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 Rise of the Ronin might be technically outdated, but it's very entertaining in terms of gameplay.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.