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.

Maneater was worth the wait on Nintendo Switch. It's not a perfect game, but it's a hell of a lot of fun. It's the murderous Ecco the Dolphin I didn't realize I always needed. If you're a stickler for graphics, you might prefer playing it on another console. But for playing a hungry shark on the run, there's nothing better. Here's hoping this isn't the last we see from Tripwire in this delightfully demented new IP.

Despite the few aforementioned hiccups, Biomutant is an expansive and thoroughly engaging open-world exploration game that fans of Fallout might recognize and enjoy. The game may have some rough edges, but it is especially impressive for an outing by an indie developer with much less resources and manpower than a major studio. Don’t miss this title.

Is a fairly solid beat ’em up paying homage to the greatest of Kevin Smith’s greatest gags worth a full fifteen dollars? While the enjoyment of it seems a bit situational, if you’re a fan of Smith’s comedy hijinks and want a playable museum of his best, I’d say that fifteen’s worth it. While the challenge is there and the combat satisfies, it doesn’t strive to make any new ground in the genre, other than a couple of tricky levels inspired by games of the era it aims to imitate. This is perfectly fine because it does all that it needs to with what it is, a simple NES throwback with some 90’s movie flair that thrives for nostalgia in more ways than one.

Every now and then, a game comes along that just absolutely blows up your expectations. There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension is one such game. Superb design, excellent voice acting, with a surprisingly moving story, it’s an undeniably endearing and unique experience.

I wouldn’t immediately recommend Lost Ruins in the way that I might with other Metroidvanias, but it’s still a fun time overall. If you’re looking for a different kind of Metroidvania and don’t mind intentionally awkward controls, then give Lost Ruins a try. It’s honestly a nice feeling when you get all the way through it.

It’s decidedly short but irrefutably sweet. Sure, it’s not perfect, but it’s a great example of why short games can still be worthwhile. And even though there are some awkward design choices, such as not being able to play specific stages at a whim after beating the game, that’s not enough to diminish how fun it is. I honestly hope this is just the first in a long series. Cause I’m curious about who Wally is and why he has such powers. Here’s hoping Neil Jones has more fast-paced stories to tell in the immediate future.

I hate to sound so down in the mouth about Rift Racoon. I was just hoping it would be a lot more enjoyable than I ultimately found it. If you don’t mind an excessive challenge partially contributed to by awkward controls, you may still find something to love here. For everyone else, though, you’ll want to shoo this raccoon away.

If the digital brick and mortars have charmed you and you love the idea of playing a city-builder that builds itself, I would absolutely keep your eye on this adorably innovative gem. Buildings Have Feelings Too! is not without its faults, but the concept is too good to ignore for long.

Siege Survival: Gloria Victis is a thoroughly brutal mix of simulation and roguelike. It’s only for those who want an unforgiving experience and are happy to labour not for a glorious kingdom, but for one more day of desperate survival. If you want a darker simulation title then you’ll find Siege Survival: Gloria Victis is gritty enough to clear a snowed-in driveway in Antarctica.

I didn’t expect to be so utterly engrossed in The Invisible Hand, but I guess you could say I found myself pretty invested in it. The aesthetics are rough and the replay value isn’t totally there, but if you’ve been waiting for a stock market simulator, The Invisible Hand is absolutely it. If you want to experience the thrill of watching your gains blast off to the moon as you invest in extremely unethical things that have genuine consequences, look no further than The Invisible Hand.

If you’re even slightly interested in visual novels or are just a fan of good mysteries in general, your life will only be better for picking up Root Film.

Resident Evil Village is a worthwhile addition to Capcom’s survival horror franchise. It’s an explosive and brutal thrill ride that will surely please fans of Resident Evil 4 or those who enjoyed Resident Evil 7 but felt it could use a bit more action. While I don’t think I’d call it my personal favorite entry in the series (that honor goes to Resident Evil 2), I feel Capcom has done an admirable job of combining the strengths of two of the franchise’s most memorable titles to create something new and exciting. If you’re a fan of the series, then this is one game that absolutely deserves a spot in your PS5 library.

Overall, ScourgeBringer is an immensely enjoyable game. Even your best run will be fairly short, so you can pick up and play anytime you feel like it. As light as it is on the story, it’s heavy on action and gameplay. It offers tons of replayability, too, with multiple endings. So if you’re looking for an intense roguelite platformer, give ScourgeBringer a try. I promise you’ll never be so frustrated and happy at the same time.

In the end, I’m not sure we needed another R-Type, but I still enjoyed R-Type Final 2. For your money, you get a ton of content and lots of challenge. While I still fervently hope they patch the issues I pointed out, such as the unskippable intro and end credits, the base game is still solid. If you’re an Irem fanboy that is looking for the next great shmup, this is probably a safe choice.

Death end re;Quest is one of the best games that Compile Heart has ever made. While it may not manage to avoid all of the tropes that you’d expect to see from a CH game, it’s obvious that a lot of effort has been put into this game, and it absolutely shows. It’s a weird combination of sci-fi, horror, comedy, visual novel, and JRPG elements that were all put together in just the right way to allow them to work together in a near-perfect way. Whether you’re a Compile Heart fan who initially passed this game by, a pre-existing DerQ fan, or just someone with even a mild interest in this game, I’d say to just go ahead and pick up Death end re;Quest for Switch. It’s relatively cheap, and a lot of fun and the smorgasbord of DLC that comes with this version doesn’t hurt anything, either.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with Crime Opera. The story is mature and intense, but filtered through the eyes of children and adolescents. The framing is unique, while the story asks readers to grapple with difficult subjects. With multiple endings based on the choices you make, and the promise of five more entries in the series, there’s plenty to draw you in. Honestly, the only thing holding the game back is a few questionable design choices. If those are resolved in the next entry, I think we’re looking at a very promising series.

Despite my issues with the game, I really did enjoy New Pokémon Snap. Even after completing the game’s storyline, there’s still a ton more to do after the credits roll. To this old Pokémon fan, this is a must-own title. If you love photographing wild creatures and exploring a vibrant new region, this is the game for you. And if you really want to feel like you’re a budding photographer, play the game using the optional motion controls, swinging the Switch around like a giant camera. Now to spend hours and hours more to fill out my Photodex and unearth all the secrets of the Lental region.

I may have been uncertain at the start whether or not I would enjoy Devil Slayer Raksasi, but in the end, it’s actually one of the best rogues I’ve played in a long while. While graphically, it may not shatter anyone’s expectations, and the music is generally pretty muted, it does so much more right in how it plays. Coupled with an interesting premise, mysterious robed overlords, demon hybrids, and monsters, and you end up with a really satisfying indie game. I’m definitely impressed and look forward to future projects from GlassesCatGames.

Ultimately, I have more positive things than negative to say about FEZ. Sure it can be cumbersome and confusing at times, but it’s still a beautiful and creative game. It’s nice I was finally able to play this one-time exclusive on a Nintendo console.

Kaiju Big Battel Fighto Fantasy sure is something. While pre-existing Kaiju Big Battel fans will most likely have no issue picking this gem up, it’s such a high-quality game that I genuinely recommend it to anyone who considers themselves an RPG fan. Sure, it might rub you the wrong way if you’re particular about games being “serious” and whatnot, but everyone else who isn’t a stick-in-the-mud will probably end up loving it as much as I did—which is, to say, a lot.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Scarlet Hood and the Wicked Wood. Wonderfully storybook-esque, with a surprisingly moving story, and full of great humor, Scarlet Hood is a unique experience. If I had to nitpick, I’d say that some of the puzzles are perhaps a little too esoteric, but none of them are truly unsolvable. With multiple endings offering plenty of replay value, there’s a lot to recommend for Scarlet Hood.

For what it’s trying to accomplish and how it layered the subject matter, CRASH: Autodrive is truly deep for just how short it is. Of course, therein lies the clincher — as it has stated numerous times, it is, indeed, short. There’s plenty to investigate, a few mini-games, a couple of false leads, and tons of flavor text that really flesh out the world of 2027 Philadelphia, but this game is less a full meal and more of a perfectly portioned dish you might order at a Michelin Star restaurant — it’s small, but rich, and those who appreciate the flavors will know when it’s time to stop eating.

Smelter is a meticulously crafted genre hybrid that almost does everything right. The margin for error with its design is so slim that it might be some kind of gaming miracle. A challenging and captivating experience from start to finish, Smelter is an absolute must play. Here’s hoping this isn’t the last time we see this dichotomous duo.

Poison Control could have been better. The controls weren’t polished enough, and the levels—despite boasting some amazing aesthetics—were fairly same-y. But that doesn’t mean that Poison Control is a bad game. In fact, I really liked it—and I think that a lot of pre-existing NIS fans will, too. If you’re looking for games based on mechanical execution alone, Poison Control might not be your thing. If you want something with a lot of heart, however, and don’t mind the imperfections, then I would absolutely suggest diving headfirst into this little slice of Hell.

The Atelier Mysterious Trilogy is a piece of Atelier history marked by plenty of ups and downs, but that's probably what made diving into the Atelier Mysterious Trilogy Deluxe Pack all the sweeter. I genuinely enjoyed all of the content that it had to offer—both new and old—and I'm sure that most other fans will, too. Plus, it's pretty hard to beat the fact that you're getting bonus content within each of the games at a reduced price.

I wish I could say I had fun with Deiland Pocket Planet or found some sort of redeeming quality outside of the aesthetics, but the truth is, I spent too much time tripping over rocks and breaking them out of frustration afterwards to really remember much else about it. I kept missing visitors, I fumbled with farming, and unlocking the fishing rod was an exercise in odd patience. There was a lot of weird friction in the UI and nothing was truly intuitive. I am still wild about the concept and found the chill vibe inviting, but diving back into the game just for a supposedly relaxing mood never had the outcome I was hoping for.

Kingdom of Arcadia unfortunately does little to elevate itself above the scores of other action platforming games just like it. It fails to take advantage of its setting, which could have resulted in a unique experience or at least something a little less predictable. It’s mildly amusing at best but derivative of everything that has come before it.