Rusty’s Retirement is an affordable cozy adventure that does everything it sets out to do. While it’s certainly a calming experience filled with visual beauty, its cramped style doesn’t do its gameplay any favors, forcing some busy space management into an already limited visual window. Nevertheless, it’s one of those games that will regularly be returned to, overlaying any boring tasks or simply adding a little more beauty to a screen. With such a small price tag and so much beauty, it’s hard to deny how lovely this game is.

Live A Live is an ambitious RPG – wildly ambitious considering the time it was released – with loads of interesting concepts and ideas that shine even brighter thanks to a fresh coat of paint.

Guild Wars 2 End of Dragons blends everything I want in a game together: it’s got an eastern-inspired tech utopia, awesome Mastery lines that are so much fun to explore, and potentially powerful classes...Despite its futuristic vision, however, it seems that Guild Wars 2 is still a little stuck in the past, innovating very little on its core combat system and visuals. While this is great for those who know and love the game, I don’t know how many new players will choose to dive into the world of Cantha despite all of the wonders it contains. Only time will tell if ArenaNet’s MMORPG will rise back to prominence, and I truly hope it does. After all, Tyria was where my MMO adventure began, and it will always have my heart.

While the difficulty can become a little too frustrating at times, Wildfrost’s card-based combat is consistently fun. Seeing the town of Snowdwell progress is a fantastic incentive to keep playing, and it’s more than enough to keep you coming back for ‘just one more’ run.

MyGM is the best as it’s been since being re-introduced in 2022. Gameplay is fluid and sound, while the 2K Showcase is well-done despite its heavy emphasis on the immediate past. And while I’m not in love with everything done in MyRise, there is plenty of content there to be occupied for hours.

With its gorgeous anime aesthetics, stylish characters and easy-to-pick-up/hard-to-master fighting mechanics, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising provides an exciting, challenging alternative to the bigger, more established fighting games that have populated the year. If you’re looking for more of that Arc System Works magic, this one’s a no-brainer.

F1 23 is a strong entry that amends a lot of the damage done by its predecessor. The innovations to on-track racing are significant enough that franchise fans will be able to justify the price for that alone. Especially those that rack up most of their hours playing with friends or in competitive leagues. For casual players, the arrival of F1 World and the return of Braking Point should offer enough to keep them entertained. Although, the total neglect of My Team and co-op career is hard to ignore and will be a deal breaker for some.

Borderlands 4 could have been great. Its storyline and gameplay are the strongest they’ve ever been, but it's plagued by performance issues, missing features, and outdated UI's that almost drag it down to the murky depths of its predecessor.

Whether you're new to the series, or someone who has spent hours and hours perfecting your craft, F1 22 is still the best way to bring Formula 1 action to your own home. While we'd have liked some fresh ideas outside of F1 Life's window dressing, we're excited to see where the franchise goes from here.

Persona 3 Portable’s gameplay is altogether extremely satisfying. Balancing your day-to-day school life with intense dungeon crawling is a well-crafted loop that clearly set the foundations for the franchise’s future success... In its early hours, P3P’s enticing story and characters have already resonated with and hooked me into the mystery of The Dark Hour and I can’t wait to spend more time with this brooding JRPG. [Provisional Score = 80]

While some of the story and side content could have been integrated into the game more smoothly, none of that comes close to stopping this sequel from doing what the original did best: unbeatable power fantasy at crazy speeds. Ghostrunner 2 is confident, cool, and brings a killer soundtrack along for the ride...This is a game that knows how good its core mechanics are, and it creates even better setpieces and scenarios to make the most of them. For fans of the first game, or players looking to start the series, this is an easy recommendation.

Those who go into MotoGP 22 looking for some casual arcade racing action on superbikes will likely come away disappointed. However, those who take the time to learn the game’s mechanics and like the idea of being a professional MotoGP rider will find a rich and rewarding experience. If you’re willing to put the time into learning its intricate mechanics, then you’ll certainly come away satisfied.

Life is Strange True Colors has everything that fans of rich storytelling will love: a varied cast of characters, an intriguing setting to explore, and the chance the affect the overall outcome of what happens, putting the storytelling right into the player’s hands. While at times the game does feel slightly more linear than previous titles and plot points can feel rehashed, it’ll keep you coming back to the town of Haven Springs time and time again. It’s a game about walking to the beat of your own drum — we’re all on a journey of self-discovery and emotion, and Life is Strange True Colors reflects that to its core.

Darkest Dungeon 2 is a worthy sequel to the 2015 original. It’s a fearless alteration of a well-known formula, while also building a game that you really don’t need any context for. Despite issues with some of the best aspects of the game being thinned by its new formula, Darkest Dungeon 2 remains one of the most exciting strategy games in a while.

Despite the pressure, Bandai Namco has delivered once again, with Sparking Zero striking the perfect balance between paying homage to the elements of the franchise that made it so popular. In addition, Sparking Zero is also filled with new features, mechanics, game modes and more that will even have the most dedicated Bukoai Tenkaichi fans on their toes and blown away.

Sifu offers plenty of unique promise, but it's no kung-fu master yet. The difficulty spikes will be off-putting for some, but others may enjoy the challenge, but the way it stacks the odds against a player is more frustrating than fun…And yet, players looking for a new challenge might want to pick up Sifu. Even though not every design choice feels like a good one, the foundation and potential for something truly amazing are there.

If you’re looking to experience shooter royalty for the first time, then Crysis Trilogy Remastered is the best place to start. While the series’ ever-encroaching linearity might make its first entry its most fondly remembered, tight controls and improved movement in the sequels make them well worth a playthrough, too.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure has tonnes of heart, and just has joy bursting from every seam, whether you play alone, or in co-op. The scalable Unreal 4 engine impresses here, as we had the game looking, and running well on two spectacularly different devices. We only wished there was FSR support here, as it's an incredibly odd omission.

After waiting six years for another crack at The Outer Worlds, it feels disappointing to be met with a sequel that is so promising but marred by a poor first half and frustrating Flaws. But the game isn’t a total flop, saved by its whimsical charm, vivid dystopian subject matter, and the classic, slower, and more explorative design that Obsidian games have perfected.

I understand that Microsoft and Xbox Game Studios would have been worried about Age of Empires III-style backlash, but they’ve gone too far to avoid it this time...Considering many casual RTS fans see Age of Empires as one of the stalwarts of the genre, and would return to play the game just for its fourth release, to see a new riff on the franchise’s 1999 title will disappoint many. I have the highest of hopes for the title ⁠— AOE II is, of course, a testament to how strong the series can be ⁠— but Microsoft has a lot of work to do to make Age of Empires IV its own beast.

Stellar Blade has landed a critical hit, successfully slicing through the crowd of well-established action-adventure game giants. If you’re a fan of sleek and stylish combat, with sprinklings of Soulsborne and Nier Automata vibes, you’ll feel right at home when playing Shift Up’s triumphant console debut.

Ruined King is both a wonderful glimpse into League of Legends' most nefarious region and an indication that Riot's universe really can open up in new and interesting ways. While we were cynical when it first launched, it's clear Riot Forge, and Airship Syndicate, have plenty more stories to tell in Runeterra – and we can't wait to experience them.

If you’re looking for a cool and fairly unique experience and you’ve got Game Pass, then Hellblade 2 could be worth your time. Its visual splendor and highlight moments are worth experiencing. But, if you haven’t played the original Hellblade yet? Do yourself a favor and go play that instead. In all ways except visual, it’s a better game.

Diablo laid the foundations for what the ARPG should look like, but Lost Ark innovates on these and brings them into 2022 in style. Aside from the narrative caveats, Lost Ark rises from the ashes of Diablo 2 Resurrected and New World with the power to topple titans. An immersive, beautifully crafted universe defined by its dynamic vistas and face-paced combat, Lost Ark is the rebirth that the hack and slash genre needs. I can freely admit that there's no doubt in my mind that Lost Ark will become one of my favorite titles, and as future releases add new classes and zones into the game, I know that I'll be on the edge of my seat just waiting to dive back in all over again – and boy, I can't wait.

Black Myth: Wukong isn’t quite Games Science’s masterpiece. But it’s easy to see how it could be a strong foundation to get there.

Kena Bridge of Spirits may truly excel when it comes to a beautifully designed world and its gorgeous visuals and animation, but it can all feel relatively familiar, featuring platforming and combat mechanics that we’ve seen time and time again. Despite this, Ember Lab has created an action-adventure that can be enjoyed by players of all ages, weaving together Kena’s magical abilities, fantastic enemy designs, and a myriad of collectibles to uncover. Wherever the studio decides to take their next adventure, I’m excited to see it — hopefully with the return of The Rot.

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is Omega Force's finest musou yet, with a fun tactical layer added to the sword-swinging gameplay that keeps fans coming back. Three Houses fans will love the chance to spend more time with that game's characters, too.

Like a Dragon: Ishin is the best title from RGG Studio since Yakuza 0, and remains true to the studio’s well-worn formula. A new setting, characters, and plot all intertwine to create a cohesive open-world experience that you could lose countless hours in. Whether that be interacting with the locals, farming, or taking down the entire Shogunate itself.