Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an enjoyable action-RPG, even when divorced from its gatcha origins. It doesn't break any molds and tends to feel more like an MMO than Monster Hunter, but almost every part of it is well executed and enjoyable. If you've been curious about the franchise and want a more friendly way to explore it than gatcha and fighting games, Relink gives you everything you need. If you're looking for a chill multiplayer RPG to play with friends, Relink absolutely nails the experience.

The play is fantastic, and there's a lot of fun to be had, but even with the improvements made from FIFA 08, it feels underfeatured and overpriced when you hold the two titles side by side.

It's not quite as polished as Namco's XBLA updates (Pac-Man Championship and Galaga Legions), but for the retro fans out there, Infinity Gene still provides plenty of entertainment bang for your buck. Go in knowing what to expect, and you won't be disappointed.

All in all, Beaterator is an interesting and unique piece of software for the PSP handheld.

If you were ever a fan of the series, then I'd suggest an instant purchase of this particular title, but if you've never played Lunar before, you might be better off with a rental before diving in, just to see if some of the dated mechanics of classic RPGs are your cup of tea.

Offering up a different, but complementary, experience to The Signal, The Writer is an excellent way to cap off the first "season" of Alan Wake.

The Bigs 2 is a very solid arcade baseball game. It set out to improve upon the original title with more content, and it mostly succeeds. The arcade nature of the game makes it ideal for playing with friends rather than a serious investment of solo time. With a season mode in place and Become a Legend mode being a fun, if often frustrating, experience, The Bigs has quickly shaped itself into the best baseball that 2K Sports has to offer. It's not on par with MLB: The Show, but it's a great arcade alternative to America's pastime.

I think the world of Scarlet Nexus has a lot to offer, and I enjoyed getting a significant taste of it. Its concepts on brain power and psionic combat feel fresh, at least artistically, and I want to see where it possibly goes. I'm still abuzz over the final boss confrontation. I don't think it's quite for everyone, but fans of the anime style of storytelling will find something to connect with here.

Them's Fightin' Herds is a very enjoyable game with more than a few caveats. The fighting is fun and has plenty of depth, but the tiny roster can feel very limiting. Online play is smooth and there are a number of things to do and options to work with, but it also means that experiencing defeat at the hands of a small but skilled player population will be done without any lag. Story mode is filled with plenty of awesome ideas and humorous moments, but the platforming will drive you up the wall, even in the story's incomplete state. Hardcore fighting game fans will love it, but more casual fans will need to temper expectations.

The developers for EA Sports WRC have said they are working on the issue, but after so many Unreal Engine 4 and 5 games have suffered similar issues upon release, it is harder to accept this wasn't fixed before release. It's harder still with a rally game, which demands fine control from the player but undermines itself with stutters that often result in significantly punishing outcomes. There is a lot to like about EA Sports WRC, and with a future patch it may become buttery smooth. That isn't how the game was released, though, and while a smoother version of this game would be easily recommendable, it's best to avoid EA Sports WRC in its current state.

Sufficiently dark and creepy to keep gamers on edge and entertained throughout the duration. Even more important and notable is the fact that yes, The Suffering is a port of an Xbox game and yes, it’s actually a decent port.

Trackmania United targets a specific niche amongst racing game fans and does everything it can to emphasize and cater to this niche, creating a game where precision matters, skill is clearly and easily quantifiable, and yet where fun can easily be had, even in failure.

Dead or Alive 5 Plus sets the bar pretty high for 3-D fighters on the Vita. Flawed mode aside, it is a compelling port of a home console title that sacrifices very little to reach parity.

Like many yearly sports games, WWE 2K26 works best if you haven't played the previous title. If you skipped a year or two and decided to return, you'll find the new modes, big roster update, and further solidification of the gameplay mechanics to be big improvements over what was available before. For everyone else, the slight improvements to existing modes are far outweighed by the increase of nickel-and-diming players who've already paid money for the game. The changes to the Season Pass system make the game too grindy for anyone who won't dedicate all of their free time to this title. This isn't bad, but only die-hard fans will get excited over WWE 2K26.

If you're trying to decide which of the two NBA titles will get your attention this year, keep in mind that NBA Live hasn't seen enough changes to its gameplay so if you've played NBA Live 09, you won't be getting a considerably different game.

A thoroughly accomplished online multiplayer FPS, especially when considered alongside the other shooters appearing in the waning days of the big black box.

Geometry Wars: Galaxies is truly the next step for this humble arcade throwback.

Combined with a great presentation, this is perhaps the best rhythm game on the system to date. Genre fans should definitely run out and snag Project Mirai DX.

It has some flaws, including a rather lackluster interface and average visuals, but it makes up for that with plenty of in-game depth.

Games normally don't make that kind of mark on us anymore, but nearly every game included in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection does.

In the end, Natsuki Chronicles is a solid shoot-'em-up. The action provides a nice balance between hardcore and novice-friendly gameplay, while the various tweakable options are welcome for players of all skill levels. Despite a lack of modes, there is some replayability thanks to an online leaderboard system and various difficulty levels and items to unlock; it gives players a reason to return despite the lackluster story. If you're a shoot-'em-up fan, Natsuki Chronicles is well worth checking out.

Gravity Rush Remastered is a very solid adventure game whose charm really comes from movement.

For all that it does and doesn't do, Call of Pripyat is a unique experience that only S.T.A.L.K.E.R. can be counted on to deliver behind the Irradiated Curtain.

Paper Mario: The Origami King might not be the sequel to The Thousand Year Door that some people are hoping for, but it's a darn fun game. It's witty, charming, fun to play, and has a soundtrack that can't be beat. Its low difficulty and the combat sometimes overstaying its welcome can drag down the experience a little. It's still a delightful experience for fans of Mario's adventures.

This is plain, simple fun for virtually anyone who wants to take a crack at it. Bust it out at your next shindig, and you will not be disappointed once things get going.

Overall, Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a solid port on the Switch with a great presentation and familiar gameplay mechanics. The gameplay is solid, and the environment has changed up just enough to warrant another look for fans of classic JRPGs. If you haven't yet had the opportunity to play Nightwar elsewhere, you'll be pleased to know that it looks just as good on the Switch, with little compromises in visual presentation.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a very good game and a distinct title for the Switch 2's launch library. The various mechanics blend together quite well — and in a way that doesn't feel like padding. The pacing does a good job of keeping you interested without using scenarios that overstay their welcome. With a solid presentation to back up everything, Kunitsu-Gami is an experience that will remain as intriguing as it does now. For those looking to bolster their Switch 2 library, Kunitsu-Gami is a wonderful title to have in the collection.

With its many surprises, Darkwood is a title with immeasurable depth that will keep horror fans gripped until the very end. An important focus on narrative-driven gameplay kept me hooked and desperate for answers. A horrifying aesthetic with spooky soundscapes plays with our instincts and terrifies the senses. When the title boasted "a horror game without jump-scares", I initially rolled my eyes. Most titles incorporate some kind of jump-scare to get a cheap reaction out of players. Even tastefully done jump-scares feel cheap to me because I'm not actually "scared," I'm just surprised. Darkwood succeeds where many other titles fail. It's a heart-racing experience that any horror fan worth their salt should attempt to survive.