A faithful remake that pays tribute to a timeless classic without taking creative liberties, serving as proof that arcade-style design can still thrive in the modern AAA landscape. Recommended to longtime fans who still cherish their N64 cartridge, as well as anyone who enjoyed the original and wouldn't mind a modern visual overhaul. Let's just hope we won't have to revisit Lylat once again a few decades from now on Switch 4.

Deer & Boy claims its rightful place in the Olympus of 2D adventures. The title brings to the table all those elements that made games like Limbo, Neva, and Planet of Lana great, while taking them to the absolute next level. The game offers a varied gameplay experience that evolves right along with the story. Although the environmental puzzles might not pose a major challenge for more experienced players, they truly shine in terms of design and are remarkably inspired. Deer & Boy places immense focus on the story it wants to tell, doing so by making plenty of room for colors, emotions, silences, hugs, and the fears of the two protagonists. The result is a thoroughly impressive debut for Lifeline Games.

Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition is a prime example of how a port for the Nintendo Switch 2 should be handled: fluid, responsive, and visually impressive, despite a few minor compromises. Now, years later, Switch 2 owners can also dive into the frenetic action of this "Stylish Action" title, which offers a fast-paced, dynamic combat system featuring four playable characters. The Devil Hunter Edition includes all the content from the Special Edition—a comprehensive package, save for the Turbo and Dark Knight modes. That is hardly a deal-breaker, however; the epic journey alone will keep players occupied for around 20 hours (assuming they unlock all the side missions), not to mention the time spent honing combat skills and conquering the Bloody Palace. If you’ve been waiting for the chance to get your hands (or get back) on Devil May Cry 5 in a portable format, the Devil Hunter Edition is the perfect choice. The question remains, however: will the long-awaited Devil May Cry 4 ever make its way to the Nintendo Switch 2? It is the one missing entry that we really feel is needed.

The Drifter demonstrates how a great story can still make all the difference. Powerhoof has crafted a gripping interactive thriller that maintains high tension from start to finish, thanks to quality writing, well-balanced puzzles, and a consistently engaging narrative pace. The experience is further enhanced by excellent pixel-art visuals and audio, surprisingly cinematic direction, and superb Italian localization that makes it even more enjoyable. It stands out as one of the most successful and memorable narrative adventures released this year on Nintendo Switch.

Don't Let It Starve is one of those titles that hits without making noise: minimal in form, but extremely sharp in the feelings it evokes. It's not a game for everyone, because it demands patience and attention, but it's precisely in this harshness that it finds its most authentic identity, offering a rare kind of engagement — slow and persistent.

Rise of the Tomb Raider on Nintendo Switch 2 proves to be a good port that entertains in the right way, even if not always perfectly. There's room for improvement, especially regarding moments where some input lag is noticeable and a mouse mode that isn't always flawless. For everything else, what you'll have in your hands is a truly fantastic game that every action/adventure-loving gamer should try at least once. Moreover, if you've never played it before and want to enjoy its portability, then this Switch 2 version could really be the right fit for you. Rise of the Tomb Raider takes everything Crystal Dynamics did well with the first reboot and elevates it to the next level. The edition in question also includes new stories, additional costumes, and modes that will put players' skills to the test. With a few small compromises, Lara is reborn (once again) on Nintendo's flagship console, perhaps awaiting Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the concluding chapter of the Survivor trilogy.

Nothing new under the sun, but anyone craving their yearly dose of virtual Formula 1 is unlikely to be disappointed. The absence of a couple of features is hard to ignore, and the pricing remains open to debate: it's certainly more appealing than a full-priced annual release, though perhaps a little steep for what is essentially an extensive season update. Still, if you enjoyed F1 25 and prefer tackling Career Mode solo, the 2026 Season Pack is well worth considering.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is an adventure that wins players over with its old-school gameplay, but above all with the strength of its story, which becomes increasingly engaging before bursting into a twist-filled second half and culminating in a truly epic finale. The stunning HD-2D presentation, an intelligent combat system, the highly successful Ages mechanic, and several memorable boss battles all contribute to making the journey consistently rewarding. It's a shame, however, that the game suffers from a lack of enemy variety, an approach that at times feels a little too derivative of the great classics of the past, and side quests and optional dungeons that fall noticeably short of the quality of the main adventure. That said, there's no denying that this is one of the most fascinating and surprising adventures that Square Enix has delivered in recent years.

We could spend time debating whether the gameplay system of Gothic 1 has aged well or poorly, but we would end up stuck in the usual divide between those who love its classic gameplay and those who would have preferred a more modern overhaul. The key point is that, knowing you are approaching a no-compromise gaming experience with deliberately clunky mechanics, Gothic 1 Remake offers an experience that is, at least in theory, just as enjoyable today as it was in 2001. In practice, however, Gothic 1 Remake is held back by its technical performance, with an abundance of bugs, inaccuracies, and even the occasional crash, making it difficult to fully enjoy everything the game has to offer. It is a real shame that a title with such a dedicated fanbase—and the potential to gain new ones—suffers from such a problematic state. Even after several patches, the situation does not appear to have improved significantly. Gothic 1 Remake could be a solid action RPG, capable of bringing back an excellent blend of exploration and gameplay systems, but at the moment the technical side acts as a bottleneck. Perhaps, with a major code overhaul, the team at Alkimia Interactive could manage to resolve at least part of the issues, but for now the undeniable strengths of the project struggle to outweigh its weaknesses. That said, with a healthy and generous dose of patience, it is still possible to experience this original adventure—revived (but not fully refined)—which remains, even today, full of charm.

Replaying Xenoblade Chronicles in 2026 serves as a reminder of why this title is frequently cited as one of the greatest JRPGs of all time. The story remains moving, the cast unforgettable, and the combat system retains all its depth; meanwhile, the game world still manages to convey that sense of discovery that many modern titles have lost. The new features introduced in this Nintendo Switch 2 Edition do not revolutionize the original structure, but they tangibly enhance the experience in every respect. For those who have never played Xenoblade Chronicles, this is quite simply the best possible version. For those already familiar with it, it offers the perfect opportunity to revisit one of the finest journeys ever told in a video game.

Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent works best as a digital board game session: tactical, readable, focused, and easy to approach. Its combat system is clever and party synergies are satisfying, but narrative depth, character progression, and online co-op stability hold it back. A solid adaptation of Descent, though not a definitive one.

There is a wide range of activities available, and the formula devised by the Cyberwave team works well without ever becoming overly frustrating—save for a few moments where you are forced to "grind" more than necessary. There are some minor pacing issues, and the threats are virtually non-existent, aside from the occasional lightning bolt that might chip away at your health. All in all, we believe Solarpunk makes for a great pastime—offering just the right level of challenge while being incredibly relaxing—which is no small feat for a video game.

Unfortunately, Konami’s new football-focused project fails to impress. In the name of extreme accessibility, eFootball Kick-Off! leaves behind many of the elements that made the old PES series successful and that could still have made the game more engaging today. While the arcade-style gameplay is decent, it is also heavily simplified and cannot carry on its own a package that feels thin and offers very little variety. The single-player content is limited, featuring a World Cup mode (without an official license), friendly matches, a stripped-down Master League, and a couple of minigames. Multiplayer provides more reasons to keep playing, but even there players will encounter technical limitations and a lack of variety. The idea of having a PES experience both at home and on the go is certainly appealing, but it feels as though Konami approached the project on a tight budget. The game’s accessibility and very low price point are welcome, yet it is hard not to feel that a few additional features and modes could have been included. eFootball Kick-Off! struggles to maintain interest over the long term, but it may still be the right choice for those looking for a few quick matches, whether relaxing on the couch or playing under a beach umbrella. Perhaps this time, Italy might not only qualify for the World Cup—but actually win it.

If Echo Generation 2 manages to consolidate the groundwork laid by its predecessor, it doesn't fully succeed in daring to explore new territory. It undeniably hints at a potential that is only partially realized, especially in terms of situational variety and character development. It remains a title capable of drawing players in through atmosphere and style, though less convincing when it comes to delivering surprises over the long haul.

Cursed City gets Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy to where it should have been at launch. The underground arc closes a narrative gap that left the original release without a satisfying ending. The group-wide skill check fix reshapes party building in a meaningful way, and makes the whole thing approachable for players who never touched the Infinity Engine games. Combat balance across weapon types is still unresolved, and the companions remain thin on the page. But for anyone looking for a classless isometric cRPG with sharp writing and a narrative that rewards patience, there is a solid game here now.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth also proves on Nintendo Switch 2 to be a huge, emotional, and spectacular JRPG, capable of magnificently expanding everything that made Remake great. Just as with the previous installment, Rebirth is a genuine technical and visual marvel on Nintendo hardware, managing to preserve much of the original experience’s spectacular presentation even in handheld mode. Square Enix has delivered a surprising port, once again demonstrating how this trilogy is able to shine on any platform on which it is released.

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies often feels like it's shouting "Look, we've still got it". A sentiment that applies as much to its protagonist as it does to the development team, which has crafted an intricate and compelling adventure populated by a colorful and eccentric cast. The gameplay is excellent and remains engaging from start to finish, but the story never fully lives up to its ambitions. While the characters are certainly memorable, the game's excessive self-indulgence weighs down the narrative with an overwhelming amount of unnecessary detail. Fans of Disco Elysium will likely find plenty to enjoy in ZA/UM's latest effort, but they shouldn't expect the same brilliance.

Stonemachia is a brutal and visceral dark fantasy that bravely strips away RPG bloat to focus entirely on a masterfully crafted, Sekiro-inspired parry system. Despite some structural missteps - such as the baffling lack of fast travel - its unsettling Italian folklore setting, shape-shifting combat mechanics, and relentless rhythmic swordplay make it an uncompromising and deeply rewarding experience.

It is undeniable that 007 First Light is a more than successful video game, one that blends the brilliance of this young Bond (magnificently portrayed by Patrick Gibson) with gameplay that works remarkably well, in a mix of explosive action, stealth, and swagger (in the best sense of the word). In our view, IO Interactive has won its bet: to create a cinematic, compelling video game capable of telling a solid spy story, packed with references that the most devoted fans will catch in their entirety. From a gameplay standpoint, 007 First Light adapts to the player's skill level and never feels like a prohibitively difficult experience, all the more so thanks to the difficulty selector. The time we spent in the company of James Bond was truly brilliant, despite a few minor technical imperfections that do not undermine the overall enjoyment of the game. IO Interactive's new take also opens the door to likely future installments — after all, with 007, there are plenty of stories left to tell. 007 First Light is a must-play for all fans of the franchise, but also for those who enjoy spy stories with intense action and who want to step into the shoes of a secret agent — charming and just a little reckless.

RUNE DICE is one of those games that arrives quietly and without much fanfare, yet still manages to win you over thanks to a simple but cleverly executed idea.It's the classic title that's perfect for a quick session, but one that easily turns into a long night of "just one more run and I'll stop."The game manages to transform a straightforward dice-based system into something genuinely strategic and engaging. Every run tells a slightly different story, built on luck, risk, and split-second decisions. It's not flawless — some structural limitations and a degree of repetitiveness do surface over time — but the fun it delivers easily outweighs these minor shortcomings.For fans of roguelikes and strategy games, RUNE DICE is undoubtedly a hidden gem worth keeping an eye on.

Mechanicus II delivers where it matters most: a deterministic tactical system that replaces dice rolls with genuine planning, and two campaigns asymmetric enough to feel like separate games sharing a story. The Necron late-game balance collapses under a single exploitable unit combination, and two hundred missions cannot hide that the textual events cycle through the same four options from start to finish. For a genre that too often mistakes complexity for depth, this is still one of the more honest tactical designs in recent years — just not a consistent one.

Nitro Gen Omega manages to win you over thanks to its strongly defined identity and its ability to blend strategy and storytelling in a coherent and engaging way. Some noticeable limitations remain, however: the depth of the combat system, while interesting and full of possibilities, can feel somewhat hard to read during the more hectic moments, making it difficult to immediately grasp all the variables at play, while certain animated sequences tend to repeat with some frequency, gradually losing part of their impact over time. Despite this, the overall experience remains thoroughly enjoyable, capable of entertaining and leaving a positive impression — especially for those who appreciate the genre and are looking for something with personality.

Vultures - Scavengers of Death pulls off an incredibly ambitious gamble, successfully blending the claustrophobic resource management of 90s survival horror with the deep, punishing mechanics of a turn-based tactical game. While the narrative is intentionally kept barebones and the code suffers from a few minor technical hiccups, the core gameplay loop is captivating. The brilliant implementation of noise management, anatomical targeting, and the strategic synergy between the two protagonists create a tense and highly rewarding experience. A clever, nostalgic, yet refreshing take on the zombie apocalypse that strategy fans shouldn't miss.

"Navigate toward the light when you don't know where to go." And this sentence probably describes in a coherent way the experience we lived: a voyage across the northern seas to accomplish a daring, courageous mission that shows just how strong a father's love can be. Will: Follow The Light, despite occasionally uneven pacing, puts an interesting story on the table, enriched by the solving of various puzzles and seafaring navigation that will make the player fall in love. A shame about some overly rigid sequences and gameplay mechanics that perhaps feel anchored to a previous generation. That said, our recommendation is to give the emotional waves of Will: Follow The Light a chance and let yourself be carried away by the mysteries this voyage brings with it.

Forza Horizon 6 is the pinnacle of the series in every respect. Technically, it builds on the already impressive performance of its predecessor (and goes even further on PC), leveraging its core formula and expanding it with explicitly tourism-focused activities. The car roster is very extensive, as is tradition, and the customization options further expand the range of driving styles, from pure arcade to semi-simulation. Forza Horizon 6 is the full realization of a gaming philosophy whose influence on racing games will endure for a long time.

Tales of Arise - Beyond The Dawn Edition remains the great game it already was upon its 2021 release, carrying over the many strengths and few flaws of the original edition. One of the most interesting entries in the Tales Of series arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 complete with its expansion, and it manages to do so competently, even though there are some technical limitations that are understandable, though not entirely painless. Bandai Namco Entertainment enriches the console’s catalog by showing that it took the adaptation process seriously, even if the gameplay conversion is simply identical to what we have already seen, without taking advantage of the specific features that make Switch 2 a unique gaming machine. Tales of Arise - Beyond the Dawn allows those who never played the original to experience the adventures of Alphen and Shionne on Nintendo’s hybrid console, but it does not offer many reasons to start a new playthrough if you have already thoroughly experienced it on other platforms. An excellent action JRPG with solid gameplay and a story that holds up almost all the time, presented here in its least performant version, yet still enjoyable.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is yet another demonstration of how Nintendo continues to be uniquely capable of transforming seemingly simple ideas into memorable experiences. Behind its vibrant colors and accessibility lies a surprisingly deep adventure, one that blends platforming, exploration, puzzles, and environmental interaction with disarming naturalness. But it is above all the extraordinary art direction that leaves a lasting impression: every scenario, animation, and detail feels as though it stepped straight out of an interactive fairy tale, giving the game an unmistakable personality and an enduring charm from start to finish. This is a game that aims not merely at immediate fun, but at that sense of continuous wonder that has always been the true strength of Nintendo's philosophy. Once again, the house of Kyoto has hit the mark, delivering a magical, creative, and personality-driven title destined to resonate far beyond its apparent simplicity.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is the Batman game the medium has been waiting eleven years for. TT Games delivers it without betraying either the franchise or those coming from the Arkham series: the narrative holds through the credits, the mechanical system grows with the player, and every hour spent in Gotham returns something tangible. Stealth remains the package's structural weak point, and the PC port carries a technical debt that a studio with these ambitions shouldn't allow itself. Everything else is Batman done right: with respect for the source, without paralyzing reverence.

Call of the Elder Gods proves to be a convincing sequel to that Call of the Sea, which delighted players a few years ago. The strength of this adventure lies in its fantastic Lovecraftian narrative, which proves engaging and up to expectations. Adding variety to the dynamics is a puzzle gameplay system that is decidedly satisfying and intuitive, even though it may cause serious difficulty on more than one occasion (fortunately, the difficulty is scalable, in a sense). Building on excellent foundations, the second chapter of this saga (which we recommend you experience in full) presents us with a new fork in the road that leaves a door open (but we won't say anything more) and puts two endings in front of us to discover, even though they will essentially head in the same direction. Even though Call of the Elder Gods was designed as an experience aimed at everyone, we are sure that those who have already played Call of the Sea will be able to delve more deeply into this worthy little piece of the Lovecraft universe.

Black Jacket is a roguelite that manages to find its own voice within a saturated landscape, thanks to a brilliant core concept and a surprisingly deep gameplay system. It may not quite reach the structural perfection of *Slay the Spire* or the narrative impact of *Hades*, but it nonetheless succeeds in carving out a niche for itself through a unique sense of tension—one built around risk and the manipulation of rules. Among card games, its basic rules might arguably make it seem less intriguing; however, its gameplay additions are both enjoyable and stimulating.

MIXTAPE is one of those games that is difficult to describe simply by discussing its graphics, gameplay, or content, because the work’s true value lies in the feelings it leaves you with once the adventure is over. It is a sincere, delicate, and incredibly human emotional journey—a title that manages to transform seemingly simple moments into something special, leveraging music, direction, and writing to craft an experience that lingers in your memory far longer than many games filled with spectacular effects. MIXTAPE perfectly captures that very sensation: the sweet melancholy of a time that no longer exists, yet continues to live on in the memories of those who truly lived through it. Of course, those seeking a purely action-oriented experience or particularly deep mechanics might be taken aback by the production’s heavily narrative-driven approach. But those willing to immerse themselves in its atmosphere will discover a work capable of truly moving them.

Indiana Jones isn't one to compromise, yet to embark on his quest for the Ancient Circle on Switch 2, he's settled for a now-retro resolution (1080p or 720p in handheld mode) locked at 30 FPS. In exchange, he's gained mouse and motion controls (though the latter aren’t exactly precise). After all, there are plenty of better ways to play Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle, including on a handheld, but the technical effort to adapt it to Switch 2 is commendable, and it must be acknowledged that the core of the game remains intact.

Directive 8020 marks the return of The Dark Pictures Anthology, showcasing Supermassive Games' drive to evolve both structurally and mechanically. Set aboard the starship Cassiopeia, the narrative premise delivers a space adventure with a distinct horror twist, deliberately drawing inspiration from cult classics like The Thing and Alien to plunge the player into a nightmare of paranoia and moral ambiguity. The game departs from the studio’s typical productions to embrace a survival horror approach over the standard interactive movie formula, offering the most evolved gameplay system in the developer's history. The classic branching choices and Butterfly Effect are now bolstered by stealth sections, environmental puzzles, and third-person exploration that maintain constant tension, making it significantly harder to keep every crew member alive. Technically, this is the team’s most accomplished work to date: the use of Unreal Engine 5 combined with fantastic lighting elevates the ship’s claustrophobic atmosphere, while the non-linear, fragmented direction keeps the player’s attention firmly gripped. Ultimately, Directive 8020 is the most ambitious and complete title ever developed by Supermassive; a cinematic cosmic horror that feels both fresh and familiar, marking the anthology's return in the best possible way.

Outbound is a video game that managed to surprise us in its own way, incorporating van life into a hybrid formula capable of entertaining even those who don't particularly enjoy the genre. Crafting, resource gathering, and progression never feel overly frustrating, effectively balancing every single component and keeping it within the player's reach. The charm of this production is undeniable, but it's worth pointing out that around the midpoint of the experience (which will nonetheless last over 30 hours) and as the in-game days go by, a certain sense of repetitiveness sets in. Every single area has been designed to offer a sense of calm, with the sounds of ocean waves and rustling trees, in a dystopian future where only renewable energy is used without leaving the slightest mark on nature. However, this world feels too empty — no human presence, just us and a vast array of crafting possibilities. Fortunately, we have a wonderful little dog to keep us company, who represents the most "heartwarming" element of the entire game. Outbound is a relaxing game, an interactive holiday and a road trip that serves as an escape from the increasingly pulse-pounding frenzy of modern video games. Respect for the environment, a sense of community, and anti-consumerism — perhaps this title could even inspire us to reflect on an ever more sustainable future.

In Their Shoes is a narrative adventure that succeeds in achieving the primary goal of video games: putting the player in someone else’s shoes. Except this time, the “someone else” isn’t a pirate, an astronaut, or a space marine, but an ordinary person (actually seven of them), living in a big city like Milan and facing everyday problems like the high cost of living, rent, job insecurity, or discrimination against minorities. Its strength is undoubtedly its credible, sincere, and relatable writing: the same language that the average person speaks on the subway car taking them to the office in the morning.

Sudden Strike 5 is an unusual strategy game where, despite the presence of tactical pause, the real-time gameplay remains strongly at the forefront. Players are required to maintain a high level of attention and react quickly, both when planning their own moves and when responding to enemy actions. The ability to choose a commander and take advantage of their different perks adds variety to the missions, allowing them to be approached with different playstyles to a certain extent. Larger maps, new units, and several small innovations make Sudden Strike 5 an improvement over its predecessor in many ways, but there are still several quality-of-life aspects that need refinement. The learning curve is extremely steep and there is no proper tutorial to guide players, while the interface feels confusing both during gameplay and on the minimap. On top of that, balancing and AI issues are hard to ignore. The controls in the version I tested also deserve some reworking, regardless of the fact that a game of this type on console will always have to contend with the limitations of a controller. All things considered, the war fought by Sudden Strike 5 is ultimately won, but only with great effort and with many collateral losses left to count.

Elementallis is a title that manages to impress above all for its heart, rather than its technical execution. The developers' love for the great classics is evident, and it shines through in every aspect of the game. The influences are clear and, in some cases, quite pronounced. The echoes of the older entries in The Legend of Zelda saga are apparent both in the world's structure and in the dungeon design and skill-based progression. Yet rather than feeling derivative, the game manages to use these inspirations as a foundation for building something personal. It is not a flawless experience — there are a few technical rough edges and controls that could be improved. The lack of Italian localisation is also a missed opportunity, as it would certainly have drawn in more players. And yet, it is hard not to be drawn in by its atmosphere, its eagerness to invite exploration, and the satisfaction that comes from mastering its mechanics. In an increasingly crowded market, Elementallis still manages to stand out. It is a journey that does not aim to dazzle with special effects, but to win you over slowly, step by step, element by element.

Kingdom Loop tries to be a clone of Loop Hero, without fully succeeding, with progression issues, imbalances and little bite, but despite everything you can tell the substance is there and perhaps it just takes a little to recalibrate the product, which certainly should have launched in early access, but which will certainly see major changes in the coming months... perhaps.

Invincible VS is the first fighting game inspired by the comic book (and animated series) of the same name, throwing us into a brutal, adrenaline-fueled world where we can unleash incredible powers. The roster, made up of 18 characters at launch, is varied and allows for genuinely interesting three-character teams that can pull off some solid, choreographic combos. The game is fluid, accessible, and caters to a wide range of skill levels: after a few matches, even those who don't live and breathe fighting games will find real satisfaction in the battles, despite some minor balance issues and character switching that isn't always seamless. We didn't find Invincible VS in great shape when it comes to single-player content — there's very little of it, and what stands out is a story that didn't quite win us over, on top of being far too short. Then again, the Quarter Up and Skybound Entertainment fighter is squarely aimed at multiplayer and the competitive scene, where players will go at each other tooth and nail to reach the top. It remains to be seen what impact it will have on the competitive landscape and how it will be received by those who treat fighting games as their religion. It doesn't always shine, but it does show us that something fun and genuinely competitive can be built from this IP. If Invincible VS manages to hold players' attention and listens to community feedback, we'll be hearing about it for months to come.

Despite the 'Enhanced Edition' label, The Shore's console release fails to salvage a fundamentally flawed experience. While the creature design is genuinely unsettling and the opening moments build a solid, oppressive atmosphere, the game quickly devolves into a disjointed theme park of Lovecraftian tropes. Bogged down by clunky exploration, uninspired puzzles, and a narrative that loses all focus and logical progression, it ultimately fails to stand out in a heavily saturated genre. A missed opportunity that sinks just below a passing grade.

An interactive storytelling enthusiast—evidently captivated by *Disco Elysium*—decided to create a similar video game, albeit opting for a fantasy setting. The result is a title that, in many respects, closely resembles ZA/UM’s game; however, to reduce it to a mere variation on a theme would be unfair. Esoteric Ebb is a work capable of immersing the player in a complex universe, offering a commendable degree of role-playing freedom, and embedding its narrative within a gameplay framework that is, in some ways, superior even to that of *Disco Elysium* itself. If you aren't daunted by extensive on-screen reading and have a love for RPGs, give Esoteric Ebb a chance—you won't be disappointed.

Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard works as a creative experiment that translates the chaotic and ironic soul of Vampire Survivors into a fast and unpredictable card formula: it's not as deep as a traditional deck-builder, but it bets everything on rhythm, surprises and short sessions, offering a light and fun experience especially for those who love the original universe and want something different without too many complications.

Years go by, but Milestone continues to deliver for both its fans and MotoGP enthusiasts. MotoGP 26 is a solid and entertaining title, capable of satisfying players willing to put in the effort to master these two-wheeled beasts, while also welcoming more casual gamers thanks to its arcade mode. Compared to the previous installment, there are several additions in terms of both content and gameplay, although most of them are refinements to the handling system and physics rather than major innovations. There’s no revolution here, but tampering too much with the series’ core formula would have been a mistake considering how much enjoyment it already provides to fans. Of course, we would have liked to see a deeper career mode and slightly more reactive AI, but that doesn’t take away from the overall quality of the package offered by MotoGP 26. If you want an experience capable of making you fully appreciate everything the MotoGP world has to offer, this is definitely the game for you. And it doesn’t matter if a few flaws still remain: learning how to truly understand your bike and mastering every corner of every track until you finally set the perfect lap time is a satisfaction beyond compare. Are you ready to jump into the saddle and challenge Marc Márquez and Marco Bezzecchi for the top step of the podium?

Aphelion marks the full maturity of Don’t Nod, as the team successfully breaks free from its self-imposed "creative cage" to deliver a raw and essential sci-fi work. Thanks to the collaboration with the ESA, the journey on Persephone avoids all clichés, transforming into a plausible and terrifying projection of our climate crisis and the urgent need to seek refuge elsewhere. The gameplay effectively splits between Ariane’s physical exploration and Thomas’s slow-burn investigation, where oxygen management and the threat of the Nemesis convey the scale of a titanic environment indifferent to human life. Visually monumental, the title stuns with its photorealistic glaciers and an alien soundscape enriched by Amine Bouhafa’s soundtrack. By tackling urgent themes like the New Space Economy and climate migration, Aphelion is not just a video game, but a political work that reminds us that the future depicted is no longer a matter of "if," but "when."

By abandoning its iconic diorama perspective for a generic and clunky first-person view, Little Nightmares VR: Altered Echoes completely loses the soul of the franchise. Plagued by frustrating climbing mechanics, snap-turning issues, and an empty fan-service narrative, this short two-hour hide-and-seek experience fails to capture the tragic melancholy of the original games. Despite decent sound design and the inherent immersion of VR, it remains a deeply disappointing transition.

Until Then is a graphic adventure with incredible potential, capable of moving the player through its coming-of-age story—an ordinary one, blended with a mix of supernatural elements. The delicacy with which certain situations are handled, along with the excellent direction behind this narrative—also superbly adapted into Italian—captivated us and prompted reflection on some fundamental aspects of everyone’s life, despite a slightly different cultural impact compared to the Western one. This is the strength of video games: a medium capable of introducing us to different cultures through dynamic storytelling, while preserving the core meaning of life itself. The gameplay mechanics are limited, and the mini-games lack creativity, but that’s a minor issue: Until Then explores something deeply human, with rich (sometimes even too detailed) and sincere dialogues that let us breathe in a bit of Filipino culture. Moreover, in the second half of the game, there are some compelling twists that change everything. So get your tissues ready and set aside some time for the adventure by Polychroma Games, now also available on Xbox Series.

SAROS stands out confidently and without a shadow of a doubt as one of the best PlayStation 5 exclusives, the result of an extremely polished and intelligent effort by Housemarque. It's not simply an evolution of Returnal, but a bold step forward that finds its strength in a remarkably well-achieved balance between challenge, depth, and accessibility. The game manages to make a typically demanding structure more readable and manageable, without ever truly simplifying it. The progression is smart and rewarding, the gunplay precise and satisfying, while new mechanics add complexity without ever feeling frustrating. Everything is designed with one clear goal in mind: to guide you through the experience in the best possible way. The result is an excellent experience on every level — solid, polished, and perfectly balanced. SAROS doesn't just improve on what came before; it demonstrates that it's possible to elevate a genre while keeping the challenge intact, making it at the same time more modern and accessible.

Windrose is a crystalline ambition that still has to reckon with an unrefined MMO past. While the pivot from Crosswind successfully reclaimed the project’s soul, it failed to resolve the inherent clunkiness of an engine too heavy for its own good. The core loop remains magnetic and the navigation is easily among the genre’s finest, but technical setbacks, severe memory leaks, and tedious ground combat frictions significantly dampen the experience. It is a diamond in the rough for purists willing to fight the hardware: a title in desperate need of a few more optimization cycles before it can truly shine. [Early Access Score = 75]

Tides of Tomorrow is a “plasticpunk” adventure (as defined by its developers), in which the choices we make in this bizarre world are also shaped by the decisions of our predecessors. The core concept is very simple: after awakening from our underwater slumber, we must follow in the footsteps of another player and set off on an adventure in a quirky world filled with iconic characters and surreal traits. The Story-Link feature is probably what impressed us the most: every situation we encounter across the various islands has already been experienced by another player, and the story will also evolve based on what they did. It’s a concept that may seem complex at first glance, but in practice it proves to be very rewarding, creating situations that are interesting and sometimes even amusing. Tides of Tomorrow took us on a very unusual journey— not always perfect, but absolutely satisfying for anyone looking to enjoy an original story that can be replayed by making different karmic choices. It’s impossible not to notice the developers’ boldness in proposing something new, without excessively imitating ideas already seen in other productions.

The Day I Became a Bird is a narrative video game that captures the emotional essence of a child's first love, as described in Ingrid Chabbert's book of the same name. It's a journey of discovery and the purest expression of one's childhood self, as well as an early message about the development of "social skills." However, this transformation into a sparrow is characterized by an all-too-brief flight, touching in some ways but lacking in playfulness. It's a game aimed primarily at children, recommended for parents who want their little ones to experience a truly interactive and at times emotional adventure. However, a few gameplay elements and extremely basic puzzles are not enough to make this poem a true video game masterpiece. In any case, this journey was brought to life with great artistic mastery, both in terms of the overall graphics and the sound system. An emotional story that brings out your inner child, but we wish it could have lasted a little longer.

Mouse: P.I. is an experience that wins you over more with personality than with technical ambition—a first-person shooter that stands out thanks to a striking artistic identity, mature noir writing, and a sound design that works in perfect harmony with its visuals and narrative. The solid, immediate gunplay supports the entire structure without overshadowing the atmosphere, while Troy Baker’s performance becomes the emotional glue of a dark and compelling journey, making the game something of a cult favorite for those who love classic cinema, jazz, and stories of detectives worn down by their own world.

Waiting times and microtransactions are never welcome, but Pokémon Champions proves to be very user-friendly. Its current structure is ideal for players who want to explore the series’ competitive battling without investing too much time or resources, offering a progression system that is slow but steady. And most importantly, free. If this approach is maintained, it’s easy to recommend it to those who have drifted away over the years and would appreciate a more focused and controlled environment. You don't even need a subscription to play. That said, content and variety are still lacking. For now, at least. If you prefer having access to the full experience of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, there’s little reason to switch, especially if you’re already used to playing online. And if you’re still unsure, Pokémon Showdown is always just a click away.

Ground Zero is a masterful love letter to classic 90s survival horror. By blending the nostalgic charm of pre-rendered backgrounds and fixed cameras with brilliant modernizations like free aim, fluid movement, and a rewarding parry system, it entirely avoids the pitfalls of clunky retro clones. Boasting crisp Unreal Engine 5 visuals, a gripping branching narrative set in post-apocalyptic Busan, and a stellar resource management loop, it perfectly bridges the gap between past and present. An absolute must-play for genre veterans.

Under Par Golf Architect is a cute and charming product whose features meet the modest expectations it sets. Ultimately, the gameplay boils down to designing golf courses and managing the facilities and the simple surrounding economy. It is neither a great golf game nor a great management sim: it is simply a small game that does both.

Big Bad Wolf's latest is a visually arresting Lovecraftian deep-dive that prioritizes "big brains" over big guns, but its overly safe structure prevents it from reaching true horror greatness. While the 2053 tech-noir setting is a brilliant spin on the mythos, the thalassophobia here is mostly "vibes" and very little bite. The investigative loop is genuinely high-brow, featuring a complex sonar-based system that rewards meticulous detail-hunting. However, the total absence of combat or persistent physical threats makes the 11-hour journey feel like a guided tour of an underwater museum rather than a desperate struggle for survival. Branching paths and multiple endings provide some much-needed narrative stakes, yet the AI companion, Key, feels like a hollow shell of what a modern interactive partner should be. It’s an essential pick for lore-hungry detectives and tech enthusiasts wanting to push Path-Tracing to its limits, but hardcore horror fans will likely find the lack of "Game Over" consequences a bit underwhelming. A sophisticated investigative gem that desperately needs more teeth.

Ghost Cam is a deeply atmospheric and liminal horror experience that successfully channels the spirit of classic ghost photography games. While its indie nature shows through occasional technical glitches and somewhat clunky controls, the unique 'Haunted Horse Girl' aesthetic, meticulous sound design, and oppressive use of darkness make it a compelling journey. A flawed but magnetic nightmare that perfectly captures the terror of the unseen.

Starfield arrives on PlayStation in the most massive way possible. It’s not without (initial) issues, but you can already enjoy over a hundred hours of adventure. The original formula was already rich; now you can experience all the journeys across the galaxy, keeping in mind that Bethesda will surely serve up more particularly tasty additions for all the space pirates who want to embark on an epic voyage.

Minos is a maze-based roguelite featuring gameplay that is, all things considered, engaging—simple in structure yet remarkably deep in its mechanics. Its roguelite nature ensures that you are constantly facing new challenges within a system best described as a blend of strategy and tower defense. The goal of the game is not to hunt down aspiring heroes and tear them to shreds while playing as the Minotaur; rather, it is to devise the right strategy to funnel them toward traps and crossbows that will fire a few darts too many (much to your delight)...We believe Minos is well-suited for more contemplative players—those who enjoy experimenting with mechanics rather than adhering to a typically more linear, guided formula. If you value strategic planning, appreciate an intriguing storyline, and remain undeterred by repeated failures, then the Minotaur awaits you within that labyrinth—a maze that has become his very reason for being.

OPUS: Prism Peak is the most intimate and mature chapter in SIGONO's anthology. It is an introspective journey that moves away from the vastness of the cosmos to explore the fragile fragments of human memory through the lens of a camera. The interaction, centered entirely on photography, is original but becomes repetitive over time. The clunkiness of certain mechanics slows the pacing, making the gameplay the weak link in an otherwise profound experience. Visually stunning, the title blends the aesthetics of Japanese animation masters with a solid Taiwanese cultural heritage. The masterful use of lighting and a high-caliber soundtrack create a vibrant, dreamlike atmosphere capable of stirring emotions with every shot. Despite its ludic limitations, the game is a necessary cathartic ritual for those seeking auteur storytelling. It is a work that teaches us how to make peace with our ghosts and accept the weight of the past.

Tomodachi Life does offer a dreamlike life, but for now it will mainly appeal to those who enjoy meticulously customizing every detail of their characters and have someone nearby to share their creations with. The base package is hilarious, yet somewhat lacking, and it runs out of steam fairly quickly. As a result, it’s hard to wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone, although there are plenty of interesting possibilities should future updates expand the experience. Still, if cozy vibes and pure nonsense are your thing, the Mii will welcome you to their island with open arms. In their own peculiar way.

Replaced is a compelling journey into the cyberpunk world — an enterprising, bold adventure with a narrative that leaves its mark. From the very first minutes, you can feel the love for the genre and the nod to those worlds created by one of its most prominent figures: William Ford Gibson. Over the course of the 8/9 hours needed to complete the main story — or a full 15 if you want to uncover everything there is to find — you'll live through an epic that calls into question several themes of the genre and the importance of humanity within society. But above all, it raises an intriguing question: "Is an AI capable of experiencing human emotions?" Replaced treads paths already explored, but approaches them in its own way, daring to mix different characteristics. Granted, it doesn't always pull this off in the best possible manner, and there are moments where a certain sense of "forced" game design becomes noticeable — though this never compromises the enjoyment of the adventure in any meaningful way. Our recommendation remains to play it in its entirety, trying to collect every document in the world and not miss a single side mission (even if, for the most part, these amount to fetch quests). Unrest and trust in one's fellow man: that is how we might define what is, by all accounts, a solid cyberpunk experience.

Moto Rush Reborn perfectly achieves its goal: delivering an accessible, fast, and fun arcade-style riding experience, capable of entertaining without unnecessary complexity. It doesn’t aim for deep simulation or hyper-realistic presentation, but instead focuses on immediate gameplay, tight pacing, and a structure designed for replayability—making it ideal for those seeking pure adrenaline and instant competition.

2026 is a banner year for Capcom, and Pragmata is yet another hit. Beneath its ultra-modern, minimalist exterior lies old-school action, consisting of linear areas and levels. The innovation lies in the hacking system, which is used alongside classic shooting mechanics, turning every battle into a sort of real-time puzzle. The first playthrough flies by in about ten hours of fun, excitement, and thrills. The game places a strong emphasis on replayability, but unless you’re a completionist or obsessed with the various "builds" (combination of guns & hacking tools) you can create, it probably won’t last much longer than the end credits. However, Pragmata manages to convey what the game has to say very well right from the first playthrough.

Narin: The Orange Room is a faltering experience in several respects that, despite having some decent foundations and a fairly interesting story, pays a very high price: it fails to actually scare the player. Even if we were willing to overlook the dated gameplay and the technical issues scattered here and there, we cannot ignore the pronounced repetitiveness that envelops the entire experience. Let’s be frank: the overall formula didn’t convince us, especially considering that the protagonist seems more inclined to deliver monologues rather than feel the tension of survival in a context that is completely hostile to her. If you’re a fan of the genre (and considering the low price), you might still want to give it a chance, though you’ll have to accept a few too many flaws. And if you’ll allow us one piece of advice: set the dialogue language to Thai—at least the protagonist will gain a lot more personality.

The question is always the same: is it really worth opening your wallet and buying this new incarnation of baseball from Sony San Diego Studio? Once again, the answer is yes, marked by steady growth without losing its identity, both in terms of gameplay and in its technical aspects and content. Everything that was already great about the series remains in MLB The Show 26, but this year too brings some interesting new features that make virtual baseball even more satisfying and believable. The revamped controls for batting and pitching will win over both newcomers and veteran players, while those who prefer not to change their style can still rely on the comfort zone of previous options. Sure, there’s no revolution, but it’s guaranteed fun for anyone who loves baseball—or perhaps wants to get closer to this fantastic sport.

People of Note presents itself to the public within a genre that, lately, has been receiving a lot of positive attention. The work published by Annapurna is truly ingenious: a musical RPG that places music at the center in all its forms—from rap to country to pop—while still delivering a combat system that turns out to be stronger than expected. Of course, there are some limitations in this production, mainly due to the lack of side activities that could expand the brilliant world of Note, not to mention the rather limited variety of enemies across the different areas. For everything else, the time spent in the company of Cadence and her friends was enjoyable, featuring a cast of iconic characters and a story that is well told in its simplicity. If you enjoy turn-based role-playing games, then People of Note might be a title worth seriously considering—especially with its rather appealing launch price (€23.99 on PC and consoles). Ready for your best musical performance?

The goal The Occultist sets for itself is a noble one: to artfully blend the world of the occult with that of survival horror—offering no weapons and no means of self-defense, relying instead solely on wits and puzzle-solving. It is a journey that did not always unfold harmoniously, yet one that successfully established the right atmosphere and maintained a high level of tension. However, one must also take into account certain technical limitations encountered on consoles, including a frame rate that is not exactly stable.

Ultimately, Ariana and the Elder Codex is an adventure that is enjoyable to play, but one that is unlikely to be remembered as something essential. It is a good book to read once—but not necessarily to reread.

Overall, CoinPit is a rather unusual project, almost anachronistic in the way it blends arcade gameplay, psychological horror, and incremental mechanics. Unlike other projects, such as CloverPit, it is less successful and less iconic. Its deliberately simple graphics, imperfect yet effective physics, and the obsessive economy based on debt and risky choices make it a title designed for a specific audience—those fascinated by roguelikes with a touch of atmosphere.

Re-releasing a game multiple times doesn't seem wrong to us; the important thing is to do it wisely and strive to deliver the best possible experience to players at the time. Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage is being released on Nintendo Switch 2 in a less than appealing package with very little content, despite the desire to add some freshness with the World Stage mode. Regarding online play, unfortunately, the situation isn't the best: finding players could be more challenging than expected, considering how sparsely populated it is currently. However, netcode rollback can sometimes ensure (under the right conditions) a decent online experience.On Nintendo Switch 2, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage runs well, although the graphics aren't exactly spotless (a situation that improves with portability). For the proposed price (€19.99) it manages to guarantee some pleasant combat: but if you are looking for online competition, well, perhaps other competitors are doing better on this front at the moment.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits on Switch 2 positions itself halfway between the PS4 edition and the PS5, PC, and Xbox versions, once again proving to be one of the most successful “AA” titles of recent years. Refined in many of its elements, Kena: Bridge of Spirits arrives on Nintendo’s hybrid console complete with DLC and performs well both on TV and in handheld mode, taking full advantage of the system’s new hardware. Atmosphere, art direction, and well-crafted (though not perfect) gameplay remain the strong points of a title that deserves to be played—or replayed—while waiting for Kena: Scars of Kosmora, the next chapter in the saga. For those who have always owned Nintendo consoles, this is a great opportunity to experience a solid action game with a narrative tone reminiscent of Pixar, which, even in this new version, can offer plenty of satisfaction.

NUTMEG! A Nostalgic Deckbuilding Football Manager isn't exactly a management sim—even though that is, in effect, what you have to do—nor is it strictly a deckbuilder—even though that is ultimately how you take to the pitch. It defies easy classification and isn't immediately intuitive; yet, in the end—without any unnecessary frills—you simply start playing, and you won't be able to tear yourself away.

Between finely crafted gameplay and moments of pure frustration, Grime II manages to keep players engaged thanks to a high, consistent, and mostly fair level of challenge. Some questionable design choices and a certain rigidity hold it back, but die-hard fans of the genre will know how to master it, especially if they enjoyed the first game. The series is on the right track and just a step away from becoming a must-have.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is simultaneously everything we wanted and everything we didn’t from this franchise. Crystal Dynamics and Bit Bot Media skillfully use the character of Elaleth to recount the behind-the-scenes events that shaped Nosgoth, introducing a series of narrative elements that pave the way for the saga’s future. On the flip side, however, the artistic and gameplay offerings fail to satisfy those who have waited over 20 years for a new chapter. With the exception of the voice acting and a soundtrack that matches the quality of previous entries, Ascendance represents a technical step backward in every respect. For those who love 2D platformers or can look past a low-budget aesthetic and gameplay, there is a well-told story here; one that lays the groundwork for a future that will hopefully head in a different direction.

Darwin's Paradox is a puzzle-platform adventure that combines excellent artistic direction with highly original gameplay. Some might argue that the story can be completed in a very short time, and on that point we probably wouldn’t have much to object to. However, who said that great longevity must necessarily be one of a production’s strengths? The time spent in the company of the blue octopus was truly enlightening: it entertained us and showed us that the video game industry needs representatives of this caliber. With a style reminiscent of an animated film, Darwin's Paradox manages to skillfully mix humorous moments with challenging gameplay sections that are (almost) never frustrating. Admittedly, on console (PS5) a few technical limitations can be noticed, but this doesn’t make the journey toward “freedom” any less enjoyable. Between stealth elements that are never too intrusive and unique, well-balanced levels, we’re confident that the debut work of ZDT Studio is a success and certainly not a misfire.

Anyone with a penchant for narrative-driven video games should check out Aether & Iron: the captivating setting, the criminal undertones, and the wide variety of characters encountered and locations visited guarantee entertainment. Furthermore, there's the tactical component, which, without overdoing it, manages to offer a satisfying challenge. Seismic Squirrel's offering is certainly not without its flaws—at times it's a bit too textual and not visual—but it will win over those willing to immerse themselves in its story.

Following the disappointment of Double Exposure, Deck Nine Games makes a miraculous return to form with Life is Strange: Reunion. The game does more than just lean on nostalgia; it masterfully fulfills the goal of closing Max and Chloe’s narrative arc with unprecedented maturity. Through a mise-en-scène that poignantly captures their emotional distance and the fear of no longer having a place in each other's lives, the game transforms their reunion into a powerful narrative key. Despite an opening that could have felt like a gamble, experiencing the reality of this adventure first-hand reveals a story steeped in intimacy and pain, capable of giving the saga the perfect conclusion fans truly deserved. It is a testament to narrative awareness, proving that even as all certainties crumble around us, we are never truly alone.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach on PC is a masterclass in optimization, proving that technical respect for the player remains paramount. On mid-range hardware like the RTX 4060 Ti, Nixxes has crafted a port that transcends its console origins through impeccable scaling and a stunning Ultrawide implementation. While VRAM limitations require a mindful approach to settings, the result is a rock-solid, cinematically superior experience. With its refined combat loop and breathtaking vistas, it stands as a new technical benchmark for the industry. A definitive, unassailable version of Kojima’s vision.

Project Songbird is a title that collapses under the weight of its own ambitions. While it bravely tackles mature themes like creative block and depression, the narrative is ultimately derailed by intrusive authorial narcissism. The gameplay fares no better, suffering from a disjointed mix of superfluous combat, poorly executed stealth mechanics, and frustrating inventory bugs. Despite an excellent soundtrack and stellar voice acting that perfectly capture the protagonist's musical soul, these technical merits aren't enough to save an overall derivative experience. It is a bitter disappointment for a game with such sadly wasted potential.

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is a thoughtfully curated compilation that aims to relaunch a series that was probably overshadowed by Battle Network. After 20 years, time has somewhat washed away the sense of “disappointment” that once permeated various communities, allowing players to rediscover some unique JRPGs and introducing them to a new generation—especially fans of Mega Man. We believe that the Star Force saga features a solid combat system that can also satisfy the most demanding RPG players: some boss battles, particularly in Star Force 3, could really put players to the test. All things considered, this re-release doesn’t offer anything new, but it delights with a complete package that lets you enjoy the entire epic from start to finish (each chapter will take no less than 20 hours to complete 100%). Compared to other re-releases, Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection doesn’t offer anything particularly revolutionary. However, having these historic games in a single package—without having to go crazy trying to track down an old Nintendo DS—is no small thing. And besides, Star Force 3 truly feels like a brand-new addition.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a wonderful game, and it remains just that in this Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. The technical upgrade highlights the mastery of Nintendo’s designers, finally bringing the delightful art style into full sharpness even on 4K TVs. The new content additions are a fun bonus that push Wonder to the edge of Mario Party territory in the attractions of Bellabel Park or provide incentives to improve and revisit sections you’ve already beaten. At its core, however, remains Wonder’s elaborate, elegant, and super-creative platforming—arguably one of the genre’s greatest achievements.

New Super Lucky's Tale arrives on PlayStation 5 in the best form ever seen on the console: a graphical and performance upgrade only, without adding anything new to the formula or additional content such as levels or mini-games. The game now reaches 4K resolution and 120 fps, as well as implementing the DualSense haptic feedback, though it isn't always used to its full potential. As for the gameplay, we're faced with a platformer with a decent amount of variety, alternating between 3D levels and 2D scrolling ones, not to mention that little bit of exploration that never hurts. The difficulty isn't particularly high, but perhaps in this case that could be a good thing: New Super Lucky's Tale focuses on fun and the desire to rediscover a genre for all ages. After all, who said a video game should only be a challenge against yourself?

Dragonkin: The Banished is a refreshing indie ARPG that succeeds by prioritizing systemic depth over visual spectacle. While many AA titles struggle against giants like Diablo, Eko Software focuses on mechanical innovation and unique design. The Ancestral Grid is the standout feature, transforming skill customization into a logic puzzle. By requiring precise management of "Keywords" and spatial placement, it offers a level of build-crafting depth usually reserved for complex PC titles. This is complemented by Montescail, a shared city-building hub that gives dragon hunts a tangible sense of progression and purpose. Technically, the game runs smoothly on Xbox Series X via Unreal Engine 5. However, the "Grim Dark" aesthetic feels somewhat derivative, and the linear level design—largely combat corridors—might disappoint those seeking exploration. Fortunately, the robust endgame of customizable Chaos Hunts and Draconic armor farming ensures significant longevity for dedicated players. For those valuing innovation and character optimization over AAA polish, this is a rewarding, methodical experience. It proves that in the world of Action RPGs, solid architecture is often more impactful than a massive budget.

Screamer is one of the most visually striking and nostalgically satisfying arcade games to hit the market since the PS3/Xbox 360 era — the golden age of racing. Unfortunately, the game is undermined by frustrating AI and level design that prevents you from fully enjoying the experience it otherwise deserves, given what it has to offer.

Reigns: The Witcher sticks to the formula established by the original Reigns without reinventing it. Its blend with CD Projekt Red’s fantasy RPG offers fans of the Witcher an enjoyable diversion alongside their favorite character, while also serving as a potential entry point for newcomers to the series. Overall, it’s not particularly captivating, but it gets the job done.

Devil Jam is an independent production that stages a concert built around rhythm and automatic attacks. What we have here is a roguelite with some interesting ideas, based on upgrades placed on a dedicated grid to create an offensive and defensive score capable of wiping out entire armies of demons. What you end up with is a bold production that presents an overall functional combat system, but one that may feel rather repetitive even to those who strongly enjoy the genre. The presence of only a single map and a handful of bosses doesn’t help either, making the experience feel less deep than expected. However, the ticket price for Devil Jam is very low (€7.99), and it would almost be outrageous not to attend at least once this concert with decidedly hellish notes.

Blizzard successfully navigates the technical debt of two decades, delivering a cinematic restoration of Quel'Thalas that feels both hauntingly familiar and radically modern. While Midnight leans heavily on the fragile legacy of the Windrunners to fill its charisma void, the long-awaited Player Housing finally offers a persistent sanctuary rather than a mere battlefield. Despite some optimization hurdles and aggressive monetization in decor, this second chapter of the Worldsoul Saga is an essential, high-stakes evolution for the MMO genre.

If your concern is that the game wasn't final yet, that's correct — there's a mountain of things still to be polished; but if you think it doesn't work or that it isn't fun, then no, I can assure you that you could spend your whole life in it listening to stories, admiring landscapes, discovering secrets, riding, saving... and even greeting people (yes, that matters too), because everyday life has never been so enjoyable, even in the small things, and the adventures that await you are truly memorable.

The character voice acting—especially in Japanese—adds further personality to the story and helps make the cast even more memorable.

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is an excellent port that brings a pleasant and captivating tactical experience to the Nintendo Switch 2, already praised on other platforms since 2017. The gameplay is identical to the original, and compared to the PC, Xbox, and PS5 versions, it includes the Aiko’s Choice DLC, making it the Complete Edition developed by Mimimi Games. The game retains the strengths of the original and its few weaknesses, offering deep strategic gameplay and a solid technical foundation, although the learning curve is steep and even the lowest difficulty setting may pose a challenge for less experienced players. Notably, the ability to use the Joy‑Con controllers as a pointer is a great solution for tactical games on consoles. However, in handheld mode, the game is hard to read on the 7.9‑inch Switch 2 screen: even when zoomed in, on-screen elements appear quite small. In conclusion, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is an excellent old-school stealth strategy game arriving on Nintendo’s new flagship console.

Ultimately, Marathon presents itself as a kind of digital Rorschach test in which each player projects their own tolerance thresholds for frustration and aesthetic fascination: it is a work dedicated to gunplay fetishists who demand a physical response to every mouse input, and to those who, tired of the reassuring linearity of modern blockbusters, seek the thrill of fragmented and brutal storytelling. The shift toward the extraction shooter genre proves to be a bold strategic move to test the limits of competition, attracting anyone curious to see how the DNA of 1994 has mutated under Ziegler’s vision, while simultaneously forcefully repelling those who look for a guided approach or a minimalist UI. It is not a game for those who detest extraction anxiety or the permanent loss of loot, since the absence of waypoints and the informational overload of the HUD require a cognitive investment that many might find exhausting. Those with modern hardware and ultrawide displays will derive the greatest visual pleasure from this chromatic jungle, but they will still have to reckon with a system that gives nothing away and turns every mistake into a definitive erasure. Marathon, ultimately, is a technological shell that admits no compromises: either one accepts living within its distortions, or one is rejected by the system like obsolete code.

Blue Prince is a must-play experience for mystery lovers that wisely blends roguelite elements with exploration and puzzle-solving. Retracing your steps, repositioning rooms in different ways, and using the tools you find along the way make every run, every day, both satisfying and essential to reaching the notorious 46th room. This is undoubtedly a production crafted with ingenuity, making its official debut on Nintendo Switch 2 in an all-around well-executed port. There are of course some technical issues — a few textures can appear slightly blurry and the framerate doesn't reach the peaks of the current generation — but let's be clear: Blue Prince is not a game that relies on buttery-smooth performance as its main selling point. Instead, it is a true adventure where paying close attention to every room, taking notes, and applying what you've learned to go deeper into the mansion is what really matters. No matter how many days it takes: Blue Prince pits you against yourself, makes you question everything, and sometimes makes you feel like a genuine genius when it comes to solving its puzzles.

John Carpenter's Toxic Commando offers a solid experience. It doesn't do anything particularly new and focuses on just a few elements, but it handles them well with care and obvious devotion to the source material. The missions aren't too varied at first, but the frequent occurrence of grotesque, unexpected, or crazy situations makes every game enjoyable. The bots also work well.

GreedFall: The Dying World, unfortunately, doesn’t stray too far from the kind of productions developer Spiders – and publisher Nacon – have delivered over the years. It’s a game full of promising ideas and solid RPG foundations, yet it ultimately stumbles when it comes to execution. The final result is still enjoyable and offers plenty of elements that RPG fans will appreciate. Its world is fascinating, the moral choices are engaging, and the tactical combat system works well. However, the experience is held back by scattered bugs, AI that isn’t always reactive, and a graphical presentation that could use some polish, with several on-screen elements – subtitles included – appearing frustratingly small. It’s hard to say whether these issues stem from budget limitations, the need for more development time, or a team that hasn’t quite reached full maturity yet. What’s clear is that GreedFall: The Dying World feels like a hidden gem in the rough: a game with clear potential, but still weighed down by imperfections that we hope future updates and patches will address. Spiders’ talent and the strengths of its games are not in doubt, yet that definitive leap in quality still seems just out of reach. Even so, GreedFall: The Dying World remains an easy recommendation for RPG fans willing to accept a few technical compromises in exchange for an ambitious and atmospheric role-playing experience.

The Project Zero 2 remake has a value that goes far beyond technical specs or cold numbers. It's proof that a certain kind of horror — one that steers clear of gore and spectacle at all costs — can still work in a market this 'distracted' and increasingly drawn to quick thrills. Tecmo Koei has taken its most accomplished and beloved entry and transformed it into something new, capable of attracting even those players who, until now, had kept their distance from the kind of unsettling, supernatural atmosphere that defines the Project Zero series.

Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is not the product we expected following the remaster of the two Soul Reaver titles. This release feels like another "nostalgia bait" operation that is, frankly, difficult to justify. One commendable addition is the over-the-shoulder camera, which significantly improves the game's quality of life and assists during both platforming sections and combat. On the other hand, new mechanics such as the local map and the "foresight" ability feel negligible, adding very little to the overall experience. The graphical enhancements applied to the environments are bland and barely noticeable; in fact, they occasionally break the atmosphere of the original game. While the character models are highly detailed, the development team seems to have taken too many liberties in redesigning some of the key protagonists. From a gameplay perspective, the title suffers from the exact same issues as the original 2004 release: it remains repetitive and tedious, both in its combat encounters and its environmental puzzles. Ultimately, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered stays afloat solely thanks to the masterful narrative and world-building of the original game, but it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

WWE 2K26 is an impressive game that captures the magic of WWE. It's three games in one, maybe even four, each with remarkable depth and each enriched with a host of new features in this edition. There's always room for improvement, but this is one of the highest peaks in the series.

Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf is a work of extraordinary beauty that confirms Wishfully’s knack for creating stunning and enchanting worlds. Children of the Leaf also serves as a demonstration of maturity for the studio. They’ve showcased their core strengths, like superlative storytelling and an artistic direction that rivals high-budget productions, while making amends for past shortcomings by refining the gameplay mechanics that raised some eyebrows in the first chapter. However, there remains an underlying over-reliance on references, both artistically and mechanically. While pleasant at first, this becomes somewhat cloying in the final hours. The game would have certainly benefited from a touch of "arrogance" on the part of the developers. Planet of Lana 2 is a title that comes agonizingly close to perfection, yet falls short due to excessive caution. It teases grand ideas but offers only a taste of them; the most frustrating part is that it does so with full awareness of its own immense potential.