DOOM: The Dark Ages is a fantastic new beginning for the prolific franchise. While the sound mixing is lackluster and the soundtrack fails to reach the same heights as previous entries, the narrative and gameplay makes up for it. The story is a thrilling blockbuster that will have you grinning and at the edge of your seat from beginning to end and the gameplay, while more grounded than DOOM Eternal, is extremely fun due to the great gunplay, new weapons, unique mech and dragon segments, open levels, and melee focus. Id Software have delivered once again, and I can't wait to see where the franchise goes next.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World is some of the most fun you can have on the system—just be prepared to probably spend more than you’d like, whether you’re a newcomer or returning player.

s.p.l.i.t is a brutal, immersive hacking sim from Buckshot Roulette’s Mike Klubnika, dropping you into a terminal of dread, raw commands, creeping paranoia, and moral decay. It's a short and intense experience, but the intentional lack of clear objectives and overall narrative leave a bit to be desired.

Goodnight Universe is a fantastic take on the "interactive story" genre. It features a beautiful story, a great cast of characters, and a beautiful art style. Even if the gameplay is limited, the few segments that are present only add to the strength of the narrative, as you get to step into the world of a psychically-powered baby and all that entails. At such a small price and with a short runtime, Goodnight Universe is great if you're looking to immerse yourself in a science-fiction look at the wonder of childhood.

Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse is a masterclass in atmosphere, successfully blending Japanese folklore with a "summer horror" aesthetic that keeps you uneasy from beginning to end. While the lack of voice acting and slow opening hours may prevent some players from truly enjoying this game, The Mermaid's Curse is a great visual novel that honors its predecessor’s legacy while offering something new.

Mixtape is a beautiful love letter to music and friendship. The narrative is handled really well; in spite of its similarities to other coming-of-age stories, the characters are realized fantastically thanks to great dialogue and voice acting, and the music choices are incredible. While the gameplay is limited, the mechanics are peppered throughout to perfectly accompany the respective story beat. Even though the visuals are lacking on the Switch 2, Mixtape is still a phenomenal experience and an easy recommendation.

POPUCOM surprised me by giving a well-crafted cooperative adventure that has just enough curveballs to keep you on your toes. Anyone looking for their next co-op adventure would be hard pressed to find a better option, especially at only $20.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is much more than just a simple remaster of the original on Nintendo DS. The amount of work that went into this is more than I could've ever asked for, and I will forever die on the hill that this game can actually stand as its own title; not just as a shadow of its DS counterpart.

Whether it’s beating up yakuza on the streets, managing a cabaret club, or helping Kamurocho and Sotenbori’s citizens out of a bind, Yakuza Kiwami 2 offers so much content that will keep you engaged. On Switch 2, the portability factor simply cannot be understated, now that we’ve gotten to a point where the limitations players faced with the original Switch aren’t as prevalent. If you’re a Nintendo fan wanting to get into the Yakuza series, there’s no better time to do it than now.

TR-49 is an intricately complex puzzle game, for better and for worse. On the one hand, the overabundance of dialogue that relies on exposition, plus obtuse puzzles that emphasize trial and error rather than the deductive reasoning said to be the game's core, is often really frustrating. On the other hand, the satisfaction you feel when you solve a puzzle all on your own, the multiple endings, and the affordable price make it a game that I'm excited to play again at some point down the line, in spite of my frustrations with it.

The First Berserker: Khazan is a truly great hardcore action RPG that fans of the genre owe it to themselves to play. While I did feel some fatigue after fighting many spiders, skeletons, and zombies, I still kept coming back for more. Some fantastic boss fights, a satisfying sense of progression, an intriguing story, and a stellar soundtrack make this an easy recommendation.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is still as grand an adventure as it was 25 years ago, mostly. The 'Reimagined' moniker bleeds down to the refined art style, remixed combat mechanics, and streamlined main quest. All of these, plus ample amounts of Quality of Life updates, make for a fun and modern experience that stands tall even next to recent installments. However, all of the bells and whistles look a lot less shiny when you realize that they came at a cost, with content being cut. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is an excellent remake that's held back from being truly great by rejecting its past and shedding its "flaws".

Atelier Ryza is an amazing trilogy within Gust’s Atelier series. Even still, this repackaging isn’t something you should rush to get unless you’re a fan or newcomer, as the new content, much like previous DX versions of Atelier games, doesn’t bring much that’s new to the table. There are just some nice extras that I wouldn’t consider integral to the overall experience.

KuloNiku: Bowl Up! is a charming cooking game blending anime-inspired 2D art with 3D visuals, offering fun gameplay and memorable characters. Its one real weakness is difficulty, as cooking challenges are forgiving to a fault, but this is nowhere near enough to dull what's otherwise a genuinely enjoyable experience.

MIO: Memories in Orbit leaves a strong first impression and continues to deliver quality content throughout, despite a few questionable design choices here and there. Some clever level design, a fantastic soundtrack, and a gorgeous art style make the entire experience worthwhile.

Ys X: Proud Nordics is the definitive version of the 2024 action RPG with new story and side content, improved gameplay and features, and amazing performance on Nintendo Switch 2. The lack of an upgrade path from Ys X: Nordics and the need to replay story content limits some of the game's potential, but Ys and action RPG fans are in for a treat nonetheless.

I would recommend this title to anyone who wants a new game to pass the time. While the concept sounds frustrating, there was never a point that I wanted to quit. Instead, I would keep going, and that marks a game that is addicting in all the right ways.

OFF is a fantastic RPG from beginning to end. The narrative is fantastic and manages to weave a dark tone with brief moments of levity extremely well, thanks to the great worldbuilding and charming characters. Further, the gameplay is paced superbly with a combat loop that never gets old. I do wish some of the puzzles weren't as infrequent and the new content in the remaster was easier to find, but with the other new additions to the remaster, this is the best way to play this incredible cult classic game that paved the way for future indie RPGs.

Once Upon a KATAMARI is a strong return to the series that every fan should experience. Everything that made the originals great is still here, along with a few new additions. Not all of them land perfectly, but none take away from the fun. While it’s on the shorter side, the game’s replayability and incredible soundtrack keep me coming back for more.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a fantastic modern RPG. The emphasis on player choice and customization, the great dialogue and characters, exceptional worldbuilding, and fun gameplay mechanics make it one of Obsidian's best games in years. However, that excitement is hindered by frustrating navigation mechanics, constant glitches, and characters that lack depth due to the absence of romances and natural speech options. While this is a great return to form for the genre, you may be better off waiting for all of the issues to be fixed in a post-launch update before buying.

THPS 3 + 4 is the best way to play Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and a great way to experience Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4. Those looking for a 100% faithful remake of these titles will be disappointed with some of the changes and omissions, especially fans of THPS 4. However, if you just want to revisit these titles and remember why you fell in love with this series in the first place, jumped on with the previous remakes, or are someone completely new to the series, THPS 3 + 4 is the best skateboarding game you can buy on modern consoles. Here’s hoping we can see some full-scale remakes of THUG and THUG 2 somewhere in the near future.

Peak is a chaotic, fun time with friends that will have you cheering with joy one moment upon reaching the top, and screaming in agony the next after falling back down. While it's possible to play solo, this is clearly a co-op–designed experience that needs to be played with friends to get the most out of it. A few bugs and crashes still take away from the experience, but Peak is a game that's worth your time in a very busy 2025.

Ever 17: The Out of Infinity is a great improvement over its predecessor, Never 7, making for a much more memorable experience. It's still nowhere near perfect, but it should still be an enjoyable read for most visual novel fans.

Battlefield 6 is a return to form for the series with refined first-person shooter gunplay, fan-favorite multiplayer modes and weapons, tried-and-true progression systems, and a single-player campaign that reminds players what Battlefield is all about. Although visibility for closed weapon modes is less than desirable at launch, Battlefield 6 gives players many options for the game modes they want to play.

Moments of backtracking should’ve been cut down, but most segments ended before they became a problem. Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale, while short, is packed to the brim with charm, passion, and heart. This is an adventure I will be thinking about for quite a while.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a triumphant return for the series, with Team Ninja and PlatinumGames uniting to deliver the most intense and fluid combat the franchise has ever seen. Its dual-protagonist story between Yakumo and Ryu is beautifully told, with jaw-dropping dynamic gameplay sequences for both characters. A stellar score ties it all together, making Ninja Gaiden 4 one of 2025's best games and firmly cementing the franchise's grand return in the modern era.

EA Sports College Football 26 brings quality improvements that build nicely upon the foundation laid by last year's release. No upgrades are revolutionary, but they don't necessarily need to be. However, bugs and a lack of quality tutorials leave some to be desired. Regardless, for college football fans, this is still the ultimate experience to bring game days with you anytime, anywhere.

Nikoderiko: The Magical World Director's Cut is a good time for new fans, but those who have already played the original may debate on whether or not they want to return. With quality gameplay, an excellent soundtrack by David Wise, and pretty visuals, Nikoderiko is a platformer worth your time despite its lackluster narrative.