Those old enough, like me, probably remember renting RPGs and stumbling across a sacred save file. The kind where a previous player had already made it to the final battle and left behind an overpowered party. It always made me wonder, “How did they get this strong in just a few days?” There was an unwritten rule back then: you didn’t overwrite or delete that save file. That’s exactly how The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time begins.

Mina the Hollower follows Mina, who you guessed it, is a Hollower tasked with bringing the power back on to a cursed island plagued with a rebellion and roaming monsters.

As individual parts, Wardrum does a great job. The rhythm-based combat works well, the strategy elements are competently executed, and the roguelike features incorporate systems I've come to enjoy in other games in the genre. The problem is that these pieces never fully come together as a cohesive idea.

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.