Happy 2026! Well, its the end of January and the new releases are starting up again, now that the holidays are well behind us. Additionally, we have a few to add in that we never got to in December.

The big new release from this past week, however, would probably have to be the indie title, Cairn. A cel-shaded climbing sim/adventure game, Cairn looks to be one of the first great indie games of the year. And since we got it in January, 2026 looks to be shaping up pretty nicely so far.

Also out in the last 8 weeks: the latest installment to Falcom's long-running Legend of Heroes series; a PS5 (and 4) playable version of Namco's incredible PlayStation 2 classic, SoulCalibur III; and a small bundle of Final Fantasy GOG ports. Embark on the ascent of a lifetime, then jump past the break to see more new releases from the last 56 days.

Well, we vowed to get this year's Games of the Year article out much earlier than last year and we're actually delivering it even later, incredibly. Let's just say it's been a tough year and leave it at that. At least we've got a pretty decent article for you with some incredibly fantastic picks from 2024. And even though we know you can't really trust us at this point, we do solemnly swear that we will endeavor to have 2025's best-of list out in a much timelier fashion. In the meantime, please enjoy our picks for the 12 best titles that 2024 had to offer:

So, no Retrospectives this month  - - though we certainly provided plenty of them for you over the last several months. We do, however, have some Notable New Gaming Releases for you! Just in time to wrap up 2025, too.

This week saw the release of two titles that were surely on a number of gamers radars (they were certainly on ours) - - (Marvel) Cosmic Invasion and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. As you may know, Cosmic Invasion is a Marvel-themed beat 'em up from the incredibly talented crew over at Tribute (Games), the same studio that gave us the 2022 Game of the Year, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge. We don't know about you but Marvel x Tribute sounds like one heck of a combination! As for Metroid Prime 4, the game's been in development so long now that it would be pretty insane if it wasn't good - - but we're definitely looking forward to finding out, either way.

Also out in the last two months - - the equally highly-anticipated follow-up to Obsidian's fantastic 2019 hit, The Outer Worlds; and the first Pokemon title to appear on the Switch 2. A cosmic battle awaits! Jump past the break to see more new releases from the last 63 days.

In the late '90s, Microsoft CEO, Bill Gates, saw the increasing power and popularity of video game consoles as a potential threat to the PC industry, so the company began looking for ways to expand into the market. These would initially include partnering with Sega to create a custom version of Windows CE for their Dreamcast console, and then approaching Sony to offer to do the same for their PlayStation 2. Sony, however, declined their offer. They would even go so far as to approach Nintendo to see if they would be receptive to being acquired by Microsoft, but Nintendo would also reject Microsoft's offer.

So, Microsoft decided to set about making their own gaming console. After some internal debate concerning two rival design strategies, a decision was made to use PC parts, including a built in hand drive - - the first console to ever sport one - - as well as a custom version of Windows, featuring DirectX support. It was also decided that the system should be equipped with an Ethernet port in order to enable the future implementation of fast, reliable online play.

The DirectX support, in particular, would play a key role in setting the Xbox apart from other consoles. Not only because it's where the "X" in "Xbox" comes from, but also because the support of DirectX would allow game developers to both create new games, and port existing PC games to the console, with relative ease, while also giving the console comparatively larger processing power, at the same time. Like the PlayStation 2, the Xbox would also utilize a standard DVD drive for gameplay - - with an optional remote and controller port IR sensor later being made available to enable movie playback functionality as well. Unlike the PlayStation 2, however, the Xbox would be the first home console to incorporate real-time Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound during actual gameplay, instead of just in cutscenes.

Leading up to the launch of the Xbox, Microsoft would go to great lengths to line up a number of high-profile titles for their upcoming console. This would include successfully wooing both Tecmo, and future Microsoft subsidiary, Bethesda; acquiring Mac developer, Bungie, along with the rights to their upcoming title, Halo: Combat Evovled; as well as striking a crucial 11-game exclusivity deal with (then) newly-turned third-party developer/publisher, Sega. Throughout the console's life, Microsoft would continue to get more fantastic games onto the Xbox through other, similar means; and their smart implementation of DirectX in the console certainly wouldn't hurt them in this matter, either. It was these games, more than anything, that really helped the Xbox to stand apart from the competition, and as usual, we have assembled a list of 12 of the greatest titles to ever grace the console, just for your reading enjoyment.

Apologies for the lengthy delay. We actually never intended to wait this long in between new games release posts. There certainly hasn't been a lack of notable new titles to cover. So, it looks like we'll just have to cover the most notable highlights, for this post.

This week saw the release of one of the biggest titles of the year, Sucker Punch's highly anticipated follow-up to their incredible 2020 masterpiece, Ghost of Tsushima. Set a few hundred years later, Yotei follows female warrior, Atsu, on her quest for revenge throughout the northern regions of feudal Japan. Like Tsushima, everything we've seen and heard from this game absolutely screams "must-play title". We certainly can't wait to.

Also out in the last 20 weeks, a welcome new entry in the excellent Sonic & SEGA Racing series; a follow-up to the award-winning 2020 indie hit, Hades; and the first new Shinobi title in nearly a decade and a half! Set aside the order of the Edo period, then jump past the break to see more new releases from the last 140 days.

Two months ago, Sony and Microsoft held their traditional mid-year video presentations to show off their biggest upcoming titles. Of course, these unveilings used to take place at the world famous Electronics Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, which was sadly went defunct after Covid. While we could have written something about it then, we decided it just wouldn't feel right to post one of these articles without all of "the big three" being represented in some way.

Thankfully, Nintendo finally decided to join the party with some new announcements of their own two weeks ago. So if you'd like to blame them instead of us for the lengthy delay of this post, that would be fantastic. Anywho, as per usual, please read on for a quick list of some of the highlights from all three (non-E3) presentations.

So it's May now and being that we're a pretty good way into 2025, we've seen several high profile releases already. Most recent of which was this past week's hotly-anticipated Doom sequel, The Dark Ages. The latest installment to id Software's legendary first-person shooter series sees the Doom Slayer adding a shield saw - - along with a variety of slower, more methodical gameplay mechanics - - to his crazy assortment of demon-death-dealing devices for the first time.

While it can't be denied that the classic run-n-gun gameplay is one of the main components that made the series so famous for so long, it also seems like it might be a good idea to try something a little different every now and again. Though based on reviews, it seems like your mileage may vary on how well the new shield saw mechanics resonate with you personally. At least there are still plenty of firepower options to choose from.

Also out in the last 3 months, the first new Fatal Fury installment in a quarter century; a beautiful-looking remaster of the outstanding 2006 Bethesda hit, the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion; and a port of the fantastic Game Boy Advance cult classic, Ninja Five-O. Become the super weapon of gods and kings, then jump past the break to see more new releases from the last 91 days.

As per usual for this time of year, the big three gaming giants have once again cranked up their respective hype machines in order to let gamers know exactly which incoming titles they can start getting amped up about. These were all in the form of near-hour-long video presentations featuring closer looks of already somewhat-known quantities along with a few surprise reveals as well. Though the first presentation was held over 2 months ago now, we decided to wait until all three had shown their hand, which the last of them finally did this past week. So now, for your convenience and reading pleasure, please enjoy this brief roundup of some of the highlights of those presentations.

Well, we're a month and a half into 2025 now, and we've finally amassed enough notable new releases for our customary post. Of course, we also had to throw in the few remaining stand-outs for 2024 that we hadn't gotten to yet. This past week saw the release of the anticipated next installment to Sid Meier's celebrated, long-running Civilization series. Civ VII features overhauled systems, new tweaks to the classic turn-based strategy gameplay, and new and improved visuals and sound design, including narration by Game of Thrones star, Gwendoline Christie. Although your mileage may vary whether you will be fully on board with all of said tweaks or not, Civilization VII definitely sounds like it should at least be worth checking out.

Also out in the last 13 weeks, a game that quite possibly may be the first sufficiently satisfying Indiana Jones adventure to come along in decades; an HD Switch remaster of a Wii and 3DS Donkey Kong classic; and a pair of absolutely legendary arcade shoot 'em up titles. Build an empire to stand the test of time, then jump past the break to see more new releases from the last 91 days.