IGN

• XSX/S
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

When EA showed off what Madden NFL 26 would be this year, I wasn’t sure I believed it. Not because I didn’t want to, or because I thought I was being lied to. But because it almost felt too good to be true. It promised improvements and changes I have wanted for years, and, well… they are all here. EA pulled it off. This is simply a straight up better game than Madden 25, both on the field and off of it. There’s still room for improvement – there always is – but it’s hard to overstate what a leap this feels like in terms of presentation, the in-game action, and Franchise as a mode. There’s more to do for Superstar, and MUT is MUT, but this is a big step forward for Madden overall. As for the other stuff, well… there’s always next year, right? Turns out, sometimes you just gotta believe.

• SWITCH2
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

Drag x Drive controls like nothing else I’ve ever played, and it asks a lot of you in order to get used to its complicated mouse and motion mechanics. Obviously, if you don't like (or literally can’t use) forced motion controls like this, then you should steer clear. But once I put in the time to "get good," I really enjoyed the surprisingly deep fundamentals of Nintendo's unique take on wheelchair basketball. Its online three-on-three matches are a lot of fun, and it has some good ideas for provoking friendly competition between rounds that I wish were fleshed out a little bit more. That lack of substance is the most disappointing part about Drag x Drive, with little in the way of unlockables, customization, personality, and variety. I imagine a hardcore group of fans could rally around it, because its movement is very cool and there is a ton of potential to discover in its exciting trick system – but with a high initial barrier to entry and not enough reasons to stick around for the long haul once you’ve cleared it, it’s hard to see Drag x Drive establishing itself among an already crowded field of online multiplayer options.

• PC
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

Mafia: The Old Country is an effective return to the linear and tightly story-driven format of the original Mafia and Mafia II. It doesn’t reinvent stealth, and there’s nothing especially remarkable about its typical third-person cover shooting – but with great writing, excellent vocal performances, and a wonderful eye and ear for detail, The Old Country is a potent and immersive time machine to a rarely explored era. This may be the Sicilian cuisine talking, as I’ve never played anything with quite as much Italian fruit and food on show, but I think the Mafia games might have established themselves as the arancini balls of the business. That is, crusty on the outside, but on the inside they’re dense, tasty, and a little cheesy – and, if you keep bringing them out, I’m going to keep going back to the buffet until the kitchen runs dry.

• PS5
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a good arena fighter, and a noted improvement over its predecessor, but it’s not a sea change. I’m not over the moon about the inclusion of gear, I yearn for better teaching tools, and I wish there was more to The Path of the Demon Slayer. But the Story Mode is compelling, the fighting still has the juice, and I’m a big fan of the expanded roster, smart if subtle gameplay changes, and roguelike Hashira Training mode. The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a worthy sequel to a good game, and a good game itself. I just hope we don’t have to wait another four years for a sequel.

• PC
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a game I’m going to be replaying for a long time. It looks and sounds incredible, and the fast but thoughtful combat is so damn satisfying that I had a hard time putting it down long enough to write this review. Juggling different types of attacks and powerful abilities as I break auras, time Hypercharges against intimidating foes, and bounce off of demons’ heads is a blast that is challenging and rewarding in equal measure. It just feels right. Ragebound may not star Ryu Hayabusa, but it’s definitely of the Dragon Lineage, and I know chasing level-specific challenges and high scores is going to be a part of my regular rotation. Ninja Gaiden fans, we were lost in the desert for a long time, but Ragebound is like running across an oasis; trust me when I tell you we’ve never been so back.

• PC
• 4 / 10
• États-Unis

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is the Grima Wormtongue of games: it whispered many wonderful promises into my ear, but by the end I was left a wretched shadow of my former self. I had a lot of hope that this could be the perfect mix of a genre I love and the Tolkien world I’ve spent much of my life nerding out about, but those hopes were cast into the fires from whence they came. With life sim mechanics that are shallow as they come, terrible technical performance, and almost nothing original to say, Tales of the Shire disappoints every step of the way. There’s hints of a better game to be found in its slightly more robust cooking mechanics, as well as the occasionally amusing writing and dialogue that prove this setting was indeed ripe for a life sim if executed better – but like a Silmaril, those dreams have vanished deep in the depths of Angband.

• PC
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

Killing Floor 3 is a polished sequel that feels both smartly streamlined and somewhat hollow. Its co-op shooting feels great, the classes are distinct, and my teammates and I had a good time blasting through Zed hordes together while the fun lasted. But with only eight maps, six classes, and a backwards weapon progression system that’s already in need of some tweaking, this comes across more like a solid Early Access build than a full release. The foundation is there, and if Tripwire keeps adding content like it did with Killing Floor 2, this could become something special. Right now, though, there’s at least enough for a weekend's worth of fun.

• SWITCH2
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

Super Mario Party Jamboree is still the best entry in the series, but the new content of the Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV re-release adds frustrating limitations and strange design decisions to what was otherwise a polished, customizable experience. Its camera-focused content is pretty forgettable, but there are a few worthwhile additions like the great mouse control minigames and interesting new rulesets. However, it’s hard to enjoy them to the fullest due to how this content is divided across two separate versions that don’t talk to each other at all. Core features like achievements, unlockables, minigame records, and even rulesets are locked behind the Switch 1 version, which shockingly got zero performance or resolution updates like the Jamboree TV portion did. If the new stuff had been seamlessly integrated with the old under one umbrella, this would be a slam dunk. But as it stands, if you already own Jamboree, I only recommend upgrading if you’re really interested in the new content. And if you’re looking to buy Jamboree for the first time, it’s not like you’ll be disappointed by what’s here, but the things that Jamboree TV adds hardly feel worth the price when you could just pick up the cheaper Switch 1 version instead.

• PC
• 5 / 10
• États-Unis

Shadow Labyrinth starts strong by doubling down on the weirdest pivot an old and beloved video game character has ever made, but 30ish hours later, I struggle to find any element of this metroidvania that wasn't done better somewhere else years ago. The MAZEs, where it’s ironically the most like its cardinal inspiration, are rad re-imaginings of the original Pac-Man formula that could make a decent game all by themselves. Everything else, from the exploration made tedious by a lack of direction and annoying checkpointing to the one-note combat that adds very little nuance outside of mashing and bashing, makes playing Shadow Labyrinth a largely dull experience. Sitting through the dialogue and sorting through this story were my greatest challenges, as my brain wandered its seemingly endless maze of lore chasing the ghosts of the intense, affecting promise teased by the Secret Level short this unexpected adaptation is based on.

• XSX/S
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate isn’t the worst expansion the looter shooter’s been given, but it’s a major step back from The Final Shape in almost every regard, mixing content that’s simply more of the same with a few experiments here and there that don’t always work out. I quite enjoyed the surprising new direction of the story, though it’s definitely a bit of a slog getting through the campaign to see it all, and a so-so raid doesn’t do much to salvage it. The new abilities on Kepler are at least interesting ideas, but the forgettable and claustrophobic areas don’t offer many reasons to stick around. The changes to endgame progression are the real poison pill though, which turn an already grindy game into an absurdly repetitive death march into the bowels of Destiny hell that is sure to put even the loyalty of hardcore players like me to the test. There are worse ways to spend your time than playing The Edge of Fate, but you don’t have to look very hard to find better ones.

• PC
• PS5
• XSX/S
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

With its fast-paced, dynamic, and flexible combat and a best-in-class skill tree that allows for a ton of build experimentation and customization, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is an extremely respectable debut soulslike for developer Leenzee Games. Some of the later bosses feel frustratingly lacking in chances to capitalize on opportunities for damage, and I would’ve enjoyed fewer “Surprise! You’re dead!” kinds of moments. But while those feather-ruffling issues lead to some rough patches, none are abrasive enough to keep this innovative take on a hugely popular genre from soaring with some of the greats.

• PC
• PS5
• XSX/S
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

As someone who delighted in blasting through the original RoboCop: Rogue City, my hopes for this standalone Unfinished Business expansion were higher than a junkie on Nuke. However, outside of the exhilarating playable cameo from ED-209, there’s really not enough new here to make another 10 hours as everyone’s favourite baby food-slurping supercop worth going out of your way for. Peter Weller’s deadpan delivery is as endearing as ever, and the cryo gun is an icy blast (though ironically still not quite as cool to use as the Auto 9), but the supporting cast of characters is seriously shoddy and the raft of performance issues on PlayStation 5 make for a bumpier ride than accelerating up the exit ramp from the Metro West carpark. If you thirst for some more Auto 9 bursts flourished with TJ Lazer-inspired twirls then RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business will certainly scratch the itch on your trigger finger, but it’s far from the future of law enforcement.

• SWITCH2
• 10 / 10
• États-Unis

The leader of the bunch is finally back to kick some tail in Donkey Kong Bananza, a brilliant successor to Super Mario Odyssey and a smashing return for a classic Nintendo character. It was a bold choice to build the Switch 2’s first 3D platformer around Donkey Kong instead of Mario, but it’s proven to be the best decision Nintendo could’ve made. DK’s satisfying, expressive movement and powerful, dynamic abilities create a truly groundbreaking adventure. The ambitious, destructible layers of this underground world are densely packed with satisfying collectibles, abundant charm, and clever challenges that never seem to run out of smart ideas, even long after the credits have rolled. Bananza is a constant crescendo across its 20-hour campaign and beyond, with puzzle-platforming concepts that only grow richer as DK and Pauline dive deeper toward the Planet Core. Every element comes together in complete harmony to create Nintendo’s first Switch 2 masterpiece.

• PS5
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

College Football 26 is a very good college football video game, but I don’t think it’s a great one; I’m pretty choosy when I use that word. This year’s version walks a little taller, looks a little more toned, and has better footwork than last year’s model. It has put in the work in the off-season, but there’s still more to be done. Proper teaching tools aren’t here yet (for the love of God, EA, please, so my friends can play this game without spending days of their lives on YouTube), and Road to Glory and Dynasty still need meaningful changes. But Dynasty is at least compelling enough, and the on-field game still has it where it counts. You can tell the College Football team is listening, and that it cares. EA has avoided the sophomore slump, but like any college football fan will tell you, you don’t build a Dynasty off a couple good seasons alone. You have to build for the future. College Football 26 is a step in that direction, but EA will have to keep at it if they want this series to be up there with the all-time greats. You’ve got potential, kid, and you’re better than last year. What matters now is if you can take that leap (you know, the one we’re all expecting you to) next season.

• PS5
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is a largely successful rejuvenation of the acclaimed 2001 and 2002 originals, and another very welcome time capsule of everything great about the golden age of early 2000s gaming – before microtransactions and battle passes botched everything right up. Like 2020’s 1 + 2 before it, THPS 3 + 4 proves again the series’ over-the-top skateboarding formula is totally timeless and remains suitable for all skill levels; simple at first blush, but extraordinarily sophisticated beneath the surface for those with the minerals (or the muscle memory) to push their combos to colossal levels. However, syncing THPS4 with the classic two-minute timer of the initial trilogy is probably going to be a sore point with fans who strongly regard the series’ fourth installment as their favourite, and discarding a whopping 80% of the original THPS3 and THPS4 soundtracks is a startlingly naive choice to make about such a famously crucial component of those games. No T.N.T.? Watch me explode.

• PS5
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

The original Death Stranding held promise: A complex, often confusing, but never contrived first draft. A reflective journey across a lost America, it established a world and its rules with a flourish, even if I found it stumbled along the path. But in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Australia plays host to an expanded vision and is a more accomplished achievement in nearly every facet. It removes almost all of the friction that weighed down its rookie effort, delighting with a truly unpredictable story full of intrigue and malleable stealth-action playgrounds hidden in its vast, hauntingly beautiful version of Australia. Yes, at times, it is unapologetically weird – but that isn't what defines it. It's an inventive journey packed full of both shock and awe, the sort of bold work that deserves to be encouraged. No, it isn't perfect, but it's incredibly exciting and original, never once straying from the path less trodden, and I love it all the more for it.

• PC
• SWITCH
• XSX/S
• PS5
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

I have no really strong criticisms of Tron: Catalyst. But I also don't have any great praise to heap upon it. Nearly across the board – from combat, to music, to writing, to area design – it competently gets the job done and calls it a centicycle. It may just become the seven out of 10 game I think of in the coming years when someone wants a really good example of a seven out of 10 game. And for what it's worth, that means I had a decently good time with it. In a world of bloated, hundred-plus-hour, obscenely high-budget collectathons, I think a Tron: Catalyst here and there is a nice, restrained palate cleanser. But it does leave me with the vaguely unsatisfied feeling that I wanted it to be a bit more, especially with its rewind mechanic that seemed like it could’ve been something special.

• PC
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

The Alters is a highly atmospheric sci-fi character study of one man who meets the effects of the formative choices he’s made throughout his life face to face. Managing Jan’s relationships with his alternate selves while extracting enough resources from a hostile alien environment to survive is a balancing act on top of a balancing act, and it cleverly builds up the pressure over the course of its story. Exploration of these barren but eye-catching maps presents a series of puzzles and threats without resorting to blasting aliens, and the conversations and moral dilemmas that arise from Jan’s clones are a novel way to approach a game like this. It’s clearly not a big-budget game with resources to throw at cinematics and character models, but it does a lot with a little to tell its story effectively, and its occasional interface quirks don’t get in the way of that.