Wccftech's Reviews
007 First Light is one of the greatest James Bond games ever made. IO Interactive crafted a great third-person adventure game that mixes linear and open-ended levels and delivers an Oscar-worthy narrative to support it all. There's still room for improvement in the already-confirmed sequel (the credits close with 'James Bond will return'), but Bond's origin story is already a must for genre fans.
Luna Abyss is more than the sum of its parts, with individual pieces that will all feel familiar, so much so that you've likely played a dozen games just like it. But it's standout character design, environmental storytelling, performances, writing, level design, first-person shooting combat and 3D platforming that ends before it has a chance to outstay its welcome make it a must-play for single-player shooter fans.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book may be a bit pokey for some, but it requires more brain power than you might expect, serving up a large and varied array of beautifully detailed stages and some surprisingly impactful moments. If you're looking for something approachable for a young family member, or just a laid-back read for yourself, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is well worth adding to your library.
Phonopolis is the most beautiful and artfully-constructed game yet from Amanita Design, a studio that knows a thing or two about making such games. Phonopolis perhaps doesn't venture quite as far outside the point 'n' click adventure box as it could, but fans of the genre who don't mind the occasional obtuse puzzle and a short-ish runtime will likely find themselves singing the game's praises.
Forza Horizon 6 brings together everything from previous Forza Horizon titles and fine-tunes them to a perfect shine, set in a compressed Japan that is both gorgeous to behold and pure joy to race around.
The Dark Pictures might be missing from the title screen, but Directive 8020 is a return to Supermassive Games' formulaic design with some new twists and frights.
The appeal of Pokémon Champions is narrower than you might expect, as hardcore VGC vets or those hoping for a Pokémon Stadium-like experience will likely be disappointed by the game's small Pokédex and other limitations. The real target audience is clearly newcomers curious about competitive play, and the game does a fairly good job of welcoming them in without emptying their pockets. The nitty-gritty of PvP Pokémon battling has worked for 30 years, and it's not broken here, but a lot more could have been done to support the experience. Of course, plenty can change with updates, but as is, this game is a Pokémon Contender at best.
Saros is a phenomenal roguelike that would have been more notable had Housemarque not already set the bar so high with 2021's Returnal.
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred is an excellent expansion that breathes new life into the hack-and-slash action RPG game. The expansion closes a lengthy narrative arc in truly epic fashion, the new Warlock class is extremely fun to play, and the new systems greatly improve build variety and endgame planning.
Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is an incredibly fun adventure puzzle game with some very well put-together mechanics that make investigating and solving puzzles almost as interesting as its Lovecraftian roots, which is why it's a shame that it fumbles properly connecting those roots to its gameplay, leaving much of the horror and tension built up in its early chapters at the bottom of the ocean. Odd missteps in its storytelling and an unfortunate amount of bugs that entirely blocked progression and left save files corrupted don't help its case, but when it's all working as it should, the gameplay generates a rewarding and fun loop that'll keep you glued to your screen as if Cthulhu already has full control of your mind.
What you get out of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream largely depends on how much you’re willing to put into it. Nintendo has expanded its quirky concept into something almost resembling a screwball take on The Sims, but it hasn't gone so far as to provide much in terms of set goals or structure. Making you chuckle is still this game's greatest aspiration. Sure, it's all a bit aimless, but it's also oddly addictive, and those willing to dive in and feed the weirdness may need a Tomodachi Lifeline to get back out again.
CAPCOM's new PRAGMATA IP feels like a return to old-school design: extreme linearity, no unnecessary bells and whistles, and a narrative barely worthy of such a name. There's beauty in such simplicity, and the game's main quirk, the real-time hacking mechanics, provides a fun, yet original combat experience. However, it doesn't go much deeper than that in any regard, ultimately satisfying the player without leaving any lasting memories.
Life is Strange: Reunion is a bittersweet sendoff for two characters who have tried time and time again to reconnect across the decade-long series. While the circumstances of their reunion weren't worth the wait, there's still an intriguing mystery at play here, even if you aren't as invested in the character romance.
Liquid Swords' debut title, Samson: A Tyndalston Story, has the potential to one day be an incredibly strong double-A experience. At a bargain price of $25 and with strong foundations, even in its broken state, I can see through to the vision of what the game could be and how much fun it is when it's all running smoothly. But at launch, that's simply not the case, and $25 for anything is still a rip-off if you're just buying something that's broken to begin with. One day, there will be more than a few good reasons to recommend you go out and buy Samson: A Tyndalston Story for yourself. But not on launch day.
Crimson Desert is among the best fantasy open-world games in years. While the narrative is thin and the controls complex, the incredible world density, sandbox mechanics, incredible combat and stunning visuals make Pywell a continent worth visiting for anyone looking for an experience to lose themselves in for hundreds of hours.
Bungie's extraction shooter reboot of its classic Marathon series is easily one of the best releases in 2026. Its top-level gunplay and extremely rewarding gameplay loop that centers strong gameplay experiences over better loot, paired with an atmosphere and world design that does an incredible job of weaving narrative into a multiplayer PvPvE setting, make it a must-play for first-person shooter fans and anyone feeling tired of the current live service landscape. For all its rough edges, there's really nothing else that looks, sounds, or plays quite like Marathon, and it's all the better for it.
Pokémon Pokopia isn't just possibly the best spinoff this series has ever seen, it also captures the spirit and fulfillment of those classic early entries in the franchise better than anything that's come our way in some years. This game is mechanically sound, technically rock-solid, and has a pinch of genuine creative inspiration and joy that you don't always get from modern Pokémon titles. While the game may start a bit slow for some tastes, I think most folks who give Pokopia a chance will find they Kanto get enough.
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a hauntingly beautiful reimagining that successfully modernizes one of the series' most iconic entries with modern visuals and new mechanics. While the atmosphere and puzzles are masterfully executed, the experience is slightly dragged down by a combat system that can feel more frustrating than fun. However, the expanded story and atmospheric overhaul still make this a must-play for fans of the series and survival-horror fans in general.
WWE 2K26 offers a more well-balanced card than last year, including some welcome tweaks to core gameplay, fun new match types, and solid additions to most modes. As with most annualized sports franchises, a lot of the improvements feel rather piecemeal, and the addition of a grindy new Ringside Pass nearly pushes the game into the realm of NBA-2K-style over monetization, but this veteran franchise can still deliver thrills, for a price.
Resident Evil Requiem is the Every-Evil, as Capcom has taken all the things they've done with the franchise over the past decade or so and stitched them together into a towering monster of a survival horror game. Parts of this game are the best, scariest, and most intense this series has ever been, other parts are merely alright, but no part of the game is bad and it's all very distinctly Resident Evil. While it won't be everyone's new favorite, Resident Evil Requiem should hit enough right notes for most fans.