Throw in the fact that Mario Kart World costs more than your usual release, and while it’s undoubtedly the best entry in the series yet in most regards, it’s hard to call it utterly essential. That might change further down the line, depending on what Nintendo does with the game post-launch, but unless you’re buying it bundled with your Switch 2, you might want to wait for a bit of a discount. For those not all that concerned about splashing the cash for it, though, Mario Kart World offers hours upon hours of thrilling karting action, especially for those who love racing online against other like-minded folk.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is an open-world action RPG that fans of the likes of Skyrim are likely to fall in love with. It has some technical issues and bugs that can annoy, but they're easy to overlook thanks to its enjoyable and rewarding gameplay systems as well as a genuinely interesting story with important choices to be made.

You likely won't have played anything like Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo before. Combining puzzles, combat and adventuring, this game is an utter joy — and using a yoyo as both a weapon and a tool never gets old. Well written and incredibly accessible thanks to its difficulty options, this is a true indie gem.

Copycat is a game that tackles some serious issues, but its characters are hard to warm to and will make you angry at times. Still, being a cat and doing cat things can be fun, despite clunky controls and unspired gameplay.

An adventure game with puzzle, stealth and horror elements, The Midnight Walk isn't all that complex mechanically. Its dark, intriguing world will grab your attention, though, and you'll soon come to love your companion, Potboy, making you want to see your journey through to its end. If you have the required hardware, you can play in VR, too, which is a nice touch.

Paul Raschid has once again cemented himself as the master of FMV games with Hello Stranger. This thriller, which focuses on AI and home tech, has a suitably twisty narrative, and with many branching paths and multiple endings, you'll want to play it multiple times to experience as much of it as possible.

Spray Paint Simulator is rewarding and relaxing in the same way that PowerWash Simulator is, with you bringing new life to a range of objects and locations. Some jobs are better than others, though, and it can be finicky when it comes to completing some smaller part of jobs, but it's still thoroughly enjoyable on the whole.

There's fun to be had with Elden Ring Nightreign, especially if you're a skilled Elden Ring player who loves a challenge or can get a good team together, but it does have a range of issues. The fact that there's only one map means repetition quickly creeps in, for example, and the Relic system simply doesn't feel as impactful as it should. Being a multiplayer-focused game, the lack of cross-play is also egregious.

EA sports F1 25 features the usual iterative improvements when it comes to visuals and physics, and LIDAR technology has been used to make a number of tracks as accurate as can be. But it's the return of Braking Point as well as a substantial overhaul of My Team that really makes this an impressive package, and a must-have for both casual and ardent F1 fans.

Take God of War, Dark Souls and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, put them in a blender along with some new elements such as being able to craft weapons and target specific body parts, and you have Blades of Fire. Its map design can be devious at times, and its enemy placement a little questionable, but overall it's an engaging, and rather epic, adventure.

The Duck Detective is back, and his down-and-out personality is as wonderful as ever. Unfortunately, the mystery on offer here isn't quite as good as last time, but there are still plenty of pleasing puzzles and investigations to get your beak stuck into.

Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is a bold sequel that adds RPG elements into the mix and has more of an action focus. Awkward fixed camera angles add unwanted frustration to combat, though, and the new weapon switching mechanic is troublesome to use in the heat of battle.

An isometric action game set in a highly destructible world, Deliver At All Costs puts you in the shoes of a courier and tasks you with completing a range of chaotic and often challenging delivery missions. It's good fun, but it doesn't quite fulfill its potential, thanks to annoying loading screens and a range of other issues that spoil the experience to some degree.

It’s been a while since I’ve been so fully engrossed in a point-and-click adventure, and Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer really does stand out as being a fantastic example of the genre. Even if it goes places I’d rather it didn’t, there’s no denying the story here is very well-written, and I’ve lapped up every second of it. If you like a good crime/murder mystery story, if you enjoy gathering evidence and solving puzzles, and especially if you don’t mind a bit of cosmic horror, consider Kathy Rain 2 a must-play.

A futuristic anime-inspired arcade racer featuring both cars and bikes, Neon Apex: Beyond the Limit sure plenty of modes. There's no online multiplayer though, and what's more problematic is that its core racing action has issues that will limit your enjoyment of the package overall.

The combat of Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is enjoyable enough, and it's great that there are three unique playable characters, each with a range of weapons to unlock. A lack of variety when it comes to stages and enemies really hurts the game's longevity, though, as the story at the heart of this adventure isn't enough to carry it.

While Super Racing GT Turbo SPEC promises a fun arcade racing experience with its colour visuals and top-down viewpoint, it ultimately disappoints thanks to providing little excitement and having a serious lack of content and features.

Blue Prince meets Vampire Survivors: that's the best way to describe Into The Restless Ruins, a roguelike deckbuilding game with a twist. You place cards to build your dungeon, then explore it to gain experience. It's perhaps not as challenging as it could be, but it's a great deal of fun nonetheless.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 bundles up another eight classic games from the developer's back catalogue, and while some have aged worse than others, there's still plenty of fun to be had overall. Highlights here include Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001 and Power Stone 2, but it's just a shame there's still no crossplay.

If you fancy fighting crime in an open world instead of perpetrating it for a change, The Precinct might just be the game for you. Completing shifts and collecting evidence to progress the story forward can become a little repetitive, but ultimately you're free to take things at your own pace while unlocking new options and equipment to play with.

An underwater survivors-like game with a twist, Ocean Keeper will also have you digging for resources alongside facing off against fearsome enemies. With meaningful upgrades and a fun gameplay loop, it'll keep you coming back for more.

If you have a taste for horror, you'll be right at home with Deck of Haunts. This deckbuilder may be light on story, but how many other games can you say cast you as a haunted house? Its core game loop of dispatching hapless intruders will have you grinning.

The latest entry in the DOOM series effectively turns the Doom Slayer into a tank, mowing down literal hordes of enemies with a varied range of chunky weapons. There's more of an emphasis on melee, too, and combined with a new focus on parrying enemy attacks with a nifty Shield Saw to get the upper hand, it feels entirely unique. Put simply, there's nothing else quite like DOOM: The Dark Ages out there. It's both epic and essential.

A brutal roguelike that sees you trying to escape a high-security prison, KIBORG keeps its players invested by providing numerous meaningful upgrades and some seriously cool augments. It's let down by mediocre visuals and voice acting, but if you're a fan of roguelikes, there's enough here to keep you invested.

When it released in 2006, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was an excellent game. Nearly 20 years on, it's still good — but it's certainly showing its age. This remaster makes it look incredible given how old it is, but its antiquated gameplay and numerous bugs still exist.

After two decades in development hell, Captain Blood has finally seen light of day — but it probably shouldn't have. Its controls and gameplay are rooted in the past, but its problems stretch far beyond feeling a little old-fashioned.

Colourful and over-the-top, Revenge of the Savage Planet captures much of the same space-faring japes that made us love Journey to the Savage Planet. Its humour doesn't hit quite in the same way, though, and a few annoyances with combat left us a little frustrated.

Two Falls tells the stories of Jeanne, a French settler making her way to Quebec, and Maikan, a young hunter from the indigenous Innu community. While told separately, these stories intertwine and overlap in impactful ways, making for an enjoyable and emotive narrative that delves into an often-underrepresented part of Canadian history. What it lacks in gameplay, Two Falls more than makes up for in narrative and visuals.

This year's MotoGP game is the most accessible yet thanks to the introduction of a new Arcade playstyle that lets players ride on the edge without patronising them. The new Race Off mode which offers multiple racing disciplines is also worthy addition. It's just a shame that its Career mode is so basic and disappointing.

Days Gone Remastered takes Bend's epic open world survival adventure and makes it look and play better than ever before. Even better, on top of visual improvements and DualSense support, there's a whole new mode that makes it easy to jump in for a bout of exhilarating horde action. It's a no-brainer for those who are eligible for a cheap upgrade, and the best way for newcomers to experience the game for the first time.

Forza Horizon 5 was a phenomenal racing game when it launched back in 2021, and thanks to four year's worth of updates it's only gotten better since. Its status as one of the best racing games of all time is further cemented now that it's on PS5, thanks to DualSense support and upgraded performance and visuals on PS5 Pro. If you have any love for driving at speed, consider this a must-buy.

After being available on PC for some time, Peglin has finally made its way to consoles, and it's been well worth the wait. This roguelike twist on the Peggle works incredible well, and it's the sort of thing you'll find yourself returning to again and again. We just wish there was an endless mode to conquer: a game is over all too quickly as it stands.

There are some brilliant retro collections available, but unfortunately Super Technos World: River City & Technos Arcade Classics isn't one of them. There are essentially only nine games here thanks to two being available in Japanese only and another two being different versions of the same game, and while there's some fun to be had, a lack of museum content and other features just makes for a disappointing package overall.

Old Skies is a time-travelling point-and-click adventure with a compelling narrative that drags you in deeper with each questionable, time-altering decision. It's not short on heart, either, though you'll have to play to discover if protagonist Fia gets the ending she deserves.

If you love photo modes, Lushfoil Photography Sim is the game for you. Your only goal here is to snap away, with photography tools about as close to picking up a real DSLR camera as you're ever going to get. There are a few bugbears, such as locations being locked behind arbitrary goals, but ultimately this is a gorgeous, relaxing experience that's well worth checking out.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an astounding debut title from Sandfall Interactive. Its compelling and emotional narrative is backed up with one of the best turn-based combat systems around, even though it perhaps feels a bit too focused on you performing parries and dodges at times. Add in stunning visuals and a fantastic soundtrack, and you have a JRPG that's not to be missed.

While its guest characters are questionable, and there are some issues with its single-player RPG mode, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a fantastic fighting game with fun mechanics, attractive visuals and plenty of modes.

Cute and colourful, the music-based puzzles of Tempopo are both challenging and chill, letting you tackle them entirely at your own pace. But with a bit of a disconnect between its childlike visuals and difficulty level, I'm just not entirely sure who Tempopo is for. And as fun as each level is when your solution all comes together, getting there can be a bit of a repetitive drag.

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate is indeed the definitive version of a cult classic beat 'em up, featuring enhanced visuals, smoother gameplay, crossplay, and an optional remixed soundtrack. Some issues still remain, such as movement feeling a little clunky, but there's a lot of fun to be had whether playing alone or with others.

Hot Rod Mayhem is a strictly offline affair; while up to four players can race locally thanks to split-screen, there's no option to race online. And as kart racers go, it's enjoyable enough, but it's lacking originality and a little excitement.

Putting players in control of a mech-suit piloted by a rabbit, Rusty Rabbit lets them embark on an engaging adventure where they'll make their way through numerous dungeons while collecting junk, crafting new parts and unravelling the game's story. Its controls can be a little clunky and it's rather basic in some areas, but there's still fun to be had in control of old Rusty.

Inviting players to take part in a deadly parkour-based gameshow, Finding Frankie has an interesting premise and fun visuals. It's awfully short, though, and many of its mechanics are either underdeveloped or underused. It's disappointing that it doesn't quite fulfil its potential, but it has enough charm to see you through to the end.

Thanks to its genuinely intriguing narrative and collection of quirky characters, there's a lot to love about Promise Mascot Agency, and some players will simply adore it. This open-world adventure pretty much revolves around collecting items, however, and some elements of the game quickly become nothing more than a chore.

Monster Energy Supercross 25 isn’t all that different from Monster Energy Supercross 6, which wasn’t all that different from Monster Energy Supercross 5, and so on. There are small improvements across the board which make it the best entry in the series to date, though, which should make it worthwhile purchase for fans of the sport. Newcomers should just be aware that it’s pretty uncompromising, demanding some serious effort to master.

Unlike any other game you've played before, Blue Prince is something very special indeed. An exploration roguelike game filled with puzzles and intrigue, it's all about making your way around an ever-changing house in order to discover its secrets. This is a seriously clever game, and its layered puzzles and narrative will constantly surprise and delight you. You won't be able to pull yourself away until you've uncovered all the mysteries that Blue Prince holds.

Finding yourself trapped in your deceased father's study, The Renovator: Origins is a fairly short first-person horror experience but one that's packed with effective scares and lots of rewarding puzzles to solve.

From its engaging narrative which finds a young woman desperately searching for her mother, to its stunning visuals that are a treat for the eyes, there's a lot to love about South of Midnight. It's just a shame that the combat is a bit repetitive and that the powers you acquire are uninspired.

Landing on an arid alien planet littered with waste and rubble, Distant Bloom tasks you with bringing life back to its lands. It's a little repetitive, and there are a few UI problems, but for fans of chilled-out, relaxing games, there's joy to be found in seeing this world bloom around you.

Tasking players with making their way through a magical, musical forest alongside a pup they've rescued, Koira is a charming adventure full of puzzles, mini-games and a little bit of danger. Though while it's enjoyable overall, its gameplay can feel a little too basic at times.

Short but sweet, Spilled! is a solo project that sees you cleaning up oil spills and litter from a series of waterways. You'll have it completed in roughly an hour, but it's very much an hour well spent, especially if you love relaxing clean-up games.

Rough around the edges, Sports: Renovations is far from best game in the renovation sim genre, but it's saved by its interesting collection of locations. Fixing up a boxing gym or a swimming pool certainly beats a kitchen or living room. It's just a shame there's not a great amount of finesse in the tools you use.

With a story full of twists and turns, Karma: The Dark World will equally draw you in and confuse you. Still, it's an interesting game on the whole, which tries to pack in a wide variety of gameplay elements and tackle some dark themes, though it doesn't always do so with finesse.

It's rough around the edges, but there's plenty to like about AI Limit. While its combat may be lacking impact, unique features such as the Frame system and the sync meter keep things interesting. And though it is challenging, some players will undoubtedly like the fact that it's not as hard as most other Soulslikes out there, making it more welcoming to newcomers to the genre.

Blending together Unpacking and Islanders, Urban Jungle doesn't quite match the charm of either of them, but it's still a fun little game to while away a few hours with. The strategy of placing plants will test your brain, but the sheer amount of them goes against the game's desire for you to create a cosy, livable space.

It's hard as nails and has some balance issues that perhaps need to be addressed, but on the whole The First Berserker: Khazan is an impressive Soulslike that's very easy to recommend whether you're familiar with the Dungeon Fighter Online series or not.

Placing you at the centre of a mystery, Atomfall gives you the freedom to achieve your goal in numerous ways via its engaging and rewarding leads system. Captivating from beginning to end, you'll enjoy exploring its various locations, meeting its quirky NPCs and engagaing in combat. Then, once you've discovered one ending, you'll likely jump in again to discover another.

Being a crow is riotous fun, as you'll find out if you play Just Crow Things. A wacky sandbox in the vein of Untitled Goose Game or Big City, Little Kitty, Just Crow Things throws puzzles and quests at you in a varied and colourful world — and gives you the ability to poop at will. What more could you want from a game, really?

Giving Hades a run for its money, Reignbreaker is a stylish, high-octane hack-and-slash roguelike that sees you moving through a Medieval-punk world. With satisfying combat and excellent storytelling, it's a great deal of fun to play — and it's an absolute bargain to buy.

Is Assassin's Creed Shadows the best Assassin's Creed game yet? Some might feel that way, for sure. It's certainly up there with the best the series has to offer, alongside the likes of Assassin's Creed 2 and Origins. In any case, most will be happy to hear that it successfully marries the extended freedom and scope of newer titles in the series with the stealth-focused gameplay of old, especially when playing as Naoe. And so, whether you're a fan of the series or simply like the idea of exploring feudal Japan, eradicating wrongdoers as either a samurai or a ninja, consider Assassin's Creed Shadows a must-play.

Its gameplay is on the simple side for the most part, and its real-time combat system has some issues, but series fans are likely to enjoy Atlier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land. Newcomers might find some joy here as well, thanks to an open world packed with things to see and do.

Imagine PowerWash Simulator meets Dynopunk: that's Wyrmhall in a nutshell. This fun, fantastical game about cleaning magical objects is about as low-key as they come, but its cosy gameplay and its genuinely funny dialogue will keep you coming back for more.

Like its predecessors, it's a shame that WWE 2K25 shoves its microtransactions in your face so much, because as a package it's rather excellent. All the usual modes make return with some nice upgrades, intergender matches are finally in, and the in-ring action is better than it's ever been. Basically, it's the best wrestling game there is.

A cosy and whimsical game that reminds us to take a break and take care of ourselves once in a while, Wanderstop is an utter joy to play. While its tasks occasionally feel like busywork, its excellently-written and consistently funny dialogue makes it hard to mind too much.

It isn't likely to wow anyone that plays it, but thanks to its attractive visuals, solid hack-and-slash gameplay, and a depth-adding meteorite system, Go Fight Fantastic! offers hours of fun whether played alone or in co-op with others.

Despite an interesting premise, the game is not all that exciting and quickly becomes very repetitive.

Bundling up two classic JRPGs and enhancing them in numerous ways including tidying up their visuals and making meaningful quality-of-life improvements, Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars is a genuine treat for fans and newcomers alike.

Rarely ever putting a foot wrong, Split Fiction has set a new standard for co-op gaming. This is an absolute delight from start to finish, packing in some of the most wacky and creative ideas you'll have ever encountered in a game. It's as endearing as it is joyous, and providing you've got someone to play with, you'll love every minute of it.

A body cam horror game, ActionCam: Supernatural Case is atmospheric enough and contains some decent puzzles and scares. It's rather simple and over way too quickly, however — and it also has terrible voice acting.

If you loved Two Point Hospital or Campus, you're going to love Two Point Museum, too. This might be the best game in the series yet, allowing you to go wild in a series of weird and wonderful museums where you can display everything from dinosaur skeletons to actual ghosts. With the same humour, fun and ease of accessibility we've come to expect from the Two Point team, this is another smash hit.

No game will bring you closer to actually being Batman, and exploring the world of Batman: Arkham Shadow is an absolute joy. Throw in a mixture of detective work, seriously satisfying combat and thrilling traversal, and you have one of the best VR games to date. The only problem? If you're prone to motion sickness, getting through it might be a struggle.

Cabernet is a hugely engaging story-driven take on the vampire tale, boasting a thoroughly likeable, neck-biting protagonist and a smattering of decisions that'll have you second-guessing yourself. Technical issues aside, this is a must-play for fans of the supernatural.

Not only does Monster Hunter Wilds introduce meaningful new mechanics and features that improve the already stellar core gameplay, it presents players with an assortment of new and interesting monsters to do battle against. And thanks to its changeable environments, it feels more dynamic than ever. Without a doubt, this is the best entry in the series yet, and an early contender for 2025's Game of the Year.

Something of a lovechild between Hades and Dynasty Warriors, Warriors: Abyss is fun while it lasts but doesn't have the staying power of the best roguelikes. Still, with over 100 characters to play as and some neat ideas up its sleeve, it's well worth a try, particularly if you're a Warriors or a roguelike fan. Even better if you're both.

If you're a fan of both picross/nonogram puzzles and Rune Factory, this is the perfect game for you. Even if you've never played the latter, this is a solid nonogram game, packing in hundreds of well-designed puzzles that are a joy to play. Don't expect any RPG elements from Rune Factory, though: it's little more than decoration, but it's all nicely presented.

With its large cast of playable heroes, each with their own special abilities, there's a lot of fun to be had with Big Helmet Heroes, especially when you also factor in the many, many items that can be picked up and utilised as weapons. Its combat feels a little shallow, however, and it's a bit rough around the edges on the whole.

The wait for Tape 2 is going to be a long one, because Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 has me utterly hooked. It perfectly captures the highs and lows of being a teenage girl, brought to life with a cast of characters that feel as real as your childhood friends. While it's a slow burn, and most of the game's major secrets will (hopefully) unravel in Tape 2, this is still an absolute must-play for any fans of the narrative adventure genre.

It's Goro Majima's time to shine, and shine he does in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. This ridiculous adventure has the typical Like a Dragon gameplay you've come to expect, as well as fast-paced real-time combat that's more electrifying than ever. Add in being able to sail across numerous maps, engaging in naval battles and disembarking to plunder legendary treasures, and you have the most varied entry in the series yet.

A city builder for people that don't necessarily like city building games, Dawnfolk is utterly charming and a joy to play. Managing your resources is easy to get to grips with, and with plenty of challenges to play through, there's a lot to love here.

This sequel to simple tower-defense shooter Marfusha pretty much offers more of the same. Snezhinka is simply better and provides more variety, however, so whether you're a Marfusha fan or just love shooting things without having to think too much, it likely won't disappoint.

It might take you a while to really get into Avowed, but once the story steps up a gear you'll likely want to see it through to its end. In any case, there's a fantastic sense of adventure here, as well as a brilliant combat system that makes each and every encounter a blast.

A cosy roguelike game about managing your resources as you explore the wilderness, Into the Emberlands is wholesome and moreish. It's not the most exciting game, and it is a little repetitive — but given its budget price, it's a bargain, and well worth your time.

Those who love anomaly detection games might get a kick out of The Exit Project: Backstreets, but it's not the best example of the genre. While it looks great, AI voice acting is a distraction, and it's not all that challenging.

There's not much here to excite those who enjoy a bit of single-player fighting action, but those who like to play online against others will be in their element. Basically, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is just short of being the definitive version of the game, being streamlined in numerous ways while also benefitting from improved visuals and rollback netcode.

Being a remaster that primarily just makes a classic a hell of a lot prettier, there are some issues here that remain unaddressed. If you can tolerate a camera that sometimes feels like it's working against you, however, then chances are you'll have a very good time with Ninja Gaiden 2 Black overall.

If you're really into Macross, chances are you'll get more enjoyment out of Macross Shooting Insight than others. Ultimately, though, while it has some good ideas and unique features, this is a mediocre arcade shooter, outclassed by many others in the genre.

As a sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 doesn't reinvent the wheel. It does improve on the formula of the original game in various ways, however, and features a story with more impactful choices. Only some troublesome stealth sections and the odd bug bring it down a little, but it's still a fantastic experience overall.

Eternal Strands doesn't make the best first impression, and certain aspects of it, such as the basics of combat, simply aren't impressive at all. Give it some time, though, and its unique features start to shine through, making this action-adventure definitely worth a look for fans of the genre.

Cute and incredibly moreish, Cuisineer is a wonderful mix of restaurant management and dungeon crawling. Spend your time split between hunting monsters for ingredients, then cooking them up to make delicious meals. It's a seriously satisfying gameplay loop, and you aren't going to be able to put it down.

Those who have played and enjoyed Sniper Elite 5 are likely to slide into Sniper Elite: Resistance like a glove. Over familiarity might be an issue for some, though, and there are some other minor issues to consider as well, such as sub-par visuals. But overall, lining up the perfect shot and watching the aftermath via the x-ray kill cam is as entertaining as ever.

Best enjoyed in co-op, Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is a seriously satifsying tower defence game about destroying as many orcs as you can. With a wealth of traps to place and a number of skills and weapons up your sleeve, you'll need to be creative and strategic to get the most out of the game — but success doesn't always come easy.

A new cast of characters and a change of setting make Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter welcoming to newcomers, while new gameplay features such as elemental spells freshen up the gameplay for returning players. Ultimately it's an improved sequel, and one that's every bit as charming as the original game.

Go Home Annie is an engaging first-person psychological thriller that will keep you on your toes despite its short running time. There's nothing all that impressive here overall, though, making it hard to wholeheartedly recommend.

With its shoddy gameplay, Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles would have been better left in the past. But credit where credit's due, Aspyr has made numerous welcome additions and improvements here, which may at least make fans of the original happy.

It's always a treat to go hands-on with Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, even if this isn't the most ambitious of HD remasters. Still, it's a solid platforming game, with over 80 levels to sink your teeth into — all with collectibles and extra challenges, too. It's just a shame the controls aren't quite as tight as they should be.

Never has putting a family tree together been so much fun. I couldn't put down The Roottrees are Dead once I started playing it, leaving me feeling like a true detective, searching web pages, library archives and more to piece together this intriguing family's history. This is a must-play for any puzzle fan.

A seriously satisfying narrative puzzle game with a perfectly dark ending, there's a lot to like about Things Too Ugly. Go in knowing as little as possible, and you're going to have a whale of a time as you uncover the mysteries of your new employer, Terebro Inc. The only problem? You can't save, so you need to play it all in one sitting.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is essentially a reboot of the series, retelling the familiar story from a more personal perspective with a new amnesiac protagonist. The good news is that it works, with the narrative being more engaging than ever. But it's the gameplay that truly impresses, with multiple changes to the combat system resulting in this being the most dynamic and rewarding Dynasty Warriors game to date.

Despite the introduction of multiple difficulty levels, then, some might find themselves becoming frustrated with Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana. But fans of the series and those who don’t mind a challenge will still get lots of fun out of it. It’s a meaningful update of a classic, and while it might not hit the same notes as one of the most recent entries in the series, spending more time with the red-haired Adol remains a treat.