Monolith Soft. has once again delivered for its fans, offering an expanded version that refreshes the classic and will live on alongside the rest of the series on Nintendo Switch. Let's just hope that this little gift that is Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition hasn't taken them too long to show us the next instalment of the series in the near future.

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.

The narrative twists and turns in many directions, and while our unfortunate protagonist might experience some brushes along the way, it's hugely rewarding to find new paths and untangle the whole mess. Unfortunately, this structure does allow for some bugs to creep in, and I had a number of instances of characters getting shocked by what they already knew or reacting to objects that were no longer present. However, these are nothing more than blemishes, and Inkle has crafted yet another game that raises the bar for interactive fiction.

From the return with WWE 2K22, year after year they have improved the series and WWE 2K25 is probably the best game in the history of the series. The matches are as phenomenal as AJ Styles and all game modes have received some type of update. The completely unnecessary addition of The Island, which is a worse The City copy from NBA 2K, and which is more a shopping centre with a little wrestling than the other way around, unfortunately pulls down the overall impression.

I wish Wanderstop's actual gameplay elements had been given an extra coat of paint, a little more focus. It's not that I'm demanding that the game prioritise differently than it does, but even if you fall in love with the therapeutic, calm, and introspective atmosphere, you'll probably end up getting bored before the end credits roll, and that's a shame.

Cabernet is a completely unique vampire story and it's really unlike anything else I've ever played. Party For Introverts has somewhat out of nowhere delivered perhaps the most original title of the year and has also executed it all with brilliance.

X-Out: Resurfaced is faithful to the original in most ways, both good and bad, and does what you would expect from a remake of this type of game. The game mechanics won't blow you away, but it's a classic, difficult shoot 'em up that won't leave fans of the genre dissatisfied.

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.

I could go on and on praising Split Fiction and pulling out unique moments that will undoubtedly become fond gaming memories in the future, but I don't want to take the joy of discovery away from you readers. Because there really is a lot to discover and fall in love with along the way. We should all be happy that Hazelight exists and thrives in the gaming industry, and I'm crossing my fingers that Split Fiction will be a gigantic success so we can enjoy more great experiences from one of today's most exciting developers. Split Fiction is a co-op masterpiece. It's as simple as that.

For me, there's just not quite "enough" here to call this an ambitious sequel, and the lack of distractions from the otherwise solid loop made the loop a bit monotonous in the long run.

Reliving those childhood afternoons in the new guise of Carmen Sandiego has been like unlocking a good memory of an old friend who I thought was lost forever, but thanks to television we have her back as a character, and thanks to Gameloft as the ideal educational entertainment to share with the family.

Two Point Museum is another fine example of a simulation game done right. It's simple yet packed with complexities, fun yet challenging, silly but sensibly designed, and perhaps most importantly, intuitive and easy to pick-up and enjoy. The Two Point formula continues to stand out game-after-game, and while there will come a time, perhaps in the near future, where true innovation is required, at the moment this concept still works like a charm.

I can only recommend that you give Monster Hunter: Wilds a try, it will give you a very enjoyable action adventure on your own, and a game of enormous scope to continue playing for many, many more hours after the credits roll. Happy hunting!

The game is relatively monotonous and really quite boring in its gameplay loop. The reason I'm giving it a recommendation is because Keep Driving is very much a "vibes" game, and you'll know if you're in tune with that after watching the trailer. The pixel art graphics are gorgeous and the soundtrack features a couple of Swedish indie bands I've never heard of before, but which have been on repeat in my music app ever since.

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.

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.

It's a very original concept with a lovely visual style, so it doesn't feel like a complete waste of time. But in the end, unfortunately for me, there's a predominant feeling of boredom rather than quality entertainment.

The Accolade Sports Collection is a strange collection. There are far too few games, with at least one that is completely unnecessary, and there's plenty of room for many others to have been included. None of the games have aged particularly well, and the controls feel ancient for the most part.

Runny Bunny is the essence of simplicity in game form. It lacks some finesse and visual presentation to make it really fun to pick up for a few long moments. At the same time, it's certainly not boring when you do.

This is certainly a piece of gaming history, but considering how mediocre Chronicles is and how bad The Angel of Darkness is, I have a hard time seeing how this can be a blockbuster.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a very powerful story - and the ending really took me by surprise. You had the feeling that "something was up" - just not that! It's a powerful story about people, about insecurity, about love, about hate, about being a teenager in the 90s and it's especially a poignant story about friendship and some human qualities that would make the world a much better place if more of us had them. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a game that sticks in your head for a while after you've finished playing it. Not many games can do that.

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.

Thronefall is a truly lovely and delightful indie that excels by offering a streamlined, intuitive, and thrilling tower defence formula. The various challenges and gameplay modifiers mean that there is tons of content to unpack and enjoy and the art direction and strategic range ensure that Thronefall never disappoints.

The Stone of Madness is not made for everyone, or maybe not everyone is made for The Stone of Madness. But out there, among the masses, there are some people who are made for this game, and they will go crazy for it.

Synduality: Echo of Ada tries to break into a crowded market with new ideas, but it doesn't feel like it's been baking in the oven long enough. It doesn't take long before it starts to feel repetitive and the enemies feel mostly dull. Bandai Namco will need to update the live service game regularly to keep players interested. The foundation is there, with responsive and fun mecha action, but unfortunately it doesn't go all the way as problems quickly start to pile up.

It's surprising that with such a simple premise and simple gameplay, solo developer Cyberwave has managed to strike such an exquisite balance between player progression and curiosity to get to the end of the story in A Game About Digging A Hole.

Civilization VII is a more than worthy inclusion in this historic franchise. As with any Civilization game, not all of the changes are going to be welcomed by every fan, but largely, this is a streamlined 4X strategy that is just as endlessly playable as its forebearers, and a title I have enjoyed, warts and all.

If Warhorse has truly achieved its original vision with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, then what an ambitious vision this was. A title that combines the best of RPGs we've loved, with its own unique niche of its historical setting, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has set the bar high for the rest of 2025.