Cyber Shadow is a game that wears its influences on its sleeve and brilliantly weaves together the best elements from the 8-bit era of action-platforming titles. It is able to tell a story with more heart and depth than usually possible through this specific aesthetic. With a soundtrack that sounds like it came out of a lost Nintendo cartridge, following Shadow's journey is a thrilling ride with edge-of-your-seat combat hiding behind every corner. The game's difficulty may turn players away, but that has always been the case with older games such as Castlevania or Master Blaster. You may perish a lot, but the game is so good, you're going to want to keep trying to see how it all plays out.

Gnosia will be a confusing, frustrating, enlightening, but overall rewarding experience. The unique approach to storytelling, as well as the charming cast of characters, engross players in the futuristic horror of the game's universe. A single round provides addicting entertainment; however, the gameplay can become tiring, and the story, long-drawn-out. Overall, Gnosia is an ideal game for people who love flexing their deduction skills and those who enjoy immersing themselves in interesting game worlds.

Battlefield 6 is one of the best FPS games of the current time, and the Devs have taken every step in the right direction to redeem themselves. It has the most in-depth destruction experience that lets you dive right into a chaotic war. The improvements for the class system are good and let you experiment with different traits to lead your team. Moreover, the Kinesthetic Combat system is what brings the most joy and makes the gameplay enjoyable, even for new players. Despite some weapon balance issues and bugs in the campaign mode, Battlefield 6 provides the best war experience in the franchise.

Rustic Defense isn’t perfect, but it is a strong and genuinely rewarding strategy game that understands what makes tower defense compelling. Its procedurally generated maps, meaningful upgrade choices, and roguelite structure work together to create an experience that is challenging without feeling punishing, encouraging players to learn and improve rather than brute-force their way forward. For tower defense fans who value tactical depth, smart planning, and replayability over flashy presentation, Rustic Defense stands out as a thoughtful and engaging title, and one that’s easy to recommend to players looking for a strategy game that respects their time.

I was blown away by Tchia. I'm really glad I got the opportunity to play this incredible game, which has obviously been lovingly put together by an excellent team. There were one or two teething issues when I played Tchia, otherwise it was a flawless experience. Once I got into the game (which didn't take long), I became addicted thanks to the amazing open world gameplay and the story you eagerly get absorbed in. If you like games that has a bit of everything in it, such as exploration, music, collectibles and loads more, then Tchia is a great game to invest in.

King Of The Castle is probably one of, if not my all-time favorite party games. It's easy to learn and play with so many friends. The story is fun and engaging while ever-changing and unique for each playthrough. It plays like a visual novel that meets with the political intrigue of a game like Secret Hitler. I believe the game is best played by having all the players read their character's lines out loud to each other and roleplay it. For the low price, I would put it as a must-have for any party game and a brainer if it goes on sale.

Easy to pick up, easy to master; that's Boomerang X for you. The game teaches you its mechanics step by step, and in so doing you become a boomerang master until the credits roll. It's addictive by its very nature to draw out every last bit of adrenaline within you, and that's not even a complaint. Achieving a perfect state of flow throughout its 2hr base game campaign, Boomerang X will keep your wits twisting long after the final boss is defeated!

The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy has not only succeeded in being an excellent Expansion Pack, but it also proved me wrong in thinking that it was going to be needlessly complicated and a grind to play. For me, it was the opposite: a joy to play. I had a lot of fun throwing myself into the new features and activities on offer, such as setting up my own Dynasty, getting established in the Noble Career, and engaging in Swordsmanship and Grand Balls. Plus, I was thoroughly impressed with the new world Ondarion. It's simply beautiful. There's not very much to fault with this pack. I honestly don't know if Royalty & Legacy is going to be the last Expansion for The Sims 4, as this could be a false rumor or a simple misunderstanding. I sincerely hope that it isn't the last, but if this is the case, the long run of The Sims 4 Expansion Packs will end on a high note with Royalty & Legacy.

If you'd like to play a horror exploration game about the love-hate relationship between two boys and have an afternoon to kill, this is the perfect game. The game has an interesting twist that makes repeat playthroughs more fun. If you're still in the mood for some toxic yaoi, more content is on the way! An upcoming story expansion, Twilight Railway, is on track for later this year. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be putting myself into cryostasis to await Twilight Railway.

Someday You'll Return is an immersive game with stunning visuals, excellent storytelling and rich gameplay. And what I like most: the developers didn't try to reinvent the wheel. But instead took all the best parts from the genre and actually created something new. I’d go so far as to call it one of the best horror games from the last year.

On the whole, I'm very impressed with the re-releases of MySims and MySims Kingdom. They came rather unexpectedly, but they were a welcome surprise. It's great to play both these games again, and with the promised improvements to the graphics and performance. These two key focuses made this re-release superior to the original Wii releases. The controls on the Switch can be a bit awkward at times, but nothing that I found especially annoying or distracting. There's also the odd hiccup regarding sound playing correctly, but I seem to remember the Wii versions having this issue as well. It's nothing that a patch or two can't fix, or if not, it won't me from enjoying these remasters of two of my childhood games. Now if we get MySims Agents re-released for Nintendo Switch as well, I'll be over the moon.

Scars Above tells an excellent story and provides several mechanics that fans of the genre will enjoy. The landscapes and monsters are designed beautifully, with audio that completes each setting. While character design could use some work, and customization would have been nice, the good heavily outweighs the bad with this one. The combat difficulty will provide plenty of frustration and enjoyment for days on end.

The combat is thrilling, the side content is endless, and the naval battles? Absolutely addictive. I can (and have) lost hours to every fetch quest and minigame Honolulu has to offer, only to turn around and demolish enemy ships in a storm of cannon fire. The sheer variety of activities means I'm never left looking for something fun to do. The characters are fantastic, the story—while as ridiculous as ever—is a blast, and the signature Yakuza madness is cranked up to eleven. Focusing an entire game on Majima is a bit like having just cake for dinner... but honestly? It’s the best damn cake I’ve ever had.

Inkulinati is a terrific addition to the strategy genre. The art style and humor may draw you in, but the vast array of abilities and beasts at your command will keep you strategizing for hours. With an ever-changing Journey mode and an aggressive pace to battle, Inkulnati is a blast battle to battle, beast to beast, ink to ink.

Hunt the Night is a challenging but rewarding game that rewards players with new gear, timing, and skill. It takes place in a world where humans and monsters live in a cycle, where humans come together to stop the cycle. Dialogue in the game is intentionally vague and just enough to set the tone of the world. The story and gameplay of Hunt the Night are well-done, with a mix of melee and ranged combat with dodging.

Once again The Chinese Room have delivered another intriguing story set in the realm of horror. They've stepped up everything from their gorgeous art design to the intense moments in the dark. Disregarding some awkward times swimming, the chase and stealth sections are intense and generally a good time. The monster designs are some of the best I've seen in a while making Still Wakes The Deep a must play for all fans of horror.

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.

The elements of this game all work together wonderfully to charm and amuse you through its 3-or-so hours. From the vibrant art design to the charming characterisation, this British town is ready to hate this goose with a passion. This game just holds so much in every inch of its world and the way it comes together makes it so hard to not completely fall in love.

If you are a fan of the newer Xcom series, I highly recommend this game. If you are a fan of Cold War spy thrillers, I highly recommend this game. The mystery of the conspiracy is fantastic and makes me want to uncover everything. The gameplay is brutal, but fair and unlike Xcom you won't miss a with a shotgun at point blank range and a 99% change to hit. This game fulfilled many niches and I hope others will agree.

While the visual grandeur can sometimes overwhelm, Manifold Garden is one of the most mesmerising and jaw-dropping experiences I've had on the Switch. It manages to take well-known puzzle mechanics and galaxy-brain them into worlds and universes; an infinite meditation on infinity. Top-quality puzzles, unique, mind-blowing visuals, and gorgeous ambient music make this a wholistic, meditative experience, one which everyone should try. It is a work of art.

Road to Empress presents a thrilling tale of political intrigue and infighting that keeps you hooked. Every character's acting is top-notch and you feel the emotions that they express. The game's story is slightly hampered by the fact that there is only one viable path despite having multiple choices during events. You shouldn't miss out on this story if you are a fan of FMV games.

All in all, I feel like Academia: School Simulator is a great game. It's very casual and laid back but also delightful. If you're looking for a relaxing atmosphere and a great simulation game, this may just be it for you! It is leaving early access very soon and will be officially launched, so exciting. I've enjoyed this game since it first came to early access in 2017, and I'm thrilled to say Squeaky Wheel has nailed it.

Stellar Blade is nowhere near perfect, however, some of its imperfections help us, the players, to understand and admire the game's strengths while also acknowledging its drawbacks. The combat is awesome, albeit there is a slight discomfort with how the Dodge mechanic works. Another strong point of Stellar Blade is how it incorporates the musical tracks throughout the game, thus giving us a sneak peek of what the developers are capable of when it comes to producing brilliant soundtrack design in their video games. Overall, Stellar Blade is not a game for everyone, however, it largely manages to capture the hearts of souls-like players and newcomers to begin their journey in this genre by mowing down the enemies with grace through the lenses of Eve.

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical is a dream game for musical lovers. Its usage of songs is perfectly integrated into the story and will get stuck in your head. The replayability is great in more ways than one, as you can replay the song sequences with different outcomes depending on what you choose. On top of that, it's bolstered by an A-List cast stacked with talent and carries this captivating murder mystery. Hopefully this means more musical games will come, but for now, you can't beat Stray Gods.

Death Stranding Director's Cut is an artistic vision fully realized. If the original Death Stranding did not entice you, do not expect to be converted. However, if you resonate with the experience being presented, the game is a must-play and the definitive way to enjoy a one-of-a-kind title.

Gamedec should be an essential play for fans of isometric, story-driven titles. The detective work is paced and executed in a way that makes you feel like you're actually solving crimes, rather than following scripted conversations. The environments are varied and interesting, and the music absolutely slaps. This is a title that deserves your time and attention.

Adios is a quietly emotional little game that will draw you in with a narrative that’s compelling and heartbreaking in equal measure. If walking sims aren’t your usual cup of tea then you might not immediately click with it, but if you’re willing to give the excellent writing and award-worthy voice acting the scant couple of hours it demands of you, it might just surprise you. And even if not, you’ll learn some cool things about American chestnut trees, so there’s that!

Wildfire Swap is a fantastic little puzzle game, with an undeniably charming style to it and a really solid core idea. Whether or not you want to engage with its broader message of the seriousness of wildfires, you’re pretty much guaranteed a challenging and satisfying experience with this red-hot puzzler.