The combat is going to take you a while to get used to before it all clicks into place. It’s also one heck of a grind fest. Nevertheless, the top tier teambuilding and social systems really help to push players to care for their crew and with that Nitro Gen Omega manages to rise above the little issues that I had with it.

The game is relatively not punishing yet not easy, and it does have that Nintendo polish on it. It’s incredibly engaging as long as you accept this game for what it is (which is not Yoshi’s Island). In comparison to other games Good-Feel has done for Nintendo, this is one of their best and that’s because it’s not trying to be Yoshi’s Island or Kirby’s Dream Land with a cute aesthetic, but a new type of game using a familiar move set… and it’s much better than their last outing Princess Peach: Showtime!

My time overall with the charismatic James Bond was a very well written spy story that will have you guessing who the bad guys are and who are the good guys for many hours. The cinematics are outstanding and visually the game looks amazing albeit with a few glitches here and there. The gadgets were fun to use but could have had more variety. The driving sequences could have been tighter, and the combat could use a tweak. But for the most part as a first installment in a long time for this storied spy master, I think it hits its target. Hopefully they will continue and grow this franchise in the future.

At the end of the day Mina the Hollower is a good game that cannot get out of its own way. I appreciate the inclusion of modifiers so that anyone, regardless of skill level or patience, can experience the game from start to finish. It accomplishes what it sets out to do which is to marry the top-down Zelda experience with the difficulty of a Soulslike. In that respect it is extremely well made and if that sounds like your jam, this could be a game of the year contender for you. For me, I enjoyed my time with it in spite of itself. I’m curious to see where this franchise goes next.

The Adventures of Elliot is a great progression of the 2D-HD style. It brings a new genre into the mix with solid results. There are things here I would definitely change, the excessive dialogue being at the top of that list, but for a first effort, it stands out. If you are like me and craving that Zelda-style adventure, this is definitely worth a look.

Sudden Strike 5 is a fun RTS game that plays really well on console which fans know is a rarity. With some great graphics and effects that help to immerse players in the WW2 theater of war, this is a great experience on the XBOX Series X. I love that there was less focus on base building and more on the moment-to-moment action and strategy involved to win these games. I just wish there was better control and identification when it came to commanding your units.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is an outstanding return to the formula. Fans of the Dark Knight will be pleasantly surprised at all the suits, songs, and storylines included. If they could figure out how to cater to solo players a little more, it would be nearly perfect. As it stands this is a game you need to play if you have any affinity for Batman at all. It is just pure joy 99% of the time, and I cannot wait to collect everything it has to offer.

My time with Star Fire : The Eternal Cycle was, for the most part enjoyable. The game looks and plays very well, and for this being Ethereal Fish Studios first attempt at a game, I don’t think you could go wrong by picking this up and giving it a try. The title on the Microsoft store retails for $16.99 which is reasonable for a title such as this. There are a lot worse games you could sink more money into buying. If you enjoy the rogue lite genre and like side scrolling beat ‘em ups, then you will probably like this game. If you are looking for fast paced action, you’ve come to the right place. If you are looking for story… you might walk away feeling a little underwhelmed.

As a noob to UFC in general I really had a good time playing UFC 6. Coming in fresh I felt like the developers did a good job of kind of easing me into things. I do think it’s weird that the customization in this is a shadow of what is offered for players of the 2K sports games but it works. With some incredible visuals, and a dope physics engine that adds to the charm of the game, UFC 6 managed to land more punches than it missed with me. I may not be a full-on fan for life, but I will be coming back to this game to try my hands at some multiplayer.

The Rugrats Retro Rewind Collection is a novelty at best. The games included are nothing special and the extras are disappointing to say the least. I was really hoping for more with this one. I cannot recommend this to anyone outside the die-hard Rugrats fans who can look past its mediocrity and just enjoy it as a sort of time capsule.

Warhammer 40K Speed Freeks should be commended for trying to fill the enormous Twisted Metal-sized hole that the gaming industry has had for so many years. With an Ork faction who literally seems designed for this, some massive maps and plenty of over-the-top vehicles and weapons; one would think it would have made a bigger dent than it did. Sadly, though the game fails to bring something new and interesting to the battlefield. If you are a Warhammer 40K video game fan as I am, I’d suggest just waiting for a sale on this one.

As the content here feels more akin to a very generous demo than a complete package. I really like the idea of Thick as Thieves, but in its current iteration it has found it self stuck between its PvP past and its Co-Op future and try as it might, to me, Thick as Thieves is trying to cater to both audiences and in the end satisfying neither.

As much as I wanted to like going back to relive some of my childhood memories, this game just doesn’t quite hit the mark. And it made me question when did these types of games become so hard? With its hard levels and limited gameplay modes, I don’t think this is for me. And even if you are a super fan of the series, I would wait to play this till they work out a couple bugs and the game comes down in price.

I had an absolute blast revisiting this game and even did a bit more of the side stuff this time around. The Remake project has improved with each entry so far, and I really hope the final entry will continue this level of excellence. I do hope Square-Enix takes the time to fix this Xbox version though. It is really disappointing to see the state it is currently in. Fix the camera judder and the VRR implementation so we can enjoy the game as it should be. Still, I cannot recommend this game enough, it was my 2024 game of the year, and I am happy it is finally releasing on these two consoles.

Monster Hunter Stories 3 is an amazing upgrade for the series. Between improvements to the narrative and all the new mechanics this finally feels like a series that has come into its own. While it is not going to appeal to everyone, for fans of the monster taming genre; Monster Hunter Stories 3 has the chops to stand with the big dogs and shouldn’t be missed.

Ariana and the Elder Codex is a decent metroidvania and one fans of the genre who are desperate for another game to play might enjoy. However, due to its predictable story, uninteresting characters and some notable flaws with visibility/unbalanced difficulty, it’s also one that’s harder to recommend than some others in the genre.

Overall, Bubsy 4D had my attention and when it hits, it is fun to play. Sadly, most of the time it just isn’t. I tried very hard to love this game, and while it is the best Bubsy game to date, it still falls short to most similar platformers. Thirty plus years later I am still waiting for the Bubsy game that will be considered a classic, but at this point I feel it just might not be in the cards for everyone’s favorite bobcat.

I absolutely loved Echo Generation 2 and it will undoubtedly be on my Game of the Year list for 2026. Its narratives mix of charm, horror, comedy and heart is something delighted and kept me guessing as I played it. And with the game launching on XBOX Game Pass, I really hope a lot of players take the opportunity to experience what I am calling one of the year’s best RPGs.

Overall, Vampire Crawlers is a fun and somewhat addicting game that is easy to get into and challenging enough to keep you playing even if the content seems a little on the slim side. And in the immortal words of Leslie Nelson from Dracula: Dead and Loving It, “I’m drinking vine (wine) and eating chicken!” but in this case, its floor chickens.

Invincible VS is a great addition to the growing media empire for its source material. The arcade type endings for each character are hit-and-miss, but the story mode ends up being solid; if a tad short. Developer Quarter Up are to be commended on dropping a fighting game that eases players in with its mechanics and for having a solid roster, but most of all the love that this team has for the license can be felt in each punch and heard in all the voice lines. This one has been a long time coming, I just hope we get more.

The Forza Horizon series is still my favorite current racing game series, but the formula is starting to wear out its welcome. I was really hoping to see some more dynamic changes to the main career mode, instead for players who only engage with that aspect, it feels a lot like FH5 in a new map. If you are a creation junkie, this game adds a lot. Either way no one can deny the quality of this title. It is massive, has tons of content, and runs and plays like a dream. There is little to complain about in a technical sense. Add in the fact that players have access to the game if they have Game Pass and it is a no-brainer. Forza Horizon 6 is a quality video game that is just in need of some updates to its core formula.

Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes is a phenomenal experience for newcomers as well as long time fans of the show. Like I said at the outset, I can’t think of a better fit for a roguelite game; a genre that is based on survival, risk vs. reward and more. Basically, the very definition of what the Battlestar revival series is; developer Alt Shift took that and has delivered a fantastic video game experience that emulates the shows high pressure tension as well as fits nicely in the lore. As a fan of the show, who can ask for anything more?

Overall, I did enjoy the game even though it seemed to be geared towards a younger audience with the visuals and simplistic story and characters. As far as value goes, you get a lot to do for a budget title.

I wish Pearl Abyss had focused in a bit more on Crimson Desert’s quiet moments. I enjoyed scaling mountains and finding ruins to explore or meeting randoms in small towns; these moments felt the most special to me. Sure, it’s nice to have the ability to do… well just about anything you can think of in a game but without a more meaningful narrative I felt like I was all dressed up with nowhere to go most times. Crimson Desert is an odd game for me to place, I enjoyed it for the freedom I had to make my own story and for all the combat and systems but I wasn’t a huge fan of the narrative; even though it did get better. If you are a fan of sandbox games that allow you to live out a fantasy then Crimson Desert is here for you, I just don’t know if I can recommend it for its story. If you are looking for a great narrative, well you will find that in another castle.

Directive 8020’s over reliance on stealth segments, cheap jump scares and jarring story transitions prevents it from being one of the best in the series. However, it impresses with strong performances, atmosphere and the addition of the Turning Point system that makes replaying the game to see new plot points more convenient than ever, making it a solid new entry in the Dark Pictures Anthology.

Call of the Elder Gods is a worthy successor to Call of the Sea in almost every way. Combining exploration with some stellar puzzles and gameplay the game manages to tell a wonderful story with a Lovecraftian twist. The fantastic soundtrack mixed with the wonderful job the voice actors have done really help to make Call of the Elder Gods stand out. This one is sure to be on my Game of the Year list for 2026.

Between the cost of the games separately on original DS hardware and all the changes Capcom has made to make the experience more enjoyable, there is zero reason to return to the DS originals. I won’t be and I own them. It’s another great collection in the Mega Man series and from one of their most overlooked renditions of the blue bomber himself.

Despite some hiccups here and there, People of Note deliver’s a rockin’ performance. There is a fun and engaging combat system here and a story that has no shortage of musical style puns. But I feel like the game is held back by the performance and rhythm aspects of its gameplay. I would have loved to see the attacks and abilities be more on beat with the background music. But despite those flaws People of Note delivers a solid game that has a lot of heart and soul.

It wasn’t all a flowery trip to Pottery Barn though; at launch there was some issues with matchmaking, but it was corrected pretty quick. Kiln actually performs quite well, aside from some longer loading times; I had really no issues with the gameplay or anything. In fact, my only real gripe is the lone game mode that is currently available. Not that there is anything wrong with quench because it is a lot of fun, but there is no variety outside of it and we all know that gamers get bored of things quicker than a babysitter’s boyfriend when a car pulls up. And even though the Kiln is on Game Pass I worry about the longevity of the game, especially since it’s multiplayer only. But I guess that’s tomorrow’s problem, for today we smash pots.

Monster Crown: Sin Eater nails the feeling of a more mature and darker, Pokémon game. With its story of revenge for a brother slain it comes out you hard and fast with an evil faction that feels genuinely terrifying instead of just a cartoon threat. The overall story is hit or miss and the overall freeform nature of the game wasn’t really for me, but if you are someone who loves less handholding in your games, well come get revenge with Asur.

Darwin’s Paradox is a quirky puzzle platformer that harkens back to classic games and I loved it. The goofy cartoon art style is its biggest selling point, and the nods to classic Konami games are fun. The price matches the experience, and it is easy to recommend. I had a great time digging through it and we don’t get a ton of these types of games anymore, so it is always great to see a new one.

Mouse P.I. For Hire is one enjoyable and visually stunning video game. While it stumbles like a drunk on Tuesday night when it comes to enemy variety; it more than makes up for it with a stellar voice cast, some fun combat and genuinely laugh-out-loud side quest missions. The game may be on the easy side but don’t let that dissuade you, this is one case worth taking on gumshoe.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Grime 2, for those that are fans of the genre this is a weirdly, beautiful game. The move from the more horror focus of the original to the artistic surrealism that developer Clover Bite has embraced is really a sight to behold and one I think helps make Grime 2 stand out. While I would have preferred a more, straight forward narrative the combat, creatures and world presented here are all interesting enough but the game is held back by some technical issues and a lot of repetitive backtracking.

Overall, Saros is a fantastic experience that should not be missed. Housemarque has taken what worked for them previously and made it better. More importantly, they’ve taken the negatives from previous releases and assessed them honestly, allowing them to turn said negatives into positives.

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando is my type of game, a horde shooter that I can play co-op with my wife and friends. But look; Toxic Commando isn’t the second coming of Left 4 Dead and honestly, we have got to stop thinking that every game in this genre has to be. L4D came out at a special time and introduced us to something that has persevered over the years, those memories and experiences will never be taken away. We do not need to retread those games but instead forge new paths from the undead roots that they laid before. I think John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando does just that through its absurdly 80’s story to its explosive gunplay and addition of vehicles. It takes the zombie/horde baton and treads its own path, one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I have been waiting two decades for a new game in the series, and this is what we got. Combat is just devoid of fun, the levels are uninspired and repetitive, and the story, while supremely voiced, just doesn’t land like the previous games. Kain deserves more, and I hope this doesn’t deter them from revisiting it. Give the game to an established team with a larger budget and restore the legacy the series left behind. For now, I simply cannot recommend this game, even to hardest of hardcore fans.

Replaced didn’t turn out to be what I thought it was, nevertheless, I enjoyed its narrative and the things it had to say about A.I; given where we are in 2026 it felt pretty timely. I did have some small graphical issues on PC but the fact that the Xbox version is not capable of telling players what buttons to press in order to be successful is just crazy to me. I should not have to spend 10 minutes of trial and error to figure out a mechanic that the game should display in the tutorial. For a game that has been delayed so many times it’s these kinds of bugs that are just simply a bad look for the developer. There is some fun to be had with Replaced on Series X but I would wait for a patch or two before I began to go looking for it.

As a relative noob to Cthulhu’s lore, I really loved Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss because of its more psychological horror nature. It would be easy to make this into a monster blasting, shooter type but the choice to slow things down, and tell a more methodical story was a great thing. As a fan of the investigative type games this was a joy to play despite the issues with performance I had on Series X.

As someone who missed the original release of Tales of Berseria, I really enjoyed this remastered version. They story is about revenge, and is much darker than the typical JRPG but to me it also felt more earnest in its approach. While the developers made things prettier with the remaster, I do wish this was a full-fledged remake; but what’s here is a lot of fun.

As a fan of the beat ‘em up genre I am glad I was introduced to RUSHING BEAT X: Return of Brawl Brothers. It’s a very quirky type of game, one that prioritizes over the top fun rather than deliver a cohesive story. And with quite a few playable characters to choose from, I guarantee there is someone here for every playstyle. I was pleasantly surprised by this one, sure it has some flaws but it delivers in fun.

Pragmata is an interesting game that sometimes overcomplicates or oversimplifies its mechanics and setting. I really enjoyed my time with the game, but I’m not sure it will stick with me over time. There were moments where I thought it was outstanding, while other times it was just another space shooter. That is probably its biggest flaw. The pacing of the fun is too uneven and could have benefitted from better pacing.

When Icarus originally launched on PC, it was session-based with time-sensitive missions where once your objective was reached, you would be extracted. Hence the roguelite feeling, as anything you built on the surface would be lost. Luckily the developers added the more traditional open survival mode later and if you are playing on console, you get everything all at once, you lucky player you. But as much as I love the more open mode, I do feel like the underlying structure of the session-based mode translates well to console users; especially for those that want to play these games without it feeling like a demanding second job.

If it’s a more modern-day superhero experience akin to what you get from Rocksteady or Insomniac Games players are seeking; well then, you are going to be soooo mad. On the other hand, if you are someone like me, who grew up with these games then you will enjoy this collection simply for nostalgia of it all. Reliving those memories of having friends spending the night, a large Pizza-Hut pizza, two-litter of soda and superhero video games. Yea, that’s what this package is best at, reliving some of the fun of those days; and for me it’s a blast.

Pokopia is great and it’s going to easily be in my top 10 games of 2026. It’s just a nice experience to see kindness in the face of tragedy which the plot of Pokopia explores. None of the Pokémon fight, they are kind and simply enjoy playing (something that The Pokémon Company has always said in the face of animal abuse allegations but never fully explored in game). I think Pokopia is going to force a lot of games in the cozy genre to reevaluate what they are doing because there’s both freedom and structure for the player and it does an amazing job balancing both. It’s just good vibes.

Screamer is one of Milestone’s most interesting games for sure, but it has a laundry list of issues that hold it back. These could all be addressed with patches, and some have shortly after launch. I just wonder if players will stick around long enough to see them all. I will definitely keep my eye on it over time, as I do adore a great arcade racing game. Where it stands, Screamer is an interesting game with a few setbacks. Definitely recommend waiting for a sale before diving in.

There have been a few Walking Dead games that have come out, a lot of them are bad, but I can say that this DLC really made me feel like I was *IN* the world of the Walking Dead; as awful as that world is. World War Z is already a phenomenal game, made that much better with the addition of this bargain priced DLC, fans of the Walking Dead can have the opportunity to slay some zombies with Rick and his friends one more time.

After many, many hours in Marathon I have come away with an overall positive impression. The game is held together by the tight shooting that Bungie is known for, but it oozes a style all its on which helps it stand out from the pack. For those that love the chase of loot and the thrill of a PvP fight then Marathon is probably for you. It feels like it’s a more hardcore version of the extraction shooter, at least in comparison to Arc Raiders. Don’t expect to have our hand held in this game, which is what a good hardcore experience should offer its players. If you like that type of experience, then Marathon is waiting for you.

Basketball Classics is a wonderful experience at a perfect price that anyone can enjoy. Players don’t have to have knowledge of the sport to have a good time, and there is enough content here to keep players hooked for a while. The lack of online hurts it a little, but I still recommend this to just about anyone who enjoys fun. Get past the nostalgic visuals and you will discover one of the most addictive experiences I have had in a long time.

Fatal Frame II Remake is a solid update to one of, if not the scariest game ever created. The new features are a welcome addition, even with its drawbacks. I still want the same treatment for the first and third games respectively, but this is a good start. Just make sure to tone down the reaching mechanic and please make them 60fps out of the gate. This series was the best sleeper horror series during the PS2 era, and I would love for players today to experience the original trilogy in all of its glory.

BlazBlue Entropy Effect isn’t a bad game at all; the story is confusing and has seemingly no connection at all to the BlazBlue games but its gameplay is what you come for. Overall presentation isn’t bad but like all games of the genre, it gets repetitive in the end. But I must say that I was hooked on its gameplay loop but I still don’t know anything about any of these BlazBlue characters but sometimes a great gameplay loop is all you really need anyway.

City Hunter is a hard game to recommend unless you specifically fit into that crossover I mentioned earlier. You need to be a massive fan of the franchise and have some sort of nostalgia for this particularly mediocre side-scrolling action title. Otherwise, it just falls flat. I wanted to love it, TurboGrafx 16 games are normally hidden gems, but this one just exists. I am glad it is available, but there is just not enough here to make it a forgotten classic.

The Legacy of Kain series is still one of the richest worlds in all of gaming. It is great to have it back, and for the price of admission, this remaster is worth diving in for fans. Newcomers will balk at the archaic game play, but no one can deny the impact of the narrative. Here is hoping we can get the original Blood Omen remake/remaster at some point. This series deserves to return, and I am all for the resurrection of Kain.

Star Trek Voyager – Across the Universe isn’t going to win any awards for presentation or technical polish. But what it does do right is capture the feeling of commanding a lone Starfleet ship far from home, help and allies. It makes players struggle with if the needs of the many, do in fact outweigh the needs of the few. And honestly, for a lifelong Star Trek fan who never quite fell head over heels with Voyager… that might be the biggest compliment I can give it.

Dragonkin: The Banished is a good ARPG that occasionally hints at being a great one. Its progression systems show genuine creativity, and the combat is satisfying enough to keep players pushing forward. At the same time, the game struggles to fully distinguish itself from the heavy hitters that dominate the genre. That being said though, I really think this is one dragon hunt worth undertaking.

For players looking for an action adventure/RPG that blends style, substance, and a healthy sense of humor, this is an easy recommendation. It may wear a fairy tale costume, but underneath that bright cloak is a sharp, confident experience that knows how to fight, how to entertain, and how to keep you turning the page.

Greedfall: The Dying World feels like a giant leap backwards for the developers at Spiders. I was over the moon when I had heard that Greedfall was getting a sequel, and while this game delivers in its writing and narrative in parts, it pretty much fails in everything else. Lackluster combat, glacial pacing at the onset and bugs galore spoil what should have been a triumphant return for the studio, especially after the greatness that was their last game; Steelrising. With a little energon and a lot of luck the team can probably right this ship, but I’d wait for a sale before heading off for this one.

The Raiden Fighters Remix Collection is fantastic. The Raiden games have always been top-tier vertical shooters, and revisiting these three has been a blast. This collection is one of the better Raiden collections released, and if you enjoy these games, it is a no-brainer.

Resident Evil Requiem is easily my favorite game so far in 2026. It is very high on my list of Resident Evil games, only fighting with RE2 as the best of all time. This is an easy recommendation. This game is one of the best I have played in years, and I cannot recommend it enough. Do not hesitate, play this game. Capcom continues to hit on all cylinders, and I cannot wait to see what they do next.

With the downfall of Mimimi Games, I feared that the real-time genre was all but lost. It’s still a crying shame that their final game, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew didn’t get more attention because it had a fantastic story and excellent gameplay. But the developer may be gone but their legacy is strong with Artificer games; Sumerian Six is a triumph in the genre with its immensely replayable levels, forgiving stealth approach and its quirky characters. Made so much better now that I can play it on my Xbox. Artificer has crafted an enjoyable game that blends the occult and science in an interesting story AND lets you knock out some Nazis, what’s not to love here?

High on Life 2 capitalizes on what made the original interesting with its guns and boss fights and falls apart on almost everything else. It feels like it isn’t quite finished when it comes to performance and image quality, and a lot of the humor falls flat. I really loved the original game, but the sequel is much harder to recommend. Thankfully it is on Game Pass, so if you subscribe the barrier to entry is low. Otherwise, I have a hard time recommending this one at full price.

Sons of Sparta should have been a slam dunk, but it just has too much holding it back to be a classic. I loved the idea; it was the execution that disappointed me. I want to know more about the Greek era of Kratos, really looking forward to the remakes, but this origin story falls flat at times and the simplified Metroid aspects are not tailored to the character or the game.

Ultimately this “remaster” feels pointless, but due to the glaring issues this release has I’m not interested in playing further. I was going to hook up my 360 to compare to the original console release as well but I’m not very much interested in making my short time spent with this remaster feel worse. If this is the only way one can play Sacred 2 it may be worth it, but for people like myself who have any other option this is still a pass nearly 4 months later. Oof.

Under the Island succeeds because it understands exactly what it wants to be. It focuses on building a world that feels worth exploring and lets the player discover it at their own pace. It is confident in its identity, and that confidence shows in almost every part of the experience. The game itself feels like a love letter to RPGs of the 90’s. Under the Island isn’t trying to redefine the genre. It’s just trying to make a memorable experience and in that I think it mostly succeeds.

The Prisoning is an interesting and unique game and really goes a long way to justifying the return of Acclaim. It feels familiar enough, yet sprinkling in a host of flavor to make it stand out. I really enjoyed playing through the game. The boss fights are the highlight for sure, and I wish it was a bit more fleshed out, but this is a novel title that breaks the standard on several levels. Definitely worth checking out.

The Super Bomberman Collection is a fantastic snapshot of those games from that time period. I would love to see this continue with the really awkward N64 entries, and of course the greatest Bomberman game of all-time, Saturn Bomberman. But, as a starting point, this collection nails what makes these games special and deserves a spot in your collection.

I’m still not sure if I should attribute the DLC’s quality to Microsoft’s leadership or the work of a passionate development team; perhaps it is a mixture of both, but Reign of the Warlock is a truly outstanding update for Diablo II. It’s easy to see that the warlock was crafted by people who have a fundamental understanding of the game’s tone and mechanics, allowing for a fun and creative experience that manages to breathe new life into a classic. If Blizzard manages to uphold this standard of quality in the future, then I wish the best of luck to all other ARPG developers.

What stands out most as a newcomer is how confident Styx: Blades of Greed feels. It is not chasing broader appeal. It is building on a specific stealth identity and trusting players who want that experience to meet it there. Players looking for power fantasy stealth or action-heavy combat will probably bounce off quickly. The game expects patience and attention, and it does not bend much to meet players halfway. For stealth fans, that is a strength. For everyone else, it might be a barrier.

This collection is hard to recommend unless you have an extremely strong nostalgia for any of the titles included. Even then revisiting these titles has been a challenge. With the exception of Rocko, there isn’t a ton of fun to be had here. The limited options and upgrades are glaring, and I wish Limited Run would go back to spending more time with these. As of now they just feel like an assembly line of rom dumps, which is hugely disappointing.

Tavern Manager Simulator isn’t a bad game, but it is an uneven one. The late-game systems show real promise and deliver on the tavern-running fantasy, but the slow early progression and frequent crashes on Xbox Series X make the journey harder to recommend. If you’re patient, persistent, and willing to power through the rough opening hours, there’s fun to be found here. Just know that this tavern doesn’t really come alive until long after the doors first open.

This is by far one of the most obscure collections I have experienced to date. Earnest Evans is niche and the other two included games will only be recognized by the hardest of the hardcore. It is also not a lot of fun to play these games, so the nostalgia wears off fairly quickly. It was cool to check out, but I did not find myself coming back for more after a couple hours. This will likely sit in my collection as an oddity, which I guess is fitting as the original games likely suffered the same fate.

There’s a strong identity here, a clear vision, and a combat system that has depth if you’re willing to invest the time. As a newcomer to the series though, I was constantly bombarded with terms, weird items and new systems that felt overwhelming, especially since there is no pause in the game. And then there is the story; if I was asked to explain this game I would have nothing other than “it’s hard, and has anime vampire girl” Code Vein 2 is stylish, punishing, and unapologetically dense. It just might also be a little too closed-off for its own good, and I think a lot of returning fans will be upset with some of the changes, especially the removal of co-op.

In the end the Fighting Force Collection is more of a curiosity than a compilation of classics. Some people have nostalgia for the first game, it was decent. The second game, however, should have remained forgotten. Core Design started strong and ended with a whimper and I would rather remember them for titles like Tomb Raider and Soulstar, and not the travesty that is Fighting Force 2.

Romeo is a Dead Man is experimental in all the right ways when it comes to its aesthetic and visuals but forgets to try anything new when it comes to its gameplay.

In the end, I Hate This Place is a strong survival-horror experience that knows exactly what it wants to be. It’s tense, stylish, and unapologetically hostile, but it’s also fair more often than not. The rough spots are noticeable, but they don’t overshadow the game’s strengths. If you enjoy survival-focused gameplay, atmospheric horror, and a visual style that stands out from the crowd, this is absolutely worth your time.

Despite the lack of innovation, Nioh’s blend of character action and soulslike still manages to entertain, with its combat being undeniably polished to near perfection.

I really enjoyed my time with Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined. Even as a hardened DQ veteran I appreciated the streamlined changes that were made to bring the game’s substantial run-time down a notch. I completed the game with about 47 hours on the clock and polished off the post-game content at about 57 hours. I’ve got 1 achievement to go (find all items) but the in-game checklist for that one isn’t great, so it will likely wait until someone produces a guide. That feels to me like the right length of time for this game. Long enough that you feel like you’re getting a full experience, but not so long that it overstays it’s welcome. That said, if you’re a veteran of the franchise, I would definitely consider adjusting some of the difficulty settings. If I hadn’t been playing for review, I certainly would have bumped a couple of them up a notch. I can see where some folks who love the original might be disappointed in the changes (especially the cut content) but I think this version serves the story of the game well and will undoubtedly allow for more players to enjoy both the game and the series.

By the time the dust settles, Haunted House Renovator is far from flawless, yet it remains an oddly engaging detour that leans heavily on its personality. Anyone looking for a straightforward, turn-your-brain-off decorating sim may come away disappointed. Honestly though I think those that come for the haunted bits might be more disappointed. While a really neat idea, the half-baked ‘ghost busting’ brings the whole house down.

For those willing to meet it on its own terms, Rue Valley is something special. It is thoughtful without being pretentious, somber without being hopeless, and confident enough to let its themes speak for themselves. And while Rue Valley certainly has some issues with pacing, its story is one that is worth exploring.

As a follow up to a divisive entry and as the penultimate release to the end of the Calvard Arc, Trails Beyond the Horizon had to pull out all the stops and luckily, despite a few flaws, they managed to craft an incredible build up that has me on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what happens next.

At the end of the day, Dynasty Warriors thrives when it comes to offering fanservice in the form of large-scale confrontations, and Visions of Four Heroes does that very well, be it through brutally dominating the battlefield alongside Dong Zhuo or by challenging the whole world alongside Lu Bu. It’s also refreshing to see a game in the series flesh out its characters this much, partly because it allows itself a different perspective, anchoring the player as a single protagonist rather than a whole faction, and the fact that the DLC chooses to focus even more on this specific aspect of storytelling is quite satisfying.

Despite the slow start and my lack of interest in the sport itself, I ended up enjoying the experience far more than expected. It’s a stylish, character-driven RPG that just happens to revolve around football, and once it gets going, it’s hard not to get swept up in its enthusiasm. Just be prepared to wait a while before you actually hit the pitch. For those willing to stick it out, the journey is worth it.

Tomba! 2 Remaster isn’t trying to reinvent itself, and that’s both its strength and its limitation. For fans, this is the best way to revisit a cult classic without fighting outdated hardware or muddy visuals. For newcomers, it’s a fascinating snapshot of a time when developers weren’t afraid to make games this strange and unapologetically playful. It may not convert everyone, but for those who missed it or loved it the first time around, this remaster proves that Tomba! 2 is still as loud, bizarre, and lovable as ever.

In the end, Taxi Chaos 2 is exactly what it appears to be. A fast, loud, chaotic driving game that exists to fill a very specific void. It may not be the return of Crazy Taxi that fans have been begging for, but it comes close enough to scratch that itch. This really is Crazy Taxi we have at home, and for fans of arcade chaos, that is not a bad thing at all.

Blood: Refreshed Supply is yet another outstanding port of a classic shooter from Nightdive. I continue to be impressed with how much love and care they put into their releases and am always anticipating what comes next. This is definitely worth a look as it is one of those games that has a certain mystery around it. Lots of people talk about it, but it isn’t as well-known as titles like Duke Nukem and Doom. Now you can discover one of the most unique and fun shooters from the late 90s.

Bee Simulator: The Hive isn’t deep, and it isn’t flashy, but it’s surprisingly earnest and occasionally endearing. It expands on the original concept just enough to feel like a genuine sequel rather than a reskin. Kids will get a kick out of it, and adults might find it a pleasant palate cleanser between heavier games. The repetition and simple mission structure keep it from greatness, but the charm carries it farther than you’d expect.

Gripes aside, Routine is exactly what I wanted it to be. I want more. I would love to see these mechanics and this world taken further, especially if they can somehow make this more immersive with different ways to solve puzzles and the like. Extremely impressed. I simply cannot believe I finally got Routine let alone that it was this bloody good.

As the follow up to the worst game in this long running series, D7 had a lot of work cut out for it. Thankfully, the team at NIS was up to the task and addressed most of the issues, putting together a welcome package to remind me why I loved the series in the first place. While there are still some improvements to be made, I’m more than happy to report this is certainly a much needed course correction for the series at large.

Crime Simulator on Xbox is far from polished, and the jank is noticeable, but the heart of the game; planning a heist, sweating through the tension, pulling it off against the odds; is genuinely satisfying if you are playing with friends. And while Co-op elevates it, solo play tests your patience, and the whole thing feels like a deliciously unstable tower of theft, luck, and questionable decisions.

Outlaws is not a household name, but that doesn’t mean you should skip it. If you enjoy the kind of games that Nightdive has been bringing back, then this one is a must. The extras are great and the theme is not something we get a lot of in shooters. Definitely worth checking out and I hope Nightdive continues to bring back the classics of my childhood.

The balance of slow-burn inspection work and sudden chaos gives the game a pulse that a lot of sims completely miss. When you’re marking down discrepancies like a stern librarian one minute and trying not to get shot in a forest the next, it leaves an impression. Contraband Police isn’t polished, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s engaging, tense in all the right moments, and strangely absorbing once you settle into the rhythm. The rough edges in combat and driving hold it back, and the repetition eventually starts to rub, but the core loop is strong enough to earn its stripes on console.

Inferno could have been a solid title if Supetrick put any sort of effort into actually improving the original game’s formula, but it instead comically doubles down on every single aspect that made it a chore to play, except now you have to pay an entry fee (which doesn’t mean microtransactions are gone, by the way). Inferno is a weird amalgamation of the first Let it Die and Deathverse, attempting to merge them into a PvPvE experience that ends up being for nobody. Maybe it’s time we simply Let it Die.

Revisiting these games has been a treat. I loved them back in the day, and while they haven’t all aged gracefully, I appreciate them for what they are. Nostalgia is a heck of a drug, and I love that we can now play these games on modern consoles. The omission of the Saturn and PlayStation versions is its biggest flaw though and I wish we could have had a complete collection.

Saborus is a unique concept that simply fails in its execution. This could have been a gem but instead remains forgettable. I wanted to love it more than I did, but it kept fighting me the entire way through. While the novelty is there, I cannot recommend this game outside of a curiosity on something like Game Pass.

Octopath Traveler 0 is a curious game- as a sequel to Octopath 2, it’s more steps down than it is up but considering its origins as a mobile game, I’m very glad they decided to give it the single player game reimagining as the story is one well worth experiencing and the system of fielding all eight characters at once is something I’d like to see explored further in the true sequel.

Pigeon Simulator has a premise you want to root for. It aims for goofy, chaotic fun, and there are moments when you can see the spark of what it could’ve been. But the repetitive mission design, underwhelming flight controls, weak progression, and lack of comedic punch make it difficult to recommend. If you’re looking for a quick laugh and don’t mind the rough edges, you might get a brief kick out of it. But for me, this pigeon never quite spreads its wings.

Tormented Souls 2 is the rare kind of sequel that doesn’t try to reinvent itself. It refines, sharpens, and honors the formula that worked before. Dual Effect clearly knows its audience and delivers a polished, confident love letter to old-school horror. It’s atmospheric, unsettling, and just challenging enough to keep you hooked from start to finish. If you grew up with fixed cameras, ink ribbons, and limited shotgun shells, you’ll feel right at home. But if you are like me and have outgrown tank controls and fixed cameras, then this is one mystery that is better left unsolved.

Dying Light: The Best is a return to form. I loved revisiting this world after the disappointment that I had with the second game. It knows what it wants to be and never apologizes for it. If you loved the first game, this is a must-have.

I am happy this game exists and I can now play it on a modern console. I wish there was more though. The price tag is a bit steep for a port of one original PlayStation game with a lack of extras and features. The quality of life stuff is nice, and the updated visuals help with those warping polygons, but I might recommend waiting on a sale for this one. It is a fantastic game that is slightly overpriced.