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For all its shortcomings in the combat and enemy variety departments, Hell is Us is one of my favourite games of 2025, and is sure to be close to the top of my rankings when the time comes. Hands down the most refreshing experience I’ve had on console in quite some time, Hell is Us takes years of tropes and bad habits built up by the industry and discards them in favour of player agency. It’s a game that I hope finds its fans, as while I anticipate it being an incredibly polarizing experience, we need more experiences like this to stand alongside the AAA junk food that is undoubtedly satisfying, but frequently hollow. If you’re like me and want to reprogram your brain to not instinctively climb a wall or squeeze through a gap that might happen to have yellow paint splashed across it due to years of being indoctrinated by video games, then please take the time to sample the delight that is Hell is Us this summer.
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is another solid entry in this long-running series, with the titular bazaar offering a nice change of pace for players that sets it slightly apart from other Story of Seasons titles. Despite this and some other fun new features the game introduces, the series could still benefit from a true refresh to help it stand apart from its contemporaries. If you haven’t experienced one of these games in a while, Grand Bazaar is a good choice to revisit the series. For those who have played a recent entry in the Story of Seasons franchise, though, you won’t find enough here that stands out to make this a must-play.
Like Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap and Streets of Rage 4 before it, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance proves once again that Lizardcube knows how to bring Sega’s most beloved properties to the modern era with its crisp, combo-driven combat and fast and fluid platforming action. Whether you grew up with Joe Musashi or are stepping into his tabi boots for the first time, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a spectacular evolution for the series that cuts through the competition.
Herdling offers interesting mechanics and a fantastic soundtrack on any platform. It also has a fantastic style that should be a strength, but the Switch version in particular looks so washed out that it dulls the appeal of this part of the game. I’m not saying to avoid playing Herdling, but if you have any other options, I’d definitely recommend checking it out on another platform.
Despite a bit more repetition of songs than I would have liked and the curious lack of a VR mode in a game that seems perfectly designed for it, Fresh Tracks is a blast to play with a killer soundtrack and incredibly well-designed mechanics. Any fan of rhythm games should absolutely check it out.
Put simply, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is a ton of fun. Not only does it add neat little tricks like how dancing draws items closer to you, but it features challenging boss battles, clever puzzles, and an engaging cast of characters with stellar humor constantly on display. If I weren’t already a super fan of the series, this game would have helped make me one. It’s a blast from the past that’s perfectly suited for modern gamers, and a game I highly recommend you check out.
Ra Ra BOOM has some weaknesses. Its story doesn’t really connect, and the melee combat lacks the sort of flow that the best games in the genre manage. Still, its twist on genres, which combines various gameplay styles into one interesting experience, is largely successful and makes it worth a look for beat ‘em up fans.
Despite these concerns, I’ve had a lot of fun with Abyssus, and I imagine I’ll continue to do so. It’s not the most complicated game I’ve ever played, and it has some balance issues, but it just feels so good to blow enemies away and to chain abilities together that can cause massive havoc around you. I’ll just make sure that when I come back to Abyssus, I’m consistently doing it with a crew of friends who are all ready to cause even more of that mayhem with me.
Fallen City Brawl has its strengths, with its crunchy combat, a solid variety of weapons, and a fantastic soundtrack. But those high points are often dragged down by inconsistent visuals, a lack of polish, and some frustrating design decisions. With more time and refinement, it could’ve stood alongside the genre’s modern greats like Streets of Rage 4 or TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge. As it is, it’s a decent but uneven experience that genre fans might still enjoy, especially in co-op, provided they go in with tempered expectations.
Killing Floor 3 is a decent night with friends and a weak successor. It chases trends that do not fit the series, ships with a campaign that does not shape the action, and leans on grind to stretch content that should have been deeper instead of longer. Fans will find flashes to enjoy. Most players will bounce to other co‑op shooters that respect their time.
Earthion is one of the most impressive retro-style shooters in recent memory. While Ancient’s latest offering doesn’t reinvent the genre, it delivers on all fronts with tight controls, satisfying combat, and a few smart updates to the classic formula. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned shmup veteran, there’s plenty here to enjoy, from the clever upgrade system to the solid weapon variety and striking stage designs. The fact that it was built for the Genesis makes it all the more impressive, but even judged by modern standards, it more than holds its own. If you have any love for the genre or retro games in general, Earthion deserves a spot in your Steam library.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a triumphant return to 2D for Ninja Gaiden. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait decades to see the series follow up on it. I genuinely loved every single level. The team at The Game Kitchen does a fantastic job of continuing to build upon established mechanics while also finding new ways to twist them and entirely new twists to throw at players through the game’s four acts. Any fan of action games needs to check this one out.
Shadow Labyrinth has some ideas that really connect, but the game they’ve been placed within rarely feels more than serviceable. Once you gain some power-ups and can take advantage of the full suite of abilities you have, it’s fine, but seldom interesting, and, considering how unique its premise is, that’s a problem. There are much worse games in the genre, but there are so many better options available that I expect Shadow Labyrinth will be mostly remembered more for just how weird it is, rather than the journey it offers.
Rematch may not be the most complex game ever, but it offers a unique take on multiplayer football, which, with the right team, can be an enormously fun time, at least when things work. Currently, however, there are too many issues, and the community has too little interest in playing the game correctly for me to recommend it to most. If you have a crew of friends who all want to play together and love the sport, then it becomes an easier game to recommend, but most players may want to wait and see what updates Sloclap has planned for Rematch’s future before jumping in.
I wasn’t sure if Donkey Kong Bananza would hold up to my hype, but thankfully, it absolutely did. Not only does this game reinvent Donkey Kong for a totally new era and console, but it manages to bring it to the present with style to spare, and even makes the game part of the broader universe seen in Super Mario Odyssey. Throw in tons of replay value, some really fun cameos and surprises aplenty, and you have one must-own adventure and the first truly great game in the Nintendo Switch 2 library.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers perhaps sticks closest to the From Software formula than any other Soulslike I’ve played, with the way in which it approaches world design and its general combat balance. Rather than feeling like a cheap imitation, however, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers comes off as a classy homage, demonstrating a keen understanding of what makes these games work, while also putting its own stamp on the genre with its dodge-centric approach to combat and accessible magic systems. Its opening hours may frustrate you in how risk-averse those initial sections seem, but bearing with Wuchang: Fallen Feathers ultimately reveals a deep experience that proves there’s still room for more soulslikes when the quality is there.
Parts of The Drifter don’t fully come together in the end, but the journey to get there is one of the best I’ve experienced in a point-and-click game in years, and its setup for playing on a controller should become the new baseline for the genre. Add in excellent voice acting and killer atmosphere, and this is a game that anyone who enjoys the genre should absolutely check out.
Don’t let a few issues dissuade you, though. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach smooths out almost all the issues I had with the original game and allowed me to dive in and fall in love with its addicting gameplay. The story may still be mostly nonsense, but it’s not unenjoyable nonsense, and it does nothing to keep me from wanting to deliver just one more package. Seeing what’s over the next horizon has never felt better in a game. Those who loved the first game will almost certainly love Death Stranding 2, but even those who bounced off of it should give the series another chance here.
New escape sequences are the highlight of No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES. It’s a shame that its low-stakes story makes it hard to really connect with the overall experience. If you just want to hang out with the series’ cast, you’ll get that here, and there’s definitely joy to be found in doing so, as a lot of members of this cast are fantastic. Despite this, the overall story ultimately feels held back by being stuck between two established stories, and the entire experience feels afraid to take any risks. Fans of the series will have a nice time with this one, but it certainly doesn’t offer a good point of entry for new players.
While the new additions might not add a ton to the experience, Yakuza 0 is still one of the best games ever made, and Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut is an excellent version of it that you can play portably. If you haven’t played it yet, there’s no time like the present.