Hooking me right from the start and eliciting pure joy all the way to the end, The Plucky Squire has gone the extra mile in rewriting what should be expected out of an action-adventure such as this. By drawing from classic inspirations and adding its own spin on things, this is a game that leverages its creativity in all the good ways and ultimately writes a happy ending not just for Jot and his friends, but hopefully, also for the future of its creators.

If you want something that updates the game significantly you’ll be disappointed in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster - but if you want to revisit the original, this is the definitive way to do so.

Despite my issues connecting to servers and the poor graphical performance on PS5, I’ve quite enjoyed my time on Solar Crown’s Hong Kong Island. The driving mechanics are easily the best the series has ever had, and the cars sound and feel viscerally dynamic. It’s a shame that a game that places such a strong emphasis on realistic immersion and map detail is dragged down by poor graphical performance and always-online server issues. Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown has the potential to overtake its rivals but it has too many faults slowing it down in its current state.

Your mileage with Funko Fusion hinges on your interest in the worlds it pastiches, but there’s enough charm here that even if you’re tangentially invested, you’ll have a good time.

Wild Bastards is a sequel that tries to mod some of the gameplay mechanics of the original, but loses steam along the way

As an entire basketball package, there is no denying that NBA 2K25 is something to be savored by fans of the sport. With its great selection of game modes and the various improvements made in all areas, this makes it more of an obvious choice compared to last year's offering, and when Visual Concepts and 2K Games finally cut the cord with the previous generation, there will surely be even more amazing things to look forward to for a championship-caliber franchise.

In its playful personality and incredibly inventive design, Astro Bot reminds me a lot of Mario Odyssey. It truly does sit alongside the best platformers of all time, providing some moments of pure magic and joy. Considering how smart and unexpected much of Astro Bot is, the possibilities for future adventures are endless.

With beautiful worlds and an even more gorgeous rendition of the daily proceedings of an Ultramarine, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 knows exactly what it can offer and doubles down on it. With splendid combat that is slightly held back by repetition and a universe that has obvious potential, the story of Titus is ripe for more and fans will have much to chew through as they cut down every enemy of the Emperor along the way. Needless to say, either you are with us or against us, but it will be a bloody fantastic time either way.

Not only is the Casting of Frank Stone a fantastic Dead by Daylight game, it's also a fantastic game in its own right.

Concord provides a highly enjoyable and satisfying FPS experience, but needs more time in the oven if it wants to succeed in the highly competitive hero shooter and live-service market.

There's a great game hidden somewhere in Visions of Mana. It's a blast to play so long as you focus on the gameplay, and its more cartoonish aesthetic helps it stand out from the pack of more realistically rendered JRPG fare. It's just a shame the story is handled as poorly as it is, and that so much of the game is dedicated to its narrative by virtue of it being a story-driven JRPG.

The beauty of Gundam Breaker is that you don't need to be a fan of the larger Gundam franchise to get plenty of enjoyment out of it. It scratches the itch of an action game and a loot game all in one, and I can't seem to get enough. At heart, it's still a game all about making the wackiest robot you can that still absolutely shreds through enemies, and I think that's amazing.

Star Wars Outlaws is a truly fun action-adventure that lives up to the name of its franchise with its interesting story, awesome cast, and unique criminal syndicate reputation system. Its open-world appeal is stretched thin by the vices of its own ambition, filled with a lot of optional padding, but its core offering is more than enough on its own to be worth a dive in.

Madden 25 offers a really solid football package for those who missed previous entries. There are a lot of smart improvements to the running and defensive game, and the physics overhaul is noticeable. Madden 25 is a solid game with some much-needed mechanical improvements, but the modes feel largely the same as last year.

Black Myth Wukong is a true AAA experience that blends the intensity of Sekiro with the accessibility of modern RPGs, all in a well-polished package.

Once you warm up to its cast, Dustborn's unique twist on a super-power adventure in an alternate-future America makes for an engrossingly great time, even if some of its gameplay leaves more to be desired.

Earth Defense Force 6 is one of those games that I will never get tired of, as I have gone back to every single game in the series time and time again. As a whole, Earth Defense Force deserves way more attention, and I can't imagine there's anyone who wouldn't like it. If you like cheesy dialogue, giant monsters/bugs, and shooting progressively crazier weaponry, give this one a shot.

Though the game isn’t purrfect (puns are back on the menu) by any means, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Cat Quest 3. It doesn’t have the most sophisticated story or combat system, but its fantastic potential for exploration and build diversity results in an experience that is hard to peel away from. The feline-inspired whimsical charm and gorgeous sun-kissed visuals make it a world I want to be in far beyond the 10-hour runtime. Whether you’re a cat lover or not, Cat Quest 3 is an all-around good time and is an undeniably charming and wonderful pirate adventure.

At its base level, SteamWorld Heist II is a supremely polished title. However, while the game's narrative hums along like a well-oiled machine in the first half, screws begin to come loose as the narrative expands exponentially in front of the player. While the core of the title is a shoo-in recommendation for any fan of the genre, the collapsing narrative structure in its second half is a genuine shame.

There isn't a VR game quite like Thrasher, with its stunning visual style, simple yet rewarding gameplay, and singular aesthetic. It's proof of just how unique VR gaming can be.

It’s safe to say that F1 Manager 24 is by far the best motorsport management sim created to date. The realism, the abundance of features, and the infinite replayability are everything that any fan of this genre could ever ask for, and as expected, Frontier delivered them in spades.

I was so gripped by the plot that when I got the ending, I reached out to the developer himself to ask “Really? Was that it? Did I do something wrong? Surely, there’s more!”, and while I can’t give away any of the specifics of the response, I eagerly await any and all news surrounding this project. The Operator has won me over as a fan, and if you’re someone who enjoys puzzle-solving, and immersive cinema, The Operator is definitely a must-play.

Even with the immense weight of its own legacy on its shoulders, EA Sports College Football 25 delivers on every single one of its promises - and then some. While EA couldn't help but underhand returning fans of the series with Ultimate Team, they provide more than enough alternatives for those who wish to leave the mode on the bench.

Despite having a predictable story, refurbished design elements, and some minor quality-of-life issues, Dungeons of Hinterberg feels like a one-of-a-kind, refreshing holiday experience.

I do find Nintendo World Championship: NES Edition to be a fun distraction and a half-decent party game. Local multiplayer is obviously more exciting than playing alone but joining the weekly championships is fun too. The weekly challenges are engaging as is the Survival Mode. I just wish it included Red Racer too, or at the very least Tetris. If the game entices you purely for the NES nostalgia then you're golden, but if you are looking for a recreation of the 1990 championships then this isn't the title for you.

A well designed game with satisfying mechanics that is brought down by performance issues and some lack in enemy variety.

Zenless Zone Zero is without doubt the new best gacha action RPG out there, beating Wuthering Waves, Genshin, Tower of Fantasy, and the like by a mile. Its immersive world, unique mechanics, engaging gameplay, and compelling story have set a new standard of what a good ARPG should look like and are bound to appeal to almost everyone.

Though I will always have a soft spot for the Cold Steel games, Trails Through Daybreak arrives as the new best game of the series. Between giving a more mature protagonist and redefining the combat, the Calvard arc starts with its best foot forward. The fact that things have already become this hectic with the very first game means we're looking at probably the craziest arc to date. Sadly, these take a bit of time to localize, and we'll be two behind in September, but I will be right there when the next one hits.