Metroid Prime 4: Beyond proves that Nintendo did a good job returning the series to Retro Studios. And they, in turn, claim to know exactly what they're doing. Capture a bit of the magic of the past, borrow lessons from previous installments here and there, and—unfortunately—never add anything new worth mentioning. But just as Metroid is a relatively small series for Nintendo alone, a relatively "regular" Metroid Prime game is still a fantastic title.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion feels a little less fluid than Shredder’s Revenge due to the Cosmic Swap mechanic, but that same feature actually makes fighting in this beat-’em-up more enjoyable overall. It also fits perfectly within the Marvel universe that Tribute Games has created with such love and attention to detail.

Kirby Air Riders is a playful, chaotic mix of races and minigames. The game is charming and energetic, but can sometimes be a bit too much.

Lumines Arise combines strong puzzle gameplay with beautiful visuals and music. It's a blast from start to finish, especially in VR. But don't expect to be reminiscing about it for months to come.

No, I didn't see this score coming myself, even though it's mainly due to that "rollercoaster on mushrooms" single-player and the hours I expect to waste on Zombies. Endgame has something, but "something" doesn't survive in today's extraction shooter landscape. And the carnivalesque, bunny-hopping, TikTok-dancing, slip 'n' slide 140BPM ADHD simulator of the multiplayer... I'll gladly and respectfully leave that to those bunny-hopping, TikTok-dancing, slip 'n' slide 140BPM ADHD players.

Dispatch continues a trend of unique superhero stories with enthusiasm. The dispatching is deceptively layered and compelling, the characters aren't all incredibly deep, but they are all memorable, and your choices within the story transform even a man without powers into a full-fledged superhero—or not.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a delightful strategy game that combines so many cool elements (building, production, combat, diplomacy) that you can lose yourself in it for dozens of hours. It's the kind of game that could almost become a hobby in itself. The two settings (Romans and Albion) aren't dramatically different, but offer enough variety to allow for truly diverse gameplay. Pax Romana is well-designed graphically and runs without any significant issues, even on a less powerful PC (we played with a 2070GTX).

Arc Raiders is an exceptionally tight extraction shooter, offering plenty of atmosphere alongside the necessary tension. Even though you're constantly being hunted by robots or suspicious fellow Raiders, life as a post-apocalyptic looter is a beautiful experience. Arc Raiders is at its best when excursions take unplanned turns, and you unexpectedly make new friends (or even bitter rivals).

In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, we get a unique look at the history of Hyrule, making it an interesting complement to Tears of the Kingdom. If that appeals to you, it's easier to push through the flashy yet repetitive gameplay.

Powerwash Simulator 2 is literally like a high-end pressure washer: sleek, powerful, and equipped with all sorts of attachments. But if you don't get that relaxing feeling of cleaning, it's still a mandatory cleanup. This is why I still wanted to check my phone every ten minutes while playing. With the right partner by your side in co-op, it suddenly becomes fun. So, co-op? Absolutely! Solo? Meh.

Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake is a fantastic compilation. This is the best way to get acquainted with the founder of the JRPG.

There's no way you're not playing The Outer Worlds 2 with a big smile on your face. Unless you're bothered by the bugs, of course. Although those are annoying, it's ultimately the fun that takes center stage, and the enjoyment of all the different ways to approach missions.

There's no way you're not playing The Outer Worlds 2 with a big smile on your face. Unless you're bothered by the bugs, of course. Although those are annoying, it's ultimately the fun that takes center stage, and the enjoyment of all the different ways to approach missions.

Ninja Gaiden 4 relies on the phenomenal action you expect from PlatinumGames but falls into repetition far too often. Environments, enemies and even bosses are recycled endlessly in a game world that feels constantly empty and clinical. That makes it hard to enjoy the combat because you almost always know what's coming.

Keeper looks stunning and tells a sweet story. Unfortunately, that's about it. It's certainly not a treat to explore the beautiful game world, but ultimately, you get what you'd expect from lighthouse gameplay, which is very limited.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A has a clear mission and, despite some shortcomings, it absolutely succeeds in doing so.

The singleplayer isn’t worth your time—unless you enjoy incomprehensible writing and insanely bad endings. Luckily, that hardly matters, because Battlefield 6 features one of the best multiplayer modes in the series. I would’ve liked to see one more Conquest map, but the military feel, tight action, and incredible destruction will make sure I keep playing this game for dozens more hours.

Because the atmosphere and presentation hold up, Little Nightmares 3 is a game you can comfortably play if you already love the series. Temper your expectations about the co-op though. It’s nothing more than a half-baked step… and moreover in the wrong direction.

Returning players won't find much new here, but that shouldn't spoil the fun. Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 remain timeless classics and are a must-have for any Nintendo fan.

EA Sports FC 26 has a distinct DNA. Action and spectacle are deeply ingrained in it. Even in authentic mode, almost every goal is a slam dunk, and rarely do we see ugly, scrappy goals that even a self-respecting striker would dare cheer. But that's FC. If you accept that, or even appreciate it, FC 26 is a very complete and diverse package.

Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is overflowing with everything. The entire trunk is crammed with so many ideas, options, neon, chaos, and mayhem that the quantity comes at the expense of quality. To a certain extent, that's exactly what you want from a kart racer/party game, and the game is a surefire hit for anyone looking for something to fill up nights with friends. Step one accomplished, in that respect. But the classics of the genre, the true greats, also possess a precision that will have you spending hours shaving off hundredths of a second on your favorite track, even solo. It's a level Crossworlds unfortunately never reaches.

This is the definitive version of an iconic classic, which for a long time was difficult to play if you didn't own a PlayStation 1 or PSP. A few more improvements to the playability and difficulty would have been welcome, but Final Fantasy Tactics effortlessly maintains its status as one of the very best games in its genre.

Ghost of Yōtei certainly has its beautiful moments when everything does click: when the moonlight falls just right, when the battles reach their climax, and admittedly—even the predictable story contains a few moving moments. But on the other hand, there’s a long list of elements that aren’t necessarily bad, but mostly outdated, old-fashioned, or at best far from groundbreaking.

Hades 2 improves on its already near-perfect predecessor in every way. It deepens the delightful formula with more variety, countless surprises, even more beautiful environments, and a flawless sense of progression. A roguelite with this much variety is an unprecedented achievement. Perfection has been perfected.

Borderlands 4 is a safe Borderlands game, but that's why it barely makes any mistakes. The action feels great thanks to the new movement speed, the game is packed with fun missions featuring unique locations and characters, and there are many play styles to master. Developer Gearbox is deliberately returning to the series' foundations, likely to win back long-time fans. There's a good chance this installment will actually succeed.

Lost Soul Aside is the definition of "what you see is what you get." No mind-blowing plot twists, graphical masterpieces, or revolutionary control systems, just a super-linear action game with tons of bosses, interspersed with simple platforming and puzzle challenges. While the story, lack of challenge, recycled level design, and sloppy pacing are disappointing, Lost Soul Aside is a straightforward, action-packed game for the enthusiast.

It's been a long wait, but it's been so worth it. Silksong is, on the surface, "just" a metroidvania and more like Hollow Knight, but the love poured into this world goes deeper. Thanks to Hornet, the battles reach new heights. The sense of adventure that Silksong evokes resonates in your soul, even though your life is constantly hanging by a thread.

With Cronos: The New Dawn, Bloober takes a step forward compared to its earlier original games like The Medium and Layers of Fear. However, what lingers most after the beautiful story is the thought that they need a blueprint—like Silent Hill 2—in order to truly shine in the survival horror genre. As a result, Cronos ends up being nothing more than a decent horror shooter with a very interesting combat hook. Unfortunately, the execution falls just short, which means the real tension doesn’t arrive until the very final part of the game.