This is an excellent game. Life is Strange 2 is bold, ballsy, and wildly ambitious, promising an epic and personal odyssey across America circa October 2016. Dontnod is capturing the mood of a powerful country in the midst of a crisis of identity. If they can stick the landing, Life is Strange 2 has the potential to be a masterpiece.

I can’t stop thinking about the story of Transistor, even after finishing the game. There is so much mystery and intrigue that left me smiling.

I think Luqui and Saiki at Regular Studio did something pretty dang cool here, and Top Hat Studios — for their part — are doing a pretty dang good job of finding and giving small devs shots at getting interesting games out there. this is something that I’m always grateful for, especially since they’re at least partially responsible for one of my favorite games of last year, Labyrinth of the Demon King, making it onto “shelves.” They’ve also published and are publishing quite a few titles, all of which look pretty unique. For the time being, however, MOTORSLICE is a pretty dang interesting parkour platformer, and I would genuinely suggest checking it out!

TMNT: Splintered Fate is a wonderful roguelike that is one of the PS5’s most replayable games. Thanks to the familiar characters and foes, there’s an instant charm and solid story that will immediately grab your interest. With co-op and difficult options, this is both a great entry point for those new to the genre and a fresh challenge.

It feels like a dream come true, and I can’t imagine how exciting this is for the folks at Llamasoft. Sure, it could have benefited from some more bells and whistles, but Tempest 4000 is the real deal, a new version of a remarkable arcade classic that isn’t spoken of nearly as much as it deserves today.

Elden Ring feels like the game FromSoftware has been building up to ever since Demon’s Souls released in 2009. A huge open world filled to the brim with challenging enemies, characters sporting obvious influence from George R. R. Martin, and the typical drip-feed of lore FromSoftware is famous for crafting all combine to form an intoxicating adventure you won’t soon forget. Yes, the formulaic nature of these games is absolutely showing after three console generations, but as the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

There is just so much to love about Kingdoms of Amalur. Its genre-elevating combat and gorgeous visual design are unparalleled and will undoubtedly be emulated in years to come.

This is survival horror at its most base level, where you are a mostly defenseless layperson caught up in a horrifying ordeal, who would feel lucky just to escape with your life. The wait was indeed worth it, and Outlast 2 should be on the must-play list of horror fans everywhere.

Hogwarts Legacy is the game Harry Potter fans have dreamt of since the first book was released. It puts you firmly in the shoes of a student and turns you loose to find your place in the world of wizardry. Unfortunately, its biggest issue is that it often feels like you’re just visiting.

GRIP: Combat Racing is an impressive arcade racer, one that harkens back to the glory days of racers such as WipEout, while adding its own innovations.

Battlefield 6 is one of the PlayStation 5’s best shooters. Featuring a replayable and rewarding campaign, plus some of the most satisfying multiplayer that players have come to expect, this is the full package. This is a game I can’t wait to continue playing for years, and I can’t wait to see how it evolves and how the Portal helps mold the future of the series.

I found myself engrossed in the usual grind I’ve come to love over the years, the silly and fantastical creatures from my favorite artist, and the storytelling that met and even rattled my expectations.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition is still the RPG dream it has been since its release. Better still, there are a few compelling reasons to own this title on PS4 this go around, and players don’t need to sacrifice how it looks or performs in order to do so. If you haven’t played Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition and you’re into RPGs, tabletop gaming, or sprawling narratives full of choice, now is the time to jump in.

The worst part about completing The City That Dares Not Sleep is knowing that it will probably be a long time before we see Sam and Max again, and that's a shame.

Ultimately, Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition is just like the original, with a couple of added tweaks — this is a good thing!

MLB 10: The Show is the closest you’ll ever come to experience playing baseball for a Major League Team. The sheer polish and level of detail mostly overcome the share of problems that hinder it.

These more intimate scenes coalesce wonderfully with its grander narrative to make Spider-Man 2 an amazing and well-rounded follow-up. Insomniac’s understanding of Spider-Man is unparalleled in the medium, as evidenced by the empowering and expanded combat mechanics, breathtaking traversal, and narrative that focuses on the heroes in addition to those underneath the mask. The team has mastered its craft and, like Spider-Man, is only getting better with experience.

It puts players in a position not seen in most games, entirely proactive and in control of the environment.

Is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla the best entry in the series yet? Some would be tempted to say so. While the map size might overwhelm some players, it remains an easy game to mainline with the right navigation mode turned on. In fact, the quick load times help to make this an even easier task than in previous generations. This is an iteration of Assassin’s Creed that has a bit of everything from the previous games, as refined as we have seen to date.

The beginner mode is perhaps the smartest move made and should invite plenty of new fans to the game.

The living, breathing underworld of Hong Kong is expertly recreated. The sum of all of these parts give Sleeping Dogs that classic Hong Kong Kung Fu action flick vibe, putting you in the director's chair. There may not be any multiplayer, however, the sheer volume of content and the added Social Hub will keep you playing long after the credits roll.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a game that, despite a few launch bugs and inconsistent jumps, genuinely delivers an engaging experience for fans. The level design and personalization options for both combat and character appearances are definite highlights. It’s an adventure that lets you explore new corners of the Star Wars universe while building on the foundations laid by Fallen Order and tells another excellent tale of a galaxy far, far away.

In a year that has been jam-packed with quality releases, this is an experience that can hold its own. You genuinely owe it to yourself to give this game a try, regardless of whether or not you are a Tomb Raider fan. It is just that good. And when you consider that the game costs less than a ten spot, this purchase should be a no-brainer.

Ultimately, Gears of War: Reloaded is a great way for PlayStation owners to get into the series or for returning players to scratch that nostalgia itch. With cover shooters not nearly as en vogue in 2025, it’s nice to see that the game that kick-started the trend is still a delight. Grab a buddy and dive into the campaign together; you’ll have a great time.

Putting aside that minor issue, the most divisive thing about Braid, Anniversary Edition might be how little of the core package has changed. Aside from the visual facelift, the core mechanics and gameplay are just as they were back in 2008, and that more or less dictates who this remaster is for. Those who were turned off by Braid’s strictly linear progression and uncompromising puzzles are unlikely to have a change of heart all these years later. For longtime fans or those who have yet to experience this timeless classic for themselves, Braid, Anniversary Edition is a must-play.

Much like the Phoenix Wright, Great Ace Attorney, and Apollo Justice anthologies that came before it, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is unlikely to convert those who have dismissed the franchise (and the adventure genre as a whole) for its more laid-back, slower-paced gameplay. And at the end of the day, it’s a real shame, since Ace Attorney Investigations Collection offers up some of the best storytelling and characters the medium has seen. As a diehard fan, I can only hope that Capcom’s commitment to re-releasing every game in the franchise is another step toward a proper, seventh mainline entry. While I’m at it, would it be too much to ask for a port of Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright? If so, sue me.

Each morally ambiguous decision I made left me questioning whether I was the right person to be making them, but in the end, it was MY Bigby and MY story, and I can only thank Telltale Games for giving me the opportunity to tell such an awesome tale in my own way.

It’s a brilliant, beautiful, masterfully crafted work, and the more you discover, the more apparent it is.