Its lacklustre looks notwithstanding, this is a wonderful turn-based tactics game that's just as much fun as back then on the Game Boy Advance.

This is a seasoned series delivering sure fire quality. It might not be for you, but if it is, you'll go happily and satisfied into this new round. In the end, it is what you expected: Call of Duty. Love it or hate it. This game doesn't care.

As I was still far from finished with Tears of the Kingdom, I was delighted to be able to do so with improved technology. If you feel the same way, or if you haven't played the title yet, you should definitely go for the Switch 2 version. As with BotW, it's a bit of a shame that the Zelda Notes features are only accessible via an app.

Until Star Citizen and Elite: Dangerous hopefully re-ignite the space-opera genre, Strike Suit Zero is pretty much as good as it gets.

Even with all of the convoluted stuff surrounding them, there are at least a hundred good ideas in The Evil Within. Not two levels are alike, no bullet is wasted, not one minute is boring. When this enormous, visually stunning nightmare comes to an end, it leaves you deeply satisfied. That’s no small feat.

Crass horror fare by way of fast, gripping stealth action. The Outlast Trials especially shines co-op.

The focused narrative and fighting mechanics work hand in hand to make for a real alternative to more expensive (and expansive) monster-rpgs, without being any less deep or engrossing for it.

Sand Land offers a unique adventure, a beautiful self-contained story and an exemplary adaptation of Akira Toriyama's manga. Minor inconsistencies and some lengthy stretches only slightly spoil the captivating overall atmosphere.

Many, many years we had to wait for the next chapter to one of the best strategy games ever. Naturally, not everything still feels as fresh as it did almost seven years ago, with Relic clearly going for a natural evolution, rather than a revolution. However, this doesn't change the fact, that, a few issues with close camera angles and the AI pathfinding notwithstanding, Company of Heroes 2 makes for an experience as tactically engrossing and challenging as its predecessor.

Controlling the game with mouse and keyboard doesn’t quite hit the mark, but with better lighting and frame rates as well as more consistent and crisper detail Rebirth looks best on PC.

The First Berserker: Khazan is a perfect opportunity for players who've always wanted to dip their toes into soulslike waters. With its beautiful, bloody fantasy anime flair, it's something special – but the combat system is what really got me hooked. However, it's a piece of cake for veterans of the Soulslike genre.

It isn't perfect, Sonic never was. But if you accept it for what it is, you'll find this to be a very fresh new take on the famous hedgehog.

Remaining issues and a lack of innovation aside, Dual Destinies and its witty writing manage to fully captivate you and glue you to the screen.

Even though Pokemon X is undoubtedly the strongest entry in the series yet, after 14 years of playing with a basically unchanged formula, I kind of expected something more.

As a follow-up, Alan Wakes´s American Nightmare surprises with a new, fresh feeling of horror in unfamiliar surroundings and with an idea for its storytelling that in the end barely graces the main tale, but still takes a lot of cues from it and even manages to give something back. So if you want to know what the hell is going on in Alan Wake, this is a new and very entertaining puzzle piece to a much larger and still quite hazy picture.

In the end, it all depends on what kind of game you are looking for. If you want sprawling, open worlds, bustling with life and interesting inhabitants and their stories, Monster Hunter has nothing to give you. However, if you like the idea of your character as the immovable center of a game's universe, one that's yours alone to perfect and hone – and the notion of interacting with others to hunt down some really gigantic beasts, then what are you waiting for? Go ahead and let the hunt begin!

The platformer offers varied levels with funny ideas, an ingenious mechanic for locomotion that lets you explore the genre with a fresh pinch of cleverness and a really pretty pixel art design that convinces even pixel-skeptical folks like me.

An equally accessible and challenging simulation with minor weaknesses in terms of AI, difficulty and penalties, but a motivating career and promising online championship.

I'm hard pressed to name a racing game in recent memory that I found this engaging. Rivals is a very mature design of wonderfully open and cleverly connected arcade racing, even though the current gen versions leave quite a bit room for improvement, from a technical standpoint.

Some troubles aside, in the here and now, I'll leave this one with the most glowing of compliments. Outlast's not particularly original, but its extremely effective brand of horror makes for a haunted mansion experience that's all too easy to recommend. It's almost as if this one was shoving the finger into all of the horror has-beens' faces: "Look, if you dare, what only ten people can do!" I for one can't imagine they'd like what they'd see.

With its trimmed down roster of fighters, a laughably bad story mode and a general lack of options as well as gameplay-variations, Soul Calibur 5 could easily be called guilty of having jumped the gun. But then there's the beautiful visuals and the top-notch playability. Fighter animations are sublime, the characters very detailed and the controls are super-smooth. And in the end, that is what counts.

Resurrection is great and just one of the many little treasures buried deep in Capcom's lair of gaming classics.

Even though I know the original well and know what's coming in the next hours, I might still stay a little longer with Bravely Default than I wanted to. If a game can do that after all these years, it must have done a lot right in the first place.

Blizzard has once again proven its flair and a sure hand in expanding upon StarCraft 2's multiplayer. Don't expect big innovations, though, it's just reasonable improvements that are on display here. The campaign is entertaining enough and some of the mission designs are a real treat, even though 'zerging' through enemies by way of simple bases still promises sure success a bit too often.

Racing through magnificent landscapes, strolling through the narrow streets of this worn-out world and experiencing frenetic action in space... this is a dream come true that no previous game in this far-off galaxy has been able to fulfill, especially in a unified package like this.

Visions of Mana is not a perfect role-playing game, especially if you expect a deep story and complex combat system. However, the JRPG shows its charm with a lot of heart and a unique fairytale world that you won't want to leave.

Strong fantasy 'persona' with a clever combat and class system and an immediately gripping story. Technology and parts of the progression seem a bit dated.

The Darkness 2 then – a game that definitely doesn't get everything spot on or even tread new ground. But it shows that even the most linear of shooters hell bent on delivering maximum entertainment don't always have to go in only one direction. Under all this blood and gore there's loads of character driven interludes that show the developers' understanding of how to dress up a game as a well-paced experience.

In its good moments – of which there are quite many – the fight against 'King Washington' DLC still features some of the most engaging Assassin's Creed gameplay we have played over the last few years.

A lot of bullet-hell fans have declared Akai Katana the best there is when it comes to the gameplay mechanics and especially love the slash-mode. I think I understand them, even though I'm not so sure I understand everything that's going on in this game. In slash, Akai may well be the most complex Shoot 'em Up there is.

There are no heroes here and it´s not up to you to be one. This is as far away from the shiny-happy shooterindustry as you can get, as long as you still want to sell a few units. The 'fun'-part lies in the excessive shooter-sequences, that will spare The Line from the fate of being a highly praised but commercially unsuccessful case of auteur gaming.

I didn't get what I initially wanted: A great campaign. What I got instead was something that was almost better. A multiplayer mode that birthed quite a bit of enthusiasm and some challenging and thrilling trials deeply engrained into the core gameplay.

Incredibly charming depiction of Batman's entire history in a game that could easily be a full-on spin-off from the Arkham series.

You´ve got to hand it to Daedalic: They know, what an expertly crafted point and click adventure has to look like. Veterans of the genre and newcomers alike can give this one a go without hesitation, especially considering the low price tag.

The Dark Eye arrived safely in the point'n'clink-world on the first go. Daedalic didn't go for crazy experiments, but instead kept to the proven formulas of the genre and also to the adapted game-world. Everybody can be happy about that, adventure-fans as well as The Dark Eye Nerds.

You know and recognize the Telltalte template, sure, but the funny Tales from the Borderlands draws a lot of entertainment value from removing itself from the more dramatic Wolf among Us and The Walking Dead.

Treasure Tracker is a heartwarming, well thought-out and engaging puzzler.

Gods & Kings does not make Civilization V a new game, but a better one. You can´t ask more out of an add-on.

So it's true. One does not simply walk into Mordor. But seeing as we're already here, we might as well pull some Uruk Hai strings, watch a few heads roll and make ourselves at home.

This extremely entertaining pinball game floods the brain with reward hormones. The overkill disrupts precision and tactics - they are replaced by variety and an audiovisual feast.

Even though its graphics engine won't win awards anymore, especially on PC, the game succeeds in finding its place in the upper echelons of multiplayer-shooting. If you're looking for a great offline experience, though, you might want to look somewhere else.

Even though I like Starfield more than Fallout 4, it's just 'the next one of these', instead of the big new beginning that some might have hoped for. If that's not enough for you, I understand. In the end, however, I have to say that these old bones are still robust enough to carry heaps of fun through this fresh and technically as well as visually appealing scenario. Here's hoping for a 'Starfield: New Vega' from Obsidian.

Seemingly small decisions can have such far reaching consequences, that it's impossible to dislike Dead State.

If you liked Horizon 2 and are in the mood for more extreme weather conditions and something more off-road in nature, you should absolutely consider a visit to Storm Island.

If you already liked Shadow Run Returns, this will give you a few very entertaining evenings well worth the price, even considering all the well done and ambitious mods for the main game.

Relink presents an exciting world and well-developed characters and will send you into ecstasy with its fluid combat system. Unfortunately, the fantasy story lacks depth and originality to be completely convincing. The lack of cross-play is also annoying.

Here, you'll find a few nice new levels with new challenges. None of this transforms the game in any way; it's simply more of the same. You can have a few hours of fun with it and enjoy the noticeably improved technology, perhaps even on a completely new playthrough. Nevertheless, I'm ultimately left with the impression that, despite the quality of the content, I think €20 is a bit too much, especially since other Nintendo games have received a free technical upgrade on the Switch 2.

If you're a fan of Final Fantasy's music – and seriously, how could you not be? – and unless you are allergic to rhythm games, Theatrhythm is something you need to try.

As a title that perfectly knows its talents and sets its priorities accordingly, Dead Nation is as good as it gets.

Fract OSC works just as well as a strict puzzle game than it does as an audiovisual experience. And if you're not interested in these aspects, you will appreciate the freedom and clever structure.

A great "remake" of a timeless classic without any real flaws. Who would have suspected with a cover this ugly?

A well-made, if slightly bare bones double feature of two overlooked classics. It's gameplay hasn't aged all that well, but it's easy to look past that for the gripping narrative and host of immensely likeable characters.

The latest installment proves that the series still has a lot of potential. The open world, which feels totally natural, looks truly beautiful, and stimulates the urge to explore, while the parkour elements enrich the experience even further. Overall, I think it's one of the best Borderlands games.

You got to admire Gravity Rush for its commitment to its idea. It's the kind of pure, to-the-point design philosophy, that classics like Super Mario or Halo have written on their banners: if the experience is enjoyable on its most basic level of interaction, the rest will follow on its own.

That's FFXIV in a nutshell: a technically very stable, functionally well thought-out and at times even brave MMO. It's just a shame that so much of your time is wasted on bread-and-butter adventuring. Still, this world is not only new, but also enticing enough that you don't always have to follow a higher calling to enjoy yourself.

F1 23 builds on its solid foundation and significantly improves both the controls and feedback of the cars, while the returning story-mode Braking Point continues to have its weak points.

The strongest new Resident Evil chapter in a long time. Capcom delivers an atmospheric triumph that blends classic survival-horror-virtues with fresh ideas. Even though the boss fights and the finale falter slightly, it remains a truly strong survival-horror experience.

Like Mirror´s Edge or inMomentum, it lives for those moments, where you seem to fly through the levels and can almost feel the breeze.

Even though Ninja Theory didn't finish as spectacularly as I would have hoped after the first half of the campaign, this game leaves you in the soothing certainty that you can count on Dante again. For the most part DmC is a pretty damned exciting and good-looking title that exactly knows where it belongs and what it wants to be. And because the Cambridge-based developers are quite the storytellers, this technical and elegant slasher works on even more levels than just the combat, something that was never really true for the DMC's of old.

Lots of action in an extremely atmospheric setting. The close combat could use a little more punch and the campaign could be tighter, but the character progression and expansion of the arsenal are motivating.

With great playability and presentation as well as a lot of surprisingly subtle humor, Iron Brigade keeps up with the high level of Double Fine's previous releases.

Let yourself be drawn into Corpse Party and you will find japanese horror in its purest form. A haunting, cruel and tragic ghost story for the connoisseur. Only rarely pixels this large haven been this disturbing.

If you're tired of Mario Kart World, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is nothing less than the best possible alternative you can currently buy... Overall, CrossWorlds is truly on par with a strong package here, positioning itself as a serious competitor that doesn't just copy Nintendo.

At 60 bucks, it's not exactly cheap and for people who already know this game from the Wii, the visual upgrade and new epilogue might not be worth the investment. If, like me, you haven't played it yet and you like Kirby, you can pick it up without much hesitation. Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a magical game with typical Kirby charm, and the new content compared to the original is the icing on the cake.

Pullblox is not only an extremely clever little puzzler, but also incorporates the 3D-effect in a neat way to support the gameplay itself.

Crashing shooter strikingly reminiscent of F.E.A.R. - a fast-paced mix of quick sneaking, inventive melee combat and explosive bullet-time.

Trying to get the maximum out of the new hardware, Bend Studios has tampered with things that didn't need fixing and thusly don't do anything for the game. In fact, the opposite is the case. (...) The experience alone, having this astonishly good-looking and perfectly well playing Uncharted game on a handheld would have been enough to justify the Vita's 250 dollar price tag. Because as soon as you learn to disregard the bad touchscreen bits you immerse yourself in this adventure and forget that you're "only" playing a handheld game.

The new fractions and maps play well and distinguish themselves from the pack, while complementing quite well what's already there.

In keeping with its title, the steep learning curve is a form of natural selection of its own. If you're not willing or able to drop the badass space-marine demeanor you have been conditioned to adopt by other titles, you'll regularly play a huge part in the downfall of your team. At the same, it's a hugely satisfying experience to act as a well functioning military unit or monstrous collective. I'm sure this form of intergalactic Darwinism will continue to thrive in its own little biotope.

Blackguards 2 is a way more well-rounded and ambitious game than its predecessor was.

Kingdoms of Amalur is simply fun. (...) When broken down to its features, Amalur is still outmatched by other RPGs, but it seems quite eager to learn. World and monsters are something to behold, it offers a lot of roaming space for its heroes and the story keeps you interested enough.

Connoisseurs of "fine humor" and fans of the Angry Nerd need not think twice about spending those 14 Euros. Go get it! It's a surprisingly solid, profanity-filled and feces-fixated chaos of a game. Hard, but fair, you'll find yourself flinging obscenities at the screen on a regular basis.

It's not the sort of horror that'll stay with you long beyond the credits, not a quiet and subtle creep fest, but a blunt force shocker. And as such it's effective because it's just so damn drastic.

An entertaining, humorous and demanding first person shooter. Fashion Police Squad captures the classic Doom style shooting quite well and adds a good dose of colorful madness on top of it.

Even though Lightning Returns can seem a bit unfinished at times, it has by far the biggest heart of all the games in this trilogy.

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is another example that visual novel games don't have to rely on just static texts and images. Spike Chunsoft built some intense mechanics here that will glue you closer to the screen than some crime-dramas out there.

This emotional rollercoaster really had me on the edge of my seat.

Every frame is stunningly composed, the voice actors as fitting as they are talented. On PC, even the tech has come a long way since The Walking Dead, which helps to get totally wrapped-up in this extraordinary murder mystery. This close to the release of Beyond: Two Souls, there's also something to be said about characters that are believable and relatable, without having to bank on star power and performance capture.

The Stick of Truth is a great game, no doubt. Sadly, the adventure is brief one that leaves you craving more. This is a testimony to the sublime quality that's on offer here, but doesn't change the fact that you're a bit unsatisfied when you're done with it. Still, if you like the series at all, you should absolutely play this.

Cronos: The New Dawn hurls you into a shattered sci-fi wasteland where ammo is scarce and monsters are plenty. The pacing may sag in places, but its relentless challenge and gripping atmosphere keep the tension razor-sharp.

Brutal, action-packed and well-made sequel to a fan-favorite shooter with an elegantly uncomplicated game design and an entertaining co-op mode!

Before the release of this remaster, I wasn't convinced that it would be a good idea to revisit Oblivion. Wouldn't it be better to remember it the way we experienced it ages ago? But now that I've collected plenty of new memories with the game: Oblivion is well worth your time in its Remastered version, almost 20 years after its original release.

Although struggling with some disappointing shortcomings JDM: Japanese Drift Master lets you drift swiftly through a fictional, yet painstakingly detailed area of Japan like no other racing game does.

It might not quite be the new classic some might have hoped for, but it's a very entertaining and intimate proof that Ubisoft isn't all about throwing hundreds of people onto any given problem. They actually know very well how and when to pick just the right guys and gals for a job.

A warm-hearted road trip in a future that is as dystopian as it is optimistic, with very lively and varied dialogue as its greatest strength.

And even if the development team is not necessarily keen on the comparison with Command & Conquer, they do not shy away from it - Grey Goo can fill the large footsteps easily.

Rebirth is a successful remake between nostalgic memory and sequel with a strong combat system. An extensive adventure with small flaws, but also many lovely little things.

Terminator 2D: No Fate is a near-perfect T2 nostalgia capsule: tightly directed, beautifully animated, and packed with iconic moments. It’s also very short, though, so it’ll mostly appeal to side-scroller fans who don’t mind running through a game multiple times.

It's my favourite part of the series, which I spent a lot of time with back in my youth. And I still have the big box of it in my basement. The modernisation suits the game very well, and I'm also pleased about the GBC version and the interactive museum as extras. It's Worms in its purest 2D form and the pinnacle of the series.

A relaxing time-sink and creative outlet with loads of stuff to do. This is what truly great sandbox gameplay looks like.

There is nothing terribly new here, it's got the same old weaknesses and almost no new strengths. But it builds something incredibly solid and lively on its tried and tested foundation.

This truly is the new Command & Conquer that Electronic Arts doesn't want to give us. One could accuse the game of being a bit too inspired by the original. But if you look past that, you get a really well-made real-time strategy game. While Tempest Rising doesn't rely solely on its nostalgia and fan appeal, it's also an excellently executed real-time strategy game in its own right. For just €40, you can't go wrong with it. Unless you value a lot of multiplayer options, because Tempest Rising is rather sparse in that regard.

If you are looking for an XCOM-like experience in the Warhammer 40K universe that also allows you to take a more aggressive approach, then Warhammer 40K: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters is the game for you.

I spent much more time with this remake than I would have thought beforehand! ... Like the original, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a damn likeable declaration of love to the Disney universe centered around the famous mouse.

I am having a lot of fun with The Lamplighters League, which is mainly due to the fact that it designed its rules around highly individual characters that create great room for synergy effects. This results in maximally satisfying combat scenarios in which you feel really clever when you have once again taken out five or six enemies in just one round.

Even 30 years after the brave pilots headed out for their first rescue mission, Choplifter´s simple, but well thought-out gamedesign still knows how to entertain.

Lies of P: Overture adds a beautiful chapter to a fantastic game. The only criticism you could levy against it, is that it's not as essential to this game's world as it should be.

Even though the series as a whole could arguably do with an overhaul by now, Disgaea 4 still is one of the best tactical role-playing games around.