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Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok brings more of what’s in the base game, and not much else for new or returning players. As a co-op experience, I could see Endless Ragnarok as a group of up to four friends game of choice, especially with crossplay implemented, but the generic fantasy characters, repetition to a fault, and lack of any clear guidance make this hard to recommend. The accessibility features still put the responsibility in the player’s hands, making me question why this is even offered beyond as a tool for players looking to learn bosses. I don’t consider binging CBS’s Cold Case while keeping a hand on the controller to grind for hundreds of hours a peak gaming experience anymore, but maybe you need a new podcast game, and Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok might be a good fit.
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is a budget package, but Gameplay Group International clearly knew exactly where to target in order to make one of the best Avatar video games out there. While the more casual or novice player may not get much out of Avatar Legends, I do think even the most fly-by-night of Avatar fans should consider the game at least. On the flip side, this is one of the strongest fighting game entries this year, with some titillating ideas waiting for players to discover and exploit. While the game is in good hands, I can only hope that, along with the Year 1 DLC, they also expand it to support offline and solo options.
Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD is better than ever on the Nintendo Switch 2, and I’d be remiss to not encourage anyone who has yet to play these games to do so on the Switch 2 thanks to its helpful gameplay features and sharp visuals. Though the lack of ability to upgrade from the Switch and the inability to skip cutscenes are a bit disappointing, this is an otherwise magnificent collection of two all-timer RPGs, and I hope its extra features somehow get patched into the other versions of the remaster.
River City Saga: Journey to the West is a fun little expedition into something different for the franchise, but it never really hit the heights I was hoping for. If you need a decently priced roguelite adventure to tide you over until the next big thing, you could certainly do worse than picking this up. Franchise fans will get a bit more mileage out of it than others, I think, but I would like to see more things covered by “River City Saga,” and hopefully we get co-op then.
Turning a train into a rollercoaster that does Tony Hawk skateboarding tricks is a pitch too good to not deliver, and luckily Denshattack does just that. The balancing act of combo chaining and obstacle dodging creates a high-energy game of reaction and improvement, delivering non-stop excitement.
Disgaea Mayhem has its stumbles as it fuses Disgaea’s iconic systems with frantic hack-and-slash gameplay, but it’s a largely worthwhile venture for series fans. Jumping between the different weapon types and leveling yourself and your items to crazy heights make for a solid base, and the charm the series is known for is certainly intact, even with its short playtime. Essentially, if you like the Disgaea series and action RPGs, you’ll likely have a good time with Disgaea Mayhem – so long as you know it won’t be too long a time.
D-topia is a pleasantly laid-back puzzle game that examines the idea of an AI-made utopia in thought-provoking ways. There are a couple of small things that could be smoothed out, but the unique vibe and enjoyable puzzle-solving are enough to make it worth your time. If you’re looking for a thoughtful but relaxing smaller title to spend some time with this summer, D-topia could certainly be the perfect pick.
Even though Beatspell falls a bit short of the mark, Rhythm Heaven Groove is still a triumph through and through, offering up some of the best rhythm-based antics the series has seen to date. I can only hope that Nintendo doesn’t decide to lay it to rest for another couple of console generations before it decides to revisit this criminally underrated franchise.
I’ve come away from Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced remarkably impressed, as it’s a top-notch remake of an already excellent game. Though there are a few little bumps throughout on the technical side, the revamped mechanics and expanded story, supported by the updated visuals, do more than enough to validate this remake’s existence. Whether or not you’ve played the original Black Flag, Resynced is certainly worthy of your time.
Echoes of Aincrad has the potential to be a stand-out Sword Art Online game, but it struggles to bear the weight of strangely archaic mechanics and monotonous missions. The story and visuals may be enough to get series fans into the game, but anyone else will likely be hard-pressed to get much out of the game.
Star Fox may be another remake of Star Fox 64, but it’s a relentlessly enjoyable master stroke of a remake. The sharp, timelessly fluid gameplay and quick pace are a grand reminder of why the original game has remained so iconic, while the updated aesthetic and multiplayer help keep it from feeling like too much of a retread. Even if you’ve played Star Fox 64 in the past, I think you’ll get a lot of this latest (and ideally, final) remake.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is an excellent game that could be a great start to a new Square Enix action-adventure series. Though I think the tools are given out a bit too quickly, the exploration, combat, and narrative all succeed at what they set out to do, crafting a breezy and exciting title that’s certainly worth your time. I hope Elliot gets to take part in more adventures going forward, as I’d be there day one.
Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition works wonderfully on the Nintendo Switch 2, finally giving Nintendo diehards the chance to experience one of the best Capcom games of the last decade. It looks fantastic and runs incredibly well, once again impressing me with how far ahead the Switch 2 is of its predecessor. This is a great way to play Devil May Cry 5, and it’s never a bad time to revisit such a brilliant title.
Lost Castle 2 is a testament to Hunter Studio and the iteration they’ve been able to implement since the original. I play a lot of roguelites, and the worst are filled with RNG that results in nothing but wasted time. In the best, you’ll encounter cool items, become overpowered provided you play your cards right, and be offered substantive and fun choices. Whether solo or in a group, Lost Castle 2 is an experience that should fit right into your gaming time. I know the word “roguelite” can scare some people, but there’s a lot of beat ‘em up gameplay here to enjoy as well, whether you had that experience in the 90s like me or later.
Though it’s certainly rough around the edges, Gacha Capsule Shop Simulator - Akihabara has a lot going for it, even in Early Access. Selling and opening capsules can make for some very fast-paced and frantic fun, and the consistent store upgrades keep you wanting to push on. I think Gacha Capsule Shop Simulator - Akihabara is plenty fun as it is now, so long as you don’t mind a couple of little hiccups.
Rune Dice is a short, frustrating experience made even more so by a lack of difficulty tuning. I genuinely was in disbelief when the cutoff for content after the first third of the game was reached, which led me to listen to the same music and repeat the easiest level nearly a dozen times if not more to only learn the Bard is incapable of actually besting the latter stages. Rune Dice was already a novelty in concept, and in practice, you may just want to grab a pair of dice and roll those instead.
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II is a game with pretty obvious flaws that won’t deter fans of the franchise already, but the glacial pace, lack of variety, and limited selection of music may make this hard to swallow for others. There is a “rustic” charm to it as someone who grew up on PC games like this, and it does provide an interesting Warhammer experience even as someone who’s only glanced at the wider property. If you do want to take up arms, the presentation, art, visuals, and well-realized cast, combined with a fairly modular experience, could provide dozens of hours of fun.
007 First Light delivers a massive, bombastic action-adventure that blends elements of IOI’s Hitman series with Uncharted. Its depiction of Bond balances being fresh while maintaining all the required characteristics, and it’s sold incredibly well by Gibson’s performance. This Bond’s first adventure is a worthwhile, satisfying, and creative outing from start to finish. All I can ask for now is even more silver screen-worthy adventures in the future.
Replaced will go down as a wonderful production that could have been a more robust package.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a totally different experience from past Yoshi games, and that’s pretty much entirely to its benefit. Exploration and experimentation take center stage here, allowing for a riveting and charming platformer that leans more towards the puzzle genre than you might expect. While not every level is a winner, there are far more hits than misses, cementing this game as one of the most unique platformers around.