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]