Palia and its Elderwood Expansion from developer Singularity Six is a budding MMO with all sorts of green flags waving toward a long future. While the main quests may not catch your attention too hard, the customization, exploration, and new free Elderwood expansion will be enough to motivate you to give this a shot. It still has some growing pains, but right now, Palia is a solid game.

Lynked: Banner of the Spark from developer FuzzyBot is a cornucopia of different types of gameplay experiences rolled into one title and balanced in ways that work well together. The story is good, the action is easy and fun, and the crafting/building helps to bring a juxtaposition to the game’s action component. While not all of it works, the game still brings what it needs to create a big, unique, and entertaining experience.

American Arcadia, from developer Out of the Blue Games S.L. and publisher Raw Fury, was a suspenseful and thrilling adventure. While the gameplay didn’t challenge the narrative for the limelight, there were still enough interactive elements to call this a solid gaming experience.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate takes a lot of big swings for a franchise that has been incarnated into almost every possible genre in games. Super Evil Megacorp mostly succeeds with a formula that narratively borrows from Hades but excels at providing some satisfying gameplay and upgrade paths. It may be short on content but does promise a lot of entertainment for a group of friends wanting to tackle the Foot Clan as their favorite heroes in a half-shell.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is another feather in Capcom’s cap as it works to revitalize marooned games in its catalog. Though distinctly for genre enthusiasts, the high-quality netcode ensures that decades-old titles could have their time in the competitive scene. While Capcom may soon run out of quality material to include in these offerings, one can only hope different genres (and prominent publishers) will follow suit.

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.

StarVaders from developer Pengonauts is an addictive deckbuilding turn-based game with meaningful content and thick strategic gameplay options.

Days Gone Remastered, from developer Bend Studio and publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment, brings a more defined and pointed experience, as well as a bigger world and a more refined amount of gameplay. While the story feels disconnected from said gameplay, which does hurt the game, the overall gameplay experience is pretty solid.

DOOM: The Dark Ages is a thrilling, feverishly-paced slaughter, the one thing most DOOM fans crave with each entry. Forgoing the brutal complexity of Eternal, id Software has stripped the formula down only slightly, making the Shield Saw one of the franchise’s best additions since glory kills. In the voyage towards reclaiming the roots of 1993, DOOM again shoves arena shooters into the future.

Lunar Remastered Collection from developers ASHIBI Co., Ltd and GAME ARTS is a sight for sore eyes in a sea of modernized turn-based and action RPGs. It’s a firm reminder that old-school gaming is still fun after all these years, and it’s a definitive reminder that the Lunar series is some of the best turn-based RPG games ever.

Wizordum from developer Emberheart Games is an experience that contains a 90s first-person shooter backbone with modern gameplay elements to keep it fun and relevant. Not all gamers will buy into this mix of old and new, which will be a missed opportunity on their part.

After the patching it’s undergone in the last several months, Enotria: The Last Long is a solid Soulslike for not just hardcore Souls fans, but for anyone that likes a third person action RPG with a beautiful visual and aural presentation. For me, it falls somewhere in the middle of the pack in terms of Souls games that I have played; I liked the old, and new, Lords of the Fallen better, and Lies of P — but Enotria is significantly better above Mortal Shell and Thymesia. Ultimately, I’m happy to recommend it.

Out of the Park Baseball 26, from developer Out of the Park Developments, is top-tier when it comes to sports simulators. Managing a baseball team and working with the organization is detailed so well on a micro level that you’ll find so many different approaches on how best to prep your MLB team. All of it is wrapped with a well-planned and implemented bit of information architecture, which makes it super simple to navigate through. In the end, this is a new bar for sports simulators.

I had a good time with FREERIDE: The Personality Test. Sure, I had some reservations with the outcome of the personality test and its method of presentation, but it was worth the few hours it took for me to get to the end to get those results. The emotional train ride and delightful soundtrack got me right in the feels.

Steel Seed from developer Storm in a Teacup is a gorgeous and stunning stealth-action game that does a lot of things right, but also stumbles at times with difficulty.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a great remaster of the original Oblivion. Virtuos Games and Bethesda’s decisions to use Unreal Engine 5, add new aesthetic content, refine some of the original’s UI, and update core systems to today’s standards are great to see. While the classic bugginess, jank, and rough edges remain, they’re not enough to prevent me from investing another 80-or-so hours into replaying this classic Elder Scrolls game.

Fatal Fury: City of Wolves from SNK Corporation is a long-overdue fighting experience that does its best to throw variety and meaningful content into the mix. Most of what it tries to do is on point, though the experience, especially on the campaign side of the tracks (Episodes of South Town) could have been a bit longer.

Amerzone from developer Microids Studio Paris is a Myst-like experience that features a heavy narrative, great characters, and incredibly challenging puzzles. It may not be for everyone, but those who want this type of gaming experience will certainly be thrilled with the delivery.

Kemono Heroes from developer Mad Gear Games and publisher JanduSoft is a fun action beat ‘em up that keeps the gameplay simple, delivers creative enemies and levels, and throws some good boss fights into the experience. While the upgrades are a bit restrictive with their progression, the game offers far more fun than not.

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.

FragPunk from developer Bad Guitar Studio has a lot going on, most of which is positive. The game is easy to jump into, there are a variety of modes to play to keep the gameplay fresh, and the game just looks and feels cool. Not all of it is gold, but it’s certainly close.

Rusty Rabbit from developer Nitro Plus is a fun, deep adventure led by fun characters, a good story, easy mechanics, and a strong RPG backbone. Repetitiveness does drag the experience down a bit, but this 2D platformer stands strong with its positives.

Draknek and Friends’ The Electrifying Incident: A Monster Mini-Expedition lives up to its name as a bite-sized thinky game. While it strikes the sweet spot of puzzle solving without giving too much away, it may be seen as too difficult. Don’t give up, though – it’s worth it for the hour-or-so it’ll take to reach the end.

SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered is another feather in the cap for Square Enix’s efforts to preserve its massive catalog of RPGs in that delightful era of the PlayStation 1. And for a game so unique as this, it’s hard to imagine the undertaking of a complete remake could preserve the original’s imaginative spark. Instead, SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered serves as the ideal update to a game that shouldn’t be relegated to a time capsule, trapped on older hardware where a fresh audience has less of a chance to fall in love.

Bionic Bay from developer Psychoflow Studio is an outstanding atmospheric platformer that will keep players locked-in with its simplistic mechanics and complicated gameplay mixed within an intriguing story.

I, Robot from developer Llamasoft and publisher Atari reignites a forgotten Atari arcade classic from the 80s. While the visuals have been refined a little, the core gameplay from the original arcade title is still intact, which includes its chaotic style and psychedelic personality. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a fun, nostalgia-driven arcade adventure nonetheless.

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate, like many beat ’em ups, is not rife with complexity or plot. But it possesses an undeniable spirit in its chaotic joy, begging to be played by a group of friends wanting to churn through groups of enemies and watch the screen shake with fury. It’s an homage not entirely to the past but to the simple thrill of fun.

Hitman: World of Assassination Part One – VR Edition from developer Io Interactive is an impressive and immersive VR experience that raises the bar for the Hitman series. It brings good content that will put you in the shoes of Agent 47 in an entirely different way. The only hiccups are some glitches that are wandering around the game, but the core gameplay is solid.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle from developer MachineGames and publisher Bethesda Softworks brings the Indiana Jones world to life with a great story and fantastically designed game.

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.

INAYAH – Life After Gods from developer Exogenesis Studios is a fun and flawed metroidvania adventure. Its narrative is quite good and purposeful, the art is out of this world visually amazing, and the backend design is complicated, as it is motivating. The repetitiveness of enemies and level design drag the gameplay down a bit but for the most part the game still delivers a worthy adventure.

Blue Prince from developer Dogubomb and publisher Raw Fury is everything it is cracked up to be. It’s easy to pick up and play, thick with strategy and play-driven decisions, and simple to come back to repeatedly in the face of failure thanks to some amazing gameplay elements that were methodically built for its design.

Crashlands 2 has been worth the wait, especially for those who want a simple crafting and farming game that can be played on an iPhone or PC. Its tongue-in-cheek charm, dubstep silliness, and approachability make it worth playing for hours on end…so long as you get past its initial learning sluggishness.

Croc – Legend of the Gobbos Remastered from developer Argonaut Games is a throwback to a simpler, more experimental 3D platformer time. The remastered game represents the old one nicely without going too far or destroying any of the original game’s essence. While some of the 90s gameplay concepts in Croc – Legend of the Gobbos Remastered are still stuck in the 90s, some elements are improved. This may not hit with new gamers but it’s undoubtedly going to please those raised during that 90s video game era.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered from developers Naughty Dog, Nixxes Software, and Iron Galaxy is a better PC translation than its console versions. It brings high-end graphics, superb sound, and all the story you could ever want to carry with you for a long time.

Karma: The Dark World is a rare game that offers stark familiarity but challenges the concept of normalization. Its mechanical trappings keep it grounded and mildly rote. But it is horror with minimal jump scares. Techno-thriller via existential dreams. Disparate elements made tenuously coherent. Beyond any critique, however, Pollard Studio, with their debut, have made a game with truly stunning visual direction that only the most seasoned directors have achieved.

Wanderstop admittedly won’t be for every player. Obtuse, experimental games rarely are. Even its “cozy” moniker belies a genuine lack of requirements Ivy Road imposes. But threaded through this simple game about making tea is a powerful, poignant narrative that dwells on a person’s ability to come to terms with the futility of constant forward momentum. Grace and warmth can be found in the doldrums of existence. And in this chaotic age, we often need a break not only from the noise but ourselves.

The First Berserker: Khazan from developer Neople is a different and more accessible take on the action role-playing game Souls blueprint. It’s difficult most of the time but brings a good story, great enemies, and a hefty and well-executed backend system. While mostly a great game, its downside is that it is a linear journey that will test a gamer’s frustration limits.

Breakout Beyond from developer Choice Provisions and publisher Atari is a nice tip of the cap to the classic game. While its screen configuration and pacing might be a little jarring for new players, the power-ups and gameplay elements that present good challenges will certainly hook them. The game does a great job of balancing classic Breakout ideas with well-thought-through gameplay design.

Path of Fury – Episode I: Tetsuo’s Tower from developer Leonard Menchiari is a wonderful and beautifully brutal VR experience. It delivers accuracy, a good brawling environment, and makes use of Meta Quest’s tech well. The only hiccups are repetitive enemies and sometimes visuals. Both can be forgiven with its brawling gameplay that comes straight from the best 90s fighting games.

MLB The Show 25 from San Diego Studio is a good upgrade from last year’s game. The gameplay feels tighter and smoother on the offense and defense side of the field. Including the new feature Diamond Quest gives more depth to what a typical baseball game would be, bringing in new ideas on how you can compete in Diamond Dynasty. MLB leads the way again by bringing a solid experience and off-beat innovation that works more than it doesn’t.

Overall, I had a blast and then some. This game is like if Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom (1994) had a baby and it was raised by Ultrakill. Mullet MadJack is an incredibly artistic spin on an already expansive boomer-shooter genre. The combat is lighting fast, the setting engaging, the visuals striking, and the violence plentiful. Mullet MadJack is exactly the type of game that your parents would worry about you getting your hands on as a kid. Or at least I assume so, I didn’t grow up in an era in which Congress was so bored it turned its sights on pixelated blood.

Rogue Piñatas: VRmageddon from developer Nerd Ninjas is just a dumb-fun survival experience. Endlessly taking down rebellious piñata with various weapons and characters makes for a good time. While it won’t be as deep or rich as other VR experiences on the Meta Quest, it’s still good gameplay that is come-and-go-as-you-please without a long-term commitment.

Reignbreaker from developer Studio Fizbin and publisher Thunderful Publishing is a solid rogue-lite experience that brings a good story, wonderful gameplay progression, and motivating rewards to the table. While it stumbles with common enemy and level design, it has far more positives than negatives with what it delivers in its gameplay.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows allows Japan to breathe life into a series that has hinged its reputation on tradition. It represents a culmination of the work laid out in Origins but never stumbles over its own size and ambition. While players looking for more than just fine-tuned familiar thrills might be disappointed at the big swings Shadows does take, a focused narrative and progressive combat are enriched by an exceptionally beautiful and detailed setting. Assassin’s Creed Shadows acts as the turning of a new page for Ubisoft’s flagship, one hopefully leading to another vibrant, historical world.

Merchants of Rosewall from developer Big Blue Sky Games is a complex take on shopkeeping simulators. It does well to combine storytelling, deep shopkeeping and crafting, and motivating goals to keep the player engaged. While the goals can be lofty and frustrating at times, the game is still fun to play.

If I was to call MainFrames a proof of concept, I would be grossly overlooking its stellar presentation of byte-sized platforming as a little floppy disk. Yes, it’s difficult at times, but just about anyone can reach its end credits within a few hours. Developer Assoupi has nailed the platforming formula to a T; I can’t wait for more!

Carmen Sandiego from Gameloft contains a wonderful nod to the original series on PC. It brings the same elements of logical reasoning and reading comprehension requirements that the old series wore as a badge of honor. The new game does force these elements into some unnecessary gameplay wrappers but still manages to beautifully weave the original essence of the Carmen Sandiego series within it all.

Knights in Tight Spaces from developer Ground Shatter and Raw Fury is an exceptional game that shows how well a turn-based card game can be when given a thick amount of strategy from good gameplay design and a branching story to help push it all along. While it isn’t perfect, it’s still a bar set for future games in this genre.

PGA Tour 2K25 from developer HB Studios and 2K Games is probably one of the best entries to the franchise in the last three years. It brings better gameplay, gorgeous graphics, and just enough modes to keep the game consistently interesting as you play. It is one of the better sports games to arrive in the last year.

Metal Suits: Counter Attack from developer Eggtart is a clever and fun 2D platformer packed with good action, clever weapons, and wonderful boss and level design. While the common enemies in the game aren’t anything to write home about, the overall body of work is very well done.

Split Fiction is an exceptionally triumphant moment for players. Hazelight Studios has created another cooperative masterpiece but this time around, pulled out every trick in the book. Endlessly dazzling, profoundly inventive, and impossibly fun, it’s hard to imagine anyone topping this kind of synergy. But Hazelight continues to prove they can one-up themselves every time.

Overall, I’m torn about Everhood 2. Its rhythm-based battles are unlike any RPG I’ve played before. Its soundtrack is incredible. Walking through emptiness and seeing delayed payoffs from the worldbuilding side, though, makes the game feel less fun than it should be. I enjoyed Everhood 2, but I wish that I spent more time in the rhythm battles than exploring.

Monster Hunter Wilds from the developers at Capcom brings the series to a new level with its action, story, looks, and length. While it still has some tweaks to make in controls, the game is certainly worthy of your time.

I loved Star of Providence to the point of having trouble putting it down because of its fast-paced shmup gameplay, punishing bullet hell patterns, and replayability. Defeating its astoundingly difficult boss battles is satisfying and encourages the player to improve mechanically and thoughtfully. If you make it to the Hard mode, you’ll be treated to bullet patterns that will test your dexterity like few others have done before.

Darkest Dungeon II is a thrilling knock at the door of death. Who will answer? Red Hook Studios offers little solace for hopeful players wishing for vacancy. This is an unquestionably difficult game, often a selling point for this generation of players. While Darkest Dungeon II may constantly test the mettle of players and unceremoniously send them packing with little effort, it is that singular vision constantly escalating players’ interest. In such a dreary world there is light to be found, whether it be victory or that itch to try again, in spite of the odds.

Beyond the challenge and gameplay depth, Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered continues to shine in its atmosphere and world-building. The sound design and music create an immersive experience, heightening tension, especially when playing with headphones—footsteps echo through tombs, distant growls send chills down your spine, and enemies often catch me off guard, making me jump in my seat more than once. Each level is expertly crafted, filled with hidden secrets and environmental storytelling that make exploration feel rewarding.

As a longtime Yakuza fan, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is the Goro Majima game I’ve always dreamed of and somehow more unhinged than ever before. Ryu Ga Gotoku has outdone themselves once again and I’m so excited for players to get their hands on the helm to take Yakuza’s version of a naval RPG for a spin.

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.

ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist does not wholly transform the Metroidvania genre. It undeniably improves upon the precedent set forth by ENDER LILIES but primarily dabbles in the realm of pitch-perfect platforming. This genre is a hard nut to crack and with so many entrants, it becomes increasingly challenging to differentiate from the pack. In ways, Adglobe and Live Wire succeed. But on a third attempt they will hopefully deliver something truly different and unique based on lessons learned.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on the PC from developer Insomniac Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment is solid, thanks to multiple patches, on the PC. While it didn’t launch in the best state, it has since reached a point comparable to the PS5 version. It maintains a great story, fun gameplay, and graphical gorgeousness that is somewhat better than its PlayStation counterpart.

Moons of Darsalon is devoted to not only its retro aesthetics but its expression of a latent genre. Players nowadays are almost trained to despise the possibility of escorting anything and anyone across a playable space, stripping them of the freedom any prior mechanics granted. But Moons of Darsalon is a puzzle game first and foremost, leading players along a zany path of success, terraforming levels and avoiding Darsanaut manslaughter through abject carelessness. It is simplistic in its message but wonderful in execution.

Momodora: Moonlit Farewell is beautifully simple, perhaps to a fault. Switch owners who take the chance on this 8-hour metroidvania will enjoy its fluid combat, glittery spritework, and mild platforming. I’m sad to see the Momodora series conclude, but I have hopes that developers Bombservice continue to design gorgeous metroidvanias.

Synduality: Echo of Ada from developer Game Studio Inc. has the potential to be bigger and better than it currently is with the initial release. As it stands now, the gameplay is a bit bland with battles, the exploration needs to create more motivation to give players more meaningful substance, and bigger story pieces that could help players connect with the gameplay. Given time, this game could be outstanding.

Laika: Aged Through Blood from developer Brainwash Gang is a wonderful and refreshing Nintendo Switch experience. It lends a brutal narrative that leads gameplay filled with strategy and challenges. While not everyone will take to the controls, which are an important part of the experience, the challenges and strategy will keep the frustration at bay.

Techno Banter deftly expresses that bleary-eyed, frenetic atmosphere of an all-nighter. Betwixt all the madcap quests echoing the lasers and blacklights piercing the foggy dancefloor is a thrumming beat. This is not as simple as just being a game. In fact, the gamey bits are more of a vehicle delivering players to the true charm of its writing, which is both humorous and sincere. And much like that 4am rave, Techno Banter will linger on the senses long into the daylight.

Arc System Works’ -Guilty Gear Strive- is an excellent Switch game and definitely the best bang-for-your-buck if you haven’t yet gone down the Guilty Gear rabbit hole. It is one of the most accessible fighting games on the market, making it a satisfying pick for casual and competitive Switch owners wanting to join the fray.

Turbo Overkill is honest in its simplicity, absurdity, and authenticity. It works to interpret 30-year-old shooters for a modern audience, one who yearns for fast-paced, rewarding action in a space that so frequently asks for polish and patience. On console, it performs outstandingly, capturing the essence of the mouse and keyboard days. And if that isn’t enough to grab your attention, don’t forget: you’ve always got a chainsaw leg.

ROBOBEAT is an exciting FPS because of how it weaves a killer soundtrack and punchy combat into its DNA. Firing to the beat of a suite of incredible tracks and sweeping across a techno playground is one of those simple joys in life. While players shouldn’t expect deep roguelite progression, the tools on hand are meant to fuel the frenetic pace, throwing players into a madcap state of sublime shooting.

Eternal Strands has the DNA from familiar and critically acclaimed games of the last few decades. But, more importantly, it works tirelessly to differentiate itself from the pack. This game is the kind of sandbox players enjoy diving into, one both forgiving and fun. Yet it’s the brilliant narrative and character work that give Yellow Brick Games’ debut an edge, making you come back run after run.

Taito Milestones 3 from ININ Games represents Taito arcade classics well. While it’s nothing more than a collection of Arcade Archives games, it still is nice to have more bang for your buck all in one place. I wish there was more history added to each game, just giving them more context and beef, but the price doesn’t warrant that type of Atari 50 effort. It’s still a solid collection.

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.

An outstanding example of a modern RPG and tantamount for any PC players with limited experience in Square Enix’s portfolio.

Tales of Graces f Remastered is a wonderful expression of translating a classic JRPG onto modern consoles. Rather than attempt a costly, unnecessary overhaul, Tose and Bandai Namco paid respect to this legacy series by bringing it to a current audience, one made up of series veterans and newcomers. Technically sound and packed with needed quality of life updates, Tales of Graces f has a renewed spotlight–one that may shift to other Tales games in need of this treatment.

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.

Towers of Aghasba a little over a month into its Early Access period holds a massive amount of promise. While some of its survival and crafting pillars will be familiar to anyone who has spent time with the genre, it’s contained in a world packed with a vast amount of surprise and wonder. For a journey that is not even close to being complete, seeing these first steps would make anyone excited for what’s to come. [Early Access Provisional Score = 75]

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.

The world and art of LOK Digital is the perfect example of what an adaptation should be: true to the source, but enhanced by its medium. The gameplay mechanics and art direction both benefit immensely from the video game form. I very much enjoyed playing LOK, but found that the gameplay loop eventually became repetitive. It’s a short game with a simple premise and isn’t the type of thing you should strive to complete all in one go. I suggest spacing out your time as it prevents some frustration and monotony. As I was playing, I thought LOK Digital would be the perfect game to play on the go (in part because of the daily puzzles). Apparently I was not the only one to have this thought; LOK Digital is coming to Android and iOS on January 23rd. If you’re an avid fan of puzzles, I highly recommend checking this one out.

Clone Drone in the Hyperdome from developer Doborog Games is a fun VR experience. It brings some wonderful sword-swinging action and compelling enemies that are a blast to go up against.

Batman: Arkham Shadow from developer Camouflaj is a superb game that honors the Arkham series name. While the world in this game is smaller and more linear than a typical Arkham adventure, the Meta Quest VR version excels in story, execution, and feel.

There’s a heavy focus on an arcade-styled Titan-slaying experience with mind-blowingly exhilarating movement…and little else. This is a game that I can see myself playing and replaying with friends so long as they’re fine with Unbreakable’s quirks.

Ballionaire from developer newobject and publisher Raw Fury is a masterpiece of fast and fun entertainment. It hits all the intriguing and addictive notes with its scoring and strategy while keeping it light and funny to tone down any potential frustration.

Snow Bros. Wonderland from Tatsujin is one fun holiday experience. It’s a good co-op 3D platformer that hits the right notes on variety, mechanics, level design, and writing.

At the end of the day, Rita’s Rewind wins me over on the nostalgia bomb of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers content. It’s the complete audio-visual package of 90s aesthetic with a welcome evolution of the MMPR gameplay loop. Some of this gameplay loop may be frustrating and unforgiving, but it’s still a hell of a lot of fun.

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered is both a time capsule and welcome update to a pair of beloved games that have been shelved for far too long. The longer times goes on, the harder it becomes to preserve titles. Aspyr not only presents the Soul Reaver games relatively untouched but provides worthy updates to ensure the legacy is continued and appreciated. Hopefully, this is the first step towards Legacy of Kain rising from its deep slumber and back into the light.

Delta Force from developer Team Jade is a wonderful free-to-play tactical shooter. It is driven by a massive 64-player online mode featuring gigantic and towering maps, while also containing some reprieve in its Operations mode that is more personal and linear. The game needs a bit more balance in its player selection at the moment, and a controller option, but as of right now it looks to be on the right track.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle from developer MachineGames and publisher Bethesda Softworks is a solid entry into the Indiana Jones game universe. The story is solid, the characters are engaging and intriguing, and the gameplay is well-designed and executed. Not all of it is gold but it’s a great start to another chapter in the Indiana Jones game universe.

The Thaumaturge is a compellingly unique game. It brims with magical realism, intricate writing, and a gripping mystery set in a rarely visited place in history. With clever ideas and a memorable turn-based combat system, players should be able to look past a few shortcomings that would otherwise trip up a less fascinating RPG.

Fantasian Neo Dimension from developer Mistwalker and publisher Square Enix is a fresh concept in how turn-based RPGs should be. It features deeply strategic fighting mechanics, a bevy of enemies to go up against, and a fun story to hold it together. The controls need some improving, and the dialogue could probably be toned down just a bit, but the game has more positives than negatives at the end of the day.

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes from developer Simogo and publisher Annapurna Interactive is still a strange and wonderous direction for Simogo’s post-Sayonara Wild Hearts success. The game still features a beautiful mixture of thick narrative and difficult puzzles that ask a lot of the player but deliver an equal amount of satisfaction by the end. While this won’t be every gamer’s cup of tea, it still delivers a variety of good moments that will keep those interested occupied for a while. It’s a challenging game that doesn’t pull its punches.

Antonblast is a blast, literally. Its high-octane platforming meets speedrunning is a love letter to everything Wario fans love and have wanted for years, but highly more profane and chaotic in all the right ways. Summitsphere’s platformer is not one to miss, folks.

I can’t recommend this game enough. I’m a sucker for good storytelling and mystery-solving. Though a bit short, Mindcop tells a captivating story with interesting characters and unique gameplay mechanics. If you’re the type of person who likes narrative video games and detective work, you will absolutely love Mindcop and its perfectly executed cartoonish noir aesthetic.

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.

I’m left thinking that Parry Nightmare is meant to be a starter bullet hell title for players unfamiliar with the genre – only because of its brevity and simplicity. While it lacks traditional bullet hell variance and depth to ensure replayability, it contains enough nuance to tell an interesting story while the eyes and ears are treated to a stunning art style and jazzy soundtrack.

The Nintendo Switch release of Stray from BlueTwelve Studio features the same great gameplay and challenging puzzles that were featured on prior console releases. While the Switch certainly takes a hit with its graphical limitations and far from comfortable controls, it is still a blast to play Stray at the end of the day.

La Grange and Fireshine Games have created a unique deckbuilder featuring a fresh froggy thematic in the form of Toads of the Bayou. It might need some additional deckbuilding design depth, but it has enough to hold players over for several roguelike runs.

The end result of The Rise of the Golden Idol is one of great success. In the midst of a multitude of puzzles and point-and-click gameplay is a gem that is worthy of the best thinky game of 2024.