If, for some reason, ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN isn't one of your new favorite Suda51 games, you at least can't deny that it's greatly benefitted from Grasshopper Manufacture's decades of experience in producing the Kill the Past universe. In some ways, ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN feels like a sort of culmination of it all, bringing in the best bits from other titles and improving upon the rest. ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN is as easy to recommend to Suda51 newcomers as Lollipop Chainsaw while providing a plethora of KTP easter eggs for long-time fans to discover. ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN is to Grasshopper Manufacture as The Great Wave off Kanagawa is to Hokusai -- the game is only this good (and believe me, it is GOOD) because of all the incredible experiences that built it. Play ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN on whichever platform you must (PS5 felt fantastic), but to be clear: PLAY IT.

Despite treading similar territory, I still feel that Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II is an exceptional horror VN. This entry is streamlined and manages to produce quality scares and tell a haunting and memorable story across seven chapters. It features outstanding artwork, quality sound design, and even some reason to return in the form of multiple endings, gallery unlockables, and an optional extra chapter. Fans of horror need look no further – your new obsession is here.

BALL X PIT takes a classic genre and perfectly updates it for modern audiences. Runs are relatively short, but they’re addicting in the sort of way where you’ll constantly find yourself wanting just one more. There’s an absolute ton of variety, and I expect players to have a fantastic time figuring out which of the game’s many heroes are their favorites. Even after playing dozens of hours, it kept finding new ways to amaze me. Don’t be surprised when you can’t stop playing BALL X PIT.

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

Even though it was slightly held back by some issues on Nintendo’s handheld, I’m still beyond happy I finally got to dive into Deathless. The Hero Quest on Switch. This is an incredibly well-made rogue-like deckbuilder that I would recommend even to those hesitant to jump into the genre. Whether you play it for the stunning artwork, unique Slavic story or just because you love the genre, this is one game every fantasy fan should check out.

They say that if you come for the king, you best not miss. Which is why I’m so amazed to say that Cassette Beasts not only stood tall in its own right, but managed to knock Pokémon down a notch or two in the process. While it’s true it doesn’t do everything right, and I’m still a little annoyed by how open world it is and how vague the type interactions can be, there’s so much to enjoy here. Throw in a lengthy playthrough and postgame content, and you have a game that’s well worth your money. If you’re at all a fan of the monster collector genre, you need to play this. It’s just that simple.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart doesn’t try to teach an old Lombax too many new tricks. The core of the series still works and is a ton of fun to play. The PS5 provides just enough to make it feel fresh while new friends provide new possibilities. I’m glad to say that the team at Insomniac has this iconic duo back on track. There’s no better game to show off the power of the PS5.

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

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter may be missing a bit of the charm of the original English translation, but it makes up for it with a deeper and more fully realized combat system, a ton of style, and the most fully realized version of an incredible game. New players couldn’t ask for a better place to start, and returning players will be thrilled to find the developers nailed this reimagined take on a classic.

Deconstructeam’s five years spent on The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood has resulted in one of the most ingenious games ever made; if you’re into tarot, I know you’ll agree with this assessment. From its aesthetics to its mechanics, from its story to its impact, The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a one-of-a-kind experience made with love by video game artisans. Don’t let The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood’s understated beauty and vibes fool you — it’s easily in my top 5 games this year and is clear GOTY material, and if you’re ready to ponder the mysteries of a cosmic witch coven, I’m certain it’ll be one of your favorites too.

Unless you categorically hate having fun, Gang Beasts’ hilarious and deceptively simple physics-based combat is an absolute blast, especially when played locally with friends and family. Sure, it could perhaps be a bit more fleshed out in terms of modes, and playing online may not result in the same level of fun as local play. However, when viewed purely as a local multiplayer party game, which you can’t help but feel is the way it was intended to be played, I can’t think of many experiences that are as capable of entertaining for an evening in the way that Gang Beasts is.

Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream is, without a doubt, one of the best games that GUST has put out in over a decade, and it's once again renewed my faith in what the company has in store for the Atelier series as a whole.

When all is said and done, Lovish is a spectacular game. It’s colorful, creative, funny and easy to play in short bursts. Not only is this one of the best games I’ve played from DANGEN Entertainment and LABS Works, but it’s just engaging and very easy to recommend. Any fan of retro or platformers absolutely needs to own this crazy love letter to the genre.

Expeditions: Rome is a profoundly in-depth RPG that manages to achieve its lofty ambitions with verve. There are a few potholes in this otherwise smooth Roman road with how steep the learning curve is, but they should get smoothed out in time. For those who loved the tactical machinations of X-Com, but wanted a bit more character development and a personal story, Expeditions: Rome is more fun than visiting the Circus Maximus and Colosseum with a full amphora of wine.

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

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

The action and gameplay are solid. The music is fantastic. And Jason, Eve, and the rest of the cast’s story come to a satisfying conclusion. Yes, despite the seven-hour delay, I was still happy I played and beat this game. And while this may be the end of the Blaster Master Zero trilogy, I really do hope that Inti Creates and Sunsoft continue making Blaster Master games. There’s still a lot they can do with this series. So, what’s my recommendation? Buy it now.

Prinny Presents NIS Classics Volume 1: Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle Remastered / Soul Nomad & the World Eaters may only be the first in the Prinny Presents series, but it’s already off to a phenomenal start. Whether you played these titles when they first came out or are heading into them for the very first time, this two-in-one bundle is something that you won’t want to skip out on if you’re even remotely interested in SRPGs.

Gordian Quest draws inspiration from old-school RPGs, Dungeons & Dragons, and deck-builders like Slay the Spire, yet it proudly stands on its own. With deep, addictive gameplay and endless replayability with multiple play modes, Gordian Quest boldly blazes its own trail. It’s rare that a game can draw from so many sources and have the end product feel so refined, yet this game delivers in spades. I can’t recommend this game enough to fellow deck-builder and RPG lovers.

Beacon Pines is easily one of the top ten games I’ve played this year and one of the first recommendations I’d give to players looking for something quick but layered. With a lovely art style, cozy setting, exceptional character development, and an edge-of-your-seat story, Beacon Pines is a unique blend of sweet and sinister that proves difficult to put down — in fact, I couldn’t stop myself from playing it from start to finish in one go! If you’re looking for something charmingly cute yet deceptively dark with a clever mechanic and rich world, Beacon Pines invites you to solve its many mysteries and find the true end to this troubled tale.

You won’t find many strategy RPGs that are better than Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles in any year. It looks fantastic, it plays wonderfully, and it tells an incredibly compelling story. If you’ve never been able to experience this classic, it’s a must-play, and even if you have, this is a game well worth giving another try. I’m very glad I did so.

While it doesn’t end as well as it starts, that doesn’t ultimately change how much I love Xenoblade Chronicles 3. With fantastic characters, deep combat, and an enormous world to explore, it was more than worth pushing through those final hours to see the ending to one of my favorite RPGs in years. Monolith Soft have the Xenoblade series back on the right path, and I can’t wait to see where they go next. I just hope next time they have the confidence to end their game when it’s ready to end.

Rogue Legacy 2 offers so many options when it comes to classes, upgrades, and ways to play it that anyone remotely open to the roguelite genre should check it out. I might have asked for a bit more direction in how to approach certain upgrade paths since the volume of choices can be borderline overwhelming, but it’s a minor quibble when everything else about the game is so fantastic. Rogue Legacy 2’s memorable world and overflowing personality will keep you invested until the very end.

Horizon Forbidden West improves on its predecessor in nearly every way, offering a stunning follow-up to an already excellent title which shows just how much a game can improve through refinement. Fans of the original will feel immediately comfortable, but they’ll find a far better adventure waiting for them. If you disliked the original game, Forbidden West won’t change your mind, but this is a must-own for everyone else.

Gerda: A Flame in Winter is a masterful work of art in both the gaming and storytelling spheres; both aspects enhanced by the other, their impact reduced should they be somehow disconnected from each other. Every moment I spent with it was simultaneously energizing and exhausting, as I was emotionally drained on Gerda’s behalf after each level but couldn’t stop myself from continuing the story, desperate to know what happened next. If you’ve ever wondered what you would do as a civilian in WWII, Gerda: A Flame in Winter gives you the ability to see through the Danish resistance’s eyes.

Quirks aside, I had a tremendous time playing Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle. Not only is it a fun and complex card game, but it’s one you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy. The threshold to start playing is low, but actually mastering the game takes much more perseverance. Overall, this is a wonderful game with attractive artwork and tons of great features. While it can be frustrating at times, especially due to the luck of your AI opponents, I’d highly recommend it. If you need a new game to get lost in, look no further.

While its difficulty spikes could use a bit more balancing, it does nothing to diminish my love for Tunic. This is a masterfully designed game that challenges you to take elements of classics that have become familiar and apply them in all-new ways. Its triumphant in-game manual gave me more moments of stunning realization than every other game I’ve played in 2022. If you’re a fan of any of the titles that stand as major influences to Tunic, you owe it to yourself to check this one out.

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