Stray delivers on its adorable cat adventure premise, but its excellent atmosphere and strong sci-fi storytelling are what elevate it.
Escape Academy delivers lovingly crafted puzzles that shine in co-op play, but it can't fully replicate the thrills of a real-life escape room.
As long as you're OK with the usual Musou repetition, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is a worthy follow-up to Three Houses.
Neon White swings for the fences with its card-based gun-platforming, but it pays off to create a wildly enjoyable action game.
Mario Strikers: Battle League delivers the deepest Mario sports experience yet, with surprisingly nuanced soccer gameplay. There's just not much to do once you've mastered those skills.
Sniper Elite 5 doesn't have anything new to say, but its open-ended missions make for a devilishly enjoyable Nazi-slaying sandbox.
Hardspace: Shipbreaker is an intricate anti-puzzle game that delivers a searing commentary on corporate abuse.
Vampire: The Masquerade -- Swansong is an intricate narrative adventure game that can be too dense for its own good at times.
Even with a few duds in the pack, Nintendo Switch Sports' highlights make it a must-own multiplayer party game.
Moss: Book 2 is a confident VR sequel that iterates on its predecessor just enough to make it feel new again.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a charming platformer filled with intuitive puzzles, a genuinely intriguing world, and hysterical transformations that always made me smile.
Ghostwire: Tokyo dazzles with its supernatural set pieces and folklore-driven storytelling, though its open-world tropes lack the same creative edge.
WWE 2K22 rallies from 2020's near-fall with a robust, if imperfect pro wrestling simulator.
Triangle Strategy delivers smart tactics, but battles play second fiddle to its dull political lore.
While technical frustrations hold back its full potential. Elden Ring astonishes with fantastic open-world design and consistently rewarding exploration.
Horizon Forbidden West establishes the Horizon franchise as a power player in Sony’s first-party arsenal.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a step in the right direction for the aging series, even if its technical limits can't always support its ambitions.
Halo Infinite isn't going to reinvent the shooter genre, but it's a fun solo and multiplayer experience that can only get better with time.
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is a shockingly addictive collection of brain teasers, but a slim package makes it a hard sell.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl play it safe, faithfully remaking two classic DS games -- at times to a fault.