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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Coming in fast and furious, Milestone

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cassette Boy has an engrossing core mechanic and a great retro look and feel. Puzzles are interesting, if not convoluted at times, and the world includes lots of nooks and crannies worth exploring.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.