High on Life 2 evolves its chaotic formula with sharper writing, even stronger performances, and some major upgrades across the board.
With its Ninja style, Style Shift system, and open-field design, Nioh 3 pushes movement and player freedom further than any entry before it.
Octopath Traveler 0 reaches for something special, but its strongest ideas often collide with a story that rarely gives the rest of the game room.
Arc Raiders transforms every trip to the surface into a fight for survival, combining tension, atmosphere, and worldbuilding that never lets up.
Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake is a loving tribute to two RPG classics, but its old-school design means it will appeal more to fans than newcomers.
Absolum transforms the roguelike formula through its beat-em-up combat, branching choices, and hand-drawn world that rewards mastery and curiosity.
Dying Light: The Beast blends a vicious revenge tale, breathtaking vistas, and feral new powers into one of Techland's most polished nightmares yet.
Metal Eden hits hard with relentless combat and style, but a short campaign, thin exploration, and a forgettable story keep its spark from lasting.
Dead Take clearly wants players to focus on uncovering its story, and the mansion is built in a way that makes exploration feel rewarding even without much resistance. The atmosphere does a lot of heavy lifting, with sound and lighting creating an ever-present sense of tension that kept me leaning forward the whole time. Dead Take might not break the escape room genre wide open, but it finds a creative way to pull players into its world, and it's worth seeing through to the end.
At first glance, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers feels familiar, but its deeper systems take the genre in some unexpected and highly rewarding directions.
Dune: Awakening thrives in atmosphere, worldbuilding, and survival depth, even if its combat and grind somewhat drag behind its setting and systems.
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon delivers a bleak, immersive RPG experience, though its clunky combat and unbalanced gear system hold it back.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a rare RPG that feels mechanically bold, emotionally grounded, and unforgettable long after the credits roll.
AI Limit blends anime flair with Soulslike depth, offering immersive worldbuilding, smart combat, and a fresh take on challenge and accessibility.
Atomfall looks amazing and has some really great ideas, but most of those ideas are overshadowed by frustrating game design and mechanical roadblocks.
Avowed's first-person combat and respect for player choice make it a journey worth having, but flaws in its story and design make it a one-way road.
With Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Warhorse Studios delivers one of the first great games of 2025.
After over 50 hours with Path of Exile 2's early access, I feel I've only scratched the surface of what could become one of the best ARPGs ever made.
After spending 55 hours in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, I have no qualms recommending STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl to post-apocalyptic enthusiasts.
Overall, The Rise of the Golden Idol is a massive achievement in storytelling and gameplay, especially for a point-and-click puzzle game. Despite its steep challenge and the potential for players to encounter a game-halting bug, The Rise of the Golden Idol is worth a try, even for those who might not consider themselves a fan of the genre. Its gameplay is slow and intentional, but filling out those Event pages, completing every objective, and witnessing the whole story unfold is highly satisfying — something even some of the most fast-paced action games fail to accomplish.