Trails from Zero is one of the most captivating RPGs, whose thoughtful use of setting and skillfully balanced storytelling make it a peer to the classics from the genre's golden age.
Disney Dreamlight Valley is a frictionless, relaxing spin on life sims that manages to remain heartwarming and charming, despite a few Switch-related rough patches. Dreamlight Valley's unique identity relies heavily on fresh interactions with your in-game friends, and Gameloft will need to continue supporting it with regular updates to keep the Night Thorns from creeping back in. However, what's here at launch is surprisingly touching and thoughtful, and cleverly plays on the nostalgia of anyone who's ever been a Disney fan.
Held back by a few shortcomings, Hard West 2 is still one of the best tactics games in the genre.
Digimon Survive was difficult to play, boring for the first half, and mostly just disappointing. The framework for something much more compelling exists underneath the prattle, inconsequential combat, and shallow character development, and you can catch a glimpse at what might have been in some of the story’s better moments. I hope Hyde and Bandai get the opportunity to create another visual-novel-style Digimon game, building on Survive’s foundations to create a lasting and more memorable experience.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is a superb "equal" that builds on Three Houses in the best possible ways.
Mario Strikers: Battle League is a fun and chaotic experience let down by a lack of content and personality.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is a charming if tedious RPG that probably shouldn't have been an RPG.
The Force Unleashed on Switch is a good port of a rather dreary game by today's standards.
Ghostwire Tokyo's charm, bizarre world, and engaging story shine in spite of the rather empty world.
Rune Factory 5 has one of the best casts and writing in the series, but a batch of performance and presentation issues spoil the crop.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is still a champion among fighting games, though the story holds it back from overwhelming victory.
Chocobo GP is built for fun but needs time and some more attention before it can really take the pole position.
Triangle Strategy is one of the cleverest tactics games around, with an intriguing story, rewarding choices, and (mostly) excellent stage design.
Horizon Forbidden West could be much more, but what's here is beautiful, cleverly designed, and just plain fun to play.
Ota Imon has something interesting to say with Wolfstride. I just hope it finds the right voice to say it with next time.
Warhammer 3 is, frankly, an incredible package. It somehow manages to deliver multiple unique and satisfying campaigns, mostly without sacrificing their quality and depth in the process.
Pokemon Legends Arceus is the most imaginative and absorbing Pokemon to date, though Hisui itself is disappointingly bare.
Dying Light 2 is messy and uneven. It’s also unique, exhilarating, and just plain fun to play, with one of the best settings in recent memory – despite the nagging feeling that the game could, and should, be more than what it is.
A refreshing take on the survival sandbox with a robust approach to progression and countless ways to tackle each mission. Sadly, harsh penalties, bugs, and crashes combine to make this a frustrating off-world expedition.
Final Fantasy 5 Pixel Remaster still isn’t the ultimate way to play the game. That would be the Game Boy Advance version of it, thanks to the bonus classes and character portraits. However, it’s still a fantastic RPG, elevated by its spirit of fun and an absolutely gorgeous soundtrack. Whether you’ve played another version before or not, it’s definitely worth experiencing.