El Paso, Elsewhere doesn't boast the slickest gameplay out there, but its tale of love, death and the impending end of the world is one that consistently kept my attention. This is an entirely unique experience, and one I suggest checking out if you are a fan of supernatural neo-noir.
Despite some issues and a weaker entry than last year, there's still plenty to enjoy in NBA 2K24. The gameplay continues to be refined with smart tweaks, and the visuals are among the best in the genre. However, the continued push of microtransactions continues to leave a sour taste, and MyCareer is a disappointment this time out.
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy continues to push the series back to its former glory. While the combat engine still needs some work, the platforming and puzzles will challenge both your mind and reflexes in satisfying ways. For a fifth entry, it's nice to see the series still trying to produce compelling magical adventures.
WrestleQuest has just enough charm and personality to make up for its more distracting problems. The constant references to the world of wrestling and fun appearances by legends make the stories of Muchacho Man and Brink worth following, but the gameplay could have used some additional refinement.
Viewfinder is a delightfully fresh and enjoyable puzzler. The unique photo dropping gimmick is implemented perfectly, and repeatedly built upon over the course of the campaign. Some elements outside of the gameplay could have used work, but this is still a solid debut effort.
AEW: Fight Forever nails the gameplay mechanics, but struggles in several other areas, with a lackluster presentation and gaps in the roster. It doesn't hit the lows some of the recent WWE 2K games, but it also can't match that series' current high.
Street Fighter 6 is a big improvement for the franchise, and a reminder that Capcom is the best in the genre. The gameplay is as crisp and engaging as it has ever been, and the amount of modes included in the game will keep players busy for quite some time.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom improves and expands upon its fantastic predecessor in several ways. Link's new abilities provide significant, and excellent, changes to the core gameplay. Even the narrative offers an interesting backstory the land of Hyrule, while also giving Zelda time to shine. It's one of the best titles that the Nintendo Switch has to offer.
Afterimage looks fantastic, plays well, and is a ton of fun in its best moments. However, the lack of direction in its large world leads to constant pathfinding annoyances. In a genre filled with great titles, it's a solid option but one that doesn't truly stand out.
MLB The Show 23 doesn't reinvent the genre, but the franchise continues to stand as one of the best on the market. The gameplay is fantastic across all phases of the sport, and the line-up of modes has been improved thanks to the addition of Storylines. There is still room for improvement, but The Show remains a contender for best sports title of the year.
The once moribund franchise continues to get better and better with WWE 2K23. The gameplay is as enjoyable as it has ever been, and the different modes featured in the title continue to be augmented with new features. There are still improvements to be had, but I remain excited to see where the franchise goes from here.
Have a Nice Death may not quite reach the upper levels of the genre, but it's still a fun, well-designed game that will appeal to fans of challenging roguelites.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe turns a solid Wii platformer into a slightly better Nintendo Switch title. The extra copy abilities are fun to use, and Magolor's Epilogue is a good way to wrap up the story. However, the lack of challenge in the campaign is difficult to look past.
Hogwarts Legacy may not have enough magic to ensnare all gamers, but fans of the series will find more than enough enjoyment in Avalanche Software's open-world adventure.
Fire Emblem Engage features familiar excellent gameplay with copious ways to customize your team. However, the story is rather dull, and the large roster is hurt by the limited character depth. There's plenty of tactical RPG gameplay to enjoy here, but it feels like a light step back for the series.
Grotesquely designed and brutally challenging, GRIME is a unique metroidvania experience. It's certainly not for everyone, but those willing to dive into the title's dark world will find plenty to enjoy.
Marvel's Midnight Suns might not deliver on everything it's setting out to do, but is still an excellent fusion of hardcore strategy and super hero action. It's engaging to take down enemies with your superpowered pals, and then getting to unwind with them afterwards.
Pokémon Scarlet is a good game undone by extremely poor performance. The open-world set-up is fantastic, and the title does a good job of letting you wander into the deep end, but not forcing you to drown. Unfortunately, the copious amount of technical issues with it prevent it from reaching the heights it should have.
The Chant had the pieces to be a unique piece of survival horror entertainment, but the assorted aspects of the title fail to congeal into a satisfying adventure. The combat is clunky and bland, and the story has its moments, but doesn't deliver in the end.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope builds upon the framework established by the first title in several positive ways. The tactical combat has been given more variety, and having more things to do outside of battle was also a smart addition. Despite the annoying Rabbids and lackluster plot, it's an overall improvement and a solid sequel.