There is stuff to love about Life Is Strange: Reunion. Max and Chloe's interactions are heartwarming, and Deck Nine seems to have nailed player agency, as I was genuinely shocked by the massive consequences some of the decisions I made had. But all the goodwill gets bogged down by an overtly ambitious story that doesn't get close to sticking the landing, and a general feeling that bringing back Chloe was a corporate mandate to see if Square Enix could sell a few more copies of Life Is Strange before plunging the franchise into obscurity.
Capcom nailed it with the Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection in every aspect. Presentation-wise, it is the best compilation featuring the Blue Bomber they've ever released, adding plenty of quality-of-life changes that I'd love to see them retroactively implement in previous titles. In terms of gameplay, while Battle Network still outshines the Star Force spin-offs in many ways, each game continuously builds upon the previous one to much success (for the most part), making the highly underrated journey of Geo Stelar from a secluded, directionless kid dealing with grief and loneliness into a fully-fledged anime protagonist that would die for his friends a blast to rediscover.
Unsurprisingly, Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is the best way to experience a JRPG classic. If you're not enthralled by the story, the game can feel like a bit of a drag, but even then, it's got a strong hook with its deep RPG mechanics and an ace up its sleeve that is mech combat and exploration, making the journey absolutely worthwhile.
Screamer is an amazing game for those yearning for a classic arcade racer with an anime-inspired coat of paint that includes high production values and very deep mechanics that will be hard, yet satisfying to master. A puzzling lack of a proper tutorial, a lackluster narrative despite strong character designs, and uneven track selection bog down the experience a smidge.
Filled with very interesting characters and unique, addictive gameplay mechanics, if you love stealth-based games that give you a hard but never unfair challenge, I highly recommend you check out Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun on the Nintendo Switch 2
My experience with Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is an odd one. I love the vast majority of the gameplay it offers, but having played a clearly inferior version on Nintendo Switch 2 really soured me on its otherwise incredible visual presentation. The story and its characters are better than you'd expect if you've played or even glanced at previous Stories games, but it's not the sort of tale you'll be reminiscing about once you put the game down.
Ultimately, Resident Evil Requiem is a confident, near-perfect blend of horror and action that Capcom had long dreamt of executing. It stands tall when compared to some of the series' best entries, and while it falls a little short in a few areas and has a somewhat inconsistent pacing with unnecessary padding, it delivers the scares, the gameplay, and a surprisingly compelling story that will be sure to surprise long-time veterans of the series.
Ride 6 is an engaging racing sim with a steep learning curve and incredibly aggressive AI that might sour the experience for some players, but will satisfy bike enthusiasts.
Reanimal is worth it if you're looking for a bite-sized horror experience that's best shared with a friend. The story is gripping, and while it leads to a perhaps not too satisfying conclusion, the journey more than makes up for it.
Dying Light: The Beast is a joy to play as a newcomer to the series. If you've been on the fence about the franchise, it serves as a fantastic entry point offering a decently sized map and an addictive gameplay loop that will see you loot, craft, and dismember zombies left and right.
A step in the right direction, EA FC 26 on Nintendo Switch 2 still boasts some annoying grievances, but it’s still worth the purchase if you value on-the-go gaming.
An amazing learning tool and an even better game, Shujinkou is an ambitious JRPG that's well worth your time, given what's already an incredible year for independent games.
Polished to perfection, Hades 2 is an absolute triumph that feels uniquely distinct from its predecessor, serving as a gracious evolution of the formula with dozens and dozens of hours worth of incredibly engaging content. An easy GOTY contender.
Performance issues severely hamper the experience on Nintendo Switch 2, but there's still some enjoyment to be had with its customization systems and somewhat fun combat
While it misses the mark in its single-player offerings and the online experience is still not up to competitors' standards, City of the Wolves is one of the most mechanically deep and fun fighting games to come out in recent years
Despite having amazing core gameplay, 2K25 offers half-baked content that brings down the experience
Evil Dead: The Game has some flaws, balance-wise it gets tiring knowing that playing as a demon doesn't feel as overwhelming for the survivors as it should be despite how fun roaming around the map is, and the class system ultimately doesn't make enough distinctions between survivors, you really can play whichever in the same style. However, the sheer amount of exhilarating entertainment you get, the skill-tree system that incentivises replayability, the Evil Dead fanservice spread throughout, and the promise of more content in the form of maps and characters, make the Saber Interactive developed title one worth the price of admission.
FFVII Remake Intergrade Episode INTERmission (talk about a mouthful) isn't a "must-play." The story can feel derivate until some out-of-the-blue revelations occur as you're reaching the end, and the new gameplay implementations are barely explored due to the relatively short length of the DLC. However, if you're looking for a bite-sized return to Midgar accompanied by a very enthusiastic, lovable main protagonist, and a tease for what's in store once Remake Part 2 (or whatever its name ends up being) rolls around, then you'll find plenty to enjoy with INTERmission.