You can strongly dislike automatic side scrolling platformers and still love playing Dark Scrolls. I am proof in the proverbial pudding – I struggled to put it down. What sets Dark Scrolls apart from other platformers is its focus on simplicity. It’s a great co-op platformer that’s merely held back by its balance and relatively punishing progression. Its charm and co-op chaos will win you over the next time you want a party game to play with your friends!

UFC 6 from EA Sports is a fun improvement on many levels from previous releases in the series. It’s easier to get into, exciting to play, and offers enough modes to make this a long-term experience.

Thank You for Your Application, from developer Ice Lemon Tea Studio, is a cognitively engaging 2D logical deduction gameplay experience that is simple on the surface but complicated underneath.

Swapmeat won me over on its chaos, silliness, and replayability. Its grotesque meat swapping mechanics kept me on my toes in building wild looking yet wildly powerful meaty monsters.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millenium Tales is the closest thing to a modern take on classic Zelda games I’ve played during the past two generations of consoles. It scratches that itch of bite-sized dungeon crawling and puzzle-solving that Nintendo has effortlessly refined over the past few decades. Best yet, it showcases the beauty of 2.5D pixel art that Square Enix has successfully implemented across its other turn-based JRPGs over the past few years. If nothing else, Elliot is a romp worthy of your time.

The 7th Guest Remake in VR and non-VR is exceptionally entertaining. The game contains a beautifully unsettling storyline, challenging puzzles, and various ways to be creeped out. It’s a gorgeous remake that is worth a look.

The Caribou Trail from developers Unreliable Narrators and ManaVoid is an emotional and revealing experience about the horrors of World War I and what soldiers went through. It’s not for the weak of heart, nor is it for those looking for their next first-person shooter fix.

Overall, Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker weaves together a sprawling story in which your choices actually matter. Depending on how you play, who you befriend, and what rumor-driven quests you build, you’ll see different outcomes and endings. That may not be revolutionary on its own, but combined with everything else – the charm, the autonomy, the genuine representation – it feels earned.

World of Tanks: HEAT from developer Wargaming Group Limited is a good F2P game that offers fun modes, good customization, and a short stint of good MP matches. While the vanilla version of this game isn’t quite packed with a huge variety of modes, it still is a good way to have some dumb fun.

Buffet Knight – Decadent Full Course from developer Nowis-337 Games is a firm and welcome reminder that classic RPG constructs are still entertaining and worth the journey. While it doesn’t break new ground on old soil, it grows and delivers a good harvest that is simple to cook and enjoy.

Realm of Ink, from developer Leap Studio, is a deeply entertaining action roguelike that excels through its visuals, stacked buff system, and variety of customizable elements.

Swan Song‘s humble and inviting atmosphere creates an environment for an emotional narrative and challenging puzzles. Despite a simple premise, its music box delivery evolves in clever ways to ensure the player has a growing sense of accomplishment.

Square Enix has pushed the console to its limit With Final Fantasy VII: REBIRTH on the Switch 2. It’s most evident when exploring some environments, but none of these issues impact the stellar gameplay that has kept players engaged all this time.

Mina the Hollower is one of the best and most challenging games to come out in 2026. It brings great level design, balanced backend gameplay, and delivers plenty of ways to enjoy it.

Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition brings the newest Tales title to Switch 2 owners in a complete fashion, albeit one that is not the most optimized for the hardware. It remains a compelling, engaging, and gorgeously designed action-RPG despite its execution.

Even if Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is not for you, it’s hard to ignore the immense creativity that Good-Feel and Nintendo packed into this game. This puzzle platformer gives the player the warmest of hugs – hugs that make the player forget about their worries and leaves them with a big ol’ grin.

Forza Horizon 6 is everything you want in a driving game. It’s big, beautiful, and backs up what it boasts. This is a top-tier racing experience.

Psyvariar 3 will remain installed on my Nintendo Switch 2 for quite a while simply because of its engaging, highly-difficult, yet highly-rewarding gameplay loop of grazing bullets and racking up high scores. It falls short in the graphical department, but it makes up for it in properly executing a bullet hell that caters for those who want a true shmup challenge.

SoulQuest is a fun hack-and-slash adventure that harkens back to NES days, while also offering new ways to make this more than a button-mashing fest.

Starfield crystallizes the good and less good quintessential to Bethesda’s DNA over the last few decades. Finally arriving on PlayStation 5, the studio’s first new IP in forever is open to a wider audience, beckoning players to find themselves lost.

For a well-made beat ‘em up featuring a healthy mix of well-known and underrated MARVEL characters, Cyclops and the Thing are great additions to the roster. They fit well without being dramatically overpowered, they synergize well, and they are just plain fun. I wish they had a greater presence in Cosmic Invasion, but their addition makes an already replayable game even more so. For four bucks, you can easily get several hours of fun out of these two new characters.

Replaced from Sad Cat Studios is a masterclass on how 2.5D pixel action-adventure games should be designed and executed.

Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen is a good game for younger gamers. It contains a familiar cast of characters, a positive and fun set of worlds to explore, and just enough challenge to make it interesting and engaging. This isn’t built for hardcore gamers, but it is built for gamers just getting into their gaming groove.

Bubsy 4D appears to get the joke. The never-a-mascot bobcat has been around for decades, scraping for relevance. And after 30 years, this game isn’t going to move the needle much. It is absolutely a competent platformer but is that truly enough? Everyone around Bubsy seems apathetic if not outright dismissive to his existence, so it shouldn’t be a surprise I feel the same way. And hey, maybe that’s the point?

Luna Abyss uses the framework of a first-person shooter as an easy pill to swallow down its distinctly bizarre existence. In this universe of gripping, alien weirdness, players may get lost in an obtuse plot that gleefully plays with expectations as layer after layer is uncovered for meaning. All the while, it is a bullet hell that works to feed new mechanics to the player keeping them as equally engaged with the gameplay as they are with the narrative. Though strange, it’s difficult not to be transfixed by what Luna Abyss has to offer.

Atomic Owl is a beautifully drawn and well-orchestrated platformer that wavers between a punishing retro 2D sidescroller and a roguelike. If it had made a bolder stab at one of those genres, perhaps its gameplay would feel meaningful. For now, there are other roguelike platformers that are deserving of your time.

NITRO GEN OMEGA from developer DESTINYbit is a unique open-world turn-based experience that offers more than expected. It’s fast, intense, and requires the player to do one helluva fun mech juggling act.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, from developer MachineGames and publisher Bethesda Softworks, brings the same great story, gameplay, and adventure to the Nintendo Switch 2. It might have a slight drop in visuals, but it delivers on all other gameplay fronts.

Invincible VS from developer Quarter Up is an impressive fighting game that plays it safe in some areas, but exceeds expectations in others. The mix of story content that launches into 3v3 battles is seamless as it is entertaining. The game isn’t perfect by any means, but it’s more impressive than it is not.

Directive 8020 is not without a handful of recognizable flaws and quirks that have been present in Supermassive Games’ horror titles for a decade. But the shift into science fiction is one of the many necessary changes to the formula. By toying with player expectations, this involved, character-driven horror fest emerges as one of the strongest entries in the Dark Pictures Anthology, laying the ground for a potentially enthralling Season Two.

Call of the Elder Gods pulls from Lovecraftian mythos to create a pulpy adventure game packed with head-scratching puzzles and plenty of intrigue. While it works to build off of 2020’s Call of the Sea, it doesn’t take advantage of its multiple protagonists in interesting ways. Though the complex solutions can clash with the pace, Out of the Blue’s fascinating world ultimately makes for a brisk journey that begs for a concluding chapter that goes all out, answering all the secrets planted throughout the series.

Motorslice from developer Regular Studio is a huge game that has a thick layer of good world-building that will hook and engage players throughout the experience. It also has tricky parkour that is hindered by loose controls at times, and a shallow sense of direction once the player gets going.

Dead as Disco has a distinct vision for what it wants to be and ultimately, it’s a wildly entertaining first step. Early Access is the perfect opportunity for Brain Jar Games to release its rhythm-based beat ’em up into the wild and work with players while they take this concept to its current limits. As engaging as most of its Idol fights are right now, the true gem of Dead as Disco is going to be its custom mode where players fight to the beat of their own music. Ripe for content, I think this one may turn out to be a hit.

Everything is Crab: The Animal Evolution Roguelite from developer Odd Dreams Digital is a marvel to behold. It’s fun, enormous in the number of directions the player can take the gameplay, and it’s easily replayable. It’s one of my top 10 games of 2026 so far.

On the basis of the shifted gameplay loop involving racing against the clock, Fate of the Phoenix presents a more hectic, difficult, yet rewarding way to play Europa Universalis V.

Crimson Desert is almost impossible not to recommend in its past, present, or future state for anyone who has a fondness for open-world games. There are numerous ways myself or others could add or subtract to make it the most ideal personal RPG. But because Pearl Abyss has provided us with so many tools already, it’s hard not to appreciate and soak up the boundless freedom provided here. I’m absolutely curious what it will look like in the fall after months of tinkering have settled in. Maybe co-op will get added, maybe it will just be more pets. Either way, it’s hard to deny the resounding success Crimson Desert is right now.

Bandit Trap from developer PICOMY is a fun multiplayer game that creates a unique, two-sided challenge between home invaders and homeowners. The 3v1 gameplay is simple and fun, though it is still going through some growing pains.

Mullet Madjack is a diamond in the rough of a boomer shooter, perfect for anyone wanting an arcade like experience within a stylishly artistic neon setting. One year after its original release on PC, it remains a must-have for any Nintendo Switch owner wanting the cartoonish violence of a boomer shooter without a need for arbitrary precision. It’s a bloody fantastic time.

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.

Aphelion treads familiar waters for anyone who has played an action adventure game in a post-Uncharted world. But its emotional and grounded narrative about the search for hope is potent enough to look past many shortcomings.

Ground Zero, from developer Malformation Games, is a tip-of-the-hat to classic survival horror times, and well-executed with story and gameplay.

The Day I Became a Bird, from developer Hyper Luminal Games Ltd., is a fun, adorable visual novel adventure that features a fair amount of well-placed gameplay and a good dose of creative and nostalgic flavor to it. It’s a short journey, though, clocking in at 1.5 hours.

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.

OPUS Prism Peak from developer SIGONO, INC. brings one solid narrative to the gaming table. It features humor, drama, compelling characters, and a worthy journey for the player to take on. All of this is wrapped in simple gameplay elements that don’t take the adventure too far away from the story.

As the game progressed, you unlocked new weapons. Despite having a variety of firearms, I found myself really sticking to 2-3 guns the whole game. The guns unlocked in later portions of the game felt more cumbersome than useful. I think of a game like Bioshock Infinite that shows you a little animation after you receive a new ability. This animation helps the player learn the extent of the abilities, and I think this would have been helpful for the equipment in Mouse. Despite their flaws mechanically, they look beautiful, and their names are fantastic. The Tommy gun in this world is a “James Gun”, come on, that’s just good old-fashioned comedy.

Saros pushes the envelope on multiple fronts, changing the roguelike genre in ways that’s more player-friendly than ever while taking advantage of the PS5’s DualSense controller in novel fashions. It’s near perfect in several ways, even if its story lacks the satisfaction that its gunplay otherwise provides.

Tides of Tomorrow is a wonderful game that brings a balance of fantastic branching dialogue and consequences of that dialogue, while also creating some meaningful and solid interactive gameplay that complements those dialogue choices. The game feels very well planned and executed.

Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege from developer Lillymo Games is a tip of the hat to an 8-bit era that featured fun side-scrolling adventure titles, while also sporting some rage-quitting encouragement through challenging gameplay. The devs brought that nostalgic gameplay to life on a modern console and delivered on promises of an 8-bit NES experience.

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss feels like a breath of fresh air to Lovecraft’s body of work. It revels in forcing the player to parse through the madness, unraveling the unfathomable questions of places and being we are not meant to understand. Wrapped in cosmic horror like an offering to the Old Gods, this is a claustrophobic journey that respects the player’s intelligence in putting the pieces together to solve eerie mysteries and hopefully not succumbing to the influence of insanity.

The Rogue Prince of Persia’s fluid traversal, gorgeous art style, and satisfying combat make it a promising roguelike platformer. What it lacks in endgame content and variety it makes up for in a game that has now set the gold standard for what traversal should be for all platformers going forward. With its physical release and imminent free content updates, now might be the best time to try Evil Empire’s take on a Prince of Persia title.

Regions of Ruin: Runegate, from developer Gameclaw Studio, is an absolute treat to play. The story is great, the action is simple, and the open-world questing and RPG elements make for a worthwhile gaming time.

Little Nemo and the Guardians of Slumberland is a fantastic 2D platformer/Metroidvania that is far deeper and more entertaining than it appears, and should satisfy any gamer looking for a non-linear adventure.

Pragmata is a remarkably high bar for players who wish to bond with the characters they embody. And for a new IP, Capcom succeeds by confidently not playing it safe. Third-person perspectives have become so fundamental for narrative-based games asking players to be absorbed in their worlds, undertaking the raw emotions their characters are inflicted with. Yet rarely does a game twist the formula in such a way that feels wholly unique and capitalizes on the traits of its individual protagonists. Pragmata is able to deliver an action game with a beating heart and a warm soul because Hugh and Diana are extensions of the player, sharing in their struggles and their emotional triumphs.

GRIME II from developer Clover Bite and publisher Kwalee is a massive Metroidvania that is driven by its creativity and storytelling, backed up by amazing visuals and soundtrack, and does everything on the gameplay side that you would expect from the genre it lives within. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s worthy of your time.

TAMASHIKA is borderline experimental. Therefore, it won’t be for everyone. A pure first-person shooter that holds no ambitions of plot or extended play. Developer quicktequila asks little of the player outside of growth. Whether that growth comes from patience or hardened reaction forge from repetition, the result is the same. Its kaleidoscope of feedback, colors, sounds, and stuff smother the player, gnaw at them. Like a chant, it summons you. Stay a bit, leave, come back. Things will be different but the thrill will be the same.

People of Note proves that turn-based RPGs can offer synergistic fun as long as care is given to both the combat and the content. By centering the game around its musical core, Iridium Studios pays off their efforts in dividends. Not only is the narrative heartfelt and the combat engaging, the creativity used in incorporating song constantly surprises, making People of Note just as catchy as its catalog of earworms.

STAR WARS: Dark Forces Remaster, from developers Nightdive Studios and LucasFilm Games, brings back a very 90s first-person shooter experience with new quality of life improvements. While the gameplay may not be to some players’ liking or up to modern-day standards, it successfully preserves what made this game good in the 90s.

ChainStaff is a game of excess. And that excess is packed into a tight package of constantly surprising and bizarre creatures that often defy explanation. Enough creativity is stretched over the surface of the game to forge its own direction. Using a parasitic alien’s veined weapon as a tool to Tarzan past grotesque worlds and entities is nothing you can say about almost any other game. It may get chaotic and illegible at times but when it’s so gnarly, who cares?

RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic from Atari brings what it promises to the table – a classic. Building, maintaining, and improving an amusement park while not trying to lose attendees is such an addictive gameplay experience, even if it doesn’t hit all the modern gaming notes perfectly.

Dying Light: The Beast Restored Land continues Techland’s tradition of meaningful post-launch content and support for its games. Here, players can tackle Castor Woods with a new hardcore, solo survival mode along with a slew of updates for the base game. Taking advantage of Dying Light‘s signature parkour movement and crunchy combat, Restored Land is a fantastic vehicle to dive into Dying Light: The Beast no matter your experience with the franchise.

Outside of Defiance Remastered‘s improvements and additions, this is still very much a game of the early-2000s, warts and all. Crystal Dynamics had an engaging combat system and a complex narrative. But there’s still a tendency for fights to become repetitive, especially when Kain and Raziel aren’t vastly different from each other mechanically. The story might still bounce around in frustrating or confusing ways. Levels may go on for longer than you wish. But it is still very much a piece of gaming history that many hope will eventually see a resurgence.

Super Meat Boy 3D is a thrillingly apt interpretation of the original Super Meat Boy. Those who loved Meat Boy’s squelching, sticky jumps in 2D would be hard-pressed not to fall in love with the same brutal execution in 3D. While some precision and legibility gets lost in translation to varying degrees of success, the wealth of content and homage is retained. Team Meat’s reverence for the genre is unmatched and I can’t wait to keep exploding in a hail of meat for years to come.

Basketball Classics from developer Namo Gamo and publisher Acclaim, Inc., is a fun 8-bit basketball experience that is simple in its design and execution. While not perfect, it still maintains the essence of some of the best and earliest times of video game basketball gameplay experiences.

Last Man Sitting from developer DoubleMoose Games and publisher Raw Fury is a fun and simple shooter with a ridiculous theme, as well as a bevy of customization and upgrade options. The gameplay is short and repetitive, but the price point helps justify it.

If you’ve ever wanted to feel satisfaction from a coin pushing machine, RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike will give you the hope, joy, and endless chaos that the real thing couldn’t. It’s a Balatro-fied coin pusher roguelike that’ll keep you chasing the highs of raining coins for hours on end.

Marathon is a game but it is also a statement piece. One that brazenly pushes against the player, creating friction where we usually would expect none. This is not a kind extraction shooter. It is violent, ruthless, and exacting. Players clash with each other in the promise of exponential, evolving power and, much like its AI counterparts, have no qualms about taking their pound of flesh. By design, Bungie has created something confident and singular. And by definition, those are the types of products that will ostracize and exclude. Only at those weakest moments is the player able to capitalize on their own survival instinct and take charge, using the provided tools to complete the cycle and escape into the heavens. You merely have to want it.

DAMON and Baby from developer Arc System Works contains a bevy of fun gameplay elements across different genres that work more than they don’t. The action can get a bit frustrating at times, but big multi-tiered maps, interesting weapons, and a cooking system help to push past that frustration. It’s a good game that has a lot to offer players.

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is a near-complete collection of the Nintendo DS’ Mega Man titles. Featuring welcome quality of life benefits, new-and-improved (for the most part) audio/visuals, along with online play, it’s a must-have for a Mega Man fan wanting to replay some of the best titles in the series’ history.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage is the same, already great 3D fighting experience that PC players got last year and fans of Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown have been familiar with since 2021. It brings Nintendo Switch 2 owners to parity with crossplay and rollback netcode, meaning that it should be easier than ever to find an online opponent.

MLB The Show 26 from developer San Diego Studio and publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment is a solid improvement from last year’s game, with more data inclusion, smoother career decision-making, and better backend gameplay refinements. While not a huge leap from the previous year, it’s still a good release with enough reason to consider it, especially if you’re a new player who doesn’t have last year’s game.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach on the PC brings the same epic story, fantastic gameplay, and unrivaled visuals. It’s quite an achievement for PC gaming.

The Coin Game from developer devotid and publisher Kwalee is a fun game, especially if you love those ticket arcade gaming experiences. The games are methodically created, fun, and addictive. The two main modes, Survival and Birthday, are just different enough to enjoy a variety of gameplay experiences depending on one’s mood. The game does have its faults, but it has more good than not.

Minishoot’ Adventures avoids being a shameless ripoff of classic Zelda by incorporating twin-stick shooter elements into its fluid gameplay. Tackling friendly bullet hell enemies is made more exciting through a colorful world packed with a flood of rewards and a constant feeling of discovery, making this brisk adventure enticingly unique.

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.

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando obviously has echoes of titles like Left 4 Dead and Back 4 Blood in it. As a cooperative horde shooter it doesn’t stray from the pack in a way that is too experimental to prevent casual fun. Despite the gritty and realistic aesthetic, the open-ended maps offer numerous engaging objectives meant to challenge groups of players. By combining familiar elements of character classes and tangible upgrades, Saber Interactive has borrowed from its best titles to create a cohesive power climb that is best with friends biting back with enough fangs that challenges are fresh and fun.

Resident Evil Requiem is a return to old-school Resident Evil structure with new-school flavor. It’s a more compact and claustrophobic experience compared to the previous title, while bringing dual stories, intense action, and horror, and a proper number of puzzles into the mix.

Sumerian Six fills a very niche hole that few developers have capitalized on. Its six characters and complex maps give players a wealth of options to creatively take out power-hungry Nazis, where careful planning is the best reward.

Overall, the puzzles are clever, increasingly challenging, and packed with humor and personality. Yes, ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard takes a page out of the Portal handbook, but it does it respectfully well.

Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is a valuable sequel because it gently expands on what made the original impactful, avoiding bloated excess. A constant flood of evocative imagery and powerful emotion provides players with a gorgeous world to become lost in and care for its inhabitants. Never resting on the laurels of puzzle mechanics and instilling its characters with depth and gravitas, Children of the Leaf cements itself as one of the best cinematic platformers of its kind.

Dead in Antares, from developer Ishtar Games and publisher Nacon, is an impressive game that is led by survival management, player choice, and paying attention to crew members’ attributes and stats. The gameplay lies within its details and depends on players making a logical decision on how best to keep the crashed crew alive in the game. It can be overwhelming for those uninitiated to the series, but it’s impressive nonetheless.

Death Howl is a ferocious meditation on using difficulty as a crucible for improvement. It takes the mechanics of deck building and twists them in enough clever configurations that players will stare death in the face and relish in triumph. More so, this is a exquisite looking game drenched in mysticism that ruminates on the struggle we all face with acceptance of loss, transforming a game about cards into a truly enjoyable work.

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.

Crisol: Theater of Idols, from developer Vermila Studios and publisher Blumhouse Games, is a good game that brings a gorgeous, yet horrifying world to life in a reimagined Spain. The game introduces some interesting mechanics that players will either love or have a tough time with, which may affect their gameplay experience. Still, it’s a solid game that, at the very least, tries to take a different FPS route.

Sons of Sparta‘s heart still beats true despite these issues. It embraces the retro aesthetic and even brings Bear McCreary back for a chiptune score. It uses the Greek backdrop to inspire nostalgia for the series’ roots, paying respect with a new visual style. For many it will be the combat and exploration that bring up the biggest points of contention, not the youthful take on Kratos. But Sons of Sparta proves that PlayStation franchises can be iterated on in experimental, exciting ways.

Rayman – 30th Anniversary Edition, from developer Digital Eclipse and publisher Ubisoft, shows off the original game on various platforms. While there is no doubt some repetitiveness with seeing the same game repeatedly on various systems, the collection still brings some good video game history and some fantastic gameplay.

Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse is a more refined and fun journey than the previous entry in the series. It brings a spooky and entertaining narrative that works well with more focused gameplay elements that the series is improving upon.

Absolum has received an incredible shot in the arm with its new Threads of Fate update. While the core experience already proved that Dotemu, Guard Crush, and Supamonks have made one of the best beat ’em ups in recent years, providing players with new difficulty and run modifiers adds more life to an already healthy game. Just as fantastic as it was when it released in 2025, this newest patch provides an incredible reason for anyone to check out what Absolum has to offer.

Hungry Horrors, from developer Clumsy Bear Studio, is a card-based joy to play. It’s engaging, wonderfully circular in its design, and an easy game to revisit regularly. The difficulty might turn some gamers away, but once that hill is climbed, it’s a brilliantly built game that will be tough to put down.

Under the Island, from developer Slime King Games, gives a firm tip-of-the-hat with its design and execution to games like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Under the Island contains good action, sometimes difficult puzzles, and a hefty amount of exploration to keep one’s attention firmly locked into the gameplay. The difficulty of some of the puzzles might feel a bit unbalanced and heavy, in comparison to the action, but the payoff feels worth that trouble.

Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land from developer Exquisite Laundry Pet LLC harkens back to a simpler RPG time while adding some worthwhile questing, good turn-based action, and some clever humor.

LOVE ETERNAL breaks through numerous boundaries in its short time. Deemed a horror platformer, developer brlka posits a game that can be multiple things at once, transcending expectations. Primarily a deeply challenging game about jumping, LOVE ETERNAL uses narrative as a way to wedge itself between the player and predictability, evolving into a thrilling work of entertainment.

Rainbow Gate is a good survival horror adventure that combines all the right elements of different horror games from the past. It brings a familiar story while sporting familiar gameplay elements that players might have seen before, but it is nonetheless fun to revisit and experience.

Super Bomberman Collection from developer Red Art Games and publisher Konami is a good collection that maintains the wonderfulness of some classic Bomberman titles, reignites the fun competitiveness included in them, and lays the groundwork for more classic Konami titles to come back to life in a modern gaming world. The collection may not have every great Bomberman title in it, but what you do get is darn good.

BlazBlue Entropy Effect X brings the stellar roguelite by way of fighting game to a broader audience. Incorporating a massive roster with deep combat turns it into one of the genre’s flashiest and most entertaining spectacles.

Romeo is a Dead Man is classic Suda51–an irreverent fever dream that constantly threatens to topple any notion of what a game can or should be. By challenging expectations, the game certainly has the potential to be polarizing to a wide swath of players. Yet there is a method to the madness and sometimes the most insane approach can make for the most enjoyable journeys.

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.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a delight of a remake, retaining the core story that you and I love alongside a new combat system that makes battles more fluid and frenetic than ever before. Dark Ties is an excellent side story, albeit one far darker in contrast to Yakuza’s tried-and-true storytelling thematics.

I’m thrilled that Switch 2 owners get a chance to enjoy the OG Switch’s best games, but whether or not the Switch 2 update breathes life into Animal Crossing: New Horizons remains to be seen. The 12-player online play is nice in theory, but it’s far from enjoyable thanks to Nintendo’s archaic approach to online play. The Megaphone and mouse-capability are nice-to-have changes, taking some of the pain out from relying on Joy-Cons for minute adjustments. The biggest benefits of the Switch 2 upgrade are its pro-consumer pricing and its utilization of the console’s processing power.