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.

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.

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.

Overall, it’s your usual item marketplace that can be found in many other live-service games. But the inclusion of some core progression features and rewards makes the monetization here one of the more egregious examples I can remember.

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero certainly isn’t a terrible sequel. As mentioned earlier, NIS’ usage of familiar concepts from the first game should make this offering a worthwhile treat for long-time fans. Sadly, those who are relative newcomers to the series might be turned off by the campaign structure and overall progression.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Atomfall has a lot of interesting ideas and an admirable disinterest in playing by the usual gaming rules. But there are aspects that feel like an identity crisis, and those moments take up a lot more raw time.

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.

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.

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.