Synth Riders makes a great complimentary music rhythm game to Beat Saber. Beat Saber is a great outlet for aggression and feeding your inner Jedi. Synth Riders lets you sync with the music and release your inner creativity. Both are excellent forms of physical exercise. I’ll give Synth Rider the nod, though, for more options and subjectively better music. Plus, the original Star Trek Photon Torpedo sound effect used for combo leveling up never gets old.

There are quite a few zoo sims out there, ranging from pixel art constructions to Planet Zoo, which is definitely the ultimate game in the genre. For those without the requisite PC, the PS5 port does a generally outstanding job of translating the Planet Zoo experience to console. It’s genuinely educational, engaging, and addictive fun. I wish the new edition was just a bit more generous with content at launch, but there’s plenty there to work with. Animal and sim lovers should rejoice, Planet Zoo has arrived on consoles at last.

If you approach it with an open mind, ready to embrace its surreal presentation and atmospheric pacing, you’ll find something profoundly satisfying here. It’s a testament to how video games can transcend genre conventions and deliver something that’s both technically impressive and emotionally moving. For fans of skating games, artful indie titles, or simply those who appreciate when music and gameplay merge into a harmonious whole, Skate Story is an experience worth savoring.

Thanks to its enchanting art, well written story, heroic rodents and satisfying combat throughout, Tails of Iron stands apart from the seemingly endless wave of Soulslike ARPGs. It modifies the combat formula just enough to make it interesting and couples it with characters that are full of warmth and wit, battling forces that are competent yet fairly matched foes. Not every task and mission is equally interesting and some of Tails’ movement mechanics feel slightly unresponsive, but those are small dings against an otherwise very enjoyable rat-centric game, and we don’t have nearly enough of those.

If you’re a fan of NES era platformers in any shape or form, pick up this lovingly put together package of Capcom/ Disney joy.

If Knack’s track record has you worried, I’ll say this; Mark Cerny and company heard the complaints, and this is their response. Knack 2 is all fast-paced action and dramatic plot twists and tight, skillful platforming. It’s not perfect, but it makes a compelling case for the character platformer as a genre. In this era of first-person shooters and gritty action games, that’s a victory unto itself.

As a Rhythm RPG, the team at Puuba wanted to keep the strategic elements of a good role playing game but to also speed it up. The Metronomicon offers fun characters, a solid and wacky story line, strategic elements and some really great tunes. And with the colorful and fun character design, this is a game that should be dancing into everyone’s homes.

Horace is an incredible game that is packed to the brim with content and character. Although it’s steeped in nostalgia, it can hold its head high on its own merit as a great platform adventure title. With tight controls, varied gameplay, and a fantastic script, those who didn’t get to experience Horace before should definitely check it out on the Switch.

Rogue Prince of Persia is an incredible roguelike that captures the identity of the franchise while perfectly adapting it to the roguelike formula. The slick, smooth traversal combined with varied combat creates an addictive system, making each run to save your beloved country a blast. A perfect title for handheld gameplay, the Switch 2 handles the frenetic action well, even though some load times are slightly longer than on other consoles. Regardless, this is an essential title on any system, and the Switch 2 version delivers a portable experience that rivals home consoles.

Overall, Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom met my expectations and exceeded them in certain aspects. While the game does get off to a bit of a slow start, the various puzzles, bosses, platforming sequences, transformations, and much more eventually tie together into an exquisite title. The game is both technically and artistically crafted to provide a focused experience to players quite unlike many other games that captivated me this year. If you had to pick just one side-scrolling adventure platformer to play this year, Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom would not be a wrong choice.

It’s clear more time with next-gen hardware has paid off. Madden NFL 22 looks and feels like a step back in the right direction for the series. The core gameplay remains largely unchanged but almost every mode in this Madden experience sees a noticeable bump. Everything from the drastically improved facial animations to a robust new feature set in Franchise mode, Madden NFL 22 quickly erases the stench that Madden NFL 21 left at launch.

SMITE feels natural to play on Xbox One with a controller, something I was unsure it would as it’s a very ‘clicky’ experience on PC.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road perfectly blends JRPG mechanics with football to deliver a unique and refreshing experience. The story is beautifully presented, featuring high-quality cutscenes and an excellent soundtrack that enhances its emotional beats. While the main campaign does suffer from some pacing issues, it remains a strong tale with a satisfying conclusion. Add in a wide range of modes, and you’re left with an excellent package that’s absolutely bursting with content. A fantastic return to the pitch, Victory Road captures the heart of the series while pushing it forward.

All in all, The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- is an experience you shouldn’t miss, even if you dislike tower defense. This is an experience every bit as wild and gleefully fun as anything else its creators have made. Give it a shot.

A delightful romp through Medieval Europe, an art history lesson, and a mind-bending puzzler all rolled into one. I found it a thoroughly-enjoyable experience and a truly pleasant surprise. Its simple, accessible concept will pull you in right away, while its intelligent game design will keep you engaged for hours (depending on how long you spend admiring the artwork).

DNF Duel is incredible. Arc System Works has struck the perfect balance: the game is accessible for newcomers, yet includes enough complexity for veterans. On the battlefield, the game offers new ideas that will make you strategize and continually plan ahead. While there is a lot of single-player content, it treads familiar ground and is a little underwhelming. However, with its solid netcode, stunning aesthetic and deceptively deep mechanics, DNF Duel hits the sweet spot.

No, 007 First Light isn’t a perfect game. The AI needs a ton of work. The audio issues are hard to overlook. And the online connectivity requirements remain one of IOI’s dirty, bad habits. But when it clicks, it’s a hell of a lot of fun. The combat is fluid and hard-hitting, the gunplay is super satisfying, the level design is impeccable, and it’s all wrapped up in a fun, Bond-origin story. It feels great to be a 00 again.

Limbo is certainly worth your time, but whether it’s worth the price is a point for somewhat serious debate.

Crushed In Time is a simple point-and-click adventure pushed to its limits. While some pain is involved, there are also a lot of cool ideas born in this far-flung space. If you’re looking for a puzzle adventure with a full roster of fascinating twists, Crushed In Time might be just what you need.

With some impressive titles already released this year, the Nintendo Switch continues its hot streak with Splatoon 2. This may seem like a bold statement but Splatoon 2 finds itself to be one of the best shooters available right now. Granted, it is hard to compare gritty AAA first-person shooters with Splatoon 2 but it's equally hard to argue against the aesthetically pleasing visuals, smooth framerate, polished gameplay, and pure fun of the game.

Lost Judgment is a brilliant detective story that explores controversial subject matters to express a clear message about societal issues. Whilst there is a possibility that this could evoke some painful childhood memories, the considerate telling and satisfying conclusions to stories make them easier to digest. Although the game's structure closely follows the path paved by its predecessors, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has refined and developed its conventions to create one of their finest releases to date.

Mafia: The Old Country is a refreshing story-driven adventure that delivers exactly what it sets out to achieve. Strong voice acting, stunning visuals, a cinematic score, and a well-paced plot come together to create a memorable experience that stands proudly alongside its predecessors. The gameplay doesn’t break new ground, but it executes its ideas expertly, even while staying firmly conventional. For anyone seeking a focused, story-driven gangster tale, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Overall, Wildermyth is a fantastic addition to the CRPG genre that shows how great procedural generation can be when used smartly. I would highly recommend this game for anyone who is a fan of TTRPGs, maybe even with a couple of friends if your playgroup has been looking for something new to tackle.

Maybe there’s no healthy way to insulate yourself from heartbreak, but there’s still beauty in the retrospective. Maquette casts a rosy lens on a love story softened by time’s eventual passage. It’s an important lesson, that the sorrow of love lost can be soothed and sanded down by the steady movement of the clock. The story’s frequent puzzle breaks mean that you’re eased into the worst of it. You’re given a long runway before the inevitable climax, which might be a blessing in itself. Even if a reflective journey through a complex relationship doesn’t appeal to you, the intricate world and it’s fascinating puzzles will surely have you hooked.

Between its immensely fun co-operative gameplay and its charming approach to storytelling, Unravel Two is an excellent follow up to an already stellar indie title, and I genuinely hope that Coldwood Interactive continues to thrive to bring us more creative experiences like this one.

It’s hard to believe that both The New Order and The Old Blood have been topped, but MachineGames has done it again with The New Colossus.

Rogue Aces is an absolute treat. The gameplay is addicting, the visuals have a surprisingly deep level of detail to them, the controls are solid and fully customizable, and there are enough game modes to keep things interesting.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition is a game of two halves. If you’re new to the franchise, this is one of the best social simulators available and an essential purchase for fans of the genre. Packed with content, there’s absolutely loads to do. The 3.0 update is great, and when mixed with the steady stream of content and addictive gameplay loop, you’ll quickly lose hours on the faraway island. If you own the original, the update doesn’t offer much, but at the low price, it’s still probably worth the $5.