Directive 8020 ranks among the stronger entries in The Dark Pictures anthology. The atmosphere of space paranoia and distrust among the crew works exceptionally well, as do most of the major decisions and their meaningful consequences. At the same time, Supermassive undermines its own strengths with repetitive stealth sections and uneven acting performances, though it still succeeds as a solid piece of pulpy sci-fi horror.

Mouse: P.I. for Hire may not have the most brilliant story, nor is it the greatest shooter ever made, but it overflows with ideas. Each level feels distinct, environments change constantly, and the world’s blend of noir and deranged cartoon aesthetics is irresistibly charming, as are the soundtrack and Troy Baker’s delightfully cracked voice acting. Had the gameplay been polished to the same degree, this could have been a crown jewel among shooters. Instead, it remains a slightly rough diamond, yet still one of the most beautiful in the genre.

Vampire Crawlers is a bold experiment. It transforms the automated dopamine rush of Vampire Survivors into card-game form with surprising ease, though it suffers from a slow opening, uneven difficulty balance, and repetitive structure that dilute its strongest qualities. Even so, it remains a highly addictive spin-off that shines brightest whenever it fully embraces its own chaos.

Aphelion is exactly the kind of game that hardly needed to be a game at all. It is a narrative experience that does not rely on great depth or hidden symbolism because its strength lies in strong writing, direction, and excellent sound design. The story follows a simple premise centered on the humanity of two people stranded on an alien planet and their journey toward both their mission and each other. It is only unfortunate that the compelling story is not accompanied by more engaging gameplay.

A one-hour experience built around the eternal inside joke of Brno’s nonexistent metro system. Brno Transit embodies the spirit of indie development through its striking retro aesthetic, abundance of local references, and bizarre surrealist storytelling. It is a shame, however, that there is not a little more substance at its core and that its exploration of the mythical underground railway never goes further.

This accomplished adventure leads players through a dying flooded world filled with pastel colors, memorable characters, and meaningful decisions. Its greatest strength, however, lies in its asynchronous multiplayer, where players subtly shape each other’s worlds. Suddenly, the choices no longer affect only lines of code, but real people, while also creating an emotional connection to a complete stranger who may forever remain known only as the hooded Tidewalker.

Darwin’s Paradox! is a platformer that thrives on sheer vibrancy. Its shorter runtime is compensated by creativity, along with a highly distinctive protagonist and imaginative abilities. The difficulty can occasionally become frustrating and loading times could be shorter, but despite these shortcomings, it remains a successful and entertaining platformer that genre fans should absolutely give a chance.

The title of the best Star Trek game in years still ultimately belongs to a merely solid narrative-driven experience, one that alternates between engaging and exhausting scavenging across the Delta Quadrant. Across the Unknown is a sincere and ambitious project, but one frequently held back by its limited budget and draining mechanics.

Amanita Design’s inexhaustible well of creativity once again proves that handcrafted artistry and playfulness are still very much alive. Phonopolis refines the studio’s charming adventure formula into a game overflowing with ideas and wrapped in stunning cardboard-inspired visuals, which, combined with its cutout-style animation, make it one of the most beautiful games ever created. An organic experience that feels uniquely different once again, yet remains flawlessly fluid throughout. A short but intense Orwellian struggle that demonstrates even manipulation can become heartfelt entertainment.

Forza Horizon 6 does not reinvent its driving formula and remains just as entertaining as its predecessors. Japan, however, proves to be a far better playground, featuring a stronger career structure and more engaging activities, alongside new features such as track creation, garage customization, food delivery missions, and more. It is beautiful to look at, a joy to listen to, and immensely fun to play. It is unfortunate that the constant flood of new cars once again undermines any real sense of progression or accomplishment. Even so, it would not be surprising if this became the most successful, most played, and longest-lasting entry in the series.

An exceptionally accomplished action roguelite built upon the foundations of Returnal, yet expanding and refining them in nearly every regard. Saros excels through its ambiguous and immersive narrative, outstanding bullet-hell combat, and addictive gameplay supported by thoughtful progression systems. Although somewhat limited by a lack of innovation, occasionally repetitive environments, and a few frustrating moments, it remains a remarkable game that brings action close to perfection.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a bold remake of the series' most divisive entry, which, instead of cutting the mocked segments, puts them on display. A modernized combat system and a mountain of side content keep pace with today's standards, even if the innovations are minimal. As a whole, it is an accessible and more dramatic version of the third game, and simultaneously one of the most personal chapters of Kiryu's story, which is well worth playing to understand the later entries.

An unconventional action game that chaotically dances to the bizarre rhythm of Goichi Suda’s drum. It is flawed, incoherent, and narratively disjointed, offering little emotional payoff, but also undeniably great and refreshingly different.

Although set fifteen years after Liberation, it feels almost identical in gameplay. Fans of the first entry in the rebooted series will enjoy this one as well. Combat can become somewhat repetitive over time, though it remains engaging. The story is decent but not exceptional. While it does nothing particularly wrong, it also does little to stand out, but for those seeking a dark fantasy RPG with tactical combat, it might be worth the time investment.

An improvement over its predecessor in nearly every way. Still a colorful, vulgar, and talkative sci-fi hallucination, but now built around a genuinely strong shooter with good pacing, ideas, and fun movement enhanced by a skateboard. Despite overly long dialogue sequences and humor that may not appeal to everyone, it remains an entertaining experience throughout its roughly fourteen-hour runtime.

A compact horror experience filled with the essence that made the original Little Nightmares so memorable. Its cryptic, nightmare-like narrative resonates and maintains tension until the very end, leaving lingering questions. Every scene—from camera work to lighting and sound—is meticulously crafted. While not striving for radical innovation, Tarsier Studios demonstrates clear growth in what it does best.

The definition of mediocrity. An inoffensive but overly cautious spin-off that sticks rigidly to metroidvania conventions without stepping out of the shadow of its iconic name. In strong competition, it feels interchangeable and lacks the courage to innovate. Competent but unremarkable.

A city-builder unlike any other. Limited space creates a constant challenge, while the visual presentation and interconnected mountain systems impress. The lack of user tools is disappointing, and the game lacks deeper complexity, but it doesn’t necessarily need it, given its focus on rapid early expansion. Growth becomes more of a logical puzzle, and settling one mountain after another remains consistently engaging, offering a campaign of around 20 hours and dozens more in scenarios and challenges.

A fun and highly accessible tennis arcade game that works best as a chaotic party experience. Its well-balanced mix of classic tennis and over-the-top abilities creates exciting matches full of tense moments. However, a weaker single-player mode and lack of long-term motivation mean the fun quickly fades without other players.

A short medieval tale that aims high but falls short. This debut from Sedleo Games attempts to evoke the simpler, linear experiences of seventh-generation titles, but lacks both the budget and ideas to succeed. Combat is unremarkable, puzzles uninspired, the story fragmented, and the technical state poor. What remains are sympathetic performances from the leads.

A solid remaster that improves the camera and navigation while preserving everything that worked and some of the original’s rough edges. The combat system feels somewhat dated by modern standards, but remains enjoyable. The game is still carried by its excellent voice acting, music, and story, which delivers a satisfying conclusion that unifies the events of Soul Reaver and the original Legacy of Kain into a cohesive whole.

A fantastic combination of Pokémon, a building sandbox, and a cozy life simulator that can absorb you for dozens of hours. It can feel slightly overwhelming at times, but ultimately stands as a dream come true for fans of Pokémon and Animal Crossing, and one of the best reasons to own a Nintendo Switch 2.

A confident and stylish extraction shooter that stands out through its atmosphere, richly developed world, and the signature gunplay Bungie is known for. It offers surprisingly accessible progression and a strong identity that sets it apart from trend-chasing competitors. A weak tutorial, cluttered UI, fast-paced combat, and high skill demands make it less approachable, but those who push through the rough start will find an intense and addictive experience among the better entries in the genre.

A conflicted return of a cult horror classic that excels in atmosphere, story, and audiovisual presentation, but falters significantly in gameplay. While the eerie Japanese village and its gradually uncovered dark past rank among the genre’s highlights, frustrating and unbalanced combat, confusing navigation, and technical issues heavily undermine the experience. A game with immense potential and a strong core, but one that can only be recommended to the most dedicated horror fans.

The third Stories entry finally lives up to its name, driven by a strong narrative that keeps it engaging throughout. Giving the protagonist a voice and clear motivation proves beneficial, as do the stronger bonds within the party. Combat is more varied and enjoyable, and the restored ecosystems make hunting for the ultimate monster especially rewarding. The open world and side quests may feel underwhelming, but they represent only a small portion of the overall content.

This Switch 2 upgrade is exactly what it appears to be: big, playful, imaginative, and somewhat unnecessary addition. The foundation of one of the best 2D Mario games remains extremely solid, and the new content adds interesting challenges, though somewhat puzzlingly focuses primarily on multiplayer.

Styx returns in his biggest adventure yet. At its core, it remains the same game, but it is more enjoyable thanks to three large, brilliantly designed maps that encourage exploration and reward revisits with metroidvania-inspired elements. The series’ trademark B-movie charm is still present, but should not deter stealth fans from what works well.

A light, playful spin-off on The Witcher universe that works best in short sessions. Its catchy concept is undermined by repetition and a strange decision-making system. An ideal bite-sized mobile experience. Nothing more, nothing less.