While there are a few small missteps with the Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection, they ultimately pale when compared to the broad, useful features added. The fact that not only can fans and first-timers enjoy the Star Force series, but can also tailor their experiences to their liking without the need for emulators is wonderful, and Capcom's efforts to release much older games in bundles on modern platforms really should be commended. If you're a newcomer interested in quirky action RPGs or a long-time fan looking to re-experience the magic, the Star Force Legacy Collection is an easy recommend from me.

Etrange Overlord is my biggest surprise of the year so far. A perfectly-paced action RPG with a phenomenal cast of characters, and a genuine sense of ironically grim humor.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is my favorite in the series, and yet I can't help but admit that I was a little disappointed that the vaunted extra story focus being a bit squandered in practice stings. For most fans or newcomers, I don't think this will be a dealbreaker - and it certainly wasn't for me - but it's a shame that what was already such a fantastic Monster-Battling RPG in terms of gameplay stumbles just enough to prevent it from reaching its full potential. They've perfected the gameplay loop, so hopefully next go around Monster Hunter Stories can finally live up to that moniker.

Towerborne is a game that’s integrally different from Stoic’s previous work in nearly every way, but you can still feel the studio’s unique voice and personality come through in so much of the world-building and writing. It is a rock-solid beat ‘em up that can take you a long way, especially with friends, but ultimately, I hope the studio gets a chance to return to this world again, because there’s truly a spark of something even more special still hidden in the foundation.

Much of what I loved in Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo still applies in Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse. It is a compelling mystery adventure game that tones down the horror aspect of the previous entry in exchange for more involved puzzle-solving segments. I think it is also an extremely tricky game to write about in a pre-release capacity because much of its charm is wrapped up in spoiling surprises. I have a few qualms with how its story comes together in a few spots, but it is a minor blemish in an otherwise extremely great entry in the Paranormasight series again, and I hope they continue to make more in the future.

This is why I love video games. This game doesn’t feel like just another piece of content to check off a list. This is what art should be. Messy, fun, uncomfortable, imperfect, free of corporate meddling, and drenched in the soul of the human beings who made it.

The first Nioh marked a great debut for a long-dormant project that had been considered vaporware at one point, and Nioh 2 refined both the mechanics and the storytelling style. In places, Nioh 3 feels like a manufactured return to the series, changing up the formula and resulting in a more mixed bag, and that's what Nioh 3 turned out to be in my eyes. If you come to Nioh primarily for fights and challenges, you will enjoy this new game because it brings an even more varied action combat system. Overall though, those also hoping to find compelling storytelling and worldbuilding might end up finding those aspects rather lackluster. I sincerely hope Team Ninja can use this lesson should they ever get to make a Wo Long 2.

The first Nioh marked a great debut for a long-dormant project that had been considered vaporware at one point, and Nioh 2 refined both the mechanics and the storytelling style. In places, Nioh 3 feels like a manufactured return to the series, changing up the formula and resulting in a more mixed bag, and that's what Nioh 3 turned out to be in my eyes. If you come to Nioh primarily for fights and challenges, you will enjoy this new game because it brings an even more varied action combat system. Overall though, those also hoping to find compelling storytelling and worldbuilding might end up finding those aspects rather lackluster.

Steel Century Groove is a feel good indie RPG, and the type of project that reminds you of just how much creativity can be found outside of the AAA industry. I can't wait to see what project they decide to work on next.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins, one of 2025's best games, has gotten a great handheld conversion for Nintendo Switch 2. While it is unfortunate that this late port doesn't include the new Visions of Four Heroes DLC in its base release, this is easily one of the better Switch 2 ports and a massive step up over the Warriors games on Switch 1 in just about every way. If you skipped it on other platforms or just want a great portable experience, Dynasty Warriors: Origins on Switch 2 is an easy recommendation.

I don’t know what is coming next for our friends in Zemuria, or when we will get to see it, but The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon has still been the most fun I’ve had in Calvard yet. Yeah, it still plays, looks, and feels like Daybreak 1 and 2 for the most part, but with the exception of the time skip and engine change between Cold Steel 2 and 3, games of an arc tend to do that, so it was expected.

Octopath Traveler 0 is the type of game that sneaks up on you. Maybe it isn't immediately obvious what makes it great, even if the deficiencies are impossible to ignore; every now and then something will stick out like a sore thumb that betrays what the game originally was, even if that's not necessarily what the game is now, in its current form. When taken on its own merits, Octopath Traveler 0 is the type of RPG you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else - and a fascinating case study in how, much like Final Fantasy prior, Octopath Traveler can reinvent its core elements while still maintaining an identity as a franchise.

Quartet might not find itself on the highest pedestal alongside its most obvious influences, but against contemporaries attempting similar throwback experiences, it holds its own thanks to a vibrant soundtrack, lush environments, and an immensely satisfying combat system. It might not be something classic, but it's absolutely something worth experiencing, especially if you have a fondness for the mid-'90s golden age of console RPGs.

I might not have liked everything they did with Dragon Quest I here, but it got me to reflect on what parts of Dragon Quest I found special to me. In Dragon Quest II, a game I originally respected but didn’t really enjoy as much, it got me to reflect on what I value from this entire franchise. Dragon Quest II was the perfect playground for this team to take the lessons learned from the pacing and storytelling of nine other Dragon Quest games and apply them to a game that always felt lacking. It manages to elevate so much of the original II and turn it into one of my new favorite games in the series. It’s a crowning achievement, and anyone who enjoys classical turn-based RPGs should give DQII its flowers now.

Demonschool works because it trusts you. It doesn’t over-explain or lean too hard on creaky nostalgia. You solve the weirdness and enjoy the ride. Strategic, puzzle-like combat replaces grinding, and seeing multiple endings is devilish fun. The only scary thing is how fun it is.

Revisiting games I loved many years ago is sometimes scary because I worry I may not enjoy certain aspects with the context of newer games in a specific series. Yakuza Kiwami 2 is still one of my favorites in the series and while this Switch 2 port isn't perfect, it exceeded my expectations despite some issues. If you haven't played Yakuza Kiwami 2 before and want to experience it on the go, the Switch 2 port is a very good way to do so, but I hope the performance issues can be addressed. If you have played it before, I only really recommend this if you want to revisit it on a handheld.

For a certain type of player, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment will be the single game you'll end up sinking the most time into on your Switch 2. If it wasn't for every other RPG I've yet to play this year, I might have ended up in those shoes. Age of Imprisonment isn't just a great Zelda spinoff, but confidently stands among some of the singular best games in the entire Zelda series. I simply can't recommend it enough for anyone who is a fan of the Warriors' genre.

What I get out of Stray Children, more than anything else, is that the people at Onion Games are some of the brightest creative voices in the business. There’s a subtextual plea in how this game was designed to understand them. Stray Children wants you to get the appeal of what used to make games like this so special, and that sincerity is infectious. I’ve seen so many retro revivals fail to understand why people liked games of the '90s. There was an excitement in partaking in the boom of a brand-new art form, and that excitement has understandably waned in the last 30 years. Stray Children takes that feeling and does something beautiful with it.

The Outer Worlds 2 is much like its predecessor in that it is a witty, smart, and energetic adventure. Its highs threaten to touch the stratosphere as easily as the protagonist's spaceship - but its lows mine as deep as some of those poor, slaving Auntie's Choice workers. From this site's more specific angle of interest, its role-playing feels more meaningful and satisfying than in its predecessor or Avowed, Obsidian's other recent action RPG. In a vacuum, it's an enjoyable romp - but no entertainment or art exists in a true vacuum, really. Just as The Outer Worlds 2's scathing commentary on consumerism and blind faith reflects on our real world, so too does our real world reflect on it at the time of its release. Like the game's moral quandaries, it's all about player choice - but in the real world, the consequences are real.

Years ago, I said that Pokemon Legends: Arceus proved that there was room in the Pokemon world for more games like Pokemon Colosseum to exist, and to even thrive. While Pokemon Legends: Z-A wasn't quite what I had in mind, it feels like validation nonetheless. Pokemon is at its best when Gamefreak is allowed to experiment with what a Pokemon game can actually be, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A is an affirmation that the series isn't done evolving, much like the Pokemon themselves. If this is the future of the series - more experimental "Legends" titles which attempt to broaden the Pokemon world in ways that only they can, instead of merely retreading old ground with remakes - I couldn't be happier.

Despite an underwhelming conclusion, Drova: Forsaken Kin is an incredibly fun and challenging game in many ways, and it likely would have made my personal top five last year had I played it when it released. It utilizes a smart integration of challenging environmental exploration, rewarding player progression, and intricate world design to create one of the most engaging RPGs I've played in a while. Only some shortcomings with writing and storytelling hold it back from being recommended without hesitation.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger is an excellent game that carries the spirit of a PS2-era JRPG in its heart. The sheer amount of care put into portraying the Digital World: Iliad and all the Digimon that inhabit it clearly shows the passion that the developers had when developing Time Stranger throughout the years. Its narrative has its fair share of ups and downs, but I think it goes into some wild places and finishes very strong with a finale that will have Digimon fans screaming in joy. There’s certainly a handful of unrefined aspects, such as how its fast travel is handled and the disjointed feeling brought about by its unvoiced protagonist, but it can’t be denied that this is not only one of the best Digimon games ever – it’s just a damn good game on its own.

Hades II is a triumph in every way, and the degree to which the studio has built on the original makes it feel like we have gotten two sequels in one.

Replaying Final Fantasy Tactics has reaffirmed and strengthened my belief that this is one of the best strategy RPGs ever created. Its complex and engrossing story, multi-faceted characters, and flexible gameplay remain a masterclass that has rarely been surpassed in the nearly 30 years since we took our first steps into Ivalice and the boots of Ramza Beoulve. The Ivalice Chronicles, with its enhancements, has managed to make a version that is a vastly more approachable and understandable product, while not detracting in the slightest from what longtime players remember and expect. The inclusion of the original title is just the cherry on top. While there are a few subtle tweaks or settings I would love to see added, I can’t imagine ever playing Final Fantasy Tactics again without using the Ivalice Chronicles version. Final Fantasy Tactics and the Zodiac Brave Story remain one of the best titles in Square Enix’s vast library of classics.

Trails 1st is the type of RPG I can definitively point towards and say “This is a must play.” It’s up there with Dragon Quest XI as a fantastic entry into RPGs for newcomers, as well as a master-class in RPG design for genre veterans. The world, the characters, the progression — everything just flows extremely well. It’s not often that developers get a second crack at an existing game, and remakes can sometimes miss the mark, but I feel more than satisfied as a new player with the game, and am eager to see what comes next. Now begins the long (but not too long) wait for the Trails 2nd remake. Maybe I’ll check out some of the older Legend of Heroes games while I wait...

At its best, Grand Bazaar represents the best of what makes Story of Seasons so great, and reminds me of how much I loved the series when I was younger. Even if the game's balance feels like a glaring issue, I can't deny that all the changes big and small have made this remake feel like a more complete and fulfilling experience, one that makes all the time spent investing in Zephyr Town feel engaging. At the end of the day, that's what I choose to focus on. If this is a sign of things to come for the series, I have faith that its in good hands.

OFF to me is like dumping a box of puzzle pieces on the table. You comb through them to try and piece the puzzle together, but you notice over time that it seems like some pieces were never meant to fully click into one another. You make it far in the puzzle, and take a step back. You can’t fully piece the puzzle together, but the process of trying is rewarding. I have seen and done everything in this game, and I still feel like I don’t fully understand it. The lack of closure and lingering thoughts that I have are so much more poignant than any explicit explanation.

If you have a dedicated group of friends that is ready and willing to play through the game together, whether that's in person or online, Wild Hearts S is an easy recommendation. If you're hoping to do multiplayer with randoms, then it gets a bit trickier. Wild Hearts S is a great game, but make sure you understand what you're signing up for before picking it up. While it's one of the best 3rd-party releases for the Switch 2 so far, it's a real question for how long the community might last.