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I hate how harsh this sounds because the truth is Hollowbody is a labor of love. Developer Headware Games seems to be a mostly solo affair and the parts of Hollowbody that work are incredibly impressive. The fact a one man team cannot only produce something so close in tone and intensity to the peaks of the genre and even get it published on console is frankly inspiring. But it just has too many hiccups to come together the way it wants to.
Mina the Hollower brings together a comprehensive collection of mechanical influences and visual styles to craft an engrossing, singular 8-bit adventure that delights as much as it innovates.
World of Tanks: Heat has a minimal amount of game modes at launch, which limits it a bit. But, with the inclusion of a hero shooter dynamic, the game feels great. It’s taking on something that can be niche even within the iconic genre.
Outstanding production values, thrilling action set pieces, strong performances, satisfying gunplay, and a great technical performance make this an impressive debut for IO Interactive’s 007. First Light earns its license to thrill.
Zero Parades is about being failed. It’s about how your failure affects people you love and how their failures shape you, but beyond that it’s about how the framework we live in prevents us from success.
Mixtape is an excellent experience. While I'd normally just say it is a great game, it proved to be more than that. It captures feelings and the experience of life in ways that an ordinary game just does not come close to meeting.
The experience is uncompromised by the Nintendo Switch 2 and arguably enhanced by the platform’s portability. Though I wish the game had taken advantage of the Switch 2’s unique features more, Blue Prince remains as addictive as ever. I can’t wait to jump back in.
Despite some slightly frustrating times, Fun with Ragdolls Plus has enough positively intense action to make your experience worthwhile.
Tales of the Shire is an able farming simulator that does a mostly serviceable job of transporting the player to Middle-Earth in spite of numerous technical issues. A game that needed more time in the oven.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire takes its sweet time to get moving but stick with it and you’ll uncover an imaginative, visually-striking throwback shooter.
Mullet MadJack is one of the best first-person shooters that you'll play on Switch 2 this year. The fact that your character can earn upgrades between runs, and the difficulty is customizable, means that being a roguelite isn't a barrier to entry in this title.
While not always amazing, there is enough creative solutions and memorable moments to make this game the quintessential Prison RPG of your dreams.
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen preserved the spirit of the original generation one games, and their rerelease has done exactly the same. The legend of these games will always be one of returning to the roots of Pokémon, whether it be their release in 2004, or their rerelease in 2026.
Hours upon hours will slip away as you attempt to stop Chronos, and with each run you’ll want to reach the endgame more and more. From start to finish, Hades II is a masterpiece.
Once it sinks its hook into you, it can be hard to put away. It embodies the true “One more time” experience in all the right ways.
While the title has elements of multiple genres, it doesn’t excel in any genre. Some parts of the role-playing experience are boring, and the shooting sections feel generic. While the sound and art are consistent and do a job, nothing about this title really captures the imagination in the way that a space-based role-playing game should.
I really love being genuinely surprised by a game and Ariana and the Elder Codex did just that. The magic combat was fluid and engaging and I found myself wanting more of the characters and the world that I explored over 20 hours, within which in my books is a genuine achievement.
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a linear 2D action platformer that is fun to play through, but some will call it a missed opportunity. The simple slash-em-up gameplay is addictive, but it is all a bit mindless.
While at its center, it’s a third-person action game, it’s more than that. It’s a journey of bonding for two characters from opposite walks of life. Mostly, it’s just a fun game, something that can be replayed over and over again, while only getting better.
With the hiccups that the Marvel MaXimum Collection brings, it feels like a sidekick rather than a true hero for the classic age of gaming.