It’s beautifully told and has a lovely medium pacing to it, rarely too frantic and mostly set just right to give you thinking time about the big themes at play. For £15 this is well worth a look if you’re keen on an emotional rollercoaster, rather than an all-out blockbuster action by-the-second one.

I'm giving this a 95/100, but if the few little bugs are ironed out then it's as close to perfection as a wrestling game has ever been.

Against all odds, Elden Ring Nightreign keeps FromSoft’s streak alive despite a very, very surprising left turn into multiplayer. What could have felt like a game chasing trends or designed by committee has maintained so much of what’s special about the core franchise.

It's old-school gaming, straight to the point, simple and fun.

The game plays well enough, just like the Paper Marios before, with a near top-down viewpoint for the puzzle sections. And the visual style is a little different, more cartoony than many of the recent Mario efforts. The brothers are as cute together as ever and their joint fighting is a highlight.

And while leaks suggest the Nintendo Switch 2 is imminently on the horizon, it’s brilliant to know at such a late stage in this console’s life that the firm can still deliver nice little surprises like this for gamers...Fun, playable, challenging and packed full of replay value.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is very much a revamped version of a classic game. It’s nicely brought up to modern gaming visuals by the Nintendo bods but remains at its heart a very strong video game in the Mario franchise.

Indivisible is one of the best RPGs of the year. A masterclass in game design, Indivisible is funny, challenging and creative in equal measure. A few difficulty bumps can't take away from what is an almost perfect example of turn-based RPG genius. The production values are through the roof, and the game will have you rapt from beginning to end.

Overall, this is one hell of a football package that now tries to satisfy both classic arcade-loving football gamers and the diehard players who strive for an ever more realistic title to enjoy. By giving you the option now for both, FC 26 elevates its gameplay offering on last year and makes this a must-buy for football fans. Although don’t expect giant changes anywhere else in the title, more small tweaks.

XCOM: Chimera Squad is a polarizing spin on a familiar formula. Some fans will be delighted with the fresh ideas and quippy characters, while others will rue the lack of greater tactical depth and gravitas. For our money, Chimera Squad feels like mostly a side-grade than a firm step forwards or backwards, which still places it as a solid turn-based strategy title, but it’s not the killer sequel we were hoping for.

Overall, a great race game that gives us a glimpse of what’s to come with the new consoles. While it’s quite niche in it’s genre-specific focus, there’s a good game in here that will appeal beyond diehard Moto GP fans.

Different, fun to play, with loads of collectibles to find and a deep story that pulls at the heart, South of Midnight is THE video gaming gem of the year so far.

Overall, this is a fantastic new IP for Ubisoft and they should be commended for allowing this development team to pursue an idea that sprung out of the Assassin’s Creed development.

Well worth a look if you fancy trying a different looking and feeling race game.

As tennis games go, it’s a smash.

This is an ideal way back into the franchise if you’ve lapsed from it recently. And a much-needed step backwards to, ultimately, take a step forwards.

Roki is undoubtedly one of the most engrossing games of the year. While the gameplay may at times contradict its perfectly nuanced story, it’s often easy to overlook and be swept away on a magical adventure full of mystery, heart and tragedy.

There are some lovely 2D side-scrolling moments too, which helps to break up the gameplay. You can even replay your faves in a new option.

The graphics are truly standout and the audio plays a nice role in enhancing the overall feel of the game. An absolute bargain for the price.

There’s enough here to warrant both a return for gamers long in the tooth enough to remember the original and newcomers who have never seen a Mario Vs Donkey Kong before...Cute, fun, head-scratching stuff.

While this type of game has obviously been done better and bigger in the decades since, old school gamers will love stepping back into this world. Modern players may find it interesting but not vital.

It’s a huge gaming bundle and everything you want from a football game. Fans will be sad to see this console icon go, but with a new look next year there is the potential for EA to freshen things up and deliver something even better.

The quality of life improvements made can’t cover up the fact that this is a lazy port of a game that deserves better.

Dying Light 2 doesn’t feel original in the slightest, it is bested elsewhere in visuals and gameplay, but as a total package there’s a lot on offer. And gamers will get their money’s worth out of this zombie-bashing post-apocalypse fearfest. It is a game that leaves you with a constant but strangely addictive edge-of-the-seat sense of stress like a strong horror movie. And plenty to discover in a dark, menacing future world.

A strong and much-wanted tennis game that helps to fill a gap in the sporting gaming market.

The story unfolds at a nice pace that allows you to dip out and into side quests throughout the map to become a part of a wider nation-shaping arc. Rise of the Ronin is another cracking PS5 exclusive.

WarioWare has absurdity at its heart. And the speed of the game, plus its generous amount of wildly differing micro games, make it a fun title to play over and over with pals. In solo gameplay I suspect the dazzle will wane once you’ve tried all the micro games a couple of times. That’ll take less time than you think as they’re so frenetic and over so quickly. But Nintendo has done another good job here giving players a unique new game that the Switch hasn’t seen before. Well worth a look.

If you’re looking for something different, a bit like a touchscreen mobile game, but one that is unique and will test your puzzle skills, give it a go.