Star Fox is exactly the comeback I was hoping to have in my hands. Nintendo didn’t try to turn the series into something it was never meant to be. Instead, it chose to celebrate its identity, enriching it with modern production values, a more ambitious narrative, and top-tier audiovisual presentation.

Gothic Remake is not a game to be dismissed outright, and it manages to earn a narrow passing grade mainly thanks to what already worked twenty-five years ago: the constant sense of discovery, the satisfaction of overcoming seemingly impossible challenges, and the feeling of genuinely shaping the fate of the game world through your own choices.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is proof that Team Asano can move with surprising confidence even outside its comfort zone. Exploration is excellent, the game world constantly inspires a sense of wonder, and the system built around different time periods adds depth to every discovery.

EA Sports UFC 6 is the best entry in the series to date. After a three-year wait, the franchise returns with meaningful gameplay improvements that make every fight feel more intense, realistic and rewarding, while preserving the solid foundations of its predecessor. The result is a content-rich and highly polished MMA experience that will keep both dedicated fans and newcomers engaged for countless matches.

Mina the Hollower is an action RPG that takes the best of Zelda, Castlevania and the Soulslike genre without ever feeling like a copy. Yacht Club Games builds a dense, challenging, incredibly smart and personality-driven adventure, capable of turning every screen into a continuous discovery.

After all this lengthy analysis, the only thing that remains is that IOI has crafted an excellent action adventure, with a strong focus on stealth, which represents the perfect launchpad for a rebirth of the 007 franchise in video game format. First Light works, there's no doubt about it. The story is compelling, the new Bond characterization fits perfectly with today's audience (even if many longtime fans will surely not appreciate it), and the universe written by Ian Fleming has been treated with due respect, paying homage to it in a way that's never cloying and refreshing it where necessary. Is it the perfect game for James Bond fans? That's not for me to say; we'll leave that difficult decision to the fans. For my part, however, I can tell you that if you were looking for a very good story-driven action game, dedicated to the 007 universe, First Light will not disappoint you, even if it is undeniable that IOI could have done more in many respects, but since tomorrow never dies, we will see if in the next chapter by IOI the software house will be able to fully express its immense, and by now well-known, potential.

If you're willing to go back to being a child and let yourself be carried away by the logic that governed your childhood games, when the joy of discovery and the most surreal imagination ruled supreme, then Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is the game for you. For everyone else, you can safely knock a couple of points off this review's score and keep it in mind exclusively as a gift for a much younger player, who will absolutely love figuring out how to "torture" a poor little smiling flower by swallowing it, throwing it in the mud, launching it down a hill, or making it ride Yoshi through a flowery field.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is both the culmination of a formula TT Games has refined over twenty years and the moment that formula stops being enough on its own. The game doesn't simply reproduce what has always worked: it dismantles it, rebuilds it with new materials, and attempts something the LEGO games had never genuinely tried before. To be a Batman game in the fullest sense of the term.

Forza Horizon 6 is not simply the realization of every gearhead's forbidden dream of tearing through Japan; it is the ultimate expression of the arcade racing genre. Playground Games has done a monumental job, taking an already excellent gameplay foundation and enriching it with a map of astonishing size and diversity. The vibrant return of the seasons, the inclusion of a pulsating metropolis like Tokyo, and the incredible depth offered by building your own personal hub make it the definitive Forza Horizon.

MachineGames handled the port internally, without relying on specialized third-party studios; while the result is generally convincing, it involves certain technical choices that are worth knowing about before making a purchase.

Mixtape knows what it wants to be, and it succeeds often enough to make it worth recommending. Beethoven & Dinosaur has crafted a small but sincere work where music doesn't accompany the story but generates it.

Directive 8020 is the game Supermassive fans have been waiting for since Until Dawn redefined what this format could achieve. The Cassiopeia works as a setting precisely because it holds together elements that usually cancel each other out: pristine aesthetics and visceral body horror, late-nineties sci-fi optimism and deep cosmic dread, television-quality acting and the sudden brutality of a game that does not warn you before it hurts you.

Replaced is not the masterpiece many had hoped for, but it is something perhaps rarer: a game that is honest in its imperfection. It knows exactly what it wants to be, it knows how to make you feel it, and for long stretches it succeeds with almost surgical precision. Its weaknesses are not those of a lazy or sloppy production, but of a project that aimed high and missed the mark due to a lack of polish, not vision.

Invincible VS is a fighting game that works in the short term, thanks to an accessible system and a strong identity inherited from the series, but that struggles to find a true direction in the medium term. The simplification of gameplay, a negligible story mode and an inconsistent technical execution limit a project that could have aimed for much more. It remains an enjoyable title in the first few hours, but one that risks losing its appeal quickly, especially in an already crowded competitive landscape.

MotoGP 26 is the most mature and complete entry Milestone has ever delivered to MotoGP fans. Revised physics, a richer career mode and an impressive content lineup make it a confident recommendation for anyone with a passion for motorcycle racing.

Aphelion is a pleasant, well-crafted, and visually captivating sci-fi adventure that remains engaging to play, especially thanks to its setting and the credibility of its spacefaring imagination. DON'T NOD builds a world that is beautiful to explore and a story solid enough to carry the journey, but it never quite manages to give the gameplay the same strength as its artistic vision.

Housemarque didn't make Returnal 2. They did something harder and, in many ways, more beautiful: they looked their previous game straight in the eye, acknowledged its flaws, and fixed them one by one without losing a single piece of what made it special. Saros knows exactly what it wants to be from the very first second, and every design decision proves it.

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is far from a perfect game, with some noticeable issues in pacing and in how it handles several key choices. While the technical side isn’t particularly impressive and the experience is marred by a number of non-negligible flaws, it still manages to stand out thanks to its strong sense of identity and internal consistency, offering a solid experience—especially for fans of the Providence author. It may not be the best game inspired by H. P. Lovecraft, but it leaves behind a lingering sense of unease, which is perhaps the most authentic achievement a work inspired by the Master can hope to attain.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is a very difficult experience to judge using traditional standards. It is not a simulator in the classic sense, nor a structured management game: it is rather a laboratory of absurd situations, built around the player’s creativity. When it works (and it often does), it manages to deliver genuine laughs thanks to intelligent writing and a brilliant use of nonsense.

Mouse: P.I. For Hire is one of those rare projects that manages to blend style and substance. It doesn’t just look good: it’s dynamic, varied, and consistently creative in its solutions. Despite a few minor uncertainties in weapon feedback and a structure that slightly struggles in its final stages, the title by Fumi Games shows a level of confidence usually found in far more experienced studios. It’s an experience that entertains, surprises, and above all, is sold at a budget price that almost feels like a steal considering its production values and content.

Pragmata is proof that new IPs can still be created by the titans of the industry. Hugh and Diana’s adventure doesn’t rewrite the rules of any genre, but it delivers a concentrated dose of entertainment that feels direct, grounded, and enhanced by an innovative and far-from-predictable combat system.

Darwin’s Paradox! is an interesting and entertaining experiment that would deserve a sequel, provided it brings not only the core idea, but also enough (and substantial) variety to support it. It’s a game that, despite having a strong and in some ways innovative concept, never truly chooses to take risks, settling instead for delivering a well-executed experience—albeit one that is too short and often repetitive.

All things considered, aside from a few minor technical issues (unexpected but easily fixable) Starfield arrives on PS5 in good shape, with a more streamlined price, several improvements over its original release, and a notable amount of new content. Some of this is tied to the Rotte Libere update, while other additions are linked to the purchase of the two downloadable expansions, neither of which is essential for Bethesda’s spacefaring adventurers.

Life is Strange: Reunion tackles the series’ toughest challenge: reopening a narrative wound that was powerful precisely because it felt final. Deck Nine manages the merging of timelines more intelligently than expected, giving Chloe a deep and authentic character arc built on the need to exist in a world that shouldn’t contain her.

After dozens of hours, Marathon left me with something rare: a deep, renewed respect for a studio that, week after week, always seems on the brink of collapse. It’s not a perfect extraction shooter, nor an accessible one, let alone easy to love. But it is authentic and consistent. It’s a production that doesn’t seek compromise, that rewards dedication, punishes improvisation, and above all refuses to follow any trend.

The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Super Mario Bros. Wonder shifts the focus away from the single-player adventure to introduce a set of multiplayer-oriented minigames that push the experience closer to party-game territory. The experiment works, but the limited amount of new content makes this update hard to recommend to everyone. New players should not hesitate, as this is the best version of the game available, while returning fans will enjoy it mainly if they appreciate quick, couch-multiplayer sessions or simply love Wonder enough to revisit it. Despite the modest additions, the core remains the acclaimed 2023 platformer, still an essential title for any Switch 2 owner.

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is a solid and surprisingly modern-feeling collection that relies entirely on gameplay that remains irresistible even today. It doesn’t offer many extra features and doesn’t really try to modernize the formula, but it perfectly preserves what made the trilogy special.

Screamer is the electric jolt that the pure arcade genre desperately needed: a racing game like this (and potentially of this quality) hasn’t been seen for a very, very long time, far too long. The only doubt concerns its long-term staying power: it will be the strength of the community and the variety of post-launch content that determine whether this title can stand strong beyond the excitement of its first week.

Crimson Desert is the kind of game that makes you want to use the word “impressive” every three minutes, and then makes you feel guilty for doing so. Because impressive, technically and quantitatively, it truly is, but the impression it leaves, once the dust of hype has settled, is that of a title that was afraid to choose. Pearl Abyss built a vast world and then filled it with everything, as if emptiness were an enemy to be defeated through sheer volume of content. The result is a game that almost never gets boring, but that only rarely moves you in the deep, lasting way that the titles it borrows from manage to do.

1348 Ex Voto isn’t a total disaster, because at several points it manages to show flashes of personality and a world that would have deserved to be explored with more solid tools. However, it’s hard to ignore the feeling that the project needed more time, more resources, and above all a more focused vision.

In a world of shooters that take themselves far too seriously, John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando is that punch of slime in the face that makes you laugh while you’re drowning in it: a co-op game that lives for nights spent with friends. It’s Left 4 Dead wearing B-movie makeup, with vehicles mowing down zombies like grass and a soundtrack that takes you straight back to the VHS of The Thing.

Overall, the Fatal Frame 2 remake is a moderately ambitious project that aims to balance faithfulness with innovation. On one hand, it preserves the melancholic atmosphere and slow pacing that made the original a classic of the genre; on the other, it introduces numerous changes designed to make the gameplay feel more modern and accessible. The result is an experience that seeks to satisfy both longtime fans and new players, bringing one of the most influential survival horror titles of the early 2000s back into the spotlight and demonstrating that the Japanese model of psychological horror can still work in a gaming landscape largely dominated by far more action-oriented approaches.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is, without a doubt, the most ambitious chapter of Capcom’s RPG spin-off and marks a significant evolution for the series. While maintaining the classic structure built around exploration, egg gathering, and Monstie training, this installment introduces new mechanics that enrich the formula, making the experience deeper and more strategic.

WWE 2K26 undoubtedly represents the most complete evolution of the formula built over the past few years. Without overturning the foundations of the series, Visual Concepts expands nearly every aspect of the experience: new match types, a more dynamic presentation system, improved physics, and a massive roster all contribute to creating one of the richest entries in the franchise’s history. The result is a game that captures the spectacular spirit of WWE wrestling better than ever before, and one that shows extremely promising signs for the years to come.

Crisol: Theater of Idols stands out for its dark, richly symbolic atmosphere, seamlessly blending mysticism with a pervasive sense of unease. Its Iberian folklore–inspired aesthetic gives the world a striking and distinctive visual identity. The combat system, built around blood-driven survival mechanics, intensifies the tension and adds a thoughtful strategic layer. The fragmented storytelling invites curiosity and personal interpretation. Overall, it’s a promising title that favors artistic and emotional impact over straightforward action.

Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is a debt paid and, in many ways, a success: not a miraculous resurrection, but a restorative treatment that brings a classic back to life and makes it playable again without having to hook up an old console to the TV.

Pokémon Pokopia is a bold experiment that successfully blends multiple genres, resulting in a title with a very strong identity. While the main series has always been fueled by collecting and battling, here collecting remains, but combat gives way to management and reconstruction. There’s no pressure. No performance anxiety. There’s a world to rebuild patiently, one micro-habitat at a time.

Cairn is a surprising title. It’s a game that constantly communicates with the player, and it works harder than many others—blockbusters included—to create an incredible sense of connection between player and played. Climbing, its fatigue, its meaning, are portrayed exceptionally well by the team at The Game Bakers and, provided you’re willing to compromise with gameplay that refuses any compromise at all, if you choose to be patient, you’ll be rewarded with an outstanding, galvanizing, and in many ways unforgettable experience.

Tales of Berseria Remastered is not a revolution, but a smart reimagining of a recent minor classic. Is it worth buying? Absolutely yes, especially if you haven’t had the chance to play it before. And if you’ve already played it, it could be the perfect opportunity to rediscover Velvet and her story, with a few added conveniences and without the frenzy of modern times. Finally, free from being overshadowed by a year crowded with blockbusters, Berseria can shine as it deserves, and I assure you, it’s truly worth it.

Resident Evil Requiem is a chapter destined to divide the fan base. Its almost obsessive reliance on fan service derails what could have been an incredibly powerful narrative, resulting in a convoluted script reminiscent of the series’ CGI films. It’s a real shame, because nearly every other aspect of the production reaches remarkably high standards, occasionally brushing against excellence. The gameplay is varied and rock-solid, supported by some of the best level and game design the franchise has ever delivered, Ultimately, however, its excess of ambition prevents it from matching the brilliance of the recent remakes or the strongest canonical installments.

God of War: Sons of Sparta isn’t a terrible game, but it’s not a more than acceptable game either. It simply sits somewhere in the middle. It’s a spin-off wedged into a series that is too big, too important, and too imposing to afford any missteps. Even back in the days of Ascension, widely considered the weakest entry in the entire saga, Santa Monica Studio made sure to follow a set of guidelines that would still guarantee an epic experience.

It's the same incredible and simple formula well known to fans. On iPad the game works great, on the iPhone there are some small issues due to the smaller gaming surface. It's still a great gaming experience, perfect for mobile patforms.

Styx: Blades of Greed isn’t a bad game. Within its evident limitations, it has several strengths that could convince many players to give it a chance. However, the game’s ambitions clearly clash with an execution that doesn’t always live up to its ideas or intended goals, ultimately offering players a watered-down and somewhat messy experience.

Reanimal once again proves, if proof were even necessary, the strong authorial identity of a development studio finally unleashed, free to express itself without softening or diluting its vision. Reanimal is an auteur horror experience: deeply cryptic and not easy to decode, yet a bold and genuinely rare work within its genre.

Mario Tennis Fever hits its main goal by putting the pure arcade tennis experience front and center. Fast-paced, fun, and built on several smart ideas, above all is extremely solid in its core mechanics. While the single-player campaign is less engaging than in the previous entry, and the potential of motion controls is largely left unexplored, these shortcomings do little to overshadow what ultimately stands as the most mature and refined chapter in the Mario Tennis saga.

RIDE 6 is not a game that tries to impress through spectacle or radical reinvention. It speaks softly, but with confidence and clarity. Milestone chose to reflect on its own legacy and shape a more mature, balanced experience. The result is a game that values freedom, accessibility, and respect for the sport it represents.

Yakuza 3 + Dark Ties is much more than a mere commercial venture, as it might seem to the less attentive: it is a bold remake that refreshes a solid but flawed title and resolves nearly all of its issues. While some longtime fans might grumble over the recasting of a couple of characters and a few cuts here and there in the interactions, the vast majority of players will inevitably appreciate the changes in pacing.

My Hero Academia: All’s Justice lives in a fragile balance, much like its characters: caught between the ambition to be more than a flashy anime tie-in and the difficulty of fully escaping the limits of its genre. At its best, it captures the weight of its battles, the emotional scale of the Final War, and that sense of growth that has always defined Horikoshi’s work.

Nioh 3 is a game that breathes ambition, a title that dares and isn’t afraid to throw the player into chaos. It’s frenetic, brilliant in many moments, and incredibly rewarding when you master its complexities. The combat system is deep and layered, and the introduction of Samurai and Ninja styles adds a level of tactical choice never seen before.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is probably the boldest of the three remakes released by Square Enix over the past couple of years: not only because the original title had already received an excellent remaster on 3DS, but also because the changes introduced here are less trivial and arguably more targeted than those the Erdrick trilogy actually required.

We don't know if we properly define Eufloria HD like a video game, but it surely is a relaxing and pleasant experience.

Mio: Memories in Orbit is an elegant and rigorous metroidvania that puts all its focus on exploration and precision. Its world is fascinating to traverse, the movement system is solid, and the bosses provide a genuine challenge. The narrative, however, remains in the background, and the combat system lacks meaningful evolution over time, staying consistently minimal. This is a game that asks a lot from the player and doesn’t always return an equally strong emotional engagement, but it still manages to leave a mark thanks to its visual identity and the coherence of its design.

Code Vein 2 is the classic example of a sequel that refuses to settle. It doesn’t take shortcuts, nor does it simply refine what already worked; instead, it deliberately tries to expand its scope, even at the risk of overreaching. This choice inevitably creates imbalances, and the game makes no effort to hide them: ambition often exceeds the ability to control it, layering sometimes turns into redundancy, and some solutions struggle to take a fully realized form.

Trails Beyond the Horizon is a game that demands attention, memory, and patience, but in return offers a vast, layered, and coherent narrative, something few JRPGs manage today. The combat system is solid and rewarding, side quests and optional modes add depth, and those who have followed the series so far will find continuous satisfaction.

Code Violet is one of those games that is born convinced it has something to say and dies without ever really finding the right words. It leans on a powerful imagery, uses it as a crutch, and then lets it fall, unable to stand on its own. A spectacular failure, and this is its true problem: it is a timid, confused product, lacking the identity necessary to turn inspiration into vision. When you play with the ghosts of the past, you should know how to evoke fear, not nostalgia. Here, neither happens, and all that remains is the feeling of having witnessed a wasted opportunity.

Tiny Wings HD for iPad improves all we've seen last year in Tiny Wings, adding local multiplayer, a new competitive mode and new graphics for Retina Display.

Lumines Arise is a successful return of a formula that still works today, dressed in an aesthetic that unabashedly pays homage to the Japanese Experimental Wave to which it belongs by DNA. When everything clicks (music, effects, difficulty, grid readability), it’s exactly the kind of experience that makes you say 'just one more skin and I’ll stop,' only to realize an hour has passed.

High production values and care for details make this independent adventure really stand out.

Resident Evil: Survival Unit is an intriguing experiment, a title that tries to bring the soul of the horror saga to mobile without completely betraying its spirit, but inevitably pays the price for the compromises imposed by the free-to-play format. Between well-crafted real-time battles and a base management system that risks becoming repetitive, the game constantly swings between enjoyable moments and long periods of waiting or microtransactions.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a small but heartfelt tribute to fans of the Marvel universe. It’s an old-school experience that shows once again how the world of video games never gets tired of the arcade feel of the past. There’s a bit of disappointment about the lack of extra content, but Tribute Games’ effort is still something to admire.

Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song is a work that embraces its past and chooses not to hide it. It makes no effort to appear more modern than it is, and perhaps that is exactly what makes it so captivating. A complex journey, at times hostile, yet capable of offering a sense of freedom that few contemporary JRPGs can provide. And now that it finally speaks Italian as well, one can say that its world is, for the first time, truly open to everyone.

The Berlin Apartment is not an anthology. It is not a collection of stories. It is a single story told by those who remain. By those who silently observe every departure and every return. And that someone is us. The game doesn’t put us in the protagonists’ shoes. It puts us in the shoes of the home they inhabit, carrying the full weight of a century of history.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero on Switch 2 delivers the same energetic, content-packed fighter as other platforms, capturing the magic of the franchise despite a few technical compromises. Its biggest strength is portability, which adds real value for fans. However, if you don’t care about playing on the go and own another platform, the superior experience can be found elsewhere.

Absolum is one of those roguelikes that tells not so much the story it contains, but the one it evokes through its beautiful aesthetic style. A story made of difficult choices, of ambitions that challenge caution, of an authentic desire to leave a mark, however small, however fragile. And in a world where everything seems to rush forward without ever looking back, a side-scrolling beat ’em up that chooses to slow down and force you to think is a small miracle.

Octopath Traveler 0 is, in every respect, a solid entry in the franchise, even if not the best of the three, and it introduces a series of good ideas that we may well see again in the next, inevitable instalments: from the inclusion of “cozy” mechanics, with the construction of a village, to the addition of a second line during battles, which significantly broadens the player’s range of strategic options.

Horses is the kind of experience that doesn’t look for compromises and has no interest in pleasing everyone. Santa Ragione plays with incendiary material and does so with a confidence that’s almost disarming. It’s a “small” title, one that inevitably divides, because it demands from the viewer the willingness to look exactly where we usually turn away. And that’s precisely where its value lies: in its ability to dig, provoke, unsettle and, above all, leave a mark.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond delivers exactly what it needed to: a strong and worthy sequel to a trilogy that ended eighteen years ago. Its gameplay innovations and dungeon-level design shine, but the open-map sections and some late-game pacing issues hold it back. Retro Studios’ attempt to go beyond a ‘safe’ sequel leads to a game that’s excellent, yet unlikely to astonish modern players the way the original did in 2002.

Even on Xbox, Silent Hill 2 Remake is a product with a dual nature: on one hand, you notice every detail, every crack, and every bloodstain that previously went unnoticed; on the other, you miss that unsettling uncertainty, that sickly slow pace that kept you glued to your seat. It’s an ambitious, bold operation, sometimes successful, sometimes betraying the original. If you want pure nostalgia, be ready to be shaken; if you want modern horror that doesn’t forgive, be prepared for some compromises.

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition for Switch 2 leaves a dual, almost suspended feeling. On one hand, there is the tangible pleasure of rediscovering a game that maintains a rare narrative solidity and an engaging quality. On the other hand, however, it is impossible to ignore how time has affected the formula, making certain moments more predictable, some mechanics more rigid, and some design choices less surprising than they were a decade ago.

Project Motor Racing is a title that takes a stand, and it does so without compromise. It doesn’t aim to please everyone, it doesn’t want to be yet another flashy racing game that confuses realism with visual spectacle, and it doesn’t intend to hand out easy wins or deliver a career that passes by without leaving any mark.

Kirby Air Riders is exactly what it needed to be: a refined, expanded take on the 2003 classic that channels a style of game design focused purely on player fun rather than strict genre labels. That freedom can feel like a double-edged sword, broadly appealing, yet not perfectly satisfying for any one crowd. Still, for anyone with a Nintendo Switch 2, it remains a must-try experience, one that’s dangerously easy to get hooked on.

Black Ops 7 is yet another confirmation that Call of Duty can still entertain, but not surprise. The campaign feels like a firework that lasts only a few moments, Endgame tries to make an impression but is quickly forgotten, while multiplayer and Zombies uphold the honor and glory of this new chapter.

There’s a reason everyone is talking about Dispatch, and it’s because it’s a successful experiment. AdHoc Studios’ debut doesn’t aim to explode with power, but to burn slowly, like the superhero stories that have understood they’re not super anymore.

Syberia Remastered is a work that walks a very fine line: on one side lies the need to restore visual dignity to a beloved classic, on the other the risk of clashing with the weight of Sokal’s legacy. The result is a re-release that works, especially when it focuses on enhancing what was already there without pushing too far.

Yakuza Kiwami and Kiwami 2 on Nintendo Switch 2 are like two novels rebound after many years: they don’t tell us anything we don’t already know, but they do it with a dignity and elegance that withstand the passage of time.

Yakuza Kiwami and Kiwami 2 on Nintendo Switch 2 are like two novels rebound after many years: they don’t tell us anything we don’t already know, but they do it with a dignity and elegance that withstand the passage of time.

ARC Raiders is a one-of-a-kind project, able of redefining the extraction shooter genre through a deep yet accessible structure, designed for both veterans and newcomers. It’s a title that not only promises rich, ongoing support over time, but also proves remarkably solid and diverse in content right from launch. As we wait to see how far it can expand in the future, if you’re wondering when the right time to play it is, the answer can only be: now.

The idea of making a Sacred 2 Remaster wasn't wrong, but the final result is an anachronistic product, a ghost in a market now dominated by giants like Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2, which fails to justify its cost and, above all, our time.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a diverse and well-crafted musou that successfully bridges the gap between hack-and-slash and action-adventure. It refines every rough edge of its predecessor while enriching its core formula with smart design choices. Deeply respectful of its source material, it stands as the best entry in the series and a worthy addendum to Tears of the Kingdom, as long as you remember it’s a very different kind of game.

Once Upon a Katamari is the return fans have been waiting for: colorful, eccentric, and brimming with the carefree absurdity that made Bandai Namco’s franchise so unique. While it doesn’t reinvent the formula, it tastefully modernizes it with a more cohesive structure. It’s a game that chooses refinement over revolution, but does so with genuine love for its quirky universe and characters. In short, Once Upon a Katamari doesn’t redefine the series; it celebrates it in the most joyful way possible.

Football Manager 26 is a new revolutionary beginning for the most important managerial saga in the panorama of football titles. An ambitious project that took the right time to bring freshness to a formula that, however valuable, required a more decisive turn. So many improvements that will delight long-time fans, trying to attract even new recruits, while a little regret remains for some technical issues that dirty an overall extremely satisfying experience.

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a philologically impeccable collection — one that adds without distorting, modernizes without overreaching, and brings back two timeless classics in their best possible form. Yet, it’s fair to say that these games haven’t all aged gracefully, at least in terms of pure gameplay mechanics and narrative pacing.

Tormented Souls 2 faithfully follows the path laid out by its predecessor, continuing to pay tribute to old-school survival horror without ever succumbing to modern action influences. This second installment is made for true fans of the classics — for those who long to relive that nerve-wracking feeling of moving cautiously through the dark, counting every bullet, studying every map, and listening to every creak. As an authentic experience for the nostalgic, Tormented Souls 2 doesn’t aim to revolutionize the genre — nor does it pretend to. What makes it stand out is the confidence with which it embraces its own identity: a heartfelt homage to the masters of the past, crafted with skill and passion. Still, some of the first game’s issues (though somewhat improved) remain, along with a few of the genre’s age-old flaws.

Just Dance 2026 Edition confirms Ubisoft’s artistic talent but also the franchise’s stagnation. The experience remains solid and fun, with a varied tracklist and well-crafted choreographies, yet it’s essentially the same game as last year, updated with only a few minor additions like the Party Mode. The “hub” model could have breathed new life into the series, but as it stands, it feels more like a way to sell a full-priced DLC. The king of dance is still on the floor—but he’s just dancing in place.

The Outer Worlds 2 is bigger and better than the original, but, alas, plays it much safer. Overall is a more solid effort from Obsidian, and has much more content than the first game, but the surprise effect from the 2019 is gone. Still, a solid and very fun RPG from one of the most talented teams around in creating worlds, interactions and dialogues.

Persona 3 Reload is designed for a broad yet discerning audience, including those on Switch 2. It’s perfect for anyone who’s never experienced the original story and is looking for a deep, narrative-driven, emotionally engaging JRPG. It’s also ideal for players who loved Persona 5 and want to discover where many of its ideas originated. Those who have already completed previous versions, however, might feel less motivated, unless driven by the curiosity to relive the experience with a fresh technical and artistic perspective (perhaps even in portable form).

Ninja Gaiden 4 is built on solid foundations and a clear vision. It was a bold gamble on a legendary legacy, but also an opportunity to redefine the boundaries of hardcore action combat on modern PCs and consoles. Yakumo doesn’t have Ryu’s charisma, and we hope the undisputed hero of the saga will take center stage again in the future. Still, PlatinumGames’ touch—despite the many departures—remains pure gold.

Keeper is a story of courage and perseverance, a tribute to resilience and friendship in its purest form. A small project with a huge heart, yet one that must contend with certain limitations — a rollercoaster of emotions that reflects both its narrative and gameplay. A unique adventure in its genre, which, despite some linearity and simplicity, manages to convey and leave a lasting impression on players willing to look beyond its initial appearances.

In a industry dominated by safe, risk-free productions, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is a bold game, even in its failures. The Chinese Room has created an ambitious work (perhaps too ambitious for its own means) yet one capable of leaving a mark. It’s not the sequel many dreamed of, but perhaps it’s the one this dark world truly deserved: a flawed title, yet brimming with personality and vision.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A refines the series’ formula with a leaner, more focused, and genuinely fun experience. Despite its dated visuals, Game Freak delivers one of the most enjoyable entries in years a “sequel to a spin-off” that carries the kind of soul we hope to see return in the mainline games.

Dragon Ball Gekishin Squadra is Bandai Namco’s answer to the stagnation of the MOBA genre, a title that forgoes the extreme complexity typical of League of Legends and Dota 2 in favor of a more immediate, dynamic, and accessible approach.

We are not yet before the definitive Battlefield and not a 1:1 clone of Battlefield 3. The general balance will still require work, and the hope is that post-launch support will introduce more varied and open maps. However, the foundations are incredibly solid. You can feel the passion and the will of DICE and the Battlefield Studios to get back on track, to listen to their community, and to give back to Battlefield the crown it deserves.

A haunting dark fairy tale that channels 1930s animation with stunning craftsmanship. Bye Sweet Carole blends gothic atmosphere, emotional storytelling, and obsessive artistic detail into one of 2025’s most striking and unforgettable games.

Little Nightmares 3 is a two-sided work whose evaluation depends entirely on the perspective from which it is viewed. Supermassive Games has certainly created an engaging, intelligent, and artistically stunning puzzle adventure that seeks to evolve the series’ formula in a new direction.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger is not the bold breakthrough capable of dismantling Pokémon’s dominance, but it does mark an important step in the franchise’s maturation. It’s a game that shows courage in trying to build a modern structure more attentive to players’ needs, only to stumble on technical and design choices that drag it back by years.

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a collection that many will dislike by default due to a series of choices made by Nintendo, which have nothing to do with the quality of the games themselves or the restoration work carried out. Despite a visual department that in some circumstances begins to show signs of aging, this is a pair of unmissable productions for anyone who has never had the chance to experience them in their best possible form.

Hades II reminded me that roguelites, when well designed, are not exercises in frustration but perfect machines for telling stories. Every defeat sent me back to the Crossroads not with anger, but with curiosity. It’s rare to find a game that balances immediacy and depth, frenzy and reflection, so well. After dozens of hours, I don’t feel “tired” of the game — I feel even more engaged: I want to see every branch of the story, try every weapon, and find the combination of boons that will make me feel unstoppable. For this reason, Hades II is not only the best roguelite ever made, but also one of the most significant works of recent years.

Ghost of Yotei is a melancholic journey that intertwines a thirst for vengeance with a sense of contemplation. It does not revolutionize the genre, but it marks a strong return for single-player experiences on PlayStation, striking where it matters: among the memories of the protagonist Atsu, which tell tragedies without the need for words. It is a game that rewards those who seek atmosphere, subdued moods, and the still open wounds in the hearts of those who fight only for themselves. Perhaps it does not shatter the giants of tradition, but it finds its voice among silences and duels, offering the player not just revenge, but a catharsis with a bitter taste of truth.