Even though it takes inspiration from Hololive Alternative’s teaser videos and manga, this title is clearly its own loving homage. If you are a fan of Shirakami Fubuki or enjoy fast 2D side-scrolling combat, Fubuki: Zero in on Holoearth – Hololive Alternative could be right up your alley. It is set to release on April 12 on Steam and promises a few hours of energetic fun, especially for those ready to sharpen their reflexes. Kon kon kitsune!

At a glance, Shadow Labyrinth may just seem like a startingly different take on Pac-Man for shock value, but it still follows the core tenets of the original game: mazes, creature consumption, player choice in navigation, and a power-up in the form of GAIA that effectively swaps the roles of prey and predator. Despite the gameplay systems needing some refinements, Shadow Labyrinth is a genuinely stellar action metroidvania that stands near the genre's best.

While Waiting sports lovely graphics and amazing attention to detail, finding the fun and charm in every day situations. It is a unique concept and tells a touching story, but struggles to make some of its mechanics work with each other.

Re:ZERO: The Prophecy of the Throne is a well-executed adventure visual novel that isn’t restricted by an anime license. The writers created a unique story within this world without it being overshadowed by the franchise. Through its mystery themes and excellent character writing, fans will easily appreciate this adventure.

Astria Ascending had me invested in the 25 hours it took me to get to the final dungeon. However, that comes with a padded runtime of level grinding, lengthy battles, dungeon navigation confusion, and many menu interactions. So if you begin, prepare not to understand what is going on until 10 hours into the game, but if you don’t have that time, don’t bother. However, those who do get far enough are in for a genuinely fun JPRG experience that only requires a few quality-of-life improvements.

The truth is, even if 2020 didn’t need Serious Sam 4, it’s here anyway. The game considers loyal fans through it’s added levels of customization while acknowledging new fans with some narrative moments to get to know this insane cast of characters. Some aspects feel dated in the graphics and AI, but when hundreds of enemies are running your way, none of that matters because all you can think about is what weapon you’re going to use to take out the trash.

Reverie Knights Tactics is a good game with a good story, but unfortunately, lacks a compelling user experience. While the story was engaging, the controls made gameplay a more frustrating experience that limits enjoyment, and that’s a shame.

Strong environmental puzzles, unfortunately, don’t do anything to save GYLT, and as such, there’s nothing here I would really recommend to anyone other than to a younger gamer just getting into the genre. Horror fans will have seen everything this game has to offer before, and a lack of anything gripping will stop newcomers from sticking around for its brief runtime.

I arrived expecting a novelty game brimming with fanservice. What I discovered was a tropical playground that merged comedic escapism with a dash of genuine emotional resonance. Whether it was Tamaki’s snarky texts or Honoka’s enthusiastic winks, each interaction felt personal enough to keep me hooked. Now, as I stare at the phone notifications, reality reminds me it is time to take a break, but something tells me Tamaki is patiently waiting for my return. In the end, it is a journey that merges silliness and sincerity, showing us that, if anything, a bikini-clad photo game can have a beating heart beneath the sun-soaked surface.

Looks aren’t everything. And unfortunately, Recompile is a prime example of that sentiment. The potential was there to make a joyful experience, one where you would look forward to trying out the various biomes and tackling the challenges in each of them. The narrative and design lured me in, as the plot choices and stylish flair of the Mainframe was engrossing. But, unfortunately, most of the actual gameplay took me right out of the experience and made it a disappointing endeavor.

For better or worse, there’s nothing quite like this brave venture into the cosmic unknown, and it shows how sometimes it’s about a willingness to play by the rules of the universe.

What Battlefield 2042 lacks in a single-player campaign, it makes up for in the sheer amount of content that it delivers to fans from all generations of the series. It’s a walk down memory lane that provides hours of that Battlefield action that you’d expect. You may have to spend a few of those understanding the UI and gun customization features, but with the inclusion of Hazard Zone and Portal, the possibilities of enjoyment here are endless.

The Blind Prophet is a gorgeously dark journey with a stunning aesthetic and captivating narrative that will stay with me for quite some time. The point-and-click elements pared with the game’s dark tone immersed me for the entirety of this adventure. Any gamer looking for a morbidly afflicting experience will find it here.

Sniper Elite VR is an immersive FPS VR experience that combines arcade mission types with a simulation level of interactivity. Each mission objective varies, and while the sniper class steals the show, there’s a large variety of weapon types that each feels comfortable and fun to use. Item interaction and limited enemy AI can cause frustration, but after playing, I don’t think I can play this series any other way.

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered sticks closely to its original design. It doesn’t aim to compete with modern action games but succeeds in delivering a focused, solo Gundam experience. While the missing co-op and limited storytelling might disappoint some players, the core combat loop, strong suit variety, and stat progression offer plenty of content for fans of the genre. For long-time SEED followers and players familiar with the handheld Gundam titles, this is a welcome return. It captures the appeal of its era and brings it to new hardware without overreaching.

The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny is an easy to pick up but tough-to-master fighter that does more than expected with only two-buttons. This creates some unique matchups, but the shallowness of the overall design leans heavily on unlockables and rewards for the time you put in. It’s definitely not something that will keep your attention for more than a weekend, but it a significant title to experience.

Dusk Diver 2 is an enjoyable action experience where players can embrace character customization, upgrading, and cosmetic alterations at their leisure. The fusion of congenial hub activities and plentiful combative encounters provides a fulfilling gameplay balance where neither side overtakes the other. Even though the narrative is not exactly all that memorable, the assignments are sometimes full, and the combat isn’t for everyone, what is here will certainly engage fans of the first game. This is simply more Dusk Diver, for better or worse.

Candy Rangers offers up a simple idea, done well and keeps you engaged with its entertaining and novel shooter mechanics. It falters a little bit in the finer areas, but it never overstays its welcome either. I would love to see this idea improved upon in the future, via a follow-up or even some future updates. As is, Candy Rangers is a charming little indie game that is well worth a look.

Fairy Tail 2 may be a flawed experience in that its storytelling is marred by horrid pacing and missed opportunities. Still, the character events and gameplay are worthwhile and addictive for longtime fans; it’s a decently evolved sequel that made me more invested in this familiar cast than before, making me hope for a 100-Years Quest follow-up where more care is put into the narrative.

Undead Darlings ~no cure for love~ is very much the product of love, and it shows in the story and character relationships that develop over this adventure. Each new area offers more challenges to overcome, but the biggest of them all will be navigating the menus and dealing with overpowered enemies. There are some significant quality-of-life updates needed here, but I can still see it infecting a few dungeon crawler fans through its difficulty and narrative.

Madden NFL 22 is meant to deliver a simulated and engaging experience to fans of football. Its animations are great, and you’ll likely only gravitate to one mode that you prefer over the others, but it all acts as a way for fans to connect, and sometimes a rare glitch won’t impact that. There’s a lot of demand for some growth of the series, and this game has a long way to go, it seems, but seeing my dad pick up a gaming controller for the first time in years and can’t be overlooked.

Tunche has some performance issues, but it more than makes up for it with its presentation. The combat is thoroughly enjoyable and complex. The visual style and animations are a complete joy, and the rogue-lite elements are incredibly generous and motivating for players to continue run after run. Tunche provides an entraining and, at times, addicting beat ’em up experience, and that’s all I could have asked for.

While length is not a determining factor for enjoyment, it can become a primary focus if there isn’t much else to offer. I went around the snowscape with a partner, searching for our families. Outside of the gorgeous aesthetics, both visually and sonically, no substantive content sparked any significant emotion. There weren’t a lot of facets done poorly, but they weren’t executed wonderfully either. And while there were some endearing and silly moments, I came out of the experience feeling like I went through an underwhelming roller coaster at a theme park.

Soulvars is fast and addictive, but the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the limited tutorials makes experiencing the best parts of this game more effort than they’re worth. It has the style and energy to keep your attention for a few moments, but it doesn’t last when the character writing and world-building lay in an optional encyclopedia than in the game’s story. Still, this game is all about speed and combat, and it delivers in that regard.

Life Eater by Strange Scaffold and Frosty Pop stands out in the simulation genre with its innovative approach to gameplay mechanics and narrative integration. The game excels in creating an atmosphere filled with suspense and dread, backed by a strong audio-visual presentation that immerses players in its unsettling world. The strategic elements of managing time and suspicion while solving puzzles to successfully carry out dark rituals offer a fresh take on the simulation genre.

Umbraclaw is an ambitious platformer that tries to shine with a standout death mechanic influencing the future of the protagonist. However, this concept is messily executed, not melding well with the stage design that is built around the main character's default abilities. Consequently, progression never feels fulfilling, doubly so when considering the weak characterizations and meager challenge.

Disney Pixel RPG offers a unique blend of nostalgic art and Disney charm, drawing inspiration from titles like Kingdom Hearts and Wreck-It Ralph. While its writing and character interactions shine, the game’s biggest drawback is its lack of content at launch, with only three chapters available in story mode. Gacha mechanics and quality-of-life features work well, but the limited scope may leave players wondering what’s next.

Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star uses an experimental visual style to tell a story about a topic that is very tough to talk about. While it exceeds in conveying these themes, it feels empty and pushy. All of the actual content in the game is condensed into the first few hours, and then there’s really nothing more to it. I enjoyed the artistic approach and themes, but the execution makes it tough to recommend.

Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World stands out as a pleasant journey packed with congenial level design, delightful visuals, and an uncomplicated but effective gameplay loop. While the combat is relatively mindless in execution, the incorporation of movement and attacking is so excellently done that this fault rarely muddled the exuberance I felt. If anything, though, I ultimately feel like there is a well of untapped potential, especially regarding the enemy design being as simplistically elementary as it was.

Edge of Eternity is a beautiful game that is held back by the ambition of the developers. There are just too many moving parts here, and nothing seems to be fully executed. It’s by no means a waste of time, though, and provides hours of fantasy adventures in a new world, but it lacks focus and implementation due to the numerous features and broken narrative.

Namco Museum Archives Volume 1 and 2 offers players a variety of games to play, and yet, most of them are space shooters. However, the games that the collections do contain provide both a sense of nostalgia and new memories as you are now able to play a few titles that weren’t available before. It does the minimum of what a collection should do, without including special concept art or an interactive museum setting. Still, it’s fun to be able to have easy access to these titles to play again or share with friends and family.

Re:Turn: One Way Trip is a standout indie horror adventure that absolutely understands atmosphere and pacing. The narrative gets a bit flimsy in some areas due to a lacking supporting cast, but it ends up nailing important gameplay systems that will make you swear to never ever aboard a ghost train in your life.

Disjunction is a tough but speedy stealth adventure that kept me thoroughly engaged. Character’s abilities, narrative choices, and more strategic elements really give players some interesting variety and options on how to approach gameplay. There are some questionable control choices, but nothing that will hinder the experience. For those looking for a sneaky cybernetic stealth-adventure, Disjunction shouldn’t go unnoticed.

I set my expectations for The DioField Chronicle relatively high, which is a recipe for disaster. However, I’m pleased to report that I enjoyed this game at every turn. This ambitious cast star in a narrative that is running a contest for how much wool they can pull over each other’s eyes, and I am here for it every step of the way. I’d like some more, please too. A sequel or something in the same world with more political mayhem sounds fantastic. And more Waltaquin.

Say No! More does a great job in giving the player some casual and lighthearted fun. With some satirical and colorful scenarios about corporate work culture, the adventure provokes themes of self-advocacy and helping those around you. You can easily tell the game is full of heart and humor. Despite its shortcoming of being a one-time deal, Say No! More is an experience worth picking up.

Damon and Baby is a niche action adventure that mixes satisfying gunplay, layered exploration, and RPG progression with uneven storytelling and frustrating quality of life shortcomings. While Arc System Works successfully pivots away from its fighting game roots with a rewarding sense of discovery and tense combat encounters, inconsistent pacing, intrusive technical quirks, and clunky inventory design prevent the experience from reaching its full potential.

Marvel’s Avengers isn’t the superhero adventure I was hoping for, but it is an adventure I didn’t mind playing through. There are moments of gameplay where you feel like a member of the Avengers, but that requires you to look past some repetitive stage designs and surface-level combat systems. Regardless, there’s no doubt that there’s plenty of fun to be found here, and I’ll for sure keep my cape ready for any future experiences this game offers.

To truly do this game justice, mechanics needed to be updated to make the overall experience more enjoyable. Faster pace and more fluid gun gameplay could bring new audiences. The game should be played by anyone who has never experienced the series and are interested enough to visit the Darkside themselves. I’m sure longtime fans will feel that nostalgic love, playing this occult hit exactly as it was published two decades ago but personally, I feel it could have been left on the shelf.

Nevaeh is a fast and fun puzzle platformer that doesn’t bite off more than it can chew. However, its lack of direction makes the adventure feel soulless. Nothing challenges the player, not even the boss encounters, making this more of a comfortable and cute indie puzzle experience to play in short bursts.

I did find that the AI enemies seem to flop around like more of a fish than a monster, but for the most part, they provide a fresh experience. Source of Madness takes the traditional roguelite formula and adds in its own spices showing that a genre that’s been beaten to death still has some life in it.

SaGa Emerald Beyond is a game that pushes the boundaries of player patience with its complex systems and lack of coherent storytelling. While it innovates with its combat mechanics and the breadth of worlds to explore, the game struggles to provide a cohesive and engaging narrative experience. Characters feel underdeveloped, and the story is often confusing, leaving players to piece together the plot without much guidance. Despite these challenges, the game offers a depth of strategy that may appeal to hardcore fans of the series or genre.

Exit the Gungeon made the smart move to take its adventure to consoles, and the result is a fun and skill-based gaming experience. The game can be enjoyed in small bursts or long play sessions as you hone your skills during each run. The only downside is the amount of things to do here is limited to what the mobile version could accomplish, which makes this entry come up a bit short. Regardless, I found this version to be the best way to play.

Neptunia ReVerse is a title that sticks too closely to its roots to be a standout, next-gen experience. Despite the presence of a moderately entertaining gameplay loop, decent mechanics, and delightful character banter, the embarrassingly feeble graphical quality, lack of innovation for the series, and disturbingly overt reliance on old systems from a Vita remake from over half a decade ago brings this experience down more than a few notches.

Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions is one for the movie fans, but it’s also a fun arcade boxing game for anyone who happens to be looking for one. The core boxing action is entertaining, with a wide cast of characters to try out. While the game falls short in its presentation and gameplay modes, there is still enough here to provide a satisfying boxing challenge as you unlock new content and relive your favorite moments from the movies.

AI Limit can appear like a by-the-books souls-like. Still, more than enough gameplay design decisions grant it inherent distinction, favoring those who prefer swifter movement in their action games. Coupled with an impressive array of character customization that individualizes one’s playthrough, alongside engaging exploration, you have a reasonably satisfying package here with a welcoming playtime of 20 hours or so. Yet, the meager challenge and mishandled balancing may turn off those seeking a more fulfilling venture.

Giraffe and Annika is an emotional and imaginative adventure. The game’s focus on pacifist dungeon crawling and exploration paid off to deliver an exciting narrative with a young girl at the helm. Incorporating music into the game’s design was a smart choice as it broke up the straight forward and linear progression. While I wish there were a few more accessibility features, Giraffe and Annika is an adventure worth going on.

Bright Memory: Infinite is the product of a developer who wasn't satisfied putting out a game that he knew he could improve. So, instead of moving on, we get this over-the-top and insanely beautiful FPS adventure that is fun from beginning to end. Absolutely none of it makes sense, but who cares when I just launched an ancient sword-wielding statue dude in the air and cut him into pieces. Sign me up for the next adventure with Shelia.

Oddworld: Soulstorm is hands-down the best entry in the series to date. It takes everything great about these games and packages it up in a beautiful and modern adventure that mirrors its classic gameplay mechanics used for over 20 years. Some of the item management systems weigh on the pacing, and the controls take a few hours to master, but there’s just something unique in every stage that makes this adventure enjoyable from beginning to end.

Resolutiion is an engaging and fun action-adventure that delivers an enjoyable experience in the genre. From the very beginning, you’ll feel as if you’ve played it all before, and this is just more of the same. However, it ends up setting itself apart through its clever environments, progression system, and narrative, which was enough to keep me engaged throughout the entire adventure.

It’s no doubt that Into the Pit draws heavy influence from the Doom franchise, with its old-school graphics, fast-paced shooting, and rock and roll heavy background music, but the core gameplay loop makes it hard to recommend as a rogue-like. It’s fully functional and fluid with snippets of fun thanks to its brief runs, but its lack of variation for dungeons, weapons, and bosses makes it difficult to stand out from others in the genre.

Chronos: Before the Ashes is a solid action-adventure that doesn’t overstay its welcome or try to be something that it isn’t. If you’ve played the VR original, you’ll find quality-of-life improves, but this is still the same challenging adventure that you’ll remember. The gameplay is tight, responsive, and consistently fun; there’s nothing more I could really ask for from an action-adventure game.

Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time ended up being an incredibly mixed bag. Though it may have been great to play during the series’ original heyday, it doesn’t entirely hold up to modern standards. Like any blade, the combat becomes dull over time, but the graphics and systems are there to keep players slicing-and-dicing until the conclusion.

Maglam Lord uniquely combines an action role-playing game with heavy visual novel and dating sim elements to create an experience that stands out from the JRPG crowd. While the action combat portions of the game are underwhelming and the graphics are outdated, the beautiful art direction, engaging narrative, and excellent cast markedly make up for it. You might initially play for the artwork, but you’ll stay for the characters.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics ends up doing just enough for fans of both The Dark Crystal and fans of tactical RPGs. It has enough features that allow it to stand out when compared to other titles available. Sadly, the pacing of the story and battles are relatively fast, which means that you’ll continually feel rewarded, but you won’t have an attachment to the characters.

Pac-Man: Mega Tunnel Battle is a unique approach to turning the Pac-Man formula into a battle royal experience. I think the way it was handled works for this type of game as you independently work on getting high scores while invading other’s boards to rob opponents of possible points. Still, it loses its charm so quickly, given that the online community doesn’t seem to want to lean into the new systems while they focus on clearing their boards in simple Pac-Man fashion.

Ultra Age is a no-brainer for indie action game fans. The adventure features seamless gameplay, fun boss designs, a low price, and the potential to create a franchise. It challenges the player to pay attention to enemy movements, create new playstyles and understand the game mechanics to the fullest while keeping it fun and creative. While the story has its shortcomings, I am sure with some added detail in the future; it can become a hit of its own.

Chinatown Detective Agency is clearly a game that is aiming high, and I can appreciate its attempt to revive a genre closely tied to my childhood. But a game that creates this many roadblocks in the way of progress, some that make it nearly impossible without a guide, and some that are likely unintended, needs to be critiqued. This title feels unpolished and unfinished, and while I could see it eventually getting heavily patched to resolve its many issues, it will cost $25. With that price point, I expect far more quality control.

Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation Code Fairy is a unique game. It’s unlike any I’ve played from the Gundam series as it’s carried by its story and characters who I grew attached to over the chapters. The quality animations and voice work do wonders for the enjoyment factor, and the missions provide just enough interaction to get the player involved in the action. Sure, it can feel a bit oversimplified, but if the idea is to make me want to play Battle Operation 2, then I just might be more interested now than I’ve ever been.

Helvetii is an unfulfilling action roguelike that contains a few conceptually neat ideas not strongly delivered on any front. The practical nonexistence of effective feedback during combat heavily mires the gameplay and incentive to keep going.

Broken Pieces has a narrative that entices players to solve the mysteries of Saint-Exil and the cult that has taken residence. While simple combat might make the title a slower play for most, anyone who loves puzzles and riddles will enjoy their time in Saint-Exil and want more. This provides a great experience within the survival horror genre, other titles should take note.

While Monochrome Mobius tells a captivating narrative with an endearing cast, the poor story pacing and lack of engagement with the combat, despite its neat ideas, make the experience one that can overstay its welcome. Fans will undoubtedly have their fill here, though.

Crysis Remastered is not the best way to play Crysis, but it isn’t a terrible port. Still, calling the Switch version a “remaster” is a bit of a stretch. You’ll have to look past the dated visuals of the experience and maybe a few technical bugs, but if you’re looking to play Crysis on the go you’re covered. However, if you can wait, it might be better to wait for a more powerful console release (or just play it on PC).

Biomutant comes out the gate incredibly strong with high customization and a stunning world to explore. Players have agency over the adventure through interactions providing an immersive experience unique to them, making it a must-play for any action-adventure fan. However, the more time you spend in this world, the more you notice where it could be improved. As some missions become less fun with no help from the low difficulty, you'll likely want to speed past these portions. Still, that's one small issue to an otherwise grand adventure full of wonderful features, gameplay, and beauty that can't be overlooked.

Maneater: Truth Quest is for those Maneater fans who only stopped playing because they completed everything the base game had to offer. This new expansion ups the challenge, but at the cost of repeated mission types. The narration steals the show throughout every moment of gameplay. Now, you can add conspiracies and bull shark facts to the useless knowledge Maneater has taught us, and yet, I’m all here for it.

Super Meat Boy Forever is clearly a lovingly designed sequel to the original hard as nails platformer. It takes on a new genre but still retains some familiar beats to keep players coming back for more. It might not be the sequel some fans were waiting for, but on its own, it’s an addictingly well-designed platformer for a modest price.

Despite the usual pains of being a Switch port, Crystar finds a new home on this console. Every system of this moody JRPG provides a unique experience that you will be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. I’d highly recommend this version to those who have yet to play, but keep in mind that this game is as niche as they come, so it’s best to keep that in mind to know what you’re getting yourself into.

Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord is a solid tactical adventure with an endearing cast that delivers a charming narrative. The simple yet robust gameplay systems provide a satisfying experience where character growth and customization are at the forefront. For tactical diehards, Refrain Chord may not scratch that itch, but Fairy Fencer fans or those simply wanting to play an intro to the genre should give this a shot.

Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds Ultimate is a retro beat‑’em‑up that shines at parties and with friends, but its stilted progression and tissue‑thin narrative make it hard to recommend to solo players unless they are already invested in the genre.

If you’re longing for more Kingdom Hearts, then Kingdom Hearts III Re:Mind is what you’re looking for. The developer has provided the player a new look at the conclusion of the game to hold them off until more questions are answered, they are ever answered. Thankfully for fans of the series, what’s new in this DLC contains the best of what Kingdom Hearts has to offer, and I’m incredibly glad to have experienced it. If you’re looking for an even greater challenge, then make your way to the secret boss battle featured in the DLC.

Life is Strange is a charming take on a supernatural teen drama, and while the story can feel bloated with plot lines at times, there is a lot for players to like. While being a compromised version of the remasters, the Switch version is still a competent port that ensures that players will get the whole experience with as few compromises as possible. However, players who don’t use handheld mode or intend to game on the go will experience long load times and visual drawbacks without getting any of the pros that come with acquiring the Switch version over any others. Life is Strange feels at home on the Switch and is an easy recommendation for anybody who hasn’t yet played through this quirky adventure.

The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a cute RPG, I can’t deny that, but it, unfortunately, doesn’t fully invest in any of its features. The combat is tacted on, the story is predictable, and missions feel like unnecessary padding. Still, the charm is there with a more laid-back narrative than your thrilling style RPG. If you’re someone that just wants to wind off and take a break from stories that make you grip your head in fear and confusion, then perhaps this game is for you.

While Detective Pikachu Returns is undeniably enjoyable, its only standout feature is its somewhat decent storyline, which ties up loose ends from the original 3DS game and provides moments of laughter as Tim and Pikachu interact with each other. However, it suffers from several issues, such as somewhat dated graphics for this day and age, a short playtime, and very easy difficulty. Nevertheless, it’s a game I’d recommend during a potential sale, allowing you to comfortably unwind in bed while enjoying Pikachu and Tim’s misadventures in Ryme City.

Monark puts a spin on the high school JRPG design by offering unique gameplay and combat systems for fans of the genre. The narrative heightens this experience with a memorable cast and plenty of mysteries to uncover. The spike in difficulty hurts the experience as the balance of vague puzzles and encounters slows the pacing down to a crawl, but genre veterans might enjoy the art of grinding and not notice this too much.

Gal Gun: Double Peace is exactly what it looks like, so you’re bound to know if this game will fit your library. Despite the evident dullness emitted by the gameplay loop’s repetition and lack of challenge, the cast is likable with humorous and charming writing. Plus, there is an impressive degree of content here for those who find themselves invested in the experience. This is also a perfect Switch game, making it an ideal title to play on-the-go for strangers to glimpse at and admire.

Neptunia X Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is a delightful crossover boasting an engaging narrative, heartwarming character interactions, and a steller localization. With its added mechanics, this is by far the best Neptunia spinoff, but that doesn’t absolve it of tedious and repetitive progression. It’s evident this is a game for the fans of these busty fighters, but we could have used additional characters and modes to heighten the experience.

Star Overdrive once had the potential to be a delightful indie project in which its hoverboard-based open-world exploration was the core of a digestible playtime. However, the additions and emphases of numerous conjoined systems, such as combat, crafting, and upgrading, make the title feel like an overly ambitious mini-Breath of the Wild. Unfortunately, none of the ideas besides the exploration cleanly stick the landing, resulting in a mixed bag of an experience that is often more of a chore than not.

Someday You’ll Return is a horror adventure that takes full advantage of its environments to immerse the players in a supernatural narrative. However, direction ends up being an issue as one missed item will require aimless backtracking that removes you from any tense elements. Instead, you are quickly reminded that you are still playing a game. Nevertheless, if you’re up for some interesting Czech lore with a strong cast of characters, then this is one game that you’ll easily enjoy.

If you have the option to play The Outer Worlds on any other console, I suggest you do that. If you don’t have anything other than a Switch and still want to check out the Halcyon system for yourself or simply want to play the game again on the go, this port gives you a chance, though don’t expect the best version of the game.

There’s no doubt an appeal here for fans of cozy experiences, and Mineko’s Night Market delivers all the charm one could expect from this genre. But the experience is shortlived as it offers little focus on player expression. Similar titles present a much wider range of activities to invest yourself in that makes the experience feel like your own. However, there really isn’t any of that here. It all feels just a little too static and unimpressive. For a younger audience, this could be an entry-level introduction to this wholesome genre, but there may be better ways to spend an evening than at the Night Market.

Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis is releasing at a precarious time for mobile games. What it’s promising is enticing, and I’ve had a lot of fun with it thus far. But when Square themselves just recently shut down multiple other titles, some less than a full year into service, it’s hard to be that optimistic about its future. I hope their gamble here pays off, and this becomes as big a hit as they’re clearly looking for because it’s one of the best in its genre of the year.

Greedfall The Dying World delivers a rich narrative prequel with standout companion writing and meaningful choice-driven quests, set in a visually striking world that captures the identity of the original while expanding its scope. However, its ambition is undercut by inconsistent combat design and a range of technical issues on PS5, including crashes and performance drops, making the experience feel unpolished despite its strong RPG foundations...Unfortunately your time with the game will likely be brought down by it's slow and messy combat system and the various technical issues that it has. While these issues can be fixed in the future through patches, I suggest holding back from buying the Dying World until a least a few future sales near the second half of 2026, but otherwise if you love RPG's as much as I do then it's a fun game to dive in, just beware of it's current flaws as you explore certain dungeons and fight against enemies.

Ever Forward is a captivating and emotionally charged puzzle adventure that doesn’t overstay its welcome with puzzle difficulty as it naturally evolves across each level. Following Maya through this mysterious world was made easy thanks to the environment designs, pacing, and overall accessibility. Aside from some stale story translations, Ever Forward is a great way to spend an evening.

Little Witch Nobeta is a pretty fun Soulslike that doesn’t use its presentation as bait to veil a shoddy experience. Its well-crafted boss battles, fulfilling progression, and intricate exploration illustrate thought-provoking gameplay design. Even when considering a lacking narrative and the playtime clocking in around 10 hours if you take your time to accomplish every task, this is definitely an experience that fans of the genre should pick up. Of course, the potent ambiance and cute main character also help matters.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered brings back Lara Croft’s later classic adventures with modernized controls and visual enhancements. While The Last Revelation still shines as a franchise high point, Chronicles and Angel of Darkness struggle to justify their place in the collection. Inconsistent lighting, minimal extras, and aging mechanics hold this remaster back from being a must-have, but die-hard fans may still appreciate the preservation effort.

Aquanox Deep Descent is a beautiful follow up to a series that many may have forgotten about over the years. However, it was clearly made on a budget, which seemed to hurt a few of the game’s more necessary modes. Boring supporting characters, lacking enemy environment, and a subpar coop mode won’t make any new series fans. However, those who truly dive into what this game offers will find a responsive and atmospheric submarine shooter with a deep level of strategy.

At the beginning of this review, I was trying not to compare this game to Dodgeball Academia. It takes a long time to develop an indie game, and I have little evidence that the two have anything to do with each other. But it’s hard not to look at these two games next to each other and see that the things I really adored about one are mostly absent from the other. There’s definitely an enjoyable experience to be had with Soccer Story, but you’ll need to have a high tolerance for jank to find enjoyment in it.

The Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection is a neat idea that goes a long way to preserve its fairly old titles, but on paper it's almost a novelty. There are a few games in the set that are worth digging into, but none of those feature online multiplayer at launch, and a lot of this collection is just going to be filler for most people.

Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield doesn’t do anything to stand out as an auto-runner, an already congested genre. While the soundtrack is incredible and the visuals are stylish, the gameplay lacks any sense of fun, creating an almost mindless experience through its 2-hour runtime. The game’s features almost hinder the experience removing the challenge or tension from the stages. Unless you’re aiming to dominate the leaderboard, this is one auto-runner that is all eye-candy with no substance.

If you’ve been waning on the Neptunia series recently, this one is worth picking up. While it doesn’t necessarily redefine the series as we know it, its distinct strengths can be used as a building block for future games to flourish consistently.

Torchlight III is a great entry in the series as it doesn’t explicitly try to be exactly like its predecessors. Instead, it attempts to do new things using classes and relics to personalize the adventure along with a few accessible leveling systems and skill trees. It all works for the most part, but it’s a design that doesn’t allow for the deepest amount of customization. Sure, building a fort and collecting loot with my friends is fun, but there has to be some balance and short term goals that make each level up and new area discovered worth it.

The Neo Geo Pocket Selection has been an enjoyable revival of titles that never made it to the mainstream despite their quality. Biomotor Unitron is one such title that I’m sure mecha fans would enjoy. What hurts it the most is that, beyond its repetitive nature and lack of narrative substance, the new package doesn’t actually try to enhance the experience, simply going with the features that every previous Neo Geo Pocket title had on Switch.

Crymachina offers an immersive and well-told sci-fi drama that leaves a lasting emotional impact through its characters and the portrayal of humanity’s end. However, the gameplay fails to match the storytelling’s quality, presenting surface-level upgrade systems, and mission mechanics that can frustrate players. While ambitious, the game primarily excels in its campaign experience.

Journey to the Savage Planet’s gameplay could have benefitted from Hot Garbage’s additions if it wasn’t made to be a separate experience. Mechanics like boosted Jetpacks and Underwater Boots would have been great to use on the planet of AR-Y 26. Instead, planet DL-C1 is a self-contained add-on that provides new equipment along with new ways to use old abilities. With its low cost of entry, the value of extending some good gameplay is always a solid choice.

Collar X Malice Unlimited is a fancy and fun expansion of the base story that gives players a chance to spend just a little more time with the cast of characters. The additional scenarios only build on the established relationships as they don’t overshadow the overarching plot. There’s a lack of tension in some areas, but if you’ve played the original this acts as a natural progression of the series and is just as brilliant in its own way.

Smelter scratched any itch I had to play a new and fulfilling platformer. Through its tight and responsive controls, challenging level design, and non-intrusive combat, this is a must-play title for any who desire a new experience in this genre. The strategy elements can either be a turn-off or further enhancement depending on the player, but I still think the game is worth playing with that risk in mind.

Within the Blade is an intricate blend of fast-paced stealth and action that we don’t see too often in this genre. While it falters in repetitive level design, it makes up for it in stylish and satisfying gameplay. There’s a high skill ceiling for players who’d like to challenge, and the experience of utilizing the stealth systems makes for interesting bouts of action gameplay.

Insomnis sets the atmosphere right in terms of tense audio and cleverly inserted environmental elements but ultimately fails to deliver a genuine horror experience. Aside from a few stereotypical jump scares for the scripted surprise factor, there’s absolutely nothing going for this game as a horror title.

For the most part, Startup Panic is clean, competent, and amusing. I wish I could say more than that about it, but I don’t feel like the game goes in hard enough on its premise. It’s fine if you’ve been looking for a new company-tycoon title (particularly one that does not involve you developing video games), but if what you’re looking for is biting satire of capitalism, it doesn’t commit hard enough to being that, and that wasted potential is what’s left me struggling to find anything to say about it.