It’s already an impressive showing so far this year.
The roguelike Curse of the Dead Gods hasn’t gotten much attention, coming on the heels of Hades, but it’s got all the random dungeons, fun combat, and shiny loot that fans crave.
Fantasian is a JRPG from the creator of Final Fantasy, but its brilliant take on random battles and gorgeous backgrounds scanned from actual dioramas show there’s still room to innovate within the genre.
As the name implies, Little Nightmares 2 is a haunting horror game despite the doll-like main character. With a creepy atmosphere and compelling puzzles, it’s a must for any horror fan.
Not content to just tell a surreal detective story about the birth of the universe, Genesis Noir does so with a swinging soundtrack and an art style that harkens back to foundational animation pioneers.
Cyber Shadow’s music, graphics, and gameplay are all inspired by 8-bit games, but refined to feel fresh for modern players, making it worth a look whether you remember the days of the NES or not.
Trials of Fire combines the best parts of turn-based tactics and deck-building card games while clearing out the chaff that can become a slog. Add a party of distinct characters, and Trials of Fire is an under-the-radar gem.
The latest in the long-running series, Hitman 3 sends assassin Agent 47 to some of the most gorgeous locations in any game to take out targets with elaborate means, often verging on slapstick.
Combining the excellent Super Mario 3D World and the experimental Bowser’s Fury makes this package a no-brainer for platforming fans. As a bonus, it’s packed with adorable cats!
Set in a ruined world you have to rebuild piece by piece, Loop Hero combines elements of idle games, city builders, and RPGs for a one-of-a-kind experience that’s as addictive as it is hard to describe.
It Takes Two is an eye-catching co-op game that turns the main characters’ divorce into a satisfying series of puzzles. Or, as director Josef Fares tells Inverse, “It Takes Two is a fucked-up game, in a good sense.”