While its gameplay is somewhat linear and hard to nail down, RPG Time: The Legend of Wright is a masterpiece of presentation that celebrates the joys of a child’s imagination.
Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny is simultaneously cliche and transgressive, offering refreshing takes on genre conventions while still reliant on them. Its expanded gameplay systems can be mind-numbing to newcomers, but longtime franchise fans will find an unrivaled buffet of content to grind through.
With a dash more depth to its gameplay, and a lighter touch to its narrative, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga reinterprets the nine-film epic into a solid experience that all generations of fans will want to revisit.
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is an enjoyable experiment in melding Soulslike conventions onto a Final Fantasy skeleton. However it undercuts itself by not daring for more complexity, setting up great narrative and gameplay turns that never come to pass.
Chocobo GP does some things that Nintendon’t, offering a Story mode and a more stimulating item system than the untouchable Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. However only Final Fantasy veterans (and their kids) need apply, as it relies heavily on nostalgia—and season pass grinding.
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen represents the highest peak the franchise has seen in years, if not ever. Held back by some grindiness and nigh-inpenetrable plot gates, it’s one of the smoothest FPS experiences available today, thanks to its best story yet and a host of gameplay adjustments.
Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster is emblematic of the whole Pixel Remaster line: an accessibly modern yet aesthetically authentic re-release of an essential RPG.
King of Fighters XV set out to “shatter all expectations” and met most of them instead. While a slightly hollow presentation sets its crown crooked, the game’s core is a solid engine and a diverse roster that will warrant longterm play.
In Endwalker, Final Fantasy XIV does the impossible: bringing a complex narrative arc, woven over the last decade, to a nigh-perfect conclusion. The latest expansion is a masterpiece that justifies the game’s current popularity and the best new story released in the franchise in recent memory, and it sets an excellent foundation for the MMORPG’s next years.
Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster gives one of the franchises’ underdogs a substantial glow-up, in many ways realizing its potential in ways the original hardware or previous ports never could. Series fans should not miss the opportunity to experience it here, if they’ve never played it before.
Jackbox Party Pack Vol. 8 is a rare miss, the most mixed bag for the series since its second entry.
If you weep because there are no new worlds to conquer in Stardew Valley, return to Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Townto (re-)experience its biggest inspiration.
Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster is a nigh-definitive rebuild of an essential entry in the series, revitalized with a new presentation and only lacking the bonus endgame content of other ports.
Sonic Colors: Ultimate is a safe remaster of a cult classic which should please old players and newcomers alike, but isn’t going to redeem the iconic hedgehog’s troubled record.
Newcomers and veterans alike should draw their swords for this one, because Ghost of Tsushima excels on the PS5 and strikes just shy of perfection.
Pokémon Unite's potential is undermined by its balancing, and might not have enough to offer either of its target audiences.
The first three Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters deftly walk the line between old and new, but might not convert anyone without the stomach for old JRPGs.
The first three Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters deftly walk the line between old and new, but might not convert anyone without the stomach for old JRPGs.
The first three Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters deftly walk the line between old and new, but might not convert anyone without the stomach for old JRPGs.
Dark Alliance lacks compelling narrative and gameplay variety, despite being steeped in lore from its source material.