During the 20+ hours that can be plugged into Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle campaign, fans will be exposed to a funny and visually engaging world worth exploring that features some genuinely challenging portions of combat. Reoccurring enemies may weigh down an otherwise varied universe, but the end result of this partnership between Ubisoft and Nintendo is a wonderful, tactics-heavy venture that Switch owners won’t want to let pass them by.

The Magic Circle addresses the monster we’ve built as a gaming community, acknowledging that the medium is still in bumpy, rebellious, grumpy adolescence, and while we may come out of it and accept maturity at some point, all of us have some thinking to do before we get there...It’s harsh. It’s heavy-handed. But it might also be necessary.

The updated graphics may not feel truly current-gen to Xbox One and PS4 players, but the quality and originality of the game’s mechanics and setting are still a step above the competition.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an easily lovable game, and fans of the DBZ franchise would do well to check it out to experience the epic saga once again, just this time in all new light.

Drinkbox Studios’ Severed is a touch-based, action RPG with an interesting premise, incredible visuals, and fun gameplay that simply overstays its welcome a little.

Weaving a grand narrative clearly wasn't the developer's goal, but crafting a fun, pleasing, and hugely explorable world was. And in that regard, Splashteam nailed it. Minor complaints aside, Tinykin is a bright and accessible game with some slick mechanics that allow the player to focus on what they came for: getting a tiny spaceman lost in a big, beautiful world.

The Talos Principle is a fun puzzle game that also makes some strong philosophical points. The puzzles can sometimes be frustrating and the heavy amount of text to read in the files can bog down the pace, but it’s still a memorable adventure that players will undoubtedly want to discuss and dissect with their friends.

No More Heroes 3 may be repetitive at times and doesn't have quite the best bosses in the series history, but players new and old will have an enjoyable time with the game. It's a wonderfully vivid and colorful game that only shows how wild Suda51 really is.

Yooka-Laylee is built on a foundation of tried-and-tested gameplay, and it’s packed with content, considering it’s priced at $40 rather than $60. Anyone that’s eager to revisit the 3D platformer genre will be well served by this game. However, those that don’t enjoy a sense of nostalgia for jump-and-runs of days gone by might not find much to enjoy among its rough edges and throwback atmosphere.

Developer Bureau 81’s ability to file The Operator down to its best components and focus solely on what works is its biggest asset. It’s not a bloated campaign with an equal balance of tacky and tactful puzzles. Instead, it’s a taut collection of cases that work in tandem to create a gripping adventure that encourages savvy problem-solving. It’s all cushy desk work, but The Operator makes examining phone records and enhancing grainy security camera footage just as exciting as tiptoeing through an enemy base with a silenced pistol.

Despite not having any similarities with Armature's previous games, such as ReCore and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, Where the Heart Leads checks all the boxes for a great narrative-based game. Its story is deep and interesting, and players should expect an uplifting yet gut-wrenching experience.

Fortified may not be a sprawling, epic experience — but it’s a well-made game with mechanics that stand up to extended play. With great art design to boot, it’s a solid purchase for anyone looking for a mix of action and strategy, or their next co-op staple.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a welcome addition to co-op looter-shooters, and while its live-service aspects may turn some away, it’s friendly enough, and promising enough, to newcomers to the genre. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League doesn’t have the triumphant flair of the Batman: Arkham series, but the game deserves a fair chance for those who enjoy the worlds of DC Comics and exhilarating gameplay loops because Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League shows what fun a co-op game should be.

While those who have grown accustomed to - or only experienced - the graphical capabilities of the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S generations will need to keep an open mind and may take some time to adjust, the Yakuza Remastered Collection ultimately offers a polished and enjoyable experience that series fans shouldn't skip out on.

There is simply nothing else like Hellblade 2 on the market and that alone kept me enthralled the whole way through. Its pared-down elements might not be mechanically complex, but they give the story a momentum that makes it hard to put down. Ninja Theory tackles themes that are challenging and not often seen in games, with a backdrop that vacillates between the epic and the intimate. It's approach doesn't have widespread appeal, but Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is as close to an interactive movie as we’ve seen yet.

While the long, immersion-breaking load times and repetitive nightmare sections are disappointing, horror fans will still find a game worth sinking their teeth into with Observer. Observer‘s story is reason enough to play the game to completion, but even those that aren’t driven by the disturbing cyberpunk tale may still enjoy its puzzles and compelling crime scene investigations.

It’s a rewarding experience for anyone who can get into the groove, but the combat and the franchise are the game’s two biggest selling points. If neither appeals, there won’t be all that much to enjoy here.

Ultros is another surprisingly great 2024 Metroidvania, and an incredibly impressive first outing for developer Hadoque. While its combat may leave a little to be desired, and some of its major gameplay decisions might be a tad off-putting initially, Ultros is a gorgeous game that should keep players well and truly engaged for its entire runtime.

Chronicles of the Wolf is not for everybody. It's not even for all Metroidvania fans. But for those that it clicks with, it very well may be the best game in the genre you've played this year. It's not without its fair share of frustrations as far as its mechanics and gameplay go, but the elegance of its design and the obvious passion that Migami poured into it make those frustrations worth bearing. If you can look past a little bit of jank and forgive Chronicles of the Wolf for its old-school sentimentality, what you'll find is one of the year's best Metroidvanias on par with the best of what the genre has offered in 2025.

Watch Dogs 2 excels at variety and, although there are many repetitive chores that players can choose to do in the open world, the main campaign never feels stale or redundant. Each mission takes players to a new, unique location full of bizarre characters and pop culture references and the lengthy campaign manages to fly by thanks to the immersive environment and the entertaining company that Marcus keeps.

Mass Effect: Andromeda is far from a perfect game, but it is an absolute must-play for fans of science-fiction or BioWare RPGs. The storytelling is at an all-time high once things get underway and players who make it through the adventure will be unlikely to regret their time spent in this new corner of the Mass Effect universe.

For fans of the classic series, or newcomers looking for a quality introduction into the older games, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is a great way to experience the series. Then, of course, there are the hours and hours of content across all games in the collection to consider. It isn't perfect, but players can easily get lost in the same stories and endless combat that Square Enix first introduced with the original launch on NES.

After my disappointing experience with the original game, I did not expect to like Death Stranding 2 as much as I did. Its huge world is fun to explore, its graphics are incredible, and its tools give players a great deal of freedom to choose how they want to handle every challenge that comes their way. The dialogue and repetitive mission structure keep it from reaching the heights of some of Kojima's other games, but Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is still a worthwhile adventure.

What ultimately sets Wuchang apart is how it handles progression and customization. The Madness system adds a layer of risk, allowing players to trade safety for higher damage, while the Inner Demon mechanic creates tension without being overly punishing. The skill tree is deep but flexible, letting players reset one point at a time for free, which opens the door for testing different playstyles without starting over. Magic and melee are both viable, though neither is allowed to dominate, thanks to elemental resistances and boss-specific counters. Benedictions and Temperance bring added depth to weapon builds, while the armor system demands regular adjustments based on damage types and status effects. Altogether, these features give Wuchang a sense of depth that's easy to overlook at first glance, but becomes more impressive the longer you play.

Youngblood offers a great gameplay loop that will likely keep FPS fans busy for a few dozen hours, even if it doesn't quite deliver in terms of character and world-building.

Though Ender Lilies doesn’t necessarily surpass the icons of the genre that came before it, the game’s developers took a tried and true formula and replicated it well.

Layers of Fear 2 has its flaws but stands out as an improvement over the original, which was still one of the scariest games on PS4 and Xbox One.

It's a wild ride that deserves to be experienced unspoiled.

Six Marvel fighting games and one obscure beat-’em-up might sound like a downgrade compared to the other, larger Capcom Fighting Collections, but the star power of Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics makes it more than worth investing in. Despite a lack of evolution compared to its predecessor, the respect for these titles is felt regardless, and it makes the case for an MvC4 better than anything else. Anyone with an interest in the fighting genre should find something to love here, and The Punisher might even spark love for a different corner of Capcom's catalog. A thorough Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection has been a long time coming, and its arrival feels like the celebration it should be.

Horror fans that enjoyed the first Little Nightmares game and weren't turned off by the short playtime will likely find a lot to like about Little Nightmares 2. It is a very similar game, but with some major quality of life improvements and new gameplay features that help to make it a more engaging experience. It's an easy recommendation for horror fans as well as those who are seeking out a unique puzzle-platforming game to play.

A mostly bland story and a lack of additional playable characters are the major faults with Dynasty Warriors: Origins. It is the most polished, mechanically rewarding, and technically impressive game in the series so far, and an easy pickup for fans of the franchise, provided they're open to new ideas like the parry system and original, single lead. And if you've never been into Dynasty Warriors in the past, it's worth taking the leap with Dynasty Warriors: Origins—you might just learn what all the fuss is about.

Hyper Void is an adrenaline fueled throwback to classic arcade shoot ’em ups, with gorgeous graphics that are nearly as beautiful as the gameplay is exciting.

Planet of Lana is a rare game. It's a clean, tight experience, that manages to tell a charming, if simple, story in its short runtime. The hand-drawn illustrations are truly works of great talent, bringing a gorgeous, nearly surreal ambiance to the design. Its puzzles and platforming may not be a lot to write home about, but there are a few diamonds in the rough that make the gameplay worthwhile. If anyone has even a passing interest in the puzzle-platform genre or simply wants to appreciate some art, they should play this game. Plus, since Planet of Lana is available on Game Pass, there's little reason not to check it out.

Although the title stays a little too close to its roguelike blueprint, the open-ended nature and eye-catching, fluid battlegrounds make Convoy a thoroughly enjoyable and incredibly addictive journey into a post-apocayptic wasteland.

Although the game’s influences are clear, this is not a simple homage to earlier games, instead acting as an incredibly well-crafted horror adventure. The Brotherhood has delivered on its promise of a nuanced and terrifying horror title, and one that is bound to give plenty of chills.

Hitman 2 doesn’t break too much new ground for the series, for in many respects it can be viewed as Hitman: Season Two. Nevertheless, IO Interactive has brought a bevy of remarkable updates to the table that make the sequel a worthy successor to the game that came before it.

Despite it never really standing out from the crowd, Inkbound does a decent job of creating a fight, die, and repeat cycle that is equal parts entertaining and challenging. Running the gauntlets of the various books with friends or strangers is an undoubtedly fun experience, and since unlockables can be earned in-game, it will perhaps drive a lot of players to keep at the grind a bit longer than they normally would. Those looking for something familiar but with a new twist should keep their eyes on Inkbound, and be ready to dive into the books and write their own adventures.

Headlander from Double Fine Productions is a fun, quirky science-fiction Metroidvania game with engaging puzzles, strong exploration elements, and flying heads.

From a brand-new campaign with exciting new features to a battle system that has been shaken up with new mechanics, Total War: Pharaoh has a lot to offer players looking for a new strategy experience to sink their teeth into. Some of its unique features may feel a bit bland, but it makes up for it by offering players unprecedented freedom to shape game and history how they see fit. And even though it may be smaller than Total War: Warhammer 3, it is still a worthy entry in this iconic franchise.

Ravenlok is not for hardcore gamers that want to invest hundreds of hours into their games or who are looking for a challenge. It's a short, sweet, easy game that's perfect for sitting back and relaxing or as a good starter game for kids. It's totally at home on Xbox Game Pass and subscribers shouldn't miss their opportunity to check it out.

Overall, Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition shows that PC role-playing games can transfer over to the most recent console generation with relative ease.

It’s not perfect and it’s fairly complicated, but once it all clicks, it’s also really fun.

It probably won’t appeal to those who have a hunkering for a more action-oriented experience. But for a relaxing evening on the couch, without much thinking required, the adventure title definitely delivers. It’s simply a beautiful game, both in terms of graphics and the story that it tells, and will leave players with a pleasant sense of wonder, curiosity, and vague nostalgia.

Gamers looking for a challenge, a beautiful world and musical score, and some truly memorable bosses will still be pleased at what Furi has to offer, however, and even though it’s not the absolute best of its kind, it’s worth a look from anyone willing to suffer through some frustration for what amounts to a hell of a five hour ride.

Enter the Gungeon is a charming bullet hell/roguelike hybrid that manages to balance the best elements of both its genre influences while carving out an identity of its own.

With an improved Nazi Zombies mode, the best Call of Duty multiplayer in years, and a passable campaign, Call of Duty: WW2 feels like a return to form for the franchise after some lackluster entries.

Resident Evil Village doesn't have the most engrossing or satisfying story in Resident Evil history, and its more action-oriented approach is likely to disappoint fans that enjoyed RE7's pure horror. However, Resident Evil Village is packed with replay value, rarely has a dull moment, and should leave Resident Evil fans excited for the franchise's future.

The problems, although minor for the most part, were encountered with such regularity that they can’t be overlooked. Hopefully, Raw Fury will fix these hiccups quickly because, without those flaws, Sable truly is a beautiful and minimalist journey through an open world that is a joy to explore.

The series continues to struggle with giving players a compelling reason to keep playing beyond the end credits and aspects of the narrative could have used more work, but it’s still a mostly satisfying conclusion to Lara’s origin story.

Early on in Persona 5's development, P-Studio had considered an action-RPG format for the original Persona 5. While the Phantom Thieves debut maintained Persona's traditional JRPG framework, Persona 5 Strikers showcases what could've been in an overall successful manner. There are kinks that could've been worked out, with battles lacking a significant degree of player feedback that unnecessarily inflating the game's difficulty. Strikers' story also takes a little too long to hit its stride, but it does reward players who stick around for the long haul. Acting as a sequel to the critically acclaimed JRPG, Persona 5 Strikers is a fantastic continuation for the Phantom Thieves.

All together, Mortal Kombat 1 is an impressive package, changing things up while showing reverence for even the most obscure parts of its franchise. With that said, nothing in MK1, from gameplay to narrative, is any more than a strict evolution of MK11. Mortal Kombat 1 contributes little new to the fighting game space, and the nearby Street Fighter 6 harshly contrasts it by claiming the custom fighters and open world Konquest mode Mortal Kombat left behind. Still, Liu Kang's new timeline shows great promise, and Mortal Kombat 1 should keep its community satisfied until the next Mortal Kombat begins.

Despite the negatives, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is overall an exceptional and colossal CRPG, a true spiritual successor to the original Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale titles. For those who love this type of game — the challenges, micromanagement, deep lore, and stat tracking in a fantasy RPG setting — Owlcat Games’ latest offering will more than satisfy. Gamers hoping for a less intense, less mentally demanding, more polished RPG experience would be better off looking elsewhere.

Castle Crashers Remastered seems like a no-brainer, but since it’s virtually the same game that released seven years ago, it still has the same flaws.

A worthy remake of one of the (if not the) most memorable iterations of the entire franchise. Every facet of the original has transitioned smoothly onto the newer hardware, and while the “warts and all” mentality of the combat may strike some as tiresome, the updated visuals and a wondrous retelling of various arcs of beloved characters both good and bad makes this throwback one of the more engaging titles available for Nintendo 3DS owners.

Overall, Evil Genius 2 is a worthy successor to Elixir Studio's cult classic. Despite some minor pacing and quality-of-life issues, the game delivers a compelling and detailed management sim with an engaging theme. Its excellent use of tongue-in-cheek humor and bold style do a great job of capturing the feel of an over-the-top 1960s spy spoof, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in the world of super spies and doomsday devices.

The Switch has no shortage of excellent Metroidvania titles, and Laika: Aged Through Blood is well worth the time of any Switch owner who is a fan of the genre. But just because Laika is an easy recommendation doesn't mean that it will be to everyone's tastes, and it certainly requires a lot from the player to get the most out of the experience. For those who don't mind a steep challenge and a unique approach to the classic elements of a Metroidvania, Laika: Aged Through Blood is a worthwhile experience that immediately earns its place as one of the great modern titles in the genre.

At the end of the day, Diablo 2: Resurrected certainly feels like a game that is designed with veteran and nostalgic players in mind and it truly nails the experience in that sense. Whether it’s going to be able to build a new audience with first-time players is a much tougher question, but the old school experience may have more to offer modern gamers than it appears at first glance. Diablo 2: Resurrected fills a very unique spot in the franchise’s offerings by allowing players to continue returning to D3 (and someday Diablo 4 for a modern experience), but also now having a visually modern option when they want a bit more baseline difficulty and a classic experience.

There's a lot more good than bad in RAIDOU Remastered, fortunately. It's a wonderful walk down memory lane for fans of the original, and a worthwhile excursion for newer Atlus fans, discovering the studio via games like Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio. More than anything, this new-and-improved RAIDOU is easy to love, packed to the brim with charming characters, addictive combat, and a wacky, lore-rich world to sink your teeth into, making it easy to recommend to just about anyone.

Volgarr the Viking 2 is not a game that will win any awards for innovation. It won't astound with its visuals or scope, or surprise any experienced video game enthusiasts. But Volgarr the Viking 2 is certainly a good time, and a love letter to a specific era of gaming that winds up surpassing many of its progenitors. It's not for everyone, but if you're in the target audience, you won't be able to put it down or get it out of your head after playing the first hour.

From its compelling characters and unique gameplay hook to its stunning art style and engaging story, Petit Depotto has created a wholly original sci-fi thriller that's worth enduring a few late-game pacing issues to experience.

Mega Coin Squad provides a unique and colorful 2D platforming experience for gamers, but its lack of online multiplayer really keeps it from reaching its highest potential.

Senua’s story is heartbreaking and Hellblade’s world certainly isn’t a happy one to spend a lot of time in. For that reason, maybe the limited campaign time is a bit of a blessing. Despite the serious subject matter and dour tone, Hellblade is an experience that shouldn’t be missed for any fans of adventure-based puzzle games.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land being a super easy game is to be expected as a low difficulty is really one of the Kirby franchise's defining traits, but that, combined with how short it is, may leave some fans feeling somewhat unsatisfied. However, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a consistently entertaining, adorable, and clever little 3D platformer while it lasts, and it even has some surprising Kirby lore revelations thrown in for good measure. Despite its short length, Kirby and the Forgotten Land marks yet another must-play Switch exclusive, especially for fans of the franchise.

Those that enjoy games that are bloody, bombastic, and have a pinch of humor will find an excellent experience in Chivalry 2. It's approachable, smooth, and an excellent time with friends. Plus, there's the promise of free content on the horizon, which should make the current offering even more appealing to those that engage with it. While there are some minor technical issues to be sorted out here and there, it's still one of the most enjoyable experiences to come out of 2021 so far.

Sand Land's story, characters, and progression are among its best features, all of which stand out in the JRPG genre and are fondly remembered, even after the credits roll. While its open world may rely a bit too much on the open-world model that many gamers have come to dislike, its exploration still proves to be a rewarding venture that feeds into its satisfying progression system. ILCA and Bandai Namco Entertainment have created something worthwhile in Sand Land, suitable for fans of the original manga and newcomers alike.

There’s a variety of ways to play and the subtle changes with each new captain keep the story feeling fresh and exciting.

Stormland is a short experience and its attempts to add replay value don't really hit the mark. However, it's still one of the more impressive virtual reality games on the market, and a clear step forward when compared to many VR titles that have come before it in terms of controls and freedom of movement.

Assassin's Creed Mirage is a game of compromise: some things fall behind for others to soar. Assassin's Creed Mirage feels more like a sequel to AC1 than a 2023 game, and if that's a compromise players are okay with, then they are going to have an absolute blast in the sandbox. AC Mirage is a love letter to these classic games, and luckily, the sheer freedom of its design makes sure it is players who draft that letter.

Fans of classic survival horror games don't need to think twice about picking up Crow Country. The game is a love letter to old-school horror titles from the 90s, and is one of the better attempts at recreating the feel of PS1 horror on modern platforms. It's a short, but sweet adventure with solid replay value and fun puzzles that perfectly captures the feeling of playing an old horror game on a PS1. The optional Exploration mode, which does away with combat to let players focus entirely on puzzle-solving, means that even horror fans who don't like 90s-era survival horror combat and ammo management can safely pick up Crow Country and have a great time.

Call of Duty Mobile has satisfying progression, a nice selection of fan favorite maps, and it looks great on phones and tablets. The game's liberal use of bots hampers the experience a bit, and the battle royale mode could stand to have a slightly smaller map or something to make firefights happen more often.

While short, The Delicious Last Course certainly does not lack in quality and depth. It fine-tunes the best parts of Cuphead with its captivating art style and challenging boss battles while also providing deep and meaningful additions to the game with new weapons, items, and gameplay mechanics. The Delicious Last Course condenses everything that made the base game so triumphant into one package and adds a few finishing touches to make this a proper send-off for Cuphead and Mugman after half a decade in the spotlight. Its title rings true to its nature; it is a delicious last course.

In the end, The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood provides enough intrigue and content to whet one's appetite for new experiences, but won't be enough to fully satiate every player. Thwarting the Daedric machinations of Mehrunes Dagon and the Order of the Waking Flame is a fun experience, even if the current story didn't have a satisfying conclusion. It is absolutely clear that the developers put immense effort into the creation of Blackwood, from its sound and level designs to some of its more haunting and hellish landscapes.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is one of the more impressive entries in Capcom's growing series of compilation titles precisely because it unearths and preserves an eclectic selection of titles that often get overshadowed by larger series like Street Fighter or Darkstalkers​​​​​​. Each of the included titles' arcade modes is still incredibly fun while they last, and bringing underrated classics like Power Stone to a modern audience brings hope that Capcom might revive the series someday. Casual fans will quickly run out of reasons to regularly return to each of the included games unless they decide to dabble in online multiplayer, but as another entry in the Capcom Fighting Collection series, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is just as essential as its two predecessors and a must-have for fans of Dreamcast-era fighting games.

Kaze and the Wild Masks is exceptionally average in every way, and never fails to impress. It excels at its goal to create a clean, enjoyable, and nostalgic '90s platforming experience, while simultaneously providing just enough of a fresh take to keep things exciting.

Stoic’s tactical RPG The Banner Saga makes its way to consoles, and still manages to deliver a fantastic, captivating story alongside a fun and challenging battle system.

It is safe to say, however, that Wild Hearts is a wonderful new IP in the hunting genre that not only stands on the shoulders of Monster Hunter but can also meet it eye-to-eye. It isn’t the most fleshed-out hunting game compared to its progenitor, but it proves that it doesn’t have to be. A razor-sharp focus on combat, player progression, and Kemono hunting is more than enough to make Wild Hearts an excellent palette cleanser for fans that need something new to sink their teeth into. Add in the game’s fun Karakuri crafting system, a flexible and versatile weapon upgrade system, and beast designs that inspire both awe and horror, and Wild Hearts can proudly stand tall as a new pillar in Omega Force’s diverse catalog of games.

Its story may not have as much of an impact as franchise fans are used to, but Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is still an entertaining pirate adventure. I would love to see Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio explore the concept in a larger-scale game because Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii shows that there is a ton of potential for a Like a Dragon game that fully embraces the pirating life.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is easily the best compilation that TT Games has put together. Visually stunning, mechanically evolved, and endlessly entertaining, the game puts its foot on the gas and never lets off. Pacing issues and simplicity aside, the fact that the devs could revisit games they literally already made and make this package feel fresh is an accomplishment all its own. No matter how players might feel about the stories of the three trilogies, it’s hard to argue this is the best video game representation of them that just so happens to be LEGO.

As the sixth main installment in a JRPG series that dates to the 16-bit era, one with a slightly tarnished reputation in recent years, Star Ocean: The Divine Force evokes a comforting sense of familiarity even as it experiments with some of its expected returning elements and pushes in exciting new directions. There’s a lot of ground to cover, and Tri-Ace has done a wonderful job of crafting a new world long-time fans and newcomers alike may feel reluctant to leave once the credits roll, even keeping in mind a few rough patches they encountered along the way. That’s no minor achievement, and makes the game easy to recommend to genre fans in search of their next addiction.

Overall, The Walking Dead: A New Frontier is off to a solid start. Fans of the series will definitely have plenty to enjoy here – and emotionally suffer through – and players who found the game to be too clunky and slow previously may appreciate this entry more.

The sound of every gun and explosion are incredible and make it very difficult to not play this one with the surround sound on and the volume turned up way too loud.

While MOUSE may fall into some trappings of the first-person shooter genre, it escapes largely unscathed and with the cheese. It is easily one of the most unique first-person shooters to hit the market in years, and it's definitely the most charming of the lot. Fumi Games poured every ounce of ink, sweat, and stubborn dreams it had into MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, and it's clear the end result was worth the effort.

The Thaumaturge is a game made with a lot of love and hard work by Fool's Theory. That much is apparent within the first couple of hours and grows more obvious the longer a user plays. Its lack of a way to make searching for clues interesting may lead some players astray, but they will miss out on a demon-fueled magical adventure. It stumbles in other places, but it more than makes up for it with its monster designs and terrific storytelling. The Thaumaturge's mixture of 20th-century technology and magic should prove too fun to pass up, and players looking for a detective mystery with some intrigue and nightmares might have found something they can't find anywhere else.

Overall, The Walking Dead: A New Frontier is off to a solid start. Fans of the series will definitely have plenty to enjoy here – and emotionally suffer through – and players who found the game to be too clunky and slow previously may appreciate this entry more.

The Stone of Madness isn’t a game for everyone, but it’s hard not to request that even the more discerning player give it a try. The game's somewhat bizarre and disturbing art style remains a high point, and even those unaccustomed to real-time tactical strategy titles may find the game’s story and setting compelling enough to stick with it until the end. Despite some finicky controls, it’s clear that the team behind the game poured their heart and soul into it, with each frame packed with an unbelievable amount of detail and care. The Stone of Madness has a way of transforming the player’s frustration into desperation, with every step closer to the truth providing a boost of adrenaline and a desire not to give up. The monastery is hiding something truly ghastly, and that mystery alone is worth delving into The Game Kitchen’s newest release.

Ultimately, Little Nightmares strikes a fine chord between charming and creepy in a way that perhaps only a former LittleBigPlanet developer could do.

Inmost is a well-balanced game that carefully combines a profoundly emotional story with a challenging, and at times scary, gameplay. Its visuals and soundtrack complement its central themes of grief and loss so well, resulting in a truly unique and genuinely haunting experience. Despite some minor issues such and a rushed conclusion that was merely told to the player rather than having them experience it, Inmost's dynamic storytelling, challenging puzzles, and immersive combat are enough to outweigh all of its shortcomings.

With a fun cast of characters driving an engaging story and a ton of worthwhile rewards to collect, the Borderlands 3 Moxxi's Heist of the Handsome Jackpot DLC is a must-play for fans of the looter-shooter.

Call of Duty: Vanguard will get better with time, but the launch game is still an impressive package. The Campaign is short but sweet and the Multiplayer is a blast, though Zombies fans will likely come away disappointed. Even with Zombies failing to live up to expectations, though, Call of Duty: Vanguard still has a lot to offer fans of the franchise and is very much worth the price of admission.

Small gripes aside, Monster Hunter Stories 3 is a fantastic, one-of-a-kind experience that I won’t soon forget. Its monster-collecting and battle systems are uniquely engaging on a level far beyond typical JRPG grinding, which injects almost every other element of the game with depth that would otherwise be lacking. It doesn’t have the mass appeal of something like Clair Obscur—I don’t imagine it will stray too far beyond its target demographic—but Monster Hunter Stories 3 proves that Capcom is on the right track with this franchise, positioning it to grow into a JRPG institution on the level of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.

All in all, the Kingdom Hearts franchise coming to PC is something that fans have been looking forward to for a long time. Kingdom Hearts 3 is a great port that will delight both new and dedicated fans of the series. Whether it’s a worthy conclusion to the “Dark Seeker” arc will be in the eyes of the beholder, but playthrough-wise, Kingdom Hearts 3 is a great addition to any PC collection.

It might still need some wrinkles ironed out in terms of its balance and difficulty, but otherwise, Ravenswatch is a strong action roguelike and a worthwhile entry into the increasingly crowded genre.

Frictional Games has a psychological thriller on their hands with SOMA, a game which prompts questions about humanity amidst the chaos that lurks within PATHOS-II.

The Medium is a short game that does not offer much in terms of replay value. Normally this would be a serious problem, but The Medium is available through Xbox Game Pass, and so its short length isn't nearly as pressing of an issue. It's short but mostly sweet, and will definitely appeal to fans of classic survival-horror games. It's easily Bloober Team's best game yet and something Xbox Series X owners should check out as soon as they can.

Duelyst combines addictive, turn-based gameplay with a collect-them-all card game mentality to great effect, all wrapped up in solid visuals and free-to-play mechanics.

Directive 8020 left me far more invested in its crew than I expected to be. Turning Points is a smart addition that could use more support, and the Destiny system gives even smaller choices a bigger sense of consequence. It may not land every idea as strongly as it should, but Directive 8020 still delivers a tense, entertaining, and surprisingly character-driven sci-fi horror story that pushes The Dark Pictures Anthology in the right direction.

For those who count Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 and SWAT 4 among some of the best tactical shooters around, playing Ready or Not feels like riding a bike. Even with the adjustment of going from PC to console, Ready or Not still shoots to the top of the list of tactical shooters available on PS5 or Xbox Series X/S, because there's simply not much else on the market like it.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game is just as fans will remember it and that alone will be worth the price of admission for a lot of people. Experiencing the levels and hearing the music again is a nostalgic experience, in a variety of ways. That being said, the game’s clunky combat has been virtually untouched, which will be a turn-off to gamers looking for a refined beat ‘em up experience. And the crashes were not something one would expect from a port. Still, getting together with friends and bashing baddies on the way to winning Ramona’s heart is a fun distraction for a few hours.