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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.