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Never in my life did I think that we would be getting another 3D Donkey Kong game, let alone one developed by Nintendo, but it's here, and it's some of the most fun I've had with a Nintendo-developed game in a while. I'd go so far as to say that Donkey Kong Bananza is the real killer app for the Switch 2, not Mario Kart World. World is fun, but Bananza is a blast.
The way combat is different and largely enjoyable, the deep build options provided by an extensive skill tree with varied weapons and spells, and a robust world design that has some rough edges, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers emerges from the darkness as a strong contender that livens up the space. As a debut title, this is more than an impressive showing, and with time, it won't be a surprise to see this title soar even higher as more players get to grips with its uniqueness and approach.
Not every roguelite can be like Hades and its sequel, but that doesn't mean it has to be. While there are certain similarities between the leading games in the genre and Dragon is Dead, what Team SunEat has put together is still a worthwhile adventure that is just a little rough around the edges. For 12-16 hours or so, it will appeal to the player who is willing to enjoy the grind, and the result is an addictive time that looks great and plays well, just don't look too keenly at the writing.
More of the same when it comes to a quality experience is never a bad thing, but Death Stranding 2 doesn't have the same wow factor that came with every little detail of the first. It is still an incredible, indie-esque realisation of a grand vision that only Kojima can come up with, and being exceptional instead of groundbreaking is still worth giving a thumbs up to.
Coming into Date Everything!, I was expecting a standard visual novel affair. What I didn't expect was a thoroughly entertaining reflection of values when it comes to relationships and people, all deftly expressed with characters made of everyday objects and conversations that run the gamut of the human experience. If you were hoping for the sparks to fly, I assure you, you are in for a whole fireworks display with Date Everything!.
I don’t think it’s entirely fair to compare Mario Kart World to Mario Kart 8. It’s a different beast with unique design philosophies and ideas. How much enjoyment you get out of it is really going to depend on how much you gel with what it’s trying to achieve. Even if it isn’t your cup of tea, Mario Kart World is still a great kart racer with the potential to evolve into something excellent if this formula is built on further.
Deltarune Chapters 3 & 4 may not be the best jumping-on point for the series, but now's the best possible time to get into Deltarune. It's available on more systems, is in a nice and convenient package, and is extremely affordable. It's a strange little RPG that earned a cult following for a reason, and I can only hope we don't have to wait another four years for the next chapter.
Elden Ring Nightreign won’t be the most elegant or polished multiplayer game of 2025, and FromSoftware purists may not be on board. Still, its unique brand of hard-hitting and uncomplicated adventuring is a brilliant distillation of the studio’s most significant wins.
To say that Blue Prince opened my mind would be disingenuous, but it certainly did challenge me in ways I hadn’t expected. This isn’t a game for everyone. Blue Prince demands that you meet it on its own terms, and while that can be a tall ask for a majority of players, I can promise you that it’ll be worth it.
Looking forward is an inevitable part of progress, and with the Space Marine franchise going from strength to strength, it is still nice to see where it all began with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - Master Crafted Edition. Despite its limited longevity and stiff gameplay, there is still a generation of players who never had the fortune of witnessing Titus' journey. Now they can, in the best of ways, just don't look too closely beneath the armour.
Much like the base game, I can't say there's anything inherently wrong with Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker. It's not quite as immaculate as that modern-day classic, but it isn't trying to be. It's meant to be a fun little bit of post-game content that keeps players occupied for about 8-10 hours. Most of the mechanics, presentation, and lore carry over, so if you like Sea of Stars, then you'll almost certainly like Throes of the Watchmaker. It won't change your opinion of the base game, but if you're okay with then, you'll get along well with it.
As an experience, SEDAP! A Culinary Adventure has the makings to climb the summit of co-op games. Its distinct focus, coupled with the gameplay loop, aesthetics, and systems that are more welcoming of players of all skill levels. The brand of delectable chaos is best enjoyed with a partner, but even if you have to go it alone, the kitchen is still hot enough to ignite the culinary passion, and that’s always a good thing.
There is something to be said about cherishing the classics, and for what it's worth, I did enjoy my time with this remaster of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny. It provides a lens back to when things were much more simpler and straightforward, where being able to complete a run in 6 hours and still having a good time was more the norm than the exception. Capcom could have made more significant changes to bring the game up to modern standards. Yet, in this form, we get to see how far games have come, albeit with a tinge of sadness at the missed opportunity to build even more hype ahead of Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
There are many parts of Blades of Fire that I admire or had fun with. It’s unique and inventive in ways that so many games aren’t nowadays. Unfortunately, its many moving parts fail to come together and create a cohesive whole. It’s far from being an outright terrible game, but it doesn’t come close to the highs that MercurySteam have been able to achieve with their other titles in recent years.
As a game, American Arcadia doesn't necessarily require much from the player. As long as you can get past the control issues and ever-changing puzzles, you will discover a tantalising tale that pulls you right in. When they say television is bad for you, I never imagined it to be in this way, and neither does Trevor, and that makes for something that should keep you glued to the screen for the next few hours.
Whether you choose to fight locally or online, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 has got you covered in all the best ways. Sure, not all of the games are made equal, and that's true both in the past and the present, but in terms of a collection, it is still a significantly outstanding one. It remains to be seen just how much more Capcom can draw from the well, but since we are here, let's enjoy the goodness while it lasts.
It is clear what Fallen Tree Games and Kwalee are looking to deliver with The Precinct, and there is room for such games to exist and potentially prosper. The premise is intriguing, but the delivery and execution have room for improvement. While the game is hoping players become a true force of good, much like the real world, the environment in which that is possible remains a mixed bag.
Ultimately, The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is a hard game to recommend. It's not because the game isn't good, because it is, but it's because if you're looking at it solely as a game, it loses steam about 15-20 hours in. The story more than makes up for it, but asking a player to play for 25-30 hours before a game really opens up is a big ask. It is worth it though, if only for the sheer scale of branching pathways available to the player that present radically different and bonkers endings. Making a game like The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy was a big gamble, and while it's not clear if that gamble paid off for Too Kyo Games, it at least delivered one of the most ambitious, if uneven, visual novels of its generation.
From the first kill to the last, Doom: The Dark Ages is an undeniably exhilarating ride that rarely comes down from its high. The narrative sets the stage for more, the weapons and the Shield Saw make for potent combinations, and the level and world design tie it all together in one devilishly brilliant package. It has been more than 30 years since the franchise first kicked off the killing spree, and this latest entry represents the continuation of a new golden age for the Doom Slayer.
Outside of the gameplay elements, Pax Augusta delivers on its promise of helping aspiring leaders build the Roman city of their dreams. Going from humble beginnings to a megapolis is no mean feat, but it's mainly because the game tends to work against you. There is potential, and a project born of passion is always worth supporting. At the same time, it is always working against the clock, just like the sun setting on a once great empire, as better things loom on the horizon.