Summary Hirogami is fun, but it would be better if it were a pure platformer with a focus on origami. Despite the combat being a bit basic, the other elements, like exploration and abilities, help flesh out this story to stop the blight from taking over. It's a beautiful game that does a great job of showcasing the impressive art of origami, and it's paired with a great soundtrack that I adored listening to while playing.
Cronos: The New Dawn is a culmination of over a decade of experience from Bloober Team. Through the years, the studio has risen to the challenge, and this trend continues with its newest franchise, which is a mix of some of the biggest survival horror games to exist. The campaign is brutal and challenges you to survive in a bleak, failed world where a virus has wreaked havoc in Eastern Europe, and the sci-fi elements present a fun twist on the formula.
Hell is Us is equal parts intriguing and frustrating, with some impressive design choices that force you to think and plan your path through Hadea. The idea behind player-pattering is refreshing in a time where many games leave the sense of mystery out of their plans from the beginning, and the combat forces you to think about how to deal with wildly unpredictable enemies that feel and sound like they're from another world. In the nearly 50 hours you'll spend in this meticulously planned-out world, there's very little filler to worry about, with some often engaging stories dealing with a great mix of very real scenarios of civil war mixed with some impressive, ethereal, otherworldly dangers.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World should not be missed. Not only does it upgrade the base game for the Switch 2, which is one of the best Kirby games already, but it also adds a fun and out-of-this-world expansion filled with fun powers and tons of Kirby charm. The Star-Crossed World expansion adds new and exciting levels filled with new enemies and new items Kirby can use to save the world from the encroaching darkness. It also looks incredible on the Switch 2, propping the latest Nintendo console against a stable of back-to-back incredible launch titles.
Like a ninja, Shinobi: Act of Vengeance sneakily delivers one of this year's best 2D action games. It smartly and stealthily showcases its brutal and spectacular mechanics that consistently up the stakes. While the story is the weakest aspect, the stylish action shows how promising 2D action games can be today.
Herdling is more about the journey than it is the destination. A humble game, the premise of herding a fictional animal through tumultuous conditions proves to be an excellent idea.
Mafia: The Old Country is a no-nonsense, back-to-basics experience, and its dedication to authenticity serves as its best attribute. By sticking to a tight, linear experience, The Old Country allows the performances and writing to do the heavy lifting without losing the allure of the Sicilian countryside. By bringing to light a specific place in time that few movies or games have gone before, there's a wealth of details you'll come to appreciate.
Drag x Drive is fun, but it doesn't pack enough content to keep players coming back. The three-on-three basketball games can be fun with the right teammates, and nailing some sweet tricks for bonus points is satisfying, but the magic quickly wears thin.
Time Flies is a brief but fun title that focuses on reflection and choice. It might not resonate with everyone due to its simplicity, but don't let that deter you. It's a game that reminds us that time cannot be reclaimed, so make the most of the time you have.
Dead Take is a surprise standout experience from Surgent Studios. It's got a stacked cast with a focus on storytelling over anything else, using the allure of Hollywood as the gateway to unconventional horror. While there are some predictable moments, the environment, the performances, and immersion make up for it. It is an emotionally charged horror experience that punches well above its weight and serves as a commentary on ambition and exploitation.
Chained Echoes: Ashes of Elrant is a bit uneven, but it introduces a great new character and allows the lore of this world to blossom. It is pretty clear that this was made for fans of Chained Echoes thirsting for more and does a decent job at filling in the gaps of the base game's unresolved plot threads.
Atomic Owl is a beautiful game in a colourful and dangerous world that is genuinely interesting, but it's also a game mired in technical issues that make it hard to enjoy it.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is an all-around fun Soulslike experience despite some rough edges. It is certifiably challenging with a plethora of builds available, which rewards patience and split-second timing.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 does a lot to reenergize these two games from the early 2000s. At the time, the series was something every kid would talk about with their friends. Now, the series is given another moment in the spotlight, offering a new generation access to a series that feels as timeless as ever, thanks to its eclectic gameplay, excellent music, impressive skaters, and memorable levels. The personality, humour, and flow of these games are all still intact, and that makes them unforgettable.
Donkey Kong Bananza is far deeper than I ever anticipated, and it's absolutely one of this year's best games. There has never been a better Donkey Kong adventure than Bananza.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a bigger and bolder expansion that will once again split fans and critics. The improvements across the board are felt immediately, bringing about a significant amount of much-needed change to the formula. Between the changes to stealth and combat, the new structures you can build, and the new settings, cast, and music, Death Stranding 2 has proven that Kojima is not only on point but also an auteur of the industry. There is nobody like him doing what he does, and I sincerely doubt there will be.
Mario Kart World moves the series in a bold new direction with open world and battle royale elements, but there's a distinct feeling of loneliness in the free roam.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour features some elegant ideas, including minigames, medals, and tech demos, that give you an idea of what the Switch 2 hardware offers. Some of it, mainly the tech demos, are excellent samples of what the system can do, but ultimately, the medal chasing is little more than busy work, and it just leaves an awkward impression of being a game that should've been on the hardware for free. The minigames are also extremely simple and sometimes entertaining, but they never enticed me to return to them once I had finished what I was asked to do.
The Alters is a mashup of some of the best sci-fi movies of the last few decades, taking the idea of an isolated human and turning it on its head. The base-building and survival mechanics are fun, and they flesh out and elevate the story of a wayward soul looking to get back home in one piece.
Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time should not work with so much content crammed inside of it, yet it remarkably does.