Games both new and old, judged by the only question that matters:
Do they deserve a place on the shelf?
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Vampire Survivors – YOU Are the Raid Boss
What happens when you become the raid boss? Vampire Survivors turns a minimalist auto-shooter into an overwhelming, addictive power fantasy. Here’s why this indie sensation earns a WOTS Top Shelf Award.
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One Man Army – Has Any Team Needed a Superstar More Than the Yankees Need Aaron Judge?
Has any team needed one player more than the Yankees need Aaron Judge? From Peyton Manning’s disastrous 2011 Colts to Derrick Rose’s championship hopes in Chicago, we explore what happens when a superstar goes down and an entire franchise is left to pick up the pieces.
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Toxic Commando – We’ve Seen These Zombies Before
Toxic Commando gives you hordes, class abilities, and the rare joy of turning a police cruiser into a zombie-clearing projectile. Familiar? Yes. Fun? Also yes—sometimes.
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Dave the Diver – Too Much Sushi on the Plate
Dave the Diver combines underwater exploration with sushi restaurant management—and then keeps adding more. Its core loop is satisfying, charming, and dangerously addictive, but a seemingly endless parade of characters, mechanics, and minigames eventually leaves the experience feeling overstuffed.
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2XKO – The World’s Least Surprising Eulogy
Riot is ending active development on 2XKO, bringing one of gaming’s least surprising train wrecks to its inevitable conclusion. The servers will live on—but what exactly is left?
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Astro Bot – PlayStation’s New Platforming Legend
What looked like a PlayStation tech demo became one of the biggest surprises of the generation. Astro Bot is a joyful collectathon packed with creativity, nostalgia, and some of the best platforming in years.
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Grounded – Big Problems in a Small Yard
Grounded starts as another survival grind before spiders, teamwork, and one terrible hole turn the backyard into something worth keeping on the shelf.
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Mouse PI for Hire – The Case of the Missing Gameplay
Mouse PI for Hire has one of the most striking visual styles in recent memory, pairing rubber hose animation with a classic first-person shooter. Unfortunately, once the novelty fades, the gameplay struggles to keep pace with its incredible presentation.
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EVO 2026 – Watching From the Outside Looking In
EVO 2026 delivered another incredible weekend of fighting games, from Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 to newcomers like 2XKO and Invincible VS. Here are my spoiler-free thoughts on the event, the games, and why EVO remains one of the best weekends in gaming.
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MLB The Show 26 – Seventh Inning Stench
MLB The Show 26 still delivers excellent baseball and an addictive Diamond Dynasty mode, but slower progression and a lack of meaningful innovation prevent this year’s entry from hitting a home run.
