Cubed3's Reviews
A superb little indie that understands that racing is supposed to be fun, Super Woden: Rally Edge combines accessible handling, excellent progression, varied stages, and just enough competitive obsession for racing fans to keep coming back. Not particularly pretty or chock-full of content, but it’s enjoyable and reasonably priced, and thus easy to recommend.
Beast of Reincarnation might be Game Freak's first AAA game, but it still feels like an AA game in the best way possible. The narrative and its execution won't deliver on its full potential, but the exploration and action are top-notch. The final stretch is where everything comes together and shines its brightest, leaving a powerful lasting impression for those who stick with it.
Playing Orbitals is like stepping into a classic anime, packed full of the soft tones and expressiveness of the era. With strong animation credentials and traditional processes behind the concept, there's a genuine heart and authenticity to this world. Clever co-operative play, fun set pieces and a curious mystery at the heart of the story tie this sci-fi tale together well. Slightly rushed and occasionally fiddly at times, but certainly worth blasting through to discover the fate of these new protagonists. Grab a friend, pop the TV on and live out those Saturday morning shows in style together.
Fans of the Alien series are often forced to deal with subpar experiences, and this comes in as one of them. Not withstanding various design decisions brought on by the new team, the quality is simply lacking on many aspects. Combat quickly becomes dry, and at how high of a price this game is, it is not recommended, even to fans of the series.
Most Western RPGs have been overshadowed this year by an incredible run of JRPGs, both those already released and several more looming on the horizon in the coming months. Against that backdrop, The Blood of Dawnwalker might genuinely be one of the best games 2026 has to offer. It has it all and then some, constantly surprising with consummate professionalism and polish.
Monsters beware, Musashi is here! One of the best hack and slash titles to come out in some time, Onimusha: Way of the Sword is deliriously fun. When it’s all said and done, Kyoto might be under the scourge of the devilish Genma, but it’s an absolute blast getting lost in it.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok seems to be an expansion made for only the most devoted of fans. Its lore-heavy story, slow progression and demoralising difficulty are likely to disappoint and frustrate those expecting something closer to the base game. The expansion is both a time sink and grindfest, and though some may relish getting lost in its systems, others will wish they never gave it a chance.
Aggelos 2 builds on its predecessor with a larger map, dual forms, and two interconnected worlds. The appealing retro visuals and rewarding movement upgrades make for an enjoyable adventure, but an unintuitive map and missing quality-of-life features make navigation more frustrating than it should be.
Words can hardly capture the wonders within Elden Ring. Apart from a few cheap boss battles, this is one of the best action RPGs ever made. Tarnished Edition is as complete as it gets and contains roughly three games' worth of content. Why can't all games be crafted with this much vision and boldness? The lunacy of it looking and running as well as it does on Nintendo Switch 2 makes this an absolute must-have for the console.
Dragon Loop isn't quite top tier, but it's pretty solidly in the next level down. Once it becomes clear that there actually is no stress to the time mechanic, it is easier to settle in and explore. Some confusion occasionally rears its head regarding progression later on, with some unclear, busy boss design choices from time to time. Still, it's fun to explore and become immersed in its charming world. A solid first effort from developer Shain Squad.
Rhythm Paradise Groove carries a kind of creative electricity that is hard to fake. Every mode, every song and every odd little scenario feels touched by a team that genuinely enjoys the craft of rhythm, and that enthusiasm seeps through the screen. It is not flawless, yet its spirit is so strong and its execution so assured that the imperfections never manage to dull its glow. This is the sort of game that quietly raises the bar for what a rhythm title can be, not through spectacle, but through an unshakeable commitment to making every beat matter.
One Piece Odyssey is a decent RPG with a beautiful world, enjoyable combat, great music, and surprisingly deep customisation. Sadly, its overly linear exploration and some tedious design choices keep it from reaching its full potential.
A title like Brigandine Abyss is a design nightmare. It takes two genres with a massive mental overhead cost and tries to make them both work in the same game. The result is a game that may not appeal to fans of either genre, but will be a must-buy for fans of both. For those who wanted Fire Emblem with more strategic freedom, this is the game, and for those who love Dynasty Warriors Empires but want more engaging combat, this is the ticket. Brigandine Abyss knows its niche extremely well.
Yet Another Zombie Survivors is a great game because it understands the pleasures of simplicity. There’s no need for grand ambitions, sprawling worlds, or a dozen systems fighting for the player’s attention. Instead, here’s a bunch of zombie-apocalypse hero archetypes, an absurd number of zombies, some increasingly ridiculous weapons, and a handful of upgrades. Done. And everybody’s happy. This survivor-like knows exactly what it wants to be, doubles (and triples) down on it, and simply lets you have fun.
The way Chapter 5 plays out, it feels like all the cool stuff from Chapter 4 either didn’t happen or was retconned at the last minute. Understandably, Toby Fox wanted a chapter that was a "calm before the storm" that depicts the final days of innocence, but this was not the way. A lot of scenes are unearned, and the writing is not up to his typical level of quality. Thankfully, the gameplay is amusing, and the way old mechanics are remixed and recontextualised breathes some life into this otherwise uneventful day at the festival.
In the heat of the moment, The Prisoner is every bit as excellent as REANIMAL's core game. The fun ends when a bug pops up and crashes the game, leaving players frustrated and hungry when it's over so soon. A little more to do would have been appreciated. REANIMAL's foundation is very strong when it works, and the developer has an eye for visuals and storytelling. They just need to do more of it and let players stew in the world they created.
Obakeidoro 2: Chase and Seek is wonderful both online and offline, although it is definitely designed with local multiplayer in mind. It is a pleasant short burst of joy that's easy to pick up and play without asking if everyone can play or if there is enough time. The charming atmosphere and attention to detail also capture a lot of the magic of playing with friends in the schoolyard!
The Sinking City 2 doesn't quite reach the level of polish in some of the lesser recent RE Engine Resident Evil entries, nor does it have what it takes to contend with the recent Silent Hill revival or even newcomers like Cronos: The New Dawn. It's a bit too derivative at its worst, and the looming shadow of its rotten predecessor still grips its design philosophy. It's a dramatic improvement for the most part, if a bit generic. There's a solid foundation here to be sure, even if it's still waterlogged. Horror fans will likely enjoy their time in Arkham due to the ambience and monsters, but it still needs more of an X-factor to go toe-to-toe with the major leagues.
UFO -A Day in the Life- isn't really about extraterrestrials and more about seeing the everyday world and the unnoticed mundanities within it with fresh, patient eyes. It may not be the most engrossing adventure game, nor is it all that witty or have compelling gameplay. What it does well is capturing bite-sized human stories that range from depressing to amusing to... whatever a bald guy who likes to dress up and act like a baby is supposed to evoke. There's no putting a price on that.
With a wealth of customisation options, intriguing side content, and a fantastic soundtrack, Lightning Returns is a unique approach to many of the RPG mechanics that were starting to feel stale or already were. The main quests may be overshadowed by the extensive side content, but the result is still an involved and rewarding RPG, and the best of the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy.