As overstuffed as it is, we didn't want Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth to end.

Tekken 8 is daunting to get into, don’t get me wrong, but it’s the same kind of fear you feel when you start something new and exciting in your life.

Lil Guardsman absolutely surprised me with its detail, depth, humor, and heart.

Momodora: Moonlit Farewell bids farewell to fans with a beautiful final adventure that captures everything that made the series so charming and displays the developer’s accrued experience. While the game doesn’t do anything new with the Metroidvania genre, Moonlit Farewell delivers a simple, elegant and polished adventure with tight platforming, fun and elegant combat, and a fabulous art style.

Fans of the fourth to sixth Ace Attorney games will be delighted to experience these games again, I’m sure. I was certainly excited to see characters like Klavier and Rayfa once more, and in HD too! It’s also a good introduction for those who never played them before on the 3DS. Now that I’m done playing through this trilogy though, I think I’ll go back and revisit the Phoenix Wright games and The Great Ace Attorney.

Another Code: Recollection doesn’t make huge changes to the overall formula of the games, as they’re still very introductory and in one case short adventures. However, these Switch remakes look fantastic and are quite impressive in terms of how well they adapt the titles. If someone is looking for games with solid stories or is looking for a first adventure game for someone, this collection is a good fit.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered does far more than simply justify its existence on the PS5. The new visuals and animations are absolutely stunning, and the added content is significant. With the new game modes and behind the scenes content, there’s plenty here for returning players to enjoy and newcomers to savor. Regardless of your past experience with The Last of Us Part II, this remaster deserves your time.

If someone were to ask me which KEMCO games to play, Metro Quester would not just be on that list. It would absolutely be somewhere near the top of it. While the nature of it means it isn’t going to be for everyone who typically goes for every KEMCO RPG, it’s a really special and challenging experience that makes you think about all your actions.

What Studio FreshDoh! has done to transform the mobile running game franchise into a fully fleshed-out adventure title is actually really impressive. While veteran RPG fans may find CookieRun: The Darkest Night Chapter 1 to be more on the easy side, I think the game’s translation into virtual reality makes it worth the price of admission. As a VR experience, this is a fun three-hour campaign with just enough depth to its combat and gameplay systems that it will leave players wanting Chapter 2. If you are a fan of old-school N64 platformers such as Banjo Kazooie, CookieRun offers a charming world of characters worth hanging out in.

8-Colors Star Guardians + is a novel indie approach to the boss-rush concept that makes players experiment and think about every move. While the humor and flavor text might not always land, the concept is an interesting approach to offering a grind-free take on RPG fights. Those who enjoy plotting out battles who have an afternoon free might want to check this budget challenge out.

When Astlibra Revision is at its best, it is an impressive action game with fun characters and a story filled with thrilling plot-twists. At its worst, the game falls for the trap of unnecessary fanservice, being too raunchy, and not taking its female characters seriously enough. I wish I could look past these moments, but in such a story heavy game the text makes a concerted effort to remind the player every so often that some characters are only there to be a sexual “joke.” If you’re able to stomach this type of tropey writing, the story has very surprising turns, and the gameplay is fun, albeit its systems can be a bit bloated at times.

Born of Bread is a lighthearted and easy-to-pick-up game that doesn’t overstay its welcome. It clearly wears its influences on its sleeves and borrows a lot from the original “family recipe.” While the similarities might not be to everyone’s taste, the developers at WildArts Studio Inc. know what makes the genre fun and keep the ingredients that work while tossing in their own brand of humor and lots of personality. You shouldn’t go into this game expecting to play the next big Paper Mario, but rather a charming and light RPG with heaps of humor.

LEGO Fortnite could be truly special with more villagers, better quality-of-life features, and a general sense of direction. For now, it remains a solid but incomplete foundation. It is great fun for a time, but it will need some improvements and additions before it becomes a more permanent video game home for me to live in.

I enjoyed Koumajou Remilia II: Stranger’s Requiem and did enjoy my time with it. It will really test you with its difficulty. It also looks gorgeous. However, this is an incredibly basic title. There are no frills to this Castlevania inspired Touhou fan game. Also, it feels like while I did see progress from the original, it didn’t build on and learn from it enough to really stand out and show major progress. It’s absolutely fine, especially if you enjoyed Koumajou Remilia: Scarlet Symphony and want more of that, but it isn’t one of the best Castlevania-likes I’ve played.

The base game of Disney Dreamlight Valley is fantastic and heartfelt, reawakening the magic of childhood wonder and exploration.

I will admit Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising is not for everyone. It isn’t for me, as the sometimes filler-like content bloats the experience but, ultimately, feels bland. But the positive is some fighting game fans or existing Granblue Fantasy fans may enjoy this title. It has some solid accessible features. But, unless you played the first game, you should probably check out the free version and see if it is up your alley first.

While the Iron’s Hot is an interesting take on a blacksmith simulator, but it feels like the game can be a tedious chore sometimes. I enjoyed it, but only if I also took regular breaks, made sure I did absolutely everything, and tried not to get rid of any items that had any chance of being useful down the line. I appreciate the concept, but the execution isn’t quite there.

If you’re a fan of this genre, I don’t think you could find a better game in it than House Flipper 2. Some of the edges need a little sanding, but that polish could come from patches or future DLC. However, these hiccups don’t hold the game back and it’s still a blast to sink hours into.

Sword Art Online Last Recollection is a great action RPG with accessible combat that makes every encounter exciting. While some players may have an issue with the game’s more linear-level designs, the game stays anchored by an emotionally charged story with a likable cast of characters. Overall, SAO manages to streamline the best systems from its MMO origins while integrating them into an action-packed adventure title.

It’s a genuinely cool, well-crafted endeavor, and the fact that the only real flaws I encountered when playing had to do with its textures sometimes looking a bit outdated, some actions were a little frustrating, and some bugs that should already be fixed in the build everyone will get left me very impressed.

I enjoyed A Highland Song so much that I almost went through my first attempt to reach the lighthouse in a single sitting, and then did get there the second time I played through it. I’m excited to go through it again, next time taking a different path and more leisurely approach. It’s good at building up a world through context, and I want to see if I can hear and learn more about Moira and her life by traveling alongside her again.

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.

Lego Bricktales really works well in VR, and it is a lot of fun to play on the Quest 3. It really does feel like building is more fun when you’re going hands-on with the headset’s controllers to move each brick and go more hands-on, in a way, with the creations. Plus there is the feeling of each diorama and project being right in front of you, as though you were going through an actual set in your living room. It’s one of the cozier and relaxed VR games I’ve played, and I appreciate this new approach to the adventure.

I feel like Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR is one of the essential Meta Quest 3 apps now. It’s a real showcase of what the headset is capable of, and the array of accessibility options makes me feel like this is the action game that could maybe be the one anyone, even those who previously had issues with motion sickness, could easily play. The premise also makes it incredibly accessible, since you can go in with any level of familiarity with the series. It feels like a solid staple for the standalone VR headset.

Howl is a simple blend of genres that offers a lot of fun. It is fast and easy to pick up, but can be pretty hard to master. The game can be on the shorter side, taking approximately 5 hours to reach 100% completion. And while I loved what I played, I still feel like there were a lot of really cool ideas that could be explored further, or enemy variety to improve. In the end, I think that Howl leaving me wanting more and making me think about it far after I finished it speaks more about the quality of the game than about what the game might be lacking. Fans of the puzzle genre and light tactics RPG are sure to have a great time with this one.

As a mindless game about beating folks up with cool ninja powers, Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is pretty solid. I can also see someone enjoying this game if they’re interested in just messing around with the massive roster. However, as a fighter with depth, a compelling story, or a snapshot of years of Naruto history, it’s weak and struggled to hold my interest. If I want to turn my brain off and mash buttons, it’s something I can see myself playing again, but that’s about it.

Coral Island is a brilliant, cozy game and essential for any fan of the farming sim genre. It’s got a huge, lively town with spiritual aspects that add an interesting twist to its premise. There are more than enough quality-of-life additions that make its gameplay loop incredibly satisfying. It just might be worth waiting for its bug problem to be sorted out first, though. Once that’s done, feel free to add an extra point to the score.

I like the change of pace Spirittea brings, as it offers a Stardew Valley and Story of Seasons sort of experience, but manages to be its own unique game. It might not be as relaxing when you’re actually at work in the bathhouse, due to the number of tasks available, but I found I got accustomed to my new schedule. It’s just delightful to see a different take on a life sim that still feels inviting and hits familiar cues.