Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is well worth your time, the story and in particular the characters are some of the most fleshed out and unique individuals that you can’t help but grow attached to. The flashy yet deep combat system enhances what is already a fantastic JRPG. Any fan of the genre needs to check this out.

Risk Of Rain finally gets the console release it deserves, a solid port with improved multiplayer capabilities only improves upon the fun had with the PC version. Must have for those looking for a great couch co-op experience.

A compelling found-phone horror title which demonstrates a real love for and understanding of the Doctor Who universe.

Flynn: Son of Crimson is a beautiful looking and great sounding platformer game is a must-play title that gives you a powerful and cute wolf companion. This title does not have an auto-save feature so keep that in mind.

Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn has done a great job of updating the original game while paying homage to it by keeping the multiplayer option, be prepared for a challenge!

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters made me wish I was a veteran of the genre to appreciate it the way it deserved to. Ultimately, it left me yearning for the game it could have been.

Chivalry 2 is a ton of fun, not overly complicated and will keep you coming back for more.

I can confidently recommend SIGNALIS for its puzzle element, but its combat, inventory, and sound design manage to bog it down to a merely okay title.

Get your slimy appendages ready to grab this with all of your suction cups, because throwing shipping containers and launching rockets into space with your own hands has never been more fun.

Ultros is a unique title set in a psychedelic world, introducing new gameplay aspects like eating the things that you kill to get stronger and gardening to progress in the story.

Penko Park’s undeniable influences and not-so-stellar content make it a bit of a hard sell, but for those looking for a Pokémon Snap-style game, it’s a fine choice.

Shovel Knight Dig is beautiful with great music and fits right into the franchise, even though it switches things up from the 2D platformer we are used to. It is an incredibly addictive game that is full of replayability!

A tremendous game that really pushes the boundaries. Both an excellent educational resource, and a superb time sink. This would be a perfect-scoring title if it wasn’t for a few too many bugs and stability issues, but I still recommend it incredibly highly.

Far Cry 5 established itself as one of the best in the series, The game features some gorgeous scenery, an engaging story and the overall story is great fun and the theme is very realistic. The game mixes up the missions so it doesn't get repetitive halfway through the game. Far Cry 5 is a great entry to the series for newbies and veterans alike.

Subterfuge is a great mobile game which gives you the strategic freedom to create dastardly schemes to defeat your enemies - emulating real-world political power-struggles.

Stars In The Trash is an experience that all pet lovers should try. Besides the hand-drawn animations, this title is incredibly heartfelt but ends way too fast.

Mark of the Deep is one of the best experiences I’ve had lately, the only existing problems are so minor you might just not notice them whilst playing.

Gunbrella is one of the most unique 2D action platformers that I have ever played, simply because of the crazy weapon that you use to explore and defeat enemies. There is some backtracking here and challenging enemies to face, but the mysterious story keeps you engaged.

There isn’t much to write about this, it’s a solid game that’s really fun as a co-op game for a games night/party and a nice family game after the Sunday roast. Video options weren’t key for me, especially if it’s not demanding on the system. But, the caveat to the high score is if it were have sold itself purely as a single player game and at the same RRP, then it might have the issue of being undercooked.

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is like living through your childhood summers: filled with adventures, friends, chores, and great memories to look back on. Though the controls could be finicky, the overall experience was a level of wholesome all its own!

SteamWorld Heist II is made with plenty of heart and effort to create an amazing adventure that never feels bad. Don’t be afraid to stop by and make your own legend. It’s worth it.

Desktop Dungeons: Rewind is a title you'll likely play for weeks if you pace yourself properly. With the multitudes of things to do, you'll be enjoying it for a long time to come.

Despite the obvious cash-grab ‘Firestorm’ mode and the inevitable day one glitches that’ll need to be patched out, Battlefield V does a wonderful job at making a game players won’t soon forget (at least until the next one comes out). With interesting modes like ‘Grand Operations’, ‘Frontlines’, and the always classic ‘Conquest’, coupled with the heartfelt campaign’s the game as to offer, Battlefield V is definitely worth checking out.

Necrobarista is easily one of the best games so far this year and one of the greatest visual novels I’ve ever played.

A super cute and fun game with an interesting control scheme and puzzles that will work your brain, but not too hard. Great family game with super fun and chaotic multiplayer that will have everyone laughing. Plus, who can resist the adorable pups RED and BLUE?

Kingdom Eighties is a great title for those interested in the series and a worthy distraction for those waiting for the next big release! Its neon style and synthwave charm will get you hooked, and its fun mechanics and plot will keep you wanting more.

Playtonic has absolutely smashed it with Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair. It builds on the team’s experience with platformers and manages to improve on its predecessor in every way. One of the best platformers I’ve played in years.

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider is another solid entry into the franchise. Despite a couple of minor issues here and there, this title is definitely worth the price of admission.

Underneath the glamour, it feels like just another Call of Duty game - to the delight of existing fans, but the chagrin of players seeking new turf.

Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars is a treat for all turn-based RPG fans, but backgrounds can look a little too smooth and clean.

A massive time sink which needs an entire rainforest of sticks to shake at. Just grab it and jump in.

Void Bastards is an absolutely beautiful first-person shooter game but the lack of varieties for enemies and maps makes it feel repetitive.

Black Myth: Wukong may look like another soulslike on the surface, but in truth, it is a fantastic action RPG with great boss battles, memorable characters, and my favourite mechanic of the year so far, Transformations. You can be a rock with legs!

A good first attempt by a studio that has only worked on animation, but not enough substance in the gameplay to keep you hooked to the very end.

Northgard is one of the prettiest titles in the genre, and with a very addicting gameplay loop, players are sure to spend several dozen hours to it.

Young Souls is a fun beat ‘em up RPG full of action that can be played with one or two players. It has a fun and modern art style featuring characters that are full of personality. This is a must-grab for people who like unique gameplay and fantasy-style storytelling!

Gears Tactics does a fantastic job at applying the X-COM formula to the Gears of War franchise despite it not changing much from the core gameplay. While the intrusiveness of side missions and some weak ability progression take away from the overall experience, Gears Tactics is a must-play for Gears fans and turned-based shooter fans alike.

There’s no doubt that Three Hopes offers a story that stands out from its predecessor. While it doesn’t have quite the emotional impact, it still offers plenty of a wild ride of twists and turns.

Cursed to Golf is a unique game that combines a platformer with golfing. With vibrant, retro-inspired visuals and a fun story, this game offers tons of replayability and challenge.

Paper Trail is a really nice game with a lot of fun to be had. It has some small issues and feels a little too short for its price, but is a great experience if that doesn’t bother you.

My Time at Sandrock is everything I wanted from a sequel to My Time At Portia. The time you spend in this game is well worth it, so don’t sleep on this gem.

This is a really neat game, well produced and thought out. Definitely a 10.

A charming title with a breathtakingly good interface, Endless Space 2 is a clear improvement over its predecessor.

Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is a lovely interactive productivity tool that radiates positive, relaxing vibes. With cute spirits and customisations, getting work done has never been so cosy.

Cottage Living has room to improve, but it delivers on the simple joy of taking care of cute animals in a farm-like setting and shows that The Sims 4 still has much to offer.

Lacuna is a beautiful looking futuristic noir detective story with a great soundtrack that really makes you realise how much your decisions matter. Be prepared to do a lot of reading and research in-game so you make informed choices, because if you don’t a bad ending is waiting for you!

Patch Quest is a game full of exploration and a huge variety of creatures and plants to collect. Just because it looks cute doesn’t mean it is easy, like other twin-stick shooters you will find yourself in bullet hell a lot!

Luma Island is a nice and cosy game to play either alone or with friends, with plenty to do and discover. However, it can be very grindy, tedious, and doesn’t really provide much of a challenge.

The Darkest Files is a well-crafted courtroom game that’s grounded in history, offering deep investigative gameplay and excellent storytelling.

An enthralling world with 'meaningful choices' is surely ahead of you, but for such a short game in this genre, the story stumbles and trips in its consistency and its appeal. On top of that, for a fantasy world, there's not much variety in enemies or creatures, so it can be a bit of a disappointment in that regard.

Simple enough to draw you in, yet complex enough to keep you interested for the long haul. Skull: The Hero Slayer expertly balances risk-and-reward elements with player skill to make a wholly engaging action platformer.

Moonstone Island is an excellent game that combines what I like from other games and improves on them. Whatever your path may be, it’ll be a fun one.

For me, Football Manager 2017 is undoubtedly the best game in the series, and even when results aren’t going my way, I’m desperate to come back and go again. The changes to the match day experience are superb, and the social feed is a touch of genius.

The Artful Escape is a great visual-novel and a rock and roll dream. It is one of the best looking games I’ve played with an equally interesting narrative. However, the severe lack of interactiveness really drags down the game.

DREDGE is the perfect mix of an RPG, fishing, puzzle, and survival game. It combines all these elements with an interesting and creepy story that evokes feelings of horror from an H.P. Lovecraft tale. This is a must-play title, especially if you want something more unique to try out.

Tense, terrifying, and a significant improvement on its predecessor, The Evil Within 2 capitalises on the potential the franchise clearly shows.

Fitting my thoughts on Amnesia: Rebirth in a single paragraph feels like an impossible task. It’s an effective character-driven narrative with forgettable characters; a tense horror game with a distinct lack of horror. Rebirth is exactly what the developers set out to create, which was not the Dark Descent clone that some people were hoping for.

REANIMAL continues everything great that we expect from the developer, but the short length and irritatingly small details hold it back a bit.

Freedom Planet 2 takes everything great about the first game, adds a bit of polish and some extra mechanics, and gives us an absolute beast of a game. I cannot praise it enough, it’s just brilliant fun!

Yakuza Kiwami does a whole lot right, while only making a few errors. Other than the control scheme being a bit dated, Yakuza Kiwami comes together as a solid remake of the original title.

A few changes here and there improve Football Manager 2023 much more than I’d anticipated. It’s still the same deeply engrossing sim that you know and love, but with a few extra bells and whistles to keep the fans happy.

Hitman GO: Definitive Edition is a neat little puzzling package that thoroughly entertains. Despite taking a different approach to gameplay, it very much remains a Hitman game.

A delightful blend of gaming and mindfulness, offering players a peaceful escape from the everyday hustle and bustle.

Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince is a very fun game but the puzzles and combat can be very simple and straightforward. However, this is made up for with amazing graphics and music as well as fun voice acting.

This game is the perfect mix of an RPG, 2D Platformer and farming simulator that you can find. Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin looks and sounds great and has a great story that will make you care about all the characters.

Uncover the Smoking Gun has really interesting and original gameplay mechanics and can be really fun. The handful of issues that exist aren’t too big, and although not cheap, the price is more than fair for what the game does.

LUNAR Remastered Collection is a must-play for RPG fans and I am having an amazing time playing it.

Spend ages planning with explosives and cables only to see it fail again and again — until it doesn’t. Teardown is fantastic fun.

After 12 long years, Trails from Zero is a classic RPG that was worth the wait. Fantastic characters, world building, and fun combat create another game in the franchise that will appeal to long time fans and newcomers alike.

An enchanting journey with a huge amount of things to see and do, FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a must-play that has something for everyone to enjoy.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare almost brings the franchise back to its roots with a meaningful campaign that includes memorable characters and a horrifying depiction of war, but falls short when it comes to the traditional multiplayer. New modes like Gunfight and Realism are highlights and the core game still feels as good as ever, but it won’t save you from getting continuously spawn camped.

Team Ninja’s latest action RPG is equal parts challenging and exhilarating, with unique mechanics that help even the odds in even the toughest of battles. A perfect new addition to a genre already stacked with quality titles.

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.

HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed looks great, has local and online cross-play multiplayer, and makes you feel like a kid. This is a must-play title!

Expeditions: Rome is astounding in every area I was presented with. Constantly I felt like there were tons of things for me to explore and pay attention to, and truly simulates how I picture leading an entire war campaign.

Diplomacy Is Not An Option offers plenty of modes for beginner and experienced RTS players to enjoy, with a tongue-in-cheek attitude and gameplay that’s easy to understand.

Despite some unsatisfying gameplay systems, Darkwood can provide legitimate thrills and scares for the horror fans that miss the vibes of such classics as Silent Hill 2 and Pathologic without ever using a jump scare. Whether it is the uniquely grotesque art style or the ever-challenging design of its difficulty, Acid Wizard Studio has proven it understands what ingredients make up a good horror experience and the randomised elements of the game allow a unique narrative every time you play.

DIRT 5 is an excellent, stunning and simply enjoyable arcade racer that is easy for anyone to pick-up and play regardless of your motor vehicle knowledge with a career mode that is surprisingly entertaining. You may want to pick it up on PlayStation 5 though since it feels awesome to play with the new DualSense features.

The Dragon’s Trap: Wonder Boy is an excellent remake of a beloved classic. The enhanced visuals and superb audio really bring the game into the modern age complementing the excellent design of the original. Unfortunately, inherited design flaws such as some obscure puzzles, imprecise hit detection, and the lack of a hints system do hold the game back. However, these issues do not detract too much from the overall experience. This modern version of a classic game will appeal to a new generation of gamers and also remind longtime fans why they fell in love with the original.

A beginning of a political and troubling story, with some “uncanny valley” animations and dark themes - Dontnod once again proving they are the top of this genre.

Not once did I have any technical difficulties while playing (something I cannot say about Company of Heroes 3), so I highly recommend this game to anyone interested or a casual gamer. Though, for players interested in faster-paced action, they will grow bored of watching a train move slowly along the map and the strategy of moving troops silently without alerting the enemy.

Possibly the best Atelier game to date, Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land is a thoroughly enjoyable, and rather cosy, RPG that anyone can easily sink hours upon hours into.

Moving Out 2 is an enjoyable game with friends or family, but it can sometimes get a little frustrating. Playing alone can get boring.

I cannot have enough of Remnant II’s fantastic co-op gameplay, especially thanks to its intense replayability. However, I do wish there had been more emphasis on the story to have something to root for along the way!

Rime is a triumph of storytelling and game design. The beautiful hand crafted world is a joy to explore and the puzzles are fun to complete. Stunning visuals and a stellar score, combined with a deeply personal and emotional story create a truly unforgettable experience that will resonate with players for years to come.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is bittersweet. Having the unmissable marsupial back is a great throwback the 3D platformers of the late 90s, but for all of the nostalgia, the trilogy highlights some of the genre's weakest elements. A must play for original fans, and one new players should take with a pinch of salt.

Slightly Mad Studios have, in the year since release, tidied up Project CARS no end. There’s still a few small niggles here and there, but overall this is now a title I will happily have adorning my shelf.

Idea Factory may have skimped a bit on narrative, but the visuals far exceed anything I’ve seen in any visual novel, and even most games that fall outside the genre. If this your first foray into dating sims, while the narrative can go all over the place at times, you’ll be so lost in the visuals of the world, you won’t mind where it takes you.

Mayhem Brawler is a fun, energetic “beat-em-up” adventure. Its excellent art style, voice acting, and room for improvement excite me with what could be added through possible updates.

Super Alloy Ranger is a great 2D platformer influenced by the Mega Man X series in all the right ways. The story isn't the best but has a lot of unique attributes that make it a must-play title!

A staggering amount of content makes Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous an easy choice to recommend for those who have a lot of time to invest. An interesting narrative and player choices that define the outcome, this is a tale that is well worth experiencing.

An intriguing little game with a great setting and aesthetic, well worth experiencing blind.

Hunt the Night is a beautiful retro-inspired game with a haunting soundtrack and great controls. It is incredibly hard, so if you aren’t a fan of difficult games that have you challenging the same section, or boss for hours, this may not be a title you will enjoy.

An adorably cute shmup suitable for all skill levels, with a surprising amount of depth and content. A great soundtrack and cute (if basic) visuals make this a fun time.

This mobile WitchSpring title is fantastically translated to PC and should be a fun pickup for anyone, especially handheld gamers.

Deadlink is an amazing cyberpunk-style roguelite that provides plenty of reasons to keep coming back.

Tetris Forever is a great way to play through the history of the franchise with some awesome titles that were never released outside of Japan.

A fun experience with interesting mechanics that is only let down by a dull combat system.