For everything Rage 2 does right, there’s another thing hindering it from being great.

Fort Triumph is a perfectly serviceable game built on an interesting blend of concepts.

Exit the Gungeon is an extremely simple and repetitive rogue-like that doesn't feel worthwhile as a PC or console experience.

While I don’t see this as a game that will revitalize the genre, if you are looking to scratch an itch after playing Golf Story, this will be your game.

Remember the old adage, less is more. But I still would have liked a little more. There’s always room for pudding. Just saying…

Just Cause 4 had so much more potential than the final product we were given.

The PlayStation 5 release of Starfield was the game's second chance, one where it could have been shaped by player feedback, kept out of Baldur's Gate 3's shadow, and shown to a whole new audience in a fresh light. That chance has been wasted, as what's here isn't that much different from the 2023 release. Starfield is somehow bloated and yet empty, overly complex and yet lacking. It's a universe of wasted potential, one that struggles to get the player invested in its reams of content. It's not a bad game by any means, but it's definitely lacking in substance, and anyone seeking an experience with the same level of depth and engagement as Bethesda's previous outings will want to look elsewhere.

Man of Medan is built from the same mold as Until Dawn, but the writing lost a bit of charm on the way, and the technical performance hinders the game greatly. After multiple playthroughs of the game, I’m still left with several questions—not about the story, or about what’s next to come for The Dark Pictures, but about the sustainability of this long-term eight-game project. Is one game every six months too much of a workload? Will there be enough variety to keep the tropes from being stale? And will these neat co-operative modes be good fits for whatever story is to come?

During my entire playthrough of The Precinct, the things that bothered me the most were rarely the base game, but the elements layered over it. This could have been a great, unassuming game about checking parking meters and occasionally trading shots, but the need to add more bombastic elements waters down the parts where The Precinct actually excels. In an ideal world, Fallen Tree Games drops some patches focusing on the quality of features rather than quantity. The Precinct is a lukewarm dish served after waiting for 2 hours. I don't hate it, and I'll still eat it because I'm hungry, but every bite reminds me of how good it could have been if they'd just done it right. As it is now, you're better off chasing your cop fix elsewhere.

The storytelling and unravelling mysteries at the heart of this game is the elixir that keeps the camera rolling in its neat runtime, but the clumsy basic controls and mundane filler scenes hold the survival horror back from truly being a horrific work of art.

Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey begins 10 million years in the past and puts you in control of our evolutionary forefathers. You must guide them on their path toward humanity, which means teaching them how to fish, how to hunt, and how to walk on two legs. Ancestors executes its vision of our evolutionary past with care, but it just isn’t very fun to play.

Once again, Madden NFL 26 overpromises and underdelivers. The new updates to Franchise mode and the general gameplay are nice, but let's be honest: the core issues are still there. This is a house with a shoddy foundation, only excelling at delivering a disappointing football experience. It's the only game in town for the NFL, so there's sadly nowhere else to go. I'll still probably begrudgingly play on occasion, but only when I want to enact revenge after the Patriots lose.

Stifled is absolutely not the best indie horror game on the market, but I have to respect it for what it brings to the table. While the game is short and the frustration can – at times – be palpable, Stifled is a smart and satisfying game (especially for anyone invested in VR setups).

Pokémon Champions feels like a work in progress, in a bad way. While the battles are fine and the QoL improvements are a godsend, there's a distinct feeling that the product is unfinished and lacks vital content that will be rationed over time. Throw in the bugs, and the result is a game that I might want to check out in six months or a year, but doesn't have enough quality content to attract me now.​​​​​​​

While the commitment HumaNature Studios made to make an actual sequel to the original ToeJam & Earl is commendable, the gameplay just feels way too dated. ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is truly the sequel fans were probably waiting for, it’s just 20 years too late.

Warden's Will feels like a beta of the next great multiplayer shooter, but its nowhere near the level of its inspirations. It's very fun to move around, dodge attacks, and try to get a build going, but this game feels so dull and slow at times that it's painful to get to the fun part. Charging transmitters takes forever, upgrades are a slow burn, enemies take a long time to die, and this only gets better once you've permanently upgraded to the point where your friends will never keep up with you. The aesthetics and music are nice, and all the characters feel incredibly polished and well-thought-out, but the underlying gameplay and progression leave a lot to be desired.

The presentation and atmosphere on offer are fantastic, but Othercide's gameplay sadly cannot match. So much potential that's regrettably not well utilised.

Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition brings together five different versions of the classic Ubisoft platformer. The presentation and design of the package is stellar, acting almost like a living museum to celebrate the game's impeccable legacy. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of variety here between each game variation, and it feels like there could have been more time spent on polishing up Rayman 2 and 3 for inclusion. As it stands, Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition is a great celebration of the first game, but leaves out his most entertaining adventures.

For tackling such a large real-life issue, Falcon Age doesn’t add enough gravity to its story.

While I enjoyed my time with the single-player campaign in Marvel’s Avengers–which surprised me with its warmth, fun, and energy–its multiplayer components haven’t quite come together just yet. As a game that revolves around assembling its team of iconic heroes, Marvel’s Avengers at this time still feels a bit at odds with itself. Granted, Crystal Dynamics clearly is planning to make this experience evolve over time with the introduction of new heroes and storylines into its online modes, so the Marvel’s Avengers a year from now may look very different than today. For now, we’ll have to see if these heroes can find a way to regroup to face the challenges ahead.

The concept is great, but it’s not executed properly. The prologue is fantastic, but it’s not the representative of the whole game. The multiplayer is present, but it’s not great. Because of this potential and given the fact that it’s an only-online game, right now, I view it as a disappointment. I really hope that Question updates the game and improves it as time goes on.

There’s value here, for sure, as a visceral stomp through a beloved fantasy world that offers the rare luxury of being entirely playable alongside a friend. It’s swift, slashy, and simple, but comparing it to other games of this era that have been ported to modern platforms – Okami, Resident Evil Remaster, and Silent Hills 3 and 4, to name a few – you’re paying double to quadruple the price. Buying it at this price point feels like it could set a precedent that shouldn’t be supported, tempting though it may be…

I'm bummed that Hirogami didn't hit for me like I'd expected it to. There are lots of cool ideas and mechanics here that feel fresh and exciting, and different challenges for each level give you lots to strive for. Unfortunately, the platforming eventually starts to feel frustrating due to bad checkpointing, questionable hitboxes, and ultimate lack of variety. Combat is frequent, repetitive, and ended up feeling like a chore. There's heart and charm here, and I think a sequel could eventually turn this into a viable franchise. As it stands, however, Hirogami isn't a must-play.

While Aladdin got a fairly decent treatment in the Disney Classic Games port, The Lion King is left just as barebones and hard as the original.

I Hate This Place had a lot going for it, with a unique setting, an interesting isometric layout, and crafting at its core. However, it doesn't reach its full potential, and all of its systems are lackluster, resulting in an experience that is underwhelming overall. The resource economy is broken, the day and night cycle feels pointless, and the controls on consoles are so frustrating that the end result is headache-inducing, rather than an enjoyable experience. There are some moments of greatness, especially in its stealth gameplay and paranormal environments, where the exciting nature of the survival horror genre shines through, but those moments are quickly fleeting. I do recommend I Hate This Place to survival horror fans if there is nothing else to play and they're on a budget, but I wouldn't go into this game expecting the next big thing.

While the developers did squeeze as much potential as their studio could out of this concept, to sometimes remarkable results, Kingdom Come: Deliverance may have been a tad too bit ambitious for them on a technical level.

Worms Rumble comes just in time to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary with a fun and chaotic albeit very bare-bones entry.

Is Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX a must-buy? No. Is Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX a good remake? Yes. Could more have been done with such a promising story, rather than giving a fifteen-year-old game a fresh coat of paint? Almost definitely.

It’s a shame many quality-of-life improvements that could have been made to Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles aren’t present in this Remastered Edition.

One Piece: World Seeker is a solid attempt at an open-world licensed anime game but the same attention to world building isn't applied to its gameplay to craft something that's truly memorable.

While there was fun to be had with the absolute bonkers nature of Slam Land, the fun ran out very quickly. It soon became evident that the mechanics were half-baked, and the disorientation that the game depends on for fun eventually turns into annoyance.

The story is as absurd as you’d expect from a game bringing together Marvel and Capcom characters and trying to make it coherent.

Sea of Thieves is a mixed bag of emotions for me. It’s a great social experience to play with a group of friends and sail on the prettiest water you will ever see in a video game. It’s also bogged down by tedious and repetitive voyages that reward you with meager pay. When you can eventually purchase an item, it will only affect how you look. If that is the case, it seems puzzling that I can’t create a character I want to flaunt to any passerby. There is enjoyment to be found in Sea of Thieves, but not enough to keep you interested in the long term.

What seemed to be the most disappointing aspect of H1Z1: Battle Royale was its stubbornness to conform to different play styles.

La Quimera would have benefitted from a few more months in the oven to smooth out some of the issues I found during my playthrough, but it also has a solid technical base that it could build on. The weapons, setting and world are outstanding, and while the combat feels like a chore in a lot of levels, it's nothing that a balancing pass cannot fix in future updates. I don't know what Reburn's plans for the game in the future are, and while I can understand if they are ready to move onto the next project, it would be great to capitalize a little more on the strong points of La Quimera. New levels that make the story not feel as aggressively short would go a long way toward making it feel like a fully realized game. For now, this project has given us a taste of what Reburn is capable of, and I'm waiting for the company's future endeavors to incorporate lessons learned from La Quimera's failings. Hopefully, by then we won't have to factor a war into the development process.

While it may remind you of your fond memories of the anime, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a drag that fails to entertain for its duration. Its repetitious gameplay, odd systems, and abridged storytelling lack the heart the anime had. If you’re a big fan of Dragon Ball Z, you might have some fun with Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. But if you’ve never experienced the Z Fighters’ epic adventures, there are better action RPGs out there to play.

This re-release of the 2007 Wii horror game has echoes of what make this classic horror series great, but is stifled by a lumbering pace, cumbersome controls, and lack of genuine scares.

Remnant's story conclusion ends with more of a whimper than a bang. The core gameplay remains solid, but the new additions fail to impress.

Drawn to Life: Two Realms presents an interesting premise and an occasionally charming world, but never quite lives up to any of it.

Despite its technical prowess and stunning visuals, The Medium is a drag. From slow, uninteresting gameplay to a confusing and poorly executed story, Bloober Team's latest makes for a good tech demo, but not much else.

SpongeBob SquarePants nails the feeling of the source material and it does a great job of replicating the free and fancy fun of those old-school platformers. That being said, it's not a great game, at least if you're over the age of 12. It's lacking in challenge, it's rather short, and there's very little replay value. For the younger players who haven't been jaded by this wonderful and wicked industry, it's a serviceable platformer with authentic voice acting that gives players a chance to be part of their favorite show. For everybody else, it's a short distraction that had the potential to be so much more.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master provides a very linear open world experience that only becomes fun after a few hours, and even then, will continue to provide missions that are either frustratingly specific or boringly easy. It may appeal to the hardcore racing game enthusiasts with a full racing sim setup, but for people who play these games on a controller and sit down to have a fun time, this game will feel mind-numbing at times. It has moments that shine through, and the arcade controls feel pretty satisfying, but it doesn't make for a great game.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light lays the foundations for the Fire Emblem games of present, unfortunately, however, as a 30-year-old game, feels incredibly obtuse and slow and really shows its age.

Mechanically, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is a good game, and I'd even risk calling it one of the best multiplayer shooters to come out this year in that regard. The problem is that mechanics are tools, and the game they are subordinate to is a poor artisan. Between the uninspired futuristic aesthetics and the nonsensical campaign, it's upsetting to see that this is what Call of Duty could come up with after the strongest release in over a decade. All the fun of Zombies is not enough to spare Black Ops 7 from being the worst game in the franchise, and the only saving grace is that it might serve as a cautionary tale about complacency when managing popular franchises.

Towa And The Guardians Of The Sacred Tree is sadly a frustrating, repetitive, poorly balanced experience. It's a shame, because there is a decent amount of heart present, backdropped by beautiful designs and a stellar soundtrack. Unfortunately, the gameplay loop quickly becomes completely mindless, combat is a chore, bosses feel cheap, and your game clock counter just keeps going up while the emotions of the story never hit. There are some nice ideas here, but the execution and implementation still does not lend itself to an enjoyable Roguelite title at all.

Gear.Club Unlimited is not a very good game. It’s not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination, but not even it’s impressive car visuals can save it from being just an incredibly average racing game.

The first 30 minutes of Calamity Angels hooked me. The tension system seemed like a great novelty for turn-based combat, and the contrasting character archetypes brought fun personalities. Unfortunately, the game spent the next 10 hours spinning its wheels, forgoing any gameplay development and turning its entire runtime into a mind-numbing loop. If Compile Heart had fully fleshed out its own innovations, Calamity Angels: Special Delivery could have been a compelling game, but as it stands, it is just a shallow and forgettable experience.

Cat Quest II is a fun romp, but the thrills on offer are a bit shallow.

My time with Tales of the Shire has been a frustrating mix of small dopamine hits when progressing each morning, to dragging myself to the finish line of a day after exhausting everything I need to do. The constant crashes and lack of an autosave have put me in quite an anxious state for a cozy game, as I make sure to save before doing anything. While I feel the game has made its way 'there', it's not quite ‘back again’ and needs a bit more time before it’s really ready for an adventure.

All in all, Devil May Cry HD Collection the second go around is an unacceptable product, which feels like a waste of money.

Extinction’s story and some repetitiveness do ultimately let the package down as a whole, but I am glad to see Iron Galaxy tried tackle a different idea outside of their comfort zone, even if it didn’t pan out entirely.

Siegecraft Commander can be really satisfying to play at times, especially when you have a large network of buildings and are storming and bombarding your enemies keep. Sadly the game does become boring towards the end of both campaigns, and its controls and lackluster turn-based mode aren’t fun to play.

If the whole game was more open, Miitopia would have been more fun, but the game’s repetitive and linear nature starting to frustrate me as a got further in the title.

Fire Emblem Engage is mostly a streamlined experience that gives you a taste of what the series has to offer, but doesn’t showcase its true potential as a strategy game. It lacks genuine innovation, and doesn’t quite meet the standards set by previous entries or establish a challenging and balanced system that reflects Fire Emblem's core identity.

Doraemon Story of Seasons is definitely the worst Story of Seasons game I have ever played. If you want your farming fix, you should get the Story of Seasons Friends of Mineral Town remake on Switch. Or grab Rune Factory 4 Special if you’d like well-implemented action RPG elements in your farming life.

Old Time Hockey by and large was a disappointing experience. On paper, it had potential to be a good game. But as a finished product it is disappointingly held back by wads of jank and unpolish, and a few too many half-baked features.

After a couple of hours, all of WWE 2K Battlegrounds’ silly over-the-top gimmicks lose their luster.

Crystal Crisis is a decent puzzle fighter that ultimately suffers due to bad pacing and lackluster capitalization of its premise.

Darksiders III strays too far away from the formula that made the first two entries great while also being mired by bugs and performance issues.

BioWare's Anthem is as disappointing as it is boring, with the game's biggest fault being that it just gets in the way of its own self.

The worst part of Metal Gear Survive is its opening hours.

Codemasters' attempt to revive GRID has a lot of great ideas but struggles to bring them all together in a cohesive fashion.

A lack of technical polish will likely be a persistent problem for The Council.

This harmony of conflicting tones is actually one of the only aspects of The Secret Mine that is remotely original and well-executed.

Twin Mirror is a beautiful-looking game but doesn't have the same narrative punch that made previous games from Dontnod so memorable.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is a bloated collection of uninspired quests that quickly turn into a repetitive, boring grind. While the art and history teams deserve recognition for their efforts, it's all unfortunately wasted on a narrative that goes nowhere, is poorly explained, and has no satisfying resolutions. None of the changes and tweaks that Ubisoft brought to the table move the needle, and the game is ultimately more frustrating than it is fun. This is a game that desperately needed to succeed, and instead, collapses under its own weight. Future Assassin's Creed releases need to innovate instead of being yet another rehash of games we've already played in different locations. There are other open-world games in similar settings that are much more worthy of your time.

The numerous pitfalls and issues in Godfall prevent the better aspects from shining through, leaving only a dull mess that isn't worth the hefty price tag.

I'm sad that Gecko Gods didn't ultimately resonate much with me. It's a game with clear indie charm and care poured into it, but also one that never clicks in terms of puzzles, platforming, or exploration. The presentation is nice, but it's also held back by many technical hiccups, both cosmetic and core progression-based alike. The devs do seem eager to keep improving this one, but it unfortunately wasn't quite ready for release.

Ultimately, Earth Defense Force 5 boils down to a very shallow entry in a series that I’ve typically enjoyed in the past. Single-player only works in short spurts, as this is a title that’s meant to be enjoyed with others. I think it’s time for Earth Defense Force to evolve into more than just a game that relies on nostalgia and monotonous killing. There’s definitely potential here and it shines through at multiple points throughout the game. If you’re a fan of this series, this game is definitely worth giving a shot, even if it’s your first time. But if you’re hoping for some improvements over Earth Defense Force 4.1, you may be disappointed.

A new coat of paint improves both Blood Money and Absolution but with few other additions, Hitman HD Enhanced Collection is a hard sell.

The weird thing is that I never felt this huge sense of growth with my characters as they leveled up.

Aiming with the Dualshock 4 is the most unsatisfying way to line up shots, but it was surprisingly more accurate than using the MOVE controllers.

NBA Playgrounds does not stand out more than any other basketball game before it, and I think it’ll be remembered as such.

Everybody's Golf Hot Shots is a really disappointing swing and a miss. Poor performance that directly impacts your shot on a consistent basis totally kills the experience, and the gameplay in general is wildly and randomly imprecise. The presented modes feel bare bones, the lack of custom player creation is a bummer, and the stock characters are largely annoying. Fans of the franchise should stick to the classics, or 2017's Everybody's Golf, which is clearly superior in nearly every facet.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia manages to disappoint in just about every category.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 had the potential to be something special, but instead of offering the sweet taste of vitae pulled from the neck, it has only the porridge-flavored final drips of a blood bag. While the combat and boss fights can be satisfying, the game’s shallowness in pretty much every other department, as well as Fabien dragging the entire experience down, left me hungry for the game it could have been. While it has the trappings of the World of Darkness, this game does a disservice to Vampire: The Masquerade.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is the first new game in the franchise since 2003's Defiance. It really misses the mark on quite a few things, not the least of which is its story, which tries valiantly but just doesn't succeed in a meaningful way. In many ways, it's a step backwards and makes the franchise's most defining feature feel like a throwaway. It also just feels so bad to play, and if you were even a casual fan of Legacy of Kain back in the day, there's not much here I can really recommend outside of hearing Michael Bell and Simon Templeman again.

Rocket Arena is a hero shooter that tries to make a mark, but doesn’t do nearly enough to help itself stand out.

Jurassic World Aftermath's VR heritage looms large in this Switch port. Sections that no doubt feel thrilling in the confined space of a VR headset feel repetitive and dull on a flat screen. As a result, Jurassic World Aftermath feels like a walking-sim with some survival horror sections. The lack of enemy variety, the overly simplistic puzzles, and some frustrating stealth sections prevent Aftermath from staking its claim as the apex predator of its genre.

On the tin, Windbound offers a fulfilling and exciting survival/adventure endeavor but when delved into, I was left with an empty and exhausting experience.

Xenon Valkyrie+ is far from being the best roguelike on Switch, as it will leave players with a taste of injustice and frustration.

As a fan of beat ’em ups, I did find a bit of enjoyment in the game at a basic level, but there is no reason for me to return to Raging Justice in the future over something like Streets of Rage 2. Raging Justice should provide some adequate indie beat ’em up fun for genre veterans, but it is not very memorable, and its appeal likely won’t ever be any broader than that.

Fans of the series and setting will probably find validation and likable aspects here, but I wouldn’t suggest jumping in here if you’re unfamiliar. There are better strategy games out there for cheaper with more depth, options, and personality than this one. By the end, I preferred the idea of just playing Civilization VI as China — that’d probably be a more fun evening of strategy for me.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion isn’t ready for launch. The performance and balance issues sour what could have been an excellent mecha experience. There are a few bright patches, interesting ideas, and a ton of potential for the game. It could be, and maybe it will be better in a few updates' time, but it’s not worth checking out at launch.

My suggestion would be to invest in something a lot more engaging and more extensive like Unravel 2 or Overcooked 2 to satisfy your couch co-op desires. It pains me to say that the implemented co-op feature has defeated the whole purpose of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and it should have been left how it was — in the past and untouched.

The Church in the Darkness is marred by several technical shortcomings that draw players out of the experience and kill the pacing.

The actual driving of The Crew 2 is not up to the standards of modern racing games, and that is an important facet of any game that focuses on driving.

LEGO Worlds is fun in small increments and I would be lying if I said this game does not hit the target audience’s expectations. If you like sandbox games with open-ended gameplay, or are looking for a decent Minecraft alternative, this game is for you; unfortunately there just was not enough substance in the aimless gameplay loop for me to keep me coming back.

Jump Force is a tremendous disappointment that almost completely wastes the potential of its vast cast of characters.

My Hero One’s Justice 2 ended up just making me sad. The game had immense promise but was dragged down by its setbacks. With an interesting story, intense battles, and different ways to play, I should like this game so much more. Instead, I have to draw attention to the issues that have brought down what could be a fantastic gaming experience. I mostly feel bad for this game’s developers, who demonstrate that they have a clear understanding and passion for their source material. Unfortunately, this hero based game proved to be a zero.

All in all, DeadCore is not a very good game. While it’s $7.99 price point may be appealing at first glance, it pains me to say that it quickly descends into a incredibly boring, and clunky jump-fest, with its only saving grace being its theme and atmosphere.

Smashbox Arena could have been a great competitive game to play on PS VR, instead it’s just another generic VR shooter with an underpopulated online community.

If you want a quick and easy, arcade-style way to play basketball with your friends, you should just go to your local arcade with a fistful of quarters and play NBA Jam. Trust me, even though you have to feed the cabinet money after each game, you’ll still feel less exploited.

It is a shame to see the series fizzle out like this on 3DS. At this point, I just want Nintendo to bring the game over to the Switch with Mario Party 11, as that may be the breath of fresh air this series desperately needs to stay relevant. If that doesn’t work out, then it may be time for Nintendo and Nd Cube to finally put this once great series to rest.

Scars Above is a fine game, but not a very memorable one, especially in a period when sci-fi survival horror is becoming a crowded field. Much like the planet you explore, Scars Above is devoid of life.

Blacksad: Under the Skin is a twisty whodunit that is unraveled by more bugs than you can count.

A mediocre JRPG, Fairy Tail does only the bare minimum with what it offers. It's a game for dedicated fans, but fans deserve a better game.

Clive 'N' Wrench might take inspiration from classic 3D platformers, but it doesn't take the best practices, resulting in a dated and at times frustrating gameplay experience.