Shadow Labyrinth is an adequate Metroidvania with a good balance between platforming and combat as well as nice visuals. What drags it down is the obscure connection with Pac-Man, and certain gameplay elements that try to draw inspiration from that franchise. Classic as it may be, it just doesn’t work in an action game.

Hell Is Us arrived with a similar surprise effect as the excellent Clair Obscur. It proves to be a unique game that depicts, without filtering, the atrocities of civil war and the reasoning that leads to such horror. Its world-building is of the highest quality, enhanced by an oblique atmosphere and the striking design of Hadea’s war-torn landscapes. Top marks also go to the complete absence of hand-holding, as the game trusts players to pay attention to details, notes, and clues to navigate its world and uncover its clever secrets.

Echoes of the End is a commendable first effort from Myrkur Games. Its detailed Icelandic vistas give the production a true AAA feel, and the combat system is satisfying, though it would benefit from greater enemy variety. The game also deserves credit for its wide range of environmental puzzles. However, its Achilles’ heel is poor sound design, with weak effects and an utterly forgettable soundtrack.

The excellent OST and nice, retro looking pixel-art are not enough to hide the subpar gameplay and the frustrating difficulty.

Midnight Murder Club introduces fresh multiplayer ideas with clever use of shadows and light. Be that as it may, while it is intriguing at first, its lack of variety in gameplay and content causes it to lose steam quickly.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is an excellent return to one of gaming’s longest-running series. Its action is non-stop and challenging without becoming unfair, while the platforming remains fast and highly responsive. Though it grows a bit repetitive toward the end, this doesn’t take away from its successful modernization of the classic Ninja Gaiden formula.

Missing Bangan is an adequate addition to this obscure game series, with charming visuals and clever level design. However, its short length and simplistic gameplay prevent it from standing out in a crowded genre.

Strangely enough, Chronicles of the Wolf takes inspiration from Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, arguably the weakest 2D entry in the series. It’s not much of a surprise, then, that the map design falls short of the genre’s best, requiring a lot of tiring backtracking, even by Metroidvania standards. The pixel art is certainly charming, but overall this is not quite a memorable ode to a legendary series.

Fretless: The Wrath of Riffson offers charming pixel art visuals and fun turn-based battles using musical instruments. For a game so focused on music, though, the tracks are a bit… forgettable.

Luto is certainly a worthwhile horror game that builds tension through atmosphere rather than cheap jump scares. However, its fourth-wall-breaking moments start out intriguing but become overused by the end, ultimately proving to be its Achilles’ heel.

The newest chapter of the Mafia series takes us back to Sicily in 1900, a move that proves to be its strongest point. The design is excellent and feels utterly authentic to the era, from costumes to cars. The Old Country is slow-paced, but this works in its favour thanks to strong, well-written characters and an engaging, if clichéd, story that holds attention from start to finish. Hopefully, next time Hangar 13 will invest more in the gameplay department, as here it can only be described as derivative.

Featuring a wide variety of mini-games that cleverly utilize the unique features of the Switch 2, this offers a fun and engaging experience for both solo and multiplayer play

With improved shooting mechanics and an even greater focus on action, Unfinished Business is the perfect excuse to return to Rogue City and revisit one of the best adaptations of the RoboCop universe.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers features impressive level design and a responsive, satisfying combat system, making it a solid experience for fans of the Soulslike genre. However, it’s held back by a lack of innovation and low enemy variety, which leads to a sense of repetition over time.

The beautifully drawn world of Vasilisa and Baba Yaga is enchanting, but it can't disguise the overly simplistic and repetitive gameplay. Ultimately, it's a visually interesting yet forgettable experience.

Donkey Kong Bananza may be a slow burner when it comes to rich gameplay ideas, but once it takes off, it delivers a platforming thrill worthy of standing alongside Mario Odyssey. Imaginative and utterly fun, it’s a stellar 3D addition to Donkey Kong’s legacy.

Stunt Flyer is a short arcade shoot-'em-up with dated visuals, repetitive gameplay, and little to make it stand out in the genre. Still, in its simplicity, it might offer a few hours of light fun, though the experience is likely to be forgotten just as quickly.

It may be a step forward for the series, but this latest entry still carries significant drawbacks. Its strongest asset is its strange, atmospheric tone but that alone can't alleviate the overly simplistic puzzles or the utterly disjointed story.

Siren's Rest functions as a brief epilogue to Still Wakes the Deep, a short story of sorts, with the interesting twist of being set entirely underwater. Fans of the original will no doubt enjoy returning to Beira D, but it ultimately offers little new in terms of lore or character development.

Without outstaying its welcome, Kvark may be simplistic in its gameplay, but it retains a certain indie charm. It’s an amalgamation of FPS classics (Doom, System Shock 2, and Half-Life) and while it never aims to reach their heights, it still delivers a pleasantly nostalgic experience.

The charmingly nostalgic visuals can only do so much to hold your interest in Dead Dragon. Its mobile roots are all too evident, in the presence of a "convenient" store, a clunky UI, and the grind-heavy progression.

Eriksholm shouldn't be approached as a Commandos-style experience since it's primarily a puzzle game with stealth elements, not the other way around. In that respect, it delivers plenty of cleverly designed environmental challenges, appealing visuals, and an engaging setting. If only its story and characters were as well written as its impeccably crafted cutscenes, Eriksholm could have been something truly special.

It’s hard to talk about Welcome Tour without addressing Nintendo’s pricing strategy. As a companion title designed to showcase the Switch 2’s hardware through well-crafted and enjoyable mini-games, it shines. But it’s puzzling that Nintendo chose to sell it as a standalone release rather than include it as a preinstalled game on the console.

An excellent port of Stellar Blade, bringing this great action title to PC players with impressive quality. The inclusion of the Goddess of Victory: NIKKE DLC is a welcome bonus, making this the definitive way to experience the full package.

Carrier Deck is a welcome addition to the niche "simulators" genre, offering a unique opportunity to manage a military carrier. It's fast-paced and features a clean, simple UI that makes it easy for newcomers to grasp its managerial tasks. However, it could benefit from a broader variety of mechanics, tools, and missions to enhance long-term engagement.

Through the Nightmares will certainly challenge even the most hardcore platforming fans, and thankfully, its tight gameplay is up to the task. It also offers plenty of collectibles that support replayability, all wrapped in a unique and moody dark aesthetic. It's far from a casual experience, with some noticeable difficulty spikes, but fans of tough platformers will feel right at home.

Unfortunately, Ghost Frequency is a thoroughly underwhelming horror experience. With a paper-thin plot, minimal gameplay, and a runtime of barely an hour, it feels more like a tech demo than a fully realized game.

11 Bit Studios has certainly established itself as a master of the survival and base-building genre. Once again, they put a unique spin on it, this time through a sci-fi setting and the compelling theme of cloning. The game presents plenty of ethical choices and deep (micro)management, all of which are made much more accessible thanks to its incredibly well-designed UI.