Outbound is exactly what it promises. A good mix of discovery, crafting, and building, and it provides plenty of relaxation.

Saros shines in precisely the areas where Returnal already excelled. Unfortunately, however, its gameplay suffers from the same issues as the original. Regarding the story, though, the criticism has been addressed; following the narrative is now far less disruptive, as it no longer interrupts the gameplay flow of individual runs.

An impressive art style that the underlying gameplay doesn't quite live up to. Nevertheless, Replaced brings some intriguing ideas to the table.

Tomodachi Life 2 stays true to its unique formula while meaningfully expanding upon it. Greater freedom, new options, and its signature quirky humor combine to create a charming life simulation—one of a very special kind.

Anyone who is into guns, crime fiction, and cheesy puns shouldn't miss Mouse: P.I. for Hire.

Charming, innovative, complex, and finished with a high-gloss polish: Pragmata proves that Japanese action game design is in a class of its own.

Even if not everything slots together perfectly, Starfield scores points with its dense atmosphere, plenty of action, and excellent design. Thanks to numerous updates, the PS5 version also holds up well.

Bellabel Park expands the magnificent Super Mario Bros. Wonder with fun multiplayer modes and creative single-player challenges. The upgrade truly unlocks its full potential—especially in co-op.

Crimson Desert juggles an insane number of game elements—and some of them inevitably hit the floor. Yet the game is confident enough to keep going regardless, smiling all the while and pretending it’s all just part of the show.

Laysara is a great hidden gem of a city-building game for anyone who enjoys building efficient production facilities and the hunt for the ideal city layout.

What could’ve easily been an inconsistent mess ends up as one of the best modern Resident Evils: Requiem handles both horror and action as well as former, more focused entries, and it knows just when to switch perspectives. Especially those who’ve stuck with the series throughout its multiple identity changes and enjoyed the games for what they were will have a blast with this.

Resident Evil Village for Nintendo Switch 2 is a well-made port, although it's lacking the exclusive mouse feature which we wish they included.

Even though the original game released back in 2017, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard looks and runs very well on Nintendo Switch 2.

Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown let's dreams of Trekkies come true. Thanks to the faithful and loving adaptation of the series fans can overlook the mechanical weaknesses of the game.

The PS5 version of Avowed offers the same experience we had last year, which means: It's fun, approachable and delightfully old fashioned. Just don't expect a deep roleplaying experience with tons of replay value.

The PS5 and Xbox Series versions are quite impressive.

Reanimal is the successful reboot of Tarsier Studios and offers strong horror moments with a dense atmosphere and a breathtaking world, both alone and in co-op.

Mario Tennis Fever combines solid tennis gameplay with fresh ideas and plenty of Mario mayhem. Despite minor technical flaws, it's a very successful installment with high long-term appeal.

Déjà-vu: The Game - but it's still fun.

Mewgenics does exactly what a roguelite should do: it never gets boring. Every time we think we've seen it all, another class is added. Or a new mechanic, effect, or level. The 13 years of development time were definitely worth it, because so much content in a single game is anything but ordinary. If you're into roguelites, turn-based tactics, or cats, you should definitely check out Mewgenics.

A motivating slaughterfest with systems you can completely immerse yourself in, but don't have to. Fun exploration and varied combat styles enrich the experience, but Nioh 3 also suffers from the same technical, loot, and recycling issues as Team Ninja's previous works.

Dragon Quest 7 is a very well-done remake of a game that is over 25 years old. Most of the problems of the original PS1 game have been solved, but the balance between text and combat is still uneven.

A deeply relaxing city-building game with a beautiful medieval atmosphere but limited complexity – ideal for unwinding.

A perfect combination of horror, survival, creativity, and 80s flair. An absolute must-play for all fans.

All in all, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake port on the Switch 2 is very well done. Players get the excellent Intergrade version with only a few graphical compromises compared to the PS5 version. These differences are hardly noticeable, especially when playing in handheld mode. In terms of content, Final Fantasy 7 Remake remains exceptional. Fans can look forward to one of the best role-playing game experiences of recent years.

While 2XKO still has some areas that need improvement, including the rather meager roster, the fun gameplay allows the game to already compete with the giants of the genre.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a challenging Metroidvania with a strong atmosphere, which is likely to appeal especially to fans of the genre.

The Nintendo Switch 2 edition doesn't bring huge changes, but it integrates console-exclusive features and makes the game shine in 4K – and all at a very low price.

Craftlings smartly reimagines Lemmings as a deep, systems-driven city builder, blending classic Settlers-style production chains with clever automation and logistics. Minor control quirks aside, it’s a thoughtful, nostalgic, and surprisingly long-lasting strategy game driven by a clear single-developer vision.

A worthy successor to The Settlers in spirit, which also brings its own ideas to the table.

Octopath Traveler 0 is overall a captivating adventure that impresses with its lovingly crafted world and the story surrounding the events in Orsterra.

Forget about the chatty characters, those are fine. But a lifeless open desert in which you'll spend most of your time driving through green crystal formations? That is something no Metroid fan has asked for, ever. But when Metroid Prime 4 stays close to its roots, it is still a great action-adventure game, with tons of atmosphere, style and exploration, despite the somewhat linear level design.

A great indie adventure with a few minor flaws.

Dispatch marks a triumphant return for episodic adventure games, with tons of charme, wits and style. While we would have hoped for more impactful decisions and a bit more depth in the strategic layer, the amazing cast and likeable characters easily make up for this. Can't wait for Season 2!

Kirby AirRiders delivers vibrant, colorful racing action fun with plenty of charm. The controls take some getting used to, but the variety of modes and the presentation are impressive.

Charming SpongeBob SquarePants fun with humor and nostalgia.

The Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D remake closely resembles the originals in every relevant aspect and offers solutions to familiar problems. It represents the perfect version for revisiting the old classic or for getting into the series for the first time.

One of the best Anno games, focusing more on evolution than revolution, and a strong contender for strategy game of the year.

Impresses with an emotionally staged story, strong atmosphere and varied combos, but suffers from recurring mission objectives and minor design flaws.

ARC Raiders achieves what many developers have failed to do: creating a mainstream extraction shooter that does justice to the quality you expect from a Triple-A-Shooter.

Initially incredibly overwhelming, but once you're in... still absolutely overwhelming, but also pretty awesome to have so many options.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a fantastic role-playing game. It's a little old-school in some areas, but that's exactly what gives it its charm. Basically, the game offers exactly what fans of the first installment hoped for. More of the wacky world, more refined game systems, and a larger scope. It has been further developed in the right places and supplemented where necessary. Only a few bugs hold it back. But anyone who already enjoyed its predecessor will get their money's worth here too.

The most beautiful, comprehensive, and best game in the series.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is the best action game ever.

An almost perfect experience of a very special kind.

Agatha Christie – Death on the Nile is a successful adaptation of the classic novel from the 1930s. It respects the source material without being an exact copy while also adding some fun twists, such as a time leap into the 70s. Definitely worth a try for fans of detective adventures, at least if one doesn't mind the minor technical issues.

Battlefield is back with All-Time-Favorite game modes, balanced classes, and good maps.

Top sequel that surpasses its predecessor in (almost) every respect.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds impresses above all with its diverse cross-world mechanics. However, some of the races are somewhat overly complex and require some getting used to. Still, it's a fun racer.

In terms of content and gameplay, there's pretty little to criticize about Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2. Both games perform well on the Nintendo Switch, and especially on the Nintendo Switch 2. However, to call them remasters or even remakes would be an exaggeration. They're essentially optimized ports. But is that really so bad if the gameplay is still fun? Well, considering the price, it's a bit. Charging almost €70 for games that are 15 or 18 years old, respectively, and offer hardly any notable innovations, is a bit outrageous. If you already own Super Mario Galaxy through the 3D All-Stars Collection, you don't really need to buy this version again. There's simply too little new to offer. And visually, the 3D All-Stars Galaxy still looks pretty good. For Super Mario Galaxy 2, however, you have no other alternative besides the Wii version. If you're not familiar with either game yet, this bundle is a great way to catch up. Even though the price remains controversial, the decision is ultimately yours.

You have to see this amazing open world! Ghost of Yotei is an absolute PS5 treat and scores with breathtaking sword fights and beautiful landscapes. Only a few technical issues cloud the picture. Sucker Punch has again developed an amazing action adventure.

Silent Hill f impresses with its psychological horror and the sense of unknowing that doesn't disappear even after reaching the first ending. The combat system is just as enjoyable as the horror.

There are only a few new features, but the game still feels good - but if you're not exactly looking for the new Live Career or FUT, you can certainly wait a bit longer before buying.

Dying Light: The Beast isn't exactly brimming with innovation. Rather, it delivers a whole series of small improvements and expansions appropriate to the story. What ultimately sets this zombie adventure apart from Dying Light 2, however, is its straightforwardness and significantly stronger focus on the series' core strengths. Fast-paced parkour, brutal action, and, last but not least, the game world, both beautiful and dynamic, characterize the experience. While The Beast is a bit unwieldy and fiddly, overall the "little" Dying Light is convincing. Both newcomers and seasoned players will feel at home in The Beast. We definitely recommend it.

Ultimately, Borderlands 4 gets the crucial things right that you would expect from a Borderlands game. It's a loot shooter, and the looting and shooting works so well that we don't want to stop playing. Shooting tons of weapons at tons of enemies and collecting tons of loot has always been the DNA of Borderlands. It's a fun loop that still hasn't gotten old after 16 years and has once again been perfectly implemented in Borderlands 4.

It's not perfect, but it doesn't need to be. The small development team from Australia has done a great job and, after its mega-sales success, has absolutely no reason to worry about its future. And no matter how much we cursed while playing, we know for sure that we'll be sitting in front of the PC again tonight and immersing ourselves in the world of Pharloom once again.

Cronos: The New Dawn captivates with its atmospheric atmosphere, deliberate use of light and darkness, and terrifying enemy designs. However, the intense action significantly diminishes the horror experience.

Hell is Us impresses with its symbolism, its dark world, and its free exploration, but it still has a lot of room for improvement in terms of optimization and enemy design.

Helldivers can also show off all its strengths on the Xbox - that's how it should be.

Cute, fun, and now even smoother: Kirby has made the jump to the Switch 2 very well.

A loving remake of an absolute classic, tailor-made for everyone who loved it back in the day. For newcomers, this means they'll have to get used to many quirks, but the nostalgia trip is rewarding for both parties: It contains moments that have made gaming history.

A nostalgic remake of the popular original, but one that deserved more detail in some places.

An enchanting adventure that lacks nothing except a little more playtime.

With its charming pixelated look and a great sound design, Discounty is a welcome change from the many farming sims.

Many reissues, such as the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection, come with fun extras. For example, behind-the-scenes videos, making-of anecdotes, a collection of artwork, or a cool glossary with background information. None of these can be found in Dawn of War: Definitive Edition.

Hellblade 2 is also very impressive on the PS5, especially with the new performance mode.

Mafia: The Old Country successfully builds on the winning formula of the first two installments in the series. It places its gripping narrative and fantastic characters at the center of an adventure that is exciting from start to finish. With a successful mix of stealth, brutal action, and quiet moments, time flew by for us. We can therefore highly recommend a trip to 1900s Sicily and the beginnings of the honorable family to every Mafia fan.

Adventures can be so cool: The Drifter is an exciting pulp thriller with a great atmosphere.

Birdigo is a well-designed, entertaining mix of Wordle and roguelike games such as Balatro and Slay the Spire. While not mechanically extensive, it's engaging to play and comes with a charming birds' migration theme.

Classic Mario Party with interesting twists and fun new modes. Jamboree TV on the Switch 2 brings even more entertaining new features, though the base game doesn't benefit from the higher resolution.

The Definitive Edition of Stronghold Crusader rounds out the game in many aspects. Only the outdated technology and the high difficulty level may put off newcomers. Overall, however, it's a good remaster of the classic.

With Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, the wheel hasn't exactly been reinvented, but it's certainly been well-oiled! It takes the popular Souls formula and adds some useful innovations that make the action a bit more action-packed and fast-paced. Souls fans shouldn't miss this game.

Let Them Trade blends the cozy charm of board games with city-building strategy in a relaxed, visually rich experience. Inspired by classics like Catan and Anno, players create cities, manage production chains, and guide trade across a handcrafted, hex-tile world. With a lighthearted campaign, peaceful pacing, and a satisfying resource economy, the game offers an ideal entry point for newcomers and a chill break for veteran strategy fans. Despite minor weaknesses—such as lackluster combat and no multiplayer—it excels as a compact, feel-good builder that values calm over complexity.

We highly recommend the lovingly crafted adventure of Hanna and her friends. The developers have impressively achieved what they set out to do with their debut work. Depending on how you play, the eight chapters of the game take around ten to twelve hours to complete. They are packed with an emotional narrative and exciting stealth puzzles.

Donkey Kong: Bananza surprises with creative ideas, a powerful destruction feature, and a sense of exploration that's strongly reminiscent of Super Mario Odyssey—without simply copying it. Anyone who enjoys charming 3D platformers with a collecting focus, clever level design, and gameplay freedom will find a real treat here. While the adventure isn't entirely free of technical weaknesses and some boss battles are a bit too easy, the bottom line is that Donkey Kong: Bananza delivers exactly what it promises: a fun, unusually deep, and atmospherically strong adventure—not just for die-hard DK fans.

Anyone who enjoys arcade skateboarding in the style of the early 2000s will be delighted with the remake of parts three and four. The adaptation of the fourth part to the basic structure of the first three is a bit of a shame, but not dramatic. The adapted parks, as in parts 1 and 2, are very well done and have been wonderfully expanded by the community. Even newcomers will quickly shred their first combos and enjoy the game.

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is a successful return to the world of Random. As a rogue-lite title, the game is particularly beginner-friendly and never overwhelming, although this might quickly be a negative for experienced players.

Rematch is the perfect solution, especially this summer, for anyone who's long since grown tired of EA's football series and needs a breath of fresh air.

Like its predecessor, Death Stranding 2 impresses with incredible graphics and staging. The gameplay has been improved, and useful innovations have been added. Nevertheless, there are some features that disrupt the flow of the game over time. Fans of the first installment are treated to another masterpiece. However, Death Stranding 2 remains a very individual matter. Anyone who didn't like the first installment and hopes to finally immerse themselves in the dark sci-fi world with the sequel won't have much fun with the second installment either.

Nintendo has done an excellent job of transporting the indestructible Mario Kart formula into the open world. However, there are still a few rough edges in a few places.

As a survival game, The Alters poses surprisingly hart questions. It forces players to make difficult decisions that test their morals and ethics. With its deep story and the far-reaching consequences, it could be the most innovative game of the year.

Affordable doesn't have to mean cheap: A rock-solid anti-gravity racer that's simply fun without reinventing the wheel. And the price is a real treat.

A lovingly presented, content-rich mix of role-playing and life simulation, held together by an entertaining, if not particularly twist-filled, story and 14 diverse professions. However, Level-5 wastes a lot of potential with its unfortunately half-baked multiplayer mode.

Codemasters delivers with F1 25 a good racing game for fans and beginners. With Braking Point 3, the revised MyTeam mode and a lot more, there is plenty of content for multiple hours of fun.

A game for F1 fans and beginners: With a good handling model and a lot of content, Codemasters brings the success back to the Formula 1 franchise.

A satisfyingly good action-adventure with a fun combat system, sleek graphics, and enticing world design. The atmosphere is right, but the narrative struggles to get going.

Roadcraft is a good mix of SnowRunner and Expeditions: A MudRunner Game. The new building mechanics adds variety and new challenges. A smart evolution for fans and newbies.

From the very beginning, The Midnight Walk takes players on an emotional journey through a dark world. Equally dark and heartbreaking, the game tells serious stories with a lot of depth.

Doom: The Dark Ages is a flawlessly playable shooter that impresses with its blend of old-school gunplay and mechanical depth. Lame story and vehicle sections aside, you probably won't find more intense shooting anywhere else this year.

The cult role-playing game returns with sleek graphics and meaningful improvements – a treat for fans! The technology could be better, though.

A successful remaster that brings Days Gone to modern hardware with a higher resolution and better performance, but without making any particular graphical leaps. The gripping story remains a great experience anyway.

It's so annoying that the AI's mistakes are once again getting in the way of a higher score. But MotoGP 25 is still a lot of fun.

An audiovisual delight and a surprisingly deep role-playing game: With its story, style, and excellent combat system, Clair Obscur breathes a breath of fresh, croissant-scented air into the JRPG genre.

A rock-solid real-time strategy game bringing tons of old-school fun to a new generation. It is heavily inspired by C&C, for sure, but since that franchise has been dormant for ages, Tempest Rising is pretty successful in filling the gap.

The coming-of-age adventure in the style of Life is Strange, with great characters, dialog and a mystical storyline, lets up a little at the end, but offers a great experience overall. I had a lot of fun with Swan, Nora, Kat and Autumn. I also enjoyed taking a nostalgia trip back to the 90s through the girls and reminiscing about my own youth.

The game also utilizes the features of the DualSense controller. When Indy punches Nazis, you can feel the haptic feedback, and thanks to the adaptive triggers, you can feel the pressure points when firing firearms.

The First Berserker: Khazan is a fantastic game for all Soulslike fans who appreciate challenging boss battles. Sekiro fans, in particular, should definitely check it out.

South of Midnight tells a interesting, dark story and scores with a unique stop motion style. The soundtrack matches the fun gameplay in some pretty magic worlds as well. Only a few technical issues tarnish the positive picture a little.