Vandal

This is an adventure for those seeking exactly this: a charming game that evokes the feelings many of us experienced when the genre was thriving on the SNES and Mega Drive. Those looking for more complex gameplay won't find it here. However, anyone who enjoys *Zelda*-style games blended with touches of *Secret of Mana* will have a blast—especially if nostalgia plays a part.

Don't let minor graphical flaws rob you of the satisfaction of playing an unforgettable JRPG. If you’ve never played Xenoblade Chronicles, this Nintendo Switch edition will captivate you, provided you have even a passing interest in the genre. And if you played it on the Wii but skipped the previous Switch release—which included the new epilogue—you’ll be blown away by the massive graphical leap in this new remaster. Even if you started the game on Switch but didn't finish it, the improvement is significant enough that we highly recommend this enhanced version to wrap up the adventure just as Monolith Soft likely envisioned it all along.

As it stands, if you’re a fan of MMA or realistic fighting games, UFC 6 is a title you’ll enjoy this summer. EA Vancouver has created the most satisfying in-Octagon UFC experience to date, yet it leaves us feeling that, with a bit more care and/or ambition, it could have achieved so much more.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth arrives on Switch 2 as an ambitious technical achievement, maintaining its massive scale and cinematic soul despite hardware limitations. Although textures and environmental details see noticeable downgrades, the framerate remains impressively stable during exploration and combat. It lacks new content, yet this port stands as a definitive way to experience a modern masterpiece.

Punishing yet ultimately gratifying, this remake revives the oppressive atmosphere and uncompromising difficulty of the original. It rewards patience with deep sociological complexity despite the intentionally clunky combat and total absence of modern guidance. This polarizing experience successfully prioritizes heritage over accessibility, delivering a brutal journey for dedicated fans.

This surreal metroidvania brilliantly translates its iconic source material with a striking art style and sharp, dark humor. It delivers creative boss encounters and an insightful exploration of anxiety. However, the repetitive combat and brief four-hour runtime prevent it from reaching its full potential, leaving a charming yet shallow experience.

It delivers a nostalgic and fluid football experience that masterfully revives the spirit of classic Pro Evolution Soccer. The arcade-style World Tour mode provides addictive progression, and the technical performance on Switch 2 is impressively smooth. However, frustratingly inconsistent goalkeeper AI and porous defensive logic occasionally undermine the polished ball physics and fun factor.

This return of Star Fox has left us with a very positive impression. It is a remake—and thus suffers from the lack of novelty that a brand-new installment might have offered—but after playing it, we believe that the respect and affection shown toward the original work are indisputable, successfully recapturing everything that made this video game great. Its charisma, frenetic pace, replayability, and sheer fun factor are guaranteed—all within a genre that has, in the modern gaming landscape, practically vanished. It is a significant and much-needed return for the Nintendo Switch 2. [Hands-On Impressions]

This beautiful interactive tale captures the Moomin spirit through stunning visuals and a sensitive narrative. Although the gameplay feels repetitive due to its reliance on basic fetch quests, it remains a warm, accessible experience. It delivers a cozy atmosphere perfect for younger audiences, yet its shallow mechanics limit the overall adventure.

Phonopolis delivers a breathtaking handmade cardboard dystopia, blending exquisite stop-motion animation with a charmingly absurd narrative. This tactile world feels truly alive, yet the experience suffers from irregular puzzle design. While many interactions prove clever, others rely heavily on trial and error, slightly marring what remains an otherwise unforgettable and visually stunning artistic achievement.