The farming/life sim space is bursting, and with many games offering a similar premise it’s hard for anything to truly stand out. Indeed, on paper Coral Island sounds very much like any other. But in practice, it’s one of the most satisfying games in the space and one I know I’ll be going back to for months to come. It looks fantastic, it offers a robust mission system coupled with endless player freedom and has some genuinely unique ideas to boot. What more could you want?

Something a little bit different from Puppet Combo, Christmas Massacre puts the shoe on the other foot, putting you in the position of power in a retro-horror setting. You’re the killer here. You’re the villain. Instead of fighting for your own life, you’re seeking to put an end to others’. It proves to be a challenging and morbidly enjoyable endeavour, even if the the game itself isn’t the most mechanically robust. If you’ve got the stomach for it and enjoy the macabre, Christmas Massacre is definitely worth giving a go. At the very least, it’ll let you release some steam if you get stressed this Christmas.

For fans of the side-scrolling beat ’em up genre, Chipmonk! is likely to be an interesting curio. After all, how many other games allow you to take control of warrior chipmunks battling against a range of other animals? It does feel rather dated though, very much taking inspiration from the true classics of the genre and not having ambitions to further them in any way. The result is a game that will be a hard sell for many, especially if they’re not instantly drawn in by the animal shenanigans.

If your child is a Bluey fan, they are going to absolutely adore Bluey: The Videogame – it’s as simple as that. An art style that matches the cartoon and the use of original voice actors make this an authentic experience, with simple and well-considered gameplay that’s enjoyable for players of any age. Yes, this is an experience aimed at the youngest players – but even as adults, we’ve had some fun with this. It’s a game you’re going to be more than happy to play with your kids, let’s put it that way.

I haven’t played anything as delightfully Christmassy as Lake: Season’s Greetings, and for that it’s an absolute success. It’s just a shame that the stories around Providence Oaks haven’t been quite as compelling as those in the main game, making it more of a slog to get through. Still, I’m glad to have seen Providence Oaks covered in snow: simply beautiful.

Cute, joyous and packing in an important message to boot, I adore Loddlenaut. This is the epitome of relaxing, stress-free gaming, with the only thing you need to worry about being keeping your oxygen topped up. Cleaning up the oceans is fulfilling in a way that few video games are – and getting to interact with the adorable loddles is simply a bonus you’re going to want to keep coming back for.

Taking six to eight hours to complete, I’ve blasted through American Arcadia in just two sittings, being utterly gripped the whole time. The side-scrolling platforming and first-person puzzle gameplay blend together seamlessly, with the story here being king. Despite a few small presentation issues that need ironing out, the gameplay here is flawless – and jumping from Angela’s first-person viewpoint to being in control of a side-scrolling Trevor via her computer monitor is nothing short of genius. If you enjoy adventure and puzzles, and like the sound of a story that’s reminiscent of The Truman Show, this is a game not to be missed.

It’s safe to say that we’ve been bowled over by The Last Faith on the whole. We’ve been lost at times, pouring over the map in the hope of finding a clue as to where we should go next, but it’s rarely dampened our enthusiasm to play. And thanks to many weapons, skills and other items to discover, time spent exploring never feels wasted anyway. While this is a game that doesn’t really offer anything original or ground breaking, then, it remains engaging nonetheless.

Persona 5 Tactica is yet another brilliant outing for the Phantom Thieves. We haven’t enjoyed it quite as much as the original Persona 5 or Persona 5 Strikers, but its combat, which is relatively fast-paced and exciting for the genre, has won us over. This is a must-have for anyone that wants to spend more time with Joker and co. And while it’s undoubtedly better to be familiar with the exploits of the Phantom Thieves, it remains welcoming to tactical role-playing fans on the whole.

Short but entertaining, jump into Zipp’s Café for the noir vibes and wonderful characters, but stay for the utterly enjoyable drink and food-making. It’s not going to be for everyone, but it’s a neat little twist on the café simulator genre, and it’s always a treat seeing an existing IP turned on its head in such an interesting way.

There isn’t anything else quite like Super Crazy Rhythm Castle. Unique and innovative, this zany adventure through music and puzzling is undoubtedly one of the best co-op games in 2023. Sure, you can play it by yourself, but you’re going to have more fun when you’re battling it out with friends. Do yourself a favour and make sure this is on your playlist when you have friends over this holiday season: you absolutely will not regret it.

Asterix & Obelix Slap Them All! 2 still isn’t the best example of the side-scrolling beat ’em genre, then, but it is undoubtedly an improvement on the original game. While Streets of Rage 4 can rest easy as the king of the genre, Slap Them All! 2 can provide hours of fun, especially for fans of the Gallic warriors. We’d certainly welcome a third adventure, anyhow, complete with further improvements.

If you enjoy the likes of Stardew Valley, you’ll get a kick out of Spirittea. There’s serious joy to be found in seeing your bathhouse improve over time, but that’s only part of the fun to be found here. Simply existing in Spirittea’s unique little world is wonderful, making friends with its colourful residents – and enjoying a spot of karaoke. It’s a unique take on the genre, for sure, and if you’re not too spooked out by spirits, Spirittea is absolutely worth soaking up.

UFO Robot Grendizer: The Feast of the Wolves isn’t a bad game – not at all. But it doesn’t do anything that genuinely impresses. It’s a bog-standard action game for the most part, buoyed by some pretty fun shoot ’em sections that add some nice variety. And it’s further hampered by some technical issues that will hopefully be ironed out post-launch. In any case, fans of the show should get some kicks out of it, and newcomers might have some fun unraveling its story in an interactive fashion.

Creating outfits is hugely entertaining. If you’re the type of person who spends far too long in a game’s character creator screen, you’re going to have a whale of a time piecing together outfits in Fashion Dreamer, making everyone look their absolute best. But that’s about all there is to do here. Sure, showing off your own designs in your showroom can be entertaining, especially if you’re playing online. But a serious lack of substance and any semblance of challenge really lets the experience down. Playing dress-up is a fun and relaxing way to pass the time, but if you’re expecting anything more, you’re going to be disappointed.

EA Sports WRC is a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, there’s no denying that this is the best rally game yet when it comes to authenticity and physics. It’s also pretty comprehensive, with a large number of locations complete with seasonal variations and a generous selection of cars. You can even build your own vehicles, which is somewhat rewarding. It’s just a shame that it’s dogged by technical issues, a career mode that feels a little ho-hum, and visuals that don’t truly impress. So, while EA Sports WRC is a solid effort, Codemasters still has work to do in order to deliver the definitive rally racer.

Air Twister isn’t a bad game – far from it – but it does nothing to genuinely impress. It looks quite nice, has a love-it-or-hate-it soundtrack, and a wide variety of modes, but the core gameplay here is disappointingly basic. So, while fans of the genre might get some enjoyment out of it, it’s hard to recommend on the whole.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is likely to delight Yakuza fans. While this is a cut down affair taking place largely in just one location, being reunited with Kazuma Kiryu once again is joyous, especially with the new tricks he has up his sleeves. It’s not really suitable for newcomers, but if you’re looking forward to the release of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, you should consider this an essential purchase. Those who wish to further pry into the life of the fearsome Dragon of Dojima will want to play it, too.

A solid entry into the Recharged series, Berzerk: Recharged is a simple little twin-stick shooter that offers a fun distraction for a short amount of time. Its gameplay loop isn’t quite as compelling as the likes of Caverns of Mars or Quantum Recharged, but it’s yet again a faithful and enjoyable reboot of an Atari classic, and a worthwhile addition to anyone’s library.

A fun take on the roguelike genre, and yet another successful ressurection of an old Atari property, Haunted House is well worth picking up – even outside of Halloween. Its cartoon-like art style is charming, and – dare I say it – its sneaky stealth mechanics are surprisingly enjoyable.

If you’re hankering for a new kart racing game, DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing will do the job. It’s a solid enough game, offering a good selection of unique tracks and some much-loved characters. There’s plenty of single-player content to keep you busy too, and split screen play is always entertaining if you have a couple of friends to hand. But like any karting game, the on-track action is often too frustrating to be fun, and I’m not getting over the criminally bad voice acting any time soon.

Despite being based on an important scientific figure, any weight behind The Forest Cathedral’s story is lost in its gimmicky presentation. It has some good ideas, sure, but what should be a powerful gut-punch of a narrative is instead diluted down to nonsensical dialogue and a hodge-podge of visual ideas that don’t really go together as well as they should. Am I glad I played it, though? Absolutely, even if it has still left me scratching my head.

The Invincible has just about everything one could ask for in a sci-fi thriller: robots, the unknown, a foreboding sense of unease. Add to that some absolutely breath-taking visuals and you’ve got an adventure that’s hard to put down. Starward Industries has created something rather wonderful here, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.

Going into Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, I have to admit I was rather cynical. I couldn’t help but ask, was this sequel even necessary? It becomes clear after spending just a little time with it, however, that it is warranted. While it’s a shame that some characters have been cut, the extent that the gameplay has been improved and shaken up here is commendable. It’s those who value single-player content that truly win with Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, though, with its roguelike campaign proving to be a genuine surprise.

Action RPG fans aren’t likely to be wowed by Achilles: Legends Untold, but chances are they’ll have some fun with it if they give it a go. There’s nothing wholly original or particularly impressive here, but it offers a solid experience for those keen to immerse themselves in a fantasy world inspired by Greek myth.

If you’ve enjoyed stylish adventures like Rime and Journey in the past, you’ll undoubtedly enjoy Jusant. What it lacks in narrative it makes up for in environmental design: this is a world teeming with imagination and signs of life. Ultimately though, your goal here is to simply keep moving upwards. As repetitive as it can get, there’s still a sweet joy to be found in ever edging closer and closer to the top, and puzzling to find the best route to get there is enjoyable enough to keep us playing.

Fans of RoboCop are likely to love Rogue City, though it’s also likely to prove appealing to those who simply like shooting up bad guys with reckless abandon. Dealing out violent justice as RoboCop rarely struggles to put a smile on your face – even if, at times, it threatens to become a tad repetitive. Throw in some light investigation and some moments of humour, and you have a game that makes effective use of a much-loved IP.

A short but focused and utterly compelling experience, This Bed We Made is a mystery that we simply couldn’t pull ourselves away from. As wrong as it feels to be in Sophie’s shoes, snooping into things that didn’t concern us, it didn’t take long for us to be utterly engrossed in the mystery that unfolds. This is a detective game done right, with engaging puzzles and the perfect balance of player autonomy and guidance when you need it. The team at Lowbirth Games has revealed itself to be an incredibly talented bunch of people, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with next.