Weekend Games to Play: Castlevania, Kingdom Hearts and More

Release season now stretches well beyond its old November peak, and this weekend’s picks show how varied the lineup has become. There’s a new Castlevania built around exploration and demanding fights, a Kingdom Hearts collection that brings several entries to Switch 2, and a broad mix of party, rhythm and retro games. For players looking for something away from a screen, Forest Shuffle: Smoky Mountains offers a refined take on a strategic card game.

Some of the week’s other stories include a new Grand Theft Auto VI trailer, a Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse review, a preview of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (2026), and a look at Eternal Anima. The week also brought coverage of House House’s decision about Big Walk on Xbox and a review of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse

A long wait for a new Castlevania has produced an entry that feels at home in the series while giving it room to move forward. Charles Harte’s review praises its rich setting, tense combat and secret-filled map, and describes the game as a welcome return for the franchise.

The fit makes sense: the game comes from Evil Empire, the team behind Dead Cells, whose own design drew heavily on Castlevania. Here, Rose Belmont is satisfying to control, and the world rewards exploration without becoming a chore to navigate. Boss fights provide a tough, worthwhile test. The strongest endorsement may be the simplest one: this is the kind of adventure that makes it easy to keep playing past bedtime.

Silver Pines

Silver Pines pairs a Metroid-inspired structure with the unease of Silent Hill, then gives that familiar mix a striking visual identity. Its animation has the appearance of rotoscoping, though that technique hasn’t been confirmed. The effect lends the game an uncanny quality that suits its horror atmosphere.

A touch of Twin Peaks adds another note to the mood. That combination helps Silver Pines stand out among exploration games with similar foundations: the appeal isn’t only in the genre hook, but in the unsettling way the world looks and feels.

Just Dance: Decades of Hits

Decades of Hits gives Just Dance a soundtrack that reaches across generations. Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo sit alongside ABBA, the Spice Girls, No Doubt, Daft Punk, Britney Spears, Sum 41, TLC, Gorillaz, Run DMC, Billy Joel and Elton John. That range makes the collection especially appealing for groups whose music tastes don’t line up neatly.

The series’ elaborate stop-motion sequences are back, too. They remain a distinctive visual treat, adding a bit of spectacle between the familiar routine of picking a track and dancing along. For a household game night, the mix of pop eras gives players plenty of reasons to take a turn.

The Jackbox Party Pack 12

The latest Jackbox pack is built around quick group activities: sorting trivia into categories under time pressure, making ridiculous greeting cards, arguing silly positions, spotting connections among players, and manipulating selfies in Hyperface. As with other entries in the series, the lineup offers several different ways to get a group involved. The variety is the point; if one activity doesn’t land, another may become the one everyone wants to revisit.

Maestro on Switch 2

After arriving on VR platforms, Maestro has come to Switch and Switch 2, including as a physical cartridge. Players use Joy-Cons to conduct: keeping tempo, cueing musicians and adjusting dynamics. Its playlist ranges from classical composers Beethoven, Vivaldi and Tchaikovsky to music associated with Star Wars and Game of Thrones.

The presentation and story elements may not make a lasting impression, and the motion tracking occasionally misreads gestures. Still, the controls usually support the central fantasy, while the music does much of the heavy lifting. It’s an inviting fit for anyone curious about taking the podium without leaving the living room.

Toy Story: Retro Roundup and Toy Story 3 Complete Edition

Digital Eclipse’s Toy Story: Retro Roundup gathers multiple games from the franchise’s earlier years, including Toy Story, Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue, Toy Story 2, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command and Toy Story Racer. Several titles appear in more than one version, and the collection also includes the 1998 A Bug’s Life game.

It doesn’t offer the volume of archival extras found in collections such as Atari 50 or Tetris Forever, but interviews and behind-the-scenes materials give the package more to explore than a simple stack of old games. Toy Story 3 Complete Edition is also available separately this week, making for a second option for players revisiting the series.

Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III]

On Switch 2, Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] brings together Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMix, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind DLC. The first collection itself includes several games, among them the first two main entries, making this a substantial way to catch up on the saga ahead of Kingdom Hearts IV, which is expected next year.

The games run at HD resolutions in handheld and docked play, with gameplay at 60 frames per second. The collection feels well suited to Switch 2, and it gives newcomers a single place to start while offering returning fans another portable way to revisit the series.

Tabletop pick: Forest Shuffle: Smoky Mountains

This standalone Forest Shuffle version shifts the setting to North America’s Smoky Mountains and uses the opportunity to refine the game. It adjusts balance, adds a river and water terrain, and presents the forest with brighter visuals. The result is a stronger version of an already appealing game.

Players manage cards and build a tableau, gradually assembling a forest of trees, animals and plants. The combinations shape both the scene and the points players can earn, so each choice contributes to a growing ecosystem. Its rules are approachable, but planning the forest’s development offers meaningful strategic decisions. Winter’s arrival gives that process a natural endpoint—and a clear reason to make each turn count.