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Midnight Murder Club is a fantastic party game that is best enjoyed with a group of friends. While its competitive gameplay may not be for everyone the laughs and screams it produces are well worth the price of admission. The clever use of light darkness and proximity chat makes for a truly unique experience. All in all Velan Studios has created a fun and engaging title that's perfect for a game night. With that said, the game does become a little repetitive and is best played in short bursts.
I enjoyed the game, especially operating my own stall at the bazaar and taking care of the animals. However, I would have preferred a deeper level of engagement (and quicker progression of relationship) between characters. It felt a bit repetitive having the same small-talk conversations each day. I wasn't really interested in getting to know anyone but felt like I had to for the game. Overall, it was charming, well-paced, and unique!
A fantastic follow up to the Gameboy Color classic two decades in the making.
Ultimately The Rogue Prince of Persia is an exceptional roguelite that honors the legacy of its franchise while forging a new identity that boasts stylised graphics, decent audio and strong gameplay that works perfectly on both the Steam Deck and a PC that will make you come back for more, provided you don't get too frustrated from the roguelite nature – kudos to Evil Empire!
Overall, Mafia: The Old Country offers an incredibly immersive experience that puts players back in 1900s Sicily and makes them truly feel like they're in the period. While the narrative experience is incredibly short, the experience doesn't overstay its welcome, and each chapter and act has a purpose that is executed well. The visuals aren't overly impressive, and some visual issues are a drawback, but the game is an amazing entry in the Mafia series and perhaps even the best for fans.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a cosy life sim that is bursting with charm, personality, and a steady pace of exploration and friendship. It may lean into repetition at times, but the combination of whimsical characters, vibrant environments and the little discoveries that make it a joy to play. Whether you're brewing a pink latte for My Melody, decorating a cabin for the next island visitor, or simply checking in on your favourite Sanrio pals, it's a game that invites you to slow down and enjoy the small moments, which is exactly where the magic lies.
Dorfromantik offers the blended cerebral intensity of a deep and subtle puzzle game with the soothing calm of a cozy game that invites you to fall into its warm and colourful tiled world.
In the end, Tiny Bookshop offers more than just escapism. It serves as a reminder that community can be built through small gestures, and that even the most humblest shop can take up a huge space in a community. While its recommendation system could use a little more nuance, the charm of decorating your trailer and watching the town of Bookstonsbury unfurl around you more than outweighs these small shortcomings. For book lovers in particular, it is nothing short of a must-have.
If you have fond memories of either, Heretic + Hexen is another must buy collection from Nightdive Studios.
Rivenaar's Grove is a competent, well-crafted sliding puzzle game that balances simplicity with clever design. Its core mechanics are engaging, the puzzles are thoughtfully constructed, and the challenge modes provide satisfying depth for players who want more than casual play. However, its limited scope, short length, and minimal narrative prevent it from achieving greatness. That said, at just $4.99, it remains a worthwhile diversion for anyone seeking a light, portable puzzle game with a charming fantasy setting, offering short bursts of strategic fun. With expanded content, more complex levels, and additional customization or abilities, a sequel could easily elevate the crop collecting craze. Rivenaar's Grove is an enjoyable, if modest, addition to the puzzle genre and is a game that delivers solid mechanics, but leaves you wishing for a little more magic.
A lack of flair and features drag down this otherwise satisfying sports title.
Tales of the Shire is a Hobbit lifestyle cozy game Tolkien would be proud of and WETA Workshop clearly loved. Hardcore gamers may be confused by the seemingly inane life of Hobbits, also its limited presentation aspects. Still, if you're a Lord of the Rings fan wanting something truly different, this is a welcome change of pace. Note I experienced zero performance/glitch issues on the PS5 Pro (as other platforms weren't so lucky).
Madden 26 may literally be the best Madden game ever, and a must purchase for fans of the pro game. I haven't loved a Madden game this much since Sega Genesis. EA Sports rightly plucked from the best aspects of College Football 25 and 26, and created a world class professional gridiron offering. Don't skip this one.
An enjoyable experience for fans of the original Still Wakes the Deep
Perhaps my biggest takeaway from Wild Hearts S is that I didn't once find myself lamenting Monster Hunter. Wild Hearts was perhaps a risky endeavour but it's one that's paid off with impressive results. While genre newcomers can treat the land of Azuma as a gateway to monster hunting, long-standing genre fans will find plenty here to keep them happy until the next Monster Hunter adventure arrives. Best of all, this game is a fun experience on the Nintendo Switch 2, even with some of the graphical slowdown – it's portable monster hunter killer.
This all might sound like I'm a bit down on Dawn of War – Definitive Edition, but that isn't the case. I love the original releases, and this is that with some modern tweaks, and I've adored the time spent diving back into the games. If you already own the original releases and don't want to, or can't be bothered to mod them, this is certainly the best and most convenient way to play these games now. Those who do play and mod the original games, this is a bit of a harder sell.
Echoes Of The End does have a lot of good points. Visually it does not disappoint, the magic can be fun to wield, and the puzzles add a nice little change of pace. The combat is generally enjoyable enough, if a little awkward, especially targeting magic abilities with camera angles in the midst of battle. If you can put up with its little quirks and occasional glitches (I once seemed to manage to get myself stuck inside the landscape and was unable to move or even see the world properly), it does offer a nice little bit of fantasy storytelling and might be worth your while. If you are easily frustrated by games that sometimes seem to work against you, maybe give it a miss.
A gloriously gory glow up of a stone cold classic that suffers from irksome control issues
Slopecrashers embraces its arcade snowboarding identity with enthusiasm and charm. It's a game that understands its influences and target audience, delivering a colorful, silly, and engaging experience that thrives on multiplayer mayhem. While it doesn't reach the refined heights of the great arcade racers or snowboarding titles it takes cues from, it confidently delivers something unique in a space that doesn't see much attention anymore. At $17.99, it's a worthwhile pickup for players nostalgic for SSX, Snowboard Kids, or party-style racing games and one that delivers more than its surface-level whimsy might initially suggest. For all its quirks, Slopecrashers is a reminder that games can still be about pure, uncomplicated fun.
Hungry Meem is a unique, sometimes exhausting strategy simulation that blends chaos and charm in equal measure. It's the kind of game where watching your village slowly thrive feels satisfying, but getting there is a bumpy, often repetitive road. Between the Meems' antics, the overlapping progression systems, and the sheer weirdness of it all, there's a peculiar joy in trying to make everything work. It's not for everyone, but it might be exactly what you're looking for if you're craving something experimental, unpolished, and full of strange heart.