Call of Duty Black Ops 7 tries to innovate with a co-op open world campaign and psychological elements but fails in almost every narrative aspect. The story is disjointed, relying heavily on hallucinations and aimless twists that disrespect the franchise’s legacy. The multiplayer is more solid, bringing some welcome improvements over BO6, with good maps and the return of fan-favorite mechanics. Zombies mode also stands out, offering a robust and fun experience. Still, it feels like an annual release that could have been just an expansion, especially with a weak campaign, aggressive monetization, and a lack of truly new content.
A.I.L.A is the new project from Pulsatrix Studios, creators of Fobia: St. Dinfna Hotel, and marks a creative leap for the Brazilian studio. Blending psychological horror, sci-fi, and interactive storytelling, the game puts players in the role of Samuel, a beta tester trapped in simulations created by an AI. The experiences range from supernatural adventures to medieval settings, all while maintaining narrative cohesion. Highlights include the immersive sound design, well-crafted puzzles, and challenging boss battles.
With solid gameplay, intense combat, and strategic risk-reward decisions, ARC Raiders delivers an engaging experience whether playing solo or in a squad. While the narrative is shallow and the item management system needs refinement, the world-building, art direction, and soundtrack greatly enhance immersion. Each match offers high tension and memorable moments, making ARC Raiders one of the standout multiplayer titles of the year.
Little Nightmares 3 preserves the franchise’s eerie atmosphere and strong visual identity, delivering tense chase sequences and well‑designed cooperative puzzles. However, the lack of local co‑op, unstable matchmaking, and a growing sense of repetition hold the experience back. Its cinematic direction and detailed environments are impressive, though depth perception issues often impact platforming. It’s a solid entry, but one that falls short of bringing meaningful innovation to the series.
Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland delivers an emotional and creative adventure driven by a heartfelt story about purpose, language, and grief. Its charming pixel art, engaging soundtrack, and surprisingly strong voice acting create a memorable atmosphere from start to finish. The downside lies in its very simple gameplay loop, focused mainly on walking, collecting words, and completing basic interactions, leaving a sense that deeper puzzles or mechanics could have enriched the experience. Even so, it remains a touching, humorous, and unique journey that stands out more for its heart than for the complexity of its systems.
Just Dance 2026 stays true to the series’ strengths: quick fun, a lively pop playlist, and improved motion-tracking that finally removes the need to hold your phone. The base tracklist is strong and varied, making it great for parties. Its weaknesses are familiar: little innovation, choreography aimed mostly at casual players, and the continued reliance on a subscription for more songs. Even so, it remains a joyful, accessible party game that delivers exactly the kind of easygoing fun fans expect.
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection is a loving tribute to the franchise’s classic era, bundling 11 nostalgic titles alongside a surprisingly rich interactive documentary. The historical context, visual archive, and new features like online play and fatality training elevate the package as a preservation effort. Unfortunately, input lag and online instability weaken the gameplay experience, especially in a genre where precision is everything. It’s a meaningful collection for fans and historians, but its technical issues hold it back from being a flawless victory.
Ninja Gaiden 4 doubles down on uncensored gore and a difficulty curve that punishes without pushing players away. Its campaign picks up where the previous entries left off, bringing back familiar faces while introducing new ones. PlatinumGames delivers a visceral hack-and-slash experience that works both for newcomers and for veterans who already understand the franchise’s punishing pace.
Absolum blends roguelike and beat’em up with charm and style. Addictive gameplay, layered combat, and gorgeous hand-drawn visuals shine, despite minor input and hitbox issues. With a standout soundtrack and local/online multiplayer, it's one of 2025’s indie highlights and hard to put down.
Dying Light: The Beast brings back the series' roots with a brutal, more focused adventure led by Kyle Crane. Parkour remains sharp, melee combat is weighty and satisfying, and the open world offers tense moments, especially at night. While the progression system feels recycled and some fights get repetitive, the experience is technically solid. A strong return for fans, though its price may be a barrier.
