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As a fan of Sky FC, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter feels like a rather lovingly made remake. It lines up with the modern Trails games while not compromising too hard on keeping true to the original in areas where it mattered most, and there are plenty of changes I openly welcome. Trails in the Sky has always been one of my favorite games thanks to its characters, world, music, and combat systems, and I had a blast coming back to Liberl. While it is quite a different way to play through the first chapter of Estelle and Joshua’s journey, it is nonetheless one that keeps a lot of the heart. I don’t see it as a replacement for the original, and it is inevitably going to draw comparisons, but I think this version suffices in capturing much of the same spirit of the game that got me into this behemoth of a series. There are plenty of spots I wish would have been more polished, but 1st Chapter got a good amount of the most important areas right. As this is but one side of the coin, I look forward to Sky’s Second Chapter, just as much as I look forward to hopefully seeing this game impact new players the way the original did for me.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star Crossed World offers up an adventure as charming and well-rounded as Kirby himself. The 2022 game is as good as ever, offering a smooth and compelling transition to 3D for the whole series, whilst also showcasing HAL Laboratory at its best through some inventive level and art design. Its upgrade on Nintendo Switch 2 unshackles those technical and artistic capabilities, with the whole experience made even more delightful by a significantly higher framerate, far faster load times, and a boosted resolution that makes its colors really pop. The Star Crossed World storyline feels like an added cherry on top, boosting the game’s content by a respectable amount while also individually being some of the best levels and art design the game offers up. If you’ve missed Kirby and the Forgotten Land up until now, this is unquestionably the version you should pick up.
Waning Flowers of a World Eternal - The Rainbow Appears After Flowering Rain feels like it’s trying to say something, but often can’t really get the right words out. It sets up for plenty of drama, but a lot of it doesn’t land. It has a handful of salient and thought-provoking parts, and the brief bits of levity are actually pretty sweet, but they’re somewhat in the shadow of a rather repetitious story and often unremarkable cast of characters that don’t do enough to make it truly earn its emotional punches. Waning Flowers is an okay but rather flawed nakige that doesn’t really excel or stand out in any particular area.
If what you want is a golf game, you get yourself a golf game with Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots. And a pretty solid one, too, especially given its more modest price point. It doesn’t try to reinvent the sport, but it does offer enough fun means of play to keep you coming back, whether it be for a standard yet brisk version of this tense and rewarding sport or through the fun little gimmicks of special power-ups and massive holes to aim for. For a series that is rooted in charm and personality though, I was left hoping for a bit more out of those aspects, and it definitely could use just a bit more polish in several spots. Still, while they were annoying, most of my gripes were a cluster of minor ones rather than anything that particularly kept me from having a bunch of fun swinging clubs and saying “man I’m good at golf” every time I sank a chip-shot or long putt. If you’ve been hungry for a classic-style sports game that still remembers how to be a video game, i.e. is interested in being fun rather than trying to simulate too many elements of realism, Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots offers a fine enough place to tee off.
Shuten Order is a murder mystery visual novel that turns the premise of saving an apocalyptic world on its head by introducing a cast that actively yearns for the end of humanity. Set in an isolated nation that largely resembles today’s society, it questions the meaning of a person’s life and existence as they confront a reality that threatens to swallow them whole. Given a second chance after an undeserved death, is Rei willing to snuff someone else’s future out for her own? With a premise that’s weirdly interesting because of how murder intersects with God’s will, it’s an eyecatcher that promises you an experience not quite like anything you’ve had before. Despite being well-grounded in terms of its overall plot, the use of a branching structure to present stories that are structurally different because of how they take inspiration from different game genres introduces a bunch of compromises in both the route’s gameplay mechanics and its self-contained story. Although it feels lacking at times, its ability to tie in largely isolated scenarios into the overall murder mystery is one of its better points. It’s a little bit weird how the routes feel like their own mini visual novel, yet by the end of each of their stories, Rei is able to make progress towards solving the mystery behind her death. In a way, even though particularly tedious gameplay segments take your immersion away, the fact that all the game’s added functionalities work together properly is an amazing feat by itself. Featuring a borderline impossible murder mystery (in the narrative, anyway) with an endearing cast supported by solid designs and high-quality voice acting, Shuten Order is a visual novel you won’t want to miss out on. Even though it has its flaws here and there, the sheer variation in what it has to offer makes the journey feel consistently fresh as readers tangibly feel the progression of its plot. Keep an open mind as you go through the comfortably familiar catalogue of features; there’s a lot to unwrap both in mechanics and in its themes. As long as you remain aware of its limitations and how it can come short, you’re guaranteed to have a wonderfully fulfilling time. Blessed be the Shuten Order!
OFF is a quirky cult title, with this version giving non-PC gamers and new PC gamers the chance to play it for the first time. The enhancements might not quite be enough to bring back returning PC players to the new Steam version, but there is stuff here for super fans, and it comes at a modest price point to boot. This is one of the more conventional “not for everyone” indie RPG legends, but I think it has the capacity to bring in a whole new legion of fans to the niche subgenre. All in all, it was fantastic to re-experience the game again with a different soundtrack and some nifty new bonuses.
With a charming main cast of characters that’s sure to keep you giggling, Yomegami: My Sweet Goddess! is proof that at the end of the day, as long as you focus on what you’re good at, you’ll definitely be a hit for the right audience. For prospective readers of this title, be wary of frequent references to actions that might be foreign to you or appendages that you might prefer to keep under cover. Take time to finally relax and turn the brain off so that maybe, just maybe, you’ll find yourself having a heavenly good time.
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar works well as a farming simulator with more structure and events than many others, which works to its advantage. Certain elements are weak, including the dating and the performance (at least on Switch 2), but it has an excellent gameplay loop, which makes up for a lot.
2D Ninja Gaiden is back, and it’s easily the best it’s ever been. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a statement of love for what feels like the whole series, made by people who’ve clearly loved it for a long time. Gameplay feels smooth, impactful, and fast-paced while also keeping to the high skill ceiling that’s always defined it. I can see myself playing it for a long time simply because I’ve yet to get the coveted S++ Ranks on all stages, and it’s always fun enough that the grind itself is enjoyable. Combine this with a silky smooth aesthetic and one of my favorite soundtracks of 2025, and you’ve got a game that I am confident is the best platformer of the year
Iwakura Aria is a sapphic mystery visual novel that features themes of womanhood, violence, and sexual abuse. Set in a society going through modernization, it brings together people from different walks of life to create a message that cuts through social upbringing and age groups. Heavily character-driven, the game's narrative is moving and highly relevant even today. It employs subtlety skillfully in the presentation of its topics, emphasizing introspection and reflection in garnering insights about its subject. It's a great title to read if you want to generate discussion amongst your peers about women's experiences. Although written with a strong thematic base, it falters quite a bit in the mystery department despite its premise being anchored on that very aspect of its story. Readers who are mainly interested in the suspense of its underlying plot may find themselves dissatisfied with the shift in focus near the middle of the visual novel. In terms of Aria as a character, however, the game makes great effort to unravel multiple layers to her character, making her development very endearing to experience through Ichiko's own context. Perhaps with a stronger cast to solidify the story's grasp on its mystery, it could have had a stronger union between its romance and mystery elements. With a cast of main characters that are easy to empathize with given their struggles, Iwakura Aria paints a good picture of how love is, in a way, equal parts joy and pain. It shows how tearing down the barriers between people can be challenging, yet rewarding in its conclusion. Fans of sapphic romance will find themselves well at home in the title as it validates their unique experiences. Just be a bit careful with your pacing; it's a slow burn, so don't feel the need to rush like how this game ended!
Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact felt like an experiment in a few ways. For me personally, it was a chance to just play a fighting game based on an anime I had no history with, going in just on the basis that it was in-part an Eighting jam. Unfortunately, I had a miserable time with this game. It’s an awkward to play, bland offering with poor netcode and a bare bones single-player experience. On the other side, it seems like the developers experimented to see if a low-budget fighting game could succeed using a popular IP and the growing popularity of tag fighters. In the end though, I feel like this game is liable to be almost instantly forgotten by both the fighting game community and Hunter x Hunter fans. Bushiroad Games have sadly added another stinker to Eighting’s inconsistent past, and certainly made this brawler think twice before I give the benefit of the doubt.
Ready or Not has quickly breached its way into one of my most played games of the year. I can see myself going back to it time and time again, trying to beat my scores and playing on higher difficulties. The range of options and the seemingly random generation on levels make each run a fresh and terrifying experience in equal amounts. Run-and-gun fans need not apply. But if you think you've got what it takes to command the situation and make the toughest decisions, I have but one thing to ask you: are you Ready or Not?
Sometimes it feels like I am banging the same drum when it comes to these Nightdive remasters. They almost always take great titles and make them even better. Seeing Nightdive take on System Shock 2 as a remaster after the fantastic remake of 1 might feel like a step back, but they have done enough to make a great experience a phenomenal one. And isn't quality why we are drawn to this kind of work? If you love immersion, horror, and sci-fi, System Shock 2 is still one of the greatest to ever do it, and System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is a great way to experience it nowadays. Now it's much more palatable by modern standards, and playable with a controller. Or in my experience, on the Switch 2 with the convenience of portability. Grab yourself a headset, turn the lights off, and step out of your cryopod, because the Von Braun and The Many await.
Donkey Kong's and Pauline's journey to the center of the Planet Core is one worth taking. Donkey Kong Bananza is one of the most creative and entertaining 3D platformers of recent years, with a huge world full of challenges with plenty of fun to find hidden throughout it if you take the time to explore.
There are so many things going for Umamusume: Pretty Derby! Despite its off-the-wall premise, it has engaging story sequences with memorable characters, well-built roguelite mechanics, and above-average production values for a mobile game. It also helps that the races the game revolves around are always a thrill to watch! This quality is sadly marred by sluggish progression and an awful gacha system that is less consumer friendly than its contemporaries. But at the end of the day, it’s a free game meant to be played over a prolonged period and the foundation surrounding its monetary system is sturdily built. The fact I’ve already invested over 40 hours into it is proof of this! If you were like me and dismissed the game just off the premise alone, give it a try; you might just end up as a fan!
Patapon 1+2 Replay is a faithful remaster of the rhythm/action games from the PSP era. While simple in its conceived gameplay loop, it rewards skillful play by providing significant bonuses through systems like Fever and good decision making through telegraphed enemy actions. By paying close attention to stage gimmicks and behavior patterns, you can guide your cute anthropomorphic eyeball tribe to success as they journey to the promised land of Earthend. Because it is a faithful remaster of the original games, Patapon 1+2 Replay retains the same problems and inconveniences that their predecessors had in both its repetitive gameplay, random loot system, and sometimes weirdly timed introduction of progression items. As a series that encourages the player to grind, the lack of variation in its minigames and non-repeatable story stages make for a less than stellar post-game experience. The novelty of the game within the rhythm slash strategy genre, however, makes it a memorable pickup back then and even until now. For a respectable $30 US price point, Patapon 1+2 Replay delivers with incredible quality for remastered games’ standards that seamlessly runs on modern machines. With quirky, fun backgrounds and creature designs that’ll have your heart hurting with their cuteness, Bandai Namco’s rerelease of this beloved classic is one both new and veteran players can appreciate. Just take note of the possible input delay in some features of the game; it can make or break your overall experience if you get fixated on it.
Futamata Ren'ai: Two Times the Trouble starts strong with an amusing premise, heroines with unique personalities, plenty of comedy, and an interesting if minimal plot hidden in the background to reveal. It does however start to fall down when it comes to romance or developments beyond the common route. It's worth giving it a read, but much like the other ASa Project titles, it looks great when it comes to visuals, but the balance and style of comedy won't be to everyone's tastes.
There are maybe two kinds of people whom I can recommend Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy to. The first is the type of Compile Heart fan who will play just about any cute, low-stress, and/or marginally charming moe JRPG on the market. The second is anyone battling chronic insomnia looking for a powerful soporific to help them get a good night’s sleep, because this game is a snoozefest. It functions, it’s cute, it has a couple of funny moments. Beyond that, it’s much too dull of an experience to recommend anyone spend the 25ish hours it takes to beat.
No Sleep for Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files just feels more like a mediocre fandisc than a proper, satisfying entry of this series. It doesn’t need to exist, nor does it particularly justify its existence on its own merits. It’s too limited by being set in between the far more eventful games in the series, both in its plot and its characters. While Nirvana Initiative felt like it might have had a bit too much ambition and stumbled at the end for it, this title feels woefully lacking for any real ambition and stumbles the entire way. Most of the tension feels rather unconvincing, the comedy is a lot more one-note, and the cast of characters are at their worst in the trilogy. The game just doesn’t feel like it has enough trust in me as a player to actually solve its escape rooms myself, even when it ostensibly gives me a difficulty choice on how many (or few) hints I want.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is a smooth blend of many of Atlus’s best traits. In terms of tone and premise, it's rather masterfully executed and I think even among their enormous and storied library, it remains distinct for largely good reasons. As a game, certain elements leave something to be desired. While I praise the combat for being a surprisingly successful blend of action gameplay and the turn-based systems present in mainline Megami Tensei, I don't feel the same way about the investigation portions. It feels like they wanted to do more with the adventure game element, but it feels quite basic and solving things is easy. It would only take a few adjustments for it to really come together, but as it is now it's kind of a neat time-waster and not much else. Overall, I enjoyed what I played and I think there's great untapped potential in more of Raidou’s yet untold stories. While I think a remaster of the second PS2 game is a matter of “when” and not “if”, a third game with modern graphics and a rethought investigation system could potentially make it an Atlus hallmark. As it is now, I would still recommend it as a nice time capsule of when Atlus got really daring.