Its environmental storytelling and commitment to a haunting, folk-horror-inspired world set it apart from other post-apocalyptic titles. It's clear that Rebellion had a vision — one that, with a bit more refinement, could have resulted in something special. However, in its current state, Atomfall is a game that often feels like it's fighting against itself, offering players a world they may admire but struggle to fully enjoy in the end.

While some players may love some of the things Kaiserpunk does with the genre, many may find it is a mostly fine take on the concept. If the publisher's past games are anything to go by, there is a chance that the game will expand with more content to help build out the experience further. But, as of now, players will have to wait and see.

Even in early access, InZOI is a serious competitor to The Sims. It has the incredible potential to grow into something that one day even exceeds EA's long-running life sim franchise, with highly-detailed worlds and a lot of clever little details that give the game a certain "wow" factor that has been missing from its inspiration for some time. There is certainly still room for improvement, but it mostly lives up to the hype and, if InZOI's roadmap is any indication, the game is only going to get better from here.

All annual sports game franchises have those entries that are more about polishing what came before than trying bold new things, and MLB The Show 25 fits into that category. Most everything here is great and will give baseball fans their money's worth and then some, but those looking for something different may be disappointed. Still, the sheer amount of content MLB The Show 25 brings to the table is impressive, the core gameplay is a lot of fun, and it perfectly captures the essence of the MLB. MLB The Show 25 is more of the same, but when "the same" is this good, it's hard to complain.

Truthfully, Assassin's Creed Shadows does play it a bit safe and formulaic with its open world. But when the formula is as good as it is in this iteration of the Assassin's Creed franchise, it's hardly a knock against it. After spending about 40 hours traveling around Sengoku-era Japan as both a stealthy shinobi and a powerful samurai, there was still had plenty of untouched side content left to tackle and several endgame quests that demanded both of my heroes to be at levels far beyond their current power.

At the end of the day, Atelier Yumia is a strong entry in the beloved JRPG franchise. Despite a few growing pains, it adopts the cozy and niche franchise into something more digestible for a wider audience thanks to a well-executed open-world format, modern takes on iconic features, and an engaging, untraditional story.

Atelier Yumia is a strong entry in the beloved JRPG franchise. Despite a few growing pains, it adopts the cozy and niche franchise into something more digestible for a wider audience thanks to a well-executed open-world format, modern takes on iconic features, and an engaging, untraditional story.

Centum isn't going to make you jump out of your seat with gratifying gameplay, nor will it provide those "aha!" moments associated with the best puzzle or point-and-click adventure games. This makes it a game that certainly won't please everyone, and that's fine. But if it does resonate with you, it will hit like a truck. It's the type of game you dream about, not because it's a blast to play or because you've always wanted something like it, but because it worms its way into your DNA, scratching an itch you didn't know you had.

Sharing too much about Wanderstop’s narrative would be doing it a disservice, but it contained more surprises than expected in a game that seemed from the start to be on the more simplistic side. This isn't a title for everyone, but it's impossible not to recommend it to everyone. A dozen hours is a small price to pay for a little sanity and quiet, and even those who prefer more active and demanding titles can take something valuable from spending time in this little tea shop. Sometimes, grinding isn't the answer.

Rogue Pinatas: VRmageddon is occasionally entertaining, and it's likely more fun to play with friends, but solo gamers aren't likely to get much value out of it. The game does have a great deal of content to unlock through achievements, new characters, and permanent upgrades, but the core gameplay isn't nearly compelling enough to keep players hooked. The idea of a Vampire Survivors-inspired first-person roguelike certainly has potential, but Rogue Pinatas: VRmageddon falls well short of hitting the mark.

WWE 2K25 is the best WWE 2K game since the franchise made its return with WWE 2K22. The in-ring action is top-notch, MyGM is more fun than ever, and there is enough content here to keep WWE diehards busy for months on end. And that's not even taking into account the inevitable community creations that will supply players with an endless supply of new characters and content. The community creations will no doubt make WWE 2K25 an even stronger game, but even without them, it's a blast to play and has quickly become one of my favorite wrestling games ever.

As someone who has played thousands of video games, there are times when it feels like I've seen it all. But Split Fiction literally made me gasp because I was blown away by what I was seeing. The game surprises, delights, shocks, and endlessly entertains. Split Fiction is one of the best co-op games ever made and something that every gamer should experience. Josef Fares and his team at Hazelight are batting 100, with Split Fiction easily on the short-list for Game of the Year nominees come award season.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection is a funtime if you have an existing nostalgia for the series. Some features and mechanics could be better explained from game to game, but the developers may not have wanted to tamper with the original experience. Thankfully, menus and manuals create enough quality of life improvements to look past the sour spots among the included games.

While it may be a step down from its predecessor, Monster Hunter Wilds is still a great game with significant quality-of-life improvements, many of which shake up the formula for the better. But Capcom went a little too far in its effort to make the game more accessible to the masses, to the point where it risks alienating its most hardcore fans. Even so, what's here is a meaty experience that scratches that Monster Hunter itch, as long as you don't rely too much on the SOS flare support hunters.

Afterlove EP lacks meaningful gameplay, and its bugs can range from inconvenient to apocalyptic, so it says a lot that it's still worth recommending it to anyone who likes smaller, story-driven games. Make no mistake, the aforementioned issues do drag down the overall experience, but at the end of the day, Afterlove EP is more than the sum of its parts. Its music, charming characters, nuanced portrayal of grief, and beautiful manga-inspired art design are all worth the price of admission. If developer Pikselnesia can hammer out its more troubling bugs, then Afterlove EP has a chance to become an all-timer in the visual novel genre.

Ultimately, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage proves to be an uneven experience where the characters are more interesting than the plot. With a final twist that doesn't feel earned and fails to illuminate the game's greater mystery, it's hard to imagine players eagerly awaiting the second half of the story when it arrives on April 15. However, it's still possible that the remainder of the title could continue building its wonderful characters and make the juice worth the squeeze.

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.

While Avowed's successes should not be overlooked, its shortcomings highlight the need for refinement later on. If nothing else, Obsidian has something worthwhile here that might actually reach its full potential if it were given a sequel. As it stands currently, however, it is a game that will likely resonate most with dedicated RPG fans who appreciate the weight of moral decision-making but may leave others feeling like their journey through the Living Lands was cut short just as it was beginning to hit its stride.

DEAD LETTER DEPT. is a relatively short game that a player could potentially spend less than 10 hours playing to complete all endings, depending on how quickly they discover how to get them. Yet, it delivers a potent experience that deserves a spot in the library of avid indie horror fans. Players who can withstand the frights the game generates will find an intriguing story that doesn't hold the player's hand and tell them what to do.

This game may not be for everyone, but for fans of the genre intrigued by the idea of a swashbuckling adventure, Rogue Waters offers a truly special and unique experience. It manages to pull inspirations without sacrificing its own identity, and its forgiving approach to combat means gamers of all skill levels will likely find it approachable.

The game does a great job of letting players logically put together clues. It hides them well at the center of the Roottree's web, but the farther out it goes, it may grate over time. The writing is worth absorbing as players go along and this feels like a real family that could have existed. While this story is certainly told in a way that makes it one of the more unique mystery games out there, it's the method in which players are asked to discover it that holds it back.

Mechanically, Trails Through Daybreak 2 is an incredibly satisfying role-playing experience that offers up some best-in-genre combat, impressive presentation, strong writing, and an exciting "whodunnit" mystery that will keep players guessing to the very end, including enough switching sides and shifting of allegiances to make one's head spin. If you weren't a fan of the Trails games before Trails Through Daybreak 2, it's a safe bet to assume you will be after completing it, and that alone makes it a game worth recommending.

Keep Driving could perhaps be improved through a couple of quality-of-life enhancements, like the ability to zoom out on the map or a better way to manage quests, but these shortcomings pale in comparison to its overwhelming charm and effective small-scale storytelling. It's a game worth recommending to anyone seeking a unique, satisfying, surprisingly replayable experience. It's a truly special game.

Eventually, Spider-Man 2's PC port will be fixed to the point that it will rival or arguably exceed the PS5 version, especially for those with more powerful rigs that can push the game to its graphical and performance limits. At launch, though, Spider-Man 2 on PC falls well short of expectations. The core gameplay is still a blast, and it's still one of the best superhero adventures in gaming, but the crashes are too problematic to ignore.

Sid Meier's Civilization 7 offers a fantastic experience for fans of the franchise and genre. Its turn-based gameplay loop is endlessly addicting, the civilizations and leaders are a joy to play around with, and its exploration of history is a sight to behold. It has a few flaws that need to be worked out, but just like almost every Sid Meier's Civilization game before it, those will likely be addressed with future patches and DLC content. So, for those veteran players who were eagerly anticipating the next entry or new players who may have never touched this franchise before, this may be exactly what they were looking for.

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.

For those who appreciate RPGs that lean into simulation rather than spectacle, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a standout experience — one that is best approached with patience and an eagerness to embrace its historical authenticity and realism. It may not cater to every type of player, but for those willing to engage with its systems, it delivers one of the most satisfying and immersive role-playing experiences in recent memory. With its stunning visuals, refined gameplay mechanics, and a gripping continuation of Henry's journey, KCD2 cements itself as one of the most compelling RPGs of the year, regardless of what may come after it.

Big Helmet Heroes wears its inspirations on its sleeve and manages to reach the heights of many great beat 'em up adventures. It focuses on the fun of its combat systems and imaginative levels, providing a consistently satisfying experience without ever taking itself too seriously. Its major drawback comes from its limited co-op experience, which could have been one of its greatest strengths, making it a game more readily recommended for solo players than groups of friends. For gamers who love to unlock secrets and replay levels, there's a lot of content being offered, which could provide hours upon hours of enjoyment.