RIVEN was a back-to-back masterpiece following MYST, and it remains one today. Completely overhauled visually and made even more immersive through its excellent VR adaptation, it's an easy recommendation. If you've already experienced and loved MYST (especially in VR) then RIVEN is an unquestionable purchase.

Amanita Design has done it again. While the brief length of its adventures remains a recurring drawback, the studio once more excels in art direction and storytelling. Filled with sharp satirical commentary on totalitarian regimes, stunning visuals, and a satisfying variety of well-designed puzzles, Phonopolis is an immensely rewarding experience, especially for fans of Amanita Design's previous works.

Utterly tiresome, with puzzles that are either simplistic or needlessly convoluted and often drag on for far too long, WILL: Follow the Light falls short in its gameplay. Worst of all, for a title that positions itself as a narrative-driven experience, its story lacks any real impact due to mediocre voice acting, unnatural dialogue, and paper-thin characterization.

If nothing else, Necrophosis presents a captivating artistic vision, drawing heavily on Cyclopean aesthetics and the grotesque. It is undoubtedly a visual spectacle, both in its depiction of the world and in its creature designs. Nevertheless, the overly simplistic gameplay and lack of narrative coherence limit the impact it could have otherwise achieved.

Vultures: Scavengers of Death offers a refreshingly original take on the survival-horror genre, particularly among games seeking to emulate the Resident Evil formula. Its implementation of an XCOM-inspired turn-based combat system provides a unique twist that works surprisingly well, delivering enjoyable gameplay while preserving the genre's core focus on exploration and light puzzle-solving. However, the overly cautious and simplistic use of these mechanics ultimately makes the game feel more like a promising tech demo than a fully fledged realization of turn-based survival horror.

Myst's status as one of gaming's most influential and enduring classics is beyond question. This adaptation succeeds in bringing players directly into its magical world, offering an unprecedented sense of immersion as they explore its intricate machinery, challenging puzzles, and stunning vistas.

Traveller's Tales' latest LEGO game could well be considered the pinnacle of the studio's LEGO legacy. What it lacks in challenge (being aimed at younger audiences, after all) it more than compensates for with beautiful visuals, imaginative use of the beloved brick aesthetic, and a world packed with charming and entertaining activities. Additionally, the trademark humour that has become synonymous with the developer is consistently effective, while the countless references to Batman films, comics, and video games are both clever and rewarding for fans.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book should be approached as a simple platformer with virtually no challenge, clearly aimed at younger players. It is nevertheless a delightful game, thanks to its charming stop-motion aesthetic and vibrant visuals, but older gamers expecting a true continuation of Yoshi's Island will likely come away disappointed.

IO Interactive proved to be the perfect match for adapting James Bond into a video game. While other titles have done justice to the franchise, this is the first time 007 feels so well-rounded, avoiding the one-dimensional action-hero depiction of the past. His personality is more nuanced, and the sandbox-style level design does justice to the full range of Bond's skills. Whether in stealth, fisticuffs, or gunplay, the experience excels, and the somewhat subpar driving is not enough to detract from an otherwise highly exhilarating adventure.

Industria 2 is an unequivocal improvement over its subpar predecessor. The developers successfully nail the horror aspect, thanks to the deadly robotic enemies and the carefully balanced scarcity of resources, which are sufficient for survival while still forcing players to think twice before using them. Although its short runtime delivers a satisfying experience, it also reveals a project that may have aimed beyond its limits. This is evident in the numerous technical issues, some of them game-breaking, as well as the noticeable lack of variety in several assets, particularly interior environments.

Priest Simulator certainly delivers a few laughs, with its mockumentary-style presentation offering a fresh and amusing twist for the genre. Unfortunately, the humor isn’t enough to mask the obsolete visuals, repetitive gameplay and level design, and an overall subpar FPS experience.

It’s disappointing to see Aphelion stand as Don’t Nod’s weakest outing to date. Feeling more like a side project than a fully fledged production, the game offers only the bare minimum expected from an action-adventure. Even as a story-driven sci-fi experience, its narrative struggles to deliver compelling developments or memorable reveals. While the visually appealing, if somewhat generic, environments and the touching personal story of its protagonists partially salvage the experience, they are far from enough to change the overall mediocre feeling.

Tides of Tomorrow offers a unique take on asymmetrical multiplayer, making players genuinely feel how the actions of others shape the experience, just as their own choices influence the journeys of future players. Its charming visuals also perfectly sell the Waterworld-inspired aesthetic. Unfortunately, the experience is dragged down by an unremarkable overarching objective and gameplay that lacks any real depth.

The Shore delivers a succinct Lovecraftian tale while still managing to provide a satisfying experience. Its haunting, imposing vistas and well-designed monsters do justice to the Cthulhu Mythos. Unfortunately, the gameplay feels overly basic, both in its action and puzzle design.

The End of the Sun is a sincere indie game which shows the love of its developers in delivering an authentic Slavic fable, with a well written and unique story. However, its gameplay falls completely flat and the excessive backtracking becomes quickly tiresome.

Little Nightmares proves to be a great match for VR, translating its dark aesthetic excellently into the format. It’s a very faithful entry that doesn’t try to innovate or offer many surprises compared to the previous games, and its short runtime of around three hours may disappoint some players. Nevertheless, VR immersion greatly enhances the experience and brings its world to life.

Another year, another MotoGP title that refuses to take any significant steps toward improving the experience. The graphics feel more obsolete with each annual release, while the content remains limited. The physics engine is still excellent, but it’s no longer enough to compensate for the lack of meaningful progress.

The second season of The Dark Pictures Anthology begins with a strong premise, sending players into space with clear inspirations from The Thing and Alien. Directive 8020 is yet another example of Supermassive Games reaching the limits of what this anthology format can offer, with the production’s budget constraints becoming increasingly apparent. Despite that, it delivers an effective horror story with well-written characters and impressive lighting effects. However, it stays a little too close to its inspirations and struggles to establish a truly unique identity. The stealth segments also feel overused and would have benefited from being shortened or replaced with interactive cutscenes.

Ground Zero offers a generous amount of content, with large maps and plenty of replay value. However, it often leans toward quantity over quality. While the level design is solid, movement feels clunky and oddly favors tank controls over modern ones. On top of that, its puzzles, enemies, and setting play things too safe, relying heavily on nostalgia.

Invincible VS does justice to the visual identity of the comic and TV show, something fans will definitely appreciate. Its alternate take on the story is also intriguing, even if it’s on the short sied at around two hours. That said, the pacing of the fights feels slower than expected, particularly with its tag-team mechanics, and some unusual changes to established genre mechanics end up feeling unnecessary and offer little benefit.

The Occultist is largely focused on building a series of atmospheric, Lovecraftian-inspired stages, and it succeeds in delivering a visually engaging aesthetic. The experience is supported by simple yet satisfying environmental puzzles. However, its storytelling feels bland, the voice acting is subpar in many cases, and the stalker-type enemies should have been removed entirely.

If nothing else, Replaced is a stunning pixel-art game set in a cyberpunk world. The developers clearly have a talent for crafting vibrant environments and detailed animations through the pixel-art style. Overall, it keeps you hooked with its exciting, if somewhat simplistic, combat and strong forward momentum. If only it didn’t rely so heavily on repetitive actions, like constant box pushing and unnecessary backtracking.

OPUS: Prism Peak tells a deeply personal story with genuinely earned emotional moments. It offers a unique take on the midlife crisis, filtering it through a magical prism that many older players will likely find relatable. However, it’s held back by an unnecessarily complicated notebook system and an overreliance on photography as a gameplay mechanic, which somewhat undermines the idea of the protagonist using an analogue camera.

Xenonauts 2 is a highly competent, albeit unofficial, successor to the original XCOM. Its old-school aesthetic may be an acquired taste, but fans of this niche genre will find a deep and challenging experience, both in base management and in combat, that is highly rewarding and benefits thoughtful tactical thinking.

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss certainly nails its Lovecraftian atmosphere, especially in some truly daunting set pieces. Its environmental puzzles are also well implemented, offering a high level of challenge that fans of the genre will appreciate. If only the story lived up to the same standard.

As far as transitions from 2D to 3D go, the new Super Meat Boy proves that this is not inherently an improvement. Although there is a decent variety of levels, its serious lack of depth perception results in gameplay where you struggle more with the controls than with the level design itself. The bland visuals don’t help either.

Saros is a triumphant successor to Returnal, delivering an outstanding sci-fi experience. Its excellent visuals bring the planet Carcosa to life, while its fast, fluid combat remains consistently satisfying. Special praise should be given to the meticulously crafted audio, with an eclectic soundtrack and impactful sound design. Moreover, Housemarque demonstrates a clear evolution over its predecessor, refining an already memorable formula into one of the strongest experiences in the Sony Studios lineup.

There are myriad ways to customize the Miis and shape their lives through a variety of humorous situations. However, the game moves at a very slow pace, which proves to be its biggest drawback, as players are often left simply waiting for something to happen.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire does an excellent job of translating 1920s and ’30s cartoon aesthetics into an old-school FPS. It fully embraces its noir setting, delivering clever one-liners, energetic jazz, and a well-written, humor-filled conspiracy to unravel. It’s held back somewhat by repetitive shooting and limited enemy variety, but all in all, it stands as a charming and stylish tribute to a bygone cartoon era.

In the long line of so-called simulator games arrives Crime Simulator, another entry marred by repetition, questionable AI, and technical issues. While there’s some freedom in how missions can be approached, and a bit of fun in co-op, it ultimately delivers only the bare minimum expected of its premise.

Grime 2 confidently treads familiar metroidvania ground, embracing tried-and-true mechanics. While it doesn’t introduce anything particularly groundbreaking, fans of the genre will appreciate its deep combat system and challenging platforming sections, all supported by responsive and smooth controls. The entire experience is elevated by the imagination behind its vibrant world.

Vampire Therapist presents itself as a beautifully written visual novel, making excellent use of its psychoanalysis theme in a way that feels perfectly in sync with its fantasy characters. The voice cast delivers their performances with professionalism and charm, bringing a host of memorable characters to life. Together, they guide players through a wide range of life issues, each explored through uniquely imaginative perspectives.

Somewhere within Greedfall II lies a compelling blend of an intriguing story about colonisation and a well-designed real-time-with-pause combat system. However, it becomes difficult to appreciate its world-building and combat when the real battle is against a myriad of bugs and game-breaking issues, some severe enough to force a complete restart.

Capcom’s unstoppable streak of excellent titles continues.This time, it succeeds in a sci-fi setting, delivering stunning visuals and a deeply personal story between Hugh and Diana. Their relationship feels natural, heartfelt, and genuinely funny in all the right moments. More importantly, Pragmata achieves something truly unique, by introducing a fresh gameplay mechanic in the third-person shooter genre, seamlessly combining shooting and real-time hacking in a way that feels both innovative and satisfying.

Death Stranding 2 remains a highly imaginative continuation of the captivatingly macabre universe from the mind of Hideo Kojima. The PC version stands as the definitive edition thanks to its customizable technical options, offering breathtaking visuals and a smooth experience on modern systems.

Fatal Frame II returns with significant updates, enhancing its already excellent horror atmosphere through modernised visuals and effects. The addition of a stalker mechanic may be somewhat questionable, however, the new gameplay and story content are more than welcome for those who played the original. A 60fps mode on consoles would have been appreciated, though the 30fps performance isn’t a major hindrance to enjoying its well-crafted horror experience.

Everdark is an honest indie addition to the horror genre. While it doesn’t compete with big-budget productions, it delivers a brutal, nostalgic experience through well-crafted gameplay and effectively implemented survival horror elements. It’s on the shorter side and has some technical issues, but overall, fans of the genre will appreciate what it offers.

It goes without saying that the original Super Mario Bros. Wonder was an excellent 2D platformer, worthy of Mario’s legacy. This new edition retains that quality, but when it comes to new content, it lacks any truly exciting additions or levels. The new character feels like a repetition of existing ones, and the new transformation is underwhelming. New players will still have a blast, but those who already own the game won’t find enough here to justify the upgrade cost.

Bungie once again nails the shooting, delivering consistently satisfying combat moments in Marathon. Its retro-futuristic aesthetic and lore create a dilapidated sci-fi world that feels both mysterious and captivating. During traversal and tense firefights, as you attempt to extract valuable loot, the game offers a thrilling and engaging experience. However, it’s baffling how convoluted the menus are, creating unnecessary confusion even for simple tasks. Additionally, in its current state, the content feels somewhat lacking,though Bungie has promised to expand it in the near future.

Screamer is a truly unique racer, standing out thanks to its charming anime aesthetic, both on the track and in its well-crafted cutscenes. The characters are well written, even if the story is somewhat predictable. Thankfully, the driving model is up to par, offering a variety of nuanced mechanics within its arcade feel that keep the challenge high but fair. Unfortunately, it’s dragged down by a limited selection of courses and vehicles.

The only positive thing that can be said about this cheap Dark Souls imitation is that it actually starts when you press the button.

It may not be groundbreaking, but Toxic Commando still delivers unadulterated fun. No grind, no chores, just good old-fashioned zombie shooting. With three friends along for the ride, spreading mayhem across the map, it becomes a truly satisfying experience. As a bonus, John Carpenter’s signature synth soundtrack perfectly brings the grindhouse atmosphere to life.

The quality of the original Tales of Berseria is nothing short of praiseworthy. However, this review focuses on what the remaster brings to the table, and in that regard, the release is quite perplexing. It feels more like an overpriced patch than a true remaster, offering only a slight visual upgrade.

Crimson Desert is an enormously ambitious game, both figuratively and in scope. We’ve rarely seen a single-player experience this large, in terms of content and mechanical variety. Even 100 hours in, we’re still discovering new areas, traversal methods, and bosses. However, it also proves that no matter how high the quality of the content (at least in a single-player game) diminishing returns eventually set in. In the end, a mediocre story does little to support the experience, and the initial excitement gradually gives way to a dull sense of routine.

Anyone expecting a faithful transition of the God of War franchise into 2D will be sorely disappointed by Sons of Sparta. It lacks the raw violence of those games and the weight behind their attacks. Ultimately, it feels like a very typical metroidvania that struggles to stand out in such a highly competitive genre.

Crimson Capes is a modest indie metroidvania that earns plenty of personality points thanks to its use of the rotoscope technique, which gives it uniquely smooth animations. The combat is well designed, akin to the original Prince of Persia games but with more depth. Subpar platforming holds it back somewhat, hurting its exploration aspect, however, it still offers solid action with plenty of boss fights.

RIDE 6 builds on the strong foundation of the series, enriching its content with an impressive roster of motorcycles from many different disciplines. The newly introduced dirt bikes are its weakest addition and their presentation still needs improvement. Nevertheless, its rich career mode and well-designed driving model will keep aficionados busy for a long time.

Capcom once again strikes a high note with the new Resident Evil entry, though this time its ambition introduces a few rough edges. Requiem delivers excellent survival horror during Grace’s sections and offers a wealth of Easter eggs and references for longtime fans to dissect. However, in attempting to incorporate the best elements from the franchise’s many, and often wildly different, installments, it occasionally feels somewhat disjointed. Even so, Requiem stands as yet another strong addition to Capcom’s seemingly never-ending streak of quality releases.

Styx: Blades of Greed is a solid AA hardcore stealth game that may not break new ground in the genre, but in the current drought of AA and AAA stealth titles, it’s more than welcome. While there are some AI limitations and a few bugs that should be ironed out in upcoming patches, the level design is thoughtfully crafted and the stealth mechanics are predictable in the best way, consistent and well implemented.

Crisol: Theater of Idols can be succinctly described as a budget BioShock. That may sound harsh, but few modern FPS games evoke this kind of nostalgic design, and despite its shortcomings, the developers earn the comparison. While limitations in enemy variety and loot are evident, Tormentosa remains an intriguing place to visit and explore.

While barebones in modes and lacking tutorials, Aces of Thunder still delivers a great VR experience. Its highly detailed warplanes, excellent audio design, and realistic physics will convince you to push through the steep learning curve and take part in its intense dogfights.

The original Animal Crossing: New Horizons remains an excellent game, but the Switch 2 update is a clear disappointment. The promised technical improvements are almost negligible, and the game remains “stuck” at 30 FPS. Moreover, the new mouse controls are a mixed bag. Helpful for interior decoration, yet strangely omitted during exploration. All in all, this paid update is not worth the price.

A beautiful and full of nostalgia remake of the original classic from the '80s, albeit with poor controls that can damage the overall experience.

This new Speedball entry successfully captures the essence of the classic sports titles by the Bitmap Brothers, certainly no small feat. Its controls could stand to be simpler, as the game overcomplicates its handling in ways that feel unnecessary. Likewise, its visuals lean a bit too heavily into trends set by other popular online games. In the end, however, it remains a faithful modernization of the core Speedball experience.

Our Adventure Guild doesn’t attempt to reinvent the tactical RPG genre and struggles with repetition in both its quest design and recruitable characters. That said, it could still serve as a welcoming entry point for newcomers to the genre.

Once more, Tarsier proves it knows how to craft a horror setting that feels torn from the darkest corners of a child’s imagination. Compared to the Little Nightmares games, Reanimal features a far more dynamic camera that heightens tension and amplifies its intense chases and moments of awe. However, these striking set pieces are the exception in an experience that remains largely reminiscent of the studio’s previous work. As a result, Reanimal stands as a satisfying new entry, but one that ultimately plays things a little too safe.

Citadelum is an easy to learn historical city builder that feels right at home in the portable mode offered by Switch 2. While it may not break new ground for the genre, its streamlined design can provide many fun hours of building your own Roman Empire.

Ebola Village feels like an amateurish imitation of Resident Evil Village, offering nothing to set it apart.

A highly uneven experience, Code Vein 2 is ultimately saved by its likable characters, clever use of time travel in the story and some tense but fair boss battles. The open-world design hampers the pacing, with drab environments that discourage exploration and uninspired regular enemies. Yet those who stick with it may find themselves genuinely invested in the fate of its central cast.

Romeo is a Dead Man is unmistakably a Suda51 game, bursting with creativity, absurdity, satire, and unapologetic eccentricity. The classic Shakespearean tragedy is reimagined as a surreal sci-fi adventure that may stumble at times with uneven pacing and repetitive enemies, but ultimately overcomes its flaws through bombastic, over-the-top action and sheer, unfiltered craziness.

Mario Tennis Fever fixes many of the issues of previous titles, delivering a significantly improved sequel packed with content. Fans of the Mario universe will especially enjoy jumping into matches with their favourite characters, thanks to the expanded roster and gameplay that’s easy to learn but hard to master.

Fear the Timeloop has solid fundamentals that closely follow the survival-horror template established by Resident Evil, while also serving as a welcome ode to the genre’s golden era. It delivers effective scares, a good variety of enemies, and strong level design. However, in its current state, the experience is marred by numerous technical issues and aggravating, game-breaking bugs that frequently undermine what could otherwise be a solid, if slightly derivative, experience.

An excellent prequel to a great JRPG franchise, Octopath Traveller 0 sees the return of its distinctive pixelated visuals and deep combat system, this time elevated by the inclusion of truly memorable villains.

I Hate This Place feels like a project that began with a far more ambitious vision for its world. The lackluster survival and crafting systems make little sense given the game’s short length, which leaves no room for these mechanics to properly breathe. While its dungeons are engaging, featuring effective horror elements and enough loot to encourage exploration, the open world, flat characters, and mediocre combat significantly hinder the overall experience.

A-RED Walking Robot is charming and quite unique, putting players in the role of a small mechanical toy robot. Its well thought out level design, using everyday environmental objects and rooms, gives the game a much needed personality. However, its frequent reliance on trial and error leads to unfair situations that more often than not become frustrating.

After many delays, the new chapter of Inazuma Eleven is finally here, and it’s certainly worth the wait. Despite some pacing issues, it offers a broad cast of characters, diverse movesets, and a huge amount of content that will keep you hooked for hours.

Old School Rally fully justifies its name, taking players back to the era of the legendary first Colin McRae Rally and staying extremely faithful to that inspiration. While it successfully hits the nostalgia it aims for, that same devotion becomes a hindrance once the feeling wears off, leaving behind a derivative technical experience with little effort to establish its own identity.

This new DLC for Pokémon Legends Z-A is something of a double-edged sword. While it adds a wealth of new main and side missions, legendary Pokémons, and a strong cast of new characters that can keep players busy for hours, the bland new Hyperspace area and the excessive grinding required to unlock its missions ultimately drag down the experience.

If nothing else, Dreams of Another is a unique third-person game. Its dreamlike visuals and intriguing “no creation without destruction” gameplay concept immediately draw attention and pique curiosity. However, its experimental nature doesn’t fully pay off, as the tiring gameplay, sluggish pace, and a story that fails to make sense quickly wear down that initial interest.

Ultimate Zombie Defense is at least honest about its B-movie philosophy, offering simple gameplay that can hook you for several mindless gaming hours. Decimating hordes of zombies is certainly fun, but the limited content, highly derivative visuals, and lack of depth prevent it from rising above a guilty pleasure.

Dollmare is effective in its horror atmosphere, with its short duration working in its favour by keeping the simplistic, repetitive arcade gameplay fun. The factory setting also benefits from the brief length, retaining its effectiveness as the game ends before it becomes tiring.

After an enormously long development cycle, the end result was worth the wait. The developers persevered through development hell to deliver a striking retro-futuristic setting enhanced by well-crafted horror elements. Across its 4–5 hour, mostly narrative-driven experience, the story and its deadly presences will keep you on edge.

Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered is a well-made port of a classic JRPG, though it offers little beyond the bare minimum expected of a remaster. It remains an interesting piece of the genre’s history, but its quirks may deter newcomers, while longtime fans and JRPG veterans will find reasons to revisit it.

Switch owners can now see firsthand what can only be described as the ultimate ode to Dragon Ball. While the 30 FPS performance is noticeable, it doesn’t hinder the game’s easy-to-learn, hard-to-master fighting system or the richness of its content.

Gameplay is virtually non-existent in Goodnight Universe, with overly simplistic puzzles that drag down the experience. Nevertheless, its story is touching and supported by solid voice acting. It’s commendable how effectively the developers convey the world through the perspective of an infant child.

Death Howl does the unthinkable by delivering a deckbuilder that isn’t a roguelike, and mostly succeeds. Its atmospheric, fantasy-infused Neolithic setting and beautiful retro visuals are paired with a well-crafted, card-based combat system. Unfortunately, excessive grinding and uneven difficulty in tougher battles can make victory feel overly dependent on RNG.

Once Upon a Jester starts off on a positive note, thanks to its humour and its, initially, charming visuals. However, those simplistic visuals soon become tiring and uninspired, and the lack of any meaningful gameplay turns the experience into a slog. The story could have been its redeeming factor, but unfortunately the game falls short even in that regard.

Unfortunately, the only real positive to be said for Project Motor Racing is its strong selection of cars. Beyond that, it’s disappointing in nearly every respect, showing clear signs of having released far too early in its development cycle. The visuals are subpar, the AI is virtually nonexistent, and the handling is noticeably problematic. There are plenty of other issues as well, but to keep it brief, it simply can’t compete within the demanding genre of driving simulators.

The Last Case of John Morley is a passable narrative noir experience, supported by an engaging story and well-crafted environments. Its brief runtime will likely hold your attention, though it never offers anything particularly memorable in its overall story or especially deep in its NPC interactions. Not great, not terrible, as the modern saying goes.

It’s hard not to be taken in by the allure of driving a train through infinite space. Maintaining, expanding, and improving your locomotive never gets old, especially as the rails unfurl into the cosmos. Voidtrain can certainly hook you with its premise and well-made crafting systems. However, it’s held back by repetition in everything outside the train, from the overly similar station layouts to the one-note arenas. A diamond in the rough, then, but one that’s still worth the ticket price for fans of the genre.

After Shredder’s Revenge, Dotemu returns with another loving ode to classic beat ’em ups. Marvel: Cosmic Invasion features an excellent roster of both beloved and obscure Marvel characters, backed by a satisfying and richly designed combat system. It doesn’t exactly tread new ground for the genre, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that this is yet another strong entry in the ongoing renaissance of classic beat ’em ups.

Demonschool is unapologetically an unofficial indie take on Persona. Its colourful pixel art and well-designed battle system give it plenty of charm, fast, simple, and consistently enjoyable, but the developers may have aimed a bit too high. Although it aspires to be a 30–40 hour epic, it simply lacks the mystery, character depth, and overall variety needed to support that length, causing the experience to drag about halfway through.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond reaffirms that, even almost 20 years after the third game, the Metroid Prime series remains a one-of-a-kind experience in the medium. Its striking art direction elevates the entire adventure without relying on photorealism, while the sense of isolation, exploration, discovery, and environmental adversity, all supported by excellent audio design, delivers a superb return for Samus Aran that is guaranteed to excite longtime fans.

Fans of the series will be delighted by the significantly improved UI, which makes city-building as addictive as ever. The visuals are gorgeous, packed with detail and enhanced by excellent lighting effects. Still, one can’t help but wish for more coherence between the various gameplay systems, as some feel undercooked, suggesting the game may have been released a bit earlier than it should have been.

The original Syberia is, without question, a classic of the genre. This remastered edition, however, is oddly lacking in quality-of-life improvements. The audio suffers from mixing issues, and the visuals are inconsistent, with particularly underwhelming cinematics. While the reworked in-game graphics do help modernize the experience, they’re not enough to elevate this release into a truly definitive edition.

For anyone growing up with Hero Quest, Dark Quest 4 is an easy recommendation. The developers show real love for the classic tabletop experience, delivering charming aesthetics and a wealth of content, from diverse heroes to a generous lineup of quests.

Dispatch proves that the episodic format in gaming is far from derivative, it just requires the right content, a timely and consistent release schedule, and, of course, strong writing to make its cliffhangers land. This essentially visual-novel experience excels on all fronts, keeping us hooked each week and making us genuinely care about its characters. It ensures we think twice before every decision, no matter how big or small their impact on the story.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 delivers one of the weakest campaigns in the series, with a disjointed story and a lack of the bombastic set pieces fans expect. Its multiplayer, however, is far stronger, offering fast-paced gameplay and a solid variety of well-designed maps.

Still the high point of the "Tales Of" series, Tales of Xillia returns with improved resolution, smoother performance, and smart quality-of-life enhancements, making this remaster the definitive way to experience a classic JRPG.

Football Manager 26 introduces a bold UI overhaul that aims to fully modernise the experience, but the move comes with significant caveats. The new interface often overcomplicates basic actions, and in its current state the game suffers from numerous frustrating bugs and crashes. The improved match engine and the well-developed TransferRoom help offset some of these issues, but overall Sports Interactive still has plenty of work to do to convince us that this redesign was truly necessary.

Neon Inferno could have been a pleasant discovery in a 90s arcade booth. Its standout feature, allowing players to shoot both on the 2D plane and into the background, gives the game a much-needed sense of personality, elevating a bit an otherwise fairly ordinary (though certainly decent) run-’n’-gun experience.

An excellent return for Kirby, delivering an utterly enjoyable adventure packed with a wealth of modes and a fantastic multiplayer experience. On top of that, it offers impressive visuals and easy-to-grasp gameplay without sacrificing challenge. Fans of the series will be more than thrilled with Air Riders.

he sim racing genre is not only fiercely competitive but also quite niche. As such, RENNSPORT’s release is somewhat perplexing, as it clearly lacks content, with an alarmingly small selection of cars and tracks, while its physics also leave a lot to be desired.

Who knew power washing could be such a relaxing and genuinely fun experience? PowerWash Simulator 2 once again proves it can make the most mundane task oddly satisfying, inviting players to spend hours cleaning everything in sight, and loving every minute of it.

Once Upon a Katamari returns as weird as ever and remains faithful to the previous games. While some serious repetition in its levels and a problematic camera hold it back, these flaws do little to diminish the relaxing and uniquely delightful experience that Katamari continues to offer.

The Order of the Snake Scale tries to capture the spirit of classic survival horror, but in doing so its real "achievement" is to remind us that even the best of those games came with serious caveats, ones that later evolutions of the genre left behind. It has a nice atmosphere in places and a decent plot, but it's ultimately weighed down by outdated gameplay and visuals that feel less nostalgic than simply subpar.

This new iteration of Death on the Nile includes some clever puzzles, but unfortunately, the positives end there. The incredibly slow pace will certainly turn many players off, while the addition of a parallel storyline feels disjointed and lacks the quality of Agatha Christie's original narrative. All in all, this adaptation of one of the most famous whodunit mysteries is, unfortunately, one of the weakest.

Truck Driving does the bare minimum to even be considered a game.