Star Wars: Bounty Hunter Remastered attempts to bring the 2002 classic back to life with improved visuals and a nostalgic storyline. However, the game’s archaic combat mechanics, clunky controls, and unrewarding bounty system may deter modern players. While fans of the original may find some enjoyment in revisiting Jango Fett’s journey, the overall experience feels outdated and lacks the refinement needed for a successful remaster. For most, this title might be better left in the past.

Fate/stay night Remastered is an excellent official English debut for visual novel and Type-Moon fans worldwide after a two-decade limbo of existence. The well-implemented script, gorgeous 16:9 visuals, and in-depth customization options make this debut of the Fate series its best iteration yet.

The Tokyo Chronos & Altdeus: Beyond Chronos Twin Pack brings two captivating visual novels to the Nintendo Switch, allowing a wider audience to experience their engaging narratives and stunning visuals. Tokyo Chronos offers a mysterious adventure with rich character writing, while Altdeus: Beyond Chronos combines a powerful narrative with futuristic mecha battles. Both games run smoothly on the Switch, maintaining their emotional depth and immersive soundtracks.

Cat Quest III offers an exceptionally charming and captivating adventure that redefines the series with stunning visuals and engaging gameplay. The game features interesting quests, a lush overworld map, and a fun local co-op mode. Despite some issues with NPC impact, broken equipment systems, and balancing, the experience remains rewarding and approachable for players of all skill levels. Perfect for a joyful weekend adventure, Cat Quest III stands out as a delightful addition to the series.

Moonless Moon is a visual novel that thrives in a melancholy feeling and has an interesting concept. However, it never gets quite as deep in emotional or narrative exploration to become a must-play of its genre. Even so, the moody adolescence experience is likely to resonate with some players.

Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune is a delightful metroidvania surprise that combines engaging combat customization, deep gameplay mechanics, and satisfying exploration. Despite its poor English localization and stiff cutscene animations, the game excels with its unique character abilities, challenging boss battles, and immersive sound design. Players will find themselves hooked on the game's addictive progression systems, making it a hidden gem worth exploring for all action RPG and metroidvania fans.

Sword of Convallaria is a tactical RPG that blends nostalgic elements from classic games like Tactics Ogre with modern gacha mechanics. With an engaging combat system, stunning visuals, and an epic soundtrack by Hitoshi Sakamoto, it offers a unique gaming experience despite some slow story progression and energy system constraints.

Minds Beneath Us by BearBoneStudio is a haunting sci-fi adventure set in a dystopian future where humans are used as internet infrastructure. This narrative-driven game offers a compelling storyline, atmospheric visuals, and innovative gameplay mechanics. Despite its clunky save system, the game's deep societal critique and immersive experience make it an unforgettable journey. Perfect for fans of thought-provoking sci-fi adventures, Minds Beneath Us delivers a powerful message about the future of humanity and technology.

Conscript is a powerful and haunting survival horror game that effectively combines historical authenticity with classic gameplay mechanics. The game’s setting, narrative, and atmosphere create an immersive and emotional experience that is both challenging and rewarding. Conscript is a shining example of what indie developers can achieve, and it is a title that should not be missed by fans of the genre. While I had a fun time playing, the historical nature of the experience has resonated with me the most, making this an easy recommendation.

The Star Named EOS is a well-paced adventure that touches on some emotional themes without being overly imaginative, which keeps the fantastical experience grounded and creative. It’s an exploration of memories through photography, with the help of some gorgeous hand-drawn environments. While the puzzles can be a little ambitious and frustrating, I think they pair well with the short runtime because, trust me, this is a game world that I didn’t mind hanging out in, thanks mostly to the brilliant soundtrack.

CLICKOLDING by Strange Scaffold is an experimental game that challenges players to click ten thousand times while contemplating various thought-provoking themes. Set in an unsettling motel room with a creepy masked figure, the game offers an atmospheric and intentionally uncomfortable experience. Despite its short duration and repetitive gameplay, CLICKOLDING captivates with its unique premise and raises intriguing questions about its deeper meanings. This affordable title is a curious blend of art and gaming that continues to provoke thought long after the final click.

B-Project Ryusei*Fantasia offers an engaging and emotionally rich idol management experience. Players guide 14 unique idols through personal growth and industry challenges, supported by stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack. The game excels in character development and interactive gameplay, though it may feel repetitive across multiple playthroughs. Despite minor localization issues, this visual novel provides a heartwarming and immersive journey for fans of the genre.

Princess Maker 2: Regeneration is a nostalgic life simulation game where players guide an adopted daughter from ages ten to eighteen, helping her grow through various jobs, classes, and social interactions. Despite its charming visuals and diverse gameplay mechanics, the game suffers from repetitive tasks and occasional translation issues. Players must balance their daughter's health, stress, and interests to ensure a fulfilling life, making it a mix of nostalgia and repetitive challenges.

Tokyo Xanadu eX+ on the Switch offers an enhanced action RPG experience with a captivating combat system, new English localization, and a high-quality port. Set in the fictional Morimiya, the game combines intriguing narrative elements with dynamic character interactions. Despite lacking a unique identity and having some repetitive aspects, the game excels in its polished combat and replayability. This Switch port is an excellent opportunity for new players to experience this underrated gem, making it a must-play for fans of Falcom's works.

Dungeons of Hinterberg may confuse players looking for a straight-action RPG, but those who take their time will quickly pick up on the best moments of this experience. Like the option in the game where you can relax, approaching this casually reveals its clever nuances and a narrative arc that can otherwise be skipped by those rushing to clear dungeons. The time mechanic isn’t there to rush you, but it enhances late-game moments as you become more involved in Hiterberg’s daily life. There are criticisms about combat effectiveness or a narrative that won’t speak to everyone. Still, the result is a game that works and showcases all of the developer’s inspirations and unique touches to deliver an adventure packed with discovery, imagination, and finding one’s path.

Magical Delicacy is a delightful blend of platforming and cooking, wrapped in a charming pixel art style. Despite some progression challenges, the game excels with its engaging exploration, memorable characters, and rewarding cooking mechanics. It's a cozy game that brings a unique twist to the "Metroidvania" genre, making it a must-play for fans of enchanting adventures.

Spy x Anya: Operation Memories is a charming and engaging family game that captures the heartwarming spirit of the beloved anime series. With its photo-based gameplay, fans can enjoy adorable scenes and interactions with the Forger family, making it a delightful experience for gamers of all ages.

I had no idea what to expect from Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, but it will undeniably be another hit under Capcom's growing catalog of critically acclaimed successes. On a personal level, this title echoes some portion of the developer's past that I've missed dearly, and sincerely hope it sticks around and grows. The gameplay shortcomings here may fail at encourgaing the incentivized replay value enough, but they don't detract from the quality present here.

Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is a must-play 2D platformer that shines with its sublime movement mechanics and excellent level design. Despite a few narrative and comedic missteps, the game offers fulfilling exploration, captivating combat, and stunning visuals, making it one of the standout titles of 2024.

Zenless Zone Zero introduces players to a post-apocalyptic world where they navigate mysterious hollows and battle various enemies. While the combat is visually impressive and the character designs are appealing, the game suffers from a lackluster narrative, repetitive missions, and a heavy reliance on gacha mechanics. Although it has potential, Zenless Zone Zero currently struggles to stand out in the crowded gacha game market.

Anger Foot is an addictive and chaotic fast-action game that stands out in its genre with unique gameplay mechanics and hilarious enemy designs. Players take on the role of Anger Foot, kicking down doors and blasting through waves of enemies to restore justice in Shit City.

Dawntrail may not be as much of a reinvention of the wheel as it was made out to be. However, it also proves that this formula is still capable of featuring incredible stories and taking us to places that can surprise and challenge our understanding of the world, both in and out of the game. It represents a huge step forward in the worldbuilding of Final Fantasy XIV and its gameplay, giving the player appropriate challenges for the hundreds of hours they likely poured into it to get to this point. If this is any indication of what’s to come, then FFXIV’s next decade is looking as bright as dawn.

Fate/Samurai Remnant Record’s Fragment: Bailong and the Crimson Demon is a satisfying capstone to these DLC scenarios. Despite the overly swift pacing and a somewhat weak new character, the premise and narrative do effective jobs at uniting the disparate main cast under a common cause. The multiple rewards achieved upon completion are also a neat touch, with two new playable Servants.

Hana's Campus Life is a well-paced visual novel that skillfully blends romance, comedy, and supernatural elements. The game follows Jeong Lee-Han and his roommate, Hana, as they navigate campus life and unravel Hana's mysterious origins. While the story's coincidences can sometimes feel too convenient, the engaging narrative, character interactions, and replayable routes make it a compelling read.

Until Then offers a compelling coming-of-age story infused with supernatural elements. Set in a post-disaster town, players follow high schooler Mark and his friends as they navigate personal challenges and mysterious occurrences. Despite some narrative pacing issues and a lack of supernatural exploration, the game's immersive setting, relatable character dynamics, and unique visual presentation make it a captivating experience.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak brings a fresh start to the Trails series with its new Calvard arc. Featuring an ambitious narrative, innovative gameplay systems, and a compelling new protagonist, Van Arkride, this entry captivates both new and returning players. Despite some issues with difficulty and the LGC alignment system, Daybreak stands out as a remarkable and modern addition to Falcom's storied catalog.

This entry will likely always be a controversial outlier in the eyes of many. Then again, my takes demonstrate that literally any of these games can be someone’s favorite or close to it. So, don’t feel forced to engage in seemingly compulsory self-repression if your tastes don’t align with the perceived majority.

After replaying The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III, I’m more impressed than ever by its ambitious scale and how well most of it melds. Countless plot and character threads naturally progress from previous entries while the new cast is seamlessly integrated. The gameplay systems and general progressions are as addictive as I remember, too.