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.

Batman: Arkham Shadow is not only a worthy entry into the Arkham series, but by far the best VR game I have ever played. The game looks great, has faithfully remastered mechanics to translate the original Arkham experience into VR, and has a story that keeps you so engaged you do not even notice you have worked up a sweat beating down Gotham’s bad guys.

Technotopia is an engaging puzzle game with a soothing soundtrack, excellent art-deco visuals, and a non-intrusive story. This allows players to choose between a narrative experience or simply relaxing gameplay.

Skate Story is a fantastic game for fans of the street skating genre, mixing things up with an incredibly unique setting, striking visuals, and thought-provoking ideas, while still encapsulating both the culture and the mechanics of the genre we love.

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.

Demon Tides rocks, combining chill and unique expressive platforming mechanics with an absolutely magnetic cast of characters, some great art, and an overall sense of style all its own.

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.

The System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is a faithful update to a horror classic, keeping its old-school spirit intact with upgraded visuals and new co-op multiplayer. But make no mistake—this is still a remaster, not a remake. The dated combat and clunky systems are all here, for better or worse. It’s a must-play for horror fans and genre history buffs; just don’t expect something modern.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage stands out in its genre for its shockingly real portrayal of its characters and the world they live in, delivering an experience that can be too close to home; the defining realism that makes the game something of a masterpiece.

Nine Sols feels like a love letter to Sekiro and the Metroidvania genre as a whole. Though slow at times, the game’s focus on storytelling pairs well with its great visuals, presenting a narrative experience paired with some challenging but fair gameplay.

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.

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.

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.

Anomaly Agent is a wonderfully weird adventure, full of strange and interesting characters and fluid mechanics that are satisfying to execute. Players should have a blast exploring the weird, humorous future world and fighting to keep things normal in this modern spin on a classic genre.

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.

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.

Momodora: Moonlit Farewell is near perfect in every way, with exceptional art, game design, characters, and writing. While the game is slightly held back by dated controls and poor mapping options, this complaint hardly feels like a drop in the pond of greatness that is this moonlit journey.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is the best arcade racer on the market, especially for PC players. However, the steep price feels too high, even with everything the game offers, and the choice to include characters from outside the franchise while beloved Sonic characters are still missing leaves this reviewer disappointed and a bit perplexed.

For a game all about the number four, Quartet packs in way more than four reasons to play it. The story builds into something surprisingly big, the combat has just enough twists to stay fun, and the characters feel alive in ways that matter. The first hours may test your patience, but stick it out and you’ll find yourself hooked. As classic as Quartet may feel, it is just as memorable as its inspirations.

News Tower is a rare kind of tycoon game, one that puts a lot of care and effort into simulating a very interesting and niche business. While the early game can feel slow and the loop might be repetitive for some, it’s otherwise a fun, detail-oriented simulation game with a decent amount of diversity in its progression systems and overall content, enough to keep you printing papers for hours.

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.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a familiar Call of Duty experience, albeit improved with a unique new setting and incredible gunplay. Fans of Black Ops’ campaigns, multiplayer, and Zombies modes all have something to get excited for in this latest addition to the franchise.

Though incredibly faithful to the original, severe performance issues plague this remake of Snake Eater. While the game could and likely will be made playable down the line, it is hard to recommend the title at the time of writing, where severe framerate issues and engine-level crashes plague the PC version of the game.

Terra Invicta puts the “grand” in grand strategy, offering experienced players a deeply involved strategy game that takes them from a shadow government to a space-faring superpower. That same depth creates a demanding learning curve, however, and the time commitment required may put some newcomers to the genre off.

Farthest Frontier has its issues but still manages to be one of my new favorite city builders thanks to the sheer amount of depth in its economy and attention paid to gorgeous, expansive city building. Though it lacks some options in the logistics department and the UI is hard to look at, fans of the genre should find a title worth investing in with this deep colony builder.

While Forgive Me Father 2 is a fun title with excellent art and some wonderfully spooky Lovecraftian elements, I feel like the gameplay can be a bit too simple, repetitive, and even frustrating at times. While it is definitely a true portrayal of a beloved genre, I personally would mix things up by introducing more boss fights, power diversity, and maybe even more enemy types. That being said, you’ll be hard-pressed not to enjoy what’s already on 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.

Age of Mythology: Retold is a faithful remaster of a classic RTS game, featuring improved graphics, UI, and great quality of life changes. Whether you’re new to the franchise or a returning fan, this buffed-up classic is worth checking out.