Astro’s Playroom is well worth your time as one of your first games on your shiny, new PlayStation 5. Considering that it takes full advantage of the DualSense’s features, has fun platform levels and a catchy soundtrack, and it’s FREE, it’s hard to not like Astro’s Playroom. It’s just unfortunate that it’s so short. Astro and his friends deserve a full-length platformer! Until then, I’ll be hanging out with my bot buddies.
Bugsnax is an interesting, well written, and whimsical adventure. Even if the game is pretty short, it’s a delicious game for players to start catching the Bugsnax vibe.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is clearly an upgrade over its predecessor. Newcomers have a lot to chew on as veterans, not so much. By taking what was great about the first game and adding fun, new additions such as Skill Battle mode, Sega made a puzzle game sequel well worth playing. Game clear!
Putting aside the quirky visuals, weird enemies, and the saucy maidens, Waifu Uncovered actually offers some solid shoot ‘em up gameplay, making it a fun, short diversion to play between other games in your library. It’s unfortunate that it doesn’t have more to offer outside its normal gameplay, but you get what you pay for. Just be sure to enjoy the waifus at home!
Even with the excessive loading times, New Super Lucky’s Tale is a fun, lovable game that fans of platformers should jump into. The countless improvements made are well worth it (even the cornier dialogue), easily making this the best version of Lucky and his adventure. You’ll be ready to become the next great guardian in no time, but you’re great the way you are.
Goshzookie! With a combination of varying gameplay styles alongside beautiful designs and upbeat music, Ooblets is an adorable and entertaining game that, even with its glitches, is still worth putting your time into playing. So come make your home in Badgetown. You’ll be glad you did.
With gorgeous character illustrations and vibrant level designs, Shantae and the Seven Sirens makes another bold statement for why Shantae has been going strong for eighteen years. It’s a fun, hair-whipping romp that no one should pass up. May the next eighteen years be filled with more amazing half-genie action!
Gris feels like a AAA game from a major gaming company, but it comes from a small indie studio and it’s an incredible debut. You can’t simply watch videos or read about it to fully understand it, though. You need to experience the game to appreciate its unique art style, smooth gameplay, and soothing music. While the journey isn’t long, it will stay with you long after you complete it. So go ahead and let yourself be taken into this beautifully realized world. You’ll be glad you did.
From its classic music to its gameplay, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends captures the delightful essence of the original. Despite a rehashing of levels and a curious lack of online play, the Bubble Dragons are back in a big way, and they are a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch. At the end of the day, you’ll be humming the Bubble Bobble theme before you know it.
One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows takes on the highly popular anime from a different perspective and pulls it off pretty well. With its unique fighting, over-the-top moves and charm from the show, fans can enjoy watching Saitama all over again. Newcomers will have some difficulty following along, but it may be enough to interest them in the show afterward (or in doing 100 push-ups, sit-ups, and squats and a 10K run every single day). After all, it’s just a hobby.
Disgaea 4 Complete+ has everything a tactical RPG fan wants, including a can of sardines. The humorous dialogue, enjoyable characters, and the sheer amount of content make the game difficult to put down. Plus, the port job to the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 was done remarkably well, so the game looks and runs great. In short, it’s an excellent game for on-the-go or at home and one of the best tactical RPGs today, dood!
Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered is an entertaining game for fans of the franchise. Even though those who have already played the 2009 original won’t see any gameplay or graphical improvements, this is still the best, most authentic Ghostbusters experience by far (outside of living in the corner penthouse of Spook Central).
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is a great game for a party, and the 2D mode adds a fair amount of replay value. While the story has its ups and downs, this is easily one of the best entries of the series.
The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors is an entertaining and welcome flashback to the 1990s. Those who are looking for some beat-em-up fun with a friend should take this game for a spin, even if it’s a short one. After all, who says android ninjas aren’t cool?
SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech is an entertaining card-based RPG that players who enjoy a turn-based challenge should not pass up. Regardless of its lengthy battles, its combat flexibility and enchanting world more than make up for it. So take up the sword and the gear, and save the world!
Pikuniku is fun, colorful, and simple. Its goofy animation and physics truly make the game stand out. Plus, you can beat the story in roughly around three to four hours, making it a great title to play in-between the larger, more in-depth entries in your library. So if you have an itch for simple puzzles and a LocoRoco-type game, give this one a kick.
Who says playing as a bard isn’t fun? Wandersong is a harmonic and colorful game that proves that not every hero has to have a giant weapon to save the world; they just need a big heart (and maybe a decent set of lungs). The simplistic graphics and odd swordplay of this music-themed title may be a hurdle to some, but the gameplay, dialogue, and soundtrack is otherwise pure entertainment. Encore!
Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! is a fun and addicting game with an enormous track list that guarantees players plenty of musical variety. While it may lack the extra gameplay modes found in similar titles on other consoles, being able to customize your avatar and play in online matches is a pure delight on its own. It’s great to have the Taiko series back on North American shores after such a long absence. May the beat go on!
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince is a beautiful game with a touching storyline. Its unique gameplay is quite different from anything Nippon Ichi Software has done before, but don’t expect to have much to do after you finish it. Still, it’s an enchanting experience while it lasts, and players will live happily ever after…probably.
Battle Princess Madelyn has a lot of potential, but it is perhaps a little too faithful to the past to really catch fire. Fans of the Ghosts ‘n Goblins series and those who love a real challenge will definitely want to jump into Madelyn’s adventure. After all, who doesn’t want a ghost dog by their side?