A masterclass in cinematic world-building, REPLACED blends breathtaking pixel art with a profound existential narrative. By trapping an AI within a human body, it delivers a gripping commentary on identity and social decay. With its fluid combat and neon-drenched melancholy, it is a landmark achievement in indie storytelling.

PRAGMATA blends heartfelt character chemistry with innovative dual-layered combat, delivering a consistently engaging and emotionally charged experience. At times, it feels like a game revealed six years ago, but it ultimately delivers on a long-made promise.

A definitive revival that finally fixes the original's clunky camera, transforming a gothic cult classic into a fluid modern experience. While the linear level design shows its age, the haunting atmosphere, legendary voice acting, and inclusion of the lost Dark Prophecy demo make this an essential masterpiece for fans of LoK series.

Screamer comes as a genuinely refreshing surprise for the genre. The anime sequences are striking, the story is bold and unpredictable, and the characters are vibrant, each driven by clear motivations. The addition of racing mechanics to a visual novel feels natural rather than gimmicky, blending seamlessly with the experience. On top of that, it’s both engaging and satisfyingly challenging to master.

Primal Planet may be small, but it sure is a standout gem of the genre. It is a simple, yet highly enjoyable prehistoric metroidvania. What shines through the most, are its atmosphere, exploration and satisfying gameplay. With a few limitations in its design, it still constantly delivers a memorable experience.

A creative mix of metroidvania and roguelite elements, Never Grave offers solid combat and a fun possession mechanic. Repetitive progression and forced resets hurt the pacing, but the game remains an enjoyable and interesting experiment.

A deeper, more meaningful story makes this game the most emotional in the series. Numerous systems and mechanics, living and breathing biomes and loads of content sure are welcome, but may prove to be too overwhelming for a casual player. It feels like an overclock of the franchise, while it would benefit more from a true upgrade.

Marathon is a highly polished and deeply engaging extraction shooter with exceptional gunplay and atmosphere. Its hardcore PvP focus and punishing design won’t appeal to everyone, but those who stick with it will find a rewarding and addictive experience.

John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is a high-octane love letter to 80s action-horror. By blending the chaotic scale of the Swarm Engine with satisfying arcade gunplay and heavy-duty vehicular combat, Saber Interactive has crafted a co-op experience that prioritizes pure, unadulterated fun. While it leans heavily on genre tropes, its infectious energy, neon-drenched aesthetic, and pulse-pounding synth soundtrack make it an essential play for fans of cooperative shooters.

Esoteric Ebb is a remarkably confident CRPG that wears its Disco Elysium inspiration on its sleeve while delivering exceptional writing and meaningful player choice. Though not entirely original, its execution is polished, thoughtful, and often brilliant. One of the strongest narrative-driven RPGs in recent years.

Crimson Desert is a game you must get used to for it to get amazing. In the first few hours I wanted to give up. However, I persevered and I would regret it if I hadn’t. The sense of wonder, exploration and combat is top notch and scratches that Skyrim itch I’ve been having for years. The story is weaker and starts super “MMOish”, but it picks up the pace later and immerses you into a political and supernatural war between… well, everybody! By the 100th hour I still have not discovered everything nor did I finish the story, but there is not a minute of free time that I don’t spend playing this game. It pulled me in, and won’t let me go, and at this point, I don’t want it to.

REANIMAL feels like a natural extension to the Little Nightmares franchise. It boasts stunning visuals, strong atmosphere and several genuinely memorable moments. However, uneven pacing, a dull first chapter, clunky controls, technical issues and poor PS5 performance hold it back from true greatness. It's a good horror adventure overall, but one that's more likely to be remembered for its frustrations than its brilliance.

Nioh 3 is a mechanically rich action RPG that refines the series’ trademark combat while experimenting with a semi-open structure. Its strongest moments deliver exceptional flow and mastery, though repetitive objectives and technical issues hold it back. Not the series’ peak, but still one of the most satisfying skill-driven RPGs available.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a massive and charming JRPG with a heartfelt story, classic turn-based gameplay and polished visuals and music. While some pacing and repetition issues remain, it’s a rewarding adventure for both longtime fans and newcomers.

Resident Evil Requiem blends the best elements of survival horror and action. With stunningly detailed environments, realistic lighting and a gripping story, the game makes for one of the most immersive entries the series has to offer. Some traditional features are absent, but it remains a standout entry.

UNBEATABLE is a clear passion project that proves the rhythm genre can be about much more than just flashy tracks and timed button presses. Its story is engaging, the characters are vibrant and full of energy, and the soundtrack is packed with absolute bangers.

Silent Hill f marks a bold new step for the series and a clear sign of Konami’s return to AAA games. The Japanese setting feels fresh, while the atmosphere, visuals and psychological horror stay true to the franchise’s identity. Despite some technical issues and uneven combat, the game delivers a strong story and an unsettling experience that fans of the genre will surely appreciate.

Pathologic 3 is a bold and cerebral reimagining of an already legendary series, trading raw tension for deeper immersion and narrative complexity. Its time-travel mechanics and richly written protagonist create a uniquely introspective experience, even as technical issues and inconsistent systems occasionally break the flow. Flawed but fascinating, it remains one of the most intellectually ambitious games of its kind.

MIO tries to shake up the Metroidvania formula in a few interesting ways. Some of its design choices may not appeal to everyone at first, but the challenge ultimately pays off. Fans of the genre willing to stick with it will likely find something to enjoy.

Cairn is a brutally demanding yet strangely soothing climbing experience that turns every movement into a meaningful decision. Its unique limb-based controls and meditative pacing create a powerful sense of immersion, even as its punishing difficulty and sparse checkpoints test your patience. If you're willing to endure the struggle, the mountain offers one of the most memorable journeys in recent indie games.

Skate Story is a surreal, visually striking skateboarding experience that blends precise mechanics with a poetic journey through the underworld. Its intentionally cryptic narrative is elevated by a powerful atmosphere and an exceptional soundtrack. Far removed from traditional skate games, it stands out as one of the most distinctive releases of 2025.

Octopath Traveler 0 holds on to the elements that made the originals great but isn’t afraid to experiment further. It freshens up the formula in ways that finally let its potential shine. Though pacing and some repetitive elements hold it back, it still carries the legacy of the series and shines as bright as ever.

Metroid Prime 4 delivers polished combat and stunning visuals, but its linear open structure, diluted atmosphere and lack of bold innovation will probably disappoint long-time fans after a long wait.

Chronicles of the Wolf is a treat for fans of classic 2D Castlevania games, offering a richly detailed world and a strong sense of old-school atmosphere. While its exploration and presentation shine, the game keeps the challenge level relatively low and brings few innovations compared to modern metroidvanias. A nostalgic experience best suited for longtime genre devotees rather than players seeking fast-paced or experimental design.

ARC Raiders blends careful pacing, immersive audio, and high-risk extraction gameplay into a consistently engaging multiplayer experience. The mix of hostile machines and unpredictable player encounters keeps every raid tense and fun, whether played solo or with a squad.

Where Winds Meet is a casserole of gameplay genres that blend very nicely with each other. This gorgeous game invites exploration and is supplemented by a fun combat system that doesn’t get old. So far there are no P2W mechanics in this F2P game, only cosmetics and a bunch of mats that are easily farmed in game. The amazing experience is only trumped by awful voice acting and overuse of AI chat and voiceovers with bad localization. These are all fixable issues, and I think Where Winds Meet is here to stay.

Tormented Souls 2 delivers a tense, retro-inspired survival horror experience that successfully builds on its predecessor. Fast-paced combat, clever boss encounters, and a larger, more varied world elevate the series, while resource scarcity and strategic inventory management keep the tension high. Balance issues, occasional bugs, and a few pacing problems prevent it from being flawless, but fans of classic survival horror and the first game will find plenty to enjoy.

The Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D remakes shine with retro simplicity and modern visuals. Added mechanics and accessibility options make the games approachable, though grind and slow-paced storytelling can drag. Still, the package delivers a nostalgic and enjoyable adventure for both new and longtime fans.