MotoGP 26 is like that rider who nails three perfect turns and then runs wide on the fourth, looks at you, and says, “Don’t worry, we’ll fix it in the next patch."

Pokémon Champions is a Pokémon battle simulator; it does just that, and that's fine. It was developed with that specific purpose, and it wouldn't be fair to dismiss it as a flaw. As it stands, the game is a bit lacking in content, completely missing the possibility to battle against the CPU, and more could have been done to teach newcomers the basics of high-level competitive play. On the plus side, the experience is completely free to play, with a non-predatory, and indeed very fair, monetization system. Pokémon Champions is therefore a good foundation to build on, a live service built to last. If the game wants to be the home of competitive Pokémon in the long term, however, it must prove it with continuous improvements over time.

A worthwhile sci-fi story that is marred by questionable gameplay. One would expect more from Don't Nod.

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is a Lovecraftian game to the core, but it is also an investigative adventure with an overly slow pace and less frightening than expected.

Life is Strange: Reunion constantly straddles two identities: the desire to recapture the intimate atmospheres and human relationships that made the original Life is Strange special, and the burden of a broader, more convoluted narrative direction inherited from the more recent Life is Strange: Double Exposure. The result is uneven - often stumbling over inconsistencies and simplifications - but it finds its strength in quieter moments, particularly through the renewed focus on Max and Chloe's relationship. Its contained structure, recycled environments, and gameplay that evolves little from past entries prevent the game from taking a true step forward. Yet, when it centers on character and emotion, Reunion leaves an impression, showing that the heart of the series is still beating. It may not be the sequel the franchise needed, but it slightly improves on Double Exposure, and could be a satisfying chapter for those attached to these characters and their world.

Stunning but "dated": World Series-caliber gameplay in a graphics engine that feels outdated. That’s the paradox: it drives you wild… and then, in the blink of an eye, it reminds you why you just can’t put it down.

Marathon gets better the more you play, but in today’s gaming landscape, it’s fair to ask how many players are willing to invest many hours before the real fun begins. The foundations are solid: the artistic vision is striking, and the gunplay is satisfying. Yet, many of Bungie’s new shooter’s mechanics seem almost designed to push players away rather than draw them in. A confusing interface, overly convoluted weapon and item design, a low TTK paired with punishing PvE, and progression systems that only balance out after unlocking most skill trees create significant early hurdles. And even when everything finally starts falling into place, some design choices remain puzzling, including the mandatory quarterly wipe, which currently raises more questions than answers. When it all comes together, Marathon is undeniably fun, but at this stage, the game still needs quite a few key tweaks to fully realize its potential.

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is a heartfelt and massive tribute to the 20th anniversary of Geo Stelar's journey. While the newly added voice acting, the rich virtual museum, and the modern QoL features are fantastic additions, the surgical preservation of the original code brings along severely outdated design choices. The tedious backtracking, unskippable animations, and a clunky one-at-a-time quest system hold the experience back from true greatness. Still, beneath the anachronistic flaws lies a deeply emotional story and a genuinely addictive combat system. A solid, if slightly flawed, return to the Wave World.

Despite its fascinating 14th-century Italian setting and a combat system inspired by real historical martial arts, 1348 Ex Voto collapses under the weight of its own ambition. The rushed narrative, clunky and repetitive gameplay loop, jarringly empty environments, and a severe lack of technical polish overshadow the undeniable passion of the small development team. It's a game with great potential that sadly bites off much more than it can chew, leaving players with a frustratingly unrefined and buggy experience.

An ambitious roleplaying game marred by unsatisfying combat and too many graphical glitches.

Reanimal is a disturbing and visually meticulous déjà-vu, where gameplay lacks courage and co-op isn't fully exploited. Still, better to play it in two than alone.

A heartbreaking tale of two games. The first half with Grace offers a tense, atmospheric survival horror experience that hints at a bright future for the franchise. However, the second half completely betrays that promise, descending into a chaotic mess of forced nostalgia, nonsensical retcons, and a disrespectful treatment of its new characters. While technically polished with solid gunplay and great visuals, Resident Evil Requiem is narratively bankrupt - a confused hybrid that sacrifices logic for cheap fanservice. A massive missed opportunity.

God of War: Sons of Sparta is an incomprehensible project, whose purpose is unclear and whose overall presentation, both gameplay and narrative, fails to keep pace with both other exponents of the Metroidvania genre and the high quality that has more or less always distinguished the saga.

Code Vein II is a missed opportunity: it expands the universe and streamlines the gameplay, but sacrifices challenge on the altar of accessibility. Between a difficulty flattened by overly powerful teammates and various technical uncertainties, it remains a pleasant title but lacking the spark necessary to excel.

Quarantine Zone: The Last Check stands out for its concept and emotional impact, making the player feel the weight of deciding others’ fate. Weaker in variety, narrative, and technical polish, it lingers more for its discomfort than its game design.

A game with two distinct natures that don’t always interact well, wrapped in a pace that’s a bit too slow. Fortunately, the interesting use of deck‑building makes Death Howl a solid title for fans of the genre.

Sleep Awake is a visionary psychological horror, strong in atmosphere and aesthetics but less impactful in gameplay. A short, flawed yet memorable experience for fans of auteur-driven walking simulators.

Project Motor Racing tries to pick up the Project CARS legacy by sitting on the more sim-focused side of simcade, with a decent variety of cars and tracks and a driving model that can be enjoyable, especially on a wheel with some assists enabled. Overall, however, it struggles to find a clear identity, with a dry, spreadsheet-like career, merely adequate visuals and sound, inconsistent AI and several missing features and rough edges. A project with interesting potential that, at launch, stays well below its own ambitions.

Demonschool is a game with a strong personality and a distinctive aesthetic, blending PS1-style pixel art with references to classic ’90s JRPGs and an atmosphere reminiscent of Italian horror cinema. However, the game’s ambition often works against it: the story is predictable, the cast is underdeveloped, and the constant humor rarely lands as intended. The combat system, despite some interesting ideas, becomes repetitive as the game progresses and lacks a real sense of progression or reward. Demonschool ultimately leaves the impression of unfulfilled potential, making it an interesting but never memorable experience.

Football Manager 26 marks a new beginning for Sports Interactive’s saga, but not without growing pains. The move to Unity and a revamped, albeit convoluted, interface bring ambitious depth and realism in football storytelling, yet also contradictions and rough edges that make this a fascinating but imperfect transition year.

An uninspired return, frantic and fun, but lacking the soul and depth that made the original Painkiller a cult game.

A stilish roguelike which is fun in multiplayer but feels underdeveloped under several key aspects.

A charming yet flawed comeback, Yooka-Replaylee refines the original without making it truly shine and the 30 fps on Switch 2 are an eyesore.

A third chapter that could have seized the opportunity of the change in direction for a brave, new course, but instead settles for a sufficient rehash of its predecessors.

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a captivating roguelite thanks to its narrative concept and artistic style, but it struggles in terms of pacing, variety and difficulty balance.

Baby Steps is a mix between a rage game and a walking simulator, where the player is required to have a lot of precision and patience. And I have no doubt that this title and its protagonist will find a place in the hearts of many gamers. At the same time, however, for some it could be a frustrating game, often involving long periods of downtime where you get stuck in one place or don't know which way to go. Furthermore, apart from the wonderful comic scenes, the game never really rewards the player for the effort made in reaching the goal, whether it be a campsite or a collectible. Perhaps Baby Steps is just a big metaphor teaching the player that life is about putting one foot in front of the other, knowing that falls will be frequent and disastrous, but that you can always get back up; or perhaps it's just a grotesque comedy, a title that knows how to make fun of itself and us, and that amid so much frustration manages to make us laugh a little at both Nate and ourselves.

A first-person shooter with great potential, but which unable to fully express itself.

A bland stylish action that proves how ambition and passion should never override actual experience.

An ambitious yet flawed survival horror. Its great atmosphere and setting are marred by bugs, repetitive enviromnents, and more bugs. A shame.

Midnight Murder Club impresses with its atmosphere and original ideas like the Wild Cards, but it suffers from lack of content and variety. Perfect with friends, less engaging when played alone.

Drag x Drive surprises with its concept and controls, but disappoints in content, variety, and design. A missed opportunity that only works well when played online with friends with similar skill.

The second chapter of The Hinokami Chronicles saga meets all the minimum requirements to be a good product capable of transporting players, especially fans of the saga, through a decent adaptation of the story and fun, colorful battles; however, it fails to meet the expectations of the public: many—including myself—would have preferred a product similar to Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. Instead, the developers decided not to take any risks and to stick to tried and tested formulas: a sufficient product that doesn't innovate but is entertaining; all the typical elements of CyberConnect2 games are there, capable of teasing lovers of the genre, but without ever taking risks or aspiring to anything new. The combat system remains its strong point, simple, dynamic, and fun, slightly improved compared to the previous chapter, but we are still left with the dynamics that pervade the game in its entirety: nothing new.

Persona 5: The Phantom X is an ambitious spin-off that captures much of the original’s charm through a compelling gameplay loop and a promising new cast, all delivered with impressive technical polish for a mobile title. However, the main story feels somewhat uninspired, with villains lacking depth and several scenes that come across as recycled from the original Persona 5. The monetization is a bit too aggressive, with steep pricing that can quickly frustrate players. Despite these shortcomings, the game still offers enjoyable moments, and future updates could help refine its strengths and create a smoother, more rewarding experience.

Killing Floor 3 is bloody and fun, but stuck in the past: a solid co-op shooter with old-school charm, yet lacking innovation and at risk of becoming repetitive without fresh content.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a game that, despite its structure and initial difficulty, delivers a surprisingly enjoyable experience. Its rough edges and unpolished aspects are evident, but the core strengths - particularly its rewarding evasion-focused combat - elevate it. Though it feels like a product from a bygone era, its compelling gameplay moments make it a worthwhile journey.

FBC: Firebreak has some potential and its Control-style oddness works well, but the rest doesn't particularly stand out, and the limited in-game content doesn't help.

TRON: Catalyst is a game that delivers solidly across nearly every aspect: from the length of the adventure to its combat system, from the art direction to the soundtrack, and even its fair launch price. But this very consistency - without major highs or lows - is both its greatest strength and the factor that holds it back from true greatness.

A light-hearted experience, primarily aimed at younger players, that slips a bit too quickly into repetition.

A missed opportunity: Kingsroad captures Westeros well but is overwhelmed by pay-to-win mechanics. Only the most patient fans might endure it.

Elden Ring Nightreign has a lot of good ideas on its side, a lot of quality, and I'm sure it will blossom during the coming months; however, at the moment the ratio of fun to frustration seems a bit problematic.

An extremely conservative operation. More like a port with extra content than a remaster; a product intended for fans of the saga and fans of the video game's history, but unlikely to appeal to younger gamers.

An action-adventure that is guilty of a lot of naivety and tries to do too much, without really concluding anything. Too bad, because the potential was all there.

Crazy, destructive, and full of absurd ideas, Deliver At All Costs is fun despite some flaws and repetitiveness.

While seeking to expand beyond its predecessor, the second chapter is burdened with both existing and new difficulties.

Don't Nod returns to its roots with a story split between past and present that shines in character development and atmosphere, but suffers from dilated pacing and a rushed resolution to the central mystery.

Bleach Rebirth of Souls is perhaps the best game based on Tite Kubo's manga: respectful of the original work, artistically inspired, and with a combat system that is original and “cheeky” to the point. In contrast, in many other respects it could have dared more.

A bland action RPG that doesn't shine in any aspect and loads too much on the only prominent element to make it truly effective and interesting.

Atomfall marks a courageous change of direction for Rebellion, offering a fascinating British uchronia with satisfying exploration and effective ranged combat. However, technical shortcomings, deficient AI, and superficial storytelling prevent the title from fully expressing its potential, despite the commendable freedom granted to the player.

Sniper Elite: Resistance disappoints with a derivative, lackluster campaign devoid of innovation, despite the solid sniping gameplay still holding up and the overall longevity. The dated graphics are also a drawback, while the new Propaganda Challenge mode will appeal to more skilled players.

Freedom Wars Remaster proves what this game could have been with a better management in terms of story and lore, and a more variety when it comes to enemies and environments.

Extra Coin lives within a paradox: to convey as faithfully as possible the idea that virtual mechanisms can induce users to the eternal repetition of completely flat loops, the game ends up putting the player in this situation without being able to provide him with a truly motivating objective.

What could have been a diamond is ruined by abysmal voices in Italian and several bugs that have not been solved a month after release. A real shame.

A second chapter completely bland, victim of a loop that leads to tedium after a handful of hours without even the fanservice being able to fuel it.

Out of time? Maybe, but The Thing: Remastered maintains excellent tension at times, and team management, though not always focused, is an added value that should be noticed in a game like this.

A remaster that only goes a little beyond doing very basic rework, and yet still turns out to be enjoyable, aimed above all at those who appreciated it in 2011 or at those who are particularly curious to discover one of Goichi Suda's old craziness.

Had it lasted 4-5 hours and offered more variety in locations and gameplay, Metro Awakening could have been a solid FPS-survival experience in VR. As it stands, though, it risks becoming tedious well before reaching the end.

Slitterhead is an action horror game that collapses under its loop—both in terms of narrative and gameplay—and doesn't shine as much as it could have.

A 90s experience with interesting ideas that however don't work as well when put into practice.

A survival horror that lacks everything - atmosphere, narrative and gameplay - despite the original source material.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure aspires to great heights but ultimately struggles to reach them. There are some exciting ideas behind Deck Nine's last work. Still, the execution is undermined by plot inconsistencies, gameplay that only marginally considers the player's actions, and an ending that seems to steer the series in a direction that ultimately betrays its own foundations. The game has moments of brilliance, mainly due to the charisma of its lovable protagonist, a strong art direction, and a few interesting characters, but at no point does it feel like Max Caulfield's new adventure enhances the overall experience.

For being the first current-gen game in the NHL series, the result is bittersweet: there have been undeniable steps forward in both graphics, simulation and gameplay, but the same cannot be said on the content and mode side. EA Vancouver probably needed more courage and time to come up with something new: for now, NHL 25 still remains a prisoner of its glorious past.

An adventure with a strong emphasis on narrative, plagued by a far from optimal technical side but more engaging than you might believe.

There was no need for a remake of Until Dawn, especially at this price. However, the graphical upgrade is undeniable, and the new free camera allows for greater exploration.

An expansion that will not attract new players. Those who loved the main game could gain some entertainment from Shattered Space, but it's hard to give high praise for minimum effort.

G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra is a decent fighting game reminiscent of the classic arcades of the 90s, just without all of the evolution displayed by its modern rivals.

A good idea that unfortunately can't stand on its legs on its own. Funny in short bursts, but also unfathomably tied to online play despite the presence of bots.

If you can tolerate backtracking, a bit of repetitiveness, and a fragmented narrative, Funko Fusion might appeal to you due to its sheer volume of content, its LEGO-esque gameplay, and its cinephile verve.

Dustborn has great unrealised potential, and that's a shame. The alternate world it sketches out is fascinating, and the cast of characters, with their diversity, adds great value to an otherwise poor experience that fails to shine in any other respect.

A disappointing outcome, especially considering the prestigious names involved in its creation, like Yoko Shimomura and Kazushige Nojima. Despite their contributions, the game fails to live up to its potential, with lackluster storytelling, underdeveloped characters, and repetitive combat mechanics. While the Tokyo-based setting and the political undertones initially seem intriguing, they quickly devolve into shallow execution. The game's graphics, combat system, and soundtrack also suffer from mediocrity. Overall, Reynatis appears to be another missed opportunity from Furyu Corporation, relying on big names but delivering an ultimately forgettable experience.

Deathbound shines with ambition and innovative ideas, but stumbles in execution. Its unique party system and fascinating setting clash with technical issues and weak narrative, with the result of an imperfect but intriguing experience for Soulslike fans.

A bland horror narrative adventure, too focused on paying homage to the Dead by Daylight universe rather than on creating a compelling and convincing story.

Yars Rising blends metroidvania and retro with mixed results. Appealing graphics and nostalgic tributes don't offset basic level design and repetitive mechanics. A decent adventure that fails to leave a mark, suitable for genre fans seeking an accessible but uninnovative experience.

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is the best way to experience the Wizarding World's most famous sport in video game form. The gameplay is well thought out, with each role unique and differentiated from the other, and the changes to the Quidditch rules make the matches more competitive and balanced. Unfortunately, the game offers very little content - with the single-player content, in particular, running out within a few hours - and needs a ranked match system to entertain the most competitive players. Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is recommended to all fans of the most famous wizard in the world who will have something to enjoy; everyone else can safely move on until the promised updates arrive to improve the situation.

The comparison with College Football 25 could have been merciless for Madden NFL 25, but EA Orlando came out pretty well. To play it is arguably the best post-pandemic episode. Bringing it up to the level of the college football title requires fewer bugs, new ideas and a willingness to twist a winning formula.

Concord is excellent on the shooter side but less so on the hero side: the potential is there, but the execution so far could be better. The problems remain more impressive than the bland characters, and this is not a good sign.

A game that lacks sense of direction, with an exposition as bland as its gameplay. On paper, some things could have been interesting but when you actual play the game they feel disconnected.

King Arthur: Legion IX basically retains the same formula of its predecessor and still offers plenty of good tactical combat, but overall the reduced complexity of its systems and the lack of meaningful innovation make it a less appealing product than Knight's Tale.

A disappointing third entry that somehow manages to still be relatively fun. An abysmal story married to a fun roguelike gameplay mode makes for a still acceptable game that could, and should, have been much better.

F1 24 is a good starting point for those approaching the world of Formula 1 games for the first time, but if you are looking for substantial new features and mechanics compared to previous games, you will probably be disappointed.

A competent remake of a 1981 dungeon crawler which most probably remained way too much faithful to the original game.

While graphically Senua's Saga: Hellblade II offers memorable glimpses and moments, anything beyond the visual impact and the dark and fierce atmosphere is disappointing, especially for a sequel announced five years ago on which Microsoft bet big.

Open Roads is a first-person adventure game that focuses on the mother-daughter relationship and uses dialogue as its primary narrative tool, in addition to the classic environmental exploration typical of the genre. Overall, it is a very intimate and enjoyable experience that actually feels like a family road trip, but it ends up being too ephemeral to make an impression, due to a somewhat abrupt unraveling of the mystery that serves as the narrative pretext for the adventure, and a series of stylistic choices that take some of the power away from the story's emotional impact.

With a little more attention, Endless Ocean Luminous could have been an interesting video game. However, as it is, it is merely a wasted opportunity: interaction with environments and sea creatures is stripped to the bone, while the direction is not exactly outstanding. It remains a relaxing experience, but it is not enough.

Sand Land is an enjoyable game for those who love Toriyama's works, but it fails to fully stand out for its narrative quality or all the mechanics underlying its gameplay.

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a video game with so much heart... enclosed in an imperfect container. Moving within the various regions of Kenzera is a pleasure, but for a good part of the game the combat remains more of a burden than a pleasure. When things finally start to get more complicated the adventure finally seems to take off, but unfortunately this happens far too late.

Broken Roads has an engaging post-apocalyptic setting that, while a bit familiar, manages to still retain its own identity thanks to its Australian flair, it also has some interesting gameplay ideas and some engaging choices that allow you to impact the world around you. The game is not without flaws though: combat is clunky and unbalanced, the early phases are far too linear and, perhaps more importantly for a game focused on narrative, its characters often fail to leave a strong impression and its narrative never quite reaches the incredible heights of games like Disco Elysium or Pentiment.

A promising reboot with a solid narrative and good gameplay. Too many bugs, though, deprive the experience of what could have really been.

A good multiplayer experience, which still needs some refinement and which goes a little too far in penalizing solo players.

Skull and Bones proved to have a stable enough structure to stay afloat and not sink as long as the French publisher decides to support one of its most controversial projects ever. With more profound and enveloping gameplay, we would be talking about a worthy rival to Sea of Thieves. Still, Ubisoft Singapore's pirate-based adventure is just a decent video game experience more likely to be appreciated for the management aspect and the considerable amount of playable content.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is not an absolute disaster, but it fails to reach the same levels of the excellent adventures of the Batman: Arkham series. The third-person shooter developed by Rocksteady Studios is certainly fun (especially when played together), dynamic and chaotic, but except for a good but not excellent gameplay it does not have much to offer in terms of overall quality.

Although Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is a technical disaster, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero expands the main adventure (and its mythology) with interesting content, offering challenges and characters old and new. If you enjoyed the original game I would also recommend the DLC, however I hope Game Freak will try harder in the future.

Graven had some problems during its early access periodo and sadly the 1.0 version doesn't solve all of them, nor does it make it a really compelling game.

As a remake operation, that of Another Code: Recollection is perfectly successful, especially for the new visuals of Two Memories, while as graphic adventures the two games suffer a bit from the weight of years.

The Cub is a halfway successful adventure. It has lost the elegance of the narrative of Golf Club: Wasteland and the uniqueness of an alienating gameplay that made the radio alone the narrative tool of a game where, in fact, you played mini-golf. It remains a fitting story about the conditions our Earth is in and what we must do to safeguard and protect it, but the timid attempts to propose almost alternative paths and some puzzles are not enough to save stale sections of stealth and escapes. The Cub is still a pleasant game to spend a few hours on and be amazed by the wonderful moments given by the radio, but not much more.

A chapter with more flaws than values, without significant innovations, and with a total focus on the online which distances it further from its original idea of ​​a party game.

An interesting roguelike which is not focused on fighting. Too bad exploration and gameplay are a bit tedious after the first set of runs.

Persona 5 Tactica is the first game in the Persona 5 sub-series to make me wonder if we really needed to see the Phantom Thieves again. It's never bad, but it does feel pointless most of the times. The new story is just "more of the same" without any real twists, and the combat system, although pretty fun, lacks depth and isn't particularly challenging. Still, it menages to entertain for most of it's 30 hours duration.

An unexpected and welcome epilogue to the events of the original Tales of Arise that fails to create a significant experience compared to the original game.