One of the best parts of gaming is when a side character completely steals the show. You go in expecting to care about the protagonist, but then—bam!—some supporting cast member shows up, drops a few lines, or pulls off a memorable moment, and suddenly you’re wishing they were the star of the story.

If there’s one thing Donkey Kong Country Returns and Tropical Freeze taught us, it’s that with the right developer and a little Nintendo magic, even a dormant IP can become a modern classic. With the recent Donkey Kong buzz and a new entry finally on the horizon, it begs the question: what other classic Nintendo franchises are ripe for a next-gen revival?

Let’s be real—sometimes we drop full price on a game, only to realize later… yeah, this should’ve been a weekend rental at best. It’s the gamer’s version of buyer’s remorse. Whether it’s bloated open worlds, zero replay value, or just plain disappointment, some titles hit better when there’s an expiration date involved.

If you think great storytelling in games is reserved for a select few like The Last of Us or Red Dead Redemption 2, think again. Some of the most emotionally resonant, character-driven, or just plain wild narratives come from games you might’ve forgotten—or never thought of as narrative-first to begin with.

Every gamer has that game—the one everyone raves about, the one critics give perfect scores, the one your friends insist will “click” if you just give it more time. But no matter how many second chances you give it, you just…don’t love it. Today, we’re diving into exactly those heartbreakers: the games we desperately wish we loved, but couldn’t.

The video game industry is in the middle of a seismic shift. Between controversial subscription models and ballooning development budgets, players and developers alike are starting to feel the tension. This week, two major stories lit up the gaming world: the growing backlash against Xbox Game Pass, and Electronic Arts’ seemingly unrealistic expectations for Battlefield 6.

Last week, I had the chance to visit the Square Enix offices to take a look at and play their upcoming release of the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. And let me tell you, dear readers, you’re in for a treat!