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I still wish the story of Avowed had connected with me because if it had, there’s a good chance I’d be looking at one of my favorite games of 2025. Even without that, however, Avowed is an excellent RPG that I had a fantastic time with and would recommend to any fan of the genre. It’s the sort of foundation that could lead to a far superior sequel if the team behind it can keep everything that works and improve on the few things that could use some work.
Split Fiction isn’t a perfect experience. There are a few gameplay stretches that don’t feel as polished as the rest of the game, and I wish the company that provides the backdrop for the entire story had been given the care its protagonists were. These are minor issues in a game this beautifully done, though. Split Fiction is one of the most audacious games I’ve ever played, constantly reinventing itself in ways that somehow work when they simply shouldn’t. There were numerous moments that stunned me into wondering how this game just kept getting away with design decisions that seemed like a disaster waiting to happen but instead led to some of the most memorable stages I’ve ever played. Finding someone to play with may be a challenge for some, but if you can remotely do so, you won’t regret it.
My minor quibbles aside, Everhood 2 is still a wonderful indie adventure that I’d recommend to pretty much anyone. It’s a unique and often hilarious adventure that will make you think, in a retro visual style that’s detailed and full of color. While I feel the story was better told the first time around, this is still a must-have game for gamers on PC or Switch.
Players who are already happy with the PS4 version of Virtua Fighter 5 will find very little that’s exciting, but that doesn’t change that this is still one of the best fighting games you can buy even nineteen years after it was first released. Rollback netcode absolutely makes this the best version of it for anyone who isn’t desperate for a single-player experience.
That said, even with the many issues I encountered in the Switch version of the game, I still found it very compelling, and there’s plenty of reason to replay it to see different outcomes. Here’s hoping the next adventure from Party From Introverts has the same strong writing but much stronger quality control.
I mentioned at the start of this review that the improvements found in PGA Tour 2K25 are mostly found in the margins. They’re more evolutionary than revolutionary. There are enough of those changes, though, that this release represents a giant step forward for this series and modern golf video games. It may be my favorite golf game ever made and is a must-play for anyone who enjoys the genre.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a swashbuckling adventure that longtime fans and newcomers alike can treasure. The spotlight on fan-favorite Goro Majima is sure to be a treat, even though the game can feel padded out at times. I’m a sucker for the Yakuza series, and even after numerous spin-offs, RGG Studio still has plenty of surprises up their sleeve.
Rogue Waters is a fantastic entry within the rogue-lite and tactical-turn-based strategy genres. Rewarding meta-progression is supported by zany combat that promotes experimentation due to the generous undo feature, allowing for low-stakes trial and error that perfectly suits the slapstick nature of the pirate action. While the naval combat doesn’t feel like it’s fleshed out to its fullest potential, it’s easy to overlook with it being a small part of a much bigger whole that’s generally hard to fault, and if you’re a fan of either genre that Rogue Waters taps into, or, most importantly, a fan of pirates, then Rogue Waters is all but certain to get its hooks into you.
While its story may struggle to capture players due to time travel hijinks rendering what should be pivotal moments as low-stakes affairs, Trails Through Daybreak II is a fantastic slice of JRPG action that sings when focusing on its combat, progression, and exploration that rewards due to the richness Calvard presents in its world-building. On one hand, it is disappointing that the Daybreak arc seems to be struggling to move its narrative on in meaningful ways, but there’s no denying that the adventures of Van and his team continue to refine the series’ core gameplay loops in smart ways, even if uncovering the depths of its systems does require wrestling with a user interface that can be all too difficult to parse at times. Overall, Trails Through Daybreak II more than makes up for its narrative shortcomings in other areas to ensure that the Daybreak arc continues to feel like a great foundation to innovate on going forward.
I don’t want to leave you with the impression that Moons of Darsalon is a horrible game. It’s not, but I really wish the indie developer had put in more time streamlining the game mechanics instead of programming snarky one-liners for my crew. If you can absorb the complex controls and manage your finicky teammates, you’ll find an enjoyable puzzle-platformer here. But for those looking for a fast and smooth experience, you might want to look elsewhere.
Despite my uncertainty, once I refreshed my memory of the first game, I concluded that Ender Magnolia, for any faults, is still just as good. It’s beautiful, challenging and truly expansive, featuring a huge world map to explore, as well as multiple endings. While I lament that the music wasn’t as evocative and the map was occasionally perplexing, this is still a most worthy adventure, if not one that fared better than the original.
Warhorse Studios have created a triumphant sequel that improves and expands on the classic original in every way. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a game of staggering scope, depth and complexity, allowing you to be a smooth-talking diplomat, a cunning craftsman, a sneaky cutthroat, a chivalrous knight in shining armour, or any combination of the above. Whatever aspects of gaming you enjoy, there’s something for you here, and I can confidently say that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a medieval masterpiece.
The Roottrees Are Dead is a fascinating tale of a famous family with secrets in their closet. Exposing those secrets is some of the most fun I’ve had with a game in a long time, and anyone who has enjoyed similar investigative titles like Her Story, Return of the Obra Dinn, or The Case of the Golden Idol needs to look into the history of the Roottrees.
Laika: Aged Through Blood can feel like a lot at times. There’s no one mechanic that on its own is an issue, but there’s so much to manage that this is a game with a very high learning curve. Still, this is a singular game that feels so unique that it’s hard to imagine players who it clicks for won’t fall in love with it.
If you are someone, like me, who adored Sniper Elite 5 and are simply after more of the engrossing, visceral, and malleable stealth and sniping action provided by it, then you can’t go wrong with Sniper Elite: Resistance. It delivers a robust, ultra-replayable campaign that still has me hooked and a bevy of multiplayer modes if you want to dabble further after you’ve shattered all the skulls the campaign has to offer. Arguably, Rebellion has played it a little too safe in some areas, with the core gameplay loops and modes being virtually identical to Sniper Elite 5, but given that it has been two and half years since I spent time with the series Sniper Elite: Resistance is an excellent way to dive back in while Rebellion hopefully cooks up something special for the next installment.
Synduality: Echo of Ada had the potential to carve out its own niche by being an accessible extraction shooter available on console. It’s not completely without merit, with its snappy gunplay making for an exciting PvPvE experience and the novel Magus system initially showing a lot of promise. However, a laborious early game grind, and monetization so egregious that I don’t see anyone but the most hardcore of audiences sticking around severely sour the experience. Whether Game Studio can course correct remains to be seen, but early signs point towards yet another live service title that runs the risk of having its lifespan cut short due to excessive grind and greed.
That doesn’t change the fact that Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero eventually does become an excellent strategy RPG, at least on a mechanical level. Its narrative never really grabbed me, but once you get past the hours of tutorials, combat becomes incredibly engaging. With so many excellent games in the genre available, though, it can be hard to recommend slogging through a slow starter to get to the good stuff behind it. Fans of the original Phantom Brave who have waited so long for a follow-up will want to check The Lost Hero out, but other players will find games that make better use of their time.
Despite a few rare missteps, I still very much enjoyed Symphonia. I’ve played several games published by Headup Games, but this is one of the best. It’s colorful, whimsical and features precise and fluid controls. If it had just been a little bit longer and offered more reasons to keep playing (other than the infuriating Shadow Chase mode), I think it would have gotten a perfect score. As it stands, fans of platforming that are in the mood for a quick burn should absolutely check this musical adventure out.
Tales of Graces f Remastered modernizes a beloved game while preserving the elements that make it a classic. What you’re getting is an all-in-one package that includes fantastic quality-of-life additions, additional story content, and most (sadly not all) previously released DLC content.
Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana isn’t a necessary release for anyone who already has an easy way to play this adventure. For those who don’t, though, it’s a relatively simple but fun entry into the Ys series. I don’t know that it quite stands up for me as one of the series’ best titles. The story and characters are charming but also conventional, and while the gameplay is fun and moves well, it doesn’t really stand out in a crowded RPG market. Still, this isn’t a long game, and those who want to see what the Ys series is all about will find a lot of it packed into this entry. Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana may not have been an essential re-release, but it’s nice to see a beloved game available to new fans, and it is absolutely the best version of the game available.