Mashable's Reviews
'Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave' is a potent follow-up to 'Three Houses' with riveting characters, tactics on top of tactics, and a strong aesthetic throughout. It occasionally buckles under the weight of its scale, but this is the big Switch 2 RPG you've been waiting for.
With an engaging story and a captivating cast of characters, Marvel’s 'Wolverine' tells a heartbreaking story that’ll leave you emotionally bleeding, just like the tips of our eponymous character’s blood-soaked claws. The combat system’s various veins and vessels take a moment to circulate, but once it gets flowing, this beast is hard to put down.
'Beast of Reincarnation' is a decent effort to evolve past Game Freak’s status as “the Pokémon developer.” The combat has plenty of bite to it and the stunning world had me barking up all kinds of trees. The seeds of a fascinating story were planted, but the underdeveloped cast left what could’ve been a more emotionally impactful conclusion feeling neutered.
The 'Star Fox' reboot for Switch 2 does what any good reboot ought to do: It demonstrates that the classic 'Star Fox' formula is still timeless while offering a look toward the suddenly-pretty-bright future of the series.
'Directive 8020' is a perfectly competent entry in a franchise that has always been more fun in concept than in practice. The story has enough paranoia and intrigue to keep you invested, and the rewind feature is a genuine improvement on the formula — but a decade in, Supermassive still hasn't figured out how to make the stretches between story beats worth playing through. If you're already a Dark Pictures devotee, it's worth the ride.
Bungie's first-person shooter Marathon (2026) is a worthy new entry in a franchise that goes back to 1994. Top-tier aesthetics keep your eyes glued to the screen.
'Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream' is a delightful Nintendo-fied take on 'The Sims' that's overflowing with character, even if actually sharing your experiences with friends is more painful than it should be.
'Pragmata' is another in a long line of recent heaters from Capcom, and it might be my personal favorite of the bunch, thanks to inventive combat and an adorable pair of protagonists.
'Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE' is a masterclass in Japanese horror that stumbles just enough in its combat to keep it from being a perfect game, but not nearly enough to stop it from being an essential one. Team Ninja built something genuinely beautiful and genuinely terrifying here, and the fact that I'll never touch it again is probably the most honest four-and-a-half stars I've ever given anything.
'Resident Evil Requiem' is a polished, fun entry that nails the mechanics but leans too heavily on nostalgia and padding. It’s stronger than 'Village' though not as bold as 'RE7' — and absolutely worth playing if you’re already invested in the series.
Cairn is an ambitious, systems-driven game that turns climbing into something methodical, tense, and deeply satisfying. Its technical shortcomings and slow pacing won’t work for everyone, but for players willing to embrace its deliberate design and occasional frustration, it delivers a uniquely rewarding experience that lingers long after the summit is reached.
'Football Manager 26' is a bold step forward, albeit one that's marred by a frustrating interface. The underlying simulation — the tactics, the depth, the data — remains as addictive as ever, and the move to Unity gives the series its first real visual upgrade in years. But the new UI design undercuts much of that progress, making the game feel flatter and less personal.
'Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment' is enjoyable for a while, but its overly dry tone and lack of depth (even by genre standards) mean it probably won't be anyone's favorite early Switch 2 game.
While The Outer Worlds 2 doesn’t reinvent the formula, its deep role-playing systems and engaging companions offer strong replay value. The witty, if sometimes heavy-handed, writing and player-driven choices make it a worthwhile RPG despite weak combat.
Ninja Gaiden 4 marks a bold return, with fast-paced and bloody action alongside the new protagonist, Yakumo. It has fluid combat, varied weapons, and an electrifying cyberpunk Tokyo setting. While the rehashed Ryu levels and some frustrating platforming sections detract from the experience, its stylish visuals, satisfying gameplay, and solid replay value make it a standout action game in 2025.
'Pokémon Legends: Z-A' is a fascinating and mostly successful experiment with the Pokémon formula, thanks to its fresh combat and quick pacing.
Ghost of Yōtei shows exactly why the PS5 is still king of the consoles. Unless you're tired of ninja and samurai-themed stories, Ghost of Yotei is a must-play. The beautiful open-world game rewards deep exploration and features engaging, cinematic storytelling. Undoubtedly, it's one of the best games of the year.
Sandfall Interactive has absolutely delivered a polished RPG with memorable characters and a unique world. Even with some pacing and polish issues, the experience sticks. If you’re into narrative-heavy games with strong vibes and can tolerate a few annoyances, it’s well worth it.
'Bionic Bay' is a beautiful, precision-heavy platformer that wears its inspirations on its sleeve but twists them into something uniquely its own. It’s smart, stylish, and occasionally frustrating in all the right ways. For $20, it’s a no-brainer for fans of moody puzzle games, speedrunners, and anyone who likes breaking the rules just to see if the game lets them.
If you’re looking for an RPG-lite survival experience with immersive exploration, tense combat, and a uniquely British setting, then Atomfall offers enough to be enjoyable — especially if you go in knowing its limitations. However, if you’re expecting deep RPG mechanics, intricate storytelling, or a truly open-ended experience, you may walk away underwhelmed.