Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is an exceptional sequel that surpasses expectations in nearly every aspect. It combines compelling storytelling, innovative combat, and a wealth of engaging content to deliver an unforgettable adventure. As a bold continuation of the saga, it sets the stage for the final installment, leaving fans eagerly awaiting what comes next. Square Enix has truly outdone itself, showcasing the depth and potential of the Final Fantasy VII universe.

Gunvolt Records: Cychronicle is all about the music, and these 15 tracks for $15 are what you’re getting here. The gameplay isn’t worth exploring due to the lack of in-game rewards or even a reason to play with everything unlocked from the beginning, so get this game for the concerts and root for the best girl, Lola. Sadly, even the quality of those concerts is hurt. The saving grace for the entire package is the music, and for that, I will say this experience passes because these are some of the best tracks in gaming.

Sympathy Kiss is a great otome game with its blend of romance and relatable experiences, with its office setting appealing especially to a more mature audience. While the faceless protagonist and rather compromised approach at some of the narrative beats are definitely its biggest gripes, it still manages to be a short and sweet story that both fans and newcomers to the genre can appreciate.

Nie no Hakoniwa: Dollhouse of Offerings is a visual novel that explores dark themes on a remote island setting, focusing on complex human relationships and societal issues. The narrative is rich in character development and intrigue, occasionally veers into graphic territory, sparking debate over its approach to sensitive topics. Visually and audibly striking, the game's presentation is notable, though not without its excesses.

Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II enriches the horror genre with its blend of Japanese folklore and engaging storytelling. This sequel introduces side-scrolling exploration and simplified puzzles, making for a more accessible yet slightly less immersive experience than its predecessor. Despite these changes, the game shines through its strong character development, atmospheric sound design, and compelling narrative. While the new gameplay mechanics may reduce tension, the overall atmosphere, combined with a well-crafted story, ensures a captivating horror adventure.

Bandle Tale offers a refreshing, exploration-focused departure from the traditional League of Legends gameplay, emphasizing crafting, community building, and personalization with your own Yordle hero. Its unique approach, combining a serene gameplay experience with strategic elements like base placement and emotional well-being progression, makes it stand out. Despite some repetitiveness in quests, the game's charm, engaging narrative, and vibrant world-building ensure a captivating experience.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered offers a nostalgic revisit to Lara Croft's first adventures, packaging the iconic original trilogy for modern audiences. The collection preserves the essence of exploration, puzzle-solving, and cinematic set pieces, despite dated 32-bit graphics and some new but underwhelming modernized visuals. Players have the option between classic tank controls and an updated control scheme to suit their preferences. While the remaster lacks additional content beyond the games, it remains a cost-effective way for both new and veteran fans to explore the series' roots. Lighting inconsistencies and a sparse remastering effort aside, this collection stands as a tribute to the enduring legacy of one of gaming's most iconic characters.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden intertwines fantasy and romance in a narrative-driven adventure set in 1695. As Banishers Red and Antea, players tackle spirits in New Eden, facing moral choices between duty and love, especially when Antea becomes a ghost. Despite a combat system needing refinement and initial weak portrayal of the protagonists' relationship, the game shines in storytelling, offering a deep cinematic experience influenced by player decisions. Exploration and investigation add gameplay variety, though combat and navigation aspects could be smoother. This title reflects Dontnod's successful venture into combining engaging narratives with action and investigative elements.

Dragon Quest Builders arrives on Steam, presenting a unique building adventure set in Alefgard, where players tackle the role of the Builder to rejuvenate a darkened world. The game's charm lies in its construction mechanics and Free Mode, offering endless creativity despite the absence of multiplayer support. The PC version enhances the experience with included DLCs and customizable controls, yet its late release and comparison to its sequel may influence its recommendation at full price.

Alisa: Developer's Cut" offers a fresh take on classic survival horror, combining campy storytelling, retro graphics, and engaging gameplay. This console port introduces players to a blend of nostalgic and modern elements, including tank controls, a unique currency system, and enhanced features like auto-aim and New Game+. It's a compelling experience for fans and newcomers to the genre, delivering both challenge and charm in a modernized package.

Ultros distinguishes itself in the Metroidvania genre with its novel gardening mechanics, intricate time-loop narrative, and a unique nutrient-based upgrade system. This innovative blend of exploration, strategic combat, and character progression set on a mysterious planet makes it a compelling experience. Ultros redefines the genre, promising to become a classic for both speedrunners and casual players.

Let’s School is a charming take on the school management sim that is hard to put down once started. The freedom of choice can lead to some hilarious circumstances that the player is almost always in control of. The lack of controller support can be a bit of a detriment for those looking to game on the go or prefer a controller in their hand over a keyboard. However, this title is a must for those looking for a new management sim to add to their collection.

Under Night In-Birth II [sys:Celes] delivers as a solid sequel, tying up the narrative and introducing fresh characters and gameplay. Its unique combat system, stunning pixel art, and new training features make for a deeply engaging experience. Despite initial online hiccups, the game's stable rollback netcode ensures smooth matches. It's a standout choice for both newcomers and series veterans seeking intense fighting action.

Sona-Nyl of the Violet Shadows Refrain is an essential visual novel for any fans of the genre. Its theme of memories forms a fascinating exploration of the meaning of life and being human. A thoroughly poetic experience that proves to be thought-provoking and emotionally resonating.

As a live-service title, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will depend on consistent post-launch content to keep players coming back for more. When looking at the different aspects of the game, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is fundamentally solid, though marred by a couple design choices. While the enjoyability of the genre and narrative are subjective, Rocksteady Studios does a solid job in balancing the story with the live-service aspect.

Konosuba: Love for These Clothes of Desire captures the spirit of the series in a visual novel that's as quirky as its characters. The story, centered around crafting clothes to avoid jail and reverse a curse, provides a perfect backdrop for the series' trademark humor and clever writing. With spot-on voice acting and the chance to deepen relationships with characters, fans will love the extra screen time with Kazuma and the gang.

Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior is a fresh take on tactical hack-and-slash, blending simple yet clever combat with a rich, well-voiced narrative. The game's unique system, where you team up with past versions of yourself, adds a cool twist to battles, pushing you to think ahead and strategize. While the fights are thrilling and addictive, they can sometimes feel a bit repetitive. The world is beautifully built, packed with lore and ancient civilization vibes, but the exploration is pretty straightforward. Overall, Lysfanga doesn't hit every note perfectly, but its innovative combat and solid storytelling make it a solid pick for those after something new in the strategy realm.

Silent Hill: The Short Message diverges from traditional Silent Hill experiences, offering a brief, two-hour narrative focused on character Anita's personal struggles and insecurities. Set in the eerie Kettenstadt building, the game attempts to blend psychological depth with the franchise's hallmark uncanny atmosphere. However, it falls short in gameplay depth and environmental interaction, especially when compared to predecessors like PT. The game's simple exploration mechanics, predictable narrative twists, and lack of engaging puzzles lead to a somewhat detached experience. Despite decent graphics and an attempt to tackle complex themes, the game's execution and lack of immersive elements leave it feeling underwhelming. While it represents an experimental approach by the developers and is commendable for its ambition, Silent Hill: The Short Message ultimately fails to deliver the profound impact or memorable gameplay that fans of the series might expect.

BlazBlue Entropy Effect, though not an official BlazBlue title, carves its niche as a rich roguelike action game, focusing on gameplay over narrative. Players navigate a robot-controlled world, unraveling the story through collectibles amid intense action. The game's strength lies in its character-specific abilities and combat system, allowing for unique and strategic builds, with a depth that keeps gameplay fresh and engaging. Despite the narrative's complexity and some repetitive early stages, the game excels in its combat mechanics and continuous character progression, making it a standout in the roguelike genre and a respectful nod to the BlazBlue series' legacy.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink showcases CyGames at their best. They don't attempt to reinvent the action JRPG genre; instead, they focus on putting their unique twist on the formula. The result is a responsive and addictive experience for solo and online play. For those wanting the most, the online quests offer an almost endless supply of action. At the same time, the story campaign serves as a general introduction to the mechanics but remains equally epic. There's room for improvement, though, and post-launch support will determine the lasting appeal of this experience, but for what it's worth, the wait was worth it, and I'm excited for future growth in this series.

Persona 3 Reload is a highly-anticipated remake that doesn't deliver on all fronts. Still, it tries to do so with plenty of meticulous care. The added character scenes and new activities make the experience even more compelling, while the modernized visuals and new English voice cast live up to this classic's legacy. However, some of the new gameplay features make the experience too easy and forgiving. Additionally, the exclusion of some elements, like The Answer from Persona 3 FES, make this launch less definitive than it could have been.

Phantom Abyss offers a thrilling gaming experience, but it won't keep you hooked for hours on end without a group of friends to tackle the temples alongside you.

Anomaly Agent offers a succinct gaming experience, combining platforming and combat within a sci-fi narrative. As Agent 70, players address global anomalies, facing challenges that require both strategy and skill. The game balances its story, combat, and platforming elements effectively. However, repetitive boss fights and a simple upgrade system are questionable. Despite these issues, its design and mechanics make it a notable indie game, with enough depth to encourage replayability.

Another Code: Recollection is an absorbing experience from start to finish, one that will keep mystery fans comfortably engaged thanks to it's relaxed atmosphere and enjoyable cast. Lacks a little special something, but it's got a lot of heart.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth epitomizes the challenge of meeting diverse fan expectations. This ambitious entry skillfully balances legacy and innovation but occasionally falters, resulting in a multifaceted narrative that excels in character development and thematic depth but is marred by pacing issues and an incomplete conclusion. Despite these shortcomings, the game's combat enhancements and engaging side activities, set against the rich backdrops of Hawaii and Japan, create a compelling experience. For series enthusiasts, Infinite Wealth may not tick every box, but it stands as a heartfelt homage to the franchise's enduring narrative, offering a glimpse into its exciting future.

Tekken 8 is a masterpiece of a video game, fighting game, or otherwise. It isn't even a question of being a fighting game purist, as this is a title that needs to be part of any gamer's library, irrespective of skill level or genre preferences. Tekken games were always about the thrill of combat and discovery, with a memorable graphical and musical presentation and a larger-than-life story mode starring some of the most iconic characters. Tekken 8 is the kind of game designed for heavy mileage, a game that's easy to come back to time and time again for years to come.

Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs: The Thrilling Steamy Maze Kiwami delivers a competent yet familiar dungeon-crawling experience, blending light-hearted anime storytelling with engaging roguelike gameplay. While the narrative is enjoyable and predictably steeped in anime tropes, the game's real strength lies in its challenging gameplay and strategic depth, particularly in its item management system and the unique Resonance Hot Spring feature. However, the game's themes and visuals lack innovation, and the PC port disappoints with its limited options and subpar controller support. Despite its solid mechanics and charming narrative, the game struggles to distinguish itself in a genre filled with more compelling titles.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a package featuring unconventionally gripping character arcs and quintessential Ace Attorney shenanigans. The compelling strife of protagonist Apollo Strife is the throughline pushing everything forward, alongside an engaging multi-faceted central cast that makes the world immensely more well-rounded and full of depth. Despite the inconsistent quality across this release's several mysteries and episodes, some of the franchise's best are showcased here in newly defined form. Further, the trilogy-exclusive features, such as the extensive art gallery, music player, and ease of accessibility with plenty of playable languages, make this another Ace Attorney homerun. Still, those who have strong attachments to the original trilogy may find it difficult to become endeared to these experiences.