Despite some missteps and glitches that need ironing out, Grapple Dog is still a very worthy platformer. It may look cute, but it grows more and more challenging the farther you go. It has tight, fast-paced platforming and features a ton of hidden goodies to keep you playing. If you’re at all a fan of the genre, I’d say you need to check Grapple Dog out.

Overall, Haunted House is a solid game. It has mad Scooby Doo vibes (in the best of ways), an enjoyable and rewarding level of difficulty, and is addicting enough to make you want to dive back in again and again. The ever-changing layout of each section of the house, as well as the ability to rescue Lyn’s friends and use them for a new run (with each friend having their own unique stat parameters) means that there’s plenty of variety to keep you on your toes. If you’re in the market for a cute, spoopy, addicting game, I can’t recommend Haunted House enough.

Despite my gripes with the difficulty in the early stages of the career mode, Pixel Cup Soccer: Ultimate Edition is an amazing attempt at capturing the simplistic and joyful appeal of retro soccer games. With its simple gameplay and deceptively deep career mode, it’s a title that is incredibly easy to pick up, all while being equally difficult to put down. If you feel overwhelmed by the complex beasts that modern-day sports games have become and long for a return to simpler times, Pixel Cup Soccer: Ultimate Edition is absolutely championship-winning material.

Although I feel like I didn’t quite understand all of what Genesis Noir was trying to accomplish in story, I absolutely understood the emotional journey it took me on. From the joyous beginnings to the urgently depressing ending and even the loneliness, hope, and determination that came after, Genesis Noir is a celebration of humanity, the universe, and of life itself.

Under Night In-Birth II is a fantastic fighting game experience when you focus solely on the core mechanics and how enjoyable it is to immerse yourself in the depths of its more intricate systems. Examining the package as a whole presents it as one that is perhaps a bit lacking on the content side, with there being a real absence of meaningful offline single-player modes to dive into, which in turn leads to a world that’s difficult to comprehend if you’re coming to this with no prior knowledge of the series. That being said, if you’re a fighting game purist who just wants a new fighting game to master that will offer hours upon hours of fun as you master its many interlocking systems, or you want something simple enough that you can enjoy a few casual rounds with friends here and there, then Under Night In-Birth II fits the bill almost perfectly.

I’m not going to pretend for a minute that I’m unaware of the fact that some people aren’t exactly happy with New World‘s current state, nor will I pretend that I disagree with everything. The game isn’t perfect, and it absolutely has some growing to do. I’m not going to pretend that I dislike the game, either, however. New World is a fun, solid MMORPG packed with plenty of enjoyable content that will keep players busy for a long, long time. Sure, it might have some imperfections, but I’m hopeful that the game will address all of those as it continues to grow—and I look forward to being a part of its community while it does.

This package of the Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy is undoubtedly the best way to experience each of these brilliant JRPGS, with the additional content proving welcome if not quite essential. If you’ve never played through Ryza’s adventures prior to this repackaging, then this is undoubtedly the definitive way to do so.

Clea 2 is exactly what it needs to be—a short and engaging horror game with a unique mechanic that makes things just as fun as they’ve ever been. If you liked Clea, then you’ll most definitely like what Clea 2 has to offer. And, while the story might not make as much sense, the game’s good enough to stand on its own two feet if this is where you decide to jump into things. Either way, though, if you’re as much of a horror junkie as I am, you owe it to yourself to check Clea 2 out.

OBAKEIDORO! is a fantastic, family-friendly version of Dead by Daylight that just about anyone will find addicting. At first, I thought I’d only want to play it for a round or two, but I found myself unable to put down my Switch until several hours later. OBAKEIDORO!’s charm is in its deceptive simplicity — there are so many little balancing acts happening at once that melt together into pure casual, spooky fun. Bet you can’t play just one round of OBAKEIDORO!; once you’ve entered this creepy cute world, you’re here forever.

Expeditions: A MudRunner Game is a commendable journey for truck and mud running enthusiasts seeking a therapeutic yet intricately detailed experience. Saber Interactive has done an impressive job at delivering a unique blend of relaxation and challenge, despite facing some drawbacks. It’s not quite the same as SnowRunner or even the original MudRunner, but it’s still worth your time nonetheless if you’re a fan of this extremely niche genre of games.

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.

While I had a lot of fun reviewing Sunshine Manor, I don’t feel it quite lived up to the promise of 8-bit survival horror. There are moments of it, certainly, but they’re few and far between. That said, the gameplay is well balanced, and you’ll do a lot of puzzle-platforming in the diverse dungeons. If nothing else, the game kept innovating and showing creativity, which I respect. And though I do have some unanswered questions about the plot, it seems clear the game is going to get a sequel at some future point. If you’re a fan of retro and want something different, I’d definitely check Sunshine Manor out.

Ashwalkers toes a fine line between survival and story and does a great job of it. The storytelling is just enough to tease out a unique ashy apocalypse without getting burdened by too many specifics, while the survival aspect is stressful but not impossible to overcome. While playing, I found myself invested in not only the Squad’s survival but the fate of those 250,000 souls back in the Citadel, only satisfied once I got an ending with a hopeful note. If you enjoyed the scouting section of Frostpunk and wanted to see that mechanic expanded upon, look no further than Ashwalkers.

The Magnificent Trufflepigs asks players to stop frantically trying to achieve arbitrary goals and instead reflect on why we’ve undertaken them in the first place. It employs an interesting and underutilized mechanic, only to completely change it up once the main character achieves some desperately needed personal growth. It may require a second playthrough to totally understand not only the big reveal but overarching message; luckily, it’s a three hour excursion (at most) across bucolic English countryside, so that extra time is time well spent. If you find yourself exhausted by constantly trying to check things off life’s list, you deserve a breather — grab a metal detector and take a walk with The Magnificent Trufflepigs.

Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & The Secret Hideout was a great start, and Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & The Secret Fairy does an excellent job, for the most part, of building on what was already there. Is it perfect? No, it's not. But that's okay. Looking past the fact that this, plain and simple, is a fun game, Atelier Ryza 2 once again keeps my faith alive in GUST being on the mend. I don't know if there's going to be an Atelier Ryza 3, but I hope that there will be. And if there is, then I know that it will be even better than the two wonderful games that have made up the trilogy so far.

In some ways, Batsugun is a victim of its own success. It’s still an excellent shmup, but it stands out slightly less than it did upon release simply because so many of its best ideas have been stolen by so many other games over the last 31 years. Despite that, fans of the genre will find a game that absolutely holds up and is a blast to play even today.

Residual has awesome pixel art, a unique premise, addicting gameplay, and the promise of unique playthroughs every time you start a new game. While it’s not a perfect game, my complaints are fairly minor all things considered. I’d definitely recommend this game to anybody looking for a unique survival/platformer mashup.

While Mahokenshi definitely reminds me of Castle Morihisa, its pacing and balance is a bit better than that unfortunate adventure. Keep in mind this is very much still a challenging and sometimes brutal game, and you’ll have to grind quite a bit to get through every mission. That said, it’s a game with a creative premise, attractive artwork, and many ways to strategize. If you’re at all a fan of deckbuilders and don’t mind some occasional difficulty spikes, I’d definitely check Mahokenshi out.

If you love films like Planet Terror, fast-paced, Devil May Cry-inspired combat, and babes in bikinis whose sole purpose is to slaughter as many zombies as possible in the name of revenge, then Onee Chanbara: Origin is a title well worth adding to your PS4 collection. Tamsoft did an incredible job of modernizing these dusty PS2 gems while providing an aesthetically pleasing makeover. While the game may be a bit short, there’s no denying that it’s extremely well crafted and succeeds in delivering an over-the-top, hack-&-slash bonanza of anime-inspired madness.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin isn't perfect, but the good more than outweighs the bad here. It's just frustrating for me personally, because there were so many things about the game that could have translated to a perfect experience. There's just too many missteps for that. Thankfully, what's here is still very much worth the price of admission. If you want a game you can sink hours and hours into while enjoying a meandering and surprising story, you have to check this one out.

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.

Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia isn't your typical grand strategy game. If you love doing things like managing villages and testing your economic prowess, then maybe this isn't for you. But, for everyone else, Brigandine is definitely worth your time. The entirety of each campaign provides an engaging struggle which puts your tactical combat prowess to the test, and its multiple factions each provide detailed stories, each of which is sure to keep you hooked. Despite my gripes here and there, Brigandine really doesn't need much in the ways of re-working. However, it's apparently getting that anyway, thanks to its quickly approaching update centered around providing players with the ability to customize their campaigns as well as more in-depth player UIs.

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.

Despite having some real issues with it, though, Astral Ascent simply feels great to play, and that goes a long way in a genre that lives and dies based upon exactly that. If you’re going to ask players to make run after run through the same areas and repeat the same challenges, you need to feel good on a visceral level. Astral Ascent nails that and is the exact sort of game I want to keep running through. In some ways, it feels more like a great Early Access game that needs a bit more polish than a truly finished product, but what’s here today is still well worth a look for fans of the genre.

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.

Looking at how much time I’ve spent doing runs on this, even without the expectation of making it very far, is a testament to Trinity Fusion’s staying power. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: if a game can get me to procrastinate writing a review because I’m too enamored with playing it, something has gone very right. Eventually, you’ll go enough rounds that rooms and setups might start looking the same, and not every build will go out as planned due to the luck of the draw throwing you a bad weapon or useless perk. But all of that probably won’t deter a rogue-lite fan who can see the fun in the stylish and fluid combat, and sci-fi sightseers will be in for a treat with all the beautiful backgrounds and wild alien lifeforms. Angry Mob Studios has struck a damn fine balance between fun, progress, and style here with Trinity Fusion, so here’s hoping some rebalances and tweaks will grow out this multiversal menagerie even more into the stellar juggernaut it’s well on its way to becoming.

Out Zone is the sort of game that makes me love modern rereleases. A game stuck in arcades for decades, I had no expectations going in and found myself not wanting to put down my controller. Out Zone features fast-paced arcade action that players can jump right into but which will take a ton of practice to master. If you love classic games like Ikari Warriors or Commando, Out Zone is the game they wanted to be. Absolutely check it out.

If Double Dragon IV left a bitter taste in your mouth and you’ve been waiting for the franchise to return to its former glory, it’s time to celebrate because the Lee boys are back and fighting fit. With its furious fisticuffs and a wealth of smart evolutions to the series’ established formula, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is a must-play for fans of the beat-’em-up genre.

The developers of We Are OFK don’t even pretend to care about making a traditional video game. It’s clear that instead, the entire goal here was to tell a story, and that’s incredibly well done. Not perfectly so. I don’t love where We Are OFK leaves one of their characters in particular, and the ending feels rushed. After spending hours with these four characters, setting up conflict, it feels like a lot of things get pushed aside to get to where the game needs them to end up, almost like the development team ran out of time. With deep character writing, fantastic voice acting, and killer visuals, though, I’d recommend We Are OFK to anyone who is okay with this being a story first, a vehicle for releasing music second, and barely a game at all.

It’s without a doubt that Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered comes with very little hand-holding and a steep learning curve that may be off-putting in today’s limelight. However, its unique approach to non-linear gameplay and storytelling, in addition to its impeccable art direction and soundtrack, combine to create an exceptional adventure. 

I went into Ultimate Ninja Storms Connections expecting a competent arena fighter, and while I definitely got that, what I didn’t expect was an experience that thoughtfully packaged together the greatest hits of Naruto’s early years in a way that would serve as an entry point to the Naruto universe. The result is an experience that is both welcoming to newcomers, while still catering to seasoned fans with the expansive character roster and standalone story that may appeal to series veterans more than it did me. With substantial single-player modes and competent online net code that rarely faltered, Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is a well-rounded package that should impress both fans of Naruto and those simply looking for a solid arena fighter.

Cramped Room of Death feels like a solid starting point for an excellent sequel. The spear mechanic brilliantly subverts what would otherwise be a standard puzzle experience. It’s easy to recommend to genre fans and those looking for something a little different. However, a little more variety would have made it a must-have. I don’t regret the 10+ hours I spent with it, though, and neither will you.

Even with those gripes, however, there is nothing here that would stop me from recommending Sophstar to shmup fans. It takes a familiar genre, nails the fundamentals, and then builds upon those with unrivaled ship variety and its teleportation mechanic that is so core to the experience and blows the genre wide open to the extent that I’m not sure I want to ever play another shmup that doesn’t have this feature. If you’re not put off by the lack of progression and are up for the immense challenge presented by Sophstar, then I would encourage you to not let this little gem pass you by.

Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition will in all likelihood be a visual novel that I will remember for a very long time. Not only is it successful in the normal ways that a VN should be, but it goes above and beyond in its ability to tell a story thanks to a skillful blend of narrative genres and a creative decision-making mechanic which, while not perfect, is still very fun to play with. Whether or not you played the game when it originally released on Steam, any VN fan worth their salt would do well to pick up this wonderful (and horrifying) title.

Compared to what we have now, it might be tempting to view this game as being somewhat tiny. And, to be fair, it kind of is. But that’s only looking at part of the picture. In my opinion, you need to look at it for everything that it stands for. Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg offers a relaxing, nostalgic, and enjoyable look into the Atelier series of yesteryear while simultaneously reminding us of just how far it’s managed to come after all of this time. Will we get more Atelier remakes? I have absolutely no idea, but if they’re anything like this, then I sure hope that we do.

As a game developer, I find Essays on Empathy to be a rare, insightful look on the evolution of an indie game studio — from finding its voice to offering a helping hand to others still cultivating their own. As a gamer, I genuinely felt hit by a train when it came to some of the incredibly powerful and even relatable emotions encapsulated in such short experiences.

Honestly, even though I wasn’t really familiar with Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid before playing Burst Forth!!, I might be a fan now. This is a solid Shmup with good graphics, compelling gameplay, and a shocking amount of replayability. If you enjoy the series or the genre, I’d say this is well worth the price of admission. In the meantime, I might start looking into this quirky little anime.

Shin-chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation -The Endless Seven-Day Journey- is an easy recommendation to any fan of Shin Chan, but also to those who love slice of life comfort games. You don’t need to be familiar with the franchise to enjoy what’s on offer, but those who are will absolutely adore this outlandish adventure featuring the beloved and crude kindergartener. If you’re ready to spend your summer vacation catching bugs, fighting dinosaurs, and taking in the beautiful sights this quaint Kyushu village has to offer, Shin-chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation -The Endless Seven-Day Journey- is just a train ride away.

Shadows Over Loathing may be part of the Loathing franchise and reflect that silly yet deep gameplay we’ve come to know and love, but there’s something deeper to this world that we’ve yet to uncover. Although there’s plenty of laughs to be had here, there’s a bit more of a serious vibe to the third installment with some Lovecraftian overtones; it’s best to go into this one with a sense of curiosity instead of just waiting to be entertained.

Despite some small nitpicks, I still very much recommend Grim Guardians: Demon Purge. It not only showcases Inti Creates’ skill at breathing new life into old series, but it does so with panache. The combat is varied and complex, and the challenge, though sometimes frustrating, nevertheless kept me invested during the entirety of my playthrough. Not to mention you’ll unlock a new mode and difficulty after beating the game once. Plus, if you have a friend close by, you can both play a sister in local co-op. If you enjoy platformers and are hankering for a new Castlevania-inspired adventure, look no further.

Card Shark is absolutely the most thrilling card game out there, made even more impressive by the fact that you don’t actually do much by way of playing cards. This scintillating sleight of hand title has inadvertently taught me a lot about card tricks, all set to gorgeous Baroque music and stunningly illustrated scenes. The mechanics may feel a little difficult at times due to an onslaught of varied controls, but once you master them, you’ll feel like a card comte(ss) yourself. If you want something enthralling with high production value and even higher stakes, Card Shark can deal you in.

Persona 3 Reload adds a ton of updates that make it look and play better than ever, ensuring this is the best version of the game, even if certain fans will miss a few additions from previous re-releases that weren’t included here. It doesn’t, however, fix some of the core issues with the original game, such as a dungeon that is rarely exciting to explore, too many social links that are frustrating to complete, and poor balance between its available time periods. Fans of the series will still have a blast revisiting it, and those checking it out for the first time will find a lot of the same things they loved in the series’ later entries. At the end of the day, though, the reason Persona 3 has never been quite as popular as the two games that came after it isn’t due to it coming out at the wrong time; It’s because it just isn’t as good as they are.

Whilst intimidating and unwelcoming, Hell Let Loose is an intoxicating experience for those who welcome a battlefield where death has consequences, and communication is key to survival. If you can round up a group of friends all willing to persevere with the steep learning curve, and who don’t mind dedicating entire evenings to a few matches, prepare to be engrossed for hours on end.

Despite a disappointing lack of variety that holds it back from achieving shooter greatness, After The Fall: Complete Edition is a welcome addition to the PSVR2’s launch lineup. Offering an exciting blend of punchy, zombie-blasting co-op gunplay that takes full advantage of the strengths of Sony’s new headset and a satisfying progression system, it’s a game no fan of Left 4 Dead should miss.

I really enjoyed my time with We Were Here Forever. Sure, I played it during finals at school and after long, long days at work, so my brain frequently was already overworked, and sure, I had to laugh at myself very, very frequently for overlooking obvious things and overthinking puzzles. But there’s something to be said for the sense of accomplishment for figuring out some genuinely wild puzzles. We Were Here Forever is one long, brilliantly designed escape room puzzle that requires constant communication between players, making for a truly unique experience that will be hard to replicate. I definitely recommend grabbing a good friend and diving in. You won’t regret it.

Like the older but wiser cast of characters, the puzzling gameplay has matured, taxing your wits, but not your patience, never leaving you so bogged down with frustration that you can’t enjoy the comedy. Some gaming franchises age like milk, some age like wine, but Return to Monkey Island has aged like the finest bottle o’ rum.

Rhythm Sprout is a seriously fresh serving of beats. It’s definitely recommended, on the understanding that you know what you’re in for. The music doesn’t stop often to rest, meaning neither will you, and while the gameplay seems barebones, it knows how to make itself just as involved as a more complex rhythm game. There’s absolutely something to simpler rhythm games as a fun romp for a couple minutes here and there, and I think that’s a precedent that was pushed well with Rhythm Sprout.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is essential as a complete narrative package. It takes the heart of the series, Kiryu’s struggle to find peace, and gives it the presentation it deserves. Dark Ties puts the spotlight on an underutilized and misunderstood antagonist in a campaign that is over all too soon. If you don’t mind some of RGG Studio’s choices regarding casting and delisting Yakuza 3 Remastered, then I’d say this is a must-play.

While not the best game in the series, Like a Dragon: Ishin! offers great fun to long-time fans while also delivering an excellent opportunity for those interested in these games to jump in and see what all the fuss is about. While it’s a different take on the classic formula, there’s enough here that still feels like a Like A Dragon game to provide an idea of whether this series is for you.

Despite some missed opportunities, Super Bomberman Collection is an incredibly strong group of games available at a super reasonable price. There’s no game in this collection that isn’t at least fun to play and the best games here are some of the best multiplayer titles ever released. Super Bomberman Collection is available now digitally, and while a physical release isn’t coming until August, it’s available for preorder now. Fans will get a wonderful dose of nostalgia and those who are new to the series could hardly ask for a better entryway into the world of Bomberman.

If you’ve got cash to burn, and if you’ve got a hankering for a zombie apocalypse meets free running simulator, you can’t go wrong with Dying Light: Platinum Edition. It’s got a load of stuff to keep you busy, including a decent campaign, stellar expansion content, and the myriad of bits and bobs they’ve released since 2015.

Get-a-Grip Chip, and its educational sequel, is a charming platformer with a ton of heart. Its simple mechanics and complex designs will get your heart racing and your fingers twitching. For such a tiny robot, there sure is a lot to love here. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait too long for Chip’s next adventure.

While it would be awesome if someone would come along and dethrone Shatter from being the King of the Brick-Breaking genre, the way it once did to games like Arkanoid, for now, it’s still the best this genre has to offer, and it’s great to see it become available on modern platforms. While its upgrades are mostly aesthetic, beneath them, Shatter Remastered Deluxe still somehow feels as immediate as it did thirteen years ago.

Ys X: Proud Nordics may not feel essential as an update, but don’t let that distract you from the fact that this is still a very good game. While Ys X may be my least favorite of the three most recent Ysgames, those are fantastic RPGs, and Ys X isn’t far from the high bar they set. Fans of the series who missed this one the first time around will do well to jump in and sail these dangerous seas.

Insurmountable’s 2.0 update brings all the missing content that the original release desperately needed; while the new stuff is anything but cozy, it is challenging, which is the exact kind of thing players who love survival games are looking for. Insurmountable revitalizes the tired roguelike genre with its new setting and careful, slow-going mechanics, but it can feel a bit stale after a summit or two so it’s best to play this one in short bursts. If you’re always searching for that something over the next mountaintop, Insurmountable is cooler than cool — it’s ice cold.

Once you get through the tutorial, Riders Republic opens up into a sandbox only limited by your imagination. There’s enough to do to keep players busy for a long time and enough variety to keep things fresh. So grab your board, hop on your bike, it’s time to ride.

Baby Steps, at times, struggles to walk the tightrope between frustration and satisfaction, but it stays on the rope at least as often as I was able to keep Nate on a thin wooden plank. I could have done without losing quite as much progress as I did at times, but I still spent most of my time with Baby Steps with a huge grin plastered on my face, and even now, I want to explore this bizarre creation further.

That the ending is a bit unsatisfying and the game is fairly one dimensional doesn’t change that Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta offers excellent combat and a very fun story up until the end. With excellent foes, an interesting world, and unique insight into Adol’s character, this is a chapter in his life story that any fan of the series should absolutely explore. It does a satisfying job of providing a definitive take on this part of Adol’s journey.

Despite my frustration with the 4th stage and occasional difficulty with the game’s balance, Platypus Reclayed is still a very unique and enjoyable Shmup overall. It even features two-player co-op, a feature I wasn’t able to try out. I’d say fans of the genre will still find something to enjoy here and will likely find the challenge easier to deal with. But if you’re not confident of your when it comes to shooters, you might want to try another adventure.

The team at Omega Force have done a commendable job with Wild Hearts, as it does just enough to stand out from the Monster Hunter games that Capcom has created. This ambitious project boasts a beautiful high fantasy feudal Japan setting and an intuitive and game-changing Karakuri building mechanic. However, the high cost of entry and performance issues hold it back from being truly captivating.

Even after all these years, SNK VS. Capcom: Card Fighters’ Clash mostly lives up to what I hoped it could be. A more in-depth single-player mode would have been great and online matches are a glaring omission, but you still have an incredibly deep, rewarding card game with a ton of flavor from series many of us have loved for a very long time. This one could steal a lot of hours from your life.

And that’s perhaps the keyword I’d use to describe the package as a whole – fun. Evil Wizard, while not doing anything to reinvent the genre, is just a fun, damn time. Once the writing finds its feet after a shaky opening hour, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments to be had, and the combat, while not especially deep, is polished and engaging. In a year where we are absolutely drowning in big-budget affairs that allow us to live out our heroic fantasies in spectacular fashion, it was a joy to take a slight detour and spend a few hours in the company of vitriolic little Wizard who hates the world and everyone around him.

Teacup was a lovely surprise in so many ways, its careful and quiet protagonist making a big impact in such a simple yet unexpected manner. With aesthetics that feel like a children’s storybook giving players a warm and cozy hug, Teacup is a fantastic little wholesome title that will delight anyone who feels drawn to it. If you’re looking for a bright, cheery game, Teacup is absolutely going to be your cup of chamomile.

While it may lack the extra content fans of the series might expect to find, Lost Judgment: The Kaito Files is easy to recommend to armchair detectives looking for another exciting case to crack thanks to its satisfying combat and developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s masterful storytelling. If nothing else, it definitively shows that if the contract issues surrounding actor Takuya Kimura prevent him from reprising his role, the Yagami Detective Agency would still be in perfectly capable hands.

The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle is truly a sight to behold. It’s great that we’ve finally gotten to venture to High Isle after all this time, and everything awaiting us there—both the wonderful and the terrifying—was all a joy to experience. The Legacy of the Bretons may not be entirely over just yet, but I think that ESO will be hard-pressed to release anything that would end up topping what this brand-new piece of Tamriel has given us.

As a fan of the rogue-like and monster catcher genres, Dicefolk is a treat. But while I love the design and enjoy the overall gameplay, the challenge could desperately use some retuning. But if you’re a glutton for punishment and don’t mind a ton of grinding, in that case, I can wholeheartedly recommend this challenging hybrid.

The Forest Quartet will get you into the swing of things. While I do wish The Forest Quartet would’ve pushed itself just a bit farther in the gameplay department, and the whole experience winds up on the criminally short side, it doesn’t fail to impress with what is there. With likeable and interesting characters, a soft but smooth graphical design, and a superbly soulful soundtrack, this is a short but sweet tale well worth saving for that rainy afternoon when you need a little comfort game.

Dying Light: The Beast succeeds by understanding what made the original special and refining those elements rather than reinventing them. This is comfort food gaming at its finest: familiar mechanics executed with polish and focus.

Prose & Codes receives only one complaint from me — 350 puzzles spanning 7 literary genres simply isn’t enough content for such a charming and relaxing game. Call me selfish, but I simply couldn’t get enough of Prose & Codes’ challenges and could easily see myself playing this off and on again for the rest of my life. You don’t need a cipher to decode my stance on this lovely literature game: Prose & Codes unequivocally belongs in every bookworm’s library.

There’s very little to criticize about Super UFO Fighter. It’s a game that’s easy to learn and challenging to master. With campaign mode, a versus mode, and a “hot potato” mode, there’s plenty to keep players entertained. While it may seem simple on the surface, Super UFO Fighter is incredibly entertaining and only gets more challenging the longer you play it. If you’re looking for a new party game to play alone or with a friend, I definitely recommend giving this game a shot. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

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.

Ghost on the Shore is a short, beautiful experience. Accompanied by nothing more than the voice of Josh in your head, you’ll travel across three islands, piecing together what happened along the way. Every answer you give to Josh’s questions will affect your relationship with him, ultimately affecting the outcome of the whole game. I found myself surprisingly emotional more than once during my experience. Ghost on the Shore is more than just a ghost story; it’s a look into what remains of us after death, both real and metaphysical.

Mothmen 1966 is a game that truly lives up to its own advertising and hype, providing a unique pixelated pulp-fiction approach to the visual novel formula, while focusing on a delightfully creepy, bizarre bit of American folklore. If this is the first in the series, I can’t wait for more.

The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow was a pleasant surprise for me — a fantastic game in its own right, but one whose story doesn’t deserve to end here. I absolutely need a book, film, or TV adaptation of this story, and the great thing is you wouldn’t have to change much for it to be ready for consumption in other media. Although I did find myself struggling to make sense of the ending, I suspect a second playthrough is all I’d need to clear up any questions I still have. The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is truly a pixel art masterpiece — one that definitely deserves a deep dig.

Triangle Strategy does almost everything well. It looks great, sounds good, plays great, features an excellent story, and offers enough variance in its multiple paths to provide significant replay value. There’s no one element it gets wrong. Its biggest issue comes in how it puts these various elements together. If you’re okay with long story sequences with the combat taking a bit of a back seat, you’ll love Triangle Strategy. Despite the balance of these various elements feeling a bit off, each element is so well executed that this is still a must-play for fans of the genre.

Kraken Academy!! surprised me with its zany humor and delightful time-looping mechanics. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment I spent on campus, making friends with classmates by bringing a goat to a horse race, going on QTE dates, and summoning poop demons (don’t ask). If you enjoy seriously creative — and seriously crazy — games that take outlandish writing to the next level, Kraken Academy!! is now accepting students.

Dai’s video game debut may not feature the same level of robustness as its core series counterparts, but, as an action-based anime spin-off, it’s an absolute delight. Whether you’ve been following the anime or manga, or just consider yourself to be a Dragon Quest fan, Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure offers an all-around good time.

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.

For all its shortcomings in the combat and enemy variety departments, Hell is Us is one of my favourite games of 2025, and is sure to be close to the top of my rankings when the time comes. Hands down the most refreshing experience I’ve had on console in quite some time, Hell is Us takes years of tropes and bad habits built up by the industry and discards them in favour of player agency. It’s a game that I hope finds its fans, as while I anticipate it being an incredibly polarizing experience, we need more experiences like this to stand alongside the AAA junk food that is undoubtedly satisfying, but frequently hollow. If you’re like me and want to reprogram your brain to not instinctively climb a wall or squeeze through a gap that might happen to have yellow paint splashed across it due to years of being indoctrinated by video games, then please take the time to sample the delight that is Hell is Us this summer.

So, what do you reckon, parder? Will you help El Hijo find his mother and free the children from the bad guys? He may be small, but he’s mighty, and with your help, he can be reunited with his family and ride off into the sunset. If a stealth puzzle game that goes from sweet to sinister super fast sounds like something you’d saddle up for, be sure to check out El Hijo: A Wild West Tale on Steam or Stadia today. Adios, amigos!

All in all, would I recommend this dip into the ocean blue? Absolutely, but only if you consider what you’re getting into. There’s no denying this game is eye-candy of the sweetest caliber, with rarely any part of the vine-strangled world lacking vividly colored details. That said, you have to go in knowing that this is a perfect example of peaceful gaming, with no death or combat in sight. Exploration is the name of the game here, and it’s best to go into Submerged: Hidden Depths with low tension, an open mind, and a good pair of headphones. Admittedly, it’s on the short side, but if you’re eager to uncover the secret of these decaying cities, you’ll find the perfect game to scratch that urban exploration itch.

Fate/Samurai Remnant is a must-play for fans of the Fate franchise and worth checking out for anyone who loves a good anime-style game. I can’t say it’ll win over all musou fans due to its focus on storytelling slowing the pacing, but I suspect it may convince those who typically shy away from musou games to give it a second look. In the very least, Fate/Samurai Remnant has a cool premise with fun characters that develop and grow as the story progresses, so if you’ve already had your eye on this one, you shouldn’t be disappointed.

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.

While it could use more enemy variety and some areas that are more open, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a highly engaging action RPG featuring a love story I wanted to see through to its haunting conclusion. There are a lot of RPGs releasing in the first couple of months of this year, and with many of them being higher profile, it would be easy to overlook Banishers, but I hope players don’t do so. This is the exact sort of title we need studios to invest in more often.

Even though This Way Madness Lies doesn’t break the mold of other titles by Zeboyd Games, I still very much enjoyed it. It’s a well-paced, classically-styled RPG with great music, attractive artwork, and hilarious storytelling. If you’re in the mood for a short but sweet RPG and don’t mind playing on PC, I’d absolutely check this out.

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.

Abomi Nation knows exactly what it wants to be, and exactly the type of person that it wants to appeal to. And, best of all, it accomplishes everything that it sets out to do. While it might oversimplify its approach to exploration a bit too much, there’s no getting around the fact that Abomi Nation is a phenomenal Nuzlocke experience that Pokémon fans will not only love but immediately feel comfortable with once they begin playing.

Despite presentation that leaves something to be desired, Marvel’s Midnight Suns packs a ton of interesting strategy into its adventure, and smart writing around the edges helps to offset a main story that feels quite generic. Midnight Suns might be a flawed game in some ways, but I also couldn’t put it down, and it’s the rare game that made me truly want to run around collecting everything. Anyone who loves strategy games or Marvel should absolutely check it out.

Obviously, I'm not completely satisfied with everything—the relationship mechanics are essentially a gamble, now, and we're straight-up chugga-chugga-choo-chooin' through certain loading zones, but there's a reason that I played 130 hours of this game. At the end of the day, Rune Factory 5 is a fresh and enjoyable new entry to the series, and I really think that fans will come to love it just as much as they have every other title.

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.

Despite a slow start and some persistent technical issues that are inexcusable, Syberia: The World Before is a fantastic narrative adventure that continues the series in spectacular fashion, and does Benoit Sokal’s legacy proud. It’s not clear where Syberia as a series goes from here now that the Sokal is sadly no longer around to steer the ship, but I have full faith after playing Syberia: The World Before that Microids is more than capable of continuing to deliver more incredible tales in this universe.

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.

Suzerain is basically West Wing in game form, which is as awesome as it sounds. A game more akin to 80 Days than Civilization, Suzerain is a surprisingly compelling narrative that allows players to run a country with their own ideas about how things should be done to see if they’re right. I got to test out my theory of crime being a symptom of failings in other areas, pushing education and healthcare to the forefront; I was happy to see crime decrease as a response to increased access to necessary services. Suzerain may not seem exciting upon first glance due to its limited mechanics, but within minutes you’ll be hooked on Sordland’s history with a desire to shape its future. If you think you can run a country, prove it — grab Suzerain today.

Long Gone Days may not be the most engaging RPG in terms of its gameplay, but you’ll struggle to find another RPG this year with as much heart and passion for its subject matter. By focusing less on the huge conflict that serves as the backdrop, and instead focusing on the smaller, more touching tales of people going above and beyond to help one another through awful situations, Long Gone Days truly feels like nothing else I’ve played. Had the combat been a little more engaging, Long Gone Days would absolutely have been a better time, but even as it stands, it’s a title that excels enough in everything else it does and is well worth experiencing.

Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection features an absolutely absurd amount of content, both when it comes to the games you can play and the documentary included as well. I’d have loved to see a bit more about what the Mortal Kombat team was going through during the tail end of the 90s, and there are certainly a few gaps when it comes to the games included that would be great to see filled in. Still, fans of the series will find that Digital Eclipse has made yet another great collection that entertains and educates in equal measure.

Bright Memory: Infinite is a shining example of the power of development tools when placed in the hands of someone who truly knows how to get the most out of them. With its AAA production values and polished gameplay, it provides an evening’s worth of action that entertained me in a way that the genre has struggled to do since Respawn’s underappreciated Titanfall 2. If you’re comfortable with dropping twenty dollars on an experience that you know will be over in a couple of hours and are willing to overlook the messy narrative in favour of the excellent gameplay loops, then Bright Memory: Infinite is absolutely worth supporting.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with Majogami, I just feel it could have been better. Though I love the artwork and amazing style Inti Creates always brings to the table, I feel the gameplay was more than a bit jumbled. The simplest way to put it is that sometimes less is more, and I hope that next time, Inti gives us a pure, easy to parse concept with all their usual amenities. Still, those looking for witchy fanservice, gorgeous artwork, surprisingly deep replay value and epic boss battles have a great new adventure in Majogami.

The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass Wave 2 may not be filled with classics, but there are no truly weak maps here, and there are several that sit comfortably among the upper echelon of the game’s track list. Waluigi Pinball alone would make this a worthy set of levels, but Mushroom Gorge, Kalamari Desert, and Sydney Sprint will all be maps I’ll frequently vote to race on in the future. I’m glad to see these releases getting stronger and can’t wait to see what Nintendo has in store for Wave 3.