Of course, this isn't really that sophisticated in terms of gameplay, but Resurgence's story and characters really shine, by skillfully continuing on from an early TNG episode. If you're like me and you're a fan of the TNG era, you'll probably really suck this one right up.

The compact world invites you to explore without it feeling like endless work. The complex story branches and the variety of missions between stealth and attack invite you to experiment. Rise of the Ronin might be technically outdated, but it's very entertaining in terms of gameplay.

A harrowing but profound experience: Reanimal is a brief yet haunting journey to the breaking point of the human spirit.

A lively platformer with inventive, albeit sometimes somewhat cumbersome game mechanics, but with plenty of challenges and lots to discover.

It´s best not to question the relevance of Sonic in the world of modern gaming, but as a retro-flashback as well as a strong representative of its genre, this is a convincing game.

For players who really got into Three House's story part, Engage will be met with some measure of disappointment. Its streamlined plot and structure are more accessible, but less intricate, and it doesn't help that the storyline never even threatens to leave well-trodden fantasy grounds. That's not a bad thing in and of itself, but it does feel like a step back. As soon as the battles start, though, everything is forgotten and forgiven ... Here's where Intelligent System's decades of experience are showing.

Battlefield 4 is a safe bet – as long as you don't expect much more than a well-done extension of what came before.

Again, Killzone might not have won all my heart. The unresolved story, uneven pacing and deficits of the AI prevent Shadow Fall from being that unmissable evergreen, Guerrilla undoubtedly were hoping to create. But it won my utmost respect. Contrary to many other launch titles past and present, this actually does feel like a step forward. The devs quite clearly had their minds set to more that just being in stores on day one.

It's still cut from the same cloth eternal favorites are made of. It does come from a much smaller coil this time around, though. (…) Instead of staying mysterious and unfamiliar for basically forever, the smaller maps of this conversion mean that you've grasped every inch of your surroundings all to soon. You will get to the point where you'll feel trapped, wanting to escape and to start over somewhere else.

Keeper is more experience than challenge – a surreal, poetic game that fills you with a sense of wonder instead of testing your skills.

The cool thing about the PlayStation VR2 implementation is that you can aim not only with the analog stick, but also with the Sense controllers themselves, as well as by turning your head and just looking at it with your eyes ... If you glide around in the vicinity of several enemies, the surround sound in particular comes into its own. Just be aware here that your head and stomach have to tolerate turns in all directions, which is not everyone's cup of tea in VR.

Nintendo and Sora offer with Kid Icarus: Uprising their most emancipated work on the 3DS so far and also show how capable this little handheld really is. Once you get to grips with the controls, you will spend quite some time with this one.

A well-balanced game that has far more to offer than the first hour with it might let you on to.

Purely in terms of quality and the amount of licenses, however, EA Sports FC 24 once again offers a very well-functioning, comprehensive package. Definitely not a bad game, just one that might feel a tad too familiar if you've been playing FIFA 23 for very long.

I don't know if there is such a thing as the perfect Mario Party game. But for me, Super Mario Party Jamboree is the closest of all three Switch games. I invested more than 25 hours in it with my wife and Mario Party is simply the most fun by far.

At times it's a bit ugly, other times the AI is a bit daft, and even and even though I can't quite make out its calling as a flight-simulator on a console: unlikely as it may be, give Birds of Steel a chance.

Ready or Not is incredibly exciting, especially in co-op. The gunplay is excellent, the missions are exhilarating and if you don't pay attention to the smallest details, you might get into trouble. Tactics and teamwork are crucial, as is your choice of equipment. If you are looking for your new co-op obsession, Ready or Not is a very good choice. Solo players wait for the Commander mode becoming more fleshed-out.

A thought-provoking game that makes you think about Estelle's world, but also about our own, a meditation about what's important to us and worth saving. You'll learn a lot - about Estelle, but also about yourself and the decisions you make in the time that you have left.

If you're open to its striking retro looks, you're in for a competent turn-based tactics game that's fought mainly in the defensive. Which feels right, as these giant monsters crush everything in their path. The desperation is palpable until you fend off the beast in the nick of time. Well worth a look for fans of the genre.

If I didn't know better, I probably wouldn't be able to tell Banished's all the more impressive solo-dev origins. It achieves everything it set out to do and has no real weaknesses. Also, 20 Euros is a fair asking price for a complex city-building survival-sim that knows full well how challenging and enjoyable it can be to start out small. If you need quests, missions or declared goals in your sims, this is not for you. Everyone else: Enjoy! Winter is coming and the children are starving.

The Atelier Marie remake is the surprisingly strong return of a game that could have too easily been lost among the 24 other instalments. This might be one of the coziest 'cozy games' in years. It's nice to see especially the origin of the Atelier series stand out in such a positive way, and with an excellent revamp on the Switch that the West is thankfully no longer deprived of.

It might not be as timeless as Defender. But now, at launch, Resogun belongs on your hard drive if you appreciate an intense bullet hell and impressive particle effects.

New content might be lacking, but the simulation is still excellent and accessible even to newcomers as Milestone double down on their smart, optional driving aids.

Initially bulky and a bit messy, Metal Slug Tactics is a tough nut to crack at first, partly because of its roguelite approach. But once you get into it, you'll enjoy the clever 'synch' mechanics and the search for viable movement patterns and powerful synergies.

Improved and expanded compared to its predecessor. In some areas not yet the absolute top class that it could be.

After about a dozen of entries in this 'series', many of the games' small mistakes probably should have been avoided. Still, you just can't be mad at this likeable and sizable a package. After satirizing so many pop-cultural icons to perfection, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is another demonstration in terms of love for detail and knowledge about the brand. I have no idea how they do it.

In spite of lots of bugs and systems that aren‘t quite ready, Stalker 2 exceeded my expectations. It is truly rare that I desperately want to see everything a game world has to offer - but once the Zone‘s deadly beauty and shocking immersion had grabbed me, it never let me go once.

I definitely want to know what happens next and what consequences my actions will have. And if that's your assessment of a season opener, the developers must have done something quite right.

Unstoppable Gorg is a wise investment, if you´ve got a knack for the Tower-Defense-genre and prefer your sci-fi a little bit trashy.

Well, complete success. This is the return of classic Street Fighter in its entirety. Arcade, Vs, fun modes, online matches, team battles, it's all there, all against friends locally, online or against the CPU. The new style is chic - at least I like it - the stages look the part, and with the different control modes, maximum accessibility is practically guaranteed.

On to a familiar set of rules, Techland crafted a dynamic sandbox that's stupid in all the right places. I don't know if I need another one of these, frankly. But for now this sits right next to last years' Shadow of Mordor, as a mechanically sound and motivating experience I hadn't expected at all.

It might lack in inspiration, but makes up for it with its great pace and the hero's joyfully acrobatic movement and controls.

It's almost tragic, really. Because, awful loading times and some smaller technical quibbles aside, on the field, this PES looks and feels just plain excellent.

Grim Fandango doesn't live off of nostalgia alone. It's a great game on its own right and not at all out of place today.

The great thing is, everybody can decide for themselves how much depth and realism they want from F1 2012. Granted, there might not be too much new stuff in this iteration, judged on its own merits, it is still a very satisfying experience, though.

If you are new to the series you should think hard, if you really need the whole package. Even though I'd recommend the first Kingdom Hearts to anyone, this particular edition is one for the fans, really.

Ghostrunner 2 boasts unique boss situations, clever puzzles and a surprisingly entertaining cyberpunk tale that is narratively more interesting than it should have been for this game.

So there are minor limitations, but there's hardly a better way to overhaul two games that are almost 15 years old. After all, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 plays as smoothly as a current title would and looks the part too.

Of course, it's not a grand adventure with an epic story and powerful character development. Shredding your way through the snazzy dioramas - always careful not to lose valuable experience points, and soon so nimble that you bravely duel bosses yourself - is much more engaging than it might look on pictures, though. No wonder, then, that it had to be Devolver, who snatched up this gem. You'd best do the same!

Better than the predecessor in terms of gameplay, lots of content and - finally - without loot boxes. Only the story and boss fights don't really inspire.

With Beyond the Dawn, you can easily dive back into the world of Tales of Arise and experience the engaging dynamics between Alphen, Shionne, Rinwell, Law, Kisara and Dohalim. The world has been enriched with new monsters, dungeons and other small elements that encourage exploration and promise a good time.

Rarely did I enjoy getting to know the numerous facets of a vivid world as much as I did here. And rarely did I miss in-depth systems as little as in this cleverly constructed stealth puzzler - in which sneaking, puzzling and quiet exploration come together in pleasingly varied situations.

The undercooked strategy layer notwithstanding, nothing quite compares the Aliens: Dark Descent. With its open, persistent maps and tactics that oscillate nicely between quietly menacing exploration and gun-blazing battles, this one has a pull of its own that's hard to resist. It lacks polish, no question, but this game has heart, brains, and a takes great delight in making your heart go faster. An imperfect favorite of mine this year, and at just 40 bucks, fans of the series are going to have a blast with this one.

It might not be a game for long evenings, but in small doses, it proves to be one of the most entertaining and fun experiences on the Switch 2. The sheer joy of poking, prodding, and experimenting with this picture-book world runs completely wild.

EA Sports WRC presents itself as a challenging but rarely frustrating racing game. Codemasters strikes the perfect balance and makes driving fun for beginners and pros alike.

Colorful action and rewarding exploration make for an excellent platformer: Sega's silent ninja returns in an inspired adventure.

The first Jak & Daxter is without a doubt the crown jewel of the collection. Jak 2 and 3 are still fun, but have suffered from adapting to the kind of gaming-zeitgeist that prevailed at the point of their original release.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger manages to avoid mundane JRPG-formulas and even adds some fresh ideas to the genre. There are still some minor issues, but they don't take away from the fun the digivolution is adding and the massively improved pacing, compared to its predecessor.

This is a game that puts the racing experience front and center. The physics model of the pros at Milestone is a piece of art that has only matured over the years. The sensation of speed might not be there yet and the console versions' 30 FPS are an issue, but the handling of the bikes is almost perfect.

This one's a real highlight: Demeo is the VR version of a fictional and extremely stylish board game ... The nice thing is that you view the action like a gaming table from above, but you can rotate the view at any time, "lean" centrally over the playing field - and zoom so far into the action that you feel like you're in a classic computer role-playing game. This transition from being far away to almost being in the middle of it all is amazingly cool.

Imaginative space Metroidvania, with beautifully escalating mobility, distinctive design, and plenty of good ideas straight from the belly of a dying spaceship.

A short, cosy adventure in the icy Freljord that touched me with its enchanting story. Technically not flawless, but atmospherically a great cosy game.

It hardly shows its age: Square Enix's Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined offers charming JRPG fun in bite-sized portions. Perfect for exploring the genre without having to completely immerse yourself in it.

A satisfying sequel to the first Life is Strange with an exciting story, plot twists and only a few technical problems.

Despite the slight problems in the second installment, we still have two excellent twin-stick games here. I loved these games back then and still do today because they play just so wonderfully and offer a great mix of shooting, puzzling and platforming. I wish there had been more of them afterwards.

Even with these upgrades, in 2012 the series' looks are not as cutting edge anymore as they were four or five years ago. Apart from the jump in resolution and performance you'd expect from a title geared towards gaming PCs, there's not much eye candy that would elevate this experience on the same level as other current PC titles. It still does look good, though, especially if the clouds open up and the sun bathes the detailed landscapes in warm light and stark shadows. And you should never underestimate how a game like this profits from the boost in pixel density and temporal resolution. It's still, in short, the best version of this game – if you're willing to hook up a gamepad to your machine.

At the end of the day, we have two beautiful Monster Hunter games here that more people can finally enjoy playing. Part one does show its age here and there, and you shouldn't expect a fundamental remake, but the port to the newer systems is still largely successful.

Sackboy still doesn't do his actual running and jumping in the same league as Mario or Rayman, then. But at the same time this is by far the best toolbox for gaming creativity this brand ever spawned. How much you will appreciate this package almost entirely depends on how much time you are planning to spend building, constructing and mucking about with this aspect of the game.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon definitely carries around some legacy issues. These and a couple of other annoyances aside, the game clearly shows how much From Software has grown over the past ten years. Because in its best moments, Fires of Rubicon is a furious action fest that requires skill, quick reactions and a spirited tactical approach.

Even though it doesn't reach the class of Forza Horizon, Most Wanted is an open-world game in the truest of senses. You have to look for the fun to find it. But since there is so much entertainment scattered about Fairhaven, this should be no problem. Those wild and nerve-wrecking police pursuits alone, which regularly develop their own zany dynamics, would be a decent raison d'être for any racing game.

Fear the Spotlight is a loving homage to the survival horror of the 90s and a damn well-made tale for fans of quiet horror.

The ways it tries to scare you are somewhat limited and there’s some technical issues, but this is a well-made, discreet and smart reboot for a series that deserves a second chance

The 'f' is for 'finally': Not exceptionally scary and treading on very familiar ground in terms of gameplay, but still disturbing and powerfully resonant: Silent Hill f revitalizes the legendary horror series as a subtle narrative puzzle for you to pick apart.

The familiar mix of puzzles, jumping, fighting and co-op hasn't lost any of its appeal in part five. Trine 5 has a decent playtime, as well, isn't too expensive and treats your eyes and ears to an atmospheric audiovisual presentation. Real fun, both alone and in co-op.

Yes, Forza Motorsport looks and feels great and offers a lot of content. Unfortunately, there is a lack of variety here and there, which ultimately doesn't detract from the fun on the track. For me, there is still a lack of a certain something that really rounds everything off. So, for the time being, you are left with the impression that you are already getting a very good launch version, but that its full potential will only unfold at some point when all the DLCs and other content have been released.

Future Soldier can be an extraordinary gaming-experience, but it depends heavily on the conditions under which it is played. (...) This is clearly an experience, that has to be shared with friends in the cooperative modes.

The stronger of the two expansions presents itself as a worthwhile new "Mini-Control" that will effortlessly entertain you for three to four hours.

Ultimately, I am completely satisfied with the Xbox implementation of Age of Empires 4. What already worked well in part two continues seamlessly here. The title is perfectly playable with the controller, and those who don't feel like 'sticking' it out can also use the mouse and keyboard.

Although Age of Wonders 4 may seem at first overwhelming, it's actually not. Many automatisms help beginners, and gradually you'll be able to abandon them if you want to. In the end, its great flexibility offers an enormous replay value and encourages you to try out all possible combinations.

A small and inexpensive experience without goals, tasks and many other stressful things. During creative building you can relax nicely. Ideal for short rounds in between.

That´s all there is to it. Touch for slide, touch to land, that is all the interaction, you will find here. Throw in a few sunflowers to bounce of from and some water hazards and you get a game that manages to create an almost perfect flow.

Just leave me here, on these lush, gigantic worlds, and I'll be too well entertained to over-analyze Survivor's certain lack of precision or it not exactly inventing all these mechanics anew. I am docking a point for the technical state it is launching in, though.

Clash of Heroes' optics and audio are rather sobering, but its narrative and its extremely refined gameplay still make for a unique turn-based tactics game.

I was really looking forward to this more compact experience in Mirage and was not disappointed. Of course, there are still collectibles here and there, but again it feels more like a fun pastime than a life's work. That's one important point. The other is that Mirage simply feels good to play, at least where it matters.

This has 'future' written all over it, but I don't really feel a substantial change. Sure, more Trials is always reason to celebrate, its base gameplay and level design are too fantastic not to. In the end, this feels like a really good update.

Dragon's Dogma then, a game that only slowly opens up to its guest, and one that certainly hasn't gotten all of the usual RPG-homework right. But if you are persistent and stay curious it will reward you with the most delightful cases of megalomania and delusions of grandeur in a long while.

It´s a nice little time sink for a single player and a real blast in a group of friends or family. All of these games cater far more to the needs of the classic gamer than Wii Sports ever did and at the same time they manage to show of the capabilities of the new gamepad pretty well. It's not the revelation the Wii once was, on those first evenings after you brought it home. But its an endearingly crafted piece of quality software.

Once again, Two Point Studios succeeds in combining their mix of quite complex, demanding management, which requires a lot of thought, with humor and the usual silliness that you know from the series.

Not only is Sword of the Sea fun, but it feels like something that's actually good for you. It's wonderfully uncomplicated and relaxing, while always being engaging. While AAA productions pile up mountains of features to simulate “added value,” this game focuses on a single idea—and develops it so clearly and consistently that it entertains for hours.

I can't say if Broken Age is all that you hoped it would be. I for one found that this first act juggles its serious core story, humor and absurdities splendidly. My backer dollars seem very well invested, indeed.

Rockfish put Everspace 2 together with insanely good intuition. They blended components that, in lesser hands, could have either seemed conveniently stolen together or difficult to reconcile and made them into a wonderfully coherent whole. The result is a game that repeatedly makes you forget about time, while you fly from one pulp sci-fi poster into the next, with your mouth wide open.

2D experts might not find quite enough challenge with Hell Yeah! and there's not the most replay value to be found here. Still, the game is absolutely great looking and lots highly enjoyable, just because of its overall level of insanity and its funny antics.

On the whole, F1 Manager 2024 is an improvement and, not least thanks to the option to create your own team, the best version of the series to date. The other new features do not completely turn the game upside down - which was not to be expected - but are welcome additions that add a little more depth.

Deep gameplay and a wealth of content make this late successor a successful continuation that targets mostly experts of the genre.

Showgunners is a fast-paced, often surprising mix of turn-based tactics and real-time exploration in a scenario reminiscent of The Running Man and other 90’s movies aesthetics. Smooth controls and well-crafted characters are cornerstones of the generally familiar XCOM-like.

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy knows how to impress with its refreshingly intricate story that is very well distributed across game elements and characters. Turn-based strategy and daily activities are also captivating. Only the slow pacing can at times become a little tiresome. Overall, still a great mystery game.

The last Paper Mario with an RPG twist, charmingly reworked and brought into shape for a new generation, unfortunately only marginally streamlined.

The Plucky Squire is a love letter to childhood, to books and stories, but also to the merchandising worlds and toys that surround them. As such, it serves as a reminder of the important roles these worlds played in our development. Not only of the adventures we made with "Masters of the Universe", Marshall Bravestarr or Rainbow Brite, but how these worlds made us as well.

Songs of Conquest would have profited from losing some of the inherent ticks of this particular sub-genre, but it is still one of the most beautiful and relaxing "just one more round" games of the year.

Gamepad controls and visual design are not great, but the ingenious concept is going to draw you in as it did almost 20 years ago.

But these problems fade from memory when Quicos adventure, after about three hours, reaches its mesmerizing, moving climax. You'll sit there, speechless, lump in throat, in wonder about the emotional impact of this brave little game – letting a fantastically cathartic final song wash you out of the game. It wasn't always fun and you're not even sure you want to play it again. What you're sure of, though, is that you just witnessed something that has made videogames a bit more mature.

This is, essentially, this generation's Beyond Good & Evil. A charismatic, engaging and refreshingly peculiar game that's among the most beautiful of recent years.

Successful VR version of Assassin's Creed, which works well except for the open battles and offers immersive sneaking and parkour fun.

High Moon Studios achieved for Transformers what Rocksteady managed to do for Batman. This is the way licensed-games are done right.

Sometimes, videogames are thought of as a means of escapism into worlds and universes you always wanted to immerse yourself and spend your time in, but in reality never could. I truly hope I never encounter someone who thinks this way about Hotline Miami.

Even though the middle part of the trilogy goes a tad bit downhill – with the exception of its brilliant final case – all in all, these are three great interactive stories that deserve their place on your sd-card.

Even though some might find the asking price for this single player expansion a bit too steep right out of the gate, in terms of quality and content, Ardennes Assault leaves little to be desired.

Monument Valley is beautiful game. Stylistically, it might not be all that unique, it's inspirations not all that fresh – Escher's been dead for over 40 years. But that doesn't change the fact that this little gem is a relaxing stimulation of the senses.