There are very few concrete improvements in MotoGP 26, compared to previous instalments in this generation. It still delivers functional and content-rich motorcycling, with some stupid and rude AI drivers.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream brings back Nintendo’s strangest and most unpredictable life simulator after a long break. The game thrives on absurd humor, chaotic social interactions and the sheer joy of watching Miis behave in ways no one asked for. While the lack of online features are a bummer, the core experience remains irresistibly funny and endlessly surprising. If you’re willing to embrace the nonsense, Living the Dream is one of the most entertaining social sandboxes on Switch.

The end result is a top notch when gameplay, entertainment value, and difficulty level are perfectly tuned to the same pitch.

Aphelion is a fascinating and visually stunning adventure that has some of the best audio work that I've ever witnessed. Gameplay-wise it is quite simplistic – and that may drive some people away.

The new Moomin adventure offers a warm and gentle journey through a beautifully snow‑covered Moominvalley. Its cozy atmosphere, charming characters and serene winter landscapes create a relaxing experience that captures the spirit of Tove Jansson’s world. Light gameplay and a peaceful tone make it an inviting escape for players looking for a calm, heartwarming adventure. Even though the pacing and the amount of text might need some looking into.

Mouse: P.I. for Hire is a fun and visually appealing shooter, but it doesn't offer anything groundbreaking or memorable in terms of plot or gameplay. With a few additions and changes to the pacing, the end result could have been a hit like Cuphead.

Tides of Tomorrow is gorgeously crafted and features a brilliant take on asynchronous multiplayer. It's a shame that player agency is surprisingly shallow and limited, and the game is too long to entice multiple playthroughs and experimentation.

A strongly performing sequel brings a long-awaited character back to the books of the living.

Marvel MaXimum Collection gathers a sizable selection of 90s Marvel games into one package, offering both genuine arcade highlights and titles best remembered as curiosities. While the collection shines brightest with classics like X-Men: The Arcade Game, uneven quality and limited bonus content keep it from matching the very best retro compilations.

It's still hard to find anything bad to say about the game itself. Of course, re-releasing a title that already worked perfectly fine in first place is somewhat pointless. On the other hand, if the great source material gets a new audience this way, so be it. Especially first-time platforming fans, go shopping.

Supremely beautiful and with impeccable atmosphere at every turn, Replaced struggles with its game-to-narrative pacing and repetitive gameplay mechanics. Still, the big picture is so lovingly crafted and gorgeous that all minor issues are fairly easy to ignore.

Pragmata spices up the traditional shooter genre with unique hacking mechanics and displays some extremely cool visuals as icing on the cake. The end result works better than expected.

The story itself, which is only about an hour long, is fascinating and offers intriguing, dark atmospheres. The initial tutorial section introduces evil in an interesting way, but unfortunately the time management feels a bit like an unnecessary addition to the genre. I would have preferred to experience the title as a traditional, longer adventure game, but even as it is, Cult Vacui leaves a positive impression, thanks to the hand-drawn graphics and the interestingly handled subject matter.

People of Note is a musically themed RPG that shines brightest in its worldbuilding, humor and characterful music videos. Its genre‑based setting is clever and consistently entertaining, but the turn‑based combat never fully embraces the rhythm‑game twist the premise promises. While the story and presentation offer charm, the repetitive battles and uneven mechanics keep the adventure from reaching its full potential.

The debut game from French developer ZDT Games hides a surprisingly difficult and even frustrating combination of puzzle-solving and platforming behind its colorful and vibrant art style. I loved Darwin's Paradox, I hated Darwin's Paradox!

Super Meat Boy 3D is brutal yet addictive and genuinely fun platformer. However, I can’t help but think it would be even better if its spatial perception issues and somewhat shaky controls could be refined into better shape. It’s enjoyable as it is, but with the difficulty level soaring through the clouds, it would admittedly be nice if not quite so many attempts didn’t end in death due to slightly clunky gameplay. Be that as it may, the action is enjoyable, quirky and anarchic, and that alone earns it a lot of forgiveness in my eyes.

A plain poker game whose main attraction is the four characters from various franchises. Serves to answer the question: what do video game characters do when they are off duty.

Aesthetically stunning, yet stylishly ruthless extraction shooter struggles with entertainment.

Screamer is a stylish, content-rich, and ambitious racing game that slightly stumbles over its own grandiosity. Narrative shortcomings, combined with a hint of excessive multitasking lower its overall score just enough that it doesn’t quite reach the very top tier in my eyes. Despite these nitpicks, it’s still an enjoyable high-speed racer that manages to carve out something unique in its own market.

PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse is an above-average visual novel game. It will certainly appeal to those interested in Japanese folklore, but horror fans will find the experience lacking.

As an open world game Crimson Desert feels like next gen, but lame story telling makes it feel quite hollow.

Minishoot' Adventures was stumbled upon on Game Pass by total coincidence, but it immediately charmed a bit sour game journalist, maybe forever.

There’s a reason why Pokémon are so beloved. LeafGreen and FireRed Versions are both still undeniably enjoyable, evergreen releases and have aged well, because their mechanics were so carefully designed from the very beginning. At their best, they take me back in time to a more carefree life – for example to those moments when I was a kid and sat on the yard swing for hours, playing with my Game Boy. As a re-release however, it is too lazy and cynical, topped off with a price tag that’s a bit too high.

The Switch 2 exclusive Pokémon Pokopia is a mix of Minecraft's building, Animal Crossing's decorating, and Viva Pinãta's species gathering. The relaxed pace combined with the series' collect-it-all mentality is really addictive, although the Nintendo-esque clumsiness of slow menus and game mechanics occasionally raises the annoyance curve.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE is a completely new version of the game initially made for Playstation 2 and later on Wii. The story revolves around twins Mio and Mayu who find themselves trapped in a village shrouded in eternal night.

Escape from Ever After is a refreshing surprise in this year’s lineup of games and therefore a strong candidate for my personal Game of the Year list. Its whimsical premise, satirical tone, and overall humorous writing – combined with quirky gameplay mechanics and sufficient variety – carry the experience wonderfully throughout the entire adventure. Best of all, it offers entertainment for all ages: cutesy and fairy-taleish' elements for children, and an engaging script for adults that brings a smile on my face time and time again, enhanced by enjoyable gameplay mechanics. The end credits even left a slight sense of wistfulness in the air, as this is the kind of game one would have gladly kept playing for longer.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 delivers a polished return to familiar settings, with improved combat and presentation, but it also suffers from pacing issues and content cuts. Dark Ties, meanwhile, struggles to justify its inclusion, offering a filler‑heavy side story that adds little to the overall package. Still, there is plenty of fun to be had, even though some odd decisions dampen the mood.

Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is a likeable and soulful adventure like the opening part, but unfortunately it feels more like a first steps for something new than an independent part.