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.