The last week of May put four very different games in front of critics. There was an Early Access life sim, a Yoshi game reviewers liked without being fully convinced, a Bubsy platformer that turned out better than anyone expected, and a stealth heist game whose Metacritic score is much colder than its best moments.
In short: Paralives has the most long-term promise, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is the easy family pick, Bubsy 4D is a pleasant surprise, and Thick as Thieves is the gamble.
Paralives review scores: 7/10 in Early Access
Paralives entered Early Access on PC on May 25, 2026. Steam credits Alex Masse and team as developer and Paralives Studio as publisher. Reviewers are judging a work in progress, not a finished 1.0 life sim.
IGN gave it 7/10, saying it "hides plenty of potential behind a smattering of bugs and some mechanical simplicity" while calling it "a much-needed breath of fresh air" in a genre one series has owned for years. Most of the review covers the Paramaker character creator, the build tools, the cel-shaded art and the Parafolk, who come across a little stranger and more likeable than expected.
Metacritic doesn't have a Metascore yet because it's waiting on more scored reviews, but the excerpts are useful. IGN Deutschland also gave 70 and said it could become a real alternative to The Sims if the fixes and new systems keep coming. DualShockers was more cautious: it wants seasons and pets before buying in, but can picture a later version eating a lot of hours.
Reviewers like the art direction, the build tools and a life sim that isn't chasing realism. They're less sold on the personality systems, the repetition, the missing features and the Early Access bugs. If you want a finished replacement for The Sims today, wait. If you enjoy watching a systems-heavy game develop in public, this is the one to follow.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book reviews: charming but low on challenge
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book launched on Nintendo Switch 2 on May 21, 2026, published by Nintendo. The store listing doesn't name a separate developer, so we won't guess.
Critics agree on the strengths: inventive creature designs, the storybook presentation, and levels built around observing and discovering things rather than hard platforming. IGN was the harshest at 6/10, describing a game with a real spark that doesn't keep feeding it. "Its creative creature designs are truly impressive," it wrote, but the best ideas often go "unnurtured."
Metacritic's named reviews are kinder. GamingBolt gave 80 and called it "a lovely, very unique, very delightful platformer." GameOver.gr gave 70, calling it a simple, low-challenge platformer that's delightful to look at thanks to its stop-motion style, but likely to disappoint older players hoping for a true Yoshi's Island follow-up. Cubed3 also gave 70, praising pages "bursting with life and creativity" while noting the low stakes and lack of challenging platforming.
With named scores from 70 to 80 and IGN at 6/10, this comes down to taste rather than quality. If you want a low-pressure toy full of creatures to poke and catalogue, it sounds lovely. If you want Nintendo's platforming to push back, it sounds thin.
Bubsy 4D reviews: the comeback mostly works
Bubsy 4D came out on May 22, 2026, developed by Fabraz and published by Atari. Fabraz made Slime-San and Demon Tides, which goes some way to explaining why this isn't just a nostalgia gag.
IGN gave it 7/10 and called it "a stylish, if brief, comeback," and the review reads warmer than the number. It praises Bubsy's movement, the self-aware comeback story, and how the game handles the character's shaky legacy without being mean about it: "At its best, Bubsy 4D nails that slick, satisfying sense of mastery over your character." The complaints are sparse stages, some slippery precision sections and a campaign under four hours long.
On Metacritic, GamingBolt and Digital Chumps both gave 60. GamingBolt called it a solid return if you can live with the issues, and Digital Chumps wondered whether merely competent is enough for a character who's always been half mascot, half joke. TheGamer went to 80, calling it "one of the tightest controlling and most satisfying platformers out there" and a redemption story for one of gaming's most infamous mascots.
That's 60 to 80 with IGN in the middle. Nobody claims it's secretly Mario. The kind reading is that Fabraz gave a character remembered for attitude a movement system that feels good. The harsh reading is that the campaign is thin and the stages don't always reward exploring them.
Thick as Thieves review scores: 62 on Metacritic
Thick as Thieves launched on PC on May 20, 2026, developed by OtherSide Entertainment and published by Megabit Publishing. The studio's name gets old stealth fans interested. The reviews ask how patient you are with a good idea that still feels underfed.
IGN was the most generous major outlet at 7/10. It praised the co-op heist rhythm, the distinct toolkits, the level design, and the moments when a plan falls apart into a last-second run for the exit: "Moments like this are when Thick as Thieves sings." It said there's "enough to keep you coming back for one last job," but kept returning to the same complaint: there should be more game.
Metacritic is colder: 62 on PC from 23 critics, with 13% positive, 78% mixed and 9% negative. GameGrin gave 60 and said it "needs a little more time in the oven." Ragequit.gr also gave 60, calling it closer to an enhanced demo than a full release, though the low price makes it feel like an investment in future updates. Saudi Gamer gave 50, calling it a promising idea that never quite comes together.
With a stealth-loving co-op partner, you'll probably get good stories out of it: sneaking, improvising, arguing about the plan and getting out with seconds to spare. Alone, or expecting the depth the studio's name suggests, take the 62 seriously.
Which of the four to play now
Our read:
- Paralives: play now only if Early Access bugs sound like part of the fun. Otherwise check back in six months.
- Yoshi and the Mysterious Book: pick it up if charm matters more to you than challenge.
- Bubsy 4D: a good pick if you like short 3D platformers with some personality.
- Thick as Thieves: watch it if you have a stealth co-op friend and don't mind a game that may need another pass.
