007 First Light represents IOI at its peak. While there are still some clear areas for improvement, I’m happy to report that First Light takes all of the slick charm and espionage goodness we love about the Bond movies, and successfully adapts them for the video game format.

If you can look past its rough edges, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth ends up being an excellent open-world game that's very easy to enjoy on the go.

Mina the Hollower isn't just a nostalgic throwback to the 2D action games of the Game Boy era; it's an innovative, ambitious attempt at pushing the genre forward while also celebrating the magic of what made those games so special.

The success of a roguelike lives and dies by its replayability and enemy variety, not just the depth of its classes and items. I think genre fans will likely be pleased with what Rune Dice has to offer, but considering how crowded the genre itself is right now, it's hard to give this one a full-throated recommendation as it stands.

Directive 8020 is a generally fun romp through a sci-fi horror flick with predictable jump scares and familiar plot beats, though it's often bogged down by utterly torturous gameplay segments that can ruin the pacing of the story. Sometimes, less gameplay really is better.

In some ways, I suppose Mixtape's short length is reflective of its thesis, too. Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Despite some small missteps along the way, inKONBINI never wears out its welcome and remains a delightful experience from start to finish. It's a game that perfectly captures the wistful longing of the 90s. A reminder of a time when being analog was a way of life, not just an aesthetic or a vibe. Slow down, and you just might start being able to appreciate the beauty of imperfection, too.

Saros lives up to its name of being a bullet ballet in every sense of the word. It's a fast-paced, frenetic shooter adventure that never lets up from start to finish. While the story leaves a lot to be desired, learning the intricacies of each deathly dance with Saros' bosses is some of the most fun I've had in a video game in ages.

Set against a dystopian AI backdrop, Pragmata highlights the contrast between the soulless perfectionism of machines and the miraculous flaws of humanity.

As fun as RACCOIN is, you do need to be ready to accept that there’s likely going to be a huge amount of variance between runs. That being said, RACCOIN more than makes up for the RNG grind by rewarding you with huge shots of dopamine when things do get going. There’s nothing more satisfying than watching all the coins on your platform form a huge tower stack before getting knocked over by the sweeping long neck of a well-placed giraffe coin, after all.

I’ve been in the market for a new multiplayer obsession, and I’m happy to report that Bungie has done it yet again.

When you cut through the artificial difficulty nonsense, Screamer ends up becoming one of the tightest, stylish racers you'll play this year. It's just a shame you have to sit through a poor story mode to get to the good stuff.

Bugs aside, Vampire Therapist held my attention from start to finish, with the main story taking around 12 hours to complete. It’s a poignant exploration of what it means to truly live and a gentle reminder to keep our hearts and minds open to change — even when it feels scary. So curl up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate and get to therapisin’, pardner.

Resident Evil Requiem is the culmination of everything Capcom has been working towards since the release of RE7 in 2017, and the team's efforts have paid off in dividends. This is the most confident mainline entry the series has seen in the past decade, and with the tragedy of Raccoon City finally behind us, I'm looking forward to seeing what the dawn of the new age will bring.

Clocking in at around six hours or so for the critical path, Scott Pilgrim EX is an absolute blast from start to finish. Grab three friends, prepare some snacks, and bask in the joy of knowing that every Vegan, Robot, and Demon you annihilate is in service of the band.

For what it is, God of War: Sons of Sparta is a perfectly serviceable game that presents a story about Kratos that fans should absolutely check out. It suffers from its fair share of drawbacks, but as a one-time 11-hour romp through history, it gets the job done.

Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse deftly weaves together fiction and legend to create a dramatic mystery that hooks you in from the very start. The Mermaid's Curse nails the payoff with aplomb, while delivering on the most compelling and morbid summer vacation you'll ever experience.

Mewgenics is an unflinchingly and unapologetically off-putting game that isn't afraid to roll around and play in the muck. Look past its comically unappealing veneer, however, and you'll find that there's plenty for tactical RPG fans to love here. From the endless customization to the genius design of the bosses and levels, Mewgenics is a must-play for fans of both tactical RPGs and roguelikes.

While my gripes with the series as a whole persist in this third entry, Team Ninja also makes great strides in refining and innovating upon its strong points. Nioh 3 is a confident step forward for Team Ninja, and the strongest entry in the series yet.

The Dragon Quest series has always excelled at cultivating a cozy vibe, and Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is no different. With a striking diorama aesthetic and a genuine desire to be as warm and inviting as possible, this is an RPG that achieves exactly what it's going for with aplomb.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade's Switch 2 port is a technical marvel on all fronts, and it serves as a stellar showcase of what Nintendo's new console is truly capable of.

With the Switch 2 port, fans can finally experience Persona 3 Reload the way it was meant to be played — under the sheets during the Dark Hour, jabbing away at your screen and blearily wiping your eyes as you save the world with the power of friendship.

There’s no denying that Unbeatable is a very special game. Yet as hard as I tried to love it, I constantly found myself being thrust out of the experience whenever the story took a weird left turn or suddenly decided it was time to do yet another mundane task that had no bearing on anything. When it was finally time for the last song, I was more than happy to let it play out and enjoy it for what it is. At the same time, I knew I wouldn’t be clamoring for an encore.

Octopath Traveler 0's boldness in changing up the formula should be commended, even if some of those changes can feel like a step backward, especially when it comes to the characters and writing. Still, this game is proof that with a powerful soundtrack and an innovative combat system that has you making interesting decisions at every turn, you can be forgiven for just about anything.

Demonschool is one of the most innovative tactical RPGs I’ve played this year. While I fully acknowledge that its irreverent tone may not be for everyone, it’s still an easy recommendation for RPG fans, especially those looking for a more in-depth strategic experience that truly tests your ability to visualize your moves before they happen.

As it stands, however, Dispatch is the culmination of all the lessons AdHoc's developers have learned from their time at Telltale Games and Night School Studio. This is a game that knows exactly what kind of story it wants to tell, and it tells it confidently, self-assuredly, even in a genre that was once considered to be overcrowded and overdone.

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is undoubtedly the best way to experience these games, but while I appreciated its new accessibility features, there are still some archaic elements and new design decisions that keep me from coming back for more.

BALL x PIT checks off everything I want in a roguelite game I can take on the go (I played on Switch with no performance issues whatsoever). The numbers get big, the chaotic nature of the levels, with skeletons and other eldritch horrors exploding in piles of goo, blood, and tar lit up parts of my lizard brain I never even knew existed. BALL x PIT‘s depth and simplicity make it one of the most compelling roguelite games I’ve played this year, holding its own against the likes of Loop Hero and Balatro in this increasingly competitive genre.