GreedFall: The Dying World sports good visuals, a decent story, and genuinely interesting world-building, but it suffers from a myriad of bugs and optimization issues even after the full release. The combat is also not as good as it should be. It has heart, but it often feels like a promising RPG that needed more time in the oven. As of now, this is definitely a game worth getting on sale.
Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War is easily the closest the franchise has come to translating the chaotic spectacle and biting satire of Starship Troopers into video game form. Rough edges aside, Auroch Digital delivers a retro shooter that understands the assignment: kill bugs, survive the warzone, and chuckle at the military propaganda along the way. Citizenship, at last, might actually be within reach.
Esoteric Ebb succeeds because it embraces its inspirations with confidence and reverence. It borrows the philosophical backbone of Planescape: Torment and the introspective depth of Disco Elysium, then reshapes those ideas into something playful, political, and unmistakably its own. This “thinking person’s RPG” will surely find a spot in our Best of 2026 list.
Banquet for Fools demands patience, attention, and a willingness to meet it on its own uncompromising terms. Its punishing difficulty and occasionally unruly AI can be frustrating, but they exist within a world brimming with a unique identity, deep systems, and genuine ambition. It won’t be for everyone, but for those willing to embrace its design philosophy, it offers something increasingly rare: a demanding and boldly distinctive adventure that holds its own alongside the genre’s most celebrated heavyweights.
Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered feels like a heartfelt tribute to the series and its devoted fanbase. The developers have not only enhanced the visuals and refined the camera and controls, but also included a wealth of bonus features and previously cut content. Taken together, these additions feel like a long-overdue gesture of goodwill toward the community that has kept the franchise alive for years. I really hope Crystal Dynamics is testing the waters before making a long-awaited return to Nosgoth once more.
Styx: Blades of Greed has everything going for it- bigger levels, better abilities, and an increased budget. What’s stopping it from being far better than it is right now are the engine-related issues and the floaty controls. If Cyanide can get some of these things fixed in time, then I’ll have no qualm in declaring it as the best Styx adventure yet. There’s nothing like Styx out there, at least, not anymore. Cyanide, hold onto it.
It would be unfair to judge a 30-year-old video game’s re-release, especially when it arrives with minimal alterations. Instead, the more fitting response is to commend GMedia for its role in preserving gaming history. Thanks to this effort, a new generation of Edgar Allan Poe enthusiasts can experience The Dark Eye in its original form. With renewed interest, perhaps more adaptations of Poe’s work will emerge in the years ahead. That said… out of all the possible titles, Edgar Allan Poe’s Interactive Horror: 1995 Edition was the best you could do?
Cairn is a deeply rewarding survival-climbing experience built around manual, physics-driven traversal and thoughtful resource management. Its minimalist storytelling, puzzle-like design, combined with gorgeous visuals and a mesmerizing soundtrack, result in an unforgettable and deeply cathartic climbing experience.
On the one hand, I had a good time with Blood: Refreshed Supply. I’m glad that the makers of Marrow and Deathwish are being compensated for their work. I love the new cutscenes, the fixes, and the Vault. It’s a no-brainer purchase for console players. On the other hand, when it comes to the PC, I’m torn. As someone who purchased Fresh Supply at full price and got disappointed, I believe this should have been a free upgrade or, at the very least, a $4.99 upgrade. Moreover, asking $30 for a nearly 30-year-old game is just crazy in this economy—I’m sure Atari had the final say in this. Blood: Refreshed Supply is good. The business model? Not so much.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion delivers on its promise: a soulful tribute to the Marvel Universe wrapped in a competent, if a bit by-the-book beat ’em up package. Dynamic combos flow effortlessly, seamless co-op supports up to four players with drop-in/drop-out, stunning sprite work captures comic authenticity, and the OST fits the controlled chaos perfectly. Adding one or two more game modes could cement its longevity beyond the short campaign.
Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster is a fitting tribute to an underrated gem from the glory days of FPS. As usual, Nightdive has done an excellent job of updating the game without sacrificing the original style and substance. The Outlaws remaster is one I’d suggest checking out, though you can decide for yourself if it justifies the $29.99 price tag.
Neon Inferno is a drop-dead gorgeous shooter with an exhilarating OST backed up by frantic gunplay and fantastic animations. Extra gameplay modes, additional levels, and a balance patch would do wonders to uplift the game.
Painkiller is a hard game to recommend. It’s certainly not made with the loyal fans in mind and does little to appeal to the new crowd. Even if you’re dead-set on getting on sale, I recommend buying your best mates extra copies because the real painkillers are the friends we made along the way.
2025 has had a deluge of top-tier games, and I fear Metal Eden might not be remembered for long. The game already has decent accessibility options, control customization, and difficulty settings – but there is not much encouragement to continue once the game is over.
Agatha Christie- Death on the Nile is a globe-trotting, laid-back detective adventure that’s best enjoyed in sips. What it lacks in technical prowess, it more than makes up for with its witty writing, logic-driven investigations, and a vibe to kill for.
Just when you thought he’d finally caught a break, the POSTAL Dude gets yanked out of vacation mode by a full-blown nationwide ginger purge. The new President is an old-news flag-humping lunatic, redheads are officially public enemy number one, and a tech-nerd Vice President just ran off with The Dude’s personal arsenal.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a fully reimagined tribute to a beloved classic. With its stunning visuals, satisfying combat, smooth controls, and thoughtful modern QoL features, it’s the complete package and might end up being one of my favorite games of the year.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is the best thing to happen to Ninja Gaiden since Itagaki. The Game Kitchen understood the assignment and delivered a slick action game worthy of its namesake. Now we wait for the return of Ryu Hayabusa!
RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business is, well, more RoboCop doing what RoboCop does best. If you were already sold on the first game (and honestly, who wouldn’t be?), you’ll be just as happy to clock in for another shift. It’s like Teyon is secretly testing the waters for a future Judge Dredd title while binge-watching The Raid. Unfinished Business is clearly a labor of love, and honestly, I’d happily buy it for $29.99 just for the privilege of dishing out more cybernetic smackdown.
The System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster stays true to the original’s eerie vibe and immersive sim core, but takes a step back by skimping on modern quality-of-life tweaks, making the $30 price tag feel like a stretch compared to the modded classic. Suppose you’ve got cash to burn, grab the remaster to back Nightdive’s game preservation efforts. If your wallet’s crying, the original’s still there, ready to fill you with cosmic dread.