Labyrinth of the Demon King impresses with its crushing atmosphere and rewarding combat but falls victim to a dearth of novel ideas in its latter half.

Old Skies is an incredible adventure game story that will have you laughing, crying, and in awe - sometimes all at the same time. Its puzzles are pretty easy to solve, but the story and characters will have you glued to your seat until the final moments.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is oozing with charm and bursting with activities. While it all feels a little shallow, the constant feeling of progress is great and there’s a ton to customize. The story isn’t great, but it doesn’t need to be when there’s always something to do around the next corner.

Elden Ring Nightreign is a daring experiment that succeeds in delivering a fast-paced, replayable multiplayer experience, but only for genre veterans seeking a fresh take on the traditional FromSoftware formula.

There are a variety of weapons, abilities, items, and more at your disposal, as you would expect from a medieval dark fantasy. There are plenty of options to choose from so you can play your way, whether you want to go in stealthily or go in swinging. Playstyles can also be changed on the go, especially as you find new gear along the way. This is just a snippet of the overall picture of Tainted Grail. So far, the package we have been presented with feels familiar but also fresh and exciting, and I can’t wait to give you all a more in-depth breakdown.

Now that we have two instalments in the Duck Detective franchise, there is nothing stopping you from marathoning both and having the best ducking detective experience. This time around the setting and story caught my attention a lot more, with a great variety of characters and puzzles to solve. Don’t go in expecting a complete revision of its predecessor making the ultimate experience, it is pretty much the same game but with a new coat of paint, but for me that’s all I really needed. I’ll always come back for more with Duck Detectives shenanigans!

Overall, The Duck Detective is as lighthearted and as fun as it gets in terms of puzzle games. It’s the perfect game to unwind down to play. With such a stellar cast and sense of humor all in a cartoonish art style, it’s hard not to feel joy when playing this game. It has a bunch of little quirks that I haven’t mentioned in the review because the joy of this game is just experiencing it. The gameplay and fill in the blank sections definitely need some work and revisions in its sequel, but how can I not be happy to dive back into this little, silly loosey goosey world.

Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is a lot of fun. The HD update looks fantastic, while the classic gameplay remains intact. There are some solid quality-of-life updates added that fans are sure to enjoy. The enemy and boss designs are great, and the ensemble cast keeps things interesting. For better or worse, the gameplay is still totally on the classic end and, while most burrs have been buffed out, a few snags may remain for newcomers. This remaster is responsible for winning me over to the Onimusha franchise, and I hope more folks feel the same.

Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker is an attempt to make the stars of the base game actual characters, and while it fails at that the effort is appreciated. Still, the game itself is a ton of fun, with great combat, gorgeous visuals, fantastic music, and fun puzzles.

While the extras don't add much to the package, the collection of often unreleased 3D fighters with online support makes this an easy recommend. Capcom Fighting Collection 2 has a lot of fun fighters with depth and energy, offering a myriad of unique experiences.

DOOM: The Dark Ages throws everything and the kitchen sink at the wall, and a lot of it sticks. However, just enough of it doesn’t stick to drag things as a whole down a few pegs. Gunplay and parrying feels great, as does weaving through the bullet hell-esque attacks, but suddenly dying for no perceivable reason does not. Still, it’s a game worth your time for those highs, even if you have to get through the lows to reach them.

This might be the best visual remaster we’ve ever seen. Virtuos rebuilt Cyrodiil to look even better than we remembered, at a level that matches recent releases. While the gameplay itself is largely untouched and can feel a bit dated, the tremendous narrative steps in to make this worthy of your time. This is how we were meant to experience The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

The Lunar games are delightful, classic RPGs, and the Lunar Remastered Collection makes them easier to play than ever. It doesn’t bring together all versions of each game for a truly comprehensive look at the series’ history, but it is a faithful update to the PS1 remakes.

As a quirky, slow-paced adventure game, The Great Circle has its charms. As a faithful adaptation of the Indiana Jones franchise, it’s a somewhat misguided project. I enjoyed my time with The Great Circle overall, it’s just not the kind of game I can readily recommend to someone. You have to be chill, not necessarily in search of a thrill.

It’s hard to put into words how impressive Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is. From the breathtaking world, to the emotional and sincere story, to the deep and sensational turn-based combat, to the award-worthy soundtrack, every aspect of Expedition 33 hits the perfect note. This grandiose adventure is a monumental debut for a new studio, a true masterpiece from Sandfall Interactive.

If I were to describe The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- with one phrase, it would be greater than the sum of its 100 parts. Despite the hurdles in its character writing and monotonous first 30 hours, this collaboration feels like a culmination of Uchikoshi and Kodaka's driving philosophies. Hundred Line's joyful and cruel execution of its themes is the linchpin of its quality. The strategy RPG battles are compelling in both gameplay and story. Uchikoshi’s fresh and risky take on his branching narrative framework brings to life world building and heartfelt character moments. But it was Kodaka’s contributions to the main scenario that most surprised me as someone mixed on most of his games. If Danganronpa v3 was an artist's celebration and critique on artistic expression, then Hundred Line is a human's celebration and critique on humanity. The capacity of people to love and hate. By its final moments I was reduced to a sobbing mess, and that is all the confirmation I need to know that Too Kyo's six year ambitions have paid off.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves has a lot of potential, but it can feel like it puts effort into all the wrong places. Episodes of South Town just isn’t very fun because of its focus on stats, while Arcade Mode is a blast and has far better cinematics. The fighting systems have a great core, but feel needlessly complicated when you get into the weeds. Still, if you take the time to learn the game and its characters, it can feel great to play.

Immortal Pillars returns the Chinese pantheon to Age of Mythology with three gods to play with. Powerful myth units, advanced infantry, and strong defensive options open up new strategies and options for the game.

The best thing I can say about a game of this nature is that it accomplishes what it sets out to do. It creates puzzles to be solved, gives players the tools to succeed, and then makes you feel like a dextrous genius when you execute successfully. Couple that fantastic visual design and a solid soundtrack and you have something special fans will come back to time and again. Don’t sleep on this wild ride.

Even if some of Urban Myth Dissolution Center's mysteries are rather straightforward to solve, the overall experience is still reasonably enjoyable to amble through. If you're looking for a more laid-back occult mystery, it's here, but don't expect the myths to be too legendary.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a phenomenal improvement on a rough but fantastic game. In terms of new content, however, it can feel very rushed and unsatisfying. Aside from that, this is still the same Xenoblade Chronicles X fanatics have come to love.

Rusty Rabbit is an interesting game that uses a fascinating literary twist to establish its lore. The story has some interesting moments but it doesn’t feel like enough to save the game from itself. Unfortunately, the controls aren’t as responsive as a game in this genre should be and the world design feels very paint-by-numbers. With so many other top-tier titles vying for attention in the same space, it’s hard to consider this a frontrunner. You may give it a chance if you want to experience the world or you’re looking for a simpler Metroidvania.

AI Limit represents a commendable effort from a small indie development team tackling an incredibly challenging genre. The game flashes moments of genuine creativity, but it lacks the polish and inspiration needed to stand alongside the pinnacle titles of the genre.

The PC port of The Last of Us Part II Remastered feels like a miracle. The game runs incredibly and looks fantastic, on both a desktop PC and Steam Deck. A lot of care has been taken to get this game to this level on PC, and it really shows in every frame.

South of Midnight is a masterclass in picking a theme and sticking to it all the way through. The usage of music as a character world/lore enhancement is one of the best examples out there of what TO do. From the character models, to the music, and beyond; South of Midnight shows how to build a game around a style and committing fully.

Koira is beautiful, with its exploration of hope and the harsh world around us. Its mystical setting and its focus on music as the gateway to harmony and peace is a pleasant package for a cozy night in. It doesn’t bend the genre but it doesn’t need to, with how it makes these very real issues more accessible to a younger audience with its simplistic gameplay and whimsical moments. I’ll never stop loving this little genre of indie games, with its big heart and aim to say something meaningful.

This is the best VR version of Hitman: World of Assassination, hands down. While it’s not a fully interactive world, the controls are still a bit inconsistent, and there are a few remaining bugs, virtual reality adds a whole new element to the game that makes it all new again and worth the occasional aggravation, even for veteran players. If you’ve ever wanted to really become Agent 47, this is an easy recommendation.

About halfway through my playthrough, one thought permeated my mind through the rest of my time with Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land: Yumia 2 is going to be a banger game. But as for this first entry, it ended up being a game I wanted to love but just ended up liking. Mechanically the game has a wonderfully constructed foundation, excelling at synergizing all the core components in its gameplay loop. But ultimately, the lack of a meaningful open world framework to justify partaking in said loop holds this latest Atelier title back. Hopefully Yumia and her band of friends gets their own trilogy to iron out the rough edges so its strengths shine brighter. But as of now, Atelier Yumia is a good game just shy of greatness.

Twilight Monk is a great Metroidvania that deserves some attention. Beautiful visuals and a well-rounded soundtrack will keep your eyes and ears happy for the whole 10-15 hour experience. The gameplay is both engaging and responsive, executing on tried-and-true mechanics while daring to try a few new things along the way. The story is enjoyable, too, despite all but a few of the characters feeling throwaway. Twilight Monk is a great indie game that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.

After 52 hours of play, Diplomacy is Not an Option has captured my attention in a way most games these days can’t. It’s an old-school style RTS that demands commitment and a dedication to “get good”. It asks a lot from the player and does many things right while stumbling in a few areas.

With blisteringly fast paced combat and visceral gameplay, The First Berserker: Khazan is a masterclass in the hardcore action RPG genre. Unrelenting bosses, vivid and varied environments, and fair-but-challenging foes come together with engaging mechanics to create an unforgettable journey of vengeance.

While I wouldn’t call Atomfall revolutionary, Rebellion has done a great job of taking a unique setting and putting the right pieces around it. Figuring out where less is more is tantamount to the formula that works for Atomfall, along with offering players a streamlined experience that can be enjoyed for multiple playthroughs. Atomfall is brilliant, and solid in the right places.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows represents an excellent amalgamation of not only the new generation of Creed titles that started with Origins, but also plucking some of the best elements of those that came before. It’s a graphical powerhouse, combined with compelling characters, a meaningful and impactful story that takes risks, and refined gameplay mechanics. This is the new benchmark for the series, and it’s a high bar indeed.

If you’re a fan of more esoteric storytelling and indie point-and-clicks, I think Centum would be really up your alley. While there are slow points in the narrative and rather simplistic gameplay, the game as a whole is still positive, even if I was left with more questions than I had answers to.

MainFrames is a short and sweet platformer that manages to pack plenty of challenge and fun into every stage, all while remaining visually striking, engaging, and memorable.

Due to some strange technical issues, Rise of the Ronin on PC isn’t exactly the definitive version of the game. However, it’s still a good game with satisfying combat, and generally runs better here than it did on PS5.

Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars is a gorgeous remaster that preserves the soul of the originals while breathing life into it for a new generation.

Citizen Sleeper 2 shakes up its own already stellar formula in a way that’s fresh and innovative whilst also dialing the stress to 11. Its scope is larger and more ambitious but also maintains that fragile beauty of the world and its inhabitants. There's a lot to uncover here for new and existing players, but be careful, this time around it doesn't hold your hand but leaves you flailing around in space. But once you find your feet, you’ll find that you can never tire of Citizen Sleeper’s world.

Split Fiction is a stunning and emotional buddy co-op adventure that kept us fully invested until the very end. Jumping between Zoe and Mio's different worlds was executed flawlessly, with unique gameplay, storylines, and details for every chapter. It's also the first of Hazelight's games to feature cross platform play, which performed superbly. This is how co-op games should be.

Two Point Museum isn’t just your run of the mill management sim, it’ll take your breath away with how much is on offer with its addicting gatcha expeditions and vast customisation options. Every Museum is a delight to play and if it's anything like its predecessors, I’m pumped for the sea of DLC to come. If you’re looking for a game to sink hundreds of hours into, then you can never go wrong with a Two Point game, but Two Point Museum may take the crown amongst its peers.

Monster Hunter Wilds is the best Monster Hunter has ever felt. It looks incredible and plays even better with fluid weapon combos, an incredibly addicting gameplay loop, and various monsters to fight. It’s not quite perfect, with the multiplayer features being unintuitive, but once you start playing you just don’t want to put it down.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 1 presents a heartfelt look at girlhood in all its flaws and triumphs. As only half of the full picture, Tape 1 can feel slow and lacking in payoff, but it’s still an intriguing journey with lovable characters, reactive choices, and some phenomenal needle drops. It’s flawed in a lot of ways, particularly with regards to performance on PS5, but its heart shines through.

With an engaging story, endless minigames, always-entertaining characters, and a great blend of series mechanics old and new, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an excellent entry into the franchise. Now we just need a patch for that lighting issue…

Avowed is a stellar RPG, with satisfying combat, a gripping story, lovable characters, and plenty of roleplaying opportunities. It has more than its fair share of annoyances and jank, but the heart is what makes Avowed a must play.

Metro Awakening is another good entry in the outstanding Metro series, though at times it feels like more of a side quest than a main entry. Still, the graphics are gorgeous, the metro underground is equal parts fun and creepy to explore in VR, and the game makes great use of VR to bring the world to life and really immerse the player. Despite a few minor issues, Awakening is a great VR experience and well worth picking up, especially if you are a fan of the series.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II feels like a game in stasis. The story starts off strong, but fails to deliver and quickly becomes uninteresting. Those who really love these characters will enjoy spending more time with them, but the combat doesn’t feel improved enough to make this feel like a significant step forward.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a special RPG that ranks with the Skyrims and Witchers of its genre. Despite a high learning curve, I found myself lost in its clutches for hours on end, immersed in the world of 1400s Bohemia. An absolutely gorgeous setting that's satisfying to explore, combined with rewarding progression and an outstanding narrative makes KCD2 a lock for awards season.

Flint: Treasure of Oblivion feels like an incomplete game with poor storytelling and little to do. At about 10 hours to complete it’s certainly not worth the $25 asking price. If you’re looking for real-time exploration and turn-based combat, look elsewhere. Games like Divinity Original Sin 2 or Baldur’s Gate do everything Flint wants to do but exceedingly better. If Fantasy isn’t your jam, check out XCOM.

In a saturated market with games clambering to echo the soul of Animal Crossing, Hello Kitty Island Adventure has finally grabbed that baton and ran with it. It ticks every box in what I want from this genre, chucking every possible game mechanic at the player to play around with so there’s never a dull moment, and probably won't be for quite a while. My only gripe is that I had to stop playing it in order to write this review.

Let’s be real here. Sniper Elite: Resistance clearly doesn’t reinvent the series, as it simply expands on where Sniper Elite 5 left off. Those looking for a full fledged next-generation sequel will surely be disappointed, but those looking to play more Sniper Elite will rejoice at the small refinements introduced in this new package. Viva la Sniper Elite 5.5!

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD remains a classic and often challenging platformer brought to new life with a gorgeous HD makeover. Unfortunately, aside from a new gameplay mode which makes the game slightly easier and its updated visuals, this remaster is relatively lacking in new features. Still, fans of Donkey Kong or well-designed platformers will find a lot to love here.

Jedi Power Battles struggles to hit its mark but does enough to be a fun time to play once or twice either alone or with a friend. The addition of new characters is exciting and sometimes ridiculous, but if your goal is to beat the levels, most of the additional characters won’t get it done. If your goal is a trip down memory lane or the chance to show a friend a game that is nostalgic for you, this game is it.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has found its definitive version on PC. The game looks and plays amazingly well. The limited and sometimes odd options can be a bit too restrictive, but if you can find a setup that works for you, it should be smooth, clean sailing.

Arizona Sunshine Remake feels like a modern VR title, despite first releasing in 2017. Though relatively short, Sunshine provides an exciting, fast-paced, zombie shooter filled to the brim with intense situations, great gunplay, and humorous dialogue. The addition of horde mode and two DLCs certainly add value, though one DLC fares better than the other. Still, as an overall package, Arizona Sunshine Remake is well worth the cost of admission.

Fitness Boxing 3’s weak voice work and shoddy motion detection somehow do little to keep you coming back for more. By gamifying the exercise, it keeps you engaged and motivated, and you’ll quickly find yourself surprised at how tired you become from these exercises.

The My Sims Cozy Bundle will give you a nice hit of nostalgia and charm, but not much beyond that. MySims and MySims Kingdom are pretty simple and repetitive games, what you see is what you get. While you can make your own fun, it’s only within the limitations of each title.

Caves of Qud is a game that will reward you more and more for putting in the time and effort to learn about it. Even just from scratching the surface, however, I am absolutely entranced by the worlds the game can create.

Tales of Graces f Remastered is the same enjoyable experience from over a decade ago brought back in a clean package that runs well with some decent quality of life additions like the markers and toggles. Bandai Namco and the developers nailed it this time, no strings attached with this remaster. As for Tales of Graces itself, it stands out in the series with its sillier cast, striking art style, fast paced combat, and easy-to-understand and fun to master Title system. While I think this is the Tales Of game that benefits from co-op the most, you’re getting a fun RPG with a lot of “power of friendship” speeches so if that appeals to you, you’re in for a great time.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins represents a commendable yet contradictory effort to rejuvenate the series. In balancing familiar elements with new features to create a refreshing experience, it loses sight of what made the originals fun and fails to improve on what made them monotonous.

Cave Hikers is clearly intended for younger audiences, and while quite simple, it still manages to be a cute and charming bed-time story adventure. It’s a point-and-click “mockumentary” that can make for a fun evening, but there’s little else beyond the simplicity save for the amusing artstyle and great narrator.

The Oath in Felghana stands strong as one the best Ys entries to date. Its sharp and compact game design makes just as strong of an impression with this Memoire release as it did when I first played it over a decade ago. Unfortunately, this rerelease does not bring much more to the table than a great game to new consoles. Its priorities when it comes to updating the game’s visuals are questionable at best, but thankfully far from fatal.

On Your Tail has a lot of heart, but that’s sadly not enough to support a mystery that is constantly falling flat on its face. Its puzzles are infuriating rather than fun, with no real clues to follow and determine the culprit ahead of time. The characters are incredibly charming, Borgo Marina is gorgeous, and the life sim elements are fun, but the core of this taste of Italy is incredibly bitter.

Romancing Saga 2 - Revenge of the Seven is a brilliant culmination of many of my favorite aspects of JRPGs. While I have some complaints about technical issues and details about implementation, the quality of mechanics and exploration easily blow past them. Fans of the genre will not be disappointed with this sprawling narrative full of secrets and challenges.

Overall, I would say Fantasian is good. But there’s a certain something lacking and while I’m reminded of the nostalgic past, it makes me miss how revolutionary Fantasian’s inspirations were. From the character writing of Final Fantasy VI, the 3D revolution of Final Fantasy VII, one of the first RPGs with near full voice acting in Final Fantasy X, or creating a connected world two years before World of Warcraft with Final Fantasy XI on PlayStation 2. Fantasian isn’t changing anyone’s feelings on RPGs. It’s pretty, silly, and cozy with some genuine heart. But it’s like a beautiful cake. It doesn’t feel like a full meal but it’s tasty and I love looking at it. Fantasian is new-ish, but it’s not Neo.

Poor UI and equally poor communication lead to a frustrating early game experience that diminishes the value of an RPG with otherwise truly interesting gameplay mechanics. While Caves of Lore is a diamond in the rough, it’s a diamond nonetheless.

Death of the Reprobate is a delightfully devilish narrative experience that has you gasping with laughter at every interaction. The game forgoes challenge in order to provide the player with a seamless experience which is to its merit, but could do with a little less hand holding. Despite this, you really do want to stop and smell the roses when you play this game as its artstyle is a wonder to behold, and a bit yucky in other places. Its quirky characters and its use of the renaissance is unique and accessible to any player that doesn't have a degree in art as it prizes itself in how fun of a time you’ll have with it.

Antonblast is chaotic to a fault. Its explosive personality makes for an entertaining spectacle, but it left me wanting for a more controlled detonation.

Fairy Tail 2 arrives at the finale of our favorite wizards' adventure with highlights and shortcomings alike. I recommend it to dedicated fans of the manga and anime, but this simply isn’t a welcoming entry for potential new fans.

While its gacha mechanics feel predatory, Infinity Nikki is a blast in most other aspects. Finding and dressing up in various outfits is fun, and the open world has a ton of variety. The story is surprisingly interesting too, even if it has a few too many lulls. Infinity Nikki feels like the ultimate dress up game, and it’s only going to get bigger from here.

With a handful of bugs to iron out, Alien: Rogue Incursion isn’t quite a “perfect organism”, but it is a creepy good time with compelling performances and a great use of virtual reality.

The move to a cloud-focused game has caused some turbulence on takeoff, and it would be good to be able to decouple from that decision with an “install-all” option, but Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 elevates the game in just about every other way. It'd just be nice if it did it more cleanly. That said, if you have even a passing interest in flight, this simulator is still the best out there.

Caught in a struggle between being a definitive casual game while also being a hardcore competitive experience, Sparking! Zero makes the best of its numerous limitations. The core game is fun enough, it looks great, and it contains an impressive collection of Dragon Ball fan service. Sparking! Zero pushes limits in all of the ways a Dragon Ball game should. Unfortunately, various limitations push back just as much, resulting in a game that still has plenty of training to do in order to reach its full potential.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - Secrets of the Spires plays it very safe. It has some cool moments, missions, and mechanics, but eventually resorts to sneaking around RDA bases again. For better and worse, it’s more of the same.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is a fun, albeit relatively bare bones, experience which gets by more on its nostalgic charm and great presentation, than it does on being anything more than a competent beat ‘em up. The addition of on-rails levels and first-person fights are welcomed, and the variety of levels and the added time disrupter elements keep the game fresh for its short run time, but lack of combat moves and frustrating Megazord boss fights keep Rita’s Rewind from ever reaching the lofty heights it aims for.

Trombone Champ: Unflattened is one of the funniest VR experiences I’ve ever had, and I don’t think my wife has ever enjoyed watching me play a game as much as she enjoyed me performing with a screeching cat as a trombone. This is the perfect game to hop into with a group of friends and take turns trying to earn the most toots, or just laugh at each other as you put on ridiculous performances. If you’re a fan of rhythm games, definitely do yourself a favor and pick up Unflattened.

Fighting hordes of monsters, saving allies, and eventually confronting the Demon Queen herself: all of this and more awaits in Spirit Mancer. With a charming art style and cool mechanic of sealing away demons, you would think the game would be a winner. However, its flaws hold the game back from being anything special.

Yes, the core gameplay of building rides, adjusting prices, etc is all Roller Coaster Tycoon is. But I think this is a game you can get dozens of hours of enjoyment from if you enjoy something that rewards experimentation and trying new things. There are a few issues like the pathfinding for staff can be somewhat finicky, the game does chug quite a bit when you zoom out, the controls could definitely use some work, but I think Roller Coaster Tycoon Classic is a great game that I hope leads to something more in the future.

Dark and Deep is a horror game that lives up to its name, covering some pretty macabre themes and allowing the player to dive deep into the investigation. There are layers upon layers to the game’s art, sound, and gameplay, and they all tie into each other in brilliant ways.

Soul Reaver and its sequel are both perfect storms of story, voice work, soundtracks, and now they have the final pieces they needed to become classics for a new generation with revamped controls and now gorgeous graphics. While I’d like to see the execution be a touch cleaner, the sum of its parts is so damned strong that it lets you experience this incredible game all over again. I know you, Raziel. You are worthy.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle perfectly translates the fun of the films into video game form. It’s a globetrotting adventure that’ll have you brawling through deserts, sneaking across a German boat in the Himelayas, and trying not to get bitten by snakes in long forgotten temples. The story is phenomenal, but the real highlight is the gameplay. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is absolute bliss from start to finish and would make Dr. Jones proud.

Mario & Luigi Brothership is definitely ambitious, but the structure of the game is not well suited to the sluggish feeling everything has. Despite being about half the length of some other modern RPGs, it doesn’t have the depth to match. A few good gags and some touching character moments doesn’t make the entire experience fulfilling. What’s here is solid enough but it’s death by a thousand cuts. Every cool or fascinating thing has some kind of asterisk to go with it. Battles are fun but they take forever to finish, characters are unique but dialogue is often belabored, Battle Plugs are interesting but take way too long to recharge. There’s a lot to like here, but just as many things if not more to dislike, leaving the game okay but frustrating.

If you enjoy puzzle solving at a high level, Dungeons of Dreadrock 2 is the game to play. It takes everything you learned from the first game and amps up the fun with new creative ways to solve puzzles, new abilities to master, and a fun story that connects seamlessly with the first game. The second installment of the Dreadrock Trilogy is a must play for any puzzle-maniac.

If you’re looking for a stealth game to try out, then Ereban: Shadow Legacy is a strong option. While the story is far from a masterpiece, it does its part and serves as a solid catalyst for the player’s shadow powers and allows the player’s perspective to be challenged.

Threshold takes a simple premise and runs with it, mixing a curious blood-soaked mystery with thin altitude air. The mystery of the ceaseless train atop the mountain peak is interesting to uncover, even if some of the gameplay systems try to get in the way at times. The train must run, just don’t look inside.

The audio design is impressive, with ambient sounds and a haunting score that perfectly capture the eerie essence of the Zone. Gunfire sounds appropriately weighty, and the growls of mutants are genuinely unsettling. Voice acting is also very well done, with brilliant performances from all the main characters...Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an undoubtedly remarkable achievement in atmospheric game design. This post-apocalyptic experience offers an unmatched dynamic open world that is bound to satisfy long-time fans of the series. However, the extremely poor technical hiccups and hardcore yet niche nature of the game prevents it from getting a full recommendation. This is not a game for casuals. [Review in Progress]

This is a swan song that really isn't a swan song. Remedy ends Alan Wake 2 with a link to what comes next… kind of. If you love Alan Wake 2 as I do, you'll love this, as The Lake House is more of those stylings with an FBC filter. Agent Estevez is awesome in her starring role, along with themes in the narrative that make you look beyond the paint covered canvas.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake comes with its share of flaws and oddities that prevent it from being the perfect version of itself, but it’s still just so darn good that they’re easy enough to overlook. This is a beautiful remake of an already incredible game that is very faithful to its original, with changes only attempting to enhance what was already there. It may not always succeed, but when it does it makes for a sublime experience.

LEGO Horizon Adventures offers a playful retelling of Horizon Zero Dawn, blending the iconic story of Aloy with LEGO's signature charm, humor, and style. This isometric action-adventure game simplifies the original's intense narrative, focusing on environmental themes and character relationships, providing a lighthearted, engaging experience for fans of all ages.

Ys X boldly sails into uncharted waters. It’s a sturdy vessel of combat, exploration, and heart, even if some of its individual parts could use further refinement. Ys X may not be my favorite Ys, but it does an excellent job of reminding me why Ys is my favorite.

Even with a handful of last minute bugs to iron out, Planet Coaster 2 lets me build the park of my dreams. More than a water park expansion, it takes everything the first game did well and makes it better. Don’t wait, get your ticket now – heck, this one is even worthy of a fast pass.

Slitterhead is the perfect definition of a game that doesn’t know what it wants to be. It falters in both the action combat category as well as the horror genre, resulting in a middling experience overall.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 stands tall on its reputation while delivering on expectations. World-class gunplay throughout, the incredible campaign, superb multiplayer, and excellent Zombies mode reach the heights you’ve come to anticipate from the Black Ops series. Treyarch, Raven, and all the studios behind it should be proud; this shot will be heard around the world.

Nixxes and Guerilla Games have made an already beautiful game even better. If you haven’t yet experienced the origin of Aloy’s story, then do yourself a favor and play Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered!

Mario Party Jamboree harkens back to an older time for Mario Party while adding new game modes, courses, mini-games, and characters. With 110 mini-games with different types of motion controls, rhythm games, and more, you and your friends will have a great time learning all the new stuff while enjoying two re-created older courses. If you’ve taken a break from Mario Party for any reason in the past six years, Jamboree is the one to get you back into the party.

When Life Is Strange: Double Exposure focuses on telling a personal story about trauma and regret it soars. When it focuses on being a teaser for future entries with its supernatural spectacle, it unravels. This balancing act unfortunately causes the latter to cannibalize some strengths from the former. Still, Max’s characterization and emotional journey remain the prominent highlight, offering a heartfelt and bittersweet thematic throughline at how the wounds of past guilt and grief scab over time. For the game to win me over despite my initial skepticism, that’s a pretty strong achievement, flaws and all.

The writing can be overwrought, written by committee, and occasionally forced, but it’s also a major step forward for a team that needs the win. Dragon Age: The Veilguard brings us compelling characters, excellent combat, and a world worth saving.

There’s a lot to talk about with Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered. The wild world, the funny writing, the varied and tense gameplay, the rockin’ soundtrack, the silly characters, the serious moments, or the awesome sense of progression, just to name a few enjoyable things. It only took me about 8 hours to finish the game and most of that was in one sitting. I have only played Shadows of the Damned once at PAX East 2024 earlier this year and it was such a great demo, the full game delivered all of that and more. Add in the New Game Plus feature that lets you keep your late game upgrades or the optional gyro aiming, and you have an incredibly arcade-y experience that keeps you laughing and blasting for hours. The game launches on October 31st and I can’t recommend it enough. This is a punk rock gem that everyone can love.

Slay the Princess: The Pristine Cut is a fantastic expansion to an already amazing game. The new and altered routes fit perfectly with the rest, fleshing out Princesses that previously had short interactions. The Pristine Cut wasn’t necessary to make this a must play game, but I’m very glad it’s here.