The Nerd Stash
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Cronos: The New Dawn is one of the most refreshing survival horror experiences of recent memory, thanks to its emphasis on player choices and split-second decisions, which shine even further due to its harrowing setting and gripping narrative.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is an outstanding dark sci-fi experience thanks to its memorable plot and cast, highly customizable armored suits, in-depth combat, and addictive exploration.
Hell Is Us is one of the most unique gaming experiences of the year, bringing some of the most intricate and memorable puzzles in recent memory, accompanied by superb exploration mechanics.
While Gears of War: Ultimate Edition launched a decade ago, Gears of War: Reloaded feels like the actual ultimate way to experience this timeless classic that has aged well and looks on par with many modern games due to its visual and gameplay enhancements.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is the ultimate 2D ninja experience and one of the best action platformer experiences of recent memory due to its impactful combat with ample customization options and an unforgettable art style.
Abyssus is a terrific first-person shooter, boasting one of the smoothest and most engaging gunplay mechanics with impactful gun customization. However, it falls short as a roguelite due to how uninspiring and unrewarding its gameplay loop is.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is the best 2D platformer of the year and one of the greatest Ninja Gaiden titles out there. While it isn't the longest, it is highly replayable and packed with depth.
Tales of the Shire captures the serenity of living life in a backwater village as a Hobbit, warts and all.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 offer a sense of nostalgia in relation to skateboarding games from years gone by, though at the expense of having rather stale gameplay.
Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate is a rough start to the Year of Prophecy, but one that still shows signs of promise below some of its disappointing features. The overhaul to some systems is excellent, and the combat remains top-notch, but many issues hold back what could've been a great new beginning.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is one of the best non-FromSoftware soulslike games out there, that brings engaging mechanics and embraces player freedom above all. Even with some minor performance issues, it stands out as the biggest soulslike surprise of 2025.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is Kojima's best work to date. It brings an engaging gameplay loop that encourages player experimentation at every turn. Furthermore, it shows the true power of the PS5, making it the best game of this console generation.
Yakuza 0: Director's Cut is an excellent launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2 that showcases its technical capabilities. However, some of the new additions make it feel like the inferior version of this legendary entry.
FBC: Firebreak is an excellent online co-op experience made by the creative minds behind Control. It is an approachable game with no FOMO systems that also includes a highly engaging gameplay loop with unique objectives and mechanics.
TRON: Catalyst also makes up for mundane combat with an intricate narrative and a fascinating approach to storytelling.
Dune: Awakening is a new staple for the survival genre and a new standard for all MMO-like games. It features one of the most intricate and addictive gameplay loops while bringing top-notch exploration to one of gaming's most atmospheric journeys.
The Alters delivers the most thought-provoking narrative in the survival genre, while also providing an excellent gameplay loop that encourages replayability.
Elden Ring: Nightreign manages to seamlessly blend multiple gameplay systems, creating a highly addictive gameplay loop. Despite some solo balancing issues, it is another FromSoftware masterpiece, and one I hope will stick around for many years to come.
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is an excellent remaster and a clear step up from Onimusha: Warlords. While it still has its innate jank, the new additions and QoL features make this game feel up to current-day standards.
RoadCraft is one of the most niche games out there. It offers an unmatched sandbox building experience with an emphasis on realistic driving, but it suffers from many glitches and bugs, and is also one of the least solo-friendly games in the series.