Game8's Reviews
Crisol: Theater of Idols is an ambitious game with moments of creativity and style, but its execution consistently holds it back. The story fails to engage, combat is frustrating, and the character design often breaks immersion. At the same time, it offers one of the more compelling first-person horror settings in recent years, and its environmental and thematic work are impressive. It’s a game with strong ideas that never fully coalesce into a consistently satisfying experience, making it interesting but flawed overall.
Romeo is a Dead Man brings everything you expect from the Suda51 style—and I mean everything, especially when it comes to its visuals. Though it suffers from technical issues and a simple gameplay loop, the unpredictable narrative, paired with its eye-catching visuals and strong audio design, makes it a memorable experience.
It’s hard to make magic feel monotonous, but YAPYAP manages it. Despite a strong, well-executed premise, issues with map variety, economy balance, and progression hold it back from becoming the next big friendslop hit.
MY HERO ACADEMIA: All’s Justice is a solid, if flawed, celebration of everything that made the franchise a pop culture staple. It isn’t going to win over anyone who isn’t already a fan of the series, but the game leverages the hype of the Final War arc to cover up its repetitive combat and uneven story presentation. Regardless, the sheer size of the roster and the authenticity of the voice acting make it hard to totally dislike. It captures the spirit of the series well enough, even if it doesn’t quite go Plus Ultra.
If there's a company that knows its way around action RPGs, it's Team NINJA. But with Nioh 3, it feels as if they have finally perfected their vision. This is the culmination of their endless quest to create the ultimate action RPG experience centered around a satisfying flow state, and they've achieved it in the bloodiest and most glorious way possible.
Across dozens of climbs and campfire breaks, Cairn proves itself to be a game that fully commits to its vision. The difficulty can be punishing, and the physics can act up, but the hardship is so closely tied to Aava’s story and the game’s themes that it never feels excessive. It’s an experience that will stay with me long after my personal descent from it, and while the mountain is indifferent, the climb itself is unforgettable.
Square Enix certainly wanted to create a defining title for the franchise, as the streamlined narrative and gameplay additions make it easy for anyone to get into. However, the price of convenience is a little too steep; cut islands, hand-holdy exploration, and a lack of challenge make this reimagining a diminished experience compared to its older versions.
Like a low-budget ’80s horror flick, I Hate This Place is all flash and no bang. Though it nails the vibe with its visuals and sound, rough voice acting aside, the gameplay is too shallow to hold up. After the early thrills fade, it’s mostly cheap jump scares without the depth to stay engaging.
Arknights: Endfield has the makings to be one of 2026's standout titles—a decent story that has potential, multiple engaging gameplay mechanics, a vibrant world to explore, and solid audio and visual design. Aside from the gacha system that not many people may be used to, it deserves high marks everywhere else. Its future is bright, and they can only keep going up from here.
Even with the release of more co-op shooters, Deep Rock Galactic remains the gold standard of co-op shooters out there. With extensive personal customization and build variety, engaging progression systems, and a wealth of content to play with, the game is a perfect package for its satisfying gameplay loop.
Cult of the Lamb shows that sacrilege can be playful rather than off-putting, and that juggling two core gameplay styles can elevate a game instead of dividing it. The blend of irreverent themes and dual mechanics is impressively well executed. It does drift into repetition over time, but the journey there is wild, stylish, and gleefully heretical.
Even though an 8/10 may sound like a solid score, that's actually lower than it could have gotten if it had been polished even further. Sure, the gameplay is nice and the story's very compelling; but with the backdrop of a horribly dumb enemy AI and its terrible performance issues, Code Vein 2 on release is at its worst.
Cult of the Lamb’s latest expansion is a welcome return, adding new mechanics, biomes, and hours of play that enrich the world. The music, visuals, and added lore bring the Lamb’s ascension to a satisfying close. A slow start aside, it’s a rewarding expansion for both veterans and newcomers.
Wildlight Entertainment has actually created a concept with immense potential to revolutionize the industry, combining multiple game modes and elements into something truly unique. However, the whole thing crashes and burns due to a shaky foundation of gameplay mechanics and a multitude of other issues. To put it simply, Highguard was a gamble that was revealed a little too early and needs much more time in the oven to become the next big thing.
2XKO is, without a doubt, the best fighting game on the market right now. Not only does it look amazing with its cel-shaded animated style, but it also has that tag-fighter satisfaction that’s been sorely missed throughout the absence of the subgenre. And the best part about it all is that the game is completely free to play and enjoy, with everything you need to learn included.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on the Switch 2 is a strong port that knows its limits and mostly stays within them. It doesn’t reach the visual or performance highs of the PS5 version, but it also avoids the worst compromises seen on older hardware. The experience remains intact, and portability changes how easy it is to live with its flaws. Fingers crossed that FF7 Rebirth makes its way to the platform soon.
Finding its footing among the giants of the genre, MIO: Memories in Orbit manages to be a great piece of interactive art. Its somewhat floaty controls might take a moment to get used to, but any awkwardness quickly fades in the face of the game’s many strengths. The hand-painted Vessel is gorgeous; its narrative, haunting. Even with a few quirks, it’s impossible not to get swept up in its orbit.
UNFOLLOW is a competent entry in the BrokenLore franchise, delivering solid storytelling and atmosphere while struggling with gameplay and cohesion. It offers moments of genuine psychological complexity, but predictable mechanics, overused jump scares, and underdeveloped plot threads prevent it from being truly memorable. Fans of the series will find enough to engage with, but those looking for groundbreaking horror may find it uninspired.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins Visions of Four Heroes is a surprisingly well-done DLC pack that not only succeeds on a narrative level but also enhances its core gameplay. The additional routes exploring the would-be heroes are well-executed, if not a little short, and the new weapons and gameplay modes add even more enjoyment to the already addictive Musou combat.
Kotama and Academy Citadel stands out as a cheerful counterpoint to a genre that’s lately leaned hard into gloom and grit. It’s also my latest addiction; a consistently enjoyable trip whether you’re experiencing it at its highest highs or pushing through its not very significant lows. As a bonus, it’s also shockingly affordable for just how much visual personality it brings to the table.