A clever control scheme and flashes of competitive brilliance can’t hide the fact that the rest of Drag x Drive is running on fumes. The basketball matches are fun, but they’re weighed down by awkward hardware ergonomics, lopsided AI, and a hub world that is just devoid of anything fun. There’s a potential here for something great, and I wish Nintendo explores this some more in the future. But right now, it plays too much like a really polished tech demo.
There’s some charm here in Calamity Angels: Special Delivery, and I can’t deny that I liked spending time with the cast, but its gameplay keeps getting in its own way. The game has a fun concept and a strong personality, yet the random combat and repetitive delivery loop make it harder to enjoy than it should be. It’s not terrible, but it never rises above being a mildly entertaining JRPG that feels stuck so down below its potential.
Captain Blood is a curious relic, a patchwork resurrection of an era long past, one that struggles to find relevance in the present. Its brute-force combat and nostalgic appeal might offer fleeting moments of blood-soaked joy, but the weight of its technical flaws and repetitive design quickly quashes any sense of lasting engagement. It’s a game that wants to be remembered for its swagger, but instead, it’s a reminder of how games like this were left behind for good reason.
Super Mario Party Jamboree is still the same friendship-ending game you may or may not have loved a couple of months back, and Jamboree TV sprinkles in a few bright ideas. Frenzy Rules and mouse-control minigames are very fun. The problem is that everything else feels like a tech showcase in search of a reason to exist, and the awkward separation from the base game doesn’t help its case. What’s worse, there isn’t even a new game board! When the highlight of a $20 add-on is a handful of quick novelties and minigames that force you to buy a peripheral, it’s hard to imagine this being worth picking over other party games.
Solarpunk doesn’t capture the spirit of its namesake until far, far later into the game, but it’s at least a relaxing sandbox where you can do pretty much anything you want (as long as it fits within the confines of its cozy game genre). Its best moments come from building alongside friends and watching a small floating island grow into a thriving home. It’s definitely not a game for everyone, especially since it can feel a bit empty at times. However, players who enjoy setting their own goals and taking things at their own pace will find plenty to like among the clouds.
Kiln is built on a really fun idea, and for a good while, it’s a blast. Sculpting wearable pots and crashing into other players carries an infectious energy that’s hard not to enjoy with friends. Unfortunately, beneath all that molded clay is a multiplayer experience that still feels too thin, too repetitive, and too unfinished to hold attention for much longer than a few good nights of goofing around.
Survival Kids is exactly what it sounds like: a game for kids. It's not reinventing the co-op gaming, but it sails along smoothly thanks to its co-op design and low-stress puzzles. It's definitely best with a buddy or two, especially one who won't lose it when you "accidentally" toss logs off a cliff. A few clunky design choices and some repetitive bits keep it from hitting a higher score, but as a family-friendly adventure, it totally nails its target. You probably won't remember the plot, but you might just crack up thinking about the fifth time your raft went belly-up.
Aphelion is easy to admire from a distance, but the closer you get, the emptier it feels. Its story relies on a relationship it never really builds, and the gameplay does little to keep things interesting in between the nice-looking moments. Aside from the performances and the immaculate soundtrack, the game is as distant and impossible to connect with as its namesake.
I summon Pot of Mid to draw 14 mediocre games from Konami’s Yu-Gi-Oh! library! Sure, it’s fun to revisit some of these classic titles, even if some of them don’t quite live up to the hype. Maybe next time Konami will summon a more exciting lineup, but for now, we’re left with a handful of cards that, while decent, don’t offer much beyond a trip down memory lane.
Mega Dimension adds a lot of content for players who already enjoy Pokémon Legends: Z-A. There are more Pokémon to collect, new Mega Evolutions, and a boost in difficulty that keeps things challenging. Its story and setting don’t offer much that’s new, and many of the base game’s characters don’t get much time in the sun. For players who loved the original, there’s plenty here to enjoy and experiment with, but if the base game didn’t grab you, this DLC isn’t likely to change that.
Fia and her band of lovable disasters in Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy might not cast the deepest spells, but they’ve got just enough magic to keep things moving. The dungeon crawling is light, the combat mildly engaging, and the school life fluff adds just enough variety to break up the loop. Thankfully, it’s all wrapped in a silly, self-aware package that leans into its anime logic and wears it proudly. There’s not much depth to uncover, but you might end up smiling more than you’d expect.
All in Abyss: Judge the Fake deals with a wild hand that’s hard not to admire—even if it’s a little flawed. The boss battles and Danganronpa-style executions steal the show with thematic gimmicks that keep each match feeling unique, even when the game’s balance falters. Its visual novel elements are surface-level and the post-game content is thin, but the journey up the gambling ladder is just absurd enough to be worth the ride. It’s not the most honest game at the table, but it sure knows how to put on a show.
It’s easy to enjoy Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta for what it is: a fast and straightforward JRPG that still feels good to play even years later. However, its age shows in ways that are almost impossible to ignore. It’s a decent entry for newcomers curious about Ys, but returning players may find there’s just not enough to justify another trip through Celceta.
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince succeeds as a visually appealing and emotionally resonant fable, but it often struggles to function as an engaging video game. The storybook presentation is memorable, but the shallow puzzles and clunky platforming make the actual journey underwhelming. It is a beautiful piece of storytelling that unfortunately lacks the polish to match its artistic ambition.
It’s hard not to feel conflicted about Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, because while it plays smoother and looks cleaner, many of its story changes and cut content weaken what originally worked. The remake still has solid moments, especially with Dad Kiryu, but combat, pacing, and Dark Ties often feel shallow or stretched out. It’s not a bad time, just a messy step forward that doesn’t fully honor what makes the Yakuza series work.
Trails Through Daybreak 2 had all the right ingredients—engaging combat, deep customization, and a gorgeous presentation—but somewhere along the way, it forgot to justify its own existence. What should have been a meaningful continuation of the story instead felt like a low-stakes detour, lacking the weight and player agency needed to make its twists truly land. I wanted to believe in it, to see past the early criticisms, but in the end, it only proved them right.
LEGO Voyagers is a short and sweet co-op adventure best enjoyed on a relaxed afternoon with a friend. However, it doesn't leave much behind once it’s over. The puzzles are easy, sometimes too easy, but they’re carried by how naturally the game encourages two people to figure things out together. I do wish, though, that it lasts longer than just a few hours, especially since it also doesn’t quite push its mechanics as far as it could.
Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall wears the weight of its crown with dignity, even if its footing isn’t always steady. There’s beauty in gloom and routine and the moments where the burden of leadership hits just right—but they’re often buried under bugs, shallow choices, and a story that doesn’t quite find its teeth. It’s not a fall from grace, exactly, but more like a stumble in the snow that's hard to not take notice of.
Venus Vacation PRISM arrives just in time for spring break! It offers a getaway filled with sun, sand, and a strikingly polished charm. It delivers exactly what it sets out to, but beneath the glossy presentation, its lack of depth might leave some players wanting more. Still, for those willing to overlook its shortcomings, there’s enjoyment to be found here—but for everyone else, it might not be the paradise it claims to be.
I didn’t expect the Ys series to pull a Persona 5 Royal and drop a definitive edition so soon after the 2023 release, but here we are. Ys X: Proud Nordics is the best way to play this chapter of Adol’s life, thanks to a solid side story and great additions to its gameplay. Does it justify a second purchase for returning players? Not really. But it is still a great action RPG regardless, especially for those who have yet to play the game.