Akimbot does a successful job at emulating the PlayStation 2 action-platformer era of games. It’s incredibly flashy and movement feels fluid, frenetic and fun. Similarly, gunplay leads to explosive setpieces worth witnessing. Though being true to this era comes with its own faults in frustrating checkpoint systems and performance issues, it’s all made up for in charm. We don’t get games like these often these days and for that alone, it’s worth it. We are so back.

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.

I hope Visions of Mana signals a new, brighter direction for the series. This is more than a classic series receiving a jaw-dropping glow-up. This is a game that gives you a classic JRPG experience while being a modern blockbuster through and through. It’s one of the best-looking games this generation and gives you dozens of unlockable options to customise your party your way. The story is deep and dark (for a PG title) and explores familiar themes in a new and engaging way. Visions of Mana confidently asserts its own spot among other long-running modern JRPGs, and I can’t help but agree. It’s proof that despite its age, this series still has a lot of potential left.

Concord is a great shooter that will pleasantly surprise those willing to tune out the outside noise. Within is fantastic minute-to-minute gunplay and action, complimented by a diverse cast with diverse abilities that can mix up a game at a moment’s notice. Though it’s perhaps the least revolutionary game we’ve seen in a long time and still in need of small functions like leaderboards and a clearer vision for its future, what’s here today is some of the best multiplayer gaming I’ve experienced in forever. I’ve found so many weirdo heroes I’ve grown a rich affinity for, whether it’s via their deep-prosed lore or their chaos-causing gameplay. Concord’s fate isn’t quite written in the stars yet; it’s far better than a majority are giving it credit for. I pray you join me and other Freegunners on this voyage. We need you.

I found myself very pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed Star Wars Outlaws. I became quite invested in its grounded heist narrative, even if its supporting characters didn't really rise above one-note stereotypes. It was a blast exploring the Star Wars galaxy, whether it was shooting down TIE fighters in space or just chilling in a Sabacc den playing cards with Lando Calrissian. Ubisoft Massive has done an excellent job in crafting an open-world Star Wars adventure, and this is one heist that is worth signing up for.

I have a lot of respect for Monster Jam Showdown, this is the kind of title that a lesser developer might have just gone through the motions with. But this time around the full force of Unreal 5 is unleashed, creating a frequently stunning and impressive-looking game. Despite their size, the superstars of Monster Jam handle brilliantly the different environments and challenges on offer. Given that most fans who attend the real-life shows or watch on TV will have their favourite truck and driver it is a bit of a shame that pretty much all of the trucks need to be unlocked via play time and challenges. Other than that though, believe it or not, I have played a tonne of Monster Truck-themed games in my lifetime and the bar is higher than you might think. Monster Jam Showdown gets a pass from me.

Though a mere optimisation and balance patch from meeting its full ambition, Black Myth: Wukong is a really great action RPG, almost standing as high as the rest. The story and world of Journey to the West and all its mythos translate incredibly well into an action game, providing immensely captivating creature and enemy boss designs and encounters. Serving as one of the most demanding games of its ilk for a while, both graphically and in combat challenge, you'll be well vested in Black Myth's world as you crush powerful mythic beasts wherever you go with fantastical magical abilities. This journey to the west is a journey well worth the wait.

Overall Elrentaros Wanderings doesn’t have much to offer. There are a lot of different elements on display but none of them mesh together in a way that is satisfying and the game itself just comes across as an under-designed mess. Despite some cute character designs, the aesthetic of the game just isn’t pleasing to the eye and on the whole, it leaves a lot to be desired.

The emotional journey that Farewell North presents will likely be a difficult one for many to tackle; the loss of a parent. It handles the subject material eloquently and delicately, offering a tale of companionship between a dog and a human that is the foundation for a heartfelt adventure. Visually stunning and a feast for the ears, this humble story about grief is the most impactful video game experience I’ve had this year and one of the most enthralling I’ve ever had the delight of playing. I’ll never get over the loss of my Mum. But Farewell North gave me some much-needed catharsis. It just might do the same for you.

A wonderfully silly little quest, Leximan feels like a love letter to anyone who’s ever played an RPG. Killer writing brings humour and warmth to its simple adventure gameplay, while a whirlwind tour of genre-spanning minigames provide constant variety that surprises and delights. Despite some occasional wonky controls and slightly under-utilised Lexicon mechanics, its iconic encounters and clever use of wordplay make this magical journey a pleasure to experience.

The Crush House might not be the perfect production players were hoping for but what’s there is a really good time and at least always fun. The nature of working and grinding to line up the perfect shot to watch the numbers tick up as you satisfy weird audiences from all walks of life is novel and never gets old. Yes, this means you’re not always authentically re-creating the filming of reality TV as you instead focus on props and the environment in the interest of points, hurting the spotlight on its cast. Though when you can focus on its characters they’re all irreverent, queer and delightfully heinous. I found myself always ready to drop everything for them at the drop of a hat as I tended to their ridiculous tasks, slowly working to an enticing sinister narrative that was hiding underneath. If all else, I could never accuse The Crush House’s beauty of being skin-deep. It is weird, extra, juicy and unapologetic as all hell. It’s exactly what it should be.

Vampire Therapist is an incredibly fun play; all the characters are vibrant and interesting, the voice acting is outstanding the entire way through and yeah, vampires are hot. Everyone in this game is hot. There was clearly a lot of love and effort put into the therapy aspect of the game, too. Finding a way to add legitimate therapy techniques without making it feel unapproachable must have been hard, but it’s definitely paid off.

Cat Quest III is a fantastic game and is far better than it has any right to be. More than just a silly game with silly puns, it is an impressive showcase of simple but quality game design, where they leave clever and tantalising breadcrumbs of discovery to drive the player forward. It’s a tight and easy-to-control questathon game that anyone can play. That’s perfect too; it’s some of the simplest and most fun couch co-operative gaming I’ve experienced in yonks. Many a joyful moment was had hacking, slashing and dodging with my partner right by my side, before taking to the luscious and gorgeous crystal blue seas. These are only some of the gorgeous sights on offer. The Purribean is your oyster. Set sail, Cat Quest III is a real one.

Eden Genesis is quite a fun title which fans of 2D platformers and speedrunning in particular are likely to enjoy. While the plot won’t knock your socks off, it’s a reasonably engaging little sci-fi tale while it lasts. The game is let down by its slow-paced mandatory combat levels, of which there are way too many and which feel at odds with the lightning-fast and flowing platforming which makes up the bulk of the rest of the game. However, with plenty of extra content to experience once you have reached the end credits, those looking for an engaging 2D platforming challenge to test your skill and reflexes will have a good time with Eden Genesis.

SteamWorld Heist 2 delivers an excellent blend of steampunk, pirate adventure, and tactical gameplay. With its distinctive style and original soundtrack, this sequel stands out. While the strategic missions and characters shine, the narrative and overworld ship combat are it’s weakest points. Overall, it’s a treasure trove of tactical fun, offering a blast for both seasoned strategists and newcomers.

Nobody Wants to Die has a lot of smart political and philosophical thoughts that relate to what’s happening today. There’s a lot of intrigue and spotting all the Greek Mythology references is exciting, alluding to the story at hand. However, the crime scene gameplay can get repetitive and frustrating, as the story feels like it’s on rails. It’s nice to be able to play a game you can’t fail, but it feels odd that there’s a heightened sense of danger that just… never comes. Introducing elements like quick-time events late in the game and without accessibility options for them is disappointing. Even still, the game is gorgeous and watching a friendship bloom with the two main characters is great to see.

Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss is one of those games that’s best played blind. It’s a grounded yet enthralling mystery that uses its light clue-combining mechanics to convey an emotional journey of closure and grief. Its puzzles get you thinking without ever being too hard, allowing the story to naturally play out in the lonely ruins of this sunken ship.

While updated graphics and a new control scheme are all well and good, Aspyr should have done more to bring Star Wars: Bounty Hunter into the present day. The lives system should have stayed in the early 2000s where it belongs, as all it serves to do is make the game’s already murderous level of difficulty even more aggravating by dragging out the experience and arbitrarily making players replay huge chunks of the game whenever the game serves up enough cheap deaths. The bounty hunting system also could have done with improvements to make it easier and more enjoyable to interact with. While there is some fun to be found with flying through the sky and gunning down your enemies, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is overall too frustrating an experience to be an easy recommend for anyone but the most diehard of Star Wars fans.

Players who enjoy casual puzzle titles are sure to find something to love in Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure. With its beautifully hand-drawn world and original puzzle mechanics, Arranger offers a compelling story world with engaging puzzles that are great for puzzle fans, both young and old. The world’s grid system creates a novel way to interact with engaging puzzles while also expanding on the story world. If you’re looking for a hardcore puzzle challenge, Arranger might not be for you, however, if you’re looking for a casual experience with colourful graphics to boot, Arranger will be a great fit for your library.

Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus wears its inspirations boldly – Hollow Knight in particular – but makes its unique mark in a delightfully crowded modern Metroidvania market. The platforming is difficult but the level design is creative. The boss fights are too long but encourage you to use what you’ve learned. There are UI issues but they don’t occur often enough to ruin the game. The bridge section is brutal but shows an impressive confidence in the level design that persists until the end. The writing, art, and music are sublime. You should play this if you’re a genre fan with more patience than me.

Princess Maker 2 remains an incredible and addicting game, but Regeneration is a disappointing remaster, offering barely any gameplay changes and an inconsistent art style. It misses obvious quality-of-life improvements that Princess Marker 2 sorely needed, leaving us at a loss as to why they bothered to remaster the game at all. Play Princess Maker 2 as it’s a fantastic piece of gaming history, but there’s no need to pay for this particular version.

Conscript is a good survival horror game but not the fantastic one it should have been destined to be. Its fierce and very apparent survival horror devotion is incredibly admirable, shining best when depicting war in quite simply the best way I’ve seen it in games to date. The sound design, art style and general mood make the vibes palpable like you’re there on the ground in the thick of it. This loyalty to the genre is also a double-edged sword though, not quite having enough quality-of-life additions and progression slowing to a halt when you’re hunting through a labyrinth for that one key to unlock that one door. For better or worse, Conscript is a homage to classic Resident Evil, through and through. Isn’t that enough?

Dungeons of Hinterberg cleverly combines puzzles, combat and relationship-building into a tidy package that is captivating despite its low-pressure vibes. Each dungeon is distinct and satisfying in terms of style and mechanics, and combat is just the right amount of crunchy to feel fun throughout the adventure. The gorgeous aesthetic makes Hinterberg and its surroundings a lovely place to spend time, too, and the quirky characters you’ll meet along the journey are all worth getting to know. With some truly memorable moments, Dungeons of Hinterberg is sure to scratch the itch of any wannabe dungeon-crawler with a penchant for problem-solving and is a stand-out indie effort in a year chock full of them.

Dawntrail has the benefit of years of gameplay and graphical improvements, and puts them to great use in designing some of the best dungeons and trials we’ve seen to date. However, its confused story prevents it from reaching its full potential, and will likely bump Dawntrail down to the bottom-to-middle of most player’s tier lists. These issues aren’t enough to ruin the experience though, so it’s still a good time for Final Fantasy XIV players.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition lets you re-experience the classics in challenges that test your speedrunning skills. With quick mini-games that are easy to dive into, there’s something for casual players and aspiring speedrunners. However, this game won’t let you re-experience the classics in their glory; it’s all about speedrunning. If you aren’t into practicing well into the night to shave milliseconds off your record, the appeal quickly dwindles.

There is a lot to love about Magical Delicacy. It is super duper charming and wholesome, with platforming and side-scrolling mechanics that are mostly on the “cozy” side of gameplay. Exploring the very tops and the very bottoms of this world is fun, especially when you manage to uncover new areas of the map. However, the lack of information about some of the cooking methods and navigational hints may leave you a bit adrift in the world of Grat.

Flock is a delightful game that celebrates the joy of flight and discovery, but it doesn’t quite soar to the greatest heights. Its charming narrative, relaxing gameplay, and vibrant style make it a pleasure to play. The whimsical world and serene flying are noteworthy, yet they are occasionally overshadowed by moments of monotonous exploration and occasional gameplay lulls.

With Trails Through Daybreak, The Legend of Heroes name is the best it’s ever been. With an incredible and sweeping story that pays off by the end, a vibrant cast of characters that will steal your heart, some of the best of turn-based combat, and streamlined mechanics, this is quite simply just a damn good and comfortable RPG well worth your time. It may ask a lot of you with its long runtime, breadth of content, and layered lore to wrap your head around but stick with it and you’re in for one of the best from the genre this year. Job well done.