AI LIMIT: Eirene’s Furnace of War delivers a combat-focused post-game DLC that retools the base experience into a roguelike structure, offering tougher encounters and rewarding mechanical depth while sacrificing the exploration and variety that originally defined it. Its core loop can feel repetitive and occasionally undermined by permanent upgrades, yet the heightened difficulty, Chaos Rifts, and reworked enemies breathe new life into the combat system for players seeking a greater challenge. Ultimately, it is a divisive but compelling add-on best suited for fans craving more of AI LIMIT’s fast, measured combat at the expense of broader design balance.

Aether & Iron pulls players into the role of a well-written anti-heroine and a gorgeously-drawn art deco setting, and adds turn-based vehicular combat and a simple-but-effective RPG system to create a fantastic debut title for developer Seismic Squirrel that feels thematically relevant to our modern struggle. Its worldbuilding leaves a bit to be desired, but if you can take it for what it is, it delivers on its promises very well.

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection reintroduces Capcom’s overlooked RPG trilogy with heartfelt storytelling, strategic combat, and a wealth of modern enhancements. What was once critically dismissed now feels cohesive and character-driven, anchored by Geo Stelar’s emotional journey and a satisfying evolution of the Battle Network formula. While some dated design quirks remain, particularly in sidequest structure and occasional vagueness, the collection’s quality-of-life upgrades and comprehensive content make it an easy recommendation for both newcomers and longtime fans.

Greedfall The Dying World delivers a rich narrative prequel with standout companion writing and meaningful choice-driven quests, set in a visually striking world that captures the identity of the original while expanding its scope. However, its ambition is undercut by inconsistent combat design and a range of technical issues on PS5, including crashes and performance drops, making the experience feel unpolished despite its strong RPG foundations...Unfortunately your time with the game will likely be brought down by it's slow and messy combat system and the various technical issues that it has. While these issues can be fixed in the future through patches, I suggest holding back from buying the Dying World until a least a few future sales near the second half of 2026, but otherwise if you love RPG's as much as I do then it's a fun game to dive in, just beware of it's current flaws as you explore certain dungeons and fight against enemies.

Ariana and the Elder Codex is a surprising standout in the 2D action and metroidvania space, delivering fast, fluid combat and a highly customizable build system that keeps encounters engaging throughout. Its story and characters are more compelling than expected, with strong dialogue and an endearing protagonist, while the structured progression across codex worlds maintains a satisfying sense of momentum. Although limited enemy variety and a slightly short runtime hold it back from true genre dominance, the overall experience is polished, rewarding, and consistently enjoyable, marking it as one of Compile Heart’s most impressive releases in years.

Damon and Baby is a niche action adventure that mixes satisfying gunplay, layered exploration, and RPG progression with uneven storytelling and frustrating quality of life shortcomings. While Arc System Works successfully pivots away from its fighting game roots with a rewarding sense of discovery and tense combat encounters, inconsistent pacing, intrusive technical quirks, and clunky inventory design prevent the experience from reaching its full potential.

Etrange Overlord is a refreshingly original action JRPG that thrives on its charming cast, heartfelt storytelling, and playful tone, even as its simplistic combat and grind-heavy progression hold it back from true greatness. Its mix of comedy and sincerity creates a memorable journey, supported by inventive ideas like the lane system, though uneven difficulty and underdeveloped mechanics prevent its gameplay from matching its narrative highs.

The Coin Game captures the chaotic charm of classic arcades with a surreal sandbox island packed with carnival-style games, side hustles, and nostalgic activities. Its Survival Mode delivers a surprisingly deep progression loop as players juggle earning money, exploring the island, and chasing arcade highs. While the intentionally rough presentation and janky mechanics can be frustrating at first, the game’s quirky personality, huge variety of activities, and addictive gameplay systems reward players who stick with it.

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando is a polished co-op zombie shooter that prioritizes satisfying gameplay over originality. It delivers massive undead hordes, strong weapon feedback, and chaotic defense sequences that shine when played with friends. While the story and characters are shallow and some progression systems need refinement, the core gameplay loop of exploring open maps, gathering resources, and surviving overwhelming waves of zombies remains consistently fun. Toxic Commando may not reinvent the genre, but its excellent game feel and spectacle make it an enjoyable experience for co-op shooter fans, especially at a discounted price.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake successfully brings one of survival horror’s most unsettling classics back to life with improved visuals, refined Camera Obscura combat systems, and an atmosphere that remains deeply oppressive and memorable. While the remake largely respects the slow-burn pacing and narrative mystery that defined the original, a few uneven combat mechanics and missed gameplay opportunities keep it from reaching its full potential. Even so, the haunting village setting, disturbing Wraith encounters, and the uneasy bond between Mio and Mayu make this a compelling return for a cult horror franchise that still stands apart from modern genre trends.

Neva: Prologue is a short but emotionally resonant addition to Nomada Studio’s atmospheric platformer, offering a glimpse into Alba’s journey before the main game and the touching moment she meets the wolf cub Neva. While the DLC only lasts about an hour, it introduces a few clever puzzle ideas and reinforces the bond that defines the original adventure. Some players may miss the wolf-based abilities from the base game, but the shift toward Alba as a protector adds a meaningful narrative layer that strengthens the story’s emotional core.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection delivers the most refined gameplay in the series with a challenging combat system, rewarding exploration, and deep customization that rewards experimentation. However, its underwhelming narrative pacing and forgettable supporting cast prevent the story from matching the strength of its mechanics. For players willing to invest time into learning its layered systems, it stands as the most mechanically rewarding entry yet, even if its storytelling struggles to leave a lasting impact.

If you’re a passionate Ninja Gaiden 4 fan, then you’ll probably have gotten this DLC regardless. Still, for those on the fence, rest assured, there is genuine quality here, primarily geared toward enthusiasts. While I would’ve adored another stage or two as Ryu to even out the playable campaign, the new weapons and bosses are stellar inclusions that stand near this franchise’s cream of the crop. The Abyssal Road is another welcome implementation that I’m positive will keep dedicated players satisfied. Now, I’m eagerly hoping that Ninja Gaiden 4 wasn’t simply a one-and-done miracle, and that more new entries await us in the near future.

Ratcheteer DX is an enjoyable little adventure while it lasts, falling shy of being something truly great thanks to its own constraints. There are some enjoyable ideas here and the gameplay is rock solid though, it does a lot more things well than it doesn't.

Planet of Lana II is a confident and carefully crafted sequel that expands on the original’s cinematic puzzle adventure with smarter systems, deeper mechanics, and a more personal story. By blending machine control with Mui’s new possession abilities, the game delivers layered puzzles that grow naturally in complexity while maintaining its quiet, wordless storytelling and striking visual atmosphere. Though it occasionally loses some of the original’s sense of journey and features a few minor technical hiccups, this sequel refines what worked and builds something richer, more ambitious, and consistently rewarding for returning players.

Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered delivers a stronger version of the series’ ambitious finale, polishing camera controls and character models while preserving the dark, fate-driven story of Kain and Raziel. Though its linear level design, uneven pacing, and simplified combat show their age, the remaster enhances playability enough to make this a worthwhile return to Nosgoth for longtime fans and a solid entry point for committed newcomers willing to catch up on the lore.

City Hunter makes a long overdue return with a fully translated re-release of its 1991 PC-Engine adaptation, delivering slick presentation, strong retro atmosphere, and thoughtful bonus content that elevates what is ultimately an average but enjoyable 2D action shooter. While the core gameplay remains simple and repetitive, the enhanced mode, hard mode, art gallery, jukebox, and faithful digital recreation show clear preservation care. For fans of Ryo Saeba and late 80s anime style, this is a stylish nostalgia trip that is easy to recommend on sale.

Death Howl is a haunting and demanding Soulslike deckbuilder that rewards patience, adaptability, and strategic thinking across a 26-hour journey on Switch. Blending cryptic storytelling with tactical grid-based combat, it challenges players to refine their decks, weigh risk versus reward, and embrace failure as part of progression. While its melancholic tone and layered systems create a memorable adventure, some UI frustrations and reliance on card draw luck hold it back from true greatness.

Homura Hime is a thrilling action title that pairs weighty, expressive combat with a surprisingly heartfelt narrative about exorcists battling corrupted archdemons. Its combo-driven melee system, flexible Blessed Shots, and high-pressure enemy mechanics create some of the most engaging fights in the genre, while strong level design and meaningful progression keep the momentum steady.

Making a beloved classic available to a grander audience is exciting no matter the context, and Tales of Berseria Remastered will assuredly continue to prove the demand for that notion. I'm positive that Switch and Xbox players who haven't played this entry before will find themselves compelled by this tale of vindictive reason...Still, the ill-crafted combat has not aged elegantly, and the necessity of this remaster is entirely meaningless for those on PlayStation and Xbox platforms. Now, I'm just hoping that Xillia 2 and titles from the PlayStation 2 era and before finally make their way to modern platforms.

After spending most of my life with this series, I approached Resident Evil Requiem with equal hesitation and open arms. It stumbles where certain mechanics fade out too quickly and a few systems could have gone further, but this is one nightmare I could not put down. The contrast between Leon S. Kennedy stepping into chaos with confidence and Grace Ashcroft walking into it unprepared gives the game its identity, balancing action and vulnerability in a way that feels true to the franchise’s history. It is not flawless, but its confident storytelling, tense survival design, and deeply replayable structure pulled me back in, reminding me why I keep returning to this series after all these years.

Calamity Angels: Special Delivery is a charming new IP that blends board game inspired dungeon crawling with light JRPG combat. Its underdog story and expressive cast carry the experience, with strong voice performances and comedic writing giving personality to nearly every scene. However, shallow systems, repetitive encounters, and awkward quality of life decisions keep it from reaching its full potential. While the foundation shows promise, especially in its character work and unique structure, the overall package feels like a solid first step rather than a fully realized breakout hit.

Arknights Endfield is an ambitious spin off that successfully transforms the tower defense roots of the original into a semi open world action RPG with meaningful factory building systems and generous launch content. While its 1.0 story feels more like a prologue than a payoff and its gacha systems miss a chance to set a new standard, the moment to moment combat, clever automation mechanics, and surprisingly strong exploration design make it one of the most compelling free to play RPG launches in the genre.

Menherarium is a chaotic blend of Cee-Lo gambling and toxic romance that fully commits to its absurd premise. Trapped with the blood sipping Chinchiro, you roll dice for survival in a system that swings between broken and brilliant. Beneath the balance issues and technical hiccups is an oddly addictive optimization loop, where busted talismans and custom dice builds can flip runs from impossible to effortless in seconds. It is unstable, unfair, and self aware, but when a setup pops off and the numbers spike, it delivers a sharp roguelike dopamine hit that makes the chaos hard to quit.

Demon Tides is a confident leap into open world design for Fabraz, delivering fluid, expressive 3D platforming that makes exploration across Ragnar's Rock consistently rewarding. While its comedic storytelling and boss encounters struggle to leave a lasting impression, the core movement system, generous player freedom, and smart difficulty balance make it a standout for genre fans who value mechanical depth over narrative flair.

Okay WiZmans World Re;Try is a modern revival of a cult Nintendo DS JRPG that pairs an intriguing mystery in the isolated city of Wizarest with a flexible and conceptually rich Anima Fusion system, but repetitive dungeon design and extreme difficulty swings undermine its potential. While the story setup, elemental customization, and boss encounters hint at a deeper tactical experience, the moment to moment loop of grinding, linear maps, and uneven balance makes progression feel more exhausting than rewarding.

Love Eternal is a punishing psychological horror platformer built around a single gravity reversal mechanic that pushes precision to its limits. Brika crafts a stark, unsettling world where every room feels like a trial of patience and mastery, rewarding persistence with genuine satisfaction. While its minimalist design and focused mechanics create intense, memorable platforming highs, limited quality of life features, occasional technical issues, and a steep difficulty curve may test even seasoned players.

Avowed on PlayStation 5 is a focused, choice-driven fantasy RPG that trades sprawling scale for curated zones, meaningful decisions, and tactile combat. As a Godlike envoy navigating the Dreamscourge crisis in the Living Lands, players shape both political outcomes and their own divine identity through nuanced dialogue and tough calls. While limited enemy variety and underwhelming loot systems hold it back from true greatness, strong writing, satisfying spellblade combat, and smart world design make this a compelling return to Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity universe.