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After spending well over three hours with this DLC content, I loved my time with it. It reminded me why Art of Vengeance is one of 2025’s best games, and that quality continues with this lengthy DLC. For $10, this is a must-own for those longing for a real challenge.
The game successfully mixes old-school and modern elements. As Leon S. Kennedy, you get witty one-liners and over-the-top action sequences. As Grace Ashcroft, the experience shifts to slower, more psychological horror. You solve complex puzzles and face enemies you can’t always defeat until later in the game. If you’re a fan of the Resident Evil series—or even just curious—Resident Evil Requiem is an easy recommendation.
The Marvel Maximum Collection brings back old classics that have never been re-released in well over 30 years. Nifty quality of life and customization features really help make these games more accessible than ever before. In fact, the QoL features themselves will definitely drop the blood pressure a notch or two, given how difficult some of these classic games were. All in all, the Marvel Maximum Collection is another fine trip down nostalgia lane that doubles as a preservation effort as well.
Grind Survivors isn’t reinventing the wheel, but it does try its own spin on the ever-popular survivor-like titles. It offers a compelling loop of loot, infusing and improving weapons cycles that are built around robust meta-progression and varied character abilities. While the initial onboarding could be clearer, the Forge system is unduly stressful at first. But the constant flow of unlocks and escalating difficulty provides the necessary "just one more run" hook characteristic of the genre.
In many ways, Keeper feels like a palette cleanser in between deeper gaming experiences. It ultimately stands out as a surreal journey that values your time, offering a focused, emotionally resonant experience without unnecessary complexity. It’s not a game for people looking for complex mechanics or intense challenges. But if you want a short, beautiful experience that feels like walking through a surreal painting, Keeper is absolutely worth your time.
Mario Tennis Fever is what happens when a developer takes criticism seriously and responds to all of it. Fever is content-rich, mechanically deep, and designed for every type of player without compromising any of them. It's a complete 180 from Aces and other Switch-era Mario Sports games. The Adventure Mode is fun in parts, but still needs improvements overall, and the soundtrack is a missed opportunity to celebrate Mario's musical legacy. But those are the only cracks in an otherwise stellar package. Mario Tennis Fever isn't just the best Mario Tennis game in years—it should be the baseline template for every Mario Sports title going forward.
In a world where JRPG’s are on the rise, it’s impressive to see the Monster Hunter Stories series continue to improve upon each installment. And the leap from Stories 2 is significant, putting the series on par with other juggernauts in the genre. Using deep turn-based combat mechanics, a strong narrative, and impressive production values, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection stands tall in what is a landmark year for Capcom as a publisher. Challenging difficulty, uneven level scaling, and minor performance problems do little to sour what is one of 2026’s best JRPG adventures.
Planet of Lana 2 excels at being a more visually and mechanically robust puzzle game with more story and lore to offer than its predecessor. I was in awe for most of my playthrough, hearing the sometimes ominous, sometimes epic, and sometimes serene completing the visual feast on my screen. Its trial-and-error approach to gameplay kept me constantly engaged and wanting more despite some of the frustrating time-sensitive stuff. If the game managed to capture the similar emotional angle that made the original so memorable to me, it would have been a slam dunk. However, Planet of Lana 2 is more than worth playing through to see what Wishfully has in store, and beyond.
Dead Pets is not a game for everyone, and it knows it. It’s raunchy, it’s weird, and it’s uncompromising in its feminist perspective. But for those willing to meet it on its own terms, it’s a rewarding experience—funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly poignant. Gordy is a genuinely flawed but lovable protagonist, and her bandmates are fleshed out with their own stories as well. The rhythm game is a blast, the minigames are consistently inventive, and the Adult Swim-style humor lands more often than not. The game has some minor bugs, and adding voice acting could have elevated the experience tremendously. The map also feels more restrictive than it should. But these are minor complaints against a game that succeeds at what it sets out to do. Triple Topping has created a unique experience that deserves to find its audience.
When the original Disney Afternoon Collection was released on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, it was surprising that the Switch was excluded. Classic platformers and adventure games are at home on Nintendo’s hybrid console, so the collection arriving on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 is awesome. Containing everything the original release offered, the new modes and games cement the package as a loving homage to quality Disney video games from one of Japan’s best studios.
Aerial_Knight’s Dropshot is a nice change of pace from his previous games. Though it is a simple setup, it is enjoyable for a couple of hours, especially if you want to beat your own records. Though keep expectations in check. The monotonous setting shows little variety, while the boss fights keep things fresh for a bit. All in all, Dropshot hit its X mark.
As a fan of the later titles, it was a treat seeing where it all began with Rayman 30th Anniversary. This classic 2D platformer, while flawed, holds up remarkably well in 2026. Great quality of life additions and a fantastic treasure trove of behind-the-scenes content make this a strong release despite the exclusion of the original soundtrack.
Demon Tides is a triumph—an ambitious 3D platformer that not only meets but exceeds the high bar set by genre legends. The movement mechanics are mechanically satisfying in a way that rewards skill and creativity, the level design stays fresh across dozens of hours, and the surprisingly dark narrative unfolds through well-written dialogue and memorable characters. The soundtrack perfectly captures the tropical adventure vibe while delivering genuinely hype moments. Features like Talismans add insane depth to the gameplay, the speedrunning integration is seamless and offers near-infinite replayability, and additions like graffiti tagging and photo mode add community and personalization that fit right in. It lacks polish in some areas, such as performance in certain areas and sporadic voice acting, but that’s a trade-off I’ll gladly accept for a game this mechanically deep and content-rich. This is Fabraz’s magnum opus, a game that legitimately pushes the genre forward and establishes the studio as a serious force in the indie space. This is now my frontrunner for 2026’s Game of the Year and could give a potential next-gen 3D Mario a run for its money. For fans of 3D platformers hungry for the freedom and creativity that defined Super Mario 64, Sunshine, and Odyssey, Demon Tides is an essential experience. This is the new Queen of 3D platformers, and her reign has only just begun.
High on Life 2 takes everything we loved about the first game and cranks it up to 11. Weirder, bolder, and just a better game overall. Skateboarding isn’t just a gimmick but a fun way to traverse around the game’s wacky universe. Though it falls a bit in the humor, accessibility, and some technical hiccups, the game is just enjoyable from start to finish. It's no surprise that High on Life 2 won Lords of Gaming’s most anticipated game of 2026.
Nioh 3 somehow further sharpens the series' already razor-sharp combat, elevates the series' world design to a whole other level thanks to its large explorable maps, and packs enough meaningful content into the experience to fill at least two games. Team Ninja is a developer at the top of its game, and you can see how the lessons the studio has learned over the past few years have been put into practice in making Nioh 3 the absolute best it can be. It takes all the best bits of the studio's previous games and blends them almost seamlessly for a near-perfect experience. It once again sets the standard for any Soulslike not developed by From Software.
Ninja Gaiden 4 is a triumphant return for a franchise that has long defined high-intensity action gaming. While its narrative and level design occasionally falter, these shortcomings are far outweighed by a combat system that is fluid, fast, and deeply satisfying. The collaboration between Team Ninja and PlatinumGames pays off in spades, bringing new mechanics like Yakumo’s BloodRaven form and weapon transformations that inject variety and excitement into every encounter. Ultimately, Ninja Gaiden 4 delivers exactly what fans have been hoping for: relentless, skill-based action that honors the series’ legacy while introducing fresh gameplay innovations. It may not redefine storytelling in action games, however, when it comes to pure, exhilarating combat, Ninja Gaiden 4 firmly stakes its claim as a standout entry and a worthy continuation of the legendary franchise.
The best way to describe my final thoughts on Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined can be easily summarized by how the save system works. In every Dragon Quest game, you manually save at churches. When completing the save, you can either choose to continue or close out to the main menu. When exiting, the priest will wish the players a peaceful respite, and upon returning to the game, they will hope you are in good spirits when continuing your journey. The point being, that Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined welcomes you with open arms, letting you journey forth into its warm and vibrant world and return feeling proud like the hero of its story. It is a tale you should not sleep on.
Donkey Kong Bananza is one of the greatest Nintendo platformers of all time, utilizing the strong foundation of Mario Odyssey. It moves the genre forward through its destructive terrain-based platforming and enjoyable transformation mechanics. This is an experience that justifies the Nintendo Switch 2, as a platform, and I can't wait to see what the future of Donkey Kong holds.
As a seasoned fan of 3D Platformers, Pac-Man World 2 RePac was a game I was eagerly looking forward to after it was revealed. Pac-Man is a series that could be so much more than fun arcade adventures. Strong reworked level design, tight platforming controls, challenging boss encounters, and a shockingly long post-game, alongside strong visuals and music, make this one meal you want a second course of.
Octopath Traveler 0 is the culmination of so many unique ideas and risks not found in the other entries. Sure, it uses what the series is known for to great effect. But Wishvale, the linear approach to the game’s main plot, and so many of its systematic changes were major risks. As a result, the game stands out alongside its predecessors. Elevating what the series does well while limiting some variation that fans hold near and dear. This series continues to prove that the legacy of JRPGs Square Enix is known for is still alive and well. It is absolutely worth your money and well worth your time.