Death Stranding might be the most unique AAA game of the generation, with an addictive core gameplay loop that manages to combine a new concept with tried-and-true design philosophies, and a story that - while messy - has a sweet emotional core that’s likely to stick with players long after the credits roll.

Assassin’s Creed brings beautiful English countryside to the masses whilst fixing a lot of the series’ recent missteps. Some genuinely fun and surprising moments with some great writing make for a fun time.

Magical Delicacy is a cooking metroidvania which you can easily lose yourself in. Like any good fantasy, it encourages exploration and it doesn’t punish you for your mistakes. With an intriguing story, you can really put yourself in Flora’s shoes as you learn about the Kingdom of Grat with her.

A worthy sequel to the DiRT Rally franchise, that updates, upgrades and uplifts most aspects of the original. Still a few little niggles that could be better, but hopefully the paid content strategy can be converted into ongoing support and updates for the title.

Devil May Cry 3 may be getting on a bit 15 years later but it nonetheless remains one of the most technically hardcore action games out there, and devout devil hunters will make great use of the additional features for the Switch port.

Archvale is just plain fun. It does what it does well, and as a bullet hell provides a serious challenge without feeling unfair. I cannot recommend this game enough.

It has the weirdness of Alan Wake/Max Payne in the story, the crazy action-packed combat of Quantum Break all while letting you explore this bizarre, beautiful building with so many secrets to uncover.

Hivebusters is a safe but rewarding package that gives you more of what you love about Gears 5. The characters are strong, the campaign is solid, and gameplay is exactly what is expected. If you are a fan of Gears 5, then this expansion is a no brainer and is easily another reason to get Game Pass.

Crown Gambit offers an interesting world and detailed plot, but the actual combat takes a while to get to the point where you want to focus on it.

Battlefield 6 takes the franchise back to the classic four-class formula and adds in new features to make the qunfights smoother than ever. With a short but fun single-player campaign and great multiplayer potential, this may be one to check out.

Tiny Terry's Turbo Trip is a hilarious journey with platforming, driving, puzzles, and laughs aplenty. While it may not last long, it is definitely a turbo trip you won't regret taking!

Mortal Kombat 1 is fantastic, having some minor issues in the story here and there, along with the underwhelming Invasion’s mode, but overall is a great time.

Never boring, always charming; Lost in Play is an incredible entry to the point-and-click genre, reviving my love for it. Any fan of it definitely should pick it up!

Roots of Pacha is a refreshing take on the farming/life sim genre, with great ideas and features. However, there are little annoyances that might turn off some.

Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale is a nice experience with a hefty number of minor bugs, but a story that more than makes up for it. The title is unique, funny, and sometimes dark and mysterious, so I recommend it for people who put story first when playing games.

Botany Manor is a charming puzzle game with a lovely setting, a relaxed mood, and fun puzzles you can spend an afternoon with! While recommended for fans of both puzzles and botany, the three-hour runtime may be steep for the price point.

RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike is an addictive game full of strategy that is hard to put down; it is mesmerising.

This is clearly a game that takes its inspiration seriously, and is a lovingly-crafted tribute to a genre of games that a lot of people, are really fond of. No new additions compared to previous releases, but if you haven’t already played this then don’t hesitate to pick it up on the eStore.

If you are already into the series then it is likely you will already know whether or not you’re getting this game. If you are not, I wouldn’t recommend you start here unless you like hours of frustrating dialogue with no pay off.

Newcomers to the series are very much recommended to plump for this collection, it’s got everything you need and the story is excellent. Otherwise, it’s probably not worth shelling out to buy everything again.

Although currently HoPiKo's controls are not perfect, the combination of electric visuals, music and pace achieves both the best and the worst of drinking too much coffee, but in videogame format.

Chicken Police: Paint It Red is a gorgeous looking film noir style game that takes everything you love from the classic buddy-cop movies and mixes it with a huge cast of anthropomorphic characters. The story, voice-overs and adult humour are great making this a must play.

A fantastic game for both fans of Monster Hunter and newcomers alike, cleverly weaves aspects of the main games into a traditional RPG setting and can stand on its own.

I can barely find the words to describe the emotional experience that is Goodbye Volcano High. While there are a few sound blips, the music, voice acting, and story were phenomenal, and these teenage dinosaurs were truly relatable.

Many Nights a Whisper is a thought-provoking game that asks you to meditate on your own thoughts on ethics while also weighing the responsibility of granting wishes. While it could do with more replayability, it’s definitely worth a look!

FatShark has done a fantastic job of taking their first game and improving on every single aspect. The recurring theme of offering players a variety of tools, characters and enemies to face leads to a crescendo of unique moments that are all entirely player driven. While the difficulty spikes can be frustrating, part of the fun in Vermintide 2 is being against the odds and prevailing.

Gears 5 feels like a desperate attempt by The Coalition at trying to carve out a new identity for the series, but the execution feels half-hearted. The pseudo open-world skiff exploration is enjoyable early on, but the uninspired objectives end up making it feel dull after a while.

Turnip Boy Robs a Bank is a fun and challenging twin-stick shooter with great characters and a sense of humour. There’s so much to do here that it will keep you busy for a long time!

Prey truly is more than the sum of its parts. Don’t let its immediate familiarity or obvious influences fool you, because when you look under the hood, it’s not just Dishonored set in space.

Regardless of whether or not you enjoy the sound of a “top-down rogue-like deck & dungeon-building auto-battler”, Loop Hero will graciously guide you along its path - only to ensnare you in its devilishly addictive short gameplay loops.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard isn’t BioWare’s best work, but it’s good. Offering a beautiful world and a ton to do, heading back into Thedas is an easy choice for some. For others, the downgrade in writing and limited combat might be a dealbreaker.

The new features and Gallery are quite nice, but the new official translation of Prosecutor’s Gambit is the real highlight here, easily overruling any minor complaints.

If you’re a fan of the action RPG genre and love to dish out major pain to monsters that would otherwise eviscerate you, you’ve found the game.

A super fun and addictive game, even for those who don't usually play real time tower defense games.

Some minor technical issues aside, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is everything a fan of the series could ask for, whilst also giving newcomers the best version of the game.

She Remembered Caterpillars is a good puzzle game with the right amount of complexity and difficulty, but it is dragged down by it's undeserved grief and emotionally shallow overtones.

Lil’ Guardsman is a cute yet hilarious point-and-click adventure with a surprisingly deep story. No level is the same, and it has a lot of heart, making it perfect for anyone wanting to have a laugh.

From undesirable to undeniable, WWE games have come a long way in just a few years, and WWE 2K23, with its plethora of models and solid gameplay, is a strong contender for “GOAT” status.

Severed is a story about love. A girl’s love of her family and Drinkbox’s love for Vita. Repetitive combat and a tough difficulty spike limit the enjoyment, but there’s no reason every Vita owner shouldn’t at least give it a go.

There is a revolution happening in Battlefield 1 and it’s not just with the arrival the latest expansion pack. With reworked mechanics, more progression and rewards; It’s clear that DICE is implementing fundamental changes for the series. Unfortunately, even though the tides are turning, as of right now they are held back by the obligations of the available season pass.

Crypt Custodian is a great metroidvania title starring a cast of animals in the afterlife. There is lots to do here with puzzles and places to explore with a tonne of backtracking.

Tales of Graces f Remastered is a great RPG that does everything right with a compelling story and battle system. It's a must-play.

If you’d like a chance to lead millions and create a nation to rival all others, then this is the game for you. Just be careful what you wish for. The role of a leader can be fickle and overwhelming at times.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is a must-play title for retro game lovers or turtle fans. Having all these games from all the different consoles in one collection is amazing — so much easier than pulling out and hooking up all the systems!

Torment: Tides of Numenera is certainly not for everyone, and its reliance on world interaction and a quirky, abstract but grounded world gives it a distinct feel. If you want a thought provoking, interesting world to spend some time in then you can do far worse.

Metrico+ is one of the more unique puzzle experiences on the PlayStation 4, but it's quirky nature never detracts from the addictive puzzle design. This is a solid experience from start to finish.

If you're looking for a game to keep you company while you do stuff on your PC, Rusty's Retirement is a phenomenal option!

Tekken 7 does just enough right for it to be considered a success. However, hopefully the structure of the game won't be the basic formula going forward.

Final Fantasy Remake Intergrade is technically impressive. Fixing many of the original release’s technical issues while also improving the game for next-gen hardware. INTERmission offers an excellent character edition with that of Yuffie with some excellent gameplay to boot. Intergrade is simply more of the best parts of Final Fantasy VII Remake.

Slime-san: Superslime Edition is a fantastic title that should be in your gaming library. If you want to have a challenge and a laugh at the same time, then this is for you.

I would give this higher, but I know later down the line and looking back this is by no means a 9 or even 10 in terms of the game’s scope. But if the writing kept its pacing from start to finish, it would’ve matched the astonishing soundtrack, blistering court cases, impeccable murders, and superb characters. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to find myself a tissue for the tears I shed to those lost in this Killing Game.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 offers more of the same, for good or ill, but it needed just a little more to entice long-time fans.

Innovative, memorable, and well-written, Vampire Therapist is easy to recommend to visual novel fans and anyone interested in cognitive behavioural therapy.

A game that’s not without its issues, but is a great entry in the franchise, and didn’t feel the need to cram in a ship to captain.

A truly fantastic game that ties up loose ends from the previous titles whilst setting up for future storylines. A must-play for every JRPG fan!

For people who suffer with high blood pressure, Super One More Jump is not the game for you. This beautiful, 2D, twitch, platformer will provide a severe test of your timing skills along with your patience. For those who are up for the challenge, Super One More Jump offers an addictive and entertaining ride.

Trackmania Turbo is a gem of a title that incorporates tight and responsive gameplay with longevity and replayability. You can spend a long time trying to attain all the gold medals, but it will be worth it.

What True Colors lacks in the emotional gut-wrench that the previous games have, it makes it for with a refined format that presents a story that fits right into the series and tells it in the best way seen so far. You're very unlikely to be disappointed here.

Super Mega Baseball 2 brings out the best in what baseball games have to offer. An over-the-top, fun sports title that focuses on entertaining rather than realism, this is one is definitely worth checking out.

A wrestling game worthy of the title of GOAT, WWE 2K24 is packed with fun, engaging content that will give fans everything they want, and more!

Criminal Past is a great finale for Mankind Divided, and only makes the desire for more Deus Ex stronger. The ending is pretty open, and with faces new and old it does a great job of giving us something different while being faithful to the franchise.

This is a charming little interactive story that warms the heart even if it doesn’t necessarily challenge the brain. If you like your games to be story driven with characters you’ll end up caring about, this is a must-have.

Tails of Iron tells an impressively deep story with no dialogue and keeps you entertained in the interim with witty charm and gruesome combat. Definitely worth a try if you are a fan of soulslikes.

I absolutely loved this game, it’s not just a great remake of a great shooter, but it’s genuinely one of the best shooters that I’ve played on a current-gen system. Beep has done a great job in making the series feel both fresh and nostalgic at the same time. It’s still a very short game, but if you like a good shooter and you’ll get replay value from chasing a high score then you absolutely must get this.

Whilst feeling more like an upgrade than a true sequel, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is nonetheless a deep, engaging fighter that is widely accessible for all skill levels.

Nocturnal is a must-play title for fans of 2D action-platformers. While it may be relatively short, it offers a satisfying challenge and a refreshing twist on the genre.

An extremely distinct investigation game with the rare confidence to let you actually be a detective, and a fun groove to boot.

If you know what you're getting into, Ghostrunner will be a great game for you to play. Though, its fast-paced and one-shot gameplay might not be for everyone.

From all-time classics to underrated gems, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is robust enough to not only please avid Capcom fans but also newer players who want to experience some of the company’s older games.

Untitled Goose Game is a short and sweet village sandbox of chaos, with probably the most laughs you’ll have in a videogame this year. Goose tier.

Although slightly saddened by the omission of a story mode this time around, it’s more than made up for by the new vehicle physics. The concern of “F1 Life” having any bearing on gameplay being quashed makes F1 22 another flying lap for Codemasters.

Is Overcooked 2! worth the purchase? I would say it is, for sure. The story and writing may be a bit over-the-top and punny for my liking, but there are certainly people out there that will have some fun with it. So whether you’re a cook for the ages or a master of the macaroni and cheese, Overcooked 2! is certainly worth picking up.

Songs of Silence is a solid 4x strategy game to play nearing the end of the year, or, cheaper, simply listen to its official soundtrack. Either way, the player will get their money’s worth.

Ghostrunner 2 is an exemplary sequel, improving upon the original in every way. With better Energy systems, delightful and responsive bike levels, fantastic bosses, and the same quick-paced gameplay from the original, it's a no-brainer for anyone who remotely enjoyed the first.

While it can be repetitive and the art style is a little generic, Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights shines when it comes to world-building and the distinct storylines through each route of gameplay.

Fly TOGETHER! Is a great casual party game that features a ton of cool aircraft to pilot. With accurate and responsive motion controls it’s a fun break from your usual party games since you don’t get a chance to create the flight path for airplanes and UFOs.

A fantastic send-off for a cast of characters I’ve become attached to, Trails into Reverie is a superb RPG with the most refined battle system to date and an engaging story you’ll be sad to see finally come to an end.

Story of Season: Grand Bazaar is such a sweet and whimsical game that has you farming, cooking, and running a booth at the bazaar. You will be addicted!

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is a love letter to all Marvel fans. The game’s roster has classic and new heroes that jump into the beat ‘em up action. This title is so much fun.

Perhaps the greatest shortcoming is the game’s stubbornness to shove Javi’s family as the player’s raison d’etre, when it’s clear that Clementine is a much more relatable and less frustrating character. The classic Telltale trap of unavoidable events is still there, but by now you should know what you’re getting into. If judged by what it attempts to do, rather than by what some sceptic players want it to be, A New Frontier’s harrowing first episodes smoothen most rough edges found in other games in the series in terms of storytelling. It just about manages to shake off the notion of being a rehashed concept, and become a beast that can stand on its own two feet, built upon the foundations laid by Lee and Clementine. Hopefully the rest of the season manages to sustain this level of quality.

An industry supergroup brings together their experience to tell an engaging narrative in a beautiful world. Firewatch explores love and commitment through two of the most authentic videogame characters I've seen. A simply wonderful game.

Little Nightmares is unique and engaging, there is no doubt about it. It stays with you long after you switch it off. It’s definitely an effective horror experience, but it’s an undercooked horror game. If atmosphere and story are enough to keep you pushing through lacklustre gameplay, this is a must-have. If you’re a veteran of the puzzle platformer and purely after a satisfying gameplay experience, best to steer clear.

As with the first one, Emily is Away Too is a wonderfully crafted narrative experience that echoes what it was like to be a teenager in the mid-2000s. For such a simple concept, the level of detail really makes this game a fantastic narrative experience. If you like short narrative experiences, I can’t recommend this enough.

I can see myself spending a lot of time with FUSER, as I regale moments of my youth with various software that didn’t have any of the shine present here. A music game without custom peripherals is a breath of fresh air - both in reducing the cost and in showing that it’s about the creativity of mixing tracks, rather than just playing back some buttons in time with the screen.

OTXO is a must-play title for fans of movies like John Wick who love tons of action and violence. With great pixelated graphics, a huge assortment of weapons to use, and mysteries to solve, OTXO has a huge amount of replayability!

A great game in its own right, with a healthy plethora of content and variety to keep you going for many hours, but if you came looking for a true Darkest Dungeon sequel you may be disappointed.

Spirit of Justice does everything you’d expect from a sequel, and whilst some issues from the past linger you’ll be too engrossed to be bothered. A great instalment for series fans and newcomers alike.

A blast to play, and brings back much needed separation and personality to the numbered series of DIRT games that that DiRT 4 seemed to lose by blurring the lines too much. Playground mode will absolutely keep me coming back for more to beat not just my own, but friends' times as well, because there’s nothing better than beating a time within mere hundredths and restoring bragging rights.

A brilliant take on the roguelike genre, Sifu is a game that is hard to beat, but even harder to put down. Timing, patience, and skill will see you to fulfilling your goal and exacting that sweet revenge.

Middle-earth Shadow of War adds a lot to the already great formula, with the addition of sieges and the great additions to the nemesis system this is a game of the year contender for sure.

A love letter to the series, Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth is a challenging but rewarding dungeon crawling experience even if a little rough around the edges.

Its gender depictions might not have aged like fine wine, but there’s still nothing quite like Catherine: Full Body. Whether you play it as an anime visual novel, a nightmarish puzzle or bizarre fighting game, it’s a richer experience all-round.

A strong return for the series with enough changes to make combat feel fresh and exciting, some great new characters and an awesome soundtrack. A fun time from start to finish.

Take control of Ekko and roam the streets of Zaun to unravel a mystery about Syntixi in this great metroidvania title! Great combat and platforming make this an easy recommendation.

Final Fantasy XV is a return to form for Square Enix, a showcase of their willingness to adapt more Western approaches in their game development whilst also keeping what gave the series it’s charm, flair and personality.

BAKERU is a whimsical game full of fun combat, great references to Japanese culture, and a huge variety of unique stages to play. This is a title to check out!

Despite lacklustre multiplayer and a frustrating paywall to unlock characters and items, Genshin Impact is a brilliant experience with hours of fun-filled exploration. It also has Paimon and she is perfect.

Planet Crafter is a very peaceful, satisfying game worth dumping your hours into. It’s a game you play to relax after a hard day’s work, and what better way to show it than by turning a lifeless rock into somewhere you can call home?