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When an NFL player is entering the final year of their contract with a team, they have a tendency to overperform, going above and beyond their previous effort in an attempt to net themselves the best possible deal in the upcoming offseason. That's exactly the vibe I got from Madden NFL 26. I’m not here to speculate on the status of EA’s NFL rights deal, but to share that this year’s Madden was developed like the studio had something to prove, even if it doesn’t all land.
Drag x Drive was one of the more fascinating titles to be revealed during the Switch 2’s inaugural showcase. In theory, it’s deeply Nintendo—an offbeat sports title that takes advantage of a unique control scheme in a way no other video game does. Unfortunately, the final product feels like it exists solely to demonstrate the Switch 2’s new mouse controls, without much more to offer.
With the arrival of Donkey Kong: Bananza, Nintendo’s legendary gorilla is finally back in the spotlight for a new 3D platformer. This sprawling journey is rich with challenging platforming sequences, a plethora of unique enemies, and features that will alter the DNA of this franchise moving forward. Top it all off with a story full of heart, and you’ve got an excellent addition to the Switch 2’s young library.
I fell in love with the original Splitgate during a time I was yearning for a compelling FPS experience. Eventually, I grew bored of it and stopped playing, but Splitgate 2 was immediately on my radar. A sequel boasting technical improvements over the original game with the addition of highly-requested features and a mysterious new mode? Count me in. After spending time with it, Splitgate 2 is a good but not great shooter. One with a rock solid foundation, but can’t help but repeat the same mistakes as the franchises it tries to supplant.
I was admittedly skeptical when FBC: Firebreak was announced. It’s a pretty strong departure for Remedy Entertainment, a studio whose roots are firmly planted in cinematic, single-player games. With Firebreak aiming to put a co-op spin on the supernatural world of Control, I just wasn’t sure how they’d pull off a worthwhile experience. Well, they did. And they did it with two key components: a strong emphasis on cooperative play, and finding the fun in the mundane.
I was immediately intrigued by South of Midnight when it was revealed back in the summer of 2023. A dark fantasy set in the American Deep South that utilizes a stop motion animation stylization? I needed to know more. Having now experienced the game for myself, I’m most impressed by how South of Midnight handles the stories and characters of this deeply fascinating world.
The 2025 Major League Baseball season has begun and just a couple of weeks ago we got the latest installment in San Diego Studio’s baseball sim series. MLB The Show 25 not only continues the Negro Leagues for a third straight game, but it also makes meaningful improvements to Diamond Dynasty and Road to the Show.
Avowed delivers where it matters: an interesting world with memorable companions and a rich combat system that rewards experimentation. Pillars of Eternity fans will feast on the various nods and references to the beloved CRPGs, but newcomers to Eora will still find plenty to enjoy with Obsidian Entertainment’s latest RPG.
I enjoyed New World: Aeternum as an action RPG with relaxed character-building and challenging content but was never motivated to stick around and grind out an insane amount of hours. This almost feels intentional, with the quickened road to endgame and retooling of the campaign. The game certainly feels more fleshed out than it did three years ago and has settled into being a perfectly decent online game that I can drop into and enjoy in short bursts when the MMO itch comes around.
On the other hand, it’s impossible to make your way through Life is Strange: Double Exposure without performance issues interfering with the experience. It’s ironically right in line with the game’s theme of duality, with the Living and Dead worlds serving as metaphors for what it’s like playing through the newest Life is Strange game.