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.