A great game somewhat marred by publisher distribution decisions and a lacking online userbase, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is a solid and vibrant puzzler with effectively implemented Switch 2 features, a large selection of modes to play, and endless hours of multiplayer potential.

Katanaut delivers a stylish cosmic horror atmosphere and hints at an intriguing story inside a space station full of mutated horrors, but those elements never get enough room to grow thanks to the game’s relentless, fast-paced combat. While swordplay and gunfights are satisfying, the speed and constant action kill any sense of tension or dread that the setting tries to build. Players looking for scares or deeper lore may wish the game was slowed down to explore its world, but fans of quick, action-heavy roguelikes will find the mechanics solid and replayable. It’s a technically impressive indie with promise, though its horror gets overshadowed by non-stop adrenaline, making it a slightly above average experience in general.

Hirogami is a game of fleeting brilliance, where moments of joy like leaping as a frog through a papery forest or uncovering a hidden shrine are undercut by clunky mechanics and unpolished edges. It’s a heartfelt effort from a small team, and the art direction alone makes it worth a glance. Like a sloppily-folded origami crane, though, it collapses, caught between ambition and execution.

Bad Viscerafest is not. It’s a niche kind of deal: one that targets a narrow audience of retro shooter veterans looking for something different, challenging, and unapologetically weird. If you’re willing to embrace its quirks and stomach its many flaws, there’s a satisfying experience buried under all the noise. For most, however, irritation will outweigh the fun. This is an arena shooter-flavoured FPS with heart, but also a whole lot of headaches.

Even for a laidback fan that has had very little experience with basketball games, it is easy to see the quality of NBA 2K26. Matches are end-to-end score fests that satisfy in both solo and multiplayer matches, but it can be an overwhelming experience for the newcomer. Dedication and patience are required to fully enjoy the depth on offer. Although the Switch 2 edition is comparatively less impressive in visuals and framerates as other versions, this is far from a massive issue for anyone keen for a top portable sports simulator. Sadly, the pay-to-win mechanics for online modes are a huge blight.

The systems of Class of Heroes 3 Remaster are some of the most thought through in the genre. The classes are creative and diverse, and there is always a new reward around the corner. However, the early game feels like an early Etrian Odyssey game, while the rest of the main game feels like a more recent Etrian Odyssey game on picnic mode. While neither is bad, those who enjoy the latter would have already been thrown off by the former, and those who want the former will be bored by the latter. In addition to this, the poor translation makes it difficult to recommend it to people who are not massive fans of the genre, and even then, the easy difficulty level will likely make it a bad match for those players as well. For dungeon exploration alone and tinkering with menus, Class of Heroes 3 Remaster is one of the best in class. However, none of the menu tinkering truly matters in terms of actually beating the game.

While on the face of it Beatable looks like just another Beat Saber pretender, this table-slapping experience offers enough of its own mechanics to stand on its own two feet. Sometimes it is nice to have an experience in VR that is a bit more chilled than a calorie-burning dance workout and Beatable offers that, with the ability to sit down at any table and still enjoy the game. At £7.99 it is also on the cheaper end of VR titles and offers hours of fun learning the two-dozen tracks and their multiple difficulties. While it would have been nice to have a few more instantly recognisable songs to bop along to, the selection across a wide range of genres still provides a lot of variety, there is always the potential for more music on the horizon, and the custom song creation from users will also increase.

Triangle Strategy’s story and characters aspire for mature, player-driven storytelling. The branching paths, moral grayness, and debate-driven plot deliver moments of brilliance, making Norzelia feel alive and treacherous. However, the sluggish pacing and uneven character focus come off like the writer loves his own voice too much. It’s a tale worth experiencing for its ambition, but one that could’ve cut deeper with more restraint and polish. The nitty-gritty of the combat and customisation will keep gamers enthralled, and while it doesn't reach the heights of the genre's best, fans of the classics will find there is a lot to love here.

The root of the story is legitimately interesting, but the problem is that there is a lot of work to get there. Between various platform issues and a meandering plot, the payoff often isn't worth it - which is unfortunate as some aspects really stand out. While the overall premise of the story is memorable, everything it takes to get there is not.

Just Dance 2025 Edition doesn't reinvent the groove, but it delivers another fun-filled compilation with broad appeal. The core experience remains charming, though the limited song list and heavy reliance on a subscription may leave some dancers wanting more. Optional camera controls (via app) are fun, but the game doesn't go too far beyond being just another compilation.

Get ready to defend your keep from merciless enemy waves, or die trying, in an RTS that’s far from a walk in the park. Success requires precise planning and plenty of patience, as maps often last longer than they should and failure lurks around the corner, ready to ruin hours of work. Diplomacy is Not an Option is rough around the edges and certainly not a casual-friendly strategy title, but it’s also tons of fun, with an unappareled feeling of satisfaction when everything goes according to plan.

For a publisher so eager to revitalise its long-dormant franchise, it’s impressive how Konami’s first shot winds up being a miserable own goal. Even with considering its rare positives, The Short Message’s blunt-force sermonising feels anathema to the series’ core identity. Combine this with game design vacillating between bland or annoying and all that’s left is dingy world design. As a free title, it shares an interesting heritage with P.T.; unlike its precursor’s legacy, it's destined to be forgotten once credits roll.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is, by and large, mission accomplished. The original Metal Gear Solid 3 has been ported wholesale, with as few changes made as possible in order to retain its heart and soul. The improved graphics are great and the quality of life changes are solid — just don’t expect some grand reimagining of the 2004 classic beyond a modernised camera angle. It is still brilliant to play and the story remains engaging all these years later, making this the new best way to play MGS3 despite its lack of new features and content.

UFO 50 is a fantastic collection of retro-inspired games that takes on the aesthetics of the '80s but with game design advancements of the modern era. The games included cover such a wide breadth of genres and playstyles that there is bound to be a title to meet all tastes. Plus, the whole package is wrapped in a cute metanarrative about a fictional game studio and console that developer nerds will adore. UFO 50 has tens of hours of content and provides some of the tightest gameplay concepts seen in a long time.

Shuten Order is a unique and stylish murder mystery visual novel with wild narrative ambition, but its lack of consistent execution, pacing issues, and underwhelming gameplay variety keep it from reaching the heights of its inspirations. It could have been really good if it was about a third as long. Each side branch takes 5-10 hours when about two is the max they should have ran. Mystery fans and visual novel enthusiasts may appreciate the experience, but most players might wish for a more focused, narrow adventure.

It's easy to see the potential in Candylands Journey. The mechanics are enjoyable, the graphical style is beautiful, and the level layouts are full of options to explore the beaten path. In theory, this would be a great game, but the beautiful art gets in the way of the gameplay - literally. When the central challenge in a game is deciding what is and isn't a wall and having to play Where's Waldo? to figure out where enemies lurk, it is hard to call it entertaining. There is a need for more games like Candylands Journey - short, enjoyable experiences to spend an evening with, but it is so painful to see how close Spell Pie was to actually hitting the mark.

Some of the ideas and mysteries in Master Detective Archives: Rain Code are pretty interesting at first, but far too often they fall into the realm of fantastical, which decreases the punch they might have. Further, the amount of deaths and heavy reliance of it really decreases the punch of anything having meaning or interest.

Between the terrible story and characters, and the poor performance on Switch 2, it is really difficult to recommend Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion. That isn’t said with any delight, either, as the level of customisation and depth to combat is something to be admired, but with only a dreary open world to explore, and no space combat to be found, there is a lot left to be desired. Mech-obsessed fans that can hook up for party play will find fleeting enjoyment if mission and loot-based gameplay is sought after. Other interested folk may need to hope Marvelous puts in a lot of post-release work to get this one up to standard, though.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World is the definitive edition of a much-loved original Nintendo Switch game. Performance tweaks make the adventure buttery smooth (niche pun intended) and the Star-Crossed World content has been seamlessly integrated into the base game for excellent cohesion. Those stepping into this Kirby adventure for the first time should certainly consider the Switch 2 edition for the full, optimised experience. There's enough content for existing owners to consider an upgrade – a delicious desert, but it could leave you craving more.

The art style and atmosphere are praiseworthy, especially as a point-and-click game. Cloud Cats' Land appeals so much towards that feeling of relaxation and deep thought that the genre often aims for. It is easy to get pulled into the magical world of cuddly cats and whimsy. However, far too frequently, the player is pulled out of that feeling when the game almost requires them to brute-force puzzles or resort to a video walkthrough. While it is generally not necessary for the genre to have guidance systems, in titles where the puzzles are not based on logic and go against it entirely, help is required. Players will rightfully stop trusting all rules and try everything they can until they find the solution, making the magical puzzles forgettable instead.

It is always comforting to turn on a new Neptunia game for fans of the franchise. It is the same, yet slightly different, and like hanging out with an old friend doing something new. Although Neptunia Game Maker R:Evolution isn't the best introduction to the franchise, it's comfortable and with the warmth and humour that the franchise is known for. The game has some annoying quirks - it sometimes feels repetitive developing new games. More quality of life updates could have made this a fun, simple simulator/action-RPG. However, the simulator aspect sometimes feels like it overstays its welcome.

As a homage to a classic cult anime series, Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening sort of works. The animation has the right feel, and fans of the show and those nostalgic about it will absolutely have a blast with that part. Unfortunately, the gameplay completely disregards that nostalgia this title relies on to appeal to its audience. It doesn't help that the level design is at times a massive disaster. While impressive, the boss fights, anime cutscenes, and campy '80s feel do not save this.

Fans of the golden age of beat 'em ups (yup, that’s the '90s, alright!) are advised to try out Maiden Cops - the more than decent indie homage to the genre. It doesn’t really have enough to convince those who aren’t into brawlers and its “waifu” aesthetic might even deter those who are. If you don’t mind playing as a cute and curvy anime girl (and one not entirely human), Maiden Cops can actually offer plenty of fun.

Rhythm action is a hard thing to get right at the best of times but, Patapon 1+2 Replay is a joyous package. It's great to see the return of such a niche and interesting set of games, and to see them reach new platforms too. With challenging gameplay and a fun sense of style, players would be remiss to miss this unique experience. Get these!

A frustrating case of style over substance, Near-Mage dazzles with its art direction and whimsical Eastern European charm but fails to back it up with compelling storytelling. What begins as something that looks it will turn into a heartfelt journey into a world of wonder, fizzles into a predictable plotline with shallow characters and gameplay that rarely requires more than clicking and walking from A to B. This is undoubtedly a passion project, but passion alone can’t save what can be described as an impressive spell full of sparkle and colour that’s barely potent.

Indie developers should take a good look at Exo-Calibre as it can provide a very helpful lesson: a video game doesn’t always need a high complexity or seemingly endless content to be enjoyable. This shoot ‘em up, which looks, feels and plays as if it came straight from the ‘90s, manages to be one of the finest in the genre. Without introducing a new mechanic, focusing on pleasing a niche hardcore crowd, or having tons of unlockables, Exo-Calibre is simply fun to play - and sometimes that’s all it takes.

Heartworm has a strong atmosphere, greatly enhanced by an excellent use of PS1-style graphics. And that’s it. That’s the only thing good about this indie survival horror experience. A survival horror experience where the only true horror is the boredom that will have to be endured while the protagonist runs around aimlessly (without anything posing any real threat). It's all topped off with occasional not-exactly-that-deep thoughts on life and death.

Stasis is a point-and-click adventure that fans of science fiction horror will want to check out, especially if Stasis: Bone Totem was enjoyed. These games can be played in any order, but Stasis’ focused setting and shorter length make it the more appealing place to start. It will shock in most places, but its twisted plot will keep everyone engaged to the end. It has been adapted well for Nintendo Switch, despite some minor issues. Just make sure to go into Stasis for the story before anything else and prepare to think about it for a while afterwards.