A new tactical interface and improved match engine are title-worthy, but a frustrating UI, missing features, and numerous bugs drag Football Manager 26 into a relegation battle.
A few issues hold it back, but Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment marks a high point for the spin-off series, iterating on its riotous hack-and-slash combat with depth and variety.
Ninja Gaiden 4 brings the series back with a bang, building on its intoxicating foundations with smart additions that further elevate its brutally brilliant combat
Battlefield 6 plays it safe but marks a return to form for the long-running series, delivering chaotic, large-scale multiplayer that's as familiar as it is uproariously fun
Ghost of Yotei is shaped by Atsu, its new protagonist, as you're propelled on a gripping tale of revenge amidst the backdrop of Feudal Japan's contrasting beauty and violence
EA Sports FC 26 suffers from a few growing pains with its shift to two distinct playstyles, but there are enough improvements throughout to consider it a positive step forward for the long-running series
The Order of Giants is a small-scale Indiana Jones adventure, taking you on an enjoyable side quest that nevertheless feels like it's missing The Great Circle's freedom and scrappy improvisation
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance revitalizes a classic by combining excellent combat and platforming with a gorgeous art style, reaching new heights for the long-dormant series.
Shadow Labyrinth takes the fascinating premise of blending Metroid with Pac-Man and fumbles the execution, offering a bland narrative with one-note combat and tedious exploration
EA Sports College Football 26 builds on its solid foundations and celebrates what makes the college experience and its teams so unique.
Mecha Break evokes classic mecha anime with its exciting multiplayer battles, but the game's free-to-play foibles, among other issues, sour the experience.
Rematch takes a refreshing, skill-based approach to football games that can be just as frustrating as it is thrilling
MindsEye is a stringent and relentlessly dull video game, wasting its impressive world on formulaic mission design that's both archaic and uninspired.
Lies of P: Overture heads back to the past to build on its twisted rendition of Pinocchio, telling a compelling story that throws you into combat with creative enemies in varied environments
Elden Ring Nightreign successfully condenses the Elden Ring experience, cramming challenging combat, exploration, worldbuilding, and character development into a fast-paced and thrilling multiplayer game
Revenge of the Savage Planet is a bigger and better sequel, stretching out its joyful mix of platforming, exploration, and puzzle-solving across four diverse and lively planets.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a phenomenal RPG, telling a heartbreaking tale while incorporating thrilling action into its tactical turn-based combat
The First Berserker: Khazan delights with its heavy-hitting combat and unusual approach to character progression
MLB The Show 25 adds a number of impactful new features while tweaking its already excellent on-field action
It has issues, but Monster Hunter Wilds iterates on a winning formula with another captivating collection of monsters to slay