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.

Legacy of Kain: Defiance still isn't a particularly great game, but its remaster is nothing short of superb. This is how remasters are meant to be done.

The wacky and murderous feast gets even better when the universes last hero gains access to a skateboard, a host of new weapons, and an even more diverse playground to wreak havoc in, among other things. High on Life 2 is a sequel that improves virtually every aspect compared to its predecessor, including writing and the jokes. Hopefully the occasional technical issues can still be ironed out – luckily the updates that have been released so far show that things are heading in the right direction.

I think The Sims 4 Dynasties is a mid-range expansion. I like the clothes and crowns it offers, and the scandals are a nice addition to the game. Building and nurturing a dynasty isn't my style of play, but for many, they'll definitely add a lot more fun to the game.

The ninth entry in the long running main series doesn't quite live up to the perhaps overly grandiose promises of the ultimate Resident Evil experience. The hybrid between survival horror and more straightforward action is still a definite success by the standards of the series.

Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition offers an excellent journey into the origins and history of the first Rayman adventure. However, the absence of the original compositions lower the overall rating, as the atmosphere clearly suffers without them, and therefore it cannot be described as the definitive release.

Mario Tennis Fever is a lively and inventive entry that shines brightest in multiplayer, thanks to its creative Fever rackets, varied modes, and accessible controls. The biggest downside is the sluggish story mode, but other than that there is plenty on fun to be had.

An agile stealth game leaves a bloody taste in your mouth.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is bettered by its sequel in every way imaginable, and while the enhanced offering does improve the technical side, it also highlights everything else where Henry's second adventure soars. It's not a bad game, but this release is for the fans only.

Reanimal is an audiovisual masterpiece and in many ways more interesting than its twin game, Little Nightmares 3, but it doesn't quite reach the level of a classic status like the opening part of Little Nightmares.

Probably the wackiest Suda51 game ever. Fans will love it, others... Well, you just have to try it. As an action-adventure game, it is solid for the most part.

Are you afraid of the dark and enjoy the adrenaline rush it brings? Captured traps you in it.

While the early-2000s humor is often grating and dated, there's no denying that everything else about Mewgenics is nothing short of magnificent. This is a wildly inventive and deeply compelling hybrid of genres that will keep you occupied for years.

The most beautiful and versatile UFO strategy game since 1994's UFO: Enemy Unknown.

Nioh 3 still struggles with cheap boss fights and clumsy controls, but the thrilling action and spectacular world design more than make up for its faults. This is the best entry in the franchise and it isn't even close.

I can’t say how much fans of the original work may be irritated by the changes made to gameplay or graphics, but from a personal perspective, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined completely won my heart. The diorama-style presentation, charming visual design, successful changes to pacing, masterful music, and of course the safe yet great gameplay made this "bloke" long for simpler times. At every turn, the game radiates a warm, cinnamon-roll-scented coziness – as if I was returning to my own lovely home after a long journey.

Despite its difficulty, Sektori is pretty much a perfect arcade-style twin-stick shooter and has fully earned its score. Even after hours of gameplay, I still don’t feel particularly skilled, but that is by no means the game’s fault – quite the opposite. I’m aware that I’m only at the beginning of my journey and nowhere near satisfied yet, and I intend to continue my “studies” with the game so that I can climb as high as possible on the global rankings. Sektori is a modern work of art that justifies every one of its gameplay design choices with style and craftsmanship. Instead of mocking the player, it rewards improvement fairly as skill grows.

Final Fantasy is one of those game series' that I consider to be part of the general education of the gaming world. I can now breathe a sigh of relief that I finally got to experience the magic of Final Fantasy. I'm already eagerly awaiting the release of the next installment on Switch 2.

A boldly genre-defining climbing game that will stretch your limbs and nerves.

At around seven euros, buying TR-49 is an easy decision for puzzle lovers. You can play through the game in a few sessions, while getting to know deceased scientists, writers and just ordinary people. The game reminds you of the importance of reading, fact-based science. Of human freedom to think and be. Once again, another success from Inkle.

Packed with anime influences and an occasionally thrilling story, Code Vein II is not a bad game, but it is overstuffed and aimless to the point that it feels less than the sum of its parts.

In a nutshell, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is mostly as dull as the elementary basics and disappointingly lacking in meaningful content, which results in a largely flat emotional curve, aside from the ending.

This is probably the cutest game that I have ever experienced.

A few pacing issues and action scenes take the best edge off the overall experience, but Goodnight Universe is still worth experiencing – on PSVR2 if such a rarity is still available – but even as a traditional game it's a pleasant experience.

For those with open mind, the long-awaited return of Metroid Prime offers a successful package of action, light puzzle-solving, and above all, a lot of excitement.

Despite its short length, Terminator 2D: NO FATE is an excellent retro shooter that emulates the '90s gameplay so faithfully that it doesn’t really introduce any particularly fresh ideas of its own. However, as a cultural piece of art, Bitmap Bureau’s latest work is such a spot-on achievement that its minor shortcomings hardly detract from the experience at all.

The colorful Dispatch brings interactive story telling back to the gaming markets.

R-Type Delta: HD Boosted revitalizes the 1998 PlayStation classic, staying true to the franchise's reputation for grueling difficulty where even the "Kids" setting offers a formidable challenge. As a faithful modernization of the series' first foray into 3D graphics, the game demands precision and memorization from players, punishing mistakes with one-hit deaths and a strict game-over structure that rejects modern hand-holding. Despite its modest audiovisual updates, the gameplay remains deep thanks to three distinct ships and tactical mechanics like the Force unit and the screen-clearing Delta Weapon. Ultimately, it serves as a nostalgic, unforgiving, yet highly rewarding "shmup" experience designed for genre veterans and those willing to endure its trial-and-error nature.

A delicious puzzle-roguelike charms, but suffers from lack of save options.

Sacred 2 Remaster is an updated version of the nearly 20-year-old action RPG. It suffers from severe technical issues despite only modest improvements to controls and visuals. While the game still offers a vast world, countless quests, and the familiar loop of battling monsters and collecting loot, the remaster is plagued by bugs, missing tutorials, confusing mechanics, and the removal of multiplayer. Frequent glitches affect quests, inventory management, and trophies, leaving players frustrated even after multiple patches. Despite moments of enjoyment in its monster-slaying grind, the remaster cannot yet be recommended due to its instability.

A deep bow to the point-and-click ancestors like Monkey Island. Foolish Mortals is a delightful and beautiful modern point-and-click game that unfortunately doesn't have the same clever writing as its predecessors.

Sleep Awake is a few hours long horror-themed walking simulator. For a horror game, it's not scary at all, and playing it is a frustrating and boring experience.

Project Motor Racing offers a very satisfying driving experience at its best. However, it definitely requires a dedicated steering wheel setup and preferably a group of like-minded people online as opponents.There are also better options on the market that cater to all players.

An unexpected delight, Octopath Traveler 0 isn't just a superbly polished addition to the franchise, it's one of the best RPGs of the year.

The strategy classic has been transformed into a modern version that carries with it the joys and sins of the original game.

Playing an endless loop was a very fascinating experience in the DEATHLOOP release, but P1: Anchor Light gets on your nerves after just a few plays.

The metagame-like hero motivation game feels fun, but lukewarm.

The newest Hyrule Warriors sticks to the tried-and-true Musou formula, blending hack-and-slash chaos with Zelda’s iconic world. While the action is fun and technically solid, the story feels thin and overly familiar, leaving fans wanting more depth despite its canonical promise. I was still thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

Although Kirby Air Riders will hardly be remembered as a true classic in years to come, it does offer a lot of fun, especially in good company.

Overall, Tales of Xillia Remastered is a really enjoyable experience. If you haven't played the Tales of games before but are interested in them, Xillia is a great place to start, as it's story and mechanics are so fluid.

The first Outer Worlds was a decent, if a bit soulless experience. Known for it's strong sequels, Obsidian once again succeeds in making the second one a better product.

PowerWash Simulator 2 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, giving players exactly what they've always wanted: more dirt.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is a perfectly fine building and business sim that struggles with a lack of evolution in its genre. It's the best dinosaur park simulator out there, I just wish it didn't feel like so much busywork.

RENNSPORT promises much but delivers very little. A competent driving experience is ultimately ruined by several technical problems and general lack of passion towards racing.

What kind of experience is the new Just Dance from the perspective of a dance newbie? Well, first of all, everything is cheerful, lively, and colorful – which isn’t necessarily my cup of tea, but you get used to it. On the other hand, everything runs smoothly (at least on Switch 2), and the experience has been pleasant enough that I definitely plan to keep sweating it out on the "home dance floor". What bothers me more, however, is the lack of imagination, especially regarding the game modes. It all feels a bit too safe for my taste, even though there’s so much potential to do more.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 ends on a brilliant and melancholy high. This is a near-perfect expansion that highlights everything great about Henry's adventures. I will miss this world and these characters dearly.

The latest installment in the Anno series refines a working concept, even if it doesn't offer any major breakthroughs.

Wreckreation tries to bring Burnout back to life, but it lacks the things that made Burnout fun in the first place.

Syberia - Remastered is successful re-release (especially visually) that remains faithful to the original, though it could perhaps have been refined a bit more towards a modern gameplay experience. However, in my book, the points of criticism are so minor that they don’t spoil the experience at all. On the contrary: even in its remastered form, Syberia remains one of the finest works of its genre from the 2000s. Hopefully the sequel will receive an equally polished treatment in the future, as the first game famously ends on quite a cliffhanger.

The sequel to the legendary Bloodlines disappoints expectations, even though it constitutes a functional, narrative action game.

Ninja Gaiden 4 restores faith in the long-running series after a rather mediocre third entry. The nineteen-chapter adventure is just the right length for this kind of action, especially if you’re eager to hunt down every collectible and fight your way through every (devilish) Purgatory stage.

Dragon Quest returns with a gorgeous set of remakes that make this the best possible way to experience the iconic adventures today.

Simon the Sorcerer Origins is a finely crafted and gorgeous throwback to the heyday of the genre. It is witty, fun, and wholesome in a way that should delight gamers of all ages. I loved it more than I could have anticipated.

Even with a few rough edges here and there, Yooka-Replaylee totally earns its spot as a re-release. Playtonic has clearly been listening to fan feedback, and it really shows. Thanks to the solid foundation of the original, the game now feels properly on par with the big names – a genuinely fun (if pretty chill regarding the difficulty) ‘90s-style platformer full of dad jokes, babbling characters, and googly eyes on just about everything. I caught myself grinning more than once, even though that Banjo-style character mumbling might not be for everyone. Don’t worry though – you can turn it off in the settings! And if Yooka-Laylee ever gets a proper sequel, I’d love to see Playtonic go for something even closer to Banjo-Kazooie – more worlds, a tighter structure, and that classic collect-a-thon magic turned up to eleven.

Keeper is a visually stunning game from Double Fine that trades traditional gameplay for a surreal, art-like experience. You guide a mysterious lighthouse and its bird companion through a silent world filled with puzzles, pulsing light, and painterly landscapes. While the gameplay remains simple and occasionally dull, the atmosphere and aesthetic elevate Keeper into something more visually enjoyable than playable.

One of the most positive surprises of the year is here: Digimon Story Time Stranger manages to impress even those who are unfamiliar with Digimon, despite some minor hiccups. It’s a solid turn-based role-playing adventure that even Pokémon fans shouldn’t pass.

Bye Sweet Carole is a very frustrating gaming experience. The adventure is really beautiful, but the impressive appearance alone cannot save the game. The clumsy controls, the back and forth trotting and running away from monsters cause ultimate irritation, so it doesn't matter how beautiful the adventure looks. The thing would work better as a movie: Bye Sweet Carole is nice to watch, but not to play.

The annual hockey update arrived a little earlier this year, but it still feels very much the same.

Little Nightmares III is an atmospheric title that continues the series' typical twisted horror with a too-unsurprising approach. The two-player element doesn't add enough to the package, and many of the levels don't offer enough to explore to make the adventure rewarding. The level set at a carnival comes closest to the atmosphere of the original series, but many other sections lag behind. The Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition, released at the same time, is definitely the best way to immerse yourself in the Tarsier universe; the sequels haven't achieved the same excellence.

It feels a bit tiring to give the same summary every year, but it’s true: despite its shortcomings, EA Sports FC 26 is once again the best football game on the market. That said, there still isn’t much real competition. Aside from Konami’s wonky eFootball (formerly known as Pro Evolution Soccer), there are only a few smaller titles, such as the 5-on-5 game Rematch and the excellent, emotional, story-driven football tale Despelote. However, in terms of style, these play in a completely different league compared to EA Sports FC.

Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 collection mostly just polishes up the surfaces rather than completely overhauls the two classics, but the games themselves are still pretty much the best the platforming genre has seen.

Agatha Christie – Death on the Nile is the most enjoyable Hercule Poirot game I’ve played to date. With engaging puzzles, dual protagonists, and a well-paced mystery, it improves on its predecessors despite a few pacing and polish issues. Fans of Poirot and thoughtful detective work will find plenty to enjoy.

Silent Hill f is a brilliantly written and intensely moody horror adventure that struggles to redefine itself as a game. Everything about the mechanics is dated, and it constantly diminishes the story's numerous literary achievements.

The best thing about Strange Antiquities is the gloomy atmosphere created by the color scheme and theme. A close second are the imaginative puzzles. The biggest flaw is the console version's controls, but that doesn't ruin the gaming experience.

Swery and Suda together! What could possibly go wrong? Well, unfortunately, quite a lot of things. It’s just a true shame that personality and horror movie references alone doesn’t make for a good gameplay experience. Maybe masochists and roguelite veterans will get more out of this, but for me it fell disappointingly flat. Here’s hoping that Suda’s next epic will deliver on its promises better next year.

Earthion is an amazing shoot 'em up, that by no means revolutionizes the world, and those who are already lukewarm toward the genre may not find a new favorite here either. But it’s impossible not to appreciate how everything that Ancient and Bitwave have done radiates love and passion for the genre as well as for the Sega’s old hardware. Since the final product is simply a thoroughly well-designed and polished game with awesome soundtrack, why not reward it with five stars?

Henry Halfhead is essentially a semi-open playground that rewards curiosity and ingenuity. It works best for children as the tasks are not very difficult or demanding. At first, playing with everything seemed refreshing, but the idea quickly became boring. The end result is a warm, playful but not very memorable puzzle game.

Star Wars Outlaws has landed on Nintendo's Switch 2, and the results are surprisingly impressive. This port might just be the best we've seen on the platform so far.

Players should really listen to Randy Pitchford on this one and leave Borderlands 4 alone for now. It's a fun game when it works, which isn't often, and it'll probably be better in a year when it's cheaper and hopefully fixed.

Ghost of Yōtei is a great, but still somehow safe sequel, a little bit like Horizon Forbidden West was. Then again, it's been years since the previous entry so yes, this is certain to please fans of Tsushima too.

Pac-Man World 2 Re-PAC is – for better or worse – very carefree and straightforward platforming fun, which suits especially for nostalgics and younger audiences, thanks to its colorful appearance and retro vibes.