An ideal entry point for newcomers, this Deluxe Pack delivers the best versions of the trilogy with useful quality of life improvements, sharper visuals, and all included DLC. At the same time, the lack of an upgrade option or save transfer makes the steep price hard to justify for returning players, and playing all three games back to back can lead to story fatigue.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a stunning technical showcase for the Nintendo Switch 2, delivering smooth 60 FPS performance and exciting combat that skillfully blends Zonai abilities with mechanics inspired by Tears of the Kingdom. However, its storytelling loses some impact due to repetitive, linear mission design and pacing issues caused by an overabundance of lengthy, though beautifully cinematic, cutscenes.
A lively and charming party game that captures the spirit of Mario Party while adding its own signature LEGO humor and impressive customization options. However, the small number of boards at launch, uneven Golden Brick balance that lessens late-game excitement, and repetitive minigame selection hold it back from reaching true party game greatness.
A solid and smooth port of a defining JRPG, Tales of Xillia Remastered delivers an enjoyable experience with its engaging co-op battle system and thoughtful quality-of-life improvements. The charming cast and vibrant world remain as captivating as ever, but the dated user interface and a handful of minor bugs hold it back from feeling truly modern.
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake successfully modernizes two foundational, aged RPGs with a unified, speedier battle system and essential quality-of-life upgrades, making them finally palatable for modern players. The package, which shines on the Switch 2 with its HD-2D visuals, delivers a definitive, streamlined experience, though the core narrative of the short first game remains simplistic.
Once Upon a Katamari successfully delivers the series' signature, quirky charm through its inventive time-travel theme, deep customization, and chaotic new multiplayer mode. While it retains the core, addictive fun, the familiar, clunky camera controls and the King's interruptions persist, making the nostalgic experience feel polished but not entirely modernized.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A sets a new technical benchmark for the series, achieving a smooth 60 FPS on the Switch 2 while revolutionizing combat with an engaging real-time system. Despite its strong narrative cohesion and challenging boss fights, the adventure is slightly muted by the absence of voice acting and the overly simplified 'wild zones,' which remove much of the excitement of natural discovery.
Disgaea 7 Complete is the definitive, feature-packed edition of the tactical RPG, running exceptionally well at 60 FPS on the Nintendo Switch 2 with surprising graphical options. The sheer volume of version-exclusive DLC and quality-of-life additions is undeniable, though the practice of locking content and the high launch price may give both newcomers and veteran players pause.
Little Nightmares 3 successfully preserves the franchise's haunting atmosphere and wordless, mysterious storytelling under new development, making for a compelling new entry. The innovative co-op design is hampered, however, by the glaring omission of offline split-screen and cross-play support at launch, making the otherwise intriguing experiment feel functionally incomplete.
A stellar remaster of two 3D platforming masterpieces that remain inventive and fresh a decade later. While the steep price and dated motion controls detract slightly, the stunning 4K/60 FPS upgrade on Switch 2 makes this package essential for newcomers and worthy of a return trip for fans.
Silent Hill f is a bold, visually stunning new entry that successfully modernizes the series with a Japanese setting, an engaging narrative by Ryukishi07, and a robust, action-oriented combat system. While the fighting mechanics initially feel clunky and the late-game shift toward action may alienate purists, its deep lore, intricate puzzles, and strong character development make it a thrilling and rewarding experience.
Pac-Man World 2: Re-Pac is a colorful and faithful remake with improved visuals and tight controls, making it the definitive way to play the classic. However, it inherits the original's overly linear and repetitive level design, uninspired boss encounters, and barebones PC port, leaving it enjoyable but short of modern platformer standards.
Dying Light: The Beast represents a welcome return to form, with a more focused narrative and improved parkour mechanics that harken back to the original game's strengths. While it forgoes advanced graphical features like ray tracing and suffers from a generic villain, the game's polished gameplay, solid performance, and satisfying core loop make it a worthwhile experience for fans of the series.
A surprisingly polished and accessible entry, Super Robot Wars Y skillfully blends multiple anime universes into a cohesive tactical RPG with stunning attack animations and deep customization. While the narrative feels like fan-fiction and the UI can be clunky, its quality-of-life improvements and engaging core gameplay make it a fantastic entry point for newcomers.
Despite a satisfying core gameplay loop and a solid entry point for newcomers, Everybody's Golf is an unpolished release plagued by technical issues, a cumbersome camera, and a lack of the signature charm and polish of past entries, making it a decent but ultimately unremarkable return for the series.
Bloober Team's Cronos: The New Dawn is a confident new IP that builds on the studio's horror strengths with a distinct visual style and a challenging combat system. However, the experience is held back by technical issues, a clunky inventory, and unpolished combat mechanics that hinder its otherwise ambitious design.
A standout entry in the series, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar successfully expands on the original with vibrant visuals, quality-of-life updates, and rich content. While the farming loop may still feel familiar and some customization options are limited, the game's polish and thoughtful additions make it a rewarding experience for both new players and longtime fans.
Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 delivers CyberConnect2’s trademark blend of cinematic spectacle and flashy combat, successfully capturing the anime’s visual flair while offering a massive roster and solid performance. Its accessible gameplay and roguelike Training Path mode add replay value, but the linear story design, filler collectibles, and reliance on recycled formulas keep it from feeling truly fresh. For fans of the anime or Ninja Storm series, it is a stylish crowd-pleaser. For others, it may feel more like déjà vu than evolution.
Mafia: The Old Country delivers a competently crafted but ultimately underwhelming prequel that falls short of franchise expectations. While the early 1900s Sicilian setting offers visual appeal and the supporting cast provides memorable moments, the experience suffers from uneven pacing, a unconvincing central romance, and repetitive gameplay mechanics. Outdated enemy AI undermines stealth encounters, and the linear structure lacks the ambition of previous entries. Despite solid performance optimization and polished presentation, this mid-budget effort feels caught between being too safe and too limited, requiring series fans to significantly lower their expectations.
Donkey Kong Bananza successfully transitions the franchise into 3D with impressive scope and satisfying destruction mechanics. The open-sandbox design encourages exploration, while intuitive controls and collectibles keep players engaged. However, it suffers from performance issues in docked mode, simplistic difficulty, and a forgettable story. Despite these shortcomings, Nintendo delivers a polished launch title that captures the joy of destruction and expands the series' potential.