Fia and her band of lovable disasters in Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy might not cast the deepest spells, but they’ve got just enough magic to keep things moving. The dungeon crawling is light, the combat mildly engaging, and the school life fluff adds just enough variety to break up the loop. Thankfully, it’s all wrapped in a silly, self-aware package that leans into its anime logic and wears it proudly. There’s not much depth to uncover, but you might end up smiling more than you’d expect.
Juggling escape rooms, dream dives, and alien conspiracies while wearing a scanty bunny suit sounds like it shouldn't work, but No Sleep for Kaname Date somehow makes it all come together in a way that's equal parts ridiculous and compelling. The puzzles are clever, the cast is endearing, and the story—while occasionally overstuffed—remains hard to look away from. Even when the visuals lag and the exposition gets heavy, it will definitely keep you up late into the night to find out what happens next.
What starts as a straightforward romp quickly reveals itself to be one of Nintendo’s most creative and mechanically playful platformers in a long time. Donkey Kong Bananza's level design is smart, the gameplay mechanics even more so, and the sheer joy of controlled destruction never really gets old. Even with a few performance hiccups and a main campaign that flies by quicker than expected, there’s a ton to dig into here if you’re willing to peel off its many layers (pun very much intended).
Patapon 1+2 Replay finally gives these quirky rhythm-strategy games the treatment they deserve. It not only polishes up the originals but also significantly improves upon the 2020 remasters with quality-of-life enhancements we never realized were missing. It’s still as grindy, as bizarre, and as utterly unique as ever, even almost two decades on. It’s a bit disappointing that this collection excludes Patapon 3, but what’s here marches to the beat just fine.
Mario Kart World may not be the cleanest ride in the series, but between its fun modes, expansive open world, and sheer replayability, there’s a lot to love under the hood. The bloat and some odd choices occasionally throw a banana peel in front of the fun, but they rarely send the whole kart spinning. With enough friends and willingness to explore its quirks, it’s an addictive racer that keeps pulling you back in.
Survival Kids is exactly what it sounds like: a game for kids. It's not reinventing the co-op gaming, but it sails along smoothly thanks to its co-op design and low-stress puzzles. It's definitely best with a buddy or two, especially one who won't lose it when you "accidentally" toss logs off a cliff. A few clunky design choices and some repetitive bits keep it from hitting a higher score, but as a family-friendly adventure, it totally nails its target. You probably won't remember the plot, but you might just crack up thinking about the fifth time your raft went belly-up.
Unlike the original Shadowverse, which was known for its free-to-play generosity, Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond currently lacks that same accessibility. Players can still get a lot out of the game, but its monetization model and the new liquefy system are different and, frankly, less player-friendly. This is especially disheartening considering how much the original's accessibility contributed to its widespread appeal. Worlds Beyond retains the core Shadowverse experience fans love, with added mechanics and the more personalized Shadowverse Park, but it feels like it's lost some of its soul to the pursuit of profit.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is the series’ most ambitious entry yet. From its well-told story to its surprisingly deep village-building system, it’s a game that fully embraces the joy of planting turnips at dawn and saving guardian deities by night. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, Azuma is a harvest of everything Rune Factory can be when it dares to dream big.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered arrives on international shores for the first time with a fresh coat of paint, so lovingly polished for modern eyes. Its roots are unmistakably Vita-era, with all the clunky lock-ons and sterile arenas that implies, but when you’re soaring through the stars, beam saber in hand, it’s easy to forgive the rough edges. The game trusts its audience to know the lore, feel the weight of its Mobile Suits, and embrace its mission-based grind like slipping into an old pilot suit.
FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time is less concerned with spectacle and more with progressing cozily through its world. It stumbles in its attempt to be more, particularly in its half-hearted multiplayer, but when played alone, it becomes a game that celebrates the slow accumulation of meaning through routine. Its charm isn’t loud, but it lingers, like a warm memory you didn’t know you missed.
Captain Blood is a curious relic, a patchwork resurrection of an era long past, one that struggles to find relevance in the present. Its brute-force combat and nostalgic appeal might offer fleeting moments of blood-soaked joy, but the weight of its technical flaws and repetitive design quickly quashes any sense of lasting engagement. It’s a game that wants to be remembered for its swagger, but instead, it’s a reminder of how games like this were left behind for good reason.
Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall wears the weight of its crown with dignity, even if its footing isn’t always steady. There’s beauty in gloom and routine and the moments where the burden of leadership hits just right—but they’re often buried under bugs, shallow choices, and a story that doesn’t quite find its teeth. It’s not a fall from grace, exactly, but more like a stumble in the snow that's hard to not take notice of.
The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- feels like the love child of Kodaka's eccentric, character-driven storytelling from Danganronpa and Uchikoshi’s mind-bending twists from Zero Escape. The game pulls you in with its gripping narrative choices and fast-paced combat, all unfolding within a world brimming with mystery and high stakes.
All in Abyss: Judge the Fake deals with a wild hand that’s hard not to admire—even if it’s a little flawed. The boss battles and Danganronpa-style executions steal the show with thematic gimmicks that keep each match feeling unique, even when the game’s balance falters. Its visual novel elements are surface-level and the post-game content is thin, but the journey up the gambling ladder is just absurd enough to be worth the ride. It’s not the most honest game at the table, but it sure knows how to put on a show.
Venus Vacation PRISM arrives just in time for spring break! It offers a getaway filled with sun, sand, and a strikingly polished charm. It delivers exactly what it sets out to, but beneath the glossy presentation, its lack of depth might leave some players wanting more. Still, for those willing to overlook its shortcomings, there’s enjoyment to be found here—but for everyone else, it might not be the paradise it claims to be.
Xenoblade Chronicles X already proved its mettle when it was considered by many to be one of the standout titles on the Wii U, and its arrival on the Nintendo Switch only solidifies its place among the console’s best. While the pacing can feel glacial at times, the game’s rich world and new content make it an inviting experience for newcomers and a rewarding return for veterans.
If there’s one word that perfectly describes Split Fiction, it’s “fun.” The levels are amazing, the story is entertaining enough, and there’s no shortage of joy in exploring with friends what is essentially a virtual playground. It’s such a blast that I can’t help but hope Split Fiction, fingers crossed, will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, It TakesTwo, and rake in the same well-deserved accolades.
I summon Pot of Mid to draw 14 mediocre games from Konami’s Yu-Gi-Oh! library! Sure, it’s fun to revisit some of these classic titles, even if some of them don’t quite live up to the hype. Maybe next time Konami will summon a more exciting lineup, but for now, we’re left with a handful of cards that, while decent, don’t offer much beyond a trip down memory lane.
Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog channels the charm of the PC-98 era, not just in its appearance, but also in its spirit. It may be a brief experience, but don’t let that fool you—this Gun-Dog has plenty of bite. With echoes of classic mecha anime and space-age adventures, this game shoots for the stars and hits its mark.
Trails Through Daybreak 2 had all the right ingredients—engaging combat, deep customization, and a gorgeous presentation—but somewhere along the way, it forgot to justify its own existence. What should have been a meaningful continuation of the story instead felt like a low-stakes detour, lacking the weight and player agency needed to make its twists truly land. I wanted to believe in it, to see past the early criticisms, but in the end, it only proved them right.