Mixtape is a fantastic game that celebrates how a specific period of time can intertwine with music to craft a memorable and touching story. The gameplay is constantly surprising and satisfying, the characters are delightful, and the aesthetic is second to none. I’m really impressed with how much this game has tunneled its way into my heart, and it’s got me feeling nostalgic in a more substantive way than most things do. I can see people the same age as the characters really latching onto this story, but even if you’re past that era, it’s a wonderful look back at the messy but unforgettable twilight of youth.

inKonbini: One Store. Many Stories is a beautifully chill and heartfelt game that really teleports you to a whole different time and place. The many small stories that customers pull you into are wonderful, while the gameplay is as satisfying as it gets. Outside of some typos and grammatical issues that are spread throughout, this is easily one of my favorite games of 2026 so far.

Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is a comfy and surprisingly mature adventure game that combines the satisfaction of exploration with a cast of weird but likable characters. The fetch quests get to be a bit much by the end of the eight-or-so-hour runtime, but it’s not enough to put a hamper on how delightful the game is overall. Whether you’re a fan of Moomintroll or not, you’ll likely have a pretty chill time with Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth.

For better or worse, Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter Episode 1 wears its Danganronpa inspiration on its sleeve, which is a great thing for someone like me who loves that sort of story and gameplay. Despite some flaws and a lack of tutorial, it’s a fun murder mystery with odd-yet-likeable characters and intriguing hints for what the future will hold.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is one of the most ridiculous and customizable social sims around. It’s absolutely chock-full of silly features and a surprisingly rich breadth of content, meaning pretty much anybody will be able to have a laugh playing the game. I really wish it were possible to share this fun with other players, so it’s a shame Nintendo has made it pretty impossible this time around, but this is an otherwise excellent oddity that will produce hours upon hours of wacky joy.

Ground Zero is a fantastic example of how to take the things that inspire you, make something great, while maintaining the core DNA, and add your own twist.

There’s a lot to love with Mouse: P.I. For Hire, from its frenetic gunfights to its endearing characters and wonderful rubber hose animation. If you’re looking for a shooter that’s likely to entertain, I can’t recommend this one enough.

A slow-burning, but extremely rewarding experience that doesn’t hold back. Xenonauts 2 knows exactly what it wants to be and does it well.

KuloNiku: Bowl Up! is a grand fusion of anime-inspired melodrama and a quick, exciting gameplay loop that feels entirely fresh. Though there’s a little bit of stuttering at times, the endearing story, loveable characters, and delightful aesthetic make this game more than worth playing if you have even a slight interest in the concept.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Meetup in Bellabel Park is a grand upgrade to Super Mario Bros. Wonder, thanks to its noticeable visual improvements and an abundance of varied new content. Whilst the visual upgrade should probably have been a separate and free update, the actual new stages and characters are at least worth the price of admission, especially if you’ve yet to play Wonder for the first time.

Super Meat Boy 3D may lose a bit of its distinct look in the move to 3D, but the many tense and thrilling levels and the breadth of well-designed content make it a mostly worthy trip into the third dimension. I hope Meat Boy keeps getting weird and distinct new games going forward, as the little skinned fellow seems to have a lot of life left in him.

Marathon is simply fantastic, there’s no other way to describe it. Bungie really knocked it out of the ballpark with this game, and I can’t wait to see what they continue to do with it.

The Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is another stellar grouping of Mega Man games made more accessible than ever. Capcom keeps nailing it with these collections, as the optional quality-of-life upgrades and inclusion of every bit of international content really do make this the ideal way to play these semi-forgotten classics. Now we just need a similar Mega Man Legends collection.

A surprisingly engaging My First Train Simulator.

Crabmeat offers a part thriller, part fishing sim experience that explores fishing, or more specifically crabbing in a more in depth way than many games do with the obligatory fishing mini-game. Whether you’d like to find out more about the hostile crabs, the Feudostate, or just want to spend some time crabbing, this game could fulfill any of those options.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been so pleasantly blown away by a game, but Pokémon Pokopia has continued to surprise and delight me with every step. This is no doubt going to be one of the standout games of the Nintendo Switch 2 and of the year, as the addictive gameplay loop, charming world and characters, and seemingly endless amount of content make it 100% worth playing.

Mr. Sleepy Man is a game that will appeal to absolute weirdos – myself included – through and through. It’s a blast to run around, and platform in, and the creatively bizarre world and characters are unlike anything I’ve played before. It can certainly be a bit confusing if you try to play it like a regular platformer, but if you’re willing to wade in the weird, this is one game you won’t forget for a good while.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a pleasantly anxiety-inducing game that combines the creepy thrills of the horror genre with the sharp satisfaction of taking a good photo. Though there are a couple of bumps in the road when it comes to how smoothly the game plays, the atmosphere and vibes are unparalleled and, when combined with the creative photography-based gameplay, create a remake that is absolutely worth experiencing – so long as you have a bit of extra patience.

Esoteric Ebb, then, arrives as something that feels new when everyone is chasing games-as-a-service mandatory-multiplayer only: a single-player, well-written, extremely fun game that is about screwing around and enjoying the game rather than unlocking lootboxes, progressing through the season, or paying for content. Sit back, relax, and listen to what the voices in your head are telling you.

Escape from Ever After is a great game, and considering how people took to last year’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, part of me wonders if this Paper Mario-inspired game will have the same effect. It’s really wonderful to see a two-person team like this fund a successful Kickstarter, who probably played games like Paper Mario when they were younger to understand how to deliver such a strong, reminiscent game, and I look forward to what Sleepy Castle Studio has planned next.

While the tone can be jarring at times, a few areas lack polish, and I wish the characters had been given more depth, The Real Face of a VTuber is an intriguing murder mystery that brings fresh ideas to its courtroom gameplay. It’s well worth playing for fans of the genre, and you might even learn a little more about VTubers while you’re at it.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is a great entry point for newcomers to the Remake trilogy, and the Switch 2 version offers an accessible way to play without significantly compromising the storytelling, visual fidelity, or attention to detail that define this love letter to RPG fans.

Don’t Stop, Girlypop! is a fun and fast arena movement-shooter, at its best when you are moving fast and shooting faster. The fun pink Y2K vibes add a level of charm and humor to a well-made, if a bit standard, FPS. The platforming excels at horizontal movement, but fumbles when verticality is introduced. Ultimately, it’s a great bite-sized experience and I was glad to play.

It’s not perfect, and in a perfect world, we’d still have things like Haven, Monster Meadows, and the Casino. But Dragon Quest VII Reimagined receives high marks for being incredibly accessible and stunning to boot. The new combat system, quality-of-life features, and accessibility go a long way. I had a blast playing Dragon Quest VII Reimagined.

Super Bomberman Collection is an all-around fantastic bundle of numerous classic Bomberman games. Fans and newcomers alike will find plenty to enjoy in this, and the series’ evolution throughout the Super Nintendo era is something to behold. Hopefully, later Bomberman games receive similar treatment, as I’d love to give the 3D-era games a go.

High On Life 2 is an absolute blast, and I dare you to find a funnier game to play this year.

Mario Tennis Fever is a fantastic tennis game that overcomes its slow and hand-hold-y story mode through its breadth of modes and gameplay styles, charming characterization, and excellent core gameplay. Even if sports aren’t typically your thing, I recommend checking out Mario Tennis Fever, as it’s another exceptional Nintendo Switch 2 title to fill out the first year’s library.

While it lacks the jaw-dropping twists of its predecessor, Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse is an excellent supernatural story that weaves historical and mythological tales into an intriguing and often deadly mystery. If Square Enix continues to put such effort and care into these games, I hope Paranormasight can become a new long-running series.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is an overall great package that retains or expands on most of what made Yakuza 3 great while also adding a welcome new story from Mine’s perspective. Some of the cut content and added content can be just a little bit puzzling, and I’m a little nervous about the altered story content, but otherwise, this is a brilliant way to revisit one of the most underrated Yakuza titles.

Play it for the aesthetics, the story, or to experience a world without Live Service Games.

The Disney Afternoon Collection is a brilliant bunch of Disney video games that are mostly well worth playing 30+ years later. Though some of the games stand out above others, they’re largely a blast to play, with the two new inclusions standing out as especially grand games that certainly deserve some additional spotlight. I hope Digital Eclipse and Atari find a way to get Bonkers and Goof Troop to the other platforms’ versions of The Disney Afternoon Collection, because they’ve really made this an essential gathering of retro classics.

Resident Evil Requiem takes the best of the modern games and remakes and smashes them together to create the best Resident Evil in years. The horror sections are expertly tuned to be terrifying without losing out on the excellent combat, and the action sections are as engaging as they are overwhelming. Both sections enhance each other through impeccable pacing. The story gets the job done, but Grace and Leon elevate the experience through their characterization. It’s big, it’s dumb, and it goes off the rails in all the ways the best Resident Evil games do.