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.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a really cool spin-off for the Rune Factory series, and it's an overall good game that'll tide you over until the inevitable sixth numbered entry.
JDM: Japanese Drift Master has the potential to be the best drift experience out there. It embodies the lifestyle and uniquely showcases it.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered doesn't deviate much from the original, but the improved graphics and modernized quality-of-life improvements make it easier to enter Cyrodiil.
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is an improvement over Warlords and is easily a highlight for the series.
Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker is an excellent follow-up that further fleshes out supporting characters and backstory.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 might not change much regarding its appearance, but it's a solid collection of Capcom's greatest fighter hits now readily available for genre fanatics.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a likely frontrunner for Game of the Year. For a studio comprised of newcomers, Sandfall Interactive has crafted a love letter to JRPGs and rekindled the discussion of whether or not turn-based games have faded into obscurity.
Doom: The Dark Ages is much more focused than its predecessors and more fun thanks to id Software’s ability to continually refine the Doom formulas to feel different enough that it never gets boring.
Shotgun Cop Man is not something I expected to enjoy as much as I did, yet nearly 150 levels proved me wrong. The moment-to-moment gameplay is so well done, and having to plan my moves while dodging and fighting demons is a blast.