After a swift 30 hours with the game, I will happily tell you how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 exceeded my expectations and left me curious for more.

Blue Prince made me feel like a genius. It also made me feel like an idiot. The two experiences are intrinsically linked; the stumbling bewilderment making the moments of breakthrough all the more brilliant. If you’ve even a passing interest in puzzles, play Blue Prince. And do so resisting the urge to look up any of its answers. Because provided you’re willing to take notes, your perseverance will, tile by tile, piece together the solutions to one of the finest puzzle games I’ve ever played.

Calling Split Fiction a roller coaster of a game does it a disservice. We’ve yet to ride any real-life track that rebuilds its layout and even the attraction type more than a dozen times as you’re on it. Split Fiction is the entire theme park, condensed into an inventive, explosive, and unmissable experience for two.

Everything about this game echoes DK’s first big smash onto the screen in those opening moments, even though Bananza is a whole lot more than just mindless smashing. It’s loud, relentless, and in your face, and the amount of heart and creativity took me by surprise at nearly every turn. Donkey Kong Bananza is one of the best platformers I’ve ever played, a stunning showcase for Donkey Kong’s new visual redesign, and the perfect statement that Nintendo is still taking risks that are going to pay off in the Switch 2 era.

Even with so many systems and so much “stuff” to account for, the formula here is nearly perfect and I find myself struggling for things to truly complain about. Pokemon Pokopia is a master class in cozy game design and an absolute triumph.

Forza Horizon 6 is a great game if you want more Forza Horizon. The setting of Japan and culture that is infused into every inch of the game makes for a worthwhile experience, even if some parts of the experience leave you feeling out of gas.

Resident Evil Requiem, to me, is one of the series’ best. As a culmination of every game that came before, I can confidently say that the story serves as both a fitting conclusion for many threads left open over the years and a benchmark for where we can expect to go from here. It combines the best parts of virtually every modern Resident Evil title, offering the iconic horror atmosphere that pioneered a genre, incredibly satisfying combat mechanics, and immersive puzzle design that even newcomers can enjoy.

Combined with the strength of its combat, which is some of the best in the business, Monster Hunter Wilds eventually envelops you in its blanket of interconnected systems and ecology, which you can share with your friends. Despite its flaws, there’s just nothing else like a big dose of Monster Hunter.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is an excellent remake, offering voice-acted cutscenes, an overhauled battle system, and a newly rendered world that helps build a sense of place in a larger universe. So much of the Trails series revolves around the interconnected politics of the world, highlighting how each region contributes to the larger picture. This remake reinforces this notion and provides players with a clearer visual identity for Liberl and its towns.

Regardless of little annoyances, I did thoroughly enjoy Absolum, and feel kind of bummed it has the misfortune of releasing so close to Hades II as a competitor action-roguelite. There’s room for both, but it is hard - having reviewed both games in close proximity - not to compare the both of them. For people who played Streets of Rage 4’s roguelite DLC and wanted more, Absolum scratches that itch and then some. For traditionalists, it might not be your cup of tea because of the structure, but it makes a valiant effort to get there and endear itself to all. Just be sure you know exactly what you're biting off.

Mario Kart World's open world and Knockout Tour deliver a bombastic opening volley for the Nintendo Switch 2, though its chaotic 24-player multiplayer could hamper long-term interest.

Ghost of Yotei is more of what made Ghost of Tsushima so compelling; terrific combat, a memorable protagonist, and a gorgeous world playing host to it all. It's not perfect, there are a few edges to this sword that could have been sharpened, but there are not enough to take away from an incredible experience. I cannot recommend it enough.

So yes, all the hallmarks of what makes a good Doom game are fully on display in The Dark Ages: overpowered weapons, copious amounts of blood, chaotic combat, a blistering metal soundtrack. Hell. It’s all just been moved around a little bit, remixed to feel fresh. Like spring cleaning. The place may look different, but that doesn’t mean it’s not comfortable. After all, your chair is still your chair, and Doom is still Doom.

Metal Gear Delta - using the Greek letter that signifies change or difference in mathematics - takes the inner-core of the Snake Eater from two decades ago and acts as a new shell around it, largely superficially with some mechanical adjustments. It is a new wrapper for an old candy bar, a new doll with an extraneous new hat, a dusting of makeup before taking the stage, and despite all of those caveats, it’s still a new coat of paint for one of the most incredible gaming experiences of all time.

I don’t know that we will ever get more of these games, but I think that’s fine, because what’s here is going to endure as an interesting experiment. If anything, the boldness of pairing this game next to a decidedly safe mainline Resident Evil title says to me that Capcom is confident that the weird still has a place next to the secure. Pragmata is a game that I think some people are really going to love and some people are going to completely bounce off of, but those are the kinds of games that you still talk about in ten years.

While it may not satisfy those looking for more of a classic survival horror experience, I absolutely loved the heart-wrenching and vibrantly inventive journey that was Silent Hill f. Each finished playthrough beckoned me back into the gloom to start another, even though the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Because I still had more questions, and Silent Hill f still had more answers. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time, and it may just become an instant horror classic.

Two Point Museum feels somehow both cozy and anxiety-triggering all at once; from its graphics and storytelling to its assorted puns and fake ads, this is a deeply unserious game, in the best way. But there is SO MUCH to do, so many things to keep track of, to tweak, to… well, to manage. It's certainly more than Blathers ever asked of me in Animal Crossing. As the announcer drones, "If something looks familiar, you've probably been here before," so fans of Two Point Hospital and Campus should know what's coming. It's also a ton of fun, though, for folks who just love getting lost in museums and want to see what it might be like to put together their own gallery show.

The interplay of game systems and gothic styling of playable characters, enemies, weapon, and town upgrades elevates an already incredible game to something all-consuming. Something so good that it scares me.

More than anything, it’s great to see Trails Beyond the Horizon take steps to answer some of the series’ longstanding questions, and set the stage for the grand finale of the entire epic. There’s still nothing else out there quite like Falcom’s series, and Trails Beyond the Horizon is a strong reminder that those hundreds of hours it takes to play all these games is well worth it. And perhaps more importantly, picture proof that Falcom is willing to learn from its past, and I’ve more hope than ever that it might truly be able to stick the landing for the wild experiment that Trails has become.

I can see myself sticking with WWE 2K25 for a long time. It’s almost anxiety-inducing that this is a yearly franchise, because there’s so much game to dive into here it’ll be impossible to see it through to a satisfying end before having to move on to what’s next.

In the end, my disappointment with the content in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack has done nothing to harm my love for the game, and I fully intend to keep playing for many, many more hours into the future. That’s why this review still gets 5/5 stars. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a masterful experience that feels like a warm hug and – if you’ve spent a long time away – like coming home to friends and family who have been waiting to see you...If, for some reason, you’ve never touched the game, or you stopped playing shortly after release, I highly recommend coming back in and seeing what’s new. And you might as well upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition while you’re at it. Maybe you’ll have better luck with the megaphone than I did.

Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined is a strong remake and one that does a lot to improve upon its predecessor. An RPG that revels in nostalgia and the warmness you feel after a night out with friends, even if it's that one friend who doesn't realize last call at the bar was hours ago.

Family is complicated, messy, and growing up isn't a linear path. Parental expectations can drag you down like cement boots if not managed accordingly. Despite it all, the fights, the miscommunications, and the people we've left behind, Goodnight Universe's greatest message lies in learning to tell people how you feel, however you can, while you're still here.

Considering the hours you will get from Vampire Crawlers, it's hard to give it anything more than an enthusiastic recommendation. As a dungeon crawler, it is both competent and fun, but as an experience, you will likely find yourself enraptured. If you, like me, are the type of person to spend an entire weekend in a hotel room just playing Vampire Survivors on a Steam Deck, the exact same thing will happen with Vampire Crawlers...For the time you spend playing it, it will likely swallow you entirely, and whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is up to you and your loved ones.

I enjoyed most of my time with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4. It's a reminder of my younger years, and even though I can't see the scrapes and bruises anymore, I'm still fond of every bail off a skateboard I've had in my years. It's still just as fun to get back on the virtual board and see a world filled with familiar faces and the sounds of those tensor trucks hitting the pavement.

Battlefield 6 gets all the core basics right. Shooting, movement, driving, and piloting all feel stellar. The format delivers regular moments of movie-worthy, ostentatious action, while also allowing humble players to spend a whole game just repairing tanks, if that’s more their style. What remains to be seen is if it can deliver the sustained support, balance tweaks, and additions that a fine foundation like this deserves. And as a returning fan, I seriously hope it manages the feat.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a fantastic kart game that doesn't feel like a half-baked carbon copy. It has many different modes that stand on their own, as well as the portal system that changes up each track and keeps you on your toes. It has a low entry point but a high ceiling, which makes it ideal for anyone to pick up and enjoy.

[Marathon has] brought a multiplayer shooter back into the rotation for my friend group. A central game for us to rally around, to share memes, tips and tricks, and just discuss theories and where it could go next. The possibilities in Tau Ceti IV feel endless if Bungie is given the runway to continue building out this universe.