1000xRESIST delivers a powerful and immersive sci-fi narrative that explores deep themes of trauma and cultural identity. While its complex dialogue and heavy themes can be challenging, the game's high-quality visuals, engaging characters, and unique setting make it a compelling experience worth diving into. This game provides a thought-provoking journey that encourages empathy and understanding, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.

Atelier Sophie 2 offers a heartwarming and nostalgic adventure. While most of the cast is new, the game doesn’t shy away from providing a narrative that both new and returning fans can enjoy. Its battle system is highly addictive as it evolves throughout the game, mirrored by the updated synthesis system with streamlined options and quality-of-life improvements. There are some low points in this adventure, but Atelier Sophie 2 proves traditional JRPGs can still flourish in this modern world.

Deathloop is for detective nerds who just want to blow shit up. Each moment of this game offers some insane new plot twists and discoveries that further highlights how amazing the writing is. Players are rewarded through exploration, but at the cost that they could lose it all if they die in the process. It's an experience that demands a keen eye and patience at times to unlock everything it has to offer, but at least the dumb enemies will rarely get in your way.

Cassette Boy is a cleverly designed indie puzzle adventure that uses perspective as both a visual gimmick and a core gameplay mechanic. With a lo-fi aesthetic and cryptic progression, it invites players to experiment, explore, and interpret its world without handholding. Though its minimal storytelling and subtle design may not suit everyone, its creative puzzles and environmental twists offer a uniquely rewarding experience for those who embrace curiosity over direction.

9-nine-: Episode 3 ends up slingshotting this series to a must-read mystery visual novel. It not only expands on the more interesting aspects of the series, but it successfully balances a new serious tone with a few memorable comedic moments. Even with the slow opening and lack of 1080p illustrations, the narrative expertly sets up the next title, and now all we can do is wait.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak brings a fresh start to the Trails series with its new Calvard arc. Featuring an ambitious narrative, innovative gameplay systems, and a compelling new protagonist, Van Arkride, this entry captivates both new and returning players. Despite some issues with difficulty and the LGC alignment system, Daybreak stands out as a remarkable and modern addition to Falcom's storied catalog.

SAROS delivers a confident evolution of Housemarque’s roguelite formula, pairing exhilarating bullet-hell combat and exceptional boss design with meaningful progression systems that give each run a satisfying sense of growth. While its moment-to-moment gameplay consistently impresses through tight mechanics and smart use of haptics, the narrative struggles to keep pace, relying too heavily on logs and lacking cohesion in its delivery. Even so, the game’s distinct identity, strong encounter design, and engaging loop make it a compelling, if uneven, PlayStation experience that soars more often than it stumbles.

Mortal Kombat 1 is a welcome addition to a thriving fighting game landscape. The new systems build on top of the already established foundation created in Mortal Kombat 11 but in a more refined way. It doesn’t shy away from its gorey roots, and thankfully the Kameo system is far better than the voice cameos heard throughout the campaign. Essentially, this is Mortal Kombat done in a way that embraces more powerful hardware and delivers an experience that lives up to the legacy of the series.

9 R.I.P. is a unique otome game that explores horror elements to create compelling backstories and circumstances for our protagonist to face. With the usual quality we’ve come to expect from Otomate, this is a great experience throughout.

Wizard with a Gun is an engaging action adventure that seamlessly blends roguelike and crafting elements. It initially feels slow in the opening hours, but players who stick with it will find themselves deeply immersed, enhancing their base and character. This game offers an enjoyable experience even if you’re not a survival genre enthusiast. Plus, its multiplayer functionality adds significant replay value, making it a well-rounded gaming choice. Don’t be deterred by a sluggish start; Wizard with a Gun has much to offer.

Even though I wish the in-game shop had more meaningful unlockables, and the minigames weren’t an all-pleasing cup of tea, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is an honest-to-goodness attempt at resurging this series once again. I believe it to be the best attempt yet.

The skill system and balance are fine-tuned to offer each side a chance of victory, but the current state of the game for this review does come with a few moments of crashes and glitches. None of these take away from the fun and anxiety-inducing matchups players are bound to have.

Radiant Tale was an absolute treat to play. The fantasy elements that it introduced were properly utilized, and besides a few translation issues, it had a well-paced narrative that didn’t drag itself out and properly ties the knot on its main plot points. While the romance does take a bit of a backseat, all of its characters are unique and well-written, so if you were looking for a good otome game for this Summer, then why not watch as CIRCUS perform their number for you?

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.

Earnest Evans Collection compiles three cult 90s Wolf Team action titles that showcase striking pixel art, ambitious presentation, and memorable music, but the experience is undermined by loose controls, chaotic combat, and weak game design that make these relics more historically interesting than genuinely enjoyable.

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.

Even though the narrative is fairly unmemorable and the progression is awkward, there’s a wholehearted sense of endearment permeating from its NPCs and comedic interactions. When also considering the fact that there’s upcoming DLC, hopefully FANTASY LIFE i is supported with new content for the foreseeable future. It’s relieving to witness an outright success for modern Level 5; here’s hoping it’s a sign of what’s to come for the developer.

Synergy is a charming and strategic off-world city builder by Leikir Studio, blending survival, exploration, and resource management in a beautifully alien setting. With its relaxing yet challenging gameplay and rich atmospheric details, it's a standout addition to the genre for both casual and dedicated city-builder fans.

A gentle, introspective adventure set in a snow-covered Moominvalley, Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth trades the lively energy of its predecessor for a quieter, more reflective journey about embracing the unfamiliar. By centering on Moomintroll’s discomfort with winter and gradual growth, the game delivers a heartfelt narrative supported by cozy exploration, light puzzle-solving, and meaningful character interactions. While its smaller cast and slower pace may not appeal to everyone, its charm, atmosphere, and respect for the source material make it a warm, inviting experience that lingers long after the snow melts.

Frank and Drake is an exceptionally well-crafted game, and I was transfixed for almost the entire experience, uncovering the secrets and mysteries it held. The unique atmosphere conjured from the distinct visual styles and fantastic soundtrack is utterly amazing. If you want to kick back with a narrative full of intrigue, then this is definitely not a title to pass up.

Yunyun Syndrome!? Rhythm Psychosis is a deeply unconventional rhythm game that fuses denpa-inspired psychological storytelling with a meme-heavy, chaotic soundtrack and a deceptively simple gameplay loop. While its four-lane mechanics are accessible, the real draw lies in its unsettling tonal shifts, meta-narrative elements, and the disturbing yet compelling relationship between Qtie and her imagined savior Yunyun. It is not a pure rhythm experience nor a fully story-driven game, but rather an experimental hybrid that rewards players who embrace its strangeness and emotional dissonance.

Alwa’s Legacy is a vibrant adventure that takes some of the best aspects of the genre and puts just enough of a spin on it to set it apart. Using magic, puzzle-solving, and exploration through the charming world of Alwa is a real joy. There may be a few hiccups in its control scheme and execution, but it doesn’t take away from the overall experience. Zoe might not be the best with memories but this is one quest you won’t soon forget.

Tchia is truly a magical experience where players uncover the world through the eyes of a protagonist who is experiencing it along with them for the first time. The culture of this region is expertly woven into the gameplay systems, so you never feel like this is a learning game. Further, the fantasy mechanics of Soul Jumping work well alongside the emotional narrative that keeps players engaged from beginning to end. You may find yourself lost along the way, but there is so much to discover in this adventure that you’ll keep pushing forward.

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.

UNSIGHTED is clearly a well-crafted adventure that gives the player a ton of different options for how they’ll play it. The combat is fluid and visceral, the environments form a beautiful obstacle course that’s always a blast to navigate, and the story delivers a cast of diverse characters and a well-deserved payoff at the end. Studio Pixel Punk’s first game can easily stand with the Hollow Knights and Oris of the indie action landscape.

The rather short total play time might be a downer for certain players, and the grinding being almost required might get annoying, but in essence, this remake of Live A Live felt like a qualitative title that had so much love and time put into it, to make this JRPG masterpiece from the Super Famicom now available to a broader audience, and this time, outside its home country. It’s not perfect, of course, but it does so much, so right.

WitchSpring R showcases a brilliant gameloop of balancing its story progression with its many systems. On the box, it may seem like too much information to retain, but in practice, it all blends seamlessly together to never hold the player back from progression. The adventure is massive, too, with a lengthy campaign and a large connected world with plenty to explore. I’m glad it’s not just Pieberry’s illustrations that received the remastered treatment, and the developers put together something truly fun for fans, both new and returning.

It's clear that a lot of love went into making Streets of Rage 4. The developers have taken this classic series and added just enough to make it their own while also building off of what makes this series so great. The length of the adventure may be an issue for some, but there are more than enough reasons to return to the streets for another round.