Little Nightmares 3 is a beautifully haunting continuation that captures the series’ unsettling charm but hesitates to evolve. Its atmosphere, art direction, and emotional weight are undeniable, pulling you once again into a world of quiet dread and fragile hope. While the new mechanics add layers of cooperation and tension, they’re often underused. Beyond that, several missed opportunities—like local co-op—keep the game from stepping into greatness.

The Wandering Village marries survival and city-building atop a living creature with charm and originality, but genre quirks, flat storytelling, and a few design snags keep it from soaring. It’s a thoughtful, well-crafted game—just one that asks you to overlook some rough edges.

FEROCIOUS is what I'd call a perfect example of getting the vibe right. While the gameplay leave a lot to be desired, the compelling slow-burn, decent gunplay, and cheap price point makes it a very surprising game to sink your teeth in.

Onirism is deceptive at first glance. Behind its cozy, colorful art style is a wild, unrelenting shooter that never runs out of new ideas. It’s playful, challenging, and bursting with charm in a way that makes the occasional frustration worth pushing through.

RV There Yet? might not be the most intricate or polished co-op game out there, but it’s effortlessly fun. Its mix of teamwork, physics-driven chaos, and laid-back humor strikes that rare balance between laughter and light frustration. With a bit more content or fine-tuning, it could easily become a standout in the genre—but as it stands, it’s a scrappy, endearing road trip that delivers exactly the kind of good time it promises.

Keep Driving is a road trip themed adventure-RPG with resource management elements that takes you on a cross-country journey in the warm confines of your car. With familiar RPG elements, stunning pixel art, tons of content to discover, this road trip fantasy will surely be a great addition to any cozy RPG fan’s library.

Undeniably fun and appealing to all ages, Big Helmet Heroes follows in the footsteps of great co-op beat 'em ups that isn't afraid to be fun for the sake of it.

Although brought low by a bland story and a somehow blander antagonist, Jurassic World Evolution 3 still delivers a solid and distinctively scientific park management experience. It’s not the apex of its genre, but it's not at the bottom of the food chain either.

Freedom Wars Remastered is a faithful but imperfect revival of a cult classic PlayStation Vita game. While it retains the compelling dystopian premise and addictive combat that made the original standout back in 2014, it also carries over some of its shortcomings. The narrative brims with potential, yet falls short in its execution. The visual design is imaginative, but can’t break free of its Vita-era origins. For returning fans, it’s a nostalgic trip worth taking, with the same-old addictive gameplay and just enough improvements to feel fresh. For newcomers, it’s a more challenging sell; its dated structure and design may not resonate with players as strongly today. But in spite of its flaws, Freedom Wars Remastered is a welcome effort to keep its unique world alive, and it leaves hope for a future that will fully realize the potential of its setting.

South of Midnight is a creative triumph trapped in the wrong medium. Its gorgeous animation, heartfelt voicework, and rich world-building shine—but a dull, vestigial combat system drags it down. It’s not just missed potential; this should’ve been a movie, not a middling action-adventure game.

MY HERO ACADEMIA: All’s Justice is a solid, if flawed, celebration of everything that made the franchise a pop culture staple. It isn’t going to win over anyone who isn’t already a fan of the series, but the game leverages the hype of the Final War arc to cover up its repetitive combat and uneven story presentation. Regardless, the sheer size of the roster and the authenticity of the voice acting make it hard to totally dislike. It captures the spirit of the series well enough, even if it doesn’t quite go Plus Ultra.

Dune: Awakening will surely keep players preoccupied with its myriad of survival game content and gameplay encased in its vast open-world, allowing for freedom to explore the dangerous but charming world of Arrakis at your own pace. However, its marred by its clunky and stiff melee combat, performance and server issues, as well as a few bugs and glitches that can sour the experience.

Rather than delivering a consistently smooth experience, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is a game that thrives in its investigation systems, atmosphere, and environmental storytelling. At its best, the game makes you feel like you’re actively reconstructing events rather than simply progressing through them. However, the experience is held back by uneven pacing and occasional controller mishaps. The result is a strong but imperfect experience that resonates more as a standout concept than a fully polished execution.

Sushi Ben is a charming story-driven adventure game that is quirky, whimsical, and incredibly vibrant. From an intriguing slice-of-life-esque story told in vibrant, 3D manga panels, simple gameplay that everyone can enjoy, to a cast of colorful, unforgettable characters, it’s a fun journey to experience. However, its weakness lies in its plethora of bugs and glitches, the most common of all being ones that soft-lock players out of the game, which can be quite frustrating to replay.

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny, like an old katana, draws its blade once more, carving a path to modern consoles. Its age undoubtedly shows in places, but beneath the wear is a razor-sharp, thrilling demon-slaying adventure that still outclasses many of today’s flashier games.

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a good roguelite that brushes against greatness but doesn’t quite get there. Its imaginative premise, progression systems, and guardian dynamics give it a unique identity, while inconsistent mechanics and uneven storytelling hold it back. It’s enjoyable, satisfying in bursts, and worth the price for roguelite fans who want something fresh. Just don’t expect it to reach the heights of the genre’s best.

Wildgate feels like what you'd get if you mixed Overwatch with Sea of Thieves—a bold, chaotic fusion of hero-based teamwork and ship-to-ship space battles. It’s not without its flaws, but at its best, it delivers fun, frantic gameplay that thrives on cooperation. Space piracy mayhem at its finest.

Terminull Brigade is one of those rare free games that makes you want to spend money—not because you have to, but because it’s that fun. The co-op shooting and build potential are a blast, even if bugs and performance issues drag things down. I’ve considered buying the battle pass just to support future updates. For what it costs, it’s hard to complain.

LEGO Voyagers is a short and sweet co-op adventure best enjoyed on a relaxed afternoon with a friend. However, it doesn't leave much behind once it’s over. The puzzles are easy, sometimes too easy, but they’re carried by how naturally the game encourages two people to figure things out together. I do wish, though, that it lasts longer than just a few hours, especially since it also doesn’t quite push its mechanics as far as it could.

Baby Steps can be considered as Bennett Foddy and company’s best work to date. With the use of physics-based platforming and gameplay mechanics combined with unhinged adult humor, the game is a weird fever dream built on overcoming failure one tiny step at a time.

Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is the sequel no one expected—35 years frozen in time, now reborn with nostalgia and a heart of ice. Its stiff controls feel straight out of the ‘80s, but beneath the frost lies gothic charm, slick chain combat, and rewarding exploration.

Reality Break is a game of extremes. The combat is fantastic, the loot system is top-tier, and the in-run mechanics are engaging across the board (except, perhaps, the story). On the other hand, the metagame progression and accessibility options are about as barebones as they can get. If you can’t fully appreciate one or forgive the other, you’re going to feel these extremes. For all its sci-fi pedigree, Reality Break comes with an equal share of issues that need fixing. Its breakneck combat is something truly special, but everything else might be too sluggish to let it truly take off.

Resonance Solstice is a decent trading and management simulator with trains and deckbuilding card combat, made better by a colorful cast of characters and a pretty engaging story. While it shines most in its real-time trading system and train gameplay, everything all ties together well for a fun gameplay experience. Unfortunately, it’s still marred by several bugs and frequent crashes which can make or break the overall feel.

Mario Tennis Fever follows the classic Super Mario Sports formula, emphasizing simplicity and fun. While it retains the core gameplay identity, it suffers from several issues, including a lackluster Adventure Mode, hit-and-miss supplementary game modes, and a new, gimmicky mechanic in Fever. It’s a good party game, but it doesn’t have enough to make it worth the price or the time.

Sofia in Exchange for Lies is a bold, character-driven mystery that plays with memory, trauma, and truth in refreshingly mature ways. While it stumbles in a few frustrating design decisions and occasionally vague progression mechanics, its emotional depth, replay structure, and respectful handling of difficult topics make it a uniquely worthwhile experience—provided you're the kind of player who likes to sit with a game rather than sprint through it.

Escape from Tarkov's world is unforgiving, and is definitely not for casual play. Yet, its the challenge and engaging gameplay that makes it all the better. It's still weighed down by bugs and glitches and connection issues here and there, as well as the disappointing lack of (free) PvE, but it's a solid FPS extraction game for those looking for an extra hard challenge.

Square Enix certainly wanted to create a defining title for the franchise, as the streamlined narrative and gameplay additions make it easy for anyone to get into. However, the price of convenience is a little too steep; cut islands, hand-holdy exploration, and a lack of challenge make this reimagining a diminished experience compared to its older versions.

Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall wears the weight of its crown with dignity, even if its footing isn’t always steady. There’s beauty in gloom and routine and the moments where the burden of leadership hits just right—but they’re often buried under bugs, shallow choices, and a story that doesn’t quite find its teeth. It’s not a fall from grace, exactly, but more like a stumble in the snow that's hard to not take notice of.

Flick Shot Rogues is tougher and deeper than it first appears, but all the better for it. Its precision, physics-based, pool-inspired gameplay makes every run engaging, while its storybook charm and high synergy form an addictive loop—just don’t expect much variety in bosses, enemies, or endings.

While dark fantasy open-world RPGs are nothing new, Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon is an ambitious open-world RPG that backs up its comparisons to the greats and is a worthy newcomer in a saturated market.

Like any good slot machine, this game’s a gamble—fun if you’re here for quick spins and rogue-lite flair, but don’t expect to hit the jackpot if you’re chasing a story, because while there is one, you're better off just staying at the slots and making that number go up.

Venus Vacation PRISM arrives just in time for spring break! It offers a getaway filled with sun, sand, and a strikingly polished charm. It delivers exactly what it sets out to, but beneath the glossy presentation, its lack of depth might leave some players wanting more. Still, for those willing to overlook its shortcomings, there’s enjoyment to be found here—but for everyone else, it might not be the paradise it claims to be.

No, I’m Not Human thrives on atmosphere, weaving paranoia and dread into every knock at the door, and its shuffled characters and multiple endings give it strong replay value. It’s not a game of polished mechanics—its testing restrictions are frustrating and its bugs are noticeable—but for $14.99 it delivers a tense horror experience that sticks with you.

Crisol: Theater of Idols is an ambitious game with moments of creativity and style, but its execution consistently holds it back. The story fails to engage, combat is frustrating, and the character design often breaks immersion. At the same time, it offers one of the more compelling first-person horror settings in recent years, and its environmental and thematic work are impressive. It’s a game with strong ideas that never fully coalesce into a consistently satisfying experience, making it interesting but flawed overall.

Tower of Fantasy is, at this point, an anomaly among its peers. Beyond its perfectly average music, Hotta Studio keeps steering the game in such bizarre directions that it’s hard to tell whether it’s intentional design or the result of consulting a Magic 8 Ball. And even with the Warp Server, it’s still unmistakably Tower of Fantasy: a janky, charming, and fighting an uphill battle to reinvent itself after years of decline.

It’s easy to enjoy Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta for what it is: a fast and straightforward JRPG that still feels good to play even years later. However, its age shows in ways that are almost impossible to ignore. It’s a decent entry for newcomers curious about Ys, but returning players may find there’s just not enough to justify another trip through Celceta.

Hell is Us is a unique take on bringing back classic RPG mechanics in a modern fashion. While it has clear flaws in its narrative and gameplay aspects, it’s a new experience with an inspired setting and a heavy atmosphere to boot.

Post Trauma offers a nostalgic journey through classic survival horror, but doesn’t quite manage to recapture the magic of its inspirations. The atmosphere and sound design provide an immersive experience, but the gameplay often feels cumbersome, and the story leaves much to be desired. While it hits the right notes for horror enthusiasts, it occasionally stumbles in execution. It’s an enjoyable ride for those seeking a taste of PS2-era horror, but it’s far from perfect.

Choosing to venture into new territory and try their hand at a new genre, Rebellion has succeeded in delivering an engaging-yet-flawed experience in their most ambitious project yet.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master delivers a stylish and atmospheric drifting experience, wrapped in a crafted open world with solid customization options. But uneven mission design and slippery mechanics keep it from crossing the finish line at full speed. Drift enthusiasts will find fun in its corners, but those craving a deeper, more polished racer may be left wanting more.

Trails Through Daybreak 2 had all the right ingredients—engaging combat, deep customization, and a gorgeous presentation—but somewhere along the way, it forgot to justify its own existence. What should have been a meaningful continuation of the story instead felt like a low-stakes detour, lacking the weight and player agency needed to make its twists truly land. I wanted to believe in it, to see past the early criticisms, but in the end, it only proved them right.

SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada is an extraction shooter where players mine AO Crystals, engage in battles, and try to survive in a hostile environment. The core gameplay loop is engaging, offering strong customization options for both mechs and Magus companions, as well as a world full of environmental hazards that add tactical depth. The game’s replayability is bolstered by the progression system, encouraging players to return for more sorties. However, the narrative is lackluster, with no compelling plot to drive the player forward, and the PvP aspect suffers from unbalanced gameplay where new players are often thrown into the same map as fully equipped veterans, leading to frustration.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is already a great game, and its Switch 2 upgrade only makes it better with cleaner visuals. Meetup in Bellabel Park, though, feels a lot less essential. Some content, like the challenge stages in Toad Brigade Training Camp, has fun ideas, but the bulk of the expansion is short-lived minigames and remixes of previous levels. It’s still a nice excuse to replay the game, but most of what’s new doesn’t stick for long or feels like it truly adds much

Beneath the outdated visuals, busted audio, and mechanics that seem hellbent on ruining your day, there’s still a goofy, lovable game that shines when shared with friends. It’s messy, it’s flawed, but it’s also oddly charming, as long as you snag it on sale.

Creature Keeper is a charming yet flawed adventure that struggles to fully deliver on its potential. While it offers a heartfelt story, colorful creature designs, and a robust creature management system, its enjoyment is frequently hampered by technical issues, clunky combat, and overall incomplete feel. There’s a genuinely fun experience here, but it’s one that’s constantly interrupted by bugs and unfinished features.

With its final balance patch and the addition of rollback netcode, SEGA is making a clear statement—Virtua Fighter is back, and it’s here to stay.

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter offers a solid action RPG experience with its focus on combat and world-building. The game excels in making you feel connected to the world and its inhabitants, particularly with its challenging combat and the promise of growth and rebuilding. However, the repetitiveness of the gameplay loop and the lack of a truly compelling story keep it from reaching its full potential. While it delivers on many fronts, it doesn’t fully break new ground, which may leave some players feeling like they’ve seen it before. It’s a great value for its price but may not be groundbreaking some might have hoped for.

The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince succeeds as a visually appealing and emotionally resonant fable, but it often struggles to function as an engaging video game. The storybook presentation is memorable, but the shallow puzzles and clunky platforming make the actual journey underwhelming. It is a beautiful piece of storytelling that unfortunately lacks the polish to match its artistic ambition.

It’s hard not to feel conflicted about Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, because while it plays smoother and looks cleaner, many of its story changes and cut content weaken what originally worked. The remake still has solid moments, especially with Dad Kiryu, but combat, pacing, and Dark Ties often feel shallow or stretched out. It’s not a bad time, just a messy step forward that doesn’t fully honor what makes the Yakuza series work.

Bendy: Lone Wolf successfully upgrades its predecessor in visuals, atmosphere, and small quality-of-life tweaks, but it doesn’t reinvent itself. Short bursts of play keep its stealth and exploration sharp, while its modest runtime and price make it an easy pickup for returning fans. It won’t shake the formula enough to win over skeptics, but for those already drawn to Joey Drew’s world, it’s another satisfying trip into the dark.

Outbound is a cozy exploration game that does well on its basics—exploration, crafting, building—but fails to really keep the magic and entertainment after a few hours due to its taxing gameplay loop that feels like it rewards so little for so much effort. Nevertheless, the game is fun in its own right, although more improvements and changes would make it even more enjoyable for a wider audience.

UNFOLLOW is a competent entry in the BrokenLore franchise, delivering solid storytelling and atmosphere while struggling with gameplay and cohesion. It offers moments of genuine psychological complexity, but predictable mechanics, overused jump scares, and underdeveloped plot threads prevent it from being truly memorable. Fans of the series will find enough to engage with, but those looking for groundbreaking horror may find it uninspired.

Kaiju No. 8 THE GAME is just another anime IP turned turn-based RPG that joins the genre full of decent but just average titles. It's interesting enough to keep you hooked for a time with okay gameplay and an alright story but as you progress, it gets grindy and stale. Fans of the series may find a bit more merit into staying with the game, but the general public may not be as willing, especially as it starts off deep into the main story.

Space may be the final frontier, but this game clearly needed one more trip through QA. The combat rarely clicks, and the voice acting and animation struggle to keep pace, yet the resource management is sublime and the UI design genuinely excellent. Focus on its strategic and narrative strengths, and this Trekkie adventure might still live long and prosper in memory.

Heretic + Hexen is aimed squarely at those nostalgic for the originals. Without that, most won’t stay hooked, though these classics still stand as genre-defining works now showing their age.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is a refinement of what's already to be expected, crisp gunplay and fun multiplayer content. Outside of that, it loses its luster. The campaign alone singlehandedly sours the experience, with the narrative going so far off the rails that it unintentionally becomes a parody of a different game.

Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is a decent mobile-PC MMORPG with pretty anime-style visuals and a standard plot that satisfies the MMORPG itch—for some time. Aside from being eye-candy and having an okay plot, it’s marred by other technical issues such as awkward animations, strange cutscene lapses, localization issues, and more. It’s just alright, meh—nothing amazing, but nothing terribly bad either.

Terminator 2D: NO FATE has stunning 16-bit visuals, a banger soundtrack, and simple yet fun gameplay that makes it one of the better games in the franchise in showcasing how good the franchise is. However, the extremely short runtime and conditional replayability make it an experience that doesn’t match the price it’s asking for.

All in Abyss: Judge the Fake deals with a wild hand that’s hard not to admire—even if it’s a little flawed. The boss battles and Danganronpa-style executions steal the show with thematic gimmicks that keep each match feeling unique, even when the game’s balance falters. Its visual novel elements are surface-level and the post-game content is thin, but the journey up the gambling ladder is just absurd enough to be worth the ride. It’s not the most honest game at the table, but it sure knows how to put on a show.

Aspyr did great in enhancing Lara Croft’s second trilogy, but there’s only so many things you can fix until the past comes back to haunt you.

Blades of Fire is a fun action-adventure game that boasts its unique features well but unintentionally shows off its many flaws.

Super Puzzled Cat is a challenging puzzle-platformer behind its bright, pastel-colored aesthetic, and provides hours upon hours of platforming fun coupled with smooth gameplay mechanics and a unique infinite save state feature that elevates the experience into more than just your run-of-the-mill indie platformer. The lack of a solid narrative doesn’t detract from the overall experience as well, but in order to delve deeper into the game, it may require an above average platforming skillset to grab the bits of lore hidden away in secret areas. Puzzle-platforming veterans will feel right at home with Super Puzzled Cat, but the high difficulty ceiling may prove a bit much for more casual gamers.

Commandos: Origins offers gameplay that hits the mark for real-time tactics fans, but everything surrounding it feels like it’s stuck in the past. The visuals and audio are functional at best, with little flair, and the story is exactly what you'd expect—and nothing more. With its $49.99 price tag, it's hard not to feel like you're paying a bit too much for something this straightforward.

Where GUNTOUCHABLES falls short on thrills, it makes up for in charm and promise. Its wacky, chaotic fun is worth a try, but with so little content to go on, it’s more a quick fling than a roguelite obsession. It's free for now, cheap much later, but the value won't be there until it gets more content.

Quarantine Zone: The Last Check struggles with technical issues and inconsistent challenges. Glitches, visual drops, and clunky mechanics pull you out of the experience, and the game doesn’t always push you to adapt or think in surprising ways. Though it shines in giving players a real sense of authority, a reactive world, and satisfying systems that reward careful observation and decision-making, its current state is difficult to recommend. However, fans of puzzle-management simulations who enjoy moral ambiguity and quiet tension can still have a compelling and worthwhile experience despite its rough edges.

Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together is Cooking Simulator 1’s seemingly more put together younger sibling—less chaotic, more structured, but still entertaining to a point. However, it suffers from its plethora of bugs that range from mildly annoying to actually game-breaking and soft-locking, as well as a clunky UI, that dampen the experience. Nonetheless, it’s still a decent game—maybe just wait for a couple more patches.

Killing Floor 3 is NOTHING like the older games—and while that’s not all bad, it loses much of the chaotic charm in trying to be something new. It takes itself too seriously, trading identity for polish, but without the baggage of its predecessors, there’s still fun to be had.

Much like classic Disney, Bye Sweet Carole exudes a nostalgic charm that’s hard not to admire—its visuals, sound, and story all steeped in vintage flair and period commentary. Sadly, much like Disney today, it’s hard to love despite that beauty. With sluggish pacing, thin gameplay, and only half the heart of a point-and-click adventure, you’re better off rewatching an old Disney classic and experiencing the magic where it still lives.

FBC: Firebreak is a solid idea held back by a premium price and early-access-level polish. At $40 (more on PlayStation), it feels more like a mid-roadmap build than a finished 1.0 release. The core gameplay, story, and production are strong, but missing QoL features, sparse content, and optimization issues drag it down. Remedy may patch things up in time, but right now, Firebreak just isn’t worth the ask.

KAISERPUNK ambitiously blends city-building and grand strategy but falters in execution. While it nails the fundamentals, clunky mechanics and missing QoL features hold it back. With a sleeker UI, better optimization, and improved visuals for some of its map elements, maybe it could shine—but right now, this lack of synergy makes it worth less than the sum of its parts.

Bao Bao's Cozy Laundromat is an idle game that revolves around upgrading washing machines, managing resources, and expanding the laundromat. There are some unique touches that set it apart from other idle games, like the Twitch integration, allowing streamers to let their audience interact directly with the laundromat in charming ways. There’s also a built-in focus timer, making it a great companion for study or work sessions. While it’s a solid choice for idle game enthusiasts, its slow pace and passive nature might not appeal to everyone.

Fia and her band of lovable disasters in Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy might not cast the deepest spells, but they’ve got just enough magic to keep things moving. The dungeon crawling is light, the combat mildly engaging, and the school life fluff adds just enough variety to break up the loop. Thankfully, it’s all wrapped in a silly, self-aware package that leans into its anime logic and wears it proudly. There’s not much depth to uncover, but you might end up smiling more than you’d expect.

Tales of the Shire is a decent life-sim game with an engaging cooking mechanic, but that's the most stellar thing about it. Bywater, while picturesque in its own way, doesn't feel like home, and it doesn’t help that the game is also flawed by its technical and optimization issues, which only turns the experience more sour.

Assassin's Creed Shadows isn't awful, but it’s not the game fans deserve. Clunky combat, awkward animations, and a departure from the series' standard make it a mixed bag. Still, its expansive world, production value, and new mechanics might justify giving it a try when its on sale, if you aren't an AC purist, that is.

Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark suffers from classic sequelitis—trying to go bigger, it loses what made the original special. The art and combat still shine, but messy structure and design choices ultimately drag it down.

Mega Dimension adds a lot of content for players who already enjoy Pokémon Legends: Z-A. There are more Pokémon to collect, new Mega Evolutions, and a boost in difficulty that keeps things challenging. Its story and setting don’t offer much that’s new, and many of the base game’s characters don’t get much time in the sun. For players who loved the original, there’s plenty here to enjoy and experiment with, but if the base game didn’t grab you, this DLC isn’t likely to change that.

Longvinter strikes a delicate balance between relaxation and unpredictability. At its best, it offers a charming, open-ended survival experience where players can shape their own journey—whether that’s peacefully fishing by the shore, running a small trading outpost, or risking it all for high-value loot in contested bunkers. However, this freedom comes with its frustrations. While the game's cozy aesthetic and sandbox mechanics are inviting, its grind-heavy progression, energy restrictions, and PvP balance issues can disrupt the experience. Those looking for a laid-back multiplayer survival game will find enjoyment, especially in PvE servers, but players seeking deep progression or fair competitive play may leave disappointed.

NORSE: Oath of Blood is a decent Viking-themed turn-based title whose strengths lie in its well-told narrative, gripping voice acting, and interesting characters and dialogue. However, it’s hindered by its plethora of visual and in-game bugs, as well as several unpolished odds and ends here and there that only add to a frustrating experience.

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap feels like the result of expanding in every direction except forward. While it throws plenty of new elements into the mix, none of them stand out as true innovations over Orcs Must Die! 3. That said, it does have its strengths: a few great ideas, an enjoyable soundtrack, wide-open maps, a skill tree, and even and genuinely engaging gameplay. Just don’t even think about playing solo—you’ll end up suffering twice as much for the effort.

Viewed as a companion piece to the mainline entries, Utawarerumono ZAN can be a worthwhile pickup for visual novel fans with a taste for action games. Outside of that narrow context, though, its price is hard to justify.

On the surface, VARLET seems like it could be one of FURYU’s stronger titles, with striking visuals and solid audio design. Unfortunately, its weak story and steep price drag down what might have otherwise been a decent game, leaving it as another disappointment in the company’s mixed lineup.

Of Ash and Steel is a classic tale of a zero-to-hero journey that's willing to show off its flaws, intentionally and unintentionally. It's the type of game that's built for a particular audience, one that revels in relishing the masochistic nature of old-school RPGs.

Mai: Child of Ages has a great concept but multiple small flaws add up to a less than memorable experience. Despite the wonderful music and the great contrasting presentation, the repetitive puzzles, clunky combat, and technical issues just don't make for a good time.

SplitGate 2 is, at best, a half-baked mix of better games. With a meager selection of classes, weak loadout variety, a forgettable battle royale mode, and even more battle pass slop, it’s a shooter that barely leaves an impression—let alone earns your time.

MSFS 2024 on PS5 is a mixed bag. When everything works, it’s a near-perfect simulation playground with stunning visuals and complex flight mechanics. But technical issues and buggy career progression significantly temper the experience. For newcomers or casual pilots, patience is required. For enthusiasts, it’s still a compelling, if imperfect, flight simulator.

Mecharashi is a clear passion project with excellent turn-based combat and deep mech customization—but nearly everything else falls short. Clunky menus, forgettable audio, and weak visuals outside the mechs make it a mixed bag that ultimately depends on your tolerance for rough edges.

It’s hard to make magic feel monotonous, but YAPYAP manages it. Despite a strong, well-executed premise, issues with map variety, economy balance, and progression hold it back from becoming the next big friendslop hit.

Sonic Rumble is a fun way to waste time, if you look past the borderline criminal microtransaction costs and annoying monetization practices. The game doesn't offer any depth and is more of a bastardized version of what a Sonic game is to turn it into a party battle royale.

Empyreal is an ambitious game that struggles to turn its promise into a captivating experience. Its mysterious Monolith holds potential, but weak storytelling, repetitive combat, bland visuals, and frustrating exploration hinder the adventure. While creative character backgrounds and the apparition mechanic offer glimpses of originality, they can’t outshine the game’s flaws. Some may enjoy its setting, but Empyreal struggles to stay engaging beyond its initial intrigue.

Carmen Sandiego’s 2025 rendition is a charming new title that adds on to the beloved series. Full of puzzles, minigames, and fun facts about countries and landmarks all at the palm of your hand in one stunning modern style. Sleuthing has never been this fun and educational—and Carmen Sandiego knows just how to do it. However, its steep price tag, PC optimization issues, and forgettable soundtrack might dampen the experience a bit.

Him: the Smile & bloom is a purely narrative-driven experience with occasional dialogue choices that determine the outcome of each storyline. Players can experience four romance archetypes each with multiple endings. The game features anime-inspired visuals, a beautifully crafted opening sequence, and an OST that enhances key emotional moments. However, its limited interactivity and frustrating character writing may not appeal to everyone.

Aphelion is easy to admire from a distance, but the closer you get, the emptier it feels. Its story relies on a relationship it never really builds, and the gameplay does little to keep things interesting in between the nice-looking moments. Aside from the performances and the immaculate soundtrack, the game is as distant and impossible to connect with as its namesake.

I summon Pot of Mid to draw 14 mediocre games from Konami’s Yu-Gi-Oh! library! Sure, it’s fun to revisit some of these classic titles, even if some of them don’t quite live up to the hype. Maybe next time Konami will summon a more exciting lineup, but for now, we’re left with a handful of cards that, while decent, don’t offer much beyond a trip down memory lane.

Valkyrie Squad: Siege Breakers is the unfortunate product of a good idea pulled down by terrible execution. It's inundated with baffling design choices that serve to overshadow its otherwise bright gimmick of swappable characters. But despite the mixed bag of experience, the game is still decently fun to play.

DRAGON QUEST Smash/Grow is a serviceable “survivors-style” RPG that looks and sounds just as you’d expect from the historic franchise. Its lackluster roguelite mechanics and lack of mechanical depth anchor its gameplay, ultimately making it a repetitive experience that’s easy to play and drop at a moment’s notice. However, players should be wary of the game’s abhorrent monetization scheme and progression walls, as these are not only worse than most gacha games but also a huge time sink that offers little satisfaction beyond repetition.

Devil Jam rocks a killer concept with its rhythm-fueled chaos and hellish style, but clunky progression and a thin roster keep it from truly jamming. It's a fun B-side at best, not a headliner.

Among Us 3D wears the mask of its 2D predecessor, stepping into first-person with big ambitions. There’s still chaos and charm beneath the surface, but clunky mechanics and odd design choices ruin the overall experience. In the end, it’s more impostor than upgrade—you’re better off sticking with the classic.

Blade and Soul Heroes has its moments. Its combat systems and world are easy enough to get into, but this doesn’t last long. The further you go, the more the game shows its true face as a gacha MMO built around grinding, spending, or falling behind. There’s still fun to be had in its gameplay and progression, but anyone planning to stick with it long-term will quickly feel the pressure. There’s enjoyment to be had here, but it comes with strings attached, and in the case of Blade and Soul Heroes, those strings are pretty hard to ignore.