Bobby Pashalidis
- Final Fantasy IX
- Assassin's Creed II
- God of War
Marvel's Wolverine is a brutal, bloody return to Insomniac Games' Marvel universe, and it does a great job of expanding the existing world and scope. Logan may be an undeniably difficult character to play in a video game; however, the developers elevated what it means to play as Wolverine by crafting a mature story that jettisons the established expectations of an X-Men game. For all the blood and violence the character finds himself surrounded by, it's thanks to Liam McIntyre's performance that you can see how much Wolverine cares for those around him and tries to do right by them despite being an ultimate weapon. Marvel's Wolverine is easily Insomniac's best narrative work, with excellent character work to match.
Orbitals is one of those perfect games you finish in an afternoon with the right person. It's not particularily ambitious, but it doesn't need to be; rather, it delivers a great co-op experience that'll take you across the stars in a bid to save a space colony in your trust. Sitting down to play Orbitals will likely serve as a catalyst for your childhood of watching anime on weekends, and its stunning animation is hard to ignore.
As an Onimusha fan, this revival is excellent. The series isn't as big as some of Capcom's other series, but it is just as satisfying to sit down and play, and it's easily one of my favourite games of 2026. If you've played any of the other games recently, Way of the Sword modernizes every aspect of the series and elevates all the tenets the series is known for.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy upended any expectations I had going in. By focusing on Sophia for this brilliant third outing, I'm impressed by how thoughtfully the lore of this world continues to evolve. How wrong I was, as Sophia is not only a skilled fighter but a strong woman who's clearly been through things and come out the other side all the better. While there is less focus on the titular Plague Tale, the world Asobo created grows without it feeling shoehorned into the larger ethos.
Mafia: The Old Country — Man of Honour adds some new story beats that slot in neatly into the main campaign, and it’s nice to see Sicily again after some time away. However, beyond seeing Ennio Salieri again and where the story intends to take him, it’s worth dropping back in.
Steins;Gate Re:Boot is its own unique spin on the original game, and it doesn't do anything directly wrong to change the previous attempts, making this remake stuck in a sort of limbo.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero – Super Limit-Breaking Neo is enough reason to return to this excellent fighting game. It’s got a laundry list of new characters and stages, plus a new roguelike mode that lets you build your ultimate fighter. Ultimately, this content’s longevity relies on how much you enjoy the base game. The new roguelike mode has some potential, but it can be challenging if you’re not able to master the base game’s intricate controls and systems.
The Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass kicks off with a fun and sizeable area you can explore as the Bubbly Basin heads underwater. It's got some great new Pokémon to find, a great new area, alongside new recipes and materials to use. You'll be doing the same things you did before, but it's so much fun to build, discover, and create.
Duskfade starts off on the wrong foot but picks up steam quickly enough to recover and stick the landing.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is one of Arc System Works' best games to date, delivering a coherent, friendly, and fun fighting game for everyone.
Overall, I'm happy with the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 upgrade on the Switch 2. It's got the technical updates that were sorely needed, it has some new content, and the added Merc Assault mode lets you use your Blades directly. It still has some features that are at times grating, and the anime tropes are cringe-inducing, but the gameplay is solid.
Beast of Reincarnation shows Game Freak’s potential at being something other than the people behind Pokémon. However, some bad habits it’s carried over are on display here, with uneven storytelling and nonsensical character arcs. However, combat and the bond between Emma and Koo help this game mostly realize its potential.
The Mermaid Mask is a smart and thoughtful game where you’ll use your deduction skills to uncover the mystery behind the death of Captain Mortuga. In that journey, you’ll experience various twists and hard truths that come together to tell a smart story well worth the price of admission, and it’s bolstered by a wonderful cast that is having a blast playing these characters.
As far as multiplayer party games go, Heave Ho 2 is one of the most engaging due to how simple it is. Anyone can play alongside you, and it's easy to pick up and play on a whim. The developers have a winning idea that really only needed bigger levels and more variety, and they've delivered just that, with a lot more insanity to match their ambition.
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game includes all the elements for a standout experience within the Avatar universe — excellent mechanics, a good roster, a solid roster, and attention to detail.
Splatoon Raiders is a genuinely great twist on the Splatoon formula. Going in, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but as I left the tutorial, I knew this was a game that I find far and above more my preference than the mainline games. It might not have the deepest story, but what Splatoon Raiders does have is a sense of adventure, and the island hopping in search of treasure does just enough with its story and characters to keep you entertained through to the credits.
Echoes of Aincrad fails to leave a lasting impression, but for the hours you put into this Sword Art Online adventure, it satisfies the need for more games like this one.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink — Endless Ragnarok is more of what I wanted from Cygames, and its expansion is meaty with tons of thoughtful decisions made that make sense. Whether I'm exploring the Sky Realm while learning six new characters or entering The Conflux to grind out new materials and gear, I'm consistently having a blast with this game. Even if the main story isn't up to par with the base game, it warrants a return because the gameplay really is that good and even now, 100-plus hours later, there's something new to discover. And thankfully, all the new bosses provide a real and hard-hitting challenge — which will have you itching to get back into the fight with every loss.
Rhythm Heaven Groove has a lot going on, with over 80 minigames, tons of bizarre moments, and a whole lot of heart. The series itself feels like it hasn't changed much, but that's exactly why I find it so endearing; it's basically the same sort of experience that permeates through the Nintendo ecosystem, and one that I feel rightfully celebrates the return of Rhythm Heaven. The series is timeless and remains a franchise that fans often clamour over online. Thankfully, this entry is diverse and memorable, with so many fun minigames to keep you busy despite a couple of frustrating additions that do not exude the same joy as the rest of the game offers.
Star Fox feels like it’s on the cusp of relevance again with this masterfully done remake of an iconic classic. The same familiar action from the original is wonderfully realized on the Switch 2, adding more nuance, fleshed-out cutscenes, and all the wonderfully weird secrets fans can expect to uncover. However, it's time to move past the Lylat Wars and onto something else entirely new. For a new generation, this game is a great entry into the series that's been sidelined for far too long.