The Etrian Odyssey HD Origins Collection is an excellent way to start your expedition into the dungeon-crawling genre. All three titles are excellent, but the first two entries are missing some of the major quality-of-life updates found in the Untold remakes. It’s sad to think those versions were left out, given they greatly improve the experience. Regardless, the dungeon crawling system, character classes, and overall enjoyment of this collection come to a head with the inclusion of Etrian Odyssey III, which takes all the best mechanics and provides a memorable adventure to cap off an addictive and fun collection of titles.

Loop8: Summer of Gods is a gorgeous and ambitious JRPG that introduces unique elements to the genre but doesn’t know how to properly mix them to deliver a cohesive and memorable experience. The narrative gets insanely good, but I wish it didn’t take several loops to figure that out. Sadly, the limited quality-of-life features, strange battle system, and lack of character attachment make the entire experience more effort than it’s worth. However, if you look past that, you may find enjoyment in this one-of-a-kind JRPG that took some commendable chances on the genre.

If you’re wondering if Protodroid Delta lives up to the games that it draws clear inspiration from. Truthfully, it does in many ways, not only in concept but in the execution of the core mechanics that truly defined those games. However, in the same breath, it doesn’t really make its own mark on the genre. Instead, we get a few unforgettable characters and a handful of bosses that beg for unique attack patterns and weaknesses to make them more interesting. Unfortunately, Delta stands in the shadows of her predecessors, whom she can’t dash away from.

Street Fighter 6 is it. The game that will carry the franchise, the fighting game community, and the genre into the next decade of gaming. It's not even about whether it's better than other fighting games, as it's really more about the bigger picture. Street Fighter 6 creates an environment for all other fighting games and communities to thrive, and so regardless of personal preferences, we all win. It takes everything great about the franchise and delivers more, so depending on what you're looking for from the experience; there's something here for you. As we head into a new generation of fighting games, don't forget there are many warriors like you all over the world, so let's have some fun.

System Shock has stood the test of time which is shown in this remake effort that didn’t have to do too much in terms of updating its core features to bring it to modern gamers. If you’re coming from the original, the new visuals take some time, but the experience holds up from a gameplay standpoint. Immersion comes naturally throughout this experience as you hack and fight against a rogue AI to save Earth like an authentic ’90s sci-fi hero.

Fitness Circuit is a charming game that might be limited in its promised effectiveness but delivers on presentation. By offering total flexibility towards a player’s personal goals, perhaps the only bottleneck is the lack of overall accuracy and how it is unable to properly track your training progress, but then again, it’s doing what it can without the need for yet another weird required accessory. Your legs and closet full of Ring Cons and Balance Boards will thank you.

Forspoken: In Tanta We Trust is a lacking experience that doesn’t provide enough substance on a gameplay, character, or story level to justify its existence. At most, I found some enjoyment in the new combat ideas and the dialogue between Frey and Cinta, yet their executions only reach a surface level. After the credits and accompanying conclusion, which also contains blatant sequel bait that will likely never be fulfilled, I wasn’t left feeling any more invested in the land of Athia than I previously was.

Sadly, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is not the precious that we were looking for. Gollum's inner battle mechanics are fun but aren't a prominent feature in a game consumed by terrible platforming sections and dated visuals. Voice acting adds promise to the experience along with a stellar soundtrack, but there's no real reason for you to play this game unless you yearn for a retro platforming experience or simply love Gollum.

The overall design of Planet of Lana is something to marvel at. The game loves to throw you into a tense situation and then give you a stretch of peaceful land to run through and reflect on the experience. Further, these moments are used to give an update on the state of the invasion and changing of scenery.

As beautiful and serene as After Us is, it tells a painful story of a world destroyed by the impact of humans. As you save each animal, the darkness that plagues the environment grows more pronounced, and you’re left wondering if this is a world even worth saving. This adventure will pique the curiosity of any player through its clever platforming sections, environment design, and strong narrative message.

Star Trek: Resurgence is likely going to be a sleeper hit. Releasing in the middle of some of the most high-budget titles of the year, it still managed to captivate me with a memorable and exciting space adventure. In addition, it does more with its characters than other narrative adventures, with a complex dialogue system and excellent scenario writing. With that said, your only goal now is to do right by your crew and go where no man has gone before.

Monster Menu: The Scavenger’s Cookbook mixes survival, rogue-lite, and strategy RPG in an experimental product that’s just the sort of thing we come to expect from NIS. Unfortunately, the repetitive nature of the level design, the limited crafting systems, and the slow character evolution hinder the experience a little and keep it from shining as the unique, innovative rogue-lite it should have been.

Winter’s Wish: Spirits of Edo has its ups and downs with the story, but it uses its fictional elements well. However, its systems are lacking quality-of-life features that would improve the user experience. Regardless, the translation does a terrific job of relaying the more complex terms into an understandable format for the English audience, making it an enjoyable starting point for those wishing to get into more historical fiction with the help of some handsome men.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a thrilling, intricate journey that thrives on its imaginative and adventurous gameplay. Even with the reused map, limited compelling story beats, and unmemorable characters, the unprecedented player freedom and addictive systems pick up the slack. The return of actual dungeons was most welcomed, and the attention to delivering a genuine Zelda adventure can be found in almost every moment of this experience...Depending on how you received Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom might rejuvenate your urge for adventure to the point where you could likely skip this first entry entirely and find enjoyment here. The new systems, conveniences, and lack of map familiarity will likely make it far more effective from a pure gameplay standpoint. Still, it’s great to see this series continue to innovate and provide a lasting experience for fans.

Zool Redimensioned takes a classic game and makes it so much better. It’s an easy recommendation for platforming fans, even with so many other great games available in the genre. Sure, it carries some baggage from a bygone era where far too many games were trying to be Sonic, but this new release gives some measure of identity to a cult classic. Whether you’re a fan from the old days or simply after a well-designed platformer, Zool Redimensioned is quite literally the student textbook on genre fundamentals.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 is a remarkable sequel that borrows many gameplay elements and assets from its predecessor while introducing new systems that improve the experience. Regardless, the emotional impact of the story weighs differently on the cast this time as we explore Malt’s mental capability and how he struggles with leadership. It’s a genuinely addictive and heartwrenching experience that delivers during every moment of gameplay.

Lkyt. is an incredible visual novel about the tragic experience of warriors fighting with all their might against impossible odds. This fascinating samurai BL may not be for the faint of heart due to its dark nature and some gory details at a few times. However, for those willing to take the plunge, it offers an unforgettable experience among the best the visual novel genre can offer.

Sorcerer’s Choice: Angel or Demon is a BL visual novel with gorgeous illustrations and a well-executed handling of its characters. Though its fantasy setting feels generic, and the character corruption themes may not be everyone’s cup of tea, this is an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a good entry point in the genre.

Labyrinth of Zangetsu shows a ton of potential within its visuals and system, but that ultimately goes untapped. Its strong atmosphere and character creation system are decent, but there’s very little reason to invest yourself in this adventure that is mainly about battling and dealing with a strange class upgrade system. There’s fun to be hand, but this is one dungeon that you’ll be looking for the exit of rather quickly.

Its character designs and story are charming, and the game and its systems are highly polished. Still, one thing’s for sure: If Star Rail wants to stay for the long run, it will need to do much more to stand out in the sea of turn-based RPGs available on both PC and mobile. And only time will tell if that will happen.

Super Dungeon Maker gives players the tools to create their own retro dungeon crawlers but does it in a user-friendly way that gives anyone playing the chance to create or play these nostalgic dungeons. This release out of Early Access has all the tools someone needs to make the dungeon of their dreams, so here’s to hoping the community stays strong.

Ravenlok is a surface-level action experience but a memorable fantasy adventure. It does its best to balance these genres for seasoned gamers to appreciate, but the target audience will likely be younger players. That’s not to say I didn’t find beauty in this fairy tale. The characters and world design leave a lasting impression making this a great way to cap off the Voxel Trilogy.

Dokapon Kingdom: Connect remains a friend-ruining RPG board game experience that mirrors its PS2 counterpart. The unique mini-games and systems return to bring this unconventional party game to modern players. Playing with friends is still fun over a decade later, and the online options make it even more accessible. Still, its nuanced systems and limited new gameplay features may make it more of a novelty than a game with significant staying power.

Redfall is an anomaly because a game with this good of a team behind can't possibly be this bad, and yet, it is. There are these drips of looter shooter, RPG, and multiplayer elements sprinkled throughout, but none of them work together, delivering a messy and almost incomprehensible experience. Still, gunplay and exploration stay consistently fun, thanks to the satisfaction of taking down enemies and the level design. That being said, the single-player campaign is dull, but the multiplayer campaign could provide bouts of fun comprised of laughing at the strange AI behavior or the fact that no one can find keys to a door.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Future Redeemed pulls from key narrative moments across the series and creates a magnificent narrative that ties up loose ends. It relies heavily on series knowledge, making it the perfect expansion for fans who have stuck with the series for so many years. The unique features allow it to differentiate itself from the base game, but the lack of party variety seems like an oversite. Still, this was a fantastic conclusion to this adventure, and it has me eager to experience the next chapter.

Velocity Noodle managed to be a great afternoon platforming skill test that offers some brief bouts of fun gameplay within the genre. The minimalistic approach to the genre allowed it to squeeze the most out of its core systems and push the player to speedily get through every hazard. While lacking a core narrative and a bit more diversity in its level design, I still enjoyed this challenging experience.

God of Rock is a unique experiment in taking two highly technical genres and mixing them up. Though it’s sometimes an enchanting title, the frustrations can be tremendous as it hardly offers any leeway for newcomers to get into the meat of the game. The game may annoy even those familiar with the genres due to how convoluted this unlikely hotpot ends up, but this is still a unique experience you won’t be able to find anywhere else, and it’s worth a try.

Smile For Me is not going to be for everyone. It’s a little disturbing and nauseating, and occasionally its puzzles are just too complicated for their own good. It feels almost like an experimental title, though that ends up giving it a lot of its charm and heart. This game may have a very particular vibe, but I was fully caught up in it from the jump, and it left me grinning ear-to-ear.