New escape sequences are the highlight of No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES. It’s a shame that its low-stakes story makes it hard to really connect with the overall experience. If you just want to hang out with the series’ cast, you’ll get that here, and there’s definitely joy to be found in doing so, as a lot of members of this cast are fantastic. Despite this, the overall story ultimately feels held back by being stuck between two established stories, and the entire experience feels afraid to take any risks. Fans of the series will have a nice time with this one, but it certainly doesn’t offer a good point of entry for new players.

Don’t let a few issues dissuade you, though. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach smooths out almost all the issues I had with the original game and allowed me to dive in and fall in love with its addicting gameplay. The story may still be mostly nonsense, but it’s not unenjoyable nonsense, and it does nothing to keep me from wanting to deliver just one more package. Seeing what’s over the next horizon has never felt better in a game. Those who loved the first game will almost certainly love Death Stranding 2, but even those who bounced off of it should give the series another chance here.

Combined with the lack of balance, overly complex mechanics, and brutal CPU opponents, ultimately, I found plenty of roadblocks to my enjoyment in Battle Train. I wanted the art, humor, and overall play experience to mesh better. But sadly, it’s just one deckbuilder that’s hard for this fan to recommend.

Despite some issues with the Phantom Liberty, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is a fantastic package filled with content that will give those who don’t have another way to play it or who want it on a handheld a game that has risen from the ashes to be what it should have been from day one. Cyberpunk 2077 still isn’t a perfect game, but it is an excellent one which anyone who enjoys the genre needs to give a second chance if its poor launch put them off.

I don’t begrudge a game the ability to make money. I want to see games succeed. Constantly being hit up to spend more and more just isn’t a good experience, though, at least for me. It feels predatory at times and makes me simply want to stop playing it. The game underneath all of those transactions is well-made, if very derivative of Persona 5, without hitting the highs of that title. Still, if they released a version paced like a regular RPG, I expect I’d want to see it all the way through. As is though, Persona 5: The Phantom X isn’t for me. Those who know what they’re getting into with gacha titles, I suspect, will have a good time, particularly if they love Persona, but it won’t change the mind of anyone who isn’t won over by the genre.

Front Mission 3 Remake at its best is held back by a weak story and characters, but the best gameplay in the original trilogy means there is absolutely fun to be had by players more focused on the strategic battles and mech customization. The core game mostly holds up after all these years. The awful aesthetic choices, though, make this the sort of remake that is hard to recommend because it’s a worse experience in many ways than the version that came out over a quarter century ago.

While it may not be the most visually appealing experience, and its leveling curve could use a little fine-tuning, its robust deckbuilding and focus on resource management in the form of weiners is strong enough to overcome those shortcomings overall. If you’re tired of the heavyweights of the genre and want something a little quirky that really understands the fundamentals of the genre, Union of Gnomes is a worthy addition to any deckbuilding fan’s collection.

I really wanted to love Section 13, and while I did enjoy it, it was held back by the incremental pace of the game as well as the brutal difficulty of enemy encounters. This is a very, very grindy game, and while I don’t mind spending time with an adventure, I do wish this particular game were on Switch 2. I find portable play is ideal for rogue adventures, and I feel I would have had much more success were that an option.

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster still plays really well, but the gameplay feels a little bit less special than it once did, if only because so many popular games have taken its innovations and run with them. The good news, though, is that it still plays well and its atmosphere still stands out even after all these years. System Shock 2 asks more from players than most modern shooters, and a few of its systems could have used a bit more of an overhaul to work better with a controller, but if you’re willing to explore and really dig into the mystery here, you’ll find an incredibly compelling experience.

Despite some disharmony, overall, I really enjoyed Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson. Yes, it’s a short burn, and yes, some minor issues held it back. But it’s still a charming, retro, GuitaR-PG with a lot of heart. If you’re in the mood for an epic Battle of the Bands with a likeable hometown hero, look no further.

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army may not be a true classic, but it is a very solid action RPG with strong combat and an interesting story. Investigative work may not be a strength, but it gets to be less of a focus as the game goes on, mostly for the better. Shin Megami Tensei fans who missed this one late in the PS2’s life cycle will have a good time exploring an underplayed part of the franchise, but those who have already experienced this story won’t find a ton new to grab their interest.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a big step forward for the series, making massive strides in both the production values and the way in which it has built upon the already vast number of systems with its compelling town-building hook. There is still room to grow and add a little more depth in both the combat and dungeon design, but as one part of a much bigger whole, the lack of significant growth in these areas doesn’t take away from the overall experience too severely. Whether you’re holding out for the Switch 2 version, or jumping in on Nintendo’s current hardware, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a feature-rich package that fans are likely to lose hundreds of hours to, while also serving as a tantalising taste of the direction the series may be headed in the future.

There are faint glimpses at what could have been in the ship combat sections and the breezy narrative, and the short runtime does help mask some of the frustrations that plague the experience, but on the whole, it’s difficult to argue that Captain Blood wouldn’t have been better left in the depths it was salvaged from.

POPUCOM is a beautiful and fun game that feels just right with the cooperative gameplay that adds to the charm of the colorful world with every turn. The first area’s puzzles teach you about what’s to come, while still adding just enough challenge to not frustrate the user early on, but prepare you for later. This was a wonderful surprise to play, and I can’t wait to spend some time with it to continue. The story is charming and cute, and the cooperative play gives me the same type of joy and puzzle-based challenge that I felt when playing the co-op mode in Portal 2. Hypergryph has a hit with this game, and I can’t wait to see what they have to come.

If you really love PowerWash Simulator and need more of that to hold you over until its sequel comes out, then Spray Paint Simulator may be worth a look, especially if you can explore it on Game Pass. If you haven’t explored everything PowerWash Simulator has to offer yet, however, then Spray Paint Simulator gets a lot harder to recommend.

Overall, I still enjoyed my time with StarVaders. I just wish the game wasn’t so punishing for those who want to experience the entirety of the adventure. As someone who managed to fully beat Slay the Spire, I expect difficulty in roguelike deckbuilders. But I also need it properly balanced. That said, if you enjoy tactical mayhem and need something fun to play, you’ll probably enjoy this adventure from Joystick Ventures.

Despite that, Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer is easy to recommend to fans of the genre. It offers an excellent story that ties back to the original game while expanding Kathy’s world a great deal. There are definitely elements here which feel like they could have supported additional exploration, but what’s here is well-made and slickly presented. Just make sure you play the original game first.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is a compelling, atmospheric RPG that punches above its weight in narrative ambition and gameplay depth. Unfortunately, the PlayStation 5 port of the game suffers from some extremely rough technical edges and UI frustrations, and needs a lot more time to bake in the oven. That being said, the game’s dark storytelling, rewarding exploration, and flexible combat might make it a worthwhile experience.

Pocket Trap and PM Studios haven’t just given us a lovingly crafted adventure with unique mechanics and memorable characters. They’ve given us one of the best games of the year. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a great reminder that indies are blazing a path for everyone to follow.

It may take a while for the true depths that Monster Train 2 holds to become apparent, but once you really dig into the minutiae of each deck, the options that present themselves in front of you seem almost limitless, and that’s my impression having only spent a substantial amount of time with two of Shiny Shoe’s fantastic new decks. For fans of the original, or newcomers who didn’t stamp their ticket for the first trip aboard the Monster Train, climb aboard Monster Train 2 right now. And, get comfy as I suspect you won’t be disembarking for a while.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a somewhat strange collection. There are six legitimately great games here, and the other two are at least mildly interesting, but they don’t necessarily feel like they’re targeting the same audience and it’s easy to see how a Power Stone fan or a Capcom vs. SNK fan might look at this collection and only see two games that are really for them. The extras here, like artwork and soundtracks, are standard fare, and while they’re not unwelcome, they aren’t going to excite many fans. Despite some strange omissions, however, there’s enough quality here that anyone interested in the genre as a whole and not just one specific title will find plenty to excite them.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may not be perfect, but for a first game from the team at Sandfall Interactive, it’s a remarkable achievement that tells a wonderful story while offering incredibly engaging combat and worldbuilding. This is an RPG I won’t soon forget and one that lapsed fans of the genre should absolutely check out.

Moroi ultimately feels like a game too caught up in its own surrealism, sacrificing cohesive storytelling and gameplay depth for visual spectacle and provocative imagery. While it left me intrigued, it also left me wishing the journey had offered more than just style and unanswered questions.

Shotgun Cop Man is an incredibly diverse, creative, and silly adventure that will appeal to any fans of absurd humor or platformers. I’m glad to see DeadToast manage to switch things up in this adventure, and hope they’re able to keep things fresh in the future.

There are a few excellent moments scattered across its approximately eight hours, particularly its boss fights. It all comes back to your investment, though. If you can play this game on Game Pass, it feels like an easy decision. There’s plenty here for me to recommend you do just that. If you’re dropping money specifically on this experience, though, it feels like you deserve to expect a little bit more. That some part of actually playing this game feels truly interesting instead of just fine. I very rarely got that during my time with South of Midnight. Still, with a solid enough foundation, I’d love to see the team at Compulsion Games try for a sequel that builds on its strengths and does more to provide a great overall experience.

Look Outside is a wonderfully eerie adventure with some of the most unique scenarios and sights I’ve seen in a horror game in years. While it makes a strong first impression, though, as time went on, I sometimes wondered if I’d be better off just looking outside. However, there are still enough strong moments to make it worth checking out for those who love horror games and RPGs.

While reality can be highly subjective, it’s an objective truth that Out of Hands is a must-play deckbuilder. It’s compelling, darkly mysterious, and superbly engaging. Even if you’re not a huge adherent of the genre, there’s multiple difficulties to help you get your bearings, and tons of challenge for old veterans. As someone who’s always on the hunt for the next great game in the deckbuilder genre, I’m now paying close attention to whatever comes next from this talented developer.

Honestly, the only complaint I have after playing Nif Nif is that I wish there were more to do in this charming world. Sure, there’s unlockable content and two playable characters, but the genre is all about immersive replay value. I spent more than a couple of hours playing the game and have unlocked a good chunk of it. I suspect you can unlock everything in less than 10 hours, which is great for those on a schedule, but bad if you want to unwind in this family-friendly world.

Expelled may not be as original as its predecessor, and the cast of characters isn’t quite as colorful for my money, but this is an extremely worthy follow-up with an excellent setting and a more fulfilling mystery. This is a school that’s full of secrets, and dedicated players will find numerous jaw-dropping moments hidden in its darkest corners.

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land is a charming open-world JRPG and a worthy addition to the Atelier series. While it may not break any new ground in terms of narrative or combat innovation, it excels in being a fun game and an excellent entry point for newcomers to the franchise.

I really wanted to love Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark. I kept giving it more and more time to prove itself and get past the sophomoric slump I kept finding myself in. But alas, this is not the sequel I was hoping for or expecting after Gal Guardians: Demon Purge. This would be one thing from some new upstart developer, but it’s truly surprising and disappointing from the talented folks at Inti Creates. That said, if you can tolerate bad platforming, poorly managed mechanics, and frustrating balance, then you might still find something to love here. For everyone else, this isn’t the adventure for you.

While I honestly enjoyed some of my time Shadow of the Orient, I feel like it was the wrong genre. There’s so much effort put into making expansive levels that I feel this would have worked better as a small Metroidvania than a lackluster platformer. It’s clear Spacelab Games put a lot of time into the experience, and I strongly suspect they might have some future great game in them. As for this one, fans of retro might enjoy it, but probably not many others.

Even now, I want to go start another run of Blue Prince. I have ideas floating around in my head and if I just draft the right room I’ll be on my way to unlocking more of the mysteries of this mansion. I’ve had more than a few late nights since starting this title, telling myself that I was on my last run but then instantly starting another once it ended. That’s what a great roguelike does to players and Blue Prince is certainly that, as well as a great puzzle game. Blue Prince constantly forced me to learn new things and work towards a wide variety of goals in a way which forced me to change my entire way of thinking about similar titles, even changing how I think about progression. It’s a masterpiece that players should run to play.

These issues aside, Rusty Rabbit was still an enjoyable adventure with a unique story and colorful characters. While the platforming and combat were held back by some design issues, and though I was personally frustrated by an occasional lack of guidance in the game, I still think this is a fun adventure that’s worth checking out.

Once again, I enjoyed my time with Lost Records: Bloom & Rage and would recommend fans of Don’t Nod’s other work give it a try when they get a chance, but know that some of the questions you’ll likely have throughout this story won’t be meaningfully paid off. I’m glad to say that at least the character stories are paid off well in an ending which I found moving and satisfying at times, even as I thought about my other questions, which were largely ignored. That’s what this game does best anyway, and that doesn’t change in Tape 2.

The very idea of bringing together the minds behind Danganronpa and Zero Escape will be enough to get many fans of this genre in the door. They’ll find that The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- is an incredibly ambitious title which may not have some of what they expect in the early going, but will ultimately give them everything they’re looking for and more.

I don’t want to focus too much on the negative. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is already a deep and satisfying fighting game with a ton going for it. I never thought I’d see another Fatal Fury game, and while it hasn’t yet surpassed Mark of the Wolves in my heart, I definitely want to keep coming back for more. I just hope those server issues don’t continue to be an issue.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was a phenomenal video game when it was initially released on Xbox, and it’s only gotten better with this PS5 release. The same excellent foundations of stealth, exploration, and puzzle-solving remain as strong as they were the first time around, with the PS5 and PS5 Pro enhancing the experience further through the neat implementation of DualSense functionality and some additional visual enhancements that leave Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looking better than ever. Combat may still be a drag, but it’s not the main focus in any sense and is a minor blemish on an otherwise incredible experience. If this is what we can expect from Microsoft’s turn towards becoming a multiplatform behemoth, then the future looks very bright for Xbox games appearing on other platforms.

Despite only offering minor updates, I still wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the LUNAR Remastered Collection to any fan of RPGs who hasn’t played these great games. I still absolutely love both of these games. Even after all these years, they are well-paced adventures filled with a lot of heart and excellent characters who are highly memorable. It would have been great to see LUNAR once more get the red-carpet treatment, but just having these games easily accessible to modern audiences is a major win.

Newcomers will find a delightfully refreshing spin on puzzling and philosophy, while veterans will get to have their need for challenge satisfied with the tastefully sized expansion called In the Beginning. It’s unfortunate that the level editor isn’t in this version and that there are a few framerate kinks to work out, but neither of these issues hamper the experience much. Between much-needed QOL and delightful developer commentary, there’s hardly been a better time to dip your toes in The Talos Principle.

The First Berserker: Khazan is a brutal, beautiful delight. Its elegant parry system, demonic boss battles, and flexible yet approachable take on character development have come together to create a package that may pull directly from many sources in the genre but ultimately delivers a standout experience that easily stands amongst the stiffest competition the genre has to offer. Its early hours may suffer from linearity, and its parry-heavy combat system may not sit well with everyone, but if you’re up for the challenge and willing to adapt to how The First Berserker: Khazan requires you to play, then you’re in for an absolute treat.

Atomfall’s commitment to player freedom is baked into its design, and it works really well. I’d love to see the team at Rebellion, or other developers, for that matter, iterate on its structure and build more games designed around this level of freedom. Even most open-world games aren’t even close. Atomfall itself, though, is a tougher recommendation. It isn’t that it does anything terribly wrong, it’s just that little about it other than the structure stands out. Once you get used to the flow of things, there’s not much else I can point at and say this is why you should play Atomfall instead of any number of other survival games. Still, it’s always nice to see a developer try something outside of what has become the accepted right way to do things, and for the most part, Atomfall succeeds on that front.

The wait was well worth it for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The fans have been asking for an AC game set in Japan, and Ubisoft has finally delivered, with a dual-protagonist experience that offers crisp combat mechanics, a bombastic musical score, and a beautiful visual presentation. Assassin’s Creed is so back.

Split Fiction is one of the most audacious games I’ve ever played, constantly reinventing itself in ways that somehow work when they simply shouldn’t. There were numerous moments that stunned me into wondering how this game just kept getting away with design decisions that seemed like a disaster waiting to happen but instead led to some of the most memorable stages I’ve ever played. Finding someone to play with may be a challenge for some, but if you can remotely do so, you won’t regret it.

Rogue Waters is a fantastic entry within the rogue-lite and tactical-turn-based strategy genres. Rewarding meta-progression is supported by zany combat that promotes experimentation due to the generous undo feature, allowing for low-stakes trial and error that perfectly suits the slapstick nature of the pirate action. While the naval combat doesn’t feel like it’s fleshed out to its fullest potential, it’s easy to overlook with it being a small part of a much bigger whole that’s generally hard to fault, and if you’re a fan of either genre that Rogue Waters taps into, or, most importantly, a fan of pirates, then Rogue Waters is all but certain to get its hooks into you.

I mentioned at the start of this review that the improvements found in PGA Tour 2K25 are mostly found in the margins. They’re more evolutionary than revolutionary. There are enough of those changes, though, that this release represents a giant step forward for this series and modern golf video games. It may be my favorite golf game ever made and is a must-play for anyone who enjoys the genre.

I mentioned at the start of this review that the improvements found in PGA Tour 2K25 are mostly found in the margins. They’re more evolutionary than revolutionary. There are enough of those changes, though, that this release represents a giant step forward for this series and modern golf video games. It may be my favorite golf game ever made and is a must-play for anyone who enjoys the genre.

Even with the many issues I encountered in the Switch version of the game, I still found it very compelling, and there’s plenty of reason to replay it to see different outcomes. Here’s hoping the next adventure from Party From Introverts has the same strong writing but much stronger quality control.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a swashbuckling adventure that longtime fans and newcomers alike can treasure. The spotlight on fan-favorite Goro Majima is sure to be a treat, even though the game can feel padded out at times. I’m a sucker for the Yakuza series, and even after numerous spin-offs, RGG Studio still has plenty of surprises up their sleeve.

Trails Through Daybreak II is a fantastic slice of JRPG action that sings when focusing on its combat, progression, and exploration that rewards due to the richness Calvard presents in its world-building.

Synduality: Echo of Ada had the potential to carve out its own niche by being an accessible extraction shooter available on console. It’s not completely without merit, with its snappy gunplay making for an exciting PvPvE experience and the novel Magus system initially showing a lot of promise. However, a laborious early game grind, and monetization so egregious that I don’t see anyone but the most hardcore of audiences sticking around severely sour the experience. Whether Game Studio can course correct remains to be seen, but early signs point towards yet another live service title that runs the risk of having its lifespan cut short due to excessive grind and greed.

Laika: Aged Through Blood can feel like a lot at times. There’s no one mechanic that on its own is an issue, but there’s so much to manage that this is a game with a very high learning curve. Still, this is a singular game that feels so unique that it’s hard to imagine players who it clicks for won’t fall in love with it.

The Roottrees Are Dead is a fascinating tale of a famous family with secrets in their closet. Exposing those secrets is some of the most fun I’ve had with a game in a long time, and anyone who has enjoyed similar investigative titles like Her Story, Return of the Obra Dinn, or The Case of the Golden Idol needs to look into the history of the Roottrees.

Despite my uncertainty, once I refreshed my memory of the first game, I concluded that Ender Magnolia, for any faults, is still just as good. It’s beautiful, challenging and truly expansive, featuring a huge world map to explore, as well as multiple endings. While I lament that the music wasn’t as evocative and the map was occasionally perplexing, this is still a most worthy adventure, if not one that fared better than the original.

I don’t want to leave you with the impression that Moons of Darsalon is a horrible game. It’s not, but I really wish the indie developer had put in more time streamlining the game mechanics instead of programming snarky one-liners for my crew. If you can absorb the complex controls and manage your finicky teammates, you’ll find an enjoyable puzzle-platformer here. But for those looking for a fast and smooth experience, you might want to look elsewhere.

Warhorse Studios have created a triumphant sequel that improves and expands on the classic original in every way. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a game of staggering scope, depth and complexity, allowing you to be a smooth-talking diplomat, a cunning craftsman, a sneaky cutthroat, a chivalrous knight in shining armour, or any combination of the above. Whatever aspects of gaming you enjoy, there’s something for you here, and I can confidently say that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a medieval masterpiece.

I normally don’t play all that many puzzle platformers, so it takes something really impressive to grab my attention. Telebbit is just that sort of game. It’s creative, colorful, and challenging and offers a unique vision. It also features an utterly twisted story I won’t ruin; suffice it to say it’s unclear who the good guy truly is by the end of the game. While the platforming requires utter precision and quick reflexes, I still maintain this is a game everybody should play.

If you are someone, like me, who adored Sniper Elite 5 and are simply after more of the engrossing, visceral, and malleable stealth and sniping action provided by it, then you can’t go wrong with Sniper Elite: Resistance. It delivers a robust, ultra-replayable campaign that still has me hooked and a bevy of multiplayer modes if you want to dabble further after you’ve shattered all the skulls the campaign has to offer.

Much as I was hoping Ninja 1987 would be some glittering holiday bauble, it turned out to be a very generic platformer. While it absolutely boasted great aesthetics and seemed inspired by classic NES games, the adventure itself is short and imprecise. Still, if you’re looking for something fun and easy this holiday season, it won’t set you back very much.

While FANTASIAN Neo Dimension may not end as well as it begins, this is still an excellent RPG featuring wonderful characters, an interesting story, and perhaps my favorite battle system of any RPG I played in 2024. This is the ultimate way to play it as well, with an easier difficulty and new soundtrack options inspired by this version of the game being published by Square Enix. Fans of the genre won’t want to miss this one.

Loco Motive is a fun enough point-and-click adventure with a strong cast that gets off to a great start. As it goes on, however, it loses a lot of momentum thanks to focusing on less interesting or well-developed characters. Thankfully, it comes together in a strong conclusion that ties its various elements into a satisfying ending. Those who long for the point-and-click adventures of the early 90s will find a lot to like, even if it feels like it doesn’t fully meet its potential.

I really wanted to enjoy The Legend of Cyber Cowboy, but after spending some time with it, I just feel it’s a super generic take on amazing games like The Binding of Isaac. It failed pretty spectacularly, not only in the balance arena but in being fun or engaging. Unless you’re a truly diehard fan of the twin-stick shooter genre, you won’t find anything to enjoy here.

Effortlessly dodging mood whiplash despite the wide gap between its horrorcore and fluffy, cozy dating sim front helps set MiSide apart as a strong title in the indie horror scene.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana may not have been an essential re-release, but it’s nice to see a beloved game available to new fans, and it is absolutely the best version of the game available.

Tales of Graces f Remastered modernizes a beloved game while preserving the elements that make it a classic. What you’re getting is an all-in-one package that includes fantastic quality-of-life additions, additional story content, and most (sadly not all) previously released DLC content.

As a fan of Power Rangers, I especially enjoyed Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind. It’s a faithful and nostalgia-filled adventure full of colorful visual design, amazing voice acting, and challenging arcade action. While I do feel it’s not as well-tuned for single-player experiences, this is a wonderful game to play with friends. If you’re a longtime fan of the iconic characters, you’ll find something to adore in this love letter from Digital Eclipse.

At its best, when everything is working as it should, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a significantly improved version of what was already one of my favorite experiences on the Xbox Series X. There’s so much to do here, and flying around enjoying the scenery hasn’t lost any of its appeal in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Its technical quirks and design choices should be less of a problem over time, but I suspect some of them, like the egregiously long load times, will likely remain vulnerabilities moving forward.

While Indiana Jones and the Great Circle might not deliver the most satisfying combat experience, it more than makes up for it with its sense of adventure, storytelling, and exploration. MachineGames and Bethesda Softworks have succeeded in crafting a journey that evokes the timeless thrill of Indy’s cinematic quests, filled with puzzles, peril, and breathtaking locales. For fans of the franchise, this is the kind of adventure that makes you feel like you’re stepping into the shoes of Dr. Jones himself, solving mysteries and outrunning danger at every turn.

While its lack of optimization and frequent glitches occasionally crashed the party like an enemy hand grenade, Metal Slug Tactics‘ fast-paced, feature-rich combat and wealth of unlockable content kept me coming back for more. If you’re a fan of the franchise with a love for classic PS1 SRPGs like Vandal Hearts and Final Fantasy Tactics, then this is a fight worth enlisting in – even if it’s a patch or two away from reaching its full potential.

It might be hard to see now, but ultimately, Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut is a love story. It’s a twisted and dark one, and it features a gory multiversal tapestry. Yet it’s also one of the best Visual Novels I’ve played all year. Your choices all have consequences, and they’re lasting and real. Combine that with stunning visual and audio design, and you have a must-play adventure that’s almost impossible to put down.

Whether the combat is a deal breaker for the average player is going to depend on how much they value everything that Toyama and his team at Bokeh Studios have got right. For this writer, the answer to that conundrum is that, on the whole, Slitterhead’s positives do outweigh its negatives. It feels like Toyama is untethered again, and while not every design choice has worked out for the best, the fact that we have the horror legend operating independently and willing to create something unlike anything else is something to be celebrated.

Despite its sweet 16-bit presentation and gruesome arcade-inspired gameplay, RetroRealms: Halloween isn’t quite the treat fans of the franchise deserve. If it featured twice the stages it offers and some more compelling enemies to eviscerate, it’d be a lot easier to recommend. Unfortunately, with its unexciting extras and a reliance on cheap gimmicks to pad out its meager hour-long running time, RetroRealms: Halloween is a fleeting experience that fails to justify the price of admission.

Returning to the series’ original star and following up on a choice that fans have spent a decade debating was always going to be a challenge. Still, by focusing on the genuine emotions such a choice would leave behind, the team at Deck Nine has created a story that hit me like a ton of bricks. This may be the best Life is Strange yet, and it sits comfortably among the best games of 2024.

At a time when quality beat-’em-ups are so abundant, it’s hard to recommend The Karate Kid: Street Rumble to anyone. Despite its gorgeous presentation, the game’s stiff and weightless combat, frustrating mechanics, and game-breaking glitches sweep the leg of this half-baked brawler. Save yourself $40, or buy a far superior beat-’em-up for half the price. Trust me; you’ll thank me later.

If you’re a horror fan who is looking for something a little more digestible after slogging through Silent Hill 2 this holiday season, or don’t have twenty hours to dedicate to being terrified, then Camp Sunshine is a bite-sized slice of horror that you should definitely consider.

I’ve ended a lot of reviews of Switch ports over the years saying some variation of this may not be the best version of the game, but it’s worth your time if the Switch is your preferred platform. That’s not the case for Yakuza Kiwami. This version simply isn’t worth playing and it doesn’t matter whether you have another way to play the game or not. It isn’t just inferior; it feels terrible to play. Hopefully, the team behind this port will keep working on improving performance because there’s still a solid title underneath this version’s issues. Still, there are too many great experiences on the platform to spend your time on a game that feels like this.

Rain Code Plus, despite dragging on a bit too long, is probably my favorite Spike Chunsoft game to date. It has stellar writing that maybe leans too hard into exposition dumps but more often comes together to create a world that is full of depth, populated with interesting characters and lore that flesh the world of Rain Code Plus out in a way that the genre rarely seems capable of. For visual novel fans who may have missed out on the initial switch release, the re-release of Rain Code Plus should not be missed.

Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream is undoubtedly a game made with tons of fan service, but that also leaves it a polarizing experience for newcomers. It captures the spirit of SAO with its engaging MMO-like experience, but the dated mechanics, repetitive gameplay, lack of polish, and narrative shortcomings leave much more to be desired.

It’s been a long time since I played Chicken Wiggle, and perhaps I’ve become a more discerning gamer over the years. Because even though I was impressed by the amount of content available here and appreciate many of the new features, ultimately I gave the original game a more favorable score. This isn’t to say Hatch Tales: A Heroic Hookshot Adventure isn’t worth your time. Overall, I feel it’s more challenging than Chicken Wiggle and the amount of content is bolstered by the Level Editor. If you’re looking for something cute and enjoyable, you can’t go wrong with this.

I’d have loved to see Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven lean into its generational aspects a bit harder. While combat is excellent and exploring this world is rewarding, after the initial chapters, it would have been great to feel more connected to my party. Still, I had a great time going through this Kingdom, taking down the seven one by one, and bringing peace back to the land. RPG fans are almost certainly feeling a time crunch with so many excellent games released in the genre recently, but Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is yet another title worth finding the time for.

Even though I admire Inti Creates for the risk of trying out a new genre and feel they did a reasonably good job with it, Card-en-Ciel will ultimately be a hard sell to everyone who’s not a patient deckbuilder enthusiast. While the gameplay is nuanced and fun, and though the artwork is generally pretty stunning, the game felt unbalanced on several occasions. When paired with a confusing story and not fully realized characters, we’re left with a unique adventure that will only appeal to fans of the publisher.

RetroRealms: Ash vs. Evil Dead is filled to the brim with gory fanservice and features several ways to experience it with different characters. While the adventure isn’t great at explaining every mechanic, and the balance can feel weighed against you, any fan of the series still owes it to themselves to check this bloody October treat out.

Video games are a form of art and Metaphor: ReFantazio is the embodiment of that. The game’s ability to weave together thought-provoking themes, engagingly unique gameplay, and memorable characters in a beautifully stylized package is beyond remarkable. This is Atlus at the height of their creativity.

New World: Aeternum is a promising action RPG/MMORPG hybrid that offers accessible and flexible combat and progression systems that are a blast to dig into and make those initial hours spent leveling and exploring the island of Aeternum a pure joy.

Neva offers a stunning world, both visually and emotionally. This moving journey grabbed me from the very start, and I never let go. My minor issues with the combat and with a lack of thematic closure do nothing to diminish how it builds a bond with a fictional character while keeping me highly engaged with excellent platforming challenges throughout. This is a world worth taking on, challenges and all.

I honestly could probably spend several more paragraphs talking at length about all the stuff I enjoyed while playing the game, but you probably get the gist by now. 8-Bit Adventures 2 is a marvelous retro-styled RPG that utilizes all the best aspects of the genre while avoiding the worst. Though I do wish the game did more mechanically to stand apart from the crowd, this is nevertheless a well-made, funny RPG with a ton of heart.

As far as Ys chronology goes, Adol’s latest adventure is nothing if not a big step backward. If you ask me, however, this game is a major step forward. Offering an incredibly compelling story, intuitive new mechanics, and a refreshing and unique take on the Ys formula without compromising its identity, Ys X: Nordics is a literal boatload of fun that series fans and newcomers alike. I’d say that good things are on the horizon for Adol from here on out, but, well, we already know that’s true.

Ultimately, though, these are minor complaints. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is another outstanding entry in this wonderful series. To bring back the 2D series style after nine years without missing a beat, maintaining the franchise’s identity while putting a unique stamp on Zelda’s first true starring role, is a major achievement and quite possibly the best Switch game of 2024.

Ultimately, Ara: History Untold is a collection of good ideas that don’t harmonize well. The game feels unfinished, with many mechanics feeling half-baked or monotonous. The overwhelming micromanagement and lack of distinct playstyles reduce the desire to replay, as each session starts to feel like a repeat of the last, mired in the same frustrations. The game doesn’t do a good job of highlighting what’s important, despite having a comprehensive in-game encyclopedia and tooltip system. Important information gets lost in the clutter, and the lack of smooth gameplay flow makes it difficult to stay engaged. For players who enjoy deep micromanagement and have the patience for an unwieldy interface, Ara offers some enjoyment, especially in the early game, where glimpses of a rewarding strategy experience shine through.

I don’t want to come across as too negative because I still think there’s a lot of good in Shattered Space. While the planet of Va’ruun’kai itself may not offer much unique to the game, it looks great and the core quest line here is worth your time. The amount of content you get for nearly half the price of the original game, though, is wildly underwhelming, and there’s nothing here that is going to change the mind of anyone who doesn’t already like Starfield. Fans of the game should absolutely check Shattered Space out when they get the chance, but I might consider waiting for a sale.

Throne and Liberty has a lot going for it. Engaging combat, a stunning world, and a wealth of content for both PvE and PvP players to dive in to make for a rich and deep experience that has the potential to occupy players for hours on end. It’s just impossible to shake that niggling feeling that to truly get the most out of this world, NCSoft wants players to lose hope with the torturous mess of menus and upgrade systems in the name of paying to progress. To its credit, NCSoft is at least generous at the outset with how it dishes out currency to keep progression moving, even for a free-to-play player, but as the game expands and moves into the future, it remains to be seen whether that generosity is kept up.

Despite a few surprising omissions, though, Victory Heat Rally brings the heat. Its drifting doesn’t take long to get used to, and once you do, it feels fantastic to power slide around these corners while looking at some truly striking visuals. Anyone looking for a quick pick-up-and-play racer to enjoy by themselves or against some nearby friends will have an excellent time.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a triumphant return to form for the beloved Budokai Tenkaichi series, offering fans a nostalgic yet modernized experience that captures the essence of epic fantasy Dragon Ball battles.

Earth Defence Force: World Brothers 2 is a fantastic time and absolutely worth picking up for Earth Defence Force addicts like myself or anyone who fancies a smooth entry point to this legendary series. It continues to make smart refinements to the series’ core gameplay loops that make it more accessible, fluid, and dynamic than ever before while also getting rid of some of the rough edges that could make the mainline entries a bit of a chore to play.

On the whole, Cricket: Jae’s Really Peculiar Game is a treat, and the confidence with which it approaches its frequently gut-wrenching narrative and merges it effortlessly with completely off-the-wall shenanigans is commendable, putting plenty of bigger budget competition to shame. Cricket: Jae’s Really Peculiar Game tells a tale that feels personal, relatable, and, most importantly, accurate in the way it depicts the impact grief can have on a young mind that hasn’t developed enough to fully come to terms with tragedy.

Seasonspree is a delightfully enchanting romp through time with wholesome aesthetics, endearing characters, and a charming story. As cuddly creature friends work together to plan cheerful end-of-season celebrations to commemorate the passage of time, players will become absorbed into this delicate little world full of wonder and whimsy. Perfect for just about anyone to pick up, Seasonspree will captivate anyone who feels drawn to the tiny time-nudging title.

The developers of UFO 50 took on a monumental task in creating 50 unique games for their fictional collection but they accomplished it in wildly successful fashion. Not only are the large majority of these games excellent, but when taken as a fictional canon, they make each other even better. Seeing how they bounce off each other, interact, and tell a story just in the way they evolve is a wonderful experience that’s unlike any other game I’ve played.

Evotinction may stumble in how it delivers its narrative, but it’s more than able to make up for that in the gameplay department. While starting simple, Evotinction soon becomes a varied stealth sandbox that provides a throwback to stealth games of years gone by. It might never reach the heights of its bigger budget inspiration, but in a world where stealth games are somewhat rare, it’s simply nice to see developers wanting to provide a throwback for fans of the genre, something Evotinction does successfully with its varied hacking-based gameplay.