Keep Driving is about that brief moment of time when you get that freedom to pick up and go. Safety net? You have family. Obligations? You’re young and unencumbered. Opportunities? They’re absolutely everywhere. Each run can and will feel different, as there are so many options and multiple endings. The only downside is, if you marathon it and take multiple trips in a row, you may get bored due to how repetitive and easy it can be. Still, the road is open ahead of you, and it’s a joy to take off and drive.

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.

It won’t be the most challenging game you’ll play, but Disney Villains Cursed Cafe will delight fans of the stories and baddies starring in it. It’s a very relaxed experience. You never need to worry about the consequences. It’s about enjoying the moment with over-the-top personalities and potentially affecting the course of their adventures in the process. That said, the ease of it and focus on prior knowledge of the enemies within mean that, unlike similar games Coffee Talk and Tavern Talk, you do need a level of knowledge or investment to get the most enjoyment out of it.

Battlefield Waltz is one of those Switch otome games that I feel is a good option for folks who want a strong protagonist, fun love interests with fascinating backstories, great art, and an opportunity to get to know supporting characters. There’s so much to this game. Plus, it includes some mature elements and topics and tends to handle them pretty well, all without being depressing. I’m a fan, and I think it’ll end up being one of the strongest Switch otome games in 2025.

I was still incredibly impressed with Atomfall. Dense maps filled to the brim with things to discover. A strong delivery of world-building and storytelling. Engaging gameplay that wasn’t afraid to ask more of me. Not to mention impeccable sound design! It kept me on my toes as much as it convinced me of the spaces I was travelling through. In the end, I was thoroughly happy. I wanted more of this world and its secrets. If that phone ever starts ringing again, I will definitely answer.

Grimoire Groves offers an overall satisfying gameplay experience. With only three spell slots and great diversity in the way spells interact with enemies, there are a ton of playstyles to develop. Although it takes a bit longer than I’d like to understand what I need to do to progress and how to do it, the cute character dialogue and expanding garden still gives me a sense of accomplishment once I do. Much like gardening, Grimoire Groves requires a little patience. But once you get past that initial struggle, it’s incredibly rewarding.

While there are brief moments of intense emotion, Please Be Happy is mostly a very gentle story that might not satisfy those looking for an excessively cute or romantic tale, because that’s not what it is. It’s a story about slowing down and appreciating what you have, looking at yourself and deciding what it is you actually want to do and be. If you can match its pace, you’ll find a satisfying story in a pretty well made package. The pretty anime girls falling in love is just a bonus.

The shift to a full-on Metroidvania format makes Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark a bigger and more satisfying game than the already enjoyable original. With charming characters, interesting map design, and thrilling boss battles, it’s easy to forgive this game for minor sins like excessive backtracking and weak tutorials. Servants of the Dark is a solid choice for fans of the original game or Metroidvania enthusiasts alike.

The First Berserker: Khazan doesn’t get it all right, but the core combat and character building are a blast. For a first effort in a very competitive genre, Neople has done a fantastic job with this game. It pulls elements from the best of the Soulslike genre while mixing in just enough of its own spices to stand out. There are clear areas to improve on if the publisher chooses to follow this up, as a better story and more engaging level designs would help round things out. A true berserker only cares about the fight though, and that’s one place where Khazan cleans up.

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.

Dark Deity 2 is far from perfect, and it could use a few rounds of post-launch polish. But it’s a strong step forward from the first game’s base, adding and refining smartly to make something within their means that’s still engaging to play. We hope they’re able to keep delivering games like this in the future.

I enjoy Knights in Tight Spaces, but also feel like the game could use a few balancing patches and updates before it hits that roguelike sweet spot. With a few adjustments, this could be a sequel that is the equal of the original Fights in Tight Spaces. For now, it’s just an entertaining game that might put you in a situation where you can’t excel or, in some situations, really win.

With an awesome setting and artwork, interesting characters, and a spooky yet intriguing story, I really enjoyed Look Outside and look forward to playing it again to check out other endings. It’s got a lot of charm, and I love the setting. If you’re interested in the story, and you don’t really want to play a survival horror RPG with an emphasis on resource management, the game also offers an easier mode that takes away a lot of the stress. Just make sure if you play, you check out what’s outside the window. You’ll see something beautiful!

I didn’t dislike my time with His, the Smile & bloom. I had no strong feelings towards it whatsoever. I didn’t feel emotional, or care about the characters, but I wasn’t bored either. Playing this game is like eating a chocolate bar – not your favorite chocolate – but one you wouldn’t say no to if offered by a friend. You enjoy it while it lasts, but you’re not sad it’s over, and you won’t be thinking about it for the rest of the day.

Getting to an goal is such a chore, despite the incredible visuals. But once you get to the primary objective in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you will find the best combat, story, characters, and setting in an Assassin’s Creed game yet. If it was more enjoyable to roam around the world, which is, sadly, how a large portion of your time playing, this would easily be the best overall entry in the series to date.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition feels like a stronger game on the Switch, and quality of life adjustments make it more enjoyable.

Book Bound is one of those simple shop management games that doesn’t need to go over the top with details to be enjoyable. It isn’t overly complex or filled with major challenges. Rather, it’s a more relaxed game that feels like it’s about taking your time and gradually building up the bookshop of your dreams, rather than min-maxing your way to commercial success. It’s so pleasant that I found it easy to forgive its occasional clunkiness.

Sugardew Island is an almost entirely forgettable farming sim. The dated visuals, lack of responsiveness, and awkward gameplay makes it hard to recommend. That said, there is still something special in the shop management system, which is a (brief) joy to use. It’s a shame the rest of Sugardew Island fails to match the shop’s level of enjoyment.

Atelier Yumia is an extraordinary and highly surprising direction for the series. It retains the core alchemy and strategic combat, but builds upon everything in fascinating ways. While the world doesn’t have enough civilizations, it makes up for that with worthwhile content around every corner and a remarkable yet optional building system. The combat might switch fully to action, but it stands out with how uniquely deep and enjoyable it is. And then there is the story and characters, which is far and away better than anything Gust has done up until this point. This all comes together to make Atelier Yumia the best game in the series and the most widely appealing at the same time.

Alter Age makes use of its age-swapping mechanic to add some spice to its combat, but unfortunately fails to use it to make its story any more interesting. It’s a decent RPG that has some good monsters to beat up using its systems, but its trope-filled storyline doesn’t grab the imagination or stir the heart. It’s a decent RPG that I wish had done just a little bit more with its premise, but as is, it still offers a bit of light entertainment.

Ender Magnolia is a great time from beginning to end. The sequel takes what the first game offered and gives a more refined experience in a new setting. Similar to the first game, the inspirations in this Metroidvania are immediately apparent, and both games avoid taking any massive risks. However, it is the developer’s own take on these inspirations and the commitment to fun combat and exploration that keep me coming back.

Expelled is a wicked good time, with each playthrough of the game building on the one before it. However, even though you will be replaying that fateful day repeatedly, it doesn’t feel tedious or exhausting. Inkle constantly builds upon events, opening up opportunities and new outcomes for Verity. It’s a delightful story that encourages you to experiment and be bad.

Ultimately, I came away from this new Carmen Sandiego game feeling frustrated. The strong basic mechanics and presentation are let down with baffling progression and repetition. You’d be better off playing the original in a browser for free. At least you might learn something there.

This version of Glover is a flawed port of a game that wears its age on its sleeve. Nothing here is bad enough to chase away those with warm memories of playing the game on Nintendo 64, but there are some differences that will likely chafe for some fans. If you don’t have any particular fondness for Glover, it’s hard to recommend with much vigor. It was decent enough in its time, but enjoying it now requires you to be very tolerant of the rougher aspects that come from such an early example of the genre.

Wanderstop tells a fascinating story and very much captures the stress, anxiety, and pressures that come from being trying to meet all these expectations and not fail. Especially when you try to stop doing that. However, I often found myself wishing this was a short animated series or movie, rather than a game. Alta’s journey and many of the characters around her are fascinating, and I love watching them. But this ended up being an unexpectedly stressful, inconvenient, and broken sim at some times, and that got in the way of my enjoying everything. I believe there are many people who will love and identify with Wanderstop! I just found it clunky, broken on the PS5 at launch, and far from cozy.

I adore Dawnfolk, and I relish every opportunity I get to go through the game’s modes and build up a new homeland. It’s one of those city building and management sims that offers a sufficient challenge, but also doesn’t penalize you for decisions you make as you find your way through situations. Given the array of options also offered beyond a traditional campaign, it also felt like Darenn Keller somehow considered any possible situation I might be in when I head into a session, resulting in it feeling like I always have a moment for it.

The Sims 25th Birthday Bundle is a nostalgic blast to the past that gives newer players the chance to explore more options beyond the third game, as well as offers older players the opportunity to relive their childhood. Compared to the conveniences of modern entries, some of the older titles might feel frustrating to navigate. It’s almost like a metaphor for real life.

The Sims 25th Birthday Bundle is a nostalgic blast to the past that gives newer players the chance to explore more options beyond the third game, as well as offers older players the opportunity to relive their childhood. Compared to the conveniences of modern entries, some of the older titles might feel frustrating to navigate. It’s almost like a metaphor for real life.