What new games we’re playing this weekend (January 31-February 2)

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Table of Contents Ninja Gaiden 2 Black Sniper Elite: Resistance Hello Kitty: Island Adventure

It’s been a long month, but we’ve finally reached January’s end. That marks the end of a slow start to the video game year ahead of the busiest February in recent memory. In just a few weeks, you’ll be able to play Civilization 7, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Rift of the Necrodancer, and more. But before you get to all those, there are still a few neat January releases worth checking out. From the latest entry in the Sniper Elite series to a new Game Pass addition that’s getting buzz, this is what I’ll personally be dipping into this weekend.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black

Last week, Xbox gave us our first big surprise of 2025 — and it was a good one.Ninja Gaiden 2 Black revives a 2008 Xbox classic by giving it an Unreal Engine facelift. It’s a bit of an appetizer forNinja Gaiden 4, which is set to release later this year, so that’s as good an excuse as any to revisit a truly unique action game from a different era. Ninja Gaiden 2 doesn’t play like a modern action game. It’s an unrelentingly difficult game that will kick your butt if you don’t learn how to properly block and counter attacks. While you may find it a bit dated thanks to its unruly camera, it’s a great little blast for the past that’ll remind you of just how distinct action games used to be before studios doubled down on consistent, repeatable formulas.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

• 3 new PS Plus games to play this weekend (January 24-26)
• 3 PS Plus games you should play this weekend (January 17-19)
• What’s new in January 2025: 7 upcoming games worth checking out

Sniper Elite: Resistance

If you’ve never played a Sniper Elite game before, Resistance is as good a place as any to start. The latest entry in Rebellion’s shooter is