Life is Strange: Reunion closes the book on Max and Chloe's story, but is it handled well? While it's nice seeing Max and Chloe again, it comes at a cost. The series has lost what makes it unique, and by retreading old territory, Life is Strange fails to evolve. Instead, uneven writing and plot holes combine to make a story that's hard to care about. Max and Chloe are still the same as they were before, just a little bit older. Deck Nine says this is it for Max and Chloe, and honestly, it's about time.
Darwin's Paradox is cartoonishly great, with enough fun to satisfy anyone looking for an engaging platformer. It sometimes works against itself when exploring or dealing with enemies, but at times it comes together to be pretty coherent and exciting. However, sometimes, the controls fight against you, and you even have situations where you have to attempt sections a few times to get past them. Overall, this is a short affair, but it's got some great platforming sections despite some control shortfalls.
Mr. Sleepy Man is a wonderfully weird platformer filled with incredibly fun moments. It won't overstay its welcome, but it'll keep you entertained and engaged through the handful of hours it takes to get through credits. For a solo-developer joint, it's filled with creativity, unencumbered by studio oversight, and wears its heart on its sleeve.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park is a fine offering from Nintendo, but it's another Switch 2 title offering an upgrade with not enough substance.
The Mega Man Star Force trilogy is worth the time sink, but I'm curious if it would've been worth the development time to craft a definitive three-game scenario which combines the content of the other games. As it stands, I don't see a reason to play through each game unless you're really keen on more Blue Bomber shenanigans.
Coming in fast and furious, Milestone's Screamer is an excellent arcade racer. It's a successful reimagining of a beloved '90s series, and it looks, plays, and feels incredible. It is a competent racer, providing enough challenge to test all skill levels around every bend. As far as arcade racers go, Screamer is technical, stylish, and immensely capable of offering thrills at breakneck speeds.
Etrange Overlord is fun and short, a perfect palette cleanser for those who are looking for a shorter experience.
The content Pokopia hides rewards those who dive in, something that is naturally reinforced by its history, giving the series, currently celebrating its 30th birthday this year, another, almost essential dimension.
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake mostly succeeds as a remake and understands what made the original tick.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection continues the spin-off series' success with style, brutal battles, and tons of monster hunts.
Tales of Berseria Remastered is a bizarre pick for Bandai Namco to update, but it is uniquely the most adult title the series has put out.
God of War: Sons of Sparta might bring fans back to Greece, but it isn't the way you expected to return. Ghost of Sparta did a fine job of filling in Kratos' backstory before his reign of chaos. Sons of Sparta muddies the past while revisiting a time in Kratos' life that few fans care about.
Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse might not be the scariest follow-up, but it doubles down on effective storytelling, better writing, and better characters. What you end up experiencing is a crafted story that will linger in your thoughts as you play. My mind would drift to The Mermaid's Curse when I was in public, getting groceries or in the car on the way home, and it was because of the incredible writing that I'd scramble home to pick up and continue uncovering clues to learn the truth.
High on Life 2 might be bigger, but does that make it better? In a few ways, yes, it is fun because it has some new mechanics, like a skateboard to explore and lots of charming guns to use. Those come at the cost of clear technical mishaps, including slowdowns and glitches that often rear their ugly heads.
Reanimal is both beautiful and horrifying, carving out a unique identity. The blend of co-op mechanics and atmospheric storytelling mixed with nightmarish creature design creates an experience you won't soon forget. Despite playing solo, I enjoyed my time with Reanimal but felt I would've appreciated the gameplay much more with someone I know to help me navigate the island. Ultimately, Tarsier's penchant for telling bone-chilling horror stories is why they continue to make a lasting impression.
Mario Tennis Fever is easily Nintendo's best Mario-themed tennis game in ages. Filled with tons of racket types and characters to unlock, the fun you have playing online or against the CPU never falters or feels stale. I've had such a great time diving into the pretty solid Adventure mode and Trial Towers. The strategic layers the game adds through various racket types go a long way and mesh well with the fast pace of tennis.
Crisol: Theatre of Idols is a steadfast horror survival game. While its inherent inspirations are worn proudly on its sleeve, Crisol rarely steps outside of its comfort zone. I like the idea of sacrificing health for ammo, but it needs substance to really sell the idea. Enemies might hit hard, but enemies rarely outpace themselves, and it becomes easy to guess where enemies will come from and how fast they'll lunge at you. The sense of tension in the world's empty streets and earlier sections is genuinely impressive, though.
Code Vein 2 excels at being a more accessible sequel, offering a game that fans of the original will find irresistible. However, it's technically unpolished on consoles, and it struggles to stand out in a sea of soulslikes. What Code Vein 2 does better than the others, though, is the excellent world-building and exploration and some fun, brazen characters that'll make you love them.
Ultimately, what matters in Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined is the journey. Every character you meet, every party member you recruit, has a tale you want to experience. With reworked combat and vocations, a stellar party, and dozens of memorable locations in need of help, Reimagined is one of the finest games in the series.
Cairn wasn't on my list of must-play titles this year, but it needs to be on yours. It's a puzzle game disguised as a climbing game, as no two climbs ever feel the same or offer the same solution. Cairn is just this incredible game I can't put down.