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.

My experience with this game was a strange one, I’ll admit. I was intrigued by the premise, despite it wearing its inspiration on its sleeve, and wanted to see where things would end up. Sadly, it left me more confused and disappointed than anything else. While Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescueentices its players with more complex route-building elements and a few wild moments here and there, it never goes as far as it should. I had fun with the game, but, given how close it is to Danganronpa, I’d suggest that you’re better off playing that.

All in all, I’d have a very hard time recommending the Jurassic Park: Classic Games Collection to anyone that isn’t a die-hard fan of the series or someone with a lot of nostalgia for these games in particular. Most of the entries are sparse in content and not all that fun to play, with the NES Jurassic Park game and the Game Boy version of Jurassic Park 2 being the only ones I was able to stomach for very long. Sure, it’s kind of cool that there’s save states, a rewind button, and in-game maps now, but it really doesn’t do much in relieving these overall tired and unfun games. Still, if nostalgia is your friend, you might want to check out the Jurassic Park: Classic Games Collection.

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.

Cobalt Core was a wonderful surprise for me, and is absolutely one of my favorite games of the year. It marries two disparate genres effortlessly and has a deep but easy-to-understand combat mechanic, engaging and lovable characters, and a mysterious plot. If you love rogue-like, deckbuilder, or Shmup, you can’t go wrong with this one.

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.

Modern Warfare 3 should not exist in its current form. This world, these characters, and modes such as zombies deserved better, especially after Modern Warfare 1 and 2 laid the groundwork for a spectacular third entry with two carefully crafted reboots. If you’re purely in it for the multiplayer, then there may just be enough here in the nostalgia of revisiting old maps to warrant a purchase, but that is the only grounds on which Modern Warfare 3 might prove an acceptable product. For anyone looking for their next action-packed campaign fix or hoping to see the zombies mode return to its former glories, you should absolutely avoid this year’s entry.

My small complaints aside, Yohane the Parhelion: BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE is still one of my favorite games from Inti Creates. It’s an incredibly solid Metroidvania with gorgeous artwork, amazing music, and a deep and fun combat system. While it’s disappointing there’s no bestiary and frustrating there’s not much in the way of postgame content, it’s still a very worthy adventure.

Even when it frustrated me at times, though, Jusant consistently had me wanting to keep going up. Whether it was uncovering another bit of lore about this world, seeing what beautiful scenery was over the next ridge, or simply the joy of finding that next handhold, Jusant kept me engaged from start to finish. A sequel that offers a longer experience that better utilizes its abilities could be even better, but anyone wanting to see how compelling a game can be without needing to bring combat into the equation should absolutely check it out.

Novelty is a steep challenge, and Ebenezer and the Invisible World succeeds admirably at showing us something new and exciting. The game features a cool concept married with challenging and invigorating gameplay. The problem is that it’s still shackled by glitches and occasionally poor game design. While the adventure is expansive and easily could take 10+ hours to get through, it’s a little hard to wholeheartedly recommend until many of the issues mentioned above have been addressed.

For what is ultimately a walking simulator, The Gap is largely successful. Its story is moving and told in a compelling way. You feel for these characters, none of whom are villains. They’re all just trying to do their best in impossible situations. For some, that means pushing back against the seeming inevitability of their lives, while for others, it means accepting it and making the best of things. It’s a relatively short game, but that does stop it from wearing out its welcome. The Gap’s puzzles, while varied, rarely prove challenging or mechanically interesting. Only once in the game did anything take me more than a few minutes to figure out. Ten hours of this would be too much, but for a few hours where you’re consistently moving the plot forward and finding new information, it manages to provide a satisfying experience.

Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic is a cute, competent hidden objects game full of whimsy and wonder. It has so many charming scenes that delight while keeping things casual yet mildly challenging. Although I wish the hint system was a bit more refined and the music more calming, I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with this wholesome hidden object game. If you think you’re good at finding metaphorical needles in haystacks and want to put your skills to the test, you can’t go wrong with Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic.

Demeo Battles captures the essence of its tabletop inspiration in a virtual space, providing a welcoming entry point for those new to the genre. Its accessible mechanics and VR implementation make for an enjoyable, if not particularly deep, gaming experience. Despite its limited progression system, Demeo Battles shines when played with friends, especially in VR, where the camaraderie of a shared physical space can turn a simple match into a memorable event. However, for those seeking the richness and depth found in more complex strategy games, Demeo Battles may feel like a lightweight contender—a game that, while enjoyable, lacks the strategic layers and casual replayability that could make it a mainstay among the titans of D&D media.

I enjoyed revisiting the world and characters of Tales of Arise. Seeing how they’re doing a year later and how this world is finding a way to come together is interesting, and the early hours of Beyond the Dawn are mostly a good experience. Once again, though, the further things go, the less satisfying the overall experience is, and some strange design choices make this content feel strangely isolated. Big fans of Tales of Arise should certainly give this a shot, but it’s far from mandatory even for them.

Cuisineer is absolutely a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. The dungeon crawling is simplistic yet enjoyable, the management elements are a touch too simplistic, and the sidequests are a touch repetitive. Yet, it all comes together to provide an experience that’s absolutely full to the brim with charm, and, most importantly, one where you always feel like you’re making progress. It doesn’t matter whether you’re stocking your cupboards with ingredients, selling meals and raking in the cash, upgrading your furniture in order to allow more patrons to feast, or hunting down that next bubble tea upgrade – Cuisineer always carries this sense of forward progression that so many cozy games tend to miss on. Could you possibly go and find games that do each of these individual elements better elsewhere? Sure, you absolutely could, but it all comes together in Cusineer to provide a consistently rewarding experience that cozy gamer fans everywhere should be checking out this winter.

There’s still a ton of things to like about Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Insomniac wisely kept the formula that worked so well in place and expanded it, removing a lot of what didn’t work and filling it in with new side content to leave players with plenty to do. There are few open-world games that are anywhere near as engaging, in large part because so few of them can capture the genuine joy of simply moving through the world in the way these games do. That so much of the game’s content has been broken down into its best parts makes it all the more frustrating, though, when the game continues to make a few major mistakes it’s been making since the very first entry. Still, any fans of the first two games will have a blast returning to this world in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

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.

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.

Whether you’re pondering the meaning of life and existence or racking your brains solving some carefully crafted puzzles, The Talos Principle 2 takes everything great about the first game and refines it to perfection. Croteam spins philosophy in just the right light, asking hard-hitting questions in a lenient and digestible manner while presenting the player with a wealth of ways you can respond to them. But if you’re just here to solve a few puzzles, there’s no skimping on the quality here at all, and you’re free to skip right through the plot if you want to get straight to the mind melting.

Mineko’s Night Market is a charming narrative-driven game fueled by crafting and resource collecting. Its silly, snarky writing is smile-inducing, its unique aesthetics are inviting, and its core loop easy to comprehend yet oddly challenging to complete. Although I wish there had been more of the writing in favor of the mechanics, I can’t fault Mineko’s Night Market for giving us this delightful romp across a whimsically magical island. If Mineko’s Night Market calls to you, grab it — you’re sure to get plenty of enjoyment out of it.

Alan Wake II is a masterfully made horror title filled with audacious storytelling and some of the best moments in any game released this year. The moment-to-moment gameplay may not be quite as satisfying as some of Remedy’s other titles, but its atmosphere is perhaps the company’s best. After thirteen years of waiting, fans finally get to see what comes next for Alan Wake. It was worth the wait.

If you fancy a jaunty mail-centered platformer you can do much worse than Mail Time. It’s not quite priority mail, but manages to avoid being returned to sender. So open this envelope up and you might find something appealing inside.

Overall, My Time At Sandrock is a great game. There’s tons to do, and it’s got plenty of depth. If I had played it on, say, PC or PS5, I’m sure it would have run fine (or at least serviceable). But I didn’t. I played it on the Switch. And the Nintendo Switch Version of My Time At Sandrock is a crunchy, crusty, stuttering mess that I very much recommend that you stay away from.

Star Ocean The Second Story R is a true treat for both series veterans and newcomers alike, going far beyond the scope of traditional remakes and bringing The Second Story to a brand-new, and completely wonderful, level.

More than just a cynical cash-in, RoboCop: Rogue City does an excellent job bucking the trend of mediocre movie tie-ins to give fans something spectacular. It’s a bloody and visceral love letter to 80s action herodom that leans hard into its source material and even builds upon themes only touched upon in the films. Add a satisfying amount of content in the form of a robust skill tree and a wealth of side missions, and you have a game that no RoboCop fan should miss.

I know that mature games have been taking a beating lately, and I hate to add to that. But I really cannot recommend Another World Mahjong Girl, unless you’re already an expert at Mahjong or really enjoy ecchi. I know eastasiasoft is capable of much better than this, but the lack of a coherent tutorial or explanation of the game made it almost unplayable for me as a rookie. Unfortunately, no amount of great artwork can fix that deficit in the game, much to my chagrin.

LogiKing is a novel concept and a fun enough experience, but I can’t shake how barren it feels. In many ways, I think this game would have fared better as a technical demo than a full-fledged game you have to pay for. While I can respect the overall polish and strategy present in the game, ultimately, I was disappointed there wasn’t more to do.

Those are minor missteps, though, in an otherwise fantastic release. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is easily the most interesting a 2D Mario title has been since the 90s, and any fan of platformers absolutely needs to play this game. The Switch has had a fantastic year for first-party releases, but Super Mario Bros. Wonder stands alongside the very best of them.