The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is the pinnacle of Trails storytelling alongside the best evolution of the hybrid action turn-based combat.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger is a must-play video game for fans of the series and newcomers alike. It has extreme complexity in the Digivolution and Personality system, but it is also super easy to get your hands on and play.

Keeper is Double Fine at its absolute best; a breathtaking, wordless journey that proves emotion and artistry can speak louder than dialogue.

After waiting for decades, Shinobi and Joe Musashi have not just made a proper return, but are a shining example of what SEGA can do with its older titles, should it want to. It’s simply flawless, full of enjoyable combat, tricky sections, and plenty to keep ninja gaming fans happy from start to finish.

In the end, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater proves that there is nothing quite like Metal Gear Solid on offer today. Konami has proven that it still has what it takes, while staying true to the original effort, and modernising in all the right places. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater sits alongside Silent Hill 2 as one of the best remakes in gaming.

Donkey Kong Bananza is nothing short of a revelation and revolution about what DK can be as a character and how his games can be different from Mario’s, Kirby’s, and others of his platforming ilk. He and Pauline are the epic “dynamic duo” that Nintendo can rally around to start the Switch 2 age, and you’ll love this game from start to finish…then go back for even more.

Magical Princess evolves the child-rearing simulator genre as it uses bonds and all the multiple endings to provide added incentive to the game. It has amazing art, stunning visuals, and a lot of heart and passion in each character and situation.

A phenomenal Visual Novel experience.

Despite a few minor issues, Crimson Desert sets a new benchmark for this style of open-world experience, one that will be extremely difficult for future games to match.

Borderlands 4 is an amazing entry in the series, Full of Gun’s, Exploration and Explosions. You can sink hours upon hours into this game, never feeling like you don’t have something to do.

Revisiting Starfield has been a blast. While returning players may need some time to adjust to the changes, there is no doubt in my mind that, with years of updates culminating in Free Lanes and Terran Armada, Starfield is a better game in 2026 than it has ever been…If you are jumping in for the first time on PlayStation 5, you will be playing the most polished version of Starfield yet. And if you have a PS5 Pro, you will also be playing the best-looking console version available.

Absolum blends the best of 2D beat ’em ups and roguelike design into a loop that’s challenging, unpredictable, and downright addictive. It doesn’t reinvent either genre, but its tight combat, branching paths, and stunning presentation make it a must-play for fans of both. Despite being Dotemu’s first original IP, you’d never know it. This is a masterclass in design that kept me hooked, even as it repeatedly kicked my teeth in.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is the definitive way to start the Trails series. It is an amazing game, and the story and themes are just as relevant today as they were 20 years ago.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is everything you could wish for from an action RPG, with a heavy focus on systems that lean in to support the way you want to play. Not only is Kingdom Come: Deliverance II a brilliant sequel, but it’s a genre-defining game that pushes an otherwise stagnant genre forward for the first time in a decade.

Persona 3 Reload is amazing on Nintendo Switch 2. To have this Persona 3 experience on the go on a mobile Nintendo console is just great. If you can overlook the lowered FPS, it is a great addition to the Nintendo Switch 2 Library. From the Memento Mori theme story, the memorable cast, soundtrack, and battle system, you will not regret it.

Square Enix and Naoki Hamaguchi’s team did an amazing job with this port to Nintendo Switch 2. The resolution and frame performance are the trade-off, but not by much. Handheld mode is where the breaks in illusion show. Docked mode is the optimal way to play on Nintendo Switch 2. Everything else is intact and the added Streamline Progression options are a great addition. Just make sure you have a new SD card if you are adding this version to your library.

Dwarves: Glory, Death, and Loot, a fun roguelite auto-battler that will keep you entertained for hours on end through its addictive progression and seemingly endless builds.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a return to form for the Sonic kart-racing series, while adding exciting mechanics like portals that shift your race mid-race. The tracks are creative and colorful, the visuals shine. On the downside, handling can feel loose in tighter turns, rubber-banding and item chaos sometimes detract from competitive racing. Still, if you're looking for a fun, fast-paced kart racing, then Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds delivers.

Gears of War: Reloaded breathes new life into a classic, delivering upgraded visuals, smoother performance, and all the brutal cover-shooting action that made the original legendary. From the chilling horror elements and iconic boss encounters to the witty squad banter, it proves just how well Gears of War has aged nearly 20 years later. With 4K, HDR, high frame rates, and full cross-play multiplayer, this is the best way for veterans and newcomers alike to experience the start of the saga.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is a fantastic first Story of Seasons game on the Nintendo Switch 2. It has a cute art style, and it is very cozy.

WWE 2K26 may not reinvent the series, but it refines it in ways that matter, resulting in one of the strongest entries the franchise has delivered in years.

EA Sports Madden NFL 26 marks one of the franchise’s biggest leaps in years, especially in Franchise Mode, which finally gets meaningful depth and realism. On-field gameplay feels smoother and more fluid, with better animations, more responsive passing, and smarter AI. Overall this instalment breathes new life into the series, especially for Franchise fans, delivering smarter design choices, improved gameplay flow, and a more immersive presentation that make it the most exciting entry in over a decade.

Octopath Traveler 0 shows that this game series still has serious legs. It has the most content in the series, the most playable characters, and some of the grandest moments.

No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files is a fun experience with tons of wacky times with Kaname Date. It also has some great storytelling.

An Audio and Visual Upgrade but some parts fall flat, This is the nature of yearly sport games unfortunately. But the ability to play from High School all the way to the NFL is a reason I would get both College Football & Madden this year.

Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles proves that the original game is still a strong video game. Adding voice acting makes it almost a whole different experience.

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond is a worthwhile return to form for the first-person Samus Aran titles. Viewros is beautifully designed, the combat is quick and intense, and yes, the Galactic Federation soldiers absolutely add to the story. Ignore the hate posts online and enjoy the ride.

Heavy Lunch Studio LLC successfully delivered on an RPG that takes from classics such as Earthbound and Pokémon and makes it all their own in Hermit and Pig. Featuring wonderful writing, a busy battle system that challenges you to think on your feet, great characters, and an explorable trippy world.