In many ways, Megaton Musashi W: Wired is quintessential Level-5, with terrific narrative and character writing alongside an addictive gameplay loop that rarely grows dull. Mech enthusiasts and newcomers will equally find facets to enjoy here. However, the story pacing and barrier of entry with mech customization prevent this mostly story-driven experience from truly soaring to loftier heights.

As a fan of Junji Ito and the Arkham Horror franchise, World of Horror instantly drew me in, delivering terrifying encounters and paying homage to various horror-related works. If you’re not a fan of the game’s visuals, you can adjust them at the start of every playthrough, from black and white to green or beige. These options allow you to settle into your preferred visual style before diving headfirst into the unsettling world of horror, best enjoyed in a dark room in the dead of night for the ultimate spine-tingling experience.

Timelie is an approachable time-manipulation adventure that only borders on the line of overly complicated or too straightforward. It strikes a perfect balance with its mechanics and even introduces unique elements into the formula that make it stand out in the genre. The open narrative and lack of enemy types leave a bit to be desired, but this is one of the best time-based puzzle games that I’ve played in years.

Bramble: The Mountain King is an excellent horror adventure that doesn’t overstay its welcome and constantly delivers nail-biting moments of gameplay. Its narrative and characters immerse the player in this world heightened by the wonderful sound design and environments. You should make this your next weekend game. Sure, you might lose some sleep for a few nights after, but you’ll have a really good time.

Dark Deity 2 is a clear improvement over its predecessor, offering streamlined, satisfying tactical combat and strong customization. While the story and presentation fall short, the engaging gameplay and replayability make it a worthwhile experience for strategy RPG fans.

Fabledom is a whimsical city builder that combines fairy tale themes with relaxed gameplay, making it perfect for newcomers to the genre. While it may lack the complexity and challenge of other city builders, its beautiful visuals, simple mechanics, and light-hearted humor create a delightful and engaging experience. If you're looking for a game to unwind with and enjoy building a magical kingdom, Fabledom is a charming choice.

Cronos: The New Dawn is a bold, atmospheric survival horror experience from Bloober Team, blending psychological storytelling, intense resource management, and inventive time-travel mechanics into a haunting, unforgiving journey that rewards skill and immersion.

Relayer is an exceptionally niche SRPG that may slide under your radar if you aren’t explicitly looking for it. I would say it’s a game made for fans of the genre, but the mechs and sci-fi narrative open it up to a broader fandom. The SRPG features are accessible, and the systems for customization are deep enough to enjoy, no matter how familiar you are with these games. However, the narrative and pacing are weak, which weighs heavily on the enjoyment as it requires a level of investment that you will likely never have.

South of Midnight feels like a game that wanted to soar but never really left the ground. It’s undeniably gorgeous and hints at a level of creativity that, under better direction, could have led to an unforgettable adventure. However, between the undercooked combat, stilted platforming, and a meandering story that can’t decide on its central theme, it’s tough to recommend without a few asterisks. Hazel deserved more, and so did we. For now, South of Midnight remains a curiosity—worth a glance if you’re keen on its aesthetics or folk-infused premise, but ultimately lacking the cohesion it needs to shine.

The straightforward nature of the quests might make the later parts of the game predictable, but the story delivers in the end. Developer Devespresso should be proud of the adventure horror that they’ve created here, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

Collar X Malice is an absolutely fantastic visual novel. It has a strong narrative and a compelling cast of characters to work within its intriguing mystery. The title uses a whole bag of interactive tricks to pull you into its uncertain world, and it works wonders, with the masterful visual style being the icing on the cake. Now I’m all caught up in anticipation for Collar X Malice Unlimited coming later this year.

Radical Rabbit Stew is a simple and intuitive puzzle game that is easy to pick up and play for a quick bit of fun. It ends up hitting all the right beats for an intuitive adventure that doesn’t require a massive investment of time from the player. The visual and musical make for the perfect ingredients for this enjoyable experience.

Death of a Wish offers a unique take on the action-adventure genre, set in a dream-like world plagued by nightmarish creatures. The game weaves a story of revenge and self-reflection through the journey of Christian, a fighter battling against a corrupt cult. Despite a narrative that takes its time to unfold and minimalistic "scribble" visuals that challenge navigation, the game's depth shines in its combat system.

Hard West 2 is a tactically challenging work of art with a beautifully depicted environment and unique features that, much like its name, become progressively harder as you advance. Hardcore fans of tactical RPGs will savor what it has in store with its distinct combat system and necessity for well-thought-out strategies. Still, on the other hand, casual players may not be too happy with the level of difficulty as the game punishes aggressive and lackadaisical gameplay.

Immortals Fenyx Rising is an entertaining open-world title with tons of explorative depth, combative choice, and gorgeous visuals. The writing’s urgency to be as funny as possible is a bit of a turn-off, but beyond that, this is a standout adventure. While not a genre revolutionizer, Immortals Fenyx Rising plays to the genre’s strengths and can easily grant players dozens upon dozens of hours of great fun.

I feel like I can go on and on about SaGa Frontier Remastered that would extend far outside the scope of this review, but if I could sum it all up, I’d say this is the best non-linear JRPG of our time. This does come with a load of nuanced challenges that will push your patience and understanding of the genre. However, after a few hours, you’ll feel the same way. The remastered version only makes the series more approachable with updated visuals, autosave capabilities, a new protagonist, and additional scenarios. I couldn’t have asked for a better version of this game to return to.

The Pathless is a gorgeous adventure with an entertaining traversal mechanic and a subtle but effective narrative. Running, jumping, and gliding around with your eagle friend while solving enigmatic puzzles is a real joy. While some lackluster stealth sections and difficulty maneuvering during some boss sections are present, it doesn’t take away from the overall experience. Whatever direction you decide to travel, The Pathless leads you to some special gaming moments.

Moving Out is a great game to pull out on family night or when hanging out with friends, though don’t blame me if this ends in an argument about how to get a couch through a door properly. Still, its cartoonish charm will easily entertain a group for a few hours. Even though the single-player offerings aren’t as enjoyable as the multiplayer mode, there’s plenty to enjoy through the optional objectives and zany environments. Those looking for the next over-the-top party game will find what they’re looking for in Moving Out.

Star Renegades offers players a fresh and unique experience that sadly loses its appeal after its punishing roguelike systems have you experience the same elements over and over. Even through the repetitive enemies that you face along the way, there’s no denying that the characters and environments that make up this world make it a must-play game within the genre. Still, the best parts are reserved for those who are seeking a genuinely challenging roguelite RPG sci-fi adventure, which may leave others lost in space.

Souldiers is great for those looking for a new action platformer with a dose of challenge. Unfortunately, the game’s easy mode does very little in the way of making the experience, well, easier, so there’s some serious difficulty here. Sadly, there’s nothing in terms of story or character to ground you in this adventure, but if you’re into the gameplay systems, be sure to enlist.

Bravely Default II is not for those who desire a simplistic thoughtless combat experience where progression is achieved with little thought. This game embodies the opposite of that philosophy and is meant for anybody who has the patience to fail, think, and learn. While not housing a stellar narrative, it does a decent job of providing one alongside an addicting gameplay loop that any JRPG fan should consider diving into for the endless combat possibilities alone. Each player’s combative journey has the potential to be unique to them and them alone, and that is what ultimately cements Bravely Default II as one of the best JRPG experiences on the Switch.

Invincible VS delivers a fast-paced and accessible tag fighting experience that successfully captures the tone and brutality of its source material while offering solid mechanical depth for competitive play. Inspired by Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, the game stands out with fluid combat, strong character identity, and an engaging story mode, but its limited Season 0 roster and light content offering make it feel like an early foundation rather than a complete package.

Demonschool is a stylish indie tactics RPG from Necrosoft Games that stands out for its creative combat and bold visuals but struggles to deliver a cohesive story. Its unique planning-based battles offer satisfying puzzle-like encounters, and its cast brings energy and humor. However, uneven pacing and late-game bloat undermine the narrative, and technical issues can disrupt progress. Demonschool has clear strengths, especially in its gameplay loop, but misses the mark on emotional depth and polish.

Gundam Breaker 4 marks a triumphant return to the series' roots, offering fans an intricate and rewarding Gunpla-building experience. While the story may not be the game's strongest aspect, the detailed customization options, engaging combat mechanics, and creative features like Diorama and Painting modes more than make up for it.

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.

RoboCop: Rogue City isn’t one of those games described as “So bad it’s good.” It’s simply a good game from start to finish that pays homage to the franchise it’s based on and captures what makes it endearing. The narrative beats leave an impact through emotional plot points and dark humor in a city in need of a hero, where your choices truly matter. The over-the-top action and investigation segments are perfectly balanced, but the constant backtracking does weigh on the experience. Nonetheless, this game was a delight to play and one I can’t wait to discuss with others who give it a shot.

Trials of Mana is unapologetically traditional and, yet, still makes itself accessible to all JRPG fans, both new and old. The dedication that the developers show as they retain the fantasy appeal of this classic title with updated systems is what ultimately shines during every moment of this adventure.

SKALD: Against the Black Priory is a narrative-rich adventure that takes everything great about creative 8-bit RPGs and heightens the experience for modern players. It’s enjoyably grim and sometimes grotesque, but through strong game design, I was rarely confused about how to progress amidst an experience that doesn’t hold your hand. The combat also sees some depth through character customization and job classes that each focus on unique loadouts and abilities which complement the strategic battles. I’m glad this game exists and I had a great time playing, so maybe keep it on your radar if you’re in need of a weekend adventure through the unknown.