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.

Tiny Bookshop has that familiar stickiness that makes me want to continue playing for “just one more day,” but that drive is less about selling books and more about unlocking the next part of a character’s story or a new place in town to sell my products. It’s a shame there isn’t more variety to the core concept of buying and selling books to keep the game feeling fresh after a few weeks of in-game time.

The best life sims make it fun to hang around in their worlds long after your main objectives are done, and while I can’t say for sure this one will pass that test just yet, Guardians of Azuma is easily the best game of its kind I’ve played in years. I can see myself passing time in its vibrant world for a long time to come.

A tremendous score, blurry textures at higher resolutions, and an unevenly paced narrative make Octopath Traveler 0 a mixed experience, but one that punches up when it needs to. A comforting experience that I won't soon forget and one I recommend to those looking for something warm and comforting.

Consume Me is funny, it’s emotional, and it got me thinking about some of the things people in my life went through to get to where they are today. If the purpose of art is to provoke thought and introspection, Consume Me accomplishes that goal. Just don’t go in expecting a fun roller coaster ride.

For all this grousing, I very much enjoyed my time with Ninja Gaiden 4 when in combat. There are caveats and things I wish were better, but overall, I think this is a game made for people that will have fun mastering melee action systems and retrying until they do a section perfectly. If that is not you, if you are playing more for content tourism or for insight into the greater Ninja Gaiden story, I am afraid this game will not be what you are looking for in a Ninja Gaiden sequel. It is very much made for a specific type of person and most everyone else will just bounce off of it.

Ultimately I’m of two minds about Dynasty Warriors: Origins. On one hand, it’s a re-evaluation of the Musou formula that’s persisted, and in many ways stagnated, over the years. The changes made to how Omega Force’s winning action formula are presented and executed are stunning. On the other hand, sacrificing multiplayer and a character roster are dramatic compromises for this series, and are impossible to just brush aside. It feels like, in the pursuit of trying something different, something crucial was sacrificed. Origins is a fantastic action game by almost any measure, which will soak up dozens of gameplay hours with ease. But if multiplayer is part of your core concept of what Dynasty Warriors is, or the reason you show up, then you’re going to have to sit this one out. Or try it anyway, because it’s really good.

The slower pace required to fully appreciate this world is a virtue that, as a reviewer with a deadline, I wasn’t properly afforded. As such, I envy those who possess the time and willingness to truly indulge themselves. Because for all its smaller blemishes, Assassin’s Creed Shadows paints a breathtaking canvas that, even after 50 hours, continues to captivate me.

Like a Dragon is the rare video game that’s enjoyable even when the core gameplay isn’t because of everything around it, and that’s worth celebrating. But I’d be lying to you if I said that I didn’t wish it played better or did more with the pirate conceit or was better able to marry the inherent conflict of “dudes sailing around on a tall ship in 2024.”

I walk away from Elden Ring Nightreign with an admiration for the weird thing the team at FromSofware has crafted. Something that doesn't feel like a cheap cash-in of the namesake but an idea that the team wanted to explore. It doesn't get everything perfect, but I'd rather see developers take big swings than stay stagnant. Much like Nightreign's speedy pace, FromSoftware once again proves it's not standing still.

There’s a lot of yelling about “politics” being involved in video games out there on the internet, but here’s an example of that actually happening in broad daylight – a cool video game being used as a glaringly unsubtle vehicle for propaganda to not just prop up some real life homies, but “sportswash” a deeply problematic reputation in the process.

Once Upon a Katamari walks a fine line between offering players lots of fun things to do and getting in its own way through all of these add-ons, and I found myself thinking it landed on both sides of that line at various points, depending on my mood. Perhaps it’s because I’m such a fan of the series that I have the complaints I do about this one. I’m inevitably comparing Once Upon a Katamari to all of the fun I had with previous installments, and feeling this one falls short with its attempts to do too much. I just want to roll. And while I technically can in Once Upon a Katamari, I’m forced to think about five other things while doing it.

By embracing it's stranger side, Kirby Air Riders delivers a refreshing racer that mixes in party game antics to create an encompassing and engaging collection of modes.

There are ups and downs in the latest Hyrule Warriors title. While it makes a significant improvement over the previous game, it does little to justify itself as a game necessary to Zelda fans looking for an expansion to the lore, or Warriors fans looking for the next great leap in the genre.

I’m hooked once again on the market’s premier strategy franchise. I’m not sure if I like it more than the previous entry, but Civ VII reminds me why I love the genre, and that there’s more wiggle room in my expectations than I knew. I can see myself digging into these layers for the next several years.

By the time I finished Digimon Story: Time Stranger, I enjoyed it far more than when I started. It takes a lot of time to get going, but once the wheels start spinning, it's a series of twists and turns that has a strong emotional core attached to it. The final boss fight is a perfect encapsulation of tying thematic ideas to mechanical systems and one that might go down as my favorite for the year.

The First Berserker: Khazan is frustrating – not necessarily because it's really hard. By far, it’s at its best when it wavers in its dogged quest to imitate the Souls games, yielding a distinct combat system that truly stands on its own. Although its level design and story felt unfortunately esoteric at times, I still had tons of fun butting heads with Khazan’s challenging, tight combat. Thanks to its gripping, tactile fights and surprisingly flexible metagame, Neople has delivered on bringing a more action-focused spin on the otherwise well-worn formula that doles out punishment and satisfaction in a measured drip feed – when everything else is working as intended.

The game has numerous layers and requires considerable thought and strategy, but once you’ve conquered the learning curve, it truly begins to shine.

Make no mistake: this isn’t the triumphant return of Metroid Prime in the same way that Dread was for the 2D series. But most of Metroid Prime 4’s issues feel rooted in a lack of focus, rather than a lack of talent. In fact, the first half of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond makes it clear that Retro Studios still has everything it takes to make a spectacular Metroid Prime game, and moments of sheer brilliance occasionally shine and sparkle in its eerie corridors until the final couple of hours. But once things went south, there was no going back. Still, I’d like to see Retro take another crack now that the burden of expectation has been lifted.

The game has a fantastic premise and offers legitimate moments of joy, but it feels like it could be so much more with additional content added to the mix. More hairstyles. More facial hair options. More conversation templates for our lingo to be slotted into. The ability to encourage a Mii to confess their love or propose, rather than just waiting for them to figure it out. More “toys” for them to play with. Just… more. As it stands, I don’t think Living the Dream will have as much longevity for me as something like Animal Crossing: New Horizons or Pokemon Pokopia (two other life simulation games on Nintendo Switch), but I’m still enjoying checking on my Miis multiple times per day, at least for now.

PGA Tour 2K25 is an adequate golf game caught under a current of technical weirdness. Regardless of how much I enjoyed being out on the golf course, watching the game freeze for the umpteenth time made me grit my teeth. Creation suites are well done this time around, both for characters and for courses, and MyCareer gives you a nice chunk of gameplay to build your character up. Some may fall off after that, but golf fans will have plenty of fun with PGA Tour 2K25… you know, when they can play it.

WWE 2K26 will scratch that video game wrestling itch, with a Wrestlemania-sized offering of matches, modes, and wrestlers to choose from. Changes to the way things are unlocked are disappointing, turning the game into more of a grind than it should be, but the different formats you'll play in order to unlock those items rise above the grind. The Island continues to impress, while the MyGM and Universe modes allow you to get deep into the nitty-gritty of show planning in a way other wrestling games have yet to manage…WWE 2K26 is another championship-caliber entry in the franchise, but it still has a ways to go to become a Hall of Famer.

Game Freak succeeds in taking the strengths from Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet to create what felt like its freshest take on Pokemon’s battle system and exploration yet. I especially recommend it to both newbies and longtime fans who enjoy exploration, experimenting with Pokemon teams, and customizing their outfits.

Borderlands 4 feels a lot like the original Xbox 360 game I played in high school, but it finally grew up and got out of its hometown to see the world. Coming back with a new perspective and some fresh ideas. I'm curious to see how the end game strategies turn out over time, and what the franchise has in store next.

For a game so concerned with artists and their creations, and with the importance of light and sound, the sheer artistry on display feels not just impressive, but meaningful, too.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is just as excellent and entertaining a platformer as it was all the way back in 2010. It can be infuriatingly punishing at times, but surpassing its finely crafted challenges delivers an immense rush of satisfaction in both co-op and solo play. This is without question the best way to experience the game today.

Mouse: P.I. For Hire is one of those titles that works better than you think it would. Nailing the Doom-like gunplay and rubber-hose art style, it’s just as enjoyable to play as it is to look at. Plus, with a stellar cast, especially Troy Baker, it’s one of the most memorable shooters you can play. There are a few holes in it, like various glitches and repetitive elements, but it's a cheese worth taking a bite of.