Lost Castle 2 is a testament to Hunter Studio and the iteration they’ve been able to implement since the original. I play a lot of roguelites, and the worst are filled with RNG that results in nothing but wasted time. In the best, you’ll encounter cool items, become overpowered provided you play your cards right, and be offered substantive and fun choices. Whether solo or in a group, Lost Castle 2 is an experience that should fit right into your gaming time. I know the word “roguelite” can scare some people, but there’s a lot of beat ‘em up gameplay here to enjoy as well, whether you had that experience in the 90s like me or later.

Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition works wonderfully on the Nintendo Switch 2, finally giving Nintendo diehards the chance to experience one of the best Capcom games of the last decade. It looks fantastic and runs incredibly well, once again impressing me with how far ahead the Switch 2 is of its predecessor. This is a great way to play Devil May Cry 5, and it’s never a bad time to revisit such a brilliant title.

Though it’s certainly rough around the edges, Gacha Capsule Shop Simulator – Akihabara has a lot going for it, even in Early Access. Selling and opening capsules can make for some very fast-paced and frantic fun, and the consistent store upgrades keep you wanting to push on. I think Gacha Capsule Shop Simulator – Akihabara is plenty fun as it is now, so long as you don’t mind a couple of little hiccups.

Rune Dice is a short, frustrating experience made even more so by a lack of difficulty tuning. I genuinely was in disbelief when the cutoff for content after the first third of the game was reached, which led me to listen to the same music and repeat the easiest level nearly a dozen times if not more to only learn the Bard is incapable of actually besting the latter stages. Rune Dice was already a novelty in concept, and in practice, you may just want to grab a pair of dice and roll those instead.

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II is a game with pretty obvious flaws that won’t deter fans of the franchise already, but the glacial pace, lack of variety, and limited selection of music may make this hard to swallow for others. There is a “rustic” charm to it as someone who grew up on PC games like this, and it does provide an interesting Warhammer experience even as someone who’s only glanced at the wider property. If you do want to take up arms, the presentation, art, visuals, and well-realized cast, combined with a fairly modular experience, could provide dozens of hours of fun.

007 First Light delivers a massive, bombastic action-adventure that blends elements of IOI’s Hitman series with Uncharted. Its depiction of Bond balances being fresh while maintaining all the required characteristics, and it’s sold incredibly well by Gibson’s performance. This Bond’s first adventure is a worthwhile, satisfying, and creative outing from start to finish. All I can ask for now is even more silver screen-worthy adventures in the future.

Replaced will go down as a wonderful production that could have been a more robust package.

Schrodinger’s Call is a beautiful visual novel set in the final moments before the end of the world. It has a strong emotional impact, and while it isn’t a flawless experience, it’s a truly memorable one thanks to its story, beautiful visual style, and incredible soundtrack.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a totally different experience from past Yoshi games, and that’s pretty much entirely to its benefit. Exploration and experimentation take center stage here, allowing for a riveting and charming platformer that leans more towards the puzzle genre than you might expect. While not every level is a winner, there are far more hits than misses, cementing this game as one of the most unique platformers around.

Table Flip Simulator can be a lot of fun to play and has quite a bevy of interesting ideas tucked into a number of the stages, but the rough presentation and hit-or-miss humor drag it down a bit. If you’re just looking for some wacky physics-based mayhem, this is certainly a decent enough choice to go with, so long as you don’t mind its underwhelming visual style and writing.

Bluey's Quest for the Gold Pen likely won’t do much for older players or people who don’t care for the source material, but it’ll absolutely be a hit with kids who like the show. The gameplay is straightforward but solidly enjoyable, and the presentation feels like a perfect extension of the source material. If you’ve got a child who loves Bluey, this is definitely a great choice for their next gaming outing.

Bubsy 4D is a far better revival for the boisterous bobcat than I think anyone could have anticipated he’d ever receive. Fabraz nailed it out of the park here, turning a series that was essentially the internet’s platforming laughingstock into a brilliant and extremely enjoyable 3D platformer that I couldn’t stop playing. The camera can be a bit unwieldy on occasion, but that’s nowhere near enough to stop Bubsy 4D from being a top-notch game.

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a fresh improvement on the Lego series formula, trimming down the massive bloat. It’s focused, reworking years of Batman media into a mostly connected, large-scale story that covers years of the Dark Knight’s career. Feeling like one big comic book combined with an improved, if only slightly, combat system makes this the best Lego game in years. You might not be blown away by anything Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight has up its sleeves, but any fan of Lego or Batman would be doing themselves a disservice by not answering the call.

Kiln looks great and has a creative idea at its base, but it gets old fairly quickly and doesn’t seem, like it’ll have the longest shelf life. Making pottery is incredibly well-realized and satisfying, and the team-based matches have their moments, but the main gameplay loop gets tiresome, and the lack of stages and content beyond Quench mode makes the game feel more empty than you’d expect.

All of that is minor in the grand scheme of Forza Horizon 6, which continues the series' dominance in this casual, arcade-esque style of racing. The tools are there if you want to perfectly tune every aspect of your vehicle, and the difficulty and realism can be bumped through the roof if you so choose. But if you're like me, the satisfaction of drifting around turns, speeding down highways, and barreling through a forest with no regard for anyone's safety comes from the approachability offered by the best Forza Horizon game yet.

As the debut title from developer Nobody Crown, there’s a lot to like with Feline Forensics and the Meowseum Mystery. Sure, its bloated menus and decidedly uncomplicated approach to crime solving might not scratch the itch of the most diehard genre fans, but its laid-back atmosphere and cozy aesthetic help to smooth out the rough patches, even if they don’t completely eliminate them.

There’s solid gameplay, but it’s a grind to find anything encouraging when everything is going wrong all the time, which does fit the IP and experience. And life in general, I suppose. So say we all.

Directive 8020 explores enthralling themes and serves up some aesthetically pleasing scares, but its overreliance on bland stealth sections and janky pacing hold the game back. I’m certainly interested in seeing more of the story routes thanks to the cohesive and quick rewind mechanic, but I think I’ll wait a bit before diving back into all those stealth sections.

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.

Invincible VS is quite similar to the series’ protagonist, Invincible. He’s often conflicted, and as an alien, human, and superhero, he has much to live up to. In Invincible VS’ case, I’m not sure that it does live up to expectations. Quarter Up’s first effort should be applauded for developing a fighting game that could be a hit with both casuals and high-level players, but it could just as easily not find an audience with its conflicting decisions. Competition is tough in fighting games, and that remains true for…Invincible VS.

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.

While I appreciate the smaller scale of Dosa Divas, the experience feels unpolished and unrefined. The combat is shallow, even for a 12-hour experience, and the story holds too many cards for the climax, so the moments leading up to it don’t really resonate. The cooking mini-game is a highlight, and the themes about how important cooking is to both culture and community do hit, but the specific story ultimately feels flat.

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.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is the same game it’s always been, brought to a new and popular platform, with a new soundtrack that’s not up to snuff. I’m glad Switch owners will be able to play Memories in Celceta; it’s just difficult to recommend the game, considering the PC version is five dollars cheaper and doesn’t have a worse soundtrack. I hope Falcom has bigger plans for its future remasters because this was a little disappointing.

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.

Dragon Quest Smash/Grow does a surprisingly solid job of combining Dragon Quest with roguelite elements in a mobile format. The story is pretty vanilla, and it’s hard to say how much the gacha system will impact the game past launch, but this is a decent enough way to take part in some charming Dragon Quest fun while on the go.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance allows players to experience the events of previous games through a different lens in an entirely different genre than they’re accustomed to. Unfortunately, the combat is boring, and the story is winding and doesn’t pay off. As the game ends, we’re shown Raziel being thrown into the void, leading into the Soul Reaver games, left wondering why this game was even necessary.

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.

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is an interesting take on the Cthulhu Mythos, even if its overall narrative doesn't stand out. Slow-paced, frustrating at times because its puzzles can be opaque, and very dedicated to gathering and understanding clues, it's an experience that should appeal to players who enjoy the detective-like approach of studying every clue they come across.

Town of Zoz’s combat feels a bit jumbled, but the presentation, general gameplay, and music are excellent and make for a pretty unique title. If you don’t see potentially bumpy combat as a dealbreaker, I think there’s a lot to really dig about this game, as it juggles a number of concepts in a distinct and mostly enjoyable way.

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.

I should be much more excited about a game that pays homage to games and pop culture, but odd decisions here and there really keep me from wholeheartedly recommending People of Note. The music is great, and the game is pretty frictionless with everything it expects you to do. I really wish People of Note’s verbosity were more focused on the story or even on helping me learn something about music, as this is a rich world with plenty of stories to tell. With the most egregious bugs fixed, I definitely think if you’re here for the journey of these musicians or are hankering for a strangely old-school turn-based RPG, making it to the very special end credits will be worth it.

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.

Fishbowl has a pretty solid foundation and a great art style, but unfortunately, due to its handling of the subject matter and the repetitive, tedious gameplay, it doesn’t live up to its potential. It’s a sweet game, with great art and some fun music, but Fishbowl struggled to connect with me.

Life is Strange: Reunion is another misstep in how Max’s story is handled. While better than the last entry, this is simply not the send-off for Chloe and Max that I had hoped for. Between the lack of downtime, Max having virtually no consequences for her actions, and Chloe’s unimpressive return, I was fairly disappointed. I think Max & Chloe deserve better.

Screamer is an excellent, high-speed racing experience that takes big swings in controls and game design. The racing feels exciting at every moment, and the big single-player mode gives you plenty of tracks to burn rubber on. Much of the story lands flat or doesn’t have enough juice to cover the narrative’s runtime, but it provides enough of an excuse to keep getting back on track. The side modes are a little shallow, but that’s only frustrating because racing in Screamer is just that much fun.

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.

Damon and Baby has some solid qualities, such as its core gameplay and narrative/setting, but its repetitiveness and confusing map design hold it back from reaching its full potential. I think a couple of additional mechanics and a couple of gameplay tweaks would go a long way for this one, as what’s there is decent, but could be better.

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.

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando feels like a shallow attempt at making a Left 4 Dead-like game. A lot of it feels like style over substance, with poor writing, an empty world, and an underdeveloped story. Even though fighting off hordes of zombies can be fun, it quickly becomes dull when it’s one of the only good things you have going for yourself.

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.

Pathologic 3 is a bizarre remake of a game from 2005 that seems to combine the worst elements from Persona 5 and the Arrow TV series, and wants you to think that it’s somehow compelling. Its lack of atmosphere and plain dressing sap any curiosity I had, and the need for the game to hide even the most basic of information may attract the equivalent of horror game Soulslike fans, but I’d urge anyone to stay away. Somewhere in Pathologic 3, there’s a very interesting Trauma Center game with plenty of lore, decisions to make, and patients to save. Unfortunately, a time-travel and horror story is grafted onto it. Horror fans, you deserve better.

My Hero Academia: All’s Justice features fun gameplay and some nifty side modes, but the unbalanced battles in the Team Missions and story mode make for a bit of an uneven experience. The playable roster and additional narrative content are great, so fans of My Hero Academia may find it worth checking out for those features alone.

Romeo Is A Dead Man is a frustrating experience. I wanted to meet it on its own terms and let the insanity and sci-fi camp wash over me. But too much time spent in boring and tedious gameplay loops, coupled with weak character relationships, left me without anything of substance to hold onto.

Dark Auction left me asking “why” quite a bit. Why are we calling the leader of Germany during World War II “X”? Why was AI generated art used at all, especially in a part of the story that talks about the importance of art? Why isn’t this a visual novel, when the 3D exploration adds more tedium than value? Why does the ending feel like it needs a lot more context? Nevertheless, there are still a lot of good moments here, especially in the final chapters when the mystery starts to come together. It’s an interesting story with some unexpected developments, but it just feels like it could have been much more than it is.

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.

Tokyo Scramble has some neat ideas, but the frustrating gameplay, choppy performance, and poorly-written characters hold it back from succeeding as a stealth game. I hope the more inventive aspects of the game can make a return in a more polished title down the line, as Tokyo Scramble sadly isn’t worth buying for those alone.

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.

Under the Island isn’t charming enough in its graphics or writing, so its gameplay foibles can be forgiven, and this is ultimately a shame, as the game attempts an 11th-hour reveal musing about how easily people can be swayed by honeyed words and how that can result in utter devastation. With some patches and playtesting, this game could be at least bearable. To think, all of this could’ve been avoided by respecting an island’s culture.

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.

Dear Me, I Was tackles the challenge of telling a story without any text at all, and it does so with a fair amount of success. At the same time, however, it lacks the impact its emotional moments feel like they’re meant to have. Overall, it’s a short chronicle of a woman’s life that might make you reflect on your connections with the people around you.

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.

Scott Pilgrim EX is a strong follow-up to the nearly 16-year-old original beat-em-up that builds on most of its ideas. Though the format is a bit less enjoyable than a more straightforward game in this genre would be, the amount of passion for the source material and the satisfying feel of combat should be more than enough to make this a worthwhile buy for fans of Scott Pilgrim, beat-em-ups, or an especially solid purchase for fans of both.