Elden Ring Nightreign blends Soulslike combat with roguelike mechanics, resulting in a mostly dynamic cooperative adventure. However, the game’s lack of crossplay and duo support makes grouping inconvenient, and reuses too many assets while offering somewhat shallow progression.
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is a compelling, atmospheric RPG that punches above its weight in narrative ambition and gameplay depth. Unfortunately, the PlayStation 5 port of the game suffers from some extremely rough technical edges and UI frustrations, and needs a lot more time to bake in the oven. That being said, the game’s dark storytelling, rewarding exploration, and flexible combat might make it a worthwhile experience.
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land is a charming open-world JRPG and a worthy addition to the Atelier series. While it may not break any new ground in terms of narrative or combat innovation, it excels in being a fun game and an excellent entry point for newcomers to the franchise.
The wait was well worth it for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The fans have been asking for an AC game set in Japan, and Ubisoft has finally delivered, with a dual-protagonist experience that offers crisp combat mechanics, a bombastic musical score, and a beautiful visual presentation. Assassin’s Creed is so back!
Monster Hunter Wilds is a solid entry in one of Capcom’s best-selling franchises. The new features, such as Focus mode and the seamless open world, are welcome additions to gameplay. However, the removal of previous mechanics and modes, the lack of new weapons, and poor technical issues are inevitably disappointing. Two steps forward, one step back.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a swashbuckling adventure that longtime fans and newcomers alike can treasure. The spotlight on fan-favorite Goro Majima is sure to be a treat, even though the game can feel padded out at times. I’m a sucker for the Yakuza series, and even after numerous spin-offs, RGG Studio still has plenty of surprises up their sleeve.
Tales of Graces f Remastered modernizes a beloved game while preserving the elements that make it a classic. What you’re getting is an all-in-one package that includes fantastic quality-of-life additions, additional story content, and most (sadly not all) previously released DLC content.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 fires on all fronts, with a sublime campaign, an addicting Zombies mode, and refined multiplayer gameplay thanks to the new omnimovement system. This is a triumphant return for Treyarch’s beloved subseries and a shining beacon for what’s to come.
Video games are a form of art and Metaphor: ReFantazio is the embodiment of that. The game’s ability to weave together thought-provoking themes, engagingly unique gameplay, and memorable characters in a beautifully stylized package is beyond remarkable. This is Atlus at the height of their creativity.
If you love Toriyama-san’s art style and world-building and share his love for vehicle design, then Sand Land is the game for you. With its unique blend of exploration, vehicular combat, unparalleled customization, and engaging narrative, the Sand Land video game is a manga brought to life.
Ghostrunner 2 improves and builds upon its predecessor in almost every single way. Its narrative, gameplay loop, and combat have been significantly fleshed out, and the addition of a roguelike mode and new motorcycle sequences make it a far more replayable and engrossing package overall.
While Ad Infinitum's interesting World War I backdrop for a horror game might entice you initially, its lack of polish and uninspired gameplay prevent you from being engaged until the end.
Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle successfully channels the spirit of classic survival horror titles, but the clunky controls and laughable voice acting prevent it from reaching the heights of its inspirations or pushing the genre forward.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a refreshing revival of a series that has been in a deep sleep since 2013. The deep customization options and fast-paced mecha combat more than make up for the game's mediocre narrative.
Rogue Legacy 2 is the pinnacle of what the genre should be and is a must-play for fans of the original and newcomers alike. Now go make your ancestors proud!
Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow looks to be a graphically stunning game that could reach the heights of its inspiration, but can only dream to do so because the rest of the game can’t quite reach the high bar set by its visual and art direction.
Tiny Thor successfully captures the spirit of retro puzzle platformers while injecting its own unique twist, but it’s a classic example of a game that is easy to pick up but hard to master.
Shame Legacy is a bad survival horror experience filled with frustrating mechanics, bad performance, and a scary price tag.