It feels excellent to be back in the world of Dead Space. Advancements in technology have allowed for further immersion into what remains one of the most engaging and terrifying horror video game worlds. The visual enhancements don’t stop there, also translating to clever planning of scares and moments of tension as you wander the Ishimura Station halls. It’s in some of this revisiting of those beloved halls that you’ll notice some dated gameplay design points not quite ironed over. However, it’s hardly a blip in the radar when you consider the other mountain of quality of life improvements to make this Isaac Clarke’s bloodiest and most delightful foray yet, with new tidbits to uncover and stellar survival horror to engage in. Dead Space has some life in it yet.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R serves as a reminder from Square Enix that this is an RPG property not to be ignored. On offer is one of the most enjoyable of its genre I’ve played in some time with a heartfelt story, colourful cast, and a wonderful fusion of both fantasy and science fiction goodness. The quality doesn’t end there, though. Deep leveling and specialistion systems make for meaningful refining of your party, becoming more self-sufficient the further along you get. This complements some battle encounters that are deeper than many other RPGs on the market, always keeping you on your toes. One or two quality-of-life additions that could’ve been better implemented aren’t a worry for long when you also consider how gorgeous the world of Expel really is, with its characters popping off your screen. A killer title to convert newcomers and satiate longtime fans, this remake is one for all and all for one. Star Ocean forever.

Do you want more of Bayonetta 1 and 2? That's Bayonetta 3! It keeps the heart and soul of the first two games in every sense, but adds even more fun ways to pound your enemies into the dirt with style. Its chock-full of action set pieces, each more ridiculous than the last — it stays at 100% almost the whole time. Our favourite witch is back in black!

RKGK is a tight, smooth platformer that lets you take your time exploring each level, then challenges you to rush out and apply what you’ve learned. It packs a ton of fun ideas and a wide spectrum of difficulty into 6 hours, and gives you more than enough reasons to return to earlier levels for more things to find. It’s all about art, down to how you will accidentally create art based on how you play. There needs to be more games like RKGK. It’s simple, sweet, and leaves you wanting more.

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.

I’ve been waiting for a game like Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. As the true successor to Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed, it brings back everything we loved about the fast-paced, chaotic kart racer: epic tracks that get more challenging from lap to lap, satisfying air tricks that reward you with boosts, all whilst adding more of that patented Sonic charm. With a long road of content ahead, it looks like the game will be a good bang for its buck; I just wish it didn’t include Nickelodeon.

Atelier Ryza 3 is a wonderfully cheerful celebration of everything there is to love about modern JRPGs. Its gorgeously realised world is filled to the brim with quirky characters, vibrant environments, and a whole lot of charm. While its many interlocking systems (which are taught through tutorials that prove simultaneously verbose and unhelpful) may prove a barrier for newer players, persistence and a sense of curiosity are rewarded with a rich and deeply satisfying level of mastery. The core gameplay features – exploration, combat, synthesis, and key creation – feed into each other in a delicious loop that is at once addictive and relaxing. Atelier Ryza 3 is a joyous, cosy romp that will delight any JRPG fan looking for something refreshing.

Planet of Lana II is the sequel to Wishfully’s debut game, Planet of Lana. Like its previous title, the game continues to have outstanding visuals and an amazing score. Even then, there are some great upgrades that make this sequel that much stronger. We get more insight into Lana’s aspirations, along with Mui’s backstory. Admittedly, it’s not all perfect; Mui’s controls feel sluggish, and there’s unnecessary gameplay sandwiched between two cutscenes. With that said, there are new adorable creatures introduced that Mui can control, and the puzzles work well within the game. Sometimes sequels aren’t as good as the prequel, but this time, Planet of Lana II knocks it out of the park.

Despite the passage of time, OFF still holds up incredibly well. The newer translation lets the utterly hilarious dialogue shine, the updates to the combat make it far more intuitive to use, but the part that really holds it together, the story, hasn’t changed at all, and honestly didn’t need to. It’s still a well-written, bite-sized experience that deserves the attention of anyone who loves newer RPG maker games or games inspired by that genre. You owe it to yourself to finally get around to beating OFF.

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.

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.

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.

It’s wonderful to play Dragon Quest VII Reimagined today, knowing the importance of the original in JRPG history more than 25 years ago. It also does exactly what it says on the tin; this is a reimagining of the original, removing some parts entirely and vastly improving its pacing and story flow. Its combat is still as fun as ever, with dual vocations allowing for more experimentation, and the puppet and diorama art style pops. Purists may struggle with or question some of the bolder changes here, but this version feels like a solid entry point and is far easier to recommend than its clunky, long-winded original, even if it may feel just a little bit less epic.

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.

Sonic Frontiers was definitely a risk, but SEGA and Sonic Team are no strangers to rolling the dice and operating on pure ambition. If we are honest with ourselves, for too long, Sonic has come up short on the execution. But this time the iconic speedster has truly delivered. Open world games might be a dime a dozen, and they have not reinvented the wheel here. Instead, they've successfully transported Sonic to an intriguing new world that is a pleasure to explore, while maintaining some retro flare and an engaging story that will make fans happy. Put simply, Sonic Frontiers is the best 3D Sonic game ever made, and a fantastic step in the right direction that bodes very well for the future of everybody's favourite blue hedgehog.

Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland is a heartfelt and inventive adventure game that blends fantasy storytelling with a linguistic twist. Players step into Lemon’s shoes as he navigates a magical world where words are spells, solving puzzles and restoring lost meanings to help NPCs rediscover their identities. With emotional depth, cultural nuance, and clever mechanics rooted in real-world language, the game offers a unique experience, even if some elements feel underutilized.

Battlefield 6 blasts onto the scene, writing the wrongs of the past in the legendary shooter franchise and destroying everything in its path, figuratively and literally. Its All-Out Warfare multiplayer remains an utter standout, offering modes that truly feel epic in scope and scale, with excellent gunplay and a bunch of well-balanced, visually appealing maps. While its single-player offering is a bit of a yawn, Battlefield 6 still manages to offer the most exhilarating multiplayer shooter experience on the market; a fantastic, bombastic sequel that confidently delivers on its many promises for those who like to break stuff.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder was a joy to play in 2023, and the Meetup in Bellabel Park expansion for Nintendo Switch 2 has only sweetened it. Even if you're only playing solo, the amazing new boss fights and extra challenges do a lot to inject additional variety and additional difficulty into the experience and make it worth a return to the Flower Kingdom. Once you have finished with those, Bellabel Park's minigame attractions are loads of fun if you have friends to play with, either in co-op or competitive play. While some of the features feel redundant, like the Co-Star Luma or greetings options, or gratuitously overpowered, like the Dual Badges, Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Meetup in Bellabel Park remains the definitive version of one of Nintendo's best 2D platformers.

A witty, vicious, and charming-as-heck romp through a Victorian steampunk city, Sovereign Syndicate wraps its tight, character-driven story in layers of deliciously decadent prose. Delving through the seedy underbelly of this alternate-universe East London is compelling on its own, made all the more intriguing by the different perspectives of its trio of protagonists. Despite a few glitches at launch and some slightly rushed final moments, Sovereign Syndicate is a deeply satisfying narrative RPG and an absolute pleasure to play through.

Owl Machine have put out a hell of a debut with Key Fairy. Within is an incredibly artful and picturesque dark fantasy world where the bullet-hell of it all is turned on its head to be a deeply involved, intense and demanding combat experience… without requiring the player to take any combat actions themselves. Zipping and prancing through its equal parts whimsical and horrific environments with beasties, gnomes and wizards is a sheer delight, thanks to its deliberate hand-drawn art style and thoughtfully mapped out and interconnected universe. Playing through Key Fairy isn’t just a fairy tale in and of itself; its entire existence is just that, serving as a magical dream for the Aussie indie game space. Pray tell, might you take a step into that dream world yourself?

Lost and Found Co. displays exactly what makes hidden-object games compelling. What starts as almost overwhelming density slowly, almost meditatively, becomes parsable with a bit of effort. Though the hints and juju points can cause frustration, Bit Egg Inc.’s passion still manages to shine through in every space you explore. There’s just so much care in the chaos and clutter. Even when finishing levels, I found myself lingering and still finding details I’d missed. Combined with an endearing story and a fun decorating system to spend many hours in, it all comes together in a great experience that’s hard not to enjoy.

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.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection joins the Nathan Drake Collection as the best way to experience some of the greatest titles PlayStation has ever put out into the world. Naughty Dog truly are kings of their craft, having created many of the industry's greatest games, and with Uncharted established a franchise that captures the movie-like-magic of adventure cinema and brings it into the interactive space. Who knows what the future of the Uncharted franchise has in store, but for now getting your hands on this collection is a sure-fire way to experience a platform-defining experience that should hold up for years to come.

It’s exciting to see such an iconic, loved horror series go in such a different direction with Silent Hill f. But while the combat has some tricks up its sleeve and the setting is distinct, it still inherently nails what makes a Silent Hill game so successful: the terror, the sense of dread, the enticing puzzles and the dark story with twists, turns and violence. Silent Hill f is a wonderful survival horror game that makes some compelling decisions about the future of the franchise, while managing to remember its past. It’s brutally bold and frighteningly great.

Timberborn has spent a long time in early access now, and all that time was clearly worth it because the game is incredibly well-crafted with only a few minor caveats. If you are looking for a city builder with a more naturalistic tone and some cute beavers to protect, this might be the one for you.

With or without friends, WarioWare: Move it! will have you smiling at every turn. Featuring hundreds of new and quirky micro-games, Move it! gets you on your feet and moving once more by striking silly poses with the Joy-Cons, which feels (mostly) natural and accurate. It’s not the kind of game you can play for hours, but it will be one to return to any time you need a pick-me-up. Its sense of humor and goofy mechanics will stay fresh for years to come. Finally, this is the successor to Smooth Moves we’ve been waiting for.

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.

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.