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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.