Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden continues what The Isle Dragon Roars so brilliantly started: a riff on JRPG foundations delivered in tabletop style, cleverly marrying two closely-related but different sources of inspiration. Its unique spin on the religious pilgrimage theme makes for a compelling, thought-provoking tale that channels classic RPG storytelling style without feeling constrained by it. But more than anything, The Forsaken Maiden proves Voice of Cards’ value as an RPG framework that can play host to all sorts of adventures, and I can’t wait to see what else comes out of it.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a thrilling step for the Pokemon franchise, and introduces a new style of gameplay that I hope to see further expanded in sequels. Though it shows a lot of promise, the game fails to compete with other open world titles in presentation and variety. I’m stoked about the future of the series, but wish this particular entry aimed higher. Despite that lack of ambition, the game’s charm is undeniable and kept me engaged throughout. For the first time in a while, I’m excited to see what comes next for Pokemon.

It has its share of new ideas, but for the most part, Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is a classic metroidvania, and it wears that heritage proudly. The inspiration from games like Symphony of the Night is abundant, right down to a little homage to Alucard in the way Deedlit’s cape animates when she runs. “Indie retro-inspired metroidvania” isn’t exactly a rarity these days, but Wonder Labyrinth has the goods, with the intricate level design, fluid movement, and steady stream of worthwhile upgrades that sit at the genre’s heart. It’s probably not going to make a metroidvania fan out of someone who isn’t one already, but as a throwback to Castlevania’s heyday in particular, it’s an impressive effort.

Fun new ideas, tweaks to old systems, and a captivating new chapter in Sophie’s story all help Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream feel like a natural next step after Atelier Sophie, despite the handful of other Ateliers we’ve seen in the meantime. But more than than that, what makes Sophie 2 stand out is what has always made this series stand out: its absolute commitment to pure, unadulterated joy. That’s what you come to Atelier for, and it’s what Sophie’s latest outing delivers in spades.

Warp Frontier is an intriguing, impressive game. It’s got all the pieces of a classic point-and-click adventure, with a few neat twists on that formula and a neat hint system in case you get stuck. Through that, it weaves a gripping science-fiction tale, blending noir and dystopian influences through an excellent, uniquely Australian script backed by equally strong voice performances. Whether you’re after a puzzle-filled adventure game or just an engrossing and thought-provoking story, Warp Frontier has you covered.

But as a case study in how well musou action and turn-based strategy can work together, Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires delivers. It’s the best parts of Koei Tecmo’s grand strategy games and the energetic, strategic combat of Dynasty Warriors, rolled together in a way that elevates both sides of the calculation. That’s long been the case for the Empires line, but building off the strong foundation of Dynasty Warriors 9, this one does it better than most.

Beyond superplays and some rudimentary graphics settings, the PC version of Crimzon Clover: World EXplosion is mostly the same as what landed in Switch in 2020—which is another way of saying it’s the best version of one of the finest doujin shmups around.

The Hundred Year Kingdom has become my go-to when I want a quick little game to unwind with before bed (that inevitably ends up keeping me up way later than I should, because of that “one more turn!” itch). It’s pocket-sized strategy game whose minimalist systems hide a surprising amount of depth and soothing, satisfying way of scratching that civilization-building itch.

Five years after Horizon Zero Dawn debuted on the Playstation 4 and solidified Aloy as a fan favourite in the Playstation mascots lineup, Guerrilla Games have crafted an excellent follow-up. Horizon Forbidden West is, in every way, more substantial and more immersive than its predecessor. If Horizon Zero Dawn was your jam, then this is a must-play. If you enjoyed it but found the world arid and lacking, then Forbidden West has enough packed in the world that it may just get its machine claws into you. I would be flabbergasted if it doesn’t make a Game of the Year nomination list.

Retro Bowl is, easily, one of the most downright enjoyable American football games of the last few years, and its appearance on Switch is a welcome antidote to a dearth of decent handheld gridiron. The Tecmo Bowl inspiration is abundant, and this is a loving homage to a classic full of retro charm, but it also packs a surprising amount of modern design influence under the hood. With quick, rewarding play sessions and a fine balance between ease of play, depth, authenticity, and excitement, Retro Bowl belongs on every football fan’s Switch.

Edge of Eternity is tough to recommend—which is a real shame, because the potential and ambition here is clear. There’s some entertainment to be found in its combat system and the sense of wonder in its more impressive zones, but it’s held back by a lack of substance once the sense of wonder starts to wear off and a woeful story.

It’s that charm and playfulness that keeps Grapple Dog going, through its ups and downs. Slightly unwieldy controls mean the fluidity you’d expect isn’t always there, particularly on the trickier levels that demand more precision, but it’s hard to get too frustrated at something so gosh-darn cute. And when the grapple hook mechanic and nifty level design do come together just right, which is more often than not, the exhilarating result makes the odd annoyance worthwhile. A grappling hook and a dog just go together—I don’t make the rules.

The Letter is an accomplished visual novel: a riveting tale of curses, ghosts, and tragedy, drawing on the traditions of Asian horror cinema and built upon an inconceivably complex web of branching, intertwined narrative threads. That’s a hell of a feat for anyone, let alone as the first project for a young indie studio.

Monster Hunter is a series about systems—Capcom can’t escape that, no matter how much marketing and PR they throw at it. But it isn’t a series about getting it either, as much as its staunchest adherents would have you believe. It’s about feeling it. And Monster Hunter Rise feels good—simple as that.

At the heart of all this, though, OlliOlli World is classic OlliOlli. It’s part combo-centric skating game, part momentum-driven platformer, part arcade-style score chaser that rewards mastery and experimentation. All these pieces come together wonderfully, and those moments when you’re grinding along a tree branch or the spine of some monstrous skeleton in the desert, clinging to your perfect combo and praying you nail the landing, are pure adrenaline. New tricks, new gimmicks, and an intriguing new setting add a lot to an already strong core, and there’s more room for expression and a lower skill floor, but OlliOlli World is still the absolute rush OlliOlli has always been.

I wish there was more to it—a tube-shooter-style racing game is an interesting concept, but it’s one that needs some solid design to bring depth and variety into the mix. Without that, the racing in Gravity Chase ends up being hollow: flying along a tube where normal race dynamics—cornering, braking, race lines, trying not to crash!—don’t exist and there’s nothing of note in their place. A well-made tube racer could be a lot of fun, but “go fast in what may as well be a straight line, and try to hit the blue pads while fighting deliberately unwieldy controls” is a long way off from that.

When all the pieces come together, Operation STEEL finds a nice balance between the controlled chaos of a roguelike and the precision of a shoot-’em-up. A bad draw will sometimes put those two influences at odds, but more often than not, there’s an exciting confluence of styles of play that, on paper, seem incompatible. That’s an impressive feat as it is, but even more so for a solo developer’s first project.

In true Alfa System style, Castle of Shikigami 2 sets a rock-solid shmup foundation and then builds on that with creative flair, unique character, and inventive twists–like a match-three style puzzle boss. The Steam port brings revives an arcade classic with the remixed layouts and bullet patterns of New Entry mode and a revamped translation that, if missing some of the comical nonsense of the original English script, offers a much more coherent take on a game that puts a lot of stake in its energetic, character-specific cutscenes.

People like to joke about “the power of friendship” as a trope in JRPGs, but Blue Reflection: Second Light takes that notion and, as earnestly and sincerely as possible, makes it the heart of a truly wonderful adventure. Gust’s sense of atmosphere and aesthetic is second to none, and that’s never been more apparent than it is here. With themes of friendship, love, and support at its core, and every aspect of the game’s design serving those ideas, Second Light is one of the most genuinely uplifting, heartwarming, wholesome games I’ve played in a long time.

Aspire: Ina’s Tale sets itself apart with stunning visual design and a story that, in knowing exactly when to leave things unsaid, encourages reflection just as it does adventure and excitement. It’s vivid, brimming with little details, but also leaves the door open to personal interpretation. It’s a shame that the game itself can’t reach the same heights, though, with lacklustre puzzle design and lots of little frustrations that get in the way of Ina’s inspiring tale, rather than enhancing it.

One aspect of Ghostrunner that is consistently impressive is the presentation.

Shadow Tactics: Aiko’s Choice manages to be both a welcome expansion for old fans and a surprisingly good place for a new player to jump in. It builds upon Blades of the Shogun in intriguing ways, and even though its challenge and complexity mirrors the later stages of that game, brevity and instructive level design make Aiko’s Choice uniquely placed to showcase what makes tactical stealth games as engrossing as they can be. For a niche genre that’s not exactly known to be welcoming to newcomers, that’s an impressive feat.

The idea at the heart of Memories of East Coast—a solemn reflection on guilt and grief, told through the eyes of someone reconnecting with their tragic past—is a sound one, but it’s too underdeveloped and riddled with grammatical errors to come close to delivering on its potential. I admire the effort that goes into a solo project like this, but shelling out even for just a professional proofread, if not a full edit, would have gone a long way.

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl may be the weakest entries in the series yet, and it’s a testament to the franchise’s solid foundations that I liked them at all. Their cheap graphical presentation is salvaged by a combat system that, despite its lack of innovation, has been steadily refined over twenty-five years. Thankfully, there are two other Pokemon games on the Nintendo Switch, so you can play one of those instead.

That simple sense of fun and frivolity is the spirit that runs through Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain, and the thing that separates it from more “serious” brain training games. It doesn’t push any boundaries, but what it lacks in a structured training regimen it makes up for in playful energy and a party game touch. Sometimes you want to meticulously practice an instrument, but sometimes you just want to jam—Brain vs Brain is the brain training version of the latter.

Death Stranding: Director’s Cut is a solid remaster with smart upgrades that build upon the original release without taking away from what made it a unique experience. The game itself has a lot to say and some of it is genuinely compelling, however, the pacing is abhorrent and the core gameplay is a deadly pill made out of tedium and boredom, that I really wish I hadn’t swallowed. Let’s hope I’m a Repatriate.

Between the monster-raising simulation reminiscent of handheld virtual pets, the relatively untouched PlayStation aesthetic, and the crucial role that CDs hold in both game design and narrative, Monster Rancher is about as quintessentially ‘90s as a game can get. Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX does a fine job of carrying these two PS1 classics into today’s age, both preserving the originals’ charm, and reworking that core, CD-driven system for an age of digital media. And with the social media potential of the latter—the endlessly shareable fun of seeing what monsters your favourite albums create—maybe Monster Rancher is a quintessentially 2020s game, too.

Despite the apparent frivolity of its setup, it’s an honest, heartbreaking story about an extremely difficult subject, approached with utmost care and all the more confronting for it. But it’s a painful journey that needs to be taken, with a hopeful message at the end of it, and the warm embrace of close friends and treasured childhood memories to carry you there.