The Games I Beat in 2025: Q4

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Caption: Lizardcube

The Games I Beat in 2025: Q1

January

Game 1: Mario & Luigi: Brothership

Developer: Acquire
Played on: Switch
Release: 2025

Playtime: 45 hours 4 minutes
Rating: 6.5
Thoughts: Mario & Luigi: Brothership possesses everything it needs to be the best entry in the series, but it's bogged down by bad pacing, poor performance, and a padded runtime.

Source: Nintendo

Game 2: Haiku, the Robot

Developer: Mister Morris Games
Played on: Steam Deck
Release: 2022

Playtime: 6 hours 42 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Haiku, the Robot is a well-built and highly engaging search action game that doesn't hold your hand.

Source: Steam

Game 3: Blade Chimera

Developer: Team Ladybug
Played on: Steam Deck via Family Sharing
Release: 2025

Playtime: 8 hours 18 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Team Ladybug makes some of the finest search action games in the industry. Blade Chimera is another addition to that legacy.

Source: Nintendo

February

Game 4: Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

Developer: Atlus
Played on: PS5
Release: 2024

Playtime: 65 hours 24 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: With improved performance over the Switch original, a fully-featured new story route, and great QOL features, Vengeance is the definitive version of Shin Megami Tensei V.

Source: Nintendo

Game 5: Drainus

Developer: Team Ladybug
Played on: Steam Deck
Release: 2022

Playtime: 4 hours
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: While Drainus offers excellent minute-to-minute gameplay that pushes the genre into new directions, a poor story and lack of level variety in the back half hurt the overall package.

Source: Nintendo

DLC 1: God of War Ragnarök — Valhalla

Developer: Santa Monica Studios
Played on: PS5
Release: 2023

Playtime: 13 hours 15 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Valhalla cuts the padding of the main story to focus on what God of War Ragnarök excels at — character development and combat.

Source: Entertainium

DLC 2: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown — Mask of Darkness

Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Played on: Switch
Release: 2024

Playtime: 3 hours 28 minutes
Rating: 6
Thoughts: Mask of Darkness' attempt to raise the difficulty is a completely unnecessary annoyance.

Source: Nintendo

Game 6: Pepper Grinder

Developer: Ahr Ech
Played on: Switch
Release: 2024

Playtime: 3 hours 22 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Pepper Grinder is too short for its own good. As such, the game never truly sees all its cool concepts to their fullest.

Source: Nintendo

Game 7: Transference

Developer: SpectreVision and Ubisoft Montreal
Played on: PS5 via PS+
Release: 2018

Playtime: 1 hour 46 minutes
Rating: 5
Thoughts: Without the gimmick of virtual reality, Transference is just a standard horror-themed walking simulator with an interesting, albeit bleak, story.

Source: Polygon

Game 8: Alan Wake Remastered

Developer: Remedy Entertainment and d3t
Played on: Series X
Release: 2021

Playtime: 11 hours 13 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Although individual aspects of Alan Wake are clunky and unrefined, they all weave together into an incredibly cohesive whole.

Source: TechRadar

Game 9: Entwined

Developer: Pixelopus
Played on: PS5 via PS+
Release: 2014

Playtime: 1 hour 49 minutes
Rating: 5.5
Thoughts: Entwined is a cool concept that fails to execute. The controls aren't tight enough to make it a fun action game and it's too difficult to be a source of relaxation.

Source: Digital Trends

Game 10: Alan Wake's American Nightmare

Developer: Remedy Entertainment and Nitro Games
Played on: Steam Deck
Release: 2012

Playtime: 4 hours 36 minutes
Rating: 8
Thoughts: While not as grand in terms of story and characters, Alan Wake's American Nightmare delivers in terms of tighter mechanics.

Source: Steam

Game 11: Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Developer: Nintendo Software Technology
Played on: Switch
Release: 2024

Playtime: 7 hours 30 minutes
Rating: 8
Thoughts: When unhampered by the GBA's limitations and stringent controls, Mario vs. Donkey Kong becomes a much more enjoyable experience.

Source: My Nintendo News

Game 12: Quantum Break

Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Played on: Series X
Release: 2016

Playtime: 12 hours 58 minutes
Rating: 4.5
Thoughts: I applaud the ambitious premise and appreciate Quantum Break's take on third-person shooting. However, I can’t recommend a game with a broken checkpoint system.

Source: PC Gamer

March

Game 13: Control

Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Played on: PS5
Release: 2021

Playtime: 11 hours 35 minutes
Rating: 8
Thoughts: While Control underwhelms in terms of its core cast and level design, it excels in world-building and minute-to-minute gameplay.

Source: Remedy Entertainment

DLC 3: Control — The Foundation

Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Played on: PS5
Release: 2021

Playtime: 5 hours 22 minutes
Rating: 7
Thoughts: While The Foundation provides a well-designed new area to explore, it shines a spotlight on Control's arbitrary difficulty curve.

Source: Eurogamer

DLC 4: Control — AWE

Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Played on: PS5
Release: 2021

Playtime: 2 hours 55 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: AWE is a short and sweet prologue to the events of Alan Wake II.

Source: Rock Paper Shotgun

Game 14: Alan Wake II

Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Played on: PS5
Release: 2023

Playtime: 27 hours 10 minutes
Rating: 9.5
Thoughts: Alan Wake II seamlessly blends the mediums of video games, film, and music into an unforgettable experience.

Source: PlayStation

DLC 5: Alan Wake II — Night Springs

Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Played on: PS5
Release: 2024

Playtime: 2 hours 23 minutes
Rating: 8
Thoughts: Night Springs' short stories hit far more than they miss.

Source: NextPlay

DLC 6: Alan Wake II — The Lake House

Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Played on: PS5
Release: 2024

Playtime: 3 hours 5 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: The Lake House is a great addendum to Alan Wake II.

Source: Epic Games

The Games I Beat in 2024: Q3

July

Game 26: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Developer: Intelligent Systems
Played on: Switch
Release: 2024

Playtime: 34 hours 51 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: No matter the era, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is still a seminal console RPG. However, the backtracking is still an annoyance.

Source: Nintendo

Game 27: Tekken 8

Developer: Bandai Namco and Akira
Played on: PS5
Release: 2024

Playtime: 15 hours 40 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Regardless of your skill level, Tekken 8 is a great introduction to 3D fighting games.

Source: Bandai Namco Studios

Game 28: Cat Quest

Developer: The Gentlebros
Played on: Steam Deck
Release: 2017

Playtime: 7 hours 43 minutes
Rating: 7
Thoughts: Cat Quest is a fun and highly approachable — yet pretty shallow — action RPG.

Source: Nintendo

Game 29: Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition

Developer: Capcom
Played on: Series X
Release: 2020

Playtime: 18 hours 18 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Although Devil May Cry 5 was already a great action game, Special Edition makes it even better.

Source: PlayStation Store

August

Game 30: Air Twister

Developer: Ys Net
Played on: iPad via Apple Arcade
Release: 2022

Rating: 3.5
Thoughts: Air Twister is plagued by obtuse onboarding, unnecessary mechanics, and unfair difficulty.

Source: Nintendo

Game 31: Ridiculous Fishing EX

Developer: KO_OP
Played on: iPad via Apple Arcade
Release: 2023

Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Ridiculous Fishing EX is an excellent update of Vlambeer's mobile classic.

Source: Eurogamer

September

Game 32: Jetpack Joyride 2

Developer: Halfbrick Studios
Played on: iPad via Apple Arcade 
Release: 2022

Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: In adding more complexity to Jetpack Joyride, this sequel gets a little too tedious and grindy. However, the excellent gameplay makes it easy to stomach.

Source: mxdwn.com

Game 33: Cut the Rope Remastered

Developer: Paladin Studios
Played on: iPad via Apple Arcade  
Release: 2021

Rating: 7
Thoughts: While Cut the Rope Remastered has the amazing bones of Cut the Rope, it's hidden under off-putting 3D graphics and obfuscated mechanics.

Source: YouTube

Game 34: Astro Bot

Developer: Team Asobi
Played on: PS5
Release: 2024

Playtime: 14 hours 17 minutes
Rating: 10
Thoughts: Astro Bot is an endlessly joyful platformer that gives PlayStation's legacy the celebration it deserves.

Source: PlayStation Store

Game 35: DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition

Developer: Ninja Theory and QLOC
Played on: Series X
Release: 2015

Playtime: 10 hours 48 minutes
Rating: 7
Thoughts: If you can get past its contentious aspects, DmC Devil May Cry is a solid action game with highly creative levels.

Source: DualShockers

Game 36: The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak

Developer: Nihon Falcom
Played on: PS5
Release: 2024

Playtime: 102 hours 57 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak is a great introduction to a new arc that peaks 20 hours too early. 

Source: Nintendo

The Games I Beat in 2024: Q2

April

Game 14: Gravity Circuit

Developer: Domesticated Ant Games
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Playtime: 6 hours 34 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Gravity Circuit expertly pays homage to the past while making changes to better establish a flow state. However, the loading can be a pain.

Source: Epic Games Store

Game 15: Concrete Genie

Developer: Pixelopus
Played on: PS5
Release: 2019

Playtime: 3 hours 59 minutes
Rating: 6
Thoughts: Concrete Genie is a collection of interesting ideas and mechanics that never come together to fulfill their true potential.

Source: Gematsu

Game 16: Max: The Curse of Brotherhood

Developer: Press Play
Played on: Series X
Release: 2013

Playtime: 5 hours 50 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Max: The Curse of Brotherhood is a fun and highly creative puzzle platformer. However, the focus on realism in graphics can sometimes hinder gameplay.

Source: Nintendo

Game 17: Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

Developer: PlatinumGames
Played on: Switch
Release: 2023

Playtime: 17 hours 57 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Despite a mess of a map system and trickier combat, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a delightful and heartfelt spinoff.

Source: WCCF Tech

Game 18: 20XX

Developer: Batterystaple Games and Fire Hose Games
Played on: Steam Deck
Release: 2017

Playtime: 10 hours 6 minutes
Rating: 7
Thoughts: 20XX does a good job of adapting Mega Man's gameplay to a roguelite framework. However, it falls short in other key areas, namely its level design.

Source: Fire Hose Games

May

Game 19: Yakuza 3 Remastered

Developer: Ryu ga Gotoku Studio
Played on: PS5
Release: 2019

Playtime: 26 hours 25 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Yakuza 3 is a solid entry in the long-running series. However, the game's slower chapters will test one's patience.

Source: OpenCritic

Game 20: Psychonauts

Developer: Double Fine Productions
Played on: Series X
Release: 2005

Playtime: 12 hours 55 minutes
Rating: 7.5
Thoughts: Even 19 years later, Psychonauts is a highly creative and humorous 3D platformer. However, the level design hasn't aged as gracefully.

Source: Double Fine Productions

Game 21: Psychonauts 2

Developer: Double Fine Productions
Played on: Series X
Release: 2021

Playtime: 17 hours 24 minutes
Rating: 9.5
Thoughts: Improving on its predecessor in every way, Psychonauts 2 is one of the finest 3D platformers ever created.

Source: Double Fine Productions

June

Game 22: Neon White

Developer: Angel Matrix
Played on: PS5
Release: 2022

Playtime: 21 hours 17 minutes
Rating: 9
Thoughts: Neon White is an amazing blend of first-person shooting, precision platforming, and visual novel storytelling.

Source: Ben Esposito

Game 23: Brutal Legend

Developer: Double Fine Productions
Played on: Series X
Release: 2009

Playtime: 10 hours 28 minutes
Rating: 6
Thoughts: Between character action, open-world exploration, and real-time strategy, Brutal Legend is too ambitious for its own good.

Source: Double Fine Productions

Game 24: American Arcadia

Developer: Out of the Blue Games
Played on: PC
Release: 2023

Playtime: 5 hours 46 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: American Arcadia expertly combines two disparate genres into a fluid and highly entertaining experience.

Source: Out of the Blue Games

Game 25: Bye-Bye BoxBoy!

Developer: HAL Laboratory
Played on: 3DS
Release: 2017

Playtime: 5 hours 24 minutes
Rating: 8.5
Thoughts: Bye-Bye BoxBoy! is a highly inventive puzzler that moves on from new mechanics a little too quickly.

Source: Nintendo