If you’re a dedicated Shantae fan, then Risky Revolution will feel familiar. In place of what would ordinarily be nostalgic visuals, characters, and gameplay design philosophies, you have reinvigorated executions that are essentially sealed memories from two decades past. Between tried-and-true platforming and metroidvania progression, this revived entry is undeniably Shantae, being a natural fit next to its siblings. If you’ve been yearning for your next 2D platforming fix, then Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution will remedy that itch, regardless of whether you have any history with the franchise. Plus, you have one hell of a soundtrack here, rivaling the series’ best.

Iwakura Aria is a hauntingly intimate visual novel that blends surreal classical-inspired art with a slow-burning narrative centered on mystery, trauma, and complex relationships. With evocative storytelling and a unique aesthetic, it’s a compelling experience for fans of character-driven drama, though its limited interactivity and occasional translation hiccups may deter some.

OFF’s re-release reaffirms its status as a cult indie RPG, blending surreal storytelling, eerie visuals, and a memorable soundtrack into a uniquely compelling experience, despite combat that still feels underwhelming.

Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced brings all three mainline entries together with refined gameplay, new features, and addictive replay value, though uneven storytelling and minor quality-of-life shortcomings hold it back from being the definitive package.

Artis Impact delivers a warm, character-driven RPG experience with charming worldbuilding and delightful side moments, but its unbalanced combat and uneven late-game pacing keep it from reaching its full potential.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Enhanced delivers one of gaming's most cinematic and immersive experiences, with breathtaking visuals, unmatched audio design, and thoughtful refinements, though its restrictive player agency and linear design may not appeal to everyone.

Ashes of Elrant is a rich and rewarding expansion to Chained Echoes, offering fans a time-traveling narrative that deepens the lore and delivers challenging, strategically satisfying combat, even if its pacing and character focus occasionally stumble.

Sky the Scraper is a quirky and compelling indie life sim that combines text-based narrative choices with chaotic window-cleaning mechanics. Developed by a small team, the game thrives on its replayability, existential themes, and rewarding progression systems, despite a steep learning curve and heavy reliance on RNG.

Gradius Origins is a masterclass in retro game preservation, delivering a definitive collection of Konami's classic shooters. With M2's unmatched attention to detail, rare content, and the surprise inclusion of Salamander III, this package is essential for both longtime fans and newcomers to the genre.

Rewrite Harvest festa! delivers a heartfelt but uneven epilogue to Key’s beloved visual novel. While fans will enjoy the extra time with familiar heroines and the unexpected dungeon-crawling twist, both the narrative routes and RPG elements fall short of their full potential.

Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 does more than its contemporaries, but sadly, it needs more to stay prominent in this gaming space. This is a follow-up, so you’d expect the game to grow with the fans, but as it stands, the ceiling is much too low. Regardless, I had a great time playing through these arcs and hanging out with these characters. The way this cast overcomes some of the most one-sided fights is incredible to witness with a controller in hand, and I can’t overstate how badass I feel being able to say I took down an Upper Rank demon.

For visual novel fans, Noctuary is an absolute must-play, thriving on a captivating setting, confident narrative distillation, and lovable characters. The enchanting soundtrack and stylish character designs only enhance the interconnected memorability. Still, the unpolished translation and lack of balance in its gameplay presentation can make it jarring and undercooked for those simply seeking more.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a triumphant return to form for the series, delivering tight 2D action-platforming, masterful level design, and thrilling boss battles, all underscored by stylish pixel art and an energetic soundtrack. Though brief in runtime, its challenge, polish, and replayability make it an experience that every action platforming fan should play.

Advent Neon is an intensely fast-paced platforming masterclass that certainly won’t cater to general fans of the genre. Those yearning for a take on this category of gaming birthed from an undeniably passionate love for its roots and subsequent iterations should absolutely pick it up. As it stands, Advent Neon is a must-play for dedicated platforming enthusiasts, thanks to its immaculate movement, fair sense of challenge, and catchy soundtrack. It’s easily one of my top games of the year, and it deserves to be one of yours, too.

Heartworm delivers a moody and nostalgic survival horror experience, drawing clear inspiration from genre staples like Resident Evil and Fatal Frame. Its retro presentation, eerie sound design, and clever environmental puzzles evoke a sense of dread that fans of classic horror will appreciate. However, despite a promising setup, the game falters with a thin, disjointed narrative and several underdeveloped mechanics, leaving the full promise of its design unrealized.

Batman: Arkham Shadow is a thrilling return to Gotham in VR, delivering immersive combat, clever gadgetry, and atmospheric exploration that rivals the series' best moments, even if some stealth segments fall short of the franchise’s usual polish.

s.p.l.i.t is a tense, minimalist hacking simulator from Buckshot Roulette creator Mike Klubnika that challenges players to navigate a terminal-driven psychological thriller. With no hand-holding and a deep sense of isolation, the game rewards persistence and experimentation, though its cryptic design may alienate those unfamiliar with command-line systems.

Persona 5: The Phantom X delivers a visually slick and narratively familiar mobile RPG experience that expands the Persona universe with charm and competent combat, though technical issues and uneven monetization may dampen long-term enjoyment.

UmaMusume: Pretty Derby blends gacha mechanics, roguelite training, and idol spectacle into a quirky, stats-heavy mobile experience that rewards dedication but challenges casual play with its steep learning curve and monetization layers.

Arashi Gaiden blends turn-based tactics with fast-paced ninja action in a bold, stylistic package. While its innovative hybrid gameplay and striking visuals shine, technical hiccups and unclear mechanics hold it back from true greatness.

Fia and the Wondrous Academy has a remarkable cast whom I always loved seeing interacting on screen. But almost every single facet tied to the gameplay experience provided no fulfillment, simply being an exercise in going through the motions for the sake of obligatory progress. No matter your history with the Mado Monogatari IP, this outing is not worth your time.

While WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers can be a fairly rugged souls-like suffering from mismanaged balancing and performance, its strengths in combat design and exploration truly excel once they hit their stride. Throw in intricate character customization with plenty of significant player choice, and you have an execution of the genre that will assuredly gel with souls-like enthusiasts. As it stands, WUCHANG can bite off a bit more than it can chew, though it shines more often than not.

No Sleep For Kaname Date delivers a quirky, lower-stakes interquel in the AI: The Somnium Files series, leaning into fan-favorite character dynamics and surreal humor. While it lacks the intense twists and scale of its predecessors, its heartfelt moments, clever puzzles, and strong voice acting make it a charming—if lighter—entry for longtime fans.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot – Daima – Adventure Through the Demon Realm Part 1 delivers a charming, nostalgia-infused expansion with fresh characters, grounded exploration, and cinematic battles, though its abrupt conclusion and pacing quirks slightly hamper the overall experience.

RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business refines the explosive action of its base game with a tightly focused narrative, intense gunplay, and immersive environmental storytelling. While some technical issues persist, the DLC delivers a satisfying and thematically rich return to Old Detroit.

At a glance, Shadow Labyrinth may just seem like a startingly different take on Pac-Man for shock value, but it still follows the core tenets of the original game: mazes, creature consumption, player choice in navigation, and a power-up in the form of GAIA that effectively swaps the roles of prey and predator. Despite the gameplay systems needing some refinements, Shadow Labyrinth is a genuinely stellar action metroidvania that stands near the genre's best.

Nekopara After offers a heartfelt yet compact continuation of the beloved catgirl visual novel series. While it delivers the long-anticipated sister route with emotional sincerity and signature charm, its brevity and limited cast interactions may leave fans craving a more definitive farewell.

Edens Zero is a flawed but endearing action RPG that blends heartfelt storytelling with expansive exploration and light RPG mechanics. While hampered by dated visuals and performance hiccups, its character-driven charm and rewarding gameplay loop make it a worthwhile experience for fans and curious newcomers alike.