Shadows of the Orient should be right up my alley. Pixel platformers are often joyous and engaging, but here, the game felt like it was fighting me at every step. You cannot mount up ledges, so you can only rely on the wall bounce, making some platforming to be obnoxious than enjoyable.

Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t stray too far from the pack, but the update via the RE Engine and some added mobility do make their presence known. While Wilds is certainly easier than previous editions, it carves its own path and delivers a truly memorable adventure.

Based on the classic character, The Phantom travels across the globe in search of his son. With gorgeous artwork and presentation, it’s unfortunate that every other aspect of this beat’em up brawler is undercooked, miserable, and lacking in every way.

Ubisoft takes the series to Japan, allowing you to play as both Naoe and Yasuke, two warriors caught in the struggle of honoring their legacy and escaping their past. As a mysterious group is behind the scenes of several tragic events, the pair will unite against a common foe.

However, for as great as It Takes Two was, Split Fiction is the evolution of what Hazelight was building towards: a tour de force of creative ideas, stellar co-op mechanics, and a story that satisfies with characters you’ll actually care about. 

As RGG has made a career of bringing life to the same location for over 20 years, Yakuza in Hawaii is a solid entry that can feel thin on its own ideas but nonetheless has some incredibly fun moments and some strong combat that allow this new adventure to set sail. 

Kingdom Come Deliverance II excels and innovates in ways the genre has desperately needed in years. Warhorse Studios has delivered a wealth of smart design and function here to craft an absolutely impressive saga that is as brutal as the era requires.