Daniel Ladiano
For a series with such a high pedigree, Dread hits all the high notes and leaves very little to be unsatisfied with. Even after experiencing its bombastic finale, it has many secrets to discover that warrant multiple playthroughs. Even if the additions are subtle, it’s the refined sheen of polish that makes Dread not just one of the best games in the franchise, but one of the best games in recent memory.
It’s the new benchmark of not just superhero games, but open world games in general. It captures the essence of our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man so perfectly that you can’t help getting trapped by its addicting web.
While the narrative has similar beats, the wide cast of eccentric personalities more than makes up for it. The tactical battles of course are still as engaging as ever. If you have never ventured into turn-based strategy games, it doesn't get any better than Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
Doom Eternal is an intense journey. The smart changes to the combat, new emphasis on exploration, bombastic new toys to play around with, and overall beautiful sheen of bloody paint make it a marvel to behold. When Doom (2016) originally came out, it was heralded as one of the best first person shooters in the last decade. And yet Eternal tops it in every single way.
Whether you are a squire or a samurai lord, Ghost of Tsushima is still as excellent as it was a year ago. If you haven’t played the game before and are debating if to pick up the PS5 version at full price, I’d still recommended it. The sheer amount of content from the main game, the expansion island, and the fantastic multiplayer make it a worthwhile purchase.
Seeing the amount of imagination on display from both Nintendo and the millions of level builders so far shows that this game is going to remain a Switch staple for a long time. Even with some minor blemishes, Super Mario Maker 2 is definitely a killer-app for the system.
Luigi always lived in the shadow of his big brother, but even if he's a bit scared of this shadow, there is nothing scary about playing Luigi's Mansion 3.
The introduction of the Wild Area, while far from perfect, could be the genesis of something truly ambitious for the franchise. As it stands, even if it relies on old tropes, Sword and Shield improves in the areas that are the most important. There isn’t a better time to embark on an adventure and catch them all once more.
Halo Infinite had a lot going against it due to a lot of behind the scenes issues. But against all odds this game manages to deliver. Not all of its ideas work, like the bloated open world, repetitive environments and especially the abysmal progression system in the multiplayer. But at the end of the day, the core mechanics are excellent. They are so excellent, in fact, that I enjoyed the action far more than nitpicking every issue I had.
Having such a great collection of games for an affordable price is definitely one good reason why Spyro Reignited Trilogy is the best gem a dragon can collect.
WarioWare Gold is simple unadulterated fun which is perfect for those “pick up and play” sessions.
It’s an easy game to pick up, and even friends can join in the adventure as well. If you haven’t played a Tales game before, this is a really good jumping in point.
Fortunately, when it comes to providing action-packed, violent fun, there is no other fighting game in the market that can achieve such flawless victory.
Borderlands 3 makes some smart improvements over its foundations. A vast variety of weapons, tighter controls, fast-travel and other quality of life improvements make it the definitive installment.
To sum up the 10th anniversary edition of Bayonetta, it’s the same classic from the last generation. The performance boost doesn’t only help the game look better, but play better as well, even if its showing its age. If you double or triple dipped before, there isn’t a real reason to play the game again. But if you are a true collector or you never experienced Bayonetta before, this is the version to get.
20XX could’ve easily been a thrown together rip-off of the Mega Man X games. Despite this, it manages to pay tribute to those games, but stands on its own by infusing Rogue-lite mechanics.
DLC adds more to an already decent package, and while the new Deluxe characters don’t warrant the game’s namesake, they can be fun to use for newcomers to the franchise. There are definitely other options when it comes to platfomers on the Switch. Regardless, Mario’s classic romp still holds up today.
Katamari Damacy REROLL is a nice stroll down memory lane. While the graphical touchup could’ve been more substantial, the game itself remains quite a joy to play years later.
Team Sonic Racing isn't without its minor blemishes, but when it comes to entertaining kart racing experiences, it's no wonder why this hedgehog manages to cross the finish line with flying colors.
It’s a game that has a lot of hard work and passion poured into it, and the charm that’s bursting through its seams makes it irresistible. It may not be as challenging as Yoshi’s Island or Woolly World, but even with its minor flaws, this one is a well-crafted experience.