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Jenny Jiao Hsia’s sharp, semi-autobiographical account of life as a teenager finds both comedy and tenderness in its WarioWare-style oddities, even while it confronts tough topics. “Think of it like a video game!”, Jenny—Consume Me’s increasingly overwhelmed lead—tells herself early as she prepares to jump into dieting. The last stretch of school is fast approaching; … Read more
Supermassive’s cautious choices bring along plenty of familiar irritations, yet the game’s standout craft—and a surge midway through—still make for an overall experience that’s grimly compelling. About halfway through Little Nightmares 3, there’s a clear turning point: after an opening stretch that often plays like a routine homage, the new studio, Supermassive, finally appears to … Read more
Battlefield 6 brings a striking multiplayer refresh and a solid, though fairly routine, single-player offering. Still, it leaves a lingering question about what truly defines Battlefield. After the turbulent swings in Battlefield 2042 and the watered-down feel of its firefights, Battlefield 6 was presented as a return to what made the series feel like itself … Read more
Lumiose City still has plenty of room to grow, yet Pokémon Legends: Z-A delivers a far more focused—and delightfully odd—revisit of what the series does best. At least, compared with today’s Pokémon releases. For longtime fans, enjoying recent Pokémon games in the Switch era often depends on how much you’re comfortable overlooking. In Sword and … Read more
Am I interested in the ROG Xbox Ally X? Definitely. Does it give me that satisfying hit of anticipation that often comes with trying something genuinely new? More than likely. Would it replace my Steam Deck? Almost certainly. But is it basically an Xbox? Hmmm. As I write this, I actually paused to interpret the … Read more
Kenny Sun’s newest release is a stylish twist on an Atari classic—and it truly delivers. Ball x Pit (from here on out, I’ll use Ball Pit as the name, because that “x” is more than I can comfortably handle) (Editor’s Note: not if I can prevent it!) is Devolver Digital’s latest roguelite. Still, it’s also … Read more
The Chinese Room has built something out of a set of inherited ideas, but this action RPG comes across as shallow and stripped down, with its strongest value coming from standout character work and the voice cast. Sadly, the end result doesn’t quite work. We already expected this follow-up to 2004’s rough, yet much-loved Vampire: … Read more
The Psychonauts studio Double Fine is back with an unexpected, transformative adventure brimming with enchanting awe and striking beauty. Part of me thinks I should explain what happens a couple of hours into Keeper. Then there’s the bigger issue: how the experience keeps reshaping itself, again and again, from that point onward. These moments are … Read more
PowerWash Simulator 2 leans into friendly upgrades rather than major reinventions, yet it stays just as oddly addictive and delightfully silly as ever. Is there a lovelier sound than the ding that follows a perfectly aimed spray and a finished job? You could make a case for a baby’s laughter or the bright, upbeat noise … Read more
The Outer Worlds 2 remains, for better or worse, an undeniably enjoyable slice of gaming, but it also feels noticeably more refined than the original in almost every way. Even with the hurdles Xbox has dealt with over the last year, it would be unfair to suggest the biggest name in publishing hasn’t had its … Read more