Resident Evil Requiem seems like the end of everything the series has learned in the last thirty years. It has puzzles, horror, action, and silly spectacle all in one tightly paced ten-hour game that never wastes your time. Every hallway, encounter, and puzzle seems important. It pays homage to the fear of older games while still embracing the explosive style of later ones.
Never Grave: The Witch and the Curse is a good mix of things that are familiar and things that are new. It gets the basics of Metroidvania and roguelike design right, adds some really original ideas, and wraps it all up in a visually and mechanically appealing package.
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake doesn't try to make the original game into something completely different. Instead, it updates the graphics and gameplay while keeping the slow, moody style that made the series famous in the first place.
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf, most importantly, shows how focused design can lead to creative ideas. Because the creators put atmosphere, art, and story first, they make something truly memorable. The game isn't the biggest or hardest of the year. It could be one of the most beautiful, though.
City Hunter is neither a new game nor a perfect game. But it's a good attempt to keep it alive, letting new people enjoy a unique piece of PC Engine and anime history. Fans of the series will enjoy spending time with characters they know, and retro gamers will enjoy a good-looking action-adventure game with some light puzzles and fun fighting. The game is short, easy to understand, and a great example of how to create a PC Engine game in the late 1990s.
Death Howl is not holding your hand. It gives you a deck, drops you in a scary forest, and tells you to stay alive. And when you finally beat a tough fight by positioning yourself well and planning ahead, the feeling of joy is real.
Maid Cafe on Electric Street is a calming and moving game that rewards players who want to learn more about the characters and interact with them. People who desire a nice, story-driven experience will love it, as it moves slowly and pays close attention to detail.
Tiny Garden works not because of its flashy effects but because it makes sense. Every system works together to support a single goal of calm growth and healing participation. It looks like a simple mechanical device, but it has been carefully balanced and paced. Tiny Garden seems hand-picked instead of made.
WiZmans World Re; Try does a great job with the surroundings and character paintings, which have been upscaled or repainted. Menus and text are clear and easy to read on a PC. But character sprites can look rough, especially on bigger screens. You can see the difference between sharp backgrounds and pixelated sprites. There is no voice acting; you will have to read a lot of text.
Death Match Love Comedy! is a study in opposites. It doesn’t bring in much cash. It’s easy to play. Its look is sometimes very simple. Still, its emotional goal is bigger than anyone thought it would be. A silly idea hides a deep thought about love in all its forms—romantic, friendship, and family—and the pain that changes them all.
As you progress through Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse, you are pushed to fully immerse yourself in the mindset of an investigator. Studying becomes a ritual in this game. In the same way that the best aspects of the genre are satisfying, discovering its final truths is just as satisfying.
One great thing about ChromaGun 2: Dye Hard is that it was carefully made to be accessible. Colorblind modes use symbols on top of colored objects and surfaces to make sure that players who have trouble seeing can fully enjoy the core gameplay. Sound cues help players understand how to solve puzzles, and flexible movements let players make the game their own.
REANIMAL isn't a big change from what Tarsier Studios has always done, but it is a bold step forward. It’s not as soft as other works, more like a fairy tale, and has a meaner, more emotional tone. The switch to full 3D allows for more exploration while keeping the tense atmosphere that marks the studio's style.
Tokyo Scramble is a very rough game. It has a great, crazy premise: dinosaurs living under Tokyo, a young girl with apps, and a strong will. Some creative ideas can be seen in their natural traps. When it works, it's exciting, funny, and also kind of cute. But it's also too hard to forgive.
Lovish is a fun return to platform games from the past. The game made by LABS Works and DANGEN Entertainment feels both familiar and strangely new at the same time. The idea behind the story—saving Princess Tsuna while dealing with Sir Solomon’s crippling insecurities—is silly, funny, and utterly charming.
Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven doesn't make the game completely new, but it does make it better and more difficult. The expansion brings back a feeling of tension that may have gone away over time by making winter a constant threat, making it easier to manage cults, and adding new regions with lots of interesting themes.
Dark Auction is a game with big goals that mostly hits them. Its story deals with inherited shame, the truth, and the weight of history in a sincere and careful way. The writing and acting make for a gripping mystery that puts understanding ahead of judgment. But its guided structure and simple mechanics may make some people want to connect with it more deeply.
INTERGRADE’s PS5 release may still be the greatest in terms of technical performance, but the Switch 2 port is a superb choice that balances story depth, combat depth, and graphic excellence. It’s a great way for new fans of the series to get into it and for old fans to relive their favorites. Once again, Square Enix has brought Midgar to life, but this time it’s in the palm of your hand.
Desvelado is a warning that big ideas don't need to be taken too far. Its strength is that it is clear, precise, and sure of itself. Every mechanic supports the main loop without going off track. As a result, the experience feels full, even though it's not very long.
Utawarerumono: ZAN is an action-focused spin-off that sacrifices narrative depth for fast-paced combat. While the gameplay is enjoyable, its lack of variety and shallow progression system hinders long-term engagement.