While Hamster Corporation’s emulation is impeccable, Taito’s gems don’t receive any sense of context. Sure, this meets the requirements for digital preservation, but the essential historical accompaniments are missing.

It’s been seven long years since the last entry in the fault series. While much has changed in the world, fault – StP – LIGHTKRAVTE delivers the same kind of heartfelt payoff it did in 2015. Only now, the presentation is approaching top-tier.

Literally and figuratively, there’s a lot to dig in Dome Keeper’s mixture of excavation, resource management, and defense stages.

Dream Garden is a serene sandbox that rewards patience and creativity, letting you create tranquil landscapes at your own pace. There can be a bit of clunkiness to the controls, if you need precise positioning. But the peaceful mood and meditative visuals make this soothing digital diversion worth tending to.

With dual weapons systems right out of Taito’s Ray series and visuals that resemble PC Engine classics, Moon Dancer should delight fans of retro shooters.

No Sleep for Kaname Date delivers with the series’ trademark quirky humor and character banter, blending brainy escape rooms with plenty of offbeat twists. Whether you’re here for clever puzzles or the familiar chemistry between Date, Aiba, and crew, this chapter offers a satisfying return to the world of AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES.

What’s truly fulfilling about Roots of Pacha is the lesson of how everyone plays a role in the development of civilization. Advancement is often attributed to individuals and I won’t soon forget the village who discovered that grain could be converted into alcohol. But seeing that innovation fuel additional ones elevates Roots of Pacha over most of its peers. While Soda Den didn’t invent the agronomic sim, adding a sense of community and a representation of human development is the kind of innovation the genre truly deserves.

Sin Eater brings real stakes and smart systems back to monster taming, with a darker edge that actually lands. It’s not perfect and you’ll probably get lost in it’s open world. But the game’s ambitions and depth land push it away from Game Freak’s familiar foundations.

Although it has a great atmosphere, Showgunners doesn’t cultivate the pathos that it’s capable of. As such, you’ll find pulpy motivations for the polished turn-based strategy, which positions the title in the secondary tier of XCOM-type titles. Tactics fans could do worse.

System Shock’s influence spread through the industry, leaving an indelible imprint on survival horror and first-person puzzler genres. As such, playing the remastered version of the game can evoke feelings of déjà vu. There’s still plenty of impact in your showdown against rogue AI, but the fun feels familiar, even if you somehow missed the original game.

Never 7 and Ever 17 aren’t just wonderfully pulpy novels that manage to successfully mix romance, science-fiction, and doomsday scenarios. They also plumb their character’s psyches, revealing realistic vulnerabilities. But sadly, the package is marred by one of the sloppiest localizations in recent memory that undermines each branching tale.

Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord is an amusing but largely average tactical role-playing game. Reuniting with characters like Fang, Eryn, and Tiara is enjoyable and the shift to grid-based battles is an improvement. But you’ll likely wish the game offered more innovation than those delightful, vocalized Muse-driven fights.

Revenge of the Savage Planet is a fun, inventive follow-up with strong humor and style, held back slightly by late-game narrative shifts and some repetitive mechanics.

Shuten Order is smart, stylish, and a bit messy. It’s a visual novel that bounces between genres and tones, striving for freshness as if the world will end in four days, and Kazutaka Kodaka still has some points yet to make. Look past the clunky localization and relish five routes penned by one of gaming’s most audacious storytellers.

This Gal Gun spin-off threatens to outshine the series that inspired it thanks to taut, timeless, two-dimension action. Soloists can trade off between the gun-toting Shinobu and her melee-combo-using sister, Maya. However, having a partner for local co-op play makes Grim Guardians: Demon Purge truly shine.

Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog is a largely triumphant tribute to last-century science fiction. Referencing everything from Gundam to Alien, expect to spend your time on the space vessel interacting with a colorful cast and delving into plotline that sets things up for subsequent follow-ups. In space, sequels are compulsory, it seems.

The only nagging omission from Nick and Tom Jr.’s outing is context. Without the inclusion of any of the original coin-op, console, or handheld versions of Snow Bros., players might not immediately appreciate the effort that went into this adaptation. Sure, it’s probably another one of those instances of licensing restrictions. But with Wonderland, the Bros uphold their legacy as Bubble Bobble’s best rival. Why not honor the Snow family tree?

A few minor imperfections are found in Cuisineer’s delectable amalgam of dungeon-based action and restaurant management. But these wayward flavors aren’t enough to spoil the piquancy that BattleBrew Productions has cooked up. With lovely art and refreshingly relaxed pacing, this is a dish that fans of cozy games will savor.

Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked swaps character sheets for card decks and delivers a brisk, highly tactical dungeon crawl that thrives on clever teamwork and fast decision-making. Its streamlined design, diorama-style visuals, and strong storytelling make every run gratifying, even if the camera, party leveling system, and fickle dice occasionally crit-fail your patience. That said, this is one digital adventure that routinely rolls with advantage.

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom: Pirates of the Disturbance is an enjoyable excursion that should delight fans of Satoru Yamaguchi’s multimedia franchise. In Catarina Claes’ world opening your heart can be a risk, injecting a drop of pragmatism into an otherwise straightforward blend of comedy and romance.

Donut Dodo feels like finding a forgotten ‘80s arcade game, right down to the screen ratio and plucky chiptune soundtrack. Sure, developer Pixel Games sneaks in a handful of modern conveniences, ensuring that the game doesn’t feel like yesterday’s baked goods.

Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop’s logic puzzles and space dystopia won’t be for everyone. If you dread having to assemble drop-shipped furniture or aren’t charmed by sardonic storytelling, the game might be downright laborious. But for DIY tinkerers, Rocket Shop’s space garage sim shouldn’t be overlooked.

Is a modern artistic work that still holds up 25 years later a classic? Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg makes a strong case for admitting GUST’s inaugural entry in the role-playing hall of fame. While the foundations are comparatively simplistic and the relationships can seem cartoonish, Salburg’s cycle of friending, fighting, gathering, and mixing ingredients is nearly as absorbing as ever.

In many three-act works, the middle chapter is often devoted to character development. That’s often the case with The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II, the second installment in Falcom’s Calvard arc. While a core plot device can make a portion of the game feel like a filler, plenty of empathy with the main cast is cultivated here. Coupled with improvements to the hybrid real time/turn-based battles, Daybreak II provides momentum for the third game, but little reason for future replay.

Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch swaps its predecessor’s slow-burn campaign for fast, flexible tactical runs. It doesn’t reinvent either the tactics or roguelike genres, but the streamlined combat, consequential meta-progression, and replay-ready structure make it a surprisingly satisfying spin-off for fans and newcomers alike.

Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is a charming throwback that sticks close to its 16-bit roots. Teaming with upbeat energy and a heroine who never loses her spark, this is an easy remake to enjoy.

Like the Vegas strip, influences are pervasive in All in Abyss. From Texas Hold ‘em against CPU opponents, comical conversations, power-ups to earn, mysteries to uncover, and even some opponent fatalities, Judge the Fake’s mixture of mechanics is gratifying – at least when it’s not being too grindy.

Yunyun Syndrome!? Rhythm Psychosis is a chaotic and compelling rhythm game built around denpa culture, mixing catchy tracks with a satirical story about an isolated, terminally online teen addicted to conspiratorial shitposting. It’s weird, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful though repetitive gameplay and progression hiccups produce a bit of cringe.

Boasting two additional stages that weren’t present in the arcade version, a trio of playable ships, and a gratifying alternative soundtrack, Raiden IV x MIKADO remix is a winner that should satisfy STG fans, especially if you don’t own the previous release.

Undoubtedly, there’s an overabundance of action roguelike on Steam. But Ravenswatch’s selection of literary-based characters boast hearty arsenals that make combat absorbing. At present, fighting bosses in single-player games can feel tedious, so grab a group of buddies, if possible.

Platypus Reclayed keeps the quirky charm of the 2002 claymation shooter intact while rebuilding every ship, enemy, and backdrop in crisp 4K detail. With spirited upgrades and polished pacing, embracing this handcrafted shoot ‘em up is easy as rolling clay into a ball.

With a reliance on auto-targeting, the Vampire Survivor clones can grow tedious. Bore Blasters mixes things up with twin-stick shooter mechanics, where drilling through the environment is just as imperative as gunning down foes. While in-game inflation becomes irritating, the few first hours, are indeed, a blast.

Forza Polpo! channels the delights of 1995’s Jumping Flash!, as you guide a mechanized creature capable of leaping over skyscrapers. Thirty years on, some of the difficulties of first-person soaring and firefights haven’t been remedied. But when the sky is the limit, a few faults can be forgiven.

Discounty turns cozy shopkeeping into a business challenge, blending real-time retail hustle with small-town drama. It’s a welcome change for life-sim fans craving more than just farming and friendship.

Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship throws players into a chaotic intermingling of tower defense, bullet-hell action, roguelike randomness, and crew management. There are always multiple things to worry about, requiring focused multitasking and quick decision-making from players. Masochists who appreciate a head-first plunge into action-driven chaos might consider boarding The Last Ship.

Cosmic Waves takes the classic brick-breaker formula and gives it a futuristic nudge with charged-up towers, smart upgrades, and plenty of wild power-ups. It probably won’t convert genre skeptics, but fans of paddle-and-ball chaos will find plenty to love here. Maybe skip the story bits, though.

Building on the foundations of 1982’s Robotron: 2084, Satryn DX delivers waves of delightfully hectic twin-stick shooting. If you like arcade style action and don’t have the patience for long-winded exposition, this is a title to savor.

Pleasingly, METAL SUITS: Counter-attack absolutely shines on portable PCs like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally, extending solid sixty frame-per-second-performance even when there’s a chain reaction of screen-shaking explosions. Hopefully, Eggtart can temper the game’s sporadic difficulty spikes and prohibits clusters of enemies from bunching up.

At its best, CYGNI: All Guns Blazing requires your complete concentration, as stages pit your solitary ship against an unprecedented number of enemies. While some framerate foibles and an incongruent soundtrack are regrettable, neither truly mars the experience of tackling seven missions where adversity pummels you like a torrential storm.

A bit too often, Mystery Dungeon-style games lack a compelling impetus. void tRrLM(); //Void Terrarium 2 provides one but requires a bit of persistence from players.

PowerWash Simulator 2 takes the strangely soothing satisfaction of spraying away grime and attempts to refine its meditative qualities. Despite a few messy technical hiccups in co-op, FuturLab’s sequel tunes the original’s formula into an embodiment of “flow,” where each satisfying sweep of water feels like washing the clutter from your own mind.

Much like its primary weapon, Missile Dancer 2 is laser-focused on a target of delivering late ‘80s, frenzied, arcade-style fun. Anyone with an appreciation for retro games will undoubtedly find this well-crafted homage to Afterburner and Galaxy Force a direct hit.

While the fashionably-dressed gents will grab your attention, a respectable rendition of Breakout will maintain it for a few hours. Given Otoko Cross: Pretty Boys Breakup’s reasonable price, the game is an easy recommendation for those attracted to brick smashing or the game’s line-up of heartbreakers.

Despite a plodding introductory hour, Minishoot' Adventures free-roaming, open-world shooter soon heats up. Before you know it, you’ll feel the singe of bullet-hell involvedness, as the playfield becomes flooded with dense patterns of projectiles. Fortunately, a leveling-up system provides the counter-offensive you’ll need to survive with variable difficulty settings serving as a contingency plan.

Simultaneously being a battlefield strategist and a spell-slinging sorceress on the frontline makes Timemelters feel distinctive. Sure, it’s not perfect and the occasional difficulty spike is poised to put a transitory hex on your enjoyment. But the concept of layering multiple versions of your actions helps make up for any blemishes.

As you’ll quickly learn, Starless Abyss is not a game for those seeking insubstantial challenges. But for players who crave a good tactical challenge, the sense of discovery, and a constant feeling of impending doom, Starless Abyss should be on your Wishlist.

Like a veteran yakuza lieutenant, Fading Afternoon can be unapproachable, offering little assistance for new recruits. This approach can be daunting at first, but it’s undoubtedly premeditated, encouraging you to explore the game’s intricately crafted world. There might not be many visible character stats, but this is accomplished role-playing.

Games built around item collection often succumb to tedium or a level of challenge that’s more exasperating than engaging. Caravan SandWitch lets you roam its sunny, sandy local without the inconvenience of enemy encounters or the threat of a ‘game over’ message.

Kingdomino’s PC version keeps the board game’s elegant, low-stress strategy intact while trimming away the setup and scoring busywork. It’s light, quick, and a little limited in depth, but that simplicity makes it ideal for whenever you’ve got 15 minutes to play a match.

NeverAwake Flashback turns the original’s haunting twin-stick shooting into fast, arcade-like roguelike runs that trade RPG-style growth for quick hits of intensity and style. It loses some of the original’s melancholy depth, but if you want a tough, dreamlike shooter, Flashback is fun for a few runs.

Labyrinth of Zangetsu revisits the fundamentals of classical function crawling. Peer past the attractive ink-wash-styled visuals and you’ll find an experience that’s a faithful adaptation of board gaming with graph paper and pencil. Largely, this should satisfy purists looking for a timeless crawl where a deluge of crits are ready to punish the imprudent.

Cash Cow DX revisits the arcade era, when success required quick reflexes, a whole lot of practice, and a roll of quarters. Pixel games SARL-S’ latest is a morsel of Mappy, a bite from Pac-Man, a dash of Sonic, and a whole lot of fun - especially if you miss coin-ops.

Spell Carnival plays like nothing else. Real-time strategy-style movement against a backdrop of exploding projectiles feels fresh and just a bit frustrating. But dive deep into this Touhou spin-off, and you’ll discover a counter for every attack.

Individually, PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe can be a chore. But with a group of friends, the game can feel like a sport as you cooperatively chase down goals and attempt to clean up the dystopian world of Junktown.

Slay Dragon feels like playing a tabletop campaign, with all the freedom and engrossing storytelling that comes with it. While the visuals can be a bit plain, the customization and progression make The Nameless a surprisingly deep and rewarding adventure.

Grandma, No! lets her ragdoll mechanics loose on a trio of playgrounds, delivering plenty of comical chaos. While some might not appreciate the game’s humor, elements like a dedicated fart button make this a fun and fleeting outlet for suburban anarchy.

Wagamama High Spec OC trades high drama for heartfelt follow-ups, giving each heroine room to breathe after the confession. It’s comfort food for returning fans; familiar, sweet, and just substantial enough to warrant your time and money.

Knight vs Giant: The Broken Excalibur is just a bit more than Hades meets King Arthur’s court. Controlling a resurrected Arthur is enjoyable thanks to potent weapons and spells upgraded with frequent perks. Even if the storytelling is second class, responsive controls and feverish combat make this a worthy consideration for any roguelike fan.

Noctuary blends rich visual novel storytelling with real-time combat, delivering a heartfelt adventure driven more by character and worldbuilding than nonstop action. Those who enjoy emotionally resonant narratives and gradual pacing will find this luminous journey worthy of their time.

Particle Hearts blurs the line between puzzle-platformer and interactive art exhibit, sending players drifting through dreamlike biomes. It may be too opaque or leisurely for some, but those open to a meditative pace will find it a luminous experience.

Between Yakuza Kiwami’s rich settings and its hardboiled plotline, it’s easy to become absorbed in this remake of the inaugural franchise entry. But a game like this deserves to be played on a platform that captures the splendor of hand-tailored suits and Kamurocho’s rain-soaked streets. Regrettably, the Switch port isn’t always up to the task.

Whether you tackle Hellcard’s turn-based confrontations alone or with a pair of online allies, the pursuit of team synergy can be involving. Like many card battlers, you’ll need to upgrade wisely, gleaning every diminutive advantage available before reaching the endgame. Here, persistence proves just as essential as having a prudent policy.

Sure, Disgaea 7 Complete isn't technically complete, but it does bundle the base game with the post-game stories, the Nethertime Support Force mini-game, as a mega-boss that will push franchise fans into grinding like it's a full-time job. While it's not worth buying again at a premium price, if you missed Vows of the Virtueless, this is the most robust strategy role-playing game currently on Switch 2.

Comprised of a base game and a rebalanced follow-up that didn’t add much innovation, this isn't a deep anthology. But Breakers Collection's fighting remain appealing 27 years later thanks to mechanics that are accessible to newcomers while fulfilling to those with more fighting game experience.

If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery then Wall World is bestowing lavish praise toward Dome Keeper’s blend of defensive shooting and subterranean drilling. Essentially, it’s the exact same concept but with a slightly better sense of progress.

StarVaders is a smart, addictive, and refreshingly original indie game. It references Taito’s pioneering arcade title while delivering a modern, engaging gameplay loop. For fans of tactical titles, deck-builders, or just clever twists on familiar genres, it’s well worth your time.

With its explanations of the Turing Test and machine learning, QUALIA ~The Path of Promise~ offers more than just a basic tale of love between man and machine. Although the first two hours can be a bit dull, the visual novel’s central relationship is tenderly written, allowing for a few wholehearted moments.

Undoubtedly, Choice Provisions has studied the Breakout clones, from Arkanoid to Shatter. Breakout Beyond bundles several of their modernization, resulting in a golden mean of brick-busting amusement.

Wander Stars turns words into weapons, mixing flashy anime-inspired visuals with a combat system that rewards creativity and experimentation. While a bit of randomness can trip up the flow, the game’s humor and heart separate it from most shonen-style showdowns.

Touhou Spell Carnival delivers a thrilling fusion of real-time strategy and bullet-hell chaos, demanding sharp multitasking and tactical precision. While its story takes a backseat, the game’s layered combat and charming cast make it a standout spin-off for fans and genre enthusiasts alike.

PaperKlay is a charming and visually inventive 3D platformer that brings a handcrafted world to life with tactile textures, smart level design, and engaging exploration. While the clunky combat falls short responsive controls and a quaint atmosphere make it a standout for platforming enthusiasts.

At first, Aged Through Blood’s blend of Trails-style bike tricks, slow-motion gunplay, and exploration seems shrewd. But the mixture of mechanics eventually grows laborious across Laika’s 10- to 12-hour trek. If developer Brainwash Gang could get the action to match the quality of the exposition, I’d gladly ride again with this mama coyote.

For the past two decades, Puzzle Bobble (aka Bust-A-Move) has been coasting off the momentum of the first four mainline games. Everybubble’s abundant stages, flawless performance, and incorporation of different play modes don’t revolutionize the franchise but delivers a package that’s as well-rounded as a soap bubble.

Locomoto is a heartfelt adventure where train travel becomes eco-conscious journey. With a solid port from PC, Switch owners can expect plenty of coziness, customization, and even a few emotional payoff along the way.

Fubuki: Zero in on Holoearth – Hololive Alternative is an above-average action-platformer elevated by feverish sword slashing, great looking pixel-art and an abundance of on-screen adversaries. Just be aware, it’s shorter than one of the Vtuber’s streams.

Trials of Kokoro is an ambitious blend of visual novel and turn-based battling. Fans of the former component might find a bit of frustration. But those who appreciate when role-playing combat delves into buffs and weaknesses will want to undertake this trial.

There’s a plethora of proficient first-person shooters on Steam. Dread Templar offers an engrossing ten to fifteen-hour campaign with few blemishes. Sure, the experience might lack distinction, but it’s an efficient performer on most mid-to-low-end systems, making it ideal for Steam Deck owners seeking a fast and fluid firefight on the go.

With a quartet of character classes, Deadlink lets you find a class that complements your playstyle in the game’s procession of hectic, arena-based first-person frag fests. But incongruously, the game’s roguelike perks provoke you into playing a very specific way, where you’ll use all of your capabilities. This dissonance doesn’t devastate the action, but it doesn’t elevate it either.

With its satirical take on telenovels, Destino Indomable offers some outrageous laughs, as you ad-lib your way through five episodes in RCK Games and Megalixir Games’ visual novel. Let’s just hope that the lead character shows more expression if Indomable returns for another season.

Don’t let the adorability of the anime-influenced art fool you, Class of Heroes: Anniversary Edition is unwelcoming to newcomers. But that’s less of an admonishment and more of an observation of the game’s intended audience. Dungeon crawling here is appropriately dangerous, while party management is intentionally messy. Let the other folks enjoy their guided walkthroughs, Class of Heroes offers a wonderfully tough curriculum for those seeking a first-rate education.

A charming, delightfully handcrafted adventure that stands out for its mesmerizing stop-motion visuals and relaxed pace, Mashina is an enchanting escape for anyone looking to unwind. Sometimes simple experiences are the remedy for digital burn-out.

ArcRunner is a competent third-person roguelike shooter that works best as a co-operative experience. With more variety and a bit of scaling, it could easily accommodate individuals, too.

Dust & Neon provides some engaging twin-stick firefights across its fifteen-minute missions. Between the taut pace and tight play, this is an above-average action-roguelike mainly undermined by above-average pricing.

Largely, Old School Rally nails the look and feel of PlayStation-era rally racers, making every stage feel like a high-speed nostalgia trip. It may favor arcade thrills over hardcore simulation, but with a generous amount of content and budget-friendly price, it’s an easy grab for any rally fan craving fast, retro fun.

Even with those minor blemishes, Atomic Owl manages to distinguish itself in a genre saturated by competitors. By embracing a pulled back POV, leaning into platforming, and surrounding its core mechanics with polished aesthetics, Monster Theater has delivered a title that’s worth exploring for players craving a bit of divergence. It’s not a reinvention of metroidvania formula, but it’s a sharp reminder that a few creative risks are as welcome as a new spring plumage.

The King is Watching turns the act of looking into a compelling mechanic, where your kingdom only thrives under the monarch’s literal gaze. It’s a smart blend of strategy and roguelike design that rewards careful planning. But those who are averse to grinding for upgrades might find the weight of this crown to be burdensome.

Game Type DX is the shoot ‘em up equivalent of an indie pop-punk album. It’s succinct, spirited, and aims a middle finger at the suits. Best of all, it’s priced at six dollars.

If you like retro shoot ‘em ups, Verzeus likely warrants its six-dollar purchase price. Sure, it’s not quite as good as Konami’s iconic shooter, but it’s an engaging alternative if you’ve already played through Hiroyasu Machiguchi an immeasurable number of times. You might not be able to duplicate the experience of playing Gradius again for the first time. But a round of Verzeus feels like a musical cover that pays homage to the original while adding just a bit of divergence.

Like A-Train 3D: City Simulator, I am an Air Traffic Controller - AIRPORT HERO HANEDA is another thorny transit sim set in the land of the Raising Sun. It’s not for everyone, but if you appreciate semi-realistic assessments where hundreds of lives depend on your decision-making skills, then you'll want to book some time Haneda.

There are no safety nets, so Lunistice can feel like an extended tight-rope performance on its sky-high platforms. You’ll fall repeatedly, but with such an affordable price-point, it’s difficult to become too peeved.

Trading tanks for talismans and infantry for imps, GrimGrimoire provides a painterly style to the real-time strategy genre. With an intriguing plotline that tweaks expectations and a remaster that fixes some (but not all) of the game’s faults, OnceMore is worth revisiting or tackling for the first time.

Fans of Jeff Minter’s digital psychedelia will undoubtedly appreciate Akka Arrh once they learn to make sense of the on-screen bedlam. Fortunately, the steep learning curve is balanced by long-term appeal, positioning the game just south of classics such as Revenge of the Mutant Camels, Polybius, and Tempest 4000.

Railbound delivers an absorbing collection of deceptively simple puzzles that will push your cognitive abilities. Brains might become sore but eyes will be soothed by the adorable visuals.

Fantasy Maiden Wars – DREAM OF THE STRAY DREAMER transforms Touhou’s bullet-hell chaos into a sweeping, tactical epic that feels both reverent and ambitious. Its massive cast and dense lore can overwhelm, but the dazzling Spell Card battles and devotion to Gensokyo’s mythos make this dream memorable.

If Tiny Thor could offer a tempered difficulty setting for those who lack god-like reflexes, it would earn an unmitigated recommendation. Instead, players with honed skills are the ones most likely to enjoy the juvenile god’s exploits and wielding the mini-Mjölnir.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is adorable, relaxing, and full of charm, even when its grindier side kicks in. If you’re willing to take things at a slow, cozy pace, this island getaway delivers plenty of heart and looks great on Switch 2.

Pinball M ushers in a collection of tables culled from mature-rated properties. But save for a bit of blood and a few expletives, there’s little modification from Zen’s previous efforts. At a bit over five dollars for each table, the asking price isn’t too scary. But the pinball platform’s sporadic glitch can be a bit alarming, especially if it occurs when you’re trying to earn a stop on the game’s leaderboards.

The sixth mainline Earth Defense Force remains heavy on opposition but short on innovation. Yes, the action is still hysterical, as a team of stalwart soldiers face hundreds of opponents on each stage. The chaotic firefights are unchanged but so is much of the game. If you’re expecting innovation, you might want to wait to enlist. All others, it’s time for another familiar and delightfully campy bug hunt.