Lynked: Banner of the Spark doesn’t reinvent the roguelite genre; it just reinvigorates it. It feels fresh and fun and it’s full of charm with its village building mechanic. It’s a game that is full of heart and weird bot jokes. I just wish there was more time spent on the optimization because these glitches and bugs are enough to have me give up the spark.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 isn’t just a continuation but a culmination. It takes what worked from the first two games, sharpens the mechanics, deepens the emotional storytelling, and delivers a strategy RPG experience that is as thoughtful as it is compelling. Be warned though, it’s not a casual playthrough. The tone is heavy, the themes are mature, and the decisions you make actually matter. But if you’re invested in these characters and this world, this third chapter is a rewarding, if sometimes emotionally draining, journey.

Ok look, cards aside, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is a wild, ambitious retelling of that original story that dances carefully between nostalgia and complete narrative changes. I was surprised to see a certain character interact with another character so early in the tale, and the changes just kept on coming from there; but in a good way. Each of the character felt like they had more depth this time around, and the side missions don’t just feel like extra padding like in Remake. The story has it all, humor? Yep. Trauma. Oh, it’s here for sure in some big doses. Even though I already know the story beats from Final Fantasy 7 but Rebirth still managed to surprise me time and time again in the best way. Come for the Queen’s Blood, stay for the excellent Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth tale.

Rematch is the kind of sports game that throws out the fluff and dares you to bring the skill. It doesn’t want to hold your hand. It wants to cross you up, score on you, and ask politely if you’d like a rematch. It’s not for everyone though, even with it being on Game Pass. There’s no single-player campaign, no casual local couch mode, and no elaborate progression system to dress up your player like a walking peacock. But what’s here is focused, fast, and infuriatingly fun. It’s soccer by way of the fighting game genre: twitchy, intense, and one mistake away from disaster. For me, someone who isn’t a soccer fan, I can appreciate what this game is doing but for fans of this form of football I know you will vibe with Rematch.

I didn’t hate FBC: Firebreak at all, in fact I rather enjoyed my time running through its jobs with my friends; even if we had seen everything the game offers after the first day. But Firebreak isn’t a perfect game, it has a lot of issues, especially with the balance and the constant disconnections which for an online-only game is utterly unacceptable in my opinion. The good news is that all these issues can be fixed, but if I’m honest; I miss the days when players could buy a game, take it home and play it with no issues from start to finish, I know digital is the way but it shouldn’t make these developers dependent on the ‘patch’ crutch. I don’t know, just an ‘old man shouting at clouds’ I guess but FBC: Firebreak is fun to play as long as you have a solid team and temper your expectations.

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Battle Destiny Remastered is a weird product. It’s not the best Gundam game on PC (that’s still probably Gundam Breaker 3, if I’m being honest), nor is it the most accessible. But for SEED fans, especially those who remember poring over the original’s menus with a translation guide in hand, this remaster is a nostalgic gift. For everyone else? It’s an old warhorse with a new coat of paint and a reminder that sometimes, the past is best visited with tempered expectations.

The Gex Trilogy is a great collection with a few missing pieces. It was a lot of fun to revisit these games as I loved playing them in my youth. The new rewind feature makes the games much more playable, and the updated controls make the second and third game tolerable. Limited Run Games did a great job with this collection, and it is worth it alone for the interviews and extras. Hopefully we can see Gex return in the future, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. He was definitely a product of a certain time.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time isn’t trying to dazzle you. It’s trying to make you feel comfortable. And in that regard, it mostly succeeds. The job system is satisfying, the world is charming, and the story, while simple, has enough emotional payoff to keep you invested. But it also stumbles a bit with the grind that can be exhausting after a while. It’s not a game for everyone but for those willing to settle into its rhythms and forgive a few rough edges, there’s something special here. It’s the kind of game you come back to on quiet evenings not because it demands your attention, but because it earns your time.

Dune: Awakening is not for the faint of heart. It’s slow to start, merciless in its mechanics, and deeply punishing if you’re not prepared to think long-term. But it’s also one of the most immersive, lore-faithful, and ambitious survival MMOs I’ve played in years. It asks you to live in the Dune universe not just walk through it and that’s a rare thing in licensed games. For fans of the franchise, there’s nothing else quite like it. For MMO players tired of formulaic grinds and empty worlds, this is something richer, even if it comes at a cost. But be warned: if you’re looking for fast progress, you’re going to have a bad time. On Arrakis, everything fights back.

Without an upgrade path this title comes down to whether or not you own it already. If you do on Switch, the upgrades aren’t necessarily worth a double dip. However, if you waited for the Switch 2 to jump in, this is more than worth the price of admission. Both games are excellent and worth checking out. I just wish Sega had included an upgrade path for existing owners. The game isn’t that old to begin with. For those that haven’t taken the plunge yet though are in for a treat.

The Alters is a unique, emotionally layered, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking game that will have you questioning your own life choices and then simulating alternate versions of them.

Blazing Strike is a very solid offering from a very small team. Being a fan of classic SNK titles, I really enjoyed my time with it and am glad it is now available on all platforms. I definitely recommend checking it out if you enjoy classic Neo-Geo brawlers. It has some limitations and a lack of depth, but it is extremely fun with some great characters. I’m really looking forward to seeing what this team does next.

TMNT: Tactical Takedown is a decent time if you love the turtles and aren’t expecting a revolutionary tactics game. It has heart, humor, and enough ninja action to keep fans entertained, truly my only issue is the writing in some areas but even its not enough to distract from how much fun this tactics game is; just like my first time trying pineapple on pizza, I was surprised with how much I really enjoyed this unique mash-up and wouldn’t mind another tactical Turtles game.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is a lot like the sword Excalibur; the greatness of the sword can be seen underneath but its currently lodged in a rock made of poor optimization. If you can forgive the bugs and all of the jank this game brings to the round table, then you may just find a hauntingly cool world worth exploring.

Onimusha 2 was a great game in its time, but times have changed. It definitely has blemishes that showcase game design from the early 2000s. Still, it was fun revisiting this game and I hope they managed to get the third game out there eventually. I just hope it doesn’t take another six years. With a new entry in the franchise on the horizon it would be a great time to revisit these classics. Just know what you are getting into before diving in.

Bonaparte – A Mechanized Revolution is one of those rare strategy games that dares to be ridiculous in the best way possible. It’s thoughtful and complex where it counts with the tactical combat and branching political choices but it never takes itself too seriously. After all, this is a game where you can debate economic reform in the morning and duel a royalist mech in a vineyard by sunset. While the game is in Early Access as of this review, the developers are on the right track to deliver something special when its finished.

Deliver At all Cost offers plenty in the way of replayability, thanks to its open-world nature and a whole host of mission types. But the repetitive nature of some of the mission designs will wear thin after a time. While the game delivers a fun and chaotic experience that excels in destruction and absurdity it struggles with pacing and narrative cohesion. Fans of Crazy Taxi and the Burnout franchise will appreciate the reckless charm therein but those looking for a deeper story or more refined mechanics may find it lacking.

Kiborg feels like the perfect follow-up from Sobaka Studio; the team behind Redeemer and 9 Monkeys of Sholin. The growth is really shown in the combat fluidity that runs through Kiborg’s moment to moment gameplay. Yes, it is a roguelite so players can expect to die many, many, many times before they find the perfect cybernetic upgrades for success and sure the game is a bit janky; but it’s a lot of fun.

Monster Train 2 is a truly enjoyable experience that feels like the developers have successfully built upon it upon its predecessor’s foundation. Even though it took me a few runs to really get a handle on all the systems at play, once I did I was ‘full-steam ahead’ (these train puns doing it for you?). The new clans, strategic depth, and progression system are all a reason for any fan of the rogue-like deck-builders to try this game. Not to mention the banging soundtrack, some bright and colorful art for the cards and enemies and Monster Train 2 feels like a perfectly blended match made in heaven.

Ultimately, Knock on the Coffin Lid is a solid rogue-like deckbuilding game with some nice additions and twist from the norm. The art style and audio shine throughout the game and there are lots of great deck possibilities. However, it’s held back by the steep learning curve, difficulty and the overly grindy nature that is required to acquire the many unlockable. Fans of the genre will find lots to enjoy here though, there is plenty of room for replay ability just be prepared to grind for new rewards.

Blades of Fire is a welcome return to MercurySteam and I think it’s one that is going to be a sleeper hit. The way the story unfolds and pushes the player to explore the environment that is littered with hidden fights and upgrades that will help Aran become stronger. Even the characters that players will meet along the way are fun and add something to the overall game, and I for one loved Adso but if players like to adventure in silence the developers have allowed for that which is neat. If you are a fan of big, adventure action-RPG’s with a beautiful land to explore and tons of weapons to make and use; then Blades of Fire is going to be for you.

Some of the games included here have not seen the light of day since they were initially released. These collections really showcase that Capcom used to really produce a ton of great fighting games across the spectrum. This collection also showcases that maybe the well is running a bit dry, and I am not sure we see a third iteration unless they want to bring us the other Star Gladiator and Rival Schools titles. I am definitely down for more, but curious what is left in the tank. Still, I cannot recommend these collections enough for people who love fighting games. Some of these titles showcase Capcom at their peak and revisiting them has been an absolute delight.

All in all, I am excited to revisit and finally finish Deacon’s story and with the inclusion of the Broken Road DLC as well as the new Horde mode there is a lot of extra and brand-new content for players to explore. I just really don’t understand the wisdom of doing this remaster, while I am sure the fans appreciate it very much; I didn’t think Sony was moving forward with the franchise. So, to invest money in this remaster just seems like giving some false hope to fans that are interested in seeing more from Deacon and gang but who am I, just a black guy reviewing games. I am sure Sony knows what they are doing……right?

Look, I freaking love The Precinct but I had a feeling I would when I first saw it back in 2023. The moment-to-moment gameplay feels just like watching those cop shows from the 80’s; running perps down on foot, getting into crazy shootouts and exploding cars, even your partner telling you how close to retirement he is; everything about The Precinct is so deliciously 80’s and I thoroughly savored and enjoyed every moment of it. I do hope we can see more non-lethal options in a sequel or expansion, but I think the ultimate treat would be the ability to be a good cop or bad cop, a morality system would add something for sure, but for now The Precinct stands as a great example of police simulation done right.

I think the team at Silent Games is on to something with Empyreal. As I said the combat has some glimmers of greatness, it just needs to be refined a bit more. I love the fact they hand-designed the levels, but the overall graphics might have suffered as the game certainly is nothing to write home about in that area. But even with all that and the mostly forgettable story, Empyreal does have a solid loot system and some decent customization options which is nice but mileage will vary from gamer to gamer due to the frustrating and sometimes clunky combat.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a fitting swan song for the Switch as its last major exclusive release and showcases just what it takes for a game to truly earn the title of “Definitive Edition”.

There is a lot packed in here, with over 20 hours of brain-bending content, it is definitely worth checking out for both newcomers and returning fans. The upgrades are worthwhile, and the new expansion is extremely fun. I had a blast revisiting this game and it is just as memorable as it was back in 2014. This is a must-play for those that enjoy these types of puzzle games. It really carves out its own niche and executes it extremely well. Hard to believe this game came from the same guys who created Serious Sam.

This is worth your time more than anything if you enjoy puzzles. Please please please don’t sit on Blue Prince (and bring a note pad, you’ll absolutely need it.)