Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles has finally made one of the best games ever accessible to nearly every audience. The addition of an amazing voice cast along with updated visuals has allowed this classic to level up, but these improvements aren’t even necessary for it to remain relevant. If you’ve never played Final Fantasy Tactics then I urge you to get The Ivalice Chronicles.

Despite Hollow Knight Silksong’s relentless difficulty, it’s one of the most rewarding games this year. Pharloom is a lively world with surprises waiting in every corner, and the suspenseful combat and exploration makes Hornet’s arduous journey memorable. Silksong can feel a bit unfair at times, but its challenging nature forces players to adapt and learn to be patient.

It’s hard to follow up on what is considered by many (myself very much included) to be one of the finest Samurai epics in video games. Yet Ghost of Yotei improves upon nearly every aspect of its predecessor; it’s easy to say that Sucker Punch once again knocked it out of the park with this one. From its quiet contemplative moments, taking in the aurora borealis atop the peaks of Mount Yotei itself, to the nail-biting assaults on castles or liberating towns from Saito’s grasp, Ghost of Yotei was an excellent experience from start to finish…Usually, when I’m finished with a review like this, the last thing I want to do is hop back into a game I just spent weeks playing almost by myself. Yet, even as I type this, Atsu is playing her Shamisen overlooking the Ishikari Plains, the work of the Onryo not yet done. And I can't wait to dive back in to finish what she started.

The Claws of Awaji expansion offers plenty of new content for Assassin’s Creed Shadows and satisfyingly wraps up the cliffhanger in Naoe’s story that was hinted at the end of the base game. The expansion’s pacing with Yasuke is better, too, but it’s a shame that he didn’t get a new weapon while Naoe did. Still, Claws of Awaji is a worthy send off to two of the best Assassin’s Creed characters in recent memory.

I found myself slowly falling in love with the game the longer I played it. I’ve never been particularly drawn to roguelike games, but this one really captured my attention and offered a fresh perspective on the genre. Not to mention, the backdrop setting of Norse mythology, of which I am fond, was definitely a good way to keep me playing and going back for more. For anyone who likes roguelikes or horde-survival games, I would definitely recommend adding this to the collection.

Cronos feels like an exemplary concept with aesthetics and lore that make a player want to dive deep into the storylines presented before me. But its bulky movement and gritty combat slowed it down exponentially, to the point of feeling like wandering through a tar-filled dystopia with no hope of relief and a pathway that gave the facsimile of an open world but was a very directed path. We had hoped for a bit more from the game, but sadly it fell a bit haggard under the weight of its own armor.

Madden NFL 26 is a good game to add to the library for the avid football fan or for someone like myself who has been away from the series for a few years. This installment is also a good entry point for someone looking to get into a football game for the first time or maybe just wanting to get into the game of football as a whole. As a fan of the series and the sport, I would recommend picking the game up and having some fun.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is a valiant attempt to build upon its predecessor’s successes and address the shortfalls. Its story is much more comprehensible this time around due to opting for an open-world instead of a mission-based structure. However, it still felt undercooked with potentially interesting concepts and the supporting cast’s character development wasn’t executed well enough. Even so, the customization, gameplay, and movement are just as great as ever. Just maybe choose to play on a different platform than Switch 2 to avoid the performance issues.

As someone hoping for so much from Titan Quest 2, I am disappointed in the limited content in the Early Access launch. A single act that could feasibly be finished in 5 or 6 hours just isn’t enough. And there currently isn’t any endgame content or real replayability to keep me playing in the short term. You can also tack on a long list of negatives, including but not limited to: a short list of recycled monsters, a lack of Masteries (even though what is there is good), and extremely unbalanced gameplay. As I already said, this is more of a demo than something I would be willing to pay $30 for. [Early Access Provisional Score = 70]

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is very much a ‘what you see is what you get’ type of game, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The core experience is incredibly fun and the optional challenges can deliver a rush of adrenaline, even if they can feel a bit over-tuned. The biggest drawback is that once it’s over, you’ll wish there was more.

The Switch 2 launched with Mario Kart World, which is plenty of fun in its own right, but that game wasn't quite the definitive Nintendo experience early adopters were hoping for out of the gate. One month later, that experience arrived; Donkey Kong Bananza is incredible, one of the best games you'll play this year, and a game I plan on going back to over and over again throughout the life of the Switch 2. Sometimes,I just want to monkey around.

In the end, Wildgate doesn’t try to hide what it is; what you see is what you get. If the trailer looks exciting to you then it’s really not that expensive to give a try. The PvP content can be quite intense and is really fun with a group of friends, but on the other hand the exploration and PvE combat is pretty shallow. One of the problems with space-focused games is that there’s a lot of room to travel but often very little to do, and Wildgate is no different once the initial appeal wears off. Thankfully, there is a roadmap that promises seasonal content drops and I do hope the developers are able to expand to game into something more.

Regardless of the little bumps throughout the way, Dune Awakening’s narrative is worth pursuing. It holds Dune’s frustration with the system, reverence for the land, and respect for the figures navigating it, even the worst ones. It’s a bit cartoonish at times, and it has its values on its sleeve, but the same can be said of Dune, if we’re being honest.

So yeah, FBC: Firebreak is just fine. If you're looking for something mindless to play with some friends one weekend, this'll get the job done. I'm sure that its lowered retail price–it's going for $40 USD–and launch on some subscription services is going to entice a fair few. But if you're expecting anything as fun or curious as Control, something that encourages you to plumb it for mysteries, or even something daring enough to commit to a new tone and style and substance, allow me to caution you. FBC: Firebreak is not that game. It's regrettably emptier.

If you liked Mario Kart 8, you’re likely to like Mario Kart World, and I can enthusiastically encourage you to try it if you’re on the fence. There are many kart racers on the market today, but there is a good reason why only Mario Kart has stood the test of time for over 30 years.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is a good game and has the potential to be an excellent game with more patches and polish. It could become a very exciting title if the Questline development team eventually adds more depth to character-build mechanics through DLC, item design, or expansions. In its current state, it is a worthwhile experience if you are looking for another open-world RPG with an interesting storyline, lots of interesting areas to explore, and, at times, a spectacular-looking world setting. But don't expect a fully polished and bug-free experience.

In the end, Nightreign manages to offer up something unique that I’m sure a certain audience will find a vast amount of enjoyment in, but in the process, it sacrifices a lot of what made Elden Ring so special. Teaming up with some friends to take on some of the most challenging bosses ever designed is certainly a good time, but the repetitive nature of the content will only sustain most players for so long, and the poor casual players who expected co-op Elden Ring will get torn to shreds. Finally, a lack of cross-platform play matchmaking is a huge disadvantage for players in terms of both compatibility and potentially longer queue times. While I appreciate the attempt at innovation, I’m wary of Nightreign’s lasting power.

Doom: The Dark Ages nails that feeling of "classic Doom in a new era," thanks to its relentless combat, interesting if not perfectly suitable levels, and hordes upon hordes of demons. The new weaponry feels great – especially my pal the Pulverizer – and some streamlined adjustments to the process makes dropping demons dead feel great, especially in large groups of them. It's not a total reinvention of the demonic wheel, but it'll offer you plenty of Hell-themed fun in a familiar setting.

Atomfall is a really fun time that suffers from several flaws. They’re not quite enough to hurt the experience too much, but they’re noticeable. If what you want is a new survival experience, and you’re willing to put up with them, though, then I think you’ll be very satisfied, especially with the upcoming DLC.

Will I keep playing Blade & Soul Neo? Probably. It’s a way for me to relive the summer of 2014, hunkered down with my laptop, next to my partner, coordinating how to duo a boss we had no right fighting. And if I stick around long enough I might even get the chance to check out classes that were released by the time I dropped the game. I just can’t see the revival of this MMORPG being a particularly large success for NCSOFT, even if I wish it would be.

Although it’s possible that Monster Hunter Wilds could put off some veterans who started early with the series, it’s made a massive jump in progress towards being a more well-rounded game that is inviting to a much broader audience. In terms of visuals, it’s the best the series has to offer and the seamless world makes the environments come to life like never before. Add on the improved combat and mount controls and it’s a game you won’t be able to put down once you start.

If you're a fan of the newer, more lighthearted Like A Dragon titles and enjoy quirky pirate adventures, then Pirate Yakuza is worth your time. However, if you’re looking for the grittier crime drama of previous Yakuza titles, you might find Pirate Yakuza is too wacky of a departure for the franchise.

Despite these issues, Avowed still manages to be an engaging and ambitious RPG. Obsidian's storytelling prowess is on full display, and the game successfully immerses players in the Living Lands. [...] If you're looking for an RPG with deep lore, solid combat, and meaningful choices, Avowed is worth playing—just be ready for a few bumps along the way.

I loved my time with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Even though the game hated me and was out to get me, by persevering through the roughest patches toward the start, I felt like I'd earned the later moments and all of the fun story beats within. [...] Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is not always fun, but man is it always great.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is an entrancing experience that draws you in and keeps you with a vice grip. I lost count of the nights I kept telling myself, “One more battle,” until it was four in the morning. There are small niggling issues here and there; I’d have preferred one or two more weapons, the storytelling still gets dry occasionally and cam suffer from slow pacing, and it’d be nice to have more visual customization for Ziluan. But Dynasty Warriors: Origins is such a success on the levels that really matter, an emotionally resonant story and unforgettable battles, that it hardly matters. It’s a game that both gets back to the basics of what makes a Dynasty Warriors game, while also striking out into new uncharted territory. If Dynasty Warriors 9 felt like a whimper that could end the franchise, Origins is a resounding shout that says it isn’t going anywhere just yet.

At its very core, Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen is very different from more modern games. If you prefer the combat of more modern MMORPGs and/or more complete gameplay experiences, I recommend a hard pass until development is further along. [Early Access Review]

Don’t get me wrong - I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The 8 year old in me sitting around watching the Power Rangers on tv had been awakened. The 10 year old playing in the sprinklers with my mom while she pretended to be Rita Repulsa was sitting right there in my recliner. The 30 year old introducing my toddler to the original Power Rangers was fully engaged. Now pushing 40, I am certain of only a few things in life and one of those things is that you’re never too old to love the Power Rangers.

ARPG sequels generally have a good track record. Diablo 2, Titan Quest 2, and many other sequels have gone on to be critically acclaimed. Path of Exile 2 is poised to do the same. As Path of Exile 2 enters Early Access, GGG is well on the way to taking ten years worth of development on Path of Exile and putting it through a strainer to filter out only the good bits. Now they are in the process of refining and polishing those bits further. [Early Access Provisional Score = 90]