The Tuesday 10s - Most Anticipated Games of 2026 So Far

It's been a bit since we've last been paid a visit by The Tuesday 10s, and it's no better time than near the start of the year to roll out the red carpet for them! The Tuesday 10s are non-ordered, featured lists of ten entries. This week, we're going to look at the ten games that I'm most anticipating for 2026 so far! I have only two real rules when it comes to this list: 1) The games on this list must have a firm 2026 release date, as opposed to a vague release period (like Summer 2026, for example), 2) I have to actually have some semblance of hype for them, of course! With that, let's get to the list of ten games hyped to varying degrees by yours truly!

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales (Multi)

June 18th, 2026 will see the start of Elliot's adventures in none other than The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, a new action-RPG in the vein of Ys, but with the much beloved HD-2D style. Team Asano is always one to watch, with games like Bravely Default, Octopath Traveler, and Triangle Strategy under their belt. While it's a game that's out of the team's usual wheelhouse and fare (not being turn-based, for one thing), I have the utmost faith that this game will have the juice. Plus, it also has a name that isn't pure gibberish either, so that's already a win!

Demon Tides (PC)

Fresh off the running and jumping heels of Demon Turf comes another third-person 3D platformer set in an open world. This time the high seas are calling, and our heroine is ready to answer said call through a collect-a-thon style platformer with a large repertoire of moves in her arsenal. If you played the previous game in the series, then you know developer Fabraz knows its stuff when it comes to fun-feeling movement and highly capable, challenging level design. These aspects seem to continue into Demon Tides. With this game and also Bubsy 4D (the latter releasing in May) hitting the first half of 2026, Fabraz certainly has been going above and beyond this year. Demon Tides is but a couple days away from launch, setting sail on February 19th.

Forza Horizon 6 (XBS, PS5, PC)

Forza Horizon 6's predecessor blew me away. It was my introduction to the Forza franchise, chiefly the Horizon sub-series, and I named it my favorite game of 2023. Now, three years later, Forza Horizon 6 moves from Mexico across the Pacific to Japan with the largest map in series history. Players will be able to unlock better vehicles through the return of the wristband system, dating back to the original Forza Horizon. Through completing races and events, players can work their way to better wristbands, ever inching their way to exclusive in-game content, such as Legend Island, where exclusive races and goodies await gold wristband-wearers. Forza Horizon 6 will take players for a ride through Japan starting on May 19th, 2026 on Xbox Series platforms and PC, with a PlayStation 5 release happening at a later date. 

Grand Theft Auto VI (PS5, XBS)

From one major open-world game to one that's for certain even more major, Grand Theft Auto VI is shaping up to a monumental release. Says a lot about the state of the game industry when so many analysts are propping up Rockstar's latest as somewhat of a savior for the market. Set in the fictional Florida-like Leonida, GTA VI will see players take on the roles of Jason and Lucia, a pair of lovebirds and potential jailbirds, too, circumnavigating a conspiracy while trying to survive in the process. Barring any more delays, November 19th is set to the be the release date for Grand Theft Auto VI, a full 13 years after its predecessor's launch. Here's to hoping the wait will be worth it!

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (Multi)

Being touted as a love letter to Batman's legendary lore and mythos, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is shaping up to be LEGO meets Rocksteady's Arkham series of games. This May 29th release is planned to feature seven playable characters, each with their own unique abilities, as opposed to the hundreds of characters usually seen in LEGO titles. The difference here is that each character will play differently as opposed to most playing the same. Gotham City is an open world, ready for our heroes to explore, fight crime, solve puzzles, and discover various collectibles within. Behind Spider-Man, Batman is my favorite superhero and has my second favorite Rogue's Gallery as well. Seeing how this LEGO Batman entry seeks to call back on Batman in various elements from Batman--the comics, the movies, the TV shows, etc.--I'm already ready to believe that this will be that love letter to the Dark Knight that DC Comics claims.

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls (PS5, PC)

A match made in fighting game heaven, we have Arc System Works working on a Marvel fighter with Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. While I'm not the hugest fan of the genre--it depends on the property and source material--this one looks sensational. A 4 vs. 4 fighting game, featuring a currently robust lineup of Marvel all-stars--some being less traditional picks like Danger and Magik on the Unbreakable X-Men lineup of characters--Marvel Tokon looks to deliver insane combo opportunities, plenty of intense battles online and off, and loads of modes to keep players fighting when it takes to battle on August 6th, 2026. 

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection (Multi)

I've played every Mega Man subseries except for one. Come March 27th, 2026, I'm hopeful to finally finish off the subseries I've yet to explore. Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection brings another compendium of Mega Man titles to market with the series that made its debut and home on the Nintendo DS. Despite only having three numbered entries in total , Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection features seven specific games in the collection, as the titles followed Pokémon and later Mega Man Battle Network's lead by having multiple versions. The first game has three versions, and the sequels have two apiece. The games are similar to Mega Man Battle Network, though offer a behind-the-back perspective and 3D models instead of the 2D side view that the former had. With options to orient the dual-screens to one's liking, various filters, and other features, this collection is shaping up to shoot for the stars.

Pokémon Pokopia (NS2)

Utilizing the same team behind the incredibly awesome Dragon Quest Builders 2 (among other stellar titles), Koei Tecmo's Omega Force unites with Game Freak for this charmingly cozy life sim taking place in the world of Pokémon. Play as a Ditto masquerading as a human (and all the potential uncanny creepiness that comes from this) to craft, build, and learn new abilities from befriended Pokémon to better make your world your own. As your habitat expands and grows in size and stature, new Pokémon will come calling, opening up more opportunities for new friends and features. Promising to not limit the player in what they can do each day, despite a real-time day and night cycle featured in the game, Pokémon Pokopia players should have the option to play at their own comfortable pace when the game launches exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 on March 5th, 2026.

Resident Evil: Requiem (Multi)

Let's take a brief breather from cute and cozy and transition to morbid and macabre, hm? No idea how that kind of segue is supposed to work, but here we are, regardless. The ninth numbered installment in the long-running Resident Evil series, Resident Evil: Requiem features a dual-protagonist system that sees players switching between both characters at specific points throughout the game. We have Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy, the latter returning from RE 2 and 4. While Leon's side of the campaign is more action-focused, as expected, Grace's side focuses more on limited supplies, encounters that demand carefulness and caution, and a heavier survival-horror approach. Two sides of the same enticing coin, Resident Evil: Requiem hopes to get the balance of survival-horror and action just right when it releases on February 27th, 2026. 

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (NSW)

No less than fifteen years after the surprise hit launched on the Nintendo 3DS, its sequel, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is set to arrive on the Nintendo Switch with custom Mii characters interacting with each other in weird, wacky, and wild ways in this social sim. Rather than leaving relationships to happen with the help or hindrance of Lady Luck, the Switch entry allows more direct guidance between the player and their Miis' relationships and interactions. The entire island that players' Miis live on can be fully customized, as can the Miis themselves--purchasing clothes and accessories via in-game currency to bring out their inner fashionistas. A big win here as well is that Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream features same-sex relationships and also non-binary gender types, something many decried as lacking in the 2013 release. Live the dream and tomo your dachi (what?) when Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream launches on the Nintendo Switch on April 16th, 2026.

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Which 2026 releases are you most looking for? Hit me up in the comments below with games that you're eagerly anticipating that are due to hit this year, whether they have firm release dates or not! 

The Tuesday 10s: My Most Anticipated Games for the Rest of 2025

There are but three more full months in 2025 to be had, and despite this relatively short time span, there is a massive amount of great games launching from now until 2026. That makes sense, as it's the most wonderful time of the year--the busiest release season in gaming, after all! 

Today, the Tuesday 10s return with a glimpse at the ten titles that I am most anticipated and hyped about for the rest of 2025. From a plethora of platformers to new remakes of old loves, as well as some speedy racers, this list contains a wide variety of gaming goodness to see off the year that was 2025. The following list is in alphabetical order of game names.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles (Multi)

 

One of the seminal games of my youth, Final Fantasy Tactics remains one of my most treasured tactical game experiences. Between its myriad memorable battles, sensational soundtrack (one of my favorites within gaming), and narrative that I've only grown to appreciate more as an adult than I did in my younger years, Final Fantasy Tactics is an epic in every sense of the word.

This remaster, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, heads to basically every current platform with an updated graphical style as well as the old style for purists or simply folks who prefer the original look. Voice acting throughout is included, too, and it sounds glorious, in all honesty. The Ivalice Chronicles from the looks of it appears to be what you get when you improve upon near-perfection. Fans knowledgeable of a certain Wiegraf series of battles probably know what I mean by "near-perfection"!

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (NS2) 

To be perfectly honest, I could not care less about the Imprisoning War or learning more lore behind The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. That just doesn't interest me in the slightest, nor does following along with the whims of Nintendo with the lore of The Legend of Zelda series. Where in the timeline does THIS take place? I do not care in the slightest.

I DO, however, care about the Hyrule Warriors series, and while I'm a bit remiss that we're not getting more in the way of the original Hyrule Warriors, instead adhering again to the Breath of the Wild / Tears of the Kingdom cast and story rather than the entire franchise, I'm eager to participate in epic, grand-scale battles across Hyrule. There's something to Musou-style games that tickle the pleasure part of my gaymer brain, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment looks to do that yet again with one of my favorite franchises in gaming. Can't complain about that!

Kirby Air Riders (NS2)

The madman Masahiro Sakurai and his team at Sora are back it again. Right from the word "go" and from the information revealed in the first Nintendo Direct dedicated to the game, we know Kirby Air Riders is a racer that is absolutely going to be stuffed with content. Heck, if I didn't gather that from the first Nintendo Direct, the announcement of a second Direct dedicated to the game would have hit that point home big time. Essentially taking the GameCube cult classic and packing it with more, more, more in the way of modes, characters, and features (including a second button to be used during gameplay--you're getting crazy, Mr. Sakurai!!), Kirby Air Riders is destined to provide plenty to love for fans of the original, as well as newcomers experiencing this Kirby racing spin-off series for the first time through this sequel.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (NS2, NSW)

Metroid Prime and Metroid fans in general have really been put the ringer with waiting for the fourth installment of Metroid Prime. Fortunately, the long worldwide nightmare is almost over. ...Maybe. Unless after all this time the game doesn't live up to the impossible expectations thrust upon it. Now, wouldn't that suck!

But, I'm forever an optimist, and I do have faith in Nintendo and Retro Studios to deliver. For almost two decades we've been teased by the return of Sylux, and now his main villain arc is presumably here with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Throw in eye-watering visuals, especially on the Switch 2 version (with graphics and performance options available), optional JoyCon 2 mouse controls, and Samus on a bike (!!), and you have an entry that I truly hope turns out wonderfully. And not just for me, of course, but the entire Metroid fandom. Another win for all of us is deserved!

Mina the Hollower (Multi) 

From the team behind Shovel Knight comes a new game after all this time--Mina the Hollower. Featuring gorgeous pixel art modeled after the Game Boy Color (though using tricks beyond its full capabilities), a massive world to traverse and explore, combat with creatures of all shapes and sizes with Mina's magical whip, multiple Trinkets that can change up a given player's play style in a snap (or maybe a crack of the whip), and you have a game that promises to delight. I can think of no better treat to trick out on when it releases this Halloween than Mina the Hollower.

Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac (Multi)

I very much enjoyed Pac-Man World Re-Pac, a remake of the PlayStation 1's Pac-Man World. The hope with that remake was that Bandai Namco would eventually get around to remaking the more cult-favorite of the bunch: Pac-Man World 2. The Nintendo Partner Direct from this past July revealed this hope would prosper into a dream come true for fans with Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac. Featuring a more 3D world rather than the side-scrolling 3D style of the original Pac-Man World, this remade sequel boasts new improvements to bosses, to accessibility with the new Fairy Mode, and even a light co-op mode with one player taking on the role of Pac-Man while the other controls a drone. I never did finish Pac-Man World 2, but with these upgrades and improvements, I'm looking forward to trying when the remake releases this Friday.

Pokemon Legends Z-A (NS2, NSW)

As a big fan of the previous Pokemon Legends game, Pokemon Legends: Arceus, I'm certainly looking forward to exploring Lumiose City, a veritable Pokemon playground to explore and do battle in. Plus, it won't hurt that with the Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game that Game Freak's latest will hopefully run at minimum competently on the hardware, unlike certain recent efforts from the dev. Sorry, not sorry. Regardless, I'm more than ready to once again hop into real-time action battles, where positioning and timing are key factors in the difference between victory and defeat. Throw in the multiplayer Battle Club mode, where battles against wild Pokemon or other players occur, and you have one pretty promising Pokemon package with Legends Z-A.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Multi) 

 
Firstly, let me just mention that I do not care about any forced, cringe, manufactured rivalry between this next game and Mario Kart World. I'd rather be happy for multiple great kart racers in a single year than engage in some juvenile made-up war to pit two awesome games against each other, so please miss me with that console war-like nonsense.

Now with that out of the way, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds sports a colorful cast of characters to customize their rides and speed into one of over 21 unique tracks plus the dozen or so eponymous "CrossWorlds" which take the action on the second lap to a completely new and different locale, albeit briefly. This makes races all the more dynamic and interesting. With crossplay across every platform, this Sonic racing iteration certainly shouldn't see its online population dying in weeks like Team Sonic Racing's did. In fact, I'm positive that with SEGA's determined support of this game, that we'll see a long-lasting racer here, which I'm all for.

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (NSW)

Let's start off by mentioning how much Nintendo sometimes has me by the throat. It's sad, really. All the company had to do for me to bite down was put together two of my favorite 3D platformer into one slightly updated package on the Nintendo Switch for Mario's 40th anniversary. Seventy dollars USD, you say? I shamefully submit and will pay that for this, Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2. Yes, I am part of the problem, I admit, and for that I profusely apologize. But, BOTH Super Mario Galaxy games--two of the finest, most masterful platformers ever conceived? I have no regrets!

Yooka-Replaylee (Multi) 

2017's Yooka-Laylee was Playtonic's answer to Banjo-Kazooie. Heck, it was a spiritual successor, after all, with various staff who had worked on Rare's platforming classic having had also worked on Yooka-Laylee. That said, the final product wasn't everything that it could have been. I guess even Playtonic knew this, hence a remake of the game less than a decade after. 

Enter Yooka-Replaylee. It's not just the same base game with prettier, more modern graphics and visual effects. No, instead, the team at Playtonic added much more in the way of content--new Pagies (the Jiggies of the Yooka-Laylee series), new challenges, and new mechanics, too! That's on top of remedying and fixing many of the issues and problems that the original Yooka-Laylee suffered from. Even as someone who enjoyed the 2017 original, I'm super excited to be able to return to the world of Yooka-Laylee in this fully remade and newly realized title. 

The Tuesday 10s - The Titles That Shaped My Gaming Tastes

The Tuesday 10s return with a very special unordered (other than by A-Z) list, and I don't mean a Full House-style "very special episode" type of list either. No, instead, it's something near and dear to me, something I used to look back on my gaming history and do my best to properly analyze and identify those games that influenced and shaped who I am. These ten titles made me the type of gaymer I am, molded my tastes, and in part, made me who I am today, if we want to get utterly philosophical about this.

After you've checked out and hopefully read my ten picks, I'd be eager to read what some of your games that shaped your tastes (no need to post ten), if you'd be so kind to do so in the comments section below.

Banjo-Kazooie (N64)

Let's start off with a 3D platformer that takes claim as my favorite 3D platformer ever made. It's Banjo-Kazooie, featuring a robust repertoire of moves to learn, delightful and expansive worlds to explore, copious amounts of colorful characters to meet and engage with, and a plethora of secrets hidden inside Gruntilda's Castle and the worlds within. While Super Mario 64 innovated and revolutionized the gaming world, it's the iterative Banjo-Kazooie that has since stuck with me. It took the remarkable foundation that Mario 64 laid down and went to town on it. It presented me with my love for collectathon platformers in three dimensions (especially when they don't overwhelm the player--sorry, Donkey Kong 64) and continues to bring me joy. 

Breath of Fire (SNES)

One of the first role-playing games I ever played was a wondrous introduction to the genre for me: Breath of Fire. It was an albeit rather basic RPG, but a perfect intro to what the genre was all about. You had your turn-based battles, a sprawling world to explore, an engaging enough story, and one of the more important aspects of games that I've grown to greatly appreciate: a sensational soundtrack. Really, Breath of Fire was the beginning of my love for RPGs, and also one of the first games to make me shed tears due to a certain combo of story and music, showing that I could connect with games on an emotional level. Truly something special to me.

Final Fantasy II (SNES)

We move from one Squaresoft-published game to another with Final Fantasy II, at least that's how it was numbered back then. I'll spare you the well-known details on the numbered entries in the franchise. Regardless, Final Fantasy II started my love for the Final Fantasy series, opening me up to various aspects and constants in the series that I would discover myself appreciating to this day--whether that's familiar summons, items, monsters, places, characters like Cid, etc. And although the mainline games are not the ones I stick with, rather it's the spin-offs that I adore--and that's been a thing for as long as I can remember--Final Fantasy II was essentially the gateway game into the Square's role-playing world.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)

Honestly, so many early games within The Legend of Zelda series could take a place on this list, but no doubt the one that bestowed its most influential impact on me was The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I recall and remember fondly thumbing through each issue of Nintendo Power leading up to the game's release--heck, back when the game was simply titled Zelda 64 and Link still had his traditional green tunic with brown undershirt as opposed to the white undershirt he'd don in-game. I'd obsessively soak in every detail from every screenshot, every preview prose written in the magazines. 

Ocarina of Time was the first instance I can remember of a game living up to my seemingly impossible hype. It opened me up to the concept of a living, breathing world; thinking in a three-dimensional space to solve puzzles; thinking outside of the box for said puzzles; and falling in love with the mysteries and urban legends within Hyrule. Ocarina of Time persists in my mind to this day, living rent-free, as it's my favorite game ever made. Sure, I prefer the 3DS remake nowadays, but that doesn't take anything away from this highly important and influential Nintendo 64 gem.

Mario Kart 64 (N64)

While I played a fair amount of Super Mario Kart and F-Zero on the Super Nintendo, it wouldn't be until Mario Kart 64 where my love for arcade racing games--particularly the cartoon-y, wild and wacky style--would take shape and plant its foot in my heart, much like one would plant their foot on the pedal. Mario Kart 64 nowadays is my least favorite in the Mario Kart franchise due to lack of content, slippery steering, and such (though--to be fair--it's still enjoyed by me), but at the time I was absolutely addicted to the game. Between aiming for first place in each race of every cup on every difficulty, to meticulously exploring each track, even going backwards down tracks to see what sights I could discover (which no doubt annoyed Lakitu according to his constant holding up his "Reverse" sign), Mario Kart 64 was such an eye-opener for me. It definitely planted the seed of racing game love that would take root, grow, and prosper to this day.

Mega Man X (SNES)

There are plenty of platformers that shaped my love for the genre--my favorite gaming genre, might I add, at that--and Mega Man X is the one that brought forth my desire for lots of action while doing all the running and jumping the genre is primarily known for. It also gave me my adoration and appreciation for Capcom's Blue Bomber. Mega Man X was introduced to me by Nintendo Power. It was the first issue my older brother and I ever received via subscription, and it was an impressive silver cover commemorating the magazine's 50th issue. I was amazed by the Robot Maverick designs, how cool everything seemed, and just how much I wanted to freaking play this awesome-looking game! Needless to say, I soon was able to, and thus, my love and respect for Mega Man began, as did the continuation of my passion for platformers.

Resident Evil 4 (GC)

The most recent game that shaped my gaming tastes is one that I didn't think I would have bothered with. Perhaps I wouldn't have if I hadn't been quite a bit of an overzealous Nintendo fan back in the GameCube era. Fortunately, that zeal lessened in a toxicity sense to more of an enjoyable fandom. Regardless, Resident Evil 4 was once a GameCube exclusive--or at least planned that way. Without both its exclusivity and the copious amount of coverage in Nintendo Power, I no doubt would have been delayed to my Resident Evil fandom. I would have also missed out on one of my favorite games of all time. Really, Resident Evil 4 was an entry point to Resident Evil, horror games, and heck, even cosplay as I would go on to dress up as the debonair protagonist Leon S. Kennedy on streams and such. As such, in a bizarre way, perhaps I can thank my Nintendo fanboyism at the time for introducing me to one of my favorite games ever made.

RPG Maker (PS1)

This next game, or rather software for the purpose of creating your own RPGs, RPG Maker was one that turned me on to the idea of making games and doing so for fun. It taught me the basics of scripting and if/when statements, but in a visual form that was easy enough for even my simple mind to pick up on. I learned that I really love making and designing game worlds, building stories in games, and concocting all of the bits and pieces that make up the genre that so many love. Of course, the PlayStation 1 entry was as basic as all get out, not offering much, especially compared to what we see on PC nowadays, but it was a nice and pleasant start for my hobbyist game-creating career. It also taught me the utter importance of not utilizing third-party memory cards, lest you find 50 hours of work corrupted. Yeah... A lesson learned the hard way, unfortunately, with lots of tears from middle school-aged me.

Star Ocean: The Second Story (PS1)

If Breath of Fire and Final Fantasy II opened my eyes to the world of role-playing games, titles on the PlayStation like Wild ARMs and Star Ocean: The Second Story cemented my love and passion for the genre. The latter especially brought forth to my attention the idea of dual protagonists and real-time action combat. It also introduced me to composer Motoi Sakuraba whose Star Ocean: The Second Story soundtrack remains one of my favorite game soundtracks of all time. Essentially, the concepts that I was taught from Breath of Fire, Final Fantasy, and Star Ocean would go on to influence how I design my own RPG that I'm currently in the process of developing. So, if the game finally launches (who knows when that will happen, as RPGs are quite the time investment) and players end up disliking it, we now have some martyrs to blame.

Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)

It wouldn't be a list of games that shaped this gaming superhero as a gamer without mentioning one of the very first titles I ever remember playing. That was Super Mario Bros. 2 (the Western release and not what's known as The Lost Levels here). Perhaps Super Mario Bros. 2 was an early example in my life that taught me that I could persevere and overcome challenges with enough persistence and patience. I recall struggling with the game considerably--understandably so considering my age and it being my first game--but slowly making progress with each attempt. 

Eventually I hit a roadblock with the ice world and dealing with a combination of slippery platforming and those white enemies that would skate across the ice. For months I battled that level, always taking too much damage or falling into the abyss below, but eventually I did it--I made it to a new screen--one with whales. I cherished that moment. Making it to that new screen was my white whale as a kid, funnily enough, and making it was one of my proudest moments growing up. I would eventually clear the game, but nothing compared to pushing through and smashing through that earlier roadblock.

Not only did Super Mario Bros. 2 show me through sheer will and determination that I could overcome that kind of challenge and be proud of myself for it, but of course, it also introduced me to a little known plumber named Mario. I wonder whatever happened to that guy...

The Tuesday 10s - My Most Anticipated Games for the Rest of 2024

The Tuesday 10s return this week on SuperPhillip Central. For those uninitiated, The Tuesday 10s--when they happen, at least--occur on Tuesdays and are basically unordered top ten lists. They can be about games themselves, or even game concepts like levels and characters, for instance.

Today, and with this morning's Nintendo Direct behind us, I feel we have a good idea on what to expect for the rest of 2024. That's not considering any surprises or future announcements in the second half of the year, of course. That said, these ten games are the ones that I'm most excited to play for the remaining months of 2024!

After you've peeked at my picks (and hopefully read the rationale behind each of them, too), please feel free to comment below on which games you're most hyped for to round out the year!

Astro Bot (PS5)

What salvaged an otherwise ho-hum (for me, at least) State of Play late last month was the conclusion of the presentation, featuring a trailer starring a lovely little robot that could named Astro Bot. The game of the same name is a major outing for the character, originally seen in different forms in The Playroom VR demo, then the PlayStation VR exclusive Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, which this new PS5 adventure seems to riff off of a teeny bit here and there. 

The PS5 pack-in game Astro's Playroom heralded in a glorious showcase of the DualSense controller, and in general was just a fantastic game to introduce players to their new PlayStation 5 systems. No doubt from the announcement trailer that developer Team Asobi has thrown myriad ideas at the wall, and in my eye, all of them seem to be sticking wonderfully. Here's hoping this ode to PlayStation's history and moreover massively captivating and charming-looking 3D platforming sticks the landing as well when it arrives on PS5 on September 6th.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero (PS5, XBX, PC)

I can't think of a better tribute in game form to the late, great Akira Toriyama than seeing his Dragon Ball creations and characters comes to life in one of the ultimate 3D fighting game packages. That seems to be what we're going to get with Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, pitting a multitude of characters from Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Super against one another as a roster that calls back to Budokai Tenkaichi 3's. If you're unaware, that game featured a massive amount of characters to play as, and Sparking! Zero seems to bring with it even more high octane action, eye-melting visuals (in the GOOD way), and multiple story campaigns starring different characters, with Goku's containing the most battles, as expected. Couple this with the ability to create and share your own custom story missions, cutscenes, and battles, and you have one seriously super Dragon Ball game for fans!

Dragon Quest III: HD-2D Remake (NSW, PS5, XBX, PC)

Speaking of Akira Toriyama's works, let's rock a different kind of dragon with the illustrious Dragon Quest series, which Toriyama's art lives on through. During this morning's Nintendo Direct, Nintendo not only revealed more footage from this gorgeous HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest III and--finally--a release date (November 14th, 2024), but also the announcement of the other games in the Erdrick trilogy being remade as well with Dragon Quest I and II in store for next year. It's been almost three years since Dragon Quest III's HD-2D remake was originally announced, and seeing it with a firm release date almost feels like a fever dream, like managing to slay four Metal Slimes in the same battle without any of them fleeing. Like such a battle, the experience of playing--or for some, RE-playing Dragon Quest III will be an absolutely rewarding one. I'm certainly looking forward to it.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time (NSW)

There is no shortage of fascinating RPGs arriving on consoles and PC this year. While this next game had no presence during today's Nintendo Direct, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time still is planned to release on October 10th. I absolutely adored the original Fantasy Life on the Nintendo 3DS. Its job-based gameplay where players worked to increase their skills, opted to tackle monsters and other foes in the game's fields and dungeons via action-RPG goodness, and found a nice life for themselves, made for an incredibly addicting game. With new town elements and online play in this new sequel, I'm quite eager to get my hands on Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, and have this be the game which steals all of my time when it launches as a current Nintendo Switch exclusive.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (XBX, PC)

With a less-than-stellar aura surrounding the Xbox brand in recent months--the most important being the closing of some incredible studios and letting go of some tremendous talent--and a seemingly aimless direction for the brand in general, it was important for Microsoft's Xbox to pull off at the very least a competent showing two weeks ago. I'd say, fortunately, the showcase was a success. The reveals were exciting and top-notch, but the game that will most likely release by year's end that most excited me from Xbox's show features one of my favorite fictional characters in film: Indiana Jones. 

Using Harrison Ford's likeness and Troy Baker's serviceable impression of Indy, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a first-person action/adventure game that sees our artifact-finding, temple-exploring, globe-trotting adventurer doing all those things complete with the look and feel of actually playing a film in the series. The humor is so on-point, and one of the best features--at least presentation-wise--that I've seen so far. While there's no firm release date and just a vague 2024, here's hoping Machine Games can deliver a game worthy of the Indiana Jones name--unlike perhaps for some, the last two films in the franchise...

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (NSW)

One of the empty spaces in the Nintendo Switch catalog, at least for me, was that of a wholly new top-down 2D Zelda adventure. Little did I know that with today's Nintendo Direct that not only would we get a wholly new top-down game in the franchise, but it'd literally be a ZELDA adventure! For the first time (no, I don't count the Phillips CD-I games, sorry), Zelda is the primary protagonist in a game for the series her name is attached to. 

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom could have easily been Zelda with bow instead of a sword, and that might have made folks appeased. However, Nintendo, in traditional Nintendo fashion, went above and beyond. Zelda gains a rod that she can use to capture objects like tables, beds, boulders, and even foes to ensnare to do her bidding in what is shaping up to be a truly clever and creative adventure. From the trailer shown, we saw that Zelda can conjure blocks of water to reach higher, other inaccessible areas; she can build stepping stones with beds; and even launch boulders at baddies to truly rock on. We won't have to wait long for Zelda's first foray into adventure when The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom releases on Nintendo Switch on September 26th, 2024.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership (NSW)

Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door have seen recent releases. Now, the trifecta of Mario RPGs is complete on the Nintendo Switch with the announcement of a brand-new Mario & Luigi game! Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an isle-hopping (or is it "isle-launching"?) adventure starring the Brothers Mario with a whole cavalcade of new characters to meet, enemies to defeat, and places to visit and explore. Bros. Attacks return, as does the ability to use Mario and Luigi's unique teamwork abilities to solve puzzles in the overworld areas of the game. It's such a sight for sore eyes to see the return of Mario & Luigi, and such a delightful looking entry as well, both visually and gameplay-wise. We won't have to wait too terribly long for Mario and Green Mario to once again team up together as Mario & Luigi: Brothership sails onto the Switch on November 7th, 2024.

Sonic X Shadow Generations (NSW, PS5, XBX, PC)

While Mario will have lots of fun this year (with more to come on this list), Sonic isn't resting on his laurels. And I must admit, I did NOT expect this much effort to be put into a remaster of Sonic Generations, a game that was already a phenomenal one to begin with. This being the year of Shadow and all, SEGA and Sonic Team have opted to insert Shadow into game into his own adventure, essentially splitting the game into two parts, collectively titled Sonic X Shadow Generations. 

The incredibly well done Sonic Generations half is included, of course--this time adding the Sonic Mania's Drop Dash into the spin of things--while Shadow Generations not only gives the fourth-damn-Chaos-Emerald-seeking hedgehog a suite of remixed stages from his now-storied history in the Sonic franchise and several boss encounters (these first two things currently have an indeterminable amount, but they're immensely polished all the same), but also a Sonic Frontiers-style hub world that connects all of the content together. I'm eager to explore both pieces of this hedgehog game package when Sonic X Shadow Generations boosts onto all current platforms on October 22nd, 2024.

Super Mario Party Jamboree (NSW)

It's been a little bit since Mario last held any kind of new party with his pals (and enemies alike) on the Nintendo Switch. Well, the wait for a new party is over! Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom crew's latest soiree, Super Mario Party Jamboree, is billed as Nintendo as their biggest one yet. With a respectable seven boards (five all-new and two returning from Mario Party 1 and 2 respectively), over 100 mini-games, over 20 playable characters, multiple planned modes, and the ability to play online against up to 20 opponents in Battle Royale-style Mario Party madness, Super Mario Party Jamboree is shaping up to a bash you won't want to miss. RSVP if you'd like to be prepared to par-tay when Super Mario Party Jamboree launches on Nintendo Switch on October 17th, 2024.

Visions of Mana (PS5, XBX, PC)

Harkening back to the age of old-school RPGs while giving off a gorgeous and modern visual presentation package, Visions of Mana is, of course, the latest entry in the long-running Mana franchise. Chosen by the Faerie to revitalize the Mana Tree, a great expedition and grand journey awaits our colorful cast of heroes. The idea of facing off against foes both small and large (especially those Eidolons) sounds incredibly enticing and exciting to me. I absolutely loved the Trials of Mana remake four years ago, so to say that I'm eager to engage with more of the Mana series would be an understatement. Bring it on, Square Enix. I'm ready for some comfort food gaming when Visions of Mana starts its adventure on August 29th, 2024.