REVIEWS

Games both new and old, judged by the only question that matters:

Do they deserve a place on the shelf?

  • Ethics in Video Game Consumption

    Ethics in Video Game Consumption

    Video games are built on crunch, consolidation, and compromise. Is ethical consumption even possible—or is it just a question of how much you’re willing to ignore?

  • Monster Hunter Rise – If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

    Monster Hunter Rise – If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

    Capcom’s Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak keeps the hunt thrilling with slick mobility, loyal Palamutes, and big-setpiece brawls. Not a revolution—just refined, addictive fun.

  • The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of 2025 – A WOTS Year in Review

    The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of 2025 – A WOTS Year in Review

    In WOTS’ first year back, we’ve seen indie bangers, expanded our Chillers playlist, watched the industry chew up its workers, and stared at a never-ending sea of 8/10 review scores. Here’s the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of 2025 from the Shelf’s point of view.

  • Animal Well – A New Standard for Indie Metroidvanias

    Animal Well – A New Standard for Indie Metroidvanias

    Animal Well is more than another pixelated indie platformer. With eerie sound design, hidden layers of exploration, and surprising freedom, it’s one of the best indie games in years — and a new Top Shelf Game for WOTS.

  • Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Beta – Ms. Marvel, Autocombos, and the Future of Marvel Fighters | WOTS Review

    Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Beta – Ms. Marvel, Autocombos, and the Future of Marvel Fighters | WOTS Review

    Hands-on with the Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls beta as a Ms. Marvel main. I get zoned out, abuse jump throws, poke at assists and autocombos, and dig into what this ArcSys-built Marvel fighter might mean for the future of Marvel fighting games.

  • Sonic x Shadow Generations – A Spin Dash Through Time

    Sonic x Shadow Generations – A Spin Dash Through Time

    A slick remaster meets a sharp new spotlight: Sonic’s greatest hits collide with Shadow’s edgier set pieces in a fast, funny, occasionally janky tour through the series’ past. The 2D/3D split still divides, but Radical Highway steals the show — and Shadow quietly runs away with the game.

  • Analogue 3D – The Best Way to Play N64 in 2025?

    Analogue 3D – The Best Way to Play N64 in 2025?

    The Analogue 3D promises a premium, modern way to play your old N64 cartridges without the blurry mess and input lag of original hardware on modern TVs. After unboxing it, wiring it up, and revisiting games like Pokémon Snap, I’m convinced: this might be the best way to play N64 in 2025.

  • Dispatch – Sad Boys, Superheroes, and the Z-Team

    Dispatch – Sad Boys, Superheroes, and the Z-Team

    Dispatch takes Telltale-style storytelling, throws it into a horny, hungover superhero office comedy, and somehow makes it all work. With sharp writing, a surprisingly deep dispatch system, and a cast of lovable disasters, AdHoc’s episodic drama turns saving the world into a full-time HR problem.

  • From Stan to Colossus: The Evolution of Obsessive Fandom in Hip-Hop

    From Stan to Colossus: The Evolution of Obsessive Fandom in Hip-Hop

    Eminem’s Stan and Tyler, the Creator’s Colossus both tackle obsessive fans, but in very different eras and contexts. Here’s how the meaning of “stan” evolved from dark cautionary tale to playful online slang.

  • Plants Vs. Zombies: Replanted: Pretty Yard, Plastic Plants

    Plants Vs. Zombies: Replanted: Pretty Yard, Plastic Plants

    A faithful but flatter remake. PvZ: Replanted keeps the timeless lane-defense loop intact, yet its smoothed-over presentation chips away at the original’s personality.