Putting thoughts and feelings on remakes aside, Star Fox is a good game in its own right with a lot of replay value and a great entry point to the series. While it tends to play a little bit more safe then I would’ve liked to see for such an upscaled modern remake with countless opportunities to expand on the story and offer new content, there is plenty here to get to know the characters and have a good understanding of the Star Fox universe for the first time. For veterans and fans, I also think there is enough to do and appreciate, with plenty of challenges to master the game if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to become the greatest ace pilot in the galaxy.

Dark Scrolls is certainly fun at times, but it overall feels a bit insubstantial. If you’re looking for any sort of plot, Dark Scrolls proudly doesn’t have any of that. While it does have a fairly impressive number of varied characters to unlock, the oddly variable level of difficulty keeps it from being as mechanically satisfying as it could have been. It’s definitely not worth getting if you want to play it solo, but if you have friends to play with, there is some enjoyment to be had.

Deer & Boy is a beautifully crafted cinematic experience about two unlikely friends who find each other in their greatest time of need. A purposeful design choice to exclude dialogue has not only made this title more accessible to players of all ages and languages but has also given the other design elements more room to play and take up emotional space. The simple character design of the Deer and his Boy only heightens the visual depth of the detailed backgrounds and environments, with vivid colours and atmospheric lighting. A wonderfully enjoyable soundtrack wraps emotional moments in a tight hug, with all the design elements coming together to create the perfect tear-jerking moments. With simple-to-understand puzzle elements, Deer & Boy is an experience that can and should be enjoyed by all.

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.

I can say with complete confidence that if you have a Switch, this feels like it will be a must-have for the console. It’s so accessible; being so easy to play, it’s great as a solo or party game, and it’s a great entry point for newcomers to the series, running great both on the original Switch and the Switch 2. [Hands-On Impressions]

Solarpunk is just okay. Graphically, it’s quite charming in its approach, along with good sound design. But there are still a lot of problems that could’ve been worked out if it had taken longer to develop. Issues regarding UI where inventory doesn’t show, or acts as if it’s full when it’s not and a tutorial that explains mechanics found in similar games, but doesn’t explain the mechanics that are specific to this one. While there are moments of an interesting title, like the use of renewable energy as a power source over finite energy, it just feels pretty aimless, and some QOL upgrades found in similar titles could’ve been used in this one. Hopefully, with more updates, Solarpunk can be the solarpunk genre game worth playing.

If you like adventure games with a large helping of puzzles and fourth-wall-breaking humour, Crushed In Time delivers in spades. The oddly limited control scheme unfortunately frustrates more than it aids. However, if you can look past that, Crushed In Time has a good amount to recommend for point-and-click adventure game fans.

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.

Stonemachia is a fun action-leaning souls-like to play, but it probably won’t become the next breakout indie sensation. It’s too rough technically and maybe too niche in its presentation to fully break through. Still, there’s enough gameplay creativity and beautifully gothic Italian atmosphere to demonstrate the genuine passion of this small team to make it worth paying attention to.

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.

Assassin’s Creed: Blag Flag Resynced will satisfy the vast majority of the AC fans who have been jonesing to return to their pirating ways. The various improvements made to the game feel so natural that those like me, who only have a vague memory of the game in their minds, may not even realise how much has changed at all, except for the incredible facelift it’s received. [Hands-On Impressions]

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.

From the same studio that released the unfinished and chastised Underworld Ascendant comes another game prematurely released with the idea of fixing it later. Thick as Thieves is a game made by pioneers of immersive stealth sims, developers who should know better than to release such a clearly incomplete product like this. It’s poorly executed, staggeringly average, and deeply underwhelming, a game really only for those so desperate for stealth-focused ventures they can overlook a bland story, tedious gameplay, and clunky controls atop a content-sparse introductory chapter.

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.

Outbound struggles to justify its own loop. It presents a beautiful, yet empty, isolating space that exists without tension or inscribed drive. Focusing on a purely gentle, slow experience is intentional, but results in a world that does not feel worth inhabiting after a few hours. Base building atop your van is easily the game’s strongest feature, offering a satisfying level of creativity and personalisation. Still, with no strong narrative pull or meaningful pressure to engage, it becomes difficult to justify investing time in what is ultimately the game’s best system.

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.

Legacy of the Dark Knight tries to honour many legacies at once, and struggles to serve them all effectively. A familiar but fun LEGO game, a functional and simplified continuation of the Batman: Arkham series’ mechanics and an unambitious and only intermittently funny Batman story all sit alongside one another in a final build of a game that will still be enjoyed by many, but is never quite the sum of its bricks and will unlikely have much of a legacy of its own.

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.