With a colorful world and interesting characters Tales of Seikyu will please anyone looking for their next cozy adventure.

Gothic Remake’s foundations are strong because Alkimia chose to protect the parts that made the original special: the punishing freedom, the hand built world, and the sense that you have to earn your place. As of now, my stance is that a newcomer with no nostalgia for the series and no patience for jankiness may well bounce right off it. If you loved old Gothic, every instinct here points toward something made by people who get it. [Review in Progress]

Few games burst with the imagination and whimsy of Yoshi And The Mysterious Book. The artfully pristine levels and the mechanical invention tucked inside every one is dazzling and serene to behold. The relaxed pressure-off gameplay accommodates the creature-finding exploration seamlessly, and The Mysterious Book will easily bring magic and wonder to the eyes of youngsters as they revel in the joys of discovery. Yes, The Mysterious Book is easy, the great mechanics could’ve used some fleshing out, and the visuals aren’t quite as pleasing as its crafty predecessors, but it’s hard not to be giddy and delighted by this new Yoshi-fronted pearl of platforming pleasure. Yoshi is back in a bodacious and beguiling new way.

The Super Bomberman Collection is a solid compilation of all the SNES/Super Famicom games that plays well, and it has enough digital artifacts to feel like its own exhibit inside a museum. Boss Rush is a fine addition to a franchise that has struggled with good boss design, but online play should have been included as multiplayer is the bulk of Bomberman's appeal.

Mina the Hollower is another masterpiece from Yacht Club Games, a Zelda style game that manages not only to equal the series that inspired it, but in some ways surpasses it. The world is detailed, gorgeous, and overflowing with secrets. The writing is sharp and often hilarious while maintaining a gothic horror vibe. Best of all, it feels amazing to play, with tons of ways to customize Mina and the game itself to fit your playstyle. It’s filled with freedom and challenge in equal measure, but as a Hollower you are more than up to the task.

007 First Light is a top-tier game both Bond fans and stealth action gamers will love. It has all the hallmarks of a great Bond film with some of the best stealth action gameplay in the industry. I’m excited to see one of my favorite franchises in the hands of a studio that loves it as much as I do. 007 First Light is worthy of the Bond legacy and easily one of the best games of the year.

Clockwork Ambrosia is a fun 16-bit adventure platformer with interesting characters and a weapon system that lets you tweak your loadout to the nines. The music is catchy, and there’s a great environmental variety across the world. The lack of clear direction can be frustrating, but there’s plenty to explore along the way. The game has a bit of a slow ramp as you get your bearings, which could turn off genre newcomers. That said, if you’re a fan of metroidvanias and looking for something to enjoy, Clockwork Ambrosia just might scratch that itch.

ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies is tense espionage, political dread and arcane philosophy wrapped up in a beautifully crafted CRPG package. The freedom to develop your spy in whatever faculty and fashion you wish is fun to engage with, and the narrative had me hooked from the moment I stepped foot onto the scene.

Sektori is, without a doubt, one of the best shoot ‘em ups to drop in years. While it stands on the shoulders of giants, it brings enough to the table to prove its worth. Beautiful in its simplicity and addictive in action, you’ll constantly have to fight that “one more run” feeling to get anything done once you start playing. Everyone should give Sektori a try.

Bubsy has always been hit or miss, well, mostly miss, but Bubsy 4D is the only title in the series to be both. It’s either another stinker or a perfectly decent platformer, depending on who you are.

It’s hard to say anything negative about Two Point Museum because it just keeps getting better and better with every new DLC. Arty-Facts is a fantastic and innovative installment that feels so distinct from the other packs in its range of gameplay features and aesthetics. The sheer amount of commissioned art pieces that all look samey may not make your museum look too aesthetic, but the silly takes on famous art pieces more than make up for it. As I said before, we are witnessing a generational run of DLC.

Thick as Thieves is a simple package: two maps, two characters and a handful of thief tools. While it is certainly rudimentary, there is still some unmistakable fun to be had for a few hours as you sneak around and loot like a goblin. I’m interested to see if co-op manages to shake up the gameplay or if it ends up being more of a gimmick, but I think either way it could still make for a decent game to play over a weekend with a friend. [Review in Progress]

The Horizon series is about the friends you made along the way. It is undeniably more of the same, but the thoughtful social additions and inclusion of non-racing activities into the grander Horizon world makes Forza Horizon 6 feel considerably better. Most of all, anyone can play it. And everyone should.

A solid and satisfying puzzler wrapped around an H.P. Lovecraft story that hasn’t been told to death. It leaves you wanting more, with a shorter runtime, but thankfully a price to match. Another hit from developer Out of the Blue Games, and one I hope they continue into a third installment.

Directive 8020 isn’t the best game The Dark Pictures Anthology has to offer, but it is better than most of them. The story has some fantastic twists and turns, the characters are likable if a bit too shallow, and it's intensely replayable with an absolutely astounding amount of variance.

Mixtape is an immersive game as you follow Rockford, Slater, and Cass on the last night of High School. Spanning the highs and lows of the evening, the game’s Mixtape includes music from Devo, Iggy Pop, Lush, The Cure, and more. A full game you can complete in a 4-6 hour span with an hilarious, emotional story that will leave many in tears. If you’re a fan of 80s and 90s nostalgia, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off-style cutaways, and an ode to outcasts, you’ll enjoy Mixtape.

Motorslice can be a frustrating game with a weird tone, some bad writing, and almost malicious design at times. However, getting through those rough spots feels trivial compared to how good the game feels at its best. At its worst, the drum and bass stylings of Pizza Hotline will keep you going until you can reach the next section of truly blissful platforming. It all makes Motorslice feel a bit like the chainsaw P wields: sharp around the edges, but once it's revved up there's nothing that can stop it.

I appreciate that Double Fine tries something unique with Kiln. We need more of that. But one cannot simply reward originality. It must also execute. Kiln is a scarcely functional and excruciatingly amateurish multiplayer game. This is an anomaly for Double Fine and, as such, it should be left in a furnace until it's burned out of existence.

Despite being so seemingly narrative focused, Aphelion really feels like it boils down to "nothing happens, the end".The cast gives some great performances and the score is great to listen to, but even they can't save the dull, meticulous gameplay from feeling any less tedious.

Saros is Housemarque's ultimate creation; the culmination of years of hard work and experimentation. Returnal is Game of the Year quality, no doubt. But Saros has taken what Returnal offered and refined it, only adding to the formula until the end result is Housemarque's finest release yet. In a sea of great April games, Saros' excellence stands out as another Game of the Year contender.

Little Nightmares VR: Altered Echoes does a great job bringing the 2.5D “dollhouse” perspective of the series to a fully fleshed out VR world, complete with grotesque enemies, simple puzzles, a mysterious narrative, great graphics, and fun VR mechanics. While the campaign is short, even by Little Nightmare’s standards, it is worth experiencing, and features some of the most surreal and exciting set pieces yet for the series during its final chapter.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a very basic Ys game. It's fun and has some cool mechanics, but the story is mostly bland and goes on for just a little too long. Still, the music is good, the combat is fun, and the initial focus on exploration is neat.

Knocking it out of the park once again, San Diego Studio continues to make MLB The Show 26 a premier sports sim.

Tides of Tomorrow is a great adventure game with an excellent story, striking aesthetic, and the potential to connect players worldwide in unique ways. Like our lives, the choices you make will affect those who follow you. With a narrative that speaks to real-world concerns and the consequences of choice, Tides of Tomorrow leaves a lasting impact everyone should experience.

Terran Armada is something of a mini-DLC focused more on adding cool new stuff throughout the base game rather than providing a typical DLC expansion experience. For what it is, it's a lot of fun, but can get a bit tedious before you even reach the halfway point. As an introduction to the Free Lanes free update, however? It's the perfect compliment, encouraging you to explore the new unknowns.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is a phenomenal game, with a gripping story and combat systems that encourages you to constantly evolve your strategy. It's a game that treats you like an adult in all its aspects, but is never too punishing when you fail. For fans who have been asking for Pokémon to "grow up", this is your answer.

The Day I Became a Bird is a short, cute story-driven game you can finish in a single sitting. While it's on the shorter side, it tells an adorable story of young love I think almost everyone will identify with. That said, outside of a companion experience for the book or simplistic children's game, I can't see this appealing to many.

A wonderfully deep (ha!) puzzle detective game, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss treads a fantastic line of respecting the source material, updating it in a fresh way, and delivering some deliciously restrained horror.

Aether & Iron offers a story-driven noir adventure that can both satisfy and frustrate. The retro-futuristic depiction of 1930s New York with floating cars on flying islands is enticing, complete with factions and seedy characters. Turn-based combat on high-speed streets is engaging and satisfying, offering some new considerations to your typical turn-based experience. While the story and characters are worth experiencing, some of the storytelling mechanics can feel frustrating and unwieldy. That said, the patient, strategic gamer looking for a well-told story will find a good time with Aether & Iron.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is un-brie-lievable. Somehow, the lofty ambition they presented in 2023 has been surpassed by an excellent release. This spunky noir shooter is exactly the kind of game I wanted, and it's so much fun to play I might just start it again. Don't sleep on MOUSE; this is a premium and ingenious game in an indie package.

Sad Cat Studios has finally delivered the game they've been promising for years, and it's every bit as brilliant as I'd hoped. Featuring an incredible tale of what it is to be human, Reach touches hearts and rips some out as he hops and wacks his way across Phoenix City and beyond. This is an Indie Game of the Year contender, no doubt about it.

Don't space out; Capcom's PRAGMATA is a stellar, action-packed game that will have you over the moon... Well, on the moon. The multifaceted combat system, lunar setting, and gripping story come together to deliver a tense, atmospheric, and heartfelt story about survival and a meaningful bond, although it does suffer from some slight predictability.

Intentional or not, I can't help but read Life is Strange: Reunion as a metaphor for Deck Nine’s tenure with Max’s story. A reactionary and nostalgic finale that delights just as often as it frustrates. When viewing Reunion purely as a side adventure to see cute scenes of a duo we have grown to love, I can’t say this entry didn’t do its job. After all, I was smiling alongside them. But as a finale to a trilogy, it is a smile built upon tearing down any emotional weight that made these characters stick with us in the first place. Max’s quest to stop an arsonist isn't really a story with consistent escalation or character growth. Instead, it is a stream of moving, emotionally cathartic events that burns down the foundations propping up its bittersweet smile.

People of Note is a beautiful musical RPG starring Pop, Rock, EDM, Rap, and Classical styles of music with countless others showcased throughout the adventure. From witty puns of your favorite bands, engaging combat and puzzles, and even full music videos from heroes, villains, and more--People of Note delivers an adventure unlike any other. Help Cadence and friends save the world and learn about musical genres and mash-ups along the way! If you studied music, teach music, make music, or simply love music, People of Note is an adventure across genres you'll undoubtedly love.

The Sega Villains Stage DLC doesn't fully deliver on its premise, but it makes up for it with some of the strongest and toughest content in the game.

I've only played the Cyber Tower and Ship at the time of this review, but the contrast offered by those two scenarios alone has me excited to keep exploring the other levels. The extremely space-limited Cyber Tower is almost an entirely different game compared to the ever-moving ship. The game has 8 scenarios out of the gate, including one that is a randomized map, as well as the ability for the community to share maps within the Steam Workshop. Essentially, there is no shortage of content.

Screamer started as a frustrating reimagining of an arcade drifting racer, with a downtrodden, slow-moving plot. By the end, I wanted more, and I became a drift racing believer. I’ll never win an online match, but I’ll take losing for another chance to race in this universe.

Mega Man Star Force 3 represents the culmination of the Star Force series in more ways than it just being the final entry of the series. The story noticeably steps things up from 2, concluding things in a satisfying way and tying up loose ends from the first game. It pushes the battle system forward with the Noise Change and White Card systems, adding some of the depth back to Star Force's otherwise more streamlined battle system. Throw in a challenging post-game, and it's hard to argue against 3 being the peak of the series. Star Force 3 is a rare sequel that pretty much unanimously improves everything while sacrificing nothing. While they're all worth playing, and ideally you'd play the other two before this one, Star Force 3 best represents Star Force's unique appeal.

Every time I make an impactful choice or uncover a new part of the story or tidbit of lore, I'm reminded why I adore GreedFall. That feeling fades, however, whenever The Dying World pushes me into combat or the tedious build menus. GreedFall: The Dying World is an up and down experience; one that you want to love, but one that doesn't love you back.

This is a once-in-a-generation action RPG that redefines the genre, providing hundreds of hours of incredibly varied gameplay that never stops giving you new things to do. There are a handful of bugs to hammer out, but don't let that dissuade you — you're looking at your likely RPG of the year.

Pokémon Pokopia is a cozy Pokémon life simulation game that is full of adventure and creative opportunities. The game is very fun and relaxing, with great building and crafting systems that don't leave players feeling overwhelmed. It's a Switch 2 exclusive, but maybe some day our friends on the first Switch can join us.

A masterful rebuild from the ground up, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is not only everything you could want in a remaster, it fixes multiple long-standing critical issues with controls, cameras, audio, and so much more. Yes, it's a product of its time, in design and execution, but what PlayEveryWare has delivered is incredible, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Toxic Commando is a fun game that offers some meaningful shifts on the four-player zombie-killing genre. While the story is goofy and fun, true to John Carpenter's legacy, the characters can be grating and the missions feel somewhat narratively disconnected. Gunplay and progression are well-honed, though, offering an engaging zombie-killing time any group will have a good time with.

FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE honors the original while upgrading the game with excellent visuals and welcomed gameplay improvements. While the new charm system doesn't add that much, the Camera Obscura filters do well to shake up the traditional gameplay alongside the new side stories and locations that fit right into the narrative.

Marathon so far has been a brutal but rewarding extraction shooter that boasts an incredible visual style and is steeped in excellent Bungie gunplay. The learning curve can be steep at first, and losing everything to a bad run can sting, but the game truly opens up after a few hours to be something very addictive. Once the final map, Cryo Archive, releases in the coming days we'll have a final score for the full review. In meantime, we'll be dropping back in Tau Ceti IV chasing that next piece of loot.

Marathon so far has been a brutal but rewarding extraction shooter that boasts an incredible visual style and is steeped in excellent Bungie gunplay. The learning curve can be steep at first, and losing everything to a bad run can sting, but the game truly opens up after a few hours to be something very addictive. [Review in Progress]

WWE 2K26 offers a little something for everyone. With the biggest roster to date and more match choices than ever before, wrestling has never felt so good. Sadly, animation and face-scanning issues put a pin in the fun very quickly. Some objects and match types could be more responsive to player input.

Tales of Berseria is a great game, but Tales of Berseria Remastered feels pointless on top of making the game unplayable on Switch. The significant input lag makes both combat and exploration unwieldy, textures look muddy or pixelated, the low resolution causes constant shimmering, and the game is stuck at 30 fps. All previous DLC being included is basically the only thing this release has going for it.

Scott Pilgrim polishes up the fighting mechanics while still feeling very much in the spirit of the original. EX conveys a different kind of vibe, but it's just as potent and, importantly, fun to experience.

Aces of Thunder won't hold your hand, but will reward your hard work with skill and capable combat prowess. While Gaijiin works to grow the audience and slay the last remaining bugs, what's on offer is already a great deal of semi-simulation fun.

All's Justice delivers on the fundamentals for a great fanservice game. However, in some places it asks a bit too much from fans while failing to deliver what we'd expect by this point in the series.

A fun but flawed sequel that doubles down on the first game's quirky humor and inventive gunplay while adding new movement mechanics and environmental puzzles. However, technical issues and a core conflict between comedy and momentum hold it back from greatness. Best experienced on sale after patches.

Neva: Prologue is an excellent scenario for a short story-focused DLC. It introduces some engaging new content and continues to build on the lore and characters we grew to love in the base game. It's short, but it tells the entire story, and at $3, it's more than reasonably priced. If you enjoyed Neva, you should absolutely play the prologue.

Resident Evil Requiem proves that there is still plenty of infected blood left in this franchise's veins. Requiem manages to balance horror and action in a way that enhances both. While its second half is a bit messier than it should be, it's still a fun ride that only Resident Evil can deliver.

Demon Tides is an amazing, incredibly expressive 3D platformer that might just be one of the best in its genre. It can be janky and imperfect, but it's so fun to move around in that a feeling of joy will shine through at all times. It's hard not to have a smile on your face while playing Demon Tides, whether you're exploring, gliding through the air, or tearing your hair out to a Mr. Mint Trial.

Styx: Blades of Greed is the epic conclusion to the Styx trilogy, setting the stage nicely for the war between men and orcs in Of Orcs and Men. The gameplay may feel a little repetitive, but it's also fun and satisfying when you master a new skill.

God of War Sons of Sparta shines a light on a young Kratos, and to devastating effect. An emotional story carries the game... when it gets there. While basic, the gameplay and varied locations make for a great starter Metroidvania, it just may not work as well for longstanding veterans of the genre. If you wanted more God of War, this is indubitably a good game and a smart spin-off by Sony Santa Monica and Mad Cat Studios.

Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition is the perfect way to play a classic game in all its forms. While the PlayStation version has seen the most love and is the ideal way to play, it's great to have so many different releases represented. There's a good amount of bells and whistles to round out the collection too, and to take a break with when you get frustrated by the overwhelming difficulty.

Mario Tennis Fever moves the series to the next level, bringing a balance of fun chaos and Mario Tennis skill. With the multiple ways to play, adventure mode, a great cast of characters, and intense online multiplayer; Fever brings the heat to the Nintendo Switch 2. If you've been a fan of the tennis side of Mario since the N64 or if you're just picking it up for the first time here - there is tons to do and fun to be had!

Crisol: Theater of Idols is a slower-paced shooter that is elevated by a stellar setting and unique sanguine gameplay. Siphoning your own blood to slay the enemies of the Sun God is a novel and engaging gameplay mechanic that fits right in to the macabre and creepy setting of Tormentosa, even if the action takes some time to really get going.

Ys X: Proud Nordics is a fantastic game with some great new content and additions, but it all feels like it could and should have been an update or DLC unless you're playing on a new platform. The Switch 2 version is great portable or docked, however, and may be worth sailing the high seas again.

Under the Island does a great job of scratching that 2D Zelda itch while still feeling original and unique. The story and writing are nothing to write home about, but the world is intricate and filled with secrets, and the dungeons offer more than a few creative surprises. Simply put, it's a good time.

Reanimal may be brief, but it leaves an impression. The game has no friction in terms of gameplay, reserving it all for a story that requires significant reflection to wrap your head around. Your mileage may vary, but I found its bleakness rewarding and evocative.

If you've been waiting with great anticipation for Yakuza Kiwami 3, then you won't be disappointed with what it has in store for you. This remake has brought Yakuza 3 right up to modern standards; it's been unshackled from its stiffer and more unpleasant aspects for the sake of a more joyous offering that caters to the Yakuza franchise's best qualities in recent years. The new Dark Ties story adds meaningfully to the overall story of Yakuza 3 as well, and almost feels like its own distinctive entity. Dark Ties might seem a bit too serious, and the Yakuza Kiwami 3 doesn't do all that much to surprise outside of bringing an old game into the modern realm, but the value for money here is excellent and you'll be very pleased to take on Yakuza 3 again in its most complete form.

Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked is a great strategy RPG set in familiar Dungeons & Dragons locations. The game is a gorgeous celebration of the at-home tabletop experience complete with minis, dice, and imaginative storytelling. The campaigns feature some great moments, and the one-shots provide content you can revisit for added challenge. If you enjoy strategy games or the world of Dungeons & Dragons, you'll have a good time with Battlemarked.

Like a recently resurrected corpse, parts to ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN’s gameplay and story are cold to the touch, as it occasionally stumbles trying to grasp all of its ambitions. Yet there are just as many moments of genuine warmth, exuding confidence when expressing its boundless imagination. For my first foray into the unhinged mind of Suda51, the consistently bonkers creativity is the beating heart that gives this title strength. Creativity doesn’t automatically make for the smoothest experience. Nonetheless, this is a DeadMan I’ll look back on with both affectionate fondness, and conflicted frustration.

Relooted makes you feel like you're a mastermind, and escaping is thrilling, but there are just enough problems that drag the experience down to the point you can't ignore them.

Pathologic 3 takes the series in a brand new, totally unique direction fitting for the Bachelor. While the game lacks the boots-on-the-ground trials and tribulations of 2, focusing on the bigger picture, it depicts the fate of the Town on Ghorkon in a fascinating fashion. You'll have a fun time fighting the plague here, and will be thinking about this game for years to come.

Nioh 3 is an evolution of Team Ninja as a studio. The solid foundation laid by the first two Nioh titles paved the way for aspects of Ninja Gaiden, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, and Rise of the Ronin to combine into the third and most ambitious entry in the series. This is a must play for any fan as Team Ninja truly cooked with this one.

Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club may not be as hot a title for adults as it is for kids, but it's a fun nod to the most popular beagle in the world. Snoopy's adventure is tedious, but his learned abilities, a few great mini-games, and a stellar open-world take it from alright to good.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined wants to have its cake and eat it too, but ends up feeling incredibly bland in most aspects. It's still a Dragon Quest game and is fun to a point, but in sanding off the edges of the original game it loses the charm of a time traveling adventure and becomes a rote, forgettable RPG checklist of a game.

Don't Stop, GirlyPop! has a fun premise and charm with great feeling movement and guns that are fun to shoot, but it's ultimately inept and even its best parts are clumsy.

Escape from Ever After is a simple, enticing turn-based RPG with a great sense of humor. It features storybook worlds many of us are familiar with and bends them in a way that keeps the characters new and fresh. If you’re a fan of comedy, Paper Mario, or RPGs in general, you should give this a go. Whether you’re 7 or 70, there’s a good time to be had here.

For fans of the original, Code Vein II delivers more of what you enjoyed with meaningful expansions to the formula. For newcomers, the partner system creates a low barrier to entry. For those hoping Bandai Namco would finally create their own Elden Ring, temper your expectations.

You may find Mio to be overly familiar, risk-averse, and carrying some platforming and combat flaws, but Memories In Orbit enchants you with its solemn narrative undertones and a luscious art style that should be enticing to anybody curious enough to give this one a shot.

From the Ashes is everything I wanted an expansion of this sort to be, a great look at a different part of the universe while giving us the already established combat and movement mechanics. Playing as the long-lived Dog Tag Warrior allows us to see the fully-utilized Na'vi after seeing the beginnings of a Na'vi's journey in Frontiers of Pandora's main story. While some of the combat and side missions can feel extremely reptitive, the main story beats are so fun and emotional that it keeps you moving forward. If you're a fan of Frontiers of Pandora or simply need more Na'vi after seeing Fire and Ash -- this is the place for you.

Thankfully the main plot of Trails Beyond the Horizon is pretty interesting. While what I've played so far hasn't really affected any of the major characters in a significant way, trying to piece together these seemingly disparate events of the Space Program and what Ouroboros is up to has kept me engaged. I hope the game's story can grow beyond just being engaging, so check back here in the near future for my full thoughts once I've finished the game.

Overall, when all of the different parts of Treasure Seekers are taken into account, the game is both well made and provides a lot of joy to people who are into pixel hunts.

Destiny 2: Renegades is the definitive Star Wars homage within Destiny. Whether or not you think Destiny needed an homage to Star Wars in the form of an expansion is up to you.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A — Mega Dimension is a nice little coda to the base game, both in terms of story and gameplay. It’s content with just being an infinite remix of what’s already there, being both just as fun and as frustrating as Z-A already was.

Terminator 2D: NO FATE is an extremely faithful adaptation of Terminator 2, brought to life via incredible retro aesthetics, fun level design, and multiple play modes. Unfortunately, NO FATE is hampered by its short length and lack of difficulty, making the entire experience end far too quickly. For fans of the film, there is a lot to love here, including the fantastic Terminator 2 score and all-new compositions, but non-fans may not find themselves as enthralled by its retro charm.

Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition is an absolute mess. It changes and swaps around things like menus and the soundtrack for seemingly no reason, removes options from the original game, and generally makes everything at least slightly worse. This is a phenomenal game, one of my absolute favorites, and it deserved so much better than less than the bare minimum.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage finishes the job that its prior iterations left unfinished. While its new single-player content is modest and some choices are frustrating, the game’s real strength remains its fast, intuitive, and endlessly deep human-to-human combat. For anyone willing to keep striving, this is the most convenient way to experience Virtua Fighter today.

The core exploration and combat mechanics of the Metroid Prime franchise are fun and engaging. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience is marred with bizarre story beats, awkward character moments, and forced interaction with an empty, boring open world. Metroid Prime 4 had all the elements to be a slick, cohesive experience, but the game feels like the dev team maliciously complied with a mandate to make the game open-world. It’s still a Metroid Prime game, and there’s fun to be had, but go into this knowing it won't likely live up to what you were hoping for.

Deadpool VR offers some great arcade-style shooter mayhem, so long as you don’t take it too seriously. While melee combat can sometimes feel like an afterthought, the huge range of weapons will still satiate your bloodlust as you embark on a journey to gather contestants for Mojo’s wild reality television show.

Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow fully embraces the power of virtual reality while staying true to the core elements that made the original series so beloved in the first place. Immersive in a way only VR can bring, this game is a must-play for stealth fans and a magical love letter for returning fans. The original may have defined a genre, but Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow raises it to a whole new level.

Verdict - Two Point Museum hasn’t even been out for a full year yet, and still the game offers fans a feast of content with a near-perfect base game and now two DLC packs that only serve to elevate the experience. Zooseum is much bigger and better than Fantasy Finds, providing players with a full museum experience akin to its base game counterparts, not just an addition slapped on top. It also stands as a unique experience with revamped gameplay mechanics and a unique roster of animals to inhabit your museum with. This may mean we won’t get Two Point Zoo in the future, but this is damn close to the dream I envisioned.

Skate Story is the perfect skateboarding game for your friend who always says they’re working on a screenplay but never actually gets around to finishing it. Or maybe that’s you. Or maybe that’s me. Or maybe it’s just perfect for everyone. You’ll be moved, you’ll bump to the incredible music, and most importantly: you’ll shred.

Reach VR has quite a few unexpected cinematic and thematic elements that justify the developer’s promotions for an “awe-inspiring journey.” Despite the bugs, as the pioneer debut from nDreams Elevation, the game is a worthy effort and recommended for your VR game library.

Octopath Traveler 0 is much, much more than a simple remake of a mobile game. It uses that as a base, but still feels like a full fledged RPG in its own right. It’s a different take on a lot of Octopath’s usual systems and tropes, and feels incredibly refreshing in that respect. Its plot can flounder at the start and middle chapters, but can be enthralling once it finally gets going. The battle system is just as fun as ever, being bigger and yet more restrictive in a very interesting way. Whether you’re after revenge or restoration, there’s fun to be had in either path.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion packs all the punch you’d expect from a comic book splash page. It’s clearly made with the kind of love for the source material that I’m looking for, and it improves on Shredder’s Revenge in every way that matters to me.

Winter Burrow is a pleasant experience with a sprinkling of challenge to manage, with good elements of survival, resource management, and cozy. The sum of its parts is adequate but I wish there was more for me to chew on with its mechanics, like more decoration options and varied quests.

It feels like everything in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment comes with an asterisk. The combat is fun and mindless but can get very tedious with how much HP everything has. A constant battle for territory is a neat idea but frustrating in practice. The music is amazing, but very difficult to hear even when set to max volume. There are some cool Star Fox-style rail shooting sections, but they control weird and overstay their welcome. It’s not that this is a bad game, far from it, it’s just that it feels like it was mostly interested in checking the Musou box for Tears of the Kingdom instead of being its own, cool thing.

Wednesdays is a great example of how video games are an important vessel for different perspectives and awareness. Whilst it is more visual novel than actual game, just the simple act of clicking text boxes that maybe shy away from the topic or get straight to the point allows the player to control how they consume such a deep and nuanced topic. It’s definitely a game to give a chance to, especially when it won’t cost you a thing.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is a blast to play. Fans of the show will find that there is no end to the references packed within this entry. The combat feels fantastic, especially when controlling Patrick, and the platforming elements feel smoother than they have ever been. Sadly, the story pacing and cutscenes make the game drag.

Dispatch is a very uneven experience. It has polish in some places but severely lacks it in others. It has great characters but you don’t get to spend much time with the good ones. The dispatching segments can be fun but feel somewhat shallow. The game has sparks of absolute brilliance, though can use those sparks to start a dumpster fire. It’s worth playing and enjoyable for any fans of narrative focused games or superheroes, but might be memorable for the wrong reasons.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is an incredible feat by all teams involved. There has not been a Call of Duty game yet that has the scope of Black Ops 7, or the interconnected social experience it provides. Every facet of the game, whether Zombies, Multiplayer, Endgame, Dead Ops Arcade 4, or Campaign, feels like it was crafted passionately. Outstanding gameplay and progression systems back up a packed title; I’ll be playing BO7 for a very long time. Black Ops 7 is the pinnacle of modern Call of Duty, blending the past with the present in a way that’s worthy of the grind you’ll be putting into it.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a veritable feast of improvements over not only its predecessors but the whole genre. There are occasionally obtuse moments, but these minor issues are overshadowed by improvements at every possible turn. If you’re looking for your next city builder, this is it.