Plainly put, Sniper Elite 5 not only managed to meet my expectations but far surpass them. What I thought would be a fun game for a couple of hours at most became quickly a phenomenal release I couldn't get more of. Whether I charged in guns blazing or tried to be the ideal sniper or I did the side quests or main objectives, I had fun.

Kelvin and the Infamous Machine is probably the best point-and-click game I have played. It’s artistic design is very quaint and detailed, and the hugely engrossing story had me hooked from the off. It's a shame that it wasn't longer, even though the chapters can take a substantial time to complete - which isn't necessarily a bad point in this this game. What I did play left me desperate for more, and that surely is the mark of a great game?

Ghost Song is the perfect mix of Metroid and Hollow Knight, creating a gorgeous-looking game full of exploration, a great story, and a creepy atmosphere. If you like Metroidvania-style games, make sure you check out this title!

A great little pair of puzzle games here. Nothing new for owners of the iOS and Android versions, but if you don’t already have them, this is definitely worth a play.

Invincible Presents: Atom Eve is a short and sweet game that may get repetitive, but is overall a fun one for newcomers and fans of Invincible. If you have a few hours, I recommend giving it a go.

Temtem is definitely worth getting for something different, yet familiar. It’s worth the price of admission, but that’s all you should spend on it.

Savant - Ascent REMIX is a challenging twin-stick shooter with a great soundtrack and beautiful visuals. If you love bullet-hell games, this is a title that you will want to try!

A really great game with an amazing, emotional story and beautiful artwork that loses a lot from its short playtime.

Leximan is a pretty short adventure, but it’s a great one nonetheless. Its humour and wit never fails to make me smile and laugh, and everything that it throws at you is fun in its own way.

While having some frustrating moments, Collector’s Cove can be a relaxing experience that encourages exploration and discovery. Take your time, and you’ll be rewarded greatly in this game.

Cozy Caravan is one of the most unique experiences I've had, and it's elevated even further by the evident love the 5 Lives Studios pours into it.

King of Fighters XIV is brilliant. It is certainly an upgrade on the last game, with upgraded visuals, a cool story mode, depth of characters, and great locations being the main boasting point. Having said that, the actual gameplay is brilliant stuff, with the combinations and movement of characters being a particular highlight. It is just a shame the online experience is rather hit and miss, even after the patch.

A combination of complex characters and gameplay makes this one as satisfying as it is enjoyable. Even if you haven’t played any of its predecessors, Tales of Berseria is more than worth your time.

Technically superior to the previous episode, and a strong second entry to the Diaz boys’ saga.

Marrakesh is a great episode, but it pales in comparison with the two previous ones, which feel much more dense. While it still gorgeous and full of life, certain areas feel a bit dull, just go-through areas with few to none opportunities.

Pacific Drive is like a road trip: It requires a lot of preparation and planning, but the journey is always worth the experience. Just watch out for the radiation.

Although short, the longevity is in its replayability to offer a greater challenge. If you’re a fan of Portal and want another quirky test-chamber 3D-platformer that tests your skills, reflexes and patience, you can’t go wrong with Impulsion.

How you feel about Atelier Lulua ~The Scion of Arland~ will be largely influenced by which parts of JRPGs you like most. If you are drawn mainly to an engaging story and the interaction between characters, you’ll probably enjoy it. If you’re a fan of lots of combat and fast paced action, it might not be your cup of mana. If, like me, you enjoy tweaking stats and finding the best combinations of items to maximise your characters, then you will love it. I spent more time crafting than anything else and I loved it. It took me back to the days of spending an hour in the menus of Final Fantasy VII, trying to find the perfect materia combinations and for that reason, I loved it.

If your PAW Patrol fan is looking to have fun in Adventure Bay (and beyond) then just yelp for PAW Patrol World.

Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse is as mad as its titular rabbit, and is only let down by long load times and some control issues.

Len’s Island is quite good in a subtle way, taking its time to make you appreciate its mechanics and world. It rewards those who take their time, explore the land, and prepare for whatever the darkness may throw at you.

Grim Guardians: Demon Purge is a great-looking 2D platformer that feels just like a Castlevania game. With entertaining characters, and the ability to swap the main characters on the fly. Can get repetitive seeing the same enemies constantly respawning and lack of animated story, it is a solid title overall.

It’s great from start to finish and provided an incredibly consistent experience that made me want more.

NBA 2K25’s array of entertaining modes and stunningly true-to-life visuals make shooting hoops feel better than ever.

Anger Foot kicks ass, both figuratively and literally! It’s fast-paced and brutal, with a setting that just begs for you to go wild. Don’t sleep on this incredibly stupid and fun bout of focused chaos.

Faultlessly stylish but also frustrating in its execution, River City Girls is nonetheless a refreshingly vibrant brawler but best played with a friend.

Overall, whilst Tanglewood has a few minor niggles, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it as a must-have title on either the Mega Drive or Steam. It's cute, colourful and great fun. It's also a great achievement and testament to the dedication Big Evil Corp have put into authenticity.

There are levels where everything works together to create some interesting challenges, though these are not frequent enough to make Wildfire stand out from the crowd.

Capcom Fighting Collection is a must-buy title for fans of 2D fighting games or the arcade experience. It will keep you busy for a long time with so many games and challenges to complete!

Redie is a challenging title. Frustration inducing but by the end becomes rewarding. It certainly catered towards fans of Hotline Miami, it why it caught my attention, but the game itself feels fresh and enjoyable. It isn’t a straight up clone, neither is it an homage, but another action-packed stylish top-down shooter with the same concept.

Great 2.5D take on the world of Teslagrad, with a fun puzzle dynamic and plenty of head-scratchers within. Well worth a look in if you’re after a modern take on the early Zelda games.

Fun and entertaining with its eclectic mix of indies (never heard any of them if I’m honest), give a miss if you’re searching something that’ll give you a proper run for your money song choice with high BPM songs - since some stretch to a slightly unbearable 70 BPM.

Puyo Puyo 2 is an invaluable piece of gaming history for the niche but dedicated competitive puzzling community and, provided you don’t already have Nintendo Switch Online, the most affordable entry point to the Puyo Puyo series.

Spellbreak offers a breath of life into the lungs of the battle royale genre. New battle royales have to fight hard to keep their head above the water that is infested by the titans that are Fortnite, PUBG, Warzone, and Apex Legends, but Spellbreak’s innovative gameplay might just be what the genre is looking for.

BROK the InvestiGator is a beautiful-looking game with great voice acting and a more profound and complex story than you usually find in a point-and-click game. It is challenging and will work your brain; luckily, the ads you discover hidden in the levels can be used for hints!

Overall, it’s great to see a new top-down racer that isn’t just a re-hashed mobile game, and one that handles well to boot. It can be a blast with a few mates on the couch and has a fully fledged campaign that doesn’t resort to just getting three stars per race for when your mates are off doing less fun things.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is for fans of turn-based RPGs. It’s challenging, has great heroes, and a deep story. It will pull you in.

The Warlords of New York expansion not only added plenty of enjoyable content to The Division 2, but also sets up the foundations for all updates to follow. Anyone looking for more third person, loot and shoot gameplay will find plenty to enjoy here, with players new and old able to jump in and explore Lower Manhattan.

If you’re a fan of AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES, you shouldn’t sleep on No Sleep For Kaname Date. It blends in escape rooms and introduces a few fantastic characters, though a few missteps keep this from being truly great.

With an addictive, fully-featured multiplayer suite, one of the finest campaigns the franchise has seen in years, and a fresh, revitalised Zombies mode, Call of Duty: WWII is an absolute blast that boldly goes where no modern Call of Duty has gone before: back to its World War roots. And it’s about bloody time.

A great addition to any fan’s game collection, and sure to turn the heads of newcomers looking for some samurai action.

Aureole: Wings of Hope is an insanely fast-paced, side-scrolling platforming title that is amazingly addictive and challenging.

Digimon Story Time Stranger combines nostalgia for fans of the anime series with fun combat and an emotional rollercoaster of a storyline. It’s the perfect entry point for new fans, and one that shouldn’t be overlooked.

An unmissable strategy gem that will unquestionably keep you playing one more contract. If you like mechs or tactical strategy games you’ll have a great time here whether you are a newcomer to the universe or not. BattleTech gets my full recommendation.

One of those games that can be appreciated regardless of how long it’s been around – Xanadu Next makes some brilliant use of videogame elements that we have all come to love, and although the player often lacks meaningful choice the game is never truly restrictive.

A jovial jaunt through a reskinned Borderlands experience. The humour and references are on point, but the short length left me disappointed…

Beautiful, challenging and frustrating in equal measure, Relicta is a game you should pick up if you want an exercise for your brain.

Deathsmiles is a arcade shoot 'em up videogame with a Anime touch to it. Choose your path and friends in this adventure to save the world.

Raiden IV x MIKADO Remix is a super fun and challenging game with various modes and the option to play with two players. Add on the amazing soundtrack and beautiful visuals; this is a must-play title.

A murder mystery that is masterfully told to keep your eyes on the screen until the very end. The visuals are lacking when it comes to the environments, but you quickly forget about them when you discover what plot twist is introduced next.

A classic Action RPG that looks and sounds better than ever, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana may not be for everyone, but those looking for something simpler will undoubtedly love this one.

Doki Doki Literature Club is a mind boggling and hard hitting horror game that takes tried and tested formulas of both visual novels and dating sims and turns them on their heads. The themes and story pack a punch, and stayed with me long after I had finished playing. It may require commitment from some to get through but the reward for those who stick it is more than worth it

Death Road to Canada is a joyful return to the simpler things in gaming. While it may not have the power of a AAA developer behind it, it certainly does have what AAA developers lack nowadays, a sense of fun.

It’s hard to truly dislike a game that tries to meld pre-existing ideas into something new, and this is true with Indivisible. However, it’s also hard to truly enjoy a game that doesn’t fully succeed in any of its key areas, and unfortunately this also applies to Indivisible.

A blisteringly fun early game can be dampened somewhat by the bloated middle and late stages, but Stellaris is another example of Paradox Interactive showcasing that they are the kings of grand strategy, and is a game that every fan of the genre should have in their collection.

Cotton Fantasy: Superlative Night Dreams is a super fun and adorable shoot ‘em up with tons of crazy action, a variety of unique characters and beautiful-looking 2D stages to challenge, and is sure to keep you busy attempting to get on the leaderboard!

Hyrule Warriors: The Age of Calamity is a great addition to the warriors series of games if you enjoy battling huge mobs of enemies. Featuring great character development for Zelda and doesn’t require playing Breath of the Wild to enjoy. The local co-op is great, but sorely absent in the Divine Beast missions.

A laser-focussed expansion that adds variety and depth to the already solid base game. BattleTech: Flashpoint gives players new stories and something to plan their time around whilst playing in the sandbox of the BattleTech universe.

An incredibly fun and great looking voxel style game that has you working with people all over the blocky world to take down the alien insects trying to take over the Earth. The game is full of action and insanity that will keep you entertained for a long time!

DARQ: Ultimate Edition stands out with great visual and audio design, immersing you within its nightmarish dream world without needing to say a single word. Your time playing as Lloyd, while short, will be a memorable one full of clever puzzles, strange enemies, and physics-bending mechanics.

Take control of Run and Jump and explore various worlds of colour with precision platforming and post-game challenges that will prove to be extremely challenging and just as fun.

Scarlet Nexus is easily one of the best games so far this year and a strong contender for game of the year. With addictive gameplay and compelling narrative, there is plenty to love in this Brain Punk vision of a psionic future.

Insurgency: Sandstorm needs a bit more polish to be the outstanding sequel it should be but if you overlook the issues you'll find a fairly enjoyable multiplayer title.

Unforgiving, with no tutorials, and a true-to-classic experience, System Shock is a retro survival horror title through and through, but you should still consider checking it out, even if you don’t care for the original.

Lost in Random performs expertly on its gameplay and graphics, but falls very short when it comes to its little effort in the dialogue aspect. It’s also a shame to see how little polish the ending received.

A mish-mash of genres that blend well and give you a lot to do for the price of free.

Bleak Sword DX is an excellent game with its easy-to-learn but hard-to-master gameplay. While things may look bleak, it is never hopeless.

A charming cast of characters, engaging narrative, and enjoyable puzzles make Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit stand side-by-side with some of the best games in the genre.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage is an amazing character action game that will make you eager for its sequel. It’s cute, creepy, and full of carnage, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

A psychological horror game full of puzzles that make you afraid to do anything in your house, including getting out of bed. The game deals with depression, isolation and how that affects your inner dialogue and feelings.

An abundance of various modes and improvements to the on-court action, NBA 2K23 is an astonishing amount of fun for any basketball fan. Even the microtransactions in some modes weren’t enough to dampen the pure fun that the rest of the game had to offer.

The ideal game for the LEGO geek or geekette and you are never too old to play with LEGO as it says on the box 4 - 99 years old.

A great visual novel, with intricate and interesting writing, a distinct and detailed artstyle and a catchy soundtrack. Well worth picking up for fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

LEGO Voyagers is a beautiful and wholesome co-op adventure that challenges two players to work together, think creatively, and enjoy the journey.

The game shines through its stunning visuals, heartfelt soundtrack and unique platforming elements creating a truly unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, gameplay does lack substance, as it can be completed in just six hours and lacks any real replay value.

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is a great time for any fan of roguelites. It is, unashamedly, like Hades, but also a seriously fun time that I enjoyed almost every single moment of… aside from some of the glitches I ran into.

Cute, fun, and quite literally fetching; Wytchwood blends all of its elements together wonderfully, although there is little reason to play more once you conclude the 10–12 hours’ worth of story.

Although lacking in some aspects, what Grow: Song of the Evertree gets right is the sense of whimsical fun and adventure. Definitely worth giving a try!

Packed to the brim with personality, atmosphere, and balls of steel, Trine 5 is prime puzzle-platformer action from start to finish, especially if you bring some friends along for the ride.

Overall Forma.8 is a good, if slightly flawed take on the Metroidvania genre. Its barebones story is divisive as it depends almost entirely on players’ interpretations. The gameplay is satisfying at times and thrilling at others though its inconsistency is what holds the game back. For those wanting to explore seriously stylish and striking environments, you could do much worse than Forma.8.

Sniper Elite 4 takes everything that worked on previous games and bumps it up a notch, deepening the gameplay and widening the distance while keeping the core of the franchise intact. It's an example of how to evolve a franchise over time.

A fantastic example of world building done right, but a real test of patience even for veteran strategy gamers.

A rollercoaster ride of emotions that made me laugh and cry in near equal measure.

With this stimulating narrative, Lydia is a steady explorative adventure that will leave you speechless by the time you finish it. Its take on adult themes within a childish aesthetic feels familiar but it accomplishes enough to set it apart from other like-minded indie titles. It’s a solid debut release by Platonic Partnership and leaves me intrigued to see what comes next from the Finnish studio.

An enjoyable visual novel that really benefits from being in VR.

Incredibly enjoyable locomotion abilities, pleasant collectibles to find, and fun (albeit simple) platforming puzzles are all that await those that are willing to look past Hell Pie's grotesque themes of animal abuse, drug use, and religious tones.

Bat Boy is a great action platforming game that has everything we loved about these games in the past, from catchy music to great visuals and controls. It’s fun to see a game influenced by sports that aren’t actually a sports game!

Wildmender is a beautiful game that manages to balance cosy gardening with epic adventure and ruthless survival. One of my favourite games of the year. And you can hug frogs.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is astounding, and the way it tells a compelling story and connects you to the characters is really impressive. It’s impossible not to recommend this masterpiece of a game.

Abathor recreates the experience of playing side-scrolling beat ‘em ups in the arcade, with solo and local and online co-op modes available to challenge. With no save points, this is a very challenging experience!

Featuring relatable characters, including a rocket launcher-wielding guinea pig, an in-depth story, exciting quests, and an immersive world, Beyond Galaxyland is an adventure that you won’t want to miss.

Extra Coin explores a tale where you have to choose between reality or a dream. It tackles some heavy themes, but it encapsulates them well in this charming pixelated adventure.

People of Note is a great-looking and sounding rhythm RPG. If you are a fan of making or playing music, there are so many references here to make you smile.

Despite some odd game design decisions and weird glitches, you should definitely give The Last Gas Station a try. Fun, interesting characters, an intriguing mystery, and slightly chaotic gameplay, I’d definitely recommend this.

A game that takes what came before and redefines what is possible in co-operative storytelling, with a level of detail and polish far beyond what could be expected of a small team.

My Friend Pedro can be an absurdly stylish action game when everything aligns but you’ll just as likely find yourself slipping over its unwieldy controls.

By taking the best bits of a few different genres, Gunfire Games has come up with an exceptional formula here, and brought us the surprise hit of the year. Sure, it’ll take you a while to “git gud”, but it actually feels like it’s worth the practice.

El Paso, Elsewhere is a charming journey into the mind of man, descending into madness and taking any horrific creatures he can with him.