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There’s a deliriously intense artistry to BALL x PIT that’s hard to quantify. It’s in the way chaos and control dance together, the way failure feels like progress, the way sound, light, and motion fuse into something hypnotic. BALL x PIT isn’t just a great roguelite; it’s one of the best games of the year, period.
Absolum masterfully blends classic beat 'em up action with roguelite progression and mature fantasy storytelling to create something truly special. Dotemu delivers crispy combat, meaningful worldbuilding, and enough content to keep you hooked for 25+ hours and beyond. Whether you're chasing nostalgia or craving innovation, this is an essential pickup.
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is a heartfelt, deliberate return to what makes this series special. Its pacing drags and its repetition shows, but few games reward curiosity and care quite like it. The alchemy sings, the town grows, and the characters feel real enough to linger after you’ve put the controller down.
Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny is a lighthearted, surprisingly robust action RPG that thrives on its crossover energy. Simple to pick up, easy to love, and best enjoyed with family; it’s a rare modern game that remembers how to just have fun.
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree isn’t going to dethrone Hades or Hades II, but it doesn’t need to. If you’re looking for “that style of game” with a kawaii anime twist, this is a fun way to scratch the itch. The story drags, and some design choices are love-it-or-hate-it, but the builds, combat, and cozy vibe carry the experience.
Nice Day for Fishing is a simple but engaging fishing RPG where patience and rhythm matter more than spectacle. Its fishing mechanics are satisfying, its world quirky, and its atmosphere calming, but pacing issues and repetition can drag it down. It’s a flawed but oddly compelling indie that thrives on its meditative loop.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion pushes the series into open-world territory with agile combat and a rewarding customization system. Flying across vast battlefields and fine-tuning your Arsenal is a thrill, but repetition and a lack of environmental depth keep it from true greatness.
Whisper of the House expands the satisfying “unpack and arrange” formula into an entire town filled with errands, secrets, and strange little anomalies. It’s charming and clever, though uneven pacing and a fizzling finale keep it from greatness. For fans of cozy sims who don’t mind some rough edges, it’s a rewarding—if slightly unfinished—experience.
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar transforms the typical farming sim formula with its unique weekly bazaar system, creating an addictive commerce-focused gameplay loop that runs flawlessly on PC. While stamina limits and repetitive market days might frustrate some players, the game's quality-of-life improvements, full voice acting, and rock-solid 60fps performance (especially on Steam Deck) make it the definitive version of this charming remake.
While a bit too ambitious, Cronos: The New Dawn is a great new IP from Bloober Team that showcases the team's horror chops in a gory futuristic way.
If you’re patient with combat and can overlook technical issues, there’s genuine fun to be had here. The shield mechanics are unique, the world is pleasant to explore, and there’s something endearing about playing as an underdog who slowly proves everyone wrong. Just maybe wait for a patch or two before jumping in, and definitely play on Easy if combat frustration starts killing your enjoyment.
Even with some frustrating platforming and okay story, the visual style and action combat in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance are hands-down some of the best we've seen this year.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is an almost pitch-perfect remake of the 2004 original, for better or worse. With a fantastic story, engaging gameplay, and beautiful visuals, it’s well worth it for fans and newcomers alike.
Wild Hearts S successfully ports the 2023 hunting game to Switch 2 with expanded 4-player co-op and all post-launch content included. The unique Karakuri building system sets it apart from Monster Hunter, letting you construct traps and platforms mid-battle. While performance issues and the lack of cross-play raise concerns about longevity, it's currently the best monster hunting option on Nintendo's new hardware.
The King is Watching brilliantly combines roguelike progression with real-time strategy by making your workers only function under your direct gaze. With its 1.0 release addressing major concerns like mid-run saves, this pixel art kingdom builder offers surprising strategic depth through diverse unit synergies and risk-reward prophecies. Despite some UI annoyances and artificial progression gates, it's a dangerously addictive "one more run" experience.
Drill Core masterfully blends mining management with tower defense in a way that'll have you saying "just one more run" at 3 AM. The 1.0 release adds meaningful content and polish, though the grind and lack of tutorials might test your patience. Despite its flaws, this corporate space-mining sim delivers a uniquely satisfying gameplay loop that's hard to put down.
Hell Clock is an ARPG roguelike that draws from the tragic War of Canudos, blending Brazilian history with supernatural elements. Despite some pacing issues with its countdown mechanic and limited endgame content, the game offers tight combat, accessible systems, and a refreshingly unique setting. It's an easy recommendation on sale, especially for players seeking a more streamlined ARPG experience.
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound is the perfect example of nostalgia done right, with a great score, challenging gameplay, and superb visuals. While the story and repetitive elements do feel noticeable in its nine-hour runtime, The Game Kitchen successfully brings Ninja Gaiden back to the spotlight in all its gory glory.
One-Eyed Likho is a gorgeously woven web of Slavic folktales that will haunt you long after you complete the story.
Bungie continues its streak of developing phenomenal content with live-service elements that actively work to undermine it. Destiny 2: Edge of Fate's main campaign has plenty of highs, but sticking with the game long-term at this point means dealing with Bungie's eclecticisms, and odds are that you've got no patience for that.