The Plucky Squire is an absolute blast from start to finish and one of the more well-rounded indie games we’ve seen in some time. While we have our nitpicks, it’s a worthwhile adventure for fans of all ages.

No matter what you have your sights set on, be it a casual, aimless session with friends, or a dedicated grind through a mapped-out campaign, Rider's Republic is just a blast. Ubisoft’s new action sports game is the most thrilling the genre has seen in years and we don’t see Riders Republic pumping the brakes anytime soon.

Just Dance 2023 is the best Just Dance yet, although given how simple the concept is and how long the franchise has been around for, that’s not a massive achievement. This is still the simple party game it’s always been, but there’s a solid tracklist, some dazzling visuals, and the promise of more content to come down the line which makes it worth the investment for anyone who loves to boogie.

So far, it’s a good game with the potential to be great. If these bosses and puzzles were more user-friendly, allowing you to spend more time enjoying the open world, it’d be a lot better for it.

It may not be groundbreaking, but Avowed certainly leaves one hell of a mark on the RPG genre. The game's fun, challenging, and extremely enjoyable to play from start to finish, even when you're being hounded by giant mechanical undead creatures.

Hotwheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is exactly what was needed in terms of building upon the success of the 2021 starting point. With fast-paced gameplay, creative and fun customization, as well as addictive progression systems, players will be pleased to know that the Hot Wheels gaming experience is back and better than ever.

Although Hard West 2 delivers on some awesome visuals and sound design, its gameplay didn’t hook me and its characters never grew on me. For those looking to scratch the itch of a turn-based tactics game until a wave of games releases in the fall of 2022, then this could be right up your alley.

As Dusk Falls is a stellar first attempt from Interior Night and a must-play for those who enjoy interactive narrative games like The Quarry, Heavy Rain, and Detroit: Become Human. In many ways, the game feels like a playable season of Fargo and even channels other gritty crime dramas like Breaking Bad at times. Essentially, it's a playable binge drama, but one that can be enjoyed time and time again, with different endings and twists, depending on your choices...As Dusk Falls will make you hurt, and it will make you cry, but it won't let you down.

When Sniper Elite 5 hits right, it's every bit the long-range murder simulator sandbox we wanted. When you're completely in the zone, balancing stealth and precision and executing your plan of attack with utmost excellence, there are few games like it. Sadly, minor issues mount up and can harm your experience and tarnish some of what it does so well. Still, with a refined template, it feels Rebellion is on the verge of a bullseye here.

All up, the credits rolled at the seven-hour mark on my end. SEASON didn’t overstay its welcome as some games often do, though conversely, it also doesn’t offer any reason to return once you’ve seen and done it all. As mentioned prior, there aren’t any checklists, you won’t find challenges here, and there’s nothing to collect beyond personal keepsakes for your journal. So one playthrough is all you’ll need here and if you don’t embrace a slower style of play, one where you really take your time to capture everything just right, you’ll likely finish the game in a few short hours. It’s certainly not a game for everyone, but for those who do take their time to thoroughly travel the open world and take in every sight and sound, there’s a truly wonderful time to be had in SEASON: A letter to the future.

Every match is chock-full of hilarious and surprisingly strategic moments, and it’s what makes Mario Tennis Fever shine through its many distinct game modes. You’re always in for a DK-stamped barrel of laughs.

EA FC 25 might not be the giant leap forward that many fans were hoping for, but its best-in-class visuals and realistic matches still comfortably make it the best football sim on the market. While it’s disappointing that some of its biggest and best additions haven’t been fully capitalized on, it still sets a strong foundation for EA SPORTS to build on in the coming years.

It’s not quite the bogey-free round that enthusiasts would hope for, but EA Sports PGA Tour does an amazing job of being one of the truest tests of virtual golf yet.

This score feels harsh as the gameplay is spectacular, but there are simply one too many niggles to consider this a true WWE legend. For everything included in the game, there's always something else that could have been improved to be more cohesive. I am absolutely not complaining about the level of content here, though. MyGM's half-baked design is still fun the first time around, and MyRISE is definitely one of the better career modes in years, so you get enough bang for your buck. Throw in the wonderfully fluid new combat system and top-notch presentational qualities, and it feels like the franchise is back on track -- and on the cusp of something special.

While Ghostrunner Project Hel is certainly an achievement given that it started out as a small DLC, it seems like a stepping stone that will only placate fans for a little while. Hel herself is an interesting character brimming with complex hatred so inhuman that she feels nothing like any character we’ve played before, but even her intriguing personality doesn’t make up for the fact that Project Hel is simply more of the same.

EA Originals has a knack for spotlighting indie projects for publication and it’s very easy to understand why they chose this one. Given its very accessible pricepoint and day-one addition to the PlayStation Plus Extra catalog, the game has tremendous value and it’s impossible not to recommend it.

For The King II manages to expertly build on its predecessor, greatly improving combat, exploration, and cooperative features through added elements and a much cleaner UI. While single-player may suffer on occasion and certain elements can feel missing, For The King II is nothing short of an amazing title that will both cement itself into the minds of fans and cause its predecessor to hand over the limelight for good.

NBA 2K22 is 2K Games and Visual Concepts’ best entry into the franchise in quite some time, with bountiful changes to certain gameplay mechanics that make this the most fluid basketball sim in years. Combining this with the new MyCareer story and how immersive The City has become, here’s hoping it’s a new era for the NBA 2K franchise, and it offers a much-needed bounceback for a series that many fans had started to give up on. We’re excited to see the evolution of NBA 2K throughout the year because what’s here is off to a more positive start than we’ve seen in a while.

Evil Dead: The Game is a faithful and bloody horror that combines plenty of gameplay systems from across the multiplayer genre in tight, impactful gameplay. A variety of game modes and classes mean that there’s something for everyone, but it’s let down by quick-to-tire and repetitive finishing moves, limited accessibility features, and restrictions on earning experience. That being said, I’m incredibly excited to see what Saber Interactive has got in-store in the future, as with such a well-designed, lightning-in-a-bottle type formula, Evil Dead: The Game will either survive the test of time or be banished to the deep recesses of player’s minds depending upon the quality of the game’s future updates and how many it receives over time.

Rise of the Ronin doesn’t offer the photo-realistic visuals of those seen in Ghost of Tsushima, nor does it provide the nail-biting difficulty of Sekiro. Instead, Team Ninja’s samurai epic successfully forges a new path – blending adrenaline-fueled combat, fun traversal mechanics, and a loveable cast of characters, wrapping them all together in a world ripe for exploration. Just like the ronin themselves, Team Ninja’s open-world game is not bound by the old masters of the past – instead, it rises to the challenge set by Sucker Punch and FromSoftware, forging its own path to stand firmly amongst them.

WarioWare: Get It Together is absolutely full of content that ranges from the ridiculous to the sublime and marks the franchise’s strongest entry yet. Additional playable characters increase the chaos, while a huge number of microgames and modes are a great way to spend the upcoming Autumn nights with friends. While we’d have liked more in the way of online functionality, Wario is definitely back – and better than ever.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is still very much a Borderlands game — which is both its biggest quality and to its detriment. Its characters, story, and endlessly enticing gameplay will keep you coming back for more until you’ve explored everything and seen all Wonderlands have to offer. Sadly, while the change of setting and theme has brought out the best in its writing, much of Borderlands’ core systems haven’t caught up.

PGA Tour 2K23 is more than just the standard annual sports release with minor changes here and there. It's a two-year project that has added a ton of star power and new features. HB Studios clearly went back to the drawing board on this one and found new ways to make 2K's golf franchise even more competitive and invigorating...Its realism and immersive qualities easily overshadow some of its weaker moments and make this one of the best sports games, period, and will have you eager to board the birdie train.

Dead Take is a sublime horror game filled with some phenomenal performances expertly heightened by the live-action nature. It's unique, fun, and fantastically paced.

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is a classic cozy farming game with few repercussions and plenty to experience. It introduces brand-new elements to the genre in the form of longer-running storylines and tons of events to enjoy. However, for me, it just fails to add anything particularly exciting to the already successful genre and left me wanting much more.

EA FC 24 emphatically puts any concerns to rest by delivering the most complete and satisfying depiction of the beautiful game seen to date. The gameplay that fans know and love has been tweaked and polished to make for a deeply enjoyable 90 minutes each time the whistle blows.

Modern Warfare 2 can be exciting when it works. Whilst the campaign’s narrative flaws can’t be fixed, major patchwork is needed to get the multiplayer (the most important aspect) to a good place, and co-op is in desperate need of extra content. Big games just shouldn’t be in this state at launch.

Adventure Awaits isn’t just a pack for outdoorsy Sims; it also fleshes out the Child lifestate with elements that follow Sims throughout their lives. Packing in the series’ usual whimsicality in the form of unique Imaginary Friends and a ton of new skills and hobbies to partake in, Adventure Awaits has exactly the sort of depth and creativity a DLC should have. If we can get more Packs like this and Life & Death, The Sims 4 still has an incredibly bright future 10 years after its initial launch.