Despite a disappointing ending, The Adventures of Elliot knows how to explore the nuances of a good end game and makes great use of its HD-2D graphics. The game has a unique, nostalgic feel, with likable characters, great boss battles and combat, as well as decent exploration that keeps you entertained. Unfortunately, the progression can be a bit tedious and the side quests are uninspiring, but even so, the game is a great adventure for fans of Zelda and similar games.

007 First Light has that distinct feel of a seventh-generation console action game thanks to features it borrows from other games of that era—and even some more recent ones—to create an immersive, fun, and thrilling experience that had been somewhat missing from video games.

Zero Parades is a dense and, at times, exhausting RPG, but one that weaves an excellent narrative in a world brimming with richly explored subtext. Although it remains somewhat in the shadow of its predecessor, the story of Cascade’s quest to right past wrongs stands on its own and offers one of the best narrative experiences in the genre.

Coffee Talk Tokyo is a narrative game that draws inspiration from relevant real-world themes to create dialogues that range from lighthearted to profound, with just the right pause to savor a delicious drink. Even amid vague orders and latte art that make players doubt their barista skills, this visual novel offers hours of conversation with unique characters, all set to a soothing soundtrack.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a wonderful introduction for new (and young) players, making it the perfect holiday gift. Bursting with creativity and charm, the game may not be the best fit for players looking for a challenge, but it’s perfect for anyone who wants to relax without having to think too hard.

LEGO Batman: The Dark Knight’s Legacy manages to go beyond the classic formula of other games in the franchise, offering a fully immersive experience in the complex city of Gotham and unraveling Batman’s legacy through an original, epic, and entertaining story. It is a “love letter” to fans of the Caped Crusader and a tribute to the Dark Knight’s legacy.

Forza Horizon 6 maintains all the excellence of the franchise and its thrilling, electrifying wild races. Whether on the familiar road circuits, in street races that evoke the feeling of being in The Fast and the Furious, or in the mind-blowing race against a giant robot à la Gundam, the game showcases Playground Games’ mastery of the franchise and how this title completely dominates the arcade racing genre—largely due to its own excellence and partly due to the competition’s shortcomings. However, it’s not all roses; progression has become a chronic issue for the franchise and needs to be addressed to ensure a future as bright as the present.

Aether & Iron delivers a narrative-driven noir adventure that can be both enjoyable and frustrating. This “decopunk” New York is beautiful, brutal, and sets the stage for great stories, even with some flaws in the pacing. Its combat is interesting enough to provide a break between episodes, but it’s up to the player to decide whether or not they’re in the mood to make the most of it.

Even with a lackluster story and an uncharismatic protagonist, Saros has secured its place among the best games of 2026 so far, thanks to its addictive, challenging, and frenetic gameplay, featuring fantastic battles that showcase all of Housemarque’s brilliance and expertise.

Aphelion offers a compelling sci-fi premise and an immersive soundtrack, but stumbles in its execution. What should be an emotional and epic journey ends up getting lost in a rushed pace and repetitive gameplay, which turns exploration into a tedious climbing (or mountaineering) simulator.

Pragmata is a blend of Vanquish-esque aesthetics, a dash of Resident Evil — minus all the horror — in the final stretch, a good but clichéd story, unique and highly entertaining gameplay, and two protagonists who serve as the essential glue holding it all together. The game shines in its simplicity, excitement, and fun.

Life is Strange: Reunion clings to nostalgia and doesn't allow its protagonists to mature beyond the dilemmas they faced in Arcadia Bay 10 years ago. It's a must-see for fans of the franchise, but it's also a bittersweet experience, delivering a predictable mystery shrouded in technical problems that, at this point, Deck Nine should have already overcome.

Marathon offers the best of what Bungie has to offer in terms of pure gameplay and a unique hardcore experience within the extraction shooter genre. However, pacing issues and its appeal to a niche audience make the barrier to entry too high for the vast majority of players.

The game removes some of the mechanics that made it even more terrifying, but it still stays true to the original and serves as an excellent introduction for a new generation of players.

Even in a genre as saturated as the Soulslike, nothing compares to the Nioh series, and Nioh 3 stands out as the best in the trilogy. The transition to an open world isn’t perfect, but the rewarding exploration, stunning landscapes, and thrilling optional boss battles more than make up for any minor issues. Add to that top-notch combat, an extremely customizable character creation system, a lengthy campaign with a deep New Game+ mode where the loot system really shines, and an auto-equip feature that’s a true godsend, and you have yet another Team Ninja hit that sits at the top of the Soulslike genre.

Right from the first month of the year, as far as I’m concerned, Code Vein 2 has all the makings of one of the most disappointing experiences of 2026. The story is predictable and monotonous; the combat, while decent, gets tedious due to the repetition of enemies and attack patterns; and the boss battles are unengaging—which is probably the biggest flaw in a Soulslike game.

Despite all its flaws, Tormented Souls 2 may still appeal to nostalgic players who miss the classic survival horror games. That said, it doesn’t make up for the game’s script flaws, its unintuitive gameplay, and its predictable jump scares, which get lost amid an excellent atmosphere.

ROUTINE is a unique space horror game with strong references to classic survival horror titles and 1980s science fiction cinema. With its sublime puzzles and well-paced gameplay, the game keeps you hooked from start to finish with an intriguing narrative skillfully woven together through documents, videos, diaries, and even the character’s hallucinations.

Crimson Desert offers a well-rounded experience, even if it has a few stumbles along the way. Its campaign leaves something to be desired, but the game more than makes up for it with a vibrant, detail-rich world. Its excellent combat, combined with stunning visuals and a powerful soundtrack, makes the battles fun and epic, but it was in its open world that I found the game’s greatest appeal and standout feature.

Pokémon: Pokopia revitalizes the franchise by combining the creativity of Minecraft with the charm of Animal Crossing in a deep narrative. Despite suffering from long loading times on the Switch 2 and a slow, real-time-based pace, the freedom to rebuild cities and manage habitats is extremely rewarding. It's an innovative and necessary addition that, even with technical flaws, delivers an exciting and authentic experience.

Resident Evil Requiem combines the best that the franchise has had through 30 years on top of excellent protagonism from Grace and Leon. Unfortunately, the game falters in action sequences which are reminiscent of Resident Evil 6, the worst title in the saga, and stumbles slightly with a narrative that isn't as brilliant and sublime as its horror and gameplay. However, it still demonstrates the mastery that Capcom has maintained with the franchise since RE7: Biohazard (despite the misstep in RE3 Remake).

Stuck in some survival horror tropes that are already tired in 2025, A.I.L.A embodies the terror of AIs with a frightening villain, macabre settings, and great puzzles. A little more polish would be very beneficial for the game, which has a solid narrative and an excellent variety of horror approaches for each experience in the plot.

Even though it's not the best beat 'em up released in recent years, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is another hit in this era of revival of the genre that was all the rage in arcades in the 1990s. The game from Tribute Games and Dotemu shines mainly with its huge variety of characters and, above all, play styles, offering an extremely fun campaign from start to finish. Although the levels often feel repetitive and the game offers a small variety of enemies given the length of the campaign, these minor issues do not detract from the creative merits of a game that feels like a real living comic book. At a time when several classic beat 'em up franchises have returned with great games, from Streets of Rage to Ninja Turtles, Marvel Cosmic Invasion joins this new wave of great successes even though it is not the pinnacle of the genre.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond delivers a solid adventure faithful to the series' legacy, combining good exploration and puzzles that carry the essence of the saga. The game, however, suffers in portable mode, featuring somewhat dated graphics unworthy of such a highly anticipated release, but shines when docked and played on a good TV. The presence of AI-controlled allies is more charming than useful, and although the Vi-O-La motorcycle helps make the journey through Viewros less tiring, it works more as a remedy for a pacing problem than a genuinely exciting element. The price differences between Switch and Switch 2 also raise the question of whether the improvements justify the additional cost, especially when some of them seem to merely mitigate technical limitations.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 slows down a little compared to its predecessor and responds to complaints from the community to deliver a good multiplayer experience in a year when everything is against it. Its campaign, however, highlights what has been sacrificed in the short development time and stands as a strong contender for the worst story in the franchise.

Dispatch is one of those games that is already among the best of the year and puts a smile on your face from the very beginning, even bringing tears to players' eyes — whether from joy or sadness. The writing is brilliant, the choices carry weight, the characters are captivating, and everything in the game just made me look forward to a second season even more. The absence of more interactive moments like in Telltale titles is a little frustrating, but it doesn't weaken the game at all.

With simple but fun and intuitive gameplay, Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland is a pixel art RPG that delivers on its promises, with several exciting moments that make us reflect and many places to explore. In addition to being a touching tribute, the title shows that Brazilian indie games deserve more and more recognition within the industry.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment successfully expands on the story of Tears of the Kingdom in a satisfying way. The fun and chaotic gameplay is great and is the highlight of the game. Fortunately, thanks to the wide variety of characters, the game avoids the repetitiveness of its very similar objectives. Although it doesn't shine like the main titles, the narrative brings a new perspective to the War of Imprisonment. Learning more about each sage is charming, but even so, there is nothing that makes it a must-have title within The Legend of Zelda.