We’re well past the halfway mark of the year, and the gaming industry shows no signs of slowing down.
Brand new releases across all genres ensure that no matter your interests or age, there’s something for everybody to enjoy.
This past month is no exception, with giant franchises like Marvel and PAW Patrol back in force with some of their best work yet. And in true gaming fashion, we also have ambitious indies that prove some of the best games can come at us by surprise.
MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls
These days, Marvel fans are spoilt for choice. Whether it’s TV, film, comics, or games, you can jump into a brand-new experience featuring your favourite heroes and villains, all to the highest standard found in entertainment. Fighting Souls is no exception.
This is the latest Marvel game, drawing on a limitless scope of superhero stories in the form of a 4vs4 tag-team fighter. Fast-paced and exploding with colour, this game has filled the drought fighting fans may have been experiencing, but is just as approachable to newcomers to the genre as well.
Marvel Tokon’s signature art style shines with every single ability
The first thing you’ll note about the game is the anime-like art style, which makes your screen an absolute joy to look at on a near-constant basis. Like some form of pixel eye-candy, every animation leads to a blast of colour, and detailed special effects with each move make every character’s array of abilities truly shine.
Speaking of characters, the game’s surprise strength comes from its mix of 20 playable characters. Players form a team of four and can swap between them mid-fight. Sure, you’ve got the usual culprits of Captain America, Hulk, Wolverine and Spider-Man. But the game also shines a light on underutilised characters in gaming, like Green Goblin, Ms Marvel, Carnage, and Ghost Rider, reminding us of the vault of characters at the developer’s disposal.
Tag team gameplay ensures every fight is filled with energy and fun
As a tag-team game, players can draw upon the talents of their chosen ally’s mid-fight, summoning them for different types of special one-off attacks, or swapping to them to become their main fighter moving forward. It’s a clever mechanic that can inject unpredictability into any fight. While they share one common health bar, cycling between characters opens up an almost limitless number of ways to counterattack your opponent’s sweaty strategies.
That might sound complicated, so I will stress that gameplay is approachable. I can’t boast any great skill at fighting games, as my online opponents can attest to. And yet, no characters were impossible to grasp and handle, even when drawn into the battle halfway through. A mix of button-mashing with the option for methodical move sets gives everyone the best of both worlds.
From Carnage to Loki, Marvel Tokon has a diverse cast of heroes and villains to master
The most fun and main destination for players will be found online. Which is good, considering perhaps the game’s only shortcoming is its story mode. It comes in the form of episodes, promising gorgeous cinematic comic strips and great voice acting. But the gameplay is paper-thin, delivering what feels more like a structured tutorial than anything meaty you could sink your teeth into and replay.
Ultimately, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls is a fighting game full of fun fan-service. The art style is hypnotic, characters authentic, and gameplay suitable for all skill levels. And with a new character, Phoenix Cyclopes, already tipped to enter the game this Autumn (and hopefully more in time), the game has a wealth of characters to introduce. We’re witnessing yet another huge spoke in the wheel of the Marvel cinematic universe.
MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls is available to play on PS5 and PC
PAW Patrol Dino World
With a brand-new PAW Patrol movie airing across cinemas, there is, of course, a complimentary game for fans to enjoy. PAW Patrol Dino World is a new open-world adventure that captures the familiarity of the TV show and films, with plenty of interactive exploration and mini-game fun.
The plot loosely follows the film, where Mayor Humdinger causes a ruckus around Dino Island, scaring local dinosaurs from their homes, stealing their eggs, and more. The PAW Patrol are hot on his trail and team up with wheelchair-using pup Rex and his T-Rex friend Timmy to set things right.
PAW Patrol Dino World lets players drive through an enormous world filled with dinosaurs
As an open-world game, Dino World promises a surprisingly large map to explore, with four distinct regions packed with interactive puzzles, hidden collectables, and dinosaurs to seek out and befriend. Gameplay centres around using the right pup for the right job. You’ll cycle through the entire PAW Patrol roster, using unique abilities to gradually restore habitats to their former glory.
Want to clear fallen rocks? You need Rubble. Fix broken objects? Swap to Rocky. Clean up dirty dinosaurs? Marshal’s water cannons should do the job. And so on. Puzzles often involve entering the correct button sequence or driving around a screen and avoiding dangers. While there’s a small bit of repetition, the game changes who you need to use regularly enough to keep things feeling fresh.
Every pup has their own unique abilities to help you solve problems
For kids in particular, Dino World is a game that always wants you to succeed. Ryder will be on hand to remind you of tasks. Helpful icons and paw print trails also point you in the right direction of objectives. This means kids can enjoy a bit of independence when playing. That said, a 2-player split-screen option invites parents and guardians to jump into the fun, too.
PAW Patrol Dino World is ideal for franchise fans. The main story will take upwards of 3 to 4 hours to complete, but a vast open world, huge selection of collectables, and entertaining driving gameplay should keep the fun going long after you roll the credits.
PAW Patrol Dino World is available to play on PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 1&2, and PC
Duskfade
Duskfade is a brand-new platformer that has surprised so many of us upon release. It bottles the magic of the classic PlayStation 2 era, balancing nostalgia with a sleek, modern finish. And while its inspirations are obvious, it has enough unique elements to forge its own identity and stand on its own.
You play as the young hero, Zirian, who must rescue his sister, Allira, from a mysterious clock tower that has plunged his world into eternal night. With his trusty sword and a mechanical cuckoo sidekick by his side, Zirian will also uncover the secrets of the mysterious Master Clockmakers. This is very much a coming-of-age story. And though it takes time to rev its engine, the overall story has lots of emotional depth.
Duskfade manages to capture the magic of the PS2 era
From the opening scenes, the game looks, feels and plays like Kingdom Hearts’ long-lost cousin, which of course I say as a huge compliment. It is a game that defined a generation of gamers. Duskfade has a similar-looking hero, similar hack-and-slash combat, and similar environments that instantly transport you back to when games felt simpler and arguably more fun.
Combat is primarily a hack-and-slash affair, where you’ll vanquish little ink sprites throughout your journey, swinging your sword, dodging attacks, and reflecting projectiles back. When not fighting, you’ll busy yourself collecting crystals and exploring every nook and cranny around the levels. I was surprised by how often I wanted to wander off the beaten path, and by how often my curiosity was rewarded with collectables.
Duskfade will remind players of classics games like Kingdom Hearts
For a game all about time, Duskfade is a welcome trip down memory lane. Platformer fans will rejoice at the balance between combat and exploration, and a return to basic gameplay is refreshing. With a strong story and an interesting magical world, the game becomes a delightful surprise for 2026.
Duskfade is available to play on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC