Warriors: Abyss at least sets down a solid foundation to work from, should Koei Tecmo have interest in doing so. It could have taken a lot more lessons from the better games in the roguelite space, but it’s an enjoyable enough game by and large. With a better story, sharper writing, and more interesting bosses, I could easily recommend this even to those who aren’t fans of the Warriors franchise. In its current form, Warriors: Abyss is not likely to impress those looking for another Hades-style time sink, but it should at least satisfy those who enjoy a good hack-and-slash.

What Dragon Ball Z: Sparkling ends up as is a good game for the millions of Dragon Ball fans out there even though it doesn’t have the general appeal of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection feels like an educational preservation effort, but one that isn’t 100% ready at launch. The fundamentals are here. The insightful elements acting as a documentary offering insight into the series is ready. Some of the extra features work well, and there’s an admirable number of games. However online isn’t really ready yet and there are some bugs that need to be stomped out.

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 Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie, ultimately, doesn’t feel like the most required game in the series. Despite pushing the world and its characters forward into a new direction, its scope is a bit too large at times. The gameplay remains as sharp as ever and the Reverie Corridor is a fun new addition, but it would have benefited more from a tighter story about C and his group.

Sure, Maglam Lord isn’t an epic AAA experience aiming to compete with Tales of or Shin Megami Tensei, but it is a pretty solid adventure all told. The Switch version does suffer from a touch of slowdown from time to time. It mostly happens if you’re in the middle of a really awesome combo in battle. But when you just want to sit down and enjoy something a little more lighthearted, it certainly scratches that itch.

Urban Jungle is interesting and happens to be one of the better organizational games like Unpacking that I’ve played. I like the defined identity of our avatar and sympathized with her situation. The concept is enjoyable too, and it scratches similar itches. It also encourages a bit of strategy, since you need to take into account other foliage, light, and humidity. However, it can also feel repetitive and restrictive sometimes, and the lack of proper handheld gaming PC and fully comprehensive controller support keeps it from being a Steam Deck must-have. With a few adjustments to the control scheme, it could be a relaxing way to pass some time.

Backpack Hero features a novel premise that makes constantly collecting items and arranging them endlessly exciting.

I love the concept behind While Waiting and the message the game conveys, but boy does it frustrate me sometimes.

I love the ambiance surrounding Hyke: Northern Light(s), as well as the witch character designs. It’s a beautiful game, for sure, and sometimes it can even feel cozy. I just wish it felt a bit more responsive when playing. The different movesets for each character are great! But sometimes, the execution doesn’t make it feel as tight and precise as it could be.

While Silent Hope does rely in a very specific sort of routine that may (or may not) click with a player, I had a lot more fun with it than I expected. It was really satisfying to go on excursions into the Abyss. So much so that I got caught up in making sure my Caster and Farmer felt “right” to use, rather than focused on progression and heading deeper for a while. That said, it is a very repetitive game that relies on a certain kind of feedback loop, and those who don’t get invested probably won’t learn all of the game’s secrets.

Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles allowed me to check out and rectify a glaring hole in my PS1 JRPG history. The story of Kururu, her mom Cornet, and the other colorful characters from this kingdom is a charming, but highly simple one. Though the gameplay and combat is a bit too simple at times, there’s no denying the catchy Japanese songs and cheery environments kept me playing in both games.

Though Alice Gear Aegis CS Concerto of Simulatrix won’t wow mecha fans with its storytelling, its substantial content base and appealing characters make it a pleasant distraction, and a showcase for top-notch mecha musume designs.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is generally fine, but I found it a less exciting remake than the ones for Yakuza 1 and 2. There are certain narrative and design decision elements that left me feeling the remaster of this could be more enjoyable sometimes. And while the Yoshitaka Mine storyline does offer some insights, the enjoyment someone would get out of it is really dependent on how much the player likes that particular character. In short, it’s a situation in which the remake does offer some benefits like quality of life combat adjustments and greater reach, but doesn’t totally replace the original game or remaster.

Disney Illusion Island is a game where I can remember specific quips from characters and story beats, but actual adventuring runs together. It entertaining and well-paced, but doesn’t stick with me in the way something like Rayman Origins or Kirby Star Allies did. It is clever in its way though, and someone who runs through it alone or with friends will definitely have a pleasant time being a “hero” with Mickey and his friends. Especially since it’s more challenging than I expected in a good way, even if some enemies do get in some cheap hits in certain situations.

I feel like there is a lot to love about Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. There truly is an amazing world to get lost in and forget about the rest of the game. However, it seems like that may be what the developers did. The team went full tilt on aesthetics and worldbuilding, and nailed it. However, the monotony of the combat and many quests takes away from the overall experience. So no, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora isn’t a soulless Far Cry clone. There is love and care put into recreating James Cameron’s world. However, once the awe of wandering Pandora eventually wears off, you’re left with a game that doesn’t have as much going on as it should in a world this vast and alive.

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.

It’s not like there aren’t any genuinely emotional moments in Grandia 3, but they’re balanced out by all of the cornball cheesiness. Still, if you can forgive this, and are up to the challenge of the battle system, then Grandia 3’s sprawling worlds are well worth adventuring through. [JPN Import]

Goat Simulator 3 is exactly what you expect from a game dedicated to celebrating parodies, exploring the weirdness of game physics, and running around the world as a “chaotic good” or “chaotic evil” goat. It can be a lot of fun! Sometimes, it can break! I still see pop-in issues after the day one patch and find myself getting stuck. Still, even when it isn’t perfect, it’s a good time. It manages to be irreverent, but simultaneously irrelevant and relevant.

The thing about Slitterhead is that the main conceit of the possession mechanic is innovative. However, the story and one-note nature bog it down. Siren had a similar method of storytelling, in that it presented a comprehensible plot yet left enough things ambiguous that to this day, fans still discuss and debate on the finer details. The problem with Slitterhead, in my opinion, is that the story isn’t so gripping that it would have that kind of impact on the playerbase. I do really enjoy how the game feels and I’m still excited for future projects from Bokeh Game Studio though. This was a really cool debut from the studio. Despite its cult classic status and passionate fanbase, Siren got pretty middling reviews from critics at launch, so time will tell if Slitterhead is exonerated in the same way.

Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher does a good job of infusing Ultraman essence into an established series, all without potentially putting people off of it. Things are handled well, and the kaiju are fun to collect and train even if you aren’t aware of their backstories.

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.

Gothic Murder: Adventure that Changes Destiny is the sort of adventure game you play when you need a break between massive games. It’s a reprieve that will make you think, but isn’t terribly taxing. Its story is also interesting enough, with a heroine who exhibits both common sense and intelligence.

Even though some of its tasks get repetitive, I can’t get over the joy that playing Everyday Today’s Menu for Emiya Family brings me. In a time when “wholesome” is thrown a lot to describe things, it… is genuinely that. You’re sitting down with (virtual) people you’ve known and loved for years to talk, make a meal with them, and enjoy each other’s company. It has that same sort of feel good quality as Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood does.

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.

As a package The Nightmare of Druaga offers a spin on the RPG and action RPG genres. Druaga offers plenty of monster slaying, treasure hunting and dungeon exploring.

La Storia Della Arcana Famiglia Rinato is such a dynamic, thrilling, and even funny otome game from HuneX and Dramatic Create.

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.