The Spell Brigade separates itself from the pack of Vampire Survivors-adjacent games by letting up to four players engage in unruly, wave-based chaos. However, the power climb is locked behind a steep grind that takes too long to feel rewarding and players may yearn for more varied content to keep them truly invested.

Life is Strange: Reunion attempts to tackle the difficult task of wrapping up the loose ends set forth in Double Exposure and find resolution for the series’ two beloved characters. The relationship between Max and Chloe has always been a highlight of the genre and thankfully it carries a weaker entry in Life is Strange that struggles to navigate its overly simplistic gameplay and less important subplots.

For players who love cozy games and don’t mind a slightly more structured approach to exploration, Collector’s Cove offers a calm, colorful adventure on the open sea. It may not be the most groundbreaking entry in the genre, but it’s a relaxing voyage that’s easy to enjoy, especially for those of us who want nothing more than to pet all of the animal companions in the gaming world.

On the PlayStation 5, Tales of Berseria feels less like a traditional remaster and more like a simple port. While it remains an excellent game in its own right (and perhaps one of the best in the Tales series), the struggle is real in recommending it to those who can simply play the PS4 version and not feel like they’re missing out on anything novel.

Dark Auction positions itself as a visual novel with one of the more intriguing premises tackled in the genre. Players comfortable with a rather straightforward pace and lack of challenge will likely enjoy the ride and some of the strange twists in store.

BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW uses the real horror of societal pressure and unrealistic standards to craft an unsettling, psychological narrative that players often won’t find in games. Its short length does have numerous impactful moments but it may leave some wanting more developed plot threads and less monster chases. Should the BrokenLore series continue with this framework in future installments, I will be interested to see what new ways they can not only scare players but make them think.

A.I.L.A presents a number of intriguing concepts for the player to chew on and initially establishes its ability to circumvent expectations and genre tropes. But as the game continues, positive gains are lost in the swamp of repetitive mechanics. Springing from psychological to survival horror to something wholly unique would have been a welcome surprise but instead, A.I.L.A stumbles right as it begins to gain momentum. Though the overarching story has its moments, players will have to wade through the doldrums to get there.

Painkiller has a strong base that any shooting game needs. Its weapons are a blast to use and get weird enough to make it satisfying to rip through constant droves of demons. But even that core conceit runs dry over time as the well of ideas simply can’t support limited maps, basic objectives, and not enough variety to keep the flame burning. It’s possible as new content rolls out with DLC, Painkiller may evolve into something greater but right now it can be enjoyed by a group of friends over a weekend or two, hoping to one day leave its limbo of what-ifs.

NASCAR ‘25 is a game that fans of the sport will honestly enjoy. It fills a void that has been left open for years and allows them to be able to finally ‘scratch that itch’. It’s not something that will blow other racing games out of the water, but if iRacing Studios is going to try and possibly turn this into a yearly franchise, then this is the perfect foundation to start building upon.

Despite another year of development, EA FC 26 remains plagued by bugs. The main menu continues to give me issues. At times, I’m unable to navigate it at all because it simply bugs out. Considering how often this issue has been raised across multiple installments, it’s frustrating to see so little progress.

‘NHL 26’ is a revamp and refresh. However, to me, it’s an incredibly hard game to justify buying from last year’s installment. In the game’s defense, I will argue this against those online who say ‘this is just a glorified roster update’ because I can tell there have been several little improvements to make things a better playing experience. ‘NHL 26’ is still a good game for me. Plus, I can see possible ways that modes like ‘Be A Pro’ can go in the future, especially with the updates to ‘Franchise Mode’ in ‘NHL 25’. I do feel like we are a goalie that’s been left out to dry in the third period late.

Fallen City Brawl won me over on vibes and thematic. Its gameplay, while frenetic and fun, needs more depth to exceed the current gold standard utilized by recent additions to the modern beat-em-up genre. It’s great for a quick afternoon playthrough, especially when played with friends.

Shadow Labyrinth should have been so much more. I wanted my first impression of the game to linger. But the longer I engaged, the more my mind wandered to better Metroidvanias. Ones that either delivered pitch-perfect combat and exploration, or ones that tried something new. Shadow Labyrinth attempts to make a weird, novel Pac-Man experience but squanders the opportunity on sluggish pacing, exhausting checkpointing, and a map that severely needed a few bites taken out of it. Maybe Puck should just stick to ghost hunting.

Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact has several good ideas, but very little follow through in catering to diehard fighting game players, new players unfamiliar with the tag-fighter subgenre, or even folks unfamiliar with the franchise. It’s fun yet fluid fighter, don’t get me wrong; only time will tell if it reaches a more fulfilling state in the future.

RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business won’t disappoint fans of the 2023 shooter simply wanting more pulpy shootouts in a dystopian Detroit. And perhaps as a standalone experience and not a true sequel, Unfinished Business is passable. But a lack of fresh ideas and a safe setting lack the humanity found within the cold confines of RoboCop’s hardened steel.

Arashi Gaiden is a great bite-sized turn-based action game set within the confines of a puzzle game. While it might be more difficult than others may expect, it will prove satisfying for those who enjoy solving puzzles with flair.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition, from developers SneakyBox and Relic Entertainment, feels too much like the Anniversary Edition released a few years back. While new gamers of the series might enjoy what this title has to offer, as it does bring some solid action that mimics the chaotic nature of the Warhammer world, seasoned fans of the series may not get enough out of this release to justify another purchase.

Cattle Country is all around a functional, enjoyable game. However, it does little to innovate on an already established farming sim formula. If you like games like Stardew Valley, then I would recommend at least trying Cattle Country to see if it scratches that same itch. You won’t find a particularly exciting experience, but you might enjoy a calm, wholesome game.

Dragon is Dead has quite a bit of potential now that it has left its early access period. Its novel approach to character building, loot management, and skill trees makes for a complex and satisfying roguelike experience. On the other hand, some of its endgame combat may prove too frustrating, especially when compounded by the traditional difficulty curve that comes with the roguelike gameplay loop. Its pixel art is gorgeous, though.

Labyrinth of the Demon King from developer J.R. Hudepohl harkens back to a simpler survival horror time and recreates most of the right elements that reflect that era and genre. While it’s strong in story, atmosphere, and creepiness, it falls short with its mechanics.

Once Upon a Puppet excels in its ability to build a fantastical world cobbled together from the dilapidated remains of opulence. As a 2.5D platformer, the game’s attempts to use the genre’s foundations are often mixed. Clever puzzles and bursts of action go hand-in-hand with movement that can often not feel fluid and satisfying enough. But players open to the game’s charm should be able to ignore the blemishes and enjoy the moments that truly shine.

FUBUKI ~zero in on Holoearth~ HOLOLIVE ALTERNATIVE is a short, but sweet, retro-action platformer. The beauty of its pixel art can be obfuscated by the visual business of what’s on-screen and the level design skews overly simplistic, but it’s still fun for a few hours. If you’re a Hololive fan, you’ll be pleased by its Easter Eggs.

Macross – Shooting Insight from Kaminari Games takes the shoot ‘em-up genre to a bold and brash stance. While it does everything to break the mold of a regular shoot ‘em-up formula, including bringing a thick layer of challenge to the gameplay that will most certainly motivate hardcore shoot ‘em-up players, it lacks variety in level design and other small aspects of gameplay.

Dreamcore is a game about dread, obfuscation, and disorienting players. It sends them to familiar spaces that have been purposefully altered to maximize discomfort. Though woefully brief and presenting only two levels at launch, if each new entry in Dreamcore continues to be unique, it will become a truly standout entry in the catalog of Backrooms-inspired works.

For all its flaws, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is still an enjoyable game. At its core, it does what it needs to do. Koei Tecmo delivered on their promise of 1 vs. 1000 combat, though not without neglecting other aspects of gameplay. Combat was enjoyable, though suffered at the hands of poor game design. There’s a strong premise here, but a lack of character development hampers the storytelling. Overall, if you’re the type of person who’s looking for some straight forward, high-intensity action, Dynasty Warriors: Origins might be for you—as long as you don’t mind some of its rough edges.

In some ways, Threefold Recital does an excellent job in telling a thoughtful tale of beastlings bound to Daoist philosophy. In other ways, I was a smidge disappointed in the driving forces behind that storytelling and the simplicity of the platforming. It’s not the most memorable platformer outright, but if you’re in the mood for a compelling narrative with some light platforming and other minigames, look no further than Threefold Recital.

Spirit Mancer is a wonderful first attempt by Sunny Syrup Studio to craft a unique game built on familiar mechanics and classic platformer moments. Behind its overly complex and stuffed systems, there’s a beautiful game possessing stellar art and a lot of heart. Those wanting a different kind of platformer will find a haven here. And hopefully these foundations will be put to use again in an equally robust, confident game.

Police Simulator: Patrol Officers from developer Aesir Interactive is a good game that delivers an accurate, though sometimes dull experience as a police officer. While the game could be a bit more exciting in some areas, the biggest issue with the gameplay is the hardware running it. The Nintendo Switch’s limitations in memory, graphics capabilities, and controls hamper what is otherwise a good game.