DualShockers
HomepageDualShockers's Reviews
Over-the-top violence, incredibly satisfying combat, and an impressive challenge: this is a true, blue Ninja Gaiden experience that brings together the best of Team Ninja and PlatinumGames.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is not the next-generation evolution of the franchise that you've been waiting for. And while that is disappointing, these spin-off titles have done a pretty good job of creating fun little diversions that will tide you over until the next mainline game. If you're expecting voice acting and a compelling story, you'll be disappointed, but the appeal of catching and battling with Pokémon is still a decent adventure worth undertaking.
Fading Serenades is a charming delivery game you can finish in an evening, leaving you wanting more. By the time you get to the end, it feels abrupt, and a little rushed, as the quests also become slightly repetitive. You're left wondering more about the neighbors you spent the game delivering for. Still, for a solo-developed game, it's very impressive. If you're looking for something short, cozy, and enjoy the delivery gameplay loop, Fading Serenades serves it well.
The puzzles are dead easy, and there are some camera/control/performance hiccups at times, but it's still a title that truly takes you places that will amaze you by the end if you're willing to stick with it.
While it has the trappings of the World of Darkness, this game does a disservice to Vampire: The Masquerade.
It's a hands-on and involved version of its contemporaries, and a truly unique option for anyone who loves the genre. Don't expect jaw-dropping visuals or a tearjerker of a story. But the trade-off of epic gameplay is more than worth it here. In short, you'll have a ball. In fact, you'll have tonnes of them."
If the game had taken notes from Escape From Tarkov's atmosphere but fundamentally changed the quest design at the very least, it would have been a hit. For now, Duckov is a lovely tribute with fun moments that overstays its welcome, but its generous price tag will get you your money's worth.
It’s a great game to pick up and play in a weekend, especially due to its short runtime, but it won’t offer any challenge or thought-provoking puzzles. Still, Little Nightmares 3 feels right at home in the franchise and I wouldn't mind seeing Supermassive Games take another crack at a sequel, especially if they learn from their mistakes on this one.
Despite faltering in single-player content and gunplay mechanics, Battlefield 6 finally brings back what made the franchise famous: epic combined arms fun with natural teamwork and a grounded setting. My crystal ball is broken, so I can't say whether it'll sell the lofty 100 million copies expected by the previous EA management, but this feels like a new era for a genre that has been stagnant for far too long. It's not the best shooter ever by any margin, but it is the first Battlefield that is ready to dominate the multiplayer scene after years of Call of Duty tyranny, and I for one welcome our new rulers.
Digimon fans starving for a game with a proper budget can finally have their fill. Digimon Story: Time Stranger is everything that those who grew up alongside Taichi and Agumon once dreamed a game could be. The story, though it sometimes stumbles with its time-travel theme and clunky script, has a glorious conclusion, and there's nothing better than filling your roster with 400+ Digimon. However, those who are just looking for a new turn-based JRPG might not find much here to hold their attention, especially since the first hours feel unappealing for anyone who doesn't care about Digimon.
Absolum is a game that will be remembered not only for its incredible scenery but also for its fantastic gameplay. From the very first moments, it's clear that Absolum is something special and unique. A mix of powerful mechanics and expert game design will make players leave every session wanting more. Absolum will undoubtedly make a name for itself as one of the greatest games of the year. Whether it's with a friend or solo, beating up hordes of enemies has never been so much fun.
Yooka-Replaylee feels like one of the best Nintendo 64-era collect-a-thons ever, but with every bit of shine, polish, and refinement that a 2025 release allows. Each level and character design is gorgeous, the orchestral soundtrack is incredible, and there's a ridiculous amount of activities and challenges jam-packed into every single nook and cranny of the game. The whole thing handles as smooth as butter and is a top-tier platformer experience that's oozing with heart, charm, joy, fun, and humor. My hat is truly off to Playtonic for taking the foundation of their 2017 title and improving upon it tenfold in every conceivable way. This is a banger.
"Bye Sweet Carole is an ambitious game that shoots for the moon and ends up among the stars. The Disney-style presentation is damn near flawless and evokes a sense of childish nostalgia that hardly any game has managed to do before. Not to mention, it's a pretty competent puzzler that feels cut from the same cloth as LucasArts classics in many ways. However, due to a slew of technical issues and some of the most cumbersome and unsatisfying platforming, stealth, and action sequences I can recall enduring, the game undoes a lot of its fine work to ultimately end up being a unique, but rather average experience."
Although Ghost of Yotei lacks a cohesive and well-executed main story, it makes up for that with its vastly improved combat and world design. It obviously doesn't do anything mind-blowing for the open-world genre, but it refines nearly every aspect that made Tsushima special while carving out its own unique identity. Atsu’s journey delivers both emotional depth and visceral action through her mastery of various weapons, supported by a beautifully crafted world that feels alive without overwhelming you with a boatload of recurring side activities. It’s a love letter to revenge tale media rather than the traditional samurai cinema and players who still adore the gameplay-focused prowess of Sucker Punch—moreover, it's also a reminder that sometimes, a safe sequel can still be satisfying to play.
It's one of the most predictable, uninspired, and underwhelming action RPGs you'll likely ever come across. There is a certain level of cozy comfort that comes with that, but all in all, this is not worth your time or money."
Overall, I've had an absolute blast with Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch; there's a lot of replay value and exciting possibilities.
The combat does feel a little stiff, while the magic and jewel system is unnecessarily complicated. But even so, if you're looking for an action RPG that scratches that retro itch, Shrine's Legacy is definitely one worth diving into.
The game doesn't have that lightning-in-a-bottle feel, and there's a genuine concern this game could be dead on arrival."
Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny is loaded with nostalgia, callbacks to famous scenes and lines, but ultimately isn't as good as it could be. The limited fantasy setting, monotonous combat and underwhelming world map are helped slightly by its wonderfully authentic voices and fun story. If you grew up watching these cartoons, chances are you'll be charmed by the respect paid to them like I was, but find that the quest itself is not quite as good as just watching your favorite episodes again.
LEGO Party! stands tall as one of the best games ever in the competitive board game-style genre. Sure, it's derivative of Mario Party, but it also improves on many games in that series in a multitude of ways.