Chris De Hoog
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.
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.
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.
Valkyrie Elysium brings new life to a lapsed series via a commendable action-RPG engine.
Dragons: Legends of the Nine Realms isn’t much to write home about, but it offers young fans a slightly more substantial experience than most of its mobile peers without overwhelming them.
Shootas, Blood & Teef is a refreshingly off-brand run-and-gun experience for Warhammer 40, 000, though your mileage may vary depending on your tolerance for the Orks’ shenanigans.
Jackbox Party Pack Vol. 9 returns the series to form with an overall great selection of new games, and further refinement of the core software settings.
Star Ocean: The Divine Force is a solid JRPG that straddles two worlds in more ways than one, resulting in a worthwhile yet middling adventure with decent replay potential.
Tactics Ogre: Reborn is a pilgrimage for strategy RPG enthusiasts, an outstanding update for a watershed moment in the genre.
Harvestella is a fresh take on life-sims that wears many different hats well, but doesn’t always know when to wear them.
Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion releases a cult classic from its outdated prison and revives it like a Phoenix Down. If you’ve ever played a Final Fantasy VII title, this is an essential experience.
The Nintendo Switch and Persona 4 Golden were made for each other. This classic stands the test of time and thrives with a modest, affordable remaster.
Forspoken feels like a breath of fresh air for open-world adventures with its stylish engine, but is held back by pacing and other foibles.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is more than a love letter to Final Fantasy and its esteemed soundtracks—it’s a robust hybrid of RPG elements and rhythm gameplay, bolstered by accessibility options and a mountain of content, building on its 3DS forefathers in every way.
Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe doesn’t redefine the series like Kirby & the Forgotten World, but it’s a welcome addition to the Switch library. This feast of content for players of all stripes continues the pink puffball’s reign as Nintendo’s King of Co-Op.
Destiny 2: Lightfall stumbles momentarily as a self-contained campaign but simultaneously sets a thrilling stage for the current story’s conclusion.
Atelier Ryza 3 doesn’t fix what’s most broken but compensates by presenting a vast world to explore. Newcomers and veterans alike will find a mountain of content to enjoy.
The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Series triumphantly arrives on consoles as the ideal way to revisit a 35-year old franchise's origins—carefully balancing legacy with modern convenience.
The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Series triumphantly arrives on consoles as the ideal way to revisit a 35-year old franchise's origins—carefully balancing legacy with modern convenience.
The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Series triumphantly arrives on consoles as the ideal way to revisit a 35-year old franchise's origins—carefully balancing legacy with modern convenience.