Quake II is the new King of remasters. Proving that with a fresh coat of paint, some of the 90s’ best games can still hold up brilliantly today, Quake II is the best shooter I’ve played in years. Its visceral action is far more satisfying than the vast majority of shooters that release today, and modern improvements have helped sand away some of the rougher edges of its era. Whether you spent hours enjoying this one 25 years ago or you’ve never touched it before, you should absolutely make sure to check out the year’s best bargain.

There’s really no getting around it, dood—Prinny Presents NIS Classics Volume 2 is another smash-hit. Er… I guess it’s more like two smash hits? I don’t know. I’m not here to talk about semantics. Basically, what I’m saying is that they did a good job with picking out these games. Both ZHPand Makai Kingdom were most definitely worthy of receiving another chance in the spotlight, and I’m very happy that that happened. Keep ’em coming, NIS!

Long Ago: A Puzzle Tale is an accessible, inviting puzzler with a wonderful variety of mechanics that will absolutely test your puzzling skills. It’s a no-brainer for puzzle aficionados, even if everything doesn’t quite come together in the end.

Townscaper is minimalist in every sense of the word — minimalist gameplay, minimalist UI, minimalist sound — but the sheer amount of potential hidden within this title defies its style. If you’re looking for a new obsession or a nice little title to play during lunch breaks or just before bed, Townscaper is the soothing sandbox town-builder that will do the trick. The town-building aspect may be instantaneous, but you’ll soon learn you spend an awful lot of time discovering all the little signs of life that spring up along the way.

Its opening hours may frustrate you in how risk-averse those initial sections seem, but bearing with Wuchang: Fallen Feathers ultimately reveals a deep experience that proves there’s still room for more soulslikes when the quality is there.

Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator is hands down one of the cleverest games on a mechanics level. Players will truly feel like they are crafting brews while connecting to the magical whimsy of the medieval era. Although I wish I was able to get more involved in the world of Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator, either through story or exploration, the mechanics alone kept me entertained for 40 hours so I can’t complain too much. Even if the rest of the game is a bit shallow, Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator’s gameplay is something to write home about. Here’s to hoping the dev team can concoct more content in future updates.

Venba is ultimately over quite soon, but I’d rather have a beautiful but small experience that will stay with me than one that lingers too long and wears out its welcome. There are a few parts of its story that could perhaps have been explored with more depth, but its story comes together to span a generation in the blink of an eye and leave players feeling satisfied with the experience. This is a game well worth experiencing, which even the busiest players should be able to fit into a free evening.

Despite some strange design choices, Pocky & Rocky Reshrined captures the charm of the original game and still feels great to play all these years later. Added variety makes this the best version of Pocky & Rocky and makes me long for this dynamic duo to be given a truly original title now that they’ve fought their way out of obscurity.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a wonderfully whimsical—and, at times, delightfully dark—new entry into the Dragon Quest Monsters franchise. While its graphics were more dated than I’d have liked, and I did find myself wanting a more free-roaming experience, I’d be lying if I said that I was anything but happy with how this game turned out. I truly hope that Square Enix continues putting their all into making DQM better and better with each new entry. Happy 25th Anniversary, DQM!

Paradise Lost is a grim alternate history lesson that asks tough philosophical questions about humanity and sacrifice. With a fascinating story and a genuinely engaging setting, it’s a game that’s easy to recommend to fans of the adventure genre. If you don’t mind the game’s lack of puzzles and plodding pacing, then be sure to make your way underground to uncover the bunker’s dark secrets. You won’t be disappointed.

The Space Invaders Invincible Collection offers a lot of ways to fight off alien invaders. They aren’t all winners, but enough of them hit to make this worth the time of any fan. Space Invaders Extreme and Super Space Invaders 91 alone will likely steal even more hours from me than they already have. If you’re wondering why this series continues to captivate players all over the world after 43 years, a few hours with this collection should clear things up.

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.

While I do have reservations about how long we’ll be playing this game for, as well as mechanics that got left behind, given Ubisoft’s commitment to Rainbow Six Siege, and how much they’ve continued to support and add to that game, I’ve no doubt that they’ll do the same with Rainbow Six Extraction. A year or two from now, I’m certain we’ll have a compelling reason to continue playing this game…Evaluating what we have right now, I think it’s a great price for a great game, so, as long as you’ve got two friends to play with, you’re going to have a blast. And if you've made it all the way down here, and want to know if Lord Tachanka's mounted machine gun still chugga-chugga's, well, comrade, it does, it most certainly does.

Evil Dead: The Game is an experience that oozes with an appreciation of the source material from every pore, whilst also providing a gameplay experience that delivers fun and frights in spades. For players looking to dig deep into character progression and team compositions, there’s an absolute wealth of content available to progress through and experiment with. Whilst the teething issues when it comes to balance cannot be ignored, even these struggle to prevent me from hopping back in given how much fun can still be had, despite the need for Saber Interactive to create a more even playing field. If you love asymmetrical multiplayer or the Evil Dead, then grab those boomsticks, you won’t be disappointed.

When it comes down to it, Astria Ascending is a charming blend of new and old, and a very enjoyable RPG experience overall. I'm always happy when I see a game successfully emulate the spirit of the ever-sacred old-school RPG, and I can happily say that Artisan Studios really outdid themselves with this one.

If you want to kick back and relax to a chill retrowave game where the journey is more important than the destination, you simply must pick up Tanuki Sunset. Longboarding has never looked so good, and with so many photo-finish opportunities, I’m pretty positive you’ll agree. So skate fast, eat trash, and enjoy this radical ride on this eye-candy trail of synthwave symphonies.

Showgunners is a violent delight that leans into its setting and premise to great effect. It may not be the deepest tactical RPG out there, which, in turn, removes a lot of the replayability that the genre is known for, but as a 12-15 hour experience that puts spectacle and accessible systems first, it’s a hell of a good time.

A small handful of issues aside, No Longer Home is a unique experience. Somehow ethereal yet substantial, ephemeral yet lasting, remarkable yet mundane, it’s a tiny window into the human experience that leaves you feeling, well, all the feels.

Ultimately, Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is a great success. It managed to meld a classic indie series with a dynamic new style, and for the most part, it works pretty well. Yes, it may be a bit too challenging for its own good, but not so much I ever put it down for long. If you’re a fan of the series or just enjoy new puzzle games, I’d definitely check it out. Besides the main adventure, there’s a ton of other modes to explore, as well as secrets to uncover. Here’s hoping the next offshoot title from Yacht Club Games continues this positive trend.

Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a deeply beautiful, daringly emotional journey, tackling grief from a child’s point of view that still resonates strongly in adulthood. Clever wordplay spanning two different sections come together to create one touching story about an aspiring writer’s method of coping with the loss of a loved one. It may not be the most exciting game you’ve ever played, but it will be one of the more therapeutic ones. If you are looking for a lovely, healing game that will get you right in the feels, be sure to check out Lost Words: Beyond the Page.

Crimson Spires isn’t quite like any VN that I’ve played before. It’s familiar in form, but, thanks to a heavier Western emphasis regarding its narrative, feels fresh and new in many ways. Whether you like action, suspense, or romance–or just want a new VN–I highly recommend taking a trip to Bataille. It’ll be so good that you won’t want to leave! …Not that you’ll have much of a choice in the matter.

Sometimes, as a gamer, you long for a game that you can just let your hair down with. That inner child wants to get some fresh air from time to time, and LEGO 2K Drive is there for just that. Not everyone will be here for the numerous puns and hammy dialogue, but I think anyone picking this up won’t be disappointed in the classic fun of screwing around with a vat of LEGOs. While the vehicle editor has a bit of a spazzy camera and seems to be missing a couple of parts, it’s still so robust when it comes to bringing those childhood fantasies of racing your custom LEGO car to life that it can be easily forgiven. It’s just a shame the same can’t be said about the egregious microtransactions that are about as painful as stepping on a LEGO. Still, if you have a taste for arcade racers and a love for LEGO, or are maybe looking for a good first racing game for the kids, you can’t do any wrong taking a pit stop at LEGO 2K Drive.

Gimmick! 2 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, which is probably the best when a new development team builds on something they didn’t create. That said, this is a beautiful game that plays great and makes some smart updates to keep the difficulty, which so many loved about the original, while making things work for modern players as well. You won’t see anything truly new in Gimmick! 2, but if you’re just looking for an incredibly well-executed modern platformer, you won’t find much better.

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

I’ll be the first to admit that for the price point, my expectations with regards to the visuals and modes of play are perhaps unrealistic. Most importantly, Cake Invaders succeeds at providing short and succinct bursts of arcade fun, which is the exact niche you would imagine it was designed to fill. I’ve had a huge amount of fun with Cake Invaders, sitting up late into the night listening to my favorite podcasts and chasing down high scores on the leaderboards. For the price of a cup of coffee, it’s something I would easily recommend to fans of arcade shooters and leaderboard chasers.

Tekken 8 offers a ton of ways to fight whether you want to head online or you’re looking for a fully featured single-player experience. A lot of them are just okay, but when you have this much variety, something is bound to stick, and even when some of its modes weren’t blowing me away, the fantastic combat at the center of this experience did. This isn’t a massive evolution for the Tekken series, but fans looking for their new fix will get what they want, while new players will find perhaps the most accessible Tekken yet.

It’s already been said once in this review, but it bears repeating. Nuclear Blaze is the equivalent of a brightly lit candle—it’s at its end far too soon, but it’s impossible not to marvel at its splendor while it’s still there. As little as I’ve actually thought about the “firefighting game” genre, I’m all-in if future games are anything like this.

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp offers two excellent strategy titles which will keep players busy for a ton of hours. Whether you’re an old fan happy to be back in command or someone enlisting for the first time, there’s a lot to recommend here. A bit more work updating things, particularly the balance of the latter half of the first game and the multiplayer experience, would have been welcome but that shouldn’t stop those wanting an excellent strategy experience from picking this one up.

It’s engaging, challenging, disturbing and full of intense storytelling. For gamers who persist through the adventure, you’ll find a unique experience that’s unforgettable. Just don’t expect to sleep well after you roll credits.

You can’t make a premise like this up, folks. You’re a flying saucer abducting alien cows and there’s just something funny and wacky about it all. Yet, I walked away from Moo Lander rather impressed at the level of quality here. While the titular cow battles do need some revamping to bring in the fun factor, I can easily forgive that for the gorgeous art, very competent and solid gameplay, and surprisingly in-depth worldbuilding. If you’re looking for something a little out-of-this-world to spice up your starry night, take a flight to the neatest Metroidvania this side of the Milky Way.

Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World does a wonderful job of rekindling my love of the Monster World franchise and reminding me exactly why I fell in love with it in the first place. While the remaster doesn’t bring any new ideas to the table, it does put a wonderfully charming new coat of paint onto a game that deserves to be seen and enjoyed by a new audience. Old fans of this game should be pleased with the treatment it received, while newcomers can expect a classically crafted platformer adventure that’s short in duration but massive in charm.

For fans of the source material or just arena fighters in general, Demon Slayer’s incredible combat and substantial story mode make this a must-play. Sure, the exploration sections may disrupt the pacing somewhat, and the online functionality could use some patching, but these issues don’t detract too much from the stellar foundation which CyberConnect2 has put in place.

Mr. Saitou is a short but sweet romp through the universe of Rakuen, a silly little homecoming to a wonderfully whimsical world. Although it’s not as emotional as the first game, it’s not trying to be; with that being said, I still shed a few tears during the two hours I spent with it. If you listen to Mr. Saitou and set your expectations accordingly, you’ll emotionally relate to the realistic struggles of adult life while feeling healed by the cheerful innocence childhood has to offer. In the very least, Mr. Saitou offers a brief return to the world of Rakuen and the feeling of being hugged by a game.

There’s very little wrong with Splatoon 3. Almost everything it does is done well, and the few minor complaints I have are likely to be fixed or involve a card game that most players will likely ignore. Its plethora of quality-of-life changes means this will almost certainly be the best game in the series going forward and the place for new players to jump in. Right now, though, if I have to pick between those quality of life changes or the larger amount of content in Splatoon 2, that’s not as easy a choice as it should be because the gameplay hasn’t evolved in any major way, and little of the new content truly stands out. Which means that while I can easily recommend Splatoon 3 to series devotees desperate for new content and new players needing a good starting point, anyone who falls in between may want to wait for the game to be fleshed out before diving in.

As upset as I am about the censorship thing, I still can’t help but love everything that’s going on overall. The Chaos;Head Noah/Chaos;Child Double Pack is an enthralling, terrifying, and occasionally humorous double-dose of Science Adventure goodness. You’ve got to take the bad with bad with the good, and trust me when I say the good outweighs the bad by a considerable amount in this case.

I really enjoyed my time with this game. Older-timey without being stale, challenging without being a headache, and with a solid story, The Corruption Within has a lot to recommend it. There’s some replay value, too – there are several optional items to find in the game that will present you with a moral choice you make, which will, in turn, affect the ending of the game. Honestly, my only criticism is that the game is a little short, as I beat it easily in a single sitting. But, like usual, that’s probably just me being greedy and wanting more of a good thing.

It’s no doubt that the future of Deadlink is looking very promising, as Gruby Entertainment has laid out a solid foundation for a fantastic rogue-like. The only downside to all this is the content, or lack thereof, as there are only two levels to play through. The developers have stated that the next major update is slated for December 2022 so here’s to hoping for a fleshed out road map leading to a 1.0 launch. If you’re a fan of Doom Eternal mixed with Hades, drenched with a cyberpunk skin, then you will for sure love Deadlink.

Despite a few rough edges in terms of stage design and enemy variety, Evil West is a must-own experience for fans of the character action game genre. With a deep and engaging combat system, a meaty campaign, and a killer sense of style, it’ll leave you glued to your controller until the credits roll. If you’re a fan of Flying Wild Hogs’ brand of gory, in-your-face action, Evil West is a non-stop thrill ride through the freaky frontier that you won’t want to miss.

Minor issues aside, UnMetal is an absolute winner. With gut-busting writing and a great mix of retro-inspired stealth action enhanced with modern mechanics, it’s a game that warrants a spot in any classic Metal Gear fan’s collection. Here’s hoping this isn’t the last time we get to take control of Jesse Fox. He may not be the action hero we deserve, but he’s the one we need right now.

Tails of Iron is not for the fainthearted. It’s a bloody, brutal, blistering experience from start to finish. Its combat smartly mixes skill and strategy. The game will push you to your limits, but it’s hard not to have fun skewering and slaughtering your way to redemption. While the game’s scope is unfortunately a bit limited, I have a feeling this won’t be the last time we hear from Redgi.

Sniper Elite 5 opts for refinement over reinvention, and that’s absolutely fine when the building blocks of its predecessor were already stellar. Its tense sniping action and massive sandboxes are best in class for the series, allowing for creativity and player agency in a way that so few action games do. If you can overlook a narrative that suffers from fatigue due to its subject matter and the somewhat clumsy way in which Karl interacts with his surroundings, then Sniper Elite 5 and its open-ended approach to gameplay provide a stunning, experimental sandbox that you will likely find yourself returning to again and again.

Overall, I honestly loved Winds of Change. Stellar writing, great voice acting, branching choices, and gorgeous artwork make for an impressive visual novel. I definitely encourage you to look past what you think you know about certain online communities and not judge this book by its cover. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in this one.

This game isn’t entirely what I was hoping for from a Super Bomberman R sequel—it re-uses a lot of content, and its Story Mode could use a little work. Still, there’s definitely more good than bad when it comes to this game. So long as you aren’t bothered by its just-okay single-player experience and reliance on Super Bomber Man R Online content, Super Bomberman R 2 is a great game that’s sure to be a blast for you and your friends.

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

Everything in NUTS revolves around discovery. Discovering what these strange, fascinating squirrels are up to; what secrets are hidden in the ancient Melmoth Forest; discovering the past, as well as the future. Short without feeling short, simple without feeling simple, this game is as odd as it is beautiful. Go out on a limb and give it a try. You won’t find anything else like it.

Despite a bit more repetition of songs than I would have liked and the curious lack of a VR mode in a game that seems perfectly designed for it, Fresh Tracks is a blast to play with a killer soundtrack and incredibly well-designed mechanics. Any fan of rhythm games should absolutely check it out.

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.

With its blend of familiar mechanics and innovative challenges, it’s hard not to get addicted. Though it might feel daunting for FPS novices, for those who thrive on challenges and quick reflexes, this is a must-play. I walked away, hand cramps and all, with a sense of satisfaction and an itch to dive back in. For its maiden voyage, Dream Powered Games has crafted a compelling and adrenaline-fueled experience. Whether you’re here to race, shoot, or both, Warstride Challenges awaits.

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

My nitpicks aside, there’s still a great game in Alina of the Arena, especially for hardcore fans of rogue-like deckbuilders and tactical warfare. The biggest hurdles to get past are the game’s UI quirks and the overall difficulty, but if you’re willing to persevere you’ll find a deep and satisfying combat system and a good amount of replay value. It’s especially fun for handheld gaming on Nintendo Switch.

It's been said that good things come in small packages, and WitchSpring3 Re:Fine is about the best JRPG equivalent of that saying that you're going to find. Eirudy's adventure around Derkarr is a full JRPG experience boiled down to a breezy 10 - 20 hours, depending upon how you play and what kinds of things you'd like to do. If you're itching for adventure but don't have much time, or just have an appreciation for cutesy, easily digestible JRPG action, WitchSpring3 Re:Fine is probably worth your while.

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

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.

I went into the review hoping for the best. And while ChainStaff is undeniably creative and visually appealing, I really wish that Mommy’s Best Games spent more time fine-tuning the gameplay, mechanics, and level design. If you’re a fan of retro-styled adventures and aren’t put off by complex gameplay, you might find this is the alien parasite you’re looking for. Less patient gamers, however, will probably want to skip this one.

Haunted Lands is a bloody slice of shareware-era nostalgia that knows exactly what it wants to be. There are some rough edges that hold it back from greatness, but the craft is impossible to ignore, especially since it was created by one person.

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

For better or worse, Digimon World: Next Order has all of Bandai’s best ideas mixed together in one complex title. As a game, this can be huge and intimidating, but it can also be someone’s comfort game to melt into at the end of a long day. As a port, Digimon World: Next Order should be praised for its continuous improvement as it jumps from one platform to the next, but its pricetag hasn’t improved in its 7 year run, which can put off some players who have become accustomed to purchasing ports at a lower pricepoint. Digimon World: Next Order was an overwhelming first foray into Digimon, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was blown away by the complexity, nuance, and depth the series has to offer. Perhaps Digimon truly are the champions after all!

It may not be the smoothest experience and I’m certainly missing some quality of life updates that would have made quite a difference, but that didn’t stop Neighbours back From Hell from being the low-brow, low-effort kind of fun that doesn’t take itself seriously.

Prison City is a fun, albeit mixed experience. While I applaud the modern retro revolution that’s taking place and love the style of the game, the gameplay itself is hindered by control issues and the often unforgiving challenge of the game. Sure, you can turn down the difficulty, but I feel the default should be well-tuned enough so that the game is a balanced challenge. Despite that, if you’re a fan of retro-styled games and want to try something new, you might very well enjoy it. Though for those on the fence, I’d say wait until Prison City comes to consoles next month.

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

Big Blue Bubbles’ latest addition to the Metroidvania genre is a really enjoyable game that I had a ton of fun with. While it may be yet another Dead Cells clone, its weighty combat, challenging foes, slick maneuverability, and gorgeous aesthetics do just enough to set Foregone apart from its contemporaries. So if mad-dashing, action-adventure platforming is your niche, then picking this one up will be well worth your time.

It’s clear The 7th Guest VR is a labor of love made by true fans of the original game. Its puzzles are brilliant, its production values are top-notch, and it perfectly strikes that balance between creepiness and campiness that made the 1993 original such a hit. It’s just a shame that while exploring these familiar locales in VR is a nostalgic treat, the finicky controls and some questionable design choices occasionally rear their heads like fiendish phantoms to hurt the experience. However, if you can overlook these shortcomings or are a die-hard fan of the series, you’ll find The 7th Guest VR to be one hauntingly good time.

There’s substance to The Falconeer, and while there’s really something special here, it’s in the details instead of the big picture. For fans of air combat games, The Falconeer represents a breath of fresh air, and, quite frankly, it is pretty cool to be one with the falcon; for those simply curious, check out some YouTube videos before taking wing.

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.

Overall, I’m still quite pleased I got the opportunity to review Olija. Devolver has a knack for publishing quirky and unique fare, and that tradition continues here. I just wish it wasn’t so short. Because the world of Terraphage is a fascinating one, and I really wish I could have gotten more lost in it. But those complaints aside, this is still a very solid game worth checking out. Here’s hoping the next project by Skeleton Crew Studio is a bit more robust.

Airborne Kingdom is a sight to behold, and one that is worthy of any city-builder fan’s attention. There’s a chill novelty to it that will subtly come over you as your floating metropolis glides across the screen, getting bigger and more unwieldy as the hours pass. With a few quality of life improvements, Airborne Kingdom could soar to far greater heights; for now, it’s the stress-reducer that fans of the genre should be paying attention to. So keep your eyes on the skies, and when Airborne Kingdom comes into view, be sure to grab it for your Epic Games Store library.

Pharaoh is one of those dream remaster candidates for those who fondly remember ’80s and ’90s PC games, so it stands to reason that fans of the original would have high hopes for Pharaoh: A New Era. Although it doesn’t quite meet those expectations for a few reasons — both understandable and questionable — Pharaoh: A New Era is still a must-play for anyone who loves city-builders, Ancient Egypt, or just wants to try something nuanced and interesting. If you’re looking to unearth ancient gaming treasures to polish into something new, Pharaoh: A New Era is proof the gaming gods answer prayers in mysterious ways.

I did enjoy Kowloon High-School Chronicle. But it was also a very mixed experience. Not so much that I regretted trying it, but I do lament what could have been with smoother translation and more system clarity. I still feel Arc System Works did us all a service bringing a once region-locked game West. Now I just hope they put in the time and hard effort to smooth over the various rough edges. If they do, this could earn a perfect score. As it is now, I can best recommend it to fans of gaming history or dungeon-crawlers.

Postal Redux is a great definitive version of a subversive late nineties classic that men of a certain age can wistfully look back on as a naughty pleasure from adolescence. Still, returning veterans and new players alike will notice that this 24 year old game can only be polished so far and there’s a janky lack of refinement in the core gameplay. There’s enjoyment to be had in Postal Redux, but it’s best enjoyed if you’re able to set your mind and expectations back to 1997.

The Hundred Year Kingdom is as hard to describe as it is hard to put down. Never did I ever think I’d become addicted to a waifu city-builder, but I also didn’t ever think such a game would ever exist. Simultaneously simple yet complicated, The Hundred Year Kingdom is charming, chill, and chuckle-inducing. If you want a novel, peaceful experience that slowly unfolds over time, The Hundred Year Kingdom is worth spending a century with.

Once again, I am reminding you that Cats Organized Neatly is an adorable little Tetris-like puzzler available on Steam for $2.99. It’s cute. It’s cheap. It’s charming. Honestly if you’ve made it this far you should probably just go pick it up. Do it for the cats. Do it for the indie devs. Do it for your soul.

I’m positive the developer will be ironing out any kinks mentioned here and by other players, so I’m sure that in six months this will be a much more enjoyable experience; for now, Gods Will Fall falters slightly. I still really enjoyed my time with this one, but only after I brought out my controller and chose characters that didn’t walk at the speed of snail. There is so much potential here, so if you’re not sold yet, please either check it out on console or keep this one on your radar and revisit in a few months. Gods Will Fall has solid bones, and with a little more love and attention, it will achieve the greatness it seeks.

Anomaly Agent won’t leave you pondering its vast world or lore. Instead, it delivers a focused, high-octane blast of retro-infused action. The combat’s frenetic energy, the charm of its pixel art, and the genuinely funny moments of absurdity made it a blast to play from start to finish. While I wouldn’t call it a masterpiece, those craving a quick hit of adrenaline-fueled, laugh-out-loud thrills will find Anomaly Agent a worthwhile escape. And hey, sometimes a little mindless, time-bending absurdity is exactly what you need.

I quite enjoyed my peaceful afternoon with The First Friend, seeing life through someone else’s eyes and discovering meaning in both the traumatic and the mundane. The First Friend acts as a lovely palate cleanser in-between longer titles, a wonderful reset button to recharge the spirit. With gorgeous visuals and a calming soundtrack, The First Friend is a beautiful walking simulator that makes wandering around aimlessly an enjoyable experience. If you can relate to the powerful bond between a child and their first pet, be sure to check out The First Friend today.

As spirited as Christmas itself, Lake: Season’s Greetings is a lovely piece of prequel dlc that harnesses everything that makes the base game so pleasant and easygoing to play. The new characters are memorable, the delivery gameplay is conveniently chill, and the short runtime ensures it doesn’t overstay its welcome. Sure, not much has changed, there are a few bugs and the Christmas theme isn’t quite fully baked, but whether you enjoyed the original Lake or Season’s Greetings is your first foray, you’ll certainly find cozy comforts in Season’s Greetings-time to warm yourself by the fire and play this exquisite-if-light piece of dlc.

This is a call to all dog lovers and puzzle game fans out there: if you want a casual puzzler that celebrates our canine companions, you better go for a W-A-L-K and come back with Dogs Organized Neatly. You don’t even need to go O-U-T-S-I-D-E to get it, as it’s available on Steam for the insanely cheap price of $2.99. What are you waiting for? Make fetch happen and pick up Dogs Organized Neatly — a fantastic little puzzle game that you’ll surely chew on for hours.

While Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name undoubtedly suffers due to its smaller scale and a heavy reliance on the Akame Network to pad out its 12-hour story, there’s no denying how good it feels to see the Dragon of Dojima back in action – especially with the grab bag of gadgets he has at his disposal. And while this spin-off’s story is over a bit too soon, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s penchant for spinning a compelling narrative shines through, showing Kiryu at his most vulnerable and setting the stage for what’s sure to be a momentous follow-up when Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth launches next January.

If you were drawn to Subway Midnight’s art style and love novelty and/or spookycute games, you’re going to immediately love this one. Its unique, constantly-changing visual style is mind-bogglingly impressive, especially to those who can appreciate the sheer amount of work that went into it. If you’re looking for a spooky (but not scary) game to get completely sucked into, a ticket to ride on Subway Midnight only costs $9.99.

I may not have been particularly invested in the printed goal of the quest. Still, I certainly enjoyed my time expanding the map, grapple swinging, and trouncing any would-be adversaries that stood in my way of reaching said printed goal. But, in an industry riddled with a plethora of similar experiences ranging from middling to exemplary, a game that manages to simply be solid, fun, and respectful of my time is certainly enough for me.

Baldo: The Guardian Owls may have had a rocky launch, but the issues have been cleaned up to such a degree that the low scores earned months prior don’t necessarily apply anymore. I’d recommend caution before jumping into it, however — even in a perfectly playable state, Baldo: The Guardian Owls is still a polarizing title. If you love cozy aesthetics with design choices that feel more suited for the 90s – 00s, Baldo: The Guardian Owls should definitely be on your Wishlist. If not, well… in the worst case, I’ve found it to be a fantastic cure for my insomnia.

More than anything, I’m torn by how it would have only taken a little more effort to make RedRaptorshine. Things like having comic book panels to buttress the dialogue, or making the bosses more memorable. As it stands, the game is relatively fun but sadly doesn’t do anything to differentiate itself from the pack. It just felt very generic and uninspired. That said, the game is very affordable, so if you’re looking for a basic Shmup, you might enjoy RedRaptor.

Ten Dates features strong writing sold by actors that genuinely embodied their parts. There were quite a few surprises in the non-linear path to love — some that made me think twice about a candidate before veering off to another — which was embraced by the gameplay and encouraged multiple playthroughs. Although the weighting of the questions wasn’t entirely clear, that didn’t stop me from having a lovely time. If you’re tired of looking for love in all the wrong places, Ten Dates has plenty of singles ready to mingle.

Dragonborne may not be perfect, but, if I’m being honest, its imperfections are kind of a part of its charm. While I obviously can’t say this for certain, it feels like everything in this game—both the bad and the good—was designed specifically to make this game feel like it was released in the early-mid 90s, just like any other Game Boy game out there. So, if you’re in the market for a new Game Boy game (remember, you can actually buy a cart of this!), then Dragonborne‘s probably right up your alley.

Still, despite a number of parts of Islands of Insight not connecting with me fully, what always did was the puzzles themselves. They’re so consistently engaging that I found myself ignoring the parts of the game that I didn’t love so I could keep engaging with them. Islands of Insight is a great game to jump into for ten minutes just to knock a few puzzles out before going about your day or to get lost in for hours as you try to solve every match 3 puzzle you can find.

Though I enjoyed the comedy and references in Dungeons & Doomknights, I feel its audience is limited by how inconsistently fun the experience actually is. Not only is it mechanically rough at many times, but the combat itself just doesn’t satisfy. Once I realized all this, I admittedly soured over the adventure. That said, if you’re a hardcore fan of new examples of classic games, you’ll probably find something to justify checking it out.

Cozy Grove invites players to be productive, but at a slower, almost foreign, pace. There’s no rush — all goals are achievable if you spend an hour or two each day on the island. This may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you pour one while you slowly wake up to calming music and simple fetch quests, it’ll set a relaxed mood for the rest of the day. If you enjoyed Animal Crossing or Spiritfarer, you may like this cute, chill mash-up best played in spurts.

MassHive Media’s potion-crafting simulator is a good game and I enjoyed playing it. It could have been great if they had just let it simmer for a bit longer, though—a fact that I found regretfully painful to deal with. While there’s no denying that Potion Permit offers a fun time for those interested and a top-tier level of visual polish, its overly simplistic approach to certain mechanics, combined with a lack of post-game content, means that players probably won’t find themselves staying in Moonbury Town for long.

Speaking purely in terms of dress-up sims, Fashion Dreamer is excellent. While I would have liked a bit more customization in terms of your actual Muses, there’s very little to dislike about the borderline-unlimited number of outfits that the game offers you. As an entire experience, however, I couldn’t help but find the game lacking. While Fashion Dreamer doesn’t disappoint when it comes to letting players express their inner fashionistas, the fact that there’s so little to do outside of creating outfits for people makes it hard to stay motivated for long periods of time. Sure, I’m happy to spend hours creating outfits… but I need something to do afterward, you know?

City of Gangsters provides a brilliantly free-form gangsta’s paradise, where countless options are available to weave intricate criminal schemes. It can get repetitive during certain stages of expansion as you have the same interactions over and over, but if you can get over that then it’s pretty compelling. There’s an irresistible one-more-turn appeal that’ll keep you greasing palms and bootlegging hooch long into the night.

PowerWash Simulator is one of the best in its genre; despite this, it continually gets better. Although the PC version with a mouse and keyboard offers more precision, the Switch version takes the pressure of finishing an entire job in one sitting off players. If you’ve always been curious about PowerWash Simulator but don’t have a PC (or the time to devote several hours to a single job), the Switch version of PowerWash Simulator cleans up nicely.

Castle Flipper adds a fresh twist to the burgeoning builder genre by providing puzzles and personality that make a seemingly empty world feel surprisingly alive. With the power to build not only immense castles but tiny towns teeming with signs of life, landlords and landladies will quickly come up with a treasure trove of backstories for their kingdoms in Castle Flipper. Complete with a musical score that feels right at home in a cozy Dungeons and Dragons campaign, Castle Flipper pleases now and promises more later.

I really wasn’t sure how I would judge Fearmonium in the end. The game found all sorts of ways to challenge me, both good and bad. The combat wasn’t as smooth as I would have liked, and the comic panels are rough, yet the game premise is unique, and the world is fascinating. Ultimately, I truly feel there’s a solid and worthwhile experience here. Once the aforementioned glitch is patched, I can fully recommend it to fans of the genre.

Truxton has its flaws, and in a lot of ways, it feels very much of its time. That said, it has one major thing going for it. It simply feels good to play. With tight controls, one notably awesome weapon, and a soundtrack that sets the tone I want out of the genre, I came away from my time with Truxton with a smile on my face. It isn’t going to blow fans of the genre away, and there are definitely better options out there, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had with Truxton, even after all this time.

Arcade Paradise is a fantastic management sim for those who love the genre. It may be asking a lot of players to prioritize other people’s laundry over games upfront, but the payoff is a literal heaven for those who have always wished to build their own arcade and play every game within it for free. If you enjoy a good management sim and love the idea of hopping from game to game to game as a major mechanic, Arcade Paradise is worth its weight in quarters.

I’ve been so tough on Mars Horizon. Know that I’m sorry about that. I was more deeply invested in getting to Mars than I’ve been in a ton of other games this year, so know that it comes from a place of adoration and a desire to see some quality of life improvements to a phenomenal game. If you love space, get this game. If you want to learn about the processes behind space exploration, get this game. I genuinely hope the developers make some of these improvements, but even if they don’t, Mars Horizon has been a joyride I won’t soon forget.

Despite the overarching story not fully coming together, however, I had a great time with Europa’s Folly. It’s an action-packed, fast-moving conclusion that takes the time to give most of the game’s cast a moment to shine and satisfies from a character perspective. I’d mostly say the same about The Expanse: A Telltale Story as a whole. While the game definitely has pacing issues, and parts of its story feel like they’re mostly there to fill time, its cast of characters is brought to life in a way that made me look forward to returning to them every couple of weeks. It’s not a perfect return from Telltale, but it leaves me excited to see where the studio goes next, and hoping we get to see more of this crew.

This dark depiction of Beauty and the Beast works, but only if you recognize what you’re getting into: a musical experience focusing on an abused psyche desperately trying to break free from known shackles, only to fly right into a cage that represents both prison and freedom.

The quality of Returnal makes me enormously excited for what Housemarque can do with higher budgets and modern games. I just hope they learn some lessons here to make their next title even better. Arcade is dead. Long live arcade.