2025 was a year for the indies. From breakout hits like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Blue Prince, to long-awaited sequels like Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong, small teams frequently outperformed established studios, as the wider industry lurched from massive strikes to landmark labor deals to deep layoffs.
Despite the tumult, major companies still notched some significant wins. Nintendo finally released the Switch 2 console and blockbuster exclusives like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. PlayStation published acclaimed cinematic epics like Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yōtei. Microsoft, which faced fan wrath over cancellations and price hikes, still brought an unprecedented number of new titles to their Game Pass subscription service.
NPR staff members and contributors have explored the breadth of this gaming year, from multiplayer sensations like Arc Raiders and Elden Ring: Nightreign to narrative-driven experiences like Dispatch and Consume Me to inventive tabletop games like Molly House and The Old King’s Crown. 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 the absurdities and unforgiving realities of medieval life. Its story is complex if unevenly paced, and the latest DLC Mysteria Ecclesiae provides satisfying, if not wholly remarkable, extra content. Like its other expansions, it feels rushed despite a promising theme centered on medieval plagues and quarantines. 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”,”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”,”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”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Strange Antiquities”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/strange.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Nicole Carpenter” }, “reviewBody”: “A selenic totem can be imbued with love or joy, allowing you to recall these feelings when holding it, while a zeah, worn around the neck, instills fear in its wearer. You must not confuse the two. Strange Antiquities, the follow-up to 2022 indie Strange Horticulture, begins when you take over a shop full of curious objects. Mistaking the identity of an object can have dire consequences for the spooky town of Undermere, which has been darkened by a mysterious curse. The game balances its absorbing supernatural world with the brilliant “aha!” moments built into its layered puzzles.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Ghost Town”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/ghost.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Ziad Buchh” }, “reviewBody”: “Virtual reality isn’t actual reality. That’s what I kept telling myself as I shakily held my flashlight and tiptoed through the dark hallways of my virtual apartment. Ghost Town plays like an escape room — just one that takes place in the Amityville House. Thankfully, the game would rather stump you than scare you. The puzzles are just challenging enough. The environment is as rich and detailed as the best games in VR. And the paranormal mystery at the heart of the story will grip you — even if it takes a lot of breathing techniques and breaks to get through it.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“VR”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Peak”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/peak.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Carlos Lopez” }, “reviewBody”: “2025 brought the rise of “Friendslop” games: narrative-light hangout spaces built for chaotic, emergent moments with buddies. While I also love the horror comedy of REPO, Peak stands above it and the rest of the genre. In this simple game, you and three friends will try to climb a massive mountain, cursing it every step of the way. Most attempts end in disaster, but that’s half the fun. At the low, low price of $8, Peak helped me reconnect with friends and gave us some of the best memories we’ve had in years.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Silent Hill f”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/silent.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Angie Silva” }, “reviewBody”: “Silent Hill f is Japanese horror at its finest. Every area you explore, abomination you encounter and text you find contributes to your understanding of protagonist Hinako’s personal struggles in the stifling context of 1960s Japan. While you’ll have to play through the game at least three times to see the full story, it’s fun to discover new dialogue, letters, diaries and endings as it further unravels Hinako’s psychology. Silent Hill f manages to stick to the core values of the franchise by holding up a twisted mirror to a social reality as hostile as any monster.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Arc Raiders”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/raiders.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Carlos Lopez” }, “reviewBody”: “We’re living in a renaissance for online games that bring strangers together through proximity chat. Arc Raiders mixes player vs. player and player vs. environment gameplay as you scavenge for resources in a post-apocalyptic world patrolled by hostile robots. Unlike other extraction shooters, such as Escape from Tarkov or Hunt: Showdown, cooperation really is just as viable as competition. Every player encounter turns into a tense gamble where you have to decide if this person is about to rob you or help you reach the exit. Arc Raiders arrived late in the year, but it’s already generated many stories I won’t soon forget.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Many Nights a Whisper”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/whisper.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Luis Aguasvivas” }, “reviewBody”: “Many Nights a Whisper is as much a playable poem as it is an exploration of how video games tell stories. You play as the Dreamer, who must master the sacred slingshot to make a near-impossible shot to light a beacon. Succeed and dreams will come true; miss and a decade of darkness awaits the world. Will you be able to carry the weight of the many expectations on the Dreamer’s shoulders? Plays in less time than a feature film, yet tattoos itself on the mind like a fateful moment. One shot is all this masterpiece needs.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Repose”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/repose.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Khee Hoon Chan” }, “reviewBody”: “The inherent limitations of old-school ’90s games make them a great vehicle for horror: the fixed camera angles, unintuitive controls and even the sluggish, grid-based movement. Repose is a delightfully creepy game inspired by this lineage, complete with ambiguous visuals that force you to imagine horrors of your own making and a camera that prevents you from seeing around corners. Set in an abandoned facility, you’re tasked to look for oxygen tanks from lost astronauts, with a steadily declining energy meter that makes every step nerve-wracking. Ghastly monsters hide in darkened nooks — here’s hoping you can whip out your handgun or axe in time.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Ghost of Yōtei “, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/yotei.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Justin Lucas” }, “reviewBody”: “Ghost of Yōtei looks, feels and sounds phenomenal. It’s a joy to take in the scenery — riding horseback through its plains, scrambling up mountains and plucking out tunes on your shamisen by campfire. You’ve also got a Lady Snowblood-esque path of vengeance to pursue. The samurai duels and stealth combat feel well-balanced — minor gripes notwithstanding (too many weapons, not enough difference between them). This sequel to the 2020 open-world hit Ghost of Tsushima approaches the high bar set by its predecessor — and that feels about as comforting as easing into one of Ezo’s cliffside hot springs.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PlayStation 5”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Final Fantasy Tactics — The Ivalice Chronicles”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/tactics.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Andy Bickerton” }, “reviewBody”: “Final Fantasy Tactics has been on my radar since 1997. This year’s remake, The Ivalice Chronicles, gave me the perfect excuse to dive in. The story feels decidedly mature — full of wild twists, compelling characters, political backstabbing and one heck of an ending. Frenemy Delita, in particular, is incredibly nuanced — he’s got more layers than a seven-layer burrito! I’m not a huge fan of isometric tactics, but it’s hard not to get sucked into min-maxing your squad. And, of course, the music hits the standard set by my composer king, Nobuo Uematsu. I’m so glad I caught up.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 4″,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Discounty”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/discounty.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Regina G. Barber” }, “reviewBody”: “The deceptively simple Discounty looks like Stardew Valley, but instead of gardening, you sell produce and other goods at your elderly aunt’s mini-mart in a small town. The cozy complications of the game come up when you’re not attending the store. During your off-hours, you gossip with the townspeople, interact with the sewer rats and solve environmental issues plaguing the region. As a young child whose favorite game was converting my grandparents’ place into a supermarket and checking out my cousin’s groceries with a toy cash register, this game gave me around 20 hours of pure joy.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 4″,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Abiotic Factor”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/abiotic.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Jonathan Bolding” }, “reviewBody”: “Just when the survival genre seems played out, Abiotic Factor gives it a shot in the arm. Team up with friends or go it alone through the worst first day ever at a secret multinational organization’s underground research base. Inspired by Half-Life and the decades of memes it has spawned, Abiotic Factor abounds in quirky situations. Experiment to find out which alien animals are edible! Discover that maggot-men are friendlier than you thought! Trade canned peas for bullets with the guy holed up in the security booth! Craft enough clipboard armor and pen-shooting crossbows, and you might just make it to the weekend.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”,”GeForce Now”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Once Upon a Katamari”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/katamari.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Angelique Silva” }, “reviewBody”: “Once Upon a Katamari has you roll through different eras of Earth’s history, balling up everything in your path. While the Prince and his wacky cousins are all available to roll with, the new Customize Cousin feature allows you to create your own unique avatar. My favorite feature is the new radar item, which makes missable extras like presents and cousins easier to find. The game has a new, wonderful soundtrack, and fans of previous Katamari games can purchase song pack DLCs to spin to the classics, like “Lonely Rolling Star.” Katamari is back and better than ever! ” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Cabernet”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/Cabernet.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Nina Liewehr Fill” }, “reviewBody”: “Beautifully designed and thought-provoking, Cabernet had me savoring every drop. You play the game as Liza, a newly turned vampire struggling between maintaining her humanity and indulging her nihilism. A sudden event in Chapter 1 has you face this dilemma head-on and immediately impacts your relationships. You’ll navigate vampire high society in a 19th-century town inspired by Eastern Europe. You’ll also learn how to turn invisible, transform into a bat and, of course, suck the life out of hapless humans. But Cabernet’s vampirism clearly stands in for a very real issue: alcoholism, a disease that has plagued my own family.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 4″,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Europa Universalis V”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/europa.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Mikael Page” }, “reviewBody”: “If the grand strategy genre is like an ant farm, Paradox’s latest history simulator is like an ant planet run amok. No corner of the globe or person living on it goes unaccounted for in this choose-your-own adventure that spans from late medieval times to industrialization. The game’s absurd granularity veers toward hubris — it’s unreasonably big and interconnected. Europa Universalis remains inhospitable to casual strategy fans and requires considerable fine-tuning to make the experience of playing outside Europe as dynamic as in the recommended starting nations. But none can deny that the developers fulfilled their own slogan: “Be ambitious.”” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Baby Steps”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/steps.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “James Delahoussaye” }, “reviewBody”: “From the maniac behind the wonderfully trollish Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy, Baby Steps is a ridiculous, stumbling love letter to failure-as-progress. It’s a game where “walking” feels like piloting a marionette, yet somehow that awkwardness becomes the whole charm. The humor is pure ad-libbed absurdity — think Monty Python, but with more nudity. One moment I’m trying to scale a gentle hill; the next I’ve accidentally face-slid 200 feet into a puddle while Nate (the bumbling man-baby main character) mutters something like, “Nailed it.” It’s weird, slow, strangely inspiring and full of tiny triumphs that feel huge.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PlayStation 5”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Reach”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/reach.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Will Mitchell” }, “reviewBody”: “The tower I’m climbing is collapsing. I leap off the top, and midfall there’s a grapple point at the ledge above. I snag it and barely manage to pull myself to safety. My palms are sweaty as I sigh in relief and look over the edge at the ground below, wondering where to go from here. Reach makes sci-fi parkour feel real. Despite some pretty glaring bugs on release, Reach’s fluid gameplay, great level design, stellar graphics, intriguing voice acting and captivating story make it one of the best games I’ve played this year.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“VR”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/yoyo.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Kahwit Tela” }, “reviewBody”: “When rival business owners get their hands on a machine that split souls, Yoyo master Pippit Pipistrello and his aunt (who has a part of her soul infused in Pippit’s yoyo) must zip, spin and dash their way across New Jolt City to retrieve the rest of her soul. Brazilian indie studio Pocket Trap fused a 2D Zelda-like format with unique combat, humor and progression mechanics (you pay off debt to receive upgrades, for example). Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a modernized blast of colorful early 2000s nostalgia that feels like a long-lost Game Boy Advance game.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 4″,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Battlefield 6”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/battlefield.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Hannibal Kokayi” }, “reviewBody”: “Boom! The tank I was stalking demolished my hidey-hole and buried me in its rubble. But then my squadmate — a medic — dived in to revive me, giving me a chance to reposition. The tank completely forgot about me, so I flanked it and hit it with a rocket-propelled grenade, blowing it up. Battlefield is back, baby! I love the game’s chaotic, objective-driven battles that can flip at a moment’s notice. It’s become a way for my friends and me to reconnect and unwind, racking up tons of moments to clip, brag about and laugh over with the squad.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Absolum”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/absolum.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Allen Walden” }, “reviewBody”: “In the throes of a great wizard rebellion, I brawl my way through the mystical and secret-filled world of Absolum. This roguelite beat ’em up ties together a tragic story, a badass soundtrack and a hauntingly gorgeous art style into a brilliant experience. Every run feels uniquely challenging in how you fight, what you find and where you go. I find myself hungry to discover more and more through each quest you’ll pursue over multiple runs. Grab a friend and keep the fires of rebellion stoked as you fight your way through a never-ending story that somehow never gets old.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 4″,”PlayStation 5″]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Dispatch”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/dispatch.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Allen Walden” }, “reviewBody”: “Set in an alternate Los Angeles, Dispatch guides you through the protagonist’s journey from Mecha Man, superhero extraordinaire, to superhero dispatcher and mentor Robert Robertson, who spends his day answering emergency calls and assigning heroes to solve them. Adhoc Studio’s episodic collaboration with Critical Role is a reminder that great storytelling is sometimes all you need. Although I thoroughly enjoyed hacking and dispatching my way around, it’s the voice acting, clever animation and narrative choices that make Dispatch so relatable, funny and poignant. Perfect for those who miss Telltale adventure games like The Wolf Among Us or Tales From the Borderlands.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Hades 2”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/hades.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Chris Bentley” }, “reviewBody”: “Hades 2 fine-tunes the formula that made the 2020 original such a smash hit. Your task? Kill Chronos, the Titan of Time, with help from a boisterous pantheon of Olympian gods. What will keep you persevering against the same enemies over endless, randomized runs? The satisfying combat. The killer soundtrack. The lush, rainbow-tinged art, where the chthonic meets the cartoonish. And the bottomless well of dialogue promised by repeat encounters with bosses like Scylla and the Sirens, rendered here as vengeful and self-absorbed rock stars. At some point, the game’s spell will wear off, but until then, “time flows freely forth!”” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Digimon Story: Time Stranger”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/digimon.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Josh Broadwell” }, “reviewBody”: “My strategy in monster-collecting games is to use what looks cool. Stats and systems? Who needs ’em! In Digimon Story: Time Stranger, it turns out I do. The game doubles down on complexity and feels all the more rewarding for it. Digimon have two sets of weaknesses, so careful team-building is essential, especially in large-scale battles. Multiple evolution paths encourage you to stray from your usual favorites to experiment with different types of Digimon before recycling them to raise the next generation. Time Stranger is catnip for number crunchers and gives Pokémon a run for its money.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “9 Kings”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/kings.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Lear Bunda” }, “reviewBody”: “Seldom does a game come around that scratches every weird, specific itch I have as a gamer, but let me tell you, 9 Kings gives me all the itch relief I need! This digital gem feels like a solitaire hybrid for fans of tabletop games. It’s a card game, a strategy game, a tower defense game, a roguelite and an auto battler all in one. It’s incredibly fun and original, and I’ve dropped dozens of hours into 9 Kings and expect to drop dozens more.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Anno 117: Pax Romana”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/romana.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Jason Rodriguez” }, “reviewBody”: “All roads lead to Rome in Anno 117: Pax Romana, the latest entry in Ubisoft’s long-running city-builder series. From ensuring that buildings are connected to warehouses and trading posts, to meeting the needs of citizenry like Plebeians and Patricians, to researching civics and military doctrines, you gradually grow your humble settlements into the envy of the world. Even better, you’ll manage provinces in both Latium and Albion, the latter opening up new opportunities to have your population embrace their Celtic heritage or develop a hybrid Romano-Celtic culture. Streamlined mechanics, quality-of-life improvements and meaningful player choices make this game perfect for series newcomers.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/sonic.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Rakiesha Chase-Jackson” }, “reviewBody”: “The Sonic Racing series has been much less consistent than its rival, Mario Kart. Both franchises branched out this year, but Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds adds new dimensions (literally). For me, it takes the crown. CrossWorlds improves on what has always worked well, from power-ups to vehicle customizations. But it also brings a spectacular addition. Travel Rings warp players between malls and museums to Jurassic jungles and lava planets. Future character and track packs based on SpongeBob and TMNT have me crossing my fingers for a steady stream of updates to keep me entertained for months to come.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 4″,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Date Everything!”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/date.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Suzanne Nuyen” }, “reviewBody”: “In Date Everything, you play as a recently fired employee who has been given a pair of “Dateviator” glasses that bring nearly every object in your home to life. Your goal is to help these characters self-actualize, forming romantic, platonic or even antagonistic relationships along the way. Tens of thousands of voicelines and an absolutely star-studded cast will motivate you to explore every nook and cranny of the house. Each character’s look, personality and name are often punny nods to the object they portray. My heart personally belongs to Dorian, who guards every entrance in your home. This game is quirky and outlandish, with a lot of heart.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/limbo.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Natalia Fidelholtz” }, “reviewBody”: “Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo is this cozy, heartfelt little adventure about a snake who helps other lost spirits find peace. The art looks like papercraft come to life, and the world feels steeped in Latin American folklore and warmth. It gave me major Grim Fandango vibes because it is also funny, melancholy and full of charm. It’s not perfect. The pacing can drag, and the loop can feel repetitive, but its abundant heart more than makes up for that. I finished the game smiling and a little misty-eyed.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Look Outside”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/outside.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Natalia Fidelholtz” }, “reviewBody”: “You start this weird little indie game by just hanging out in your apartment building — until you accidentally look outside and realize the world has quietly bent into something VERY wrong. From there, things only get stranger. Talking to your neighbor, both of you scared and confused while pretending everything is normal, hits like a gut punch and makes the horror weirdly personal. The retro pixel art stays charming right up until it suddenly isn’t, and the tension builds in this slow, creeping way. The exploration can get repetitive, but the story more than makes up for it.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Drop Duchy”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/duchy.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Liz Metzger” }, “reviewBody”: “If you, too, have a tetromino-shaped hole in your heart and a love for strategy, Drop Duchy may have been cooked up in a lab for you. It’s primarily a deckbuilder game where you grow your dukedom by acquiring buildings that increase your resources, military units or production capabilities. As you encounter new regions, you’ll place your units, your enemies’ units and the board’s terrain through Tetris-style gameplay. Of course, you’ll want to clear a line, but at what cost to the synergy of your wheat production! The game feels endlessly replayable with many building types and upgrades to unlock.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “Game”, “name”: “The Old King’s Crown”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/oldking.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Vanessa McGinnis” }, “reviewBody”: “In The Old King’s Crown, up to four players fight to rule the kingdom by scheming across three different battlefields. Cards are played facedown and revealed battle by battle, leading to surprising turnabouts. Each faction has its own art and powers that beautifully tell its stories and make you feel connected to its culture. For an asymmetric game in which players have unique abilities, the rules are surprisingly simple and the game moves quickly. It’s all the more impressive because one person, Pablo Clark, designed and illustrated the game by himself in a debut that’s taken tabletop fans by storm.” }
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Ball x Pit”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/ball.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Vanessa McGinnis” }, “reviewBody”: “Ball x Pit is a fusion of the arcade classic Breakout and Vampire Survivors. You’ll move around the screen to defeat enemies before they descend and overwhelm you. During a run, you’ll unlock new balls like the Ghost ball, which will damage enemies as it passes through them. Continue to level up, and you’ll eventually fuse your balls! Combine the Ghost ball with the Iron ball to get the Assassin ball, which passes through enemies but then deals double “backstab” damage off their backsides. Between runs, you’ll even play another, simpler brick-breaker game in town to upgrade your characters.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Tiny Bookshop”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/bookshop.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Irene Kim” }, “reviewBody”: “You get to own a cozy secondhand bookshop on wheels, traversing different parts of the town and recommending books to the patrons. How much more idyllic can it get? The quests are fairly simple, but the book recommendation aspect can be trickier. Don’t fret if your knowledge of books is quite surface-level, though, since a short one-to-two-sentence synopsis of every book is provided. This game ironically got me to spend less time playing video games and instead got me back into reading more, because I was discovering so many books that sounded interesting.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Eclipsium”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/eclipsium.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Vincent Acovino” }, “reviewBody”: “Eclipsium is a horror game. It’s also best described by way of my least favorite genre descriptor — the “walking simulator.” Yes, this first-person adventure is largely a walk-forward, solve-simple-puzzles affair. But it’s done with style and panache. Here you’ll find grimy low-poly textures, retro-style shaders, sound design that both envelops and wallops, and a cosmic horror story that offers just enough concrete plotting to keep you walking slowly toward its conclusion. If the year’s other horror games scare you too much, this kind of atmospheric, art-house take on terror might be more your speed.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “The Drifter”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/drifter.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Graham Rebhun” }, “reviewBody”: “I’ve played point-and-click adventure games since I was a kid, but nowadays they often feel clunky and tedious. Not so with The Drifter. The pixel art is stunning and the fully voiced (and very Australian) dialogue perfectly sells the suspense of the mystery-thriller storyline. Puzzles are seamlessly integrated into the narrative and feel challenging, without being obtuse. Every aspect of The Drifter feels incredibly polished, all the way through the dramatic conclusion. If you’re a fan of the genre, The Drifter’s screenshots alone should be reason enough to give it a try, but its gripping cosmic horror makes it a must-play.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “News Tower”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/news.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Devin Mellor” }, “reviewBody”: “News Tower is a Newsies-meets-The Sims workplace simulator for detail-oriented news junkies like me. Set in 1930s New York City, you’re tasked with steering a down-on-its-luck newspaper through the worst days of the Great Depression. Each printing demands a choice between holding firm to journalistic integrity and selling out to the highest bidder, be it the mayor or the Mafia. The game’s pace can be frenetic, as reporters scramble to meet deadlines and half-finished articles zoom down pneumatic tubes. But the charming art deco style and infectious jazz soundtrack make the game an enjoyable snapshot of what it takes to make the news.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/inazuma.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “George Yang” }, “reviewBody”: “Delayed for almost a decade, Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road was worth waiting for. This soccer RPG has a staggering amount of content between its story mode, chronicle mode, online multiplayer and town building simulation. It’s like if you combined Pyre, Persona and Animal Crossing into a single giant package. It’s also incredibly approachable, as you don’t need to know previous series games to play — heck, you don’t even have to like soccer! The gorgeous art direction, catchy music and endearing characters will keep you occupied for a long, long time.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 4″,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Hollow Knight: Silksong”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/silksong.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Jared Biehler” }, “reviewBody”: “Sometimes, the sense of majesty doesn’t hit right away. It’s only afterward that you realize how completely a game took hold of you. Hollow Knight: Silksong is like that. It’s often a struggle. It takes a while to get used to protagonist Hornet’s diagonal attacks. Damage scaling is deliberately slow. But that’s the point. Every frustrating moment feels intentional, like the game was quietly shaping the way it wanted me to play it. The music, subtle and classical, carries grand emotional depths. Silksong fits together beautifully — even if it took me over 80 hours to fully appreciate it.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 4″,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Best Served Cold”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/cold.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Aja Miller” }, “reviewBody”: “Dropped into the fictional country of Bukovie during the height of its own 1920s Prohibition era, you play a speakeasy bartender tasked with helping a detective in Best Served Cold. As you work to solve a series of murders, you’ll have to lie low and earn the trust of a wide variety of local residents. Through deduction and the occasional minigame, you’ll learn to serve the right drinks and uncover wrongdoing in this stunning (and cozy) visual novel.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Android/iOS”,”Nintendo Switch”,”Nintendo Switch 2″,”PC”,”PlayStation 5″,”Xbox Series X/S”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Consume Me”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/consume.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “James Mastromarino” }, “reviewBody”: “Jenny says she hates video games, yet she’s structured her life like one. Prodded by her mom to lose weight (and, warning, this is very much a game about disordered eating), every meal becomes a puzzle where she’ll cover her hunger with Tetris-block foods. Minigames explode from there. Studying for SATs, putting on makeup, cleaning the bathroom — you’ll have to master these bite-sized challenges while managing a tight Persona-esque calendar of deadlines. The game brought me back to my senior year of high school, when I also buried myself in extracurriculars and a grueling weight-loss regimen. Warm and witty, Consume Me’s mechanics perfectly illustrate the unreasonable pressures of young adulthood.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“PC”]
} },
{ “@type”: “ListItem”, “item”: { “@type”: “VideoGame”, “name”: “Kirby Air Riders”, “image”: “https://apps.npr.org/dailygraphics/graphics/games-we-love-20240711/synced/kirby.jpg”, “review”: { “@type”: “Review”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “James Mastromarino” }, “reviewBody”: “Kirby Air Riders isn’t as expansive as Mario Kart World or as exacting as Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, but it’s got one thing those games lack: City Trial. This revamped mode has up to 16 racers zip through a huge map, absorbing upgrades and discovering secrets in preparation for random challenges that range from high jumps to drag races to gladiatorial bouts. City Trial is inventive enough to recommend the game on its own, but Kirby Air Riders also comes with robust online multiplayer and a bonkers single-player story campaign. Straightforward yet surprisingly deep, Kirby Air Riders was worth the 22-year wait.” }, “gamePlatform”: [“Nintendo Switch 2”]
} }
] }
