Sam Aberdeen's Reviews
Saros can be just as intimidatingly challenging as Returnal, but thanks to a streamlined gameplay loop, addictive combat, and solid art direction, it excels as one of the best games of 2026.
Screamer is one of the most unique arcade racers of the generation - an eclectic mix of Blur and WipeOut infused with an over-the-top anime style, though some ideas don't always stick the landing.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a creatively inspired, wildly fun and unique old-school shooter overflowing with character and charm, despite a weaker story.
Crimson Desert backseats the quality of its story and writing, yet it succeeds on its engaging exploration, outstanding technical prowess and an overabundance of content and activities.
John Carpenter's Toxic Commando delivers chaotic co-op fun boosted by Saber Interactive's impressive Swarm Engine, but it's a lightweight Left 4 Dead clone that's better in short bursts.
Resident Evil Requiem is a celebration of the franchise's legacy with well-crafted scares and tension, big action, and a story that swings from engaging to goofy at the drop of a dime.
God of War: Sons of Sparta doesn't colour outside of the lines and bring anything new to its 2D Metroidvania style, but it's a fun platformer that plays it safe and adds another layer of depth to Kratos' character.
Styx: Blades of Greed presents very enjoyable, albeit simple stealth gameplay elevated by great environmental design, though its shortcomings hold it back from achieving greatness.
Code Vein 2 simply doesn't do enough to stand out in the crowded Soulslike genre but its stylish combat and visuals, and a surprising story make it at least worth checking out for fans of the first game.
Code Violet unfortunately settles for being aggressively average. It has glimmers of good moments that are quickly overwhelmed by technical issues, uninspired gameplay and a bland story.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond delivers reliably fun old-school charm in doses but its new ideas are too inconsistent to ignore, resulting in a good Prime that could've been better in some aspects.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is carried by its excellent combat and engaging story that adds greatly to Tears of the Kingdom, but some problems still persist with its Musou-style game design.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A doesn't move the needle for the series as much as Arceus did, but the great changes to combat do a lot to keep you engaged, even when it stagnates and feels uninspired in other areas.
Ninja Gaiden 4 is a worthy, punishing new game in the hack n' slash series - its exhilarating, stylish and engaging combat is so damn good, you probably wouldn't mind some of its weaker elements.
Hades II delivers a perfect roguelike action-RPG that outshines its predecessor at every turn - an immensely stylish sequel that continuously builds upon its strong foundations with each addictive run.
Silent Hill f delivers compelling character-driven horror, mature storytelling, and stunning visuals and art direction in arguably one of the franchise's strongest, most confident games yet.
Ghost of Yotei is every bit as exciting, absorbing, and visually awe-inspiring as its predecessor - a stellar sequel that carefully refines its stylish combat, solid art direction, and grand exploration.
Cronos: The New Dawn pays homage to survival horror greats like Dead Space and Resident Evil with solid atmospherics and tense gameplay, though it never quite reaches the heights of the games it's inspired by.
Hell is Us boasts highly immersive unguided gameplay, rewarding exploration, and a compelling mystery at the core of its story, though its slow progression and bold design won't be everyone's cup of tea.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World offers players a wealth of remixed content on top of a great, irresistibly fun base game, making it an ideal entry point for the Kirby franchise.