Hugo and Amicia's story remains just as compelling as it was in Innocence, but A Plague Tale: Requiem swings for the fences by offering more of almost everything that made its predecessor great. Some curious design choices dampen its impact a little, but overall, it's a great return for a duo that are fast becoming some of our favorites.

Naraka: Bladepoint may feature all the familiar trappings of a traditional battle royale game, but its combination of melee-based brawls, beautiful setting, and customizable warriors help to differentiate it from the well-established crowd. While Naraka’s combat may be far from perfect, there is enough depth here for those that are willing to scratch below the surface. If you’re looking for a BR with a unique twist, then Naraka: Bladepoint could be the game you’re looking for.

High Isle feels the closest ESO has come to offering a meaty, single-player campaign in years but those ambitions butt heads with the core mechanics of the MMO. As ever with ESO, this isn’t going to be for everyone, but for those who already love sharing the world of Tamriel with others, this is the prettiest playground yet.

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.

The Resident Evil Village: Shadow of Rose expansion provides lots of reasons to jump back into the game. The third-person mode alone gave us many more hours of fun in one of our favorite horror playgrounds in recent years. From a technical point of view, the Shadow of Rose story chapter is more Resi goodness with some fun new gimmicks to change things up. The little chapter sits neatly alongside other bitesize Resident Evil stories, but those who were hoping for the third and final chapter in the Winters family saga may be left feeling slightly shortchanged.

Diablo 2 Resurrected achieves what it set out to do: remaster Diablo 2. Its enhanced visuals and spectacular cinematics repackage the game in a whole new way, making it feel as though it really is your first playthrough all over again. Breaking this immersion, though, are a slew of irritating bugs that are likely to be fixed soon. As patches drop over time we hope this sorts itself out, but at the moment they can be so game-breaking that they make you want to do diabolical things to your computer. Despite all of this, I’m excited to jump back into the game. In fact, I’m itching to do it. Why? Because evil has returned, and it’s the Diablo 2 I know and love.

While the game isn’t directly from Alfred Hitchcock’s mind, it’s been loyally crafted by those who’ve worked hard to honor and replicate his style. This is a game for Hitchcock fans, by Hitchcock fans and that really shines through. Vertigo isn’t quite the game-changer that Heavy Rain or As Dusk Falls managed to be, but it certainly deserves a seat at the table.

For those who merely dabble in arcade classics, then the way to go may be to hand-pick the games you want to play and checkout with a cheaper cart in hand. There are some real highlights in this collection that would be a shame to miss out on for a gamer of any flavor.

Put simply, if you enjoyed what worked in the past, you’ll absolutely love The Cosmic Shake. While the game doesn’t take any giant leaps forward, following a familiar path proves what we already know still works just fine. The team at Purple Lamp has clearly found its niche and let’s hope they continue to serve up more of the same style moving forward.

If the Switch is your only avenue to play Roguebook, I would still recommend it to deck-builder fans looking for a solid take on the genre. I would steer clear of handheld mode as long as it lacks a font size option. Although the best version of the roguelike remains on PC with a mouse and keyboard, Roguebook still offers tons of fun on the Switch. Just be ready to squint a lot.

Saints Row is everything you’d expect from a new entry into the franchise: It’s full of larger-than-life story beats, a LARPing subplot, oodles of customization, and outlandish Skills to take down your enemies with. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel by any means, your Boss and their three companions are where this reboot truly shines — and it’s a joy to experience Santo Ileso and all that it has to offer with them.

Far Cry 6 feels like the franchise is begging for its "Assassin's Creed Origins" moment, where its underlying core systems are tweaked and overhauled. It still offers plenty of fun and carnage, but the formula has begun to wear thin…After three mainline entries with almost exactly the same structure, along with numerous spinoffs and expansions that hit the same notes, it’s definitely time for the series to either take an extended break or move on in a new direction.

Windjammers 2 feels more like a callback and reimagining of a classic for veterans and returning fans of the brand. It doesn’t feel wholly inclusive of new players, and how much gameplay and entertainment you get from it will be entirely dependent on you. On the other hand, it’s an easy game to jump into once you know what you’re doing, and the artistic values are complimented so well by its soundtrack. Windjammers 2 isn’t a must-own game, but one you will have fun with.

Monster Energy Supercross 5 is easily Milestone's finest installment in the franchise, after a few years of diminishing returns. What Supercross 5 is missing in its surface-level game modes, it makes up for with thrilling racing at its core. Patience and a level head are needed to persevere upward through its demanding skill ceiling but it's wholeheartedly worth the pursuit. It's hard to tell whether future installments will offer enough innovation to keep the franchise riding on, but for now, we'll be tearing it up for fortune and glory.

If you go in purely to see the world in motion and walk through its immense cityscapes, you’ll be delighted by what’s on offer. But if you go in expecting a substantial gaming experience with plenty of input and deep engagement, you may end up disappointed. Falling somewhere in the middle, I can appreciate Stray’s overachieving presentation but wonder what could have been with this setting and this attention to detail had it not centered around a cat with limited room for gameplay systems.

Amazon's MMO is an ambitious, player-led experience, but that doesn't forgive a lack of narrative or worldbuilding. For every good idea or unique concept, it feels like it's missing the chance to take the next big step and do something more interesting...And yet, I find myself returning to Aeternum's shores just to passively enjoy its community spirit and stick it to rival factions through the community board. I just wish there was something bigger to hold me there for longer.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection on PC works just as intended. It’s another solid Sony first-party port, even if Uncharted 4's writing isn't aging particularly well. We can only recommend the collection with some caveats. PC players will be missing out on the whole Nathan Drake saga, and absent multiplayer modes make this something that we can only recommend to those willing to experience it with those particular asterisks.

GRID Legends is definitely an improvement on its 2019 predecessor and is a solid pick-up for anyone who enjoys casual racing games. The Driven to Glory story mode is a fine addition, but won’t blow anyone away, and while it does feature the franchise’s best in-game racing yet, it doesn’t quite match up to its competitors.

The good news is that today, dungeon-crawling games like this are more popular than ever, so Baldur’s Gate Dark Alliance 2 could be exactly what you’re looking for. The genre has boomed and this makes an older game feel fresh again, especially to those who didn’t play it the first time around, if you can forgive its imperfections – and some players won’t be able to. Don’t expect it to compare with the likes of Diablo 3 or Path of Exile, but fans of the genre will be well served by Dark Alliance 2.

The Sims 4 High School Years is executed well when looking at what’s on the surface, and the features included with the expansion have undoubtedly fleshed out the teen life state to keep things interesting for a while. However, elements that could be taken much further — such as a funfair full of rabbit holes and a classroom that includes situations that are just tied to pop-ups — keep it from truly flourishing as an Expansion Pack.

If you enjoy the Soulslike style then it's easy to recommend Steelrising, as the game is one of the most original takes on the subgenre we've seen in terms of its setting, character, and time period. Those who've always wanted a game to combine elements of Souls with Bayonetta will also find a lot to like in Steelrising, particularly after tweaking the settings… Anyone who's not a fan of Soulslikes but is keen to try one may find the flexible difficulty a great way to get started. It's no Elden Ring, but it's certainly got something about it that makes it worth a look. After all, where else can you storm the Bastille with razor-tipped Parisian fans?

Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway is the ideal game to break out for a night of family fun, especially if you have kids in need of entertainment. The colorful cast of familiar faces, as well as a host of stunning tracks, makes for a perfect party game if you can get enough people into the same room...However, its surprising amount of depth is wasted by an unchallenging AI and lack of real opponents to face online, meaning that solo racers without any love for Nickelodeon’s shows will find little incentive to carry on once the novelty has worn off.

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.

Somewhere in Shadow Warrior 3 is a meaty FPS that is trying to move forward with the times but struggles to keep consistent as technical problems and a muddied presentation mar the game’s strengths. The first half of the game is an enjoyable, constantly growing, and expanding experience that runs out of ideas towards the end. Lo Wang is certainly not the most memorable or likable protagonist ever seen, but I appreciate Flying Wild Hog’s intentions.

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain is one of the most accessible party games available on Nintendo Switch right now. It might not have much longevity, but it’s affordable, easy to pick up and play, and has the potential for some real competitive party play with the right people.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is a pleasant addition to the pantheon, but its impression on players might be woefully short-lived. It’s a meticulous representation of Ghostbusters lore but thin gameplay options hold it back from its full potential.

The Sims 4 My Wedding Stories makes for a great pack for builders and CAS fans alike, with great care having been taken to include items that can be utilized in many different styles of ceremonies. Whether you’re interested in the new world, the formal CAS items, or even game options that cater to a more family-oriented style of play, it’s a great pack to add to your game. However, a multitude of bugs and overall surface-level gameplay that only expands on systems that are already in the game, rather than adding new ones, keep this pack from being something that I’d truly say “I do” to without a second thought. Hopefully, some of these bugs are fixed ahead of release day or addressed in an upcoming patch as until then, the new events are not something I’ll be using going forward

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.