People who enjoy games that are a mix of strategy and luck would enjoy Corgi Pileup. It can be played with kids seven and up and is enjoyed by all ages. The game is relatively small and would be easy to take along, making it a great selection for your next game night.

In an increasingly crowded survivors-like genre, Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship does quite a bit to stand out. Its robust management systems, particularly the ability to customize my Ark, add far more strategy than I expected. Once I adjusted to its leveling structure, which prioritizes growth within each individual run over permanent vehicle progression, the experience became much more rewarding.

I love Sektori. The roguelike-inspired elements and smart risk/reward systems feel fantastic within the fluid arcade shooter framework Sektori delivers. I’d heard people loved this game, but playing it on the Switch 2 feels especially right at home on the platform. If you’re a fan of challenging twin-stick arcade shooters, pick up Sektori. You won’t regret it.

Platform reviewed: PC (Steam) Price: $14.99 Chess played out as a dungeon crawler? What a brilliant idea. That’s exactly how Below the Crown feels, a strategy deck builder that combines the tactical depth of chess with elements of roguelikes and dungeon crawlers. It’s one of the most unique games I’ve played in a while, and it gets me thinking on a deeper level, in more ways than just how to defeat the king. The game opens with a view of a castle. Visually, it feels like I’m

Subscription services are pretty common. Xbox has Game Pass, PlayStation has PlayStation Plus, and Nintendo has NSO. For the most part, these services are tied to a specific platform. Enter Indie Pass, a subscription service exclusively focused on games published by indie.io. If you’re a fan of indie games, this is definitely something you’ll want to look into.

With six different games included, Marvel MaXimum Collection is one of the best collections of retro Marvel games. While some of the titles aren’t among my favorites (Silver Surfer, I’m looking at you), the inclusion of X-Men: The Arcade Game, along with online co-op, makes this an easy recommendation.

The story, voice acting, art, and music are outstanding in Aether and Iron. I also appreciate that the game takes a chance with its dice-rolling mechanic. However, I would have liked to see failures carry more weight from a narrative perspective, while still earning experience in the process.

I spent a lot of time with Basketball Classics. The arcade-style gameplay, along with the presentation and attention to detail, makes this game an instant classic for me. Inspired by retro games, the graphics are 8-bit, but the amount of animation and detail made me forget the pixel limitations.

As satisfying as the gameplay is, the real strength lies in its storytelling. The emotions conveyed through the art are powerful, and the decision to present the narrative through an alien language makes the world feel more immersive and unique. Even without understanding a single word, I always knew what was happening, thanks to the game’s visual direction and presentation.

Minishoot’ Adventures is one of my favorite games on the Nintendo Switch 2. It feels right at home, especially since it clearly takes inspiration from games like The Legend of Zelda and Metroid. It does little to hold your hand, but subtle clues point you in the right direction on where to go and what to do next. There are plenty of hidden secrets as well, giving completionists a lot to explore.