A new chapter in The Dark Pictures series attempts to remain anchored to its roots while simultaneously seeking to distance itself by offering something new. Mission accomplished? Not exactly. Although it is an enjoyable and well-crafted experience, the balance between gameplay and cinematic elements once again tips excessively in favor of the latter, and the freedom granted to the player seems even more limited than in previous installments. A game structure that is a bit too fragmented and permissive diminishes the sense of tension and immersion in the story—a narrative that, in turn, leaves itself open to criticism due to its heavy "inspiration" drawn from certain classics of the sci-fi horror genre.

Vampire Crawlers attempts to recapture the sensations of playing Vampire Survivors through a turn-based roguelite hybrid of dungeon crawler and deck-builder. The experiment can be considered largely successful, although the game's pacing suffers from a mid-game phase that leans too heavily on grinding, while—as it currently stands—replayability is quite low. In this regard, the situation could improve with the updates that have already been announced; however, the nature of these new additions remains an unknown quantity.

Over-the-top violence? Check. Iconic memes from the original series? Check. A solid battle system that cleverly borrows the best ideas around to deliver something uniquely its own? Double check. Honestly, there are very few reasons not to jump on board.

MotoGP 26 is a solid and conservative entry. It could probably have been more daring and explored some ideas in greater depth, but the in-game feedback is spot on, as is the content management between the campaign and supporting activities.

Sol Cesto is a roguelike that transforms probability into pure gameplay: you choose a row, but the outcome is random, with percentages shifting every turn. The system—initially simple—grows in complexity thanks to modifiers, abilities, and items that allow you to bend the odds in your favor, creating a surprising depth of strategy. Its true limitations, however, lie in a slow progression and a heavy reliance on chance—factors that can lead to frustrating runs, even with solid builds. Nevertheless, it remains an original and intelligent experience, capable of standing out within the dungeon crawler landscape.

Little Nightmares VR: Altered Echoes takes the series into virtual reality territory, skillfully reworking its structure and perspective. VR could have been used more with the puzzles, and the visual polish on Meta Quest 3 isn't perfect, but Iconik's experiment is certainly a success: it's too short, but what an atmosphere.

Saros is an extraordinary game—bordering on perfection within its genre—and a masterclass in how to fully harness its own strengths. Its gameplay is entirely at the service of the player; featuring polished mechanics, a palpable and customizable progression system, and the genuine sensation of playing a title with infinite longevity. It stands as a magnificent display of strength from the team at Housemarque—a studio that is no longer the underdog—having successfully delivered two of the very best exclusives of the PlayStation 5 generation: Returnal and—indeed—Saros.

REPLACED offers gameplay that alternates between exploration, environmental puzzles, stealth, and combat—with the latter standing out as the most successful component. The combat system, simple and intuitive, evokes old-school arcade games: few commands, satisfying hit feedback, and encounters against multiple enemies that remain manageable and frustration-free. The platforming and stealth sections are less convincing, often feeling slow and lacking impact. The overall pacing suffers as a result, partly due to a certain "walking simulator" quality. Elevating the entire experience is the extraordinary graphics—among the finest 2.5D pixel art seen to date. It is a solid experience that shines brightest when it gives way to action.

A narrative adventure that plunges you into the heart of a desperate world, teetering on the brink of collapse. It is up to you to decide its fate through actions and decisions that will shape not only your own future but also that of the players who follow in your footsteps. Once again, DigixArt proves itself remarkably adept at storytelling and at placing the player at the center of an extremely intriguing gameplay concept—one that, unfortunately, lacks the necessary depth to become a new benchmark for the genre. A few technical hiccups and a somewhat underwhelming aesthetic presentation prevent it from ascending to the Valhalla of video games; nevertheless, *Tides of Tomorrow* remains an experience capable of staying with you long after you have uncovered all its possible endings.

Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a first-person shooter that manages to transform extraordinary art direction into a solid and fun gaming experience. It has some (little) limitations, but it's a truly promising debut for Fumi Games.

All things considered, Pokémon Champions is exactly what we expected—barring a few too many rough edges. In fact, looking at the game’s monetization and other titles within the Pokémon ecosystem, one is almost tempted to say we got off easy. At least, for now.

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is a first-person 3D investigative horror adventure strongly focused on exploration. Gameplay revolves around collecting clues, reading documents, and solving environmental puzzles, with the combination of scanner and sonar helping to mitigate classic pixel hunting. The absence of fast-paced combat is offset by a strong atmosphere. The integration between classic H. P. Lovecraft elements and modern technology, such as the AI assistant Key, works very well. The need to read notes and logs to progress may not appeal to action-oriented players, but this approach feels like a natural evolution of the adventure genre. And it works.

If attempting to describe what Tomodachi Life: A Life of Dreams actually is proves complicated, venturing to evaluate it feels like an almost subversive act. It can be one of those games that ends up sneaking its way into the routine of daily life, or an experience that feels immediately off-putting. I found it both adorable and challenging—challenging in the sense that its particular brand of humor would put anyone to the test—though I happen to be the kind of person who enjoys being destabilized by a bit of culture shock.

Pragmata is a solid game. It introduces the hacking mechanic, seamlessly integrating it into tactical and, in most cases, dynamic combat. Exploring the levels presents us with extremely well-crafted environments with remarkable visual impact. The narrative, while a little too overtly sentimental, makes its mark thanks to a few twists that pleasantly carry us through to the final moments. In short, what's there works well, just don't expect an absolute masterpiece: it lacks a spark, something that will make Pragmata stand out even years from now. It may seem a bit too much, but we always expect excellence from Capcom.

The Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is a more ambitious undertaking than its source material might suggest. Not every element works equally well—some aesthetic choices remain questionable—but the work invested on the technical and structural fronts demonstrates a clear intent: not merely to preserve these games, but to bring them back into circulation in a form that remains relevant today. In this context, the RE Engine serves not merely as a container, but as a tool that compels a reinterpretation. And even when friction arises, it is precisely within that tension between fidelity and transformation that the collection discovers its true identity.

Life is Strange: Reunion delivers the series’ classic gameplay, built around exploration, branching dialogue, and the use of powers. Max can once again rewind time to revisit decisions and uncover clues, while Chloe adds variety through backtalk, verbal duels used to manipulate others. The stronger focus on environmental observation makes the experience more investigative and less linear. Its narrative strength is supported by excellent acting and direction, though the plot occasionally bends its own logic to tie everything together. Players unfamiliar with the series may also miss much of what the game has to offer.

ChainStaff is a 2D action shooter built on twin-stick foundations, enhanced by a strong central mechanic: the ChainStaff, a multifunctional weapon that can be used for attacking, grappling, shielding, or interacting with the environment. The gameplay is fast and accessible, with solid ideas and a good variety of situations, although in practice the weapon is mostly used offensively. The choice system – whether to rescue or devour soldiers – is an interesting addition, affecting upgrades and endings. Among the drawbacks are a fairly linear level design, poorly integrated secret areas, and occasionally imprecise physics. The visual style is original, but inconsistent.

An adventure that blends platforming with puzzle-solving, featuring an extremely likable and versatile protagonist alongside an excellent variety of environments and situations. The special powers of Darwin the octopus inject flair into gameplay that builds upon established conventions, while offering a few creative sparks of its own. Limited longevity—coupled with some control issues and certain gameplay segments that aren't perfectly balanced—ultimately detracts from a final result that, with a little more polish, could have stood toe-to-toe with the very best titles in the genre.

Reigns: The Witcher transforms the series' classic card-and-swipe system into a narrative adventure set in Geralt's world, where every binary choice influences the balance between factions and determines the fate of the run. The gameplay is immediate and surprisingly engaging, creating a rapid, almost hypnotic loop. The objective-and-unlock structure adds variety, and fans of the Witcher will appreciate the various references. However, the high degree of repetitiveness and the trial-and-error nature ultimately limit its long-term depth.

Pluto is a roguelite deckbuilder featuring *Slay the Spire*-style progression, built around a unique combat mechanic: spells are assigned to individual fingers, creating combinable patterns that allow for overlaps and free activations, thereby transforming every turn into a strategic puzzle. Managing free fingers—whether for defense or extra bonuses—and the use of rings add further depth to the strategic layer. However, the punishing complexity evident right from the early stages, combined with the absence of persistent progression, make the experience feel more akin to a pure roguelike than a modern roguelite—running the risk of alienating a more casual audience.

Fun, varied, and packed with different game modes, MLB The Show 26 offers a complete experience that leaves little to be desired, easily catering to baseball fans of all kinds. While this year’s changes don’t make a major impact — mostly refining what was already an excellent gameplay foundation — the core experience remains as strong as ever. For those ready to dive back in for another season of pitching duels, strikeouts, and towering home runs, the game delivers a well-rounded package that suits both a more casual playstyle and those looking for a true Major League-level challenge.

Between its improved technical performance and the additions to Bellabel Park, the Switch 2 edition feels like the most complete version of a video game masterpiece that, even at launch, seemed unlikely to improve. Yes, only Nintendo can surpass Nintendo.

Fans of sandbox management games will be in their element with Timberborn, though those less familiar with the genre might initially find it disorienting due to the absence of more guided game modes. Once these initial hurdles are cleared, however, it becomes evident that this is a title offering a potential playtime measured in the tens—if not hundreds—of hours, thanks in no small part to robust community mod support.

Marathon takes the Extraction Game philosophy and molds it into the Bungie style. It's not perfect—the UI is awful, and the missions lose their edge over time—but the gameplay loop is fun, and the shooter foundation is solid. And what a style, guys.

The return to Quel'Thalas is the emotional heart of World of Warcraft: Midnight, a solid expansion that sets the stage for the epilogue of the Worldsoul Saga. The campaign revolves around the Sin'dorei and the conflict between Light and Void, with narrative highs and lows. Gameplay-wise, however, despite one truly new feature—Housing—and no structural revolutions, just pleasant refinements, there's the usual abundance of activities between progression and the endgame that will delight those who enjoyed the latest expansions.

Stepping back into Sam's shoes on PC is the best way to (re)discover Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Far more than the new content, it's the increased technical freedom that makes the difference in the experience: the unlocked frame rate, upscaling tools, and numerous graphical options further enhance an already extremely fascinating world.

Milestone has done it. The Milan-based team decided to take a risk, stepping out of their comfort zone of motorcycle simulations to return to their roots with a *Screamer* reboot—a title that establishes itself as one of the most distinctive, entertaining, and engaging racing games on the market. The driving system—though occasionally a tad clunky—is a sheer delight of speed, technique, and drifting; the narrative compels you to tackle every race at full throttle; and the characters form a cast it is impossible not to grow fond of. It lacks only that extra aesthetic flair to truly stand out amidst the endless array of cyberpunk worlds released in recent years; yet, the technical solidity—combined with the meticulous aesthetic polish applied to the UI, the cars (some of which are truly stunning), and the characters—still manages to make Milestone’s work shine, even in this regard. *Screamer* is the racing game that both the market and the players have been waiting for.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection marks the coming of age for a series that, for the first time, truly manages to shake off the label of being merely a spin-off. Capcom has crafted a solid, multi-layered experience that cleverly weaves together storytelling, exploration and progression systems, finding in habitat restoration a mechanic that is as original as it is seamlessly integrated into the gameplay. The game world feels alive, rewarding curiosity and dedication, whilst the combat system refines its foundations without compromising them. Despite a few inevitable flaws — a certain simplicity in the more conventional side activities, some structural limitations in interaction with the world, and artificial intelligence that doesn’t always measure up in the later stages — the title manages to maintain a rare balance between accessibility and depth. The result is a mature, satisfying and surprisingly ambitious adventure, capable of leaving a tangible mark on the current JRPG scene.