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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a milestone achievement for Sandfall Interactive. Fans of turn-based RPGs should be right at home with its traditional stylings tuned for a modern age, and while difficulty can ramp up without warning, the challenge of getting through each battle makes it all worthwhile.
If you're looking for a fun new fighting game to play in 2025, then Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a great contender. There's a little bit of everything for players in the genre, and it does a great job of teaching newcomers the basics. The Rev system helps it stand out from others in the space. But at the same time, it does have some core issues that mainly stem from specific guest fighters being in it and the story mode.
There's no doubt Rusty Rabbit is a competent game made by talented developers. Its platforming and exploration are enjoyable in later areas, but Rusty Rabbit makes several missteps in several facets of its gameplay (especially early on) and lack of character development.
Forever Skies provides fun exploration-based gameplay with a dash of combat, but it's hamstrung by performance problems caused by weather effects, story areas, and building.
Driving around a spooky and mysterious Japanese town in a souped-up Kei truck is a surprising amount of fun. The business management is simple but deep enough to keep players engaged, and the gripping, mysterious story of the town will keep you engaged from start to finish.
Blue Prince is absolutely top of it's field in gameplay, worldbuilding, and puzzle implementation. Constantly, players will find themselves pulling on red twine and the result is always satisfying. RNG is certainly not always your friend, though.
Atomfall is an adventurous game that doesn't shy away from its difficulty. It's a compelling survival game steeped in mystery, and despite some unwieldly controls, paints an interesting world to explore around in.
Assassin's Creed Shadows starts off strong with an interesting story and great core gameplay and combat. Unfortunately, Shadows ends up getting in its own way by delivering a compelling story, but not knowing when to trim the fat, a gorgeous overworld that overstays its welcome, and an equipment system that isn't exciting.
Open world Atelier could still work, but Atelier Yumia does a bad job at realising this idea. A generic story, dumbed down alchemy, and lacking open world all lead to a middling RPG.
Wanderstop is more a visual novel that uses making tea as a narrative break versus a shop management game.
Sugardew Island has solid farming and shop simulation mechanics, but its lack of side activities and depth in the gameplay feels like a missed opportunity to do more.
Split Fiction is one of the most ambitious games ever made. Despite its lofty goals, the team at Hazelight has put together a solid character narrative, with so many fun gameplay mechanics to help the protagonists on their big adventure.
Monster Hunter Wilds doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it brings a refined, polished, approachable, and unforgettable action RPG experience.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 is a pitch-perfect dose of melancholic 90s nostalgia and a solid start to a two-part story.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii brings Goro Majima's unique brand of loony brutality to a treasure-hunting adventure. The levity of the overall adventure makes it easy to sink into this game, and despite repetitive ship combat, the hand-to-hand action makes it a blast to play. And with a conclusion worth seeing, the overall narrative makes this another success in Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's repertoire.
Obsidian Entertainment continues to live up to players' expectations of delivering a game with quality writing, engaging choices, and compelling gameplay. Avowed is all those things and more: an epic fantasy that'll keep you hooked, which makes it one of the best RPGs this decade.
Despite small bugs and crashes, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a solid franchise entry that expands on the story of Henry.
A case of not knowing when to rein it in, as Laika: Aged Through Blood tries too much, committing only to the elements which serve to muddy up what fun can be extracted.
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero revives a two-decades-old series with aplomb, all while managing to stay accessible to not only newbies but also relevant to long-time fans.
Tales of Graces f Remastered is a solid entry in the Tales of series. While the characters and story can be cliche at times, the overarching themes remain strong, and Bandai Namco's efforts to modernize the game are a standout showing.