Platforms – SmashPad

REVIEW – “Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection” sees the spinoff grow up in scope, mechanical density, and emotional maturity

by David Rodriguez | Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 09 Mar 2026

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is a lovingly intrepid take on the series’ conventions. There’s a palpable whimsy to its character-driven moments and punchy, elephantine vigor to its action that rivals the greats.

Hands-On: “Fishbowl” makes you respect moodiness

by Danreb Victorio | PlayStation 5 Previews | 0 Comments | 06 Mar 2026

One thing that I’ve sort of grown tired of seeing from “cozy” games is the overabundance of farming and base-building games. No matter how chill they are, they hardly ever vibe with me. What I do vibe with, however, are the games that make people feel. That’s exactly what Fishbowl has set out to do, and even though the latest Steam Next Fest demo was really short, I got a lot out of it.

FINAL PREVIEW – “Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection” is a (star)force to be reckoned with

by Michael Fertitta | Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Xbox One Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 04 Mar 2026

In my limited playing experience so far, Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is shaping up to be a solid, modern way to experience a series whose brief existence seems to have flown under the radar by fans of the larger Mega Man franchise.

REVIEW — “Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf” Is a Quiet Masterpiece of Curiosity and Consequence

by Tanay Sharma | Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Reviews Xbox One Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 04 Mar 2026

Planet of Lana II is studio Wishfully’s second attempt at crafting a visually charming and puzzle-heavy platformer. Three years after the success of their first game, the second entry to the series does a delightful job at expanding on its story, with several twists and turns.

REVIEW — “Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered” is a gothic relic worth revisiting

by Tanay Sharma | Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Reviews Xbox One Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 03 Mar 2026

As an original fan of Blood Omen and the franchise in general, I’m happy to admit that this remaster is going to bring a lot of joy to fans. The traces of an old classic remain, polished with a modern touch that keeps its essence alive. Part of me wanted a remake, but the remaster shall suffice!

REVIEW – “Scott Pilgrim EX” is another fun beat-em-up that could’ve been something legendary with its open world approach

by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Reviews Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 03 Mar 2026

When Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game came out in 2010, it was a breath of fresh air despite being a callback to video games several generations before it. Fast forward over 15 years, and while the feeling isn’t quite as fresh since beat-em-ups have more or less made a return, Scott Pilgrim EX presents an impressive follow-up that both old-school gamers and Scott Pilgrim diehards should enjoy.

REVIEW – “Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties” is both an improvement and a downgrade with some solid new stuff mixed in

by Andrew Farrell | Nintendo Switch 2 PC Reviews Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 03 Mar 2026

The Yakuza Kiwami games have always been a bit of a mixed bag. The first two felt like their cutscenes were simply slapped into existing games with some unnecessary systems, leading to them failing to actually feel like their original counterparts. The awkwardly titled Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, conversely, manages to mostly feel like its own game, but with an almost shocking amount of the original’s extra content completely replaced.

The Legend of Zelda: SmashPad’s Favorite Games

by SmashPad Staff | Features Nintendo 3DS Nintendo DS Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Wii Nintendo Wii U | 0 Comments | 02 Mar 2026

Nintendo seems to have forgotten about The Legend of Zelda’s 40th anniversary, but we haven’t. SmashPad staffers and contributors were asked to provide their Top 5 Zelda games. We’ve taken those lists and turned them into the staff’s Top 10.

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “inKonbini: One Store. Many Stories” is a cozy title that got me all nervous

by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 26 Feb 2026

This demo only gives you this one shift, and it doesn’t take long at all. You’re tasked with taking stock out of the back and putting it on the konbini sales floor, making sure everything at the store is in order, and then opening up shop. Simple, right? Oh, if you only knew.

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “Vampire Crawlers” deals a wickedly irresistible hand early on

by David Rodriguez | Android iOS Mobile Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 26 Feb 2026

Put bluntly, Vampire Crawlers chokeslams boredom through a glass table. The demo is impressive in its simplicity, but requires a hell of a lot more of you than Vampire Survivors did. In that sense, poncle could be on track to deliver a follow-up worthy of its still budding name and elephantine reputation. Can their lightning strike twice?

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: Is “Cleaning Up!” really fun?

by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Previews Steam | 0 Comments | 26 Feb 2026

The Steam Next Fest demo of Cleaning Up!, which you can play now, features four levels that provide just enough to get your feet wet. There’s an apartment, a castle, a museum, and a cafe, each providing a new gimmick to differentiate itself enough. Only one of these levels qualifies as challenging, but again, it’s a demo.

REVIEW – The return of “City Hunter” is welcome and historically meaningful, but lackluster for what’s on offer

by David Rodriguez | Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 26 Feb 2026

With all this in mind, I can’t generally recommend City Hunter, but if you do want to see what TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine gaming had to offer by means of a cult product and you have a surplus of disposable income, have at it.

Category: Platforms

REVIEW – “Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection” sees the spinoff grow up in scope, mechanical density, and emotional maturity

Hands-On: “Fishbowl” makes you respect moodiness

FINAL PREVIEW – “Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection” is a (star)force to be reckoned with

REVIEW — “Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf” Is a Quiet Masterpiece of Curiosity and Consequence

REVIEW — “Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered” is a gothic relic worth revisiting

REVIEW – “Scott Pilgrim EX” is another fun beat-em-up that could’ve been something legendary with its open world approach

REVIEW – “Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties” is both an improvement and a downgrade with some solid new stuff mixed in

The Legend of Zelda: SmashPad’s Favorite Games

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “inKonbini: One Store. Many Stories” is a cozy title that got me all nervous

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “Vampire Crawlers” deals a wickedly irresistible hand early on

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: Is “Cleaning Up!” really fun?

REVIEW – The return of “City Hunter” is welcome and historically meaningful, but lackluster for what’s on offer

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