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.

South of Midnight is an early game of the year contender, but that’s not all. It’s one of the best games released in this generation, a game seriously vying for a place on my list of favorite games of all time, and an utter masterpiece that future developers will talk about. At this point, I’m not sure how much more I can really gush about South of Midnight, so please, just play this game.

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.

While the story here is a simple one, it evolves as the town comes alive with lights, and is altogether heartwarming. Combine that with the game’s solid decorating gameplay, and I can see myself coming back to this one each festive season, or any time I need a quick pick-me-up.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Despite being an iterative sequel, Hades II improves upon its predecessor in every way that matters, making it one of the best action-roguelites out there.

[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.

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.

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.

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.

Will you enjoy this year if you hated Madden 25? Probably not. However, it certainly feels like EA is one step closer to joining the upper echelon of sports games if it can continue making improvements of this kind each year.

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.

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.

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.

Bleach: Rebirth of Souls is a fantastic entry for both newcomers and older fans, and helps refresh players who haven’t kept up with Bleach, so that they’re ready for the final part of the Thousand-Year Blood War anime adaptation later this year.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

Despite my admittedly minor concerns about technical issues, I loved my time with Avowed. I admire that my choices, large and small, have consequences. And because the branching possibilities for how this adventure can shake out can vary wildly, I’m already planning what I want to see the next time I embark on my subsequent trips to The Living Lands.

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.

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.

Sniper Elite: Resistance plays it safe with the exception of a few changes. The story is simple to follow, and it feels like something out of a typical action war movie. But that's not to say it's dull. Quite the opposite, actually – the team at Rebellion has mastered the art of killing Nazis, whether that be from afar or up close and personal. Jumping into Sniper Elite: Resistance is a lot like seeing that one friend you haven't spoken to in months, but your conversations pick right back up where you left off. Sure, some things have changed, but the core of what you love is still there, and that familiarity is a nice thing to return to.

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.