Eternal Strands shines with its ambitious, physics-driven magic system and epic monster battles, making it worth a try. However, a dull narrative, clunky melee combat, and stiff animations hold it back. With sharper focus on its strengths, this could’ve been a true gem.

What Cronos: The New Dawn lacks in originality when it comes to gameplay mechanics and the overall setting, it makes up for with a stellar slow burn story concerning an apocalyptic event and the role the stoic protagonist (or rather its employer) plays in it. Bloober Team has effectively taken everything good from its obvious sources of inspiration and poured all of it in a dystopian biomass covered 1980's Krakow setting while mesmerizing its audience with a stellar synthesizer soundtrack. It's just a shame that they failed to copy how their sources of inspiration handled dodge mechanics or the implementation of a map though.

Super Mario Party Jamboree TV doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it polishes the party nicely. The new minigames and Coaster mode shine. The heavy camera reliance won’t be for everyone though. Still, it’s classic Mario Party fun with a flashy twist.

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land brings a fresh twist with a protagonist who isn’t immediately seen as a hero but doesn’t fully explore that concept. The expanded world, new mechanics like a motorcycle and gun, and dynamic real-time combat add depth to the gameplay. While the Switch version has some technical issues, the beautiful art style and excellent voice acting make up for it. It’s an enjoyable addition to the Atelier series, though it could have used a bit more depth.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a stylish and solid arena fighter that offers more content and a faithful anime experience. Not everything hits the mark, but fans get a convincing evolution rather than a revolution.

LOVE ETERNAL proves that simplicity and precision are a powerful match. Not a traditional horror game, but a surreal precision platformer with a melancholic, creepy vibe. Not for everyone, but fans of challenging, artsy platformers shouldn’t miss this one.

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU developer Surgent Studios enters the vastly populated psychological horror pool with Dead Take, a unique take on the 'figure out a way of an eerie mansion, haunted by personal trauma of a disturbed artist' concept. While Dead Take tries its best to convince the player with decent acting, some effective puzzles and the nifty 'splaicing' feature, it also confuses needlessly with a convoluted story that has more loose and remaining questions ends than necessary. Maybe Dead Take is like some of those obscure movies made by often misunderstood directors; if you get it, you get it. If you don't, you don't.

ANTHEM#9 delivers a tight, addictive puzzle-strategy loop that constantly rewards the player. The minimal storytelling holds it back slightly, but the smart mechanics more than compensate. An impressive solo project and a strong recommendation for fans of deckbuilders and tactical puzzlers.

The Wild Gentlemen once again showcase their mastery of film-noir with Chicken Police: Into the HIVE!. Despite its short playtime, it's a must-play, thanks to its fantastic music and sublime voice acting that draw you in until the credits roll.

If No, I'm not a Human manages to do one thing, it's making you second guess your own humanity by putting you in front of the mirror of prejudice. What starts off as a seemingly simple lo-fi project, quickly turns into a nifty social experiment where every choice could potentially be a fatal one and you'll never know when consequences will come knocking at your door. It's a shame that the experience can get ruined by random softlocks, made worse by a lack of auto-save. I guess the developers are humans after all.

MultiVersus is a surprising mashup that brings together a diverse cast of characters from different franchises in a chaotic and fun fighting game. The game’s blend of familiar faces and accessible gameplay offers something for both casual players and fighting game enthusiasts. While it might not be the most polished entry in the genre, its sheer variety and charm make it an entertaining and unexpected hit.

I appreciate Konami for taking risks on diverse indie projects, but Darwin's Paradox still needs significant work before it becomes truly worthwhile. Its charm and expressive animation can’t mask a shallow, low-impact story, and while flashes of creative mechanics shine through, they’re dragged down by tedious, dull, and occasionally frustrating sections. Ironically, despite its clear potential, Darwin's Paradox ends up feeling like a contradiction of what makes a puzzle platformer genuinely engaging.

Visions of Mana offers a beautiful world to explore and challenging battles that can sometimes be a bit chaotic. Despite not having a very innovative story, the game provides enough fun and strategic depth to keep players engaged. Definitely worth it for JRPG fans.

Thief's long awaited re-emergence turns out to be a mixed bag. While developer Maze Theory nails the concept of what made Thief great in the past, bugs and standard VR control tropes tend to steal the thunder of what could have been a decent Thief instalment. The experience could have been solid gold, but for now it's merely silver plated.

Star Wars Outlaws captures the essence of the Star Wars universe with stunning visuals and engaging gameplay. It’s a thrilling adventure that stays true to the epic scale and feel of the galaxy far, far away. Fans of the franchise will find plenty to love in this must-play title, which delivers on both action and story.

Capcom nails the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, delivering the nostalgic experience exactly as you remember it - but better. While some early 2000s quirks and content changes remain, the pure fun of fighting zombies, facing off against psychos, and saving survivors is as engaging as ever.

Nobody Wants to Die is a noir gem that captivates with its dark atmosphere and engaging storytelling. The game masterfully blends mystery and suspense, offering an experience that’s both thrilling and thought-provoking. It’s a must-play for fans of the genre, though its intensity and complexity might not be for everyone.

All Hands on Deck delivers a relaxed co-op experience with clever puzzles and a dreamy style, perfect for getting creative together. Minor technical hiccups keep it just shy of the top tier, but its charm and teamwork focus make it a reliable pick for any co-op session, offline or online.

Milestone delivers another solid entry in the franchise with MotoGP 26, though the Italian developer still misses the mark in places. The new rider-based handling system looks more realistic, but barely feels different from previous years. Thanks to all official licenses, this remains the most authentic way to experience a MotoGP season, despite a career mode that still lacks depth.

Everything is Crab is a charming roguelite with a strong visual identity and entertaining early hours, centered around building your own bizarre creature. The mix of evolution, combat, and time pressure creates exciting runs, but is held back by limited variety and strict RNG. Fun in short bursts, but it lacks the depth and freedom to stay engaging long-term.

At its core, The Caribou Trail does a pretty good job telling a less mentioned WW1 history story regarding the Gallipoli campaign and the hardship of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. Unfortunately though, developer Unreliable Narrators seems to have missed the mark with its action-driven marketing, reeling recruits in with images of trench warfare and eventually serving them a walking/soup stirring sim. The Caribou Trail shows flashes of greatness, but you might already have had your fill before you get to watch those unfold.

Promise Mascot Agency oozes style and originality but stumbles over its own structure. Only worth checking out if you're into slow-paced stories packed with Japanese weirdness.

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is a solid bundle for fans, with enough extras to dive into. Newcomers get a decent introduction, but the repetitive battles and limited variety make it feel monotonous fairly quickly. Enjoyable, but it doesn’t reach the heights of the classic Mega Man(-X) titles.

Sloclap delivers with Rematch an exotic and gripping football game that, thanks to specialized gameplay systems, promises countless hours of fun. It strikes a perfect balance between tactical depth and arcade-style action, while boasting high replayability and a unique, innovative feel I haven’t experienced in a football game for years. Still, issues like flawed matchmaking, minimal battle pass content, and chaotic play with random teammates prevent a Ballon d'Or nomination—but give it a few seasons, and Rematch might just become the undisputed champion of football games.

Fragpunk stands out in the competitive free-to-play market with its vibrant visuals, unique Lancers, and game-changing Shard Cards that keep matches fresh. While the heavy reliance on microtransactions is a downside, the game’s innovation makes it an exciting contender. If future updates refine its progression, Fragpunk could carve out a lasting place in the genre.

Ara: History Untold is a complex 4X-strategy game that introduces an extensive crafting system and simultaneous turns, eliminating waiting times. Players win by earning Prestige in various categories rather than pursuing a specific victory condition. While the game offers rich details in leaders and visuals, it falls short with predictable events and limited cultural differences. It still offers an in depth and rewarding experience for any strategy enthusiasts.

Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club delivers a captivating blend of murder mystery and urban legend, enhanced by atmospheric visuals and strong voice acting. Despite some frustrating gameplay mechanics, it remains a must-play for fans of thrilling narrative games.

UMAMI delivers a charming, stress-free puzzle experience with its hand-painted style and warm atmosphere. Its low difficulty keeps it accessible but predictable, making it a cozy pick for casual puzzlers.