Scott Baird
This is the game that the Monster Hunter franchise should have been all along. The annoying parts of the experience that were retained due to tradition have finally been stripped away, leaving a polished, enjoyable experience for newcomers that will make long-time fans equally happy. Monster Hunter Rise is Monster Hunter at its finest.
Square Enix did an amazing job with the port of FF7 Remake on PC. The game runs like a dream and can exceed the console versions in terms of visuals and performance, with a beefy PC. The keyboard controls are functional, but the game was originally designed with a controller in mind, so there's only so much that can be done in this regard. FF7 Remake on PC is the total package in terms of content and performance, and the people who have waited patiently for the game can be assured that the PC version is a high-quality offering, with a more complete version of the story than what was available in the PS4 version at launch.
The gamers who missed out on a chance to play Xenoblade Chronicles in the past owe it to themselves to try out Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, which is one of the best action RPGs on the Nintendo Switch. The game has a few niggling design flaws that will annoy people who love jumping straight into the action, but Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition makes up for its slower moments with an engaging combat system and a huge world that begs to be explored.
Catherine: Full Body improves upon the original in almost every way.
Knights and Bikes offers an adventure that is inspired by kids movies of the '80s.
Killer Queen Black is as addictive as it is fun to play.
Luigi's Mansion 3 might be the most charming game on the Switch.
The Xbox Series X version of Dragon Quest XI S has all of the content of the Switch port, with the graphics cleaned up and the framerate brought to an almost constant 60fps. The game has never looked prettier, and load screens are almost nonexistent, thanks to the Xbox Series X's internal SSD. This is the definitive Dragon Quest XI experience, and even people who played the original version of the game should check it out, as the new content and QoL improvements make the experience feel fresh again. Dragon Quest XI S is an updated version of one of the finest games of the previous generation, and it's free on Game Pass, so Xbox fans have no reason not to check it out for themselves.
Hades is an exhilarating experience that meshes its various systems together in a way that's truly special. Zagreus' journey to escape from his father's kingdom is a memorable one full of brilliant moments, and this game is a must-have for fans of roguelikes or action games with brutal difficulty like the Dark Souls series.
Ender Lilies doesn't do anything particularly new or inventive, but it doesn't need to. This is a game that knows exactly what it is and what it's setting out to do. This is a fantastic Metroidvania that will scratch the itch of anyone looking to slowly peel away at the secrets of a huge game world, and it stays fun every step of the way, even if a few of those steps are on less surer footing when it comes to enemy variation or attack animation implementation.
It only takes a few hours to complete Deltarune Chapter 2, barring those who wish to go back and play the different routes. The quality of the experience matches that of a full-price game, and it makes the wait for the next chapters even harder. Deltarune Chapter 2 has improved upon the foundation laid down by the original game, proving that this world's characters and setting have what it takes to match those of Undertale. There are still five more chapters of Deltarune to go and it remains to be seen whether it can truly step out from Undertale's shadow, but Deltarune Chapter 2 feels like a game that's more confidant in its direction, and more willing to let players shape the fate of its characters.
Tandem: A Tale of Shadows is a short game, but each stage is well-crafted, with the puzzles being just difficult enough to make the player feel smart for solving them, while never being so obtuse that they become frustrating. The creepy world of toys and monsters in the Kane Manor is a lot of fun to explore, and learning how to change the shape of shadows to the player's need stays intriguing until the end.
Forza Horizon 5 is one of the best entries in the series to date, thanks to its massive and beautiful open world, which is full of exciting races.
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is a fantastic couch co-op game, even for a system like the Nintendo Switch, which has no shortage of them, and is a great addition to the library of those who love playing games with their friends.
As Dusk Falls is going to launch on Game Pass on day one and it feels like the perfect game for the service, and that's meant as a compliment. It's a strange experiment of a game, with an odd aesthetic and concept, that people might have otherwise overlooked. As Dusk Falls is worth checking out, especially with friends who can commit to experiencing the full story, as it's one of the few video games that have captured the feeling of controlling the story of a TV show, so long as everyone is fine with experiencing some HBO levels of dark themes, and the risk of sad endings along the way.
The merging of the Raving Rabbids and Super Mario Bros. franchise was also a strange one and turning the finished product into a tactical RPG was stranger still. Sparks of Hope manages to bypass the oddness of its concept. Its bizarre worlds and weird characters help lay the foundation for a fantastic tactical RPG that is on par with the likes of XCOM 2's excellent gameplay depth. Sparks of Hope has completely surpassed Kingdom Battle and has taken an idea that was once seen as an oddball crossover and turned it into a Nintendo franchise with a genuinely exciting future.
Bayonetta 3 takes the incredible action gameplay of its predecessors and supercharges it, resulting in one of the Switch's best action games.
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a game that manages to be both a homage to the classic games of the past, while also being one of the most original RPGs in years. It's just a shame that the console version of the game has so many issues, as they really hamper the experience. It's advised that people play this gem of a game on PC in order to experience the best version of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, but the drawbacks of the console version can be overlooked by people who are really patient or don't mind messing around on their phone every couple of minutes when going back to a town to restock on times.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is an awesome game with a few annoying flaws that stop it from reaching the same heights as its predecessor. Final Fantasy VII was lightning in a bottle, while Final Fantasy VII Remake is just a really good game that wears its skin. The story of the remake series isn't over yet and we hope that Square Enix improves upon the formula for the later entries, but for now, Final Fantasy VII Remake is still well worth your time.
Age of Wonders: Planetfall is an intergalactic strategy game that rewards patience.