VGC

Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation might be the best non-Pokémon game the studio has ever made. Combat is weighty and satisfying, and there’s heart at its core. The story and especially the lore of the world can fall flat, but the relationship between Emma and the game’s small cast will keep you playing. It’s not the best action game of 2026 by any means, but it’s one that deserves to have its ideas fully fleshed out in a sequel.

Palworld 1.0 isn’t the best survival-crafting game ever, nor is it the best legally distinct monster-collecting game. It is a fascinating blend that manages to stand out, intertwining the mechanics of each to create unique gameplay that the titans of the genres could learn a lesson or two from. It still feels like a distinctly indie experience, even after more than two years in early access, but that won’t stop you from enjoying it while it lasts. Until a legally distinct title inspired by Palworld turns up, there’s nothing else quite like it.

There’s no rhythm game quite like Rhythm Heaven, and Groove is a triumphant return for a series that has been gone for far too long. It's one of the only rhythm games to truly bring music and gameplay together, and it's fantastic.

Halo Studios’ Unreal Engine 5-powered upgrade of the original Halo campaign elevates the original with sublime visuals, smart tweaks, and broad respect for the gameplay feel, design, and aesthetic that makes this game so beloved.

Splatoon Raiders shows that Nintendo's online multiplayer series works just as well in an offline solo setting. It's very much a game with a single, simple loop – shoot everything, die, upgrade, shoot everything again – but it delivers this loop with such engaging, enjoyable action that you don't need to worry about repetition creeping in, you'll happily open the front door and invite it in for dinner.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a great remake of a game that probably didn't need to be remade. Of all the games in the AC franchise, Black Flag holds up better than many, but that doesn't change the fact that I had a wonderful time going back. The cast, setting and atmosphere are still some of the best ever realised in the series, and the new content feels right at home.

Nintendo's arcade shooter remains a classic, and its Switch 2 version adds stunning visuals, a fantastic orchestral soundtrack, and brilliant cinematic touches that elevate the experience. While I'd have liked a little more care put into restoring its smaller parts, the Switch 2 remake is otherwise a fantastic way to discover or revisit a classic.

I’m thrilled with what I’ve played of Star Wars: Galactic Racer so far. It’s a high-octane racer that will thrill Burnout fans, but beyond that, the game’s campaign mode has a depth that I didn’t expect. My main question now is the length of the campaign, and just how different each run can be. But even if the depth shown off in this demo isn’t fully realized in the final game, the racing itself has done more than enough to convince me. [Hands-On Impressions]

007 First Light might just be the best James Bond game ever. The way IOI has translated the Bond fantasy into a 14-hour globetrotting epic is masterful. It's a game full of spectacle, humour, action, and romance. Everything James Bond should be. New Bond owners Amazon must ensure this franchise continues.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book powers along with the kind of breathless imagination typically associated with mainline Super Mario adventures, with new ideas and gameplay mechanics stretching across the margins of its pages. A brilliant, unique siderscroller.