CBR's Reviews
Going through Ezo is not only beautiful, but the organic way of discovering objectives helps to set it apart from other checklist open-world games. The little touches of the DualSense and modes help round out an incredible journey. If exclusives help sell a console, then Ghost of Yotei is a clear winner for PlayStation 5.
It’s hard to nitpick Hades II simply because there are hardly any flaws. It’s an experience that’ll stick with me for a while, as Hades II is one of the must-play titles in a legendary year for gaming.
Now that players can dive into Alien: Rogue Incursion without a VR headset, the urgency that previously overshadowed the mystery elements of the game has been almost entirely removed, leaving behind a more leisurely gaming experience that is still perfectly capable of raising players' heart rates.
Even more of a masterpiece in 2025 than it was 28 years ago, Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is quite simply the best game I've played all year, and the best Final Fantasy game since 1997.
Having the sanity meter is a clever way of working the themes of the story into combat. It's a radical departure from other Silent Hill games, but maybe this is what the series needs. It's still an experience that Silent Hill fans will appreciate. As we enter the spooky season, Silent Hill f is a phenomenal game to play alone in the dark.
The worst that can be said is that the story is on the bland side, and the Timekeeper doesn't help. Most gripes with Borderlands 4 are saved by the third act, with many thrilling surprises awaiting fans there. Fun side characters and inside jokes sprinkled into the game show how much passion developers poured into the game to make Borderlands 4 a success. Even with a sea of new game releases, Borderlands 4 should be on every gamer's radar.
In terms of the base game, there are a lot of quality-of-life fixes that make Silksong a more manageable experience for fans of the original Hollow Knight. Team Cherry developed Pharloom with so much love and care that it’s hard to believe that a small team made it. Team Cherry's attention to detail takes Silksong beyond being a great Hollow Knight sequel to competing for a spot among the best games of all time.
Playing Gears of War in 2025 is still fun, whether someone has played it or not. From now on, Gears of War: Reloaded is the definitive way to play the first Gears of War game.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is still good enough for both crowds to buy and play. Think of this game as not the pizza that the Turtles enjoy, but the side dish. Something tasty that gamers will enjoy, but don't expect to fill up on it.
With Donkey Kong Bananza, it should be highly regarded with other platformers like Super Mario Odyssey and Astro Bot. Donkey Kong Bananza is a prime example of why gamers need a Switch 2.
While topping the original is tough, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach makes it seem like an easy task.
Mario Kart World is proving doubters wrong, as this is the innovation that Mario Kart needed. Even on the surface level, with docked support for 4K resolution and 120 FPS, the improvements are here. Because of all the new additions, everything feels more chaotic, and that’s a perfect compliment for any Mario Kart game.
Everything feels shorter and tighter, which makes for a compelling gameplay experience. While some gamers might roll their eyes at seeing another Elden Ring title being considered Game of the Year, Nightreign deserves to be in the discussion.
Since the combat is less kinetic compared to the past two games, it moves a bit slow, but in the best way possible. The movement feels slower than the previous two games and more in line with the original DOOM. The style and music are classic DOOM, which provides a major boost of energy to the mix. Some longtime fans might have issues with the changes to the formula, but the respect towards this franchise is still there. Even if gamers haven’t played a DOOM game, The Dark Ages is the perfect start.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure borrows the best of other worlds, creating the perfect blend of adventure, creativity, and relaxation.
To think that this is Sandfall Interactive’s first game is mind-blowing, as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 should be up there with the best RPGs of all time.
It’s not just the gameplay, but the presentation that looks stunning. Players will know it’s good when, for a split second, it looks like the real thing. Sometimes, the facial animations take a serious nose dive, but it’s only for a brief moment.
The urge to protect those who are vulnerable is powerful, and players will be hard-pressed to complete Koira without having experienced an overwhelming surge of emotion at some point. With relatively few hiccups and an incredibly memorable story presented beautifully, Koira is one of the best indie games of the year so far.
While being in this world offers a lot of fun, traversing becomes more of a chore by the end. Once the player gets to a base or somewhere to explore, the energy picks up again. It makes Atomfall a must-play, even if players aren’t fans of the genre.
Doing small tasks can still bring a sense of peace and fulfillment, especially when doing it in a stunning world that is more like watching a sunset. That’s where Wanderstop stands out from other cozy games by truly making the player feel relaxed. Like what Boro is doing with Alta, Wanderstop helps players look within themselves. This makes Wanderstop a one-of-a-kind experience that fans of the cozy game genre need to play.