Tarsier's most ambitious and grand horror-adventure yet is a thrilling, baffling ride that will have you fully invested — for as long as it lasts.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is a polished and enjoyable park builder which makes excellent use of the Jurassic World licence. It is also a game that plays it safe, and may not be deep enough for some tycoon fans.

Naff campaign and some potential balancing issues aside, Battlefield 6’s multiplayer is top notch large-scale chaos.

Falcom’s stunning retelling of the series’s origin is the new definitive starting point for your Trails journey, and an excellent RPG in its own right.

While the combat leaves something to be desired, particularly when it comes to variety, Hell Is Us’ exploration of the cycles of violence and combat carries the whole experience.

Like Streets Of Rage 4 before it, Lizardcube have taken a beloved classic and made it their own. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a triumphant return of a classic.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a gorgeous side-scroller that's hard to put down.

Come for the alluring amenities, stay for the hilarious, thought-provoking and genuinely interesting writing.

A smart remaster that retains the core of the original while improving graphics and adding quality of life improvements, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is great for both fans and newcomers.

Combining some of the best (and worst — sorry, Capcom Fighting Evolution) of their back catalogue with smart updates and improvements, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is an easy recommendation.

What Despelote shows, in my opinion, is that it’s important to take a breath and focus on what’s in your control, and sometimes, that’s taking the time to find your own fun.

Intricate mechanics, accessible controls and amazing graphics help make Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves an easy fighting game to recommend.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a kitchen sink sequel to the original sleeper hit from 2012, building on what worked about the first game to create an RPG experience that’s still unlike any other.

Building upon its source board game in utterly delightful ways, Quilts and Cats of Calico is an absolute winner both as a digital adaptation of a board game and a new entry in the crowded cozy gaming genre.

Pacific Drive is a rare experience in the space of roguelikes that combines unique mechanics with a deep story that not very many games in the genre offer.

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth sun-baked adventure expertly improves on the last game’s formula, while giving enough space for both of its leading Dragons to truly shine.

Tekken 8 appeals to both the casual and hardcore playerbase, with a great selection of modes, training tools and additional gameplay depth. 2024’s fighting games are off to an excellent start.

While the games themselves may vary in quality, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy still presents a pretty solid case for purchase.

Football Manager 2024 refreshes the formula just enough ahead of its biggest overhaul to date next year, allowing players to become the digital Alan Curbishley with the most depth of any FM yet.

A brave, ridiculous survival horror game that oftentimes needs to be seen to be believed, Alan Wake 2 showcases a developer at the peak of their powers.

A brilliant superhero game, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 largely improves on the core formula while telling the most intimate, dramatic story yet.

A sophomore cyberpunk slasher, Ghostrunner 2 successfully builds on the foundation of the original game with new abilities and gimmicks.

The Metal Gear Solid games remain as masterful as ever, but the same can't be said for this rather rudimentary compilation.

Rough combat and simply serviceable story aside, Assassin's Creed Mirage trims the fat while also adding plenty of promise for future entries in the series.

Telltale’s The Expanse reinvents their mechanics while being a faithful inclusion to the lore that fans of the books or Amazon’s TV series will get the most out of.

El Paso, Elsewhere might suffer from some filler levels, but the excellent gameplay and writing make it worth checking out.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is the final stop on the game's redemption tour, and what a redemption it is. If you were still cynical about CD Projekt Red as a studio, it's time to start believing again.

Mortal Kombat 1’s New Era might be a bit too familiar, but the core gameplay and range of modes on offer here is undeniable.

A fun space-faring RPG held back by a few glaring decisions, Starfield is a good launching point for a game that’ll become something great in the future.

A refined experience from a much more mature FromSoftware and a crew behind their best hits gives a once obscure franchise a more palatable experience for all makes Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon an unforgettable mecha action game for the ages.

Sea of Stars is a love letter to classic 1990s JRPGs that transcends the genre and perfects the form.

Red Dead Redemption on the Switch is the exact same Western epic you know and love. That’s both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness.

Though Blasphemous 2 lacks the wow factor of the first game, it does smooth out its edges to the point where it feels like a tighter, more fluid experience.

A brilliant standard setter for remasters and re-releases going forward, Quake 2 feels like a love letter to one of the grandfathers of boomer shooters.

Videoverse joins an immensely charming, detailed snapshot of early 2000s online fandom with an intermeshed web of heartfelt and incredibly human (sub)plots.

Pikmin 4 is a deviously addictive and clever adventure, perfect for newcomers and experienced players alike. These sprouts may have taken a long time to grow, but this bounty was definitely worth the wait.

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is a smart, fun and well-executed roguelike take on the beat ‘em genre.

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals brings the same level of charm and creepiness as its predecessor, and though its new perspective doesn’t quite push narrative or gameplay elements far enough into the unknown, it’s still an excellent scary story for a dark and stormy night.

Having seen this case through to the end and witnessed every last revelation Ghost Trick has to offer, I can confidently say its reputation is well-deserved. Fiendishly clever, excellently paced, and endlessly full of surprises, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective truly deserves its time in the spotlight.

Aliens: Dark Descent marries its inspirations with reverence for its source material to create arguably the best Aliens game of all time.

Amnesia: The Bunker is one of the most terrifying horror games ever made, but those looking for Resident Evil 4 levels of length and replayability are going to be left seriously disappointed.

A sublime fighting game masterpiece from a company at the peak of their powers, Street Fighter 6 is utterly incredible.

Competing with Fire Emblem for the title of premier strategy game on the Nintendo Switch, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a definitive combination of two cult classics.

Thanks to its wide variety of choices and unforgiving consequences, Tron: Identity is a surprisingly high-stakes visual novel that draws you in and keeps your attention.

Refreshingly brainless and made with a lot of heart, Dead Island 2's repetitive quest design and disappointing conclusion don't stop it from being a whale of a time.

Volume 2 of the Battle Network Legacy Collection is the definitive experience for new and returning players. BN6’s excellent combat design and PvP finally have the online component to make them shine, and BN5 is a worthy entry in its own right.

Volume 1 of the Battle Network Collection has become the definitive experience for new and returning players. Battle Network 2 and 3 are some of the Blue Bomber’s best titles, and online play will make mastering them together the best they’ve ever been.

Terra Nil is a charming and deceptively deep strategy game with a lovely aesthetic that flips conventions in a compelling way.

Not exactly a huge advancement on last year, but WWE 2K23 didn’t need to be, instead offering smart improvements on an already great formula.

Resident Evil 4 is a worthy companion piece to survival horror royalty that's sure to go down as one of the year's best games.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’s engaging combat, satisfying parries and decent level design help this Soulslike become a truly entertaining package.

Like A Dragon: Ishin is a competent remake of a previously Japan-only release, but series veterans might find more issues to nitpick over.

Company of Heroes 3 doesn't nail absolutely everything and sometimes gets in its own way, but there's no denying just how good it is when firing on all cylinders.

Fire Emblem Engage does away with intricate relationships systems and in-depth downtime between battles, choosing to focus on a well-rounded tactical turn-based combat system that will be hard to beat this year.

A supremely dense hybrid of many different genres and styles, Marvel's Midnight Suns is an absolutely smashing time and one of 2022's best.

Evil West isn’t the most complicated game ever made, but it doesn’t need to be, offering a good few hours of overpowered fun.

A simple but engaging action tactics game with solid presentation and a neat setting that’ll easily make you want to take up your sword and go questing.

A Plague Tale: Requiem is a brilliant follow-up to 2019’s cult hit, and could be a real contender for a lot of people’s Game of the Year lists.

Steelrising is a unique soulslike with its own identity and aesthetic, powered by strong characters and great art direction. It doesn't push the envelope on any other aspect of the genre it finds itself in, however, which may alienate those familiar with the gameplay of the soulslike formula.

Lost in Play provides a delightful gaming experience for kids and adults alike, boasting charming characters, fun puzzles, and an irresistible sense of childhood magic.

Two Point Campus is an excellent example of a developer learning, improving, and innovating upon a formula to create something that’s immediately familiar, but also throws in a fresh spin.

DNF Duel offers fun and action-packed anime-style combat that's simple enough for new players to jump into without sacrificing too much depth that veterans love. Unfortunately, repetitive single player content with a lack of meaningful unlockables makes the game one that will only retain those who it charms with its flashy fighting.

It may not have the same teeth or originality as the satirical film it’s based on, but Starship Troopers: Terran Command is still a whole lot of exciting bug-squashing fun.

Summer camp was never this thrilling when I was a kid.

Card Shark is a clever and charming game whose engaging plot and gameplay focus on being a great cheat over being a master player gives it a unique personality.

Silt is a fascinating puzzle game with a beautiful art style and poetic delivery, but the short length and unrealized potential leave Silt still needing to find itself.

Sniper Elite 5 successfully builds on the foundations of Rebellion's long running series, but some glitches do hamper the experience somewhat.

Kao the Kangaroo breathes new life into the franchise with charming new characters and inviting visual designs, although the gameplay may remain too easy for some.

While it lacks a strong first impression, Eternal Threads offers a fun and unique narrative puzzle solving experience.

Ultimately, Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters is a perfectly solid hybrid strategy and tactics game that puts the Space Marines in their element and makes them feel special again.

RiffTrax: The Game proves how good a party game can be when just about everyone can play.

Kaiju Wars stomps its way onto the strategy scene with its brilliant sense of style, distinct setting, and tight tactical gameplay.

Though it maintains some serious design flaws carried over from its predecessors, Galactic Civilizations 4 is an epic grand strategy game on a truly galactic scale.

Small but perfectly formed, if you get any joy at all out of smashing things to smithereens, there’s hours of fun to be had with Teardown.

The Serpent Rogue is a unique and rewarding roguelite experience that puts the player fully in control of how they explore and purify its dreary, corrupted lands.

Demon Turf: Neon Splash is a bite-sized version of one of 2021’s best platformers, and while it’s not quite on the same level, it’s still great fun.

While still Borderlands at its core, Wonderlands stands on its own as a great entry that’s worth trying.

Though far from perfect, Rune Factory 5 offers a ton of fun and varied gameplay options supported by a cast of colorful characters and satisfying progression that’s deceptively easy to get lost in.

Despite requiring the virtue of patience, Triangle Strategy is a great time. Grid-based battlefield lovers should definitely make a plan to play it.

Though not a flawless reinvention, WWE 2K22 is a monumentally large step in the right direction for the series.

While some off-track quirks diminish the experience somewhat, Gran Turismo 7’s excellent gameplay places it firmly ahead of most of the racing game genre.

While a lack of online modes may limit the game’s shelf life, the excellent faction variety and snappy pace give Hero’s Hour an undeniable charm.

While it doesn’t reinvent the open world or stray too far from its predecessor, Horizon Forbidden West is a worthwhile endeavor for those in the mood for more open world adventures, with surprising nuance and complexity for those who make the trip.

An uncompromising vision of wonder and terror, Elden Ring is the ultimate dark fantasy odyssey.

Though it may show the design limitations of the franchise’s aging engine, Total War: Warhammer 3 is a solid conclusion to CA’s foray into fantasy.

King Of Fighters XV is the franchise’s biggest stage yet, and when the lights are on brightest, this game shines.

Kingdom of the Dead is a fast-paced horror FPS with a brilliant aesthetic and soundtrack. Though it lacks polish, this love letter to old school horror games proves to be a fun experience with some fun moments of hopeless terror.

Grapple Dog’s not a perfect platformer by any stretch of the imagination, but the core gameplay concept and visual design still manages to raise huge grins.

A potential GOTY contender already, Sifu is martial arts excellence that’ll challenge and delight in equal measure.

OlliOlli World stumbles here and there, with a steep difficulty curve and occasional technical hitches, but fans of skateboarding games will find plenty of combo-stringing complexity to enjoy.

Uncharted nails the cinematic adventure so well, and it’s great to see the two campaigns looking as crisp as they do on the screen.

Now more than ever, there’s a place for delightfully adorable games like Pupperazzi, and I’m glad to see more of it, especially if it involves cute huskies wearing party hats.

While there may not be much content on show, Windjammers 2 totally makes up for it with intense and unique gameplay that will have you asking "just one more match?".

Despite having many of the same issues as its predecessor, Jurassic World Evolution 2 is still an enjoyable dino simulator that’s easy to jump into.

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One is one of Frogwares’ best games to date.

Moonglow Bay is a fun fishing/slice of life game with a charming story and rock-solid gameplay.

Demon Turf’s few flaws do little to detract from an excellent 3D platforming experience that’s worth checking out, whether you’re a casual player or potential speedrunner.

DUSK has found a fantastic home on the Switch, where its top-tier throwback FPS can bloom in all its bloody, wretched glory.