Against all odds, the Gothic 1 Remake is an incredibly faithful adaptation of the original cult-classic while also making both visual and mechanical improvements. While it certainly isn’t perfect, it manages to make an important part of gaming history more accessible and doesn’t ever forsake its vision to appeal to modern audiences. It may be too frustrating for some, but anyone ready to embrace brutal life in the Colony will find a lot to be immersed in.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is perhaps not as good as it could have been, but that doesn't stop it from being a very satisfying time. Elliot and Faie make for fun protagonists, and the game's combat, magic and upgrade systems are deep and enjoyable. Although I would have enjoyed more puzzles and varied world maps, I had a great time with what the game gave me. If you like gorgeous action RPGs, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales has a lot to offer, and you'll be sure to have a fantastic escapade.

Schrodinger’s Call is a wonderful surprise, a story full of emotion that is told so beautifully through its writing, art and soundtrack. It beautifully captures feelings of grief, loneliness and envy in such an empathetic and heartfelt way and proves that joy can still be found, even in the 21 nanoseconds before the world ends for good.

Overall, Momento is short and sweet and a great way to pass the time. While it isn’t traditionally story-driven, it’s the type of game where narrative threads can be discovered and pieced together. What you will find is a beautiful experience that is unforgettable. The sound design is fantastic, and sometimes specific ambient noises like the warbling of a magpie can instil some lovely nostalgia. There are references and Easter eggs found throughout, which makes it fun when you notice what it’s alluding to. Fat Alien Cat and Nomo Studio outdid themselves with the amazing graphics and the room variations, with only a couple of areas for improvement.

Swan Song is a charming game of interlocking narrative vision, puzzle design and presentation. While the former two pieces contain some shortcomings through a lack of difficulty, abstraction and too much familiarity, this is still a touching and neatly designed ludic exploration of death, grief and what we might leave behind in both our final moments and throughout life itself.

Rose and Locket is a stunning gunslinging trip through the underwest that combines graphic novel affordances with the animation and art direction of Tartakovsky. Its interactive panels crackle with ingenuity and flair and, putting aside some holes in its quickfire combat, make for a graphical pleasure of a playthrough.

Blueberry is an experience that made me think about my own road to recovery, and how seeking help completely changed my life for the better. I love the constant symbolism throughout that hints at bigger issues, but lets the player decide for themselves what their implications are. Blueberry very much advocates for people to seek help if they are suffering with their past, and it’s admirable how they depict the journey as one that isn’t linear, isn’t easy and is unique to every single person. The one big issue I had with the game is the lack of reflection once the game has finished. Your choices matter, and I believe the majority of players would benefit from an explanation after the credits roll. Blueberry is a game for anyone who has, is, or wants to embark on a mental health journey through their trauma. The journey won’t be easy, but trust someone who has been there – it will transform your life.

A worthy spiritual successor to Yacht Club Games’ Shovel Knight series, Mina the Hollower takes the studio’s love of retro aesthetics and strange fascination with digging and has crafted a fantastic world to explore, above and below ground. With its appealingly user-friendly Modifiers system, Mina the Hollower feels approachable no matter what level of challenge you are seeking. Whether you’re a nostalgic fan of the 90s era of The Legend of Zelda, or a modern gamer looking for a tough but fair action game with a retro flair to it, Mina the Hollower has quite definitely been worth the wait.

007 First Light understands that Bond isn’t just gadgets and gunfights. There’s a lot of charm and chaos, and an abundance of improvisation under pressure. IO Interactive captures that brilliantly, giving us a slick espionage thriller that is just as fun to explore as it is to survive, as well as an additional TacSim mode for replayability. 007 First Light is up there as one of the best Bond games of all-time.

Full of surprises and not afraid to throw you into the deep end, Yerba Buena is a delectably tricky linear puzzle narrative adventure masquerading as a colourful physics sandbox. Transferring properties wildly around a gamified 1970s San Francisco is tonnes of fun, with stylised environments adding life and colour to your puzzle playground. While the storytelling won’t be for everyone and there’s some imprecision in some of its mechanics, this game is a great little romp bursting with heart.

LumenTale: Memories of Trey isn’t perfect, but it is definitely more than just a Pokémon fan game. From the 130+ Animon to the huge and detailed world, Beehive Studios has put a ton of heart and effort into this adventure, and a lot of the time, it can draw you right in. The plot can feel impenetrable at times, and the gameplay has its quirks. However, if you’re a creature collector fan looking for something new, LumenTale: Memories of Trey will definitely provide a memorable experience.

Schrodinger’s Cat Burglar is an impressively fun puzzle debut from Abandoned Sheep. Every puzzle was enjoyable and well thought out, with a natural and well-paced evolution of mechanics. Accessibility is a huge focus for the team, as the options for customisation are vast enough that nearly every possible issue someone might have playing this title can be addressed. The characters are charming, and the writing is full of wit and humour. With a super groovy soundtrack, family-friendly atmosphere and the most adorable protagonist, this title is sure to be a hit with puzzle fans of all ages, whether playing solo or couch co-op.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a fantastic experience that anyone can pick up and play, regardless of their playstyle. The game is played entirely at your own pace, being as challenging or as straightforward as you want it to be. You always feel like you're making progress, and you are constantly rewarded for your curiosity and being creative when thinking about how to interact with the wide variety of creatures and environments. If you're looking for a cozy, comforting and heartfelt game, or if you simply love Yoshi and want to have a great time, this will be a must-have for your collection.

Overall, Coffee Talk Tokyo is a game that shouldn’t be rushed. The story is good, and the characters have their own personalities, and your role as a barista determines whether they get a happy ending. If you want to live your barista dreams in the middle of Tokyo, where the supernatural and humans co-exist, this is the game for you. Just make sure you know the basic coffee structures, or you’ll make mistakes.

CASCADE cannot escape her past; it’s been haunting her long before she returned to Portofiro. But with the spectre of it looming over her, she pushes forward. The developers that remain at ZA/UM have done the same, and in so doing crafted a worthy follow-up to one of the greatest RPGs of all time.

Forza Horizon 6 hits the road with the most densely packed open world racing game ever created, in the truly iconic setting of Japan. Events and challenges cleverly mix intense racing with charming stories to discover that tap into the culture and community of Japan in a way that makes this the most inviting Forza Horizon map ever pieced together, while also being the largest. Yes, it’s still Forza Horizon as we know and love it, but you can easily make an argument for “best racing game of all time” if you particularly enjoy the Land of the Rising Sun. Arigatou gozaimasu.

RoadOut is a fun action RPG that manages to capture a lot of the pleasures of open world games, but on a smaller scale. Despite some tensions at the centre of its combat system between quick-fire reaction and steadier stamina-management that it never quite resolves, there is plenty of fun looting, racing, shooting and thrashing to be found in RoadOut’s Dead Zone of playfully remixed post-apocalyptic and cyberpunk genre tropes.

Call of the Elder Gods is a really well-designed puzzle game with great characters and a story that grips you the whole way through. It’s a shame that some of the plot developments don’t continue the whole way through the narrative, but it’s still a story well worth following. I can’t wait to see what eldritch ventures this team will send us on next.

Vampire Crawlers is a fun roguelike deckbuilder that you can easily spend hours playing. It’s fun trying different strategies and card combinations to overcome a dungeon’s bosses. Many concepts must be learned on the go, and it’s clear that some cards are much better than others. It helps if you are already familiar with Vampire Survivors, but even if you aren’t, you can still have a good time.

Mixtape is an adventure specifically for those of us who grew up in the angsty 90s. For those players, the top-tier soundtrack selection and unpacking themes you may have been avoiding for a few decades is going to hit very hard. For others, the rose-tinted glasses and hammy dialogue may feel distant or indulgent. Just like an actual mixtape someone makes for you, not every track lands. But it’s so clearly made with love, and the tracks that do will stay with you long after it’s over.

Wax Heads makes you feel like you are part of this safe, wholesome, creative world of Repeater Records, surrounded by alternative and queer folk who just want to keep rockin’ as long as they can. Finding records for people is fun, but also challenging, so you’ll have to not only scour Repeater’s records, but watch cutscenes, search through your apps, and pay attention to the customer’s vibe. For someone who grew up in 90s indie record stores, longing to hear something that would change my teen life, Wax Heads really cultivates an atmosphere of curiosity, love and respect for musical communities, and how much better music is when it involves human connection.

Gambonanza isn’t as feature-rich or varied as it could be, but it remains hypnotically compelling all the same. Whether you’re a champion chess player or don’t know your Rooks from your Pawns, Gambonanza’s short, sharp matches and varied Gambit mechanics are engagingly addictive, and are worth checking out for any roguelike fan.

inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories is a delightful, bite-sized exploration of finding beauty in the mundane and the importance of being kind. The setting feels intimate, like an episode from a slice-of-life anime. While the cast of characters is small, they are each equally as enjoyable to get to know, and their stories feel real and relatable. The simple gameplay style is satisfying, and the small touches, such as sticky notes from the day shift commending the work done on the night shift, brought a whole world of unseen characters to life.

Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is a heartfelt adventure that understands the magic of its storybook world. Jansson’s childhood series is rendered with such love and care that I quickly fell in love with the Moominverse. Hyper Games has very clearly treated the source material with great care and respect, creating an experience that feels made for longtime fans while also remaining warm and welcoming to newcomers. While the gameplay can feel repetitive at times and the firewood grind did sour my experience, it was still good to explore the snow-covered Moominvalley as the adorable Moomintroll to experience a winter that would send any Australian into shock.

SAROS delivers Housemarque’s best-in-class gameplay, backed by a genuinely intriguing narrative and a unique world. But it’s lacking polish, with performance and optimisation issues that are impossible to ignore for a game so reliant on precision. Arjun’s story truly gets its hooks into you and refuses to let go, but it’s difficult to give glowing praise in its current state. As it stands, SAROS is an excellent game that’s being held back from greatness.

Titanium Court possesses the spirit of the fool and the wit and insight to match. It is a joy of a game to clown around in – a hilarious, richly designed and ingeniously made roguelike that also gleefully points the finger back at us through the screen, daring us to prove that we don’t enjoy running around in circles for its own (and our) amusement. If it pleases the queen, this is a play of a game that deserves front row tickets.

Dosa Divas is another concise and wonderful RPG from Outerloop Games that may be simplistic, but in turn offers adventurous storytelling and themes. With a diverse cast of characters with strong voice acting, emotional beats that hit and a love of all things food and South Asian culture, it’s an incredibly impactful and resonant experience that is a damn great jaunt for the genre. Filled with striking vibes, the entire adventure melts in your mouth and goes down well, lingering within your brain like that one childhood dish you just can’t get enough of. There’s good eatin’ here, folks.

OPUS: Prism Peaks is a heartfelt journey about the human condition and the importance of friends and family. While this is a slower-paced experience, focused on imagery and storytelling, every aspect felt engaging and enjoyable. The 3D anime art style and vivid colours make the landscapes really pop and become the perfect backdrop for photo taking. A real orchestral soundtrack adds a beautiful layer of depth and emotion to the already emotional story, and it’s hard not to fall in love with the charismatic cast of characters. While this style of gameplay won’t be for everyone, the story is one that will stick with players for a long time.