2025 finally brought the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 and blockbuster exclusives like Mario Kart World. But the year has also seen a parade of indie breakouts, from Blue Prince to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Meanwhile, the video game industry lurched from massive strikes to landmark labor deals to deep layoffs.
NPR staff and contributors have explored the breadth of the gaming year, from long-awaited sequels like Death Stranding 2 and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves to imaginative tabletop games like Molly House and Daggerheart. Whether you’re looking for a short diversion or an epic 50-hour adventure, we invite you to discover your next favorite game on this interactive list.
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{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/deliverance.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Ahmad Damen” }, “reviewBody”: “Fifteenth-century Bohemia sets the stage for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, a role-playing game that lives and breathes history. From dramatized real events to period-accurate detail, the game captures medieval life with its harsh, unforgiving reality. The story is complex and satisfying, though it’s also unevenly paced, especially in its first DLC, Brushes With Death. That expansion feels rushed despite a promising theme centered on medieval understandings of mental health. But despite these issues, there’s plenty to like. No spells, no magic wands — just the weight of history and a world that won’t hold your hand. ” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “The Bazaar”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/bazaar.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Alex Cheng” }, “reviewBody”: “I both love and hate The Bazaar, an incredibly deep and addictive auto-battler. There’s always a strange new interaction to discover and a new strategy to explore. Yet the game is also marred by serious problems: backlash over its early monetization model, whipsawing balance issues with every update and horrendous performance, even on beefy computers. But when you get a juicy run going … oh, baby, you forget about all of that. Maybe this is how it’ll always feel to love a live service game — forever holding out hope that on the next run, everything will finally be perfect.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Sultan’s Game”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/sultan.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Becky Brown” }, “reviewBody”: “It’s hard to describe how normal debauchery becomes when playing Sultan’s Game. Where many games present binary choices between good and evil, the game’s eponymous Sultan pushes you to mirror his four interests (bloodshed, conquest, carnality and extravagance), threatening the gallows should you fail. Whatever your long-term goal (lead a rebellion? run away? win on the Sultan’s terms?), short-term survival requires sin. While you’re initially encouraged to treat allies as interchangeable in this worker-placement-gone-wild, you’ll rapidly discover they’re anything but weak-willed pawns. Everyone has a story, and they’re all hell-bent on richly complicating your already impossible task in this lurid roguelike.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “Game”, “name”: “Diatoms”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/diatoms.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Brent Jones” }, “reviewBody”: “Diatoms is one of the most beautiful tabletop games I’ve played, with lavish ornamentation and holofoil accents that evoke the diffraction patterns common in the microscopic world of the game. In this abstract puzzle, you play as a Victorian scientist arranging microscopic algae into mesmerizing mosaic patterns, a thing that really happened. After placing a water tile in the communal pond, you collect diatoms of various shapes and colors to arrange on your personal microscope slide. You earn points based on symmetry, matching colors and different shapes. Randomized extra scoring criteria enhance replayability, and there’s even a solo mode!” }
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “Game”, “name”: “Innovation Ultimate”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/innovation.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Brent Jones” }, “reviewBody”: “Every game of Innovation Ultimate presents a different path through 11 ages of human history, from inventing the wheel, to discovering antibiotics, to attempting nuclear fusion. Designed by Carl Chudyk, the game first appeared in 2010. But it’s back with a box set including the original game, all five expansions (including a new one) and a new 11th age for each — more than 600 unique cards in all. The expansions let you explore cities (e.g., Athens), meet people (Catherine the Great) or discover artifacts (a DeLorean DMC-12). With so many cards to combine and experiment with, Innovation Ultimate feels like a sprawling tribute to humanity’s greatest discoveries.” }
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “South of Midnight”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/midnight.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Bri Smith” }, “reviewBody”: “In South of Midnight, you play as a Southern girl who discovers her ancestral powers on a journey to find and rescue her mom. As someone who grew up in the South, the twangy narration, dreamy soundtrack and moss-draped art style felt like home (just a little bit haunted). The storybook presentation is fitting, and while the combat grew pretty tedious between some unique boss fights, it didn’t overshadow the rest for me. It could’ve easily been a visual novel with linear, digestible chapters in a world where everything has a story to tell. I haven’t finished many games lately, but I had a spectator for this one, and my partner kept asking me to boot it up again for “just one more chapter!”” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Mario Kart World”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/kart.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Corey Bridges” }, “reviewBody”: “Mario Kart World launched with the Switch 2 at a whopping $80. While some Nintendo fans were disappointed that it was the console’s only big exclusive, I think it’s a smart evolution of the ultrapopular Mario Kart 8. At its core, it’s the same Mario Kart we’ve all loved since the 1990s — perfect for casually playing with friends. But expansive course design and the ability to ride on rails and walls encourage players to get creative in astonishing new ways. It will certainly be both a party staple and a speedrunner’s dream for years to come.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch 2”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/shadows.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Corey Bridges” }, “reviewBody”: “I’m a sucker for a game set in feudal Japan, so I threw myself into Assassin’s Creed Shadows despite never having played an Assassin’s Creed game before. It’s easily one of the most visually stunning games I’ve ever played. Having the option to stealth your way through castles with Naoe or just brute-force them with Yasuke kept things interesting over the dozens of hours I spent exploring and completing missions. Shadows may not revolutionize the open-world adventure genre, but the gameplay loop never fails to satisfy me. Plus, it’s just so cool to see its detailed re-creations of real historical sites!” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/yakuza.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Danny Lore” }, “reviewBody”: “Taking place after last year’s sprawling Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii improves on the series’ formula to deliver an adventure with heart. Where the previous side story, The Man Who Erased His Name, forced protagonist Kiryu to wrestle with his lonely existence, this romp casts antihero Goro Majima as an outrageous modern-day pirate. Much like Kiryu’s spy caper, the game takes what would be tangential in the main series — a wacky combat arena — and centers a plot on it. While it’s not very challenging, Pirate Yakuza is a gloriously goofy entry that delivers the gonzo storytelling and emotional depths we’ve come to expect from the series.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PlayStation 5″,”PlayStation 4″,”Xbox Series X/S”,”PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Skin Deep”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/deep.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Diego Argüello” }, “reviewBody”: “In space, everyone can hear you sneeze. From exposing yourself to dust to stepping on broken glass, innocuous actions gain newfound complexity in the pirate-infested ships of Skin Deep. Flush talking heads down toilets. Throw pepper at guards to distract them. Roll on the ground to escape from explosions you surely didn’t cause. Taking cues from immersive sims like Deus Ex — with a dose of Die Hard — levels are tightly designed as playgrounds for creative mayhem. At its heart, Skin Deep is as funny as it is inventive. Did I tell you there are space cats to rescue?” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “Game”, “name”: “Daggerheart”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/dagger.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Garry Butler” }, “reviewBody”: “I’ve been playing tabletop RPGs since the 1980s, and Daggerheart, from Darrington Press and Critical Role, is the rare system that earns its hype. It unites the streamlined stats and familiar archetypes from 5E Dungeons & Dragons with ideas from narrative-driven games like Fate, Apocalypse World and Blades in the Dark. The “Hope vs. Fear” dice mechanic adds tension to every roll, while a card-based system makes character creation fast and expressive. Complete with robust digital tools, Daggerheart feels less like a side project and more like a long-term contender for tables focused on storytelling. It has earned a spot at mine.” }
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “The Alters”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/alters.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “George Yang” }, “reviewBody”: “A compelling fusion of survival adventure and base-building simulation, the phenomenal story of The Alters really sets it apart. The game follows Jan Dolski, the sole survivor of a spaceship crash, who clones versions of himself from different timelines to rebuild his crew. Jan comes to understand his variants and sees what divergent paths his life could have taken if he had made different decisions. The various Jans even offer him insight on how to reconcile with his ex-wife, as some didn’t split with her. The Alters may make you feel like you’re going through an existential crisis — but trust me, it’s a ton of fun too.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Blue Prince”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/prince.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Graham Rebhun” }, “reviewBody”: “Blue Prince will have you scratching your head and crossing your fingers as you explore an ever-changing mansion that resets every day. With each door you open, you’ll choose one of three rooms to enter, each with its own atmosphere and abilities. Addictive (and occasionally frustrating) as this gameplay loop might be, Blue Prince’s real brilliance lies in its overarching story and secrets. Puzzles range from quick room-specific challenges to big-brain schemes that take many runs to piece together. Like last year’s Animal Well, Blue Prince feels impossibly deep and unendingly mysterious. Just make sure to keep a notebook handy — you’ll need it!” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/fury.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Hector Castillo” }, “reviewBody”: “City of the Wolves is the surprise sequel to a cult-favorite fighting game from 1999. Terry Bogard is back with an eclectic cast that includes real people like DJ Salvatore Ganacci and (weirdly) Cristiano Ronaldo. With a slew of mechanics that make damage easy to dish and intricate defensive options allowing for technical and intelligent play, this game delivers on what you want: to look down at your defeated opponent and ask, “Are you OK?!” — knowing that they are most assuredly not but will be ready to go another round.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”PlayStation 4″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/hundred.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Hector Castillo” }, “reviewBody”: “The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is unlike any other game I’ve ever played. A mix of visual novel and strategy RPG, the game boasts 100 endings to explore. But wipe the sweat off your brow — you don’t have to replay the game 100 times. Instead, a branching path interface allows you to return to any choice and replay from that point. That makes seeing each ending a manageable but still monumental task. With over 100 hours of gameplay, the game delivers for fans of narrative-heavy titles like Danganronpa, AI: The Somnium Files and 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Old Skies”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/skies.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Jason Grosman” }, “reviewBody”: “Old Skies blends a twisty narrative, well-drawn characters and every time travel trope imaginable into an enjoyable mix. You play as operative Fia Quinn, who helps clients try to fix their present by tinkering with the past. The usual point-and-click inventory puzzles for the genre, while never very challenging, are logical and fair. Fia stays the same as the world around her subtly shifts with every change in the timeline — with stakes that slowly ratchet up and a story that delves into some surprisingly emotional areas, including a mission to Sept. 10, 2001. Time well-spent for fans of narrative games.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Dynasty Warriors: Origins”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/dynasty.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Jason Rodriguez” }, “reviewBody”: “I’m a longtime fan of classic Three Kingdoms literature, which led me to Koei Tecmo’s Dynasty Warriors franchise. Dynasty Warriors: Origins is nothing short of remarkable. This reboot of the decades-spanning hack-and-slash series presents a fresh story that trims down an egregiously bloated roster that previously featured nearly a hundred playable characters. Instead, the game shines a light on a few key people, complemented by a tighter narrative that’s a treat for those familiar with the source material. The action remains as dynamic and engaging as ever, with officer tag-ins, musou team-ups, troop commands and branching campaign paths.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Expelled!”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/expelled.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Josh Broadwell” }, “reviewBody”: “With Expelled!, developer Inkle puts a remarkably human spin on the kind of “choices matter” games that prioritize bigger, more epic moments. Set in a 1920s British boarding school, you discover breakthroughs in a murder case by doing mundane things, like snarking to your French rival or pocketing a hairbrush. Each decision takes time and forecloses other choices, but no action is wasted. Talking nonsense to a plushie opens new paths just the same as uncovering one of the school’s dark secrets. Study well over the game’s varied playthroughs, and you might just solve the mystery!” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Mobile”,”Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Elden Ring: Nightreign”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/elden.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Justin Lucas” }, “reviewBody”: “Nightreign remixes Elden Ring, the 2022 open-world hit, into a smaller, faster, multiplayer roguelite with a shrinking storm circle (a la battle royale games like Fortnite). The experience is hard to pin down, and that’s what you’ll have to be to master its formidable challenges. New movement mechanics and character skills offer exciting enhancements, while the lack of crossplay and a duos mode feel like baffling exclusions. Nightreign’s faults are magnified by its close proximity to a masterpiece. But when the ingredients gel on a good run with friends (or friendly randoms), it’s a fantastic experience worthy of the Elden Ring name.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 4″,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “The First Berserker: Khazan”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/berserker.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Justin Lucas” }, “reviewBody”: “The First Berserker: Khazan is a crushing action RPG soulslike with anime-style visuals and excellent combat mechanics. The game’s boss fights recall FromSoftware’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, both in the way they demand move set memorization and in the sense of accomplishment they provide when you finally prevail. The game struggles where many other action-RPGs do — meh-level design, over-tuned loot systems and trash mobs that vary mainly in whether they are more boring or annoying. An overall great game that should appeal to folks who love this sort of challenge, and that will probably turn away those who don’t.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Promise Mascot Agency”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/mascot.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Kahwit Tela” }, “reviewBody”: “After a deal between two yakuza clans goes wrong, Michizane “Michi” Sugawara, a yakuza lieutenant, must earn the money back for his clan by running a mascot agency in a run-down town with a curse that will eventually kill him. It gets wilder. In this world, mascots aren’t people in costumes — they’re living, breathing creatures. With the help of Pinky, a foul-mouthed anthropomorphic finger, you enlist eccentric mascots to help get the money back for the clan and rebuild the town. Promise Mascot Agency stitches Japanese visual novels, card battlers and management simulators together with a darkly comedic tone. ” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/expedition.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Kaity Kline” }, “reviewBody”: “A passion project by a small indie team based in France, Expedition 33 beat the odds to become a major game of the year contender. Everything about it is as close to perfect as you can get: the three-dimensional characters you fall in love with, the unpredictable story, the amazing soundtrack and the unique turn-based battle system that rewards timed parries and dodges. I obsessed over the game’s many mysteries, profound themes and wild twists for weeks. Clair Obscur translates to “Light Dark” in French — you’ll get light moments where you’ll cry laughing and dark moments where you’ll just cry. Be prepared!” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Split Fiction”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/split.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Kaity Kline” }, “reviewBody”: “Split Fiction requires you to play with another person, just like its predecessor, It Takes Two. You and your partner play as Mio and Zoe, two aspiring authors who don’t get along. They’re forced to collaborate when they’re trapped together in a virtual reality machine designed to exploit their creative ideas. Despite its cliched writing and predictable plot, the game’s inventive takes on a wide range of genres are a blast to play. It’s also forgiving enough for inexperienced gamers and challenging enough for veterans. With patience and keen communication skills, you will make it through the struggle!” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Wanderstop”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/wanderstop.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Katie Kloppenburg” }, “reviewBody”: “From the fourth-wall-demolishing genius behind The Stanley Parable, Wanderstop is a wonderful reminder of the necessity of taking a break. The story follows Alta, a warrior who responds to burnout by redoubling her training efforts. Exhausted, she stumbles across an inexplicable tea shop in the woods. With each cup she reluctantly brews, Alta discovers something new about herself. By the end I had a nice little (happy) cry because Wanderstop showed me it’s fine to just “be” and exist in the moment — a rare message I didn’t know I needed.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Lost Records: Bloom & Rage”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/records.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Khee Hoon Chan” }, “reviewBody”: “Teenage drama can feel particularly outsized and world-rending. As it turns out, the cosmic peril at the heart of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage centers on the unforgettable loss of a once-intense friendship. The game tells its tale across two time periods: one featuring four teenagers in the mid ‘90s, and another set decades later. Player character Swann Holloway prefers to engage with her surroundings through her camcorder. You’ll make short movies — and close friends — through this lens. As you relive the idyllic memories and profound anxieties of these teenagers, you may find yourself reminiscing about your own adolescence, too.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “The Roottrees Are Dead”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/dead.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Linda Holmes” }, “reviewBody”: “A plane crash kills a wealthy family — the Roottrees — leaving piles of money behind. To help resolve the estate, you’ll fill in a huge family tree based on archival evidence, from (fictional) internet searches to photos and documents. The clues aren’t hard, exactly; you just have to be thorough. The game also has a good hint system that prevents its laid-back quality from giving way to frustration. If you’re the kind of person who finds it relaxing to untangle knotted necklaces or alphabetize books, this mystery game might hit the spot. Plus, there’s gossip and scandal to uncover, and what’s not to like about that? ” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “Game”, “name”: “Molly House”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/molly.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Luis Aguasvivas” }, “reviewBody”: “In a better world, Molly House, designed by Jo Kelly and Cole Wehrle, might replace Monopoly as the ubiquitous household board game. The game has one to five players take on the roles of the gender-defying “Mollies” in Georgian London. Play cards to “spark joy,” seek safe havens for self-expression, or have a ball. Or become an informant for the Society for the Reformation of Manners. Molly House sends a powerful message on queer representation through its consummate gameplay and presentation (illustrations by Rachel Ford). At once historical and timely, few games this topical also manage to look so good.” }
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Doom: The Dark Ages”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/doom.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Mike Meyers” }, “reviewBody”: “Doom: The Dark Ages starts fresh after Doom: Eternal’s more prescriptive approach, and the result is cathartic. The castlepunk aesthetic and aggressive sound design combine to pull you into a flow state, focused only on the next shield parry or shotgun blast. The basic plot has some surprises but never gets in the way of the action — I can’t say the same for the mecha battles and dragon flights, which are meant to give you a breather but ultimately feel slow and awkward. But overall, Doom: The Dark Ages delights as an obvious standout of the year.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “ENA: Dream BBQ”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/dream.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Natalia Fidelholtz” }, “reviewBody”: “If a lost Cartoon Network pilot took psychedelics and discovered existentialism, you’d get ENA: Dream BBQ. Spun out from a bizarre YouTube series created by Peruvian animator Joel Guerra, the game is a glitchy, gorgeous fever dream come to life. Equal parts unsettling and mesmerizing, the game doesn’t explain itself, and that’s part of the charm. The surreal landscapes feel like half-forgotten internet memories: jagged animation, chaotic sound design, bursts of humor and dread. While it won’t be for everyone, if you like your games weird, poetic and a little unhinged, this one’s a must. Plus, it’s entirely FREE.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Revenge of the Savage Planet”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/revenge.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Natalia Fidelholtz” }, “reviewBody”: “3D platformer Revenge of the Savage Planet is pure chaotic fun. The game bursts with lush, ridiculous environments to explore alone or with friends. Completionists will love the satisfying “Dex” for tracking scanned fauna, flora and tech that makes the chaos feel (slightly) more purposeful. Technically you’re on a mission, but you’re still free to poke alien life-forms and accidentally blow yourself up. The world-building feels like Douglas Adams meets Adult Swim, and the whole thing is gleefully absurd. Goofy, colorful and strangely satisfying, even the game’s clunkiest mechanics add to the charm!” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Despelote”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/despelote.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Natalia Fidelholtz” }, “reviewBody”: “Set in 2002 Quito, Ecuador, Despelote tells a tender story about memory, place and growing up. Having spent some childhood years in Latin America, I recognized the rhythm — the way kids talk in the schoolyard, the sound of fútbol echoing through the streets, the quiet tension of daily life under political uncertainty. You play as a kid who kicks anything vaguely ball-shaped as he wanders around and overhears conversations way above his head. The game invites you to linger and listen. I played it in both Spanish and English, and both have stunning sound design. Even though it’s short, it’ll stay with you.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 4″,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/fantasy.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Nicole Carpenter” }, “reviewBody”: “There’s a lot to do in The Girl Who Steals Time — like, 14 jobs worth of stuff — and yet, developer Level5 calls it a “slow life” RPG. You start by choosing one job and completing its tasks, be it cooking an omelet, fighting monsters or solving puzzles. Back in the village, you can build out a home and expand the island. Gauche as this comparison may be, the game pulls cleverly — and heavily — from Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Tears of the Kingdom. But its breezy pace ensures that it never feels stressful, stuffed as this “slow life” can get.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”PlayStation 4″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Atomfall”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/atomfall.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Simon-Laslo Janssen” }, “reviewBody”: “I went into Atomfall expecting Fallout, but I quickly realized that’s not what Rebellion was aiming for. Their latest game, a survival adventure set in an irradiated 1960s Britain, goes light on RPG elements. Your character does not turn into an overpowered superhero by the end, as they would in a Bethesda game. Even in its final hours, any enemy in Atomfall can kill you with a few well-placed shots. Ammo and healing items remain scarce until the credits roll. The game’s tense and punishing over dozens of hours but is always intriguing and entertaining. Just remember: “Oberon must die.”” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 4″,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Monster Hunter Wilds”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/wilds.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Vanessa McGinnis” }, “reviewBody”: “Intimidating as its systems may be, it’s clear that Monster Hunter Wilds was designed with newcomers in mind. That’s part of what makes Wilds a great hangout game once you beat the 15-hour campaign. Whenever an update drops, my friends and I rush to hunt the new monster, arm wrestle in the Grand Hub and grind for new armor. There’s relatively little downtime in this streamlined design. Once we finish a hunt, someone will point out that an Arch-Tempered Rey Dau just spawned, and we’ll race our off-brand chocobos to the other side of the map to continue the fun.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “Game”, “name”: “Arkham Horror: The Drowned City”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/arkham.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Vanessa McGinnis” }, “reviewBody”: “The latest two-part expansion in an acclaimed co-op card game, Arkham Horror: The Drowned City finally pits you against Cthulhu himself! New Investigators cards are top-notch, letting you break the normal restrictions of the game to make powerful combos. One new card even lets you transform from one Investigator to another midgame! The story side of the expansion ultimately failed to live up to my high expectations after the Feast of Hemlock Vale expansion. But the new mechanics and minute-to-minute gameplay are as challenging as ever and kept my fiancé and me engaged the whole way through.” }
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Butcher’s Creek”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/creek.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Vincent Acovino” }, “reviewBody”: “Borrowing extensively from the mechanics of 2005’s underrated Condemned: Criminal Origins, Butcher’s Creek is all about up-close and brutal melee combat. You’ll work your way through a dimly lit hideout of cultists who make snuff films, beating them over the head with anything you can find: pipes, wrenches, two-by-fours, etc. If that sounds sick and disturbing, it is. But the game approaches the violence with an over-the-top sense of dark humor. It’s not for everyone, but as a fan of retro horror games I found it a refreshingly brief and focused excursion that hits all the right twisted notes.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Surviving Mars: Pioneer”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/mars.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Will Mitchell” }, “reviewBody”: “Take in the rugged beauty of Mars from your jetpack or your rover as you try to survive and thrive. Uncover wreckage from failed missions and start your own indoor farm. Pioneer is a great, time-erasing survival experience. After mining resources to unlock new sections of the map and new gadgets, I’ll take off my headset and morning has turned into afternoon. The gameplay loop kept me happily suiting back up for more. Currently available on early access, I hope the game’s full release adds more story and color to the world to give me more reasons to return to the mission.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“VR”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “The Midnight Walk”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/walk.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Will Mitchell” }, “reviewBody”: “The Midnight Walk transported me to one of the most imaginative and eerie game worlds built for VR. Sneak past your foes, solve the puzzles and uncover the mystery of the vanished sun in this modern fairy tale. The dark mood and claymation aesthetic hearken back to Tim Burton’s films and Maurice Sendak’s illustrations. You’ll encounter horrific, weird and wonderful characters. An exceptional soundtrack and stellar voice acting set the tone for the uncanny roads you’ll traverse. While the game isn’t too long, it’s worth the price of admission just to live in its strange world for a while.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”VR”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “to a T”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/to.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Allen Walden” }, “reviewBody”: “From the creator of the sublime Katamari Damacy, to a T subtly puts accessibility and acceptance at the fore. You play a middle school kid forever stuck in an arms-akimbo “T-pose.” As you go about your daily challenges, you encounter imaginative characters (like a giraffe who makes you sandwiches) and discover an innate ability to spin your arms to fly like a helicopter. Wonderfully silly and wholesome, to a T stands out for anyone looking for an adorable, relaxing time. It’s also great for choosy parents looking for a good title for their kids. ” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Dune: Awakening”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/dune.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Allen Walden” }, “reviewBody”: “From the same studio that brought us Conan Exiles, Funcom is no stranger to a good survival-crafter, and what better setting than the harsh desert planet of Arrakis? Dune: Awakening brings you into an alternate timeline without Paul Atreides, driving you to seek out the missing and unknown Fremen. The game pushes the survival-crafting genre by emulating massively multiplayer games like World of Warcraft and Runescape. It’s thrilling to explore this ancient and vast world with my friends, as we roam around as a sand-biker gang with an ornithopter hovering above us. Dune: Awakening always makes me thirsty for more.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/stranding.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Angel Carreras” }, “reviewBody”: “You’ll believe a man can walk. And walk. And walk some more … but also throw an electric rod at some goons and shoot a gigantic tentacular skull with a machine gun. Death Stranding 2 boosts the action, the stakes and even the dynamism of its world, as you deliver items ranging from pizza to zoo animals from Mexico’s arid deserts to snow-capped mountains in Australia. With an established world, Kojima Productions has time to let character moments breathe. You will cry (or is that timefall sliding down your cheek?). If these improvements still aren’t floating your tri-cruiser, well, maybe go take a walk.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PlayStation 5”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/citizen.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “James Mastromarino” }, “reviewBody”: “Inspired by tabletop RPGs, Citizen Sleeper 2 weaves a sci-fi story out of dice of desperation. Each day, the game rolls five dice that you’ll spend to scrounge a living and evade the crime boss who has experimented on your cybernetic body. This sequel tightens the tension with new time-limited contracts and a stress mechanic that degrades dice over time. But you’re not alone. You’ll recruit crew members, each with their own dreams and secrets, to help you roam the stars. Ruminative and gorgeously written, Citizen Sleeper 2 explores the fragility and hope of life on the margins of unchecked capitalism.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”Xbox Series X/S”,”Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PlayStation 5″]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Nubby’s Number Factory”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/nubby.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Bryant Denton” }, “reviewBody”: “Nubby’s Number Factory brings us to an abstract workplace where the player commands the titular Nubby, a spherical organism that bounces around to make small numbers disappear, much to the satisfaction of the oppressive supervisor, Tony. The straightforward physics-based gameplay of ricocheting Nubby off walls and pegs becomes more intense and rewarding with the addition of perks, modifiers and challenges. The game weaves silliness and simplicity together, with its malware-core art direction, tranquil soundtrack and quirky dialogue. Careful! As compulsively habit-forming as last year’s Balatro, Nubby’s Number Factory could have you working unpaid overtime your very first shift.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Donkey Kong Bananza”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/bananza.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “James Mastromarino” }, “reviewBody”: “Indiscriminate destruction has never been so wholesome! With an open-ended design reminiscent of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Odyssey, Donkey Kong Bananza lets you smash through an underground world as you mine for coins, fossils and bananas that upgrade Donkey Kong’s skills and wardrobe. My wife also enjoyed the co-op mode, which allowed her to hurl any material in sight toward enemies and obstacles. Demolition is so viscerally satisfying that I had to really focus to progress the plot, which eventually takes you to more-challenging levels. With layered gameplay and sterling animation, Bananza is undoubtedly one of the biggest selling points for the Switch 2.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch 2”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Sunderfolk”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/sunderfolk.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “James Mastromarino” }, “reviewBody”: “Sunderfolk is like a simpler Gloomhaven for your phone. Rather than buckle your table under a trove of physical cards, scenarios and miniatures, the game requires only a central screen and personal devices for up to four players. You’ll scan a QR code to join a campaign, swiping up to play cards that’ll move your critter and defeat foes around a hexagonal grid. Between missions, you’ll improve your town’s infrastructure and get to know its populace. While the tech has stuttered occasionally, Sunderfolk distills both tabletop and digital RPGs into an impressive concoction, complete with friendly art, a warm setting and streamlined co-op tactics. ” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} }
] }
