Atomic Heart is a compelling and exciting sci-fi action RPG, with a unique and well-developed setting. Although it has its imperfections, from its slow pace to occasionally annoying combat, the exciting mysteries at the heart of, well, Atomic Heart, made it worth powering through. For action-RPG fans with a taste for alternate history settings, Atomic Heart is definitely worth diving into, and I am excited to see what developer Mundfish has to offer in the future.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen is easily the best expansion since The Taken King. Savathûn and her story are engaging and thrilling to play, each mission putting the always stunning art and design on display. With glaive in hand, new mighty Void powers, and weapon crafting at your arsenal, Guardians will have a terrific time annihilating hordes of Hive in the campaign and raids. Unfortunately, it’s not a newbie-friendly expansion. The complicated narrative and deep history which is partly unplayable due to removed content, as well as awful UI, make it challenging for even previous players to jump back into the journey. If you’ve been playing Destiny 2 and still are, you need to play The Witch Queen.

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.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a fresh coat of paint for the twisted take on Disney’s forgotten edges, yet it falls short of being a masterpiece. As remakes go, the game breathes new life into the graphics, even adding extra gameplay moves and other quality-of-life improvements. However, a tedious objective system and a lack of voiced dialogue feels like a missed opportunity for Mickey’s return. Despite this, the title shines in its preservation of a unique chapter in Disney’s gaming legacy and offers hope that we might just see more from Mickey and Oswald yet.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a quirky little diversion from the main series. Replacing swift combat with slow-paced exploration and puzzles, it’s quite a different attraction. I love the storybook illustrations and narration, and exploring the atmospheric Avalon Forest with Cheshire’s various abilities was great fun. Issues with the forest’s discouraging mazelike map and the simplistic combat are easily trumped by the oodles of character and charm offered by this whimsical spin-off.

Amnesia: The Bunker packs in all the scares of its lineage and leans into modern survival game tropes. I would’ve liked to see this one rely more on controls and interactive moments that allow the player to feel like they have more agency over the game, including its story. At the end of the day, if you’re here to be spooked, you’ll have fun, but don’t expect to be replaying this one until the next series installment.

Warhammer 40000: Rogue Trader does a great job of putting you in the shoes of space royalty. You travel around galaxies and explore new areas while addressing issues that plague your rule. Combat is strategic and encourages you to use the strengths of your companions. Exploring new galaxies and harvesting resources immerses you in the role of Rogue Trader, encouraging you to be the ruler you want to be. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of information to learn for players new to Warhammer 40K and the maps aren’t very helpful. But if you are willing to spend the time to learn and experiment, there’s a fun strategy RPG waiting to be explored.

With a truly unique concept that’s different from any other horror game out there, Killer Frequency mixes just the right amount of campy thrills to keep its serial killer narrative moving along swiftly. As you’re saving civilians using clues around the radio station while cracking jokes and enjoying some retro-inspired tracks, it’s hard not to get invested in the story and setting, especially as it features such strong performances from its wacky cast. The pace can be slow at times, but the twists and turns kept me eager to speak with every new caller. You can trust me as a seasoned producer and presenter: this is one radio program worth tuning in for.

Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei has great world-building and complex characters that helps to deliver a powerful story. Being able to shape the personality of the main character and feel invested in their adventure immerses you into the story, and you are tempted to see how everything ties together. The visual novel helps to break up the story and makes it easier to follow along. Replaying for different routes can be difficult since it’s not always clear what your choices affect, and the intensity of the action scenes isn’t helped by the visual novel medium. Despite its flaws, the story remains excellent, and you will be interested in seeing how the characters determine their future.

As I write this review a couple of weeks after Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realm of Ruin’s launch I can’t help but feel sad. It’s a very good game despite its issues and an incredibly strong first RTS from a studio known for their management sims. A sequel that addresses its handful of shortcomings could absolutely be top-tier. Depressingly the writing already appears to be on the wall however, with the studio already announcing that they’re returning to the genre that made them famous after the game’s launch sales were so poor it tanked their stock price. Oh well.

Even though its overarching story world could be fleshed out further, Dicefolk offers a refreshing take on the roguelike formula. Thanks to its combat mechanics, dice system, and variety of chimeras and equipment, gameplay is varied and complex while still being accessible to newcomers. Added to this, the feature of customising different dice allows players to tailor their dice according to their personal tastes and playstyle, making Dicefolk a good fit for both casual and more hard-core roguelike fans.

Even though some of the puzzles outstay their welcome and can throw the pace off a bit, MADiSON doesn’t linger too long overall and the horrific atmosphere makes it a haunted house ride more than worth the price of admission. There’s plenty of moments that had me screaming and then laughing, my heart racing and palms sweating as I dreaded turning another corner, knowing that something awful was likely waiting for me. The soundtrack is particularly effective in making you feel tense at all times, with loud noises blaring at just the right moments, as shadowy figures loom just out the corner of your eye and a puzzle solution lies just out of reach. While MADiSON doesn’t tread a lot of new ground, its creators clearly have a love of horror and know what makes the genre tick, resulting in a solid spook-fest that will haunt your thoughts.

Adore is a rather good game that has a refreshing spin on the creature collection genre. The action-based isometric combat presents a unique take regarding controlling a team of creatures, and mastering when to summon them and customising a team made for a compelling experience. The gorgeous and charming art and soundtrack are also a pleasant inclusion. While the very limited variety in quest objectives starts to become an issue long before the credits roll, you can definitely still have a fun time with Adore’s new interpretation of isometric dungeon crawling and creature collecting.

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club improves on the old-school mystery visual novel mechanics that the 2021 remakes refined, eliminating some of the trial-and-error frustration while keeping things focused on interviews with witnesses. While the mystery of Emio isn’t my favourite of the series, it’s still a mostly well-crafted story with gorgeously animated characters.

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.

Sniper Elite 5 is a culmination of many years of gameplay systems and development processes being polished to a mirror sheen. Making tremendous strides in both technology and visuals, Sniper Elite 5 can stand amongst the likes of its AAA contemporaries with gorgeous, realistic environments and visuals. Character modelling and animation could still use some refinement and the narrative left something to be desired, though the story thread was enough to provide adequate pacing for the action on screen. If you’re a fan of the series or looking to finally see what all the fuss is about, Sniper Elite 5 is the best the series has ever been.

Coral Island takes cues from the best games in the business to create a mix of farming and lifestyle gameplay, and so it gets most things right. It’s lacking in a bit of unique flavour and the first few seasons play a bit like a Stardew Valley clone, but it comes into its own soon enough. I wish the more interesting ocean gameplay hadn’t been relegated to the 2024 roadmap, but what’s here is just as addicting as any great farming sim. It’s only going to get better, and it’s an easy recommendation for genre fans.

While Song of Nunu tells a story set in a pre-established League of Legends universe, players who have never played the MOBA won’t be lost in this magical journey. There are some issues throughout the game including glitches and framerate, but the musical score and voice acting is superb. A healthy amount of accessibility options also helps to ensure Song of Nunu shines for all gamers. It won’t change the landscape of the League of Legends brand, but it does elevate and diversify, bringing something non-fans and fans alike can enjoy.

You probably already know if you are the target audience for Dread Templar. The game skillfully captures the spirit of classic FPS’, for better and for worse. The challenging gameplay with a large arsenal of crazy weapons is there, along with deep, secret-filled levels. However, it has all been done before, and while Dread Templar is a very competent and enjoyable shooter, it doesn’t do a whole lot to carve out an identity of its own outside of being a homage. Still, if you’re into classic FPS games and want a modern title that strongly evokes the era, you could do a lot worse than Dread Templar.

ANONYMOUS;CODE is a story that requires a solid time investment from you. It’s a difficult story to grasp at first and things only get weirder from there. But if you do put in the time, you will experience a thrilling sci-fi adventure like no other. The concept of reloading previous saves is taken to another level and it’s done well. You really feel like you stepped into a realistic future that we might experience one day. It’s not a perfect story by any means and there are moments where the immersion is broken. But even with the flaws, it’s a visual novel that delivers on its premise and keeps you hooked.

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.

Overall, The Valiant offers an engaging strategy experience that, while not offering anything ground-breaking, will keep RTS fans entertained. While the single-player campaign is presented in a traditional run-of-the-mill format, its multiplayer modes are sure to delight both old and new strategy fans. For that reason alone, the game is worth picking up.

The King is Watching is a satisfying, if slightly homogeneous, tetris-like roguelite base builder. While it struggles a bit with variety and uneven meta-progression, its gaze mechanic is a simple and clean hook that, alongside a creative setting and range of kings, makes for an almost comforting building manager run after run. The only problem is, that may not be enough to steal player’s gaze away from the wealth of other roguelikes it’s competing with this year.

Fundamentally, Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores repeats a lot of the same beats as the main game, and doesn’t explore much new territory in terms of world-building or gameplay. However, the minor gameplay additions are certainly fun and welcome, and if you enjoyed the base game, this expansion is certainly still an enjoyable time, prolonged final boss fight aside. As an epilogue with some fun diversions, which also expands upon Aloy’s character arc from the base game and introduces a great new supporting character, Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is definitely worth checking out for anyone wanting a good excuse to return to the game.

A whimsical romp across a colourful world of magic and monsters, Dragon Quest Treasures is a comforting and nostalgia-filled addition to the series. From its recruitable monsters that ooze personality to its collectible trophies, this title is full of charm and is an absolute joy to play – in short sessions. Some frustrating camera issues and a repetitive gameplay loop do get stale when playing for longer periods. Dragon Quest Treasures is best enjoyed in little bites, each of which is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a great title to rescue from the Wii's library, allowing a new generation of gamers to enjoy this masterful platformer. It didn't need a total overhaul, so it makes sense that it's just an HD rerelease rather than a total remake, but the problem is that it's priced the same as a brand-new 2025 title, which doesn't seem fair no matter how HD it is. If you don't mind the cost, you'll have yet another amazing game on Switch, but if you don't want to drop the full price on a 14-year-old game, I wouldn't blame you.

I had a good time with High on Life, but I can’t promise that everyone else will. Although the basic first-person shooter gameplay is hardly a revolution in game design, its certainly more than competent and accomplishes what it needs to, even with its significant lack of variety in the game’s second half. Where High on Life is likely to be polarising is its dialogue and humour, which are prevalent enough that they are hard to ignore. If you’re looking for a decent FPS that doesn’t overstay its welcome and can accept that not every joke is likely to land, then High on Life is certainly worth checking out.

A joyful, unapologetically silly celebration of being different, To a T offers up a chaotic series of adventures that the right player will find absolutely delightful. On top of this, it explores themes of disability inclusion, bullying, and loss in a positive and uniquely accessible way. Despite some moments of tedium and a little too much repetition, To a T is a jolly great time and a perfect treat for younger or cosy gamers.