Bandai Namco's effort to bring back a classic does just about enough to preserve the original experience's magic while making it more fun for new and returning players.

Pay-to-win issues notwithstanding, Visual Concepts' NBA 2K25 is the premier basketball title, packed with enjoyable content and notable improvements.

Color me surprised but the newest Battlefield is genuinely good.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe improves what was already a great game in small but smart ways.

Sony San Diego plays it relatively safe with its flagship baseball series but offers new Storylines and modes with the same solid gameplay.

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends and the Secret Fairy overshadows its monotonous alchemy system with a fitting combination of charm, exploration, and a dynamic, living world.

One of the most immersive and refined ways to experience Hogwarts Legacy.

Despite some technical issues, WRC 9 delivers on its core mechanics, offering a deep and rewarding off-road racing game.

Disney Illusion Island is a charming, enjoyable, easygoing platformer that should appeal to everyone regardless of how familiar you are with the genre or how skilled you are on the sticks.

The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story is another compelling spin-off from Riot Forge. Despite some imperfections, it offers fun gameplay, a well-realized world and a likable, if headstrong, protagonist.

Ice-Pick Lodge's time-bending adventure of overcoming an outbreak is its most involving, deftly written and compelling adventure yet.

Despite being light on extras, Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series delivers lovingly tuned-up remasters that honor and improve the source material.

Project CARS 3 is a serious departure from the franchise's roots. It takes a lot of risks, but those willing to make the jump will find a fun and rewarding racing experience.

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a unique, distinct, and memorable experience that leverages the strengths of video games as a storytelling medium. It is recommended for anyone who is interested in mystery stories or adventure games.

As a worthwhile experience that's only improved over the years, Valorant is a great option for competitive shooter fans on consoles.

There are few games that commit to their central conceit and framing as much as Empire of the Ants does.

Wanted: Dead has a charm and sense of humor that is rarely found in modern games, and it backs that up with an amazing combat system that only gets better the more you play.

The Thing was worth playing in 2002 and it still holds up today with all the convenient bells and whistles included in this faithful remaster.

Bionic Bay is one of those surprise indie gems that happens to excel in not just its art style, but gameplay as well. As a mix of physics-based puzzles and precision platforming, Bionic Bay has a dynamic platforming identity that is easy to love.

World of Warcraft: Midnight is off to a fantastic start, with a campaign that, while uneven in places, ends on a strong note. Paired with an excellent new casual gameplay pillar in player housing, as well as more dungeons, delves, and class options, it already feels like a strong expansion.

Freedom Planet 2 feels like the first game with a bigger budget, expanding on many of the key mechanics it employs from its Sonic roots while crafting a unique identity with its complex levels and refreshingly unique enemy and boss design.

After Us doesn’t reinvent the wheel in platforming and exploration, but it offers very compelling gameplay in both areas.

After taking a year off, HB Studios' signature golfing franchise sees a strong resurgence thanks to excellent gameplay and presentation.

Elden Ring Nightreign is an unusual yet well-executed effort by FromSoftware, blending rogue-like progression and battle royale mechanics into a fun co-op experience despite some nagging issues.

Seemingly directionless plot and occasionally excessive effects aside, Everhood 2 offers plenty of challenges for rhythm game fans.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle R polishes up the original game well, but fails to modernize its online functionality.

Yars Rising delivers a fine platforming experience mixed with some retro Atari elements.

Two Point Campus is a great management sim that manages to be quite deep, without adding unnecessary complexity, and its main campaign makes for a fun tutorial, and the writing is downright hilarious. The only real downside is that it doesn’t really do much new if you’ve already played Two Point Hospital.

BlueTwelve Studio's adventure game backs its unique premise with plenty of substance.

Moving Out 2 is a great game that excellently builds upon the strengths of the original and adds even more creative levels to the mix that will constantly challenge you in new and interesting ways.

Even with a superfluous F1 Life and some odd bugs, F1 22 maintains its strong fundamentals while tightening up its racing and offering more options.

There’s something wildly thoughtful and provocative about The Last Case of Benedict Fox.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective isn't looking to overhaul what made the original version so memorable. It offers sleeker HD visuals and rearranged music while retaining the same great music, writing and characters. Some of the newer features feel superfluous, but the game's core is still strong.

Disgaea 6 Complete doesn’t really shake up the original’s formula, but it’s still a good time. Sure, character models look pretty bland and animate weirdly, but the humour and general atmosphere is still great.

Compulsion Games' action-adventure title manages to stand out in spite of by-the-numbers gameplay.

While retaining the same fundamental gameplay, Wishfully's gorgeous sequel improves on the original in almost every single way.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion is an impressive visual upgrade that, above all else, proves the quality of the original game yet again. Much of it can feel dated at times, but thanks primarily to its enjoyable combat system, it remains an easy game to recommend.

Blade Chimera is one of the most good-looking and engaging platformer titles out there. It easily taps into its classical influences while still maintaining its own identity. At worst, it can sometimes be an annoying game that hides crucial information. If you can overlook some of its flaws, Blade Chimera will be well worth your time.

An updated version for modern hardware, Quake (2021) is the definitive way to revisit an FPS classic.

GRID Legends might not blow your doors off, but it does tighten many of the core ideas from previous games while packing in a ton of content.

With Xuan Yuan 7’s action, story, and various systems all clicking into place so well, Domo Studio has given the world a truly superb video game.

Scars Above mixes gameplay mechanics from vastly different genres to create something refreshingly unique and fun to play.

Oddworld: Soulstorm is a very compelling game, which veers on the verge of being an all time classic.

Banana Mania simultaneously caters to younger players and old fans alike with a solid representation of the franchise’s most successful ideas and plenty to do.

Limbic Entertainment's theme park builder is a charming and enjoyable game that fans of the genre won't want to miss.

Subnautica: Below Zero once again delivers an experience with engaging exploration set in a mysterious, beautiful, and haunting underwater world.

Serafini Productions’ take on bullying and the impact of social media on troubled minds is not just relevant, but quite the entertainer when its systems manage to come together.

Though not without design and story issues of its own, Hogwarts Legacy ultimately comes across as a densely packed and well-made RPG that players will find incredibly easy to enjoy.

In spite of a lot of missteps and unforced, unnecessary errors, however, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are great outings.

Warriors: Abyss is an excellent mash-up of a roguelite structure with the core gameplay of the Dynasty Warriors franchise. There is plenty of content to unlock, and the level of variety in creating builds for each run is incredible. Just be ready to skip through a lot of poor dialogue.

In spite of a lot of missteps and unforced, unnecessary errors, however, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are great outings.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox brings a wide array of impressive gameplay elements in concert with a wonderful cast of characters to make an exhilarating, thoughtful package that’s one of the series’ best.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an addictive, fun and an absurd experience. But most importantly, it is a complete blast to play through.

LEVEL-5’s football RPG has far more strengths than weaknesses, and its charming presentation more than makes up for its flaws.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game made good on the promise that movie tie-in games usually failed to keep, and the Complete Edition proves that virtually the entire package is just as enjoyable over a decade later.

Ridiculously charming and extremely relaxing, New Pokemon Snap provides the most realized and fleshed out window into the Pokemon world yet, also delivering a robust and entertaining game that makes good on the original title's potential remarkably well in the process.

An industrial post-cataclysmic stealth platformer well worth your time and attention.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance has finally escaped the shackles of being restricted to last-generation console performance thanks to its new upgrades.

System Shock is one of the most influential games ever made, and Nightdive Studios’ stunning recreation of the 30-year-old title makes it an important experience for returning players and newcomers alike, if only to understand how the genre got to where it is today.

Though light on engaging gameplay mechanics (and gameplay in general), Fort Solis is an accomplished narrative experience. Boasting a compelling story, an atmospheric setting, and excellent acting performances, it's an accomplished first outing for indie studio Fallen Leaf.

Zenless Zone Zero is a hack-and-slash extravaganza with stylish visuals.

This entry to the Valkyrie series makes a graceful shift into the action RPG genre while only stumbling in a few small ways.

Bungie delivers a compelling extraction shooter in a trippy new setting, though whether that will be enough remains to be seen.

Jagged Alliance 3 successfully taps into everything that made the franchise great to begin with, giving us a unique blend of genres that mixes turn-based tactical gameplay with some light RPG elements.

That Moonscars is like so many other similar releases only serves to make its ability to differentiate itself and stand out that much more remarkable. A well accomplished title that is easily recommended to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre.

Monster Hunter Stories 3 isn’t exactly where I’d want the series to be just yet - but it’s very nearly there, and I think, for many, this will be one of the most satisfying monster collection RPGs on the market at the moment.

WWE 2K26 nails the theatrical chaos of wrestling inside the ring, even if many of its surrounding modes still feel sluggish and awkward.

Hot Wheels Unleashed is a bit light on level and event type variety but still delivers a great racer worthy of the Hot Wheels name with plenty of speed, detailed customization, and a meaty roster of fun vehicles.

Despite a of couple hang-ups, Sifu should be commended for injecting a sense of danger and realism back into the beat ‘em up genre.

The new ideas Dawn of Ragnarök plays around with are fun, but it can’t fully flourish under the weight of inconsistent writing and janky combat.

While it doesn’t reinvent the Soulslike formula, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers executes the fundamentals with confidence.

Deathbound is a fresh new Souls-styled action RPG with rewarding combat that might have too steep of a learning curve for some players out there.

Ghostrunner 2 sticks to the fast-paced formula of "Live, die, repeat" while adding new mechanics, excellent levels and additions like the motorcycle. Some areas could use more polish, but as a whole, it's a futuristic rollercoaster from start to finish.

Phantom Fury is quite easily one of the most refined boomer shooters in the market today.

There’s an immediate familiarity for House of Ashes in the Dark Pictures catalog, but this entry is as thematically complex and consequently engaging as any game in the series so far.

Fans and newcomers to the series, genre, or spin-off sub-series alike will find a lot to enjoy in Monster Hunter Stories 2, which, despite a few stumbles, presents one of the stronger RPG offerings on the Switch.

Hellblade 2 sticks to what its predecessor was good at, delivering a technically, visually, and narratively impressive experience, even if it's one that feels a bit too familiar and straightforward from a gameplay perspective.

Demon Slayer - Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hinokami Chronicles is a surprisingly well done port of a pretty good game. Given all that The Hinokami Chronicles ends up accomplishing, hopefully this heralds the start of many more high quality games based on the IP to come.

With improved traversal, map design, and an option for multiplayer, Aragami 2 stands tall as a stealth title that brings the genre’s strengths to the forefront.

Crimson Desert is as expansive as promised, dwarfing pretty much every other open world currently with its scale. Its content doesn't always stick the landing, but the combat shines, and the sense of discovery is hard to deny, even with the lackluster story.

Endling - Extinction is Forever is a harrowing and surprisingly affecting experience.

Pioneers of Pagonia has made several meaningful improvements since launching in Early Access nearly two years ago, and it’s now well worth your time.

Whether you're a fan of the series or looking for a well-made city-builder, SteamWorld Build has much to offer, even with the odd annoyance or two.

In a world where rogue-lites are a dime a dozen, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die stands out with its Relics system, fun combat, and solid presentation. It's no Hades (and the similarities are too obvious to ignore), but it's still enjoyable in its own right.

Need for Speed Unbound feels like a breath of fresh air. The arcade-style racing has seen quite a significant improvement from its predecessor, and the game’s general styles and sensibilities definitely make it one of the most unique-looking racing games out there.

The Show succeeds in honoring baseball’s past despite marginal gameplay improvements.

Once Upon A Katamari delivers an amazingly fun time. It may be derivative with its graphics and story, but the impressive level variety across nine eras and sheer wealth of content ensure fans and newcomers will be rolling until they're sick of smiling.

Kinetic Games' Phasmophobia is a surprisingly scary experience, solo and with friends, though several features - like the lobby browser - need more work.

Tokyo Xtreme Racer feels like an absolute blast from the past in terms of its gameplay mechanics, overall structure, and how it tells its campy story.

This is not the Digimon game you are looking for - and that might actually be a good thing.

The Quarry may not be attempting anything groundbreaking, but what it does end up having, it executes on perfectly with great acting, a tightly-knit story, and relatable characters for a fun couple of nights of horror.

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever is a solid port of the PC version but doesn't offer much for returning players.

From its incredible story and how well it tells it to its wonderfully realized setting and more, all of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons' biggest strengths are present and accounted for in the remake. Given how faithful of a recreation it is though, those who own the original will likely wonder if the remake is worth a purchase.

A simplified gameplay loop, a thrilling Showcase mode, and a surprisingly deep MyRise mode combine to make WWE 2K22 one of the strongest entries the franchise has seen in a while.

Metro Exodus leverages the more powerful hardware of newer consoles to give its already-impressive visuals a notable boost.

Alan Wake Remastered easily stands on its own among modern, similar games due to its exceptional design, tight execution, and handful of technical improvements.

Tormented Souls 2 excels in polished visuals, haunting atmosphere and classic survival horror mechanics.

Ghost of Yōtei: Legends doesn't significantly reinvent the gameplay loop present in Tsushima: Legends, instead offering new mechanics and mission types to go with a familiar gear grind. Despite some difficulty pains, it works very well and serves as a strong foundation for what's to come.