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IO Interactive's 007 First Light is easily the best Bond game we've seen. Rare's GoldenEye 007 was momentous when it launched, and it's stuck around the zeitgeist because it was a portal into Ian Fleming's world of shaken martinis and spy thrills we'd never seen before. What 007 First Light feels like is a playable, limited spy series that transports the player into a gripping and memorable espionage story.
Mina the Hollower proves that time, effort, and attention to detail go a long way. Mina is a great new hero who controls incredibly well in a difficult but rewarding 2D adventure.
It may not be the deepest and most complex deck builder and RPG out there, but Echo Generation 2 has a ton to offer. The game's story is a fantastic sci-fi epic that lands nearly all of its themes and ideas, and the core gameplay loop is a lot of fun.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is everything a Batman fan would want. It honours the character, his rogue gallery, allies, and world with success. Whatever your favourite iteration of the Caped Crusader is, you can play as them. As a LEGO game, it is easily the most advanced and impressive we've seen yet. I haven't had this much fun with a LEGO game in a long, long time, and here I am, over the moon, elated by how coherent and fleshed-out Legacy of the Dark Knight is.
Nine lives later, Bubsy 4D does the best it can to revive a nearly forgotten franchise. The game may not be purrfect, but it's a big first step in reviving this snarky feline's 3D platforming adventures.
Tales of Arise - Beyond the Dawn Edition is finally on the Switch 2, but not without concessions. The current-gen ports are undoubtedly the best way to play Arise if you have access to them. For those in the Nintendo ecosystem, you'll find better ports available. Really, though, this port is for those who missed out five years ago and now have a shiny new device that needs games, and frankly, that's justifiable enough to me because overall, Tales of Arise is a good game, only undercut by a few odd choices.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book varies from its predecessors by focusing on a sense of discovery. Each chapter in Mr. E's book is filled with wondrous creatures, and every encounter with them as Yoshi provides something new to learn and experience. The more I played, the less I cared about the absence of lives or health; I was far more invested in doing my best to learn about the remarkably cute creatures in front of me. And that's what makes this adorable adventure charming: the familiar mechanics paired with relaxed platforming for everyone.
ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies is a fantastic, dark, but also funny sci-fi spy story that hooks you and doesn’t let go. It gives you a lot of room to solve situations and build your own Sick Crew, for better or for worse. The new action sequences keep you on your toes, and every narrative turn locks you in for the ride. ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies proves ZA/UM can still create meaningful, deep experiences.
Playground Games revs its engines on yet another Forza Horizon experience that is both safe and still committed to racing ahead at the pace of good game development in one of its most beautiful settings yet.
Overall, NITRO GEN OMEGA is a solid mech tactical RPG. The combat takes a bit to get going, but it is fun and full of hyper-animated moments that look amazing. The team building and social systems are solid, making you care about your motley crew of pilots and their interpersonal relationships. It has some really cool moments that get weighed down by grinding and repetitive battles. It has its moments, and with some rougher patches smoothed out, it has a lot of potential. NITRO GEN OMEGA is a fun adventure for anyone looking for a new, flashy mech RPG.
Directive 8020 is the start of a new season for the Dark Pictures anthology, and it’s's off to a good start. The massive leap from Earth to space effectively gives us a way to experience terror and mostly works. Still, it's often undone by dreadful stealth sections that quickly scuttle the tension due to overreliance on staying quiet. However, for the things I don't enjoy, Supermassive Games delivers a great game with a great sense of tension.
Call of the Elder Gods delivers a worldwide adventure with a tinge of mystery, crafting an experience which exceeds its predecessor. Aside from some pacing issues, the puzzles, the characters, and the story are elegantly pieced together. I came away satisfied by all accounts. The attention to detail, the excellent puzzles, and strong performances elevate this Lovecraftian adventure.
In 2026, Motorslice underwhelms, but for a game designed for the early aughts, it has a lot I could have enjoyed 15 years ago.
Mixtape's narrative is beautiful and fleeting; each song is carefully picked, and even though it goes by fast, Mixtape is incredible. The run time didn't end up being a problem for me, as it feels like an interactive movie with absolutely no bloat or wasted sound. A song can repeat, but the memories you make to it and the people you do it with will never be the same. Mixtape is a celebration of fleeting youth, of the people who help make you who you are, and it is worth every minute.
Wax Heads is more than just record sales behind a counter. It's about human and musical connection with great writing and characters, backed by a very good soundtrack, I'll be playing for months to come!
Aphelion's held back by frustrating controls and gameplay that often works against you. Even with an emotional score and a decent narrative, it isn't enough to save what could have otherwise been a memorable experience. Unfortunately, Dontnod's latest falls short on many accounts, but it's propped up by some great performances and music.
Invincible VS has a ton of potential to make a splash at tournaments. It's brutal, frenetic, and fun, and it's clear Quarter Up made this with love. This is undeniably a sound fighting game, and it really elevates the source material by giving you an outlet for some aggression.
inKONBINI: One Store, Many Stories is a wonderfully chill slice of life game that cares about community and small moments. It's a charming and relaxing experience that's full of heart.
Its over-the-top approach to almost everything it offers you can feel overwhelming, but there's no denying just how fun it is to play! Dashing through stages that last mere moments is such a blast that I had a hard time putting down my Switch. It's a breath of fresh air to play a game that has something to say, but presents it in a style that we almost never see or hear anymore. Mullet MadJack is a wild ride and one that almost every FPS fan should play.
The Spell Brigade has delivered a 1.0 release that really does shine! Wizards and spells are abundant, and co-op play is a lot of fun. Though the core gameplay loop is a little too familiar at times, there’s no denying that this is still one of the best recent entries in a now crowded genre.