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Asobo Studio’s penchant for story-driven games built around immersion, atmosphere, and strong visual spectacle is ever present here. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy stands on its own with a story that’s incredibly well-written realized, and characters that are interesting. Asobo Studios embracing combat this time around is the best move, with it being so varied and customizable. Exploration is top-notch, and while the puzzles aren’t head-scratchers, they do get your hamster in the wheel turning. The visuals are outstanding, and best in-class. While it works really well as a standalone introduction, fans of A Plague Tale will appreciate the seeds it plants. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is an exceptional prequel, and an essential gaming experience this year.
Lou’s Lagoon doesn’t offer a groundbreaking story, yet it sparks curiosity with a missing family member under mysterious circumstances. What hooked me was its satisfying loop of tool upgrades and exploration. It’s as cozy as the genre gets, but with enough constant interactivity to ensure your hands are never idle. Lou’s Lagoon has been worth the wait, and while I lament that this isn’t the “TaleSpin” game it could’ve been, it still manages to deliver in new and exciting ways.
I’m someone that has no real nostalgia or love for Star Fox 64, but Wild Blue Skies is such a pale imitation of that game. This is especially true when a fully remade Star Fox just got released two months ago, it’s hard to find any reason to play this over that. There’s also other games that have done this better that doesn’t have enemy clipping through environments, abysmal enemy AI, lack of mobility, and underwhelming shooting mechanics. Wild Blue Skies is perfunctory and so bereft of originality, it never dares to be a maverick and exist as something wholly unique.
Agent 64: Spies Never Die is an homage to a bygone era of shooters that we don’t see attempted today. It’s retro to a fault, and it’s unremarkable campaign hurts it somewhat, but thankfully its other modes does a lot of the heavy lifting. Agent 64: Spies Never Die offers a ton of replaybility for you and your friends to enjoy for as long as you want, and it doesn’t demand anything for the enjoyment it gives.
Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?! is a neat palate cleanser, but it’s decidedly short and not something you’ll be itching to play through again right away. While there’s measures to gate progression, I suspect there might be ways to get around that and would be a cool to see speedran at Games Done Quick. I love short experiences, but I think there’s so much more to do here that it ends up being full of missed opportunities. Even though this is built on the back of a meme and trope, Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?! is certainly a fun romp for the several hours it lasts.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is an exceptional celebration of what made the original game a masterpiece. By removing the pacing speed-bumps of the modern-day segments, stripping away UI clutter, using the Anvil engine to the fullest, and adding new content, Ubisoft has delivered the definitive version of Edward Kenway’s journey. The sheer joy of sailing the Caribbean freely and engaging in its chaotic naval combat remains unmatched. It looks like how you remember it, plays better than before, and is an absolute must-play for those looking to return to the high seas. We’ve spent over a decade calling Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag the undisputed high-water mark of the entire series, and with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, it unleashes an absolute juggernaut that completely blows the original out of the water.
As it stands, 007 First Light is an outstanding action-adventure, combining a creative origin story with satisfying gunplay, refined melee combat, and sandbox inspired levels that reward creativity and exploration. Even after the credits roll, the TacSim mode provides plenty of incentive to return, making this a game that’s just as enjoyable on a second or third playthrough as it is the first. Few games leave me eager to jump back in the moment I complete the story, but 007 First Light does exactly that. When I’m not playing 007 First Light, all I’m thinking about is playing 007 First Light. It’s the kind of experience that practically begs to be completed 100%, and one I’ll happily play all the way to that Platinum trophy.
The LEGO Batman games have generally been good, but LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight takes things in a familiar yet new direction I hope we see more of, and across different properties. The improved combat feels weighty and impactful, yet whimsy as “CRACK!” and “POW!” pops up on-screen. The reverence for Batman by TT Games is truly felt, and is such a celebration of the character for nearly 90 years across comics, TV, and film. Legacy of the Dark Knight is the best LEGO Batman game to-date, but is also the best Batman game yet.
Visiting Japan through the lens of Forza Horizon and it's almost circus-like festival is long overdue for this series, but it's finally here and the perfect place to be. Playground Games really refines each entry with meticulous detail and reverence for the locale they are in, and Japan is soaked in intricacies. From the incredible race variety to the customization of cars and now garages, you can truly make them uniquely yours. There's something for everyone to enjoy and engage with. Forza Horizon 6 is another masterclass entry in this long-running series where the vibes are immaculate and the races are impeccable.
As it stands though, this is a compelling package and is more than “just solitaire” that cannot come more recommended. While it revels in being a forgotten, discarded, and controversial game with a storied past, Forbidden Solitaire is one you’ll definitely remember.
Will it be for anyone? No game is, but if you have in your heart the curiosity or grew up with it, “Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection” is, by far, the best way to appreciate it.
WWE 2K26 delivers the most dynamic physics and in-ring chaos in years. Frustrating stamina/reversal systems, stagnant modes, weak Showcase storytelling, and aggressive monetization hold it back from greatness.
“Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection” is a game about connections. Yourself with nature, to the ones you love and matter to you, extending your hand to the ones in need and forming a bond. Saving endangered species, restoring once fractured or severed ones. Does it always hit the spot? As I stated multiple times above, no. But at the end of the day, it does come from a place of love, of good intentions. And, to me, it is what matters the most.
Only sickos would want to come home after a long day at their place of employment to go to their PC or console to do more work, but you know who you are. Across the 15-hour campaign, you'll get to see and do things that become second nature and you feel your skills improve in tune with your progression. The lack of co-op doesn't feel lacking, this is a different kind of game that's focused and deliberate. Docked is a contained experience that makes a splash by balancing challenge and reward equally.
iRacing Arcade has a few issues, but what it gets right is racing and worthwhile career mode that’s too fun to put down. The career is the heart of the game, and offers a new level customization and team building not other racing games ever explore. All of the other modes and features bolster what Original Fire Games has done so well, and builds upon that. iRacing Arcade is great for all ages, to be an introduction to racing or a way to unwind after a long day.
Over the past seven years, I’ve played about 35 soulslike games (in case you’re curious about how saturated the genre is); Code Vein II is not among the worst of them, but it’s one of the most disappointing.
With the introduction of a seamless open-world and the brilliant dual shogun and ninja playstyles, Nioh 3 offers a level of depth and tactical freedom that few other Souls-likes can match.
If the previous game didn’t grab you, I do think High On Life 2 is superior in every way that makes it worth playing. Squanch Games largely plays it safe, but still manages to introduce new ideas never before seen in other games. Comedy is very subjective, but I think the humor in this game is right up your alley if you enjoy the likes of Tim Robinson. High On Life 2 is more High On Life, but in a more polished, focused, and refined space adventure where it’s crass humor is befitting the universe it exists in.
Cairn is an early contender for one of the year's best experiences, with an exhilarating adventure that has players scaling a mountain in a way never before seen in gaming.
Overall, Space Chef is a cozy game with a mechanical backbone. Its open-ended structure, layered systems, and emphasis on discovery make it more demanding than most games in the genre, but also more rewarding for players willing to engage patiently. While directionless design choices and time cycles can be frustrating, the exploration and crafting are quite fun and create an entertaining experience of being a Space Chef.