The amount of content in the Starfield PS5 release is so staggering that it would take pages for me to go into all of it. But what really stands out to me are all the little quality-of-life changes Bethesda has made to really push Starfield into a complete experience. When exploring space, you now encounter more unique NPCs and questlines.

If you are someone who wants a more linear or cinematic, story-driven campaign, Crimson Desert might not be for you. However, if you loved the sense of freedom and discovery that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild had, then Crimson Desert is the next big game in that genre. Pearl Abyss has truly created something special here, that I suspect we’ll be talking about for years to come.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a must-play and one of my favorite games this year. [Best in Class]

A few bugs kept Prison Boss: Prohibition from reaching its full potential. Playing on Meta Quest 3, I had several issues with trying to grip onto objects, as they would randomly fall out of my hand even when I was holding the button. Other times, police would spot something as small as Grains, even if the cabinet was only open in the slightest. While frustrating, I was having far too much fun running my own make-shift saloon for it to detract from the experience. If you’ve got a friend who’s willing to help you break the law and make some sweet drinks, this could be the one for you. [Recommended]

On the merits of just being a really good game, it’s easy to recommend. But if you’re not comfortable with some of the subject matter, I’d suggest staying away from this one. [Highly Recommended]

The gameplay is a classic point-and-click adventure, but Mick Carter talks to you throughout in that neo-noir style. Graphically, The Drifter stands out with its incredibly detailed pixel art style. It’s perfect for this story and style of play because it makes you pay attention to every aspect of the environment to solve a puzzle. [Highly Recommended]

It takes a minute to finally start cooking. But once The Necromancer’s Tale throws a little gasoline on the fire, it’s smooth sailing from that point forward. If you’ve been searching for a dark, gritty, and sometimes disgusting RPG to engross yourself in, you can’t go wrong with this one. It’s beautifully done, with a fantastic visual style, great audio, and some of the best writing in recent memory. [Highly Recommended]

Phantom Squad has been some of the most tense fun I’ve had in years. It brings its unique, tactical spirit to the limelight. If you’ve got a group of friends who are willing to deal with a steep learning curve and eager to give it a try, pick this one up. Ctrl Freak has struck gold with their first game, and I hope they continue adding content. It’s a game I’d love to keep picking up for the foreseeable future. [Highly Recommended]

Shadow Labyrinth is one of the best Metroidvanias I’ve played in years. Bandai Namco avoided making this a cheap gimmick title and instead crafted a brilliant reinterpretation of Pac-Man that takes advantage of its genre switch. With tight combat controls and challenging puzzle sections, this is one of 2025’s best platformer titles. [Highly Recommended]

If Misc. A Tiny Tale can tighten up the controls via patches and maybe find a way to help with some of the more confusing portions of the level layout? I could easily see this becoming an indie classic. Some younger and/or less patient players may get fed up with the level layout, but as someone who wants to scour every inch of the map, I grew to appreciate it. Misc. A Tiny Tale is indeed a special game. Every square inch of this adventure is packed full of care and detail. Tinyware Games has created something incredibly special here, and players who can deal with some floaty controls are bound to find a new indie obsession to fall in love with. [Highly Recommended]

It feels like Gaucho and the Grassland is the type of game you’ll want to invest your time into. There’s plenty of content, and it looks and plays nicely. But with further updates, the game can only get better. There’s a lot of potential here, and most of it has been realized to the fullest extent. I’m happy with the journey I got to take with Gaucho, and I’d be more than happy to visit the Grasslands again in the future. [Highly Recommended]

While I do wish that you could try to escape from your pursuers, rather than it being an insta-fail, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is an excellent addition to the stealth genre. If you’ve been craving something new, don’t overlook this one. It’s far too good to ignore. [Best in Class]

Mycopunk has my favorite movement system in an FPS since Neon White, and that’s saying something. Sliding, jumping, leaping, soaring; everything here feels buttery smooth. For a small team of college kids, Mycopunk has the potential to take the FPS scene by storm. It’s like an overly caffeinated version of all of my favorite FPS games mixed into one, with killer music, great art direction, and plenty of creeps to blast through. [Best In Its Class]

Old Skies isn’t the flashiest game – but it doesn’t need to be. Rather than a grandiose, sci-fi thriller that the “time travel” trope tends to accompany, it grounds itself in a more sobering proposition. Ordinary people with ordinary desires, making extraordinary decisions. You aren’t here to save the world, but instead, to witness small slices of humanity. Sometimes, you don’t need an extravagant exit; you just need a shoulder to lean on. [Highly Recommended]

It’s a bold reimagining of Missile Command. Rather than just creating a newer version, akin to the Recharged series, it pushes in an interesting and unique new direction. Even with the issues I had with the game, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. If I wasn’t playing Missile Command Delta, I was thinking about it. I just hope that one day, it can reach its full potential and become a classic, just like the original game in the franchise. I’m proud to be the Missile Commander. I know my job isn’t done, and I’ll do what I must to protect the world. [Recommended]

Fever Meme feels like it’s created for a hyper-specific group of people. Those who love goofy internet humor. Speedrunners. Folks who are terminally online, like me. A game that can make me chuckle is one that I’ll cherish, and Fever Meme had me rolling at times. Sure, some of the jokes don’t always land, but they hit more than they miss. For a game to have me laughing just moments after getting ready to toss my keyboard across the room in a fit of rage? That’s something special. [Highly Recommended]

Steel Wool has proved to me that they genuinely care about the franchise. It isn’t about making a quick buck. It’s about evolving a franchise that fans have known and loved for years into something bigger and better. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Five Nights at Freddy’s fan from day one or someone eager to get into the series. Secret of the Mimic is one you don’t want to miss. Pro tip? Run the ending twice, remember about the grayed-out option on the H.E.L.P.E.R. screen. You’ll thank me later. [Highly Recommended]

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening is a game that will require a lot of your time. If you find yourself struggling to stay seated and interested in a game for a long period, this may not be the one for you. But if you’re hoping to learn more about grand strategy and conquer the lands before you? Grab a seat and dive in. [Recommended]

The only gripe I have is that the game’s levels are pretty linear and small in scope. And even the demon gimmick used to solve detective mysteries is on the simple side. All this to say, I wish the game had more complex dungeons and mechanics. Still, Raidou’s story is interesting enough that it had its hooks in me. For all its flaws, I couldn’t put Soulless Army down, and enjoyed the 35 hours it took me to beat it. [Recommended]

Servants of the Dark isn’t perfect, as its fast travel system is a bit awkward to navigate, and save points are occasionally placed at points that feel more frustrating than challenging. But Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark definitely offers more than just cute girls fighting sexy monster girls. [Recommended]

Overall, the story is well told, and the puzzles do a great job of stumping you just enough to make you pay that extra bit of attention to a clue or dialogue you may have missed. [Highly Recommended]

The magic in Peak is in the way you interact with your pals. As you grow more hungry and exhausted, you’ll need all the help you can get to scale upwards. That’s where your buddies come in, who can reach forward and give you a helping hand to lift you up to their level. [Best In Its Class]

It’s not very often that a game can feel both old and new, like Ruffy and the Riverside does. It takes inspiration from our favorite childhood classics while modernizing them enough to make them exciting and accessible to players of all generations. No matter if you grew up with platforming icons like Banjo or Crash, or you’ve been out of the loop on platformers for a long time, let Ruffy be your reintroduction to why you love these types of games so much. From the moment I started until the moment I stopped, Ruffy had me smiling. It rekindled the joy of classic platformers from my youth and made me feel just like a kid again. Sometimes, that’s all you can hope for from a game like this. [Best In Its Class]

Sloclap could have delayed Rematch to get it in, and I don’t think anyone would be hurt. But they opted to give us the game without it and avoid delaying putting it into our hands. And what they delivered is an excellent experience. Hopefully, they’ll add some single-player-related modes down the road, but for now? I’m good. I haven’t enjoyed a purely multiplayer game like this in a while. And once the crew can get on all at once, I’m looking forward to us taking over the pitch. [Highly Recommended]

Still Wakes the Deep was one of my favorite games of 2024. This expansion is one I never thought we’d get. I’m very glad that it exists, as it has the same level of tension and terror as the base game does. But completely submerged and even more claustrophobic. If you were a fan of Still Wakes the Deep, you owe it to yourself to check this one out. It’s just as strange and interesting as the base game. All while finding new ways to scare you. [Highly Recommended]

Projected Dreams is a no-stress puzzle game. The dreamy music, paired with the beautiful aesthetic, makes it a joy to experience. Pick it up and play whenever you feel like it, and get ready for the world to sweep you away. It’s blissful, and I hope to see more games like this in the future. [Highly Recommended]

Mario Kart World is the pinnacle of the series. From the detail in the open world, to the expansion of races and the resulting chaos and more, there is something for every level of gamer. For people like me who are really into the back-and-forth with other racers, the game gives you the tools to find the best lines and tricks to maximize your times. If you’re new and just want to enjoy it, you can do just that. If this game gets supported the way MK8 Deluxe did, we’re in for an even bigger treat. [Best In Its Class]

FBC: Firebreak is at its best when you and a group of friends use the game’s unique class system and perks to come up with creative solutions. At its core, the game is about juggling tasks while the game does everything it can to prevent you from completing your job. But it can become chaotic fun when your team works together to keep the fires out. I just wish there was a bit more depth to its task systems and a bigger narrative to tie into Control’s incredible lore. However, FBC: Firebreak is a solid multiplayer experience, especially in the context of it being a $39 AA budgeted title. Remedy Entertainment is also going to keep supporting the project post-launch, so it could eventually become an incredible co-op game. At launch, FBC has a good foundation, as long as you play with a team. [Recommended]

I do hope in the future, additional VAs are added to the game. I would love to see how Leslie Phillips and Danny John-Jules brought Gex to life. Perhaps, even a playable Gex Jr. in the future. Outside of Gex’s crass humor, genuinely solid 2D and 3D platformers await anyone willing to look past the age and appreciate the goodness that lies within. Yes, just like drinking tap water at Jerry Garcia’s house. [Highly Recommended]

At this point, I don’t want anyone telling me what this system can’t do. I’ve seen it. I’ve played it. And Cyberpunk 2077 remains one of the best games of the last 10 years. From its main story with Keanu Reeves’ incredible performance, to its fleshed-out side stories, to Idris Elba’s performance in “Phantom Liberty.” Every piece of this game is special. And now, I can take it with me wherever I go. [Best In Its Class]

The Alters has been one of the most interesting and thought-provoking games I’ve played this year. Its sublime survival aspects are only surpassed by its interactions with Jan and his Alters. It’s a beautiful game on the visual front, but even more so in the fact that it makes you come to grips with yourself. When the time comes, do you think you could depend on yourself? [Highly Recommended]

With post-launch content updates, I could see The Eternal Die winning over even more fans. It’s very charming and has a lot to love. I could even see this becoming the type of game to win over fans who don’t like roguelikes all that much. At this point, if I could choose? I’d love to see Stormteller Games continue to innovate on the Lost in Random franchise. Maybe the next game could be an action RPG, or something completely different. The world is interesting and unique, and they have the potential to truly make it sing. [Highly Recommended]

If you loved Warhammer 40K Space Marine when it first released? I won’t have to do much convincing to check this out. It’s tighter, smoother, and looks better than ever. The remastered audio and visuals make this a treat, even if it does suffer from that seventh-generation brown hue. It’s an incredibly solid remaster across the board, and one that brought me far more joy than I could have expected. Coming back to where it all began after playing countless hours of Space Marine 2 was slightly jarring. But any chance I have to revisit a childhood favorite? I’m always on board. Don’t worry, SPACE MUHREENS wasn’t affected by the audio remaster. It’s still here in all its glory. [Recommended]

So, coming into this game as a relative newbie, I’m sure there are longstanding gripes with the series that longtime fans have. Having only put any time into one game in the series prior to this, I can’t speak to an overall evolution from past entries to this one. What I can say, though, is that for those who are on the fence about this style of game, as I was, or those who are just looking for a great entry point, F1 25 is perfect for you. If you’re willing to really lean into how races actually work and the management that goes on during them, you’ll have a great time. [Highly Recommended]

The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante is everything that timeless art should aspire to be: a mirror into the soul of the beholder. In a land of hard-hitting, brutal, narrative-heavy RPGs, The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante is an uncontested deity. Whatever life you choose for your Brante, know this. It’ll be devastating. It’ll be unrelenting. But it’ll be one of the best damn lives you’ll ever live. [Best In Its Class]

If you’ve been itching for something that’s more in-depth than most cozy games, while still offering plenty of moments to relax? Guardians of Azuma is the game for you. No matter if you’ve never had the experience of a Rune Factory game before, or the idea of mundane and repetitious work is intimidating, there’s plenty here to keep you happy. [Highly Recommended]

Don’t get me wrong. There are some creepy moments here. But Office After Hours is a fun, albeit simple, spot-the-difference horror game. But the things that they’ve added, the collectibles to find, and the progression system make it far more interesting than many others out there. Give it a try, and see if you may be able to survive. Pro tip? Hit the blue button. Trust me. [Highly Recommended]

Sure, some parts of the original game aren’t here, but it’s easy to see why people are loving the newest entry. It’s incredibly unique, features fantastic music, and looks stunning to boot. I hope Level-5 keeps the content coming, because I don’t want to put down Fantasy Life i any time soon. [Highly Recommended]

It throws so much at you, but you really do have everything you need to get the highest score possible. I’m fully engaged in unlocking every perk and ship I can to keep getting better. It’s a game that tests your skills and willingness to get better. [Highly Recommended]

Every aspect of The Midnight Walk is mind-blowing, from its gameplay to its character designs and worldbuilding. I truly believe this is one of the most underrated games of the year so far and should be a must-play for anyone. [Best In Its Class]

For me? This is art. Surrealism encroaching on the cusp of perfection. A concept that could only be accomplished through the medium of video games. While I would watch a big-budget RATSHAKER film adaptation with Chris Pratt as The Rat, I don’t know how many other folks would be in the same boat. If you’ve been eagerly searching for something that will scare you, make you laugh, all while being one of the most outlandish concepts imaginable? There’s no better way to spend $3.49.

But a fun story, witty dialogue, fantastic visuals and controls, and a great premise make SEDAP! A Culinary Adventure one of my new favorite multiplayer games to play. Chaos rules in this kitchen, but it’s not as overwhelmingly terrifying as something like Overcooked. Katie tends to lose her cool quickly in stressful situations, but she was always on top of her duties in SEDAP!. Having a game that fully dives into the more chaotic elements of multiplayer gaming, while also still being easy enough to digest for newcomers, is a blessing. [Highly Recommended]

Palia is one of those games that puts fun and joy above everything else. It features an in-depth building and crafting system. There are plenty of quests to lose yourself in, and the world is big, bold, and beautiful. It’s the perfect way to introduce someone to the world of MMOs, and has a massive community of lovely fans. You can’t help but smile whenever you boot up Palia, and you’ll likely find your new favorite thing after trying it out for just a little while. [Highly Recommended]

StarVaders is an interesting and engaging take on deckbuilding roguelikes. I know we’ve been getting a lot of these recently, but this is a game that stands near the top of the genre and is a worthwhile addition to your library. [Highly Recommended]

POPUCOM is such a unique concept, and it’s executed to near perfection. If there’s one thing that I could raise a flag about, it’s the lack of a sprint button. Beyond that? POPUCOM is incredibly polished, pure fun, and just a blast to experience. Grab your friend or significant other, sit down, and prepare for some of the best puzzle/platformer/shooter action you’ll experience this year. [Best in its Class]

Spray Paint Simulator has its heart in the right place, and with a few updates, it could be something special. If you’ve been searching for something to keep you occupied, you could do much worse than this one. It succeeds at what it tries to do, offering a unique take on the “Cleaning” and “Podcast Games” genres. Hopefully, as time goes on, the development team continues to add new scenarios, multiplayer options, and more to keep players interested. I would happily return once again if I could play the full story in co-op.

The magic of Elden Ring: Nightreign lies in how it slowly evolves the more you play. The Nightfarer you chose in Hour 1 won’t be the same by Hour 20. Thanks to relics and unlockable items, your character can improve dramatically over time. In that sense, the spirit of Elden Ring allowing players to shape their own unique gameplay style is still alive. Just be ready to play by the multiplayer’s rules during those early hours as you slowly claw your way through its progression. But, like any FromSoftware game, the reward is worth it. Finally, if you’re a big fan of Soulsborne combat, Elden Ring: Nightreign was made for you. It’s an all-thriller, no-filler combat experience—and it’s incredibly fun.

Those who never got a chance to experience the Game Boy Advance in all its glory? Look no further than Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo. It’s a wonderful blend of both old and new, and is one of the best adventures I’ve been on this year. I can’t wait to come back to this one when I’m even older and look at it just as fondly as I remember my childhood, as it evoked those same exact feelings.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a solid collection of mostly good fighters. Capcom did a great job of modernizing certain aspects, like having rollback netcode in all of the games, and allowing you to save at any point. With the resurgence of Capcom over the last few years, this is a great way to continue that upward trajectory and set themselves up for the future, should they recognize that there is a certain series in there that we want back. [Highly Recommended]

But seriously, if you’re looking for a new platforming obsession? Shotgun Cop Man is your man. It’s weird, quirky, and plays like a dream. Plus, trying to precision platform while only having shotguns available to propel you forward is a nightmare in all of the right ways. I don’t think anything can match this madcap energy quite as well as Deadtoast Entertainment did, and I’ll be in line for their next weird project. [Highly Recommended]

It’s hard not to argue in favor of this being the new Gold Standard for Remasters. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Metroid Prime Remastered, and only a few other games can hold this title. Paying respect to the original game, while improving the more aged parts of it. Like a fine wine, the tale of Oblivion is retold for a new audience. All while retaining everything that made it feel just as special as it did in 2006. [Best in Class]

But it’s also a story of perseverance. Of pushing forward even when it feels impossible. Of carrying the weight of sorrow without letting it define you. And daring to believe in a future no one has ever seen – simply because someone has to. And that’s what makes Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 so quietly powerful, and such a stroke of brilliance in this medium. [Best in Class]

Controversy aside, Schedule 1 is a much more charming game to play [than "Drug Dealer Simulator"]. On a fundamental level, it’s much more accessible and enjoyable. [Early Access Impressions]

Underneath a few blemishes and missteps, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves offers an undeniably rich and technical fighting game experience. It’s a big step forward for SNK — in my book, at least. Both visually (we don’t talk about King of Fighters XV) and from a mechanical standpoint. While its single-player content and onboarding process leave much to be desired? Those looking for a deep, competitive, and rewarding 2D fighter to sink hundreds of hours into need look no further. [Highly Recommended]

Bionic Bay is a great time and a pretty solid 10-to-12-hour platforming adventure. [Strongly Recommended]

If NetEase can iron out some of the platforming woes, Rusty Rabbit can become something of a household name. But right now, it’s a game that is going to require patience for anybody jumping into it. It has that AA charm and jank, so if you’re comfortable with that? You’ll find a game unlike anything else you’ve played. It borrows a lot from the industry giants, but it’s still unique enough to feel like its own personal self. [Recommended]

Blue Prince is, hands down, one of the best games I’ve ever played. And that’s indie or AAA. It’s a triumph in environmental storytelling, as well as game and puzzle design. It’s a game that you need to play. The only thing it asks of you is to truly engage with its world. I still can’t say enough about what Tonda Ros and his team have put together. There is nothing like this game. Blue Prince should be front and center in contention for 2025’s Game of the Year award. [Class Of Its Own]

Its budget-friendly price tag, paired with the wealth of content within the world of AI Limit, makes it a no-brainer for fans of this frantic type of combat experience. Even if you’ve never played a game like this before, this is the perfect stepping stone toward “getting gud”, even if the punishment isn’t as harsh as some other games. [Recommended]

The First Berserker: Khazan is a perfect fit for fans of Soulslike games looking for something fresh yet familiar. And it certainly holds its own among the genre’s heavyweights. [Strongly Recommended]

Look Outside knows. The more you know, the less you understand. You can’t. Not until it decides you’re worthy. And trust me, we aren’t worthy. Not yet. Not until all of you see what I saw. Then, you’ll thank me. You’ll hate me. Every mystery you uncover is more gruesome than the last. The more you suffer, the more you heal. Trust me, friends. Just Look Outside… [Highly recommended]

If you jump into Atomfall, take it slow. There’s no reason to rush toward the ending here. Absorb the atmosphere, lose yourself in the ebb and flow of the game. Examine everything you possibly can, and just enjoy the ride. But as a word of advice, prepare yourself for frustrations along the way. If you think you’ve got what it takes, you’ll find a unique and intriguing world before you. But it’s not a world for everyone to enjoy. [Recommended]

Regardless of these little issues, Atelier Yumia is a great step forward for the roughly 30-year-old franchise. It proves that GUST still knows how to make the franchise feel new and exciting, all while keeping long-term fans happy. Yumia is a great protagonist, and the action-battle RPG feels great in action. Be ready to learn as you play, and prepare to sink plenty of time into this world. It’s a fantastic addition, and I’m already eager to see what Yumia’s next adventure is going to look like. [Strongly Recommended]

Even with its issues, I can still happily recommend giving Rise of the Ronin a try. It’s an incredibly dense and exciting action game, with plenty of care put into every facet of it. Seeing as Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja have launched PC games with issues in the past and worked through them, I do not doubt that this will be the same way. It’s a shame that it didn’t launch in better condition. But, Rise of the Ronin resonated with me enough to help me look past some of these woes. [Recommended]

WWE 2K25, I have to iterate, is a beautiful spectacle. Updated entrances, attires, and animations. Crowd-pleasing additions to celebrated modes. An “Eh” MyRise but a phenomenal Bloodline Showcase. The Is are dotted and the Ts are crossed. But in crafting the best version of itself, I wonder if its soul is still there.

That the story of Split Fiction could be looked at as a commentary on AI is not lost on me. AI can’t do what these people just did. You need humans to make the end of this game happen. You need people who care about what they do — who put themselves wholeheartedly into what they do — to make something this incredible. From a pure gameplay perspective, what I experienced shouldn’t be possible, and yet, they pulled it off seamlessly. Split Fiction is an outstanding commentary on friendship, opening up, and creativity that everyone must experience. [Strongly Recommended]

Knights in Tight Spaces is a necessity if you love deckbuilders. It blends the best of tactical strategy games with the best of frantic roguelike deckbuilding action. There are endless build variants to experiment with. Weapons, Archetypes, Quests — everything is tailor-made to craft an experience that’s yours alone. And, if you’re feeling fancy? You can try to do what I did and suffer by forcing yourself to do as many of the Bonus Objectives as possible. Who knows? Maybe you’ll kick three people into the abyss faster than I ever could! [Strongly Recommended]

If you’ve been looking for something to scratch the itch left behind by games like Undertale and even Earthbound? I would strongly suggest looking into Everhood 2. It’s one of the most interesting games I’ve experienced, in nearly every way. It still is stuck in my mind, and I’m not sure if it will ever leave. [Strongly Recommended]

While I do wish that there were, technically, offline modes available to play, we can only hope that 2K will add that option after launch. Local multiplayer feels great, and online multiplayer is just as solid as ever. If you’ve been searching for a reason to get back on the green, there’s never been a better time than now. [Strongly Recommended]

I truly, truly hope Lost Records gets the patience it deserves. Again, its slower pace means it’ll inevitably fall out of favor with some folks. But, if you stick around, Tape 1 of Lost Records will do anything but disappoint you. If you’re willing to engage with it, it’ll reward you with compelling storytelling, layered characters, stellar environmental design, and an always-relevant reminder that there’s beauty in imperfection. [Highly Recommended]

Regardless of some questionable graphical fidelity, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a fantastic game. It’s one of those stories that can only be told via this particular medium, and I adored my time with it. Plus, it’s got New Game+ in the package instead of as a DLC bonus. Now that I’ve got my Sea Legs, I’ll be jumping back in for another go with Majima and the crew. [Highly Recommended]

Give Afterlove EP some of your time. You won’t regret it in the slightest. It’s a beautiful journey, filled with emotional moments, and will stick around in the corners of my mind and psyche for years to come. I’ll gladly revisit it whenever I know I’ll need it because it’s one of those experiences that transcends a singular playthrough. [Highly Recommended]

Obsidian rarely misses, but this is a tremendous accomplishment they should wear proudly on their sashes. Avowed is unique enough to stand out in a crowded genre and is a game that deserves its roses. [Highly Recommended]

A relatively short game, The Roottrees are Dead is compelling enough to keep your attention throughout its 6-ish hour playtime (or roughly 12 hours, including the Roottreemania mode). Its puzzles are challenging enough to keep you scratching your head but not enough to pull your hair out. And when you’re stuck, a convenient hint button is always available to nudge you in the right direction. For the stay-at-home types, it’s the perfect experience for an amateur gumshoe to get their hands dirty.

As someone who grew up playing the everliving life out of Castle Crashers, don’t overlook this one. It’s different enough not to fully replace the love of your life, but it’s an excellent addition to the “adorable knights beating the crap out of everything they encounter” genre titles like Castle Crashers popularized. It works fantastic in this 2.5D style, and I’m surprised nobody has really tried this before. [Highly Recommended]

What could have been a lazy cash-in title turned out to be one of the most feature-packed, content-rich, and genuinely best-feeling cozy games I’ve ever played. No matter what type of player you are, there’s something to love about the cozy vibes on display here. [Highly Recommended]

It’s such a beautiful world to explore, and its characters all feel so alive. As long as Yellow Brick Games can follow through with updates to fix the core complaints? Eternal Strands has everything required to be a winner. It just needs that extra coat of polish to really bring out its true potential. [Recommended]

The cohesive stealth elements, combined with great stories and hammy B-Movie voice acting, make them feel right at home in my library. [Strongly Recommended]

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is chaotic fun, just like the previous entries into the franchise. However, by taking plenty of new risks and offering plenty of rewards for players willing to stick it out through the difficulty spikes, there’s an extremely rewarding and satisfying game here. Visually great, extremely chaotic, and well-optimized, Orcs Must Die: Deathtrap is a great evolution for the franchise and gives us a better picture of how future games may play out. Honestly? This may be the best one yet. [Strongly recommmended]

For those about to play Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for the first time, enjoy the ride. You’ll find out why it’s one of the highest-rated games of 2024. Those who played the initial PlayStation 5 release last year, well, some games truly are worth buying twice. [Highly Recommended]

It offers plenty to love for those invested in the series since the start. I didn’t know what to expect when I jumped in for the first time. But I know I didn’t expect a game that was going to grip me so tightly and not let go. When I’m not playing Dynasty Warriors: Origins, I’m thinking about playing Dynasty Warriors: Origins. And that’s a claim I did not expect to make in 2025. [Highly Recommended]

Alien: Rogue Incursion took me by surprise. I was expecting a shoddy half-baked experience that tried to profit off of the Alien license. Instead, I was treated to one of the best VR experiences I’ve had since jumping into the medium. Some games just benefit from the use of VR in ways that you can’t experience by playing on a flat screen. Alien: Rogue Incursion is one of them. Combining the tense horror that Alien is known for with incredible visuals and interactivity, it’s a must-play for fans of the franchise. And even for those who may not be as tuned into it as they’d like to be. [Recommended]

It’s got an interesting narrative that goes off into some unknown territory. While I’m sad I didn’t get to pilot the ship at any point, it doesn’t make Flint: Treasure of Oblivion any less of a great addition to an already fantastic genre. If you’ve been looking for a fun new pirate game to play after a year of disappointing entries, be sure to check this one out. [Recommended]

I like how funny the writing is, especially for the battle droids, who are filled with seemingly endless one-liners mulling over their cursed existence. I like how naturalistic the platforming is, as the game makes a genuine attempt to hide its exploration tells in the environment, rather than spilling yellow paint everywhere. And I always like parrying an enemy four times in a row, breaking their stamina, and going to town with a goddamn glowing energy sword.

'Otxo' is a twin-stick shooter about revenge and expertly choreographed, improvisational violence.

Everspace 2 manages to meld two radically different modes of combat, becoming one of the best space shooters in years.

The Great War: Western Front is a small game about a big topic that uses clever abstractions to keep things simple to understand and quick to play. It achieves a lot with a couple good ideas, but as the game goes on and it attempts to show how the war evolved even as its stalemate persisted, it needs more ideas and better execution than it brings to the table. Implying more evolution and development than it truly depicts, The Great War: Western Front ends up being a pleasant and convenient wargame but falls short of being a great one.

It’s a beautifully weird system, one I’m not entirely convinced Nintendo and Retro Studios will have the confidence to adopt with the upcoming Metroid Prime 4. It’s one thing to ask players to marinate in the tension of a video game whose design is from several decades ago, will they have the courage to do so today? I hope so. What is Metroid, if not asking the player to take a leap of faith on themselves? The future is unknown, but the past is present here. And it’s a reminder that not all change is good when it comes to re-releases. Metroid Prime feels awkward—and it’s better for it.

This remake is a celebration of the past, and does not view it, and what hindsight often does to it, with contempt. It stands on the shoulders of a gaming masterpiece, and tries to climb a little higher.

Phantom Brigade shines with its unique, physics driven mech tactics, and exceptional build customization.

In light of its ambitions, Company of Heroes 3 can’t help but feel like a disappointing version of that game that it feels like it should be (and, with patches, perhaps still could be). The dynamic campaign is a fun novelty with some real highlights, but it’s miles away from achieving what Total War’s campaigns regularly do. Still, this is a new Company of Heroes in a setting that makes its classic elements feel fresh and exciting again. It’s easy to recommend with some caveats, and if it ever comes close to delivering on the promise of that campaign, it will be an all-timer.

As fascinated as I am by the main story unfolding across Ishin’s cutscenes, I’m doubtful this is a game I will or should stick with. I don’t really want to play more of this game, I just want to know what is going to happen in the next set of cutscenes.

All of this contributes to what may be Wild Hearts’ greatest achievement over Monster Hunter, its ability to resolve the narrative tension of the hunt. Wild Hearts is set in Minato, a small, forgotten corner of an otherwise war-torn world. Rival clans battle over territory and succession rights, brutalizing both each other and the very ground upon which they walk. This has, in time, led to an abundance of refugees and those who refuse to participate in the war machine. Your hunter is one of those people. In a brief conversation with another character, they ask why you left your home to hunt kemono, and you are offered two options: “I don’t want to talk about it,” or “Because they asked me to hunt people instead.”

Dead Space kicked ass in 2008, and this version kicks ass in 2023. It’s spooky, and it feels good to tear apart ugly dudes. What else is there to say? I hope the same team gets a chance to apply this same treatment for Dead Space 2, though perhaps with the confidence to put more of their own bloody stamp on it. And if that’s a problem, screw it—just let them make their own Dead Space, pull some elements from the sequels, and chart a new path.

Fire Emblem Engage is obsessed with the series’ past. It builds itself around the protagonists of previous games, re-uses those game’s most memorable maps, and builds its narrative around referencing the beats of older, better told stories. If the next Fire Emblem game is like this, it will be a disappointment. Engage’s tactics, however, set a new standard for the series. IntelligentSystems managed to perfectly meld mechanics and tone, but the tone they picked was fun, but ultimately empty. If they could manage to apply these same principles to more interesting narrative ends, the next Fire Emblem game would be the series’ best.

Frankly, I didn’t much like the balance Midnight Suns strikes at first. I wanted “Marvel XCOM” and could not help but be disappointed in how emphatically Midnight Suns is not that. Over the holiday weekend, however, I really came around to what Firaxis hashave done here. It’s a much more relaxing and less demanding game than XCOM. It’s not easy, to be clear: it does not fall into the Fire Emblem: Three Houses trap of making combat so trivial that it mostly interrupts the socializing you’re there to do. But it is forgiving. If you win a battle, even if you win it in an ugly and inefficient fashion, everyone will be okay and the game will go on. Everyone will get back to the Abbey and, once they’re there, they’ll go right back to their friendly and not-so-friendly bickering at the end of the world.

It is unlike any game I have ever played, even its predecessor Devil Daggers isn’t…like this. Other score and time attack games don’t do this to me. They do not make me keep coming back over and over again. They do not make me wish I could open my eyes wider and wider until I can eat the world. I am terrified of it.

Shovel Knight Dig doesn’t strike me as a game that’ll demand dozens of hours to see it through, but in a way, that’s part of the appeal. The game isn’t a pushover, but it’s not full of crap-your-pants moments that result in immediate and hair-pulling deaths like a Spelunky. It’s a lil’ gentler. But four hours or 40 hours, I’ll get there, because I need to see what’s at the bottom.

Rather than getting annoyed, as is often the case in games I play where I try to collect things until suddenly I don’t, I left every stage of Tinykin feeling like a certified explorer. It was nice.