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Despite that, you won’t find many strategy RPGs that are better than Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles in any year. It looks fantastic, it plays wonderfully, and it tells an incredibly compelling story. If you’ve never been able to experience this classic, it’s a must-play, and even if you have, this is a game well worth giving another try. I’m very glad I did so.
Baby Steps, at times, struggles to walk the tightrope between frustration and satisfaction, but it stays on the rope at least as often as I was able to keep Nate on a thin wooden plank. I could have done without losing quite as much progress as I did at times, but I still spent most of my time with Baby Steps with a huge grin plastered on my face, and even now, I want to explore this bizarre creation further.
The problem, ultimately, is that this is a collection of really lackluster titles. Even the best game here isn’t worth your time. It’s hard to recommend to anyone because they’re not even bad in an interesting way; they’re just poorly designed. If you are somehow the rare person who has spent the last 30 years holding a torch for this annoying bobcat, then this is the collection for you, but everyone else should stay away.
Despite my frustration with the 4th stage and occasional difficulty with the game’s balance, Platypus Reclayed is still a very unique and enjoyable Shmup overall. It even features two-player co-op, a feature I wasn’t able to try out. I’d say fans of the genre will still find something to enjoy here and will likely find the challenge easier to deal with. But if you’re not confident of your when it comes to shooters, you might want to try another adventure.
Cultic – Chapter Two is a one-man-band developer showing they’re capable of more than a one-hit-wonder, with this brilliant second instalment of mayhem that brings back the best of 1990s FPS design into the 2020s. Whether it’s inspired level design, awesomely powerful weapons or thumb-blisteringly tricky battles, there’s plenty to whet the appetites of those hungry for pixellated blood.
Players entering Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter without any experience with these games should note that this is only the first part of a larger story. While there is some resolution to certain plot points, others are wide open even upon finishing the game, with a few new ones even being presented in the final hours. Still, based on what the development team has said and a few hints present within the game, I don’t expect we’ll have a terribly long wait for the rest of this incredible journey. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter may be missing a bit of the charm of the original English translation, but it makes up for it with a deeper and more fully realized combat system, a ton of style, and the most fully realized version of an incredible game. New players couldn’t ask for a better place to start, and returning players will be thrilled to find the developers nailed this reimagined take on a classic.
Still, Quartet features a fantastic story, interesting characters, and a fast and fun battle system. It is a journey that fans of the genre should absolutely check out. While it can be a bit linear at times, my only complaints are very minor in the context of everything it does right. Quartet may have influences from the past, but it feels like a modern RPG in the ways that matter.
Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots still plays well, but it’s entirely lacking the charm and personality that this series is known for. With weak courses, a severe lack of interesting ways to play, and characters that I couldn’t wait to get away from, I have a hard time recommending this entry to many players. The online modes work well enough, so those who want to play with friends will probably have a better time than most, but there are so many better golf games on the market that are more worthy of your time.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants DLC may not reinvent the game, but it provides a strong reason to return to one of last year’s best releases. After a few minutes of remembering the controls, I was extremely happy to have even more tombs to raid and enemies to conquer. If you liked the main game, you’re almost certain to have a good time with The Order of Giants.
For fans of the various properties here, Super Robot Wars Y is a no-brainer. Even as someone unfamiliar with a lot of these properties, it was still cool to see the few characters I did know show up and interact with each other. I can only imagine how cool that would be if I knew the rest of this crew. Still, after playing it, I’m curious to check out a few more of these series because so many of these characters are likable and grabbed my attention. Even beyond the characters, there’s a ton of quality strategy RPG goodness here for anyone who enjoys the genre. Super Robot Wars Y may not break any new ground there, but it’s well executed and will keep you busy for a very long time.
While the story of Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion may not have connected with me, and the action may not be breaking any new ground, it is ultimately a ton of fun to play with fast-paced action that is instantly engaging yet offers enough variety throughout to keep my attention. Anyone who loves customization will be in absolute heaven and should absolutely check this one out.
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.
Shuten Order offers plenty of variety, and in almost every one of its routes, I found things to like. The overall mystery here is genuinely interesting, and it builds to a satisfying conclusion. It just takes so long getting there, with each of its rather thin gameplay styles pushed too far, that it’s hard to recommend to all but the biggest fans of visual novels.
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.
Whisper of the House, at its best, gives me a lot of the joy I found when playing Unpacking, and if you’re looking for more of that feeling, then you could certainly do a lot worse. There’s also an intriguing mystery here that gives you a reason to keep searching through Whisper Town even when you aren’t setting up a house. While there is fun to be had here, every time it gets away from simply unpacking places, the experience simply isn’t as cohesive.
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.