Suikoden I&II HD Remaster revives two beloved JRPG classics with enhanced visuals and quality-of-life improvements. While Suikoden I offers a solid, if rushed, introduction, Suikoden II stands out as a masterclass in storytelling, character development, and emotional depth. With strategic combat, 108 recruitable characters, and new difficulty options, this remaster reintroduces a long-lost gem to a modern audience—flaws and all.

Black Myth: Wukong delivers a visually stunning action-packed adventure deeply rooted in Chinese mythology. While the combat system is engaging and the world is expansive, the game is hindered by a disjointed narrative and repetitive environments. Players looking for a challenging action experience will find much to enjoy, but the lack of a cohesive story and navigational tools may detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite its flaws, Black Myth: Wukong stands as a unique and ambitious title that is worth experiencing.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is an amazing gaming experience that drifts into the darkest of places, yet its beauty still shines. Its brutal scenarios do well to break the player, but the determination of Senua's aura guides you forward. Some might say this drifts into the realm of a walking simulator or a game more about art. But I can't put these labels onto Hellblade II because I've never experienced anything like it from a cinematic gameplay experience. This is a game that pulls you in with its imagery but grabs hold of you with its tense narrative beats and the drive to see Senua reach her goal.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a remarkable and magical adventure, and it’s honestly still hard to believe this is an indie title. This is the kind of game that simply needs to be part of every gamer’s library and one that raises the bar for the adventure genre in this generation. With emotional story beats, a compelling game world, engaging level design, challenging boss battles, and surprising combat versatility, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is an experience far greater than the sum of its many interconnected parts.

Despite some minor setbacks, Eyes in the Dark holds a lot of charm and fun. Each run may take a little longer, but that time flies by — despite the simplicity of the enemies and difficulty. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and there is much to see with Eyes in the Dark.

Catherine: Full Body on Switch offers the same great experience as the previous versions, with the added option to take it on the go. The narrative loses none of its thrill or tone, which is excellent for anyone who has been holding out this long to play. There’s something truly timeless about Catherine, and this Switch port only compliments that statement.

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is a fantastic action game that delves further into the world of Three Houses. While it’s easy for anyone to pick up, it’s definitely aimed at veterans who have extensive knowledge of the original, and you’ll get some just as ample playtime. Of course, it’s a Warriors game, so expect everything that comes with that genre, a non-issue because this game is so good.

Dark Deity manages to be a competent and entertaining SRPG by offering a decent narrative fueled by the influences of classic entries of the genre. It utilizes systems that fans love while introducing quality-of-life mechanics to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience. There are many familiar elements about this adventure, but it’s one that I found to be approachable and full of charm.

Cursed to Golf has so many good ideas that never truly come together. I never really cared about the story; all I was left with was a zany roguelike golf game. Random glitches aside, I could help but feel cheated no matter how much time I invested. Still, it’s undeniably clever, and the puzzle nature of the courses have you mastering your form to get through purgatory as quickly as possible.

Fire Emblem Engage is a solid entry in the franchise. It’s easily the best Fire Emblem game from the modern generation (awakening onwards). I enjoyed my time so much that I’m already returning for my second, more relaxed playthrough on maddening. It’ll take a while.

From its charming storybook aesthetic to the beautiful presentation, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon culminated into a phenomenal experience that anyone, be they a series veteran of the Bayonetta series, or someone who has never touched the games as I did, can enjoy to its fullest. Perhaps its only sin can be attributed to its brevity. Still, I strongly feel that in this case, we’re talking quality over quantity as you learn about Cereza’s past, making for a great entry point for those who are ever so slightly interested in the series, as well as a narrative that manages to patch some of the questions fans might have in regards to some characters of the trilogy.

Detroit: Become Human has a soul, a burning fire that made its development result in an authentic piece of art, that only suffers from some rather stiff gameplay sections and sub-par PC optimization. However, it deserves praise, with an intense plot, engaging and captivating narrative acts, well-written scenarios, and excellent character development.

Fantasian Neo Dimension breathes new life into the original Apple Arcade release with an engrossing narrative, intuitive turn-based combat, and a stellar English dub. While its innovative Dimengion mechanic and character-driven storytelling shine, minor performance hiccups on the Switch and lackluster sidequests hold it back. This is a must-play for RPG fans seeking a modern classic.

Skul: The Hero Slayer is a great roguelike adventure that ties fast action with a charming narrative. The game understands what makes this genre addicting but doesn’t rely too heavily on influences, which allows it to stand out prominently. If you are hungry for a roguelike, this is a great way to satisfy your cravings.

Moonstone Island is a game with clear strengths and faults in its mechanics, both inside and outside of battle. However, there is something about that title that I absolutely love; between the characters and battles, I found myself constantly returning to the game. It manages to stand out among its peers in the farming sim genre without feeling bloated or too different. It’s a fresh take that I can’t wait to see others have fun with.

Season: A Letter to the Future is a rush of emotions. You’ll feel happy, lonely, or even scared at any given time. It plays on the player’s curiosity and rewards those who take the time to explore. If you don’t have that time available, I’m afraid the experience will fall short. It’s a game that makes unremarkable situations remarkable through themes of memories and how we could lose everything in an instant.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma revitalizes the long-running farming-action RPG franchise with a thoughtfully crafted blend of engaging storytelling, strategic combat, and robust life simulation. Set in the richly imagined eastern land of Azuma, the game delivers a deeply emotional narrative, a charming cast of characters, and refined mechanics that elevate both farming and exploration.

Amnesia: Rebirth is a product of a studio maturing into their skills. They’ve mastered the sense of narrative storytelling by crafting beautiful atmospheric environments instead of relying on straight horror. While the pacing can come to a crawl at certain moments, there’s no denying this is a terrifying game that fits well within the developer’s catalog.

F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch is a gorgeous Metroidvania that tells a much better story than any anthropomorphic narrative has a right to tell. It's emotional and engaging during each scene brought together with challenging moments of action and puzzle-platforming. This game respects your time, but some moments can drag on due to limited fast travel and some confusing objectives. Who cares though, you're a rabbit with a robotic fist attached to your back; how cool is that!?

Assassin's Creed Valhalla takes the advancements of the series found in Odyssey and applies it to a whole new setting. As brutal as the period of Vikings is, there's something beautiful about this adventure. Every action is rewarded with some great moments of storytelling, and aside from a few narrative roadblocks tied to the player's level, there's an amazing world here just waiting to be discovered.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is some of the most fun I have had within the action-JRPG genre, period. The adventure includes everything you could ask from the series, with the addition of an addicting gameloop, well-written character-driven narrative, a stellar soundtrack, and great controls. This is not a title to be slept on. Any fans of JRPGs worth their salt should give this adventure a shot, regardless if they have experience with the Ys series. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is a masterpiece that only seems to stumble when balancing its level of difficulty.

Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late|cl-r| is a fantastic fighting game that’s easy to pick up and understand with its simplistic yet deep tutorials that will set you up for slicing and dicing your foes in no time. It’s a title that has so much to offer in terms of style and presentation that its tough to not be having a great time while playing.

La Mulana 1 & 2 are some of the best Metroidvania games on the market. They aren’t for the faint of heart, however. While I think playing these games with a guide can still be fun, the fact that most players will need a guide to progress past the first area is really saying something.

Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp is a great evolution of this series as it builds on the foundation of the previous entry and capitalizing on what makes it so great. The multiplayer mode will provide the best experience this zany monster dating game has but at the cost of a dull single-player offering. With so many collectibles and charming monsters to date, this is one prom you don’t want to miss.

Norn9: Var Commons’ Prologue is a bit rocky when introducing the narrative and suffers from several plot holes. However, it still manages to pull you in with its crazy plot twists and overall sci-fi presentation. This, combined with its clever tactic to tempt you into clearing every single route for each character, is possibly one of the most cleverly written stories I’ve seen thus far. I can’t wait for the Last Era fandisk to complement this extraordinary narrative.

In this era of endless releases where developers and publishers constantly seek ways to reinvent the wheel and push the capabilities of imagination, the Lunar Remastered Collection is a welcome and soothing throwback. While there is not much on the gameplay side of the package that is strikingly conspicuous, the moderate challenge requires steady upkeep. Plus, the real draws of both titles, the characters, soundtracks, and the setting, shine for those seeking heartfelt adventures that seamlessly balance humor, romance, and drama.

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a damn great, roughly 30-hour experience that anyone can enjoy regardless of their history with any content from Marvel's extensive catalog. While combat can be effortless, it's rarely dull with clear effort poured into every imaginable corner. Character scenes are full of fun moments of dialogue but still manage to feature some emotional story beats enhanced by the cast. Looking past my critiques, I had a joyous time with Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, and I hope it gets the praise it deserves.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is an Unreal Engine 5 revival of Ninja Gaiden 2 Sigma that arrives unexpectedly yet brings back the series’ legendary fast-paced action. While some missing features from the original Ninja Gaiden 2 and random performance stumbles keep it from being the perfect return, its wildly satisfying combat and varied arsenal make it a worthwhile visit for fans craving that classic Ninja Gaiden rush.