Like a Dragon: Ishin! follows the tale of Sakamoto Ryoma, one of the most prolific figures in Japanese history. While draped in the visual identities of past Yakuza characters, you’ll slash away at enemies in a breathtaking and emotional story, all while singing karaoke, planting crops, and wrestling naked in a bathhouse.

Wild Hearts has a mobility and pacing to it that really stands out. While its moment-to-moment design is heavily influenced by Monster Hunter, its Karakuri mechanic, of weaving wooden constructs out of the air, is a refreshing and fantastic addition to a formula that is extremely fine-tuned by this point.

Fire Emblem Engage plays well within its toolbox of combat, offering superb level design, improved visuals, and a mechanic built upon past Fire Emblem characters. While Engage is a blast to play, its story, characters, and dialogue all disappoint.

From the improved story to making Isaac a stronger presence in the game, to the Intensity Director always keeping me on my toes, the Dead Space remake is a masterclass of how to reenvision a beloved classic and has become the new benchmark on how it should be done. 

Hi-Fi Rush is an energetic fusion of games like Devil May Cry and Sunset Overdrive that have you attacking on the beat. As Chai, you’ll team up with a fantastic group of characters as you attempt to stop an evil corporation from taking over the world. Hi-Fi Rush is bombastic, engaging, and an absolutely wild ride.

In almost every aspect, The Cosmic Shake is a far better effort here than that of Rehydrated, illustrating that Purple Lamp Studios took the feedback of their remastering effort and made a whole new adventure for its titular character that feels like a brand new entry in a long-running series.

NeverAwake has you dodging enemy fire, dashing through lasers, and combatting monstrous foes all in the dreaming hellscape of a young girl in a deep sleep, haunted by her memories. As Rem, you’ll unlock those memories and attempt to wake her up.

Blacktail beautifully tells the tale of Yaga, a young girl on the hunt for her lost sister, Zora. Armed with her handcrafted bow, a magical spell, and blamed for the missing children in her village, Yaga sets out to not only find her sister but to clear her name as well.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion aims to revamp its dated original through a modern lens, bringing all-new visuals, mechanics, and tweaks to freshen up the 15-year-old original. However, regardless of the wealth of enhancements provided here to considerably modernize the title, Crisis Core clings to its portable limitations just a bit too much.