Alas, it’s the story that relegates Necrophosis from being a good horror indie. Overly complex and, simply, boring this pulls the game apart. There will definitely be something in here for Lovecraftian fans and from the game’s PC launch I know it has resonated with some from that crowd. If, like me, you’re unfamiliar with that branch or storytelling, it’s very likely that this game will drag you to hell itself.

UFC 6 overall does feel like a good attempt by EA to make a great MMA game. With its improvements to striking, it’s always solid representation of the brutality of MMA and its promising Legacy Mode, there’s a lot to like here. If they can make the same progressions towards the grappling and the Career Mode, perhaps one day people will stop holding Undisputed 3 as the gold standard for MMA games. For now, UFC 6 still makes for a fun time in its own right.

Mintrocket have advertised the In the Jungle DLC as the largest and most ambitious DLC for Dave the Diver yet; a huge celebration of the title's third birthday. It's safe to say that the team have absolutely delivered on a spectacular birthday blow out for Dave and the gang, with tonnes of new content, a fun mystery to solve and a host of delicious new dishes to salivate over.

While the puzzles were a bit too easy, the game’s strengths lie in its storytelling and audio design. BrokenLore: FOLLOW left me wanting to explore more of Serafini Productions’ work. If this is any indication of what the rest of the BrokenLore series has to offer, then it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Junkster is a well-made, genuinely enjoyable 3D platformer. Its comic book visual style is a great art direction choice, which I feel is a great way to attract players. The building mechanic, while slightly tedious, adds a smart additional layer to familiar platforming foundations. Junkster is not a particularly challenging game, and the build system may need a bit of fine-tuning (or at least some practice), but neither issue detracts from the overall experience. For fans of non-grindy, collectathon platformers, and shorter accessible titles, Junkster is well worth picking up. Just don’t forget to smash the blue crates.

The 7th Guest Remake kept the bones of the story and provided new puzzles that would work for a new audience. At times The 7th Guest Remake feels like an escape room that you are crawling through to save yourself and the lost spirits. At others it feels like an amusement park attraction. I almost expected to find a gift shop near the end selling old man Stauf’s toys. None of this is in a bad way, it nails a certain vibe and joy that can be difficult to deliver without overstaying its welcome. Despite being a remake of a game from 1993, it doesn’t feel dated and old, except where it should in its setting. It was a joy to visit Harley-on-the-Hudson and I hope you each accept that invitation when it comes your way.

I am happy to announce that I am a new fan! I was willing to adapt to what the developers wanted me to experience, and even to the hours I lost due to bugs. Gothic is an open-world action RPG that I want to recommend to everyone without an asterisk. It’s a fantastic and beautiful world, filled with challenging enemies, engaging gameplay, and a sense of wonder I haven’t felt in a long time. However, playing on console was less than ideal, and in my opinion, it should’ve been released only on PC as a timed exclusive so that a proper console version could be released later. I feel like I’m saying this too often lately, but this game is a must-play for fans of this genre. Just wait a bit until it’s been ironed out.

In its current state, NBA The Run is one of the more difficult games I’ve ever had to review. The gameplay is a blast and when you get the right teammates online you can have fun for hours. However if you are a single player gamer looking for a different experience from 2K you will likely be largely disappointed until they fix the AI, or add more single player focused content. The foundation is here for NBA The Run to become its own legend in the streets for years to come, Play By Play Studios just needs to spend some time giving the game more character and depth for it to get its legend status.

Is Map Map: A Game About Maps a bad game? Not in the slightest! Did I realize that I absolutely detest orienteering and mapmaking and have no sense of direction in my real life? And the game pointed that out? Yes. Yes, it did...Map Map is going to be a great addition to someone’s Steam library who truly loves solving a puzzle that does not have all the pieces in the box. And to them I say, I hope that you truly enjoy this game! If you, like me, are someone who frequently finds themselves getting turned around when walking in the city or driving, then you may enjoy the story that the game has to offer, but won’t find much to enjoy about it from there.

Looking at all of the evidence, I don't think it's a stretch to say that Crushed In Time is one of the best point-and-click adventure games, ever.

While Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker might not appeal to those looking for a more action packed game, this game excels in its ability to captivate fans of the visual novel genre. While it's mechanics are really light, the game really shines in it's emotional and charming story in the fantasy setting. Whether you're a visual novel enthusiast, or someone looking to give narrative driven games a try, Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker is the one for your radar.

While it may not prove to be the next step in evolution, Voidling Bound's strong visuals and polished gameplay make for an entertaining experience, one that is worth having in the creature-collector family tree.

Ourlands is exactly what it sets out to be: a peaceful, creative little escape. It asks nothing of you except that you show up and enjoy yourself. Its art style is gorgeous, its music is soothing. The discovery loop is genuinely delightful, and its restraint in not overcomplicating things is one of its greatest strengths. The postcard mode could use a gallery feature, and a few small bugs and quirks linger, but these are minor complaints in an otherwise polished package. At its current price point, Ourlands is an easy recommendation for anyone who needs a breather from more demanding games, or from life in general. It feels like taking a breath.

Swan Song is an adorable and worthwhile cosy puzzle title, offering unique gameplay that fans of the genre will enjoy. What on the surface could appear to offer limited tricks succeeds in finding new mechanics that will keep players mentally engaged from start to finish.

Warhammer: Mechanicus 2 is extremely lore accurate, with incredible writing and voice acting. However, with no real consequences to combat it became repetitive very quickly. It was great being able to see the story from the side of the Necrons, however, with two 30-hour campaigns, there was not enough to keep me enthralled.

Schrodinger’s Call is a beautiful yet haunting visual novel touching upon the human condition. We explore love, grief, human connection, and the memories that haunt, harm, and heals us. Be it the little white lies we tell ourselves or the the strength we find to face the truth. It is at its core a visual novel which means the game play will feel minimal for many. It’s strength is in the story. It is how it causes us to reflect upon our selves. Schrodinger’s Call will call out to players, wanting them to connect with those important to them. It reminds you that you are not alone, you are loved, you are important, and you matter. There is someone out there waiting to hear your voice. Call them before it’s too late.

007 First Light isn’t just a great Bond game – it’s one of the best action-adventure games released this decade. Witnessing the birth of the 007 legend through Bond’s eyes from the beginning is a tale that was long overdue for a video game adaptation, and IO Interactive has pulled it off flawlessly. Tie this origin story in with gameplay systems that prioritize the precision and creativity that 007 is known for, and you have what amounts to one of the best iterations of James Bond that we have seen in recent memory.

Yerba Buena is a tale of good and bad. What it does well it does really well. The Oscillator’s copy and paste mechanics and excellent level design make for a fantastic puzzle adventure that will test your puzzle solving skills in every way. However with its ho-hum narrative, boring characters and mind boggling restart level omission it fails to reach that upper echelon of puzzle games.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight creates a clever throughline between the imagination of the brick-building video games and the mechanical genius of Rocksteady’s Arkham series, resulting in the strongest LEGO game yet. Full of endearment to its source material and approachable for audiences of almost all ages, regardless of whether your childhood Batman was Adam West or Robert Pattinson. It may not be quite the hardcore video game comeback we wanted from the Dark Knight, but it’s a surprising win nonetheless.

EMUUROM is a delightful, layered, and intriguing Metroidbrainia, making its narrative just as much part of the puzzle as its mechanics. It has a satisfying gameplay loop that builds on what you have learned, all while creating a bizarrely beautiful ecosystem you must understand to progress in your mission to preserve it. It’s a title that borderline demands multiple playthroughs to uncover all its secrets, and while I can’t imagine ever having a full grasp of where to go or that certain elements won’t prove frustrating, it’s not enough to deter me from returning to its strange world. It’s safe to say that I won’t soon forget EMUUROM.

Despite some missteps, Echo Generation 2 is a bold, imaginative follow up that fans of the original - and fans of quirky sci fi RPGs in general - will find plenty they enjoy. Just be prepared: the final duel might test your patience more than your deck building skills.

Almost a full decade on from Shovel Knight, Yacht Club Games has returned in full form. Mina the Hollower is a joyously ambitious modern take on classic action-adventure games, blending carefully executed mechanics with a world that isn’t afraid to bite back, making for an experience that continuously empowers the player and rewards curiosity at every turn.

Causal Loop is a game that occasionally loses itself in its own systems but still delivers memorable puzzle design and an intriguing sci-fi mystery along the way. For players who enjoy puzzle games that reward experimentation, patience, and careful planning, there’s a lot to appreciate.

Lumentale: Memories of Trey is a wonderful blend of the fresh and the familiar that offers a fully fleshed-out experience on both the RPG and the creature-collector fronts. I think it is a game that will appeal to and satisfy new, returning, and veteran players of the genre, which is a feat unto itself. With stellar visuals, an excellent soundtrack, loads of content, and a nearly flawless combat system, this is a game you want to have in your collection. With a few tweaks, I firmly believe that Lumentale: Memories of Trey has the potential to become one of the best, like only a few have ever been.

Well... I guess persistence pays off. While Bubsy 4D may be over too soon, it's still an overall very fun platformer and Bubsy is finally a likeable protagonist. If this is what the future holds for the bobcat, What could possibly go wrong?

The Wilds of Dacrima is a fun and good humoured puzzling platformer. It embraces its potion ’em up exploration well with smart design choices and satisfying gameplay. For Antler Studios’ debut game, it is an impressive feat, one that is slightly marred by some bugs, and finicky controls. Perhaps a little longer over the bunsen burner was needed.

Though I admit, the fatigue is really starting to set in and it might be time for a temporary break. Additions like painting or creating images with stamps aren’t going to entertain anyone for more than a few minutes. Cats & Seek: Tokyo is worth your time for a snack size hidden object game, and if you like the cats, there’s more here for you.

Perfect for a single afternoon of gaming, or even a daily commute, Echo Isle is a short, nostalgic experience that looks and feels like the titles it is clearly inspired by, but ultimately offers little more. Aside from the deliberate time/size limitations, Echo Isle doesn’t iterate on what came before, making it difficult to even call it an homage. Charming, polished, and very familiar, I enjoyed my single hour playing Echo Isle, but I wish I had seen some new ideas brought to this little world.

Coffee Talk Tokyo is a wonderful narrative in a short and sweet packaged form. While narrative driven stories are not for everyone, those who enjoy a good glimpse into different characters will enjoy their time with Coffee Talk Tokyo. One full playthrough will only take about 6-7 hours which allows players to squeeze this into their busy schedule. Does Coffee Talk Tokyo do anything overly new and original? No. However what it does, it does exceedingly well. It brings characters to life, it gives a wonderful soundtrack, and it makes characters quite relatable no matter what age or life stage. For those who want excitement, this may not be the game for you. For those who are looking for interactive fiction, an enjoyable visual novel narrative, this is definitely one to take a sip of.

Whether you enjoy creative building and decorating, strategic planning, or just the satisfaction of running a thriving hotel empire, Hotel Architect delivers an experience that keeps checking you in.

Clockwork Ambrosia is a solid Metroidvania with some interesting and well-executed ideas, and while it hits its target with a satisfying bang, it lands wide of the bullseye.

An exceptional, breathtaking world that players will be kept busy in for years, Forza Horizon 6 is one of 2026's best games of the year and one of the best racing games ever created.

The Caribou Trail left me caring for an unknown war story. Fisher, Gordon and Lonnie’s human tale of small island men being cast into a global conflict is equal parts sombre and heartwarming. The title’s great voice acting and audio design immersed me into this short story deeply.

I enjoyed my 5 hour playthrough of Call of the Elder Gods. The puzzles, environments, and voice acting were all fantastic and that’s all you really need for a fun weekend chomp of a title. However, the move from one island to jet setting across the globe in those five hours didn’t do the pacing of the story any favours. There’s a lot going on, and the game rattles through some of it’s reveals at a fair clip, losing a lot of the intrigue that made the first game so compelling. When it comes to facing the Cosmic Entities at the end of the world; I think I’d have preferred a little less movie conspiracy, and a little more actual mystery.

If you’re looking to slow down and experience a visual novel game that leaves a strong impression not by dramatic twists, but rather slice of life relatable nostalgia, Nook Fall: West Town is the one to play.

While it’s pretty, it just feels so empty, and without a story that really hooked me in, I found myself almost looking forward to the end of my time with it. But would I recommend that someone try HYPNOS? I would, if not solely for the visuals, but to give a taste of what some of the newer “liminal space” games are like. And who knows – maybe you’ll be more hooked into the why of this world than I was. [Early Access Review]

Saros is a triumph for Housemarque and a reminder that some of the most exciting games being made today don’t need to rely on cinematic spectacle to leave a lasting impression. It takes everything that made Returnal special and builds upon it in meaningful ways, from its improved progression systems to its breathtaking world design and its roster of unforgettable boss encounters. The story is heavy, the gameplay is addictive, and the world of Carcosa will stick with you long after the credits roll. If Returnal was Housemarque announcing themselves to the world, Saros is them planting their flag. Don’t sleep on it.

It might not be a groundbreaking experience, but Directive 8020 delivers as one of the Supermassive’s best games.

Outbound is a game that, if given enough time, could be good in the future. It has a wonderful world that can be filled with things and people to interact with. A wonderful building system that can be improved with better delivery of blueprints. And a road-trip experience that can be improved with sound. Unfortunately, much like its world, right now it’s a game with a shallow gameplay loop that is difficult to stay interested in. Maybe it’s more fun with friends?

Aphelion is a fine action-adventure game. I use “action” loosely here as there isn’t that much action, but there is more than we are used to in a Don’t Nod title. With a solid enough story there is enough to get invested in here. But with game play mechanics that faulter more than they work, and a final third of the game that drags on far too long, it’s hard to recommend Aphelion to anyone other than the die hard Don’t Nod fans.

Mixtape is fun, fantastical and heartfelt. It may be fleeting, but I expect it will stick with you for a long while. Especially when you're inevitably playing one of the game's songs in one of your playlists and someone asks you "where this song is from?"

WILL: Follow the Light, without the few negative hiccups I noted, is a 10 out of 10 game. But as it stands right now, the few nits that exist within the game pull away from that score slightly - but only slightly. That being said though, if these updates and needed fixes are made, I can easily see this being a can’t-miss game. The beautiful, yet heart-wrenching story, coupled with the intriguing puzzles and environment of the game itself make for an unforgettable digital experience.

Although Invincible Vs has some rough spots, it overall succeeds where it needs to in a fighting game. The gameplay is fun, the netcode is good overall and the roster is a blast to play with along with solid presentation. While some character omissions are lamentable… The fact that Quarter Up made me want to try Dupli-Kate out makes up for it and thankfully we’re in the age where bugs can be fixed rather quickly.

Wax Heads is one of the best games I have played this year. It’s full of cozy stories, amazing music, and wonderful characters. I think anyone who is craving meaningful human connection could learn something from Wax Heads.

In an era where so many games seem terrified of simplicity, Motorslice feels confident enough to strip everything back to movement, atmosphere, and momentum, and it is all the better for it.

There’s a few rough edges for now, but the core ‘cute-em-up’ action is good old fashioned shmup fun. Chaotic and gorgeous to look at, Astro Burn is a shooter that is worth playing in early access and keeping an eye on for the full release. [Early Access Review]

Sudden Strike 5 is a solid, if unspectacular RTS experience. It feels authentic and immersive as a WWII strategy game, and really makes you focus on the strategy part of that in order to succeed. It’s clunky controls on console and lack of teaching the player the game hold it back from being great, but any RTS fan should find the experience enjoyable.

It’s always nice to see an IP within a genre that’s difficult to stand out it. While it may never reach the heights of giants like Pokemon, Digimon, etc, it’s important that there are fresh experiences. It’s wonderful when one can take heavy inspirations from these giants as well, while truly making them their own. Monster Crown: Sin Eater deserves a place in the hearts of gamers who love the monster taming, RPG genre. It’s a beautiful, yet dark and dangerous world. Teeming with monsters and people struggling under the weight of evil, fans of the genre should experience the world of Monster Crown: Sin Eater.

While making sure that every item is in its correct location, balanced perfectly, and faced in the correct way; a tedious yet relaxing task, zoned out as if in a meditative state, and lost in your own thoughts, time stops. While you’re absorbing all the stories and requests your customers have, arriving one at a time, indulging in their lives, your outlet to the outside world, nothing else matters. inKONBINI is a reverie, a narrative driven game that needs some engagement, but only asking from you what you want to give it. It nails the very atmosphere of a quiet, slow, nighttime 1993 experience. While its stories could be better delivered through voiced dialogue, it’s an experience I would highly recommend if you are looking for a reverie.

With 7 unique districts to unlock, 18 customizable buses, and the ability to make Emberville your own. Creating routes and learning how the city changes throughout the day, Bus Bound has so much content to keep me entertained for hours.

Is ShantyTown going to win Game of the Year at The Game Awards? No. But is it worthy of your time, and worthy of consideration of those numerous smaller indie awards out there? 100% it is! The beautiful designing aesthetics and relaxed vibes, coupled with a near limitless replayability, ShantyTown has definitely won over a fan of this genre of design game.

Double Fine has created a fun multiplayer experience. Creating your own pots is enjoyable and easy and the gameplay is simple yet effective. Unfortunately the game has very little content at launch with only 1 game mode and 5 maps. Without much reason to progress beyond new cosmetics, the team will need to quickly add content for Kiln to have any staying power. With how fun the game is, here’s hoping they can.

Hyper Games has successfully captured the unique duality of the Moomin stories - the whimsical charm of helping neighbors balanced against the slight, beautiful melancholy of a lonely Scandinavian winter.

Elementallis is a game that pays homage and draws inspiration from an iconic series many gamers love - Zelda. They do this by successfully applying the gameplay mechanics that made us love this top-down, action adventure genre.

Vampire Crawlers is a wonderful follow-up to a game I hold dear. It translates seamlessly from the bullet-heaven genre into the deck building genre. While there are a few frustrating levels and as of now a lack of endgame content to keep me going, there’s enough here to justify playing this for hours on end and keep you engaged. If you’re a fan of Slay the Spire or Balatro, Vampire Crawlers is absolutely a must grab, even if you have no prior experience with Vampire Survivors.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream offers an almost limitless toybox of creativity and player expression, held together by a distinct and wonderful sense of humour that still manages to delight me just as much as it did 12 years ago. With the exception of some restrictions and cut features that feel like they are yet to be added, this feels like the ambitious game that the series has been building towards since its inception.

Visually satisfying and a very cosy soundtrack mask the frustrations I had with the fundamental gameplay of Find My Frogs. The frogs themselves were fun to find, but the secret items would have been bordering impossible had it not been for the infinite hint tool.

Developer DigixArt went bold and unique with Tides of Tomorrow and it has paid off. With characters you can get heavily invested in, a surprisingly deep story and a gorgeous world, there is a lot to like here.

I can confidently say that while I did to a certain extent enjoy my time with Whisker Wanderlust: Unwritten Chapter, the amount of flaws that were present ultimately won out. Between the minimal gameplay time, the audio issues, and what I see as accessibility issues, I really cannot recommend this title, outside of those who are really into these types of games.

If you happen to both love management-type games and deckbuilders, but are also a massive football fan, then I do think that this is the title for you! If you’re anyone like myself, give it a try – you won’t immediately become a fan of Arsenal, but maybe you’ll be curious to check out more of what football has to offer.

If you’re looking for Castlevania of 1987 through a new skin, this is the game for you. It sounds, looks, and feels fantastic to play; a perfect “port” of an old game to 2026. However, if you’re looking for an NES-style 2D platformer with retro gameplay, but expanded upon, this might disappoint, like adding sprinkles on your vanilla ice-cream.

Under Par Golf Architect brought me back to my childhood days of SimGolf in all the right ways. While they could do a bit more in terms of making the management side of the game having more of an impact, everything else hit like a perfect drive.

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss presents itself as a homage to one of the greatest horror authors of the 20th century. Even with some minor performance issues, the derelict locations you explore as Noah are some of the most beautifully crafted renditions of Lovecraft’s mythos that have ever been put to a screen.

OPUS Prism Peak feels at times a lot less like a game and more like a work of art. That is if you can handle the joy, the loss, the pain, or in other words, life. It is cathartic, it is real, it is beautiful, and it is sad.

If you're looking for a short, relaxing experience full of charm with puzzles just tricky enough that you'll need to think, but not too hard, Gecko Gods is the perfect Sunday afternoon game to chill out with.

Mouse: P. I. For Hire is a great send up to old cartoons and detective stories as well as being a pretty good old-school style fps. There's a lot to like here with its fun Gunplay, solid story and characters, funny animations and good soundtrack. Although it's difficulty may not be enough for hardcore fans of the genre and some things hurt it's replay value, it's a great package overall.

Replaced’s strong narrative, excellent world building and well realised audio and visual style make it a must play. Exploring the question of humanity via cinematic storytelling and visceral combat makes this 80s cyberpunk thriller worthy of your time.

Gunboat God is slick, chaotic and fun, much like Yeti's titular vessel. The tight controls, striking visuals, and fun tone make it worth your time alone, but that itch in becoming truly godly is incredibly satisfying to scratch. I cannot recommend Gunboat God enough.

Arcadia Fallen II is an exceptional visual novel that excels in presentation and character-driven storytelling. While its choice systems and roleplaying elements don’t fully reach their potential, its excellent voice acting, clear structure, and exceptional cast make it an easy recommendation, especially for players looking for a more relaxed, story-focused experience. Don’t hesitate to dive right into this game, even if you’ve never experienced the original.

Cleaning Up is not a game to sweep under the rug. If you’re looking for a satisfying clean up game to spark some joy, this mess-terpiece is one to try.

Embracing the nature of relaxing, High Above is one to find solace in time and time again. With so many ways to play and decorate, each serene rooftop is a little escape. No timers, just a quiet space in the clouds for your creativity and dreams to come alive.

Often feeling like a game chasing greatness, Crimson Desert is in every sense of the word ambitious. Sure, Kliff’s story of revenge is one that been told a thousand times, but it’s seemingly endless open world begs you to chase the adventures beyond the horizon. When you tie this beautifully crafted playground together with a combat system that encourages the player to experiment and think outside the box, you get a game that feels impossibly complex while feeling eerily familiar in the same breath. Crimson Desert is many things – dangerously ambitious, clunky, beautiful, messy, and most importantly: mind-numbingly addictive.

If you enjoyed PowerWash Simulator 2, then you will absolutely enjoy The Adventure Time DLC. It plays the same as the base game. Just more things to clean, with the added joy of the Adventure Time art style and characters.

Everything about People of Note feels new, refreshing, and fun; elements that have been remixed into its own style. You can tell how much love Iridium Studios put into their game. While it could use some fine tuning before it can be a masterpiece, this is a beat that you shouldn’t miss. I highly recommend it.

This is not a bad horror game for people looking to jump into the horror genre or looking for a new horror experience. There are a few jump scares but nothing too outrageous for those gamers who find horror games to be overwhelming. But big horror fans may feel a little underwhelmed.

Darwin’s Paradox is a strong debut from ZDT Studio, cleverly utilizing cinematic platforming genre staples to create a fun, well paced 5-hour adventure. That being said, an abrupt ending unfortunately robs the game of a satisfying conclusion, and it’s clear that the Nintendo Switch 2 version needed more time in the oven to properly utilize the hardware.

If you’re willing to tolerate performance issues (or you’re lucky enough to land on a hardware configuration that plays it smoothly), and if you enjoyed the first GRIME or are just interested in weird, artistic soulslike metroidvanias, it’s absolutely worth playing. The game respects your intelligence and your ability to learn systems, and there’s a real sense of progression as you absorb more Molds and unlock new areas. But go in knowing that there’s parts of the game that may frustrate you – intentionally or not.

As Max and Chloe have grown to young adulthood in Reunion, the series has matured in equal measure. Reunion ends Max and Chloe’s love story in the right way. More than simply fan service, this is a finale that delivers love to the Arcadia Baes, the series and its fans.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance may not be the triumphant return that long-time fans have hoped for, but it is a confident step toward bringing the series back into the spotlight. Its moody pixel art, stellar voice performances, and thunderous industrial-orchestral soundtrack capture the gothic soul of Nosgoth remarkably well, even in a new 2D form. While the straightforward combat and brief runtime keep it from reaching the heights of the series’ best entries, the game still delivers an entertaining slice of dark fantasy that respects the lore and legacy that came before it.

Fishbowl is a game that you need to accept with open arms and an open mind. A game that attempts, and at often times succeeds, in making you empathetic to Alo’s emotional state and perhaps even make you reflect in yours. They do this through their great usage of simple gameplay mechanics, art direction, sound, and music. It’ll make you happy. It’ll make you sad. It’s a game that you need to be ready for in order to fully appreciate, if you’ll let it.

For those looking for a video game that feels like a warm bath after a long day, Hozy is one to sink into. With versatility in design comes so much replayability. No pressure, no time limits, just a great game to relax with.

For those looking for a shorter, narrative driven game to dive into, I highly recommend The Posthumous Investigation. It’s an intriguing character study that keeps you guessing and makes you wonder, who truly was the culprit and why? What in the human condition made this man both so loved and hated? You’ll have to play to find out.

If you’re familiar with the survivor genre, you’ll likely get some enjoyment out of this, as the games difficulty will hold your attention, especially with the sheer amount of unlocks the game has. However, if you’re looking for a more fun and relaxing game you can check out of and just play, there’s easier, and better, games in the genre out there to try.

Everything about John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando just works. SnowRunner with Zombies about sums it up. So far, I’m having an absolute blast. With each completion giving me enough to upgrade something to make me feel a little bit stronger. I haven’t been able to complete a very hard mission yet, but I’m getting so close. With a couple more levels and full communicating squad, that Sludge God will be mincemeat.

Only Up Rush is a bananas game that does what too few games aim to do this generation – be basic, dumb fun. The ascent to the stars will test you and in a couple of sections, potentially temporarily break you. But the journey, is definitely worth the budget price of admission. And if you get stuck on this eclectic climb, you could always listen to Yazz to remind yourself of the only way to go.

If controller user experience is important to you, Trash Goblin may slightly sour your experience. It’s unfortunate when a port doesn’t fully execute their game their new demographic. Things like this ends up leaving a sour taste in my mouth. Luckily, throughout its year of release on Steam, Spilt Milk Studios supported the game well, providing 4 significant content updates. Therefore, it’s likely that this can easily be patched.

At its best, Chico’s Rebound captures the addictive satisfaction that made block-breaker games a classic arcade staple. The clever stage design, creative boss fights, and charming pixel presentation make every successful run feel rewarding, even when luck occasionally plays a role. However, the repetitive tower exploration and occasionally demanding score requirements can slow the momentum and turn triumph into frustration. Despite these bumps, the core gameplay remains engaging enough to carry the experience, making Chico’s Rebound a fun, if slightly uneven, climb up the Celestial Tower.

Coming from someone who is completely new to extraction shooters, Marathon is a triumph. The excellent visuals, audio design and gameplay creates a game and world that wants you to have “just one more run”. Hell, I’m only writing this during the server maintenance downtime, otherwise I’d struggle to tear myself away! Bungie have succeeded in creating a world that is begging to be explored and experienced even if the lore and storytelling feels slightly secondary. It may feel overwhelming at first, but a little perserverance, and not much at that, will open up a game that is incredibly well made and demonstrates a lot of love and work. Marathon is a game that has defied my expectations, embraced the weird and wonderfulness of its creative team, and should absolutely be celebrated.

With one of the best campaigns you will ever see in a racing game and a great arcade style of racing, Screamer is one the best racing games we’ve seen this generation. Its flashy artstyle is great to look at and while there is a lot going on with it’s gameplay, once you get a grasp of it, you will wonder why more don’t do dual stick racing. With a few more small tuneups to its difficulty and car handling Screamer could sit atop the genre. As is any gamer, racing enthusiast or not, should fall in love with Screamer. Hopefully we don’t have to wait another 30 years for more Screamer.

Much like Aeta

While I admire what Daisuke Ishiwatari and his team set out to achieve with DAMON and BABY, the resulting work is weighed down heavily by poorly designed levels and unsatisfying combat. There are fleeting moments of charm to be found within its story and cute art style, but they are just as quickly diminished by a myriad of mechanics that fail to cohesively coalesce.

I mostly enjoyed my time with Project Songbird. The narrative is handled with care and earns its emotional weight without being spoiled here. The sound design and music deserves a lot of praise, and the voice cast and performances really sell the story being told here. However resource balance; bullets, painkillers, melee durability, occasionally tips toward overwhelming rather than tense. Some enemy encounters shift from scary into frustrating rather than maintaining dread. If you’re a scaredy cat like me, I’m sure you’ll also enjoy the roughly 5 hour journey into grief in the Appalachian mountains, and horror veterans might not get scared but are sure to get some fun out of trying to grab the no healing achievement as they stumble past mannequins and statues.

Pokémon Pokopia is a smashing homerun. Whether you’re looking for a game with an emotional mystery story of what happened, a game to build your wildest creations, or even just a game to get to spend time with some of your favorite pocket monsters, there is a game here for everyone. The game just oozes sweetness, and I already know that this is one that I am going to drop over 100 hours into this year alone. Simply put, whether you’re already a fan of Pokémon, a newcomer to the series or just a fan of cozy games, Pokémon Pokopia is absolutely a worthwhile buy, and is everything that I wanted Animal Crossing New Horizons to be and more. It is an early game of the year contender for me and a reason to pick up a Nintendo Switch 2.

Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime is a refreshing palette cleanser. It’s a game that doesn’t take itself seriously but takes its message of self-love very seriously. The Frogtime battle mechanics are surprisingly deep and I’m very excited to keep pulling from Booster Eggs to try and get a super rare Colossal Frog and make it to the top of the Battle Tower. It’s weird, it’s musical, and it’s deeply charming.

GreedFall: The Dying World is a game that built upon the potential of its predecessor, and in many ways, it succeeded in this. They created a game that many RPG fans have been aching for: storytelling, choices, and world. Unfortunately, the tactical experience, while good, was lacking in finesse. The game spent 18 months in early access, and I believe it was time well spent, on PC. The console experience had much to be desired, but nothing a few patches can’t fix, I hope.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake indicates that there is still a lot of potential in the series’ unique flavour of occult paranormal J-horror. Unfortunately, this experience is marred by tedious combat encounters, inconsistent pacing, and technical issues that keep it from reaching the heights of its modern horror remake contemporaries.

Docked is a solid next step in the sim category for Saber Interactive. I loved every second learning about all the new machinery and how best to use it. The introduction of a story was a nice touch that a lot of simulation games don’t have. The few performance issues didn’t take away from the fun I had with Docked. However, the lack of continuing to play after I finished was a bit of a letdown. Working so hard to get my port fully upgraded, and not being able to really use it.

If you’re looking for a hidden object puzzle game to revisit that childlike wonder without sacrificing substance and finesse, Lost and Found Co. is the one to find.