Fashioning Little Miss Lonesome is not a revolutionary Otome game but knows exactly where to aim to check the genre’s boxes. Its options to customize the experience show its understanding of the desire to self-insert in the dating game scene. Further, Saito and Miki are passable love interests, and if nothing else, serve as nice eye candy while sticking closely to established archetypes. If you can handle the fast-paced humor of three incredibly clashing personalities along with the signature heart-pounding, often aggressive romance of Otome, this will provide you an enjoyable romp.

Greak: Memories of Azure has a gorgeous presentation and world to discover, but the added features, although unique, require a specific type of adventure fan to enjoy. Things just become overly confusing, and my muscle memory never seemed to adapt to the constant demand for accessing the menu and switching between characters. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great game, but some elements are largely unnecessary.

Conclusively, while I certainly enjoyed my time with Boyfriend Dungeon, the sudden end to its narrative and the half-empty world map left me feeling like I had just finished an Early Access game rather than a full experience. I don’t generally have an issue with brevity in games, but the end to this one just left me craving more because I loved the cast, the representation, and the addictive leveling system. I definitely recommend this title to those who want to dip their toes in the water of dating sims, but a lack of challenge and a rather shallow conclusion end up holding it back from being a must-play experience.

WrestleQuest is a one-of-a-kind experience that takes the wrestling and fantasy JRPG genres to places neither of them have gone before. Its clever writing and humorous cast puts the smackdown on the player to deliver a piledriver to others who try to compete. While some systems and design choices weigh on the experience, a ton of charm is packed in this adventure to bring this game home. And that’s the bottom line because Noisy Pixel said so.

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.

Echo Generation is an imaginative adventure that provides several doses of nostalgia for all who play. However, the battle system requires quality improvements. In its current state, a player could be forced to restart due to wrong choices made during early gameplay. Still, the adventure segments and character interactions are charming enough to warrant a weekend spent cracking this small-town mystery.

Life is Strange is a charming take on a supernatural teen drama, and while the story can feel bloated with plot lines at times, there is a lot for players to like. While being a compromised version of the remasters, the Switch version is still a competent port that ensures that players will get the whole experience with as few compromises as possible. However, players who don’t use handheld mode or intend to game on the go will experience long load times and visual drawbacks without getting any of the pros that come with acquiring the Switch version over any others. Life is Strange feels at home on the Switch and is an easy recommendation for anybody who hasn’t yet played through this quirky adventure.

Ashwalkers provides a great first impression through its atmosphere and mechanics, but each playthrough weighs on that experience. The repetitive nature of this adventure simply has you playing until you wear yourself out after so many of the different endings are similar to each other. These 2-hour game loops had me wishing for longer paths or something else because there’s a good foundation here but it’s repetitive nature ultimately leaves the adventure unfulfilling.

Celestia: Chain of Fate offers a blend of romance, fantasy, and mystery, following protagonist Aria through her magical journey. While visually stunning with charming CG scenes, the game suffers from an underdeveloped log system and unclear romance mechanics, leaving players uncertain about their decisions. Despite its strengths in character design and world-building, the lack of closure due to being 'the first book' and the absence of voice acting limit its full potential.

John Wick Hex is a unique experience that marks a return for movie licensed games. It does just enough to stand out and provide an enjoyable adventure for fans of the series through some solid strategical action sequences. It’s not going to leave your heart racing as the films did, but it will provide you with a few hours of entertainment across its various levels.

Within the Blade is an intricate blend of fast-paced stealth and action that we don’t see too often in this genre. While it falters in repetitive level design, it makes up for it in stylish and satisfying gameplay. There’s a high skill ceiling for players who’d like to challenge, and the experience of utilizing the stealth systems makes for interesting bouts of action gameplay.

Compared to other eroge of the time, Do You Like Horny Bunnies? 1 and 2 don’t really stand out; they’re worth playing more out of nostalgia or historical curiosity than on their own merits. Still, the fact that the remastered versions in Do You Like Horny Bunnies? Complete Collection runs smoothly and looks great on modern systems at a budget price makes me inclined to recommend them over similar visual novels.

Darius Burst Another Chronicles EX+ is a challenging and fun shoot-em-up; a must-play, I dare say. But personally, I saw monstrous red warning signs and heard boss sirens when I saw the price tag. This stand-alone may be a must-have for collectors, but The Cozmic Revelation collection seems to be the best way to experience Darius. If the series wants to make a splash, hopefully, we get a new entry.

Cannon Dancer: Osman is a wild ride with high replay value, showing off some of the best of the 90s’ in its outlandish presentation and precise 2D action gameplay. It’s a great game to have restored and preserved for a new audience and is a fascinating missing piece in the Strider continuity. That being said, it’s a short and sweet gameplay experience that feels far too expensive as a home release, especially given the lack of meaningful extra content. This is one definitely worth picking up on sale.

Saints Row IV: Re-Elected on Nintendo Switch is a fantastic port of a good game. Though it has not aged all that well graphically, the hilarious story and addicting gameplay of the original release translate incredibly well to Switch. Those looking for a sandbox game to play on the go will find a great one in Saints Row IV: Re-Elected. However, its $40 price tag is a bit high for a seven-year-old game.

Yoru ga Kuru! -Square of the Moon- Remastered modernizes a cult classic with accessible systems, updated visuals, and English localization, delivering a nostalgic yet flawed blend of visual novel storytelling and stat-heavy RPG mechanics.

Winter’s Wish: Spirits of Edo has its ups and downs with the story, but it uses its fictional elements well. However, its systems are lacking quality-of-life features that would improve the user experience. Regardless, the translation does a terrific job of relaying the more complex terms into an understandable format for the English audience, making it an enjoyable starting point for those wishing to get into more historical fiction with the help of some handsome men.

Let’s get real, 2022 is already a crazy stacked year when it comes to RPG releases, and so Potato Flowers in Full Bloom is not something you want to pick up right away. On a sale, and if you really needed a downtime RPG, then this game might be your thing. As it is, this is a charming and minimalist adventure featuring engaging turn-based battles, even when the sum of its parts doesn’t add up to anything extraordinary.

Marisa of Liartop Mountain reimagines the Touhou formula with a bold tabletop twist, trading bullet hell for dice rolls, dialogue trees, and narrative experimentation. While it offers charm and creativity through its figurine-style visuals and Scarlet Mansion commentary, the game’s reliance on chance and repetition may divide fans.

Aoi Shiro HD Remaster is a gorgeous adventure visual novel that has finally seen an official English release. Sadly, that comes at the cost of a poor localization effort that holds back some much-needed lore and emotional context to enjoy. Regardless, the yuri romance and supernatural elements will surely keep you engaged as you try to avoid the heartbreaking bad endings.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is Call of Duty at its finest in terms of settings and overall gameplay. You won’t have an emotional attachment to the campaign, but you’ll find excitement in late-game missions. Multiplayer and coop missions are where the fun lies, but sadly, it all feels more of the same with prettier graphics and sound design. Nevertheless, it’s Call of Duty, and if that’s what you’re here for, then you have two great years ahead of you until the next release.

Slitterhead exemplifies what an indie developer with ambitious ideas can achieve within limited means. Where one system falters, another aspect of the game steps up, maintaining a balance between innovation and feasibility. While more resources could have enhanced the combat and voice acting, Slitterhead ultimately succeeds as a character-driven horror game with a focus on storytelling and atmosphere. For fans of narrative-driven horror, Slitterhead is a captivating experience that breaks the mold.

Dead by Daylight on mobile is plagued with random bugs and lengthy load times, which can all be overlooked with the excuse that this is just the “Dead by Daylight” experience. Still, I found enjoyment during each match as I fought for my life against some of the most terrifying creatures known to exist. It’s like something you know is terrible, but you can’t put it down, and that’s precisely what keeps me playing.

There’s a lot packed in Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness, but it will take someone willing to play through the 5-hour opening to discover it. However, the original story and challenging survival gameplay elements of Deep in Abyss will have you invested in your quest to be a White Whistle for hours. This is definitely a step in the right direction for game adaptations of anime, as the quality of the systems and added dub options make it a must-play for fans.

Blade & Soul: Revolution isn’t here to replace Blade & Soul on PC. The mobile offerings are commendable but provide very little above what you’d expect to find in an auto-battle MMORPG. The PVP and PVE offerings are there for players willing to go a few more rounds, but it borders on pay-to-win. While playing Blade & Soul on the go was fun, it sadly isn’t revolutionary.

Candy Rangers offers up a simple idea, done well and keeps you engaged with its entertaining and novel shooter mechanics. It falters a little bit in the finer areas, but it never overstays its welcome either. I would love to see this idea improved upon in the future, via a follow-up or even some future updates. As is, Candy Rangers is a charming little indie game that is well worth a look.

The mitigated presentation and tone of Portable don’t paint an accurate picture of its identity. But it’s nice to see it around, and the gameplay here is the best of any of the releases. Persona 3 is my favorite franchise entry, yet its lack of a definitive version has always been frustrating, with this release now causing those emotions to resurge. Hopefully, it will receive that treatment one day. Yet, for now, it’s at least possible to officially play it on newer platforms.

Digimon World Next Order feels and plays fantastically on the Nintendo Switch. But unfortunately, it relies on you being familiar with its established gameplay mechanics, which can be daunting for newcomers. Despite the newly added Beginner Mode and Dash features, I feel like this iteration of the digital world is targeted toward longtime fans or new ones who have a lot of time to learn its many nuances. Still, the portability of the Switch makes this perfect for western gamers raising Digimon on the go.