Zenless Zone Zero is a snappy action game that feels rewarding to master. Though the story can fall flat at times, the characters are so fun that it’s fun to see their reactions. The presentation of the plot—the comic book format and the colorful animations—keeps it entertaining and fresh. Instead of appealing to everyone, it feels like it’s striving to hit a particular audience and I personally am one of those people. Hopefully the dailies won’t be too hard to manage on top of everything else in the market.

While Wuthering Waves has improved since its lackluster launch, its weak story and lingering managerial issues persist to hamper it.

I suppose what really hurts Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is that Luigi’s Mansion 3 is on the Switch and feels like the definitive entry in the series. It’s great to be able to go back to the earlier installment on the system. Especially since it is fun for what it is. It’s still enjoyable, and it looks great. I suppose my only regret is that the format of it felt better on the 3DS, and the limits of the more mission-based approach are more strongly felt on this console.

Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends is a sweet and cute game with an easy gameplay loop that keeps me coming back for more. With all the customization options, as well as so many different recipes to max out, there’s quite a lot to do even if you’re not interested in the story. Just make sure you have the number of your local sushi shop on speed dial! You’re going to want a plate of nigiri or two while playing this game.

The premise of the mystery in Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is simple and lighthearted, and it is never uninteresting. It helps a lot that the cast of wacky characters have very marked personalities and fun relationships. By the end of the game, I came to care for Eugene and the great cast of the game. The game lasts roughly between 2 to 3 hours, and it is the perfect length for the story it aims to tell. However… I want more! Considering how the game ends, I can imagine seeing more of Eugene McQuacklin, maybe with a new sidekick and putting his life back together. And I think the world in general deserves more Duck Detective.

While there is so much to see here, rarely does anything work properly to make the experience feel worthwhile. I do believe there is a solid farming sim RPG in the making with SunnySide, but it could take a long time and plenty of updates to reach that potential. For now, I don’t recommend giving it a look unless you’re okay with quite a lot of grievances.

The Palace on the Hill feels like the sort of game where Niku Games wanted to tell a specific story, and the farming, shop management, and life sim mechanics surround it to propel you forward. They aren’t taxing. They won’t hold you back. However, they do provide a sense of ambiance and let you know what life might feel like for Vir in India at that time. You’re experiencing a brief moment in his life, and I do mean brief as I finished in under eight hours. However, it definitely feels like your time is well-spent.

Trails through Daybreak builds on everything I love about one of the the greatest JRPG series of all time. It’s such a grand adventure, and I can’t wait to see where the rest of this arc goes. if you’re already a Trails fan, picking up this game is a no-brainer. You likely already own it in Japanese. For new players, this might be the game that finally gets you to check out the series.

Radiant Tale: Fanfare is a delightful follow-up to the original otome game and really relies on you loving the characters. The entirely new epilogue storyline with Jinnia and Liyan as the main love interests feels like one of the best and most refreshing parts of this new adventure. However, the additional stories with Tifalia in established relationships with the original five characters also does well with building up on those stories. If you enjoyed the original, it’s worth returning for this sequel.

Tsukihime: A piece of blue glass moon is a great entry game for new Type-Moon fans and a fantastic remake for old ones. Though players can dive right in without A Witch on the Holy Night, I do recommend playing that one first if you haven’t! It helps to further your understanding of the story and world. The explanations and narration from Shiki’s point of view make it a really easy story to digest, as new fans of Nasu’s works might feel daunted by how complex the in-universe systems can be. The magic of Nasuverse is on full display in this beautiful remake, and it’s my new recommendation for those who want an action-packed visual novel.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is a welcome return to new ideas for the franchise, and does manage to avoid inferior minigame replication disappointment by… not replicating the old minigames at all! The choice to ape (pun intended, pun always intended, you know us) Fall Guys’ multiplayer formula isn’t the best, but there’s some fun here. And the main mode is enjoyable too.

Times & Galaxy feels like it blends what you’d expect from adventure games with a sort of newspaper management simulation. You’re investigating situations, piecing together a story. However, you’re also shaping how things are approached and turn out, depending on what you choose. There’s a sense of balancing things. You want to search for truth and find out what’s going on, while also telling your own story based on what you learned. It’s really compelling.

Even though the execution in Everafter Falls isn’t great about getting you adjusted to the farming sim and I wish it leaned more into its premise and mystery from the start, it isn’t a bad game! It has its moments, with the card-based skill acquisition and multifunctional pet both being highlights. Like most games in this genre, I really did find myself getting absorbed in it for hours once I got settled. I just wish it did more to stand out.

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.

Many of these flaws can be overlooked simply because of how charming the game is. #BLUD has a fun story, genuine laughs and a brilliant cartoony aesthetic. While it does have some rough edges, this is a fun little adventure that’s worth looking into if you think you’d click with its tone. I still think it could have had a better title though.

Megaton Musashi W: Wired is much more enjoyable than I expected, and I’m genuinely surprised more people aren’t excited about it. The story is interesting and really goes some places. The execution is a bit sound, though it plays it easy at times with the difficulty. The remaining remnants from its free-to-play roots aren’t too pervasive or invasive. Plus the gameplay loop of going through the story, running and rerunning missions for parts, and taking on fights so you can learn and see more is fulfilling. It makes me hopeful for the future of Level-5 games.

Ultimately, Homeworld 3 doesn’t quite hit the mark, but it does manage to demonstrate at least part of what made the series so compelling originally. If the game achieves nothing else, I hope it manages to reignite some interest in the series, or at least the concept. I think there’s a lot yet to explore with Real Time Strategy in a 3D space, and I know I’ll be looking to get a hold of the previous games to see what they did with it.

Yeo created a beautiful and meaningful game in Fading Afternoon. It’s an interesting experience, and it can feel different from one run to another depending on your decisions. The problem is that some decision directions get in the way of it all, making it occasionally uncomfortable or inconvenient. Still, I’d say it is worth the trouble.

Monster Hunter Stories remains a vibrant anime romp through a world that fuses Monster Hunter elements with Pokemon-esque creature collection and training. It can feel a bit dated compared to the sequel, and the direction may make it more welcome to younger gamers. However, it’s a colorful, entertaining romp and this iteration feels like the definitive release.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance accomplished exactly what I hoped for. It took the messy base game, made it look and play better, and expanded upon every single aspect. This results in a polished and finally complete experience worth (re)visiting. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance reaches its full potential in almost every way possible and now confidently stands toe-to-toe with its predecessors.

MultiVersus could have been a fun multi-platform answer to Super Smash Bros, but the choice to adopt a free-to-play model with staggering costs for characters locks much of the fun behind paywalls or extensive grinding. While it succeeds in delivering whimsical, cross-franchise battles that players love, the free-to-play model makes it all feel worthless. This mishandling results in a game that I feel, despite its potential, won’t retain players once they realize the hassle.

Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge is a letdown, as it doesn’t feel compelling or rewarding to collect frogs, acquire money, or build up the frog sanctuary. I got more out of games like Usagi Shiima, even though it featured no quests and less “gameplay” to it. The thing is, it’s easy to see how it could have been better. More unique frogs, eliminating the tedious minigames, and making specific pieces of furniture feel more important could have all fixed it. As is, it feels like a boring job instead of a relaxing game about cute frogs.

The Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer really sets itself apart with its unique premise that is part tutoring and life management sim, then part visual novel dating sim. It’s true to the series, given there is still that element of helping tutor the sisters. Plus, you absolutely are earning your happy ending here. I enjoyed it, because it’s an approach we don’t often see paired with likable characters and a fun premise, but the approach may make it an acquired taste. Just be sure you really pay attention to the sisters’ stats and make smart choices.

I love the idea behind Umbraclaw and its character designs. However, the demanding nature and restrictions I place on myself while playing and some design choices keep me from savoring it as much as other platformers. The idea of growing stronger via deaths for second changes is so refreshing, though, and people who really enjoy a challenge may relish the chance to see how far they can go without faltering.

As somebody who has been too busy recently to really dedicate myself to any one game, Rusty’s Retirement has been the perfect game to just chill with and give myself a bit of a mental reset when certain work tasks became too overwhelming to focus on. Maybe many of us aren’t at retirement age yet, but there is something cathartic about helping Rusty with fulfilling his retirement dream. Anybody looking for a calming, simplistic experience that doesn’t require too much of their attention should definitely check this game out.

The potential is there for The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication. It could have been an amazing horror game between its beautiful graphics, interesting use of Chinese beliefs, and its memorable monster designs. Unfortunately, its overly long story and poor enemy AI weigh it down. That’s not to say the game isn’t scary, of course. It certainly took me much longer than necessary to beat it just because I needed to work up the nerve sometimes to enter certain rooms. If you want a scare and The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication sounds up your alley, then I recommend playing until the end of the third chapter.

1000xResist is provocative in such a way that its characters, events, and lore keep tickling your brain and urging you to continue. You may put the game down for a moment, intending to do something like eat or sleep, but you won’t stop thinking about it. The themes, arguments, and history it suggests keep at you until you go back, pick up your controller, and continue Watcher’s investigation. Even then, when you uncover the truth and reach an ending, it doesn’t leave you. It pulls you back in for more. What did you maybe miss? What would you change? You need to return to the Orchard.

If you love mastering movement systems, chasing style ranks or just generally fighting The Man with the power of street art, you need to play RKGK. Its visuals could use some polish but its fluid platforming mechanics are up there with the best.