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MotoGP 26 doesn't meaningfully upgrade much of its catalog, but its large amount of content and wide range of accessibility options allow it to remain the definitive experience for MotoGP fans of all skill levels.
DarkSwitch represents a new, fresh take on a genre that largely focuses on a flat 2-dimensional axis. Fans of the city-building genre, as well as newcomers, will find plenty to enjoy here.
Crimson Desert is now a game that works with you instead of against you, and with more updates still on the way, there's plenty more to look forward to across Pywel's biomes, towns, cities, and ruins. If you're looking for something that can completely take over your life, this is absolutely worth your time, and the kind of game that can leave you with countless memories even if you never make it all the way to the credits.
Saros is an incredible step up over Returnal in every way imaginable. The rogue-lite progression and quality-of-life improvements are great, but it's the more complex bullet-hell system, bolstered by a compelling world and some masterful level design, that truly elevates it.
You'll want to take in Replaced's retrofuturistic version of dystopian USA as much as possible, but the phenomenal visuals can only do so much to make up for the above-average combat and puzzle-platforming.
Cthulu: The Cosmic Abyss wraps an intricate puzzle game in the shell of a beautifully designed, if familiar, Lovecraftian atmospheric horror experience that strikes a delicate balance between allowing you to solve problems on your own and consistently propelling you forward.
Cliches and homages abound in MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, and it gleefully embraces them while offering a compelling detective mystery wrought with over-the-top violence and a cast that's having the time of their lives.
The Occultist gets enough of its world right to be an interesting game but it drops the ball on its gameplay.
Pragmata combines a host of immaculately executed well-worn ideas with a handful of unique and fascinating ones of its own to deliver a thrilling, high-octane sci-fi shooter experience.
For those who enjoyed the first game but always felt it could have been so much more, Regions of Ruin: Runegate is an improvement on every single level, and a compelling game in its own right.
Darwin's Paradox! brings some genuinely fresh ideas to the platforming genre, but the feeling its net wasn't cast wide enough is unshakeable.
GRIME 2 nails down its presentation and mechanics very well, and makes them work together to present an experience that's purely entertaining, and melancholically charming.
Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is a faithful and feature-complete revival of the original games, but its appeal leans heavily on nostalgia. The quality-of-life additions are welcome, yet they do little to elevate a gameplay loop that now feels overly simple and repetitive.
Project Songbird is a short psychological horror experience that focuses on telling a personal story rather than throwing jumpscares your way.
Screamer pushes arcade racing toward something distinct, and whilst its myriad mechanics, story modes, and uneven presentation stop the game from reaching full cohesion, it's an enjoyable, oftentimes rewarding racer that stands alone as daring to be different.
There's a lot to learn, but once you're in the zone, MLB The Show 26 yields an authentic on-field experience more than most other sports sims.
We already knew that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach was a phenomenal game. Its PC release being fantastic just makes it that much easier to recommend to players that don't own a PS5.
Ghost of Yōtei: Legends doesn't significantly reinvent the gameplay loop present in Tsushima: Legends, instead offering new mechanics and mission types to go with a familiar gear grind. Despite some difficulty pains, it works very well and serves as a strong foundation for what's to come.
Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! is a fun shooter that relies on old-school gameplay mechanics paired with a more modern game structure, paired with a fun B-movie-styled campaign with excellent pacing.
Even though I have many complaints with every single Stories game so far, I have also found each of them to be better than the last. Monster Hunter Stories 3 isn't exactly where I'd want the series to be just yet - but it's very nearly there, and I think, for many, this will be one of the most satisfying monster collection RPGs on the market at the moment.