I mean all the usual suspects of match types are available along with the always incredible create a wrestler(and other “create” options). I really think this year is a step in the right direction for the franchise and is a buy for loyal WWE fans, possibly even for fans that have since moved on, with the large roster of legends available. Is it the best wrestling game of all time? Not even close, but it’s certainly progress and a really enjoyable time that has something for everyone, casual and hardcore marks alike. Now acknowledge me!… and get into the ring!

I will never object to bringing back older titles to modern platforms, but not everything needs to be dusted off and placed on digital storefronts. Moto Racer MC isn’t necessarily something that should be left in the annals of history, clearly I found the omake mode to be worth playing, even if I find the single player modes unfulfilling. A silver lining for this is maybe it could lead to other ports of TG-16/PC-Engine titles, although the stuff I want to see are IPs owned by Konami (Bonk’s Adventure).

Admittedly, just because I love To Be Or Not To Be, it doesn’t mean everyone is going to love it. I get that. If you’re not a fan of North, or this type of comedy, or the general idea of deconstructing English literature and turning it into something else entirely, chances are this probably isn’t for you (also, you probably hate the very concept of fun). But as far as I’m concerned, I’ve found my new favourite game.

I mean, Heroes of Loot 2 is fine. It moves along at a nice pace, it adds in a bit of nice strategic elements, and it’s got a fun retro vibe. But there aren’t really any hidden depths (not counting all the hidden dungeon rooms) here, so it feels like once you’ve played it a few times, the game doesn’t have all that much more to offer. It’s okay if that’s all you’re after, but it’s all very much a case of what you see is exactly what you get.

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One may try to dress itself as something more or different, but when you get right down to it, not much has changed.

Planet Quiz has a fine base on which to build for next time, but they need to find a way of making their game more fun to play outside of short bursts.

It’s hard to shake the feeling that Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection almost feels like a history exhibit at this point. We may still be living with its legacy – and to be clear, it’s fun to play these games if you never did the first time around – it’s hard not to feel like it’s been surpassed by a lot of the games it influenced.

Additionally, while I really did enjoy the game, and had a ton of fun learning the combat rhythm and mechanics, I will probably never go back for a second playthrough. As I mentioned earlier, the game is full of the lowest type of humor imaginable, and by the end of the game, the same batch of one-liners that had me chuckling during the opening hours was starting to grate. That, coupled with the singular playstyle and set of upgrades, make for a poor reason to start a second playthrough. While launching at only $50, coming in competing with some of the finest video games of this (or any generation), make it hard to justify an early purchase.

Gran Turismo fans should know what they are getting into with each and every new release, and Gran Turismo 7 is overall the very best in the franchise yet. The sheer amount of content and modes will keep casual players, long time GT fans and car enthusiasts busy for a very long while, and the online and social features should continue to keep the community alive and racing for years to come.

Much like the first Mekabolt, there’s nothing here that hasn’t been done before, and better, and in a more interesting way. It’s fine if you’re after an easy Platinum (though it takes a tiny bit longer with those extra levels, and it costs a few dollars more), but there’s not much other reason to play it.

Sable clearly has its share of flaws, but it makes a pretty good argument for style mattering more than substance.

A Night at the Races is worth checking out if you’re after a game that’s unlike anything else out there, but even then, you’ll want to proceed very, very cautiously.

I’ve absolutely enjoyed my time with Elden Ring, and while I’d say my expectations were high prior to playing the game, those expectations have certainly been met or even exceeded along my journey. It feels like a culmination of everything FromSoftware has accomplished in the genre so far, offering up a robust world with tons of exploration married to the unique combat we’ve come to expect from their previous titles. I can’t necessarily say that there’s enough changes here that will appeal to people who have bounced off of Souls games previously, but it’s such a great looking (and playing) game that I think if you enjoy action-RPG’s in the slightest that it’s still worth a shot. And of course if you’re already a FromSoftware fan, then I’d imagine you’re already on board, and I can safely say that you won’t be disappointed.

So all-in-all, Horizon Forbidden West is a very satisfying, extremely impressive if somewhat predictable sequel, to one of the best original titles of last generation. It’s a showcase for the PS5 platform (and not exactly a slouch on the original PS4 and PS4 Pro amazingly), and definitely worth the price of admission.

As I said up top, there’s a paucity of good wrestling games on the Switch, which means that it’d be very easy for a half-decent one to break through and feel like it’s Game of the Year-material. Action Arcade Wrestling, unfortunately, isn’t up to that task.

Is Red Ronin original? Definitely (or, at least, mostly definitely) not. Is it a fantastic game nonetheless? Yes, beyond any shadow of a doubt.

Retro Bowl is generally worth it, if you’re a Switch-owning football fan who wants to play their favourite game on Nintendo’s system. It may not be perfect, but it’s miles better than anything else you can play.

Taken altogether, it makes for a pretty great experience. Whatever Infernax may lack in originality, it makes up for by being not just a great homage to its influences, but being a blast to play. It may only be February, but I’ve found one game that’s a lock to be one of my favourite games of the year.

The PC port for Monster Hunter Rise is the definitive way to experience this game. I am excited to see where the franchise goes from here, although I will find it hard to slide back into any Monster Hunter game without the new traversal and streamlined elements. Whether you want to hunt alone or play with your friends, play “Fashion Hunter” or experience the main quests, there is something for everyone in Monster Hunter Rise.

That’s really this game in a nutshell: it’s relentlessly sunny in the face of a grey world, and you only win by making the lives of your friends brighter. Given we’re in the dead of winter as I write this – after a few very difficult years, in the midst of yet another pandemic wave – that’s the kind of message I can go for. Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan is a pleasant antidote to these times, and even if I can’t describe it, I know I liked it.

Just about my only real quibble with Dojoran is in how it describes itself. It claims it’s a 1-bit platformer, but that’s kind of a misnomer. For me, when I think of those, I think of games like Zero Zero Zero Zero, that really do look 1-bit, to the point they could’ve come out on one of gaming’s earliest systems. Dojoran, by contrast, may have a black-and-white colour palette, but it still looks like a more modern game. As I said, though, that’s just a quibble. Dojoran is a fun platformer – whether you want to play it until the Platinum pops, or if you keep on playing beyond that point.

Sifu on paper looks like a short title, with it’s five stages you would think it will be a short weekend experience and you will be done. However, it is so packed with content that even though you think you’ve mastered a level, a discovery at a later stage will force you back to an earlier stage. It’s varied arsenal will have you constantly replaying certain sections just to see how different a score you can get (such as the hallway fight in the first level which encapsulates the feeling of a certain fight scene from the movie Old Boy). I read somewhere that the devs wanted action sequences to feel like a Jackie Chan movie, and given what I’ve seen they’ve definitely nailed it. Although most players’ experiences will at first look like the credits of a Jackie Chan movie, through persistence and patience, their encounters will start to look like the final cut of the film.

It’s a shame that the execution is so bad, since, as I said, there’s a good idea at the core of Monster Harvest. Given that there are plenty of very good monster-breeding games and farming sims out there – even if not necessarily in the same game – you’re much better off playing those in tandem rather than suffering through this.

If you want something to take over a Minecraft- or Don’t Starve- or Terraria-shaped hole in your life, Nira isn’t it. It aims high, and clearly has some great influences, but it can’t seem to meld them all together into something worthwhile.

It’s clearly better than its predecessor, but that’s the lowest bar imaginable – and it’s pretty clear that it’s a bar that this one only just clears by the barest of margins.

My final thoughts on my overall experience with Dying Light 2: Stay Human remains positive. Seeing some coverage come out and be turned off by the bugs and issues that were pre-release was expected, but disappointing since I had faith that Techland would stay true to the fans and make sure the experience is covered top to bottom with prime support for the players and community. I commend the entire development team including Lead Designer Tymon Smektala for being engaged with the community leading to the release and listening to what they all have to say. It shows in the final release and look forward to spending even more hours in Villedor for years to come.

Just about the only drawback that could be applied to I Love Finding Cats! is that there’s nothing linking all the puzzles together. It’s not like the games are improved by having a shoehorned-in narrative (like, I know that Faircroft’s Antiques had a story, but I couldn’t tell you what it was), but if you want one, you won’t find it here. Then again, the point of the game is right in the name: you’re supposed to find cats. If that’s all you want out of I Love Finding Cats!, then you’ll probably be very, very pleased with what you find here.

If you’re not a fan of shmups – whether upwards-scrolling or side-scrolling – Gynoug isn’t likely to win you over. It’s a fairly easy Platinum, but other than that, there’s not really much to recommend it.