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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.
Schrodinger's Call is a beautiful visual novel set in the final moments before the end of the world. It has a strong emotional impact, and while it isn't a flawless experience, it's a truly memorable one thanks to its story, beautiful visual style, and incredible soundtrack.
Table Flip Simulator can be a lot of fun to play and has quite a bevy of interesting ideas tucked into a number of the stages, but the rough presentation and hit-or-miss humor drag it down a bit. If you’re just looking for some wacky physics-based mayhem, this is certainly a decent enough choice to go with, so long as you don’t mind its underwhelming visual style and writing.
Bubsy 4D is a far better revival for the boisterous bobcat than I think anyone could have anticipated he’d ever receive. Fabraz nailed it out of the park here, turning a series that was essentially the internet’s platforming laughingstock into a brilliant and extremely enjoyable 3D platformer that I couldn’t stop playing. The camera can be a bit unwieldy on occasion, but that’s nowhere near enough to stop Bubsy 4D from being a top-notch game.
Bluey's Quest for the Gold Pen likely won’t do much for older players or people who don’t care for the source material, but it’ll absolutely be a hit with kids who like the show. The gameplay is straightforward but solidly enjoyable, and the presentation feels like a perfect extension of the source material. If you’ve got a child who loves Bluey, this is definitely a great choice for their next gaming outing.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a fresh improvement on the Lego series formula, trimming down the massive bloat. It’s focused, reworking years of Batman media into a mostly connected, large-scale story that covers years of the Dark Knight’s career. Feeling like one big comic book combined with an improved, if only slightly, combat system makes this the best Lego game in years. You might not be blown away by anything Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight has up its sleeves, but any fan of Lego or Batman would be doing themselves a disservice by not answering the call.
All of that is minor in the grand scheme of Forza Horizon 6, which continues the series' dominance in this casual, arcade-esque style of racing. The tools are there if you want to perfectly tune every aspect of your vehicle, and the difficulty and realism can be bumped through the roof if you so choose. But if you're like me, the satisfaction of drifting around turns, speeding down highways, and barreling through a forest with no regard for anyone's safety comes from the approachability offered by the best Forza Horizon game yet.
Kiln looks great and has a creative idea at its base, but it gets old fairly quickly and doesn’t seem, like it’ll have the longest shelf life. Making pottery is incredibly well-realized and satisfying, and the team-based matches have their moments, but the main gameplay loop gets tiresome, and the lack of stages and content beyond Quench mode makes the game feel more empty than you’d expect.
As the debut title from developer Nobody Crown, there’s a lot to like with Feline Forensics and the Meowseum Mystery. Sure, its bloated menus and decidedly uncomplicated approach to crime solving might not scratch the itch of the most diehard genre fans, but its laid-back atmosphere and cozy aesthetic help to smooth out the rough patches, even if they don’t completely eliminate them.
Directive 8020 explores enthralling themes and serves up some aesthetically pleasing scares, but its overreliance on bland stealth sections and janky pacing hold the game back. I’m certainly interested in seeing more of the story routes thanks to the cohesive and quick rewind mechanic, but I think I’ll wait a bit before diving back into all those stealth sections.
There’s solid gameplay, but it’s a grind to find anything encouraging when everything is going wrong all the time, which does fit the IP and experience. And life in general, I suppose. So say we all.
Mixtape is a fantastic game that celebrates how a specific period of time can intertwine with music to craft a memorable and touching story. The gameplay is constantly surprising and satisfying, the characters are delightful, and the aesthetic is second to none. I’m really impressed with how much this game has tunneled its way into my heart, and it’s got me feeling nostalgic in a more substantive way than most things do. I can see people the same age as the characters really latching onto this story, but even if you’re past that era, it’s a wonderful look back at the messy but unforgettable twilight of youth.
Invincible VS is quite similar to the series’ protagonist, Invincible. He’s often conflicted, and as an alien, human, and superhero, he has much to live up to. In Invincible VS’ case, I’m not sure that it does live up to expectations. Quarter Up’s first effort should be applauded for developing a fighting game that could be a hit with both casuals and high-level players, but it could just as easily not find an audience with its conflicting decisions. Competition is tough in fighting games, and that remains true for…Invincible VS.
inKonbini: One Store. Many Stories is a beautifully chill and heartfelt game that really teleports you to a whole different time and place. The many small stories that customers pull you into are wonderful, while the gameplay is as satisfying as it gets. Outside of some typos and grammatical issues that are spread throughout, this is easily one of my favorite games of 2026 so far.
While I appreciate the smaller scale of Dosa Divas, the experience feels unpolished and unrefined. The combat is shallow, even for a 12-hour experience, and the story holds too many cards for the climax, so the moments leading up to it don't really resonate. The cooking mini-game is a highlight, and the themes about how important cooking is to both culture and community do hit, but the specific story ultimately feels flat.
Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth is a comfy and surprisingly mature adventure game that combines the satisfaction of exploration with a cast of weird but likable characters. The fetch quests get to be a bit much by the end of the eight-or-so-hour runtime, but it’s not enough to put a hamper on how delightful the game is overall. Whether you’re a fan of Moomintroll or not, you’ll likely have a pretty chill time with Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth.
Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is the same game it's always been, brought to a new and popular platform, with a new soundtrack that’s not up to snuff. I’m glad Switch owners will be able to play Memories in Celceta; it’s just difficult to recommend the game, considering the PC version is five dollars cheaper and doesn’t have a worse soundtrack. I hope Falcom has bigger plans for its future remasters because this was a little disappointing.
For better or worse, Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter Episode 1 wears its Danganronpa inspiration on its sleeve, which is a great thing for someone like me who loves that sort of story and gameplay. Despite some flaws and a lack of tutorial, it’s a fun murder mystery with odd-yet-likeable characters and intriguing hints for what the future will hold.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is one of the most ridiculous and customizable social sims around. It’s absolutely chock-full of silly features and a surprisingly rich breadth of content, meaning pretty much anybody will be able to have a laugh playing the game.