Noisy Pixel
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Engaging combat mechanics, spectacular sights, and gripping character moments are somewhat undermined by indistinct quantity, dull objective listings, and by-the-books storytelling. If you've been seeking a new open-world adventure, you could do far worse. At its heart, Ghost of Yōtei is an undeniable beauty to behold, yet too cautious to let its splendor shine.
Dreams of Another is a surreal, narrative-driven adventure from Q-Games that transforms traditional shooter mechanics into tools of creation rather than destruction. Drawing inspiration from the experimental PlayStation 3 era, it offers a meditative journey through metaphysical dreamscapes where shooting reveals memories, solves puzzles, and unravels existential mysteries. While its abstract structure and lack of conventional action may alienate some players, those seeking a thought-provoking, emotionally resonant experience will find much to admire in its layered storytelling and haunting visual design.
Borderlands 4 marks a confident course correction for the looter-shooter franchise, bringing back the series' core strengths while introducing welcome refinements. Set on the new planet Kairos, the game sheds the baggage of its predecessor with a semi-reboot approach, tighter narrative focus, and satisfying combat. Despite performance hiccups and lackluster menus, it succeeds in recapturing what made Borderlands a genre favorite.
Digimon Story Time Stranger is a standout entry in the Digimon franchise, blending rich storytelling with an expansive Digivolution system that rewards strategy and patience. Set across dual timelines, the game introduces emotionally engaging characters, deep combat mechanics, and a highly customizable team-building experience that longtime fans and newcomers alike can appreciate.
Hotel Barcelona is a wild, unfiltered roguelike horror-action experience from the minds of Swery65 and Suda51. Packed with creative chaos, the game delivers a surreal narrative, inventive systems, and unapologetically janky gameplay that somehow keeps pulling you back in. Despite technical hiccups and clunky combat mechanics, its relentless pace and bizarre charm make it a standout for fans of experimental indies.
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian surprised me with how confidently it balances tradition and evolution, offering one of the most thoughtfully built entries in the franchise to date. While some systems remain overly rigid, the expanded narrative scope, satisfying synthesis, and nuanced protagonists make it a rewarding return for longtime fans, and a solid entry point for newcomers.
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles delivers a rich, emotionally resonant narrative and refined tactical gameplay that welcomes newcomers while honoring its legacy, though it stumbles in offering a definitive version for longtime fans.
Hades II on Switch 2 delivers a masterclass in roguelite design, expanding on its predecessor with a darker tone, richer character arcs, and deeper mechanical systems. Supergiant Games refines the formula with a compelling new protagonist, rewarding exploration, and an ambitious progression loop that keeps each run fresh and addictive.
Consume Me successfully tells an important and deeply personal story with tact. Supported by lovely graphics and a generally humorous undertone, the narrative is well told and gives a hopeful outlook on life. Unfortunately some of the cutscenes and minigames get a bit repetitive with time, but Consume Me remains very enjoyable.
Silent Hill f is a chillingly elegant return to form for the franchise, melding Ryukishi07’s signature psychological storytelling with a hauntingly atmospheric 1960s Japan setting. Balancing methodical survival horror mechanics with intricate character introspection, it stands out as a deeply emotional and cerebral entry that lingers long after the credits roll.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a fast, stylish return to form for Sega’s kart-racing efforts, blending tight controls with deep customization and a surprisingly generous amount of content. While the core gameplay shines and rival interactions add flair, the overuse of its Travel Rings gimmick and a cautious character roster hold it back from true greatness. It’s a solid, replayable racer that’s fun solo or with friends, just don’t expect it to fully reinvent the wheel.
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a visually charming and narratively ambitious roguelite that explores themes of sacrifice, time loops, and divine responsibility. While the world-building and character interactions show genuine heart, the gameplay struggles to support the story’s weight. Repetitive run structures, a tedious weapon durability system, and emotionally flat consequences undermine what could have been a standout experience. It’s a game full of good ideas, but one that ultimately lacks the cohesion and polish needed to make its ambition truly resonate.
Kemono Teatime is a deceptively cozy catgirl café simulator from FuRyu’s new Studio Lalala, helmed by Fuyuki Hayashi. Beneath its cute pixel art and chill soundtrack lies a narratively rich experience that quietly tackles heavy emotional themes. With minimal gameplay depth but striking storytelling, it’s a bittersweet, thought-provoking journey that lingers well beyond its three-week runtime.
Roadwarden is an impressive text adventure RPG, but the Switch version is severely lacking when it comes to technical conditions. It's a shame as this should be one of the best of its kind on the platform, but it's just impossible to recommend it compared to the PC release.
No, I'm Not a Human is a haunting psychological horror experience that masterfully blends paranoia, morality, and surreal storytelling. Through tense decision-making, unreliable information, and eerie visual shifts, Trioskaz delivers a uniquely disturbing game that challenges your instincts and sanity, even if some mechanics frustrate.
LEGO Voyagers is an exceptionally charming co-op title that will resonate with both adults and children, with an incredible ambient score and a poignant story that might be easy to predict but can still be emotionally effective. Its team-based puzzle solving and other mechanics are so easy to pick up that the game explains almost nothing, and while its controls can be somewhat frustrating, this barely detracts from one of the best adventures I've had all year.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a lovingly crafted remake that modernizes a beloved JRPG while preserving its emotional core, offering a vibrant, voice-acted journey through Liberl with standout character dynamics, rebalanced combat, and welcome quality-of-life updates that make it the ideal starting point for newcomers and a heartfelt return for longtime fans.
Cronos: The New Dawn is a bold, atmospheric survival horror experience from Bloober Team, blending psychological storytelling, intense resource management, and inventive time-travel mechanics into a haunting, unforgiving journey that rewards skill and immersion.
Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection is a lovingly curated yet brutally honest preservation of one of gaming’s most chaotic mascots. Packed with extras and accessibility features, it faithfully captures every quirky, frustrating, and occasionally charming moment of Bubsy’s retro reign, frustration and all.
Hollow Knight: Silksong delivers a meticulously crafted metroidvania experience that refines its predecessor’s formula with faster combat, expressive storytelling, and brutally rewarding exploration, though some side content drags down the pacing.