With Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Warhorse Studios delivers one of the first great games of 2025.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a rare RPG that feels mechanically bold, emotionally grounded, and unforgettable long after the credits roll.
Arc Raiders transforms every trip to the surface into a fight for survival, combining tension, atmosphere, and worldbuilding that never lets up.
Overall, The Rise of the Golden Idol is a massive achievement in storytelling and gameplay, especially for a point-and-click puzzle game. Despite its steep challenge and the potential for players to encounter a game-halting bug, The Rise of the Golden Idol is worth a try, even for those who might not consider themselves a fan of the genre. Its gameplay is slow and intentional, but filling out those Event pages, completing every objective, and witnessing the whole story unfold is highly satisfying — something even some of the most fast-paced action games fail to accomplish.
After spending 55 hours in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, I have no qualms recommending STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl to post-apocalyptic enthusiasts.
After over 50 hours with Path of Exile 2's early access, I feel I've only scratched the surface of what could become one of the best ARPGs ever made.
Absolum transforms the roguelike formula through its beat-em-up combat, branching choices, and hand-drawn world that rewards mastery and curiosity.
With its Ninja style, Style Shift system, and open-field design, Nioh 3 pushes movement and player freedom further than any entry before it.
Sand Land's story, characters, and progression are among its best features, all of which stand out in the JRPG genre and are fondly remembered, even after the credits roll. While its open world may rely a bit too much on the open-world model that many gamers have come to dislike, its exploration still proves to be a rewarding venture that feeds into its satisfying progression system. ILCA and Bandai Namco Entertainment have created something worthwhile in Sand Land, suitable for fans of the original manga and newcomers alike.
AI Limit blends anime flair with Soulslike depth, offering immersive worldbuilding, smart combat, and a fresh take on challenge and accessibility.
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon delivers a bleak, immersive RPG experience, though its clunky combat and unbalanced gear system hold it back.
Dune: Awakening thrives in atmosphere, worldbuilding, and survival depth, even if its combat and grind somewhat drag behind its setting and systems.
At first glance, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers feels familiar, but its deeper systems take the genre in some unexpected and highly rewarding directions.
Dead Take clearly wants players to focus on uncovering its story, and the mansion is built in a way that makes exploration feel rewarding even without much resistance. The atmosphere does a lot of heavy lifting, with sound and lighting creating an ever-present sense of tension that kept me leaning forward the whole time. Dead Take might not break the escape room genre wide open, but it finds a creative way to pull players into its world, and it's worth seeing through to the end.
Dying Light: The Beast blends a vicious revenge tale, breathtaking vistas, and feral new powers into one of Techland's most polished nightmares yet.
High on Life 2 evolves its chaotic formula with sharper writing, even stronger performances, and some major upgrades across the board.
Crimson Desert offers one of the most impressive worlds in gaming, but the deeper you go, the more it asks you to meet it on its own terms.
Directive 8020 takes a bold step forward for cinematic horror, even as some of its biggest choices could have used a little more uncertainty.
Avowed's first-person combat and respect for player choice make it a journey worth having, but flaws in its story and design make it a one-way road.
Metal Eden hits hard with relentless combat and style, but a short campaign, thin exploration, and a forgettable story keep its spark from lasting.