It's not like there's a particularly memorable overall narrative here, and it would have helped Lil' Guardsman to feel as mesmerising on a broader scale as it does when you're just... well, being in it. That said, this is an awful lot of charm for the amount of money it costs.

Ninja Gaiden 4 thus gives a rather mixed impression, but nevertheless one that leans positively. There is a familiar charm to the way the adventure is structured, and although I don't want to brush aside the criticism of substandard graphics and outdated design and defend it with rose-tinted nostalgia, the concept of simple action, built with equally simple game code, works surprisingly well. It's not a game that will go down in history in the same way as its predecessors, but it's still an adventure worth playing through if you're craving more frantic ninja action.

Marathon’s foundations are solid, strong, and well-functioning, and although the game might lack a hook, or simply maps that build on this solid foundation, I feel confident enough, even without Cryo Archive, to recommend Marathon solely on the basis of this rather fantastic loop. That doesn’t mean Marathon is a fantastic game in itself, but it could very well turn out to be one, and that’s more positive than for a great many other live-service games.

If you're looking for a more work-friendly substitute to Stardew Valley, this may be just the quiet place you need.

If you're into rhythm games (and you're usually good at them), then you should take a look at Fresh Tracks, because it shakes up the genre a bit and the result is captivating, and before you know it, you've spent an evening in the company of the game. But the game demands it, because nothing comes easy here, and in return, it spoils us with one of the best soundtracks of the year so far.

Wildfrost is refreshingly well made and innovative, and quite addictive, so if you like a card game that never gets monotonous, then Wildfrost is just the thing for you.

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a relaxed and slow-paced adventure, and sometimes that is what you need between shooters and action games.

It manages to create a similar type of gaming joy that Miyazaki and his FromSoftware team has developed in stages, and even if finesse and deep-rooted mastery are not present to the same extent, it is enough to make you want to play more, and then a little more again.

Even if you've played Ninja Gaiden II before, this is the perfect opportunity to take it for another spin. And if for some reason you've missed this newer generation of Ninja Gaiden altogether, Ninja Gaiden II Black is the best place to start.

While I won't deny that Saltsea Chronicles has a slow pace that often leaves a little to be desired, this indie adventure game does have its moments.

Monster Hunter Stories 3 has a very strong combat system, a visually appealing world, and the huge amount of monsters you can find and command in battle make up for some of its more uninspired elements and a rather dull story. Hardcore Monster Hunter fans, displeased by the "casualification" of the series in Wilds, may find a good excuse to return to the Monster Hunter universe here, but that will depend on how much they enjoy the turn-based JRPG genre, with all of its quirks and clichés.

If you love the (Yakuza) series, you'll love this too. It's crazy, action-packed, and addictive, just as it should be. I can't wait to see what (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio) and Sega come up with next, but I think I'll recognise a lot in it.

My only quibble would be, perhaps more harshly, that these versions don't offer any new cutscenes or content for the returning player. They are the nexus that will connect the past to the present of the franchise and the future Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, but if you've played them in the past (even in the near past on Nintendo Switch, in the case of Kiwami 1), I don't see too much urgency in returning to this Kamurocho. For anyone who doesn't mind reliving two classics, you're in for the best possible version of them.

So, while I can't say whether you'll find much joy in finding all of the collectibles and having to explore Kairos, especially multiple times as you level up the different Vault Hunters, I can promise that Borderlands 4 is a step forward for this series, an improvement on Borderlands 3, and a title that shows Gearbox still has ideas, some on the mark and some not, for elevating and innovating with its tried and tested formula.

Everspace 2 offers great graphics, awesome music, brilliant sounds, and a fantastically fun gameplay cycle. I didn't anticipate that this easy-to-play, intense action setup would last for an entire game, but I'm not dissatisfied or bored after 50 hours with the title.

Depending on how you look at the Switch 2 version of Star Wars Outlaws, it's either a subpar version and a disappointment compared to other formats, or it's a technically impressive feat that almost shouldn't be possible. Both of these statements can be true at the same time.

Bionic Bay and its tough and demanding action won't be for the platforming fans out there who bask in the delight of Spyro the Dragon or Kirby, but those who enjoy the increased challenge that comes from Crash Bandicoot and games like Mario Maker will absolutely fall in love with this game. It does enough from a gameplay and level design point of view to stand out, all while the art direction and visuals continue to attract and hold your attention. Sure, it could do with a bit of extra focus from a narrative standpoint to make its campaign more memorable, and the audio and soundtrack is serviceable at best, but other than these minor problems, Bionic Bay impresses and is absolutely a game that platformer fans should be keeping an eye on.

The original Ghostrunner gave us a simple premise and great action which combined to give us a thrill we didn't know we needed. Its sequel then steps in much more confidently, fleshing out the world, introducing new characters, while still giving us the same irresistible formula that charmed fans in the first place.

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.

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.

I've spent the past few days completely hooked on Do Not Feed the Monkeys 2099, and I think part of the reason is that, much like the game's protagonist, we all spend most of our day glued to a screen and working remotely.

Venba is an interesting, thought-provoking, and emotional tale that is worth checking out. The cooking gameplay and the engaging narrative, matched up with the eye-catching and colourful South Indian cuisine-inspired colour palette make for an experience that is well worth the 1-2 hours it will take to complete it.

To cut to the chase, the technical performance is just not good enough. However, this can all be forgiven, because with fairly simple means Odd Meter manages to build a seamless gaming experience that entertains along the way and leaves you with food for thought.

Darkest Dungeon II is still promising, but lacks meat around its bones. The 3D art style has been a success, but many changes to core mechanics are either underbaked or too plain, and the user interface needs more love.

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.

Overall it feels that the WWE 2K series is back for real. This year's version is light-years better than the disaster WWE 2K20 and also a step up from last year.

Convergence: A League of Legends Story is a really solid platformer, and an even better story. There are some minor annoyances throughout, and the game peaks fairly quickly with a slow middle section, but the end payoff certainly makes it worth sitting through in its entirety.

Jemma "moves a little differently" in this world and that is not just fine - it's what gives Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure a double purpose in terms of both unique gameplay and narrative. It makes you think, and not just about the puzzles themselves, while you try to make everything fit, or perhaps while you are actually disarranging what was a bit too arranged. For this lovely adventure we're thankful, this is the game you all have to play this summer.

F1 Manager 2024 is a joy to play, with the hours flying by at a downright terrifying pace and I can't help but tip my hat to what is so far the most complete, competent and absorbing F1 Manager experience you can get, well... without actually being employed as a manager of a real F1 team, of course.

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.

Such ambition, especially when coming from a smaller studio, often leads to a messy, directionless game, but Microbird Games have avoided such pitfalls. It's too bad they're Austrian, for I really want to compare the game to a Swiss clock - each of the individual parts are of extremely high quality and work together in nearly perfect harmony.

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.

Outside of the game not being too friendly for complete beginners (especially once they remove pulse combos), it having a small roster, some overpriced skins and a few teensy network problems in multiplayer, I can wholeheartedly recommend 2XKO.

If you are a PlayStation owner who has been eyeing Avowed on Xbox and PC, you now have the opportunity to jump into the adventure here, and you can do so with confidence. It's still an excellent fantasy role-playing game, and it has only been improved by the major Anniversary Update, which is included in the PlayStation 5 version at launch.

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.

You're hardly reinventing the wheel here, and were it not for Braking Point and the new LiDAR-scanned tracks, it would in all honesty be hard to recommend F1 25 to anything but the most dedicated. And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, my final conclusion is much the same as last year. Does there need to be a new F1 every year? No, absolutely not.

Thunderful has delivered a sequel that feels like an evolution of the format that made the first game so special, with a rich aesthetic, great buildcrafting and progression systems, tight combat, better exploration, and that typical SteamWorld charm creeping out of every crack too.

Company of Heroes 3 is a well thought-out and visually enjoyable game that feels very similar to its predecessors, but adds a lot of improvements and an entirely new Mediterranean-themed theatre of war.

All in all, I think Stellar Blade is actually a pleasant surprise and a pretty exciting game. It doesn't follow the usual templates for how action games should be put together and that means some strange and sudden changes in style along the way - but in the end, it's actually very refreshing.

Cassette Beasts is an example of what a more mature and difficult Pokémon could be. The new additions to combat, exploration, and quest design all make the world thrilling to explore, and the sprite/pixel combination shows that there's still plenty of potential for monster-catching in this art style.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining title, suitable for both League of Legends fans and newcomers. The Mageseeker stands out perfectly as its own unique game.

Although Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars is not necessarily the definitive version of these two great games, it is the best possible version to date and, above all, the most accessible.

It is a challenging and fantastic action game that should not be missed by anyone who feels that a challenge of this kind is worth taking on.

When Senua's Saga: Hellblade II hits these high points, it's impossible not to completely indulge in Ninja Theory's bleak vision of the Viking Age. The often unforgettable scenes practically transform it into a visual poem, and in these moments, it couldn't matter less that the game's mechanical components are smoother and more superficial, because it's more of an interactive experience than a traditional game.

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.

Engage is the perfect gateway to the series, and a festival of good memories for those who already lived adventures with Marth, Celica, Sigurd and the rest.

At the end of the day what seemed to me like a slow, average indie metroidvania at first, ended up putting a spell on me by combining a creepy fairytale with some fresh ideas under a gorgeous visual finish.

It's dark, it's exciting, and at the same time difficult which is hugely appreciated. At least during the first act, which is reason enough to play through to experience something new.

Not without its clear flaws but good enough to follow Iori and Saber's long story all the way to the end.

In short, Tempest Rising is exactly what it seems to be: A modern and solid version of C&C. If you like that kind of game, you'll love this one

Promenade is a great game that I still find just as solid and engaging as when I first encountered it. If you're interested in a platformer that's different and offers an extra dose of puzzles, this is definitely one of those indies you shouldn't miss.

It can feel old-school and a little rigid at times, but it's also a game that burns itself into your memory. It's brutal and beautiful at the same time, and GSC Game World now has a worthy successor to the 2007 original.

Reanimal is another significant step forward for Tarsier, who, with their dirtiest creation to date, finds beauty in darkness and mark themselves as one of the great image makers of our time.

PGA Tour 2K25 is a really solid golf game, with many hours of gameplay, lots of content and, not least, a configurable difficulty level that allows almost everyone to join in - both beginners and hardcore golf enthusiasts.

Sonic X Shadow Generations is a great package that features some of the best levels in Sonic's history, and Shadow's campaign serves as a dark but exciting contrast to Sonic's colourful adventures. If you want to experience Sonic at his best, this collection is a must-play. So if you haven't tried Sonic Generations before, here's your chance to play Sonic's greatest hits, on modern hardware, in a package that offers hours of entertainment

If you're looking for a nostalgic multiplayer action game that you can play with the family (there's also split-screen here), then Hypercharge: Unboxed is not a bad option at all.

System Shock is a deeply fascinating game, and with such a well-made remake, there's no reason to hold back if you want to experience a piece of evocative, well-designed and frustrating gaming history.

Its world and story are among the best of the recent RPG genre, and its 60fps combat system, with a variety of styles for tackling each fight, exploration and situation resolution make it one of the best experiences of the year so far.

Neon Inferno is in many ways that delightfully cosy, action-packed, gorgeous tribute to all things 16-bit, and it's so obvious that the creators of the game love the genre, love the old classics, and have sprinkled this love and passion into every little pixel.”

Last Train Home is a very good attempt to interpret the journey of the Czechoslovak Legion through war-torn Russia. It offers intrigue, treachery, battles and exciting events. With a focus on survival, it kept me engaged and the journey took me just over 30 hours to complete.

We found more weaknesses than strengths in its features, especially the narrative, which is rather lacking. For its target audience it may be a good choice, but for the average user it is a title where you will not find what you expect from it.

I think of Remnant II as more Remnant for better or worse. It's still a very compelling series with tight and engaging gameplay, but there's no denying that it has its kinks too. It's flashier, prettier, has tons of depth, and if you loved the first game, you will have a blast with this follow-up as well.

Sometimes it feels as if Outerloop Games has tried to cram a little too much into the just over ten hour long game, which leaves me with a feeling of slight disappointment, where some parts simply felt really rushed. That said, the advantages still outweigh the disadvantages and I had an unexpectedly good time in Timber Hills.

If you enjoy Two Point games, and management simulation titles altogether, you'll no doubt have a lot of fun with Galacticare, but don't expect an experience of the same degree of refinement as some of the other titans in this space.

There should have been a boss or two where I as a player had to become a bit strategic and defensive to beat it, which I think would create more variety overall. However, this is a small complaint about an indie game that, in summary, offers brilliant FPS action drenched in character and passion.

It's not the most advanced VR shooter as it's after all an adaptation of the original, and yet it somehow felt better to me than last year's Arizona Sunshine 2. It's neither the looker for the same reason, and you'll find the best of both worlds if you manage to play on PC VR... but with a wireless headset. But at under 30 bucks including all the DLC, or as a 10 bucks update for those who own the first game, I'd say you can't go wrong as far as VR zombies go as long as you're not looking for the depth, or flare, or advanced hand actions of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, Resident Evil 4 or Village, or the upcoming Metro Awakening VR.

As you clean up an area, the water becomes clearer, wildlife returns and new areas open up. At regular intervals, new gameplay elements are introduced, such as the ability to spray water, upgrade the boat and lift things from the seabed. It's over in an hour, but it's an hour for the soul. A break in a hectic gaming world.

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.

Constance is a pretty nice Metroidvania, yet another one for the collection, one might be tempted to say. It feels good to play; for the most part, everything just works as it should and it actually touches on everyday topics that many can relate to. You might wish for a bit more innovation, since the game plays it safe within the Metroidvania genre, but a game doesn't necessarily need to set new standards to be entertaining and worth your time, and Constance is a great example of that.

It's not rewriting the script for what a beat em' up should be in any sense, but it's good and solid fun that fans should appreciate wholeheartedly.

The Rogue Prince of Persia is a really well rounded and finalised experience, which can almost be refreshing in a genre that can go on forever. It also lessens the impact of the game's problems, as they simply don't have time to become major issues. The Rogue Prince of Persia ties all aspects of the genre together into a solid game that will excite fans of roguelites and newcomers alike.

It's a technically-broad, visually-impressive game with good sound and a complex gameplay structure. It offers an acceptable number of battlefields and just over three hundred detailed troop types, whether you play as Russia or the United States, and there is a lot to be gained on both sides.

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.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess shows how versatile Capcom can be and it ends up being one of 2024's most surprising games to date. It's surprising because it shakes things up so that pieces from several different genres end up landing in quite surprising ways. It's a surprisingly well-functioning hybrid between an action game, a tower defence and a strategy game.

The Finals has that detailed, extensive and bombastic sound that Battlefield used to have but today lacks. It also flows well and in the end it's easy to like The Finals. For a completely free game, this is absolutely perfect.

On one hand it has an excellent appearance and overall ambience, but then lacks narrative development and compelling gameplay.

So, all in all: should you play Persona 3 Reload on Nintendo Switch 2? If you've been waiting for precisely this version to dive into its world, the answer is an absolute yes. And I envy you: you're in for dozens of hours of genuine fun and a quality that's in short supply in the usual release rate. However, if you've already enjoyed P3R on PC, PS5, and/or Xbox Series, you're not going to find anything new here.

Lies of P brings some exciting new ideas to the table and is well worth checking out for Souls-like fans looking to scratch that Bloodborne itch.

The driving itself is brilliant, the stages wonderful, the amount of content unbelievable and the audio-visual presentation really impressive. The menu system is nothing to shout about and the damage to the cars needs to be fixed, but other than that, this is a fantastic rally game that I will spend a thousand hours with.

Fast Fusion costs £13.49 for Switch 2 and for that minimal amount of money, German Shin'en Multimedia offers a clearly enjoyable Wipeout clone that also includes a very elaborate split screen mode for up to four players, locally. If, like me, you always miss Wipeout and F-Zero, you're right to spend your money on this.

Revenge of the Savage Planet is a really lovely action-adventure with plenty of hidden experiences. It's wonderfully chaotic, especially side-by-side with a friend, but can also be enjoyed alone if you just want to explore the unexplored planets at your own pace. It's a game that puts a smile on your face as it's just a happy game and doesn't work against the player it's playing with. So, if you liked Journey to the Savage Planet, this is a no-brainer - you won't be disappointed.

It's been eight long years since we got the last game in the series, Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice, and a new chapter is long overdue. Capcom hasn't announced anything yet, so the wait is probably going to be even longer, but a least the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection with its 60 to 70 hours of great gameplay and storytelling, gives us something to do in the meantime.

EA Sports UFC 5 is the best game in this sport. The new graphics engine has brought new life to the series, but otherwise not much has changed in the three years since the last game was released.

Escape Simulator 2 is a well-built, solid, and fun game that suffers from a flawed hint system and a difficulty curve that is far too steep.

Taiko no Tatsujin Rhythm Festival has the potential to entertain for what feels like endless hours. Not least thanks to the fact that you can buy 700 songs if you wish, but also thanks to the fact that there are so many game modes to choose from where everyone entertains on their own terms.

On the one hand, there's a simple charm in this and all the elements, however unoriginal, work just fine. But Khazan's journey also feels very monotonous. Despite the new elements that are introduced during the game, it feels mostly without finesse and never anything more than just okay. Now, The First Berserker: Khazan does capture the very essence of an action role-playing game and doesn't try to be much more than that. For me it's a bit too simple but if that's what you're looking for and have been longing for, there are definitely reasons to give it a chance.

I think Oblivion Remastered is a skilful re-release of a legendary game that will bring out the nostalgia in most who have lived with the story and Martin Septim's battle against Mehrunes Dagon for almost two decades. Bethesda and Virtuos has kept the atmosphere and skeleton of what Oblivion was and updated it to feel fresh. Oblivion is a product of its time, and I don't know if new players will be able to live with the jank and awkwardness that the rest of us find charming today, but as a beautiful and shiny time capsule, Oblivion Remastered is everything you could want. No more and no less.

I'm pretty fond of Keeper, despite, or perhaps partly because of, all its imperfections. The pacing is uneven, the controls ditto, and the craftsmanship frankly lags a little too often. And then there's the wordless narrative about restoring the order of nature, which treads too familiar ground. It's sympathetic, and there are several good moments, but we've been there many times before. However, all of that takes a back seat to the quirky creativity and visual excess that Double Fine pours into Keeper.

MotoGP 24 continues on the trodden path of good gameplay in the series. The motorbike feel is excellent, but unfortunately it suffers from the same problem as most sports games where there isn't too much new from last year.

This is still a great adventure experience except now it uses graphics that befits its entertaining gameplay. This is a remake that is as pure as the term can get, it's not doing a whole lot to differ from the original product, or even adding much that's worth harping on about beyond its visual and performance enhancements. If you've never played this game before, I would suggest picking this title up as the story is fantastic albeit very sad, but if you have already played the original game, there's not too many reasons to necessitate returning to it here.

I wouldn't describe the console edition as being the definitive version of Planet Zoo, but it's still a solid port of the game that animal lovers have been hungering for for years.

For a game that brings together a slate of ideas that frankly seems a tad strange at first, Kill the Brickman is a wonderful and effortlessly entertaining combination. It's intuitive and straightforward yet complex and filled with challenge, and it's memorably unique and strikingly strange.

It's a bit of a shame that Pepper Grinder doesn't stick the landing because there are elements of brilliance here, and the drilling platforming, the boss battles, the art direction and the world that Ahr Ech has created is all fantastic, it just needs that little bit extra to take it from being good to being something great.

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.

The Disney Afternoon Collection has given us a proper Disney collection that we can carry with us on our Switch 1 and 2. If we had got a few more SNES titles and they had been given the same love as the NES titles, I would probably have been willing to raise the rating on this collection even more.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a delight of a remake that bumps into some of the similar issues of its predecessor, but still manages to be an incredibly engaging and charming platformer all the same.

Rainbow Six: Siege is still an excellent and entertaining tactical shooter, one that many continue to copy and be inspired by. This isn't changing and frankly if you have the time, skill, and patience to learn this game, you will be massively engaged. However, as far as an upgrade goes, Siege X doesn't really add a whole lot.

WWE 2K26 is the best the series has to offer in the ring, and most game modes have been improved from last year, but the introduction of this new season pass may scare many away.