Before 2026 truly gets underway, catch up on all the stellar video games you may have missed at the end of 2025.
Including the likes of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Dispatch and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – From the Ashes, there’s plenty to check out. Starting with…
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Switch 2, Switch)
If you’re a Metroid fan Metroid Prime 4 has been a hell of a long time coming. But despite almost a decade of development and a total creative restart, the end result is somehow an incredibly well put together affair.
You’ll once again jump into the space suit of Samus Aran, this time finding herself on the unknown planet of Viewros with a whole new clan of foes to take on. The Metroid Prime series has always excelled at presenting a strong atmosphere and Beyond is no different, with an intriguing sci-fi world with plenty of flora and fauna to scan. Moments that have you wandering eerie environments with no support at some of the game’s strongest moments, coupled with combat encounters that are more focused on considered shooting rather than blindly firing rounds.
The inclusion of a rotating roster of companions does slightly detract from that vibe (especially the much-talked-about Miles), but it’s never for too long – Metroid Prime 4 smart enough to recognise its strength in its isolation.
That said, the new open desert area unfortunately doesn’t fair as well and feels largely empty, even with the new motorcycle that controls nicely. It feels like an interesting first step for the series so I’d be keen to see it develop a little more.
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But it’s instances like this which highlight, for better and for worse, the fact that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond in many ways feels like a game from a previous generation. It never quite surpasses the heights of its predecessors, but is still highly recommended and easily worth grabbing.
Kirby Air Riders (Switch 2)
A follow-up to an oft forgotten 2003 GameCube game, Kirby Air Riders is Nintendo embracing its signature quirk at a maximum level. A mix of Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. and F-Zero, Air Riders mixes frantic racing, combat and a suite of modes all into the one package.
It sounds like a confusing concoction but somehow everything just gels together. Races are most traditional, following a set number of laps while utilising character-specific skills to create chaos for your opponents. But step into the campaign or City Trial and you’ll see you’ll instead spend your time consistently switching out your load out in order to optimise your machine for a particular minigame. The blend between the two consistently keeps the action in Kirby Air Riders fresh.
There is admittedly a bit of a learning curve with the game’s (mostly) single-button layout does, but you will get used to it eventually and quickly fling yourself around environments.
Kirby Air Riders might not get the overwhelming brand recognition of a Mario Kart, but embrace the pink puff’s latest adventure and you’re unlikely to be disappointed.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (Switch 2)
The Legend of Zelda and musou games might not seem like the most logical fit but The Legend of Zelda: Age of Calamity quickly proved that the series was capable of a minor shake up and Age of Imprisonment manages to successfully refine the formula even more.
The core structure of Age of Imprisonment remains the same as most other musous – choose a player and take on hordes of enemies with all sorts of showy moves. But by once again leaning into the movements and abilities offered up in Tears of the Kingdom, Age of Imprisonment has a wealth of inspiration to draw from for its flash and flair that help it to stand out from the usual crowd.
For Ninty fans, there’s even more appeal because this entry again expands upon lore set up by Tears – following the plights of Princess Zelda as she accidentally travels back in time via a secret stone and is thrown into the Imprisonment Wars. Don’t expect game-changing developments, but it’s just fun to re-enter this world.
But thanks to the beefier internals of the Switch 2 performance, thankfully the chaotic battles always manage to achieve a steady 60fps. That means if you’re a muso die-hard fan or just looking for your next Zelda fix, Age of Imprisonment is well worth adding to your library.
Lumines Arise (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
Visually stunning and an audio delight, Lumines Arise draws you in with its head-bopping soundtrack and keeps you engaged with its addictive gameplay loop.
Made by the team behind Tetris Effect, the colour-matched squares often start off calmly but when as the music starts ramping up so too do your stress levels. Helping this along is some of Arise’s new mechanics. Burst, for example, hits pause on proceedings, granting you the time to build gigantic stacks that can lead to even larger combos, or when utilised strategically, can get you out of some sticky situations.
It’s just one instance of the depth Lumines Arise offers, making it the perfect slow burn for puzzle fans. The soundtrack arguably isn’t as strong as Tetris Effect, but there’s still plenty here to keep you moving from one level to the next. Just make sure you play with a good set of headphones.
Highly recommended.
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO (Switch 2)
One of the latest games to make the move, DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is now on Switch 2 and the end result is remarkably solid. As you’d expect, the core experience remains completely unchanged from the beefier consoles, meaning you’re still in for a 3D brawler that retells condensed versions of classic Dragon Ball stories.
The secret sauce of Sparking! ZERO is that you also have the freedom to branch some of these stories off onto completely new paths, making it perfect for series fans desperate for something different. Seeing these stories twist and deviate away from the source material was always the highlight and the concept isn’t overused either.
Boosting the fun concept well is a shockingly large roster with 180 odd characters and strong combat mechanics that, coupled with excellent art design, makes you feel like you’ve been transported back to the early 00s.
The one downside to the experience: it’s all capped at 30fps and there’s the odd dip during chaotic cutscenes, but they’re understandable sacrifices for the portability.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Switch 2)
While the Switch 2 naturally excels in performance with smaller titles, there’s still something of a question mark surrounding big-budget modern day ports. But if Assassin’s Creed Shadows is anything to go by, the future is looking bright.
Fresh off a remarkable Star Wars Outlaws port, Ubsioft has done another great job with Shadows, utilising DLSS and VRR to boost and improve the system’s output. It’s not quite as strong as Outlaws’ performance but given the size and scope of Shadows’ two-protagonist tale, it still does darn well.
For those yet to jump in, Shadows finally sees the Assassin’s Creed franchise take the leap into a Japanese landscape as you jump between the stealthy Naoe and the bulkier, melee-focused Yasuke. The constant change up in gameplay and narrative keeps the experience fresh and once the two do link up it’s nice to be able to choose your preferred path.
For newcomers, this Switch 2 port is still a great way to play and continues to show what’s possible on Nintendo’s new hardware. It’s an adventure that’s deep, expansive and a heck of a lot of fun to play on the move.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – From the Ashes (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
Hot off the heels of Avatar: Fire and Ash comes this very impressive DLC that breathes new life into the 2023 action-adventure title.
Pitched as a standalone story that takes place after the events of the main campaign, From the Ashes smartly exists within the same world as Fire and Ash without ever falling into the traps of being a direct play-by-play of the movie.
That means you won’t be bored by knowing every beat of the new narrative while still being able to encounter the new fire Navi as new protagonist So’Lek – fighting to hold onto his home after it’s devastated early. The more streamlined story also pairs well with the more streamlined approach to gameplay. From the Ashes cleverly pairs back some of the core game’s RPG-heavy elements like hunting, while stll retaining the Far Cry-esque flavouring that made it successful in the first place.
The recent addition of an optional third-person perspective helps freshen up the whole experience even more, meaning there’s no better time to hop back into Pandora.
Dispatch (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
Dispatch reinvigorates the episodic game formula with a truly binge-worthy tale that does well to suck almost any gamer into the chaos.
You’ll fill the boots of Robert Robertson, a former hero who, after a past mission goes pear-shaped, finds himself manning a desk at the Superhero Dispatch Network instead. It’s an intriguing premise that is boosted by great writing and equally enjoyable performances from the entire cast.
In fact, the story helps boost the entire experience because the moment-to-moment gameplay of Dispatch isn’t particularly extensive or challenging. Outside of making dialogue choices and story decisions you’ll be asked to handle the titular Dispatching – sending specific heroes to various jobs around time that most suit their particular set of skills. For some that might involve a chatty disposition, while for others it might be brute strength.
The is some fun to be had with it but it’s the plot that’ll keep you coming back for each episode. It’s light-hearted, engaging and funny, making it perfect for partners wanting to watch along as well.
Ninja Gaiden 4 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
It’s been over a decade since the last time Ryu Hayabusa graced our consoles, and while the series’ star mightn’t be as prominent as he once was, the chaotic, bloody and tough-as-nails action certainly is.
Playing as both Ryu and new young gun Yakumo, this ninja adventure does try a few new things (some more successful than others) but ultimately harkens back to its classic combat roots. With both PlatinumGames and Team Ninja at the helm together, that bodes well for the game, which not only introduces a suite of weapons (like twin blades or a staff) but cleverly presents scenarios that will actually force you to equip them if you want to stand a chance. There’s also a Bloodraven ability that’ll give your weapon additional abilities that ratchet up the brutality.
Ninja Gaiden 4 isn’t going to blow you away with its storytelling or visual prowess, but for long-time fans looking to don the ninja suit once more this is still a largely successful outing.
Absolum (PS5, PS4, PC, Switch)
Pitched as a roguelite utilising Smash Bros. combat, Absolum has a lot going for it. Set in the unique world of Talamh it’s your job to do away with an evil regime by utilising some truly flashy combat. Choosing the right moment to implement heavy attacks, specials or the odd quick attack will feel right at home for brawler and fighting game fans and it gives the game a unique feel in what is a pretty jam-packed genre. There’s also four characters to choose from which vary up the playstyeks even more.
As you progress you’ll unlock new abilities which can be stacked for all sorts of flashy combinations, and working out which ones work best or suit your style of play is part of Absolum’a joy.
Battlefield 6 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
After years of struggling to make a dent against the Call of Duty juggernaut in the shooter space, Battlefield 6 finally feels as though it’s found its own special sauce and set the foundation for the series in the years to come.
A large part of that is thanks to its bombastic multiplayer offering. Battlefield has always excelled in its large-scale environments and Battlefield 6 is no different. The 64-player matches are always wonderfully chaotic as vehicles whiz or bang there way around and bits of environment blow up around you. It also helps that the game’s suite of weapons feel so good to use and the added depth (like suppressing fire delaying enemy health regen) enrichen the experience and will likely keep multiplayer fans coming back for more.
The campaign, meanwhile, is far less effective and honestly a little forgettable. Where Call of Duty has been able to occasionally inject a bit of personality into some of its campaigns (like the delightful Black Ops 6), Battlefield 6 has a habit of taking itself a little too seriously.
But if you’re all about duelling others, Battlefield 6 has plenty on offer to scratch that competitive itch.
Wrecknation (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
Developed by some of the original masterminds behind the Burnout series, Wrecknation has a lot of that classic lineage within it. That blistering sense of speed, chaotic destruction and that lingering feeling that at any moment something can go terribly wrong. But despite all that, Wrecknation unfortunately does lack the necessary polish required to make it an easy recommendation. The handling itself just isn’t overly refined and the game’s visuals and framerate dip all over the place. Most of all though is the open world which just feels a bit devoid of life.
The new addition of Live Mix (a suit of customisation tools that allows you to mess around with almost any aspect) on the other hand, does well to spice things up. You’re free to create your own chaotic wonderland as you mess with weather, increase traffic density or just throw down a whole lot of ramps that send you airborne at every opportunity. It’s elements like this that show there’s serious promise behind Wrecknation should the series be granted a second lap.
Two Point Museum (Switch 2)
You’ve already managed a hospital and a university, but now it’s time to take hold of a Museum with this latest entry in the Two Point series and it’s perhaps the most entertaining of the bunch yet. As the name would suggest it’s your job to manage five different museums across the game’s campaign and they’ve all got their unique twist – from haunted hotels to sky-high establishments.
Jumping between them and keep each afloat is part of the game’s appeal, as is nabbing each exhibit in the first place. That’s because you’ll send your staff on expeditions to nab exhibitions, never quite sure what they’re going to bring home. Add in the odd dilemma to manage during said expedition and there’s plenty to keep you on your toes amongst the traditional management sim fare.
Performance might not be the strongest in the Switch 2 port line-up, but Two Point Museum still delivers some quality casual fun all the same and has enough charm to have you reopen the doors day after day.
