Yes, the combat could have used more development time, the central relationship needed more substance, and the boss battles could use some play testing. Yet, for all its stumbles, Romeo is a Dead Man is worth experiencing, especially if you appreciate a game that takes risks.

Homura Hime’s parry feels fantastic when you’re dueling a boss, making every successful deflect look and feel cool. The downside is that the parry window is so forgiving (and so spammable) that regular fights can remove the enjoyment of reading enemy patterns.

God of Weapons blends bullet heaven chaos with an inventory management system that gives your brain a short, end-of-stage workout. The lack of tutorials will frustrate but the blend of action and item arrangement gives Weapons an edge.

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.

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 gel into a system that allows for a near-unprecedented amount of flexibility.

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.

Some scale Mount Everest, others swim across the English Channel. Much like its predecessor, Volgarr the Viking 2 extends the same kind of intimidating challenge, daring you to memorize the hundreds of different dangers laid out across six masochistic stages. This time out, there’s a novice mode, accompanied by a bit of playful humiliation. Just don’t expect entry into Valhalla on easy.

Beyond Words is a clever mashup of Scrabble and roguelikes that’s easy to pick up but tough to master. When the right tiles and perks align it’s brilliant. But when they don’t, it can feel like luck’s playing against you.

At present, the PC version of Rise of the Ronin isn’t nearly as optimized as it should be, divulging a rather wobbly framerate even on beefier hardware. That’s a shame, because underneath those performance faults, there’s a lot to like about the game. Hopefully, additional post-launch patches allow the responsive combat, spirited storytelling, and sumptuous setting to shine.

Moons of Darsalon is recommended for those who enjoy old-fashioned, fiddly games where accidents and amusement occur in equal measure.

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.

RPG MAKER WITH certainly isn’t for everyone. But if you’re ever longed to craft your own adventure and have a surplus of free time, this (along with SmileBASIC 4) can turn your portable console into a robust dev kit. The benefit over RPG MAKER MV is the ability to share components WITH others.

Lessaria captures the spirit of Majesty, providing autonomy to its real-time strategy units. While the hands-off approach to adventurer control is a worthwhile concept, uneven combat and occasional tedium remind you that even fantasy kingdoms can have faults.

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.

There’s a first-rate game buried deep within Silent Hope. But tiresome combat and hub world busywork prohibit players from ever seeing the game’s potential. The trend of tuning a game to pad playtime rather than delivering a sense of fulfilment claims yet another victim.

While many shooters deliver the sensation of being a formidable war machine, Resurfaced channels the tension of a being on a nerve-wracking bombing run. From the floating mines on the surface, regiments of fast-moving opponents that race through narrow passageways, to the army of cannons that line every surface, adversity is ever-present.

For puzzle fans, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S remains a must-have experience. The Switch 2 version’s enhancements are modest but help the game shine just a bit brighter.

Spirited sadism and card-based strategizing combine in Deck of Haunts. By day, you’ll expand your homicidal house and by night you’ll play cards to wear down their physical and mental health. The only menacing part of the experience is the occasional lack of instruction.

Energy management decisions help deliver enough strategic depth to Tour de France 2023’s chase for the yellow jersey. But the game’s unsophisticated physics modeling and middling aesthetics do little to elevate the sense of simulation. That said, there’s masochistic enjoyment to be had in the game’s reproduction of 150+ kilometer stages- where a single bad decision can ruin an hour of focused effort.

Following nearly a decade-long retreat, EA Sports PGA Tour has returned. But instead of attempting to beat its competitor with a decade and a half of honed experience, the game often focuses on flash. The 30 courses here all look beautiful and lifelike, while the golfers all mug convincingly after bungling a nine-foot putt. But essentials like smooth swinging and the ability to customize a competition are missing at launch.

If you’re able to look past a slightly stereotypical use of Japanese mythos and the lack of long-term enjoyment, Mahokenshi perennial deckbuilding provides enjoyment. Save for a few minor frustrations, this is one of the more accessible entries into the genre.

With its lack of hand-holding and middling combat, Atomfall isn’t for everyone. But if you’re craving an adventure that supplies plenty of autonomy and challenges your sense of trust, Rebellion’s latest might be looking into.

Born of Bread’s recipe for a light role-playing adventure is competent, thanks to charming visuals and combat that favors variety over difficulty. And while it’s great to see a Paper Mario-style expedition on PC, it’s evident that the process was a bit rushed. The occasional crash or underdeveloped mechanic doesn’t ruin the formula. But these can leave a sour taste with players.

The Battle of Polytopia’s streamlining of 4X strategy makes things accessible, but also limits the kind of variability that makes campaigns enjoyable across multiple plays.

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.

Yooka-Replaylee smooths over some of roughest edges of its 2017 predecessor, tightening controls, streamlining progression, and generally polishing its visuals. But despite the improvements, shallow level design and lackluster combat remind you that no amount of remaster polish can fix a platformer whose core still feels stuck in the past.

Like its predecessor, King Arthur: Legion IX excels at turn-based combat. You’re routinely outnumbered, requiring you to harness the potent skills of each party member, which is a lot of fun. But off the frontline, things aren’t quite smooth. From sporadic crashes, vexing difficulty spikes, a rushed ending, to uneven voicework, it seems Legion IX isn’t quite battle-ready.

Swinging around the Grombi islands mostly works and interacting with inhabitants can be comical. But without the possibility of even causing accidental mischief, Completely Stretchy’s open world can feel a bit sterile.