Forza Horizon 6 is magnificent. It’s everything we could have hoped for, finally bringing the open world racing experience of Forza Horizon to the Asian setting.

Call of the Elder Gods is a fantastic Lovecraftian adventure with a unique setting, compelling story and mostly intuitive puzzles, except for one that feels like it makes no sense. Thanks to the Request Hint menu, even players who aren’t very familiar or have a hard time with the genre will be able to advance through the game, but finding solutions by yourself is a fascinating experience. While anyone may enjoy the game, it’s especially recommended for those who have already played Call of the Sea for a further dive into the universe’s lore.

Mixtape is an impressive take on what it feels to be a music-obsessed young person trying to come to terms with growing up and moving away from something they took for granted for years. The bittersweet feeling of having regrets and “big hits” stays as a lingering to a life that will never come back. It’s an emotionally powerful adventure in a way that's definitely worth giving a try.

MotoGP 26 is the technical racing king in the current market space. The amount of details that have gone into the physics model cannot be overlooked, but it has gone back to having a steep learning curve to get good. The AI is inconsistent, which actually makes it feel brutal because you will feel like you're making ground. You can turn off Dynamic AI as this may be the culprit as it pushes the difficulty to the extreme every other lap. The Arcade Mode is back for those looking for something not as challenging. The updates to Career Mode are more than just subtle changes. These are solid enough to modify the experience, including the new Rider Ratings. The introduction of Production Bikes is a nice addition to go along with the already established other Rideoff bikes to try. There remains a lot to be played in MotoGP 26, it is just going to take some dedication to get good.

After a period of expansions that were often average at best, World of Warcraft: Midnight delivers what now feels like a consistent quality following The War Within. It's not perfect, but it's a solid expansion that continues to show that World of Warcraft is heading in the right direction and understands what its current playerbase wants to see. World of Warcraft is in a good spot, and that's only being improved with the addition of features like Prey that keep players wanting to log on regularly, even if they don't have the time available. It's now accessible for players who want a more intense experience, as well as those who play casually, and that shift is what WoW needed.

Shapez 2 is an automation game with just about all the rough edges sanded off, built to make creating what look like incredibly complicated layouts as simple as possible. It may take a little effort to sort out the best way to, for example, create a platform that maximizes stacking two items, completely handling two sets of four belts with no backing up, but then you save it as a blueprint and the tangle of conveyors and stackers is now another tool in the menu that can be laid down with a mouse click. White paint needs three different paints mixed together, two at a time, but create a single paint-mixing platform handling two fluids running at top speed, copy it to let the output of the first combine with the third color, then copy both platforms together and stack them three high, save as blueprint, and done! Handy as that is, though, the randomness of the shape deposits means you'll probably need to poke around hand-crafting solutions every bit as often as relying on your blueprints, and there's always a new challenge that requires retooling what you know. And then building bigger, as the little factory clustered around the entrance to the void grows to meet its ever-escalating needs.

Opus: Prism Peak is an impressive adventure game that manages to provide an emotional experience that feels deeply relatable and well-executed. Its beautiful art style is accompanied by an involved gameplay with photography mechanics and a world that grows if the player decides to explore it as much as possible. It’s an inspired testament to the powerful experiences the genre has to offer and one of 2026’s must-play games.

After over a decade, Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta proves itself just as good as it once was under the moniker of Memories of Celceta. Its only major caveat is that it really doesn’t bring much to the table as a new edition. On the other hand, for anyone who hasn’t given it a try, it’s pretty much a must-play.

Life is Strange: Reunion manages to succeed despite being given the near-impossible task of closing up a branching story told across several development teams. The plot can be a bit convoluted with the different timelines and mergers, but at its core, Reunion delivers a compelling story across the board, and it's hard to ask for much more of a narrative-centric game. Longtime fans will find an enjoyable experience, while lapsed fans or newcomers can be caught up to speed quickly.

Gecko Gods is a bold puzzle experience that knows what it’s striving for: a pilgrimage that truly encourages players to explore. In this awe-inspiring world, attention to detail is key to progressing and puzzles are a rewarding challenge. It’s one of those journeys worth immersing yourself into for a long time and just seeing where your curiosity leads you.

Pragmata is a heartfelt experience not only about the human experience, but also parenthood. While we never truly see Hugh grow into anything more than he already is, it’s his genuine interactions with Diana and teaching her all about the amazing things Earth has to offer that really defines him as a character. His interactions with the curious and childish Diana are the best parts of Pragmata, and while the story is somewhat predictable, it will pull on your heartstrings from time to time. On top of that, the combat is pleasantly varied, with the numerous types of weapons at Hugh’s disposal and a decent number of enemies, ramping up as the story progresses. Diana’s hacking mini-game mid-combat is also a breath of fresh air as it adds a layer of strategy needed in a somewhat traditional third-person shooter. While Pragmata has its issues, it’s a solid, highly engaging adventure that’s difficult to replicate.

KuloNiku: Bowl Up! is an enjoyable experience of becoming a chef in an area filled with passion for food and quirky characters. It’s expressive and charming in all the right ways and the experience of giving it your all can be both comfortable and challenging. Players looking for a cozy game with some meat to it are likely to come out fulfilled from giving it a taste test.

People of Note is a great RPG in a charismatic world of music that plays with real-life aspects of genres and a huge ton of puns. With a deeply strategic system, the game lets players use a variety of abilities to come out on top. It’s remarkable in pretty much every aspect it brings to the table and a game worth exploring.

There's a deeply satisfying flow to Modulus, whether it be solving the layout of a new shape or debugging the system for an older one that isn't delivering like it should, and the game pleasantly eats time with a series of stress-free challenges that you've always got the tools to solve. It's a peaceful world on the plateaus jutting into the sky, even when covered by an ever-more-tangled factory that only its creator can see the logic and beauty in.

Super Meat Boy 3D is exactly what you'd expect from Super Meat Boy, except in 3D. The controls are mostly identical, the challenge level uncompromising, the levels short and snappy, and every time you reach Bandage Girl, there's Doctor Fetus to kick you in the face. Each level feels distinct from the others, with plenty of creativity in the layout plus new hazards and toys in each new area to keep you on your toes. Do well enough poking around and the rewards start piling up, opening up new bonuses and goodies you can use to do better with on familiar levels or new ones. There's always a way to play a little better in Super Meat Boy 3D, and the game encourages this at every opportunity to drag you as a willing victim into the most vicious challenges it can devise.

While not for everyone due to its twin-stick controls, Screamer still delivers a memorable racing experience. It takes some getting used to and hurts the pick up and play nature of what would normally be an arcade-style racer, but the end result is a fantastic racing game that hits on all cylinders more often than not. Once getting in the groove with it, it's tough to put down outside of issues with rubberband AI hurting the more-important campaign races, and the inability to have single-stick controls does hurt the potential playerbase a bit. Still, Screamer has a killer soundtrack with a lot of effort put into its anime-infused storyline and voice work. There's a lot to enjoy for racing fans starving for some arcade-inspired action.

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is a great example of how a remaster should be, making three unique DS titles accessible once again on modern devices. Although Star Force comes as one possible evolution to what the Battle Network series proposed, the titles are still unlike anything else on the market in its combination of deckbuilding and action. The new collection is a complete pack that anyone interested in exploring the games for the first time or coming back to them should get.

Etrange Overlord is a funny and unique title that has a simple base but manages to offer variety in its stage construction. At the core of the experience, there’s a villainess main character whose single-minded nature is endearing and cleverly explored to give her depth and unpredictability in a quirky world. There are elements here and there that could have been better planned to offer more fluid and enjoyable combat, but it’s a good first step for SuperNiche.

Crimson Desert is one of a kind. It’s a spectacular adventure that has a phenomenally crafted open world to explore and an immense number of systems at play.

Pokémon Pokopia is a huge new direction for Pokémon, much bigger than might be expected for a spin-off. It retains the heart of Pokémon with literally hundreds of different monsters to chat with, and it's always a lot of fun to see who's showing up next. The different areas are nicely designed, frequently with interesting secret areas, although it can feel overwhelming arriving at a new island and seeing just how much there is to do to bring it back from the edge of ruin. There's a long way to go to discover how the world got broken and then fixing it, but as the days roll by and the islands come back to life, the hope that maybe a Ditto and its trainer might eventually be reunited grows with the health and comfort of the reappearing Pokémon.

Just like both of its predecessors, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is a fantastic turn-based RPG with monster-raising elements. With satisfying challenges and depth to its mechanics, it’s an impressive new entry to its franchise, rewarding fans with an epic experience.

Esoteric Ebb is a fantastic RPG with a gripping narrative and plenty of options to explore. There’s so much to do and so many threads to explore that it can be a little overwhelming at first, especially with the lack of a simpler list of potential tasks or other guidance. For those that insist on it, what you get is a full-course meal into a mesmerizing fantasy world.

Resident Evil Requiem is a game for new and old fans alike. It contains the identity of both the recent entries in the franchise and some of the remakes, meshing both horror and action that works most of the time.

Demon Tides is an excellent 3D platformer, easily one of the best in years thanks to its expansive, colorful worlds, variety of challenges that require putting its extensive moveset to full use, bonuses and extras, and even an incredibly likeable cast. Beebz seems like she could be a '90s mascot-with-attitude refugee, but she knows when to turn it off, and the fact that it's clear she actually likes and appreciates her friends makes her attitude fun rather than obnoxious. Cutscenes are never long enough to feel like an interruption to the gameplay, letting them be rewards between one stretch of platforming and the next. There's even a button dedicated to pointing out the nearest collectible, meaning you can focus on the challenge of acquiring it rather than scouring every inch of the level for that one last pickup. Like all Demon Turf's tools, how you use it is up to you, so if you want a vicious challenge or a guided tour, that's your call. There are enough movement modifiers that even the most difficult sections can be made possible with a little perseverance, putting Beebz and her crew that much closer to successfully platforming their way through their newest adventure.

While Revolgear Zero takes a minute to learn, it's a big fun shooter that's more interested in being played than punishing the player. Beating it on the normal difficulty isn't that hard, which I discovered when the gameplay systems clicked and I blew through it with double-digit lives left over, but harder difficulty levels and unlocking Boost Mode (same levels, faster energy regeneration) give the game plenty of replay. Arcade shooters tend to be known for their difficulty, like the excellent Sektori, but approachable games like Revolgear Zero are perfect for introducing new players to the genre while having enough depth to its systems to make the harder difficulties worth exploring and repeatedly dying in for more experienced fans.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined has been remade with excellent precision. The developers have done a phenomenal job recreating what made the original so special, all while retaining its artistic integrity. There are also some fantastic quality-of-life improvements implemented, such as auto-battle and custom difficulty adjustments. This is a massive game, taking upwards of 100 hours to complete, but with it comes some slumps. The story’s pacing can be a bit awkward at times, and several of the plots have been modified. Kiefer’s newest model also stands out comically bad and the chatter that comes from the party outside of battle feels useless half of the time. Regardless, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a memorable and ambitious remake that does far more right than it does wrong.

For those looking for something akin to Gran Turismo or Forza but with motorcycles, RIDE 6 is the closest thing you're going to get. A plethora of bikes, tracks and a deep Career Mode will have players engaged in a single-player experience that doesn't force a grind. Bikes are fully upgradeable with licensed parts that provide different performance increases. The racing is fun with an AI that's uniquely unpredictable, but enjoyable at times. The Bridgestone Racing School will get you ready for the in-game and real-world riding. RIDE 6 suffers in the technical areas with inconsistent visuals and bike sounds, along with a good bit of random, yet quick loading times. With more content coming in the future, this is the game that squids and twisty riders have been waiting for.

Nioh 3's gameplay still excels, but there are some noticeable issues. Ninja style is a fantastic, fun new way to play the game and build characters around, but Team Ninja doubled legacy inventory management issues from previous games. Samurai style remains enjoyable and refined yet also feels a bit too tame when compared to the speedy new Ninja style. Nioh 3's balancing also feels off, swinging back and forth between easy to difficult, and then very easy in co-op. It's a lot of fun to play, but the experience can vary wildly. Still, Nioh 3 is the culmination of Team Ninja's continued work on refining the Nioh experience. Nioh 3's ambition has yielded the most enjoyable and accessible entry in the franchise yet.