Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider certainly isn’t the most unique or downright original game that ever was. But it’s just so well conceived and fun to play that it would be a crime for you not to give it a go. It’s readily available on just about every single modern platform, so I would urge you to give it a shot. It’s also not terribly long – if you know what you’re doing, you can finish it in a couple of hours leisurely, so it’s a fantastic pick up and play in short bursts. I had my eye on this game ever since it was announced and I’m overjoyed it turned out so well.
If you haven’t experienced Metroid Prime before, my friend, do yourself a favor and get started with this at your earliest convenience. You’re in for a treat. It’s a cliché because it’s true: there’s no better way to get into it than now, with the remaster. Metroid Prime Remastered makes one of the best games ever, which was previously somewhat expensive to obtain, readily available on the Switch for a fraction of the price that’s very much worth it regardless of the level of experience you might have with the original game.
EA Motive's remake of Dead Space is a fantastic update to a bonafide horror classic.
For those that have finished Trails from Zero and are looking to continue with its overarching story, Trails to Azure is a must-play. For those just coming into the series, I’d recommend playing the previous one first before embarking into this one since you’d miss a lot of the passing references to previous events and character development. And of course, Trails from Zero is a fantastic game in its own right, you should damn well play it.
It’s no exaggeration to say that this is one of the brightest games I’ve ever played, and the same can be said for elements in it that are not simply tied to its visuals. The whole ambiance within Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key feels extremely easygoing for as chaotic as the events that take place can get, all things considered. It’s the sort of game you play as a break from more intense ones, or something you pop into your system in between.
MLB The Show 23 is a welcome sight for those looking to get acquainted with America’s previous favorite pastime.
Teslagrad 2 is a testament to iterative design coming into play in making a sequel an even better time than what came before it. The first game was already ridiculously smart and downright a blast, and it’s (pun intended) shocking to see how well Rain Games has made this sequel an even stronger game. Teslagrad 2 isn’t to be missed and is a contender for my list of top games of 2023, no doubt.
2023 has been an incredible year so far in gaming, and surprises like this make it even better. I couldn’t think of a better recommendation for anyone looking for a gripping game to get lost in. Dredge is an accomplishment in making such a simple starting premise turn into such an addictive experience that it evolves into the further you get in it. Just don’t eat any of those deformed fishes you pick up. You’ll thank me later!
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is in every way a very fun and enjoyable game to play in and of itself, which just happens to be Star Wars, and for that, it’s made even better, especially to fans like me. The fact that it is a product within that franchise doesn’t get in its way whatsoever, and that’s something that’s rare to see nowadays.
Ghost Trick is by far one of Capcom’s most unique and clever games, and it’s now finally widely available after spending nearly a decade and a half as a portable exclusive.
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes gets yet another go at capturing a whole new audience with its incredibly easy to grasp and deeply rewarding gameplay.
It’s absolutely great to be proven wrong by such a talented group of developers over at Night School Studio. They’re certainly cracked another amazing time with Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals, a game that I wouldn’t have a hard time recommending to any sort of player out there who’s looking for something exciting and worthy of their time to play.
Blasphemous 2 is a huge improvement upon its predecessor in just about every conceivable way; it’s a beautifully crafted adventure that might as well be the best of its kind this year.
With The Making of Karateka, Digital Eclipse shifts our perception of what videogame ‘making of’ content can entail, raising the bar for future products in this new genre of “docu-games”.
Dimension Shellshock adds an amazingly fun survival mode and new characters to last year’s greatest beat ‘em up, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.
Separate Ways is a fantastic reinvention of what was already a neat idea turned into its own thing, with its unique flavor and highly engaging approach to changing the core gameplay that was played up to current day, post Resident Evil 2 Remake standards. Capcom’s been on a run with their games lately and this is no exception. Yeah, it’s still a bit of a bummer that it’s paid DLC, but it’s one that is well worth getting as it’s well above average among similar expansions to other notable games.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central is a fantastic buy for those with enough friends and family that enjoy playing and having fun together. It’s a cartoony game that’s full of care-free charm and Sega’s trademark silliness that we’ve come to love them for. If you’re the sort of player that digs arcade experiences in portable form, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage harkens back to the franchise’s past as it shines light on a criminally overlooked setting for videogames and the culture of islam in what’s one of the most concise entries in modern Assassin’s Creed.
Then again, even without Conquest mode, Wargroove 2‘s main campaign is riveting enough, so if you decide for any reason not to engage with that game mode, you’re already getting plenty of bang for your buck. Wargroove 2 surpasses the first game in every conceivable way and goes to show that Chucklefish was looking for ways to keep the formula fresh with the addition of a content-heavy mode such as Conquest, something that nobody would bat an eye if it were post-release paid DLC. It’s that good and only works to solidify Wargroove 2‘s spot among the very best Switch out on the eShop, not just as an alternative to Advance Wars.
Don’t let its looks fool you, Astlibra Revision is a great action RPG with hooks that will keep you coming back for more.