Microsoft has unveiled a list of Xbox Game Pass titles set to join the service in the first half of April 2025, revealing a strong lineup of first- and third-party games, including South of Midnight, Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition, Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls – Ultimate Evil Edition, and more.
It’s a remarkably strong month that was detailed in a recent Xbox Wire post. Expect major hitters to start dropping in tomorrow, April 3, kicking off the month with Gearbox Software’s Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) for all tiers, while All You Need Is Help (Console), Still Wakes the Deep (Xbox Series X | S), and Wargroove 2 (Console) all join Game Pass Standard. There’s more than enough in this first block to keep even the most dedicated Xbox fan busy all month, but you’ll only have five days before South of Midnight (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X | S) and Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls – Ultimate Evil Edition (Console and PC) arrive for all Game Pass subscribers April 8.
South of Midnight, Compulsion Games’ Deep South-set folklore adventure, is poised to be one of Xbox’s biggest releases of the year, and its presence on Game Pass will no doubt have hordes of players seeing what it has to offer. Microsoft’s official description sheds more light on how it will bring some life to Game Pass this month: “Explore the mythos and confront mysterious creatures of the Deep South in this modern folktale while learning to weave an ancient power to surmount obstacles and face the pain haunting your hometown.”
April 9 follows with Commandos: Origins (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X | S) for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, with Blue Prince (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X | S) coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass tiers April 10. Finally, Hunt: Showdown 1896 (PC) will round out the Wave 1 drops come April 15 when it is added for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers.
Xbox Game Pass perks are also getting a refresh for the first half of April 2025. Highlights include the Beyond the Void Bundle for The First Descendant, the Sweet Starter Pack for Candy Crush Solitaire players on mobile devices, and an anniversary Seventh Serving Emote for Sea of Thieves fans. You can see the full list of everything coming to Game Pass in the first half of April below.
Another month of Game Pass newcomers means another batch of games will soon be leaving, too. You’ll be losing access to these titles come April 15, so if you’re interested in playing but don’t think you’ll have time to reach the credits, Microsoft still offers a 20% discount for members looking to pick up a last-minute purchase.
Games Leaving Game Pass April 15
Botany Manor
Coral Island
Harold Halibut
Homestead Arcana
Kona
Orcs Must Die! 3
Turbo Golf Racing
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
Fortnite is getting a special Nintendo Switch 2 port that should keep those pesky technical issues from keeping players from a win, and the internet is already celebrating its potential.
Epic Games’ trend-setting battle royale showed up during a sizzle reel during today’s Switch 2 Direct to confirm that a new version is in development. What’s more is that it’s planned to launch day and date with Nintendo’s new hybrid console this June, meaning you’ll be able to check out all of the fancy new upgrades (whatever they may be) as soon as you unbox your Switch 2.
Fortnite fans have long complained that the Switch version of Fortnite has too many technical issues, keeping them from enjoying the massively popular free-to-play game on one of the most popular consoles of all time. Examples include drastically downgraded visuals compared to those seen on rival platforms, glitches that impact gameplay, and other annoyances that make it hard to justify spending time playing on Nintendo’s original Switch.
Epic has moved to improve performance in the past, but many Switch owners have found themselves wanting more – and now the Switch 2 is here to answer their prayers. With improved specs – including support for 120fps and up to 4K resolution when docked – Switch 2 will run beefier titles like Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Final Fantasy 7: Remake, Cyberpunk 2077, and many more, and players are expecting to see Fortnite get a significant bump when the Switch 2 launches this summer. It already seems to be running well enough based on its brief time in today’s new sizzle reel, so fans quickly dropped onto social media to share their excitement.
i just realized fortnite may finally look halfway decent on the switch 2
— Fortnite Furry Bait 😺👑|🐺🦯 (@furry_fortnite) April 2, 2025
i hope the switch 2 makes fortnite easier to play for us switch users. i cant take the choppiness anymore pic.twitter.com/SzBCzcAezA
— jalenciaga | comms open (@jalenciagasart) March 27, 2025
You’ll want to make sure you download that spruced-up Switch 2 version of Fortnite come launch, as Nintendo has already warned that the original Switch version of the battle royale experience may have a few issues when running on the new hardware. It was included in a recently published list of known Switch titles to suffer from drawbacks when running on Switch 2. Though it’s unclear what those issues may be, it sounds like you’ll be fine so long as you’re playing on the Switch 2 version of Fortnite.
We’ll know more about how Fortnite looks, feels, and runs on the new Switch as its launch on June 5, 2025, draws closer. In the meantime, you can check out everything else announced during today’s Nintendo Switch 2 Direct right here.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
Nintendo has confirmed which OG Nintendo Switch games will have issues running on the new Nintendo Switch 2 when it launches on June 5, 2025.
In lists published to the official Nintendo website, the company has revealed which games have “start up issues” on Nintendo Switch 2, and which games can start up but have “some in-game compatibility issues.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there’s very little detail at this stage about each individual game’s issue — most games simply say the problem is “being investigated” — but while it’s to be expected that some games may struggle to make use of Switch 2’s new hardware features, the list does include some surprising titles, including Rocket League, Pizza Tower, Warframe, Fall Guys, and NBA 2K25.
Interestingly, Fortnite is also included on the list, but Nintendo also revealed a bespoke Nintendo Switch 2 version is on the way.
Here’s the full list of Nintendo Switch games with start up issues on Nintendo Switch 2:
112 Operator
a Boy and His Blob Retro Collection
Abyss Memory Fallen Angel and the Path of Magic
Aca Neogeo Art of Fighting 2
Aca Neogeo Samurai Shodown Ii
Ca Neogeo the King of Fighters ’95
Aca Neogeo the King of Fighters ’96
Airhead
Alchemy Garden
Another Crab’S Treasure
Arcade Archives Burger Time
Arcade Archives Crime City
Arcade Archives Dig Dug
Arcade Archives Gradius Iii
Arcade Archives New Rally-x
Arcade Archives Pac-land
Arcade Archives Xevious
Astral Flux
Baron: Fur Is Gonna Fly
Batman: the Enemy Within
Beyond the Ice Palace Ii
Boot Hill Bounties
Boot Hill Heroes
Botany Manor
Bus Simulator 2023: City Driver
Cats Hidden in Italy
Crazy Strike Bowling Ex
Dadish 2
Darksiders Genesis
Dead by Daylight
Death Coming
Doom: Eternal Bethesda
Eggy Party
Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist
Everdream Valley Untold Tales
Everspace
Fables Mosaic: Snow White
Felix the Cat
Final Fantasy Square Enix
Fitness Boxing
Floor Kids
Fortnite
Framed Collection
Gal Guardians: Demon Purge
Gang Beasts
Gas Guzzlers Extreme
Grid Autosport
Guns Gore and Cannoli
I Got Isekai’D Into a Shmup
Inferno 2
Island Flight Simulator
Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection
Kids Vs Parents
Kill La Kill – if
Korean Drone Flying Tour Jeju Island-1
Kosmokrats
Library of Ruina
Little Nightmares Complete Edition
Manticore – Galaxy on Fire Plaion This Issue Is Being Investigated. Mexican Train Dominoes Gold
Monster Loves You Too!
Model Debut #Nicola
Monster Energy Supercross – the Official Videogame
Musynx
Nascar Rivals
Nba 2k18
Nba 2k25
Nelly Cootalot: the Fowl Fleet
Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition
Nobody Saves the World
Nova-111
Oddworld: Stranger’S Wrath
Ok K.O.! Let S Play Heroes
Omg Police – Car Chase Tv Simulator
Onigo Hunter
Palia
Perseverance: Complete Edition
Pineview Drive
Pizza Tower
Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
Raiden Iii X Mikado Maniax
Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles
Rims Racing
River City Girls Zero
Rocket League
Roller Champions
Saviors of Sapphire Wings / Stranger of Sword City Revisited
Skulls of the Shogun: Bone-a-fide Edition
Slayin 2
Soul Dog Td
South of the Circle
South Park: the Fractured but Whole
Sportitions’24
Star Wars Episode I: Racer Aspyr
Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster
Strania -the Stella Machina- Ex
Summer Pockets
Super Mega Baseball 3
Super Neptunia Rpg
Taiko No Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival
Taito Milestones
the Cube
the Jackbox Party Pack
the Jackbox Party Pack 2
the Journey Down Trilogy
the Talos Principle: Deluxe Edition
Touhou Gouyoku Ibun ～ Sunken Fossil World
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes
Tricky Towers
Trip World Dx
Trove
Trover Saves the Universe
Tt Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3
Under Night In-birth Exe: Late[Cl-r]
Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi
V-rally 4 Nacon
Warface: Clutch
Warframe
Warp Shift Kyrkudden
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Wolfenstein Ii: the New Colossus
World of Tanks Blitz
Xtreme Sports
Victor Vran Overkill Edition
Senran Kagura Reflexions
Star Melody Yumemi Dreamer
Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon
Assault Suit Leynos 2 Saturn Tribute
Process of Elimination
Tokyo Xanadu Ex+
Here’s the full list of Nintendo Switch games with in-game compatibility issues on Nintendo Switch 2:
Alan Wake Remastered
Alien: Isolation
Arcade Archives Ordyne
Arcade Archives Phelios
Arcade Archives Tetris the Absolute the Grand Master 2 Plus
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
If you’d prefer to purchase Mario Kart World separately, however, Nintendo’s recommended retail price for its fan-favorite racer is an eye-watering $79.99.
Up until now, Nintendo only launched one $70 game on the original Switch, and that was the Legend of Zelda: Tears Of the Kingdom. Interestingly, the just-announced Donkey Kong Bananza is $70.
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Kirby’s racing spinoff Kirby Air Ride is making a tremendous comeback after more than 20 years, thanks to a new entry for Nintendo Switch 2: Kirby Air Riders.
The project made its grand debut during today’s special Switch 2 presentation, revealing a cast of colorful Kirbys and new spacey vehicles to travel with. No gameplay was revealed, with Nintendo instead choosing to reveal the project with a cinematic trailer and the promise of a 2025 release window. We likely won’t have to wait too long to see how the sequel builds on the original GameCube game, but we can at least rest easy knowing Kirby creator and Super Smash Bros. mastermind Masahiro Sakurai is serving as the project’s director.
The last original new Kirby game was Kirby and the Forgotten Land for Nintendo Switch. This was Kirby’s first adventure in a full 3D perspective, and we gave it an 8/10. We said that it “successfully warps the series’ already fun mix of ability-based combat, platforming, and secret hunting into the third dimension. The post-apocalyptic setting may not be as thematically interesting as Planet Popstar, but it is still lovely and vibrant, with cleverly designed levels that make consistently smart use of Kirby’s abilities.”
You can catch up on everything announced at today’s Nintendo Switch 2 Direct right here.
Developing…
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
During today’s Nintendo Switch 2-focused Nintendo Direct, Nintendo officially revealed its new Mario Kart game coming to the console, which we now know to be titled Mario Kart World. It’s Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, and it’s a launch day release.
The trailer today was a fast-paced explosion of neat new elements. Rapidfire, we got a look at a number of returning characters, new tracks, and feature such as jet skis on water, rail grinding on the edges of courses, the ability to bounce off walls, customizable characters with hats and outfits, changing weather and time of day on courses, a photo mode, and the ability to play as the cow from Moo Moo Meadows. You heard me!
The biggest feature of World is the ability to drive off-road essentially anywhere you want on the course in what seems to be a large open world, with drivers having to drive from course to course in each four-course Grand Prix.
The last “mainline” Mario Kart game, Mario Kart 8, originally came out way, way back in 2014 for the Wii U, and was later re-released as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch. Since then, it’s become the definitive Mario Kart game, selling nearly 65 million copies and getting numerous updates over time with new racers, tracks, karts, and more. While other Mario Kart games have come out during that time, such as Mario Kart Tour on mobile and Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, this new Mario Kart release on Switch 2 is a major step forward for Nintendo as it says goodbye at last to one of the best-selling games of all time. Can Mario Kart World surpass it? We’ll have to wait and find out.
You can catch up on everything announced at the Nintendo Direct today right here. More information is coming on Mario Kart World in a future Nintendo Direct dedicated to the game.
A video purportedly taken from the next iteration of The Sims has popped up online, and fans have expressed their concern about what it may mean for the much-loved series.
Project Rene – the codename sometimes used interchangeably with The Sims 5, although EA maintains Project Rene is, in fact, a spin-off project – has been bubbling around for a few years now, but early access footage from a game entitled “City Life Game With Friends” has many players thinking that this could well be the next Sims game.
The video itself is a full 20 minutes long and shows the player clicking through text prompts to select their outfit, hair, watch, activities, and so on. He then spawns into a sunlit Plaza de Poupon where he buys some food and mingles with the locals. He later goes to work in the outdoor café.
Characters are clearly called Sims throughout the playtest, talk in Simlish, and are adorned with The Sims’ tell-tale Plumbob.
“I am terribly disappointed with Project Rene. Yes, I know, according to EA, ‘this is not the final game.’ Is this a joke or what?” said one unhappy player on The Sims’ subreddit on a post entitled “I think Project Rene is a redflag (I hope not)” that has been upvoted hundreds of times.
“EA clearly wants to kill off normal Sims games and push people toward the mobile-style experience. So in their mind, a reboot literally means this — at least that’s what I THINK.”
“This is not going to be for me, I can tell already,” said another. “It just seems so basic and I don’t want to play The Sims on my phone.”
“The funny thing is, making a PC/mobile cross-compatible Sims game isn’t a bad idea,” posited a fan. “EA just believes that mobile games HAVE to be ugly for some reason. They’re chasing all of the design trends of the past decade, but it means that this thing already looks dated and it’s not even out yet.”
“The way The Sims was a literally [sic] satire about capitalist suburban consumption-as-happiness…. And this is where the Sims ended up. Endless consumption-as-happiness,” suggested another.
Project Rene — the codenamed game initially thought to be The Sims 5 until EA distanced itself from those rumors — was first teased in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit. It’s a free-to-play Sims game that features multiplayer inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. It hasn’t yet been formally revealed or received a release date, but EA has been holding small, invite-only playtests for the game since its announcement, with the game’s latest playtest presumably spawning these recent leaks.
The name Rene was chosen because it references words like “renewal, renaissance, and rebirth” that “represent the developer’s renewed commitment for the Sims’ bright future.”
Last October, however, images of Project Rene leaked from a closed online test, prompting complaints about the art style, limited features, and the use of microtransactions. It was the addition of a café that drew the most skepticism, primarily due to the smiliaries to 2018’s The Sims Mobile. It was then that EA said Project Rene was not The Sims 5 but would, in fact, be a different “cosy, social game” released under The Sims franchise.
Don’t forget that The Burglar, a familiar sight for those of us who’ve spent time with any of the older Sims games snuck back into our lives as part of the latest update for The Sims 4.
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
The Tekken 8 community has reacted in anger after the Season 2 update changed the game in a number of controversial ways.
Patch notes revealed an across-the-board buff to character damage potential and offensive pressure, which has caused some within the community to complain that Tekken 8 has strayed too far from the classic Tekken experience.
Pro Tekken player JoKa said the Season 2 update means “this does not feel like Tekken AT ALL.”
“Characters getting buffed even in the slightest is not the way along with more stance-based transitions where 50/50 situations are enhanced. Some of the new moves added are insane with little to no counterplay. Characters getting their weaknesses patched and identities being removed by homogenisation is lazy balancing. Oki being gutted and heat just getting buffed makes no sense. Combo damage is too much across the whole roster. I definitely think the sidesteps are better but does that really matter when moves exist with crazy tracking/hitboxes? Chip damage is still excessive with most heat smashes remaining the same. Removing strategy in favour of more 50/50 situations isn’t interesting gameplay and is moving away from the foundation of Tekken.
“Where are the defensive options that were mentioned?”
As you’d expect, Tekken 8’s Steam page has become the avenue through which players are expressing their frustration. The game has seen a flood of negative reviews (over 1,100 in the last two days), resulting in an ‘mostly negative’ user review rating for recent reviews.
“Genuinely good game held back by schizophrenic insane developers sent from hell,” reads the current ‘most helpful’ review.
“New season dropped and they made every character into a braindead easy mix up machine without a single buff to defense,” reads another.
“After promising changes to open up defensive options, the balance team has doubled down on extremely powerful offense that takes away all agency from the defending player,” another negative review reads.
“Not every character needs to be able to force 50/50 canned mixups constantly, but it seems like the balance team doesn’t have any other ideas for how to build characters at this point. It’s just a shame to see another legacy fighting game become entirely defined by character offense and situations with little to no response from the defender.”
I don’t know if I’ll continue playing Tekken if this patch stays. I’m sorry for doomposting, but I thought it had a chance to be a better game. I’m just really sad. Like depressed. I streamed 70 hours of Tekken this past week to prep for s2 just to have those hopes shattered. Gn.
The community is now hoping for some communication from the development team responding to the complaints. Some want the patch rolled back in its entirety. Others want an emergency follow-up patch to make key changes.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
April 1 has been and gone, and so has the video game industry’s penchant for April Fool’s Day gags for another year. But the one the people behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 came up may perhaps live a little longer in the memory.
Yesterday, Space Marine 2 publisher Focus Entertainment declared that the new Chaplain class would be released as DLC on April 1.
“In story mode, swap out Titus for The Chaplain and experience the game as a true Codex-compliant Ultramarine,” Focus said, no doubt sniggering from behind their monitors.
This ‘DLC’ supposedly added the new playable character to the story mode, as well as an ‘Enhanced Dialogue System’ that would have the Chaplain, every five minutes, remind everyone around him that “the Codex Astartes does not support this action,” and “I’m telling the Inquisition.”
The Chaplain even has a special ability called Discipline. This would involve instantly reporting “any and all minor deviations from the Codex Astartes for a 5% discipline bonus (but -20% brotherhood bonus).
The joke here works because as anyone who played Space Marine 2’s campaign knows, Chaplain Quintus watches Titus’ every move with a hawk-like distrust for signs of heresy, despite the protagonist’s demonstrable loyalty to the Imperium, the Ultramarines, and the Emperor himself.
Throughout the campaign, as Titus battles against the Tyranids and the Thousand Sons traitor legion, it becomes clear there is something… special about him, and Chaplain Quintus does not like that one bit. He’s a bit like the annoying school prefect who patrols the corridors for a mere whiff of deviant behavior and then— bam! You’re reported to the headmaster. Everyone hates the Chaplain.
The Chaplain has become something of a meme within the Space Marine community, and it’s this status that the Space Marine 2 April Fool’s joke leans into. But some fans have said they would love for The Chaplain to actually come to the game, not, perhaps, with this exact skill set, but as a straight-up warrior-priest who insists upon the veneration of the Emperor at all times.
The thing is, Space Marine 2 is getting a new class soon. Focus and developer Saber Interactive have yet to say what it is, but fans certainly have their theories. Most assume it will be the Apothecary, as close to a medic class as Space Marines have. But there is hope that it could be the Librarian, which would mean super cool warp-powered space magic. Does the Chaplain’s star turn in Space Marine 2’s April Fool’s Day joke rule him out?
There’s a lot happening in the world of Space Marine 2, despite the surprise announcement that development of Space Marine 3 development had begun. Space Marine 2’s year one roadmap remains, and Patch 7 is set to be released mid-April. But in the coming months Space Marine 2 will also get the aforementioned new class as well as new PvE operations and melee weapons.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Given the potential release of GTA VI and the possibilities presented by Nintendo’s Switch 2 launch lineup, 2025 could go down as the decade’s most memorable year in gaming. Even without those juggernauts, games like Monster Hunter Wilds and Assassin’s Creed Shadows have already set the tone for what should be another great year for new games.
Through the first quarter of the year, 18 games have earned a spot on this list, which compiles every game and expansion released in 2025 that received a review score of 8 or higher from IGN. These are IGN’s best video games of 2025.
This list will be updated as new releases receive qualifying review scores.
Review Score: 8 (“Great”)
These games leave us with something outstanding to remember them by, usually novel gameplay ideas for single-player or multiplayer, clever characters and writing, noteworthy graphics and sound, or some combination thereof. If we have major complaints, there are more than enough excellent qualities to cancel them out.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
From our review:Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes a flashing blade to the series’ established norms, trimming them to a more precise form in lieu of chopping them down outright. Combat is aggressive and requires more intentional parrying and skill management than in the past, and exploring the gorgeous provinces of Sengoku-period Japan is encouraged thanks to the revamped map that deemphasizes collecting icons and checking off lists. Naoe and Yasuke are well-realized and memorable protagonists, even though most of the story they drive follows pretty predictable paths. Both have unique playstyles that bolster each other’s weaknesses, but they are ultimately imbalanced by the fact that you can make use of the stealth and exploration skills of the master shinobi far more than the superhuman strength of the samurai. This isn’t the Assassin’s Creed that will change the minds of folks that never connected with the series before, but for those of us with lots of hours logged in the Animus, the sum of Shadows’ parts provide a refreshing realignment of the series that you should not skip. – Jarrett Green
Atomfall
From our review:Atomfall is a gripping survival-action adventure that takes some of the best elements of Fallout and Elden Ring, and synthesises them into its own fresh mutation. It presents a picturesque chunk of English countryside littered with alluring structures to pique and reward your curiosity, eccentric locals to meet, and absorbing mysteries to unravel, and uses classic iconography from British sci-fi and horror to consistently unsettling effect. In spite of some enemy behaviours that are occasionally less stable than a reactor in meltdown, Atomfall is a compelling, post-apocalyptic survival story that satisfyingly bends to your choices and discoveries no matter which direction you take. – Tristan Ogilvie
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
From our review:Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector does not stray too far from what made the first one a cult hit, but it doesn’t need to. It tells a rich and poignant story about the complex nature of control on one’s self when that self is a machine that can be rebooted and hacked, finding and enriching community in the face of overwhelming odds, and expressing personhood both to oneself and to others. It’s visual novel-like presentation is heavy on reading and dice rolling, so its not exactly pulse-pounding, but the retooled character classes and stats, new crew missions, and stress mechanics provide just enough feedback and create a sense of precarity throughout that it stays engaging. – Jarrett Green
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
From our review: Somehow, Donkey Kong Country Returns returned (again), but Nintendo’s third full release of this 2010 Wii platformer is almost as fresh and fun today as it was 15 years ago. DK’s satisfying, weighty movement paves the way for a challenging, momentum-based platformer that demands more skill and precision than the average Nintendo game. But it stays fun rather than frustrating thanks to incredibly impressive level design that explores every clever idea to the fullest and a ton of hidden collectibles worth tracking down. As a remaster specifically, it’s no more than a passable update, with graphics that can only really be described as “good enough” and some outdated elements that could have used more modern touches, like a lack of checkpoints during boss fights and a few obnoxious sections full of one-hit kill obstacles. But Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is still a competent update and easily the best way to play one of the greatest 2D platformers Nintendo has released this century. – Logan Plant
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
From our review: Propelled by a breezy and often completely bananas treasure-hunting tale, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a delightful spin-off that seamlessly shifts between street thuggery and skulduggery. Majima’s Sea Dog stance is one of the most fun and flexible fighting styles I’ve enjoyed in the series to date – at least in its classic, combo-based form – and I welcomed the challenge of carefully balancing my crew lineup in order to survive the many turbulent naval battles. While its overworld maps feel a little padded out with recycled island settings, Honolulu itself is jammed with unpredictable substories and overhauled activities that meant every moment of shore leave was full of surprises. Absolutely heaving with buried treasures and varied pleasures, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a consistently captivating voyage that kept my timbers shivering whether on land or at sea. – Tristan Ogilvie
Monster Hunter Wilds
From our review:Monster Hunter Wilds continues to smooth off the traditionally rough edges of the series in smart ways, reducing as much friction as possible that could get in the way of you grabbing any of its exceptionally fun weapons and planting them firmly in a monster’s hide. But in that quest to make Monster Hunter more approachable, Wilds has carved a little too close to the bone in some places, trimming its challenge back so much that I barely needed to dig into its in-depth equipment system at all this time to become an apex predator. Its more flexible combat is some of the most fun I’ve had with the series, but like the blustering lighting storms of its gorgeous desert, it’ll burns brightly but briefly until Capcom unleashes some real endgame beasts to challenge us. – Tom Marks
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
From our review:Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is neither Ninja Gaiden 2 nor Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, but instead a secret third thing that mixes both versions together to create something that is wholly unique and by far the most beautiful version of this excellent action game yet. While I have a hard time calling it the definitive release because I prefer the original’s “more dudes who are more aggressive but die faster” approach, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a definite improvement over the Sigma 2 release, fixes several long-standing issues, and unlike the original, isn’t trapped on the Xbox 360. It isn’t the version I was hoping for (get on it, modders), but it is still an incredible game and I’m happy it exists. If this really is it for Ninja Gaiden 2, it will at least go out on a high note. This trip through time reminded me that while you can’t go home again, and nothing will ever truly be like it was, that doesn’t mean something can’t still be beautiful. Ninja Gaiden 2 is remarkable, even with its flaws, and it’s good to finally have it back in Black. – Will Borger
PGA Tour 2K25
From our review: With substantial changes to how it looks and plays, PGA Tour 2K25 feels like a different game from its predecessor. The new swing mechanics, paired with the significantly improved graphics, makes for a much more realistic ambiance, even with a lethargic performance by the announcing team. The highly customizable MyCareer campaign mode shines as one of the most enjoyable parts even though it has a tacked-on personality system, occasional unnecessary connectivity issues, and of course microtransactions. PGA Tour 2K25 is still a few strokes behind EA Sports PGA Tour as the best golfing simulator around, but if it continues to improve like this with each new iteration, we may see it close that gap relatively soon. – Andrew McMahon
Rift of the NecroDancer
From our review: I could wear out my keyboard slapping arrow keys to the beat and jamming in my seat to Rift of the NecroDancer’s excellent soundtrack, fervently chasing down a perfect run of a song for hours. Whether I was fighting stuffy puppet masters, rhythmically ridding the world of monsters, or just waddling around in a silly mole costume, it provides many excellent flavors of arcade-style rhythm action. Even though this “Greatest Hits” anthology isn’t as focused or Earth-shattering as Brace Yourself Games’ genre-bending debut album, it still continually surprised and delighted me by providing clever twists on time-tested mechanics. – Charlie Wacholz
Tokyo Xtreme Racer (Early Access)
From our review:Tokyo Xtreme Racer is an infectiously addictive time capsule of a racing game that needs little more than a bit of menu refinement and some major aggression injected into its sound to really soup it up and prep it for even more classic Japanese cars to race in and against. In fact, it’s already well worth its early access asking price. It’s narrow in scope, but its highway battle hook makes it hard to put down, and its total lack of modern baggage like microtransactions and tacked-on multiplayer is outright refreshing. – Luke Reilly
WWE 2K25
From our review: A couple of microtransaction-fueled missteps aside, WWE 2K25 is really the best wrestling game since… WWE 2K24, which was also pretty great. It looks fantastic, still feels good, and there’s a lot of it, including small but welcome updates like intergender matches or bigger updates like the new MyRise and Showcase modes. It’s an upscale wrestling buffet, if you will: It’s pretty scrumptious, there’s a wide selection of dishes on the table, and you could spend an awful lot of time in the squared circle if you’re not careful. Speaking of, I need to get back to it. I have some more Showcase things to unlock, Universe is calling my name, and… well, you get the idea. – Will Borger
Review Score: 9 (“Amazing”)
We enthusiastically recommend that you add these games to your to-play list. If we call a game Amazing, that means something about it seriously impressed us, whether it’s an inspired new idea or an exceptional take on an old one. We expect to look back at it as one of the highlights of its time and genre.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins
From our review: If Dynasty Warriors: Origins is meant to be a new beginning, it’s one that gets off to a masterful start. It doesn’t just have the largest amount of enemies the series has thrown on screen at once, it also deepens its combat, improves its storytelling without getting in the way of the action, and provides a healthy amount of replayability and postgame content – all while looking better than ever. Your amnesiac hero is a bit too much of a blank slate at times, but the impressive ensemble cast made this story sing as I grew to care about the characters around him, big and small. Origins is both a great entry point for newcomers and a triumphant return for veterans like me who felt the last few entries had become stale or missed the mark. It feels like the series I once loved is finally back. – Jada Griffin
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
From our review: In many ways, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 feels like it’s picked up and run with the reactive first-person RPG torch that Bethesda left lying in the mud years ago in pursuit of a broader audience. And it has excellent melee combat, which The Elder Scrolls never came close to even at its peak. Sometimes it’s not sure if it wants to be a cinematic tale about a specific guy going on a specific adventure or a truly dynamic open-world sandbox packed with interesting and varied side quests, and that can lead to a few immersion-shattering conflicts. But most of the time, leaning into one doesn’t get in the way of the other, and you’re free to go on any of its many optional adventures along the way to a thought-provoking and rousing finale for the main plot. I was delighted to get lost in its world, and it will be a long time before I forget its exceptional story. – Leana Hafer
MLB The Show 25
From our review: MLB The Show remains one of the best sports series around. The new upgrade system and the amateur portion of your player’s journey have reinvigorated Road To The Show, while the shift away from Sets and Seasons has righted Diamond Dynasty’s biggest wrong. While it’s a bit of a bummer that the Storylines feature isn’t living up to its full potential, it remains a worthwhile and important inclusion that has reach beyond the game of baseball. All the small touches, such as updated infielder reactions and new quick time events like the swim move, have the on-field action in a great place, too. It’s not always easy for an annual franchise to justify the move to a new entry, but in the case of MLB The Show 25, it does more than enough to make me glad it has arrived. – Justin Koreis
Split Fiction
From our review: An expertly crafted and absorbing co-op adventure that pinballs from one genre extreme to another, Split Fiction is a rollercoaster of gameplay ideas and styles that are usually discarded as quickly as they’re introduced. This keeps it fabulously fresh for its full, 14-hour duration. With no idea sticking around long enough to get stale before making way for the next, it’s a victory of imagination and restraint in equal measure. Hazelight may have been rewriting the co-op rule book for a decade now, but Split Fiction is a new chapter that you (and a partner) cannot miss. – Luke Reilly
Two Point Museum
From our review:Two Point Museum is a rewarding, deep, challenging, and highly entertaining tycoon game that demonstrates Two Point Studios has really hit its groove with this third iteration of the idea. The variety of different exhibits to unlock and level up, the thrill of discovering new expedition maps, and the array of clever and easy-to-use management tools make designing and running a museum joyful and consistently rewarding. I’ve sunk more than 40 hours into it already and I could easily see doubling that without running out of stuff to do. Call the curator. They’re really going to want to take a look at this. – Leana Hafer
Wanderstop
From our review: Every inch of Wanderstop pushes the conventions you’d expect of similarly wholesome games. Its vibrant colors, quirky characters, and enchanting music are used to tell a compelling story that forces you to grapple with both its lead character’s insecurities as well as your own. It’s a powerful adventure not just about burn out, but about how deeply painful it is to free ourselves from coping mechanisms that may have previously kept us secure. At the same time, Wanderstop’s simple but satisfying tea brewing experimentation serves as a safe and entertaining space to do that deep digging. There aren’t many games like Wanderstop out there currently, but for all our sakes, I hope there will be soon. – Shailyn Cotten
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
From our review: Xenoblade Chronicles X was already one of the Wii U’s best games, and this Definitive Edition has escaped the destruction of its old home like the White Whale and settled down nicely on Switch. The quality-of-life improvements here are enough to justify another trip to Mira alone for veteran players, and it’s the perfect opportunity for newcomers to explore its beautiful landscapes for themselves. Its combat systems are deep and engaging, and the massive open world never got old to run, jump, or fly across. Its main story may not quite live up to the standards of the series, but a likable cast of characters and plenty of compelling side missions mean Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is still an adventure worth writing back home about. – George Yang
Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.
