UNBEATABLE combines rhythm gaming with a heartfelt story and incredible characters. The title is punk throughout, both in its messaging and its nontraditional approach to storytelling, and at times feels more like an interactive music video than a video game. In the end, it truly is an “UNBEATABLE” experience.

ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN carries on and exemplifies the surreal and violent legacy of Goichi Suda and GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC, creating an exciting, visually stunning, and delightfully confusing adventure with plenty of opportunities for bloody murder.

Resident Evil Requiem has everything fans have come to love from the series, combining two very different styles of game into one experience to enjoy. The story is rich, the characters are excellent, and the scares are outstanding, making for what is now likely this Resident Evil devotee’s favorite game in the franchise.

Sons of the Forest is an incredibly unique, immersive, and terrifying horror survival game that pits you against the mutated inhabitants of an island far away from civilization. The story is incredibly interesting and forces you out of your comfort zone as you delve deep underground and brave the horrors of the island while seeking answers.

While not your most traditional “game,” Harold Halibut is without a doubt a true work of art, something the likes of which we haven’t seen before and are unlikely to see again.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is everything players wanted from a sequel, delivering more incredible open-world medieval adventures with a focus on realism and historical accuracy. Full of cleverly designed mechanics, surreal levels of immersion, and phenomenal writing, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is honor-bound to excite you.

Europa is the closest thing we have to a Ghibli movie in video game form. With stunning visuals, a relaxing atmosphere, satisfying movement mechanics, and an intriguing mystery to uncover, Europa is a game worth losing an afternoon to.

Enigma of Fear is an excellent little horror puzzle game. With cute characters, fantastic art, and thoughtfully challenging puzzles, it should easily become a favorite of genre fans and newcomers alike.

Thronefall has easily become my new favorite tower defense game, thanks to its solid mechanics and the absolute wealth of variety present in each aspect of the game. Countless difficulty mutations and enemies await you in this game, which gives new meaning to the word “replayability.”

Mouthwashing is a masterclass in psychological horror, featuring phenomenal writing and striking imagery that is sure to leave you awed, inspired, and utterly terrified.

Revenge of the Savage Planet was a blast to play, and even more fun just sitting back and watching the game’s many hilarious cutscenes. Full of absurdist humor, slapstick visual comedy and a genuine sense of adventure, this game took me by surprise and got me hooked.

Absolum blew me away with its mastery of the side-scrolling beat-’em-up and roguelike genres, seamlessly combining the two in a game that is exceptional on a technical level and a blast to play. Paired with the excellent combat and roguelike loop are phenomenal characters, great worldbuilding, and gorgeous art, making for a game that is an absolute steal at just $25.

Styx: Blades of Greed is a master of stealth gaming, with excellently designed levels, incredibly fun stealth and kill mechanics, and a rich and engaging fantasy world to host it all in. Fans of the franchise and newcomers alike are bound to enjoy this third installment in the Styx series, which knows what a stealth gamer wants and executes it flawlessly.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth continues to blow me away with its thoughtful remake of one of the best games ever created, expanding the incredible story and opening up the gameplay to a more broadly appealing, exciting experience.

Eternal Strands serves as an incredible debut for Yellow Brick Games, stunning with its incredible visuals and wowing with its great magic system and enthralling gameplay.

Tactical Breach Wizards uses great writing, genuinely well-executed humor, and subversive takes on genre gameplay and pairs it with a super unique setting to make what is one of my favorite new titles.

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter is an incredible adventure game, one that will challenge you with its engaging combat mechanics, wow you with its incredible art and worldbuilding, and pull on your heartstrings with its powerful story, but not without making you chuckle at a clever rat pun or six in the process.

Marvel Rivals has hooked me back into the hero shooter genre with its huge roster of characters, exciting gameplay, and excellent sense of style.

Bandle Tale captures the essence of the Yordles’ fantastical home and delivers a delightful and bittersweet experience. As Riot Forge’s final contribution before its closure, Bandle Tale stands as a testament to the studio’s collaborative genius, the creativity and clever game design of Lazy Bear Games, and leaves players with a fond farewell to spinoffs set in the Runeterra universe, at least for the foreseeable future.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered features a faithfully remastered take on three classic Tomb Raider games, with improved controls, graphics, and quality-of-life features, all of which can be disabled, creating the perfect package for faithful fans wanting a modern update on a nostalgic title, or die-hard fans who want to experience the games as they originally were.

Hollowbody is the best horror game of the year, standing out with its remarkably good use of tension and incredible atmosphere. Clocking in at about three hours, your short time with this game will surely be memorable, tense, and terrifying.

Mewgenics deserves all its praise and more, delivering a solid monster-rancher premise with strong roguelike gameplay and packaging it all with incredible humor that only the creative minds behind Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Isaac could pull off. You couldn’t swing a cat around in this game without smashing it into something awesome.

BALL x PIT does everything I want a roguelike game to do, delivering fun mechanics in an infinitely replayable loop that also manages to be a unique departure from many games in the genre. Paired with gorgeous dark fantasy pixel art, incredible music, and a fun, unique setting, the game gives you many reasons to give it a try and few excuses to avoid it.

Microtopia is a factory logistics game that uses its clever ant theming to provide an incredibly fun production puzzle that stands out amongst its genre. Fans of games such as Factorio are sure to find some good, ant-y fun in this clever, modestly priced title.

Still Wakes The Deep stands out as a triumph in horror games, blending thrilling gameplay with a unique, inspired, and haunting atmosphere, with a compelling story and characters to boot. It’s a must-play for horror enthusiasts and anyone looking for a game that pushes the boundaries of the genre. Still Wakes The Deep is not just a highlight of the year; it might very well be a benchmark for future horror games.

Static Dread: The Lighthouse is an excellent resource-management horror game that excels with its fantastic storytelling, incredible art, and hypnotically immersive setting. I have no doubt that this excellent piece of horror storytelling will soon explode in popularity, rightfully winning over fans with the sea-dredged gold it has to offer.

Sorry We’re Closed is a remarkable fusion of punk aesthetics, survival horror mechanics, and deeply authentic character-driven storytelling. Its unapologetic blend of style and substance, from its diverse cast to its unique visual flair, makes it a standout in a genre often dominated by darker, more serious tones.

Planet Coaster 2 excels in amusement park management, presenting a superb combination of gameplay depth and accessibility. You’re sure to enjoy the ride in this brilliant coaster tycoon.

Another Crab’s Treasure is a Soulslike but for fans and newcomers to the series alike, creating a hilarious, exciting nautical knightly adventure for audiences of all ages.

Hades II is everything I wanted and more, expanding upon nearly everything in the original and making it bigger, better, and stronger. Supergiant delivers a title that will satisfy existing fans and capture new ones, creating a game that is far more than just a sequel.

The Spirit of the Samurai is the most incredible Metroidvania title I have ever played, featuring amazing stop-motion animation, fantastic storytelling with horror elements, and fun combat—all coming together to create a game you’ll easily love as much as I do.

Little Nightmares 3 upholds its franchise’s place at the top of the genre, being tense, engaging, and deeply immersive with its macabre worldbuilding. The addition of co-op is a great addition to the series, while remaining an excellent solo experience, should you choose to play it that way.

KILL KNIGHT is an exciting bullet hell romp that challenges you to master its mechanics and descend through the circles of hell, prompting you with greater difficulties and higher scores to beat as you go.

For what it is, HANK: Drowning on Dry Land is fantastic. Short but exceptional, this little love letter to graphic superhero comics is sure to entertain with its great characters, fantastic visuals, and cleverly designed, unconventional gameplay.

Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss tasks you with solving an incredibly engaging mystery in an incredibly unique and terrifying deep sea setting. A fantastic story and heartwrenching ghosts await you in this thalassophobic thriller.

REANIMAL far exceeded my expectations, even outdoing the original Little Nightmares with its mature themes, twists on the formula, and genuinely tense and scary gameplay. The original creators of Little Nightmares prove they’ve still got it, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us next.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon delivers a refreshingly dark and engaging RPG experience with a strong narrative, a reimagined take on familiar mechanics, and a world that feels both mythic and original. Fans of classic Bethesda titles who’ve been left cold by Oblivion Remastered should absolutely give this one a shot.

Neva is a game you won’t soon forget. With stunning visuals, gorgeous art, and an incredibly emotional story, this new classic continues Nomada Studio’s solid reputation and is a must-play in this reviewer’s book.

With strong inspiration from classic anime of the 1980s and 1990s, yet with a solid identity of its own, Rogue Flight is determined to wow you with its exciting gameplay, amazing art, and incredible soundtrack, and I reckon it won’t be very hard for it to do so.

Slime Heroes is a charming soulslike that serves as a fantastic entry point for newcomers to the genre while offering plenty of fun for seasoned players. The game’s highly accessible co-op makes an already enjoyable experience even better, allowing you to share the adventure with friends or family.

Shadow of the Erdtree is more of everything you love about Elden Ring, expanding on the award-winning game with a bigger arsenal, tougher enemies, a brand-new story, and even more beautiful landscapes.

Though Final Fantasy XVI departs from the franchise formula, it still maintains so much of what makes Final Fantasy such a beloved franchise. It has easily become one of my new favorite entries in the series. The game does its own thing, and while I do miss some classic Final Fantasy RPG elements, I certainly enjoy the cinematic action Final Fantasy XVI has to offer.

Withering Rooms feels incredibly nostalgic and yet does plenty of new things, making for a horror game that utterly stands out. Its creativity, downright amazing writing, and incredible characters will suck you in, and the tense, everpresent horror of the Dream will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Deathless. Tales of Old Rus. delivers a great deck-building roguelike experience, thanks to its mastery and twists on the genre’s mechanics, its fantastic art and characters, and the unique way it brings its Slavic mythology setting to life.

Children of the Sun is everything I love in a game: Fun mechanics, creative direction, and a fantastic sense of style proudly displayed in the game’s art and story. Fans of gritty storytelling, telekinetic sniper challenges, and just killing cultists will love this pulpy murder puzzle game.

Anger Foot is a gem. It’s got a superbly unique setting, and it feels simple and creative gameplay that gets your blood running, as well as a fantastic score to wrap it all up. That’s really all there is to say about Anger Foot. It’s great, fun, and one of my new favorites, but I know for a fact that nothing I could say could sell you on the game quite like screenshots from the game itself.

The Star Named EOS is heartwarming, heartwrenching, beautifully designed, and pleasantly short. It tells a great story with clever puzzles and never overstays its welcome. Fans of puzzle games or those just looking to experience this game’s incredible story will find a wealth of enjoyment from The Star Named EOS and may be left wanting more.

FragPunk stands out in the genre for its creative, reality-altering twist on familiar mechanics. Though I wish it leaned further into its unique aesthetic, it still distinguishes itself from the crowd and is absolutely worth trying.

Monster Hunter Wilds surprised me, improving on both areas I was critical of and loved in past games. A straight improvement in every way, Monster Hunter Wilds should easily become a franchise favorite for newcomers to the series as well as tried and true veteran hunters.

With its beautiful pixel art, great humor, and outstanding voice acting, Loco Motive is a captivating blend of next-gen and yesteryear, taking everything we love about classic point-and-click adventures and giving it a fresh, modern spin.

With its fresh concept, thoughtfully designed puzzles, and excellent use of suspenseful horror, Is This Game Trying to Kill Me? creates an escape-room-style game worth escaping into.

Built upon the iconic and highly stylish tradition of racing anime, Screamer delivers high-octane, arcade-style racing with intuitive controls and an incredibly dramatic, colorfully cast story about a super-illegal, high-stakes super-race. Undoubtedly, my new favorite racing game of all time, I do not doubt that Screamer, like a shooting star, will fly out past the competition at high speeds and leave a long-lasting memory in the process.

Bionic Bay is my new favorite in a genre I rarely enjoy, captivating me with its setting, unique mechanics, and fun physics system. With a competitive speedrunning mode alongside its 12-hour campaign, you’re sure to find something to enjoy in this standout title.

Little Kitty, Big City sets off to do something simple and does it well, delivering a fantastically cute and charming little cat game where you can do everything you expect a cute kitty to do. Short, sweet, and relaxing, Little Kitty, Big City just might be one of the best games to let out some stress and get up to some adorable kitty hijinks.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is everything I hoped for in a Like a Dragon game and more, presenting incredible action, impressive cinematography, and irreverent humor that kept me hooked all the way through.

Dispatch brilliantly sets the stage for AdHoc Studios to fill the void Telltale Games left and do it better. This superhero workplace comedy is full of heart, incredible character-driven storytelling and art, and is worth all of the praise it’s received and more.

Keep Driving is an incredible road trip adventure game, truly living up to the vibe of an early 2000s drive across the country. Every aspect of the game wowed me, and I was left with no desire other than to get even more from the experience. Here’s hoping the developers launch some future DLC for the game.

One of the most emotionally gripping and atmospherically rich games I’ve played in a long time. It’s got heart, horror, puzzles that actually made me feel smart without being frustrating, and a story that had me hooked from start to finish. Powerhoof has made something special here, and The Drifter absolutely deserves your attention.

30 Birds is a beautiful and surreal experience—a thoughtfully created puzzle game with a unique setting and incredible visuals. This hidden gem should be your next purchase if you enjoy point-and-click adventures, puzzles, or art.

While it draws clear inspiration from Castle Crashers, Big Helmet Heroes successfully carves out its own identity with new combat mechanics, modern graphics, and its own unique sense of humor. This is a title that can easily be enjoyed by players of any age range.

Back to the Dawn is one of the most unique indie RPGs I’ve played in recent memory—gritty, tense, mechanically rewarding, and full of well-developed characters who surprise you with their humanity, despite being cartoon animals. Its depiction of prison life is thoughtful and serious without relying on shock value, and the branching narrative gives your decisions real weight.

Mullet Madjack is something between a clever parody and a loving tribute to the genres it was inspired by, full of both clever critique and engaging writing. Throw a fast-paced, exciting, and super-addictive gameplay loop on top of that, and you have my new favorite title.

The King is Watching is a smart, surprisingly deep blend of roguelike systems and city-building mechanics that manages to innovate where many similar titles simply reiterate. While screenshots may not sell the experience at a glance, what welcomes players in The King is Watching is a rich and endlessly repayable gem.

Spilled! is a short, cute little game with a fantastic message and a noble goal. Clocking in just under an hour of surprisingly fun yet simple gameplay, Spilled! will grant you a fun, relaxing afternoon and will donate a portion of your purchase to help protect the ocean’s wildlife.

Monster Train 2 doesn’t just earn its place in the crowded roguelike deckbuilder genre—it sets a new bar. From the intense, multi-layered combat to the unforgettable art and music, every part of the game feels purposeful and polished. It’s rare to find a sequel that not only stands alone but also pushes the genre forward in such a confident, satisfying way.

The coziest of cozy visual novels, Tavern Talk is sure to win you over. With a huge cast of delightful and interesting characters and intriguing fantasy stories, no cozy afternoon can be complete without serving these adventurers their drinks.

Incredible in its narrative and gameplay, Leila is a must-have game for puzzle enthusiasts as well as those simply looking for a great story to experience, though it is one that will trigger introspection and emotions both happy and sad.

Frostpunk 2 does exactly what a sequel should do. It excels in all the ways the original game did while increasing the scale and adding even more. It is an excellent expansion on everything we loved about Frostpunk and delivers a new, utterly unique experience and story, and one that fans of the original, as well as newcomers to the franchise, are sure to love.

Sword of the Necromancer: Resurrection is an incredible game, featuring unique mechanics that captivate your attention and a story that will break your heart. Presented with beautiful art and nostalgic graphics, this game is as much an art piece as it is a must-play.

Pepper Grinder undoubtedly shines as another gem in Devolver Digital’s diverse portfolio, reaffirming their reputation for delivering standout indie games that captivate and entertain. Pepper Grinder is sure to delight platformers with its unique mechanics and treasure-collecting glory.

Ravenswatch is my new favorite roguelike game, and a title I’m going to be spending a lot of time with in the future. Absolutely packed with cool ideas, from the game’s setting to the philosophy behind its mechanics, Ravenswatch is sure to become one of your favorites, too, if you give it a chance.

Whether you’re chasing leaderboard scores, working through the campaign, or just squeezing in a short session during a break, Drop Duchy is right for you. There’s a quiet brilliance to the way it unites so many simple on the surface yet subtly complicated gameplay systems without letting any of them spiral out of control. It is rare for a puzzle game to offer this much substance while remaining this approachable, but Drop Duchy makes it look easy.

With its explosive high momentum level design, creative visual design, and a dash of irreverent humor, ANTONBLAST is an exciting platformer that will keep you coming back for more destruction and mayhem.

INDIKA is an utterly unique, psychedelic, and strange title, telling a wonderful, thought-provoking story filled with striking imagery and wonderfully bleak humor.

Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 is a game for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike, providing great cinematic action gameplay and genuine fun that can be experienced alone or with a group. It’s my favorite game of the year so far, and try as I might, I can’t find anything to complain about. It’s just plain good.

The Thing: Remastered captures the essence of a timeless horror game and gives it a fresh coat of paint alongside some quality-of-life improvements for a modern audience.

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is an adorable little detective story with great characters, clever writing, and a genuinely interesting mystery to solve. Clocking in just under two hours, you’re sure to get at least one great afternoon out of this clever and entertaining Ducktective Noir.

Pacific Drive offers a thrilling and unique experience that seamlessly blends the excitement of a road trip with the terror of the supernatural. The game quickly won me over, just as it’s sure to win over the imagination and thrill of players who give the game a much-deserved try.

A gorgeously crafted stealth adventure that’s full of mood, momentum, and mystery. Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream falters slightly when it loses tension, but remains a memorable, artistically distinct journey worth experiencing.

Lucky Tower Ultimate provides deceptively simple mechanics and a deeper layer of depth with tons of items, mechanical interactions, and constant slapstick or just downright silly cartoon humor. It does things differently from other roguelike titles, and will effortlessly charm you if you just give it a chance.

ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist is a visually striking Metroidvania game, with meticulously crafted artwork and an atmospheric soundtrack that perfectly enhances its unique world. The gameplay is both engaging and rewarding, offering fun mechanics and a captivating story that draws you into its dark, mysterious setting.

RUNGORE is an impressively unique little roguelike that I feel deserves more attention. It’s fantastic art, and the ability to sell you on both comedic and dramatic atmospheres paired with a unique spin on the deckbuilding archetype makes for something that’s worth trying and easy to appreciate.

While its mechanical satisfaction and feeling of power could use some work, Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel still serves as a solid entry into the survivors-like genre, being especially visually excellent and showing remarkable growth from its Early Access run.

My only real issue is with the underwhelming flight mechanics. Despite being set in space, movement is surprisingly slow, and maneuverability doesn’t reflect the freedom of zero gravity. While you can move in all six directions, the controls aren’t as fluid or immersive as in other space combat games. I understand this might be due to technical limitations, but it’s a major flaw that took me out of the experience, especially considering how much I enjoyed everything else.

Gloomy Eyes feels like a playable Burton short film with enough challenge and heart to stand tall as a great little puzzle-adventure game. It’s not perfect; some puzzles drag, and navigation can sometimes get muddled, but the art style, storytelling, and atmosphere make it a standout experience that’s hard not to fall in love with, especially for anyone with a love of the weird, the charmingly creepy, and the delightfully dark.

Cross Blitz has only gotten better since I first played it in Early Access, improving upon its unique and fun-to-play core mechanics with over five hundred cards and even more ways to play. While the AI can seem to slow down during a match, creating a bit of a tedious drag, it was not enough to prevent my enjoyment of the game, which I easily recommend to anyone looking for a new Slay the Spire type deck builder with its own unique flavor.

While it could do a better job of explaining some of its mechanics, could be a little more complex in its combo-crafting, and doesn’t have the best keyboard controls, Scott Pilgrim EX is still an excellent beat-’em-up game set in the iconic comic book universe. Best enjoyed with friends, this game can still be played and appreciated solo, especially for die-hard fans of Scott Pilgrim.

Metaphor: ReFantazio feels like another classic ATLUS RPG, with some enough new to stand out. The game is loud and proud with its message, and though it sometimes can write in circles, it features some real heartwrenching moments, loveable (and hateable) characters, and some classically engaging turn-based RPG mechanics.

Sker Ritual is a fantastic game that successfully pulls off a highly desired gameplay formula certain triple-A companies haven’t been able to in years. Though the game has one or two quirks, I would say that all that needs to change is adding dedicated servers and removing the peer-to-peer lag issues, and Sker Ritual would be the perfect Zombies game for fans itching to play the genre again.

Ultros is a psychedelic platformer that could easily belong in a modern art showcase. It has simple yet engaging combat mechanics, phenomenal art and music, and great characters. I urge you to check the game out if you’re even a little curious.

Shady Knight combines fast-paced combat with even faster parkour, challenging you to dash, grapple, and slay your way through intense platforming puzzles on your quest to get the highest score possible. The game focuses on its solid foundation of well-designed mechanics and should easily appeal to any fans of the genre.

Songs of Silence offers a game that is fun enough to play and impossible to put down, easily captivating players with its unique world, interesting concepts, and phenomenal art.

Though its puzzles are simple and the gameplay uncomplicated, Koira delivers a heartwarming little story that is sure to win your heart over a relaxing afternoon, forming a bond between players, the forest, and their little light-up doggy in an artistic little story about friendship and nature.

Despite a few technical hiccups and some shortcomings in long-term replayability, Elden Ring: Nightreign is an ambitious and surprisingly well-executed twist on the Soulslike formula. Its roguelike structure, new cooperative gameplay mechanics, and signature FromSoftware difficulty combine for a thrilling, fast-paced experience that rewards teamwork and adaptation. For fans of Elden Ring looking for something familiar yet fresh, Nightreign is a confident contender.

Fabledom is a truly unique spin on the city-building genre, giving you not only a fable book makeover but a unique set of fantastical obstacles to overcome. Adorable and colorful but not afraid to be challenging, the game provides plenty of challenge for the city-sim veteran, as well as a charming political and romantic element that helps keep the game fresh.

ROBOBEAT has a personality all on its own, presenting a unique experience that is much more than just a fun spin on the rhythm game genre. Absolutely oozing with style, it demands to be experienced to get what it offers truly. It is a fun romp with thrilling visuals, exciting action, and an emphasis on excellent music catered to your particular tastes.

Everdeep Aurora is a niche, atmospheric gem that trades gameplay intensity for mood, narrative, and artistic charm. While its loose structure and lack of conventional progression may alienate some players looking for more mechanical depth or direction, it succeeds as a relaxing exploration experience. If you’re in the mood for a gentle, thoughtful journey through a beautifully drawn underground world, this game might just be for you.

The Alters may not reinvent base building or survival gameplay, but it masterfully frames both around a fascinating narrative hook. This is a game that asks the player, “What if you could meet who you could’ve been?” and makes that question its core mechanic.