The Cub is an ideal game to work through in an evening or two, and for that matter, and considering the interesting storyline and pretty graphics, it's a decent showing from Demagog.

Slots & Daggers is a great game - through and through. It's addictive enough to keep you coming back for a few nights in a row to keep spinning out the right symbols and getting further and further on the map, unlocking more and more new things. It's also got a great atmosphere, a great jazz beat, and a very accurate and beautiful aesthetic.

Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is a good game that has something for everyone. But it also has its obvious problems that will be difficult for the developers to correct in retrospect.

Everything from the graphics, music and sound to the tank simulation and much more has been improved. At the same time, there are still areas for development, such as the AI, more maps, the user interface, the visibility of your troops, and a more content-rich multiplayer mode. There are also certain aspects of the balance between the troop types that need reviewing. For these reasons, my rating lands a little lower than what I would give the fourth instalment today, with all content included. When it works, it's good, but at present there is room to improve even further.

Paper Trail is a really nice puzzle game, but it didn't quite blow me away. There's nothing wrong with it as such, and the various puzzles should provide a good amount of challenge, but it feels like something is missing.

Nightreign is, in my opinion, a highly successful experiment at a fair price, and while there are some obvious kinks to iron out - the lack of new enemies and maps other than Limveld being the most acute - the gameplay foundation is rock solid, and that's what matters most.

Forspoken is fun to play most of the time, but it's a damn shame that the game's remaining elements eagerly attempt to ruin that enjoyment at every turn.

Dread Templar is an outrageously fun retro FPS. It's straightforward, simple, thrilling, action-packed, and exciting, and is the perfect sort of game for anyone who is solely looking for an old-school Doom-like title.

Supermassive Games has maintained the style and atmosphere that the series is known for, and they should be commended for that, but they have also played it safe. Apart from the addition of co-op, there is nothing significantly new in Little Nightmares 3. This may sound reassuring to fans of the series, and if you are one of them, you can safely dive in. But there is a lack of evolution. There is a lack of development in the universe, not because they have to reveal a whole lot, but because it should be expanded more.

Titans of the Tide begins as a "great" platformer and steadily slips into "good" territory, perhaps even "mediocre" at times…

Despite a disappointing ending and some irritations with the dialogue and combat, Beyond Galaxyland is an RPG that will remind you of the heady days of your first Final Fantasy, mixed with a Pokémon blend.

It's a slightly odd mix of fast-paced arcade racing, an unbalanced game, a story that takes up too much space, almost too many systems, and controls that demand a lot from the player. Screamer isn't a bad game, but it tries to do almost too much. I would have liked it to be more straightforward. More like Ridge Racer could have been in 2026.

While there are a few weird and unusual bugs that plague the game as well, for example certain lighting instances actually changing the colour of your golfer's hair, generally speaking, EA Sports PGA Tour is a fun and entertaining golf game that excels in the places that matter the most; the gameplay, the courses, and the experience. If you're looking for a way to double-down on golf this Masters weekend, then EA Sports PGA Tour is a good title to take a look at, just save yourself some disappointment and keep clear of the Store tab.

Aside from some clunky controls and annoying speech, I still had quite a bit of fun with Tourist Trap. However, it didn't take much more than two hours to complete and I can feel that's a bit on the small side.

With its vibrant visuals and looping roguelike elements, Ultros is a Metroidvania that dares to be different and for that alone, it earns my respect.

Echoes of the End is an ambitious game with some really good ideas and a beautiful presentation, but also with technical issues and design flaws that detract from the experience. I would actually recommend it, but only if you can wait for a few updates.

I have no doubt that the more players share their experiences after finishing the game, the more different approaches to their journey and its conclusion will be seen. If you don't mind having to deal with a tense scenario and perhaps facing your own inner demons, Dead Take offers you an all-star cast in their roles and a story that grips you from start to finish.

If you're a lover of the musou genre, this is a must-have title for you. But if this is going to be your first time playing this type of game, it's good to know that repetition and "routine" combat is part of it. In any case, you will feel like a truly "unique" hero.

This collection is specifically designed for the most die-hard purists, and I think it's a shame that M2/Konami didn't take the opportunity to build the perfect, definitive Gradius collection. Gradius for the NES should obviously have been included, as should Gradius 4, Gradius V, Gradius Rebirth, and Gradius Gaiden. That didn't happen, and there's nothing wrong with the package we got instead, but it does gnaw at me a little that Konami, after the absolutely fantastic Contra collection, didn't quite hit the bullseye here.

This is just the RTS genre at its absolute best, and while Relic could have done more, they really could, what they have done works well overall, and at a lower price, it's hard not to recommend it.

Hide the Corpse is something different. A quirky puzzle game that dares to be weird and embraces its macabre sense of humour. The simple but clever concept holds up for several hours of fun, even if the nausea creeps in. The overall package feels a bit half-baked, repeating itself too often, but with a little polish, this indie oddity could evolve into something much bigger. There's plenty of potential in corpse-hiding chaos.

For the first time in many years, I feel like the Madden series is going somewhere. It's been stagnant, it's had major problems with all sorts of things, and it's mostly been frustrating. That feeling has mostly not been present in Madden NFL 26. It's definitely not problem-free, but it's the best this series has produced in a very long time, which in itself, is nothing to brag about.

The House of the Dead 2: Remake is a refreshing blast from the past. It proves that old-school game design still has bite and that rail shooters deserve a comeback. The remake could've used more polish, and there are definite issues, but especially in co-op, it's still a fun ride worth trying even for those who didn't experience it the first time around.

Wild Hearts is a solid first step for Koei Tecmo's latest foray into the world of monster hunting, and while this isn't going to necessarily convert those who aren't already into the genre, it does provide great gameplay for those who want to pick up an alternative to Monster Hunter.

Whimside is a small title where, if you're consistent and want to enjoy the classic Pokémon nursery mini-game experience, but with an added twist, it might be for you.

It costs you as much as going to the movies and lasts as long as a TV series episode, but if you were one of those fans, it's probably the best rotoscope drawn experience you can enjoy today in games, and plus it may move you as well, on top of having watercoloured kitties, after all.

If you're already hooked on this type of game and feel the need for something new and challenging to sink your teeth into, there's a lot to discover in Sea Horizon, but it won't attract any new fans to the genre.

Ride a motorbike across the sand with a worm biting your bum, fly your own ornithopter high in the sky, set down a combine harvester to collect spices. There's so much to do here even though it's all sand. Anakin Skywalker would hate it here.

If you enjoy basic horror-styled shooters, I wouldn't say this is a bad purchase at all, even though in its current form it doesn't evoke the same positive impression as its predecessor. Personally, I'm enjoying my time with the game still, despite its flaws.

Despite a somewhat dull graphics style and a clichéd story, I'm happy with the gameplay. It offers the right amount of depth for its genre and the level editor helps users create new and interesting content.

If you haven't played it before and want something really cosy to play for short periods of time, perhaps while travelling or similar, then it may well be just what you've been looking for.

If you have happy memories of the character, or if this particular game series was something that didn't catch your eye back then, Gex Trilogy is not a bad purchase.

EA Sports FC 25 is a better game than FC 24 was in many areas and metrics, where much has been improved, and the addition of Rush is absolutely a highlight. However, I can't turn a blind eye to the technical problems. The game has more bugs than I can remember, the menus feel very sluggish, and I've also seen people get completely black screens when they enter matches in certain game modes. These are things that ruin the gaming experience in what is otherwise a good football game.

It's hard to knock this delightful, simple, easy to love adventure, one where the famed humour of SpongeBob never misses a beat, where Bikini Bottom feels more authentic than we have ever seen before in a video game, where technically-speaking it actually runs really well for a chaotic physics-based nightmare like this, and graphically and visually there's a lot to celebrate and be impressed by.

Ruffy and the Riverside is a charming little tribute to the classic 3D puzzle platformers of the 1990s, and it has a nice ace up its sleeve in the form of the swap feature. However, it is also a bit limiting, and I think the visuals may be a bit of a hit or miss for many.

As a role-playing game, there are simply a lot of Japanese adventures that are better, but combined with the very open world and the ability to explore as much as you want, as well as Toriyama's lovely design and "straightforward" storytelling, it still makes for a fascinating bit of fun.

Even without being the prettiest or most technically polished game, Guayota has that halo of pride and ambition to carve a niche for itself in this summer's crowded calendar.

Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army will appeal to Atlus fans both for its familiar narrative and its very different approach to the usual turn-based combat. However, it's still a title that, despite the facelift, is almost two decades old, so there are certain limitations you should be aware of before jumping in.

There's quality and genuine brilliance in this game, but at the same time I can't help but feel as though it'd benefit from either having more interactivity and player-geared gameplay or rather a complete focus on narrative and letting a hand-crafted and highly refined story flow of its own accord. Perhaps we'll see a change in the future of the series, but whatever ends up happening, one thing is clear and that is Reunion once again nails the core elements of what makes a Life is Strange game special, so credit to Deck Nine on that front once more.

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver I & II Remastered is not actually a bad game from a modern perspective, but it is quite easy to imagine that those who have not played the games before may not understand why they were hits in their time.

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a remaster of one of the craziest games ever made and the fact that it's potentially reaching out to new gamers who will get an experience they've never had before can only be a positive thing - and as I said, it's priced very reasonably.

As it is now, it is an entertaining action spectacle that is definitely best when played with others. Despite the repetitiveness, I have had a lot of fun with it and I look forward to diving into new planets to save humanity.

Wrath: Aeon of Ruin is still an incredibly solid start for KillPixel, and after a few patches it will surely flourish even more.

Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a fun game that is best suited for those of you somewhat new to the genre and/or want to reflect on the different stages of grief.

Europa is a nice little indie gem, that hopefully gets a few more updates on the Switch. Zee's adventure offers the player adventure and great small puzzles. And considering the game only lasts for a few hours, it's a surprisingly varied experience, too.

The Mobius Machine is a fine 2D action-adventure that doesn't go too far wrong, but doesn't take many chances either. The gaming world is vast and there are many challenges out there - and the high level of difficulty and punishing nature of the game may not be for everyone.

A low introductory price, a simple structural premise that allows for mechanical quirks and a well-constructed aesthetic - what's not to like? Well, as with some indie games there's a slight mismatch in the amount of mechanical variety, the number of active systems and the overall length of the experience.

"Cosy gaming" is a genre defined by a calm, cosy and relaxing atmosphere. These attributes can certainly be applied to Roach Post. It is cute, very peaceful and has a cartoon style that is both cheerful and pleasant. It is simply what it is - nothing advanced and nothing that will make your jaw drop in amazement. But as a mental palate cleanser? It fits perfectly.

In many ways, Tiny Glade's strengths are also its weaknesses. Of course, it's a very difficult balance to strike because it's easy to wish endlessly for more things. At the same time, I really wish there was a bit more to the flora options and better abilities to change the landscape and introduce greater intricacy in the terrain. However, these small flaws do not prevent Tiny Glade from being a little gem in many ways that I am convinced that those who want to build small cute scenarios can have incredible fun with this game.

There's no way to dislike this, Red Dead Redemption was a fantastic game and still is today, but this is a shameless cash grab like no other.

Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior mixes a solid campaign with some fun setpieces that feel just like the thrilling experience of the traditional game. Yet, with some clunky controls and visuals that often feel more okay than anything else, it can't fully reach its greatest heights.

It's very easy to recommend Power Rangers Rita's Rewind. It's an incredibly loving tribute to the phenomenon and a fun game that's well worth playing through, even for those who like beat 'em ups or retro games in general but have no relation to the brand.

Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown is not, in my opinion, the game that pushes Forza Horizon off the open world racing throne. It's not exactly close with either its driving feel or visuals, yet still there is a lot of entertaining content to take part in for those who want to venture out on the virtual roads.

I will not explain away or excuse Game Freak's bizarre way of constructing their games, nor will I claim that it makes sense for these AAA titles to be so incredibly stingy with rudimentary details such as 3D-modelled balconies in a city inspired by Paris, or voice acting. But at the same time, this is fundamentally a game that is once again about collecting, developing, and battling with Pokémon. That's what you do most, and that's what works best.

Persona 5 Tactica is a good game in the genre of tactical role-playing games, but it does not reach the same heights as other similar games.

Out of the Blue is clearly talented at storytelling and has a knack for creating interesting puzzles, but I can't help but feel like this game is playing it a bit too safe at times with how basic many of its mechanics and gameplay systems are.

Despite its good points, there are a few key factors that leave Deliver Us Mars in a state of being very good rather than great.

MotoGP 26 remains a very strong game in a series that does justice to the real-life MotoGP, and gameplay-wise it's entertaining, but unfortunately it feels as though the series is starting to slow down a bit too much. There simply isn't enough new content, nor does it feel sufficiently different from last year's title.

All the practicalities: the combat system, the enemies' actual attack patterns and manoeuvres, progression, and upgrades, and the game's item economy. All of this seems less polished, less precisely defined, and for that reason it is easy to recommend Silent Hill f as an experience, but somewhat more difficult as a gaming experience.

Jackbox Games didn't get it 100% right with its first Party Pack, and it didn't do the same with the first Naughty Pack. But, from lessons learned ten Party Packs later, it has managed to make a solid addition to its party line-up that lets you get wild without becoming uncomfortable.

This is a damn fine effort from a relatively untested studio, and while the studio chronically comes close to realising many of their ambitions here, it's easy to love, and also pretty easy to recommend.

Ara: History Untold is beautiful to look at, offers complexity, and nails its concept with flying colours, but it lacks the customisation options its competitors offer, and is technically substandard. It has great potential to be a truly brilliant addition to the genre if the developers can fix the major technical issues, balance problems, and can update the title properly, turning the game into something that also survives the test of time.

It is clearly a well-made version of tennis as a game and is at its very best during nerve-wracking matches where it really captures how well tennis actually works with its controls.

After the misstep with New Gundam Breaker, I'm glad Bandai Namco got the Breaker series back on its feet. It's no masterpiece, but the combat system (albeit repetitive) is excellent and you can sit and build Gunpla for hours.

Ultimately, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero feels like a game made for the fans, above all. It oozes fan service, and the amount of content and characters proves that the developer wants to satisfy the needs of as many people as possible. It's because of this that the playability comes across as a bit of an imprecise slap in the face, as this otherwise competent action game sometimes struggles in practice.

Sker Ritual might mark a bold departure from its predecessor, but it's still a solid hoard shooter that is certain to impress Call of Duty Zombies fans.

You may experience some rough edges and strange design decisions here and there, but overall you get a title that reminds you a lot of the genre's heyday where gothic castles and bloodsucking vampires were the hottest thing on the market.

I actually had pretty high expectations for DC's Justice League: Cosmic Chaos, even though I didn't think it was a Game of the Year candidate. And I got pretty much exactly what I had hoped for. An entertaining co-op superhero adventure, well-written script, and lots of DC love for all ages.

I probably had too high hopes for the Monster Energy Supercross series' return. It feels like it could have improved even more than it was, but regardless, what we get is a motocross experience that is simply as good as it was before.

The Pillars of the Earth misses an opportunity to become a sublime game. The new features that were present at the time of its first release still feel fresh and modern, but the game's core remains archaic.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is well-stocked but incomplete, containing great games that could have been updated.

The game is shorter than the genre often prides itself on, its retro charm is not always entirely well made and, above all, it's very Japanese. But if this little, old franchise is your kind of music - then you have a great adventure ahead of you.

Jagged Alliance 3 pays homage to its predecessor and is one of the stronger turn-based titles of the year. It's intense, difficult and manages to enchant with its addictive gameplay. If you are completely new to the genre, it tries very hard to dissuade you to keep playing, but if you get comfortable with the set-up, everything changes.

Fatal Frame II: The Crimson Butterfly Remake certainly has its flaws, but it also manages to show an uninitiated player like myself why the series has earned its place in horror history, even if it can't quite measure up to the latest offerings from its famous relatives.

While I appreciate its basic and gimmick-free gameplay, it feels a little too sparse. A little more depth to the game would have been nice. But if you want a cosy metroidvania that cleverly ties into gaming history thanks to Pac-Man and is no longer than you can manage on your holiday, it's definitely worth checking out.

It's not particularly immersive or hard to put down, and it's not overly pretty, either. But that said, it's an enjoyable and light-hearted Hades copy for up to four players that nicely frames and captures the right kind of Turtles atmosphere and is just challenging enough for those who like the roguelike approach.

The original review was scored a seven, and I give the remaster the same. Ultimately, it is simply a good Japanese role-playing game without belonging to the greats of either the genre or the series.

The game is good for what it is and if you were a fan of Punch-Out!! in the good old days, this might be something to check out.

Scars Above is an entertaining yet familiar action adventure that while having its flaws, is bolstered by enough engaging gameplay elements and tropes that it makes you want to get to the end of its relatively short story.

I am left with a somewhat vanilla taste in Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar. An adventure that certainly won't disappoint those who know what they're going for, but may feel a little empty to new farmers if they don't connect with its routine. Country life in Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is not for everyone, but it's not bad at all.

Worldless is a slightly mysterious game and it's not easy to get started. I usually like simple and abstract games where there is room to interpret your own narrative - but this was almost too much of a good thing.

In direct competition with Professional Villians' latest game, Security: The Horrible Night pales in comparison. Still, it's a unique gaming experience not to be missed by horror fans, and at a low, low price of just €5 on Steam, it's practically a bargain.

Big Hops has plenty to celebrate and reasons to check it out, but it is also worth remembering that it's quite the traditional and familiar 3D platformer in many respects.

There are parts that impress, features that you will embrace and enjoy, there are also other elements that you will come away from frankly bewildered. It's an odd balance, an end-product that in the days after wrapping it up I still cannot quite wrap my head around in places. But this does mean it's memorable and unique, so if you enjoy indies that push the boundaries of creative expression, Skate Story has a lot going for it.

The investigations are good and the story isn't bad either, and being a title aimed at young Pokémon investigators, Detective Pikachu Returns offers a good introduction to games of this type.

All of the features that Outerloop has incorporated work as intended, and while there is a bit of jank in the movement and exploration, it is a generally well put together game. But it also feels like there could have been much more here, or rather, a grander focus on a few design features and an elimination of others to make for a more refined creative vision. As it is, Dosa Divas is a perfectly acceptable game, but it had the potential to be much more.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is still the most fun I've had with the series in over 20 years, and I'm actually at the time of writing looking forward to taking my Switch with me on vacation to break my own records. I just wish Sega would scale back production, as less is more here. Trying to add a story in this case is as relevant as trying to improve Tetris with a tale of missing blocks, rival gangs and Tetrominos speaking in fake children's voices in a made-up language. It wasn't for their delightful personalities that I once learned to love AiAi, MeeMee, Bano and GonGon - but because they were in an incredibly good game.

It's simple, sweet, adorable, unique, and wholesome, and sometimes amid the chaos and noise of action games, RPGs, and first-person shooters we often see in the autumn, something delightful and easy is all you need.

Is it a massive improvement on the Dying Light formula or a step up on what Dying Light 2: Stay Human recently offered? No, not at all. But is it still a blast to play, a simple, easy to pick-up title that has enough depth to make you want to return and continue playing. Yes, without question. The Dying Light formula remains a highlight, even if it is getting closer and closer to requiring big innovation.

Steel Seed is an exciting attempt to take on the big boys in the stealth-action genre. It doesn't quite reach the level of Uncharted or The Last of Us, but it doesn't need to. It's charming, fun, and at times quite cool, and while there's a bit of technical jank and a few rusty screws in combat and controls, the good parts outweigh the bad to make it all worthwhile. I hope the developers are allowed to build on this universe, because with a little more money and a little more polish, the next game in the series could be something really special.

Aliens: Dark Descent is first and foremost a good idea, and there's undoubtedly talent behind it, although this is a clear example of how a potential sequel that can optimise, raise production values and perhaps approach each mission more critically to ensure crucial variety would be ideal.

If you're not exactly a die-hard RPG fan, People of Note can be a nice, accessible and cosy little RPG that tries to do things a bit differently by adding musical abilities to a traditional RPG, and if you buy into the slightly simple premise, it actually works.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership just lacks some of the magic, the flavour, and the secrets those games bring, it drags considerably, and it gets a tad too dreary a tad too often. That being said, kids love it, it's good to see the return of a series many thought dead, and it does set the foundations for a new branch that can feel different to the Paper games going forward.

Even though it isn't flawless in any sense, the concept is unique enough and the gameplay engaging enough for the most part that I found The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales to be a really interesting indie title.

It's an incredibly atmospheric journey, where every room feels important to your progress, slowly but surely bringing you closer and closer to madness, but perhaps also to the truth. Routine may not write a new chapter in the history of horror, but it retells the old ones in a stylish way.

The storyline is compelling, the art style striking, the gameplay systems simplistic, and the performance so accessible that you could probably run this game on a burner phone. It's these strengths in mind that make me disappointed that the game can be such a frustration to actually play, because the movement and the rigidness of the deduction suite dramatically impact the amount of fun you can have while playing Chronique des Silencieux.

There really is a lot to love about this game. The graphics are about as "next-gen" as you can get, the world is marvellous, the audio and soundtrack is top quality, and the narrative is thoroughly interesting and engaging. If it wasn't for its clunky and overcomplicated nature, Atomic Heart would probably be one of the year's best games.

Karma: The Dark World may not be a game for everyone, but if you like games like Observer and Layers of Fear and games that try to push the boundaries of how games can be presented, then this is worth a look. Viewed in isolation as a game, it's very simple, but as an experience it's something very unique that we don't see very often.