NextPlay's Reviews
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is what the fans have been waiting for. The captivating story and characters, as well as the generous offering of weapons and customisation do the heavy lifting, as the repetitive combat is an acquired taste that won’t satisfy everyone.
Emio: The Smiling Man – Famicon Detective Club delivers a gripping, genuinely creepy and intriguing detective themed adventure, which will satisfy both adventure and visual novel fans. The mature subject matter feels fresh and unique, especially for Nintendo Switch owners looking for a more adult experience in-between Nintendo’s usual family friendly titles. While some minor technical issues and a forgettable soundtrack do hinder the overall experience, Emio: The Smiling Man succeeds in providing players with an enthralling detective story, which will leave a lasting impression.
The Casting of Frank Stone embodies the Dead by Daylight universe exceptionally well, providing a revelating taste of lore unexplored within the universe. This is one of Supermassive’s best, an experience that promotes replayability and one that will capture the attention of horror fans across the world.
Star Wars Outlaws is a game you will tip your hat to. Ubisoft’s open-world formula is stripped back to a more palatable level and explores an intriguing story from a new perspective in a galaxy far, far, away. From the action, stealth, space battles, and juggling of cartels, there are elements in Outlaws that will appeal to just about everyone.
Destiny 2’s The Final Shape is a love letter to its fans, it’s the best of Bungie. A triumphant last hurrah from a 10-year-old franchise that has seemingly owned its past mistakes. It manages to mesh past and present together, telling a powerful story without leaning on unearned nostalgia and ends of an enormous high. Gameplay feels as engaging as ever, with loot worth playing for and fresh challenges that players both inexperienced and venerated will love. While the past and future of Destiny is murky at best, the present is a gift.
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a loyal remake of a beloved game that is both: a great entry point for new players to the series and long-time fans of the series that want to jump back into Luigi’s flagship series. While some of the gameplay design and mechanics didn’t translate perfectly over to the Nintendo Switch, this is still a title worth checking out.
Cygni: All Guns Blazing is a dark, challenging, and ultimately rewarding experience that showcases Konami’s ability to blend retro inspiration with modern gameplay mechanics. Whether you’re a seasoned Shmup veteran or a newcomer looking to try something different, Cygni: All Guns Blazing offers a rich, immersive journey that will keep you hooked from start to finish. So grab your controller, choose your difficulty wisely, and prepare to dive into the action-packed world of Cygni: All Guns Blazing.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble brings back a classic series in a way that fans will adore. The short but sweet levels and tight controls are great, with a wide variety in levels to maintain interest. Though where it lacks polish is the online multiplayer, which was an ambitious move for the series that unfortunately falls flat compared to the solo adventure
Nobody Wants to Die delivers a memorable noir-inspired detective adventure set within a captivating cyberpunk setting of New York City. It features brilliant writing, fantastic characters, and intricate world-building. While the gameplay aspects become quite repetitive, discouraging replayability, there is a memorable adventure here that some players will absolutely enjoy.
SCHiM is one of the most distinct platformers released this year, and that deserves to be celebrated. The attention to detail in art direction and game direction, combined with a sublime concept executed near-flawlessly, may classify SCHiM as one of the best indie platformers of all time.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a dark, challenging, and ultimately rewarding experience that solidifies Atlus’ reputation as a master of the JRPG genre. Whether you’re navigating the treacherous Netherworld or uncovering the secrets of modern Tokyo, the game offers a rich, immersive journey that will keep you hooked from start to finish. The complex characters, intricate storylines, and strategic gameplay combine to create an unforgettable gaming experience. So grab your controller, save often, and prepare to dive into the dark, twisted world of Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance.
Nightdive Studios’ System Shock remake revitalises the 30-year-old game with modern upgrades alongside design choices that give a hefty sense of retro, 90s-style gameplay. While some of these design choices could have been left in the history books, the game respects the OG title in this great remake.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is the expansion that the fans have so eagerly been waiting for. With more brutal challenges and exploration around every new corner, Shadow of the Erdtree is a masterclass expansion on par with the most exceptional expansions of all time, such as The Witcher 3’s Blood and Wine DLC and Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty.
#BLUD features some of the liveliest animation of any game I’ve played this year, something that should desperately be celebrated. Unfortunately, the game’s fantastic story, art, and sound design are severely marred by the disappointing gameplay that drags the rest of the experience down the whole way.
Alan Wake 2’s Night Spring presents an entertaining ~3-hour journey through the lenses of some of the franchise’s most iconic characters. Remedy manages to squeeze in the humour, chaos, and exhilarating gameplay of Alan Wake 2 in these bite-sized episodes, which will tide over any fan until the final expansion this year.
After finishing the Paper Mario remake, I envy those who were able to play the original release, as I can only imagine how happy those original fans would be with the Nintendo Switch release. TTYD offers the best Mario centric story I have ever experienced, with brilliant writing across the entire 30+ hour adventure. While some unnecessary backtracking and fairly easy combat do hinder the overall experience, it’s hard to play TTYD without a smile on your face due to the magnificent soundtrack and sleek visuals.
Senua’s return is authentic to the original, only with more polish. The captivating and emotional story is thrusted forward with Hellblade 2’s hefty visuals and audio. The only thing letting it down is how repetitive some of the gameplay is.
Unicorn Overlord is an amazing game that should be played by all, this is the new leader in the genre. Take a journey down the path because the adventure is well worth it!
While Grounded won’t compete with the likes of juggernaut Minecraft, it forges its own path into the survival genre. Obsidian has created a captivating game boasting with personality which will have players lost for hundreds of hours.
Indika is not an experience everyone will enjoy. If you like story-driven games, buy Indika. You will love it. My words won’t do it justice. It’s far from life-changing, but it will give you an unforgettable experience that you’ll think about from time to time.