8. Ninja Gaiden 4
In modern gaming, it’s common for supposedly single player games from major publishers to be burdened with annoying online or multiplayer functions, or expensive DLC tokens and costumes just so companies can make just a few extra bucks. Ninja Gaiden 4 is one of the rare titles that thankfully bucks that trend, and it’s the better for it.
In many ways, this is a throwback to action games of the PS2 era when the original 3D Ninja Gaiden was released, focusing more on linear levels and smooth combat that requires quick reflexes. Replacing Ryu Hayabusa with newcomer Yakumo for most of the game was a daring choice, but by the end of the game, Yakumo proves himself as a worthy successor to the Ninja Gaiden throne. Hopefully, this is a new beginning for the storied series and not just a one off.
7. Donkey Kong Bananza
While Donkey Kong was one of Nintendo’s first gaming characters, he’s mostly played in recent years the part of a cameo character in Mario games, with the occasional side scroller throwback. Nintendo just hasn’t really seemed to know what to do with the big ape until Donkey Kong Bananza came around.
Far from just a retread of the team’s prior effort, Super Mario Odyssey, Bananza reinvents Donkey Kong with the simple premise of letting a gorilla wreck everything around him. Sure, the platforming challenges to collect Banandium Gems are great, but it’s just as easy to get distracted smashing up a level and collecting whatever you dig up. Bananza is not only the first must-have for the Switch 2, but it also provides a solid blueprint for where future Donkey Kong titles could go from here.
6. ARC Raiders
ARC Raiders wasn’t on many gamers’ radars at the start of the year, but since its release at the end of October, it’s quickly gained traction as one of the biggest sleeper hits of the year. At its core, ARC Raiders is an extraction shooter similar to Helldivers II, but with more open-endedness and a focus on PvPvE encounters.
And to be fair, that can make ARC Raiders a frustrating experience, as running afoul of the wrong enemies can mean losing quite a bit of progress. But that less linear gameplay also allows for endless possibilities in its world. And the polished gunplay makes it an absolute joy to play, regardless of how successful each run is. If you’ve been waiting to check out an extraction shooter, ARC Raiders is the perfect jumping on point.