If you’re a fan of atmospheric horror and immersive adventure games, you’ll fall in love with Reanimal. It’s dark and oppressive in places, but also whimsical and charming in others. The world it paints a picture of is horrible and beautiful, all at the same time, meaning dedicated Tarsier Studios fans are in for a treat.

Mewgenics is a strangely engrossing experience, with a tactical style of play and a weirdly wonderful world. While the dark sense of humour and odd quips will likely put off a chunk of players, others will find these elements compelling. If you’re looking for something new in the roguelike world, it’s worth checking this game out.

Nioh 3 was a treat to explore as a fan of Soulslike games with well-developed worlds. Whether you’re a fan of the series or a Soulslike lover looking for a new title to rip through, chances are you’ll get a kick out of this title.

Lanesplit still needs work on the technical front, but when the bigger issues are sorted, it’ll be fun as a casual experience, the kind you jump to when you want to unwind. The actual driving between lanes part is the one that wears out its welcome the quickest, which is a shame, as with a little more structure, it could be something special.

On the whole, Code Vein 2 is far from a perfect game, but it is far from a bad one, too. This will not hit the same highs as Elden Ring or Dark Souls; however, perhaps it does not need to. As another in the burgeoning catalog of Soulslikes, it offers unique combat and plenty of panache while owning its imperfections and inspirations alike.

Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven is a brilliant expansion on an already solid game. The amount of new content it adds is impressive, providing plenty for both players who enjoy combat and those who prefer the base-building elements of the game. If you enjoyed the original game, it’s well worth your time. Join us on the mountain.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a pretty game, the kind where you can get lost in its world. Unfortunately, MIO: Memories in Orbit is a video game, not a cartoon, and the gameplay is a little too mundane, and its pacing is a bit too all over the place. There are certainly worse Metroidvanias on the market, and MIO: Memories in Orbit can easily be recommended for people looking for something similar to Hollow Knight, but more forgiving. It’s more the Metroidvania diehards who will be wishing that there was more under the hood.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a pretty game, the kind where you can get lost in its world. Unfortunately, MIO: Memories in Orbit is a video game, not a cartoon, and the gameplay is a little too mundane, and its pacing is a bit too all over the place. There are certainly worse Metroidvanias on the market, and MIO: Memories in Orbit can easily be recommended for people looking for something similar to Hollow Knight, but more forgiving. It’s more the Metroidvania diehards who will be wishing that there was more under the hood.

Stunning, detailed, and passionately made, it has many redeeming qualities. Still, test-driving the game via its demo before committing to the full game is advised. Peeking behind the curtains of Hollywood is tantalizing, but if you don’t keep your wits about you, it’ll end in disaster. And in a murder mystery, that can prove lethal.

If you’re a die-hard fan of sci-fi and action horror with dinosaurs, you may find some elements to get excited about with Code Violet. It’s got potential in places, with some interesting lore sprinkled across the world, but it’s not going to be giving classic action horror titles a run for their pocket change anytime soon. Get Capcom on the phone.

While there were beautiful elements to Ayasa: Shadows of Silence, like the striking visuals and interesting soundscape, the issues with performance, falling through the map, and mapping made some sections more frustrating than enjoyably challenging. If you’re a die-hard Little Nightmares or Tim Burton movie fan, you may still find some enjoyment with Ayasa: Shadows of Silence. The world it portrays is admittedly intriguing, but the performance and overall experience didn’t feel great.

Unboxathon is a delightful experience for fans of incremental clickers, mystery boxes, and gacha games. It’s a simplistic and soothing game in terms of its core mechanics, with a short runtime and a burst of achievements that make it ideal for completionists who want a bite-sized game to chew through.

Sometimes, it’s easy to want a new game to break the mold and offer true innovation, but with a genre as saturated as cozy games, that’s extremely difficult to do. While we’d be remiss in ignoring where there’s room for improvement, we’d also be remiss in ignoring what Potions: A Curious Tale does well.

While its new steps in a fresh direction don’t quite pan out, there’s no denying this is a fitting next chapter for Samus’ first-person adventures. Here’s hoping we don’t need to wait another 18 years for another one.

Ultimately, this is a game that’ll go down a treat with fans of gambling clickers, rather than fans of traditional poker games. It’s a simple yet engrossing title that’s clearly been made with love, and while a hands-off style of play might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s a stellar example of a high-quality incremental clicker game. If you’re not generally a fan of clickers and idlers, though, this might not be the game for you. Games like Balatro or even the demo for The Devil’s Due may be more your speed, with a hands-on style of play.

While the gameplay style in Pokémon Legends Z-A – Mega Dimension won’t be a hit for everyone, due to the grindy Hyperspace Lumiose sequences and trickier battles, it is a fun addition to the main game experience. Completionist fans and seasoned battlers will find a lot to get excited about with the Mega Dimension DLC.

This PancitoMerge review can’t praise the developers enough for being able to bake such a beautifully crafted experience without a burnt top or soggy bottom in sight. PancitoMerge’s shelf life may be short, at least for now, yet it’s worth getting the game while it’s fresh out of the oven. And who knows, more content could be added in the future, which will once again have you donning your aprons for another trip to Mexico to sample its sweet treats.

Terminator 2D: No Fate is best enjoyed as a short love letter to one of the greatest action movies of all time, with a ton of love poured into every pixel. Those who love the franchise and have despaired at the lack of great games will find a lot to love here. Anyone who isn’t a die-hard Terminator fan but loves the 16-bit run-and-gun era should also like it, but only if they go in knowing that their time with the game will likely be as brief as the second film itself.

As of right now, Renegades feels like the expansion that gets Destiny 2 back on track. Whether Bungie can continue that momentum remains to be seen, and much could hinge on what we’re doing in a few weeks, given that we now have less content month-to-month than we used to. Still, with a fun story, great new weapons, and a chaotic new activity stitching it all together, we might just be back. [Review In Progress]

Overall, My Wife Threw Out My Card Collection (So I Bought a Dump to Find Them All) was a decent experience. The concept was enjoyable, and the pop culture references were fun to uncover, but the gameplay lost steam after a few hours of play. Fans of collectathon games or gacha experiences should find a lot to get excited about, particularly internet nerds who love Twitch, YouTube, and meme culture. If simpler, repetitive gameplay isn’t your cup of tea, though, this might not be the game for you.

Tingus Goose is undeniably odd. It’s a shining example of an incremental clicker game, though, managing to blend together a cozy style with genuinely nauseating body horror, making for a memorably haunting experience. For some, it’ll be a little too weird or hands-off with its style of play, but for the right kind of oddball – this reviewer included – it’ll make for a fantastic addition to their game library.

ROUTINE stands out as one of the most memorable sci-fi horrors of the year, creating a genuinely unnerving, frightening, and otherworldly experience that’ll be a delight for seasoned horror lovers to tear through. Its story feels deliberate and well-paced, with a few startling moments that’ll have your heart thundering.

Warts and all, The Last Case of John Morley is an immersive game that gets under your skin, not least of all because you’re constantly looking over your shoulder. This feels like the beginning of a new franchise, one that could challenge the established status quo of Sherlock Holmes’ dominance in the mystery/puzzle genre. Whether that actually happens is beyond our control. But even if this is genuinely to be the last time we join John Morley on a case, at least it’s a compelling and fitting conclusion for the gifted detective.

Aside from a little clunkiness in places, oneway.exe was an absolute feast for horror-hungry eyes. It’s a strange game – there’s no other way of putting it. It was clearly created by individuals with a genuine passion for internet culture and lost media, and it’s a gory delight to navigate its non-linear strands.

Terrifier: The ARTcade Game is, at its core, a simple yet effective arcade beat-em-up. It’s not the most complex in its delivery, but arguably, it didn’t need to be. The game offers a wealth of gore and viscera for horror movie fans to indulge in, and it features a neat combat system to complement the retro aesthetic.

The competitive multiplayer experience is not only polished but also a genuine blast. It feels like a hybrid between Black Ops 2 and 3, which are two of the most beloved games in the franchise. That alone should tell you how good the multiplayer is this year. Sadly, the supporting game modes are not nearly as good. To be blunt, the co-op campaign is a major disappointment and possibly the worst story in the franchise’s history. Likewise, Zombies feels like a rehash of what was in Black Ops 6, providing a serviceable experience that lacks replayability. The only saving grace is Endgame, but even that is essentially just a reskinned version of MWZ.

It has plenty of replay value, particularly for folks who enjoy achievement-hunting and collecting endings, and the world-building was solid from the get-go. If you’re a fan of b-horror movies, demon-slaying, and goofy one-liners, this is a title worth keeping an eye out for.

Disappointing ending aside, Dispatch really is a gem of a game, and the fact that it came out of nowhere and grabbed the attention of fans the way it did is even more impressive. Few games manage to merge gameplay and story as well as this, and even if Dispatch Season 2 is a long way off, there’s still a ton of potential for this setting in the meantime.

If you’re a fan of games like Balatro and you’re looking for a new roguelike to get lost in, Dice of Kalma should be your next title. It’s dark yet charming, with a gameplay loop that’s simple at first but gradually becomes more complex. It offers plenty of replay value thanks to the skull system, and there’s plenty to love as a completionist, too.

Rue Valley has much beauty, but it’s not without its clunky issues that can clog up the gears of this well-oiled machine.

Winter Burrow is a delightful game to play through, whether you’re a fan of cozy titles or survival adventure games. It boasts a gorgeous aesthetic, featuring a well-crafted world dotted with charming details, as well as a surprisingly detailed survival system. Fans of comforting survival games with good stories will get a kick out of this title.

If there is one thing developer Everstone Studio has delivered on, it’s the sheer size of Where Winds Meet. Players will have no shortage of things to do and treasures to uncover as they explore the region and tackle quests and side quests. However, every free-to-play game has its hurdles, and Where Winds Meet’s success will be anchored on how players connect with the storyline and how motivated they become to explore what is, at its core, an overwhelming amount of content. The game’s future hangs in a careful balance between paid premium content and a world with enough rewarding material to keep players coming back for more.

Lumines Arise is a meticulously crafted musical with a confident, rhythm-driven twist on the classic Tetris puzzle formula. The new Burst mechanic adds an explosive touch and extra layer of tactical depth that feels fresh without being overcentralizing. The campaign length is satisfying, and the multiplayer offerings will keep players coming back for more. While the visuals are vibrant and immersive, some themed backgrounds make it difficult to distinguish the blocks, slightly undermining an otherwise engaging and stylish puzzle game. Still, Hydelic and Ishida’s soundtrack delivers a hypnotic experience unlike any other.

If you’re a fan of games like Silksong or Celeste, it’s well worth your time to investigate Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores. It’s a lighter and more joyful addition to the world of Metroidvanias, but don’t let that fool you, as there’s still a brilliant story to uncover. Both the platforming and combat felt rewarding to pick up, and the world itself was gorgeous.

Painkiller isn’t the game I wanted, nor is there a game in there that I want to play either. How did all these pieces not coalesce into something better than the sum of their parts? That’s right, you need to build an enjoyable experience underneath the mechanics and a dire nine-level campaign that offers the player nothing other than the option to replay them – which is something I won’t be doing anytime soon.

Overall, if you’ve played Virtua Fighter in the past, R.E.V.O. World Stage is a great way to return to the series, thanks to its ‘World Stage’ mode, better graphics, and more. If you’ve heard of Virtua Fighter before, but never had the chance to play it, R.E.V.O. World Stage is a fantastic way to get into the series before the sixth entry arrives.

Dark Quest 4 was a lively, immersive experience, with a style of play that kept me coming back for more. If you’re a fan of turn-based action, TTRPGs, and fantasy games, you’ll get a kick out of this title. It’s got a rich single-player mode, an in-depth map builder to help you make your own levels, and a multiplayer mode as well.

It offered bags of replay value with plenty of unique build options, and each enemy felt well-designed. If you’re a fan of titles with elements of dice games, roguelikes, and deck-builders, you’ll get a kick out of the speedy gameplay that Dog Witch offers.

I’ll have more thoughts in the coming days, but for now, Arc Raiders is some of the most fun I’ve had in a video game all year.

I fully expect patches to iron out a lot of the issues, but reviewing what’s here as a footballing sandbox that has some sand missing, it’s still the best around – in fact, it’s the only name in town.

Livber: Smoke and Mirrors is missing those final finishing touches that transform a game into something greater and more enjoyable to play.

I encountered a few small rough edges during my review sessions, though, like a graphical element flickering and a small typo/grammatical error in a dialogue pop-up box. These weren’t major issues and didn’t hinder my enjoyment overall, but they were noticeable...Outside of this, Europa Universalis V was a delight to explore. It felt detailed and vibrant, and while it took me a while to pick up the game mechanics, the process of learning the game felt rewarding. Fans of grand strategy games looking for a new addition to their library will get a kick out of this title.

It’s hard to recommend this Kollection to anyone other than those who’ve adored Mortal Kombat since its early years, as when compared to the more modern entries, retro remasters of MK1, 2, 3 and 4 simply aren’t going to measure up. So much content will feel redundant, too. This is not to say that any of it is bad, it’s just a compilation that only the most committed Mortal Kombat fans will truly appreciate.

Within this brief but pleasant game is an adventure that delivers an enjoyable experience. With those long, dark nights now rolling in, I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening than traversing Clifford Island.

The Outer Worlds 2 was a delight to explore, and I can’t wait to dip back into the game to build a character that’s the polar opposite of my first one. Arcadia felt both rewarding and dangerous to venture through, and the story stayed consistently entertaining throughout. Fans of the original should get a kick out of it, but new fans of the series will enjoy it, too.

Once Upon a Katamari is a whimsical puzzle game offering varied and vibrant environments through its unique time periods. Its simple gameplay is filled with surprisingly depth, fun challenges, and strategic twists that constantly keep it fresh. Despite some frustrating controls and an intrusive camera, the nostalgic PS2-era visuals, catchy soundtrack, and light multiplayer segments make it a charming and engaging experience.

Pokémon Legends Z-A improves on its predecessor, Arceus, by making battles just as fun as the previous entry made catching. The Z-A Royale and the mystery of Rogue Mega Pokémon mean exploring Lumiose City is a consistently rewarding delight, especially when every corner feels carefully curated with Pokémon quests, items, and more. While visual fidelity is no match for Arceus’ better artistic direction, Z-A runs flawlessly. Plus, visually, both Lumiose City and the title’s character designs have moments of brilliance. Altogether, whether exploring Wild Zones to uncover Pokémon, steamrolling through battles, or leaping across rooftops, Pokémon Legends Z-A is a consistently and brilliantly rewarding entry in the Pokémon franchise that hopefully heralds the start of a new standard.

When Ninja Gaiden 4 focuses on what it’s good at – fights against lots of sword-wielding enemies in melee combat or a single big boss, it excels. Few games feel as satisfying as Ninja Gaiden 4, when you’re seamlessly blocking attacks and going straight into flashy, instant-kill death combos, with red rivers of blood soaking every surface. It’s just the moments outside of these that can test your patience, as the game can feel unfair, especially during a first playthrough when you’re learning the ropes.

In a plentiful sea of indie titles inspired by classic gaming, one could argue Lumo 2 offers nothing new. But they’d be wrong. While this experience has its flaws, it not only looks like a retro game but feels like one too.

Overall, Bloodlines 2 was a lot of fun. While it did present a few quirks and issues in places, I found the world, narrative, and characters to be compelling enough that I kept tearing through the game. If you love moody, dramatic vampires and murder mysteries, you’re bound to fall in love with this game.

Little Nightmares 3 is not a bad game by any means. As noted, the art and sound design teams both did a splendid job, and I hope to learn more about Low and Alone in the DLC, too. The game just felt somewhat overshadowed by the creativity of its predecessors, offering a decent but oddly familiar experience.

Battle Suit Aces could’ve easily collapsed under the weight of its ambitions as part card battler, part visual novel, all wrapped in an anime-infused melodrama. Instead, it finds a sweet spot where quick, punchy battles and heartfelt storytelling keep feeding into each other. It’s not the deepest tactical game, and not a dating sim, but it knows what it wants to be: a fun, mech adventure that celebrates both friendship and blowing stuff up with big mechs.

While Forgotten Fragments isn’t designed with every player in mind, it doesn’t fail because of that fact. Rather, it becomes a budding cult classic that will likely gain popularity over time, once it’s aged a little.

CARIMARA: Beneath the forlorn limbs is a short but sweet horror-adventure that’ll be a joy for any indie horror lover to play through. The card-based dialogue and exploration mechanic was unique, and the world itself had clearly been crafted with care, with a gorgeously eerie art style that matched the narrative nicely.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger was on the verge of being an incredible game. It’s just those last few niggles that are holding back. Maybe the next Digimon title will be the one that truly catapults the franchise to greatness, but unfortunately, I can’t see into the future to confirm that.

The early access version of HYPERVIOLENT was a delight to tear through. The game offers all the blood and guts that you could want from an old-school, sci-fi shooter, with a surprisingly rich story and a wide variety of enemies to smash to pieces with steel pipes. Fans of DOOM, Quake, and System Shock will get a kick out of it.

If you’re a fan of Lovecraftian horror and walking simulators, Eclipsium will be a delight for you to explore. It’s gross and gorgeous, with a subtle narrative, interesting premise, and heavily stylized world. While the art style may prove divisive, the experience as a whole is mesmerizing, adding a fresh spin on a classic horror walking simulator.

Hades 2 is an improvement in every single way. It’s hard to believe how a masterpiece like the first game could’ve been meaningfully reiterated on, but Supergiant Games somehow pulled it off. With more finely tuned mechanics like additional combat options, build crafting, and complex resource management, while simultaneously retaining its colorful charm and fun gameplay loop, Hades 2 is undoubtedly one of the best games of 2025.

The story was engaging and felt like a great nod to the original book, and the world itself felt lively and fun to explore. If you’re willing to overlook a few quirks, it’s a worthwhile pick-up for any detective novel fans looking for a new game to play.

There’s so much that Arctic Awakening gets wrong. Or rather, that it never fully realises. If the game mechanics and pacing matched its visuals, Arctic Awakening would be a tour de force to rival Firewatch.

The Silent Hill series has always been spectacular, but its latest entry, Silent Hill f, propels it to new heights. This blood-soaked fever dream combines exquisite survival horror with a gripping narrative, making for an unforgettable experience. It performs brilliantly, looks gorgeous, and has a gut-wrenching story. What more could you want?

The crowning jewel of HYKE: Northern Light(s) is undoubtedly its art style. Sporting a pixel art aesthetic, even the most haunting of locations is still beautiful to look at.

The overarching issue with Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo! is that it plays it too safe. It never truly innovates the genre nor narrative, which produces a predictable experience despite the potential the title has.

This isn’t mindless entertainment – you have to stay on your toes lest you die and return to the beginning – but nor is it a chore to play. Players may feel tense trying to make it through unscathed, however, that’s part of Folly of the Wizards’ charm.

It was explosive and fun, with a decent story and stellar gameplay loop. The blend of parkour and zombie-killing made for an adrenaline-packed experience, enhanced by the intricate crafting, scavenging, and leveling up systems. It’s a worthwhile pick-up for any zombie-killing fan.

The map can indeed be bleakly dismal to explore, but it can still make for a lively playground to test your builds for a bit of mindless entertainment, nevertheless. However, in the event you’re someone who can get easily put off by a mediocre story, graphics, characters, and even repetitiveness from playing too much, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is definitely a big ask with its full $69.99 launch price. In that case, waiting for this one to go on sale is a must.

ZOE Begone has a delightful art style and overall aesthetic, and it looked fantastic on the Nintendo Switch 2, feeling at home on the handheld console.

It had a David Lynch-esque atmosphere and an intriguing game world, with plenty of puzzles to get lost in. While the hands-off approach may be off-putting to some players, for others, it’ll act as the perfect test of their skills.

All in all, Cronos: The New Dawn was tense, gritty, and challenging. While some portions of the game were trickier than others, thanks to the scarce amount of bullets, the game was enjoyable and provided some tense moments. The story was interesting, although the storytelling method of dotting lore around the world may not gel well with some players.

Silksong was a joy to play through. This review was written from the perspective of a Hollow Knight nerd who was concerned that the game may not live up to expectations, and is delighted to have been proven wrong. We reviewed the game on Nintendo Switch 2 and found it ran perfectly, with no noticeable frame drops, visual quirks, or bugs – other than the actual bugs themselves – to report. It all looked incredible, but more importantly, it felt incredible, with smooth movement, well-designed levels, and an agile main character. While the difficulty level and unforgiving nature of some bosses may be understandably off-putting to some players, others are bound to fall in love with Silksong. It’s beautiful and mean, with a vast world, a fierce roster of bosses, and an engaging story. Just remember to pick up Hollow Knight as well if you haven’t already – it’s just as lovely. Silksong was worth the wait.

If you’re a fan of open-world adventures with punchy combat and charming stories, The Knightling is a solid pick for your next gaming session. It offers a blend of exploration, combat, and platforming, along with memorable characters and a vibrant game world.

Destiny 2 finds itself in a weird place heading into its newest saga. In a lot of ways, even for a decade-old franchise, it’s entering uncharted waters. We’ve never had a new saga launch, and it’s clear, through both the story and system changes introduced in The Edge of Fate, that things are going to be different. On the narrative side, the franchise has never felt better.

Shadow Labyrinth is still a competent Metroidvania game that, despite the surprising tonal shift for the franchise, works. Being based off of Pac-Man gives it a unique identity and the nostalgia manages to elevate the story. While the disjointed pacing and rigid controls leave some to be desired, the combat and exploration are fun enough to make this worth a playthrough.

It plays fast and keeps you on your toes all the while. If you’re looking for a side of strategy with your next cozy gaming session, you’ll find it in Synergy’s fascinating desert, a world beyond our own.

Overall, Days Gone Remastered is a fantastic, if flawed, game. It isn’t quite as good as the games it emulates, but if “It’s not The Last of Us” is a valid complaint, then it’s one you can throw at most titles. It’s a game that absolutely deserves your time, either as a replay or for the first time.

Ultimately, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a celebration of everything that made the 2006 game special, and with that nostalgia has to come the understanding that while the remaster is an impressive love letter to the original, it doesn’t (and can’t) fully escape its age. Players who have realistic expectations will have a great time experiencing the remaster, whether it’s for the first time or not. However, those expecting a new, 2025-level Skyrim will be disappointed.

Overall, much like the focus of its story in the depths of the Interchange, Atomfall is a fascinating experiment that definitely has merits for what it’s accomplished in helping push the singleplayer RPG genre forward. It may not grant all of the 2010s nostalgia some of us want, and certain creative choices behind its structure and gameplay may sooner divide its playerbase, but it’s one you may not want to leave the phone ringing on. [Recommended]

In a world where most sports games feel like a re-skin of the last one, MLB The Show 25 takes major swings to improve itself. They may not be for everyone, but they will help the series in the long run. [Recommended]

With the amount of content and value on offer here and an incredible open world to sink upwards of 80 hours into, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is an example of what the franchise can be among its best. While not every aspect is perfect, the game’s epic journey makes for the best Assassin’s Creed game in a decade, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for the franchise after seeing Ubisoft can still deliver on its flagship IP in a big way.

At the end of the day, my fiance and I both enjoyed our time with Split Fiction. While it definitely has some narrative issues and the pacing can be a bit uneven, it’s still a great time for two players who want to experience a fully fleshed-out co-op adventure. Its highs are arguably higher than It Takes Two thanks to its numerous setpieces, and outside of a few puzzles that made us a wee bit angry, our relationship is stronger for it.

As a very personal tale that’s relatable to so many, Wanderstop’s unique premise and storybook-like setting will have something for everyone. As far as cozy narrative-focused games go, Ivy Roads’ Wanderstop has raised the bar. [Recommended]

In the end, MainFrames is the rare sort of indie release that both feels professional and knows not to punch above its weight. It has a clear central idea and hits the right notes without getting itself into too much trouble (unlike Floppy). I wouldn’t describe it as “cozy” given how much it can kick your ass, but it’s an easy suggestion for anyone who’s looking for quick and gorgeous platforming thrills with a perfect amount of complexity. [Recommended]

The fact that modern players now have the option to play through both games with Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars is a blessing. It helps to demonstrate the progress made between the two games, and coupled with the added features like fast-forwarded battles and a conversation log to track everything, it both streamlines and expands the experience in a way that just wasn’t possible before. [Exemplary]

Overall, I really like Two Point Museum, and the game falls somewhere between Campus and Hospital for me. Museum fixes the pacing problems that made Campus often feel like a slog, while not falling into the micromanagement trap of the late game portion of Hospital. At the same time, the game can still be tedious at times, and I do wish there were more levels. Not every part of the title clicks perfectly, but Two Point Museum is a fun, charming game that I absolutely recommend to lovers of management sims. [Recommended]

Monster Hunter Wilds sands off a lot of the edges from the series, and while I was concerned that this could leave the game feeling frictionless and uninspiring, the addition of a really engaging story, some of the coolest monsters I’ve seen in any game, and the new systems all combine to make it just pure fun. It’s good for newcomers because of all the helpful parts, but veterans will be overjoyed with everything that comes after the credits, not to mention the wonders of having two weapons easily accessible. Monster Hunter Wilds is probably going to be my game of the year, and I’d be shocked if that’s not the case for a lot of other people too. [Exemplary]

Despite the story’s short length, there are plenty of side quests, customization options, and crew members to recruit and open seas to explore and discover treasure after you’ve rolled credits. Pirate Yakuza is an incredibly fun spinoff that should be checked out if you’re a fan of sea-faring adventures, strong combat mechanics, and an over-the-top story that is an absolute blast to play through.

While Avowed doesn’t finish nearly as strong as it starts, the game’s reasonable runtime is still worthwhile. The fantasy world of Eora is fascinating. Exploring it is deeply rewarding. The companions give the journey lots of heart. The story, even for its faults, still tells a cohesive story supported by some visuals and performances. If you can get through a few narrative lowlights and the typical RPG bugs and jank, Avowed houses an approachable but wonderful fantasy RPG worth completing and repeating. [Recommended]

Sonic Origins was great, and Sonic Origins Plus is great plus. It’s that simple. It’s a fun collection made a little more fun with the adequate addition of Amy Rose, Knuckles in Sonic CD, and a dozen emulated Game Gear games. Some of those Game Gear games I dare say are even still worth playing today, especially Sonic Triple Trouble. Sonic Origins Plus also adds in the Classic Music Pack and Premium Fun Pack add-on content that was made available for the original release. So if you want to play most of the classic Sonic games ever made in one place, you might as well pick this up and have a fun time.

After two hours with the game, Hi-Fi Rush has immediately left a really great first impression. While some of this may be due to my own personal nostalgia and Xbox’s unique release structure, there’s such a strong sense of voice and style throughout every aspect of the game, right down to Chai’s clean character design that feels like Marty McFly crossed with Joe Musashi’s flowing scarf. By the time I got to the first boss fight, which was set to the beat of “1,000,000” by Nine Inch Nails, I was sold. I know we’re only a month into the new year, but I think we already have a contender for best surprise of 2023. [Early Impressions]

Dragon Quest Treasures is some of the most fun I’ve had just exploring a game world all year, between its great world design and excellent soundtrack. This treasure hunt is a delight for players of all ages and one of the more unique experiences I’ve had on Switch in recent memory. The strange combat system will disappoint some, but if you can just get over that and a few other little quirks, this is an adventure well worth taking.

Ultimately, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion doesn’t do anything too crazy beyond massively upgrading the visuals and expanding the audio. And frankly, that’s good enough. The original PSP game was excellent with its strong central character and carefully crafted combat, and the addition of a right thumbstick on modern controllers to control the camera is a huge upgrade all by itself. By just taking this foundation and freshening up the graphics and sound, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is both one of the most successful video game prequels and one of the best action RPGs in general.

If Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was as vast and interesting as many seasons of Game of Thrones, think of Wrath of the Druids as the forthcoming House of the Dragon spinoff. It’s not going to change anyone’s minds, but if you were still on board, it’s exciting to return to that world.

While The Medium’s design stumbles are disappointing, its human characters and gorgeous world are ultimately the things that stuck with me. Once I finally made it to the end of the road, I immediately restarted the campaign to experience all of the narrative breadcrumbs with the newfound clarity of the ending in mind, which is the sign of an effective story. And the game’s day one availability on Xbox Game Pass is just another in a long line of reasons why the service is a must-have. It might not reach the unforgettable highs of James Sutherland’s time in the town of Silent Hill, but The Medium carves out its own corner of the genre that’s worth losing a bit of sleep over.

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy is a strong entry in the series and is an improvement on the previous game. It introduces new mechanics that fit well within the context of the story without feeling like they were forcibly implemented just for the sake of it, while also refining existing core gameplay elements. While I’m not entirely satisfied with a change, or lack thereof, here and there, this game is certainly worth your time, especially if you enjoyed Ryza’s first adventure.

Ultimately, Outcasters mostly seems ready to settle into its niche that it’s created. It’s not designed to be the killer app that reels in a mass of new players, but it should attract some. Better yet, since it launched directly into Stadia Pro, it’s there on day one for the folks who are already the most committed. For a platform trying to find its footing in a crowded, competitive space, solidifying the publisher-player relationship is crucial. There will be bigger, flashier, and likely better games to come from Stadia Games and Entertainment in the years ahead, but for now, those already playing via Google’s tangerine-tinted cloud will find they have their first example of a fun, albeit flawed, multiplayer game they won’t find anywhere else.

Still, Immortals Fenyx Rising is one of the best games of the year. It doesn’t matter if its inspiration is so blatant when the team uses that as only a springboard. This isn’t a repaint of Breath of the Wild, but rather an evolution of it, and more often than not it makes smarter gameplay decisions that in full create a more enjoyable, irresistible world. The disjointed, sometimes crass tone leaves a bad taste, especially among those looking to enjoy this with their kids or siblings, but as clear as the throughline is between Breath of the Wild and Immortals Fenyx Rising, it’s just as obvious that Immortals will live again. This is just the start of something special.

By virtue of its smaller scale, Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a tighter, better designed package. It might not boast as many hours of content, but what it has is far more worth your time. If you felt the original Marvel’s Spider-Man was a bit average or too bloated with open-world gaming cliches, Miles Morales might just be what you’re looking for.

My 40 hours in Yakuza: Like a Dragon were a great experience regardless if I was playing on my original Xbox One or seamlessly transitioning my save onto the Xbox Series X for improved resolution, frame rate, and loading times. I loved its characters, humor, and willingness to balance complete absurdity with utter sincerity. And even though the battle system would occasionally trip over its own feet, I still adored watching my crew beat the hell out of some weirdos, grow a little bit closer, and celebrate their victory with karaoke back at the pub.