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Bye Sweet Carole has all the hallmarks of classic adventure games and the countless point and click games of the past. It handles horror in such a unique way due to its Disney-like presentation, and frankly, the whole experience feels like a truly interactive animated film. While the gameplay can be a bit uneven at times, Bye Sweet Carole is nonetheless a fascinating experience that looks incredible, sounds incredible, and has a truly memorable, yet tragic story, about an era where women were vastly under appreciated.
Ball x Pit is without question the surprise hit of the year, a title that came so far out of left field and is so wacky that of course Devolver Digital is its publisher. Their golden touch yet again has found a game so fun, so addictive, that it is easily a contender for my personal Game of the Year. When a game is on your mind every hour of day, even when you are focused on an entirely different game, then you've certainly done something right.
I still appreciate that Just Dance is still around, but the year after year installments do little to excite when you really are just updating the game rather than buying something shiny and new. Just Dance is in dire need of a complete reinvention, from a ground-level UI upgrade to its deeper catalog finally being added. Just Dance 2026 is fine, but it’s barely Just Enough.
Battlefield 6 had a lot to prove, especially as it’s been the only franchise to really go toe to toe with Call of Duty. The initial sales of Battlefield 6 certainly show promise, and with a Battle Royale mode to drop at some point in the future, there is a lot to be hopeful for here. With a fairly decent campaign and a stellar multiplayer suite, Battlefield 6 is the best it’s been in nearly a decade, and as a fan of the franchise, I’m excited to finally like a Battlefield game again.
When it comes down to it, I’m new to this franchise, but I would recommend EA Sports FC 26 to any new players interested in diving into the football world and long-time fans alike. Ultimately, it does a great job of letting you live out a fantasy, and most importantly, it’s fun where it matters — on the pitch.
Absolum, regardless of its somewhat bland world and story, has everything else extremely locked down, including a fantastic soundtrack that features the likes of Mick Gordon and many other talented folk. Still, the title's incredibly strong gameplay and eye-catching visuals, along with its co-op nature, make this an absolute easy recommendation on those things alone. Whether local or online, Absolum is a visually stunning Beat’em Up that almost lands that perfect punch.
Yooka-Replaylee is a solid platformer, even if it does feel like some of its original vision has been dissected away in favor of improving the overall feel of the game. With the conveniences of a map, fast travel, and better controls, some of the original’s flaws can creep up, but honestly, they rarely got in the way. While it is certainly not looking to compete with the platformers of today, I still love that Playtonic spent the time to improve a game they were so deeply passionate about.
Supermassive Games may have nailed what made the first two games so beloved, but it feels like a safe road they’ve traveled here as opposed to taking some risks to mark their own stamp on the game. Still, fans of the original games may certainly find a solid time here, as some puzzles and encounters are quite nicely handled here, despite few changes to the formula to really justify the need for a new entry.
I have loved my time spent in Digimon Story: Time Stranger. It was a fun JRPG that was built with love and care that really showed and was felt wherever you and your partners bravely adventured. I honestly will recommend this title to anyone who loves JRPGs, monster friend themes, and generally anyone who will listen. Please give it a shot, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I and my newfound digifriends have!
Trails in the Sky is truly fantastic, paving the way to the moments I adore across the series. This remake is easily one of the best in years, as while it brings new mechanics and systems to help modernize a now 20-year-old game, it maintains its essence almost perfectly. If you were holding out on the series due to the history and baggage that is found in the later games, this is hands down the way to do it. With a teaser trailer of its next entry to view once the credits roll, I am beyond pumped to continue this adventure with Estelle and Joshua, and everyone else I adore.
I wish I could say that the general combat and experience here is sound, but with how the levels are constructed, and the reuse of almost entire environments to fill out four levels per location, it’s hard to really see much value here in what the studio has put together. I like the cutscenes and the teaming up of these characters, even hinting they have joined forces before, but are not sure where, but the gameplay around all of this is the same ten minutes over and over again to make up a roughly six-hour adventure. With a lack of variety to shake things up and a fairly disappointing roster of characters, it simply rolls low and takes the damage.
Borderlands 4 nails everything that a Borderlands sequel should. The story is excellent with a lot to look forward to via DLC, and the cast of characters, including your Vault Hunter, contribute to much of that story, in really engaging ways. With some great writing, solid humor, without going overboard, it causes the rest of the package to really shine. Combat is constantly engaging, the unique biomes offer a ton to explore, and with the endgame systems in place, there is a good amount to tackle while additional content is rolled out.
While this is a whole entry in the series, it is very much self-contained, as Rias and Slade are new to the series. While this is a good jumping-on point, I still recommend the other games, especially the Ryza titles, as those are just vastly better experiences with more interesting characters, better visuals, and a far more engaging story. As it is, this title is a poor attempt at pushing the series forward and a hard game to recommend.
Baby Steps is a game that I got so much more enjoyment from than I ever expected. It will live long in my memory for being the funniest game I’ve ever played. Although I recognise that it won’t be to everybody’s taste, I believe it sets a new bar for comedy in video games and for that reason alone is worth checking out.
Even though this is my first basketball game, it won’t be my last. This game has opened my eyes to the sport. I am now learning key terms and slowly starting to understand the rules and various strategies. This game can help support new players like me or advanced players who enjoy a challenge.
There is a fantastic game here, and I am glad I experienced what I did. I didn’t quite get out of it what I was hoping for or expecting; however, I was impressed by the grim and often horrific artistry in which it was crafted. Rogue Factor certainly has built a solid foundation with certain key aspects that can and could be refined to craft an incredible sequel, hopefully one that can aid with a little more guidance from time to time.
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree does a lot of things right with its story, character moments, and the time hijinks of the village itself. While the roguelite systems are what we’ve come to expect, with the studio rarely coloring outside the lines, the combat can often feel underbaked and a chaotic mess of trying to find your character in the chaos, especially in co-op, where a tether can result in some unfortunate hits. I don’t think Towa is a bad experience, but it needs some refinement to be something I want to keep coming back to.
Deep Rock Galactic has a great, simplistic look, and it carries over here in spades. The game is full of fun enemy designs, and a ton of color and variety in its biomes to really push past much of the game’s repetitive nature. It offers some truly engaging progression, while not really pushing past the boundaries of what the genre offers.
Bloober Team found their confidence in the Silent Hill 2 remake, and this has shown a side of the studio that could be a force to be reckoned with. Cronos: The New Dawn is easily their best work, and I say that as someone who found the Silent Hill 2 remake to be absolutely jaw-dropping. There is potential for a sequel here, and with some smart choices on improving the aspect around combat, there could be a contender here to the genre that we really haven’t seen since Dead Space.
I’ve been burned by Madden before. Year after year, EA promises innovation, and year after year, I end up watching my offensive line forget how physics works while my quarterback moonwalks into a sack. So, when Madden NFL 26 dropped with early access and a laundry list of “game-changing” features, I approached it like a cornerback on a double move—hesitant, skeptical, and ready to get beat. Turns out, this year’s entry actually delivers.