MechWarrior 5: Clans delivers the classic mech-based action fans will expect, while adding a plethora of new dynamics and modernization to keep things fresh.

Super Mario Party Jamboree takes the best parts of its predecessor and combines it with the best parts of the classics for an unforgettable Mario Party experience.

New World: Aeternum is the MMO that New World should have been in 2021. A few small niggles are keeping it from truly elite status.

Neva is a sublime experience, using a deceptively minimalist approach to tell one of the most heartfelt stories of the generation.

Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition, despite being another re-release, shows that Darksiders II is an incredible game that deserves more attention.

The sky was definitely not the limit for Sky Oceans: Wings for Hire.

Four years after arriving on other platforms, Trials of Mana for Xbox is a reassuring sign of future Square Enix releases on Microsoft consoles going forward, but as a product it shows its age and offers next to no improvements over the original 2020 remake.

Starfield: Shattered Space is a compelling but messy addition to Starfield and could be recommended to Starfield fans.

Until Dawn Remake is a painful reminder that change isn’t always good. A poor totem system, bad performance and clunky controls really hold it back from joining other great remakes of late.

Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero is a near-perfect representation of the legendary Shounen series, which comes with its own set of pros and cons but ultimately is a must-play for fans.

Metaphor: Refantazio excels in emotional, personal storytelling and sharp intriguing combat, making it a must play for any JRPG fan.

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred delivers a fresh yet familiar experience that will keep fans hooked for months.

Bloober Team has crafted a Silent Hill 2 remake that respects the original while delivering a fresh, terrifying experience.

Remnant II: The Dark Horizon's lacklustre story mixed with a shallow villain makes for a bland playthrough narratively. However, the new Warden Archetype, refined prism system, excellent new loot and new zones on N’Erud help pull the DLC up by its boots straps.

Legend of Mana has not missed a step in the 25 years since its original launch, and is a must-try for Xbox owners with Xbox Game Pass.

NHL 25 is a good game when it focuses on hockey, it’s when microtransactions come into play that things become tacky.

Ravenswatch blends remarkable gameplay with an incredible sense of style to make one of the most unique Roguelikes you’ll ever play.

If you can get past the childish and highly repetitive English dialogue, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 is a great option for players looking to mindlessly blast giant insects, aliens and Kaiju to bits with their friends, either online or with a local buddy.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom takes the best things from its Switch counterparts—and a few of the bad ones—and creates an incredible unique free-form top-down experience.

Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edition is easily the definitive way to experience Square's latest epic for those who can push the game to its limits on PC.

Beyond Galaxy takes the fundamentals of classic RPGs and expands on them to create a unique experience that’s wholly its own.

Bloomtown: A Different Story is a little rough around the edges, but this different kind of RPG inspired by Persona will take over their lives.

Shadows of Doubt as an idea is incredible; even the PC version of the game is fantastic; the console version, however, is riddled with issues that make it almost unplayable in its current state.

Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a welcome return to the world of the Wasteland. While not the most challenging game, it has that Disney charm from start to finish.

ARA: History Untold is an incredibly deep game, but one that might be too slow and cumbersome for anyone who isn’t a diehard fan of the genre.

God of War Ragnarök continues Jetpack Interactives' excellent porting efforts to provide PC players with the definitive version of the game.

Keylocker is a testament to smart Indie JRPG design, and is an easy recommendation for any fans of the genre.

Frostpunk 2 expands on what made the original so fresh. While a harsh difficulty might turn some players off, forging through is the name of the game in Frostpunk 2.

The Plucky Squire is a phenomenal game from a debut studio and is an absolute must-play.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster resurrects the dusty but intact bones of the original, revitalizing them with a new lease on life.

If you own or take care of a pet – or if you have kids who’d like a pet – do yourself a favor and play Copycat in one sitting. Make sure you have tissues ready.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a solid port of the Nintendo Switch original, free of all performance-related issues from its former release.

The Jackbox Naughty Pack delivers on its M rating and gives you a new way to play a classic party game with your friends, but prudes need not join in.

Funko Fusion is ultimately boring, with an overly long mission structure, bland gameplay elements, and a story that comes across as pointless as to why this mixture of characters is interacting.

I’d say Hollowbody was disappointing but everything it gets wrong about the horror genre is so common it's practically expected at this point.

Wild Bastards is everything a Rougelite should be: challenging, fun, stylish and deeply engaging.

Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria for Xbox is a great addition offering new players to Free Range Game’s continually improving survival title.

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is a solid return to the Quidditch pitch and is a must try for fans of the overarching series.

Castlevania Dominus Collection is a solid compilation that brings three exemplary classics out of their DS dungeon, and it’s a must-play for any Metroidvania fan.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection collects seven arcade-accurate ROMs in one comprehensive collection.

Episode Aigis is nearly a 1:1 remake of the Answer, completing the Persona 3 experience, but one that comes at an exorbitant cost to the fans.

ASTRO BOT is creative, inventive, insanely fun, and a true love letter to the legacy of the PlayStation.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is a bloody good time and a must play for Warhammer 40K fans or third person shooting games in general.

Incredible stories, stellar gameplay and updated audio and visuals make playing the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection the most logical decision.

The Casting of Frank Stone is an interesting, albeit mildly frustrating game that does a solid job expanding on the Dead by Daylight franchise.

Age of Mythology: Retold is a masterful blend of nostalgia and innovation that fans and newcomers will both cherish.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage was an indie game that meow-ed its way to the top despite its technical frustrations.

Visions of Mana marks a solid return to the series, featuring an emotionally engaging storyline and striking visuals. However, the side quests and voice acting may turn some players off.

Gundam Breaker 4 is a well-built return for the franchise that smartly doubles down on what everyone wants the most: customization.

Despite technical issues, Star Wars Outlaws was an incredibly engrossing adventure from its unique story perspective and engaging gameplay. It is the scoundrel story fans have always wanted.

BAKERU blends smooth platforming with incredible combat (and a plethora of gameplay variety) to create one of the most fun games I’ve played in a while.

Concord has a few interesting ideas, but its live service trappings, lacklustre game design and mediocre level design keep it from being truly great.

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain has a good enough base, but not enough magic to keep it afloat.

Madden 25 is a triumphant return to form for the Madden franchise and is easily the best entry in years.

Black Myth: Wukong masterfully takes what makes a good Soulslike tick without selling its own soul, delivering what is the best action game of the year.

Dustborn has solid ideas and phenomenal presentation but fails to do any of its many things well enough to be truly memorable.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits – Premium Edition for Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles has arrived at just the right time, delivering a challenging, high-quality, old-school action-adventure/puzzler that’s bound to keep gamers on the Xbox platform busy during the end-of-summer gaming doldrums.

The Crush House exceeded all my expectations, creating an experience that was enjoyable, engaging and incredibly reflective.

Arcade Paradise VR lets you run your own business while enjoying classic games of the yesteryears, complete with comfort options to alleviate most hassles when playing VR titles for prolonged periods.

It's a simple enough concept, but Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery brings puzzles, creativity, humour and challenge to the table in an adorable package.

Cat Quest 3 is a paw-some laid back adventure that could be enjoyed by anyone, especially if a friend is available to join in.

Creatures of Ava is cozy enough to be enjoyed without sacrificing style and challenge.

Despite its many flaws, starting with the ladder climbing and descending and ending with the worst jumping mechanic of any Souls title, Archangel Studios is constantly updating and improving the title so that fans can have a smoother experience when diving into the Omnistructure. However, if you have never played a Souls title before, this should not be your first. The Omnistructure is a maze of paths that feel far too similar, and this can turn players away from the genre entirely. All in all, Bleak Faith: Forsaken is a solid title and a must-try for the Souls faithful.

Despite a clumsy jump to console, The Mortuary Assistant remains an incredibly effective horror game.

Sword of Convallaria: For This World of Peace bleeds style and the TRPG genre in droves, but the inclusion of microtransactions maims the experience.

SteamWorld Heist II innovates on what made SteamWorld Heist 1 great, with some stumbling around its open-world design.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is a solid throwback to the glory days of 2000s action games.

F1 Manager 2024 is a very good Formula 1 simulation in every aspect of the management side of things. The sheer number of things you can adjust and change is staggering and perfect for the F1 connoisseur to tackle.

For better and for worse, Thank Goodness You’re Here! is unlike anything I’ve played recently: a short and mechanically lacking “slapformer” which makes up for its imperfections thanks to a bevy of hilarious jokes and zany artistic sensibilities. The final result is a game that is both more than the sum of its parts and a loving tribute to the archetypal northern English industrial town.

Once Human is a fantastic MMO based in an interesting post-apocalyptic landscape, but still has some growing to do to reach the peak of the genre.

While none of my issues while playing are game-breaking, College Football 25 has the rare advantage of being what feels like a complete reset of a franchise, which works in its favour. While College Football 25 is a massive step in the right direction for good video game football play, there is still a lot of work to be done.

Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure made sliding-block puzzles fun and interesting. That in and of itself is the highest praise I could give it.

Princess Maker 2 Regeneration was a prime reminder that some things do not need a re-release, despite some artistic additions.

Dungeons of Hinterberg feels like a fresh breath of the Austrian Alps as it recontextualizes familiar action-RPG elements in a charming and modern feeling adventure.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is both a loving celebration of the event's origins and a fun and exciting introduction to the world of speedrunning.

Hot Lap Racing is an entertaining arcade-style racing game, but falls flat on keeping one entertained with a minimal amount to do.

TMNT: Splintered Fate is not only a finely crafted roguelike, it's also one of the best takes on the franchise in recent memory and an instant contender for its best video game.

Magical Delicacy is a game that requires patience, but once you find that, the story, art, and overall vibe are more than worth its price tag.

Dawntrail goes exactly where Final Fantasy XIV needed to go, experimenting with the player character's role in this world as its borders expand.

Despite a solid shooter experience, EvilVEvil struggles to deliver a meaningful or engaging story. Some polish on existing systems and a better narrative moving forward could help elevate this co-op shooter to new heights.

Let's School has some interesting ideas, but fails to execute them in a satisfying way and is particularly unwieldy on the Switch.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a strategy game like no other, complete with that classic Capcom charm, making it an essential experience for longtime fans of the studio.

Much like its predecessor Darkest Dungeon II takes everything that was good about its previous release and perfectly tailors it to the Nintendo Switch

SPYxANYA: Operation Memories leaned heavy into Anya’s cuteness, the minigames were pretty detailed but everything else was monotonous.

Anger Foot Kicks things up to 11 with its fast-paced gameplay, stylish aesthetic and bumpin' tracks, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.

Fashionably two years late to its own Xbox debut party, Neon White doesn't make as big of a splash as its original PC port and brings no noticeable gameplay or visual enhancements to the table. However, it remains a high-quality game, and its Day One inclusion in Xbox Game Pass still warrants giving it a try.

Despite a few technical hiccups on the Switch Tchia remains a wonderfully wholesome adventure.

Party Animals is a chaotic online game with adorable furry animals punching and wielding weapons to compete in challenges but suffers from being repetitive and maps dragging on.

The Elder Scrolls Online: The Gold Road is a testament to good MMO development, and proves ESO is here to stay. A must play for Elder Scrolls lore fans, online and offline.

While it may feel like a step back from Luigi’s Mansion 3, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is an excellent glow-up of an excellent 3DS game.

Much like its updated predecessor RIVEN is an incredible remake of one of gaming's most iconic puzzle games.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble maintains the series’ iconic arcade fun while bringing fresh new elements to enhance the game like never before.

#BLUD encapsulates the feel of cartoons from the 90s onward in a fun and over-the-top Zelda-like experience that carves and slashes its own niche against the minions of darkness.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree elevates the already stellar base game to new and challenging heights, adding a wellspring of content that cannot be missed, making it an essential must-play for all Elden Lords.

The Final Shape is simultaneously Destiny 2's most personal, most daring, and most conservative expansion yet, pushing boundaries while also playing it safe.

Monster Hunter Stories is an admirable glow up of the 3DS classic that will please fans and newcomers alike.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is an interesting take on the Monster Hunter series. Honing in on the RPG mechanics, it changes the series in a way that makes it way more approachable than the main series.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance eclipses its predecessor in every way, making it one of the best turn-based JPRGs of the year.