Vampire Survivors' addicting, screen-filling, dopamine rush gameplay lives on in Vampire Crawlers, where the perspective is now first-person and fights are card-based, but the roguelite itch is scratched just as well as ever.

Color graded in black and white, don't be fooled by its noir film aesthetic—this FPS is vibrant. A true passion project that's pure entertainment from start to finish, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is an impressive and unpredictably wild rollercoaster ride of high octane action, witty dialogue, and innovative fun. Side effects from playing MOUSE: P.I. For Hire may include: Humming to the main theme when completing ordinary tasks, making cheese puns in conversation, seeing the world in black and white, wishing Call of Duty had animated bullets, and adding detective experience onto your resume. Be warned, you'll want all future games to be as detailed as this, I certainly do.

REPLACED is a visually stunning and narratively gripping cyberpunk adventure that’s hard to look away from, even when it stumbles. Its gorgeous 2.5D world, compelling story, and thoughtful character work make it stand out, but frustrating readability issues in both platforming and combat occasionally impede the experience. Despite these shortcomings, REPLACED’s style and substance shine through, making it an easy recommendation for fans of cinematic platformers and dystopian thrillers.

Pragmata is Capcom's first original IP after years of sequels and probably its best. With characters you genuinely grow to love and understand, and an incredibly innovative gameplay loop, Capcom has truly outdone itself.

People of Note is a whimsical and lighthearted turn-based RPG made by music nerds, for music nerds. Every facet exudes charm and silly humor, which varies between cringy and cute, as you make your way through its adventures. It's a short-lived tale that I wish were a bit deeper, but still an enjoyable experience for anyone who has played or loved music and the connections it can help forge.

Everything about Marathon has been polarizing from the start, including its very existence as another live-service game alongside Bungie's Destiny 2. But in spite of its faults and struggles, the studio has managed to ship a great yet niche extraction shooter, even with its high barrier of entry and existing flaws. It's absolutely not for everyone, but if it's for you, it may be your next addiction.

Crimson Desert features a fantastic, content-rich open world where player freedom is the number one priority. There's so much to do and so many places to go to that it's easy to get lost among its ancient ruins, mystical forests, and snowy mountains. A lack of polish breeds frustration, but nothing can shake up the firm foundations of this incredible title.

With engaging gameplay that offers a learning curve throughout, puzzles that'll surely satisfy, and moments packed with action and emotion; Planet of Lana 2 is a true upgrade to its predecessor and another indie gem onto Wishfully Studios' belt. An emotional weight carried by its beautiful scenery and soundtrack gives Novo a voice that should never be silenced. There's harmony in its themes of greed, hope, and preservation of a place we like to call home through its fantastic storytelling and engaging, thoughtful, and innovative puzzle-platforming to craft a beautiful tale that grows more relevant each passing day.

Defiance remastered is a triumph, even if an obvious one. Unlike the Angel of Darkness remaster, a game so broken that no amount of rework could turn it fully playable, Defiance was always the simplest and most obvious of vision tweaks away from brilliance. One can only imagine how much of a splash it could’ve made way back in ‘03 if released in proper form. Here’s hoping this excellent rework will find enough of a new player base to get the wheel of fate turning in its favor once more.

Resident Evil Requiem is an exceptionally well-made nostalgia romp that elevates everything special about the series, showcasing the pinnacle of both survival horror and action horror in a package that has a little bit of everything but executes it all well.

Under the Island is a charming, old-school adventure that rewards curiosity with clever puzzles, playful humor, and a beautiful island packed with secrets. Its sense of freedom and discovery shines far brighter than its modest combat, making Seashell Island a place you’ll want to fully explore.

REANIMAL is an incredibly short experience, but it's worth every tense minute in solo or co-op play. If you've got four hours and a friend to play with, you should check it out and get lost in the terror.

With clear inspirations from predecessors in the genre, Crisol: Theater of Idols is a solid debut from Vermila Studios under Blumhouse Games. While it doesn't quite reach its max potential in the end, it's absolutely worth your time for a weekend playthrough.

With a new set of gameplay mechanics, additional characters, and updated graphics for the Switch 2, Mario Tennis Fever appeals to longtime fans of the franchise, as well as those who may have never even considered picking up a tennis racket. Though the game’s Adventure mode leaves much to be desired, its diverse modes and fun gameplay loop make it a title to get lost in for hours at a time.

Nioh 3 refines the soulslike concept in almost every way, morphing all frustrations into pure fun. It's an innovation the genre desperately needs, learning from other games and turning that into the most universal soulslike experience to date.

Hermit and Pig is a cozy turn-based RPG that lacks in its story, but packs humor in its quirky dialogue and entertainment in its arcade-like combat. The gameplay switches up every so often that it never gets tired—an absolute must for its six to eight hour runtime. Hermit and Pig offers a satisfying and fun run for those looking for a chill adventure that at times, feels like a grounded social anxiety sim.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a gorgeous, exploration-driven platformer that thrives on your curiosity. What starts as a dark, confusing journey slowly unfurls into a vibrant world packed with secrets, hidden bosses, and environmental storytelling that rewards thorough exploration. While combat mechanics remain simple, fluid movement, challenging boss fights, and a richly atmospheric ship make uncovering the Vessel’s mysteries consistently satisfying—for players willing to get lost along the way.

Death Howl elegantly blends deckbuilding with soulslike elements all while telling an emotional tale of a mother’s guilt and her desperate attempt to save her son. This title, though not for the faint of heart, is an absolutely gorgeous experience with rewarding exploration, slow-drip storytelling, and punishing gameplay. If you're a fan of either deckbuilders or soulslikes, this game is a must-buy.

Skate Story is a visual masterpiece that blends great storytelling with intense skating action. The different layers of the Underworld serve as your hunting grounds where you aim to swallow the moon and make your grand escape.

We travel back to the continent of Orsterra in Octopath Traveler 0, but the franchise doesn’t just return to its old ways and slap a new number on it. 0 is full of new features, companions, and collectibles to find, making for a gameplay experience that truly pushes the series in a new and exciting direction—and it's all done against a gorgeous backdrop that will have you hooked for hours to come.

First announced all the way back in 2017, Samus Aran's latest FPS adventure is finally here, and it is, for the most part, worth the wait. And while several nagging issues prevent it from true greatness, it's a fun and exciting new chapter in Metroid that no fan will want to miss.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is an entertaining, nostalgia-fueled retro beat-em-up romp that ends way too quickly and doesn't have a ton of playable content outside of its core game mode.

Dispatch is one of the best-written games of our generation and another proof that AdHoc studio are the best in what they do. From gameplay to characters, everything is as it should be - only if the pacing allowed it all to develop fully.

Black Ops 7 expands on Black Ops 6 with an enhanced, less sweaty multiplayer offering and more Zombie-killing fun, but a forgettable co-op campaign that leads into the exciting new Endgame mode prevents it from being a true top-tier Call of Duty.

Overall, you’re coming to it after 1800, 1404, or others. It’s a good game with great mechanics taken from its predecessors that haven’t aged a bit, and you can expect to find an awesome experience that is only bound to get better as Ubisoft inevitably expands it with more content and DLCs.

ARC Raiders is at times punishing and unforgiving, but it's also the most accessible game yet in the extraction shooter genre. It's simultaneously one of the most technically impressive games of 2025 and one that genre veterans and newbies alike can find a ton of fun in. This game will likely be around for years to come.

Choices, choices, choices, the crown jewel of "free" market corporatism is now available with The Outer Worlds 2, with breathtaking worlds, impeccable dialogues and narratives, and a combat system that could've been better balanced, maybe.

Better than its predecessor in every way, PowerWash Simulator 2 learns its lessons from its previous installment, offering a fluid experience and more stage variety that makes it the go-to chill gaming experience alone or with friends.

Ball x Pit is a brick-breaking, resource-farming, base-building, ball-bouncing bonanza that addictively combines multiple different genre archetypes to make one of the most unique and rewarding new indie games in recent memory.

Absolum blends nostalgic, arcade beat 'em up gameplay with addictive progression, a charming Saturday morning cartoon-like aesthetic, and a cool storyline and setting to create the latest and greatest triumphant evolution of the roguelike genre.

Yooka-Replaylee is clearly better in a lot of places than the game it was based on, and Playtonic have finally delivered a masterclass in the buddy-duo collectathon series. My only hope is it doesn't take another 10 years to get a new game in the franchise. If the developer takes the lessons it has learned from this game and expands upon it further, it's only a matter of time until we see a Yooka-Laylee 3D sequel down the line, or at least something new for retro nostalgia fans.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger is probably one of the best Digimon games around. And while it might put off some casual players, hardcore JRPG fans and Digimon fans are in for the best Digimon game of the decade.

While it's hard not to talk about the price, it's hard not to deny that these games are still masterpieces nearly 20 years after their release on Wii. The enhancements and changes do just enough to make them worth playing all over again and is a great way to kick off the 40th Super Mario anniversary celebrations. Even if I had personally liked to see full-on remasters from the ground up, these games still hold up remarkably well and transition from Wii to Switch amazingly, despite some personal nitpicks.

Megabonk is a charming, wild, and exceptionally fun title, combining various roguelikes into a fresh experience packed with pop culture references and memes.

It feels like Hades really kicked off the trend of the plethora of action roguelikes that have come after it, but I've yet to find one that surpasses this series. Hades 2 once again delivers on the first game's promise by refining its systems, adding even more content, and telling another engaging story with brilliantly acted and interesting characters from Greek mythology. It's a must-play game, especially on the Switch 2.

A huge story full of political intrigue and emotional depth, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles lives up to its legacy, and presents a profound experience told with beautiful voice acting and fantastic tactical gameplay. I just wish I could play the vastly superior new mode with the original pixel style.

Psychological action horror at its finest. A new kind of Silent Hill that holds onto its roots and never falters. Experimental like SH4: The Room, f stands out by giving us something vastly different while sticking to and modernizing the fundamentals. Silent Hill f gets in your face, making it impossible to look away from Hinako's story.

FC 26 is the best entry to the franchise in the last five years. It hits its predecessor out of the park in every department, and it’s what any football game should strive to be. With intense gameplay and more modes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. You can easily spend hundreds of hours grinding the gameplay content and improving yourself, while the rewards act as a cherry on top.

Towa is a beautiful and unique game, with innovations hiding under every rock and shrine, but with poor design choices and inconsistencies, it's definitely a very rough diamond.

Hollow Knight: Silksong delivers on nearly a decade of hype, with phenomenal action and a world begging to be explored. Both the story and Hornet's characterisation lead to a more active and engaging story in this sequel, while combat similarly feels sharper and more agile, allowing you to truly show off your skills. Filled with secrets to uncover, fantastic bosses, and multiple combat combinations, there's dozens of hours of nearly perfect Metroidvania gameplay on offer.

Borderlands 4 is easily the best in the series when it comes to gameplay and fun factor, and the best overall game in the franchise since Borderlands 2, but some performance issues on PC are cause for concern.

Hell is Us is a great action-adventure game taking inspiration from Resident Evil, Souls games, and Tomb Raider. With a strong story and awesome puzzles, its overall inconsistencies and frustrations could be overlooked, though they take too much away from the experience to be ignored.

So yes, the game feels pretty solid and good, and if you own the original, I would definitely consider picking up the upgrade DLC from the Nintendo eShop—and if you haven’t played the original Forgotten Land before, now is the perfect time to do so.

Despite its occasional flaws and inconsistencies, as well as a story that isn’t all too deep, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance by far remains one of the best action-packed experiences I’ve played this year, as well as one of the better side-scrollers.

MGS Delta is a must-play for series veterans and newcomers alike. With it, Konami has taken one of gaming's greatest achievements and respectfully recreated it with little interference other than gorgeous new visuals and a modern-day control scheme to make it more accessible to everyone.

Mafia: The Old Country plays like a memorable mob movie set in early 1900s Sicily, making for one of the better singleplayer experiences in 2025 so far. While the ride may end too quickly for some, this entertaining tale is just as long as it needs to be to deliver a very solid game.

Tiny Bookshop is a delightfully charming shop management game with an incredible amount of depth, warmth, and heart. It’s a book lover's dream come true, with thoughtful gameplay systems, cozy storytelling, and a world that rewards curiosity and care.

Killing Floor 3 is a fantastic new entry into a classic series, bringing novel ideas, refinements, and technologies to the table. Technical and gameplay caveats keep it from perfection, but it nevertheless remains a good game with a great price.

A solid game with the benefits of the original, with the added incentive of having new modes and options to play. Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV is the definitive version of the game and is a perfect game to pick up if you didn't get the original on Switch.

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers feels like stepping into a soulslike time machine and a previous decade. Its sometimes-clunky combat and punishing mechanics are a callback to the genre's origins, and it feels like both a positive and a negative at times.

Donkey Kong Bananza is Nintendo at its best, offering tons of exploration, hours of gameplay, and a touching story that will pull at your heartstrings. While some aspects of the game can be tedious, they are quickly overshadowed by an amazing visual game that is as fun to play as it looks.

Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 revitalizes the old classics, if a bit differently. With visceral gameplay, beautiful graphics, and fantastic sound design, this pair of games is ready to join the modern era, despite its take on THPS 4.

The Sims 4: Enchanted by Nature is a whimsical expansion pack ideal for anyone who loves Occult Sim playthroughs. It masterfully blends natural living elements with the magical world of fairies to create replayable gameplay experiences, all while combining fresh ideas with old yet refined concepts.

Over 15 years after their initial release, PATAPON 1 and PATAPON 2 are back in the PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY bundle, and they’re better than ever. Both games were already solid, but the small improvements and touch-ups included here give them new life in a repackaged format that puts them back in the spotlight again.

Death Stranding 2, like its predecessor, is a game that is polarizing for many. When you “get it,” like I and many others do, you simply just feel it on an indescribable level and appreciate each of its head-scratching intricacies. If you didn’t “get” the first game, the sequel likely won’t change your mind.

Deltarune's third and fourth chapters masterfully build upon and tie together key story features while balancing a mix of humor and serious moments. Frequent twists and turns leave you curious as to what the future will hold.

Deltarune's third and fourth chapters masterfully build upon and tie together key story features while balancing a mix of humor and serious moments. Frequent twists and turns leave you curious as to what the future will hold.

While underwhelming from a gameplay standpoint, it's easy to see how FBC: Firebreak could become a fun experience for friend groups looking for a good time in PvE co-op.

Date Everything! is a clever, creative, and charming masterpiece in the dating sim genre. It’s innovative and addictive, with A+ voice acting, stellar character design, and genuinely hilarious gameplay. It’s the best dating sim I’ve ever played.

Dune: Awakening encapsulates everything I want from a survival MMO game.

Mario Kart World is the latest and potentially greatest in the long-running arcade racer franchise, brought to the next level with the Nintendo Switch 2's hardware and an expansive roster of racers, tracks, and endless fun to be had.

Elden Ring: Nightreign offers FromSoftware's trademark challenging combat, all in seamless co-op, combined with the roguelike elements of games like Hades, with some of the urgency of battle royale games sprinkled in.

A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage. Doom: The Dark Ages is a brutally dark and gory game that sets up the rest of the franchise's story in a captivating and meaningful way. It improves on nearly every aspect of previous entries in the series, setting itself up as a strong 2025 GOTY contender.

Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash. Revenge of the Savage Planet is a wild, colorful space adventure packed with quirky humor and chaotic exploration. Co-op play enhances the experience, and the addictive build customization keeps you engaged. While combat can be overwhelming at times, the fun, unpredictable nature of the game makes it hard to put down.

The turn-based RPG and debut title from French studio Sandfall Interactive delivers on all of its promises in refreshing the decades-old genre, taking inspiration from games of the past and the Belle Époque era of French history to craft a beautiful, tragic, and memorable experience that should be considered one of the best games of 2025 and a tremendous first entry for a very talented studio.

Blue Prince is a unique and refreshing puzzle game that breaks away from the conventional, featuring complex challenges and solutions that constantly evolve.

South of Midnight stands as one of the best story-driven games I’ve experienced in a long time, one that invites deep exploration of its lore and reflection on each character’s journey. Beyond its compelling narrative, the game is simply a joy to play, thanks to its versatile combat and traversal mechanics. For those seeking an immersive story, South of Midnight is the perfect remedy. And with Xbox Game Pass, it’s readily available at your fingertips upon release.

WWE 2K25 is one of the biggest leaps in the series so far. While the Island is disappointing, the sheer amount of content in this game is unmatched. You have over 300 wrestlers with more DLC on the way, plenty of fun modes like the highly improved MyGM and the story-focused MyRise, and gameplay that still feels satisfying to pull off, even if the animations can be weird at points. It’s just the microtransactions that really pull this game down.

Instead of going the easy route, Monolith Soft went the extra mile and added meaningful new content and quality-of-life features that actually improved on what was already a masterpiece experience. The Definitive Edition treatment makes Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition one of the best JRPGs on the Switch, and a must-play for fans of the genre.

Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.

Split Fiction feels like the culmination of what Josef Fares and Hazelight Studios’ team have learned since making Brothers and A Way Out. Both were solid games, and It Takes Two’s success was our first glimpse at what the studio was truly capable of. Split Fiction is everything I could ever ask from a cooperative game and more, easily making it another solid game of the year contender. I wish I could go on about each level and its intricacies since I could easily ramble on numerous incredible moments for a while. This is one of those games that thrives on surprising you at every corner, and hearing my friend’s reactions was just as fulfilling as experiencing my own.

Whether you’re eager to dive into the Monster Hunter universe for the first time or you’re a long-time fan seeking a new adventure, Monster Hunter Wilds offers everything you need for an unforgettable experience. Capcom has truly outdone itself with yet another exceptional game that you won’t want to miss. I enjoyed every minute of my playthrough from start to finish, and there’s even more stuff to discover with its fun-filled end-game content.

Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.

Avowed is one of the best RPGs I've played in 2025, and I'm not even much of a role-playing genre fanatic.

Everything that makes Dynasty Warriors great has been built on and amplified in Dynasty Warriors: Origins. The fast-paced combat is more fluid and satisfying than ever, and I think the decision to allow players to build up their own character is the right move for the franchise moving forward. I wasn’t sure how Omega Force could take a series coming up on three decades old and make it appealing to newcomers while appeasing long-time fans, but they found a way. For me, this is the best Dynasty Warriors yet, and I’m excited to see what’s next.

The year just started so it's too early to be talking about GOTY, but for me, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is already at the very least a contender.

Regardless of my minor gripes with the game, Civilization 7 is a ton of fun. The Ages system is a major game-changer and really enhances the genre in a big way. Firaxis probably could have gotten away with a safer approach with this installment, opting for just better graphics. Instead, it boldly revamped a lot of the core systems to make the entire game more streamlined for both newcomers and veterans alike. I’m glad Firaxis is still finding ways to improve a genre it has mastered over the years, and as a result, Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 has the series in its best shape yet.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a wonderful game that distinguishes itself from the crowd and stands tall as a densely packed, enjoyable experience. Although it can use improvements in some areas, the Switch version of Hello Kitty Island Adventure is absolutely worth picking up if you’ve been looking for an Animal Crossing-like game to try out and either don’t have an iPhone or are on the fence about getting an Apple Arcade subscription and prefer one-time payments. It plays well with no major performance issues — at most, I found a slightly long loading screen. Considering the game’s size, though, I can easily forgive this.

Mike Monroe and Belief Engine really know how to get a lot of mileage out of a simple idea. It would, perhaps, be accurate to say that Dead Letter Dept is better than the sum of its parts, but, truly, I think that fails to illustrate just how great its parts are. The simple joy of data entry is wrapped in a soft tortilla of a well-communicated atmosphere and a well-executed aesthetic. Through its medium, it finds the horror in mundanity and uncertainty. It’s a message worth receiving.

It's maybe not what I'll reach for the next time I'm in the mood for a metroidvania, but it's a symphony in its own right.

Everything a remaster should be.

While DKCR HD doesn't revolutionize the game, it still manages to become the definitive version of the title.

The story is intriguing and engaging.

Everyone should play Antonblast least once.

This remaster also has a lot of extra stuff that fans will absolutely love to dive into.

An incredibly authentic Indiana Jones experience, and MachineGames really makes you feel like you are Indiana Jones.

Exactly what it wants to be.

Dungeons of Dreadrock 2: The Dead King’s Secret is a must-play for puzzle gamers. Challenges never feel the same, and they’ll have you thinking outside the box to try to solve them. The victorious feeling after completing puzzles can get addicting, and you may have a hard time putting it down, just as I did.

Fantasian: Neo Dimension takes all the great things about classic JRPGs and finds ways to innovate on them while still keeping the innate charm and feel the genre is known for. And while there have been plenty of great RPG releases in recent years, there’s something special about Fantasian: Neo Dimension that melds the old with the new to create an enthralling and nostalgic journey in a unique high-fantasy world that’s simply a ton of fun to play.

I’m happy with this iteration of Taito Milestones. It’s nowhere near Capcom Arcade Stadium in terms of features and content, nor is it as robust as past collections like Taito Memories. But I’ve played enough sub-par collections recently that I’ve come to appreciate this level of care.

Great God Grove is an immensely polished and precisely executed game, and that’s the most impressive part about it. Its pacing and aesthetic are finely honed and there’s nary a loose thread to be found. A bit more punch and the narrative would be perfect, but it presents a good amount of depth to sink into. It also features puppets gnawing on a gigantic hoagie, and really, what more can you ask for?

Black Ops 6 proves that the Call of Duty series is here to stay, and hopefully, it’ll get even better from here on out.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a satisfying sequel that ties in the events of its prequel well. It remembers and stays true to the original story without straying too far from its core. Although it relies a little too much on your having played the first Life is Strange, it continues the adventure well and balances the feeling of familiarity while still keeping things refreshing. If you enjoyed the first game, you’re in for a treat with this one.

While I get the skepticism over a VR Batman game (I was unsure how this would actually pan out when it was announced), Camouflaj has more than proven that they are a major player in the VR AAA space, and Oculus Studios has yet another feather in their cap with Arkham Shadow.

It’s a loving tribute to Atari’s early console and the games that defined it, and it provides a nostalgic vision of yesteryear’s gaming laced with a bit of horror. The final act might be a bit too much torment, but it doesn’t crack the polish of the game’s bulk. It’s absolutely worth it, just maybe chamber a few swears in preparation.

I’m not sure that Grunn is going to remain cemented in my mind the same way Bernband is. The goals here are a lot more modest and less bold. On the other hand, it is an enjoyable experience. No matter how many times I woke up in that seat on the bus, I was always ready to take on the game again. Gradually unraveling its mysteries while keeping the hedges trimmed kept me engaged. Without thinking too hard about it, Grunn is probably the most relaxing horror game I’ve ever played.

This might be Nightdive’s most important remaster. While the developer has helped polish up already popular games like Quake and System Shock, Killing Time benefits far more from their tender touch. It was already great, but this remaster makes it easier to digest. It really brings out its highlights, allowing the whole thing to shine a lot brighter. If you have never explored Matinicus Island, Killing Time: Resurrected is easily the best way to do so, and it’s high time you did.

If you do have a reliable group – preferably one who you already play Mario Party games with – then Mario Party Jamboree is probably going to be your new go-to. In many of the recent entries, I feel a lot was phoned in. Not enough would be changed, but some aspects would feel weaker or even unwelcome. However, while Jamboree mainly just builds off the original framework, it’s a lot tighter and more rounded than we’ve seen since the N64 days. I’ll admit it can be hard to get excited about yet another Mario Party, but this one is absolutely worth attending.