Guilty Gear Strive is a masterclass in design. Each asset has been lovingly crafted with painstaking detail resulting in the best visuals in the genre. The lack of gameplay in the story mode may not appeal to everyone but I applaud their decision to not shoehorn fights into the narrative. Being the most accessible game in the history of the franchise, newcomers should definitely check out this fighter as it’s one of the best ever made.

The story is suspenseful, engaging and I was impressed the games character development.

Kathy Rain: DIrector’s Cut is definitely the edition of the game anyone new to the title should play. It polishes up the original, keeps the original characterization, expands some of the plot, and adds some quality of life improvements that go a long way for this short adventure. If you’ve been craving an adventure game that stokes some old nostalgia of the 90’s and VHS tapes, then look no further.

If you’re a Switch owner, you probably put a pretty hefty premium on portability. And honestly, the game’s performance is otherwise exemplary. For me, the load times and the game’s performance make this a good experience in short doses. If you want epic, fast-paced combat in a portable package, definitely give Dragon Ball FighterZ a chance.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is nothing short of incredible. Its layered combat system lets you stylishly cut down foes, while clever level design delivers platforming challenges that make full use of your abilities. The difficulty is demanding yet fair, rewarding you for learning and responding to enemy attacks. More than just a worthy reboot, it feels like the ideal starting point for Sega’s wider revival.

This is the kind of expansion pack Paradox grand strategy fans dream of and hopefully, it sets a new benchmark for the future of Crusader Kings.

Although I love the battles, the strategic depth, and the characters, it’s this game’s pace that kept me hooked. You’re able to take things one day at a time. Even your less productive days still feel accomplished. Maybe it’s just the allure of that ‘100% explored’ announcement, but I was ready to sniff out every corner of this game. It’s a bummer watching Pikmin die, but it’s also a great motivator to learn from your mistakes. I was expecting the rescue/resources activity split to get boring, but it never did. If you’re hoping for a compelling narrative, you’ll be disappointed. But Pikmin 4 is more about the core gameplay loop than anything else. Slowly exploring every part of this game, gathering your tiny army, and looting every piece of possible treasure is its own reward. Whether you’re a newcomer or a series veteran, Pikmin 4 will be an excellent adventure.

Kentucky Route Zero is a brilliantly told story that takes chances, and unapologetically is what it is. Sounds suspiciously like art to me. Damn good art.

In many ways, XVI hardly resembles the usual FF experience. There's no massive party of adventurers, no MP-based magic system, and no open world map traversal, among other things. And yet, I got the quintessential Final Fantasy experience. There's a sweeping, epic story. The stakes are incredibly high. Clive is beset by tragedy and hardship. He experiences character growth, moments of joy, companionship, and love. The battles go from mundane to impossibly epic. Clive is given all the power, special moves, and responsibilities of a capital 'P' Protagonist. The game is gorgeous, the music is incredible, and the story got its hooks deep into my flesh. Despite my initial misgivings, I've come to love this game completely. Long-time fans, series newcomers, RPG enthusiasts, hear me now: Final Fantasy XVI is the platonic ideal of FF games. They don't get better than this.

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and The Lost Legacy are unassailably great. In particular, Uncharted 4 is a pinnacle of both the art and technology of games, and the Lost Legacy isn't far behind. The Legacy of Thieves Collection is the hands-down, must-have version for any PS5 owner who has, inconceivably, never touched these classic games. For owners of the PS4 version, already playing it on PS5, "buy now" comes with a few very mild caveats. For one, the upgrades are primarily in support of higher resolutions or better framerates, and while the games look stunning in native 4K, you're not getting a ton more for your ten bones. Given the lack of extras, this should maybe have been a freebie for owners of the PS4 version. On the other hand, if this collection's reasonable price prompts you into playing these masterpieces again, that's absolutely a win for you.

Well, there you have it. Guacamelee! 2 is a good time, but it’s not without its faults. Speaking frankly, though, my complaints are mostly just long-winded nit-picks. If you liked the first one, you’ll like this one. It’s as simple as that. I honestly can’t think of anything that this game doesn’t do as well or better than its predecessor.

Gran Turismo 7 is the best driving game I’ve ever played. Period. It’s not a hardcore simulation of the likes of Assetto Corsa Competizione or iRacing, but for my money, I now prefer Gran Turismo. It’s the ultimate celebration of something that’s part of Kazunori Yamauchi’s very being and an incredible effort to bring his love for automobiles to the world. See you on the starting line.

As far as versions of Quake go, this one is exemplary. The platonic ideal, one might say. If you’ve found yourself missing those frantic, gib-centric days of chunky violence and blistering speed, Quake Remastered is exactly what you need. You really can’t get more Quake than this.

Sometimes a remaster feels insufficient because the original release is still so polished. The Mario Galaxy games are over a decade old, but they don’t feel like it by any means. The mechanics, the level design, and the crisp visuals all feel brand new. Even the controls are nearly (but not quite) perfect, a real testament to Mario’s persistent technical staying power. I’d love a little more from a collection like this, but what’s being presented is still quality stuff. If you’ve never played Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2, this is a pretty good time to start.

The bottom line? The Great Circle is an excellent time. The voice acting is great, the action is breezy and fast, and the whole game is quite beautiful. Plus the story has some serious hooks. Indiana Jones is all about globetrotting adventures, punching nazis, and solving gigantic mysteries. This game captures that vibe with ease. I had conflicting thoughts about the pacing at times, but maybe non-reviewers won’t feel that so intensely. Everyone might hate the giant fights, however. I also had some issues with backtracking during side quests, but they weren’t dealbreakers. Whether you’re a diehard Indy devotee or a sucker for grand adventures, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an excellent choice.

Putting aside the gorgeous graphics, the obtuse level design, and the various modern touches, Link's Awakening is still an exceptional Zelda game. I found myself sneaking in extra sessions instead of sleeping or working. I was frantically seeking out guides online, only to discover they were all obsolete. I put off challenging the final boss for hours, all to scoop up more shells, heart pieces, and collectibles. Whatever flaws I spotted, I had no desire to leave Koholint behind. I still don't. However long it takes, I'll keep plugging away until I've crafted a fully complete save file. If you're on the fence about this game, either as a remake or a new experience, don't be. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a great game, and a clear high point in the franchise's history.

It’s the best Batman game you’ll play and by that measure, the best superhero game to date.

I think it’s no exaggeration to say that Immortality is often brilliant. The acting, writing, editing and videography are meticulously intentional and if the path through the woods isn’t always clear, the trees are unfailingly interesting to study. While it isn’t perfect, I’m glad that games like Immortality exist. There are so many games that are sequels, copycats, reboots, remakes and retreads that you forget what originality actually looks like. All of Barlow’s games have been excellent but Immortality is probably the richest and most thought-provoking of the three.

I can’t stop thinking about this game. If I’m not playing it, I want to be. The web-slinging is brilliant, the combat is deceptively deep and diverse, and there are a million things to do. The story is emotional, resonant, and teases fans of the series in countless ways. It’s one of the best looking games of the year, and honestly, one of the best games I’ve ever played, full stop.

Traditional polygons and surface textures grow muddy and bland with every passing year, while Okami will shine bright for decades to come.

Pokémon Moon is easily one of the best entries into the franchise to date. Never has the Pokémon world felt this immersive. If Pokémon Moon hints to what the future of the franchise has in store, then fans should be more excited than ever.

If you loved playing MH: World you will most definitely fall in love with MH: Rise, too. All the great stuff you know and love is still in Rise with some smaller tweaks and additions. I had a good time and it was worth waiting for the graphically improved version. My only gripes are that Rise is too easy compared to World (especially the story), yet High-Rank defense missions are imbalanced for solo players, and it doesn’t look as graphically pleasing as World.

Definitely worth the price of admission and is definitely worth playing.

Saros is a masterpiece. Not only does Housemarque successfully build on the foundations of Returnal, but it refines them to create a more accessible experience without losing its core principles. The combat system encourages aggression, making each encounter a tense and enthralling battle where risk-taking is rewarded. While the story is much more present than its predecessor, it never interrupts the action, complementing the deep and complex systems. With more options to personalise your adventure, this is not just a Game of the Year contender, but one of the defining games of its generation.

Rayman Legends is the most fun I’ve had platforming in a very long time. The game’s impossible to put down gameplay really does give the Big N and their Mario goodness a quality ‘run for its money’.

In the end, Wasteland 2 is good, it’s fun, and there is a ton of content. But it’s not that different, or newly ‘cut’, than it was a year ago.

Orcs Must Die! Unchained is best consumed with friends, ideally with a lot of yelling and frantic arm-waving over impending victories and losses. The single-player game is good, but it lacks the high-paced frenzy that comes with challenging human opponents.

Forza Motorsport 6 is the definitive sim/circuit racing experience that is accessible to all levels of racers on the current generation of consoles.