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From its flawless gameplay to its realistic graphics, Marvel's Wolverine undeniably boasts one of the best narratives of the year, which is enhanced by its stellar cast who successfully make you feel the emotions of these characters from Earth 1048.
2K27 does several new things well, but still feels too much like years prior. Moreover, virtual currency remains a serious obstacle to enjoyment.
There is a genuinely good game underneath Lou's Lagoon's rougher edges. The world is colorful, the characters are memorable, the crafting systems have a clear purpose, and flying around the archipelago can be a lot of fun. When all of the different systems click together, you can settle into a nice rhythm of exploring, collecting, crafting, helping people, upgrading your gadgets, and heading back out to discover something new. That loop is where the game's cozy qualities become most apparent. The problem is that getting into that rhythm can take some patience. Expensive upgrades, limited inventory space, crafting timers, resource gathering, loading screens, unclear moments during exploration, awkward platforming, and technical bugs all have a way of interrupting the flow. None of these problems completely destroy what Lou's Lagoon is trying to accomplish, but together they make the game feel less polished than it should.
Join me and stay up until near-dawn playing The Blood of Dawn Walker. It was a brilliant time that tapped into my nostalgic Skyrim and Witcher 3 itch, whilst also offering novel advances on combat mechanics, character progression and the gravity of quest choices. Strongly recommend.
The Sinking City 2 is ultimately worth it though because it’s a tasty slice of inexpensive survival horror that’ll satisfy, but you’ll just wish it aspired to be something more.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is an okay linear experience. Everything in the game is mediocre, and nothing except the visuals stands out. The writing and characters are insufferable; some scripted portions of the game, which are reduced to just walking and talking, are too long to bear, but most of the combat, puzzle, and stealth scenarios are good enough to keep you going. At the end of the day, Resonance lacks the genuine ideas and emotional depth that made the A Plague Tale series stand out from other cinematic action-adventure games.
A technically proficient port that is easily the best way to touch grace on the go.
Aside from some minor performance issues (your mileage may vary) and the baffling decision to tie all post-processing effects together, I have few complaints about Zero Company.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is an engaging fighting game with many impressive features. Despite some flaws, it accurately portrays several beloved Marvel characters in many ways and makes them fun to control through gameplay that Marvel fans would love.
Pokopia's first expansion adds a whole new level of depth to the game.
Returning to Oblivion is still a lot of fun because the parts that made the original so memorable are all here, just with a lot of modern improvements around them. The world is still packed with quests, dungeons, guilds, characters, magic, combat, and plenty of strange things to stumble across while exploring. The remaster gives all of those familiar systems a cleaner presentation and some welcome quality of life changes without taking away the freedom that made the original so easy to get lost in.
Final Fantasy X | X-2 Remastered on Switch 2 is an upgrade over 2019's original Switch release; however, the question of whether or not I recommend it, unfortunately, does not have a straightforward answer. It comes down to the frankly bizarre decisions Square-Enix have made with this (and the majority of all their Switch 2 updates for that matter).
The devs at Cold Symmetry not only upped their game by making a better, bigger, and more beautiful title but also set foot in the footsteps of giants by providing a solution for the most controversial issue of soulslike titles, which is having adjustable difficulty.
I've waited a long time for an Avatar game that truly does the series justice, and Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game comes closer than any before it. From its gorgeous hand-drawn visuals and faithful character designs to its inventive Flow mechanic, it's clear the developers have a deep appreciation for the source material. Add in smooth online play and a roster that captures the spirit of each character, and you have not only one of the best Avatar games ever made, but also a fighting game that's well worth your time.
Ultimately, High Times is just a bit of fun. It's nothing overly deep but it's not overly taxing… you could quite easily just pick it up and play a few days of donut making then put it down again. It's still essentially a visual novel so choices are within limits… but there's enough variation to make a few plays worth while, there are also plenty of different characters so if you don't like one… you should be able to find a different one that you do.
If you enjoy the visuals being a mix of crisp "modern" style blended with very blocky, pixelated graphics then you have passed the first hurdle. If you don't mind the story being a bit "quirky" and the characters being a bit strange… then there are certainly a bunch of puzzles for you to solve here. If you don't mind puzzles that aren't always straightforward and may require some intense head scratching… then this might be just up your alley (or strange dark mountain pass). Perhaps wait for a special, but it could be worth a look.
Despite its occasional repetition and a progression system that can occasionally discourage experimentation, Splatoon Raiders works as a fast, colourful and consistently entertaining shooter. Its short missions make it ideal for quick sessions, yet its upgrade loop is compelling enough to keep you playing far longer than intended. Whether you are tackling raids solo, teaming up with friends or jumping in for a brief burst of action, the game really delivers a steady stream of energetic fun.
Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer ended up being much more enjoyable than I expected. Once I became comfortable with the routines and stopped worrying about how I looked while doing them, the workouts became genuinely addictive. There were several times when I found myself thinking, "I have to work out today," and the only reason I stopped was because I was too tired to continue.
I'm personally a little torn on Revelations. It's undoubtedly more of the fantastic DOOM combat that has made all three modern games instant classics; however, I'm not 100% sold on the choice to move back to Eternal-style combat. It definitely took a moment to re-adjust to twitchy, 1000mph mechanics, but once I got the hang of it, it was just as rewarding and engaging as any of the previous titles.
Helix: Descent N Ascent is a confident and creative puzzle adventure. Its mysterious story, beautiful monochrome presentation, and inventive ability system all work together to create something memorable. The game gives you a strange world, a collection of unique powers, and the freedom to figure things out yourself. The ability combinations are smart, the puzzles are satisfying, and the overall presentation makes every moment feel carefully crafted. Helix: Descent N Ascent is one of the more unique puzzle games of the year and a great example of how strong art direction and creative mechanics can come together to create something special.