XDA's Reviews
If you own a Switch 2 and have been looking for a game to push the system to its limits, check Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment out. If you've been waiting for a Zelda game to put is narrative front and center and take it very seriously, you'll want to check this game out too. It continues Nintendo's streak of great launch-year exclusives for its latest console.
If Where Winds Meet stumbles anywhere, it's in how its overwhelming sprawl dilutes focus. There's brilliance in its ambition, but not all of it feels polished. There's the floaty movement, the messy UI that drowns you in screens and menus, and the uneven story presentation, all of which drag down what could have easily been a genre-defining masterpiece. It's still one of the best free-to-play games I've seen in years, but the friction is enough to keep it from greatness.
Lumines Arise, its music, and weirdest levels will stick in my mind for years to come, to the point where I see it being my preferred puzzle game of not just this year, but the foreseeable future
It's alright if you still can't warm up to the idea of extraction shooters, but if you were to ever consider the genre, Arc Raiders is inarguably the place to start. It's an incredibly deep, well-polished, and accessible extraction shooter that helps you along your way, while still remaining immensely fun every minute you're playing it.
Anyone that is able to look past some of its faults and spend enough time with Jurassic World Evolution 3 can find an appealing experience that celebrates the legacy of the franchise and people's fascination with dinosaurs. Although a few patches to iron out the bugs and some of the more tedious aspects could make working with dinosaurs a little more fun.
It's an expertly written, socially relevant RPG about how those with wealth and power will constantly fight over control of others, even as the universe tears itself apart. Its skills and perks aren't afraid to impact your playthrough in ultra-specific ways, and its hand-crafted planets ensure the entirety of the adventure is memorable.
Its open world is fun to explore but basic, its combat is equal parts simple and frustrating, and it doesn't lean into the RPG mechanics of the tabletop game as much as I hoped. Still, Phyre and Fabien's journey is one I don't regret experiencing, and it proves to me that there's potential for a AAA RPG starring vampires.
There are moments, specifically during flashy boss fights or particularly tough levels, where Ninja Gaiden 4 shines. Unfortunately, a lackluster story, repetitive content, and a general lack of polish on important gameplay elements like the camera make the series' grand return anticlimactic
While a game where you control a lighthouse and a bird might look extremely odd on the surface level, give Keeper a chance and you'll discover one of the most beautiful games I've played in years
Ghost of Yotei on the PlayStation 5 is not a straight-forward sequel to what Ghost of Tsushima was, but it's still connected to that game in many ways. The premise of the story, various gameplay elements, and its fantastic visuals are definitely what connect both games together in a good way
If you can look past Battlefield 6's campaign, though, you'll find what's otherwise the best game in this series since 2016's Battlefield 1. The massive battles, character class system, and destruction that make Battlefield what it is are all as good as ever in Battlefield 6. Even with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on the horizon, I expect this will be my go-to multiplayer shooter for the foreseeable future.
Dying Light: The Beast isn't a revolution for the franchise at all, but it doesn't need to be, either. This is simply Techland recognizing what fans loved most about the first game and leaning into it with the utmost confidence. We get Kyle Crane back, we get visceral combat, and pulse-pounding nights, all of which feel like a love letter to longtime players who've been asking for exactly this — more Dying Light.
For a first outing with an original new IP, Cronos: The New Dawn is genuinely a great game, even if it falls just a tiny bit short of going head-to-head with the likes of a full-blown Dead Space or Resident Evil game. Still, I have no doubt that this is a game that has come the closest to being a new-age Dead Space, and for that, Bloober Team deserves flowers.
Hell is Us is the kind of game I didn't know I'd been waiting for, and I'm glad it exists. It's raw, ambitious, and it's frustrating at times, but that's exactly what makes it that much more rewarding. The best games aren't the ones that guide you gently to the credits, and I'm certain that I'm going to be talking about this game for years to come, simply because of its powerful themes and unique approach to both its gameplay and storytelling.
Silksong doesn't reinvent the wheel as a game, but it does do a lot to refine the Hollow Knight formula and experiment with new mechanics. Although we waited for 6 years for this game to finally release, Team Cherry held to their promise that they'd make a game worth remembering, and they did. Hollow Knight: Silksong definitely lived up to the hype that surrounded it for so long and has quickly become one of my favorite games of the year.
As a triumphant return to a long-running series, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an experience that fans will really enjoy diving into. It has beautiful visuals that make every aspect of its action-packed journey feel epic, while also challenging players with some classical-inspired platforming and combat. While the plot of the game may not resonate with everyone who plays, there was definitely a lot of time and care put into every aspect of the story that compliments the gameplay and presentation that will draw the most attention.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is the absolute best way to experience the story of Snake Eater. Those who never played the original game owe it to themselves to play through it at least once, and this is the definitive way to experience why so many people believe Snake Eater to be one of the best entries in the series.
Gears of War is a must-play title for anyone that enjoys most action games or third-person shooter titles. As of now, Gears of War: Reloaded is the absolute best way to experience what was so great about the original game. The boost in the presentation with 4K visuals and extra details make what so many people loved about the game look and sound even better.
Beauty alone can't carry a game, and here, it's doing the heaviest lifting. At this time, you could very well just watch a no-commentary playthrough over the weekend, saving yourself fifty bucks in the process. Like a perfect glass of wine served with stale bread, Mafia: The Old Country leaves you wondering how something so lovely can taste so forgettable.
Despite its rough edges, Grounded 2 has managed to remain true to the original while significantly expanding its gameplay and mechanics. I can't wait to see what Obsidian will be adding to the game next, but even as it stands, I consider it to be one of the most fun and unique takes on the survival genre I’ve had the pleasure of playing.