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Game Freak succeeds in taking the strengths from Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet to create what felt like its freshest take on Pokemon’s battle system and exploration yet. I especially recommend it to both newbies and longtime fans who enjoy exploration, experimenting with Pokemon teams, and customizing their outfits.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is an excellent remake, offering voice-acted cutscenes, an overhauled battle system, and a newly rendered world that helps build a sense of place in a larger universe. So much of the Trails series revolves around the interconnected politics of the world, highlighting how each region contributes to the larger picture. This remake reinforces this notion and provides players with a clearer visual identity for Liberl and its towns.
There are caveats and things I wish were better, but overall, I think this is a game made for people that will have fun mastering melee action systems and retrying until they do a section perfectly.
Ghost of Yotei is more of what made Ghost of Tsushima so compelling; terrific combat, a memorable protagonist, and a gorgeous world playing host to it all. It's not perfect, there are a few edges to this sword that could have been sharpened, but there are not enough to take away from an incredible experience. I cannot recommend it enough.
The interplay of game systems and gothic styling of playable characters, enemies, weapon, and town upgrades elevates an already incredible game to something all-consuming. Something so good that it scares me.
Consume Me is funny, it’s emotional, and it got me thinking about some of the things people in my life went through to get to where they are today. If the purpose of art is to provoke thought and introspection, Consume Me accomplishes that goal. Just don’t go in expecting a fun roller coaster ride.
For people who played Streets of Rage 4’s roguelite DLC and wanted more, Absolum scratches that itch and then some. For traditionalists, it might not be your cup of tea because of the structure, but it makes a valiant effort to get there and endear itself to all. Just be sure you know exactly what you're biting off.
Battlefield 6 gets all the core basics right. Shooting, movement, driving, and piloting all feel stellar. The format delivers regular moments of movie-worthy, ostentatious action, while also allowing humble players to spend a whole game just repairing tanks, if that’s more their style. What remains to be seen is if it can deliver the sustained support, balance tweaks, and additions that a fine foundation like this deserves. And as a returning fan, I seriously hope it manages the feat.
By the time I finished Digimon Story: Time Stranger, I enjoyed it far more than when I started. It takes a lot of time to get going, but once the wheels start spinning, it's a series of twists and turns that has a strong emotional core attached to it. The final boss fight is a perfect encapsulation of tying thematic ideas to mechanical systems and one that might go down as my favorite for the year.
Despite being an iterative sequel, Hades II improves upon its predecessor in every way that matters, making it one of the best action-roguelites out there.
While it may not satisfy those looking for more of a classic survival horror experience, I absolutely loved the heart-wrenching and vibrantly inventive journey that was Silent Hill f. Each finished playthrough beckoned me back into the gloom to start another, even though the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Because I still had more questions, and Silent Hill f still had more answers. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time, and it may just become an instant horror classic.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a fantastic kart game that doesn't feel like a half-baked carbon copy. It has many different modes that stand on their own, as well as the portal system that changes up each track and keeps you on your toes. It has a low entry point but a high ceiling, which makes it ideal for anyone to pick up and enjoy.
Borderlands 4 feels a lot like the original Xbox 360 game I played in high school, but it finally grew up and got out of its hometown to see the world. Coming back with a new perspective and some fresh ideas. I'm curious to see how the end game strategies turn out over time, and what the franchise has in store next.
Lost Soul Aside can only ever be the sum of its parts. I wish I could play a version of the game that worked with its combat, rather than simply letting the sole good element of the game buoy an otherwise disappointing experience. That game doesn’t exist, and so it’s impossible to recommend Lost Soul Aside – precisely because of all its frustrating promise. This version isn’t worth the heartache.
Metal Gear Delta - using the Greek letter that signifies change or difference in mathematics - takes the inner-core of the Snake Eater from two decades ago and acts as a new shell around it, largely superficially with some mechanical adjustments. It is a new wrapper for an old candy bar, a new doll with an extraneous new hat, a dusting of makeup before taking the stage, and despite all of those caveats, it’s still a new coat of paint for one of the most incredible gaming experiences of all time.
While it certainly falters in its gameplay department, I'll always stick around for a classic mafia story, even if I can see the ending from a mile away.
That Nintendo continues to experiment with multiplayer oddities should be commended. A little more attention lavished on the looks and ancillary elements could have made Drag x Drive something special. But in its current form, it still feels like a testing ground for what the Switch 2’s mouse controls can handle, and one that may not linger for very long.
Will you enjoy this year if you hated Madden 25? Probably not. However, it certainly feels like EA is one step closer to joining the upper echelon of sports games if it can continue making improvements of this kind each year.
Tiny Bookshop has that familiar stickiness that makes me want to continue playing for “just one more day,” but that drive is less about selling books and more about unlocking the next part of a character’s story or a new place in town to sell my products. It’s a shame there isn’t more variety to the core concept of buying and selling books to keep the game feeling fresh after a few weeks of in-game time.
There’s some cozy joy to be had in the slow-paced daily life of a Hobbit here, but Tales of the Shire ultimately fails to capture the magic of The Lord of the Rings or invent much of its own.