from high school, it features a satisfying rhythm/QTE gameplay loop that will keep you wanting just one more encore. [Early Access Score = 80]

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.

Though the core gameplay loop is a little too familiar at times, there’s no denying that this is still one of the best recent entries in a now crowded genre.

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.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a great way to get newcomers into the series. It’s fast-paced, fun, and often satisfying to play as Adol and his friends, but the story falters sometimes, making it a weak aspect of this adventure. Returning fans will experience a polished remaster that doesn’t stray far from what was already great. Even with its flaws, Revelations in Celceta is lively, and it’s a blast to play.

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.

Dosa Divas is good old-fashioned gaming comfort food. It'll feel familiar going down, yet also nonsensical and with a zest of culture that won't be for everyone. However what's here is an experience that's tough, fair, and totally filling.

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.

Tamashika is not for everyone, and it is bizarre. I don’t expect it to blow up, since it’s excessively lean at times and lacks direction or guidance. Yet, I think it’s aggressively trying to make a name for itself, but it struggles to really say anything. Loud and chaotic, Tamashika plays nice enough, but it’s hard to discern what it’s trying to prove or to whom. Ultimately, I’m looking forward to returning to see if I can pick up anything that I might’ve missed, but as it is, it’s something you need to invest time into each week.

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.

Life is Strange: Reunion closes the book on Max and Chloe’s story, but is it handled well? While it’s nice seeing Max and Chloe again, it comes at a cost. The series has lost what makes it unique, and by retreading old territory, Life is Strange fails to evolve. Instead, uneven writing and plot holes combine to make a story that’s hard to care about. Max and Chloe are still the same as they were before, just a little bit older. Deck Nine says this is it for Max and Chloe, and honestly, it’s about time.

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.

Darwin’s Paradox is cartoonishly great, with enough fun to satisfy anyone looking for an engaging platformer. It sometimes works against itself when exploring or dealing with enemies, but at times it comes together to be pretty coherent and exciting. However, sometimes, the controls fight against you and you even have situations where you have to attempt sections a few times to get past them. Overall, this is a short affair but it’s got some great platforming sections despite some control shortfalls.

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.

MLB The Show 26 slides into bases it's already covered, beginning to feel like a bat that could crack with even one more hit. While there are new things to love, there are too many strikeouts.

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.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park is a fine offering from Nintendo, but it's another Switch 2 title offering an upgrade with not enough substance.

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.

If you give Marathon your time, it will reward your patience. I really believe that. I also think the time commitment is a big reason this game won’t be for everyone. And maybe it doesn’t have to be. After all, a game for everyone is a game for no one. This isn’t a casual shooter that’s welcoming to new players. If you’re willing to stick with the game, learn the systems and play with friends, then there’s a good chance you will find a shooter you really enjoy. If you’re looking for something easier to jump into and understand right away, then Marathon is going to be a much tougher sell for you and your friends.

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.

Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake mostly succeeds as a remake and understands what made the original tick. It doesn’t attempt to reinvent the experience; instead, it polishes, enhances, and re‑presents a classic with reverence. The emotional weight of Mio and Mayu’s journey remains intact, now supported by modern visuals, refined mechanics, and richer atmosphere...For longtime fans, this is the definitive way to experience one of survival horror’s most iconic stories. For newcomers, it offers a rare opportunity to step into a world where fear is quiet, sorrowful, and deeply human.

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.

Ys X: Proud Nordics is the definitive way to play Adol’s seafaring adventure with a great story alongside a strong, memorable cast and even better re-balanced combat that feels like a solid entry for new fans to get into the franchise. Enhancements, improvements, and new game modes make the latest release feel like a total package that the original should have been, but it’s a hard game to recommend to those who picked up the original, as a couple of extra hours of content is hard to justify...Ship gameplay is surprisingly fun, arcade-y and easier to explore, so much it is the best adaptation of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag’s naval combat. Extra side content adds a new campaign to the base game that gives more context to the Norman lore, with a huge map to explore that makes the base game’s other islands feel much more generic.

God of War: Sons of Sparta might bring fans back to Greece, but it isn’t the way you expected to return. There’s a decent game when all is said and done, but it fails to materialize a unique identity from a series that has successfully rehabilitated its image. God of War: Sons of Sparta is ultimately a fine game that may have benefited from being its own thing. I wouldn’t even call it serviceable because I don’t know what it is in service to. God of War: Sons of Sparta might bring fans back to Greece, but it isn’t the way you expected to return. Ghost of Sparta did a fine job of filling in Kratos’ backstory before his reign of chaos. Sons of Sparta muddies the past while revisiting a time in Kratos’ life that few fans care about.

Whether you’re traversing massive buildings, meeting new characters, unlocking cosmetics and gear, or just exploring the open seas, Demon Tides demands the attention of any 3D platforming fan. Demon Tides is a rewarding 3D platformer with fast, tight mechanics and exceptional level design, just waiting to be mastered.

High on Life 2 might be bigger, but does that make it better? In a few ways, yes, it is fun because it has some new mechanics, like a skateboard to explore and lots of charming guns to use. Those come at the cost of clear technical mishaps, including slowdowns and glitches that often rear their ugly heads.

Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse might not be the scariest follow-up, but it doubles down on effective storytelling, better writing, and better characters. What you end up experiencing is a crafted story that will linger in your thoughts as you play. My mind would drift to The Mermaid's Curse when I was in public, getting groceries or in the car on the way home, and it was because of the incredible writing that I'd scramble home to pick up and continue uncovering clues to learn the truth.

Under the Island wears its 2D Zelda inspiration proudly on its sleeve and pulls it off exceptionally well, with a great game and stunning modern pixel graphics that feel like Saturday-morning cartoons from the '90s.

Reanimal is both beautiful and horrifying, carving out a unique identity. The blend of co-op mechanics and atmospheric storytelling mixed with nightmarish creature design creates an experience you won't soon forget. Despite playing solo, I enjoyed my time with Reanimal but felt I would've appreciated the gameplay much more with someone I know to help me navigate the island. Ultimately, Tarsier's penchant for telling bone-chilling horror stories is why they continue to make a lasting impression.

Crisol: Theatre of Idols is a steadfast by-the-books horror survival game. While its inherent inspirations are worn proudly on its sleeve, Crisol rarely steps outside of its comfort zone. I like the idea of sacrificing health for ammo, but it needs substance to really sell the idea. Enemies might hit hard, but enemies rarely outpace themselves, and it becomes easy to guess where enemies will come from and how fast they'll lunge at you. The sense of tension in the world's empty streets and earlier sections is genuinely impressive, though.

Mario Tennis Fever is easily Nintendo's best Mario-themed tennis game in ages. Filled with tons of racket types and characters to unlock, the fun you experience while playing online or against the CPU never falters or feels stale.

Romeo Is a Dead Man is yet another strong action game from Grasshopper that’s sure to be divisive. It may not be the best game of the year when all is said and done, but it’s hard to imagine anything else feeling quite as unique.

Code Vein 2 excels at being a more accessible sequel, offering a game that fans of the original will find irresistible. However, it’s technically unpolished on consoles, and it struggles to stand out in a sea of soulslikes. What Code Vein 2 does better than the others, though, is the excellent world-building and exploration and some fun, brazen characters that’ll make you love them.

Nioh 3 fractures Team Ninja’s formula, pushing players to master brutal Samurai power and lethal Ninja agility in every demanding encounter.

Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined delivers an exceptional game, one which excels in its storytelling and personable cast. While it wasn't my favourite game in the series before the remake, it has quickly jumped into the top three. There are so many small details that make this version the one you have to play, from the reworked script and revised score to the incredible cast guiding us across a world's fragmented past. By piecing together the threat of this world one island at a time, you learn more about the inhabitants and how each contrast to the others meaningfully. Combine that with a shift from round-based battles to turn-based, and the control you're given to make the right choices warrants the profound changes this game has undergone.

Avatar: From the Ashes still gets bogged down by some "classic" open-world tropes, but this time, most of it doesn't overstay its welcome.

Cairn wasn't on my list of must-play titles this year, but after 20 hours, it’s quickly become that game. The one I couldn't stop thinking about while working throughout the day. It's a puzzle game, as no two climbs ever feel the same or offer the same experience. No, Cairn is just this incredible game I can't put down.

I Hate This Place does a great job of creating an 80's vibe with a classic action-horror atmosphere. The story is interesting and dark, the protagonist kicks ass, and the action is fun and visceral.

MIO: Memories in Orbit hits all the hallmarks of a Metroidvania. Through excellent visuals and setting, you explore a place that feels alive as you restore it to functionality. Even at its most aggravating, Mio is difficult to dismiss. The game's visual identity is striking, and the spacecraft's transformation as it comes alive is excellent. There's a great sense of atmosphere that's reinforced as you keep moving forward, that eventually gives out because of uneven and frankly, unnecessary combat.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Switch 2 is bent on stranding you once again on an island of your own creation. And while there's a small cost for the upgrade here, you'll get challenge and some satisfying answers to previous pain points.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon comes out swinging after a largely divisive previous entry in Daybreak 2, where so much of the story was tied up in time travel shenanigans that didn’t land or advance the plot. The main narrative is interesting and intriguing from the jump, even if the pacing is a bit slow in Act 1.

Big Hops uses a fun, joyful, and colourful world to invoke a sense of adventure waiting to be explored. Using your frog abilities is always a blast and provides some of the best traversal available in a modern 3D platformer.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade adds significant quality-of-life improvements. The addition of the Xbox Series and Switch 2 is the cherry on top for series fans, but the icing on the cake is having an incredible RPG available on the go.