Those that enjoy games that are bloody, bombastic, and have a pinch of humor will find an excellent experience in Chivalry 2. It's approachable, smooth, and an excellent time with friends. Plus, there's the promise of free content on the horizon, which should make the current offering even more appealing to those that engage with it. While there are some minor technical issues to be sorted out here and there, it's still one of the most enjoyable experiences to come out of 2021 so far.

There's something special about engaging with a piece of work that is a labor of love, as Vampire Survivors was before it. Vampire Crawlers doesn't try to be something it's not. It doesn't try too hard to be different, because it doesn't need to. Poncle has found his niche, with his retro Castlevania-inspired world and frequent dopamine hits making me a fan of his work in mere minutes, yet again.

Once players have mastered story mode, there is also a powerful level editor available to create new challenges.

Its detective elements may be lacking and its third act is slow, but it more than makes up for it, offering spectacle-heavy set pieces, an engrossing mystery, and a bounty of fantastic side missions. Whether a diehard fan of the Yakuza franchise or a newcomer looking to see what all the fuss is about, Lost Judgment is a thrilling adventure that shouldn't be missed.

The Banner Saga 2 is a must-have for fans of Stoic’s acclaimed original RPG, continuing the series with an equally strong narrative, beautiful visuals, and addictive combat.

Kaze and the Wild Masks is exceptionally average in every way, and never fails to impress. It excels at its goal to create a clean, enjoyable, and nostalgic '90s platforming experience, while simultaneously providing just enough of a fresh take to keep things exciting.

The series continues to struggle with giving players a compelling reason to keep playing beyond the end credits and aspects of the narrative could have used more work, but it’s still a mostly satisfying conclusion to Lara’s origin story.

While the occasional technical hiccup is disappointing and the lack of a New Game+ mode is a bummer, The Outer Worlds 2 still provides an excellent action-RPG experience that will greatly appeal to Fallout fans and those who enjoyed the original game. The Outer Worlds 2 is yet another great RPG from Obsidian and is a brilliant way to cap off what has been an incredibly impressive year for the studio.

Those who were looking forward to a current-gen port will find that the game is well represented on the new platforms, and has no major flaws to speak of.

The Division 2 is great for what it is, and a vastly superior product when compared to the original, with the sequel having improved upon practically every feature found within The Division 1. While it doesn’t exactly blaze adventurous new paths for the genre or deliver a glut of surprises, it nails what’s most important in a loot-based shooter – it’s fun and motivates players to come back for more.

Hell Clock has some blemishes but its core gameplay and narrative experience are compelling. The story of the Canudos people is heartbreaking and galvanizing, constantly encouraging the player to rain righteous vengeance upon their enemies. Thanks to the game's flexible combat sandbox, this process is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally invigorating, and will have players itching for one more run. For a roguelike, it's hard to offer higher praise than that.

It’s hard to find fault with what Codemasters has done with F1 2016. The game is a fabulous return to form for the series, delivering thrills that had been missing for some time, and the title could no doubt find a place among many racing fans’ libraries.

These bugs and the small amount of content make Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair feel a bit rushed. The levels mostly all look the same, the alternate stages feel like padding, and the Impossible Lair gimmick is definitely going to be divisive for platforming fans. Its biggest issue, though, is that the platforming isn't nearly as precise as the games that inspired it. It has enough unique ideas that some platforming fans may still want to check it out after a price drop, but don't expect to be blown away.

Despite issues with the narrative and the mountain of bugs and technical issues, Borderlands 3's fun factor is still undeniable.

All in all, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is a wonderful entry point for players fresh to the franchise. The main cast of characters is charming and bursting with personality, even without voice acting; there are so many entertaining cases to go through, and the courtroom dramatics will keep players mostly intrigued and on their toes. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles isn't the best pair of Ace Attorney games out there, but they will still provide players with an enjoyable experience that will last for many, many hours.

There's a lot more good than bad in RAIDOU Remastered, fortunately. It's a wonderful walk down memory lane for fans of the original, and a worthwhile excursion for newer Atlus fans, discovering the studio via games like Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio. More than anything, this new-and-improved RAIDOU is easy to love, packed to the brim with charming characters, addictive combat, and a wacky, lore-rich world to sink your teeth into, making it easy to recommend to just about anyone.

Altogether, Cult of the Lamb is an impressive title that leans heavier on the Roguelite genre than anything else, while still pulling everything it needs from the other genres that separate the games from the Indie crowd. Not every feature or mechanic is perfect, and the story is more interesting as lore than it is as a narrative, but that doesn't seem to be the developer's main focus. With that in mind, Cult of the Lamb succeeds where it matters, from the Roguelite dungeons to the dark cartoon aesthetic.

Below Zero has taken no steps backward and instead offers an even more polished experience than its predecessor. As for gameplay and story, it’s not necessarily a better game, but it is certainly just as good.

Huntdown delivers nail-biting boss battles, exceptional music, a slick design, and fast-paced combat. It’s a throwback to a time where games did a lot with a little, while testing players’ skill the whole way through. Admittedly, the difficulty (unless players want to drop it down to easy) is going to be a turn off, but most will find the checkpoint system forgiving enough. For our money, the punishment made the victory all the more satisfying.

It is disappointing that Nintendo chose not to update the titles in Super Mario 3D All-Stars for 2020, as some of the blemishes in the design of the three games are made more obvious so many years after their initial releases. That being said, the games are still excellent, with Super Mario Galaxy feeling like a perfect game.

It’s challenging, whimsical, and a great throwback to a time when combat was deceptively simple.

Even without knowing the lore around Warhammer 40,000, Space Marine 2 does a great job of inviting new fans into the franchise by showing the unwavering courage, sacrifice, and devotion of these super soldiers, but that doesn't mean things are dumbed-down to disrespect die-hard fans. Being a veteran of the franchise isn’t essential to the enjoyment of Space Marine 2; while it might further satisfy the experience, the universe is brought to life with such detail that it makes for the perfect gateway for newcomers.

Even if players aren’t excited by its sports-like gameplay features, Pyre has a wonderful cast of characters and an engaging story that make it hard to put down. It’s easy to get lost in Pyre‘s world, and it is the kind of game that will leave a lasting impression on those that play it.

Hitman 2 doesn’t break too much new ground for the series, for in many respects it can be viewed as Hitman: Season Two. Nevertheless, IO Interactive has brought a bevy of remarkable updates to the table that make the sequel a worthy successor to the game that came before it.

With a fun cast of characters driving an engaging story and a ton of worthwhile rewards to collect, the Borderlands 3 Moxxi's Heist of the Handsome Jackpot DLC is a must-play for fans of the looter-shooter.

A Plague Tale: Requiem is everything that one could want from a sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence. It's more ambitious and action-packed than Innocence, and is quite easily one of the best new game releases of the year. The fact that A Plague Tale: Requiem is a day one Xbox Game Pass game adds significant value to Microsoft's subscription service, and anyone with Game Pass should be sure to play it as soon as they can. Those on other platforms shouldn't miss out either, as A Plague Tale: Requiem is easily worth full price. Simply put, A Plague Tale: Requiem is a must-play game.

The Switch has no shortage of excellent Metroidvania titles, and Laika: Aged Through Blood is well worth the time of any Switch owner who is a fan of the genre. But just because Laika is an easy recommendation doesn't mean that it will be to everyone's tastes, and it certainly requires a lot from the player to get the most out of the experience. For those who don't mind a steep challenge and a unique approach to the classic elements of a Metroidvania, Laika: Aged Through Blood is a worthwhile experience that immediately earns its place as one of the great modern titles in the genre.

LEGO Party is a polished, fun party game that delivers exactly what its title promises. It's basically Mario Party with LEGOs, but there is nothing wrong with that. Party game fans will get a lot out of LEGO Party, and while it may not have enough to justify playing it for hours on end in single sessions, it is something that will be easy to go back to on game nights.

There's no reward for pushing through the tedium, and one's free time would be better spent with most any other game. That being said, Death Stranding's social systems really are brilliant, and hopefully we can see the concept expanded on in future games.

Where AC Origins introduced RPG mechanics and AC Odyssey took a leap of faith in pushing forward, Assassin's Creed Valhalla brings back the general feeling of being an Assassin from the core action-adventure titles. Indeed, by emphasizing the adventure and exploration components of the franchise, Assassin's Creed Valhalla may just be the most true-to-form release in many years.

The updated graphics may not feel truly current-gen to Xbox One and PS4 players, but the quality and originality of the game’s mechanics and setting are still a step above the competition.

Mortal Kombat 11 may catch some deserved flak for its microtransactions and Ronda Rousey’s bland voice acting, but the core fighting is so entertaining than those issues will hardly to matter to most. Mortal Kombat 11 is simply full of things to do and will keep fighting game enthusiasts busy for quite some time.

Horace's story by itself makes it an easy recommendation, but it doesn't hurt that the game is also a fun, challenging 2D platformer with plenty of gameplay variety to ensure that players are almost always doing something new. The backtracking and pacing issues are something to keep in mind, but they are easily overlooked when the rest of the game is this good. Simply put, Horace is an absolute must-play for platforming fans.

Devil May Cry 3 definitely shows its age in its latest port, but it holds up incredibly well regardless, thanks to some of the most challenging yet satisfying combat of any game in the last fifteen years.

Horror fans that enjoyed the first Little Nightmares game and weren't turned off by the short playtime will likely find a lot to like about Little Nightmares 2. It is a very similar game, but with some major quality of life improvements and new gameplay features that help to make it a more engaging experience. It's an easy recommendation for horror fans as well as those who are seeking out a unique puzzle-platforming game to play.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is easily the best compilation that TT Games has put together. Visually stunning, mechanically evolved, and endlessly entertaining, the game puts its foot on the gas and never lets off. Pacing issues and simplicity aside, the fact that the devs could revisit games they literally already made and make this package feel fresh is an accomplishment all its own. No matter how players might feel about the stories of the three trilogies, it’s hard to argue this is the best video game representation of them that just so happens to be LEGO.

Oblivion Remastered delivers a breathtaking open world full of engaging quests and characters and makes smart gameplay improvements to bring the 2006 classic to modern standards.

Despite some minor technical flaws, This War of Mine remains a poignant and, unfortunately, relevant game to this day. It is no surprise that it was the first video game in history to be added to a school curriculum. Its depiction of the harsh reality of war for civilians makes it one of the most unique games to come out of the previous decade.

Enter the Gungeon is a charming bullet hell/roguelike hybrid that manages to balance the best elements of both its genre influences while carving out an identity of its own.

All in all, Tainted Grail: Conquest is a great experience with a mysterious narrative, a gripping grimdark setting, and enjoyable deckbuilding rogue-lite mechanics. At times certain minor bugs or lighting issues can hold it back, but these things are trivial compared to the great fun players will have. With some future updates to address these minor issues, Tainted Grail: Conquest is shaping up to be a great entry within this subgenre of games.

Story wise and visually the game has a lot going for it, but mechanically there are some genuinely troubling areas. Everything works, but it is nowhere near as polished as it should be, and occasionally that lack of polish hurts the overall experience. The Last Guardian is going to be a memorable release; there’s no doubt about that. But its legacy won’t be quite what fans had hoped.

Much like Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Ninja Gaiden 4 takes the best elements of the series that players remember — a tough-but-fair challenge, outrageous enemy designs, and refusal to shy away from bloody, gore-soaked combat — and updates them just enough without completely trying to reinvent the wheel. It proves that the Ninja Gaiden franchise is primed for a new golden era with fresh perspectives steering the ship, and it has positioned itself as one of PlatinumGames' best titles and quite possibly the best action game of 2025.

Technobabylon will please all fans of the point-and-click adventure genre, and Wadjet Eye Games can be pleased they found a cyberpunk successor that matches up with the high standards left by Gemini Rue.

The shortcomings of Raccoin are, ultimately, far from game-breaking, and I still find it fun, charming, and mechanically unique: it can net you a few dozen hours of solid gameplay, easily. However, we are living through an unprecedented era of deep and vast roguelikes, many of which offer hundreds of hours of constantly evolving gameplay. Against just a handful of these more avant-garde and ambitious titles, Raccoin, despite being well-made and enjoyable, feels unessential. It may only be marginally less compelling than something like Slay the Spire 2 or Balatro, but in this time-consuming genre space, that makes a massive difference.

Duelyst combines addictive, turn-based gameplay with a collect-them-all card game mentality to great effect, all wrapped up in solid visuals and free-to-play mechanics.

From its compelling characters and unique gameplay hook to its stunning art style and engaging story, Petit Depotto has created a wholly original sci-fi thriller that's worth enduring a few late-game pacing issues to experience.

Save for the ever-encroaching reach for players’ wallets with the Virtual Currency system, the sheer breadth of content alone in NBA 2K19 will be plenty to satisfy newbies and long-time fans of the franchise looking for a complete basketball sim experience.

Loop Hero blends together familiar mechanics and tropes into something that feels totally refreshing, and it's worth sinking some time into.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard certainly closes a chapter for Dragon Age as a whole. But one can’t help but look more brightly at the future, one where Bioware has seemingly broke a curse it has been shackled with for years. As labyrinthine as a task it would have seemed, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a promise to fans that BioWare is one of the best storytellers in the medium, one capable of bombastic gameplay and enthralling narratives that linger for years.

Whereas WWE 2K22 was a rebuilding year for the franchise, WWE 2K23 is all about building on that foundation, offering players more bang for their buck and taking everything a step forward. There is still plenty of room for improvement for sure, but WWE 2K23 is easily one of the best WWE games of the past decade.

Drinkbox Studios’ Severed is a touch-based, action RPG with an interesting premise, incredible visuals, and fun gameplay that simply overstays its welcome a little.

At first glance, Marathon may seem like a fundamentally solid game with a lot of potential, but one that simply feels too intimidating to invest in. But if players are willing to jump over the unnecessary hurdles in Marathon's opening hours, they'll likely discover that Marathon doesn't just live up to its potential, but it exceeds it, with the current version offering a host of replayable maps, an engaging progression system, and a core loop that should keep extraction shooter fans coming back time and time again.

Even with these console-specific issues, Orcs Must Die! Unchained from Robot Entertainment is one of the better free-to-play games on the PlayStation Store. The controls may be tighter on PC and there’s clearly room for improvement in some other areas as well, but Orcs Must Die! Unchained is still worth taking the time to download on the PlayStation 4.

Having played Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Vesperia, I went into Tales of Graces f Remastered feeling like I knew what to expect, given that the title is part of the same era of the franchise. But to say that my expectations were exceeded is an understatement. Tales of Graces f Remastered is an important first step in bringing a whole new audience to the Tales series as part of Bandai Namco's franchise initiative, and it's hard to think of a better entry to endear players to all that Tales has to offer.

Senua’s story is heartbreaking and Hellblade’s world certainly isn’t a happy one to spend a lot of time in. For that reason, maybe the limited campaign time is a bit of a blessing. Despite the serious subject matter and dour tone, Hellblade is an experience that shouldn’t be missed for any fans of adventure-based puzzle games.

Nintendo’s Kirby: Planet Robobot introduces the pink protagonist to a brand new platforming mechanic in the form of a giant mech suit, and the end result is rather refreshing.

A worthy remake of one of the (if not the) most memorable iterations of the entire franchise. Every facet of the original has transitioned smoothly onto the newer hardware, and while the “warts and all” mentality of the combat may strike some as tiresome, the updated visuals and a wondrous retelling of various arcs of beloved characters both good and bad makes this throwback one of the more engaging titles available for Nintendo 3DS owners.

There are certainly short-comings that veteran shooter aficionados will pick up on right away, but the game’s willingness to march to the beat of its own drum is admirable and often enjoyable – if not occasionally frustrating.

There’s a variety of ways to play and the subtle changes with each new captain keep the story feeling fresh and exciting.

With plenty of quests, collectibles, bosses, cutscenes, and more, there's never a dull moment across Granblue Fantasy: Relink’s 20+ hours of play time. Relink effectively sells itself to casual and hardcore gamers alike, and saturates even its towns and menus with extra details. All the animations, ambient dialogue, Easter eggs, and the sheer energy of the whole package demonstrate how Granblue Fantasy: Relink’s extended development served its eventual release. Cygames has finally delivered the promises Granblue Fantasy: Relink made a long time ago, and it should join its RPG and fighting game counterparts in pleasing fans for years to come.

Kinks aside, this collection does shine and perform respectably well on Windows, but it'll be up to consumers to decide whether they should jump in at full price as it stands, or wait for a patch and/or sale.

However, there’s still plenty to the game that make it worth recommending to anyone who’s ever enjoyed holding a plastic instrument in their hands. Make no mistake, Guitar Hero is back — and, thanks to the smart changes made to gameplay and presentation, it’s more satisfying than ever before.

While it's great to be able to hop straight into the endgame with a new Vault Hunter, Borderlands 4's campaign is so good that it almost feels like you're missing out on doing so. Still, for anyone who plays through a Borderlands game to get to the endgame loop and focus on a particular build, Borderlands 4 has you covered in ways that will make revisiting a past game harder. Borderlands 4 is ultimately "more Borderlands", but it understands that assignment so well that it ends up being the best the series has felt in over a decade.

Ghostrunner feels like an extended challenge that manages to never get repetitive or frustrating. Whether it's traversing a narrow hallway full of laser traps or slicing through a bipedal robot sentry, this title will have players feeling satisfied as if they had accomplished these feats in real life.

In the end, FAR: Changing Tides is a worthwhile experience that certainly lives up to its atmospheric adventure description. While the lack of in-game prompts poses a challenge to some, its absence encourages players to strike out and explore on their own and organically find solutions to puzzles. The puzzles are challenging, but solving them without any help from the game feels rewarding, encouraging players to keep moving forward. While some minor annoyances can be found in its controls, no glaring issues exist that cannot be fixed with a simple patch. Overall, FAR: Changing Tides perfectly executes its simple gameplay, offering players a truly memorable and immersive experience.

It may not be a step forward for the series, but that’s never what it was supposed to be. Instead, it’s a noteworthy look at what came before that’s been revamped for a newer generation. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is pretty damn fun.

For those who haven’t tried point and click adventure games, it’s a great introduction to the genre; for those with more experience, well, they don’t get much better than this one.

While it might have taken some time to get there, Life Is Strange Episode 4: Dark Room is DONTNOD hitting their stride, and is well worth pushing through some of the clunkier elements to experience.

I wish that the game tried a little bit harder with its promising source material, and some boss fights could be a little more refined, but these are small gripes in the grand scheme of things. Tribute Games has made one of the best arcade throwback titles of the past several years, raising the bar once more, just as it did with TMNT: Shredder's Revenge. Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a surprisingly nuanced, mechanical and visual banquet worth anyone's time, whether they've gone in for beat-em-ups in the past or not. It's an absolute joy.

The writers from Deck Nine and DONTNOD have demonstrated that their gift is not unlike Alex's. They have an empathy and understanding of the struggles that humans face. Life is Strange: True Colors builds on what the first installment did well, and does it even better. No game in the series so far has reached this height of catharsis, and by the end of it, players will be heartbroken to leave the imperfectly perfect town of Haven Springs.

Stormland is a short experience and its attempts to add replay value don't really hit the mark. However, it's still one of the more impressive virtual reality games on the market, and a clear step forward when compared to many VR titles that have come before it in terms of controls and freedom of movement.

Overall, The Walking Dead: A New Frontier is off to a solid start. Fans of the series will definitely have plenty to enjoy here – and emotionally suffer through – and players who found the game to be too clunky and slow previously may appreciate this entry more.

Even without much motivation to replay the short campaign, Firewatch is still well worth the $19.99 price tag for the beautiful landscape, compelling mystery, and amazing character development. Firewatch isn’t a game for everyone, but if you love a good mystery, this is a must play.

While those who have grown accustomed to - or only experienced - the graphical capabilities of the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S generations will need to keep an open mind and may take some time to adjust, the Yakuza Remastered Collection ultimately offers a polished and enjoyable experience that series fans shouldn't skip out on.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice is sure to please fans with its engaging story and sharp humor, but the gameplay formula is starting to show its age.

Sifu is a one-of-a-kind rogue-like that marries an engaging setup with sublime combat mechanics. It scratches that integral itch that fuels subsequent runs, and it tries its best to avoid the feeling that time has been wasted. Progression exists in many different forms, but Sloclap's standout title pulls off one of the more impressive versions of it. Sifu shows players they are actually getting better at the game.

Shadow of War offers dozens of hours of entertainment for gamers who enjoy action adventure titles with a strong splash of RPG elements. The moving parts may be a touch too complicated for the most casual gamers, but players who are patient enough to master all of the game’s systems will be rewarded with an exciting story, control of a powerful army, and an unstoppable protagonist.

Technical issues aside, The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners is generally a good time and one of the better VR horror games on the market. The level of interactivity alone makes it a game that many VR enthusiasts will want to check out, though expect to be frustrated by the poorly-implemented stealth mechanics and human combat encounters.

While MOUSE may fall into some trappings of the first-person shooter genre, it escapes largely unscathed and with the cheese. It is easily one of the most unique first-person shooters to hit the market in years, and it's definitely the most charming of the lot. Fumi Games poured every ounce of ink, sweat, and stubborn dreams it had into MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, and it's clear the end result was worth the effort.

Bravely Second: End Layer isn’t quite the innovative powerhouse its predecessor was, but offers a more refined experience that learns from Bravely Default‘s mistakes.

Reach on PC generally runs quite well and the mouse and keyboard controls will make it difficult for anyone to go back and play the game on console.

Have a Nice Death is a gorgeous, weapon-filled adventure that could slice and dice its way to the top of the roguelike genre. Its almost ‘cutesy’ nature plays well against the sometimes dark themes it contains, but the vast array of weapon and spell combinations will be what draws and then keeps players within the walls of Death Inc. It has the rare ability to be enjoyable for both the high-difficulty, build-crafting RNG fans and the more casual crowd. Players will delight with its sublime art, memorable fights, and its well-crafted, lore-filled world. If someone has to be Death, Have a Nice Death is going to make it enjoyable.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin doesn't shake the genre up or do anything incredibly unique, but it's a massive JRPG with lots to do. It's a solid entry for the sub-series and is recommended for those looking for a charming title on the Switch that doesn't require much thinking or undivided attention. It's a casual game for the most part, but the back half does provide some epic story moments that are satisfying and worth watching.

Call of Duty Mobile has satisfying progression, a nice selection of fan favorite maps, and it looks great on phones and tablets. The game's liberal use of bots hampers the experience a bit, and the battle royale mode could stand to have a slightly smaller map or something to make firefights happen more often.

By focusing on characters and story over cliche open world tropes, Far Cry 5 manages to be completely and utterly engrossing from start to finish. It’s one of the finest takes on the open world genre that we’ve seen, and while it may not deliver much in the way of revolutionary new ideas, it still stands as the best Far Cry game since Far Cry 3.

At the end of the day, Atelier Yumia is a strong entry in the beloved JRPG franchise. Despite a few growing pains, it adopts the cozy and niche franchise into something more digestible for a wider audience thanks to a well-executed open-world format, modern takes on iconic features, and an engaging, untraditional story.

Gunbrella has a lot of potential, both in its storytelling and combat. Unfortunately there never feels like there is enough of either that will or could catapult the game into the upper echelons of pixilated side-scrollers. It is very close to being something special, even when it is embracing some familiar adventure tropes. Hopefully, the world of Gunbrella will be expanded on and grow, because it deserves more of the things that make it great.

Overall, Age of Empires definitely brings enough to the table and captures enough nostalgia to make it an easy recommendation for any fans of the franchise or the genre. For gamers new to RTS, the Story Mode and campaigns actually make it a very strong choice for diving in as well, as long as they aren’t expecting cutting-edge graphics. The fact that the game is going to be available on Game Pass Day One could potentially help expose a large new audience to the franchise and build up some new fans. It will be very interesting to see what kind of reception it receives and, if its successful, what sort of post-launch content could arrive in the coming year to keep the community hooked and engaged.

Steamworld Heist 2 has taken everything good about that first game and delivered something truly special. Although there may be a few weak points, the game is able to make up for it with its thrilling gameplay, unique class system, and its colorful world. It not only serves as a great turn-based strategy game for genre veterans, but it may be a great one for newcomers to try out too. And with its release, there are hopefully plenty more adventures within the Steamworld franchise on the horizon.

Weak voice acting and poorly written dialogue coupled with some frustrating game design choice hold The Vanishing of Ethan Carter back from its true potential.

Ultimately, Immortals Fenyx Rising may not take itself too seriously but it ends up offering an emotional story of family drama with some genuinely funny moments. There is a lot of familiarity both in the game's DNA and the core gameplay loops, but it is still a fun experience nonetheless. Immortals Fenyx Rising, as with all new IP, may have been a risky jump for Ubisoft, but it was a leap worth taking.

Like a Dragon: Ishin is a joy to play for many reasons. It has a compelling story dealing with revenge and identity, combat that is incredibly satisfying despite being a bit dated, and a setting filled with many fun activities. Unfortunately, there are technical issues that grind the pacing to a halt and can take players out of the experience. Still, when looking at the game as a whole, it is an easy recommendation, and the extended wait for fans to play it in English seems well worth it.

The near-naked main character is unsurprisingly stealing a lot of attention, but remove that element from the equation and what's left is an absolutely incredible action game that provides a satisfying challenge and rewarding melee combat. Simply put, Stellar Blade is the next great action game and one of the PS5's best exclusives.

There is simply nothing else like Hellblade 2 on the market and that alone kept me enthralled the whole way through. Its pared-down elements might not be mechanically complex, but they give the story a momentum that makes it hard to put down. Ninja Theory tackles themes that are challenging and not often seen in games, with a backdrop that vacillates between the epic and the intimate. It's approach doesn't have widespread appeal, but Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is as close to an interactive movie as we’ve seen yet.

Black Myth: Wukong is a game that shies away from the Soulslike label, yet it is clearly gunning for the Soulslike audience. It is far from the best in the genre, but it's also not the worst game that has followed in Dark Souls' footsteps. If you go into it expecting a mostly standard Soulslike experience with some blood-boiling boss encounters mixed in with basic level design, you will have a better time than if you were going into it expecting it to be like a traditional character action game. Black Myth: Wukong offers about 30 hours of gameplay for its first playthrough with a ton of side content to check out as well, but many will tire of the limited combat options long before they reach its dazzling yet equally aggravating final boss fight.

Maybe the game runs too long, but the characters and narrative are likeable. The truth is that Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is an all around good game that does too much in terms of length and too little to mix things up. Simply put, it’s a revamped classic from the PlayStation era made mobile, and that’s quite something special for Dragon Quest and JRPG aficionados alike.

Despite a few shortcomings, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a solid action-adventure game and an impressive debut effort by Ember Lab. It will scratch the itch for anyone looking for a Zelda-like adventure on PlayStation, but while it's been compared to games like Zelda and Pikmin, Kena: Bridge of Spirits still stands on its own. Hopefully, this isn't the end of Kena's story, as it would be great to see the ideas here expanded on in future games.

All in all, despite not being a game that is often affiliated with the family-friendly Switch, Catherine: Full Body is a well-developed port to Nintendo's hybrid system.