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.

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.

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.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty marks the end of the lengthy and dramatic story of Cyberpunk 2077. This expansion brilliantly highlights what fans were hoping for in the initial release, but seeing it finally realized showcases so much more. The themes explored through the new story and side-quests, along with the quality-of-life updates, provided a memorable conclusion to this cyberpunk adventure.

Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster are memorable JRPGs that can finally fully spread their wings in this remastered package. While the systems might cause early confusion no matter which entry you’re playing, they both develop into a masterful adventure. The added quality-of-life features made these titles approachable for any who wish to casually revisit the narrative or experience it for the first time. I’m glad these classics have graced a modern platform for fans, both new and old.

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.

Super Bomberman R 2 doesn’t do much to differentiate itself from its predecessor or the series. There’s just nothing really here to justify a purchase with a campaign consisting of only three unimaginative levels, very limited power-ups, and a strange implication of online modes. The charm is still present when playing classic modes, but nothing that has been added moves the series in any significant direction.

Wandering Sword is a bit of a mixed bag that uses its brilliant presentation and vast player freedom to partially offset its dull storytelling, the lacking script translation, and dialogue structuring. Unfortunately, the pros weren’t enough to really stick the landing, as I had to force myself to get through a fair bit of the experience. The intrigue this cast and narrative carry doesn’t manage to reach anything meaningfully gripping or memorable, and that made much of this title an unfortunate slog. Still, it can be an addictive and enjoyable time for those who become compelled by its systems.

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is a masterful spinoff boasting its own distinct identity, with an addictive gameplay loop enhanced by several excellently woven upgrade and replayability systems, as well as a finely crafted narrative and loveable cast that works well thanks to the relatively compact scale of it all. The stellar voice work and, as in typical Falcom fare, the sublime soundtrack also serve to make this adventure a must-play no matter one’s history with the developer’s lineup. This spiritual successor of sorts to Zwei is such a considerate blast from the past that I want to see more of in Falcom’s future.

Mugen Souls Z may be a product of its time, but the West has finally received the full experience. The story is downright insane in a brilliant way, but the gameplay has definitely not aged well. The added DLC and mini-game definitely make this a release for all niche JRPG enthusiasts, as your 10-year-long wait has paid off, and you can finally take these hilarious girls to the bathhouse.

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.

Gunbrella delivers on tight and responsive bouts of action. Although it’s a challenging platformer, you can enjoy it from beginning to end across an evening as you hone your Gunbrella skills and get your revenge. What’s more enticing is the story and characters who bring up interesting topics that make you question certain aspects of your adventure. The price is definitely right for this game, and I’ll gladly jump back in because it is so damn fun.

In Lies of P, players are treated to a meticulously designed Soulslike experience that challenges their skill and immerses them in a world of atmospheric intrigue. With its stunning visuals, twisted narrative, and excellent technical performance, Lies of P would be a must-play for any fan of FromSoftware’s difficult titles. However, the frustrating combat mechanics revolving around the dodge mechanic and some unbalanced battles prevent me from fully recommending this experience.

Eternights is a true labor of love from a small team of developers that set out to create something for themselves. It just so happens that it’s also one of my favorite games of 2023. If you can look past the juvenile character moments and flimsy early plot devices, you’re in for an awesome experience that delivers quality action combat, hilarious character skits, and a very strong final Act. It’s an experience I won’t soon forget and one that doesn’t demand too much from players to play till the credits. The wait for this release was genuinely worth it, and I’m happy to see this ambitious project come together so brilliantly.

There aren’t many experiences quite like Chants of Sennaar. It offers linguistic gameplay that is simple to understand but can be complex to truly solve. Its messages about communication and understanding are simple but completely universal in today’s world. From the aesthetics to the satisfying and engaging gameplay, it’s easy to get wonderfully lost in Chants of Sennaar.

Rune Factory 3 Special is a great way for both new and old fans of the series to experience this DS classic. Still, I wished it had gone a bit further with the remastered effort, as many of its systems haven’t aged well. The added features here don’t make up for the lack of quality-of-life improvements that would’ve done the title a big favor. It’s not unplayable by any means, but this remaster isn’t as “Special” as it claims.

Anonymous;Code takes some understanding of the Science Adventure series to wholly appreciate, but its world-building is what I would regard as some of the series’ best. It acts as a culmination of ideas seen throughout numerous titles, creating an unconventional experience that is extremely rewarding. Despite a few stumbles found in the cast and the ending needing a bit more time to be fully realized, what’s here is an immaculate story with brilliant pacing that makes every scene and interaction meaningful and necessary. The fantastic English dub and presentation only serve to help matters. I have no idea where the Science Adventure series will go from here, but after seeing the sheer love and ambition poured into Anonymous;Code, I’m more confident in this series than I’ve ever been.

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.

Norn9: Last Era is a fandisk that nicely expands on the narrative. Still, if you did not enjoy Norn9: Var Commons, then you’ll find it very hard to enjoy Last Era, and it becomes clear that the targeted audience for this title is clearly those who have already consumed Norn9 in some form of medium, be it the previous game or the anime. Some of the systems in the Western release also share the same issues, such as the awkward text lines, which diminish the experience a bit. Furthermore, half of the content that’s available just isn’t up to snuff when compared to other fandisk releases from Idea Factory.

Despite its relaxing appearance, Blue Wednesday can be surprisingly challenging at times. This challenge is not completely found in the gameplay segments but also in the core narrative. The plot touches on motivation, creativity, and confidence in a way that really makes you reflect on real-world events. There’s a nice blend of humor and somber tones found through the experience, which is tied together through addictive rhythm-based mini-games. Sadly, some context may be lost due to grammatical errors or bugs, but I’m excited to see Morris’ career blossom.

Starfield is a true space adventure that only Bethesda can deliver. It's an experience catered to the fans of large expansive RPG narratives, but this one takes it a step further to stretch across an entire universe. There are minor systems and menus that cause confusion, and the lack of real tutorials paired with a flimsy opening holds back the opening hours. Still, the experience is undeniably memorable, and the writing for NPCs makes up the best moments. Although the many systems can be overwhelming, this is a game full of discovery for all who play.

I could easily keep talking about this game, from the romance scenes that honestly had a lot of heart put into them or about various small encounters that I had just roaming around the map. Baldur’s Gate 3 may not be a one-to-one recreation of a system that many of us know, but that doesn’t hold it back in any form. Instead, the spirit of Dungeons & Dragons is inside the very fiber of Baldur’s Gate 3; it can sometimes be silly and outlandish. However, there is a lot to love here, and there aren’t many words that could really convey how much I love this game and glad that while the battle system may not be what I expected, once I adjusted myself to it, it gave me almost everything else I could want out of a game.

Samba de Amigo: Party Central is an updated sequel to a cult Dreamcast classic that goes much further than the bare minimum on almost every level. The song list is incredible, the graphical style is exciting, and the asking price is right on the money. It’s an excellent party game to add to your Switch lineup. Still, I can’t help but wish some consideration had been given to the surprisingly extensive single-player mode for what the average player will be able to do, given the title’s chaotic nature and the lack of perfect accuracy.

Regardless of your love for classic RPGs or those that pay tribute to those eras, every general fan of the genre should play Sea of Stars.

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.

Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles is the best classic collection from NISA to date. They’ve pulled out all the stops to present these titles in their original forms to new audiences, with a localization that retained the humorous tone of the scenarios. These games are pixel art at its finest, and while we don’t see many titles like this anymore, I’m glad we have these modern releases to enjoy alongside new titles released today. While Rhapsody II is a more rounded adventure, this collection as a whole is a must-play for any JRPG enthusiast.

Mediterranea Inferno is a brief experience that you can likely see all of in around five hours, but those five hours were some of the most gripping I’ve had all year. I had to go to work between finishing my first run and going back in to see the rest, and it was truly all I could think about. This game isn’t merely a haunting tale of betrayal. It may even betray the player themself with its final twists and turns. It’s queer, it’s brutal, and it’s not for the faint of heart – but if you can handle it, it’s one of the most poignant stories I’ve ever experienced in the medium.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon might be a return to form for FromSoftware, but the series is brand new for players who only recently discovered them within the Souls-like genre. Armored Core VI has everything to stand on its own within the developer's current lineup of titles and the other entries of this series. It excels in fast-paced mecha action by providing an experience only Armored Core can deliver. Similar to the intricate ACs you'll surely create, this game is refined to its core offering highly challenging action with plenty of options to fit your playstyle. Armored Core VI is a must-play mecha action game, no matter your knowledge of the series.