Fire Emblem Engage is a refreshing return to the series’ roots, emphasizing its tactical complexity that surpasses more recent entries in the franchise while still featuring a charming cast of characters.
One Piece Odyssey is a slog to play, with horrendous pacing and progression issues destroying what little good can be found in the story and combat.
Valkyrie Profile is a great game, a cult classic that still feels fresh over two decades since its original release.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet manages to be a fun adventure in spite of numerous technical issues thanks to great open world design.
Eight years in the making, Bayonetta 3 is an utterly ridiculous action romp from PlatinumGames that blends sublime controls with over-the-top set pieces that fans have come to love. And while pacing and technical issues hold it back, it’s a fantastic sequel that fans of the franchise will love.
Sparks of Hope is a fun strategy game that, despite getting bogged down by a lack of difficulty and poorly designed menus, is a blast to play thanks to its neat little puzzles and freeform battles.
It’s been 28 years, but Live A Live finally gets its proper dues outside of Japan with an excellent remake.
Ghostwire: Tokyo envisions a world that is wonderful and interesting to explore at first glance, but soon reveals itself to be shallow and lacking in its writing and combat.
Babylon’s Fall is an early contender for the worst game of 2022.
Elden Ring is an epic. With a beautifully designed open world, FromSoftware takes the Souls formula to new heights and crafts a journey that needs to be played.
This all goes to say that Total War: Warhammer III is a great conclusion to a series that has reinvigorated what is possible from the Total War franchise. It’s epic, chaotic, and makes me want to wage campaigns against Chaos again and again.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is an adventure that is charming, surprising, and above all else, wonderful to play.
Battlefield 2042 is a fun enough time, but DICE needs to work hard if it wants to take the unrefined ideas found here and turn it into something that feels like a worthy successor to the Battlefield legacy.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl show that not all remakes are worth playing if you have the originals on hand.
Voice of Cards is a neat little RPG that, thanks to its excellent presentation, makes for a fun experience despite a tedious encounter rate and boring dungeon design.
Tetris Effect: Connected is a must play game, and should not be missed by anyone.
This is still a Ryu Ga Gotoku production, meaning there’s an over-the-top and at times absurd line that weaves it way throughout the entire game. In short, Lost Judgment is a damn good time.
Tales of Arise is not so much an evolution of the Tales series as it is an awkward game that backs up decent combat with a bland, uninspired story and characters.
It took sixteen years, but Psychonauts 2 is worth the wait.
NEO: The World Ends With You may not be as great as its predecessor, but it's still a good game in its own right.