There is no other game like Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. It’s a fantastic experience, one unique in the gaming space. The constant grind to manage and progress with your kingdom is hard work – really hard work – but the payoff is spectacular. This is not a game for everyone but if this is your kind of thing, you’re going to love every blood-stained minute of it.

A Plague Tale: Requiem takes what made the first game good and improves upon that. If you can handle the constant stealth sections, this game is for you.

Once Again has a fantastic foundation, but the follow-through just isn’t enough. We’re dying to know more about Sia and his time-traveling adventures with his mother – it’s just a shame that things are over before they even begin.

Gotham Knights is up there with Elden Ring as a Game of the Year contender. Its fast, responsive, and action-packed combat is surpassed only by a narrative that had me glued from the very first cutscene. A must-play for fans of open-world titles, and an easy pickup for anyone invested with the Gotham Knights or DC Universe.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope improves on Kingdom Battle, but drags things out far too long near the end. Fans of the original - or tactical combat games in general - should still check it out.

LEGO Bricktales is exactly the kind of game you would expect as both a work of Thunderful Games and a product of the LEGO brand. Seeing your creations come to life, even visually sickening ones, is a rewarding experience and a must-play for LEGO enthusiasts.

Striking a perfect balance between casual and pro, PGA Tour 2K23 will appeal to golfers across the spectrum with its new three-click system and accessible modes. Even if you’re not gunning for the FedEx Cup in its MyCAREER mode, players will still enjoy making courses, hitting up Topgolf, and taking things at their own pace.

Hole in the Clouds is a golf game in the very loosest sense of the word, but this puzzle-platformer fails to have a personality of its own.

Booster Course Pass Wave 2 runs with the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe formula and takes it to higher highs than Wave 1 from earlier this year. Some tracks are noticeably better than others, but these eight tracks are well worth a race-through.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R’s weighty combat is a bit of an acquired taste, but the sheer amount of fanservice on display will appeal to those who have a knack for the bizarre.

Break out the personal pan pizzas - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is the best way to experience these heroes in a half shell. This is more than just a collection; it’s a tribute of the highest order.

The Word of Cult of the Lamb is good, providing roguelike action with heaps of that good ol' fashioned ultraviolence. Those that don't mind a lack of depth with its cult management shenanigans - and can also turn a blind third eye to its hit-and-miss weapon selection - have found their calling.

Yars: Recharged has all of the underpinnings of a successful score chaser, but the premise just isn’t taken far enough to stand out in this day and age.

If you’ve ever played a visual novel in your life, you’ll know exactly what to expect in The Sound of Fireworks: The Haiku. This title is a walking, talking cliche, cribbing notes from the best without doing anything unique.

Thymesia is a Soulslike that rewards aggression and precision; more methodical or sword and board players might want to look elsewhere.

Cleaning garbage in a video game is about as fun as it sounds, and Vacuum Story doesn’t make a compelling case to pay for the privilege. Not even its vague story can hide how dreadfully dull the whole affair actually is.

Tyrant’s Blessing is a fun tactical game that tasks players with controlling their opponents as much as destroying them. If you’re a fan of tactics titles, add it to your queue.

Neodori Forever might look the part, but the stiff driving quickly gives away the fact that this racer is a poser. Those pining for days gone by best stick with the tried and true.

To keep it simple, Two Point Campus delivers. It’s everything fans of Two Point Studios’ works would expect. An expertly crafted management simulation experience with the perfect amount of humor, wonderfully designed characters, and charming graphics, it is a game full of heart from start to finish.

For those itching for some new oldies, Donut Dodo is the tribute you need. The controls take some getting used to, but those weaned on the classics will take to it like a dodo to water.

BALLYGON’s tribute to SEGA’s Super Monkey Ball might border on plagiarism, but it has got the physics and overall action down to a science. Those that don’t mind a package lacking an aesthetic charm will enjoy its roly-poly action.

It's simple: If you want to play as a cat, then Stray is the game for you. However, if you're more of a dog person, then skip it.

While everybody loves the game of skee-ball, Extrorb does not make a compelling case to switch to the world of video games. Do yourself a favor and stick to the analog version of the game.

Void Prison is good for short bursts of play, but there’s simply not enough meat on the bone. It doesn’t do too much to stand out, and while it does have a solid foundation, it does not have too much more beyond that.

The titles found in Deathsmiles I・II are still some of Cave’s finest, but this slapdash port is a disservice. Between its rampant slowdown and its steep price tag, this collection is only suited for the most diehard of shmup fans.

While DNF Duel’s MP system adds a new layer to the fighting game genre, this title plays things far too safe. Fans of Arc System Works’ other fighters will enjoy throwing down as wind wielders and puppet masters, but the studios’ other titles manage to do everything on offer here.

Sonic Origins is a raw deal, providing little content with questionable edits. The widescreen support, drop dash, and Mission Mode are welcome additions, but they all come at a (steep) price.

The Capcom Fighting Collection has some of the greatest CPS2 and CPS3 titles ever to be released, but this barebones package leaves something to be desired. It’s the best legit way to play these games, but don’t be surprised if it leaves you wanting more – unless you like Darkstalkers.