Quarantine Zone: The Last Check has an original concept that offers solid entertainment, but lacks the depth to truly keep you hooked. It shines most in short sessions, as monotony and technical issues start to creep in over time. With future patches in mind, it remains a fun experience but best enjoyed in moderation.

Arknights: Endfield is an ambitious and confident next step, delivering strong real-time combat, an engaging world, and an impressive presentation. While gacha mechanics and microtransactions remain a weak point, they barely detract from an experience you can fully enjoy for free. A must-play for fans and a rewarding, if slightly demanding, entry point for newcomers

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a strikingly stylish Metroidvania with the potential to rival the genre’s heavyweights, were it not for one nagging flaw: its pacing. Fans of the subgenre will find much to admire in its beautiful presentation, richly realized world, mysterious narrative, and clever level design, which offer plenty for veterans to sink their teeth into, even if the combat and platforming are more competent than exceptional. I admire the game’s deliberate, contemplative approach, but its frequent sluggishness can sap momentum and demand real effort to push forward. Despite some missteps, MIO: Memories in Orbit remains a memorable experience.

Big Hops features excellently designed core systems, but ultimately doesn’t do enough to truly motivate players to keep going. If you’re here purely for flashy 3D platforming, you’ll have a great time hopping through cozy, colorful environments, but those seeking tight level design, a compelling narrative, or long-term depth will hear a less pleasant croak. In the end, it’s a very typical debut 3D platformer, brimming with potential and clear learning moments for Luckshot Games.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon continues the Calvard arc of the series in a largely successful way. The story is strong and the cast is colorful, but the journey is not entirely without flaws. The narrative unfolds very slowly at the start (a typical issue for the franchise), and at the same time this is absolutely not a beginner-friendly entry point. The combat system remains solid and offers plenty of room for experimentation. Even so, it can feel overwhelming at times, especially if you’re not already familiar with the series. However, if you can look past these shortcomings, an incredible adventure awaits, filled with tons of content and memorable moments.

We kick off 2026 in style with Pathologic 3, a uniquely intense experience you won’t soon forget. Its gameplay systems and striking design come together in an intriguing whole, even if the lack of voice acting and dated visuals holds back the presentation somewhat. That small drawback aside, this is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for something truly original.

Cozy Caravan is a warm and charming cozy game that shines through its atmosphere and accessibility. Playing as a cute animal, running your market stall, and helping villagers feels relaxing and welcoming, just as the genre promises. While repetitive NPCs, limited dialogue, and little musical variety can wear down the experience over longer sessions, the core remains strong. It may not be perfect, but it’s a very enjoyable cozy game.

DuneCrawl is an ambitious indie with a striking concept and stylish presentation, but it struggles to stay engaging due to repetitive gameplay and uneven execution. The chaotic co-op shines when played with a full group of friends, yet solo or duo play quickly exposes sluggish AI and design friction. At its price point it’s a fair deal, but only if you can convince others to join the crawl.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond gets a lot right with tight action, clever puzzles, and enjoyable new abilities, all wrapped in a gorgeous and smooth-playing experience. Unfortunately, weaker NPCs and a questionable amiibo decision hurt the atmosphere. A great game, but one that doesn’t quite reach the legendary status of its predecessors.

If you enjoyed playing Digital Cybercherries' survival-horror walking sim Don't Scream but also wished you wouldn't have to endure the countless jumpscares alone, Don't Scream Together might be your go-to project. The 90's found footage vibe is strong as ever and the unease is still very palpable, for which Digital Cybercherries should take full credit. Just make sure that you have at least one very gullible and jumpscare sensitive friend in your expedition, unless you're fine with failing because of uncontrollable, fart/burp induced laughing sprees.

Unbeatable blends rhythm, rebellion and nostalgia into a punch straight to the gut. A two-button riot that plays more like an emotional concert tour, even when chaos creeps in. Let the riffs take over—this one strikes exactly where it should.

ROUTINE is a blisteringly intense horror game with stunning visuals, suffocating atmosphere, and some of the best audio design you’ll hear in 2025. Its C.A.T. system makes the world deeply immersive and opens the door to unique gameplay moments, even if the game’s intentional obscurity can sometimes frustrate. Still, for anyone craving a fiercely idiosyncratic title that blasts conventional game design straight to the moon, ROUTINE is an absolute treat.

Does Death Howl successfully merge soulslike and deckbuilder mechanics? Absolutely. It’s a weird combo that somehow works. The game is challenging, original, and surprisingly fun once the loop clicks. RNG can frustrate, but if you're after something truly different, Death Howl delivers.

Skate Story is a demonic little gem: tight to control, visually breathtaking and surprisingly approachable even at its wildest. A dreamlike trip where skating becomes combat, bosses get bizarre and style steals the show. Perfect for anyone craving an indie that dares to be different.

Octopath Traveler 0 delivers a tight, compelling story with challenging turn-based battles and satisfying Boost-and-Break tactics, all wrapped in atmospheric HD-2D beauty. Building your own village and exploring the world feels rewarding and familiar thanks to the strong soundtrack and recognizable style. Fans of the series will feel right at home once again.

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.

Cliché as it may sound, Sleep Awake is not meant for everybody. EYES OUT's deliberate obscure approach to this psychedelic walking sim was meant to draw in the curious and open-minded crowd, treating those who dare to stay awake to mindboggling lore and hallucinogenic FMV sequences. Just make sure to pay attention to the details, since skipping on that might leave you with more questions than answers.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a fun, flashy brawler that plays like a spiritual successor to Shredder’s Revenge. Tag-team mechanics and combo attacks add a fresh twist, though it lacks some flair outside combat. A solid pick for co-op fun, just a bit pricey for our taste.

Total Chaos can stand shoulder to shoulder with the biggest horror releases of 2025, delivering a faithful remake of the groundbreaking 2018 mod with systems that are sharper, broader, and still brutally unhinged. Its desperate story, panic-soaked combat, and relentless pace make it a must-play for anyone who thrives on the eerie and the uncomfortably intense. Yes, its rough (technical) edges—including bouts of backtracking and repetition—remain, but they’re mere blemishes on a game that haunts you long after you put down the controller.

Kirby Air Riders delivers a bold and surprisingly polished comeback, packed with variety and smart improvements. Its chaotic City Trial mode and wide roster of Riders and Machines keep every run fresh. Not perfect, but absolutely worth the ride for arcade racing fans.

A.I.L.A. shows that reality can be harsh and the virtual kind even harsher. Even with a solid foundation at their disposal, Pulsatrix unfortunately squanders an otherwise compelling psychological horror experience by dragging it to a sub-par level due to cumbersome combat controls, unintuitive inventory management and infuriating boss levels. A.I.L.A. carries with it the potential to be a decent, good looking psychological horror tale, but the current reality unfortunately tells us otherwise.

Captain Wayne – Vacation Desperation is a breezy blast to play, but it looks rough as hell and lacks even a shred — truly any shred — of professionalism. The gunplay delivers and you can blitz through levels like a bona fide boomer-shooter veteran, yet sparse level design, bargain-bin visuals, and an amateurish story keep your eyebrows raised for all the wrong reasons. There’s clear potential in Ciaran Games, but they may need a stint swabbing the deck before they’re ready to captain a fully realized, cartoon-fueled shooter.

Project Motor Racing is a visually impressive, no-nonsense sim designed for the hardcore crowd. It's punishing and demanding, yet deeply rewarding for those willing to master its steep learning curve. That said, the game lacks flair and the absence of mechanical damage is a missed opportunity.

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.

Escape from Tarkov delivers unmatched realism and punchy audio, but it’s still a ruthless, cluttered challenge with big technical problems. If you’re after an ultra-realistic shooter, this is the one — just be ready to treat it more like a lifestyle than a quick gaming session.

Dispatch stands out as one of the year’s stronger games, with well-written dialogue, excellent voice acting, and a simple but well-executed story. While the narrative stays solid throughout its eight episodes, some romance elements and swearing feel unnecessarily forced. A second playthrough reveals that many events are fixed, making player choices less impactful than expected. Despite these drawbacks, the game remains a high-quality experience with impressive visuals and enjoyable gameplay.

Monsters are Coming! Rock & Road is an easy recommendation for gamers seeking a light, quirky experience built for short play sessions. It’s cheap, runs well across platforms, and offers solid, simple gameplay—though its repetition, awkward meta-progression, and lack of standout strengths keep it from knighting itself as the castle’s noble defender. Still, it’s fort-tastic fun if you jump in with the right mindset and a bit of time management.

Goodnight Universe is a beautiful, emotional experience that goes far beyond what its striking premise suggests. The story is layered and moving, the characters feel genuinely alive, and the voice acting elevates everything even further. Visually, it’s just as impressive, with an animation-film style that shines on the Nintendo Switch 2. The lack of face-tracking functionality on Switch, available on PC, feels like a missed opportunity, especially since it fits Isaac’s abilities so well. Even so, what remains is a powerful, memorable experience, both for its emotional impact and its uniquely delivered narrative.