October
Game 35: Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
Developer: Playtonic Games
Played on: Steam Deck
Release: 2019
Playtime: 12 hour 31 minutes
Rating: 8
Thoughts: Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a great platformer held back by overly long levels and an insanely sharp difficulty spike.
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| Source: Nintendo Life |
Game 36: Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Developer: The Game Kitchen
Played on: PS5
Release: 2025
Playtime: 12 hour 3 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound successfully balances making classic Ninja Gaiden approachable for newcomers with offering enough of a challenge for series veterans.
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| Source: Nintendo |
Game 37: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Developer: Ubisoft Shanghai
Played on: Series X
Release: 2004
Rating: 7
Thoughts: While there are still problems, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow's improvements slightly ease the rigidity of Splinter Cell's stealth sandbox.
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| Caption: MobyGames |
Game 38: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Played on: Series X
Release: 2005
Playtime: 17 hour 18 minutes
Rating: 8
Thoughts: While there are still a few annoyances, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is a highly approachable and fun stealth game that stands the test of time.
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| Caption: Kotaku |
November
Game 39: Disney Illusion Island
Developer: Dlala Studios
Played on: Switch via NSO Game Trial
Release: 2023
Playtime: 7 hour 25 minutes
Rating: 6.5
Thoughts: Disney Illusion Island does a good job of introducing younger players to search action games. However, it lacks the depth to keep veterans engaged.
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| Caption: DayOne |
Game 40: Absolum
Developer: Guard Crush Games and Supamonks
Played on: Switch
Release: 2025
Playtime: 21 hour 58 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Absolum does a great job of using the inherent replayability of the beat 'em up genre to fuel a unique and incredibly fun roguelike.
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| Caption: Nintendo |
Game 41: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent
Developer: Ubisoft Milan and Shanghai
Played on: Series X
Release: 2006
Playtime: 12 hour 55 minutes
Rating: 6.5
Thoughts: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent weighs down its polished stealth mechanics with annoying minigames and an inconsequential choice system.
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| Caption: Epic Games |
Game 42: Sound Shapes
Developer: Queasy Games and Wholesale Algorithms
Played on: PS5
Release: 2013
Playtime: 2 hour 22 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Sound Shapes is a delightful platformer that, unfortunately, can never reach its full potential again due to Sony shutting down its servers.
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| Caption: Polygon |
Game 43: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Played on: Series X
Release: 2010
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: If you can get past the big departure in gameplay, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction is a tight action game that always keeps you on your toes.
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| Caption: GameSpot |
December
Game 44: Marvel Cosmic Invasion
Developer: Tribute Games
Played on: PC via Game Pass
Release: 2025
Playtime: 5 hour 31 minutes
Rating: 6.5
Thoughts: While fun with others, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a slog to play solo.
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| Source: Marvel |
Game 45: Ninja Gaiden 4
Developer: Team Ninja and PlatinumGames
Played on: PC via Game Pass
Release: 2025
Playtime: 12 hour 27 minutes
Rating: 8
Thoughts: PlatinumGames does a great job of adapting Ninja Gaiden to their style of action. However, Ryu's inclusion derails the game's momentum.
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| Caption: Xbox Wire |
Game 46: Hades II
Developer: Supergiant Games
Played on: Switch
Release: 2025
Playtime: 43 hour 34 minutes
Rating: 9.5
Thoughts: While the story may stumble in places, Hades II polishes most of its predecessor's strengths to a near-perfect sheen.
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| Caption: Supergiant Games |
Game 47: Neva
Developer: Nomada Studio
Played on: Switch
Release: 2024
Playtime: 3 hour 40 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: While not as strong as its predecessor, Neva's impeccable presentation, emotional story, and tight gameplay make it an easy recommendation.
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| Caption: God is a Geek |
Game 48: Call of Duty 2
Developer: Infinity Ward
Played on: Series X
Release: 2005
Playtime: 9 hour 33 minutes
Rating: 8
Thoughts: While first-person shooters have long grown past it, Call of Duty 2's fundamentals easily hold up 20 years later.
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| Caption: GamesRadar |
Game 49: Grindstone
Developer: Capybara Games
Played on: Switch
Release: 2020
Playtime: 53 hour 46 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Grindstone is a beautifully animated and delightful match-three puzzler that seems better suited for a mobile device than a game console.
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| Caption: Nintendo |
Game 50: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist
Developer: Ubisoft Toronto
Played on: Wii U
Release: 2013
Playtime: 18 hour 8 minutes
Rating: 7
Thoughts: Although well implemented, blending Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction's action with the original trilogy's stealth sandbox leads to mixed results.
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| Caption: GameSpot |
Game 51: Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
Developer: Lizardcube
Played on: Switch
Release: 2017
Playtime: 5 hour 49 minutes
Rating: 6
Thoughts: While the updated graphics and music are phenomenal, Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap plays like a Sega Master System game, warts and all.
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| Caption: Lizardcube |
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