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Dated mission structure and zombie design hold back Toxic Commando to an extent, but Saber Interactive still executed on a couple of fresh ideas. The Swarm Engine's impressive zombie hordes, satisfying gunplay, and MudRunner-style vehicle physics that shouldn't work but do are reason enough to grab a few friends and start blasting the undead.
WWE 2K26 is a great move forward for the series and the developers have laid down a lot of exciting groundwork that can be expanded upon in future games. The grind is still as bad as ever, though, and the Ringside Pass needs to be changed so the DLC wrestlers can be earned much earlier than they are now. Those issues aside this is a WWE game that I will absolutely be playing through most of this year.
The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest is exactly as it presents itself. It wants to be more, but I wish it didn't think it had to be. It's regular retro platforming, with a good map, checkpoints, forgettable characters, and cool bosses. It's something to do. You'll probably play it twice, but that's twice the something to do.
There is a lot of fun to be had with Yakuza Kiwami 3. But the cracks are really starting to show with this series, and it feels stale in a lot of areas. On its own, Kiwami 3 is lot less fun than other entries in this series, despite some good new management games here. As a remake, however, it certainly isn't good enough to justify the original being delisted and for this to now be the definitive version of Yakuza 3.
Highguard is a fresh take on the multiplayer hero shooter, featuring balanced gunplay and thrilling raid mechanics that had me saying, "Just one more match." Throw in strong art direction with a high fantasy setting, and it gets an easy recommendation from me.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. Fighting Force Collection didn't reinvent the wheel here, and I really wish it had. It's the same game. Take that for what it's worth.
A gorgeous remake of a classic JRPG that many players missed out on, this version of Dragon Quest VII swings hard towards accessibility (and might actually overshoot the mark a little bit). Visually gorgeous, with a fun episodic structure, this is a great way for fans to revisit this story or encounter it for the first time. My only caveat is a warning to be very careful with the "Quality of Life" settings, which make it entirely too easy to break the game, removing all of the challenge (and therefore all of the fun).
Cozy Caravan is an adorable single-player cozy game that allows you to explore towns, harvest different items, cook, bake, or sew those items into something new, sell them at the market, and upgrade your caravan. This slow-paced, open world game is a sweet little gem that is both relaxing and entertaining, and a great addition to any cozy gamer's collection.
Cairn is a mixed bag that I don't think will be for everyone. Persevering through a difficult section of the climb is extremely satisfying, but on the other hand, it can be extremely frustrating as well. I enjoyed my time on Kami, but there were times I felt beat down too, both by the mountain and its abrasive protagonist. Ultimately, it's hard to give Cairn a broad recommendation.
I can't put my finger on why this game isn't perfect, but it's all the things I want in a modern beat 'em up. You can your friends will have a lot of fun. Play it solo, only if you have to. After all, it's Mah-vel baby!
Hello Kitty Adventure Island is a sweet, fun open-world experience with quests to help move the story along. With new areas to explore and new friends to meet, this wholesome game is a great option for all cozy gamers young and old.
Rustic Defense is a simplistic tower defense game but a very fun and very addicting one at that. The game could have used some more scenarios and different maps but it didn't take away from the fun I was having.
Some stability issues still hold Forestrike back but when it's working, and it mostly does, it really works. The foresight mechanic is an excellent way to unlock fluid combat scenarios and it has the right amount of strategy required to be more than a mindless button masher. But you will need to find the right timing to mash the buttons so there is a level of skill required, but ample opportunity to practice your way to mastery. There is enough variety between the disciplines and the roguelike nature of earning skills and items on each run to keep things interesting long past when you get your money's worth from a title that only comes in at 10 bucks to begin with.
A great crossover between Demeo's polished and approachable gameplay mechanics, and D&D's world building, characters, and storytelling. Battlemarked is a blast in multiplayer, and doubles as an engaging single-player tactics game. It's perfectly acceptable to play Battlemarked flat, but real ones know that VR is where the magic comes alive. A few quibbles with the advancement system are not enough to rub the sheen off of this inspired iteration on Demeo's stellar core mechanics.
Lumines Arise is NOT Tetris Effect Connected, and once you make that distinction, you'll enjoy this one. The effects can be overwhelming, but turn the ones that affect you off, and connect to the ones that allow you to enjoy the game. See what I did there?
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment successfully marries the button mashing combat of the Warriors formula with the visuals and sounds of Tears of the Kingdom. While the repetitive mission structure can get a little tiring (plan on taking breaks) and the game doesn't push any boundaries, the satisfying combat, impressive technical performance, and faithful recreation of Tears of the Kingdom's world make this an easy recommendation for Zelda fans that miss the sights and sounds of Hyrule.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 tries to do a lot of things. It doesn't all come off but the end result is more game to play. The core elements are all there, and even if you think the campaign is an abomination, you still have PvP and zombies that don't stray as far from the course-just like you had every other year.
Sektori is an adrenaline-fueled, edge-of-your-seat assault on the senses. I barely blinked, I barely breathed, and I'm seldom so enthralled with a video game, even if I can't manage to beat it.
A fun, surprisingly lengthy and deep romp with everyone's favorite violent motormouth, Deadpool VR sends players careening around the Marvel Universe on a goofball mission that allows for equal parts bloody combat and surprisingly awesome watercooler moments. The combat is only as fun as you make it, but the non-stop barrage of jokes are top tier. The tone is right, largely due to a killer, irreverent performance from Neil Patrick Harris, so everything else falls into place.
Once Upon a Katamari is a love letter to all the other games, for a game that doesn't always love you back. If there's ever been a time you wanted to shut a king up, it's here. There's still a sprinkle of happiness to roll over any and everything, but my Katamari may be getting a little flat.