Octopath Traveler 0 is the perfect game for newcomers, but it doesn’t quite live up to the sky-high expectations of true die-hard fans. As a result, it’s a pretty solid game, but not as good as it could have been.

The hub connecting the main locations does more harm than good, but it can’t stop the triumphant return of Samus Aran. Beyond that, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a game that only honors its predecessors.

Just Dance 2026 mainly offers value for diehard players, for everyone else waiting or choosing Just Dance + makes more sense.

You’re better off waiting a bit before picking up Project Motor Racing. Hopefully the game will improve soon with a few patches, because a solid racing sim on consoles with crossplay has the opportunity to be something special.

Just like in Air Ride, the simplicity of Kirby Air Riders is deceptive. There’s more depth and challenge in this one-button racer than you’d expect. At the same time, those simple systems also hold the game back. Controlling a vehicle with a single button is a funny idea, but it feels like a limitation for the sake of limiting.

Mysteria Ecclesiae is one of the strongest DLCs for KCD2, featuring an intriguing story and a vibrant setting, although the way you’re meant to play it feels a bit too constrained.

Football Manager 26 is one of the most extensive management games within the sports simulation genre. It truly lets you step into the role of your own fictional football manager and gives you the freedom to bring the most creative scenarios to life. However, the game could have used a bit more time in the oven, as the pre-release version was riddled with bugs. On top of that, the visuals are dreadful, and it lacks the charm that similar games manage to capture.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment continues in the same style that Age of Calamity used to captivate me five years ago. The combat feels great and becomes increasingly engaging as you play, while sending enemies flying through the air as you dominate the battlefield has an almost therapeutic effect. There’s so much to discover and unlock on the map that I constantly felt like I was making progress – even if much of it is repetitive. It also presents a story through extensive cutscenes that are fully voice-acted – and, above all, remarkably serious. The new Switch 2 hardware has solved Age of Calamity’s biggest issue: there are no more frame drops, and it looks fantastic in higher resolution. When all is said and done, Age of Imprisonment completely drew me in, and it was a joy to watch the hours fly by on TV or in handheld mode just as quickly as the Bokoblins launched from my sword.

Once Upon a Katamari is a worthy successor to the series. All the cheerful whimsy of the original games has been preserved. The abundance of levels and collectibles, the challenging yet excellent controls, the infectious music, colorful visuals, and humorous little stories can’t help but put a smile on your face.

Dragon Quest 1+2 HD-2D Remake has turned out to be an excellent game that takes modern audiences into full account. There are plenty of options to make your gameplay experience as easy or as challenging as you want, and both games were already true classics in their original form.

The Outer Worlds 2 is an RPG that retains the strengths of the original but presents them on a larger scale, with more variety and a more direct impact on gameplay and choices. For both fans of the first game and newcomers, The Outer Worlds 2 offers a challenging, clever, and humorous sci-fi experience that, despite minor imperfections, is well worth exploring - and revisiting in a potential next playthrough.

Ninja Gaiden 4 has turned out to be a very strong action game. The gameplay is rock solid, and those who love games where you can decapitate, dismember, and brutally tear into your enemies will definitely find plenty of enjoyment here. Still, I would’ve preferred to see PlatinumGames and Team Ninja balance the focus more evenly between Ryu and Yakumo. Ninja Gaiden 4 falls a bit short in polish here and there, and Ryu in particular doesn’t always feel like the Super Ninja the game constantly claims he is.

Keeper is absolutely unique, with a beautiful Tim Burton-like art style, stunning music, and an intriguing world. I solved light puzzles, but the core of the game is mainly about movement and experience. The way it tries to guide you organically without any UI or hints is bold and admirable. But despite the variety, real tension is missing, and I couldn’t shake the question of whether I was actually enjoying what I was doing.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A neatly solves the biggest problems of Scarlet & Violet for me. The creative interpretation of the battle system combined with the Mega Evolution battles truly makes this Pokémon a joy to play again. The fact that the game holds your hand quite a bit and the story is as transparent as cling film is something I’m more than happy to accept.

Battlefield 6 is Battlefield at its best. The game looks impressive and the audio is, as we’ve come to expect from DICE, absolutely top-tier. But this time, the rest of the package is just as strong. With the return of traditional classes, crisp hit registration and a wide arsenal of weapons, there’s a solid foundation in place to keep Battlefield relevant for months, and maybe even years, to come. The single-player campaign also deserves praise: it doesn’t feel like a box-ticking exercise, but like a meaningful addition. Battlefield 6 once again bursts with the spectacle that made the series famous, even if the amount of content at launch could have been a bit more substantial.

The beat ’em up foundation of Absolum is smooth and fluid, and the roguelike twist adds the necessary depth, making it almost endlessly replayable. In recent years, quite a few games have shown how cool beat ’em ups used to be. Absolum shows how brilliant the genre can truly be from now on.

As a big fan of the first two games - and even the mobile spin-off Very Little Nightmares - I can’t help but feel disappointed by Little Nightmares 3. It falls short on the creepy vibes the series is known for, and the story lacks impact. After introducing a partner in the second game, full co-op was the logical next step, but the gameplay remains shallow, and the absence of local co-op is a missed opportunity.

Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are excellent 3D platformers, and it’s nice that the second installment is now also playable on modern hardware. Still, I’m disappointed by the way the ports have been handled. Nintendo is asking a significantly higher price per game than with Super Mario 3D All-Stars, the last time Super Mario Galaxy was brought to Switch. In return, there’s only some new side content, while nothing meaningful has really been added in terms of gameplay. That said, these remain two of the best games ever made, bundled together in one package.

Dying Light: The Beast may not be groundbreaking, but with Beast Mode, Castor Woods, and a few surprisingly fun side quests, it delivers enough chaos and enjoyment to have you grinning as you tear through hordes of zombies.

Silent Hill F delivers with a fantastically atmospheric Japanese setting that feels nothing like the town we know so well. Hiniko is a strong character whose journey drew me in and at times left me shocked. Her village is increasingly overrun, and Hiniko herself undergoes a transformative journey. The monstrous forms that terrorize her are grotesque and at times – thanks to their movements and striking presentation – truly terrifying. Fighting them certainly leaves much to be desired and often proved frustrating. Still, that doesn’t take away from the fact that Silent Hill F is a bold step forward that succeeds wonderfully in what it sets out to achieve as a horror game.

Hades II delivers an excellent sequel to a fantastic game. It does just enough new things to feel refreshing, while never forgetting what made the first entry so great. The game looks stunning and plays beautifully on the Switch 2. With a bit of effort, you can finish it in just a few hours, but at that point, you’ve really only seen the tip of Olympus. Hades II has become one of the best games of the year and is one everyone should definitely try. With Blue Prince, Expedition 33, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Hades II, it’s going to be tough to decide what my favorite game of the year will be. But Hades II absolutely deserves to be in that conversation.

Ghost of Yotei is a very safe sequel to Tsushima. In terms of gameplay, it builds further on what Tsushima already did well. It innovates little in that regard, but it does address every issue I pointed out in my original review of Ghost of Tsushima. On paper, that’s fantastic. Unfortunately, because of its stronger focus on the main character, Ghost of Yotei loses sight of the story of the world around her. Ghost of Yotei matches its predecessor well, but because of its missed storytelling opportunities, it fails to surpass Ghost of Tsushima.

Sonic Racing Crossworld brings back everything its predecessor was missing and delivers a packed, solid racer.

For me, Final Fantasy Tactics The Ivalice Chronicles felt like a warm, nostalgic embrace. I loved puzzling with the many Jobs to get through battles in as few turns as possible and without losing any of my units. The game would easily have scored at least one point higher if it had been in 2D-HD, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a wonderfully polished version of a game that, even 30 years later, is still fantastic to play.

FC 26 is without a doubt one of the best football games in years – perhaps even the best since FIFA 17. This time, the developers have genuinely listened to the fans, rather than just making empty promises. The game – including its servers – feels fast and smooth, making it simply enjoyable to play again. You don’t boot up FC 26 because you feel you have to, but because you want to. In terms of new modes, FC 26 isn’t revolutionary, and graphically we would have liked to see a bit more progress. Still, that hardly takes away from the overall package, which once again guarantees hundreds of hours of fun.

NBA 2K26 is once again a decent installment of the annual basketball series. In terms of gameplay, it feels noticeably smoother, especially on the offensive side of the court. On the flip side, defenders seem less effective. The story mode in MyCareer is surprisingly entertaining and comes with an original European twist. Still, certain aspects of the various game modes could have been fleshed out much better, and in many ways, it feels almost identical to last year’s game. On top of that, in-game purchases still take far too central a role in NBA 2K.

LEGO Voyagers may look like a simple kids’ game, but it turns out to be a short, heartfelt journey full of detail and charm.

Borderlands 4 is a rock-solid co-op game that will keep you busy for dozens of hours. The story isn’t its strength, but the hunt for the best loot is pure fun.