Though I will always have a soft spot for the Cold Steel games, Trails Through Daybreak arrives as the new best game of the series. Between giving a more mature protagonist and redefining the combat, the Calvard arc starts with its best foot forward. The fact that things have already become this hectic with the very first game means we're looking at probably the craziest arc to date. Sadly, these take a bit of time to localize, and we'll be two behind in September, but I will be right there when the next one hits.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II is yet another quality installment in the franchise. Not only is there a better look at more of Calvard, but we also learn more about old friends as the cast expands in this game. The plot line may not make a big leap forward, but it wraps up many lingering mysteries from the first game
Ultimately, AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative is a detective story that needs to be experienced. If you’re a fan of Japanese mystery games such as the Zero Escape series or the Danganronpa games (by the same developer/publisher), Nirvana Initiative is definitely something you shouldn’t pass up. The only thing better is that if you haven’t experienced the first game in the series, you get to go back and experience another terrific detective tale.
If you’re a fan of the first game or want a new third-person shooter with tons of replayability thanks to randomized levels and dungeons, this game is the right choice for you. Remnant 2 might not technically be a looter shooter, but plenty of loot can be found. You have to be willing to go down the spooky alleyway or head into the mysterious hole in the ground and trust you’ll find something cool.
The 13 years the sequel took have resulted in a game that is fun to play and furthers not only the Alan Wake lore but also makes me incredibly excited for where this universe goes with Control 2. While my playthrough hit a snag that’s since been fixed, I can still honestly say the rest of the game was a delight to play. If you’ve done all you can in the Resident Evil 4 remake and are looking for the next great survival horror to dig your teeth into, Alan Wake 2 is it.
I can’t exactly sell Infinite Wealth as an easily accessible JRPG for anyone to enjoy. It’s a dense game with at least a 100-hour adventure for players to undertake. However, if you’re willing to brave the time commitment, there’s an amazing story here that feels like the most fitting wrap-up for anyone who has loved Kazuma Kiryu throughout the series. I don’t know where a possible ninth game might take the series, but getting here has been an incredible experience.
Rise of the Ronin is not only a terrific soulslike, but it presents a possible turning point in being the first high-profile entry in the genre to give difficulty choices. Even without that, it is still a fun game that anyone can get into and enjoy, as the combat is worth mastering because nothing beats the feeling of a perfectly timed Counterspark. Plus, this is an excellent way to learn about an important time in Japanese history if you didn’t already know it.
Earth Defense Force 6 is one of those games that I will never get tired of, as I have gone back to every single game in the series time and time again. As a whole, Earth Defense Force deserves way more attention, and I can’t imagine there’s anyone who wouldn’t like it. If you like cheesy dialogue, giant monsters/bugs, and shooting progressively crazier weaponry, give this one a shot.
The beauty of World Brothers 2 is that I am getting the best of both worlds. It plays much like a traditional EDF title while benefiting from new ideas. World Brothers 1 tried a few things that Earth Defense Force 6 later incorporated, so I am excited to see what is carried forward this time. If you’re looking for your next third-person shooter obsession or want to find a game to play with friends, I promise World Brothers 2 won’t disappoint you.
The beauty of Gundam Breaker is that you don’t need to be a fan of the larger Gundam franchise to get plenty of enjoyment out of it. It scratches the itch of an action game and a loot game all in one, and I can’t seem to get enough. At heart, it’s still a game all about making the wackiest robot you can that still absolutely shreds through enemies, and I think that’s amazing.
One of the best parts of Vampire Hunters is that it can be enjoyed in small bursts. It uses the usual mechanic of getting harder over time, but in the early game, you’ll probably be making it under 10 minutes and then buying upgrades to improve future runs. The dual modes also make the game easy to pick up and play as you get two flavours of a fun game to progress. This game is perfect for Vampire Survivors fans, and I like seeing where the bullet heaven genre is heading.
While Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero echoes Disgaea down to its core, players who don’t like that series might have more reason to love this one. From the fun little story to interesting combat mechanics, it treads its own ground and revamps combat in a quite enjoyable way. It doesn’t run that long either, with my playthrough being only a bit over 40 hours, and that’s without the post-game stuff. A well-made tactical RPG can really suck you in, and Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero will do precisely that if you give it a chance, and that’s no mean feat.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a wonderful mix of the two ideas. As a platformer, the game wouldn’t have enough driving force, and would wear out quickly. For farming, while it’s truly lovely, there’s too much downtime with not enough to do. Each of these things in a game of their own would be draining, but together it creates a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup of a game that deserves recognition and continues to feel fresh and enjoyable even after 20 hours in.
The use of the jetpack meant that the map had to have more to it. There could no longer be somewhere players couldn’t/wouldn’t go. This is probably the first game of its kind where I honestly believe I saw at least 90% of the map. ELEX II is one hell of an experience and made swooping around the map to unlock fast travel points and complete the main story feel like an adventure rather than just ticking off boxes. The freedom ELEX II allows through the traversal mechanics is something that I have never encountered before in a game like this but will now always think about going forward.
Stranger of Paradise is a peanut butter and chocolate combination of Final Fantasy XV and Nioh. The beauty of it is that you don’t even have to be a fan of Final Fantasy I to enjoy Stranger of Paradise. The story explains everything you need to know and anything you bring into it from previous knowledge is just extra. The combat is just spicy enough that you can feel like a powerhouse, but lets the players somewhat tweak the difficulty to their own desires if they’d rather face a tougher challenge. If this is the way that Square Enix will be remaking the early Final Fantasy games I am entirely in. This iteration takes modernization to the best possible level.
If you’ve been itching for a solid golf game with just the right amount of challenge, Cursed to Golf is for you.
Rollerdrome combines the skate game feeling of satisfaction from landing the perfect trick, with the pulse-pounding adrenaline of fighting for your very life. Between the story that you must find for yourself and the varied arenas that throw new ways to move and do tricks, there’s never a dull moment to be found. Rollerdrome is by no means a long game, but it is one that is just so easy to pick up and play.
SD Gundam Battle Alliance is a game for Gundam fans, but actual knowledge of the series isn’t wholly important to your enjoyment. If you just want some great action RPG gameplay featuring some of the best mechs ever introduced in anime, this game has you covered. The array of available Gundam to choose from will keep you replaying missions just to find the one suit perfect for you.
If you have ever wanted to play a game where you actually feel like a witch in the woods, then you have every reason to pick up Blacktail and won’t regret it. Considering this is the first game from developer The Parasight, there is every reason to be incredibly excited about where they go from here.
If you’re a fan of the Trails series and are wanting a complete look at the world in the franchise, The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is an unmissable stop. Despite being based on a decade-old handheld title, the game is every bit as gripping as it was when it came out. Plus, with The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie arriving in July, this is the perfect time to brush up on the backstories of the heroes that will be taking part.