FANTASIAN is a nostalgic JRPG by Mistwalker. With charming visuals, classic combat with a twist, a varied cast, and lovely music, the game is a worthy throwback to classic JRPGs despite its slow pacing.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate succeeds in delivering nostalgic and replayable TMNT action, featuring simple roguelite elements that don't get in the way of the game's arcade feel.
Slitterhead delivers an intriguing horror story and fast action, but its exploration sections feel watered down, lacking in player agency.
Hollowbody offers an intriguing biopunk setting but fails to engage players due to clunky gameplay, underwhelming sound design, and the lack of a gripping story.
As a long-time fan, I'd pay the price of admission for Haunted Castle Revisited alone. The fact that players also get three of the best metroidvanias ever released is just too good a deal to pass.
Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn brings back the classic side-scrolling hack 'n slash remade with fantastic pixel graphics, revamped gameplay, super satisfying controls and extra features.
Mars 2120 is an engaging game that features fast action-exploration backed by awesome controls. Its repetitive enemies and weak soundtrack hold it back. Good for genre fans, but far from exceptional.
KeelWorks did a great job bringing vertical-scrolling shmups up to speed with modern trends. Despite its pacing issues and overall visual clutter, Cygni delivers an intense shoot-'em-up experience.
Slave Zero X is a decent fast-paced action game experience with a surprisingly good story. However, its overall repetitiveness and lack of interesting boss fights drags it down quite a bit.
Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX is the definitive version of Raiden III, as it offers excellent performance and an assortment of new tunes to enjoy while kicking alien butt.
Players looking for an interesting single-player experience in SUPER BOMBERMAN R 2 might be disappointed yet again, but online multiplayer is better than ever thanks to the addition of crossplay.
Touhou: New World promises players a highly customizable action-RPG but fails to deliver on the most basic aspects of both genres.
A call back to the Double Dragon series golden days. Gaiden offers a fair beat 'em up experience, but its rogue-lite mechanics aren't well implemented.
Possibly the best classic Metroidvania this year, Blasphemous II delivers a solid action-adventure game topped with somber religion-inspired visuals.
The Pixel Remaster series is a faithful rendition of the first six Final Fantasy games. It features redone sprites, music, and it also adds a ton of quality of life options.
Octopath Traveler II is a true RPG gem. Its robust cast of characters delivers engaging storylines set in a picturesque and diverse world, while Its gameplay is full of freedom and possibilities.
The Theatrhythm series makes its return with Final Bar Line. It is as fun as it ever was, and it features the highest song count of any title in the series to date.
A much more modern and enjoyable beat 'em up than its predecessor, River City Girls 2 does almost everything right. Despite that, its performance issues get in the way of the fun.
Evil West is an action game that features very unique concepts. Its combat system is innovative and fun, but its lethargic pacing holds it back from achieving greatness.
A fairly fun action game up that is full to the brim with annoying bugs. Fans of the show and beat 'em ups must approach with caution. Everyone else should just stay clear for now.