Another Fisherman’s Tale is a charming, unique, and well-crafted puzzle game with creative set pieces and a heartfelt story, but unfortunately is let down by an unwieldy control scheme and a short three-to-four-hour long campaign. Still, the story of Bob and his adventures is worth diving into for its sheer creativity and uniqueness.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a wondrous adventure that somehow makes exploring the same Hyrule magical again. The returning Zelda tropes aren’t quite at their strongest yet and there are some technical and mechanical issues, but this incredible feeling of adventure is something that can only be done through a video game. Tears of the Kingdom masterfully builds on its predecessors to bring the new and old together once more.

If you can look past the many shortcomings of this imperfect game, then there’s an experience here that contains some truly profound and meaningful messages. The unique take on traditional turn-based combat, the emotionally dark narrative, and the excellent musical soundtrack are the true rewards beneath poor dungeon design, an unimaginative causality link mechanic, and unclear objectives. The Caligula Effect: Overdose is a charming and worthwhile albeit niche JRPG as long as you go in with the correct expectations, given the game’s low budget. Just know that this 2023 PS5 native port of the game adds absolutely nothing new to the 2019 PS4 version.

Diablo IV represents a massive shift for the series, moving to a more inclusive and open world that is somehow as inviting for new players as returning veterans. Complexity is mixed with flexibility to create a game that is sure to consume you for hundreds if not thousands of hours. Diablo IV is the game we’ve been waiting for, and a return to form for the Blizzard team.

Street Fighter 6 takes the series to the next stage with a wildly fun fighting system that emphasizes personal choice. Each mainline Street Fighter tends to define its era of fighting games in some way, and Street Fighter 6 confidently steps forward to that next era. From its battle system to its bevvy of modes such as World Tour, it dives deep into everything that makes fighting games great.

Forspoken: In Tanta We Trust presents a cool spin on an already amazing combat system. This DLC is small in scope, but as a result is well worth the time investment. The story is nothing new, but with much sharper writing it holds a lot of promise for the teased sequel.

Just like Gollum, I'm a bit split. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum features a great story that adds to the lore, along with a terrific stealth system, but it misses the mark in other areas. A finicky and redundant platforming system, mixed with a dialogue system that lacks bite makes for a combination that drags the rest down. Gollum is always so close to The Ring, but ever so far.

Inscryption is a game that breaks the mold and revitalizes the rogue-lite deck-building genre. It surprises players with its unique twists, innovative mechanics, and constant evolution that keeps them engaged and challenged. The game's visuals and sounds are a treat, immersing players in a captivating atmosphere and charming art styles. Its gripping narrative unfolds with excitement, drawing inspiration from acclaimed directors like David Lynch and David Cronenberg. The gameplay is genuinely astonishing, requiring strategic thinking and offering a captivating array of challenges and surprises. While the journey may demand time and dedication, the rewards are undoubtedly worth it. Inscryption delivers a thrilling and addictive experience that will leave a lasting impression on players.

In a world filled with bricks and boundless imagination, Lego 2K Drive in Bricklandia shines as an extraordinary racing adventure. With its thrilling races, delightful characters, and captivating visuals, this game takes players on a joyous ride that is sure to put a smile on their faces. Despite its ludicrous microtransactions, the sheer fun and excitement of the kart racing experience, combined with the charming Lego aesthetic, make it a game worth playing.

Shadow Warrior 3 does little to reinvigorate the Shadow Warrior series. A scant campaign, downright bad narrative, obnoxious voice acting, and generally derivative new gameplay mechanics do little to set this entry apart from other FPS titles. However, combat is, as always, incredibly satisfying, and probably worth enjoying at least once.

Contraband Police gives players meaningful choices, both big and small, that make the player feel like they have an impact on the world they find themselves in. Fun and interesting adventures are frequent and well paced, and the game offers a polished core gameplay loop with an action spin that greatly expands on what Papers Please started.

The premise is exciting! You’re Benedict Fox, and demonic friend, taking on a case about a murder, a secret society, and more. This game is not for the faint of heart when it comes to puzzles and problem solving. You can get frustrated easily if you don’t breathe, but it's a challenging kind of frustration and fun. If you love puzzle games and platformers, this will be a must play. And if you love lore, it has that in droves. While it has moments of feeling directionless, don’t worry. Just walk around and you’re bound to find something you haven’t seen before.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is a fantastic starting point for newcomers to the series, as it effortlessly immerses you into the secrets behind the prison city of Balduq. The frantic and fast paced combat combined with slick traversal mechanics allow for a highly addictive gameplay loop. It is, however, a bit questionable the level of effort put into this native PS5 port considering there’s very little improvements made and no upgrade path from PS4. If you haven’t experienced this fantastic JRPG yet, then this is hands down the definitive way to enjoy it, but I can’t recommend another purchase for those who already have.

Overall, Perish is a game that achieves conceptual brilliance and incorporates it down to the finest detail in many areas. Unfortunately, it stumbles when it comes to the execution. Some poor gameplay decisions hold it back, notably enemy design and spawn rates. It’s entirely possible that with future updates, the game will heal its scars, but for now, they run deep, blemishing the gameplay; yet, the aesthetics remain immaculate.

Stranded: Alien Dawn is a well-focused survival game with choices that have meaningful and lasting impact. While it could stand to have a few more scenarios, what’s on offer will keep you busy for dozens of hours, and that’s just your first playthrough.

Ravenlok possesses the blueprint for a fantastic series inspired by novels and fairy tales. If Cococucumber expands on the narrative experience and strengthens the combat system in their next outing, wonderful adventures await.

Redfall resembles the vampires it's based on. It lacks identity, and sucks the life out of you. Every time I see a spark of potential, it's stomped out by bugs, braindead AI, and an empty world not worth exploring. I wish Arkane well in their next endeavor, because they need to let this one die.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed is a fantastic addition to the Xenoblade Chronicles saga. It ties up the story so far in a nice thematic bow, with equal amounts of new additions and returning favorites. The combat system is tighter and incredibly satisfying, and is even tied to exploration to make you feel like you’re always growing. Once again, I can’t wait to see what Monolithsoft cooks up next.

The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster collection is a great bundle to introduce new JRPG players to the Final Fantasy series, and provides old fans a nice nostalgic trip. While some issues could be ironed out, the collection provides an enjoyable experience regardless.

Puzzling Places delivers a delightful and mindful experience that can induce a state of flow. Sometimes, the game feels downright frustrating if you get stuck and need help to make progress. But that is part of the challenge; the beauty and pain of jigsaw puzzles. This game can keep you amused and engaged for as long as you have puzzles to solve. It is the perfect game after a long workday when you want to relax and have a pleasant time. An ideal fit for the PS VR2, Puzzling Places is a must-have for any jigsaw puzzle fans.

Aligned with games like Animal Crossing, Townsmen VR aims to provide casual players with a relaxing and almost meditative experience. Its main value proposition is its immersive and exploratory nature, which can be a fun and satisfying adventure if you have the right expectations. The campaign story is simple but heartwarming, offering a comprehensive walkthrough of the game. If you're expecting a fast-paced, feature-rich RTS game, you'll be disappointed. However, if you're looking for a slow-paced but pleasant journey in a stunning, fully interactive, and immersive VR world, Townsmen VR should deliver a delightful and fun experience.

The game is rather complex, with plenty of ins and outs to uncover and learn. It is undoubtedly challenging for newbies and can be overwhelming at first. However, you will eventually figure it out if you give the game a chance and don't get discouraged immediately. Once you get the gist of it, matches are engaging and gratifying, and you will be compelled to play over and over again.Blood Bowl 3 is not yet another turn-based RPG or rogue-like deck-building game. It is a rare mix of turn-based fantasy strategy and sports that requires relentless dedication. However, its significant emphasis on turn-based strategy, its fantasy theme, its Warhammer setting, and its extensive use of gore and violence may intrigue gamers who may not enjoy sports games at first but love tabletop-inspired games. Whatever the case, Blood Bowl 3 is worth trying; you may discover a rich, thrilling game that stands out with its bloodlust.

DNF Duel had the potential to be a great fighting game for beginners, but is far too shallow and unbalanced to be competitive in. Even so, it’s good for a more casual and laid back experience with some great visuals.

At its core, Bramble: The Mountain King is a storybook brought to life in the best way possible. Olle’s search for his sister is a wonderful journey inspired by Nordic folklore that is aided by magnificent landscapes, unsettling mythological creatures and an intriguing narrative that culminates in a touching tale of bravery in the face of darkness.

Amid Evil is a great throwback to old-school shooters like Quake, and this VR version features some incredibly satisfying combat with immersive controls. However, it is sorely lacking in comfort options which makes it hard to get through even a single level in one session. This works best as a compliment to a flat version.

GrimGrimoire OnceMore serves as a solid remaster with a fantastic visual upgrade and new gameplay additions. Some control issues and repetitive gameplay hold it back but overall is a good strategy sim with an alluring setting.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor improves on its predecessor in every way, giving us not only more of what we loved, but doing so in a massive cinematic interconnected universe full of brand new engaging features. This is your early contender for game of the year.

Teslagrad 2 is a fantastic adventure that’s over way too soon. The puzzles and platforming are some of the best in the genre, but given your breadth of moves the game doesn’t come close to fully exploring what it can do.