Ultimately, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a respectful and sincere restoration project that focuses entirely on the enduring charm of these two JRPG staples. Square Enix doesn't force the remake: it modernizes just enough—autosaves, clearer maps, stunning HD-2D graphics—but leaves the original structure intact, with its slow pace, stiff difficulty, and genuine sense of adventure from another era. The improvements to the second installment and the small narrative additions add depth, but those expecting a revolution will be disappointed. It's a return to the origins, designed for those who love the genre's history and want to relive—or finally discover—where it all began. In closing, the usual question remains about the target audience for these remakes: new generations will likely find everything anachronistic, so once again, the decision was made to appeal to nostalgic fans.

Escape From Duckov is one of the most bizarre and successful surprises on the indie scene in 2025, a title capable of making you smile and suffer at the same time. The gameplay loop works, and despite a few issues that make progression a bit slow, it's hard to put down every single session. Despite its minor flaws, this is a title that anyone who appreciates the genre should try, especially considering its future evolution through free updates and mods.

In an era where titles like Streets of Rage 4, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, and even its predecessor, Double Dragon Gaiden, have proven that it's possible to revive the classic beat 'em up formula with modern depth and respect for the source material, Double Dragon Revive represents a step backwards in virtually every way. It's a missed opportunity that likely relegates the historic series to the background once again, waiting for someone to finally do it the justice it deserves.

Our hope is that Absolum represents the first in a long series of hybridizations that could breathe new life into a genre that shaped the history of arcades and the '90s, refreshing the formula and significantly increasing its longevity. We also believe that this promising title hasn't yet exhausted its resources: an expansion with new playable characters and a refinement of an already enjoyable gameplay formula could raise the bar for a game that absolutely deserves the attention of both arcade-style beat 'em up lovers and roguelite fans. It's a shame that its longevity and lack of additional difficulty prevent it from achieving excellence.

The Outer Worlds 2 represents both a confirmation and a significant evolution from the previous installment in the series from Obsidian Entertainment, a team that has proven adept at crafting compelling role-playing experiences. The sequel to the original title not only expands the saga's already rich and distinctive universe, but does so with impressive attention to detail and player choice. Sure, the technical side isn't cutting edge, and there's still plenty of room for improvement in some aspects, like combat. However, The Outer Worlds 2 is one of the most complete and engaging RPGs of recent years, which is why it will captivate anyone who loves the genre and its captivating sci-fi setting.

It's not easy to frame an operation like Once Upon a Katamari, suspended between the desire to renew a twenty-year-old tradition and the fear of losing the true essence of what is a cult PS2 title. The joy of completely destroying the settings, starting from their smallest elements, remains intact, and it's impossible not to be won over by the nonsensical madness of a video game that never takes itself seriously. Yet it was reasonable to expect some substantial additions to a gameplay formula that, while still unassailable, dates back to distant 2004. Bandai Namco has thus played to the nostalgia factor without taking the risk of modernizing its intellectual property, giving longtime fans another chance to roll their Katamari, but without offering any convincing glimpses into the future of the series.

With Jurassic World Evolution 3, Frontier finally manages to close the loop. After years of experimentation, the series has found its best form: freer, more alive, more consistent with the idea of ​​a world that evolves on its own. Natural reproduction, an improved editor, and the multi-park structure give breadth and depth to a game that, for the first time, transcends mere visual wonder. Of course, some limitations remain. The economy is never truly a tough nut to crack, and the interface, though refined, still retains that "Frontier management" heaviness that occasionally slows you down. But the bottom line is clear: Evolution 3 is the best entry in the series, solid, enjoyable, and capable of surprising you at the right moments. It's a management game that's played calmly, without the pressure of optimizing everything, and that's precisely why it works. Frontier hasn't rewritten the rules of the genre, but it has finally made them its own. He understood that the charm of Jurassic World lies not in control, but in a fragile but believable balance, and when it works, the game conveys the feeling of watching something breathing.

Ninja Gaiden 4 emerges as a meeting point between Team Ninja's development philosophy, which led to the series' dazzling rebirth as a hardcore action game, and that of PlatinumGames, which, over the years, has become a true pillar of the genre. The combat system is still incredibly fun and at times exhilarating, and the new features introduced to the game world allow for a more satisfying progression than in the past. Given these premises, however, it's truly a shame that the same effort hasn't been put into the narrative, which unfortunately fails to capitalize on the excellent premise of the plot and ends up being a formulaic and lackluster tale. After over a decade of absence from the scene and given the names involved in the project, it was reasonable to expect a production effort of a different caliber.

Keeper offers a short journey, and that in itself is certainly not a flaw. The real issue lies in the way the adventure's time has been managed, with the first half containing its most visually and gameplay-wise brilliance. Unfortunately, just when it decides to mix things up, Double Fine's work suffers a dip in quality that's hard to ignore. Even if it's followed by a more successful and genuinely refreshing final section, it still makes a significant impact on a four-hour experience. If you're looking for a relaxing game that's not short on inexplicable creatures and fascinating scenarios—and this is even more true if you have a young player to keep you company—then give Keeper a chance. Those looking to experience Double Fine's "next big thing" would be wise to wait for future updates from Schafer and his team.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 was destined to die, yet here it is, risen from the grave like the protagonists whose exploits it chronicles. The Chinese Room weaves what is, to date, its most complex plot, narrated through the voices of memorable characters but, above all, a captivating world from which I never wanted to part. Not everything works perfectly: the developer's inexperience with certain aspects of the gameplay is evident. The most significant burden is the legacy of a structure that doesn't mesh well with the overall game's economy, making one feel the full weight of an open map inserted more for practical reasons than for true coherence. Despite its various imperfections, Bloodlines 2 remains a solid game, capable of insatiably entertaining for over thirty hours. But above all, it's an excellent first effort for the developer, demonstrating its ability to break away from its past to embrace a more ambitious, complex, and courageous experience. If this is the starting point, I can't wait to see what awaits us at the finish line.

Pokémon Legends Z-A, in keeping with the series' tradition, is a controversial creation. Game Freak manages, as always, to create a fun and enjoyable adventure, with gameplay that is well-integrated across its various components, but it fails to shake off some now endemic critical issues. The gameplay formula is experimental enough, demonstrating the team's willingness to try different solutions, but it is set in a somewhat flat and personality-less setting. Fortunately, Lumiose City makes up for it with a wide range of activities, both primary and secondary, and delivers what I can wholeheartedly call a good Pokémon experience. Despite its flaws, it brings a slight breath of fresh air and stands as an interesting evolution of Arceus. After years of stagnation, despite some timid steps forward on the gameplay front, we can say that Pokémon Legends confirms its most interesting approach in the series, at least in the Switch era.

While moving beyond an artistic inspiration that clearly nods (and maybe even a couple of nods) to Cuphead, Acecraft doesn't break the boundaries of its free-to-play shoot-'em-up nature. The gameplay is simple and extremely intuitive, but it's also slow and lacks much depth or intriguing solutions, while the confusing progression system lives in the shadow of classic gacha progression: without real money, Acecraft feels diluted and uninspiring, but at least it's possible to play for long sessions without having to endure the usual ads that plague mobile titles.

We would have appreciated a more refined campaign in many ways, but that still doesn't overshadow the exceptional work done by the collective known as Battlefield Studios on the multiplayer front. Battlefield 6 is one of the most entertaining shooters of recent years and marks the return of the franchise in style. The class system, destructible environments, and wide range of maps and modes provide an extraordinary foundation for what's to come, considering that the plans for post-launch support are already well-defined and suggest the developers' desire to keep players engaged over time. Now all that's left is to get our hands on the highly anticipated Portal and learn more about the much-discussed Battle Royale mode, which we hope will arrive soon to make the offering even richer and more varied.

There's a scene, during a flashback in the game, in which Carole invites Lana to literally close one eye and observe her surroundings from a different perspective. "When things don't seem the way we want them to," she tells her, "try to see them from another angle." I decided to do the same with Bye Sweet Carole when I encountered gameplay and stylistic roughness, perhaps the result of a strong desire to do things and an unbalanced sense of proportion. Carole's advice was helpful. Because Little Sewing Machine's work is a small visual and aural delight, a courageous display of skill that manages to transcend its uncertainties. The rating below represents the other angle I chose to see, where the flaws outweigh the merits. Because I believe it's worth letting yourself be transported into this world of "pitch, ash, and coal."

Little Nightmares 3 is a heartfelt installment that respects the legacy inherited from Tarsier, which Supermassive has embraced with skill and without the intention of overturning established mechanics, rhythms, and situations that still work very well. We would have liked to see some camera issues fixed, just as we would have appreciated more creative solutions for the puzzles, given that the ones present (in the final location in particular...) are truly interesting. The co-op mode is a great fit, and we regret the absence of local co-op. With its light and shadows, Little Nightmares is always Little Nightmares. It's scary, it makes you think, it creates a dense and sticky tension that spans the most disparate horror genres and plays with phobias, sounds, and images—in short, with all the most typical tools of fright. And we can't wait to learn more by exploring the two DLCs already planned.

Digimon Story Time Stranger may not be the J-RPG that revolutionizes the genre, but it's a solid and fun game. The story is reminiscent of a sci-fi shonen anime that touches on interesting themes, but the production has its ups and downs. The gameplay, from a role-playing perspective, is varied and layered, its main strength being the enormous range of monster collections and evolution. The only drawbacks are the lackluster exploration and quest structure, and the combat system is satisfying but not always challenging, especially for truly experienced role-playing players. However, given the production's ambitions, and especially for a Digimon fan, the end result is more than adequate.

All things considered, considering the target audience of all Microids' Poirot games to date and their evolution over time, despite the quality of the writing and narrative, we can't help but consider Death on the Nile a small step backwards, or, to be more polite, at least a "stop." The weak puzzles and the artistically simple technical aspects didn't convince us. The overall experience is decent, if you lower your expectations a bit and ignore the two previous Blazing Griffin games, which, in our opinion, were a bit more complex and interesting.

By introducing an exploration component and significantly larger maps, the team at Marvelous attempted to renew and expand the gameplay of DAEMON X MACHINA: Titanic Scion, but the implementation wasn't entirely successful. The extremely repetitive and schematic nature of the secondary activities doesn't justify the presence of such an expansive world, which, among other things, negatively impacted loading times and the game's stability. The frenetic combat system and deep level of customization remain DAEMON X MACHINA's most lethal weapons, as well as the valid reasons why fans of the genre might love it despite its flaws.

Believe it or not, we struggled to find any flaws in Supergiant Games' latest offering. Hades 2 is a masterful game in every way: the sheer amount of content is breathtaking, the character designs are a feast for the eyes, and the gameplay boasts a depth that puts most roguelikes currently on the market to shame. So if you enjoy the genre, you simply have no excuse: you absolutely must play it.

EA Sports FC 26 arrives at the event as the latest, richly detailed installment in one of the most successful video game franchises. It's unlikely to dissuade critics, but it will offer fans a whole host of changes and tweaks derived directly from community feedback. Furthermore, the two new gameplay settings could make the experience accessible to those less accustomed to the frenetic gameplay fans have come to know, while the additions to the already impressive content plan should ensure everyone has something to enjoy. On the other hand, it's also an installment with many added qualities in terms of attacking play, but it has a few defensive difficulties that will need to be addressed soon to ensure the most exciting and entertaining experience possible for the general public.

After the remake of the first Pac-Man World, it was reasonable to assume that Bandai Namco would continue the nostalgia drive, and the forty-fifth anniversary of Pac-Man was the perfect time to re-release the second installment in the series to attract as much attention as possible. There's no denying that a certain amount of effort went into Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac, which not only revamped the game's technical features but also improved its controls, even offering some previously unseen extra content that proves useful in increasing the adventure's overall longevity. The problem is that the original game wasn't exactly the most engaging 3D platformer on the market when it was released in 2002, and the fact that this remake remains as faithful as possible to the original isn't the best business card considering 23 years have passed since then. Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is a nostalgic journey designed for Pac-Man fans, but it doesn't pretend to match the quality of the best modern platformers out there.

Ghost of Yotei offers a vast world that compels us to explore, thanks to its incredible visual appeal and a series of simple ideas that effectively ward off the taint of repetitiveness, despite some elements of the offering feeling a bit stuck in the past. Slashing with the Yari, mowing down enemies with dual blades: it's easy to feel like a warrior thirsty for revenge in Sucker Punch's game, which displays genuine attention to all the "important" details and boasts some truly addictive combat. There are stories worth discovering on the map, as well as situations worth experiencing, but unfortunately the plot on which Atsu's journey of revenge is based lacked the courage to dare and some appropriate attention to character development. In any case, a stop in Ezo is a must for fans of Jin Sakai, and in general, anyone looking for a gripping and evocative adventure would do well to take on the role of Onryo.

Final Fantasy Tactics remains a masterpiece: that's an undeniable fact. It began a successful lineage of tactical JRPGs that led us all the way to—to take a look at this in our own home—products like Mario + Rabbids. That masterpiece, however, remains anchored to gameplay and visual logic dating back three decades, with all the pros and cons that entails. Those who decided to rehabilitate Ramza 30 years ago will be eager to retrace that journey; those who, however, want to immerse themselves in the magic of Ivalice for the first time may find themselves faced with the obstacle of time. We still recommend new players give it a try, because Final Fantasy Tactics remains a key part of the medium's history, a knowledge of which is a prerequisite for the last 20 years of the tactics genre.

Silent Hill f arrived at the event as a very bold title. Konami and Neobards Entertainment have crafted an episode that represents a clear break from the series' continuity, but which, to the most attentive observer, will appear perfectly integrated into a narrative that now transcends the geographical confines of the dear old Midwestern town to explore obsessions, paranoia, and generational trauma with surprising imaginative flair. We're aware that not everyone will welcome this new direction, due to some bold decisions that depart significantly from the philosophy of the original saga, but we have a feeling this will be an important starting point for the horror series from the legendary Japanese publisher. The only shame is that the gameplay suffers from some notable shortcomings and fails to keep up with the excellence of the writing and the technical and artistic component. The City of Fog may no longer be the same as we remember it, but it's still the most fascinating place the genre has to offer.

If you're a zombie fanatic and your dream is to experience a believable, yet scenic, terrifying, and atmospheric undead apocalypse, Dying Light: The Beast is a title you shouldn't miss. Kyle Crane's story is a classic, at times a bit predictable, but there are many other survivors with more unique stories waiting to grip you in the numerous side missions hidden in Castor Woods. A natural setting unlike the dense cities of Techland, where small, more refined "attractions" float in a more airy fabric of woods and minor secrets, as if we were in a zombie-themed amusement park. The combat is more violent than ever, the beast mechanics are a force, and the parkour works, albeit with a few uncertainties here and there. Honing Kyle's skills will keep you engaged throughout the 30 hours required for the main campaign. Repetitiveness is present, but less noticeable, given the compact setting and storyline. As far as we're concerned, The Beast is a more thoughtful chapter, which, while not attempting to revolutionize its formula, restructures it just enough: with passion, screams, blood and lots and lots of punches.

With its hybrid nature between roguelite and cozy game, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree attempts to make its mark on the gaming landscape. The high sugar content may prove indigestible to those who don't like a certain Japanese animation style. Those who embrace its philosophy, however, will find a choral adventure, rich in personality and heart. It never achieves excellence, but it remains a light and satisfying journey, capable of entertaining for many hours without ever becoming overly punishing. There's still work to be done. The dual-character system is a great idea but still feels immature, while the evident repetitiveness of the bosses and arenas may bore some. Imperfections aside, Towa proves to be a heartfelt title, and this is undoubtedly its greatest strength.

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds takes the series a significant step forward from the last installment, offering layered and fun gameplay, complemented by a portal system that adds freshness to every race. While it shines on the gameplay front, however, SEGA's offering stumbles with its lackluster extra modes and a technical package that isn't always up to current standards.

Formula Legends is a title born from a love of Formula 1 and powerfully conveys it. Graphically and artistically, it's delightful, with a unique style that blends nostalgia, humor, and attention to detail. The simcade driving model works, progression is rewarding, and the pit stop system adds a touch of originality. Race strategies, including tire, fuel, and variable weather management, make the races engaging and never predictable. There are, however, flaws, such as the collision physics that needs revising, the AI ​​that isn't always well-calibrated, and, above all, the lack of multiplayer. These limitations, however, are relatively minor and don't overshadow the merits of a courageous project. For those seeking a different experience that captures Formula 1 with passion, Formula Legends is a welcome and, in some ways, necessary surprise. It's not perfect, but it's authentic and original, and that's perhaps its greatest strength.