Smile For Me is not going to be for everyone. It’s a little disturbing and nauseating, and occasionally its puzzles are just too complicated for their own good. It feels almost like an experimental title, though that ends up giving it a lot of its charm and heart. This game may have a very particular vibe, but I was fully caught up in it from the jump, and it left me grinning ear-to-ear.

Alisa: Developer's Cut" offers a fresh take on classic survival horror, combining campy storytelling, retro graphics, and engaging gameplay. This console port introduces players to a blend of nostalgic and modern elements, including tank controls, a unique currency system, and enhanced features like auto-aim and New Game+. It's a compelling experience for fans and newcomers to the genre, delivering both challenge and charm in a modernized package.

Assault Suit Leynos 2 Saturn Tribute brings the long-lost SEGA Saturn mech classic to modern audiences with a stellar remaster. Featuring a newly translated script, quality-of-life upgrades, and refined gameplay, this port makes one of the most technically impressive 2D action games of the 32-bit era more accessible than ever. While minor balance tweaks improve the experience, the game's demanding difficulty and occasional ammo shortages may still challenge newcomers. Nonetheless, this is the definitive way to play a once-forgotten masterpiece.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road marks a bold return for Level-5's beloved soccer RPG franchise, blending heartfelt storytelling with ambitious gameplay depth. Newcomers and long-time fans alike will find something to appreciate in its dual-mode structure and massive character roster, though the game is held back by uneven pacing and clunky side systems.

Ground Zero delivers a deeply nostalgic yet modern survival horror experience that captures the tension, mystery, and personal discovery that defined the genre’s roots. With branching paths, layered level design, and challenging combat systems, it rewards patience and curiosity while occasionally frustrating with clunky menus and oversized environments. It stands out as a game built for replayability and exploration, even if some design choices slow the pacing.

Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero is an absolutely addictive delight, firing on all cylinders, and is the dream Dragon Ball game for fans worldwide. While the story mode contains poorly implemented retreading, the high number of what-if scenarios more than makes up for this shortcoming.

Fate/Samurai Remnant is a fresh addition to the Fate franchise, offering a unique take on the adaptable Holy Grail War formula that caters to newcomers and longtime fans. If you have the patience for its deliberate storytelling, you’ll discover a compelling narrative exploring themes of self-repression. This journey is enhanced by a well-written main cast and supporting characters, a satisfying combat system, an addictive gameplay loop, and an emotionally resonant soundtrack. Whether new to Fate or a seasoned fan, Fate/Samurai Remnant offers an engaging experience worth exploring.

CrossCode really impressed me. Instead of overly leaning on the retro-inspired graphics, the developers created an exceptionally unique and incredibly fun RPG experience. Thankfully, the console release doesn’t change that, even with a few controller issues. I highly recommend this as a must-play Action-RPG, and now that it’s on consoles, we have no more excuses on why we aren’t playing it.

Bakeru is a delightful modern 3D platformer that captures the essence of classic titles like Goemon. With its vibrant world, challenging combat, and engaging exploration, Bakeru stands out as a must-play for genre fans. Despite some minor shortcomings in its combat mechanics, the game’s overall execution and nostalgic appeal make it an unforgettable experience.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire delivers a confident blend of noir storytelling and retro-inspired FPS design, pairing stylish black-and-white visuals with satisfying, fast-paced combat and a surprisingly grounded detective narrative. Its strongest moments come from the balance between chaotic shootouts and slower investigative sequences, all anchored by a compelling performance from its lead. While the aiming can feel imprecise and the detective systems play it a bit too safe, the game’s identity, atmosphere, and pacing help it stand out in a crowded genre.

An epic conclusion to the series, but I’m partially glad that it’s over. There are many reasons to play through Trails of Cold Steel IV, from an engaging gameplay loop to an epic story. It takes some of the best elements of the series and combines it for one last hurrah aimed at those who stuck with it for this long. Still, what comes of that is a lot of filler leading to the climax, a lack of focus, and some flimsy themes. There is a satisfying conclusion that includes many of the best storylines and mechanics from the series but at the cost of a few missed plot points and a massive cast of characters with nothing to do but hang around.

Visage requires patience as you progress through some truly horrific chapters, rewarded with even more nightmares as you encounter many supernatural elements. There are some beautiful environments to investigate, but the reused assets and unused space only hurt this game’s immersion. In many ways, this works as an adventure inspired by PT, but it’s defining elements are found in its unique features.

Aside from its highly brief playtime and minor use of fetch quests, The Legend of Tianding is an excellent beat’em up action platformer that touches upon a cultural figure that has been mostly forgotten. The polished and fleshed-out combat, along with the brilliant art design and Taiwanese voice-acted dialogue, makes this a thrilling historical adventure with a strong foundation for what can be an anthology of forgotten ethnic heroes.

Have a Nice Death is a roguelike experience to die for. Its systems are intensely addictive to provide a reason to return to the grind and clock in for overtime. The action combat is some of the best I’ve ever felt, with compelling progression systems and fantastic enemy designs. While it may not stand out from its contemporaries, it approaches everything it touches with a brilliant finesse that makes it tough to put down.

Avowed on PlayStation 5 is a focused, choice-driven fantasy RPG that trades sprawling scale for curated zones, meaningful decisions, and tactile combat. As a Godlike envoy navigating the Dreamscourge crisis in the Living Lands, players shape both political outcomes and their own divine identity through nuanced dialogue and tough calls. While limited enemy variety and underwhelming loot systems hold it back from true greatness, strong writing, satisfying spellblade combat, and smart world design make this a compelling return to Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity universe.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is an amazing JRPG that offers an exceptional monster collecting experience combined with a great story. The added narrative doesn't lose focus on what makes the Monster Hunter series so addictive and only enhances the experience. This game successfully built on the systems present in the original and improved them for a brand new adventure. While the performance can be questionable, I enjoyed every second of my time exploring the world with my Monsties by my side.

Signalis will be the weekend horror adventure you’ll want to discuss with your friends. It’s challenging, engaging, and nightmarishly fun. I couldn’t seem to step away as something always allows you to inch forward to some answers. There’s so much to love and to fear about this experience that I can easily recommend it to any fans of the genre.

Ultros distinguishes itself in the Metroidvania genre with its novel gardening mechanics, intricate time-loop narrative, and a unique nutrient-based upgrade system. This innovative blend of exploration, strategic combat, and character progression set on a mysterious planet makes it a compelling experience. Ultros redefines the genre, promising to become a classic for both speedrunners and casual players.

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined is a fantastic remake of an acclaimed classic which deserved a wider audience, and this latest release is a great way to bring in new and old players alike. The story mode provides a satisfying and challenging experience where you come to grips with a diverse cast of characters and play styles, before diving into the endless replay value of two-player coop. Modern or retro, this is just a fun game to come back to again and again.

Monster Sanctuary might not look like any monster-collecting RPG you’ve seen before, but its blend of genres creates a fun and exciting adventure for hours. The more you put into the game, the more you’ll find to love about it. I do wish there were easier ways to track navigation and some additional options to speed up the battles, but this is a genuinely fun game that shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Natsu-Mon! 20th Century Summer Kid is a cozy game above the rest, exuding a charming vibe that just comes across naturally. It’s the ultimate pre-internet summer vacation time capsule. It’s one thing for a video game to help you escape the real world, but what about a game that ends up teaching you to appreciate your world a little more? It’s easy to take the grind of life as ordinary and for granted, but sometimes it’s worth seeing the world like a little kid again.

I enjoyed the Jackbox Party Pack 9, but I still think Pack 8 takes the golden crown, as it had completely original games. But, ah, well, it’s not so bad to have a fan-favorite make a return once in a while. My favorite of all the games was probably Quixort because of its minimalistic art style. Still, I can’t wait for what they have in store for the very-special Jackbox Party Pack 10 next year.

Constance is a strikingly personal and mechanically rich 2D metroidvania that balances intense combat with emotional storytelling. Developer btf delivers a hand-drawn world full of challenge, exploration, and introspection, pushing the genre forward in a year filled with high-profile competition. With its innovative paint-based mechanics and layered narrative, Constance is a rewarding journey for players willing to engage both their skills and emotions.

Necrobarista’s focus on death is approached in such a unique way that you can’t help but immerse yourself in its setting. You begin to feel as if you are a part of the group, which makes the idea of letting go so much harder. This is a visual novel experience that transcends traditional systems within the medium and is definitely worth your time. Some of the dialogue might go over your head, but this is an easy recommendation from me.

Kingdom Eighties: Summer of Greed is an excellent introduction to the series that checks every box that makes these games so fun. While it doesn’t introduce new elements to the core systems, its unique setting and campaign serve to get new players invested and hold off returning players as we await the next mainline entry. Yes, it is relatively easy and short, but its high-quality presentation makes this an easy recommendation.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a game that both delights and frustrates me for a lot of reasons. I don’t feel like the shift to Unreal Engine 4 added anything substantial, and it seems to have come at a steep cost compared to the framework the studio normally uses. The drawbacks make this fully-remade title feel like it would have been at home two generations ago, rather than belonging next to Lost Judgment and Yakuza 7.

Stellar Blade is an ambitious action adventure boasting a masterful boss design and compelling gameplay progression. Between the addictive exploration and finely tuned sense of weight and speed ingrained in each of Eve's swings, it's indisputable that this is a lovingly crafted journey.

Creature in the Well is a fun way to revisit pinball with a dungeon-crawling twist, but after completion, there’s very little reason to return to it. Furthermore, the gameplay loop of clearing levels is enjoyable in short bursts, but marathoning through it takes a toll on its atmosphere. Sure, I could have used additional modes, but what I got was a unique experience that other Pinball games just can’t provide.