Worth Playing
HomepageWorth Playing's Reviews
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is a very solid fighting game wrapped in a somewhat underwhelming package. For players looking for a fighter with distinct characters, creative mechanics, and plenty of depth to explore, there's a lot to enjoy. However, for more casual fans of the franchise or anyone looking for substantial content outside of competitive play, the experience can feel bare-bones, and the included story mode often feels half-baked. This is ultimately a game made for fighting game fans who also love Avatar, and those who fall into that category should find plenty to appreciate.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is largely the same collection it has been for the past decade. The included games are still excellent, offering two excellent RPG experiences, and the newly added speed-up and cheat features are welcome additions for players who have already revisited them multiple times. However, at its core, this is still a fairly straightforward native Switch 2 release, and there's little reason to rush out and buy it if you already own a previous version of the collection.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R on Switch 2 is about as straightforward an upgraded port as you can get. It's the same excellent game, now running better than the Switch 1 version, but without any major additions that would make it an essential upgrade for existing owners. Regardless, it's an RPG absolutely worth playing if you're a fan of JRPGs and haven't experienced it yet, and it remains a gold standard example of how to remake a classic: preserving everything that made the original great while smoothing out its rough edges.
Denshattack! is a throwback to a time when games were allowed to be weird. A train pulling off skateboard tricks at high speeds while fending off a Voltron-style mech sounds strange even during the heights of the PSone/Dreamcast/early PS2 eras. The execution is excellent all around, and Denshattack! nails all of the familiar elements of other games while still feeling very original instead of being a homage to a particular cult title. This is a fantastic game, and the only reason to pass is if you tend to shy away from the extreme sports genre.
D-topia's narrative is intriguing. It's uncommon to see a futuristic story with an optimistic outlook, and while the plot is relatively short, its memorable cast of varied characters leaves a lasting impression. The puzzles add welcome variety, even if only a small handful provide a meaningful challenge for casual puzzle fans. Combined with a polished presentation, D-topia is a strong experience that will especially resonate with players who value storytelling above all else.
EA Sports UFC 6 is perfect for hardcore fans of MMA who just want to get in a cage and fight, assemble their own events, and feel all the things that made them get into the sport in the first place. There's plenty in UFC 6 for you, and the cumbersome menus and lack of real improvement in the career mode(s) probably won't bother you that much. If you were hoping for a complete package where every facet of the series has been upgraded … well, there's always the next one, right?
Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced is a good but very safe remake. I still had a shocking amount of fun just sailing around and doing pirate things on the wide ocean, but the game lacks a certain confidence, and that keeps it from being a truly exceptional remake. It's a great way to revisit Edward's adventures with fewer rough patches, better graphics, and some extra content. Fans of the original will have a grand old time.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a solid experience on the Switch 2. The story is captivating, especially the tales of the people who are on the verge of passing on. The gameplay mechanics are well worn but still feel good, while the presentation remains strong even though the game looks better on other platforms. This is a game well worth checking out, even if the sequel might not hit the Switch 2 for quite some time.
Cronos: The New Dawn is a strong choice if you're looking for a bleak survival-horror experience where scarcity is the norm and careful conservation is essential. The game works because it feels like you're pushing back against its intended difficulty rather than systems that are working against you. Every encounter demands effort, so even simple victories feel genuinely earned. At times it can be unforgiving, but it never feels unfair. If you've been looking for a survival-horror experience that (imperfectly) hearkens back to the classics, Cronos is likely to be on your radar.
Taken on its own, Dead or Alive 6: Last Round is still a solid fighting game. The adjustments to the core combat system improve accessibility without sacrificing depth for more advanced players. The roster is strong, especially now that previous DLC characters are included, but customization feels noticeably thin once DLC costumes are set aside. However, the requirement to repurchase characters like Kula and Mai, combined with the lack of meaningful presentation upgrades beyond a single reworked stage, makes this feel like a minor and somewhat underwhelming revision, especially given how long players have waited. If you're new to the series and enjoy fighting games, DoA6 is still worth a look. For anyone who has already invested significant time in the original release, there's little incentive to return unless future updates expand the lighting improvements across more stages or introduce a substantial wave of new characters.
Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition may not be a definitive port of the game, but few players would bother complaining about what's missing. This is still a fast and fluid action title with plenty of content and a campaign that never feels like it's dragging along. Most importantly, this is a port that looks just as good as its more powerful console brethren without any performance drops. Capcom has already proven in the Switch 2's first year that it can be trusted to bring out solid ports of its games with minimal compromise, and DMC5 keeps that streak going.
Overall, assuming you don't mind the relatively low production values, R-Type Tactics I & II Cosmos is an excellent strategy RPG experience. The core gameplay is fun, the story is atmospheric and interesting, and the sheer amount of content means you're hard-pressed to find a better value for your dollar. You don't even need to be familiar with R-Type to enjoy the experience, but obviously, a familiarity with the franchise adds that little extra zing.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales feels like it gets about three-quarters of the way toward being a fantastic game, but its final stretch drags it down. When it's firing on all cylinders, it's a great deal of fun and comes very close to capturing the energy and spirit of a classic Zelda title. When it isn't, it feels slow, meandering, and unfocused. A strong soundtrack and beautiful visuals help elevate the experience, but ultimately, Adventures of Elliot lands as a good game that could have been great with a bit more polish and focus.
In the end, this port of Rise of the Tomb Raider is as good as the game itself. The scope of the environments and presence of side tombs make the world feel ripe for exploration. The combination of stealth and combat works well, but shooting still feels a tad off. The inclusion of different extra modes and content gives you enough of a reason to return to the game after finishing the main campaign. The presentation is very solid, even if it falls a step below the original Xbox One iteration. If you've somehow never experienced this title before, the Switch 2 version is a good way to do so. Here's hoping that it doesn't take a new console release before Shadow of the Tomb Raider makes its way to a Nintendo platform.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is both a very good LEGO Batman game and a very good overall Batman game. The focus on a small set of characters makes everyone feel like they're more than just a skin swap. The use of an open world is well done, since it actually feels like a living place. The combat is more fluid but feels natural, while the kid-friendly humor is retained to keep the game feeling light-hearted, even during the more serious scenes. This is a game meant for every kind of Batman fan, and it is a title well worth playing.
Psyvariar 3 proves that the series' core formula can evolve without sacrificing what made it memorable in the first place. The signature buzz system remains intact; it works exceptionally well once you understand its mechanics. The addition of multiple ships with meaningful differences adds considerable depth, while the varied difficulty settings and game modes give the experience lasting appeal. For shoot-'em-up fans, Psyvariar 3 is well worth a look, especially if you're seeking something that stands apart from the genre's usual conventions.
Bubsy 4D comes remarkably close to being a fantastic platformer. The foundation is excellent, and the game remains enjoyable from start to finish thanks to its outstanding movement and solid level design. Unfortunately, nearly everything beyond those fundamentals feels underdeveloped, while the constant self-deprecating humor often makes the game seem embarrassed by its own existence. If you're looking for great movement and satisfying platforming, Bubsy 4D delivers. I just wish it had a little more confidence and substance beyond that.
Still, MLB The Show 26 comes down to playing ball, and in that sense, it still remains capable of draining away chunks of your day (or week). Few sports games have done as well in mastering the soul of its sport. The pacing, tension, and strategy of the game translate wonderfully, and it's still the best day at the gaming ballpark you can find.
Mina the Hollower does for Zelda what Shovel Knight did for Mega Man. It's a revival of a classic franchise in spirit while having enough of its own flavor and style to avoid coming across as a simple clone or copy. It's clever, creative, and an absolute delight to play from start to finish, while having enough bonus content and modifiers to keep the game exciting even after you complete its roughly 20-hour playtime. In a year that's already filled with amazing games, Mina still shines.
007 First Light shows that the Hitman developers have a good handle on how to make a James Bond game work within their wheelhouse. The emphasis on less flashy espionage alongside multiple avenues to accomplish your given goal works to this game's favor in helping to differentiate it from past 007 games. There's still enough action to prevent the game from feeling like a complete tonal shift from common expectations. The quality of the stealth helps compensate for the combat, which is good but can feel lacking in areas. The adventure remains fun but familiar, while the presentation is top-notch. The game is another good example of how to do a licensed game well, and the hope is that we'll see IO Interactive do more in this universe, whether that's DLC or a full-on sequel.