RoadCraft and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound are also coming to the same tiers tomorrow, making for an already packed week. However, January 27th sees the arrival of The Talos Principle 2 for PC and Xbox Series X/S, followed by Anno: Mutationem and Drop Duchy on January 28th. All three titles will be available for Ultimate, PC and Premium subscribers.

On January 29th, you can look forward to another heavy hitter – MySims: Cozy Bundle. Oh, and a little something called Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, one of the best third-person shooters available. Truly the Barbenheimer of our times.

February 2nd sees the addition of Indika for Ultimate and PC Game Pass, followed by Final Fantasy 2 on February 3rd. The latter follows the arrival of the first game in Squaresoft’s legendary series, so at this rate, we can probably experience Final Fantasy 16 by next year.

Unfortunately, as with every new Game Pass wave, some titles are being removed from the service’s library. From January 31st, you’ll no longer have access to the following:

• Shady Part of Me (Cloud, PC, and Console)
• Cataclismo (PC)
• Starbound (Cloud, PC, and Console)
• Lonely Mountains Snow Riders (Cloud, PC, and Console)
• Paw Patrol World (Cloud, PC, and Console)
• Citizen Sleeper 2 Starward Vector (Cloud, PC, and Console)
• Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Cloud, PC, and Console)

We’re here to give them the spotlight they deserve, and perhaps give you a great new game to pick up and play. Join us as we take a look at a few excellent titles that deserve your attention. There’s something for everybody, and you’re sure to find a title that joins your list of favorites!

1. Blue Prince

With a rather unconventional premise, and a whole lot of entertaining puzzle-adventure gameplay to stretch your brain power to its limits, this is a gem of a game that did not get its due in a year crowded with huge releases. But Simon P. Jones’ surreal trip through the Mt. Holly Estate and the discovery of its story make for an unforgettable adventure.

If you enjoy solving puzzles and are the kind who doesn’t like to leave any loose ends in their games, this one is going to have you occupied for quite a while.

2. Dispatch

It can be jarring to be relegated to a desk job after an exciting stint in the field even for the best of superheroes. But Mecha Man, aka Robert Robinson III, faces a frustrating twist to his career and having to manage a team of reformed supervillains is the perfect recipe for a story that’s told with heart and charm.

A stellar voice cast elevates the experience, and Dispatch is a game that you enjoy from the very beginning right up until you navigate a roller coaster of decisions whose varying outcomes could have you wanting to dive back in for another playthrough. That’s certainly a game that’s easy to recommend.

3. Tormented Souls 2

Caroline Walker (or Emma, if you’re familiar with this one’s predecessor) just can’t catch a break. This sequel builds on the first game’s strengths while telling a grim, chilling story about a cult that seems intent on continuing Noah’s work.

But Caroline has never been one to sit around and wait for fate to play its hand, and you’re going to be navigating dark hallways and dangerous places with bated breath. This is an excellent horror experience that does well to bring forgotten genre trappings back with style.

4. Keeper

It isn’t everyday a game gives a lighthouse the ability to walk, and puts its players behind a character as unique as the one in Keeper. As the lighthouse, your travels aren’t as lonely as they could be thanks to Twig, and the bond that forms between them as they tackle the scourge that’s affecting their home is a lovely story.

This one’s bizarre premise lets its creators come up with some very inventive designs in their levels, and navigating its world isn’t going to be easy. But we can tell you it’s definitely worth it.

5. Atomfall

An action survival gameplay loop set in an alternate, post-apocalyptic version of the British countryside into a radioactive zone was always going to be a blast, and our time with Atomfall had us chuckling away at the humor that it has managed to bake into an otherwise grim world.

The story is definitely gripping enough to make this a rewarding experience while the side content brings some top-shelf writing into the fray. This is a world that’s going to be very worthwhile to those of you who like ferreting out secrets and leaving no missions incomplete.

6. Cronos: The New Dawn

The Bloober Team cemented its reputation as a talented horror studio with its take on a time-travelling survival horror adventure. As the Traveller, every step you take into the game’s world makes you feel the weight of its desolation, while its threats can have you missing perfectly aligned headshots thanks to their raw aggression and feral rage.

However, for those of you who learn the art of survival in this bleak world, you get to find very creative ways to turn the tables in a deadly dance of tactics, strategy, and skillful shooting. It’s a slow-paced ride but a wild one nonetheless.

7. Hell is Us

Although this one did gain a fair bit of traction, it can be hard to put the allure of a world that staunchly refuses to reveal its secrets to none but the most diligent of players into words. But Hell is Us does just that, leaving you scribbling furiously away on a notepad just so that you get to experience all that it has to offer.

It can be quite a disorienting experience at first but the story and combat can have you quite invested. If exploration and lore hunting sound like hours of fun to you, this one is going to have you very content with how it presents its best features.

8. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Fast, stylish, and well-paced, Joe Musashi’s battle against the ENE Corporation is a great game. The story moves along at a breakneck pace, giving you new ways to dish out damage in your 2D platforming adventure. Musashi’s agility and the fact that the stakes are literally about life and death with a dollop of vengeance thrown in make this a shinobi adventure with all the good stuff.

Just be ready to bring your best fighting skills to the table as you take on the ENE’s hordes of soldiers, yokai, oni, and imposing bosses.

9. Echoes of the End

Although Ryn and Abram’s journey didn’t get the start that developer Myrkur Games might have wanted, the studio has done well to release an enhanced edition of Echoes of the End as a free update, fixing a significant portion of its launch issues and making it a very enticing offering.

The combat is now quite good, while the story has several great moments in the second half of the adventure. Stick with this one and you’re going to find yourself quite invested in how things turn out.

10. The Rogue Prince of Persia

If you’re a fan of roguelites, this one might be right up your street. Playing a Prince who is on the run from an army of possessed soldiers is a great way to spend a few hours exploring well-designed levels with mechanics that are quite engaging.

Evil Empire has done well to capture the look and feel of a Prince of Persia game a action adventure game, and you should definitely give this one a shot. Its recent Switch debut should see it get some well-served attention, too.

11. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

This side-scrolling hack n’ slash spin-off of the popular franchise is definitely up there with the best ones of the year. Kenji Mozu’s inspired effort to defend the Hayabusa village from demonic threats, leaving Ryu free to live out his legend in America, is a very entertaining take on the Ninja Gaiden universe.

Its slick combat and challenging platforming make it a pleasure to play too. This is a great choice for those of you who love to let your blades do the talking.

12. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

If you’re a Soulslike fan and have somehow missed this one from Leenshee Games, it’s worth checking out. Bai Wuchang’s mission to save her sister quickly turns into an exploration of sinister events against the background of a failing dynasty.

That premise does very well to set up battles that can test your reflexes and ability to improvise in the field. Combat is an art in this game, and you’re given a wide set of tools to use as you paint a bloody canvas that tells an epic story. Expect to be challenged, and this one is going to take your breath away.

13. Shadow Labyrinth

Bandai Namco’s refresh of the classic character was such a blast we almost forgot our initial scepticism of the entire exercise. The swordsman and Puck are quite a duo, navigating a treacherous world that leaves a very interesting trail of information about its history and denizens.

With challenging enemies and mechanics, Shadow Labyrinth is a game that has you always on the lookout for a detail that you missed, and can take a long time if you’re intent on teasing out all of its secrets.

14. Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream

While it can be difficult to handle the emotional weight that this excellent story brings to the table, Hanna’s desperate journey to rescue her brother, and the people she meets along the way make this one a worthy addition to our list of 2025’s underrated gems.

This is a game that brings some great stealth mechanics in a world in which the shadows are your biggest strength, and a story that underlines the importance of staying unseen through the eyes of a young orphan. This one’s a winner for all of you stealth nuts out there.

15. Steel Seed

Bringing excellent stealth action, robust platforming, a dark sci-fi-world, and a relatable protagonist and companion duo, there’s a lot to like about Steel Seed. Although this one did draw a bit of flak on the critical front, its story and excellent world building are compelling reasons to dive into this title.

Zoe’s sassy yet earnest nature wins you over quite quickly, and her proficiency with her weapons make her fun to embody in this tale of redemption. Despite a relatively shorter runtime, this game has its charms, and the journey is definitely worth it.

And that’s a wrap on our best single-player sleeper hit titles that you might have missed out on this year. Here’s to a fresh new batch of winners as we look to 2026 and beyond.

It probably doesn’t make the most sense lore-wise, but the Raven Clan outfit does look pretty good. Yakumo is the newest playable character and star of Ninja Gaiden 4, on a mission to defeat the Dark Dragon. That runs against what Ryu Hayabusa and the Divine Dragon Order want, though, so conflict is inevitable. Of course, Ryu is still playable throughout more of the game than many would think.

Ninja Gaiden 4 launches on October 21st for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. It’s also playable on day one for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers, with pre-loading now available. As for Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, it’s playable on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch, and offers one of the better retro throwbacks in gaming. Check out our review here.

Developed by The Game Kitchen and published by Dotemu, Ragebound follows a new shinobi of the Hayabusa clan, Kenji Mozu. Following an attack on the village and a run-in with Kumori of the rival Black Spider Clan, the two team up to prevent the Demon Lord’s revival.

Similar to the pre-3D Ninja Gaiden titles, this is a 2D side-scrolling action platformer with plenty of challenging foes and jumps. It also packs new mechanics like Hypercharge for breaking through obstacles and tanky foes, and at some points, you swap to Kumori to traverse timed sections to open the way forward.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. If you’re still hankering for more from the series, Ninja Gaiden 4 launches on October 21st for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Check out over an hour’s worth of new gameplay here.

In a twist from previous games, 2D and 3D, you don’t control Ryu Hayabusa. Instead, Kenji Mozu, a young upstart, is the star. After an attack on Hayabusa and hearing their plans to resurrect the Demon Lord, Kenji sets out to stop them, venturing into the hornet’s nest with little caution. Parallel to all of this is Kumori of the Black Spider Clan, whose headquarters were ambushed by the same demons during a meeting between the higher-ups. She’s also sent out to meet the demons but to forcefully broker a deal and capture the Demon Lord using the Tamashi Kunai.

Naturally, things go terribly for both of them, and the two mortal enemies are forced to fuse their souls to survive. It should be noted throughout all of this that Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound offers some surprisingly good writing and pacing to carry the plot (for this genre, at least). Both Kenji and Kumori straddle a fine line between confidence and arrogance, which is reflected well in their dialogue.

"Of course, this can become a more challenging endeavor when juggling two different Hypercharged states. Due to their predicament, players essentially run around as Kenji, hacking and slashing foes with a blade as per usual, but can also utilize Kumori’s abilities with enough Ki."

I wouldn’t have expected to praise a Ninja Gaiden title for its narrative or characterization, but I took a liking to both protagonists pretty much immediately. Despite the relatively straightforward nature of the story, the inherent tension between them makes for some fun banter (and a bit of mystery on how their situation could be resolved). There is a bit of ridiculousness involved, like random run-ins with the military, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary for Ninja Gaiden.

Of course, at its core, Ragebound is a challenging side-scrolling hack-and-slash platformer. You’re still running through some gorgeous retro-style environments, slaying enemies, and usually facing off against a boss before progressing to the next stage. Both characters possess some sleek mobility options, including the ability to kick off enemies and projectiles using the Guillotine Boost, dealing a bit of damage but mostly extending their air time (which can be useful for crossing perilous gaps).

The other core mechanic is the Hypercharged Strike. By defeating certain foes or sacrificing a portion of their health, Kenji and Kumori can unleash powerful melee or ranged attacks. These are essential for defeating tankier enemies with a single slice and maintaining momentum. However, there’s a bit of resource management and guesswork involved. Will you wait for a specific enemy to show up and die so you can enter the Hypercharged state, or sacrifice some health to push forward? The fact that Hypercharged Strikes can stagger bosses, opening them for a hefty helping of slashes and kunai (and thus shortening the overall length of the fight), lends an extra layer of strategy.

Of course, this can become a more challenging endeavor when juggling two different Hypercharged states. Due to their predicament, players essentially run around as Kenji, hacking and slashing foes with a blade as per usual, but can also utilize Kumori’s abilities with enough Ki. These include Kama, which passes through walls to defeat enemies and kunai, which you can aim in any direction. Defeat a red charged enemy to Hypercharge the Spider Weapons or a melee strike to Hypercharge Kenji’s attacks.

"Any seasoned action platformer player won’t find too much difficulty with Ragebound. Which isn’t to say it’s not worth your time. Once you’re in the groove, seamlessly platforming and annihilating enemies before they even know what’s happening, it’s incredibly fun."

You would think this could dull the overall pacing, but once you learn enemy placement and spawns, it becomes as second nature as platforming and slashing. Of course, there are specific sections in levels where you’ll directly control Kumori, venturing through an alternate dimension to open the way forward. These sections are on a timer, and though there are items to help extend this, it can be a bit of trial and error to find the right path and properly platform through, almost like a microcosm of the levels at large.

Despite the relative “newness” of all this compared to the old-school Ninja Gaiden, it’s still in keeping with the series’ punishing gameplay, especially since a single drop into deadly terrain means a return trip to the nearest checkpoint. Once you have a rhythm for a level’s layout and enemies, however, the overall difficulty doesn’t feel nearly as oppressive.

The presence of Talismans, which provide game-changing effects like slight healthy recovery upon slaying enemies above a certain combo score, certainly helps in that regard. But even the boss fights didn’t require too many retries. I also found some level design elements to be a little repetitive at times, especially when it came to platforming. The Game Kitchen does a decent job of mixing things up, throwing in a sudden ambush of enemies or a boss chasing you while destroying the flooring. However, despite completely different locations, that feeling of platforming deja vu would crop up more than not. The side areas also couldn’t use a bit more work to make them shine beyond pursuing collectibles.

On top of clearing a level, there are optional challenges available, like not getting hit or slaying a certain number of enemies with Guillotine Boosts, to incentivize perfection (not to mention collecting Crystal Skulls and Golden Scarabs). But any seasoned action platformer player won’t find too much difficulty with Ragebound. Which isn’t to say it’s not worth your time. Once you’re in the groove, seamlessly platforming and annihilating enemies before they even know what’s happening, it’s incredibly fun.

"The sprite work for both characters and environments looks great, and the animations of enemies, bosses, and the protagonists flow extremely well, and even the scenes between levels look extremely sharp."

Significant praise must be given to the controls, which feel seamlessly responsive. I didn’t face a single point where my actions didn’t feel like my own, though, of course, in that respect, every mistake is completely on me. For those who find the difficulty a little too extreme, some accessibility options are available, like reducing incoming damage and game speed, extending the Hypercharged state, and even increasing the size of the Guillotine Boost to make platforming that much less punishing.

While the visuals won’t necessarily be deemed as the most visually cutting edge, they’re simply gorgeous from a 2D standpoint. The sprite work for both characters and environments looks great, and the animations of enemies, bosses, and the protagonists flow extremely well, and even the scenes between levels look extremely sharp. I also appreciated the little animated highlights when defeating bosses, adding even more panache to the kill. Further enhancing the mood is the music, which captures the 80s vibe of the original games but with much fuller instrumentation. From the main menu to downtime at Muramasa’s shop, each track feels lovingly crafted to pay homage to the classics while remaining catchy in their own right.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound won’t necessarily break the mold when it comes to side-scrollers, but it doesn’t have to. It’s a well-made, contemporary tribute to the classics that also channels their gameplay loop to deliver a new story with sleek new mechanics and challenges while providing plenty of optional goals to keep you coming back.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Where it fits, chronologically

Cast your mind back, if you can, to 1988. Ryu Hayabusa, learning of his father’s death, journeys to a retro-future United States on a quest for bloody vengeance. Whilst he’s whipping katanas Stateside during the events of Ninja Gaiden I through III he’s left Hayabusa Village in the lurch; a mysterious portal opened the very night Ryu left, with demons pouring out into the world. With Ryu preoccupied, his disciple Kenji Mozu – Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound’s protagonist – steps up to protect the village from ransacking demonic threat. The unfolding events in Ragebound then, it seems, take place chronologically alongside Ryu’s exploits in 1988’s Ninja Gaiden.

There is a prologue

Getting players up to speed before beginning Ragebound’s story is a playable prologue whereby command of Ryu’s father is served, as is his death. Ninja Gaiden, as a series, trail-blazed between-level cutscenes; cinematography, like 1988’s original intro scene with Ryu Hayabusa’s father in spectacular duel, hadn’t been seen in video games to this degree before. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound allows players to experience these moments in-game, the events leading up to Hayabusa senior’s death and Hayabusa junior’s subsequent abscondment.

Extreme difficulty

A huge part of Ninja Gaiden’s legacy – in arcades, on the NES, it’s turn-of-the-century 3D departures – is its brutal difficulty. 8-bit and 16-bit sidescollers, especially, were punishing in their challenge, demanding surgically precise timing to slice through encounters. These skills, perhaps, might be lost on modern gamers but should your dexterity be up for it Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound ships with an extreme difficulty mode, unlockable once levels are completed.

Base difficulty not too challenging

Make no mistake, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound won’t be an easy game to complete but, in keeping with the title’s ethos, it combines the series’ infamous challenge with modernisation via snappy controls and tight level design. Ragebound’s fluid action is intuitive. As a result, any mistakes made will be due to player error, such is the game’s responsiveness. Once level layouts are memorised and timings are committed to muscle memory, even gamers with modest skills will be able to avoid feeling overly punished.

Gameplay and combat design

Progression in Ragebound is structured in traditional levels, the completion of which demands a combination of perfect platforming and precise combat. Upon finishing levels players are graded on the time it’s taken to complete, number of kills, and the ‘style’ in which they killed; using combos, powerups, that sort of thing.

The challenge of combat doesn’t take the form of ‘more hits equals higher difficulty’. No, more often than not enemies in Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound can be taken out with a single katana slice or kunai throw. Combat designed any other way would give the impression Kenji needs to spend time sharpening his blades. He’s a pupil of Ryu’s, sure, but his gear is up to the task. So, yes, whilst every enemy can be killed in single swipes, the difficulty curves upward via demand for surgical timing and sheer enemy number. Further challenge comes in the form of the enemy’s glowing auras which suggest – not dictate – which weapon they should be killed with. Blue auras denote katana kills, whilst purple auras indicate kunai ranged attacks. Again, enemies can be killed whichever way you like but match the weapon to the aura colour and a Hypercharge powerup attack becomes available. We’ll explain Hypercharge in detail via its own entry next.

Hypercharge

Remember Ragebound’s enemies we said can be killed in one hit? Well, that’s not entirely true of them all. Some of Kenji’s opposition present sterner tests, but he’s got a trick up his ninja sleeve – Hypercharge. He can, at a pinch, absorb some of his own health to reach Hypercharge state, but the most effective way is to slay enemies in tune with the colour of their aura. For a few seconds after that, Kenji can unleash a more devastating attack capable of knocking down tougher enemies. On screens with multiple enemy types, rapid-fire skill comes into play; a balletic puzzle of aura kills to larger enemies, slicing them all down in single strikes.

Two playable characters

Kenji isn’t the only character Ragebound players can take command of. Intertwining at some point during Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound’s story is Kumori, member of Hayabusa rivals the Black Spider Clan who despite being ideologically opposed shares Kenji’s fate. The pair work together; as a spector, Kumori has access to an underworld in which she can traverse in ways Kenji can’t. Lobbing teleporting kunai, for instance. Her inclusions are ostensibly time-based puzzling platforms, opening up new throughways for Kenji to progress. She does bequeath Kenji with some new toys too; a throwing sickle and screen clearing Ragebound Arts.

Guillotine Boost

This new mechanic ensures Ragebound’s gameplay fluidity, once its flow has been mastered that is. Guillotine Boost is, essentially, a mid-air bounce off anything that happens to be, well, in the air (or beneath Kenji as he’s about to land). Enemy heads, projectiles, certain enemy attacks, environmental apparatus and obstacles, Kenji can effectively use anything to keep himself airborne. Guillotine Boosts can be chained together to reach previously out of reach places or, as we’re seeing in Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound’s gameplay shared thus far, to maintain an aqueous rhythm to combat, using in tandem with aura kills and Hypercharge to breeze through levels without interruption.

Replaying levels is rewarding

Side-scrolling action which channels the spirit of its original trilogy, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound turns mostly-linear design into strength. Firstly, the act of replaying levels – memorising enemy patterns, growing knowledgeable on level design, chasing higher scores and quicker finish times – is in itself a reward for repeated level playthroughs. There are collectibles in wait too, however. Straying Kenji or Kumori slightly off path could present a platforming puzzle or cool collectible or, even, currency which can be collected and spent at Muramasa’s shop.

Platforms, release date, price

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is coming to past and current PlayStation and Xbox consoles, plus Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam on July 31st. Whilst digital pricing is not confirmed at the time of this feature’s creation, if we take the price of newly announced physical releases into consideration fans can expect to pay £34.99 / $39.99 for the base game. Those just-mentioned physical releases are coming to PS5 and Nintendo Switch, with a more expensive special edition available for pre-order. Priced at £59.99 / $69.99, the special edition comes with a cloth map, four metal pins, double-sided medal, poster, and collector’s box, and will be released on September 12th. Presently, a physical Xbox edition isn’t incoming, nor is a release on Nintendo Switch 2.

No plans for DLC

Currently, there are no DLC plans announced. It can’t be ruled out, however.

PC requirements

To run Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound on your PC, at a minimum you will need an Intel Core Duo E8300 or AMD Phenom II X2 550 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GT 220 or AMD Radeon HD 4550, both 1GB, GPU. Recommended specs, which the game’s Steam listing confirms as required to run the game at 60FPS 1080p include Intel Core Quad Q8300 or AMD Phenom II X3 710 processor, and NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 4GB or AMD Radeon R7 250 2GB GPU. Whether minimum or recommended, you’ll need at least 6GB RAM.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

In this age of $70 and $80 titles, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers from Leenzee offers a substantial action RPG experience for just $50. As Wuchang, you’ll venture through the remains of Shu in the late Ming Dynasty, desperately searching for a cure to the Feathering disease, players will battle humans and monstrous foes with 25 unique weapons and 40 spells. With a playtime of 40 to 60 hours, multiple endings, and the freedom to challenge bosses in any order, it could be the next breakout Souls-like when it launches on July 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

EA Sports College Football 26

The College Football franchise had its long-awaited resurgence last year, and despite some nitpicks, it was pretty good. Launching on July 10th for Xbox Series X/S and PS5, College Football 26 addresses those issues, upping the authenticity with light shows, drone shows, and more mascots while expanding on plays and formations, adding player Archetypes, and incorporating new mechanics like Block Steering.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4

Just when it seemed impossible, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is finally happening, providing a remake compilation of the third and fourth games in the series with gorgeous new visuals and features. Granted, it doesn’t carry over everything – Pro Skater 4’s Career Mode isn’t open-ended, instead comprising two-minute runs. However, you can increase the timer and even engage in unique objectives via Pro Goals. Even with these caveats, it should be another blast from the past when it launches on July 11th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream

One of the more impressive-looking titles emerging from the Summer of Gaming, River End Games’ Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream combines a 1900s Nordic-style city with an engrossing narrative and stealth mechanics involving multiple playable characters. Despite the small size of its team, the sheer attention to detail in the world and cutscenes is something to behold. Here’s hoping it delivers some substantial gameplay as well when it launches on July 15th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Mecha BREAK

With its progression issues mostly sorted and new maps and Strikers on the way, Mecha BREAK could be the de facto competitive mecha shooter when it launches on July 1st for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Between the unique abilities of each Striker, the stunning aesthetics, and the range of modes – from 5v5 objective-based play to the extraction shooter chaos of MashMak – there’s something for almost every mecha fan.

Donkey Kong Bananza

Donkey Kong and a younger Pauline team up on an epic new adventure that involves extensive environmental destruction, banana collecting, and thwarting the evil Void Company. Bananza’s platforming seemingly channels Bowser’s Fury with its mix of platforming and exploration, but Donkey Kong carves out his own niche – quite literally since he can wreck just about everything. Those chunks can then function as weapons, traversal tools, and much more. With optional challenge ruins, a variety of abilities and outfits, and Bananza Powers for even more mayhem, Donkey Kong Bananza should be everything we need in a Nintendo platformer when it launches on July 17th for the Switch 2.

Shadow Labyrinth

If you thought Bomberman as a gritty post-apocalyptic action title was concerning, say hello to Pac-Man, the all-powerful devouring entity in Bandai Namco’s Shadow Labyrinth. You primarily control Swordsman No. 8, venturing through an unknown planet’s mazes aided by Puck. Defeating threats allows for the latter to devour them, and you can even fuse for traversing obstacles or even transforming into a powerful mech for more damage. As unorthodox as it seems, Shadow Labyrinth may have some meat to its gameplay when it launches on July 18th for Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Killing Floor 3

After a sudden delay, Tripwire’s Killing Floor 3 is now launching July 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. The futuristic setting and premise, where players control the rebel group Nightfall, battling the Zeds manufactured by the megacorp, Horizine, with extensive amounts of gore, is still present. However, it enhanced the overall look and feel of its maps, making them grittier and darker in the process while improving the HUD, enemy Zed AI and performance. So far, so good, and if it delivers on its predecessor’s high-octane action, it may be another incredible time.

Super Mario Party Jamboree: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV

Nintendo’s latest “Hear me out” proposition for the Switch 2 is an enhanced version of the Switch 1’s Super Mario Party Jamboree. It’s out on July 24th for $79.99 and offers improved visuals and performance, new mini-games, Frenzy Rules for faster games and support for the Joy-Con 2’s mouse controls. There’s also Jamboree TV, which requires the Switch 2’s camera, as a new means to experience the game. Whether it’s worth the full price is subjective but if you own the current game and don’t mind spending $20 for the Upgrade Pack, it may be worth checking out.

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game

With so many titles in The Lord of the Rings series involving war scenarios and brutal combat, it’s nice to play a life sim that embraces the simpler things. Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings Game purports to fulfil that fantasy, as you control a Hobbit in the Shire, mingling with others, tending to your garden, cooking meals and hosting parties. It’s available on July 29th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

A throwback to the classic Ninja Gaiden side-scrollers, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound proved incredibly impressive in its recent demo. Alternating between Kenji Mozu and the Black Spider Clan’s Kumori, players engage in a punishing action platforming adventure, continuously chaining powerful strikes to take out enemies. Swift, savage and sleek, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound launches on July 31st for Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business

If Teyon’s base game resonated with you in an old-school first-person shooter sense, then good news as Unfinished Business offers more of the same. As a standalone expansion, it features new abilities and weapons alongside a new range of mercenary enemies and challenges as Murphy ascends the OmniTower. Even more notable are the flashbacks to his pre-RoboCop life, which brings some very human vulnerabilities to the mix. RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business launches on July 17th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Ready or Not

With the SWAT franchise well and truly buried, Ready or Not could serve as a worthy substitute for those who want methodical, tactical shooting. Between managing the status of your units to enforcing real-world tactics, it promises realistic combat scenarios where planning and execution are paramount. Of course, you can also engage in five-player co-op and watch the chaos unfold. Ready or Not is already available on PC and will be launching on July 15th for Xbox Series X/S and PS5.

Total Chaos

A new psychological horror title with an excessively dark color palette wouldn’t ordinarily attract much attention, but Total Chaos is from the creator of the stellar Turbo Overkill. Venturing through an unforgiving world, scavenging materials to make weapons, and battling monstrosities looks intriguing – like a first-person version of Darkwood. PC players can experience it on July 24th, but there’s a free demo available to try now.

Ratatan

If the arrival of Patapon 1 + 2 Replay wasn’t enough, rhythm game fans can look forward to its spiritual successor on July 24th for PC via Steam Early Access. The recent free demo certainly showcased room for improvement, but the appeal of rogue-like rhythm combat with co-op support and more than 100 characters, combined with the stellar soundtrack and gorgeous visuals, looks too good to resist.

Ragebound is developed by The Game Kitchen (known for the Blasphemous series) and stars a new Hayabusa Village ninja, Kenji. After demons invade following Ryu’s absence, the newcomer must meet them head-on. Such is the threat that he works with Kumori of the antagonistic Black Spider Clan, who serves as a second playable character.

Besides the 8-bit visuals, it’s confirmed that Keiji Yamagishi, Kaori Nakabai and Ryuichi Niita, who composed the original NES trilogy, have contributed to the soundtrack. A free demo will also be available on June 9th for PC as part of Steam Next Fest for fans to go hands-on.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

A new gameplay trailer is now available, revealing a second playable protagonist in Kumori. Interestingly enough, she’s a member of the villainous Black Spider Clan, who served as enemies in Ninja Gaiden 2 and Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. Just as capable with modern weapons and equipment as she is with more traditional ninjutsu methods, Kumori will share the spotlight with co-protagonist Kenji.

Check out the trailer below. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is due out sometime this summer for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. 

Celebrating the anniversary that took place over the weekend, he talks about how March 2, 2004, saw the release of the original Ninja Gaiden on Xbox.

“2025 marks the ‘Year of the NINJA,’ and to kick things off, we released the graphical remaster Ninja Gaiden 2 Black in January,” said Yasuda. “Coming later this year is Ninja Gaiden 4, a new mainline entry and collaborative effort with Xbox Game Studios and PlatinumGames. We will also bring you Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound courtesy of Dotemu and The Game Kitchen. Please stay tuned for new information regarding each of these exciting new titles.”

“We cherish the distinct qualities of this series and the feeling of performing high-speed ninja abilities to defeat mercilessly oppressive enemies. The games we deliver will stay true to these qualities and provide a thrilling experience for devoted fans and new players interested in cutting their teeth on the franchise’s signature ninja action.”

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black was stealth dropped alongside its announcement back in January. Available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, the game is a remastered version of the seminal Ninja Gaiden 2, developed on Unreal Engine 5. Yasuda revealed during the announcement that Ninja Gaiden 2 Black “is crafted to satisfy both those who played the original and newcomers discovering it as a current-generation action game.”

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black allows players to take on the role of series protagonist Ryu Hayabusa, as well as other characters like Ayane, Momiji and Rachel, as they take on the main story. It also includes features we last saw in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. Check out our review for more details.

Alongside the remaster, Team Ninja had also unveiled Ninja Gaiden 4. Slated for release in Fall 2025 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, it’s developed by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames. Its story will feature a new protagonist, the Raven Clan’s Yakumo, who must deal with the chaos left by the husk of the Dark Dragon. Ryu Hayabusa is also playable, and Team Ninja has said he will play a “pivotal” role in the game.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer had revealed back in January that talks with Team Ninja for the development of Ninja Gaiden 4 had started “six or seven years ago.”

The third title in the franchise coming out this year on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch is Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. Developed by the studio behind metroidvania title Blasphemous, it’s a sidescroller that puts players in the shoes of Ryu Hayabusa and newcomer Keiji Mozu to take on demons in America.

Happy 21st anniversary!#NINJAGAIDEN pic.twitter.com/6tX2agjs7s

— Team NINJA (@TeamNINJAStudio) March 2, 2025