Star Wars: Beyond Victory tells a well-executed and personal story that punches above its weight class in terms of both detail and performance, and its full-VR segments feel excellent. Unfortunately, its mixed-reality aspects range from just okay to outright harmful, with the playset mode being insubstantial, and its racing being a complete misuse of the format. Worth it for existing VR and Star Wars fans, but it's not going to create any new fans.

Dreams of Another is a surreal, narrative-driven adventure from Q-Games that transforms traditional shooter mechanics into tools of creation rather than destruction. Drawing inspiration from the experimental PlayStation 3 era, it offers a meditative journey through metaphysical dreamscapes where shooting reveals memories, solves puzzles, and unravels existential mysteries. While its abstract structure and lack of conventional action may alienate some players, those seeking a thought-provoking, emotionally resonant experience will find much to admire in its layered storytelling and haunting visual design.

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 on Switch brings back two of the Wii’s most beloved 3D platformers with their timeless creativity and refined gameplay intact. While both titles still offer exceptional platforming fun, the re-release is hampered by a high price and minimal new content. Galaxy 1’s atmospheric storytelling and hub design offer a richer adventure feel, while Galaxy 2’s tighter level design and added mechanics deliver a more robust challenge. However, fans may find the additions too light to justify a repurchase.

Eclipsium is an unsettling and introspective indie thriller from developer Housefire and publisher Critical Reflex that blends slow-paced exploration with psychological tension. Instead of traditional scares, it builds dread through atmosphere, abstract storytelling, and a haunting pixelated world. The game challenges players to persist through cryptic environments and moments of sacrifice, offering a deeply personal experience that lingers beyond the ending. While its mechanics are minimal and pacing deliberate, Eclipsium succeeds as an experimental journey into discomfort and emotional weight.

Borderlands 4 marks a confident course correction for the looter-shooter franchise, bringing back the series' core strengths while introducing welcome refinements. Set on the new planet Kairos, the game sheds the baggage of its predecessor with a semi-reboot approach, tighter narrative focus, and satisfying combat. Despite performance hiccups and lackluster menus, it succeeds in recapturing what made Borderlands a genre favorite.

Candy Rangers offers up a simple idea, done well and keeps you engaged with its entertaining and novel shooter mechanics. It falters a little bit in the finer areas, but it never overstays its welcome either. I would love to see this idea improved upon in the future, via a follow-up or even some future updates. As is, Candy Rangers is a charming little indie game that is well worth a look.

Digimon Story Time Stranger is a standout entry in the Digimon franchise, blending rich storytelling with an expansive Digivolution system that rewards strategy and patience. Set across dual timelines, the game introduces emotionally engaging characters, deep combat mechanics, and a highly customizable team-building experience that longtime fans and newcomers alike can appreciate.

Mamorukun ReCurse wasn’t on my radar, but it earns its place with sharp twin-stick action, solid preservation work, and a weird charm that sticks. City Connection brings this 2008 arcade shmup back with a package that feels both respectful and modern. The unique, non-scrolling stage design and multiple gameplay modes keep things interesting across skill levels. Some features like rewind and clearer visual cues are missing, but what’s here still delivers a satisfying and memorable run. It’s a welcome revival that makes the upcoming sequel feel worth anticipating.

Hotel Barcelona is a wild, unfiltered roguelike horror-action experience from the minds of Swery65 and Suda51. Packed with creative chaos, the game delivers a surreal narrative, inventive systems, and unapologetically janky gameplay that somehow keeps pulling you back in. Despite technical hiccups and clunky combat mechanics, its relentless pace and bizarre charm make it a standout for fans of experimental indies.

Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is a lovingly rebuilt platformer that expands on the original’s charm with tighter controls, smoother visuals, and a surprising layer of polish that wasn’t expected but absolutely welcomed. It’s not a revolutionary revival, but it’s a sincere, joyously nostalgic romp that doesn’t overstay its welcome and actually dares to experiment a bit along the way.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian surprised me with how confidently it balances tradition and evolution, offering one of the most thoughtfully built entries in the franchise to date. While some systems remain overly rigid, the expanded narrative scope, satisfying synthesis, and nuanced protagonists make it a rewarding return for longtime fans, and a solid entry point for newcomers.

Consume Me successfully tells an important and deeply personal story with tact. Supported by lovely graphics and a generally humorous undertone, the narrative is well told and gives a hopeful outlook on life. Unfortunately some of the cutscenes and minigames get a bit repetitive with time, but Consume Me remains very enjoyable.

Hades II on Switch 2 delivers a masterclass in roguelite design, expanding on its predecessor with a darker tone, richer character arcs, and deeper mechanical systems. Supergiant Games refines the formula with a compelling new protagonist, rewarding exploration, and an ambitious progression loop that keeps each run fresh and addictive.

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.

Marisa of Liartop Mountain reimagines the Touhou formula with a bold tabletop twist, trading bullet hell for dice rolls, dialogue trees, and narrative experimentation. While it offers charm and creativity through its figurine-style visuals and Scarlet Mansion commentary, the game’s reliance on chance and repetition may divide fans.

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.

Cladun X3 marks a confident return for the cult-favorite dungeon crawler series, offering streamlined systems, clever humor, and accessible design without compromising its signature depth. While it doesn’t take bold risks, it refines everything longtime fans love into the most polished and inviting entry to date.

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a visually charming and narratively ambitious roguelite that explores themes of sacrifice, time loops, and divine responsibility. While the world-building and character interactions show genuine heart, the gameplay struggles to support the story’s weight. Repetitive run structures, a tedious weapon durability system, and emotionally flat consequences undermine what could have been a standout experience. It’s a game full of good ideas, but one that ultimately lacks the cohesion and polish needed to make its ambition truly resonate.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a fast, stylish return to form for Sega’s kart-racing efforts, blending tight controls with deep customization and a surprisingly generous amount of content. While the core gameplay shines and rival interactions add flair, the overuse of its Travel Rings gimmick and a cautious character roster hold it back from true greatness. It’s a solid, replayable racer that’s fun solo or with friends, just don’t expect it to fully reinvent the wheel.

Kemono Teatime is a deceptively cozy catgirl café simulator from FuRyu’s new Studio Lalala, helmed by Fuyuki Hayashi. Beneath its cute pixel art and chill soundtrack lies a narratively rich experience that quietly tackles heavy emotional themes. With minimal gameplay depth but striking storytelling, it’s a bittersweet, thought-provoking journey that lingers well beyond its three-week runtime.

Roadwarden is an impressive text adventure RPG, but the Switch version is severely lacking when it comes to technical conditions. It's a shame as this should be one of the best of its kind on the platform, but it's just impossible to recommend it compared to the PC release.

No, I'm Not a Human is a haunting psychological horror experience that masterfully blends paranoia, morality, and surreal storytelling. Through tense decision-making, unreliable information, and eerie visual shifts, Trioskaz delivers a uniquely disturbing game that challenges your instincts and sanity, even if some mechanics frustrate.

LEGO Voyagers is an exceptionally charming co-op title that will resonate with both adults and children, with an incredible ambient score and a poignant story that might be easy to predict but can still be emotionally effective. Its team-based puzzle solving and other mechanics are so easy to pick up that the game explains almost nothing, and while its controls can be somewhat frustrating, this barely detracts from one of the best adventures I've had all year.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a lovingly crafted remake that modernizes a beloved JRPG while preserving its emotional core, offering a vibrant, voice-acted journey through Liberl with standout character dynamics, rebalanced combat, and welcome quality-of-life updates that make it the ideal starting point for newcomers and a heartfelt return for longtime fans.

Cronos: The New Dawn is a bold, atmospheric survival horror experience from Bloober Team, blending psychological storytelling, intense resource management, and inventive time-travel mechanics into a haunting, unforgiving journey that rewards skill and immersion.

Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection is a lovingly curated yet brutally honest preservation of one of gaming’s most chaotic mascots. Packed with extras and accessibility features, it faithfully captures every quirky, frustrating, and occasionally charming moment of Bubsy’s retro reign, frustration and all.

Brilliant boss battles, captivating world design, and immaculate platforming are all bolstered by stellar, consistent challenge, resulting in one of the best metroidvanias on the market. Granted, the side content isn’t on the same scale as cathartic accomplishment, but as a core experience, Silksong is a wonderful showcase of what happens when a team brings their desired vision to life on their own terms and schedule.

Hirogami blends beautiful origami aesthetics with creative transformation mechanics, but its underwhelming level design and lack of polish keep it from reaching its full potential.