New Pokemon Snap is there for fans who wish for a casual Pokemon experience with the only challenge being to take creative pictures of Pokemon. It recaptures much of what the previous entry offered with plenty of new systems and features to add depth, but it sadly doesn’t deliver on the sense of ownership over the pictures that I once felt. It’s all so fleeting in this digital age. Still, there are plenty of beautiful environments and Pokemon to take shots of. I wouldn’t mind waiting another 20 years for a sequel or having this be the last entry altogether.

Sutekina Kanojo no Tsukurikata could easily be enjoyed by fans of yandere and yuri themes who aren’t looking for a fluffy romance. The game’s darker moments can be impactful and may be interpreted differently depending on the players, but the message comes together in the end. There’s a lot to digest, though, and that may limit those willing to stick with it through its several routes.

If you haven’t been playing your VR device lately, Star Wars Pinball VR is the perfect reason to charge it back up. This is perhaps the closest you can get to experiencing these tables in real life and they translate so well in the VR space. Even if you’ve played Star Wars Pinball before, I think this version provides enough of a unique experience that warrants an additional playthrough. [Oculus Quest 2]

Musicus! brings with it an experience to remember and keep close to heart. Just like how its characters talk about the way music can emotionally move you, this is the kind of story that can deeply connect to anyone willing to dive into it.

Disgaea RPG represents your typical mobile gaming experience, for better and for worse. It offers a ton of content around this exceptionally large cast of characters for fans of the series to dive headfirst into. However, it borrows many core elements from other mobile games when it should have relied more on the deep strategic planning the series is known for. Still, the game is undoubtedly addicting, and I’m excited to see how this western release evolves.

Livestream understands that less is more when it comes to aspects like music, inviting players to concoct their own terrible images of what lurks in the depths. Ironically, the aspects that expand it into something more than a horror game end up dampening the experience. Livestream is a solid study of horror fundamentals, which is satisfying on its own.

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?

Smelter scratched any itch I had to play a new and fulfilling platformer. Through its tight and responsive controls, challenging level design, and non-intrusive combat, this is a must-play title for any who desire a new experience in this genre. The strategy elements can either be a turn-off or further enhancement depending on the player, but I still think the game is worth playing with that risk in mind.

Judgment on next-gen consoles provided a completely new experience through some amazing visual updates. I was genuinely immersed in the world and felt more attached to the narrative than I have ever been before. If you have yet to experience this game, then do yourself a favor and play this version. On the other hand, if you're looking to run around Kamurocho again as a Detective Yagami, then this is the perfect way to replay the adventure.

The Atelier Mysterious Trilogy Deluxe Pack may not offer enough for old fans to double-dip in the adventures, but there's so much here for new fans to discover. Not just in terms of gameplay, but the evolution of this series and the characters that paved the way towards its current popularity. The extra content and quality-of-life features are just added bonuses to the adventures that await.

Nier: Replicant ver.1.22474487139... is a beautiful experience and exactly how you should play this amazing game. Upon finishing, it's easy to say that it is unequivocally one of the best games I have ever played. This story emotionally moves players with the help of its character-writing, intense action, and somber tone, making it easy to immerse yourself in their world.

Touhou Hyouibana: Antinomy Of Common Flowers is a decent tag-team fighter with tight and enjoyable gameplay. The lack of an in-game move-list is confusing, but the fighting systems come naturally after a few matches. In execution, this is a bullet-hell fighter, and it provides that experience during every match.

MAMIYA is a game I’ll have a hard time forgetting. Going through it all again may produce additional layers of interpretation and knowledge that didn’t click the first time around. It’s a dive into a depressive, sorrowful and mad world that breaks people, one that I can even see myself coming back to from time to time.

By using the shortness of procedurally created dungeons without any positive unique skills or mechanics, Shachibato just ends up feeling like an RPG that ends way too quickly, without any reason to continuously play it.

To truly do this game justice, mechanics needed to be updated to make the overall experience more enjoyable. Faster pace and more fluid gun gameplay could bring new audiences. The game should be played by anyone who has never experienced the series and are interested enough to visit the Darkside themselves. I’m sure longtime fans will feel that nostalgic love, playing this occult hit exactly as it was published two decades ago but personally, I feel it could have been left on the shelf.

Cozy Grove definitely lives up to its namesake as a cozy gaming experience, one designed for short bursts of play, where playing a little each day allows you to get more out of it than longer play sessions. The basic gameplay loop is limited, but the charm of the game world and the basic premise provides a relaxing sense of achievement. While it doesn’t replace Animal Crossing as your next time-sink, it does enough to provide a lighter and less demanding alternative.

Years after I first played it, DRAMAtical Murder remains one of the most gorgeous visual novels, with striking character and set designs, dynamic art direction, and attention to even small details in the UI. The soundtrack, particularly the OP and ending songs, are incredibly catchy. I fall in love with the characters more every time I replay it, and even though the plot has some weak points, it’s still an intriguing exploration of themes of humanity, technology, and identity. Highly recommended for fans of boys’ love, of course, but I think many visual novel lovers would enjoy it.

Say No! More does a great job in giving the player some casual and lighthearted fun. With some satirical and colorful scenarios about corporate work culture, the adventure provokes themes of self-advocacy and helping those around you. You can easily tell the game is full of heart and humor. Despite its shortcoming of being a one-time deal, Say No! More is an experience worth picking up.

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.

The House in Fata Morgana borrows the moves of classic tragedies, performing events past to demonstrate the tragedy of the current. It is impressive how little time it takes to understand the motives and dreams of the Rose Manor residents, even when they fall to their lowest extent. The storytelling, art style, and music harmonizes its themes of vintage times and freely mold each scene from childish hope to shock and terror. Having every game in this series on one of the most convenient gaming systems for visual novels makes it very difficult to argue its value.

Pac-Man 99 is an exceptionally entertaining Battle Royale boasting a genius incorporation of speedy matches and on-the-fly strategy. Its default, free mode, is where players will be spending most, if not all of their time duking it out, while it’s pricey, paid packages are tough sells that offer very little in the realms of replayability or meaning. I personally recommend sticking to the free version, but if you find yourself wanting some more variety, no matter how slight it is, those extra modes are there for you to pick up.

League of Legends: Wild Rift is the quintessential competitive mobile MOBA that you should be playing. It differentiates itself from its PC counterpart by offering simplified modes and rebalanced champions. This allows it to be more accessible to newcomers and feels great during long play sessions. There’s definitely room for updates and refinement, but what’s offered now is a great mobile experience.

Star Wars: Republic Commando is a slower-paced, more strategic first-person shooter that is somehow more about unit positioning and character banter than it is about blasting through enemies. There’s still plenty of action to be found, but it’s really the crew who carry this Star Wars adventure to an overall enjoyable experience. I’d say that makes it a story well told packed for a new generation of gamers.

Deiland Pocket Planet Edition is a shallow farming sim that provides you with very base-level quests that don’t really amount to anything memorable. The monotony of completing the quests and watching over crops never becomes more complex or challenging, weighing on the adventure’s lasting factor. There’s little here to experience after a few hours of gameplay, but it’s still a charming indie offering that doesn’t grow into the rose that I had hoped for.

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.

Tasomachi is an atmospheric 3D platformer collectathon that succeeds in the area, but there’s a massive lack of polish, making me feel like it’s wasn’t ready to be released. I can see what this experience was aiming for, which is said as an accomplishment to the single developer who created it. However, a lot of optimization and options need to be added for this adventure to be considered finished. Still, it’s possible to have fun and overlook the flaws, but they are glaringly apparent by taking a step back.

In brief moments of gameplay, Potion Party is a lot of fun. Going in expecting more than satisfying short burst of excitement might be a letdown. Its charming visuals and addicting gameloop provide enough to warrant mixing up a few potions and opening up shop, but I couldn’t help but want a bit more variety in the core design.

Poison Control is an unexpected enjoyable gaming experience. The result is a game that only lacks in areas where I wanted more, including enemy variety and stage layout. However, that doesn’t hinder just how addicting this adventure is, which I hope acts as a foundation for a sequel. I may not be the biggest fan of shooters, but Poison Control takes the genre and presents it in a way that could expand the fanbase. If you can’t get behind that, well, the cleaning aspect is just as satisfying.