With easy-to-learn mechanics and its smart mix of turn-based strategy and auto battler gameplay, Guards II: Chaos in Hell offers a fast and satisfying descent into tactical combat that is perfect for both veteran players and those new to the genre.
Save State’s Vincent Mahoney writes this week about Pokemon Champions, a stripped-down but enjoyable online Pokemon battler that makes competitive play more accessible while still leaving room for serious team building.
With randomly generated maps, quick-fire strategy battles and a simple but satisfying loop of expansion and conquest, Circle Empires II offers an accessible RTS that still leaves room for smart play, strategic planning and deep customization of a player’s combat forces.
Save State columnist Vincent Mahoney this week writes about Epilogue’s GB Operator device that made trying his old childhood Game Boy Advance favorites surprisingly seamless on modern devices.
Bandai Namco’s remaster for Tales of Berseria does not radically transform one of the best titles in the Tales series, but quite a few strong quality-of-life upgrades and a still-excellent core adventure makes it easy to recommend.
Star Ocean First Departure R proves that developer tri-Ace had big ideas from the very start, even if some of the original version’s older design quirks still show through.
Sunken Engine blends relaxing repair simulator gameplay with creeping Lovecraftian horror, creating a strange but addictive Early Access experience where cleaning ships might cost you your sanity.
A deep discount pulls columnist Vincent Mahoney back into Cyberpunk 2077, where the surprisingly strong Switch 2 port sparks a broader look at upgraded editions across Nintendo’s newest system.
The Rumble Fish 2 finally makes its way to modern platforms with a Switch 2 upgrade, bringing its deep, meter-heavy combat and flashy anime style to a new audience. While newcomers may struggle without tutorials, fighting game veterans will find it an arcade classic with incredible fighting mechanics.
Haunted House Renovator lets players explore and renovate haunted locations while allowing them to scrub stains, fix walls and banish spirits in equal measure. It’s a funny twist on the House Flipper formula, though bugs and rough edges keep it from reaching its full supernatural potential.
