All in all, I really had a good time playing Athena Crisis. It’s not only an incredibly competent tactical adventure inspired by Advance Wars, it’s even a tool to creature user generated content and share it with others. Throw in the ability to jump into the campaigns of other players and a lighthearted story of adventure, and you have a game that’s very easy to recommend.

Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a throwback to a game that was a throwback when it came out, and it shows. While updated graphics put a nice coat of paint on things, and the story is far more intriguing than you’d expect from this sort of title, they don’t mask that underneath it, all the core mechanics and level design here don’t hold up. Fans of Mickey Mouse might put up with them to see one of the more interesting versions of the character in recent decades; everyone else should brush up on a better platformer.

In some ways, Keylocker is like going to a concert for a genre you’ve never listened to. Many will be scared or turned off by a sudden wall of things they might not understand, but those who face the music have a high chance of walking away with a smile and a new obsession. Keylocker, for me, was that concert, and having braved a storm of rough learning curves and story-sabotaging bugs and glitches, I do sincerely hope that Moonana has more tunes in store once they get extra practice in.

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but it can be hard not to when the cover is as pretty as this one is. Still, once you get past the wonderful style of The Plucky Squire, you’ll find a game that has a lot of creativity, at least when it comes to its puzzles and exploration. Other aspects of the game are less successful, but they aren’t poorly executed; they just tend to feel a bit generic. It would have been fantastic if the developers had brought the same creativity to all aspects of this game, but anyone who enjoys thinking their way through their adventure should absolutely check it out.

Even with a few minor missteps, Kamikaze Lassplanes is still one of the most enjoyable and unique ecchi adventures I’ve played in quite a while. After spending 10 hours with the game, I not only found the story compelling and fun, but was also impressed by its willingness to deal with heavy concepts like what makes us human, and what price are we willing to pay for victory? Combined with lush artwork and great audio design, as well as replay value aplenty in multiple endings and standalone arcade modes for the Shmup levels, and you have an outstanding game by a very talented team. I highly recommend any fans of VNs check this out, even if they’re not super confident about their Shmup skills.

Like Prodigal and Curse Crackers: For Whom The Belle Toils before it, Veritus is an unapologetically old-school adventure made for a very particular demographic. It has its quirks and can feel a bit unfair at times due to some questionable design decisions. But stick with it for the excellent puzzles, delightful dungeon variety, and irresistible presentation. If you happen to be a retro gamer at heart with a soft spot for the Game Boy Color era, Veritus comes easily recommended.

Frostpunk 2 is the exact move this frozen franchise needed; in fact, it’s the only logical path it could have followed. Scaling up from individuals to factions may have kept some aspects of the original at arm’s length, but the feelings of desperation, urgency, and enervation not only remain, but are dramatically heightened. If you’ve ever wanted to be completely and utterly drained by a game that feels much larger than itself, Frostpunk 2 beckons.

While there are a few changes, like the photography losing a category and gaining no replacement and Frank looking and sounding just a bit off, the pros in this remaster far outweigh the cons. The addition of autosave, the ability to move while aiming, and even the extra mall music make Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster feel like the glorious resurrection the franchise needed. I can only hope Capcom considers reanimating other Dead Rising games after this because, like skilled morticians, they've proven that they're dead serious about preserving the classics.

Deadlink is an excellent mixture of Robobeat’s roguelike structure and DOOM (2016)’s frantic but strategic frenzied gunplay. That’s a very high compliment, as I loved both games very much, and Deadlink proves there’s still plenty of life in the roguelike shooting genre. The gunplay is rapid, clicks together well, and provides plenty of room for experimentation to help soak up some, but not all, of the burnout the lack of enemy and level variety brings. Even when I get a bad run, I still feel accomplished in what I get from it, whether that be more XP and Tokens or even a little secret nugget or two. Just make sure to keep yourself on the move; Deadlink goes full throttle right from the start. From the absolutely electrifying beats to the simple pleasures of racking the pump of a shotgun, every sound comes in crystal clear, and the Dualsense additions are icing on the cake. If you want to run and gun with a bit of randomness in between, Deadlink’s cyberpunk flair just cannot be passed up.

Iron Meat is a challenging, gloriously gory, and fast-paced run ‘n gun adventure with a fun story and solid replay value. If you’re at all a fan of Contra, you absolutely need to pick this up.

The Crush House does something different, combining aspects of social interaction, photography, and simulation with a deeper mystery waiting to be uncovered, always lurking below the surface. It’s an interesting combination, and while it could offer a more cohesive experience, there’s little else like it on the market. Reality TV fans interested in how the medium can translate to video games should absolutely give The Crush House a look.

I’m a little torn about Forgotten Mines. While I did enjoy my time with the game, I also fear it’s just unbalanced enough to dissuade most gamers from spending the time necessary to grind enough Gems to help stack the odds in their favor. And while the combat is fast-paced and punchy, it’s also unpredictable and often cruelly weighs everything against you. If you’re truly patient and can put up with dying many, many times in your quest to retake the mines, you’ll find a game to love here. For everybody else, this is a harder sell.

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid offers distilled Summer Break happiness in video game form, with its vast open world, boundless activities, and magnetic rural charm. I’ve played a lot of video games in my life, but I don’t know that I’ve ever quite played one like this. I can say one thing for sure, though—I’m already looking forward to my next summer adventure.

White Day 2: The Flower That Tells Lies is far from being the worst horror game I’ve played. But it’s nowhere near the best. Offering little more than truncated stories within self-contained chapters and gameplay mechanics that feel inferior to those within its predecessor, White Day 2: The Flower That Tells Lies – Complete Edition is a disappointing sequel for those of us who have spent years waiting for a White Day sequel.

Visions of Mana on PlayStation 5 is a remarkable and heartfelt revival of the Seiken Densetsuseries. It might not have the appeal of some of Square Enix’s mainline franchises, but it’s filled with tons of heart and love from an old school JRPG perspective. Ouka Studios has created a magical and memorable adventure that breathes new life into a beloved franchise that shouldn’t be forgotten.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics may not have some of the single-player content or historical context I’d love to see in the very best collections, but what it does offer are six of the best fighting games ever made in arcade perfect form with seemingly excellent online infrastructure. That’s more than enough to make this a must-own for anyone remotely interested in the genre.

I was still itching for more just to keep lapping up the myriad nostalgic references scattered everywhere. Astro Botis a product of passion, playfulness, and perfectly portioned platforming pastimes. Team ASOBI has hit it out of the park with this one and quite possibly landed a Game of the Year grand slam.

Despite the minor issues I mentioned above, nothing could bring down my experience with Demon’s Mirror. This is an extraordinary rogue-like deckbuilder with clever implementation of chain-3 mechanics. Not only is it wholly engrossing and addictive, but it’s also really well-balanced. If you are at all a fan of this genre, you owe it to yourself to pick this up right now.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was well worth the wait after all these years, as it magnificently captures the essence of the source material. With its intense and visceral combat mechanics, stunning visual design, and bombastic multiplayer action, it stands as a must-play title for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike. That being said, the game desperately needs more content, but Saber Interactive has already got that covered with their long-term roadmap.

Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown sits in a bit of an unfortunate spot on the road. It wants so badly to be like its older brothers, Forza Horizon and The Crew. Yet it misses its mark due to a laundry list of immersion-wrecking faults and bugs, a lack of technical details, and an unremarkable collection of cars. To Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown’s credit, Hong Kong can be an absolutely gorgeous sandbox with its impressive mix of urban and natural environments. Despite these shortcomings and its occasionally spotty steering and quirky rearview mirrors, there’s something worthwhile trapped under the hood. Buried somewhere underneath the attempts at realism, you can almost catch a glimpse of the fun arcade racer Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown is better suited to be.

I really hope this game gets its rough spots patched out because if you can look past its fussy controls and noticeable input lag, you’ll find Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn to be an otherwise razor-sharp remake from the team at Tengo Project. With its pixel-perfect presentation, meaty challenge, and excellent couch co-op that lets you and a friend take on the forces of evil simultaneously, it deserves your attention, even if there’s currently room for improvement.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is truly unique. The novel spin-off series of a beloved yet relatively niche franchise that remained half-translated in an official capacity for over a decade, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection should give hope to players holding out for other games seemingly locked forever in the land of the rising sun. With fresh gameplay and an important story to the franchise, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is not to be skipped by any Ace Attorney fan and is a must-play for anyone even remotely interested in the genre.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage is a game that knows exactly what it is and doesn’t try to be anything else. It’s a chaotic, visually impressive romp filled with over-the-top violence and juvenile humor. If you’re looking for a mindless action game with a killer cat protagonist, it might just scratch that itch. However, if you’re expecting a deep story, engaging characters, or innovative gameplay, you’ll likely be disappointed. It’s a game that insists upon itself, doubling down on its particular brand of humor and spectacle whether you like it or not. For some, that might be enough, but for me, Gori: Cuddly Carnage was the kind of fun I forgot about as soon as I put the controller down.

Star Wars Outlaws may not be the most original game, but virtually everything about it is well-executed and a joy to experience. With an excellent story, interesting characters, great voice acting, and seemingly never-ending amounts of missions, this is my favorite Star Wars game in years. Fans will find plenty of reasons to once again get lost in this faraway galaxy.

When the combat is this good, though, it’s hard to complain too much. Black Myth: Wukong offers thrilling battles with devastating bosses in stunning arenas. Even without a particularly compelling narrative or much in the way of exploration, Game Science has managed to craft a highly memorable experience that borrows from other popular games but still offers a unique experience. Action fans will find what they’re looking for with Black Myth: Wukong.

A couple unfortunate issues aside, Cat Quest III is still a wonderfully fun, cheeky and utterly packed pirate adventure. Not only did it tell a compelling story with resonant themes, but it made me more of a fan of open-world games. Even though I haven’t played any other games in the series, you can bet I’m a fan of it now. I’d recommend you all join me on the hype train as well, because it looks like we haven’t even reached the midway point to this charming little series.

The quirky caveman Tomba stands out with his pink hair and green shorts, tackling the world with vigor and primal fury, carving through pesky pigs to get his grandfather’s bracelet back and vanquish the evil swine. The world-building is just as vibrant as our wild protagonist, and the music to accompany it will have you humming all day long. With the newly implemented rewind feature, an entire museum filled with behind-the-scenes goodies, and anytime saving and loading, this retread of a PS1 cult classic is a masterful example of video game preservation done right.

The Tribe Must Survive feels like a missed opportunity. It has a promising premise and a few interesting ideas, but its execution is marred by frustrating gameplay, artificial difficulty, a repetitive structure, and a lack of meaningful choices. If you’re a fan of unforgiving roguelikes and don’t mind repetitive gameplay, you might find something to enjoy here. But for most players, The Tribe Must Survive will likely prove to be more of an exercise in frustration than a truly satisfying survival experience.

Despite some balance issues and the one aforementioned glitch, overall, I had a blast with Kitsune Tails. Though it purportedly can take anywhere from 15 to 20 hours to beat, I’d say hardcore platformer fans can beat it in half that time. Just don’t expect it to be a simple task because some of the stages required me grinding for coins and buying the right transformations just to have a fighting chance. That said, if you enjoy retro platforming and are looking for a rainbow-colored take on the genre, you can’t go wrong here.

Neon White may not be a widely different game two years later, but it’s still fantastic. If you haven’t played it yet, this new Xbox release, which is available on Game Pass, is as good an excuse as any to do so. If you’ve somehow overlooked Neon White thus far, now is the time to change that.

It’s hard to see players who want an arcade experience enjoying the rigidity of Hot Lap Racing’srules, yet I can’t see those looking for a more sim experience enjoying its somewhat floaty controls and lack of any real depth. Throw in performance issues, and I have a hard time recommending Hot Lap Racing to anyone. It’s perfectly playable, and once you get used to it, you can find fun at times, but there are simply better options no matter which side of the sim or arcade racing game divide you prefer.

Earth Defense Force 6 continues to build on the strengths of its predecessors, offering a thrilling and chaotic experience that fans of the series have come to love. Despite being more of the same, lacking in the visual department, and being quite repetitive, EDF 6 is sure to gather players from all over the globe to gear up to defend Earth once more.

Really, with Earl vs. the Mutants, all of this really is as simple as it gets, but it benefits greatly by staying focused like this. It still reminds me heavily of the kinds of mindless fun I used to have on Newgrounds back in the early 2000s. And looking at Earl vs. the Mutants’ stripped-down designs and gameplay hammers in that same kind of vibe, for better and worse. You really cannot go into this looking for anything deeper because it really isn’t there. This is the kind of game you grab to chew through a few runs on your Steam Deck while waiting at the airport or killing time until an appointment. You tear up some mutants, maybe hit the boss if the run’s been forgiving enough, eat dirt a few times, upgrade, then rinse and repeat, all within ten minutes a pop. It’s simple, and that’s the best kind of fuel that Earl vs. the Mutants can run on, even if it’s pretty watered down.

Deliver Us The Moon makes its final console appearance on the Nintendo Switch, after being available for PC and all other consoles for the past four years. The game continues to deliver a thrilling sci-fi experience whilst picking your brain with challenging puzzles. However, the Switch’s hardware constraints mean that said experience is significantly diminished with low texture resolution, low frame rates, and long load times.

The Legend of Legacy has some visible mechanical hiccups, especially when compared to its successor, The Alliance Alive. Imperfections a bad game does not make, however. Despite its undersized dungeons and overall opaqueness regarding combat mechanic intricacies, The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered is nonetheless a compelling, enjoyable, and incredibly cozy RPG that promises to be worth the time of most who choose to invest their time playing it.

Honestly, I adored Zet Zillions. Sure, I’m a ways away from fully beating the game, but I also don’t want to stop playing. This is a wonderful rogue-like deckbuilder with zany punk style and a great example of the superb talent of OTA IMON Studio. While some might be dismayed by the overall difficulty and the fact that the game is only available on Steam, I’d say this is still a game fans of the genre absolutely need to play, and which may even convince diehards to finally give into this rogue-like obsession.

Altogether, DROS is still a fun and unique puzzle platformer, though it will often tax your brain power and occasionally make your hands sweat from demanding platforming challenges. If you can look past the occasional glitch, basic combat, and an overall lack of music, this is still a creative little adventure with a surprisingly compelling plot.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road didn’t attempt to do anything to “shake things up” for its 10th anniversary. But it didn’t need to—and its latest expansion is a great example of how it manages to keep things fresh while never veering too off-course from its core gameplay loop. Featuring an enticing new storyline with a brand-new Daedric Prince, the incredibly rewarding Scribing mechanic, and the entirety of the West Weald to explore, The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road is an incredibly enjoyable expansion and the perfect way for fans—be they veterans or newbies—to celebrate ESO‘s 10th anniversary in style.

Until Then does a fantastic job of capturing a culture, a place, and the way modern teenagers interact in a way so few games get right. While the personal stories of its characters are perhaps more interesting than the overarching mystery, this is a story that any fan of the genre will want to explore.

Still Wakes The Deep uses its unique setting to the absolute fullest, bringing something new to the horror genre that’s as bracingly refreshing as a breath of cool North Sea air. The gameplay is straightforward, and the playtime is short, but the atmosphere more than makes up for it. The sense of terror is as thick and impenetrable as the Scottish accents of the oil rig’s crew. If you’re looking for a brisk cinematic experience full of beautiful set pieces, brilliantly acted character work and monstrous thrills then I donnae ken how ye cae do better.

While the game’s lack of challenge and severe lack of enemy variety undoubtedly keep it from being as memorable as it could have been, Cyber Citizen Shockman Zero still manages to be a fun ride while it lasts, and even though I don’t see myself revisiting it again any time soon, I’m glad it’s no longer confined to the dustbin of gaming history. If you’re a fan of the Shockman franchise or just want to step back in time to experience a small slice of what Nintendo’s long-forgotten Satellaview service had to offer, Cyber Citizen Shockman Zero just might be worth adding to your library.

Sweetest Monster isn’t ebi-hime’s only venture into the darker side of humanity, but it’s certainly one that stands out. Despite its occasional hiccups and bizarre decisions toward the end, Sweetest Monster still manages to craft an engaging narrative that examines real-world familial woes while simultaneously crossing the line into horrific fiction.

I like the Neptunia series. It has plenty of potential, and it’s shown itself capable of creating genuinely impressive titles. That’s exactly why its recent string of spinoff mishaps has worried me so much. Still, its most recent iteration has given me some hope. Neptunia Game Maker R:Evolution is far from perfect and feels years behind where it should be, but its dedication to improving various aspects of its long-standing elements, particularly its dungeons, has given me some hope. I’m not sure that I can recommend Neptunia Game Maker R:Evolution to the average JRPG fan, given its questionable quality. If you’re a pre-existing Neptunia fan, however, you’ll probably dig it.

Anger Foot is the B-movie of video games: it’s loud, messy, and doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not. It’s the kind of experience you’ll either love or hate, depending on your tolerance for toilet humor and over-the-top violence. The game’s unapologetic immaturity might be a turn-off for some, but those who embrace its chaotic energy will find a surprisingly polished and addictive power fantasy. It’s a weekend fling of a game, best enjoyed in short bursts before the charm wears off. So, if you’re in the mood for a mindless, adrenaline-fueled rampage with a healthy dose of crude humor, strap on your kicking boots and let loose.

The combat is absolutely stunning and fluid as hell, while still easing players in with a slightly fast but very well-thought-out tutorial system. Just about every character has some quirk or charm to them, and the enemies, while a bit sparse as of launch, have potential for some awesome ideas. The gacha comes with a few bonus goodies to help net some early five-stars and ease in players into the combat with plenty of tools and characters. Those new to the series should still have a fairly easy time worming their way into what’s definitely going to stand out as a culmination of everything HoYoVerse has learned over their warpath dominating the gacha gaming niche.

I was really excited about Trails Through Daybreak, and I’m not sure that I got everything out of it that I was hoping for—especially when you pile on some of NISA’s head-scratching localization choices. But it’s still a Trails game at the end of the day, and Nihon Falcom always delivers when it comes to this series. The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak may tread old ground in certain areas, but it’s ultimately an excellent JRPG experience with a phenomenal, character-driven narrative that’s absolutely worth your time.

I know that The Land Beneath Us might still be a hard sell for some people, but personally, I loved the game. It’s not only unique and challenging, but it eventually balances that difficulty with new features that open the experience up smartly. If you’re willing to put in the time, this is a rogue-like I would highly recommend.

Despite the lacking performance, it’s impossible to call Shadow of the Erdtree anything other than a masterpiece and perhaps one of the most generous slices of DLC I’ve ever encountered. In doubling down on what made the base game such a triumph and wrapping it up in an irresistible new map that begs to be explored, FromSoftware has created something truly special that ramps up the difficulty in a way that never feels unfair as a result of well thought out progression systems. Between new regions, enough new weapons to arm a small army, and an unrivaled enemy roster that trumps everything that has come before both in terms of design and difficulty, Shadow of the Erdtree is FromSoftware firing on all cylinders. We don’t know at this stage if the intent is to release any further expansions for Miyazaki’s masterpiece, but if Shadow of the Erdtree is to be it, then it’s as close to a perfect way to bow out as possible.

While #BLUD’s occasionally frustrating hit detection and repetitive late-game dungeons keep it from realizing its full potential, it’s still very much worth checking out, thanks to its entertaining writing, imaginative boss fights, and pixel-perfect presentation. If you’ve got a soft spot for the cartoons of the late 1990s or are simply looking for a fun twist on the Zelda formula to sink your teeth into, #BLUD should leave you satisfied.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble offers a great single-player experience, and if that’s what you’re looking for, I would absolutely recommend it. However, Monkey Ball has always been at its best during multiplayer mayhem, and that side of this release, despite offering some fleeting fun, feels like a missed opportunity. It’s great to see Super Monkey Ball back with a new game, but hopefully, any future entry will fully capture what made this series so beloved in the first place.

If Capcom’s latest Monster Hunter RPG has shown us anything, it’s that it has plenty of potential. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is an incredibly engaging title with an addicting gameplay loop that expertly melds pre-existing Monster Hunter into a unique JRPG title that offers far more than its predecessor. The sky’s the limit for this spinoff, and I’m looking forward to seeing just how high it can fly.

If you miss games meant to be played on the go rather than simply able to be played that way, Monster Hunter Stories is worth checking out. That won’t be the case for most players on PS4, though, unless you happen to engage in regular remote play or own a PlayStation Portal. It becomes a bit harder to recommend as an option to be played at home when its simple design and lacking story struggle to stand out next to the wide variety of great RPGs on the platform. Interesting combat certainly helps, and if you’re a big fan of Monster Hunter, seeing its world in a whole new style will certainly offer some appeal, but Monster Hunter Stories will be hard to truly fall in love with unless you’re playing it the way it was designed to be played.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance brings plenty of additions to the table, including a separate narrative, new content, several quality-of-life updates, improved technical performance, and updated gameplay systems. It is a fantastically refined JRPG that seeks to achieve and expand far more than the original release did, as well as right many of its predecessor’s wrongs. This is the game’s second chance, and it’s well deserved.

Touch Detective 3 + The Complete Case Files remains a classic series on the 3/DS now home in its remastered, complete state on the Switch. Its silly stories and charming characters provide hours of entertainment for gamers of any age but will especially delight those who remember the titles fondly on their original hardware. If you’re looking for a franchise to fall in love with but don’t want to break the bank, it’s an open and shut case — grab Touch Detective 3 + The Complete Case Files for the Switch.

There are so many different metaphors that I could use to describe El Shaddai‘s leap onto the Switch. It’s a bit of Heaven and a bit of Hell. It’s a rose with plenty of thorns. It’s a… well, you get the picture. Regardless of how many metaphors I throw out, the best way to sum this game up is to say that El Shaddai Ascension of the Metatron HD Remaster is a visual masterpiece that is, very unfortunately, bogged down by shallow combat and mediocre platforming. It’s too bad that they never made a proper sequel to this game. I’m sure that they would have perfected things eventually, given enough time. Ah, well. Maybe someday. Maybe someday…

I never thought I’d be the one to review Megaton Musashi W: Wired, but I’m glad I was. Not only is it an ambitious adventure with a surprising focus on story, but it also features a dearth of content to explore, characters it’s easy to empathize with, and tons of in-depth customization. Most everything managed to feel streamlined and easy to grasp, and some small issues aside, I found the game quite enjoyable. Despite the hefty price point, I’d say this is yet another Level-5 game that’s a must-play for fans.

I had an incredible amount of fun with Samurai Warriors 4 DX and will continue to do so as I go about trying to max out my bonds in the expansive Chronicle mode. While it is undoubtedly a title that shows its age technically, Samurai Warriors 4 DX is a perfect slice of Musou action for anyone craving the simplicity of decades gone by, where you could switch your brain off and bask in the glory of hundreds of enemies being sent flying with very little need to engage the brain. With a massive roster of characters, a generous helping of story content, and a dangerously addictive Chronicle mode, if you previously missed out on Samurai Warriors 4 DX, then this PC release serves as the perfect chance to get in on some classic Musou action.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is an absolute blast and an asymmetrical horror title that leans brilliantly into its ridiculous source material by creating an experience that prioritizes chaos over being overly competitive. The new player experience may not be the most welcoming, but it’s worth preserving through the initial struggle, as what IllFonic has created is an entry to the genre that takes some of the best elements from the studio’s past work while putting an original spin on tried and tested mechanics. In a genre that has arguably become oversaturated, this is a video game that has done the unthinkable by making Killer Klowns from Outer Space seem relevant again in 2024. Here is hoping the relatively niche nature of the IP doesn’t turn new players away, as with the right support, this is a title I cannot wait to dedicate many more hours to going forward.

Even though I managed to return Kuon to the world of the living and her loving owner, I found myself a bit disappointed with Umbraclaw. While it’s a novel and fascinating adventure, it’s also held back by some poorly utilized systems, frustrating save functionality, and often inconsistent and overwhelming difficulty. While I enjoyed it overall, it failed to stand out from recent spectacular entries from Inti Creates.

Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip is equal parts derpy and adorable (aderpable?), delivering a steady dose of randomness and coziness over the course of its roughly three-hour playtime. Still, if the charm’s swayed you over, there’s a healthy amount of collectibles to add a couple more hours in. I’ll admit the humor was hit-or-miss, and sometimes the characters didn’t feel all that noteworthy, but chances are the ability to screw around to your heart’s content with no penalties or deaths in this short but sweet sandbox are the real fun to be had. After all, when an NPC flails about when punted with a wrench, it’s awfully hard not to laugh.

A lot has changed in the indie scene since Braid first came out, but a game like this never actually goes out of style. While I may not agree with its narrative direction, there’s no denying the impressive quality that helps this game. And, even now, I don’t think that I’ve ever played another game quite like it. Whether you’re a seasoned Braid veteran or a complete newcomer, Braid, Anniversary Edition is an enjoyably challenging puzzle-platformer that’s absolutely worth your time.

Venture to the Vile is both familiar and utterly unique. It’s a twisted Gothic story full of mystery, monsters, and big moral questions. Throw in gorgeous art, killer music, and well-balanced gameplay, and you have one of the best Metroidvanias I’ve played in a while. Just get ready now to get utterly lost in the moody little town of Rainybrook, because it won’t let you go anytime soon.

Felix the Cat is certainly a mixed bag; both literally and metaphorically. If you’re a diehard fan of Pat Sullivan and Otto Messmer’s iconic anthropomorphic cat or just want to settle down for the afternoon with some easy retro platforming, you’ll probably enjoy Felix the Cat. Its repetitive tendencies, dull level design, and overall lack of challenge may put most others off, however. I’m not totally sure who wanted Felix the Cat ported to modern consoles if I’m being honest. But, it’s like I’ve already said—I’m always in favor of saving old games from obscurity.

As a fan of tactical games, deckbuilders, and rogue-likes, I was beyond frustrated by Re:Lord – Tales of Adventure. Even if you set the AI aspect aside, the game is poorly written, badly balanced, and just not fun to play. Hell, I’d go so far as to say it doesn’t even satisfy the low threshold of being a tactical adventure. Even though it’s an affordable experience, I can’t in good conscience recommend this to even the most desperate of deck-builder players.

There’s a lot to like about Phantom Fury. The retro stylings and atmosphere are instantly engrossing, the weapon variety is great and it’s overall entertaining. Sadly, it’s weighed down by various bugs and niggles, and it’s not so jam-packed with secrets, one-liners and references as Ion Fury. This is why it’s a good game, but not quite the classic it could have been. Nonetheless, if you’re eager to rediscover the high-octane thrills of Millenial shooters, Phantom Fury doesn’t just hit the mark, it blasts it to pieces and makes a smug quip.

Some may write off Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II as more of the same, and they’re not entirely wrong. While the experience has evolved and improved in pretty much every way, this certainly feels like a natural follow-up to Senua’s first journey. Yet where it most stands apart is in the way Senua’s personal journey has influenced her world. There’s still inescapable horror, but there’s also great beauty here which is what will stick with me the most.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER, but in the end, it exceeded the original adventure in practically every conceivable way. This is a truly fun and well-made sequel, full of beautiful artwork, compelling music, and fantastic voice acting. Amidst all that, there’s also insightful and memorable storytelling that simultaneously makes the reader view many real-world issues and ethical dilemmas through a different lens. Highly recommended, even if you haven’t played the first game.

I really was hoping Cyber Citizen Shockman 3: The Princess From Another World would continue the positive trend of the last game’s success, but sadly in some ways this felt like a small step backwards, at least in terms of gameplay. That said, this is a very ambitious and visually striking entry in the series, and even though the balance isn’t great, you can always use the cheats to make life easier. If you’re curious about the series, I’d still say it’s worth checking out.

On one hand, Biomorph is a great addition to the Metroidvania genre that gets by with great combat and a huge world that boasts some clever-level design along with rewarding town-restoration mechanics. Despite that, I couldn’t help but come away feeling as though it was somewhat of a missed opportunity. The core mechanic of morphing into enemy forms is a wonderfully novel take on Metroidvania progression, so it’s a real shame that this novelty is devalued by a lack of incentive to revisit forms once you’ve exited the biome they’re initially found in. On the whole, though, if you’re craving a well-designed Metroidvania that nails the fundamentals while at least attempting to put its own spin on the genre, Biomorph is an easy recommendation.

While there are five games in the Rose & Camellia Collection, none of them are that long. You can finish the whole series in an afternoon. While the insane tone and style are highly entertaining, the lacking controls hold this collection back from being essential. Still, I’m glad that someone looked at this series and decided to preserve it for future generations. Nobody needs to play the Rose & Camellia Collection, but for the right price, you can have a few entertaining hours with it.

Botany Manor is a short but sweet exploration experience that serves to lower one’s blood pressure with serene garden sound effects, bright and airy visuals, and a relaxing soundtrack. The perfect game to play in a single sitting or boot up at random when feeling a little frazzled, Botany Manor is an experience that is easy to love and hard to put down until finished. If you’re looking for a Myst-like exploration experience but want one full of nature, whimsy, and peace, look no further than Botany Manor.

Indika is a game that resists tidy conclusions. Its unsettling world, ambiguous narrative, and deliberate frustration left me with more questions than answers and forced me to reevaluate my expectations of what a game can be. This lingering unease is central to its power. Indika uses the medium in a daring way, blending unsettling visuals and subversive gameplay with philosophical themes. Its dreamlike setting and unreliable narrator constantly force the player to confront the limits of their understanding within the game’s constructed world. Though the experience may feel opaque at times, this enigmatic quality is the source of Indika‘s enduring impact.

While its occasionally spotty hit detection and overly long stages can sometimes be annoying, they do little to take away from just how much of a joy Freedom Planet 2 is to play. As a die-hard fan of the Sonic series since its inception, playing GalaxyTrail’s latest offering felt like taking a trip back to the early 90s with its pixel-perfect presentation and high-energy 2D gameplay. If you’re a fan of the Sonic The Hedgehog games of old or are simply looking for a great 2D platformer to add to your PS5 library, Freedom Planet 2 demands your attention.

Though it’s not quite a perfect adventure, Dream Tactics is still quite fun, ambitious, and full of humor. It also is surprisingly challenging, no matter what difficulty you set it at. Despite some minor, mostly forgivable missteps, I had a lot of fun with it. A successful run can take 10+ hours, and it’s sure to entertain fans of the tactical and deckbuilder genres.

Overall, Reigns Beyond is a delightful adventure with hilarious writing and a complex yet easy-to-grasp gameplay system. Though I had a lot of fun in my time with the game, I was a little frustrated by the lack of clarity in getting past some scenarios. That said, at the super cheap price point, it’s hard not to recommend that fans of the genre pick this up.

All in all, Final Fantasy‘s finale DLC was a pretty good time. While Mysidia wasn’t quite as in-depth as I had hoped it would be, Final Fantasy XVI The Rising Tide is nonetheless an enjoyable and rewarding journey and a satisfying conclusion to the Final Fantasy XVI DLC duology.

While it took its time getting its hooks into me, once TopSpin 2K25 grabbed me, I grew to understand the appeal of this more technical tennis experience. It’s not for every fan of tennis games, but I know there are players who are going to love it, and I eventually had a really good time. That good time was fleeting, though, thanks to its repetition and lack of content. TopSpin 2K25 is only recommended for players who plan to put a lot of hours into competing online.

If you love Toriyama-san’s art style and world-building and share his love for vehicle design, then Sand Land is the game for you. With its unique blend of exploration, vehicular combat, unparalleled customization, and engaging narrative, the Sand Land video game is a manga brought to life.

Square Enix’s addition to the SaGa series is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, you’ve got its storytelling and exploration mechanics—both of which feel strangely placed, and neither of which gives the proper amount of freedom that you’d expect from a SaGa title. Its masterful approach to combat, however, ensures that you’ll never have a dull moment when it comes to duking it out with the baddies—or even when setting up your own team! SaGa Emerald Beyond isn’t “middle-of-the-road” by any means. It’s a mixture of good and not-so-good. However, as long as you go into things knowing that, you’ll probably still have a pretty good time.

I really enjoyed my time with Lunar Lander Beyond. Even if you’re not a huge fan of the original Lunar Lander, this follow-up takes everything to another level. While I was impressed by some of the new systems and rogue elements, the difficulty spikes and sometimes cluttered artwork kept it from a perfect score. But if you don’t mind a challenging and relatively short sci-fi romp, I’d check it out.

For fans of Suikoden, playing Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes was always going to be an emotional experience given Murayama's passing. Thankfully, however, while we continue to mourn the loss of an industry legend, we also get to celebrate his life's work in the best way possible through a remarkable JRPG that retains everything people loved about Suikoden while building upon it to create an incredible end to an equally incredible career. Looking back on my notes as I sat to write this review, I wasn't surprised in the slightest to realize that the vast majority of what I had written down was positive given the immense joy I felt while playing through Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. Any faults are minor, so minor to the point where in the grand scheme of things, they matter little and cannot even come close to overshadowing everything this game gets right. Playing through Nowa and his companions' journey feels like a true celebration - a celebration of how incredible JRPGs can be when done right, a celebration of a legend's career, and the celebration of the birth of a new franchise that I cannot wait to see expanded upon for years to come.

After two triumphant video game outings, South Park: Snow Day is a crushingly disappointing effort, with new development team Question leaving behind everything that made the New Kid’s previous two adventures such a success. Bland combat, a distinct lack of humor, and one-dimensional level design come together to create something that I suspect most will bounce off immediately. Not even the mildly interesting rogue-lite card system and persistent upgrades can save this one from disaster. At worst, I expected Snow Day to be something that at least could be recommended to hardcore fans, but with such a disregard for what makes South Park special, this is one even the most die-hard of fans can avoid.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox Definitive Edition clearly alleviates and improves upon many of the grievances it suffered from in the original release, but some of those glaring problems are still there. Nonetheless, the game offers an engaging Lovecraftian narrative filled with gorgeous artwork and interesting characters bound to keep Metroidvania fans entertained. Just know that there are much better ones out there.

Children of the Sun delivers a distinctly edgy experience, blending stylized graphics, shocking cutscenes, and quirky elements. While the narrative loses some steam and gameplay variety is limited, its core mechanics – precision sniping, bullet manipulation, and cleverly designed levels – remain consistently engaging. This makes Children of the Sun a worthwhile and uniquely visceral experience for fans of score-based shooters who enjoy a strong, satirical tone and strategic problem-solving. While it might not offer endless replayability, those who appreciate its offbeat nature will find a refreshingly different and satisfying gameplay loop.

Its open world may not contain an abundance of diverse and interesting distractions, but the combat is strong enough that exploration is still satisfying. Couple that with some excellent traversal mechanics and the freedom to truly go anywhere, and Outcast: A New Beginning is a fantastic attempt at reviving the IP for a modern audience in a way that feels faithful to the vision of its predecessor.

It looks the part of a dystopian robot future, and I wish it had lived up to my hype. Ultimately though, Metal Mind wasn’t the rogue-like I was hoping for, nor the robot builder experience. While there might be a worthwhile adventure here for those willing to push past the punishing lack of balance, I feel many won’t have the patience to delve very far into this robot adventure.

While the concept of Parry Nightmare is novel and fun when things are going well, it can also be very irritating. Combining the massive challenge with a UI that isn’t cleaner and more precise, it makes this game hard to recommend to everyone. But if you’re willing to take a shot on something unique, you really can’t go wrong, especially at the game’s incredibly low price point.

While the boomshtick might wear out its welcome with enough rounds spent, it’ll always have a place for those with an attraction to trying their luck, proving that a good concept, when fleshed out just enough, can say all it needs to leave a lasting impression. If you’ve got an itchy trigger finger and are craving a fatal game of chance, Buckshot Roulette serves its purpose and shows promise for so much more down the line.

Zoria: Age of Shattering is a commendable effort in what is an extremely competitive genre. In choosing not to focus heavily on narrative, and instead setting out to provide a satisfying loop of exploration and fast-paced combat that continuously moves you forward, Tiny Trinket Games has managed to provide a CRPG experience that feels fresh. In choosing not to try and go toe-to-toe with the genre’ heavyweights, Zoria: Age of Shattering carves out its own deserved space in the collections of CRPG fans and serves as a welcome alternative for those seeking out new adventures.

I’ve played a lot of amazing games from Devolver’s library, but Pepper Grinder stands above most of the pack. It’s a quirky, creative, and utterly enjoyable platformer with lots of character, if not much in the way of plot. The mechanics work well and the creativity speaks for itself, despite some minor snags keeping it from a perfect score. All platformer fans owe it to themselves to check this one out.

Tango Gameworks’ Hi-Fi Rush returns to the stage with an encore on the PlayStation 5. If you missed playing it last year for whatever reason, do yourself a favor and snag it up right now! Its innovative gameplay combining action-combat with rhythm-based timings, coupled with a charming narrative and stunning visuals, makes it an outstanding performance worth attending.

Given what its based on, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this game would be destined to end up in the same terrible-yet-hilarious state as the games it was based on. But it didn’t. On the contrary, it thrived. Despite having the Zelda CD-i titles as its source material, Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is a legitimately fun, and surprisingly polished, platformer whose delightful strangeness is sure to please those who long to experience a CD-i-quality game without the CD-i-quality jank that usually comes with it.

Dragon’s Dogma II is an instant classic. Capcom hasn’t reinvented the wheel here, opting instead to deliver the same blend of exploration and monster slaying that they established in 2012 while turning it into a full-on adventure simulator via a sandbox that is capable of generating jaw-dropping moments at every turn. It may not be polished to the degree that I’d like, but I find it impossible to be angry at Capcom when what they’ve delivered carries a level of ambition and seamlessness that needs to be seen to be believed. In a year stacked to the rafters with game-of-the-year-worthy RPGs already, Dragon’s Dogma II is another fantastic addition to what is already becoming a complicated discussion and should not be overlooked.

Despite failing to live up to its name, however, what is here is largely excellent. Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story does a solid job of telling the story of the first half of Jeff Minter’s career and features a ton of cool games that weren’t easily available previously. I’m glad this collection is out there, and for players interested in Minter’s career, this is a must-buy.

Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection definitely needs some more time to bake in the oven with a few more patches and server updates. At its very core, it’s still a solid choice for Star Warsenthusiasts and those who enjoyed the original Battlefront games to experience a dose of nostalgia, but it’s difficult to look past the technical issues and bugs that currently plague it.

While its story may be a bit pedestrian, I have no other negatives to point out about Unicorn Overlord. Vanillaware has created another masterful gameplay experience that still has all the style of their best games. It would have been great to see them nail the story and create a truly unforgettable experience, but anyone who remotely enjoys strategy games needs to pick up Unicorn Overlord.

While there are genuine moments of excitement and mystery to be found in Alone in the Dark, they simply aren’t enough to offset the mountain of issues that plague the game, at least in its current state. With clunky and unsatisfying combat and more bugs than an Ekbom Syndrome convention, Alone in the Dark is a game that’s best left in the shadows—at least until some serious updates have been done to sort out its most glaring issues.

Highwater tells a fairly interesting story about a planet on the brink and offers solid, if simple, tactical gameplay, which I mostly enjoyed. Add in a great art style and a winning soundtrack, and there’s a lot to interest fans of the strategy genre. The rest of the world around all of this largely lets the game down but the players Highwater grabs will get lost in the beautiful tragedy of it all.