Tales of Xillia Remastered is an excellent remaster of a darn solid and enjoyable JRPG. While it doesn't quite reach the highest highs of other games in the franchise, neither does it reach the lowest lows. It's a solid, enjoyable and well-crafted JRPG from start to finish, and the remastered version of the game is the best way to experience it. Even if the combat doesn't shine quite as brightly as in Tales of Graces f, the entire package is arguably one of the best ways to experience Tales at its most consistently fun.
Dragon Quest 1&2 HD-2D Remake is a wonderful remake of a pair of classic games. It's clear a lot of time and energy was invested in attempting to modernize the originals without losing what makes them distinct, and they've generally succeeded and succeeded well. Most of the improvements add to the game, and the revamped plots are a step up from the original. The game's only problem is that it's an extremely shiny and well-crafted update of two NES-era RPGs. Assuming you're not turned off by that concept, there's no better way to experience the origin of the genre than by playing Dragon Quest 1&2 HD-2D Remake.
The Outer Worlds 2 is a solid, engaging and enjoyable follow-up to the original game. It changes its dynamic and tone enough that it can potentially turn off people who really loved the original. At the same time, it feels like something that might work better for those who prefer their RPGs to be less goofy. There's a varied and interesting set of character builds available, and it's easy to imagine playing the game multiple times to see distinctly different outcomes for various quests. If you're looking for a solid RPG with some good meat on its bones, The Outer Worlds 2 does everything it needs to do.
Bounty Star: The Morose Tale of Graveyard Clem is a fun game that never manages to make all of its mechanics blend together well. There are a lot of strong ideas that I really like independent of each other, but it never feels like a cohesive whole. There's still a lot of fun to be had in blasting bandits and helping Clem go from the graveyard to the farmyard, but it's very much a game with big ideas that it doesn't always live up to. If the concept sounds interesting, it's probably well worth a shot. Just be prepared for an experience that doesn't always hit the mark.
Ninja Gaiden 4 is a darn function action game that unfortunately avoids the heights that one might expect, given the pedigree of the developers. The very fun core combat shines, but everything surrounding it feels underbaked. The rushed ending and lackluster second character keep it from shining as brightly as it should. It's still a fun character action game with some satisfying and meaty combat, and it's something that fans of the genre should enjoy.
Absolum is pretty much everything you could want in a roguelike beat-'em-up. It's engaging, constantly varied, fun to play, gorgeous to look at, and it's pretty much a nonstop good time. The only way I can see a fan of the beat-'em-up genre not liking Absolum is if they don't like roguelikes. Even then, I could see it melting some hearts. It's a delight from start to finish, and the game is nearly impossible to put down.
Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is an excellent kart racer from start to finish. It's not just good for a Sonic game but arguably the best kart racer this year, and that's saying something in a year that gave us a new Mario Kart. It's easy to pick up, fun to play, packed with details for fans of the characters, and it remains accessible to newcomers. It's unbelievably fun to blitz around a corner, pop a boost, and rocket through a portal into a land of dinosaurs. If you're looking for a good racer, then Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is everything you could want.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is the gold standard for a remake of a good game. It expands and improves upon the original without losing any of the charm that made the original game shine. Its flaws are more with the original work than anything the remake did incorrectly. In terms of basic gameplay, it's probably the most enjoyable and well-designed Trails game to date. It also marks the perfect entry point to the Trails franchise, and there's no better way to figure out if this series is for you.
Overall, Digimon Story Time Stranger is everything I could imagine a Digimon fan wanting. It's a fun adventure through a digital world, and all of your favorite collectible monsters are there for the ride. The combat system is fun and clear-cut, and it has just enough teeth to feel compelling. Customizing and creating your ideal Digimon is a whole lot of fun. The only real negative is that it feels a bit unpolished in places, and you need to have some of fondness for Digimon to get into the game. It's an excellent experience for fans, but perhaps it's one worth waiting until a few patches have rolled out.
Dying Light: The Beast is a big improvement over Dying Light 2 and avoids feeling like an expanded piece of DLC. At its core, it has the same familiar gameplay that the franchise knows and loves, but there's a degree of polish and flavor that its predecessor was missing. Only a somewhat lackluster plot and disappointing Beast Mode drag down the game, but they won't get in the way of a fun European zombie vacation.
I enjoyed Hades II more than I did the original game. The first game had the benefit of being new and novel, but the sequel shows that Supergiant has figured out how to improve upon the incredibly strong mechanics from the first game. The charming story, gorgeous graphics, and incredibly good music all come together to prove that Hades wasn't just a one-hit wonder. It more than justifies Supergiant returning to the well.
Overall, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is perhaps the best version of an already amazing game. All of its strengths are front and center, and any flaws were present in the original game, even if they're amplified in some cases. Even if you dislike the changes, the classic version is still makes it still an excellent way to experience the game, assuming you don't miss the War of the Lions bonus features. Final Fantasy Tactics remains a classic and a must-play for any fans of strategy RPGs or the Final Fantasy franchise.
Silent Hill f is a slow-burn horror game that doesn't put its best foot forward, but once it has its hooks in you, they're not coming out. The compelling and well-crafted story does a fantastic job of drawing you in and keeping you invested, even potentially through multiple playthroughs. The combat mechanics can feel a tad overdone. I think Silent Hill f is the best entirely new entry in the franchise in ages, and while it has its flaws, it shows that there's still plenty of life in Konami's franchise.
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a great example of a game that might be inspired by something else but nonetheless manages to be darn fun on its own. It's easy to write it off as a Hades knockoff, but there's enough fun in this game to enjoy it on its own merits. The core mechanics can occasionally be a touch awkward, and the narrative never really grabbed me, but the moment-to-moment gameplay was plenty of fun. If you're looking for a different flavor of action-RPG adventure, Towa hits the mark.
Katanaut is a perfectly fun but ultimately rather forgettable Dead Cells-style title. It's perfectly competent at what it sets out to do, and the strong presentation goes a long way, but at the end of the day, it doesn't manage to carve out its own identity. It's absolutely worth a shot if you're burned out on similar games, but don't expect quite as much replay value.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is a weird sequel that doesn't manage to feel like an expansion on the first game, but it doesn't manage to be its own beast either. It exists in a middle ground between trying to reinvent the franchise and trying to keep what people liked from the first game, but I'm not quite sure it managed to meet either. It's not a bad game, but it feels disjointed and unfocused enough that it also lacks anything to strongly recommend it.
Cronos: The New Dawn feels like an average game coming on the heels of the amazing Silent Hill 2 remake. The reasonably fun gunplay is dragged down by a lackluster story and occasional moments of annoyance. It has a lot of cool ideas, but none of them quite hit the mark in the way I hoped. It's still a perfectly fun little survival horror romp but doesn't quite go anywhere above that. It's absolutely worth a shot if you're looking for something to fill the Dead Space-shaped hole in your heart, but it could've used a little extra punch.
Super Robot Wars Y is a darn fun entry in the franchise, and it tries very hard to bridge the gap between the Super Robot Wars 30 style and the style of older games. It isn't perfect, with a tad too many stages and the poor utilization of some series, but if you're a fan of Super Robot Wars, there's a whole lot to like, and in the long run, it's probably an even better introduction to the franchise than Super Robot Wars 30. If you like cool giant robots and insane fan fiction plots, there's nowhere better to turn than Super Robot Wars Y.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a wonderful revival of the long-dormant franchise, and it combines excellent combat with an engaging pseudo-Metroidvania gameplay style. I had a rollicking good time from start to finish. My only real complaint comes from the somewhat finicky precision platforming, but even that is limited to some optional, late-game areas. If you're a fan of the franchise, there's a lot to like, but this latest ninja revival is good for newcomers and longtime fans alike.
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is a polished and enjoyable, if slightly unambitious, entry into the franchise. It does everything it needs to, and it does it well. It's a notable improvement over the original game in terms of quality of life and general design. The worst thing about it is that it's a predictable entry in the franchise, which makes it a fantastic starting point for those looking to get into Story of Seasons, but it might feel too safe for longtime fans. If you have any interest or love for the franchise, there's a lot to like, even if it feels safe.