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Hollow Knight: Silksong is as beautiful and endearing as it is brutal and uncompromising. It isn't a game that newcomers (or even longtime fans) can quickly come to grips with. Yet, Hornet's journey through Pharloom stands as one of the genre's greatest and a testament to pure passion.
There's a lot to love about this year's NHL game. From the redesigned Be A Pro mode to the enhanced NHL EDGE authenticity, it's a notable step up from previous years. NHL 26 has perhaps the best 'superstar' mode of EA's current sports lineup, which is shocking considering how stuck in the mud it's been prior to now. If you've been on the fence about EA's pro hockey series, now's the time to jump in.
An excellent upgrade that lets Kirby and the Forgotten Land truly shine on Switch 2, though its pricing and brief new content hold it back from being an easy must-buy.
The framework of an excellent mech game is here, but the execution is flawed in several areas. This sequel introduces an open world that feels lifeless and looks two console generations old. Mechanically, Titanic Scion fires on all cylinders. All the mech customization you could want is here. But with a lopsided difficulty curve and floaty movement, there's only so much fun that can be had before frustration kicks in.
Cronos: The New Dawn is a fantastic addition to the survival horror genre, dishing out both survival and horror in equal measures. It can be overwhelming at first, but your confidence improves as you progress thanks to how The Bloober Team has designed the world and its environments. It also piques your curiosity in subtle ways, making you scour the world for snippets of information. Poignant moments in its narrative, shared with the people you meet, make its story a very nuanced exploration of how human greed can have the most devastating consequences, as does the tendency to attempt covering up one's mistakes. This is a game that I would recommend to anybody looking for a meaty story, and a challenging gameplay loop.
Lost Soul Aside has the foundations of a great action game with strong combat, but those strengths are buried beneath an inconsequential story and noticeable polish issues.
Hell is Us knows what it wants to be, and if you're willing to take the ride, it may surprise you with its lore and approach to exploration. Just be prepared for plenty of awkward bumps along the way.
Metal Eden's fast-paced gameplay loop and harrowing sci-fi setting serve as a solid backdrop for arena combat, but be prepared for a whole lot of talking.
A fine action platformer all around, with a few small hang-ups. While not a Metroidvania, this shoot-em-up revels in its backtracking and light puzzle gameplay. Lots of nostalgic scenes from they classic anime are woven seamlessly throughout the adventure. Should prove a pleasurable experience to both fans of the anime and action-platformer aficionados.
Gears of War: Reloaded is a lot of fun, plain and simple. Its story sustains a robust pace while the action barely lets up. The remastered visuals bring new layers of immersion to a gameplay loop that quickly gets addictive despite a lack of variety in weapons and enemy types. If you're looking for a title that takes a no nonsense approach to its presentation, Marcus Fenix and the COG definitely have you covered.
Between Dead Cells and other rogue-lites, The Rogue Prince of Persia may not hold hardcore fans over in the very long run. Nevertheless, its premise is incredibly solid, backed by strong gameplay that channels the essence of Prince of Persia in all the right ways.
Drag X Drive shows flashes of Nintendo's trademark creativity with its motion-based wheelchair basketball concept. But shallow content and bland presentation leave it feeling more like a $20 tech demo than a must-play experience.
Channeling everything that made the classics great while enhancing with new mechanics, stunning visuals, and sublime controls, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an incredible revival and stellar action side-scroller in its own right.
While Midnight Murder Club has some clever ideas and decent core gameplay, the lack of a player base makes it more likely that the game will be killed off before it can recover.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a faithful, beautifully crafted remake that modernizes the classic without losing its soul. Despite easier boss fights and rare bugs, it delivers stunning visuals, tighter gameplay, and enough extras to make it a must play for both fans and newcomers.
Herdling continues Okamotive's reputation for unorthodox titles that resonate in unique ways. Desolate and survival-driven, yet warm and freeing, it's an adventure unlike any other despite the occasional hiccups.
Sengoku Dynasty is a game that could have, and dare I say should have, been so much more than it is. There's an inherent simplicity to its gameplay loop that lends it a sort of relaxing charm, but ultimately leads it to being an uninspiring take on an era in Japanese history that brings a lot of potential to the table.
Sword of the Sea is like a siren - beautiful, inviting and great to listen to. Despite cutting through with an impeccable sense of style, the lack of a cohesive narrative and short runtime feels like you're treading water.
EA hasn't reinvented the wheel, but their latest NFL outing still managed to impress me. Every mode, except Ultimate Team, has been enhanced with more engaging systems and streamlined features. The presentation feels livelier and more dynamic, with a welcome dose of college football DNA. Unfortunately, sluggish load times and a few poor interface choices continue to plague the yearly series.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Definitive Edition lives up to its title, delivering the best way to experience the classic RTS, even if it could use a bit more polish.