There’s a synergy and balance between the story, controls, and gameplay that make this a genuinely standout space adventure perfect for any fans of the genre.

It may not be a necessary entry in the franchise, but as we move into what appears to be Kiryu’s endgame, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a treat, a reward for those who have followed his story since the beginning. I genuinely was not sure what I thought of this game until the credits were rolling, and then the intention of this project clicked in my head. It’s a celebration of this character that fills in a few blanks but doesn’t overstay its welcome purely for the sake of matching the length of the other games and a teaser for the main course coming in a few months. I’ve never been more excited about the future of Like a Dragon.

With an expansive story and unique presentation bringing everything beloved from the prior Opus entries, Opus: Echo of Starsong is by far the franchise’s best outing. We get some standout narrative and interactive segments by taking what worked before and improving the design and presentation. The random elements and item management require more hands-on from the player, but the result is a gorgeous and low barrier of entry adventure through space.

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles delivers a rich, emotionally resonant narrative and refined tactical gameplay that welcomes newcomers while honoring its legacy, though it stumbles in offering a definitive version for longtime fans.

At a glance, Shadow Labyrinth may just seem like a startingly different take on Pac-Man for shock value, but it still follows the core tenets of the original game: mazes, creature consumption, player choice in navigation, and a power-up in the form of GAIA that effectively swaps the roles of prey and predator. Despite the gameplay systems needing some refinements, Shadow Labyrinth is a genuinely stellar action metroidvania that stands near the genre's best.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time gives us the Crash experience that we’ve been waiting so long for. The developer seemed to understand what was unique about the series but added touches of their own imagination to make it their own. The finished product is a 3D platformer that is as fun as it is frustrating, so you can bet that it fits in perfectly with the other titles. Here’s to another generation of Crash.

Dark Auction is a gripping narrative-driven mystery that explores memory, guilt, and survival through a morally complex story shaped by an ensemble of deeply written characters. Written by Rika Suzuki (Hotel Dusk, Another Code) and featuring a haunting soundtrack by Yuko Komiyama and Tsukasa Masuko, the game blends visual novel elements with light investigation mechanics. While its linear structure may limit replayability, its strong voice acting and thematic depth make it a standout for fans of thoughtful mystery games.

Wanderstop presents itself as a cozy tea shop sim, but beneath its colorful, Ghibli-esque charm lies a deeply emotional narrative about change, loss, and self-discovery. With an engaging tea-brewing system, lovable characters, and a stunningly vibrant art style, Wanderstop blends heartwarming moments with subtle, existential themes. While a few technical hiccups hold it back, its storytelling and atmosphere make it an unforgettable indie gem.

Stonefly provides an intriguing premise that lends itself to strange and fantastical gameplay. With an emphasis on aerial piloting, the combat and exploration give ample control while not feeling too fast for the laid-back spirit. While it can be confusing to shuffle through the various materials, power-up formulas can be brute-forced when necessary. Stonefly smartly lets the player control its tempo without lingering for too long, which appeals to all kinds of gamers.

Disney Illusion Island is the perfect introduction to the Metroidvania genre. Every moment of my time playing was fun, and I’ll admit there are some challenging moments, but the accessibility options for each player to fine-tune their experience make the adventure approachable to any who play. This is a game that could have easily coasted on the fact that it has Disney characters in it, but no, this is a fully fledge adventure that makes these Disney characters even cooler.

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights is a standout experience. From its speedy combat to its breathtaking visuals, there’s something for any action love fan. The minimal challenge may not mesh well with hardcore players, but exploring this dreary world is rewarding enough. The influences of this adventure only supplement its unique action systems, and very little stands in the way of its beauty.

Mushihimesama is a long overdue and welcome release on Nintendo Switch, serving as an exemplar of its developer’s signature shmup style. The Switch version comes with all modes and features intact, and so whether you are a returning veteran or a complete newcomer, players can approach the experience however they like. However, regardless of who you are, Mushihimesama is the quintessential bullet-hell shooter that is especially a blast to play in handheld mode.

Tales of Arise is the grand adventure we've been waiting for, and more, for veteran players and new fans alike. Its addictive and satisfying combat design, breathtaking narrative, gorgeous presentation, and engaging cast make it the quintessential JRPG to play. The characters met in this entry add to the growing cast of memorable personalities this series has given us, solidifying it as a true Tales title.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire delivers a confident blend of noir storytelling and retro-inspired FPS design, pairing stylish black-and-white visuals with satisfying, fast-paced combat and a surprisingly grounded detective narrative. Its strongest moments come from the balance between chaotic shootouts and slower investigative sequences, all anchored by a compelling performance from its lead. While the aiming can feel imprecise and the detective systems play it a bit too safe, the game’s identity, atmosphere, and pacing help it stand out in a crowded genre.

SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered is a respectful revival of a cult-classic JRPG that enhances the original’s watercolor visuals, deep combat, and fragmented storytelling with thoughtful quality-of-life updates. While its nonlinear structure and mysterious mechanics may still challenge newcomers, this remaster is the most accessible and visually compelling way to experience one of Square Enix’s boldest narrative experiments.

Silent Hill f is a chillingly elegant return to form for the franchise, blending Ryukishi07’s signature psychological storytelling with a hauntingly atmospheric 1960s Japan setting. Balancing methodical survival horror mechanics with rich character introspection, it stands out as a deeply emotional and cerebral entry that lingers long after the credits roll.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel is a brilliant RPG adventure that relies heavily on its cast. Every moment of gameplay is emotionally charged with added choices that weigh on the player’s experience and alter the conclusion. The puzzle-esque battle system is addictive but introduces repetitive scenarios and random difficulty spikes depending on your actions. However, this beautiful story deserves to be experienced by all.

Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero is an absolutely addictive delight, firing on all cylinders, and is the dream Dragon Ball game for fans worldwide. While the story mode contains poorly implemented retreading, the high number of what-if scenarios more than makes up for this shortcoming.

Prodeus is an excellent experience for modern and retro first-person shooter fans. The pure carnage of the gameplay and high replayable offered makes it a game that can be easily returned to in small bursts or long play sessions. The level themes may be limited, but if you’re here for a challenge and gallons of pixelated blood, you’ve just found one of the most addictive shooters of 2022.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a great anime fighting game with plenty of depth for competitive players while remaining accessible for newcomers; all brought forward to modern platforms. More competitive players may want to wait until the eventual rollback update, but this new release easily revives this series for a few more rounds.

Death Stranding is a great first look into Sony’s willingness to be more platform-agnostic. It also proves that Kojima Productions doesn’t have to regulate themselves to specific needs or restrictions of a console. While the developer didn’t entirely loosen its grips on its vision of Death Stranding, with the lack of standard PC settings, adapting to an open platform still couldn’t have been easy. Regardless, the end product is an uncompromised version of the highly anticipated original from 2019 and is the definitive way to play as Norman Reedus taking care of a baby.

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.

During my time with Genshin Impact, I fell in love with it. After only a few hours, my thoughts about what this adventure was faded away as it truly evolves into a unique experience. There’s a fine level of detail that went into crafting this beautiful world, and you can’t help but want to see every inch of it. Although the grind and the gachas systems are present, this is a game that I will gladly return to again and again. Regardless, all of this is available for free, so nothing stops you from finding out for yourself.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla takes the advancements of the series found in Odyssey and applies it to a whole new setting. As brutal as the period of Vikings is, there's something beautiful about this adventure. Every action is rewarded with some great moments of storytelling, and aside from a few narrative roadblocks tied to the player's level, there's an amazing world here just waiting to be discovered.

If you’ve never played this defining entry of the franchise, the PlayStation 5 port is the best way to do so. Alternatively, if you’re a veteran fan or achievement hunter, this release has a separate trophy list, allowing for another Platinum if that’s your jam. Ys IX is also scheduled to receive a native PlayStation 5 version next year, and while the improvements probably won’t be as substantial as with VIII, I hope it turns out as well as what’s happened here.

Ghostwire: Tokyo blurs the line between the first-person shooter and horror genres. It blends the two so naturally with the help of excellent level design, interesting characters, clever mission types, and some tense action. I had a great time exorcizing the streets of Tokyo. There are some growing pains in the opening chapters, but this game opens up in some bold ways that will keep you engaged until the final yokai is vanquished.

Super Meat Boy 3D successfully translates the series’ signature precision platforming into a new dimension, delivering slick controls, inventive level design, and strong replay value through its Light and Dark World structure. While it does not quite reach the brutal highs of the original, its accessible difficulty curve and satisfying movement make it an engaging evolution that still captures the core spirit of the franchise.

of the Devil Episode 1 is a compelling and gripping first chapter that you should not miss if you are a fan of mystery thrillers. It has a sense of style that is excellently cinematic, and it's narrative has characters that are morally complex, even at this early juncture. If Nth Circle keep this up in following chapters, then of the Devil is going to be one of the finest games in the entire genre.