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.

Hades II is a sequel to one of the best games ever made, and it just might be even better than its predecessor. This is a wild, imaginative, and thoroughly captivating ride that will mesmerize for years to come.

Packed with smart quality of life updates and a refined script, Final Fantasy Tactics is a gorgeous revitalization of a classic that deserves celebration as art conservation done right.

Lost Soul Aside is a particularly frustrating case. Yang Bing and his team have managed to create flashy and quite fun action game full of mostly well-designed boss fights, nice graphics and great music. But nearly everything else around it is so hollow and tedious that it was hard to muster the energy to see it through to the end. And I apologize for nitpicking about the price, but when a game drains roughly 70 euros from your wallet, certain aspects really should be in a much better state.

Echoes of the End is hugely ambitious and often delightfully traditional in the best kind of way. It's also riddled with baffling design choices, clunky mechanics, and some truly clunky dialog. Nevertheless, it's a great calling card for a studio that will do better in the future.