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.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage is a Frankenstein’s monster of inter-stitched game concepts. There’s everything from maniac combat, high-flying hoverboarding, hectic escape sequences, and the obligatory battles against nightmarish bosses. While every part isn’t completely healthy, developer Angry Demon Studio sutured it all together into an experience that recalls the risk-taking of the PlayStation 2 era.

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.

The Great Villainess: Strategy of Lily delivers a sharp blend of visual novel drama and tactical combat, elevated by snappy dialogue, spirited propaganda mechanics, and a sense of political intrigue. With its memorable cast, layered decision-making, and an aptitude for genre-bending, Great Villainess is a standout title for anyone craving cunning strategy and character-driven storytelling.

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.

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

Tormented Souls 2 resurrects the souls of classic survival horror with its disturbing environments, deliberate pacing, and puzzles poised to punish impatience. It’s a chilling homage that sometimes stumbles over its old-school ambitions. But a commitment to dread and nostalgia should win over genre fans.

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.

Miku and her Piapro peers inject personality into Fitness Boxing’s workouts. But like the previous entries in Imagineer’s series, a pair of Joy-Cons can’t provide much feedback on your form. As such, Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku is diverting but probably won’t become part of your routine.

Kamikaze Lassplanes' visual novel elements have you romancing a pair of plane-gals, while it’s shoot ‘em segments send you through bullet-filled skies. Neither element is faultless, but the combination of words and weapons is an entertaining niche.

Beneath that visual storm is cleverly designed pinball experience, packed with inventive mechanics like turret fire and the Multiball Matrix that push the genre forward in bold ways. While its upgrade system could use a bit more depth, the sheer intensity of its modes and the intoxicating audiovisual design make Xenotilt an irresistible test of reflexes and focus that dares your eyes to keep up.

With the threat of layoff and the possibility of interoffice romance, Sympathy Kiss is a rather relatable visual novel. Although the protagonist is annoyingly ambiguous, the real stars here are the novel’s bachelors. They’ll assist with your work responsibilities during the day, while offering affection at nights and on weekends.

In a sea of deckbuilders, DOG WITCH stands out by keeping things simple and clever. Its dice-fueled combat makes every choice a tiny puzzle worth chewing on.

Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition can’t completely shake off the look and feel of being a remaster rather than a full-fledged remake. But if you can overlook that quality, seizing control of Death is just as enjoyable as it was in 2012, thanks to Vigil Games’ deft sense of design.

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.

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.

Loddlenaut’s chilled-out campaign might lack combat or even complexity. But somehow, becoming a subaquatic custodian is as soothing as a low-tide ocean swim on the hottest day of the year. Moon Lagoon invitation to wind down and restore your might blue home shouldn’t be overlooked.

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider harks back to a halcyon time before obligatory DLC and mandatory day-one patches. The demanding side-scrolling action relies on trial and error, where persistence permits players to topple apparently impossible challenges. It’s also a welcome reminder that the latest hardware isn’t necessary for a rousing experience.

Playing The Millennium Girl and The Fafnir Knight on original Nintendo DS/3DS hardware remains the best way to experience the early Etrian Odyssey titles. But the Origins Collection offers a respectable alternative, delivering a trio of gaming’s top-tier dungeon crawls, with only a minimum of sacrifices.

Mr. Sleepy Man is a wonderfully strange 3D platformer that trades clear direction for dreamlike wandering, letting players stumble through Bedtime Town’s surreal characters and oddball objectives at their own pace. It can occasionally feel like you’re sleepwalking in circles, but when its bizarre humor and freeform exploration combine, the result is a dream worth drifting through.

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.

Ariana and the Elder Codex doesn’t reinvent the metroidvania playbook, but its clever spell combos and flexible builds make it easy to get hooked. It can stumble with platforming and performance, yet the satisfying combat, steady sense of progression, and forty-dollar MSRP make this a welcome page turner.

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.

If you’re craving some flashy, simple button-mashing action, Helvetii just might be worth a look. But a noticeable lack of balance and depth mar the attractive combat. You’re better off seeking out one of the dozens of better roguelikes out there.

Primal Planet rekindles metroidvania magic with its lush Jurassic setting and delightfully perilous exploration. Even in a genre crowded with competitors, this indie standout reminds you how satisfying the formula can be when atmosphere, combat, and clever progression truly click.

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.

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.

If you’re looking for some pulpy sci-fi with a likable cast, Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER beats most of its contemporary peers in film and television. Like some of the genre’s best works, it’s an exploration into what makes us human. Smartly, the blend of visual novel story-telling and light puzzles balances seriousness with the intermittent instance of childlike playfulness. Likely, this one could generate some positive memories.