Best Served Cold is a digestif. A perfect palate cleanser to play after a larger more involved experience. Some elements don’t quite compliment one another, and there is certainly work here to improve the recipe. But these characters and world are strong enough to carry those shortcomings. While it isn’t a perfect cocktail, the writing and world elevate a mechanically simple experience into something narratively fulfilling. If you enjoy murder mysteries, and 1920s vibes, pull up a stool at the Nightcap — stay a while, and soak in the ambiance.

Freeride is an interesting mishmash of RPG and personality test, that does work in the end. The characters are all believable and have stories that feel authentically human. Your choices have an impact on the game itself; sure, you might not be able to see the lasting effects of the choices you make, but they will impact what the game sees of you. The telekinetic powers you’re given early into the game can be tricky to master due to the physics-based mechanics, but the game itself is visually appealing, and the music feels like players have stepped into a Studio Ghibli film. Based on this effort, it’s exciting to see what Flightyfelon Games cooks up next.

Despelote beautifully captures the mundane but rich childhood experience of play and sport through its gentle slice-of-life narrative. Via its stellar first-person soccer mechanics, intimate scope, and outstanding hand-made visual stylings, it succeeds at capturing a personal autobiographical sense of Ecuador and the quietly affecting experiences of youth.

LUNAR Remastered Collection is a warm and welcome return to the important and severely underrated ’90s JRPGs. Within are those iconic anime cutscenes, a charming cast of characters and a magical universe that spans a millennium. Though more could’ve been done to modernise the pair of adventures, including minimising the frustrating difficulty spikes and at times disorienting level design, it’s worth it for how this special and unique collection is enshrined today. The LUNAR games are an endearing and wonderful affair that shouldn’t be lost to time and are begging you to play them. If you make the right decision to do so, the rest will be history.

As a debut title, Violet Saint has done an impressive job of building a world that feels both dark and dismal, but also alive and full of character. Moroi is so much more than just a hack-and-slash, with both mystery and puzzles to solve throughout. The cast of absurd characters and humour keeps things light, even with all the gore, and the action packed combat sequences are bolstered by the pumping soundtrack. Even if you aren’t familiar with Romanian folklore, anyone who enjoys a good grimdark fantasy will enjoy Moroi.

Shotgun Cop Man delivers fast-paced, precision platforming that feels excellent once it has its hooks in you. It gets straight to the good stuff and strikes a great balance between approachability and difficulty. A few of the mechanics stand out as weaker than the rest, but the level design brings them together to create some really fun and challenging experiences.

Many Nights A Whisper is another magical story and experience from Deconstructeam, now with the added co-development of Selkie Harbour. Though some could take issue with its brief foray, it’s worth it for the incredibly pragmatic lens of teaching players to be okay with the unknown, while also questioning rituals and the everyday norm. How much stir and bubble you want to put out into the world is entirely up to you, and through controlling the protagonist known as The Dreamer, you get a microscopic look at what it means to put good out into the world, but also what implications that could have. Backed by an entrancing lo-fi soundtrack from the wonderful fingerspit, along with a colourful vignette of a greater world, Many Nights A Whisper reminds us that there is hope yet for this world. Through it all is that fiery, bright shining beacon of light in the distance.

Pecker is a short and sweet 3D platformer that places fun and whimsy at the centre of its experience. Its swathe of delightful mechanics are delightful to discover, though the title’s lack of polish and inconsistent level design does mar an otherwise joyful avian experience. Younger gamers will find plenty of pecky fun here.

Red Souls Games should be proud of releasing their debut title; there is no doubt about that. But as a game striving to honour the paragons of survival horror, Post Trauma significantly falls short. Its astounding art direction and captivating music create an unnervingly eerie atmosphere that will stick with you well after the game’s conclusion. But Post Trauma‘s muddled and borderline incoherent story, flat characters, frustratingly difficult puzzles, and incredibly easy gameplay, where the stakes are never felt, are a real disservice to what is a clear love letter to horror.

Skin Deep is a wild, fun, and inventive immersive sim, rewarding creative thinking and playful exploration. Its unique look and comical approach to gameplay make it a memorable experience, despite a few mechanical issues and overloaded moments. If you love Blendo Games’ offbeat signature style, blast off into this universe where cats are the real stars and space pirates are disposable entertainment.

Too often, video games are set in Western worlds, and protagonists aren’t culturally diverse. We need more games like Detective Dotson that explore different cultures and provide different worlds for gamers to explore, which may also help them gain a deeper understanding of what other cultures look and sound like. Detective Dotson is a super charming puzzle adventure that highlights the vibrancy of India via its interconnected characters, its use of colour and its charming retro pixel art style. Though I did come across a number of bugs and found it hard to piece together some evidence due to how the case logs are managed, I really enjoyed exploring, chatting and learning more about the delightful folk who inhabit Dotson’s wholesome world.

Blasting the door down and becoming an instant masterpiece classic, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 defies all expectations and ambitions and then some. Looking at decades of genre refinement and somehow still managing to innovate, creating immensely tactical, thought-provoking and rich combat is nothing short of a miracle achieved at the hands of Sandfall Interactive. Accompanying it is an entirely fresh and magnificent world full of wonders and beauty, even despite its intricate and often harrowing narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and so many RPGs that have come before it, the little expedition that could will be plastered across history with the greats. Bravo.

With a touching tale of yearning and personal growth on a backdrop of a near sci-fi future, Old Skies meets the standard of quality I’ve come to expect from Wadjet Eye Games. It explores the moral quandaries of time travel in a way I have not seen before, asking not what effect it might have on the future, but what effect it might have on the travellers. Its story is told well, all the while offering mostly quality puzzles that have plenty of potential for fleshing out in a future instalment.

Proving once more that Strange Scaffold is the indie king of weird, creative titles, Creepy Redneck Mansion 3 is another joyous romp under the studio’s now 10-titles-deep belt. Continuing the current Match 3 renaissance with meaningful turn-based battles with countless implementations of strategy, it’s only let up by the occasional frustrating encounter and not all that fun ending chasing in the game’s last act. Still managing to find the time for topical commentary on the state of game development amongst its kooky world, it’s a venture that’s more than the sum of its parts and with a surprising amount of bite for a puzzle game… just be wary they may very well come from that creepy Pclowntadactyl awaiting you around the next corner.

Warside is like an old family car (tank?). Familiar, sturdy, with a solid engine that will get you where you need to go, but with no frills and a rusty, barebones exterior. While its core tactical systems and pixel art aesthetics are entertaining and likely to satisfy subgenre fans, they remain underserved by a repetitive campaign, rough story and lack of supporting modes and features.

Maliki: Poison of the Past builds upon a unique concept of the butterfly effect; how one small change can alter the future. The art direction and style of the game are gorgeous, and there’s clear inspiration from JRPGs of the 2000s. But there are a lot of bugs that can make the game frustrating to play, like some enemies being immune to all attacks. Some mechanics aren’t explained well, and the lack of a map could make players disoriented. However, there is clear passion from the team on their love for France (or hatred for Paris), and I enjoyed learning about the more unknown landmarks. Fans of the webcomic will get a greater kick out of this, but non-fans might have to watch a Let’s Play to see if it’s for them.

Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy revamps a classic adventure that’s great fun for puzzle fans who enjoy scouring the environment for clues. It’s easy to get lost in the wonder of Amerzone without feeling too frustrated. However, the experience also brings some flaws from the past that haven’t translated well to the modern gaming environment. This makes the game great for a blast from the past, but a tough recommendation for modern puzzle players.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a beautifully directed, melancholy tale of friendships forged and lost. Resonant performances and strong visual direction across two vastly different time periods will immerse you in the stakes and drama of Velvet Cove. The journeys of the characters across both parts beautifully render the power of friendship in your youth, and the harsh reality of drifting apart. As is the case with all strong supernatural stories in the New Weird genre, the core story is relatable and human. While some minor narrative stumbles in the ending, with answers that may have better been left unsaid, do detract from the concluding moments, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is not a story to be missed.

The Hundred Line – Last Defense Academy is interesting; it does a surprisingly good job of meshing together the visual novel and strategy game elements in a satisfying way, but it just falls so incredibly short on the pacing that it makes it hard to properly enjoy these elements. There are some very cool developments in here, but it just takes so long to get to them that it almost feels like they are never coming. I have my complaints with it, certainly, but there is some truly great design in there, and I wish it got a chance to shine. For what it’s worth, Kodaka-san, I hope you don’t go bankrupt and quit making games forever.

Tempopo is a heartwarming little adventure that brings so much energy with its clever gameplay and charming visuals. Watching the little creatures successfully march as you solve each level is always satisfying. The straightforward mechanics in Tempopo ensure a very approachable experience for younger or inexperienced audiences. However, there are too many areas where it feels too simplistic, and lacks the polish to stand out as an exceptional puzzle game.

Bionic Bay is an enticing adventure with responsive controls that encourage players to zip energetically through these gorgeously obliterated environments. A fast and exciting gameplay experience remains rewarding throughout its campaign. Yet the reality-bending powers and smartest level design feel too sparsely used and lack depth. Players will likely enjoy the speedy platforming of Bionic Bay, but may wish the game fully realised the potential of its solid building blocks.

The Fool’s Apprentice is a neat concept that simply needs more time to cook. It has some cool ideas in using magical abilities to augment its management sim gameplay, and its soothing soundtrack complements its tone perfectly. However, a litany of technical issues and critical design flaws make it ultimately unplayable in its current state. Fingers crossed the team at The Planar Danse will be able to support The Fool’s Apprentice with updates and fully realise their vision for the game in time.

Rusty Rabbit constantly kept me entertained with its easy and fun gameplay, extensive lore and super cute visuals. I had an absolute blast drilling through bricks, chatting with the BBs and exploring all the different connected dungeons. Though some elements, such as the skill tree and reasons for requests, were hard to understand, I was always super pumped when I booted up Rusty Rabbit and got to spend time as a middle-aged, grumpy, yet strong and courageous junk yard bunny.

The main problem with Chains of Freedom is that it never stakes its own claim. It doesn’t carve out territory that feels unique and often feels more like an imitator of other games than something with its own personality. While the core mechanics are largely serviceable, without a unique angle, there are far greater entries in the turn-based tactics genre to spend your time with. Ultimately, the predictable narrative delivered by dull characters and the repetitive combat make this a difficult recommendation for all but the most die-hard fans of the genre.

Lushfoil Photography Sim is worth playing, especially for those who want to dabble in digital photography. The techniques used in the game mimic those in real life, the maps are close to accurate, and the added little challenges test your creative eye. The game is like visiting someone’s memory as you’re bound to a specific area, but the maps are huge and very detailed. While it does feel weird and somewhat scary being the only person wandering around popular tourist spots, exploring the wildlife and these unique places all by yourself turns them into a delightful nature/travel photography playground.

The Talos Principle: Reawakened is an already incredible game made more amazing thanks to meaningful quality of life additions, stellar graphical remastering and insightful new content in the new campaign and developer commentaries. It’s beautiful, tranquil and pensive. Filled with philosophical platitudes, brain-wrinkling puzzles and sheer tranquil vibes in all the environments, Croteam have masterfully reworked their beloved puzzle game to be as quintessential as ever.

Game Over: A Musical RPG is a passion project which is bleeding heart and soul. The soundtrack is incredible, every encounter is unique and entertaining, with nothing being repeated. All the characters are charming and have their own unique personalities that help the world feel grounded. The dialogue and comedy are perfectly timed and full of wit and there were genuine laughs around every corner. If you’re a fan of Undertale, Earthbound or The Stanley Parable, please do yourself a favour and check out this home-grown Australian indie.

Star Overdrive rides with so much damn heart and style that it’s hard not to appreciate its charm. While the combat definitely feels like more than a speed bump, and the camera can be road rage inducing, the exhilarating thrill of movement, unique storytelling and killer retro vibe keeps the somewhat bumpy ride going. Everything is nicely wrapped up in a compelling mystery, and if you’re down to drift through the world of Cebet to solve it, Star Overdrive definitely earns a place in your indie collection.

Promise Mascot Agency is bizarre, hilarious, stylish, and incredibly fun. It gets its hooks into you with its brilliant world-building, wicked sense of humour, and thrilling narrative, then delivers a blend of gameplay systems that combine into something truly unique. There are a few quality-of-life bugbears, but these pale in comparison to the wealth of content that this game has to offer.

I cannot overstate how much Blue Prince blew me away. With an addicting gameplay loop and an expansive mystery that appears bottomless, it’s the kind of game that makes you want to nuke your memory of playing it so that you can experience it all over again. Every time you think you’ve surely seen it all, it will prove you wrong with a new challenge that’ll test your powers of observation like never before. The sense of discovery you’ll feel time and time again is nothing short of phenomenal, making this debut game from Dogubomb something truly special.

Much like the titular protagonist having to restore his name and save face, The First Berserker: Khazan overcomes doubt that there is room for new, great big beasts in the Souls-like space. It may not be the most original experience and may be overflowing with too much loot, but despite that, it provides incredible play variety, meaningful character progression, spectacle, and exciting boss encounters to boot. Bathed in blood and dripping in metal-as-hell edge and angst, The First Berserker: Khazan is another unbelievably fun and great action RPG for the books.

South of Midnight delivers one of the most interesting and visually stunning settings in recent memory. It feels like a tribute to the Deep South; it shows reverence to actual folklore while adding its own interesting twists that interweave with Hazel’s family history and the story Compulsion Games wanted to tell. Its traversal and combat don’t offer anything we haven’t seen before, but it’s a well-made experience, with its biggest crime being overly familiar systems. What it lacks in gameplay innovation, it more than makes up for with its quirky storytelling and style; ultimately, South of Midnight offers a distinct and gripping point of view that’s hard not to fall in love with.

Squirreled Away is an adorably fun adventure where you get to live out your squirreliest fantasies. It feels very fun and fluid to run through the woods or climb the tallest trees. The building feels smooth and is detailed enough to build extravagant treehouses but easy enough to use that it never feels overwhelming. Squirreled Away hits the nail on the head on what makes a cozy exploration/builder game so fun, which is only amplified when joined by friends for mischievous co-op adventures.

While the Croc: Legend of the Gobbos remaster is a love letter to the original, packed with passionate behind-the-scenes features and a beautiful visual update, it’s hard to ignore that platforming has come a long way since 1997. The gameplay is clunky and simplistic compared to the experiences we’ve come to expect today. But for those who remember the days of tail-whipping, saving Gobbos, and hopping around the colourful worlds of Croc, this remaster is pure nostalgia gold.

A cosy, brief, beautifully crafted narrative experience, Leila tells its story in a uniquely interactive way. It leverages its gorgeous hand-drawn artwork in its environmental puzzles, which tend to satisfy despite some occasional frustrating pixel hunting. Its short length does mean that you’re left with more of an aesthetic wash rather than an impactful narrative journey, but for the right player, Leila’s bite-sized story will be just enough of a cosy treat to satisfy.

A touching fable of companionship, Koira is a strong debut title whose thoughtful design belies its simple presentation. Its charming use of music over dialogue, affection for small, quiet moments and simple but clever mechanics create an affecting journey through and with nature.

Rogue: Genesia is one of the most ambitious bullet heavens out there and is all from one hardworking developer, Ouadi Huard. It combines the best parts of genre titans to create a game with unlimited build potential, deep meta-progression, and a massive power curve. But it’s not perfect. Weapon imbalances and upgrade power mean challenge often takes a backseat to sheer spectacle, and the visual clutter may be overwhelming for some players. If you love min-maxing, insane scaling, and watching enemies evaporate by the thousands, this game is for you.

There are just too many amazing Soulslike efforts to justify spending a lot of time with AI Limit, but that doesn’t make it a bad game. It has some unique ideas that switch up combat just enough to be interesting, and its anime art style initially impresses. But for seasoned veterans of the genre, it doesn’t provide much of a challenge and mostly feels like a retread. I’m sure there are people out there who have been scarred by Dark Souls and are looking for an entry-level Soulslike to ease them back in, and that’s the kind of individual I’d recommend AI Limit to. They’ll have fun, but it’s a stepping stone to something far more riveting elsewhere.

Enjoyable enough to play for an hour or so, but Grit & Valor – 1949 quickly gave me the feeling of wishing I had the tools I needed to make responsive tactical decisions, and left me wanting to be offered choices that would lead me to different battleplans than the ones I started my runs with. In the end, providing giant robots just wasn’t enough to win the day.

Sonokuni is a blisteringly stylish, Hotline Miami-inspired action game that fuses razor-sharp gameplay with a culturally rich narrative and a hypnotic Japanese rap soundtrack. While a few technical hiccups and quality-of-life gripes slow it down, the game’s bold artistic choices and challenging combat offer a short but unforgettable experience.

MLB The Show 25 provides an authentic baseball experience that brings you directly to the field. Various gameplay modes challenge you and the settings let you further customise your experience. The niche appeal and high difficulty make it tough to recommend for players who aren’t already interested in baseball. But if you have any passing interest or knowledge, you won’t regret picking this game up.

Dollhouse: Behind The Broken Mirror felt like someone attempted to make a horror game who didn’t know what made them scary to begin with, and then didn’t show it to a single person for feedback before releasing it. The story is all over the place, and any lore you get throughout the game is hard to make sense of or connect to anything you have already learned. The enemies are obnoxious in number and any possible threat or fear goes out the window due to the sheer frustration that they instill. It feels like a bunch of half-baked concepts and locations thrown into a pot and left to boil for way too long. The flaws in the gameplay and overall functionality bleed so far through the experience that it felt like a slog, and the scariest part was the fact it took 8 hours to finish.

Rosewater is an epic point-and-click Western adventure that will satisfy fans of both genres. It’s easy to see the love that Grundislav Games have put into making Harley’s Rosewater tale as immersive and as riveting as possible. This epic, 20+ hour-long adventure, with its weaving narratives and character development, feels grandiose and impressive. This adventure title makes you feel like you are truly part of the action, with your choices determining Harley and her posses’ destiny.

More could have been done to make Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars a more momentous release for the series’ 30th anniversary. Quality of life additions such as a prettier look and cleaner HUD to the first game in particular could’ve made the two games stand together better in this collection, but two great games from thirty years ago are, unsurprisingly, still great games today. There’s a lot of magic, charm and gusto to recruiting your dozens upon dozens of friends and allies, all in the hope of overcoming a greater, more powerful looming threat. This beautiful but also simultaneously terrifying world full of injustice is incredibly timely for both returning fans and newcomer RPG enthusiasts like myself. So gather your friends; it’s time to take on the world.

Which Way Up: Galaxy Games is a fun party game with gravity mechanics keeping you on your toes. While there isn’t much to do in the single-player campaign, the multiplayer mode will keep you busy until more levels are released. Either way, the party games are very engaging and require players to use their new surroundings and gravity to complete the challenges. The designs are so cute and fit the game’s theme, the controls are easy to learn, even for those starting out, and overall, it has the potential to be a great game when you have friends coming over.

Look Outside is a moody horror RPG that is greater than the sum of its parts. Despite having a frustrating level design at times, a lack of map and being a little too breezy, what’s forefront and centre is the vibes and setting. Francis Coulombe nails this, providing richly detailed pixel art that depicts grotesque beasties and monsters. Amalgams are made of teeth and limbs. Guys with eye clusters poring out of their torso. The designs are the whole nine yards. It’s also a quality little bite-sized RPG with lots of charming systems and tidbits to flesh out the experience. Just, whatever you do, do not think too hard about the flesh monster that is knocking at your door. I promise all is OK.

Atomfall is a departure and a triumph for Rebellion Developments. A showcase of narrative freedom that allows players to discover their own story within a tightly designed puzzle sandbox. While the strict mechanics have been seen before, the depth of the world and strength of the central mystery are the secrets behind Atomfall’s true success.

In spite of its obscure, overwritten prose and awkward puzzles, Centum provides a chilling and compelling narrative experience that both devastates and provokes reflection. Its stunning environment design builds a universe that extends beyond the screen, while its grossly uncanny characters evoke a base level of anxiety that is at once compelling and horrifying. Recommended for fans of classic point-and-click spookies who don’t mind a bit of skim-reading.

Cabernet is a game with a lot of heart. It puts so much work into establishing the eastern-European setting, the vampire lore and all of its wonderful characters, which all have impressive voice acting that makes the story more emotional throughout. While the game does certainly lack a little polish in spots, it’s a highly engaging story that’s more than worth sinking your teeth into.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is another notch in the belt of this illustrious series. Sneaking and stabbing as Naoe or duelling foes in honourable combat as Yasuke, the duel protagonists are a genius addition to all the things we love about Assassin's Creed. Even though I haven't gelled with the more recent huge open-world AC titles, I leave my time with Assassin's Creed Shadows with renewed excitement for the series thanks to a more manageable map size and a great story. Add in the beautiful backdrop of medieval Japan throughout the seasons, and you've got a hit.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a welcome return to one of the most ambitious JRPGs of its time, refined with visual upgrades, quality-of-life improvements, and new story content. While the core gameplay remains as deep and rewarding as ever, some of its rougher edges, like clunky menus, a steep learning curve, and persistent pop-in, keep it from feeling as polished as Monolith Soft’s later work. Newcomers will find a daunting but fascinating journey, whereas returning fans can enjoy the extra content without reinventing the experience. It might not be the series' classic, but if you can embrace its complexity and occasional frustrations, Mira is still an open-world marvel.

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land is an undoubtedly fun, charming, and riveting entry into a well-established franchise. With a sprawling open world to explore, a variety of interesting ideas and themes, an extraordinary story, charming characters, and a completely overhauled synthesis system, Atelier Yumia is a great starting point for newcomers, and a welcomed addition to a much-loved franchise by fans.

Every game mode and feature in WWE 2K25 isn’t going to be for everyone, and that’s okay. Regardless of whether you’ll spend your time battling through the campaign, taking a Bloodline history lesson or strolling around the micro-transaction-riddled The Island, what’s included here is almost everything a wrestling fan could dream of. Packed with an epic roster, new match types, unbelievable creation options and smart gameplay tweaks that continue to prove the in-ring action is the best it’s ever been, it’s undisputed: WWE 2K25 is the best wrestling game available today. Put your ones up; because that’s not a prediction, that’s a spoiler.

It feels unfair to be so punishing to a studio’s debut game. Clearly, there is some affection for the genres it is playing within here, and the hand-drawn art style is admirable and something I wish more games sought to emulate. However, the sheer lack of polish and mediocrity of Morkull Ragast’s Rage’s game systems, metafictional elements and overall presentation left me raging at the Ragast, and not in the way I suspect the developers intended.

Wanderstop remains incredibly sincere and thoughtful with its biting story cooked up by Ivy Road without being overly sentimental or too delicate. Not afraid to show its teeth (including occasional gameplay obstacles), within is a stellar story about learning self-care and slowing down, a refreshing narrative departure for Davey Wreden in particular, bolstered by the co-writing of Karla Zimonja and moving performance by Kimberley Woods. Present also is a vibrant, whimsical and pragmatic take on the familiar shop-running and farming hybrid genre, told all through the lens of helping out a quaint tea shop with thoughtful and bespoke mechanics and interactivity. It’s dangerous to go alone. Why don’t you stay a while and have a nice cup of Earl Grey?

Overall, there is little that Sugardew Island does to make itself stand out. The initial premise is interesting and the art style quite cute, but it fails to create a real identity for itself and the gameplay, while perfectly serviceable, just isn’t interesting.

MainFrames is a delight to look at, but less enjoyable to actually play. The charming and cute aesthetics can’t save MainFrames from its simplistic gameplay which struggles to capitalise on its strong ideas.

Slime Heroes is a magical kids’ game with a hint of the Soulslike genre sprinkled onto it. While it’s not an exact replica of the genre, there are elements of it that make it a great way to introduce the genre to a younger audience. Even if you try to set the game to easy mode, it will still challenge you regardless of whether that would be the environment or the boss’ move sets. While there is not much to do in the overworld, it’s still such a colourful game with a great story to tell, and your skills will be tested if you’re willing to challenge yourself.

While PGA Tour 2K25 is definitely a competent golf game, it’s the little touches that elevate a game from good to great. In a genre as established as golf games, it’s surprising that this title doesn’t quite hit the mark. However, for those eager for the latest golfing experience or who haven’t played a new golf game in years, PGA Tour 2K25 is still a good choice.

Split Fiction is Hazelight Studios at its most ambitious, delivering a bold, inventive co-op adventure that pushes boundaries. Every level introduces fresh mechanics, keeping gameplay dynamic and challenging. The writing is sharp, the world design is stunning, and the boss fights are some of the most creative in years. While the villain falls flat, the emotional depth of Mio and Zoe’s journey makes for a compelling story about creativity, identity, and collaboration. It's a must-play for co-op fans who love a challenge. Hazelight Studios proves once again that no one does co-op better.

Knights in Tight Spaces has a core combat loop strong enough to carry the entire package and more than compensates for the hit-and-miss progression and the trite story. It constantly creates tactical puzzles that make you feel like a genius for escaping an impossible situation or a mastermind for pulling off a carefully laid trap. With a great sense of style and a banging soundtrack, Knights in Tight Spaces is a tough but fair tactical roguelike that will constantly have you playing just one more turn.

With high-energy beats and an outlandish visual style, Everhood 2 is an unconventional title that strays far from the beaten path. Despite falling for some RPG trappings leading to padded content, this release still finds a way to surprise and delight with moments of hallucinogenic thrill and perplexing characters that’ll leave you absorbed in the insanity.

Two Point Museum combines the Two Point series’ charm with museums to create a simulator experience you won’t forget. Building on a museum theme and making it your own is a true delight. There’s lots of flexibility and you can always challenge yourself to reach greater heights. Creating your dream museum will take lots of time and there is some randomness to it. But the elation of creating and supporting a museum is captured perfectly within this experience.

Monster Hunter Wilds is an excellent addition to Capcom's long-running series. The game combines the expansiveness of Monster Hunter World with the improved pacing of Monster Hunter Rise into something worthy of the sum of its parts. The new Focus Mode attacks look and feel amazing, the menagerie of new monsters to hunt is suitably varied and exciting to take down, and for those who are into it, the narrative has its moments. Admittedly, those who want more than the standard Monster Hunter gameplay loop may be left wanting; however, Considering the degree of post-launch support, both free and premium, that previous games have enjoyed, we can perhaps expect more down the line following Monster Hunter Wilds' release. Despite those concerns even in its launch state, Monster Hunter Wilds is an incredible time, whether you're new to the series or a Monster Hunter veteran.

Warriors: Abyss wastes no time giving players a tangible story and also appears to lack depth in its opening moments, but that also doesn’t matter. Instead, it focuses on translating the Musou experience into a tactile and fast-paced roguelike adventure and it excels at doing just that, rewarding players the more they put into it. Providing a thrilling and refreshing take on the Warriors series, it is not to be missed.

Stories From Sol: the Gun-Dog would fit right into any collection of the best PC-98 titles, emulating the detailed art and bit-crushed music flawlessly while also integrating modern game design to marry the best of both worlds. It creates an exciting and dramatic sci-fi universe just like your favourite mecha anime from the 80s, while avoiding the bad tropes that are best left in the past. It’s an excellent debut into the world of Sol, and I can’t wait for whatever next instalment may come.

Keep Driving may seem just like a car management sim, but it is so much more than that. It makes you take your time and focus on the necessary things; meaning it makes you think about the importance of being mindful and taking care of yourself. It is also a charming tribute to life on the road in the early 2000s before social media made adventures like this not so freeing and exciting. It challenges you with how you must continually manage your environment and self and gives you the autonomy to decide exactly what this road trip will look like for you. But, as the game says, you’re young – you’ve got time! So, slip in a Swedish indie CD, fill your tank and get ready to experience a cosy, yet exciting road trip and if all else fails – keep driving.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a thoroughly enjoyable sea-faring adventure filled with delightful ship combat and hectic brawling and swordplay encounters. Though it might rank somewhat lower in the series thanks to its weaker story and somewhat disappointing substories, it won’t bother players all that long when they merely engage in some of the open-world chaos that comes with living out a pirate’s life. Yo-ho, Yo-ho, a Mad Dog’s life for me.

Impeccable vibes, a solid narrative, and strong characters make the trip to Velvet Cove more than worth it. Tape 1 of Lost Records: Bloom and Rage effortlessly transports you back to a simpler time, while telling a grounded and melancholy tale of what happens when the perfect summer, isn’t. While it’s occasionally let down by an uneven technical state, the strength of the story still stands tall. I’m more than excited to continue the story of Swann and her friends in Tape 2.

While Waiting is a wonderful game about time wasting, and all the fun and creative ways in which you can do that. Sometimes all you can do is sit and wait, and sometimes that gives the most rewarding outcome. Sometimes the most important thing you can do with your time is nothing, as long as it’s with people you care about. Living life, being with the people you love and doing the things that make you happy is never a waste of time.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is enjoyable, but there are several other action-adventure games that simply do it better. If you like what Tomb Raider has offered so far, you should happily jump into this trilogy. Otherwise, better and cheaper alternatives like the first series of remasters, or the Legend trilogy may prove to be smarter options. Despite any flaws, it’s great to see Croft preserved in this way. Hopefully the next three titles also see a collection in future, to finally bring the full series to modern consoles.

Afterlove EP offers a deeply heartfelt and genuine narrative experience, showcasing clear thought and care in its world-building, characters, and storytelling. The rhythm game segments may not provide much of a challenge for the average gamer but do so much to add to the overall vibe, especially with the wonderful music. Though certain early sections may feel a bit too railroaded and lacking in dialogue choices, the journey as a whole is special with a story that is bound to pull at your heartstrings.

Avowed is impressive in almost everything it sets out to do. It has sharp writing, captivating companions, an intriguing story and a varied world that is just thrilling to explore. It's visually stunning, too, with high production values including satisfying audio that makes the Living Lands feel bustling with life. Where many games falter in offering "bigger and more", Avowed smartly focuses on its strengths, making for a breezy yet vibrant RPG that feels polished and intelligent, offering lots to do but never outstaying its welcome. Obsidian Entertainment has once again proven they are skilled storytellers, offering a must-play adventure for anyone who has a love for the fantastical.

Dawnfolk is a brilliant simplification of the city-building genre with satisfying, short scenarios to play through without skimping on difficulty. Even in easy mode, it does start getting tough towards the end and there are both hard and impossible modes on offer for those who want a little more spice. It’s supremely engaging visually and controls really well with an easily readable and comprehensible style. There are hours of fun to find in the darkness, so long as you are ready to illuminate it.

Blood Bar Tycoon is an overall enjoyable experience which is hindered from being great by small bugs that add up really fast. It’s got a clean and fun art style, and light humour that compliments the darker tone of the game. With the lack of an overall bigger story to pull you in and keep your interest, it falls victim to the ‘tycoon game turned idle game’ where you’re simply waiting for your machines to make stock. There’s not a lot to keep you coming back once you’ve achieved three stars in each bar; while it’s a relatively fun experience while you’re playing, the somewhat repetitive gameplay loop doesn’t offer much incentive for a repeat visit, even if the drinks are bloody delicious.

Though not quite as strong as its predecessor thanks to its narrative devices, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II is another incredibly strong RPG under Nihon Falcom’s long-running belt. The party is stacked this time and serves as a warm-found family. Perhaps one of the best in the RPG scene. With this, there are a lot of exciting combat shenanigans and party DNA to engage in, joyously laying waste to beasties and mysterious figures. Better yet, the city of Edith feels more lived and breathed in than ever thanks to the bountiful list of activities and completion metrics to engage with. Though their journey is slightly rocky, at least Arkride Solutions has and always will have each other.

Leaning more into visual novel territory than detective work, Urban Myth Dissolution Center firmly guides you through some of the spookiest stories in contemporary folklore. Its striking pixel art and emphasis on social media as a tool for investigation lend it a unique charm, though it’s let down by repetitive gameplay and awkwardness in its narrative pacing. Worth a look for fans of creepypasta, but those keen on a more fleshed-out investigative experience may be left wanting.

Slender Threads is an easily digestible adventure narrative, featuring great voice acting and a dramatic, spooky story. The sinister dream motivating Harvey’s actions adds some good tension to the unsettling town of Villa Ventana, but the big reveal at the end fails to impress. Seasoned veterans of adventure games may miss the lack of creative, out-of-the-box thinking, though the game’s simple puzzles will probably work for a casual playthrough, or for genre beginners.

Techno Banter is a wild ride that lets you have the power to control the vibe within the vibrating walls of The Green Door. The way that developer Dexai Arts has captured the grittiness of a Berlin party street with their vibrant yet seedy characters shows how much love and respect they have for this world. With fun, unique mini-games and music from real Berlin DJs, the atmosphere is unmistakably stylish. Incorporating a simulation-style game mechanic, and having to walk up and down Rainbow Road before and after your shift really gave me a sense of immersion in this world. For gamers who love the club scene or appreciate techno music, Techno Banter will make you feel like you are in control of the party, and that’s a pretty cool position to be in.

Rift of the Necrodancer is a solid rhythm game with some fresh and exciting takes on the classic Guitar Hero formula. The different enemy types and health system make this stand out from the crowd, but at higher difficulties, these fade into the background as you memorise your way through the tracks. Still, with killer design, delightful minigames and some absolutely banging tracks, this game delivers foot-tapping goodness that might just have you hooked.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is an incredibly ambitious RPG venture that soars when all its moving system parts and systems work as they’re meant to. As promised by Warhorse Studios themselves, protagonist Henry can be just about whatever you want him to be, whether that’s a wise diplomat, a mischievous thief or a drunk who finds himself regularly in barfights and down in the dirt. This is bolstered by meaningful skill specialisations, a strong bond between Henry and Hans and a story with exciting twists and turns. However, immersion is broken often with disappointing bugs, odd narrative choices that don’t bear weight and the fact female characters don’t get to do much of anything. A good game that could’ve been amazing had it been given a little longer to cook, Warhorse’s follow-up is a fun time despite all its obstacles but isn’t quite ready to be crowned victor just yet.

It can’t be denied how impressive Civilization VII is as a complete package. This is a franchise that finds a way to continually satisfy, even when compared to its already glowing legacy. Amongst a sea of strategy games, Civilization VII stands tall as a title that understands its identity, shows incredible attention to detail, and lives up to lofty expectations. Future expansions will undoubtedly fill certain notable absences, but even before then, we still have a formidable release that’s deservingly ready to eat away at your free time.

An incredible video game seventeen years ago and an incredible video game now, Ninja Gaiden II Black is an immensely strong and timeless action game. All these years later its combat animation, diverse arsenal of weapons and setpieces are unmatched. Though there’s still the issue of it not quite being the most definitive version, this 3D reboot run of the Ninja Gaiden franchise is as relevant as ever. Remember around the time of this trilogy when the age-old debate was whether pirates or ninjas would win in a fight? You simply need to look no further than Ryu and his friends in their blood-soaked glory.

Everything that I loved about Citizen Sleeper is present here in Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector. The music and art are as stunning as they ever were, the quality of the writing is exceptional and there is no shying away from complexity when it comes to the questions posed and the sometimes painful, but often beautiful conclusions drawn from them. While it doesn’t engage with its core theme as extensively as I might have liked, I found myself enjoying every moment I spent in the Starward Belt, and I was captivated by everything I saw through the Sleeper’s eyes.

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap takes a now-established idea and gives it new life via a roguelike progression system. Whilst the foundation of the idea is still solid and provides many an hour of fun, the implementation is needlessly grindy and imperfectly scaled. Deathtrap is not the evolution of the series we wanted it to be. It’s still a good amount of fun but falls short of its ultimate potential.

Eternal Strands delivers a slick, action-packed fantasy adventure with tonnes of heart and a whole lot of elemental fury to play with. Despite a little tedium creeping into its late-game grinding missions, it manages to weave an unbelievable number of mechanics into a cohesive gameplay loop that feels very satisfying. On top of that, its vibrant and imaginative world is gorgeously realised and full of delicious lore for fantasy nerds to devour. An incredibly strong first offering from new indie studio Yellow Brick Games.

SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada has some neat ideas that separate it from other extraction shooters on the market, but it can’t fully shake off its repetitive nature and half-baked concepts. The fun loop of exploring a dangerous world, gathering resources and trying to survive the numerous threats trying to take you down goes a long way initially but eventually loses steam as monotonous grindy objectives rear their ugly head on maps without much variety. For now, SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada doesn’t quite live up to its ambitions; but with its decent foundations and a bit of time to add, improve and tweak its interesting universe, it could grow into something special down the track.

The Stone of Madness feels like an admirable gamble of a new direction for The Game Kitchen, and one that mostly pays off. Besides the frustrations with the stealth, sanity system and inconsistent tone, its core prison break loop remains a satisfying one, and the monastery’s environmental design and artistic direction make it a compelling playground to explore.

The Roottrees Are Dead is a triumph of investigative fiction, offering a compelling yet grounded family mystery within countless articles, websites, and archives waiting for you to uncover. The game has been much improved over its original iteration on itch.io, and the extra content “Roottreemania” adds a cool follow-up mystery to the main one. Any fan of investigation games will have a great time with The Roottrees are Dead.

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter is an excellent follow-up to the first game, and a great game in its own right. The addition of elemental spells and overall rebalancing of a few features feels like an intuitive expansion of the original, and the new locations and characters introduced in this sequel were great additions, buoyed by Doug Cockle’s iconic narration. That said, it still doesn’t feel quite as good as it could be, with its preponderance of annoying flying bosses and Arlo’s disappointingly limited moveset. That said, Odd Bug Studio has a good thing going so far with the Tails of Iron series, and I look forward to what they have planned for the future.

Though Sniper Elite: Resistance ranks somewhat lower on the scale of games in the long-running franchise thanks to small bugs and a milquetoast campaign and protagonist, engaging in some sandbox Nazi-killing is still as fun as it’s ever been. From every viscerally satisfying shot that can sail through a Nazi’s skull to the hectic gunfights that hectically erupt across the battlefield, what remains as stellar as ever is the high-octane action. The game is bolstered by the emphasis on replayability with the quality of additional game modes and the fact it’s a side-offering to the main Sniper Elite narrative, leaving it a fitting venture for newcomers and veteran Nazi slayers. No matter who you are, Sniper Elite: Resistance is an action shooter game worth your time because, and say it with me, all Nazis must die.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins puts you in a unique outsider position to influence Romance of the Three Kingdoms to your liking. It gives nuance to characters and lets you see parts of the story in a new light. The visuals are gorgeous and the experience is more immersive than before. That said, it’s still the familiar musou combat and you shouldn’t encounter many surprises. If you haven’t touched a Dynasty Warriors game before, or haven’t played one for a while, this is the perfect opportunity to jump in.

NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD: Typing of The Net is a typing game that actually challenges you. Whilst there is a decent game here for those who love to test their typing skills and enjoy learning internet lingo, it’s a shame the experience doesn’t last very long. However, if you plan to pursue the mini secret section, you better hope that it doesn’t screw you over during a boss fight as there still seems to be a lot of instability and glitches in this build.

STAR WARS: Jedi Power Battles is a galactic disappointment. While some technical updates like faster load times are nice, the force is not strong with its outdated mechanics, frustrating platforming, and missed opportunities to fix core issues. A mediocre game from 2000 with no substantial changes simply doesn’t cut it in 2025. It’s a Womp rat of a re-release that fails to live up to the legacy of the Star Wars saga.

ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist offers an impressive Metroidvania experience, featuring hauntingly beautiful visuals, an evocative soundtrack, a unique story and a wonderfully genuine Homunculi cast that offers an exciting challenge for both seasoned Metroidvania fans and newcomers alike. While Lilac’s fragility and the few navigational issues may hinder your progress temporarily, stay persistent. It’s well worth seeing it through to the end to uncover the secrets of the Land of Fumes.

As a huge fan of the Tales series, Tales of Graces f Remastered is the ultimate way to experience one of the more thought-provoking and emotionally intriguing stories in the franchise. The quality of life improvements of this remaster not only serve to keep the series relevant, and greatly make up for some of the game’s bigger shortcomings, such as its slow opening act, and a padded-out end-game, but it is also an exciting study into what the franchise’s next remastered project might look like.

A lot of love for the survival horror genre has been put into Dead of Darkness, which shows in every aspect of the design. However, repetitive combat, constant inventory management, and frequent backtracking undercut the competent puzzle design and solid narrative. As a game so beholden to genre tropes and classic design, Dead of Darkness feels like it never quite knows how to play into its strengths. If you are a die-hard survival horror fan you might get some enjoyment over the throwback vibes—but otherwise, it may be better left in the dark.

Tyrant’s Realm charms with its PS1-inspired visuals and creative level design but falls short on challenge and polish. The combat and boss battles show promise, but a lack of difficulty and clunky elements like the HUD hold it back. Fun for a nostalgic dungeon crawl, but not a true Soulslike contender.