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.

The textbook definition of a rental game, Painkiller is a blast to play over a weekend, then never think about again.

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.

The jank and glitches present in RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business make it hard to give it a higher score, but this is about as fun as uncomplicated FPS games get. Buy it, blast through it over a weekend, smile the entire time.

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.

Blades Of Fire gets in its own way sometimes with busywork-heavy quest design, but the unique combat and enjoyable weapon crafting save it.

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.

Even with all that said, though, Pepper Grinder’s core gameplay is still ridiculous fun, and raising the flag at the end of each platforming level still feels triumphant, if only for short-term pleasure. Pepper Grinder is a short game, only four to six hours, so the lack of other compelling aspects feels disappointingly underwhelming. Still, the thrill of the precision-heavy chase is an oh-so-tempting one, even if you won’t remember the chase very well afterward.

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.

While it has plenty of rough edges, Pieces Interactive's take on horror royalty is the best the series has been in decades.

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.

Reigns: Three Kingdoms adds plenty of new ideas and frustrations, but anyone looking for a bit of regicide on their Steam Deck could do far worse.

While it has some novel ideas, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora's extremely repetitive quest design, underwhelming progression, and wholly monotonous gear system make it one of the most forgettable open world games of 2023.

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.

Like A Dragon Gaiden should tide fans over until Infinite Wealth drops as a shorter yet still enjoyable romp, but this is hardly a series highlight.

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.

Sonic Superstars is full of ideas, and while not all of them land (especially the co-op), the inventiveness on show and core gameplay makes it worth checking out.

Awkwardly straddling the line between unnerving war drama and vapid teen adventure, Long Gone Days is embroiled in an uncomfortable identity crisis.

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.

Though this Souls-like wears its heart on its sleeve in its love for the genre, Lies of P misses the mark on what makes these kinds of games tick. All the same, hardcore denizens seeking a challenge may find something to appreciate here.

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.

Enchanted Portals looks delightful, with 2D animation reminiscent of childhood cartoon favorites, but its monotonous gameplay and artificial difficulty make for a hollow gaming experience that’s frustrating in all the wrong ways.

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.

There’s charm and appeal to be found in WrestleQuest, but this old school RPG doesn’t have enough to stay in the main event.

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.

Exoprimal has good ideas, and feels like a genuinely novel and fun concept, but the asking price is simply way too steep, leaving the player to feel like extinction might be inevitable.

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.

AEW: Fight Forever’s good ideas can’t save it from a paltry amount of content and somewhat inferior gameplay compared to its competition.

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.

While its third act strays too far from what initially made it great, Fall of Porcupine boasts likable characters, welcoming visuals, and plenty of fuzzy moments in its narrative.

Layers of Fear 2023 really isn't the most necessary remake ever and those who didn't like the original games certainly won't be converted, but this is a pretty compelling package for psychological horror fans.

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.

A solid first lap for a racer that might need a bit more time to hit top speed, LEGO 2K Drive is still worth playing whether you’re young, old or somewhere in between.

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.

While there’s an audience out there for Wanted: Dead’s schtick, the myriad of issues with the whole game make it a tough sell.

The Cosmic Shake can be a fun collectathon with some charming moments, but the lack of original ideas and finesse make it feel more like an expansion than a brand new game.

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.

While Lone Ruin is currently sparse on content, there’s some solid gameplay foundations here that could be built upon in the future.

The Rumble Fish 2 isn’t the most groundbreaking port ever, but there’s still a solid fighting game on offer here.

Gungrave G.O.R.E is resurrecting a franchise, but it’s mindless bullet-slinging fun that has its problems and may not hold everyone’s attention.

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.

The endless runner genre has seen a lot of potential contenders try and be the best, and while Tanuki Sunset isn’t quite the best of the best, it’s enjoyable enough to leave a positive impression.

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.

The characters form the heart of Lost Eidolons, but a whole slew of grating and annoying issues makes this a run-of-the-mill tactical role-playing game.

Soulstice is a game with some great aesthetic choices, but is completely marred by poor gameplay design that takes control away from the player during the times they'll need it the most.

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.

Destroy All Humans! 2 - Reprobed brings the original title into the modern age, and while the gameplay is massively improved, some bad ideas, dated jokes, and an abundance of glitches mar the overall experience.

The Saints Row reboot wants to tell a new, modern story, but the gameplay framework surrounding it is starting to show a bit of rust.

Regiments may give you the opportunity to try yourself out as a combined arms commander, but it doesn’t go the extra mile to flesh out the experience to the fullest.

Thymesia sports fast 3D action combat that's engaging and unique to the subgenre, where flashy combos with multiple weapons lead to meaningful progression for skilled players. Unfortunately, the game does little else to separate itself from the soulslike pack.

Way of the Hunter is a deep and immersive hunting sim with beautiful visuals that fans of the genre will love. Unfortunately, its slow-burn gameplay and pacing, combined with the precise shooting mechanics make this game hard to recommend for new players.

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.