Project Warlock is a gem that borrows influences from the greatest FPS titles of our past and throws in a unique presentation with an added dose of magic. The arsenal of weapons and spells allows you to approach the action how you wish, and it continually feels rewarding. There’s plenty of replay value here for those who’d like another go at the hectic carnage each level provides, so it’s an easy recommendation from me.

Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi might be the best dungeon-crawling RPG from Experience yet. It takes sound genre fundamentals to perfection and then implements novel concepts that add further depth to the gameplay variety and design. To help matters, there are numerous quality-of-life features to welcome modern RPG fans into the fold. Granted, it does look dated from a presentation standpoint, and it demands a great deal of grind and backtracking, but this is proof of how this genre can still evolve with modern systems.

Baladins offers an addictive, choose-your-own-roleplaying adventure in the fantastical land of Gatherac. As members of the titular guild, players aim to save Gatherac from the evil time dragon Colobra by breaking a six-week time loop. Each character brings unique skills that influence the story. The game’s skill system, similar to other RPGs, involves using and improving skills to succeed in various encounters. Despite a few glitches, the game's humorous quests, engaging skill checks, and vibrant settings make it a delightful experience.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is merely an iteration on a game that already knew what it was doing, but it's hard to argue that it needs to be more than that. There's a massive wealth of content here for those curious, but if all you're looking for is the best Tetris or Puyo party experience to date, that's also here for you to spend unlimited hours in. The only puzzle game on the Switch 2 is very easy to recommend.

Parquet is a great visual novel with an engaging sci-fi setting and memorable character interaction. It’s honestly an impressive first release for the Yuzusoft Sour imprint and a game I loved playing despite my minor gripes with the translation consistency. So those who are interested in diving into a unique sci-fi narrative look no further.

It doesn’t seem random that Lost in Random is a great game. The developers put a lot of thought into crafting a fantastic gaming experience alongside a grim storybook adventure. It all works incredibly well with only a few dips of quality that will surely be fixed over time. I enjoyed this experience thoroughly as it delivers on its action-adventure and haphazard gameplay systems.

The Rogue Prince of Persia blends refined parkour mechanics with roguelite progression in a compact yet stylish experience from Evil Empire and Ubisoft. Though light on boss variety and biome diversity, its movement-first design and satisfying combat make it a standout in the genre.

Resident Evil 4 Separate Ways is a must-play if you wish to fully understand this insane narrative. While the voice-over never gets better, the experience ends up being truly worth it. If you want more Resident Evil 4, you’ll get all of that and more in this DLC. The jury is still out on whether it should have been premium DLC, but for the amount of content here, I feel like it adds to the greatness of Resident Evil 4.

Clover Day’s Plus is an impressive visual novel that manages to offer an inspired take on the slice-of-life format that truly feels like becoming part of a solid group of friends. From the cozy moments of hanging out to the dramatic events coming to the surface during the routes, this is a great example of what a moege can offer.

Dying Light 2 gives us a sandbox to live and die for. This is the premier adventure game that marries combat and parkour systems for an exceptionally thrilling experience. And while there are moments where the narrative stumbles in terms of consequences, it doesn't matter as waves of zombies move in for the kill. I look forward to the many more hours of content that await on the other side of this campaign.

Ashes of Elrant is a rich and rewarding expansion to Chained Echoes, offering fans a time-traveling narrative that deepens the lore and delivers challenging, strategically satisfying combat, even if its pacing and character focus occasionally stumble.

Cuphead on PS4 is an excellent port of a fun and unique boss rush run-and-gun title. Outside of a few quirks with its difficulty scale, everything about this experience is fluid and entertaining. The aesthetic is the star of the show, which pair well with the responsive controls and captivating soundtrack. You might encounter a few moments of frustration after then tenth death to a boss, but the satisfaction of overcoming these moments is a great reward. If you haven’t played Cuphead on other platforms, then I urge you to play it on PS4.

Solar Ash is a delightful experience boasting a continually engaging gameplay loop coupled with enticing sound design and narrative beats. Even with its oddly paced story, problematic camera, and occasionally dull boss battle implementation, it’s a joyous, memorable game that any intrigued party should dive into. Moreover, its digestible gameplay length and ambitious voice quality go a long way into making this a standout title of the year.

Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced brings all three mainline entries together with refined gameplay, new features, and addictive replay value, though uneven storytelling and minor quality-of-life shortcomings hold it back from being the definitive package.

World End Economica Complete is a fine example of a genre staple when it comes to visual novels. This is a great release as a complete collection as each part complements the previous entry. While the pacing of the narrative can feel a bit slow at times, the expression and flow make the journey worth investing into. Further, the visuals and music don’t always shine as much as they should, but they still manage to create atmosphere and provide the cast of characters with vibrant personalities. Above all, how many other visual novels can claim to be a sci-fi economic thriller?

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.

If you’re looking for a narrative that has more than its fair share of drama and tension without being overly dramatic or angsty, 7 Years From Now has just what you need. Its minimalist designs become the highlight of the emotional plot as each end guides you to new truths and realizations. I can’t say I’m proud that I was brought to tears by Duplo character models, but it added to this memorable experience.

Magical Delicacy is a delightful blend of platforming and cooking, wrapped in a charming pixel art style. Despite some progression challenges, the game excels with its engaging exploration, memorable characters, and rewarding cooking mechanics. It's a cozy game that brings a unique twist to the "Metroidvania" genre, making it a must-play for fans of enchanting adventures.

Control AWE is an excellent expansion for fans who are craving to go further down the rabbit hole. The focus stays heavily on Jesse and her goals, even with the inclusion of Alan Wake, who doesn’t overpower the scenes. The expansion once again proves how good Remedy is at storytelling and I’m glad to see them continue to provide those WTF moments that we all love.

Castlevania Advance Collection is legitimately one of the best gaming experiences I’ve ever had. The collection of this trilogy is magnificent, boasting satisfying, methodical progression, great soundtracks, and addictive RPG systems. Even Dracula X, which caters to a different crowd, doesn’t take away from these classic GBA titles. The package provides some standout gaming action and you owe it to yourself to pick it up.

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.

Threshold delivers a tense and immersive experience with resource management, branching endings, and PS1-inspired graphics. Though some elements can feel overly ambiguous, the game’s smart design and dark atmosphere make it a must-play for fans of psychological mysteries and unique storytelling.

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.

Crysis Remastered Trilogy offers a memorable single-player FPS experience that every fan of the genre should play. Although modern gamers may only recognize the name from a meme shared by older PC nerds, it gives everyone a chance to play these games on modern hardware with optimized visuals. I feel like this was a needed release from developer Crytek. I hope they can muster up a follow-up that retains this single-player experience because this gaming generation needs it.

The game offers a nice balance of discovery and battles as you find yourself deeper into the strange environments. Sure, the animations and AI can be a bit wonky, but it doesn’t hinder the game’s sense of fun. While the main adventure can take around 10 hours to complete, those who set off the beaten path will get the most out of this very savage planet.

Yooka-Replaylee is a confident reimagining of Playtonic’s original 3D platformer, transforming a once-mixed debut into a polished and rewarding experience. With smoother controls, compact world design, and vibrant presentation, it confidently steps out from the shadow of its inspirations. Though not without flaws, this remake captures the joy of the genre with thoughtful updates and satisfying progression. Not every choice lands, but Yooka-Replaylee is a commendable labor of love that stands apart from its inspirations, and it deserves a spot among the greats of modern 3D platforming.

If you’re yearning for a fresh, inventive puzzle experience that’ll demand tight reflexes and proper timing, then Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine is the way to go. Fans of Super Meat Boy may also find enjoyment here, as this title exhibits the identity of the original game in both mechanics and game design.

Between the myriad of updated combat configurations to the plethora of side objectives and magnificient exploration, this is Atlus putting their best foot forward here in the gameplay department.