Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is one of the best examples of a video game remake. Not only has Vicarious Visions retained what made the games so well-crafted to begin with, but it has reminded us why a series with such refined gameplay should not just be left in the past. Though its character creation and multiplayer could do with some more attention, the addictive gameplay, stunning graphics and pitch-perfect sound ensure that the series has been given a new life. I cannot wait to see where it will be taken next, be it a remake of Pro Skater 3 and 4, or an entirely new entry – either way, I’ll be there. Welcome back, Birdman.

MULLET MADJACK is the perfect culmination of artistic vision, a fantastic soundtrack, a tight gameplay loop, and a surprisingly sharp story. Everything in this game points in the same direction. I got my dopamine. I came back for more. And I am still chasing the leaderboard. That is exactly what this game was built for, and it nails it.

Metroid has officially returned to its pedestal of greatness among Nintendo's finest. Powerfully efficient in its details and ruthless in its effort to make the player writhe in agony. While not the greatest heights the franchise has ever seen, it's more than polished enough to be a respected and beloved addition to the franchise. While it marks the end of the original timeline, the future is vast and endless, and Dread marks the potential for a markedly improved vision of the genre. While the Switch has more than enough must-buys already, this is yet another. Just be warned that it takes no prisoners.

ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights is a gorgeous looking game that delivers on all fronts. Not only does it look and sound phenomenal, but the gameplay is smooth and varied, and it contains a moving story that develops the more you play. The game employs unique mechanics that captivate your attention, and it's really fun learning all your new skills. Aside from a few issues with the combat balancing, this game does not disappoint.

Pixel Ripped 1995 is on of those VR titles that actually feel like a game instead of something you play in an arcade fashion or a workout game. It does rely heavily on the nostalgia but it does it in a superb way, and it can be a great, immersive experience. If you are looking at a sitting-down, not-too-challenging, not-too-easy experience with some great humor and funny characters, give this one a try. But just like the original scored with us, this is a superb VR experience.

Pragmata is the experience of raising a child disguised as an action-adventure shooter with ADHD-fueled mechanics. From the moment you meet Diana, she’s integral - at first because you literally need her to progress, but very quickly because the game does something magical: it makes you want her there simply because she’s her. You watch her grow. Evolve. You bond with her. You give her presents and sit there while she plays. Moving through the world of Pragmata becomes a heart-wrenching journey, packed with so many twists you’ll wonder if you ever have time to breathe - and in a small, quiet way, that is parenthood. That’s the experience this game wants to share. And that’s what elevates Pragmata beyond just another space shooter where you kill robots. It makes it something more. It makes it an experience.

The exquisite gameplay, graphics and sound design are let-down by some very iffy narrative devices and the game definitely suffers from some bloated sections that feel like complete filler - although your first playthrough will definitely keep you going for a while. All in all, part one is a success; let's hope the second installment doesn't take as long.

Five Nights at Freddy's: Into the Pit is a perfectly fine Five Nights at Freddy's game. Fans of the franchise will love it. Others will ignore it like they have every other game. The game itself has plenty of greatness within, mostly in the design of the sounds and the characters, but it really falters at the end with little increase in the scares and no worthwhile resolution.

Overall, Pikmin 4 is a great and fun time. This is the most beautiful game yet in the series and the best-looking Switch game to date. Plenty of new features elevate the Pikmin formula but also take some steps back in key areas. Being able to create your character is fun, and I love all the charming character conversations. The night mode and new Pikmin are also a welcome addition, adding variety to the series. By far, the best addition is Oatchi and all the abilities you can upgrade.

Final Fantasy XVI is the definitive real-time combat experience of the series. It expands the horizons of the franchise and mixes the concepts of RPG and Hack & Slash into one masterpiece. Being by far the most epic installment of the franchise yet, it delivers an astonishing soundtrack, a dark-themed story with deep characters and relationships, and an unmatched feeling in combat that even the most experienced will be in awe with.

Blind Drive is a masterpiece. I haven't come across many games which can take your breath away in the first few minutes as this one did. I had a single session of almost 2 hours playing this bad boy before I even realised how much time had passed. Blind is very addicting and it's almost impossible to find any flaws with it. I played it on the Easy mode and I'm definitely going all the way to Blindfold mode to claim moral victory over the game. I highly recommend you to go show some love to Blind Drive and the devs behind this beauty.

Mini Motorways is the ultimate blend of city management and arcade mechanics. Much like running a real city, you don't always know what your options will be in a week, but the population continues on. From the minimal art style and controls to the exciting pace of long runs, there is plenty within this seemingly small offering to enjoy. Suddenly identifying a game-ending traffic jam and heading it off before things get bad is satisfying, and there's always fun to be found in beating your own high score.

Immortality is a story of art and authority and the humans responsible for all the best and worst aspects of moviemaking, and it's also a step forward in the way stories can be told through the interactive movie genre. A hidden mystery under the initial intrigue of trying to find out what happened to missing actress Marissa Marcel, and the way it's discovered, is the gem at the heart of this beautifully shot, acted, and scored production.

Minishoot' Adventures is a smart, joyful answer to a question most players never thought to ask: What if you fused a top-down action-adventure with a twin-stick bullet hell shooter and wrapped it in a handcrafted metroidvania structure? Its exploration is rewarding, its combat feels precise and satisfying, and its boss fights regularly punch above what you might expect from a tiny-ship indie experiment.

Like any good superhero, Dispatch has a secret identity. On the surface, it’s a goofy, Office-style visual novel stuffed with fart jokes and the occasional bit of casual nudity. But that’s just the costume. Step closer, actually engage with the narrative, and it transforms into something much more sincere. It’s a story about the weight of our pasts, and what it means to finally move forward from them. It’s about choosing who you want to become instead of quietly accepting the role Fate hands you. I’m not even a little embarrassed to admit this game made me cry—yes, the same game where a drug-addicted bat monster gets handcuffed to a weight rack because he thought the angelic assassin was going to show him her boobs. Beneath the absurdity and the superpowers, it’s the real people who break through: the flawed, messy, painfully human characters who reach out and connect with you. That’s where Dispatch truly shines.

In this thoughtful exploration into the minds of a damaged group of powerful psychics, you may actually learn a little about yourself. Through all the goofy humor and endless puns there is something special here. Psychonauts 2 is visually stunning at times, and a little repetitive at others, but the soul in this game stands out. The developers at Double Fine Productions took good care to make something special and refreshing.

Bionic Bay is inspired by old puzzle platformers with it's art style and level design but brings a modern touch with innovative physic mechanics and more active movement. They've essentially merged Mario-type movement with Limbo-stle level design. No point in Bionic Bay is dull but it still somehow drags on a little too long.

ARMORED CORE VI: FIRES OF RUBICON delivers an astonishing experience of mech battles, combining freedom of choice with incredibly smart enemy AI, making every battle feel different and challenging. The story within the game is also intriguing, and the weight behind it is very real and memorable. Moreover, the superb graphics and sound design make the experience of playing the game more surreal, setting us on a journey that will remain in our hearts for years to come.

Minds Beneath Us sets a new bar for the world of choice-driven narratives. Whether it is the story, the art, or even the gameplay, Bearbone Studio excels in their creation of a game that is both compelling and fun; Seperating itself from its competition. It's unique yet familiar and while it may not be everyone's cup of tea, I implore those who are searching for a taste of a good story or even for a player who wishes to experience a more cinematic style of gameplay to try this game out. Minds Beneath Us may be an eye opener to both narrative fans and gamers alike.

Overboard! is a bite-sized puzzle adventure at sea. The compelling story and schedule-solving action are tied up into a neat and stylish package. The impeccable puzzle logic will make you feel like you are battling Holmes or Poirot, doing your best to be one step ahead in each playthrough. Overall, Overboard! is a worthy puzzle game, especially if you've ever wanted to play a murder mystery game as the villain!

UnderHero is a hidden gem of a game with a brilliant soundtrack, a great cast of characters, and an engaging combat system. However, the game is dragged down slightly due to issues in the game's pacing. Its humour is consistently witty, and its story often emotional and inspired. It is a must-play game for anyone who wants a game similar to the early Paper Mario titles.

Vampire Survivors is a very content-rich game for its genre, with tons of unlockable characters, stages, items, and more. It can be a fun time if you just want around 10-30 minutes of casual gameplay. The game mostly plays itself with the player's only real input being moving around and selecting items and upgrades, so it might not appeal much to somebody looking for more in-depth gameplay. If you're looking to get into the horde-survival genre that's been getting popular lately, this game is a good place to start.

It's been a while since a game captured me like this, not only engaging me, but making me want more. I'm sad that New Game + doesn't do any more than skip tutorials, because despite how substantial the game was, I wanted more. The characters. The intriguing and irreverent lore. The feeling of accomplishment when you nail a run. It certainly has some rough spots here and there, but they are vastly outnumbered by the game's virtues. It's humorous, it's fun to play, it actually made me enjoy a Metroid-vania! I think it's definitely worth a look.

F1 2020 continues to be one of the best racing simulator franchises out there at the moment. Whilst the game is visually lacking in places, that doesn't take away from the game's overall consistent quality. With tonnes of new additions, and some I didn't even mention like the new split-screen mode and two new tracks, F1 2020 is terrific value for money. It has a couple of flaws, but is overall a great racer that is welcoming to new players and challenging for grizzled veterans.

Monster Hunter Rise is a brilliant addition to the Monster Hunter lineup. It delivers incredible combat with newly added monsters and highly-desired mobility. However, it does suffer from messy systems, a mediocre story and can become quite grindy. Despite these flaws though, I have had countless hours of fun and will continue to do so. The co-op aspect just adds even more enjoyment to an already enjoyable game. I just wish the system UI had been redone for PC.

30XX is far from the first Mega Man game with user-made content. Mega Man Powered Up had it as a feature (preserved by fans despite the closure of online servers), the fanmade Mega Man Maker is incredibly ambitious and feature rich, and user-made levels were the central concept for the cancelled Mega Man Unvierse. But of all these games, 30XX is the one I want to play the most. It masterfully plays tribute to the Mega Man series while managing to stray away from it and have its own style. If you're patiently waiting a thousand years for Megaman X9 like I am, then 30XX is a must buy.

Silent Hill 2 is everything we hoped for so many years. It takes the beautifully imperfect aspects of the original game and adapts them wonderfully in a new, amazing, and also beautifully imperfect remake. Living James' horrifying journey with modernized graphics and gameplay made me feel like a kid again. And even if I once thought otherwise, I'm now certain that no other developer studio could have done it better. Thank you, Bloober Team.

As far as it goes as a photography game, OPUS: Prism Peak is probably one of the best I've played. In fact, this game is probably up there as one of my favorites so far in 2026. I had a great time playing OPUS: Prism Peak. Even though I missed some information and couldn't get 100% completion in my first playthrough, this didn't really matter as I had fun playing anyway. The level of detail that's gone into making this game is just impressive. I can definitely see myself playing this title again sometime soon in the future, so I can grab those photos and field notes that I missed or got wrong. I'm surprised actually that OPUS: Prism Peak hasn't received more attention, as this is definitely one to consider adding to your collection.