Elden Ring is a potentially great game that is hindered by massive performance issues. It doesn’t do anything particularly genre-defining, as it mostly sticks to what FromSoftware always does. It will no doubt please fans of the Dark Souls series. But its lack of accessibility options and somewhat restrictive multiplayer may leave some wanting. Ultimately, I think it will potentially offer a better experience down the line, as the day-one patch has already changed some fundamentals of the game. With no real improvement regarding its performance on PC, Elden Ring is a hard game to recommend until a more stable version is available.

Overall, God of War feels like a game made with a specific audience in mind, and I don’t fall into its parameters. Regardless though, the God of War PC port holds up well, gameplay remains similar, and it can be accessible to people with a variety of rigs. For that reason alone, it may be worth a shot.

In an attempt to make Resident Evil 4 with more modern sensibilities, it has left behind what made the original game so great to begin with.

Shadow of the Erdtree is more Elden Ring, just with a much better performance. However, I was underwhelmed by some of the locations and felt as though the boss fights weren't challenging in a way that felt rewarding when I did manage to beat them.

Franchise fans should be psyched to get the two Great Ace Attorney games, and in a polished package. It won’t change your mind about these titles one way or the other, unless you have a strong feeling about the period-piece setting. But it does what it sets out to do.

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus is a great way to revisit a visual novel that made quite a splash. For newcomers, it’s easy to hop into and enjoy, even offering the PC “workarounds.” For people who’ve joined the club before, the extra stories and media are enjoyable. The sole downside is that, with all its accessibility, Doki Doki Literature Club Plus is difficult to read on the Switch and has an unfriendly UI. It also lacks easy one-button controls for things like auto-advancing or checking the history, as its contemporaries do. Still, it’s a fascinating read and story.

I wish there were a prettier, less gruesome way to say it, but Hitman 3 is one of the most tranquil, meditative media experiences centered on acts of violence you can find. Even without that statement’s qualifiers, which places the game in a rather niche category, Hitman 3 stands out as an exceptional puzzle game. Returning fans concerned with how commonly trilogies in gaming fail to stick the landing can breath a sigh of relief, too. Hitman 3’s gameplay is enveloped by a well-told conclusion that continues to implement the trappings of genre without spoiling its surprises.

With amazing visuals, a fun story, and short bite-sized stages, this is a game you can easily pick up and put down.

While I feel like the Jupiter nonograms in Picross feature some better executed puzzles and final designs, Squeakross: Home Squeak Home offers a fresh take on a nonogram game. The character and home customization really provide an incentive to solve puzzles. The quality of life features and controls work well, so you could easily play with a controller. It’s a cute approach to a classic puzzle genre with plentiful play incentives.

What this This Way Madness Lies lacks in terms of narrative depth, it more than makes up for in refreshing combat and clever characterization. It’s a breath of fresh air that also serves as a heartfelt sendup to both classic JRPGs and classic literature.

Ultimately, it feels like the game could have benefited from a smaller scope or a more linear structure. Focus on the duels could have created a more engrossing product, especially if it honed in on the narrative for a more concise and cinematic experience. But as it stands, Ghost of Tsushima is another AAA open world title and doesn’t seek to define itself as anything other than that.

Otomate knows how nonsensical the concept for Cupid Parasite is, rolls with it, and I am here for it. It is absolutely a lot. But it’s so different that it’s refreshing. Especially since Cupid is a great heroine. That does mean that, for some, it’s so ridiculous that it might be distracting. Especially since part of the game is dedicated to making the men seem incredibly weird. But the real heartache comes from the fact that it launched in such a state. Especially since, a month later, it is still like this. I enjoyed it, but I strongly recommend waiting for the patch.

When it comes down to it, Life is Strange: True Colors tells a good story, includes a strong cast of characters, and feels like a suitable successor in what is a reliable line of adventures that deal with tough topics. It has heart and people who enjoy adventure games and the series will likely fall in love with Alex, Steph, Ryan, and Haven Springs. If someone isn’t into the series though, it might not be the installment that changes their minds and makes them a fan.

Whereas Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley felt like you got to experience a new story in Moomin lore, Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is closer to an interactive storybook game. It puts its own spin on a beloved story while maintaining the original spirit of Tove Jansson’s work, making it a delight for fans regardless of familiarity. I’m not sure if Hyper Games will continue the series, but I would be interested to see what it comes up with next.

Lies of P is a game that draws inspiration from a handful of things that have remained within the popular consciousness for good reason, and at the very least attempts to set out and build upon the foundations set by those inspirations. And while it will more than likely please those looking to scratch the itch Bloodborne left behind, its lackluster localization and generally narrow playstyle may leave some wanting. Especially after the release of Armored Core VI, which is hard to hold a candle to by comparison. That said it’s a game that has a lot of ideas, some that manage to hit and others that sort of slide off. Ultimately, Lies of P is an interesting spin on an age-old fairy tale and attempts to fill the hole Bloodborne left behind, and it really tries its best to do so.

After going through a few Virche Evermore -Error: Salvation- routes, I feel like this is a Switch otome that could appeal to those who enjoyed games like Code: Realize or Piofiore and want something even more mature. It’s a darker and more visceral tale where it feels difficult to earn that happy ending. However, it is incredibly graphic and violent, which could turn some people looking for love off. What is here is intriguing, but it is a lot and not for everyone. Especially since the good endings are so walled off.

BlazBlue Entropy Effect is an enjoyable roguelike that players will no doubt be able to play for more than a handful of hours. It sets itself apart from other games within the same genre due to it’s strong focus on characters and character builds, but the same-ness of stages leaves something to be desired. However, due to the limited stages and lack of engaging story it may not be too enticing for those looking for a roguelike with a little more substance.

It is this general lack of memorable content, or downright terrible additions, that hold back Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 significantly. This could easily be the fourth best game in the series if it had the content and maps to match its gameplay. Even still, that gameplay is enough for me to have some fun and recommend this title to others. There is something so enticing about the Omnimovement system that I hope is in every non-jetpack title from now on. The incredible feel of BO6 is enough to keep me hooked for now until, hopefully, Treyarch gives us worthy content to enjoy.

Celestia: Chain of Fate is an okay enough otome game for those in search of a game with Harry Potter-like academy, magic, angels, and demons. However, it doesn’t really do much to stand out otherwise. The character designs aren’t as striking as those in its contemporaries, there is awkward phrasing in the script, the story involves some common situations and tropes, and there are certain absent quality of life features.

Even though its more visually polished than some of the other shooters out there, the lack of innovation and the small number of seven stages makes Gradius V a must for fans of the series only. [JPN Import]

When it shines, Space Marine 2 can be really good but there’s just a few too many irritating flaws to recommend it as much as I want to.

Though the story can sometimes verge on the uncomfortable—it delves into themes of child abuse, self-harm, and sexual violence—it still provided a fascinating read. The pencil crayon-like artwork of 100 Nen is also a treat, giving the whole game a unique and eye-catching aesthetic. Ichiko and Aria’s relationship developing from indifference to friendship to an obsessive love that bordered on hatred is the kind of content I always eat up, and man, did MAGES provide a feast.

Magical Delicacy offers a cozy and relaxing experience that you can play at a leisurely pace, which makes it inclusive to all players, regardless of skill level. The cooking aspects are done incredibly well, and it creates an enticing gameplay loop where you want to keep making new dishes. However, the game was not ambitious enough with its centralized theme about witches, which had ample opportunities to introduce some fascinating mechanics but failed to capitalize on this, ultimately holding back the experience.

Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster reminded me of just how fun the older Final Fantasy titles were. It will potentially be something of a hit-or-miss for die-hard fans of the original entry, with its poor user interface and reimagined pixel artwork. However, this is a great a time as ever for newcomers to check this classic entry in the Final Fantasy series out. As it offers a fair amount of quality of life improvements that will appeal to modern sensibilities and make the game easier to pick up and play.

It doesn’t have the depth of some similar simulations and I’m not sure it will have the staying power of an Animal Crossing game. It’s definitely a pleasant, simple simulation.

How much you enjoy Raccoin: Coin Pusher Roguelike will depend on how you feel about luck determining the course of every run instead of skill. It is a roguelike, but the influence of RNG in so many ways can make it feel like it’s all up to chance instead. Because even though you are gradually unlocking new characters, coins, prizes, and such via hitting milestones, the very nature of it means that builds might end up feeling meaningless unless factors outside of your control align. It will still be fun, but it means accepting how little influence you can exert over each run.

While Octopath Traveler 0 scratches the JRPG itch in some satisfying ways, I found it often never feels as captivating as the first two games. Our protagonist doesn’t feel as connected to events as the companions for the campaign quests, even with what happened to Wishvale. The heroes from Octopath Traveler 1 and 2 get stronger stories. I miss being able to play around with character builds like I did in past games too. The town building element is fantastic, constant access to all Path Actions is handy, and the eight-character party in battles allows for some fun strategic options. But I do hope the next entry in the series is more like Octopath Traveler 1 and 2 than 0.

The thing about Gnosia is it is incredibly compelling. Perhaps even frustratingly so. It is a game where I wanted to know what was going on. Even when it became repetitive or I got tired of loops with no real progression, I couldn’t look away. I had to play one more round to level up a stat again. One more chance to see if that would unlock another missing profile detail for a character I liked. An extra run, because really it might only take fifteen minutes anyway. There are a few issues that keep it from being perfect, but I’ll keep coming back to search for answers.