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.