Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is another excellent addition to the Nintendo Switch's bustling first-year library of enjoyable titles. It does a great job of being accessible enough to lure strategy newcomers while also providing a good amount of challenge to vets. It comes with plenty of content to keep players going in solo and multiplayer modes, and every battle is entertaining. With a presentation that matches some of the better Super Mario titles out there, Mario + Rabbids is a perfect fit for your library.
In the end, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is more of the same. The gunplay is fantastically done, and the opposition is enough of a challenge to make it worthwhile. The environments provide more than enough variety to prevent boredom, and the story works despite the levels of insanity it can reach. With a slightly upgraded presentation, it is safe to say that not much has changed, but when a game delivers on all of the expected fun and more, a lack of major change isn't a bad thing at all. If you love action, don't hesitate to grab this.
Cursed Castilla EX remains a fantastic and tough platformer. The look is authentically retro, and the controls are as tight as ever. The challenge is ever-present, but nothing feels unfair, except for the requirements to get the "good" ending. The game feels like it comes in at just the right length. For adventure platformer fans, Cursed Castilla EX certainly belongs in their library.
Battlesloths 2025: The Great Pizza Wars is a highly enjoyable battle arena game. It is both fast and intuitive while keeping a good pace, so matches don't drag on longer than they should. The loads of cosmetic unlocks will keep players busy for a while, and if the patching done so far is any indication, there's still more good stuff to come. It's a shame there's no one online to play with, but for anyone who's looking for another local multiplayer versus game, Battlesloths 2025 fits the bill nicely.
Windjammers is a good example of how solid gameplay can remain enticing, even if only a few additions are made to the overall package. It lacks some meaningful modes for the solo player, but it makes up for it with a good enough multiplayer component for both online and offline play. The best part is that the core gameplay elements and the presentation are left virtually untouched, which is perfect since any changes would ruin the game's spirit. It remains a quirky game that local multiplayer fans need to have if they want a fighting game experience without necessarily having to learn a bunch of complicated maneuvers.
Overall, Lode Runner Legacy is both a great game and a very good tribute to the 34-year-old original title. The classic gameplay holds up today, with a bevy of old and new levels to demonstrate that. It comes with a look that mimics a few other titles but it's nice to look at. Most importantly, there's more than enough content here to keep fans busy for a long time. Unless you hate platform puzzle games, Lode Runner Legacy is an easy game to recommend.
In the end, A Hat In Time features enough charm to overcome its shortcomings. If you can live with the unreliable camera, then you'll find a game that offers a pleasant platforming experience, tons of secrets to uncover, and a good amount of abilities to experiment with. The variety of environments and activities is appreciated, as are some of the breaks from platforming norms. The characters may be the main reason for playing the gamefrom beginning to end, just to see what they'll say or do next. For fans of platformers, A Hat In Time is well worth your time.
If you're lucky enough to not have been plagued with port issues, then you'll find Nioh: Complete Edition to be a wonderfully difficult action game. Though it brings along a high level of difficulty that seems to be en vogue for recent action games, its emphasis on faster action makes it a perfect complement for the competition. Similarly, the loot drops are a great addition, and the oddball story makes the game feel more distinct. It would've been nice to see more PC-specific optimization, but Nioh is worth checking out for fans of difficult action games.
Hand of Fate 2 is certainly a much more improved product over the original. Upgraded presentation aside, there's more of a story to back up the game, so you're given a purpose instead of playing The Dealer's game just for the sake of it. Combat may not have improved much, but everything else has, making for a deeper journey even if luck spoils things now and again. Even without the upcoming extras, Hand of Fate 2 is worth checking out.
Ode is one of those games where you may only play it once, but the experience sticks with you for some time. There's simply a sense of joy as you go through these levels and make music organically; you see the tunes start from humble beginnings before transforming into a full-blown melody that you can enjoy before trekking to the next stage. Ode looks and sounds beautiful, and although it can be finished very quickly, you'll be glad to have given this game a spin.
Though it won't be in the hearts and minds of players like his previous creation was, George May's Octogeddon still demonstrates the power of a simple premise with a deep gameplay hook. The game is very easy to understand and easy for anyone to pick up and play thanks to the two-button control scheme. The sparse number of levels can hurt, but the roguelike mechanics keep things engaging and addicting well before you finally open up the endless wave mode. Whether you're a casual or more dedicated player, Octogeddon is worth checking out.
Guns, Gore & Cannoli 2 is excellent. The classic side-scrolling shooting benefits greatly from the 360-degree aiming, giving you few to no limits in dealing carnage. The presentation is still solid, and the improved co-op mechanics make this a perfect game to play with friends. Shooting fans will have a blast with this one.
The tweaked gameplay mechanics, along with a bigger emphasis on platforming and puzzle-solving, make this a perfect ending chapter for the recent trilogy, and series fans will certainly be pleased with how Shadow turns out.
Moonlighter is many things: charming, fun, and well designed. The gameplay loop is brilliant and addicting, and the pacing feels just right. The enemy and item variety is wide, and the combat feels tight. Despite some hiccups with the shop management system, it works well due to its simplicity. Overall, Moonlighter is a great RPG for those looking for something a little different in the genre.
Yoku's Island Express is a game that you'll encourage others to check out the minute you start playing. Aside from the gorgeous aesthetics, the use of pinball mechanics is inspired, and the execution of the mechanics is done well. It's a relatively short experience, but it feels packed with tons of side-quests if you can deal with the backtracking seeming to go on a little longer than usual due to the pinball mechanics. Overall, Yoku's Island Express is a brilliant game that adventure fans need.
La-Mulana 2 is an absolutely solid sequel. Even though there are a few additions to the core gameplay loop, they don't dilute how unforgiving the game can be. The level of difficulty doesn't feel cheap, and obtuse puzzles can feel very rewarding when solved. The game is long enough to feel like you've squeezed more than enough value out of it, but it never drags on. The game has a few flaws here and there, but anyone who's looking for a tough platforming experience will be pleased with what they find in La-Mulana 2.
The SNK 40th Anniversary Collection is an essential title for retro enthusiasts. It may be very heavy on shooters, but most of the shooters here are decent. Meanwhile, the other genres represented have compelling entries of their own, but Street Smart can be seen more of as a curiosity rather than something you'd actually want to play constantly. It is the Museum mode, however, that makes this collection shine, as there is a ton of content here for retro historians. Anyone who likes retro games should absolutely own this title.
Overall, Ashen is a great title. The Souls formula may be adapted nearly wholesale, but the art style gives the game a different vibe. The presence of co-op at all times makes each run feel feasible, since the odds rarely feel impossible to overcome, and the presence of a community to grow gives you a real sense of progression and purpose. Unless you're completely burned out by the formula, Ashen is an adventure that's well worth checking out.
Golf Peaks is a gem of a puzzle game. Everything — its controls, presentation, and premise — indicates simplicity, but the ingenious puzzles won't let you breeze through this. It's an addictive enough title because of this, and while this is light on content, its relaxing nature means you won't mind too much. If you need a game that acts as a nice break from the longer and more stressful titles on the system, Golf Peaks is it.
The content is plentiful, replayability remains high, and the presentation easily makes Ace Combat 7 one of the better arcade-style flight games on the PC. It has been a long time coming, but action flight fans and those who love the series won't be disappointed by Ace Combat 7.