Without a doubt, Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is one of the biggest highlights of 2026. I could go on and on about just how much fun I've had replaying the games, and I'm still reeling from the fact that we finally have these games on a modern platform.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O World Stage comes to Nintendo Switch 2 holds up well with 60 FPS gameplay in handheld and docked mode, with the visuals holding up just as much with only a few minor visual imperfections. The inclusion of cross-play and rollback netcode also ensures that gamers on Switch 2 aren't left behind, either.

Pokémon Pokopia has shattered pretty much all the expectations I had of this game, and it deserves every praise it can get. This is precisely the type of game that, even if you boot it up for just a few short minutes, I guarantee you there will always be something that can be done, and before you notice, it's been half an hour, and you're still engrossed in it. Whether that time be spent looking for artifacts, decorating your islands, or even meeting new Pokémon, there's something for everyone to enjoy here.

From start to finish, Etrange Overlord only takes about 20 to 25 hours or so to complete, but you

I went into DAMON and BABY with almost no experience in twin-stick shooters, but it ended up being a genuinely fun and charming surprise that kept me coming back. While the story and some mechanics feel undercooked, and losing progress can be frustrating, the combat, customization, and overall journey easily carry the experience. It’s not perfect, but it left me smiling by the end and excited to see where Arc System Works goes next.

FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE is a triumphant return for the series. It maintains the gameplay core and narrative of the original game, while adding exciting new features like a new over-the-shoulder perspective and new mechanics. There are some major issues, such as with pacing, the lackluster side stories, and the abundance of technical glitches. Still, the Crimson Butterfly REMAKE is a great time, regardless if you're a long-time fan or a newcomer to the series. Though, you may want to wait till some of the issues are fixed.

While the price may be a hard ask for some, I highly recommend giving Scott Pilgrim EX, especially if you’re a fan of Scott Pilgrim or the beat-em-up genre. I can only hope that, considering the way the game ends, we get a follow-up at a later date. Whether if its with DLC, a sequel, a new anime, a new film, or even a new comic, I will be there no matter what to see how Scott Pilgrim’s “precious little life” continues.

Rayman is an important game. It helped build the house that would bring us Assassin’s Creed; he joined the likes of Mario and Sonic in becoming an iconic face of gaming, and it puts into perspective how much Ubisoft has changed. With his 30th anniversary done and dusted, I hope that new eyes and appreciation will bring the limelight back to our limbless boy. Who knows, maybe the next time we’ll see him will be in Rayman 4?

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties isn’t a bad game, and at it’s core, it’s Yakuza 3, but it could be so much better. I certainly recommend newcomers play through the first Kiwami titles and the rest of the series before coming to Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties on a sale, especially after experiencing Yakuza 3 to understand what the purest essence of that game is. Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties does a lot of good to improve on what Yakuza 3 couldn’t, but it’s not at the high standard I expect from one of Japan’s most beloved developers. For better or worse, Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is the beginning of a new chapter for RGG Studio, and it’s up to them to recoup some of the good will that fans lost.

It’s a pretty short game that shows its age even in the remastered version. I also have trouble calling this City Hunter as it feels like it could be any series. It’s still a fun novelty to have, and it’s nice to see this get released. While I have issues with the game itself, I still have nothing but praise for the remaster. It has all the modern additions you want, multiple ways to play, and a great collection of bonuses to look through. While the core game has issues, I still played through it more than once and didn’t dislike my time with it. City Hunter is a fine but forgettable product of its time, but one with a strong modern release. Just one I would wait for a sale to try.

I can still recommend Maid Cafe of Electric Street. I enjoyed the slice-of-life nature of its story, even with the pacing issues. My disappointment with the actual cafe management gameplay was offset by the characters’ charm. While the game still feels too slow, the beautiful art keeps me playing. Outside of the one bug I encountered, I enjoyed my playthrough and can see myself doing another. Maid Cafe on Electric Street is still an easy recommendation, just know you’ll have to take this one slow.

I enjoyed my time with Homura Hime, but there were too many stumbles along the way for me to fully recommend it to everyone. The story is not very good, and no characters stand out as particularly interesting or memorable, but the combat saves it by offering a large array of fun combos and skills to slice through demons with. It also overstays its welcome by having you play through old levels without making it worthwhile at all. I really wanted to like this game more than I did, because you can tell there was a lot of heart and thought put into Homura Hime. Sadly, the fantastic combat and great art are let down by some questionable design choices and a lackluster story. I can only recommend Homura Hime to the diehard character action game fans out there who are looking for a decent game to blast through on a weekend.

Striking out as a Rider with your favorite Monstie buddies is more satisfying than ever before. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection holds the main series traditions close to its heart while building on top of the already solid base of its predecessors. Egg Hunting, quelling unnatural events, monster raising, and roaming vast maps are still here, while being enhanced by some fresh, new ingredients, which fit snugly between the Environmentalist themes and Monster rearing gameplay.Through and through, Monster Hunter Stories 3 is a richly detailed and gorgeous experience that any fan of Monster-Raising RPGs is sure to enjoy.

The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince is a short and wholesome 2D puzzle-platforming adventure game that puts players in the shoes of a wolf-turned-princess that wants to right the wrongs for a prince she accidentally blinded. This title's gameplay is simplistic, but it makes way for a beautiful storybook aesthetic and story that will uplift anyone's spirit.

Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is an auditory and visual masterpiece. The clash of machine and nature may be an old trope, but it results in a beautiful aesthetic and soundscape. As for the gameplay, the puzzle solving is passable, but the lack of replayability may turn some away.

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.

If you are a fan of the series, even if you’ve only played the Soul Reaver remasters and haven’t yet played Defiance, then this is an essential purchase, regardless of the shortcomings. As for what this means for the future of the franchise, considering that we’re getting a new Legacy of Kain spin-off game very soon, I can only hope that we will get the long-awaited continuation of Raziel and Kain’s story sooner rather than later.

Unfortunately, I have a very hard time recommending All’s Justice to anyone who is not a huge fan of My Hero Academia. The way this Story Mode is structured, you’re essentially throwing yourself into Season 7 and 8 of the anime with no context as to what came before it. It makes no sense for a newcomer to start here. For existing fans of the series, All’s Justice may be worth a pickup. There is fun to be had here, but it’s not without frustration. Many aspects of this game fall short, despite its ambitious nature. Every mode has a major drawback in one area or another, even if the experience ends up somewhat positive.

Horripilant is a solid, competent entry in the idle dungeon crawler space, but it doesn’t really bring a fresh twist that elevates it beyond the pack. If you love optimization-heavy idlers and you’re comfortable settling into a long grind, there’s a lot here to enjoy. If you’re looking for something that pushes the genre forward or stays consistently surprising, this one is more “good enough” than “must-play.” This is an okay game with a strong core loop, but not much that feels truly unique.

Esoteric Ebb may borrow heavily from some of the greatest games in its genre, but it takes what it borrows and shapes it, creating something that still feels unique and fresh in its own right. This journey through politics, friendship, and love is one that I won’t forget anytime soon.

I enjoyed my time with The Disney Afternoon Collection. It’s a solid collection of games with modern quality-of-life additions, and it’s a look back to simpler times in the gaming industry. The time attack and boss rush modes are great, as are the art and music galleries—seriously, listen to the DuckTales soundtrack. Even if I spent most of my time with DuckTales, I can still recommend most of the games. The lag and slowdown are still annoying issues, but ones that never made me stop playing, and post-launch updates can fix such issues. I can recommend The Disney Afternoon Collection to anyone, even a little nostalgic for these games. If you come away with a favorite from this collection, it will likely be DuckTales.

At the end of the day, I’d say that Crisol: Theater of Idols is definitely a game worth playing if you’re a fan of titles like Bioshock and interested in the prospect of a great narrative inspired by Spanish mythology. However, I don’t think it’s worth replaying the game due to how prevalent those issues were. While this is an overall good showing from both Blumhouse Games and Vermila Studios, it’s definitely not without problems that prevent it from being truly great.

The most damning thing I can say about Sons of Sparta is that one day after rolling credits on it, I don’t feel anything. The game had made no lasting impressions on me, negative or positive. It is a complete nothingburger of a game and will sadly probably be remembered as nothing more than a small footnote in the history of the series.

Demon Tides manages to balance both style and substance extremely well. While there are some minor issues with the presentation, controls, and exploration, the expressive character designs, charming narrative, fantastic soundtrack, and gameplay that emphasizes player choice above all else are enough to offset these issues. This is a great, must-play 3D platformer, regardless of your interest in the genre.

WiZmans World Re;Try is a really good remaster of the 2010 Jaleco-developed RPG with quality of life changes and features for modern consoles and PC. The game's turn-based combat system and intriguing story are clear highlights, but the lack of voice acting and auto saves make the remaster feel just a cut below being great. Despite that, RPG fans will have a really fun time, thanks to the balance between fun turn-based gameplay and tough challenges with its daunting boss fights.

Dear me, I was… is a short experience that heavily relies on your ability to connect emotionally with the protagonist. The game does a great job with its storytelling, and while I wasn't able to connect with it as much as I would've liked, I do acknowledge how impactful this story could be for those who are able to connect with the protagonist.

If you’re someone like me who wishes to re-experience these really great titles from Hudson Soft, then I certainly recommend you give Super Bomberman Collection a try. And hey, maybe if this sells well, then Konami might consider finally bringing more of these older titles, either as another collection or as titles to Nintendo Switch Online.

Groove Coaster Future Performers is a very interesting entry in the Groove Coaster franchise, but while I had a great time learning each of the songs, the lack of online features was really disappointing. Further, what really bothers me is the fact the Story Mode is incomplete and left on a cliffhanger, making this game unfortunately difficult to recommend.