In 2024, a seventy-dollar game with fifteen-dollar New Game+ option should be an accomplished experience. Determinedly, Infinite Wealth is, whether you’re bouncing foes like bowling pins, belting out Baka Mitai like it’s your last, or tackling Animal Crossing and Pokémon-inspired offshoots that are too big to be called mini-games. Then, there’s the duality of Kiryu and Ichiban, who each get fleshed out thoroughly across a protracted playtime.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a charming and content-abundant life simulation RPG that skillfully blends crafting, combat, and exploration. While its multiplayer mode feels limited and its combat merely adequate, the title’s tender storytelling and a stirring soundtrack make it a thoroughly rewarding solo adventure.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter isn’t just a revival of a classic JRPG. It’s also a reminder of the power of patient storytelling and poignant character bonds. With refreshed combat, quality-of-life upgrades, and one of the genre’s most memorable casts, 1st Chapter is an essential experience for both returning players and newcomers.

Despite several development complications, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an exceptionally polished adventure. Marvelously, it’s impressive in areas where its action role-playing peers occasionally falter. CPU controlled teammates behave like humans while combat remains engaging thirty hours on. Best of all, the challenge scales broadly, providing audiences of all skill levels an ideal inroad into Granblue’s breathtaking skyworlds.

The Making of Karateka demonstrates a deep-rooted respect of the source material. Most contemporary collections are driven by profits rather than an interest in historical preservation, establishing this as a shining benchmark for single-game curation. Capcom, Konami, it’s time to step it up.

Revolgear Zero looks like a familiar old-school shooter at first, but quickly reveals itself as a dense, high-energy balancing act where grazing, melee bit throws, burst beams, and item chasing all feed into one exhilarating rhythm. With tons of unlockable loadouts, smart stage variety, and even chaotic co-op, it’s a confident evolution of Bikkuri Software’s ideas that rewards bold, aggressive play and will keep genre fans fully engaged.

Like many of Vanillaware’s previous efforts, sight, sound, and story effortlessly intermingle in Unicorn Overlord. The result is a role-playing experience poised to fascinate with its well-developer recruitable characters and a battle system that will have you tenaciously tinkering with your troops and envisaging new strategies when you’re not playing. Despite a reliance of Western high-fantasy and a rather conventional lead, Overlord shouldn’t be missed.

Trails to Azure offers both closure to the Crossbell arc and an introduction to some of Cold Steel’s characters. But the game functions as more than just connective tissue for Nihon Falcom’s prolific property. Spending time with Lloyd and the rest of the Special Support Section exemplifies role-playing at its best, courtesy of compelling combat, a delightful cast of characters, and more geopolitical intrigue than a stack of history books.

If you have somehow overlooked the franchise, Persona 3 Portable makes an ideal entry point. Not only does this remaster showcase many of the features that will carry over and evolve into subsequent entries but flaunts a reasonable price and proficient porting. Unless longtime fans still have a working PSP or PS Vita, this is an impeccable way to revisit one of role-playing’s most relevant efforts.

Bouncing back from a disappointing predecessor, Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless’ back-to-basics approach is appreciated. Developer Nippon Ichi seems to have listened to feedback, increasing the number of classes and rethinking how auto-battling is implemented. Factor in a shift to the setting that allows for a soundtrack with traditional instrumentation and a mild teasing of otaku and this is the course-correction the franchise needed.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar adds a fresh twist to the classic farming sim with lively weekly markets, expanded crafting, and smart quality-of-life upgrades. While stamina limits and repetitive sales may frustrate some, the game’s charm, variety, and vibrant visuals make Zephyr Town a cozy and rewarding place to settle in.

Earthion takes the blistering intensity of 16-bit shoot ’em ups and adds just enough modern innovation to keep things feeling fresh. Between its dazzling pixel art, clever weapon mechanics, and an absolute banger of a soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro, it’s both a heartfelt tribute and engrossing evolution of the genre.

Inaugural efforts can often be unrealistically ambitious. But miraculously, Shujinkou nails nearly every single one of its elevated goals. From engrossing dungeon crawling, a cast that remains compelling across an 80-hour storyline, to a capability for teaching you spoken and written Japanese, a new watermark for indie RPGs has been established.

Meg’s Monster’s succinctness might put off traditionalists accustomed to role-playing epics. But give the game a shot, and you’ll likely find more laughter, tension, and sentiment than in most forty-hour journeys.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is the game we need right now. It’s visuals dazzle without the need for an expensive new RTX video-card. It’s plot advances without the frustration that can ruin the pacing of many investigatory undertakings. With its smart design and engaging combat Fumi Games’ debut blends style and substance into a noir adventure that rarely misses a beat.

Much like the SteamWorld Dig sequel, Heist II ditches the drab procedurally generated stages for hand-crafted battlefields designed around collaboration and the game’s new class system. While these changes might sound minor, they feed into so many different components that the follow-up feels fresh, at least until the run-up to the game's finale.

What once seemed like a quizzical crossover is shaping up to be one of the best tactical franchises on Switch.

With a captivating storyline led by a splendid ensemble of characters and combat systems that remain involving throughout a 30+ hour playtime, Chained Echoes nails the tenets of any respectable RPG while rethinking many of the genre’s more creaky conceits.

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe delivers a feast for the retinas, where even the transitions convey vibrant exuberance. Play is just as adept as the visuals, with a multitude of modes prepared to swallow your recreational hours, whether you’re playing solo or with a group of friends.

Sadly, Yoshitaka Murayama passed away just before Hundred Heroes’ release. But if he was still with us, he might have enjoyed the praise that Eiyuden Chronicle will undoubtedly receive. It’s been eighteen years since the last Suikoden entry, and this game is a delightful reminder of the series’ strengths, whether it’s the rapport between characters or the fulfillment associated with finding a new recruit who divulges a detail about Hundred Heroes’ world.

Hermit and Pig is an offbeat RPG where conversation is just as consequential as combat. Here, empathy, listening, and connection is the focus, rather than conquest. Although it’s a rather linear tale, an inventive dialogue system, salient themes, and a heartfelt exploration of loneliness make it a moving experience that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Team Ladybug understands what makes a great metroidvania. As such, expect Blade Chimera to deliver gripping play, eye-pampering visuals, and boss battles that will undoubtedly elevate heart rates. Thankfully, much of the momentum-breaking puzzling and playtime padding are absent.

Mullet Madjack is Otakuland’s signature thrill ride. Requiring players to kill in order to stay alive, gameplay channels the intensity of speedruns, the fire fights of a first-person shooter, and the visceral finishers of DOOM. But just like a roller coaster, this jaunt through 90’s anime and VHS static can be a fleeting experience.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 gives one of the series’ most divisive entries a welcome second life, pairing an effective, character-driven story with modern visuals and combat. Dark Ties is a competent but less resonant companion piece, made worthwhile mainly by a divergent fighting style and the occasional spark of personality rather than any must-see narrative additions.

Trails beyond the Horizon feels like Falcom finally stepping back to ask what twenty years of lore, politics, and progress have actually added up to, and just how much of it is still under human control. It’s dense, occasionally unwieldy, but deeply rewarding, using its multi-hero structure and evolving world to turn a long-running JRPG saga into a rewarding rumination on power, technology, and the costs of moving forward.

Quartet is a retro-inspired RPG that fuses SNES-era charm with modern pacing, delivering four deeply personal stories. With streamlined combat and heartfelt writing, it shows how classic role-playing design can be prudently updated.

Guardians of Azuma reworks the series, shifting things from traditional farming to an engaging village management and action-RPG experience. Blending exploration, combat, and nuanced social systems alongside a bit more focused narrative structure makes the latest entry the new pinnacle for the Rune Factory franchise.

While a multitude of titles have paid homage to SNES-era role-playing times, Sea of Stars is one of the few efforts that truly understands what makes the source material so beloved. Charmingly wholesome and aesthetically adept, Sabotage Studio’s follow-up to The Messenger will keep you beguiled through its blissful 30- (or so) hour campaign.

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is agreeable when you’re performing fetch quests and grows enjoyable with its trolly cart racing component. But the deep-seated delight arrives when there’s no obvious goal and you’re just soaking up the splendid scenery. Here, exploring the Akita prefecture and a town of hospitable folks feels like a bathtub full of warm contentment.

Whether you’re a musou noob or a series veteran, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is poised to delight. Developer Omega Force has hacked away much of the bloat, allowing the latest outing to focus on more sophisticated swordfighting and richer storytelling.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian may not break much new ground for Gust’s long-running series, but it delivers a heartfelt mix of streamlined alchemy, lively combat, and a moving storyline about loss and renewal. It’s less about reinvention and more about the power of periodic emotional pull.

Please Be Happy employs the perspective of a solitary fox girl to examine the callousness and kindness of the human spirit. In Studio Élan’s talented hands, the method is a stirring success, filled with evocative prose, stunning visuals, and a skillful soundtrack.

Drill Core blends mining sim, tower defense, and roguelite chaos into a tense, briskly tuned loop that rarely lets up. While longer sessions can feel a bit repetitive, its taut mechanics and ever-shifting variables make it a gem in terms of replay value.

LUNAR Remastered Collection bundles two titles that raised the bar for interactive storytelling, incorporating everything from voice performances to full motion video cutscenes. Although both Silver Star and Eternal Blue provide absorbing adventures more than two decades on, it’s hard not to long for supplementals that document the development of these pivotal works.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is a long-overdue comeback that modernizes the series without losing its over-the-top football RPG soul. Fusing solid storytelling, slick presentation, and fan-pleasing components like Chronicle Mode, it’s a reward reminder of why the football franchise remains relevant.

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is an absorbing action-adventure that combines Game Boy Advance vibes with inventive yoyo-based combat and a supply of clever puzzles. Despite the sporadic difficulty spikes, the game’s heartfelt story and explorable city make this a gem that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles demonstrates the prodigious aptitude of Nippon Ichi’s early years. Across the two titles in this anthology, we follow characters at pivotal points in their lives. Despite the fairy tale-esque simplicity, expect your heart to be warmed by three generations of cheerful heroines.

A strong entry in a sensational series, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana updates the 2010 version with faster load times, improved visual fidelity, better performance, and even voice acting for the game’s typically taciturn lead, Adol. But technical aspects aside, Felghana remains a classic action adventure that’s to taut controls, engaging action, and boss showdowns that will test your mettle.

Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut remains a requisite trek through Japan’s bubble-era underworld, now brought to life with sharper visuals and seamless performance on Switch 2. Despite a few underwhelming extras, its timeless blend of heartfelt drama and rambunctious absurdity is as captivating as ever.

Like any competent sequel, Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines rectifies its predecessor’s wayward behaviors while showing off a few new tricks. But the most impressive feat is level design that doggedly challenges and captivates, as you chase down the game’s inventory of collectibles.

Whoever owns the rights to Bally-Midway’s cherished coin-op, probably wouldn’t have made a better game than Terror of Hemasaurus.

Everyone’s favorite otaku-dad returns for another bout of hyper-kinetic boss butchery. While Suda51’s impish charms continue to delight, performing menial tasks isn’t quite as comical anymore.

With a framerate that can flutter, Good-Feel’s latest isn’t as technically polished as their Nintendo-published efforts. But jubilantly, Bakeru channels the same sense of exhilaration and wonder that the developers delivered in Yoshi's Crafted World and Princess Peach: Showtime. With a campaign that will send you across a cartoonish Japan and a drip feed of collectibles to gather, this is the kind of persistently pleasing experience that has become all too rare.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak sustains one of Nihon Falcom’s more underappreciated strengths: the scalability of its storytelling. Yes, the banter between members of a varied cast is expectedly lively and the inclusion of a morally ambiguous protagonist provides customary charms. But the game sinuously shifts to the scheming of the political elite and reveals a sordid underbelly that sharply contrasts with the technological distractions. Whether it’s the romantic ambitions of an NPC or biting societal critique, The Legend of Heroes franchise still has plenty to say, 35 years on.

Mahelyk and TheClassifiedX have created an unhinged, affectionate romp through a corrupted childhood memory. GlitchSPANKR is a game that scrutinizes our digital habits, finding humor and sentiment in unexpected places. The humor here is as abundant as it is sharp.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie comes with one of the biggest prerequisites in modern media. You’ll need to have played at least four, and ideally six, 40+ hour role-playing games to fully appreciate the intricacies of this title. That’s a substantial expectation, but if you have committed to the property, Reverie’s assemblage of personalities provides an impeccable farewell (and playful introduction) that will undoubtedly tug at your heartstrings.

A jubilant genre experiment that captures BlazBlue's essence while embracing roguelike design, BlazBlue Entropy Effect X is only held back only a few mechanical issues. You’d be hard pressed to find a better genre-jumper.

Whether played solo or with two non-compulsory local partners, Trinity Trigger channels the enjoyment of a ‘90s-era action role-playing game. From interacting with each town’s NPCs to delving into dungeons, almost every part of the game distills a sense of enjoyment.

OPUS: Prism Peak is a slow-burn adventure that uses photography and a surreal spirit world to explore regret, memory, and life’s overlooked moments. It stumbles a bit with pacing, but the game’s emotional honesty and poignant storytelling will linger long after the final frame.

The old adage about not swinging at the first pitch rings true for Granblue Versus: Rising. Like most sequels, you’ll find the requisite tweaks and additions. But returning players will witness a wealth of recycled fighters and some rehashed storytelling. As such, it’s newcomers that are best served, thanks to accessible control schemes, improved netcode, and diversions that make the Rising bountiful.

Indie developer Zu Ehtisham layers the references thickly, offering nods to Mega Man, Azure Striker Gunvolt, and even Sonic the Hedgehog. But despite the occasional feeling of familiarity, Berserk Boy’s frenzied action is distinctive and delightfully rhythmic. Anyone with an affinity for the 16-bit era should give the demo a go.

D Life’s molten display of whirling particles is hypnotic, while its ‘capture colors in a ring’ play mechanic is relaxing. Oddly, a synthesis of these two sentiments isn’t all that common in gaming. As such, D Life is recommended for those who are delighted by interactive ingenuity.

Innovative and thoroughly polished, NeverAwake is ideal for shooter fans seeking a Burton-esque excursion.

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land crafts another high point for Gust’s beloved series. From streamlined and speedy combat, a shift toward open-world exploration, and a thoroughly optimized engine, this is a role-playing adventure that shouldn’t be missed by fans of the genre.

Escape from Ever After takes a cautious first step, then steadily turns into a witty, character-rich RPG that knows how to have fun with fairy-tale tropes and turn-based combat. The last boss may lack punch, but the journey’s humor and combat variety make it an expedition worth taking.

Without a set of mock instruments, rhythm games don’t always capture the feel of musical performance. Spin Rhythm XD resists that trends with an innovative control scheme that might have your sliding mice or flicking the analog stick - providing a physicality that cadenced button tapping can lack. A 60-song EDM track list is a pleasant surprise given the asking price.

Given the novel’s taut pacing, likable leads, and first-rate aesthetics, Anonymous;Code serves as one of the most approachable entry points into the Science Adventure games. It might not top the emotional crests of Steins;Gate, but it's every bit as wonderfully mind-bending.

Claire a la Mode dishes out a sugary-sweet serving of momentum-fueled platforming, blending tight controls with a dessert-themed world. It’s a pleasing reminder that approachable, replay-ready action can still feel fresh when every character, collectible, and crumb of level design is placed with the watchfulness of a master chef.

Antonblast sporadically has moments where the platforming might not be as precise as you’d like. But save for the infrequent frustration of attempting to scale ascending collapsing steps, Summitsphere’s sophomore effort is one of the best platformers of the year. Fueled by a hyperactive energy that makes each stage feel frantic and feral, Antonblast is Wario Land for a generation who came out of the womb multitasking.

Remnant II is the exemplary sequel that truly improves on its predecessor, with dozens of additions and changes that thoroughly improve the experience. While the single-player experience is worthwhile given the game’s adept procedural level generation, the campaign truly shines with a couple of friends or even anonymous players - courtesy of the convenient Adventure Mode.

Not long ago, it was evident when you were playing a fan-made project. Touhou: New World delivers the visual splendor and absorbing action of a corporate-backed development team yet was crafted by a small team of hobbyists. Lessening a bit of bloat and tweaking some balancing issues would let this David humble an industry of Goliaths, much like Reimu’s takedown of New World’s bosses.

Ruffy and the Riverside is a captivating puzzle-platformer that mixes charming storybook visuals with a crafty copy-and-paste transformation mechanic. The engaging puzzles, forgiving platforming, and creative approach to puzzle-solving make this a definite delight.

Neon Inferno is a frantic, hyper-stylish evolution of Zenovia’s Steel Assault. The time, the developers cranked up the spectacle with busy set-pieces, dual-plane combat, and even more attractive pixel art. It can be visually overwhelming, but if you love arcade-era chaos, this one practically begs a play.

Etrange Overlord turns a trip to the guillotine into a surprisingly charming tale about self-expression, sweets, and sticking it to authority. The combat and musical numbers don’t always hit their marks, but Lady von Rosenburg’s wit and the game’s playful rebellion make this worth savoring.

The Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack brings together all three of Ryza’s celebrated adventures in their ultimate forms. With new story scenes, improved visuals, refined combat, and some quality-of-life updates, this collection charts Ryza’s growth from curious island girl to master alchemist. With heartfelt storytelling, expressive characters, and Gust’s signature mix of crafting and exploration, it’s an intimate journey that celebrates the magic of discovery and the significance of friendship.

At $15, UFO: Unidentified Falling Objects offers a compelling campaign, standalone challenges, and a robust multiplayer component. Fans of action puzzlers like Mr. Driller or Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo will want to take UFO for a test flight via Steam demo. Despite the simplistic visuals, play is stellar.

Likeable WarioWare-clones are rare, especially on non-Nintendo platforms. While not all of Super 56’s mini-games are winners, there’s more than enough clever one-button challenges. More importantly, there’s incentive for replay, ensuring that the game can hold you attention for longer than a single weekend.

Silver Bullet is a thrilling throwback that blends tight, old-school gallery shooting with modern smoothness and melee parries. It’s pure arcade joy that’s simple, challenging, and delightfully repayable.

Elaborate expositional lore and deck-based battles are unexceptional today. But when Baten Kaitos and its prequel were released, these constituents were rather uncommon in console RPGs. Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster’s bundling of Monolith Soft and tri-Crescendo’s titles offers a chance to revisit this overlooked GameCube duology and observe developments that would have a significant impact on the genre. Have little interest in role-playing history? Well, there’s about 100 hours of adventure waiting for you.

From the improved backdrops, increased difficulty, to the retuning of weapons, 1992's Truxton II improved on its predecessor. But it's never been officially available in the West until this adept port. With the music issue now fixed, Bitwave Games' port is an ideal way to enjoy Toaplan's skull-obsessed shooter.

Ryu Ga Gotoku’s games have often surveyed the stringent ethical code of its yakuza, where street violence and charitability go hand-in-hand. With Like a Dragon: Ishin!, the studio reflects on their organization’s chivalrous roots, where 19th-century samurai faced a period of political turbulence. Like the franchise’s best efforts, it’s wonderfully capricious, shifting from melodramatic to whimsical with the speed and precision of a master swordsman drawing his sword from its sheath.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion sharpens its combat, deepens the customization, and amps up the spectacle of Titan battles, making it a stronger and sleeker sequel. While clunky driving segments and some onboarding missteps remain, the game thrives when it keeps you in the cockpit, balancing anime drama with thrilling mechanized showdowns.

Chaos;Head Noah and Chaos;Child are two magnificent entries in the consistently compelling Science Adventure series. Unfortunately, both are burdened by a few blemishes at launch.

Roboquest delivers thrilling, fast-paced roguelike FPS action with tight controls, a diverse and inventive arsenal, and exhilarating movement mechanics. While its environments could use more variety, the game’s relentless gunplay and rewarding progression make it a standout in the sub-genre.

By providing a wealth of autonomy, No Creeps Were Harmed TD outshines nearly all of its tower defense rivals. Whether you just want to experiment with tower synergies or are seeking unforgiving masochism against a procession of mutating foes, the game agreeably accommodates. Best of all, the game’s innovations layer additional quandaries on a foundation of thorny decisions.

Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story details the career of one of gaming’s great auteurs. But it also serves as a reminder of the time when an ambitious teenager could create the next hit, predating the rise of corporate publishing and their boilerplate blockbusters. Sure, many of the games feel dated and are geared toward historians, but Digital Eclipse’s underdog story is engaging. Given the current state of the industry, it’s also essential.

Peer past some forgivable anachronisms and Critical Games manages to capture the sanguine charms of early console role-playing games. Occasionally, attempts to capture retro appeal can lack authenticity, becoming the equivalent of an unexceptional ‘80s cover band. But here, Joshua Hallaran and the team hit almost all the right notes.

Ys X: Nordics makes several stimulating diversions from franchise formula. This time out, the fast, frantic fights on soil are complemented by measured marine battles. There’s also an enlarged emphasis on storytelling. These additions should please long-time Adol aficionados. But Nordics also offers an access point for anyone aching for the thrills of adventure.

Bang Average Football is a much better game than its moniker might suggest. For a nominal price, you get a thoroughly enjoyable retro rendition of the sport as well as a robust RPG component where you can lead a player or team to greatness.

UsoNatsu ~The Summer Romance Bloomed From A Lie~ isn’t interested in quickly summarizing the key points of a relationship. Instead, it’s fascinated by the impact of social bonds and the intricacies of new pairings. The novel’s premise centers around overwriting tragic memories with new ones. But likely, you’ll want UsoNatsu’s ruminations to linger for as long as possible.

R-Type Delta: HD Boosted proves that this late-’90s shooter still shines, with its Force orb mechanics feeling just as clever, tense, and satisfying as ever. While the HD treatment isn’t a comprehensive upgrade, it doesn’t need to be. Delta is still tough as nails, stylish as hell, and serves as a reminder of why the game has a legion of fervent fans.

Given the game franchises evolve, picking up any of Omega Force’s more recent musou title will provide technological advancement. But for those die-hard Samurai Warriors devotees who can identify more than a dozen officers, you might want to add this notable entry to your library. Samurai Warriors 4 DX has several qualities that would be explored in subsequent entries, and reflects a key turning point for the prolific property.

Iwakura Aria is a slow-burning, atmospheric visual novel that trades flashy twists for an intimate exploration of human connection, set against the backdrop of 1960s Japan. Its restrained pacing, detailed setting, and quietly haunting timber create a story that lingers.

Whether you're pushing each other to the finish line or accidentally shoving each other off cliffs, POPUCOM understands that interaction with your fellow humans still delivers some of the best enjoyment around.

Innovative and thoroughly polished, NeverAwake is ideal for shooter fans seeking a Burton-esque excursion through a young girl's psyche.

Astlibra Revision is the antithesis of hurried development cycles and design by committee. Instead, fifteen years of indie effort has produced an action-platformer where stats are just as important as the timing of your sword (or staff) swings. Extending a fantasy world that feels familiar but also invites discovery, it’s a confident title that ranks among the very best adventures found on the Switch.

Any fan of turn-based roguelikes should own at least one Shiren the Wanderer title. Sure, there are plenty of nice-looking clones out there, but Spike Chunsoft excels at generating inventory-based predicaments. With lessons gleaned from previous entries, The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is one of the best places to start if you’ve somehow shunned Shiren.

It took fifteen years, but Falcom’s crossover arena fighter finally gets its moment in the West, and it’s worth the wait. Packed with your favorite characters, punchy combat, and a heap of nostalgic charm, Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga is just plain fun, whether you’re a longtime fan or just jumping in.

Lumines Arise revisits the series’ absorbing fusion of sight, sound, and strategy, pulling players into another round of trance of rhythm-driven puzzling. Even if its soundtrack doesn’t quite eclipse past highs, Enhance and Mizuguchi craft a mesmerizing revival that proves the franchise still hits as hard as any beat drop.

Although The Lost Hero’s early exposition can meander, Marona and friends offset this imperfection with a thoroughly engaging and sporadically poignant second half. Best of all, the game’s multitude of different combat components melds into a system that allows for a near-unprecedented amount of flexibility.

Another winning entry in Nihon Falcom’s action-role playing franchise sees Adol mapping an expansive forest, a feat no other adventurer has accomplished. While it played great in its original Vita-based iteration, this Switch port offers dual language voice acting, smoother framerates, and higher quality output for Tenmon, Naoki Kaneda, and JDK SoundTeam’s triumphant soundtrack.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key provides a poignant send-off for Gust’s audacious alchemist. Old friends convene and loyalties are tested, resulting in a payoff that rewards commitment to the trilogy. Despite some performance issues, the biggest reward is watching a matured Ryza make her way across an open world, expressing confidence and charisma that’s genuinely inspiring.

Go! Go! Mister Chickums is a welcome throwback that balances egg tossing simplicity with some smart stage design. The bosses may crack a bit too easily, but the overall package is a breezy and fun arcade-style romp.

Slime Rancher 2 expands everything that made the first game so endearing, offering richer environments and ecosystems. While the first game delivered a cozy slime-raising sim, the sequel feels like a proper adventure.

Eternights starts in familiar territory, as a cast of likable characters build relational bonds, just as the apocalypse nears. But this is no Persona clone, with Studio Sai pushing the plot and action in remarkably different directions. It’s evident that a great deal of care and consideration went into one of the best surprises of 2023.

Yes, The Legend of Nayuta is part of that prolific Nihon Falcom property where storylines can stretch on for hundreds of hours. But this accessible spin-off shirks tradition, having more in common with Falcom’s action-driven Ys and Zwei games. While it’s now eleven years old, few developers make action RPGs as satisfying as Boundless Trails.

Bang Bang Barrage turns every shot into both an attack and a getaway, forcing you to think as much about where you’ll end up as who you’re hitting. With chaotic hazards, turbulent recoil, and roguelike twists, it’s a frantic fight to stay afloat that’s both thrilling and punishing.

Alan Wake II understands that horror should tap into our fear of uncertainty and a dislike for disorientation, rather than just providing jump scares. Remedy’s latest is at its best when it’s elusive, and you have little idea where the plotline is headed next. Occasionally, it can be a bit self-congratulatory. But if you overlook that quibble, you’re in for a harrowing time.