Mewgenics is the definitive coming of age title for McMillen and Glaiel. It is a monstrous piece of work - at times repulsive due to its punishing difficulty or its imagery - but it possesses a level of game design intelligence that commands respect. By fusing the controlled randomness of a roguelite, the depth of a tactical RPG, and the obsessive management of a life sim, the duo has birthed an absolute must-play, even if it suffers from some infuriating flaws (seriously, that pathfinding). Why? Because once again, McMillen and Glaiel prove one essential point: regardless of the subject matter, the tone, or the presence of humor, when you pour your guts into a game and refuse to treat players like idiots, greatness happens. It’s filthy, it’s long, it’s hard, and it’s essential for anyone still looking for a game that actually bites back. It is already one of the standout titles of 2026...But be warned: all ye who enter here, go buy some hemorrhoid cream.

You don’t change a winning team, as they say. Except that you absolutely can replace a winning team with an even stronger one. These 60 hours spent with Nioh 3 have done more than dispel our doubts—they’ve shown us that every change introduced by Koei Tecmo was conceived with exceptional care and relevance. Nioh 3 has become an exploration game, and it feels like this was its calling from the very beginning…Smartly reconfigured around the complementarity between samurai and ninja, enhanced by well-judged new mechanics, and boasting unshakeable nervousness, versatility, and depth, Nioh 3’s combat system reaches remarkable heights of intensity and enjoyment. The few flaws that can be pointed out—such as a weak story and recycled enemies—won’t prevent Team Ninja’s game from taking its crown.

City Tales: Medieval Era is likely a pleasant proposition for newcomers to the city-builder genre—but that also turns out to be its biggest flaw. By removing any form of penalties or constraints in the expansion of our city, the entire game can be played on autopilot without the slightest concern. This is all the more regrettable since some of its gameplay mechanics, such as companions, are actually quite enjoyable.

In its eagerness to move beyond meritocracy, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined forgets the value of hard work. Absolutely charming in its polished and highly successful graphics and its writing, which remains relevant despite its age, this remake-that-isn't-quite-a-remake suffers from an excess of leniency, to the point of neglecting game balance, which is fundamental to the enjoyment of the game. The challenges of modernization are sometimes difficult to overcome, and while we commend the work done on the combat and job systems for this return to the spotlight, the iconic DQ7 would have benefited from retaining at least some of its original rough edges.

Cairn is a good game that masters its subject matter and mechanics, as well as its raw emotions and the authenticity of its narrative. For some, it will even certainly serve as a pretext for self-reflection. But there's a catch that leaves a bitter taste: it could have been excellent. The Game Bakers had all the ingredients to cook up an exceptional dish, but the whole thing is undercooked, and a few clunky bugs and other missteps spoil the mountain adventure. This is the strange feeling that Cairn leaves you with. After this exhausting climb on every level, it gives the impression of being both on top of the world and utterly defeated. And to think we were just a pickaxe swing away from becoming one with the mountain.

If reading this review gives you hives, it's no coincidence: that's exactly the feeling the author experienced for much of the time spent playing Trails Beyond The Horizon. It's high time for Falcom to have a wake-up call regarding its flagship series: by constantly offering the same structure (whether narrative, gameplay, or even exploration), even the most dedicated players will inevitably sigh at the inherent redundancy of this new installment, which simply rehashes an already worn-out formula. Boredom prevails over excitement, at least during the first long half of the game, and the multitude of characters paraded for the sake of fan service won't be enough (even for seasoned fans) to maintain interest in the long run. If you manage to get past the thirty-hour mark, a good game is hidden somewhere within. But this is a recurring issue that we wish we didn't have to point out anymore: once again, yet again, another Trails game only truly takes off after dozens of hours of gameplay. Perhaps it's time to return to the fundamentals: streamline this world and refocus the plot, and you'll have something worthwhile. As it stands, however, on the horizon of the Trails series, this is once again a bit of a slog, despite a story that is far more satisfying than that of its predecessor.

With its rock-solid controls, DeadCore Redux refreshes the original game and enhances its art direction without reinventing the wheel – a compliment and a welcome display of restraint, especially considering that other studios might have been tempted to alter the gameplay in the name of a perceived need for novelty. It's up to you to decide whether an extra level and a fresh coat of paint are enough to justify another purchase, of course, but the final result is very successful, warranting a slightly higher score. If you've never played the original, even better: a little gem of a speedrun-oriented platformer awaits you.

Despite a small-ish roster of characters at launch, 2XKO already offers a rich fighting game experience with deep systems, a sharp art direction and an extremely fun "coop mode". There's no doubt Riot Games will keep build on these strong fundamentals and 2XKO deserves to be supported as a strong alternative to more established fighting franchises.

With its strong art direction, cohesive world, and well-balanced difficulty, MIO: Memories in Orbit proves to be a very satisfying experience. Its deliberately slow gameplay won't appeal to everyone, especially the combat, but it's justified and becomes quite engaging, making you want to invest the ten or so hours needed to complete it. It's a solid little Metroidvania that has a lot to offer, despite a few flaws and a finale that we had hoped would be more spectacular.

Dogpile fulfills its purpose wonderfully: providing us with a small, addictive game that cleverly blends Suika Game with roguelite elements. Plus, it features cute dogs and charming art direction, so what more could you ask for? Perhaps some meta-progression to take the concept even further, but the game already works very well as is.

Terminator 2D : No Fate is a splendid 16/32-bits throwback, no doubt, but the very short runtime and lack of T-800 sequences are baffling while advertised modes and alternate scenarios end up very limited in scope. As a result, the 29,99€ price tag is tough to swallow in this economy and roster of regular releases.

It's difficult to adequately rate Skate Story, as the game constantly oscillates between wonderful musical moments and incredibly generic, open-world sections, creating a yo-yo effect on the overall quality graph. But since a rating is necessary, 7/10 seems to reasonably reflect my overall impression. Sam Eng offers controls that are both simple and comprehensive, with a well-designed tutorial system that constantly introduces new moves to master, allowing you to skip the less engaging moments and focus on the best parts. It's a visually striking game that's worth checking out.

No words can accurately transcribe the primal terror I felt during Routine's short runtime. Many players will bounce away because of the purposefully heavy and slow gameplay, yet the journey is unforgettable and oh so special. Floored.

Far from being the pointless rehabilitation of a gacha game lost in the chaotic mess of mobile app stores that any discerning observer might have expected, Octopath Traveler 0 actually stands out as the most accomplished entry in the series to date. By unifying its narrative, expanding its storylines, and embracing even more poignant thematic ambitions than those explored in Octopath Traveler II, this prequel distinguishes itself through the (admittedly belated) realization by the team behind the OT series that an RPG is, above all, the art of storytelling. Unfortunately, its combat system remains imperfect, its balancing questionable, and the lack of a French translation will undoubtedly be a source of frustration (and rightly so). However, while these flaws are real, they fail to overshadow the fact that this is a truly unexpected success.

It’s obvious: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is the weakest entry in the Prime series. Is the full restart from scratch to blame? We will probably never know, but this central desert that impoverishes the overall level design is a major flaw one simply cannot overlook, as its harmful influence can be felt throughout the entire game. Add to that an omnipresent and irritating hand-holding, a story that handles its antagonist and secondary characters very clumsily — not outright terrible, but of questionable interest — and we end up with an experience that does not live up to our high expectations… Even so, it’s hard not to enjoy a proposal that is technically very solid, with a dynamism and freedom in combat that feel genuinely pleasant and are supported by plenty of good little ideas.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is far from a bad game, but it’s a major missed opportunity. It’s a technically flawless beat ’em up that chose the safety of past success over the cosmic daring its premise deserved. It suffers from Marvel’s current timidity and ends up feeling noticeably unbalanced when played solo. Its final score reflects only the raw quality of the pixel art and the sheer fun of its multiplayer mode. For anyone expecting a soft revolution, or even just a small step forward after Shredder’s Revenge, the disappointment hits hard. The talent is there, but the inspiration clearly took a holiday. Unless you’re a die-hard Marvel comics fan, it’s hard to recommend opening your wallet.

Going through Fort Oasis' ruins feels like revisiting a lost 2000's horror game in the best (and sometimes worst) ways. Well-designed maps with clever secrets are offset by a few unbalanced fights. Total Chaos feels overall like a good nostalgic experience, leaving a positive mark in DOOM's extended family tree.

Constance remains a modest game, yet manages to deliver a lovely experience with the means it has — and you can feel the heart behind it. Still, we would have liked its core progression to be less linear, and for it to fully embrace its original gameplay mechanics to give its combat a bit more flavour. But thanks to its superb art direction, the themes it tackles, and its precision in platforming, it remains an adventure well worth experiencing.

With its many customization options and the simply fun nature of its gameplay, Kirby Air Riders makes a strong impression from the very first sessions. Beneath a deceptive feeling of simplicity lies a surprising amount of depth, one that takes hours and hours to fully master. Still, the experience may start to feel a bit repetitive after a while: unfortunately, the generous shots of dopamine the game delivers struggle to keep the player engaged past the ten-hour mark. There’s no doubt, however, that competitive players in search of yet another frantic, fluorescent, borderline-epileptic thrill ride will find exactly what they’re looking for.

With Anno 117: Pax Romana, Ubisoft Mainz manages to push the series to a new height, bringing in small yet meaningful innovations and a duality between its two regions that works well — both in their aesthetics and in their gameplay. The military component remains as uninteresting as ever compared to the city-building aspect, which is, without a doubt, some of the very best the genre has to offer.

Call of Duty : Black Ops 7 walked into Battlefield 6's release like Sideshow Bob walking into a comically big rake. From a disastrous coop campaign to an overly-complex zombie mode, this is probably the worst main episode ever released, feeling like a 2010's parody of Call of Duty.

Dispatch now stands as the benchmark episodic narrative game — a new reference point for what the genre can do best. A superb art direction, dynamic staging, and a strong cast elevate the experience, delivering a superhero story that may be fairly classic, but is filled with heart. What truly stands out, however, is its ability to add a management gameplay layer that blends seamlessly and meaningfully into the adventure.

Torn between puzzle mechanics and rigorous martial arts brawls, Forestrike doesn't always find the right balance - but when lightning strikes, it strikes right on target. Finding the true worth of Forestrike requires training, dedication, and a good capacity to handle frustration.

Possessor(s) betrays Heart Machine's experience with amateurish flaws, ranging from unpleasant controls to a very unremarkable metroidvania level structure. Ultimately feels like a first draft with good intentions and absolutely stellar artworks interspersed throughout.

Arc Raiders is an excellent game and a new benchmark for the extraction shooter genre. Its few flaws, particularly its somewhat conventional art direction, won't diminish its appeal. More than the gameplay itself, it's the interactions with other players, both hostile and peaceful, that linger in the memory, making Arc Raiders a truly memorable game.

With Goodnight Universe, Nice Dream takes the concept explored in Before Your Eyes to new heights. A more refined and nuanced use of the camera complements a denser, well-crafted storyline that captivates us thanks to an effective cast. It's a shame that some ideas are still explored a little too tentatively, and that the game is released on some platforms without the option to play with a camera, which significantly diminishes its appeal.

Freed from its big brother's technical issues, Hyrule Warriors : Age of Imprisonment is a polished muso experience that remains a tad too easy. Also, while the Switch 2's power is certainly put to good use, reading the action in portable mode is sometimes difficult due to an overload of visual effects and UI elements.

Despite its highly effective formula and undeniable qualities, Slots & Daggers is difficult to praise highly. While one can accept that the project's modest scale might hinder the high replayability normally inherent to roguelites, it remains problematic to note that the progression curve is somewhat unbalanced, shifting very quickly from extreme weakness to overwhelming power. It's certainly a good offering that deserved more depth to truly reach its full potential.