Gaming Age

The LEGO aspect also comes shining through in the dialogue and the humour. The game loves throwing in little jokes – both spoken and visual – to remind you that you shouldn’t take anything too seriously, and, as is the case in most LEGO games, it works.

All in all, Mina the Hollower is another fantastic retro-inspired entry from developer Yacht Club Games. The unique world combined with strange NPC’s and tons of secrets scattered throughout make for a memorable experience that nobody should miss. And if you find those early hours to be too tough or not to your liking, the customizable modifiers can help a lot to alleviate most concerns, turning frustration into fun with a simple press of the switch.

As a complete package, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for Switch 2 excels where it needs to. It makes some necessary compromises with the visuals and general map object clutter, but it’s a small price to pay for being able to experience the second stage of Final Fantasy VII’s remake trilogy. It plays well on the Switch 2 Joy Con 2 controllers, even when they’re not slotted into the grip, it runs generally at a stable 30, and introduces the new Head Start mode for players that just want to coast through the story and relax. To top it all off, you’re getting this complete package for $50, so you’re getting it even cheaper than someone that might’ve played on release. You’ll notice some bundle deals with Remake as well, so keep an eye out if you’re looking to jump into Final Fantasy VII’s remake saga. If you’ve already played FF7 Remake on Switch 2 and were looking into the sequel, you won’t be disappointed.

Even if Rune Dice isn’t quite at the very top of the genre, it’s definitely in the upper tier. For me, the key measure of success for a roguelike deckbuilder is how often you reach the end of a run and say to yourself, “Okay, just one more, but that’s it!” – and there have been several nights where I’ve found myself getting to bed a little too late because I was sure I had one good run of dice just around the corner. If that’s not success, I don’t know what is.

R-Type Dimensions III is a good remaster of a classic game that comes with a few issues and strange changes that might put off some players. I do see new players and casual shooter fans having fun with this port, but some seasoned veterans might be turned off a little. Not a terrible release by any means, but the addition of a classic 2 player mode, patches for the hitbox/weapons issues and perhaps some more unlockables might have made it better. If you are a horizontal shooter fan of any skill level, you should give this one a try but don’t expect a perfect experience. It’s good, but not as great as it could have been.

Directive 8020 is still another good quality release from Supermassive Games, and if you were a fan of Until Dawn, The Quarry, and/or previous Dark Pictures Anthology games, you will definitely enjoy it; at least so long as the space-faring setting is of interest to you. There’s a lot to enjoy in the storytelling, and so long as you have the patience to put up with repetitive stealth scenes, I think it is a game worth playing. Directive 8020 is just another example of how well they’ve nailed down their formula, including all of its oddities and quirks for better or worse. Fans of the series will consider the quirks almost a requirement, so don’t write it off too quickly. There’s a lot to love.

Like any good dream, it’s almost impossible to describe to others, but while you’re in it, it all feels oddly riveting. Is it for everyone? Probably not, but it’s definitely something worth experiencing.

A few final thoughts on Bluey’s Quest for The Gold Pen; I do wish Bluey moved faster, there were more quests and more variety for set collection. (This would have fleshed out each land for me and made the game a bit longer.) Fans of all ages will like this game. Cozy childhood nostalgia for some adults, and a fun romp in Bluey’s world with puzzles, gnomes, and Mum and Dad for the kids.

If you’re a fan of classic 3D platformers, Dracamar evokes those in all the right ways. It may feel like a lost oddity from another continent and generation, but as far as I’m concerned, that’s all part of its charm.

If you have a PS5 or Xbox Series X, those versions are the best way to experience the game visually. But if portability matters—or if Switch 2 is your preferred option—this is still an adventure well worth taking. After all, great treasure hunts aren’t about perfect conditions—they’re about the journey.