Noah Hunter's Reviews
Peak is a chaotic, fun time with friends that will have you cheering with joy one moment upon reaching the top, and screaming in agony the next after falling back down. While it's possible to play solo, this is clearly a co-op–designed experience that needs to be played with friends to get the most out of it. A few bugs and crashes still take away from the experience, but Peak is a game that's worth your time in a very busy 2025.
Street Fighter 6 is an absolute delight on Nintendo Switch 2, acting as a wonderful launch title that has an almost infinite amount of fun to offer. With near-flawless performance despite some frame rate shortcomings in World Tour, this is an easy recommendation to any Switch 2 owner, fighting game fan or not.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is packed with practically everything you would ever need to know about the ins and outs of the Nintendo Switch 2. The tech demos are a fun novelty, but they don’t go beyond that — a novelty. The minigames aren’t great, and the quizzes get old quickly, leading to a repetitive experience that is hard to recommend to anyone outside of die-hard Nintendo fans or tech enthusiasts.
Forza Horizon 5 is an absolute treat on PlayStation 5, instantly catapulting itself into the lead for the best racing game available on the platform. This is a game you should be prepared to spend hundreds of hours in, collecting each and every car there is to find while racing to the finish line across countless races and events.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is bigger and better than ever on Nintendo Switch. The numerous quality-of-life upgrades and additions make the experience even more satisfying, and there simply is nothing like roaming the world of Mira inside your Skell. Jump in, get in that robot, pump up that music, and have a heck of a time doing it.
Split Fiction is a best in genre co-op experience filled with some of the most creative ideas in the medium. While the story leaves a bit to be desired, you're guaranteed an experience that is filled with laughs, tense moments, and sequences you will never forget. Josef Fares and Hazelight Studios once again prove that having fun is what matters most in this industry.
Monster Hunter Wilds is a worthy follow-up to Capcom's most successful game ever. The revamped gameplay is the best Monster Hunter has ever been, especially with additions like the Focus Mode. Beyond performance issues, Capcom went above and beyond in creating a game I find myself unable to stop playing. With a legitimate story mode and numerous tweaks, there has never been a better time to jump into Monster Hunter for the very first time.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure has finally landed on consoles, and it's the perfect tropical vacation for anyone searching for that next cozy adventure. While I did run into some technical issues on Nintendo Switch, they were minor enough that most players will not be phased by them. If you are looking for a new cozy game to play daily in 2025, Hello Kitty Island Adventure should be at the top of your list.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a basic remaster that's just enough to bring the game to Nintendo Switch for new players. With its intricate and creative level design, fun soundtrack, and solid replayability, this is an excellent platformer that fits right in with many others on Nintendo Switch. However, if you aim to experience the game in co-op, a frustrating bug makes the experience nothing like the original game, leaving Donkey Kong Country Returns HD in desperate need of a patch.
Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream is a fun time that ultimately falls a bit short of its lofty goals. While the story mode is a good time, there are issues here and there that prevent this from being a great experience. Moreover, the game's multiplayer offerings are fun to experience with friends, but the dwindling player count leaves major concerns for the longevity of this title.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a clear labor of love, retouching and retooling the 2006 classic for modern audiences. The gameplay is a blast, with all kinds of different weapons to experiment with as you work your way through the hordes to save survivors and escape. RE Engine brings new life to the title with stunning visuals and fantastic animations.
Astro Bot is a massive love letter to the 30-year history of PlayStation. With creative and charming ideas, the game is a blast to experience, with many cameos that left me astonished. The technical aspects of the title, such as its DualSense and physics implementations, sit at the top of the market. While there are some underutilized abilities and features, Astro Bot is a great time. This is exactly the type of game PlayStation needs more of: a focused adventure that never wavers from its mission of being fun.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is a phenomenal piece of work from Yoshio Sakamoto and Nintendo that sits as one of the best games of 2024. From the haunting story to the wonderful characters, this is a game I'll be thinking about for the rest of the year and beyond. I truly hope that Nintendo continues the Famicom Detective Club series, as it sits as a very special IP within the company's history.
Crossy Road Castle is a fun experience with plenty of substance. With all kinds of levels to discover, you never know what awaits beyond each door. The boss fights are fun and engaging, and I found myself easily engaged in collecting each character and hat. Overall, Crossy Road Castle is a great time, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a new platformer.
Concord is the definition of a "fine" shooter. The gunplay is fun, but there is nothing here to set Concord apart from any other game on the market. Between its lackluster modes, characters, and price, it's no surprise that Concord was unable to differentiate itself enough to find a player base.
Fate/stay night Remastered is by far the definitive way to experience Type-Moon's masterpiece visual novel, with updated HD visuals and official English support for the first time in two decades. The newly added quality-of-life features are outstanding, allowing new players to jump into the world of Fate like never before. This life-changing novel is one any fan of the genre or medium should aim to experience.
Thank Goodness You're Here! is weird, wacky, and fascinating. This is an incredibly fun title with dozens of secrets to discover and errands to complete. With vivid hand-drawn animation and a never-ending array of humor, you should absolutely jump into the town of Barnsworth.
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is a surprisingly fun collection, but it falls short of a satisfying single-player offering. This is a great tool for beginner speedrunners or those simply looking to dive back into some classic NES titles. I'm most curious to see how the game might evolve, whether through updates or with a new entry.
College Football 25 is a good return to form for the series after an 11-year absence. All 134 FBS teams have been recreated with exceptional detail, from the stadiums to the playbooks. While there is a lot left to be desired, CFB25 is a great platform that Tiburon can build off of for the future. It's nowhere near perfect, but it's a ton of fun. It's safe to say that EA has mostly delivered.
Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is a great enhancement of the original 3DS title. It's by far the definitive way to experience this classic 3DS title, and a perfect supplement to hold over players for a new game in the widely popular series. With the second and third games now available on Nintendo Switch, we can only hope that the GameCube original will make its way over at some point.