In its latest issue released on September 4, Japan's authoritative gaming magazine Famitsu announced scores for several new titles launching in September. Only one game this issue crossed the 35-point threshold to enter the Platinum Hall.
Top Spot: Orbitals—35 points (8/9/9/9)
Leading this issue's rankings is Orbitals, a sci-fi co-op action game exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. All four reviewers gave it high marks, resulting in a total score of 35/40. Critics highly praised its game design, asymmetric gameplay, and technical performance, calling it "one of the most promising titles" on the Switch 2 platform. Notably, Orbitals had not been officially revealed in any trailers or Direct presentations prior to this, making the Famitsu score the first time the public learned of the game's existence.
Tied for Second: Oni Musha: Way of the Sword — 34 points (9/9/8/8)
Capcom's classic samurai series makes a long-awaited return. Oni Musha: Way of the Sword for PS5/Xbox Series/Switch 2/PC took second place with a score of 34. Japanese media praised the development team for successfully preserving the original's dark atmosphere while delivering a deep and satisfying combat system.
Tied for Second: Blood of the Dawnwalker — 34 points (9/8/8/9)
Blood of the Dawnwalker, a dark fantasy RPG published by Bandai Namco, also scored 34 points. Reviews highlighted the game's rich atmosphere and strong narrative capabilities, positioning it as one of the most noteworthy RPGs of the season.
Mid-to-low tier
The lower half features more niche, small-to-medium sized titles. The emotional music adventure Afterlove EP received a solid 29 points. Kemco's traditional JRPG Asdivine Knot earned a steady 28 points (7/7/7/7). Ratalaika Games' platformer John Fox scored only 23 points, with reviewers describing the game as "unremarkable," appealing mainly to players seeking lightweight achievements.