Like Master Onion himself, Sifu has layers - and the closer you get to its centre, the more you understand its own structure, what makes it and its many obstacles tick. The closer you get to it, the clearer the details between the deckings. And just like a peeled onion, it might well make you cry. There’s no shame in that, here - but you’d best accept up front that it’s not going to get any easier, or sting any less, the more you slice into it.

Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster is a unique game with some truly marvelous qualities to it. Visually, it's beyond compare thanks to its unusual art style and the surreal, unnerving way it brings everything together. Sadly, SMT3 will probably be appreciated a lot more by fans of the original because of its obvious age, but I'd encourage any JRPG fan to give it a try.

If you’re exclusively a Nintendo Switch gamer, then this port is an ideal place to begin your journey in the series. That being said, if you’re a returning fan who has been desperate to play this series on the go, Yakuza Kiwami is a dream come true - especially if you thought this day would never come. Now if you excuse me, I’m off to sing some karaoke with Kiryu and his friends.

Arcade 2nd Stadium doesn’t feel as necessary as its predecessor, where buying all of its 32 games gave you an astounding compilation, possibly the greatest-ever arcade collection of all time.

I think if I was more invested in the TRON world, or had a passion for the narratives that have already been told, I would have enjoyed TRON: Catalyst much more. With the lack of drive to see this world unfurl before me, it really felt like a simple action game, moving from point-to-point, with decent combat. It’s dripping with gorgeous design, and I could walk around in the world happily, or zoom around on my bike, all day, but the isometric view does remove some immersion. There’s a spark here, and a high level of polish, but I think it just wasn't really for me in the end.

Despite the niggles, Expeditions is a bit of a rugged gem and it offers just as much joy as frustrations, which is a balance that will tip to the former depending on your mileage.

While it’s far from perfect, I can safely recommend A Space for the Unbound to anyone looking for a cosy indie title with real emotional weight imbued within.

If you enjoy WWII shooters, you’ll still have a good time with Call of Duty: Vanguard. Sledgehammer Games have graced the WWII era once again with their innovative approach to multiplayer and packed it full of maps. The campaign, albeit short, gives you a unique view of WWII at the heart of one of the deadliest squads. And the Zombies mode? It exists, but the less said about it, the better.

While it doesn't necessarily add anything new to the game aside from a different point of view, that could definitely be enough for the majority of people. At its core PowerWash Simulator is a simple title that aims to pull you out of reality for a bit and deliver a soothing, chilled-out gameplay experience. Shifting that experience into VR just makes it that much more enjoyable. [Meta Quest 3]

I have no doubt in my mind that I’ll return to the synthesised tunes of Beat Slayer, albeit in a sporadic fashion; as compelled as I am to keep playing, I can’t see me spending day after day replaying it. Beat Slayer thrives on being played in short, energetic bursts. But no matter how long I go between another run, I will always be a slave to the rhythm.

In spite of its flaws, RE:CALL is a really enjoyable time. Its reality-bending gameplay mechanic is distinctive and presented in varied ways throughout the chapters so it never gets overdone, and some of the characters have a surprising amount of depth to them - there’s also some genuinely moving messages about growing from negative experiences. It might not be one of 2023’s most anticipated titles, you shouldn’t let this unique indie pass you by.

While it isn't perfect, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity proves its value by serving up one of the most epic tales Princess Zelda has ever starred in. There's a magic within this game's story, reminiscent of Ocarina of Time, and that's something to cherish. The relatively simplistic gameplay may detract from the overall impression, but that won't stop me playing it again.

Ghostwire: Tokyo is a gobsmackingly gorgeous action-horror with enemies that you won’t forget any time soon, not only for their eclectic appearances but their formidable ferocity in combat too. It’s a moreish game, and I want to trawl through every inch of this odd facsimile of the capital city, though I hope that Tango Gameworks rolls out an accessibility settings update to allow even more fans to enjoy this glittery and ghostly game.

I really like that the difficulty of Warsaw seems intrinsically tied to the plight of the Polish people during the Uprising, even if it does at times make the game more punishing than fun. Having never played it on PC (or for that matter the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One) it's difficult to say whether the Nintendo Switch is the way to experience the game, but I am happy to concede playing it there felt like a completely natural experience. If you're in need of a new roguelike and have an affinity for World War Two history, Warsaw is well-worth a look.

All in all, if you're a fan of the Monster Hunter franchise then this new instalment will absolutely tick all your boxes and more, what with all the new additions it brings. While Monster Hunter World was definitely a game designed more to welcome new players, Monster Hunter Rise calls back to the core fans. If you're relatively new, this might be intimidating at first; but once you get the hang of it there's a lot of fun to be had, either solo or with a group of friends.

As a video game sequel, it ticks all the boxes of being bigger and better with more to say. But as a story, as an experience following one of the most critically acclaimed tales ever told in this medium, it sits uncomfortably on a knife's edge, waiting for the passage of time to pull it one way or the other.

With each new discovery, I find myself steadily falling in love with The Garden Path’s approach to cosy gaming; it’s more than just a genre, it’s a way of life. Take your time. Admire your surroundings. Focus on your journey. These are all life lessons we desperately need to listen to and act on, yet we rarely do. The Garden Path won’t magically transform your life, but it’ll sow the seeds of a new way of thinking. Whether they take root is up to you.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have finally delivered on the promise of an open-world entry, but with all the technical issues and stripped-back features, it’s hard to not feel like the Nintendo Switch held these games back. But if this is what an open-world Pokémon game is now, it's tantalising to consider what is coming in the future.

The truth is Deadly Premonition 2 is like watching Nicolas Cage act: an incredibly divisive experience. There are things it does well and there are things it apparently doesn't. There are even elements of it where you just can't tell whether it's genius or nonsense. No video game has ever been so good and so bad at the same time.

All-in-all, Hot Wheels Unleashed is an incredibly fun racer which will get its hooks in you and have you behind the die-cast wheel for hours on end. It includes a comprehensive track builder which you can use to let your imagination run wild and an extensive car collection which will keep your eyes firmly on the plastic orange track. It's the ultimate virtual Hot Wheels experience, whether you want to create your most fantastical Hot Wheels tracks, or just race long into the night playing split screen or multiplayer with a friend. There really is something for everyone here, and Hot Wheels Unleashed is a welcome addition to Mattel's long-running Hot Wheels video game franchise.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have finally delivered on the promise of an open-world entry, but with all the technical issues and stripped-back features, it’s hard to not feel like the Nintendo Switch held these games back. But if this is what an open-world Pokémon game is now, it's tantalising to consider what is coming in the future.

So it’s not exactly a mixed bag, as the moment-to-moment play of Final Vendetta is a lot of fun, albeit hard as nails, and the presentation is terrific. There are a lot more items in the plus column here, than the minus one. And yet, it’s hard to recommend this game to anyone with only a passing interest in the genre.

Super Arcade Football is the video game equivalent of a catchy pop song. It may feel simple but the more you play it, the more you'll find within. It's simple in the best possible way, and while there's one issue with the story mode that is hard to look beyond, it's a very good game overall.

If you’re looking for a nostalgia-fuelled blast of classic Pokémon, Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl are as good as it gets. It's the classic 2006 DS adventure through and through, freshened up with a slick coat of paint and some much-needed quality-of-life upgrades. As someone who sank hundreds of hours into those original games, part of me is thrilled. The other part, unfortunately, can’t shake the feeling that the long-awaited gen-four remakes could’ve been considerably more than a pretty basic reheating of 15-year-old games.

It’s a great attempt from Nintendo to join leagues of gamers who keep their titles alive via speedrunning. There are moments that make you feel like Jimmy from The Wizard, with Fred Savage screaming at you to grab the warp whistle. I loved revisiting the golden days of the NES and doing it while collecting cool unlockables and trying my hand at beating great times. Beating a time and seeing an S-rank never gets old, but the life and enjoyment of this game depend on many moving parts and a passion for retro gaming, which might hold this back from being as brilliant as Nintendo would like it to be.

Sonic Frontiers is the best 3D Sonic in a long, long time. It’s bigger, faster, smarter, and I absolutely cannot fault its ambition. Unfortunately, it’s constantly derailed by the exact same things that have been holding back Sonic games for the last few decades. With a little more polish, I truly believe Sonic Frontiers could have been one of the greats. As it stands, it’s a frequently good time with occasional flashes of brilliance.

South of the Circle is a thought-provoking narrative adventure that fans of this genre of low-interaction-but-high-storyline-satisfaction will adore, and like Firewatch I would absolutely read the novelisation of it. (Can someone make that happen, please?) I took so many screenshots, so gorgeous is this game at times, and any release that has me seeking wider context for its setting and events is a good one. But it has enough fiddliness, enough tiny faults, for the overall impression to be of excellence fallen just short of.

For a short, replayable FPS game, Bright Memory: Infinite really is a stunning creation. Like its prequel, it is engaging, exciting and extraordinarily fun. Similar to many Resident Evil titles, it’s perfect for playing through multiple times, and it’s a game I urge any first-person shooter fan to play.

If you've been raised on a diet of the very best role-players of the past ten years or so, Remake may struggle to hold your attention as it streamlines itself into a tunnel-vision state of failing to see the bigger picture of what could have been. Fingers, toes and chocobos crossed, then, that part two sees the promise of this remake project fully blossom.

It would be a mistake to judge AEW Fight Forever purely on its looks. Sure, this game is basic in a lot of ways, but it’s all about taking it back to the basics and ultimately having fun, and isn't that what playing video games is all about? AEW Fight Forever probably won’t be winning any end-of-year awards, but whether you’re a pro wrestling fan or an arcade brawler, AEW Fight Forever will be one of the most fun video games that you’ll play this year.

Overall, it’s a great addition to the series and one of the best VR experiences I’ve had in a long time. While it was occasionally held back by some clunky movements or noticeable glitches, it wasn’t frequent enough to dilute the enjoyment or take away from the experience. If you own a Meta Quest and love Assassin’s Creed, this is definitely worth a try, and hopefully the start of a spin-off series.

The Isle of Armor DLC feels like a glimpse into the future of what Pokémon is going to be. It's just a shame that elements from the base release hold it back. Let's hope the next half of the DLC, The Tundra Crown pushes the gameplay to even greater heights.

Alone In The Dark may not be the shiniest or glossiest game available right now. It doesn’t boast cutting-edge graphics, but, I urge you not to be put off by how a game looks. Sure, I’d be surprised if Alone in the Dark is a game of the year contender (though I think its sound design and acting are worth a shout for a nomination) but if you love old-school horror games, then Alone in the Dark could be your surprise contender for 2024. Despite some flaws, it wholeheartedly gets my seal of approval.

Windbound might not be a perfect game that delivers on all of its promises, but it comes close. Those of you looking to scratch that open-world survival itch could do a heck of a lot worse. While it could definitely have used a little more time in the oven to really smooth over its rougher aspects, 5 Lives has still managed to create a seafaring adventure that, for the most part, feels truly grand.

Ghost Of Tsushima Director's Cut on PlayStation 5 is undoubtedly the definitive way to experience Sucker Punch's open-world samurai adventure. Improved loading times, enhanced resolutions, smoother frame rates, and a slew of brand-new content make the 2020 game shine in new ways. More than that though, it's given me the chance to reassess a video game that I just previously couldn't see the adoration for.

Twin Mirror is a lot, and I mean a lot, of fun. If you're looking for a visually stimulating and, at select points, an intellectually invigorating game with the makings of a modern Agatha Christie novel, this is absolutely for you. It's for point-and-click lovers, mystery admirers, and those who just want an good gaming story that comes in at under 10 hours. Is it perfect? Not at all, but it's another quality release from DONTNOD which bodes well for future projects.

Other than a few issues here and there - incredibly small text being one, which I beg be patched in the future to allow for scaling - Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution is the pinnacle of all the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG video games. It's one that honours each generation in a way that will make fans from across all eras of the franchise feel warmly welcome - if also sometimes a tad overwhelmed.

What you see is very much what you get, and there are very few surprises throughout the game’s short campaign. It’s far from Mario’s best, but certainly a fun time whether alone or with friends via a new co-op mode. I do wonder whether it would have been better if Nintendo had built a brand-new installment from the ground up, but what we have is an undeniably delightful - if relatively unexciting - addition to the Switch library.

In a year that has provided so many gems including the likes of Baldur’s Gate 3, Alan Wake 2 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it would have been easy for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora to get lost amongst the shuffle. I’d be surprised if this latest Ubisoft open-world game wins Game of the Year awards, despite its best efforts. Yet, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a surprise cherry on top of what has been a fantastic year for video games and I encourage fans of the Avatar movies to put this unexpected charming delight on your ever-expanding wishlist.

Backbone is a grim, unhappy tale that didn't sate any of my hunger for a good murder mystery. However, if you are looking for a deeply interesting world with complex and unsettling themes which will stick with you, I'd still recommend you give it a go.

All the pieces were in place for Game Freak to make a truly stunning and ambitious new entry in gaming's biggest franchise. Tragically, it clearly wasn't given enough time to realise that ambition. Pokémon Sword & Shield aren't bad games - not even close - but they fall far short of what they might have been: the biggest and best Pokémon games in years, and the evolution the series needed.

Contra: Operation Galuga is a fine retelling of the game that kicked the run-and-gun formula into mainstream gaming. It retains that arcade feeling along with the bells and whistles you’d expect for a console release, and the introduction of more multiplayer slots would make this a great party game, or one to play late at night when you just want to switch your brain off and talk about life. Where it falters is how memorable it is, as when you’ve rolled credits it’s unlikely you’ll be eager for a second playthrough unless you fancy upgrading the challenge with the difficulty settings.

For the most part, this has been an enjoyable adventure, but not one without its problems. I don’t feel connected to the characters, nor moved to go back to learn more about the franchise. Once George is done with this tale, I will be too. I wish it had been an incredible glimpse into the past like it has for so many others. Unfortunately for me, Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars Reforged ended up being further proof that nostalgia is a potent emotion that colours our opinions

All the pieces were in place for Game Freak to make a truly stunning and ambitious new entry in gaming's biggest franchise. Tragically, it clearly wasn't given enough time to realise that ambition. Pokémon Sword & Shield aren't bad games - not even close - but they fall far short of what they might have been: the biggest and best Pokémon games in years, and the evolution the series needed.

All the pieces were in place for Game Freak to make a truly stunning and ambitious new entry in gaming's biggest franchise. Tragically, it clearly wasn't given enough time to realise that ambition. Pokémon Sword & Shield aren't bad games - not even close - but they fall far short of what they might have been: the biggest and best Pokémon games in years, and the evolution the series needed.

Soundfall isn’t a perfect game. I’d love to see the narrative throw more challenges my way and the somewhat repetitive levels would benefit from a few added platformer elements for variety's sake. That being said, I haven’t had this much stake-free fun playing a game in a long time. Amidst the heavy gaming themes I’m used to, I loved shimmying my way through Soundfall’s varying levels as it took me on a musical tour for the senses. Soundfall has the groundwork to be a timeless hit, it just needed a little more tweaking in the studio.

Need For Speed Heat is more fun than I was expecting. It's hugely enjoyable, and almost relaxing, to fly down the roads of Palm City. If you like NFS games, you'll have a good time with Heat. Personally, grinding away to fully unlock everything in the game doesn't wholly appeal, but I'm sure to be jumping back into this one, for an hour of so of escapism, driving recklessly to raucous music.

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a delightful time capsule that harkens back to a much simpler time when linear games still had a magical feeling of worlds feeling much bigger than they were. It’s an absolute joy to revisit for retro purists who appreciate a few modernised tweaks. So what are you waiting for? Go play it already.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy delivers exactly what it’s supposed to, updated versions of some brilliant narrative-adventure/puzzle games. For longtime fans of the series, or those who’ve only just collected their Attorney's badge, it’ll bring you hours and hours of court case fun and introduce you to a wonderful world of characters and stories. The only objection is there isn’t more of it, but we’re bound to get another Phoenix Wright adventure starring all of his associates later down the line.

Two Point Hospital is a huge amount of fun, and it's so easy to find yourself engulfed for hours at a time, perfecting every single aspect of your respectable institution and unlocking more and more 'kudosh', the game's essential currency for all of those requested upgrades.

My gripes with Little Corners are mild. It’s a really simple title but what it sets out to do, it does largely pretty well. I’d have liked some more options when it comes to sticker placement and organisation, and I do feel it suffers slightly from being a game that begins to feel a tad repetitive after a while. Yet despite all of this, I’d say Little Corners is more than worth its meagre asking price of £5.99. It’s the type of game that you can dip in and out of, leaving behind your worldly woes for a whimsical sense of fun.

I've yet to take the game online so I can't comment on how it performs there, but locally Tokyo 2020 is a blast in co-op or played competitively. Whether it's table tennis or boxing, beach volleyball or the FIFA-lite football mode, controls are mostly well explained and fairly intuitive outside of a handful of select events (swimming, for example, is a test of precise timing and controller dexterity). Whether you're a seasoned gamer or not, you will find something here that you will come to really love, playing alongside someone else in a same-sofa scenario.

I can see that while I play, The Outer Worlds is everything needed and expected from a first-person RPG, one that can then be expanded on in the future, with innovative systems, original worlds, and unexpected characters - they now have a hub to fit into. The problem for players is: why play this game instead of waiting for the one that fully escapes the shadow of Fallout?

Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge wasn’t what I’d hoped for, nor did it scratch that cosy games itch I’ve felt since finishing Pine Hearts. Still, I find it hard to deny its charm however superficial it may be. Maybe we’ve become too conditioned in expecting more from farming sims, and thus the issue rests with us – with me – rather than the game itself. Whatever the reason, the adorable frogs of Kamaeru aren’t enough to have me wading back into the wetlands I’ve so lovingly tended to. Nevertheless, those hoppy little cuties have left an impression all the same.

Overall, from stunning new locations, exciting new jobs, multi-dimensional characters and heaps of new content that I will be spending the next few weeks on, Dawntrail was the perfect way to introduce the start of a new arc to Final Fantasy XIV and as a result, still has a lot of story to tell.

The Berlin Apartment does, as I said, undoubtedly offer an engaging narrative, even if you will have to endure several half-baked gameplay elements. It’s a beautifully considered look into the human experience, offering players a concept that is creative and engaging, even if it might not quite unlock its full potential. At the end of the day, the world needs more empathy and The Berlin Apartment, I feel, succeeds in promoting that, and that fact alone should be reason enough to give it a go.

For all the gorgeous visuals, and flashy, beautiful effects that spark and burn from abilities, there’s nothing offering any real bite. There’s no hook, and if a roguelike needs one thing, it’s a hook; give me an excuse to stay up until 2am figuring out new builds and synergies to slay your, admittedly, brilliant, bullet hell enemies. And so, I walked away from Dragon is Dead, which is a very odd title, by the way, feeling underwhelmed.

Some small annoyances aside, Mafia: The Old Country is a great entry to the long-running series, and it’s done a fine job at adapting the formula to a brand new historical context. It does run the risk of alienating long-time fans, as the jump back in time makes it quite an adjustment. However, if you just let it tell the story it wants to, you’ll find it can match the quality you've come to expect from this series.

In short, Saints Row is a very good game. It’s got highs and lows, with some flaws hopefully set to be patched out by its release date. While it may not blow players away, it’s an enjoyable open-world title with lots to do. Side characters are charming, there are plenty of funny moments, and it’s a perfect game for simply messing around in.

It delivers a tight, action-heavy experience where you tear through hordes of enemies, earn loot and level up. Sadly, I was unable to test the multiplayer mode during my review, but overall Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a very good game in its own right.

Small issues aside, The Suicide of Rachel Foster is a truly riveting thrill ride. The story plays out perfectly in the first-person narrative video game medium. You owe it to yourself to discover the secrets of the Timberline Hotel - just make sure you've got a few hours spare, because you're not going to want to put it down once you've started.

I can’t say with certainty that I’ll keep returning to Howl, for me it feels like a one complete playthrough title. That being said, I implore anyone whose curiosity has been piqued by its trailer to try it out; with a demo available on both Steam and the Nintendo Switch, there’s no reason not to open your hearts to the dark whimsy of such a cunning game.

I get the impression, too, that Resurrection's default difficulty of Knight is harder than what I played on the original Ghosts 'n Goblins, its arcade sequel, and the Mega Drive port of Ghouls 'n Ghosts, which I adored way back when. I've been dabbling in Capcom's new Arcade Stadium collection on Switch, which features the arcade versions of Ghosts 'n Goblins and Ghouls 'n Ghosts, but I haven't played it enough yet (I bought it, so it's for my downtime, not for review work) to really know where Resurrection sits in terms of overall toughness, and in regard to a series 'ranking' - but after a few runs through its devilish dangers, it's made quite the impression. I'm just glad I'm not paying for it with my pocket money, nowadays.

I do like Evil Genius 2; it's a loving sequel to an overlooked management game that's waited more than 15 years for a second outing. But it's left me wanting more. The surface is diabolically good, but the systems below it feel shallow and unrewarding.

The main thing is, One Piece Odyssey has made me want to watch the anime. Yes, I’m aware it’s over 1000-episodes-long and is only just getting to its final arc now, but the world of Eiichiro Oda’s franchise seems more inviting now than ever, and that’s all down to what this game has shown me.

For what it is, and as a successor to the DS's Clubhouse Games of 2005 (bloomin' heck, how time flies), 51 Worldwide Games is perfect, really. Does that make it a perfect video game? Clearly, no. It's a very recommended collection for super-convenient family-time play, with a handful of attractions that will become regular favourites - like I said, its bowling is dangerously close to becoming an obsession. But it's not something that can be scored alongside a Breath of the Wild, a Persona 5 or a Witcher 3. So while the number below might not immediately scream buy this, if you're hankering for a fine-indeed mini-game collection for your Switch, they don't come much finer than this one.

What we have here is a polished version of a game that sorely needed some care and attention. It's still old, but it's just new enough - and still more than good enough - to deserve your time. It's a modern relic, and one that I will play again and again. This remaster may not reach the stars, but that's alright because it already has the sky.

On the whole, I got a lot of joy from Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, and perhaps in different hands, more skilled hands, the opinion would be even more positive. Perhaps those who will play this, yearning for the days of TMNT in a grotty arcade will get a kick out of the quirks and eccentricities here. I have my complaints, but I’d still recommend this game to everyone I know who likes a challenge or appreciates the retro style.

Don’t go into Like a Dragon Gaiden expecting game-changing mechanics, though I suspect that’s not what you’re here for anyway. Like a Dragon Gaiden is the video game equivalent of a cosy night in, whether you’re punching street thugs in the face or partaking in a spot of karaoke. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name brings us a heavy dose of Kazuma Kiryu with an abundance of joy that will have you grinning from ear to ear and I wouldn't want it any other way, ridiculously long title and all.

Kao the Kangaroo may be too lacking in originality to stand the chance of being a game of the year contender, or even the best example of its genre this year, but it does excel in what it set out to achieve - to celebrate the golden age of the 3D platforming genre. Thanks to this reboot, Kao has every reason to proudly stand alongside Crash, Spyro and Mario as bastions of the genre. There’s lots of fun to be had running, bouncing, jumping, sliding, climbing, skating, and fighting yourway to completion, and if a sequel is announced, I know I’d play it in a heartbeat. Kao the Kangaroo has officially bounced back in style.

In short, you don't want to sleep on Deliver Us The Moon if you enjoy sci-fi puzzlers. The five-to-seven-hour playtime feels about right, and there's a healthy amount of replayability too, especially thanks to a few trophies that require you to complete sections in certain ways...The blend of intricate puzzles and survival in space creates thrilling tension, and the way the soundtrack suits each moment of triumph and discovery makes you feel like you're really out there among the stars on an epic quest.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is a seven to nine hour dose of pure, stake-free fun. It’s a platformer that won’t offer you anything you haven’t seen before, but it executes what it does well. The familiarity of the characters and world is always going to be its selling point, and fans won’t be disappointed by the quality of the humour.

Halo Infinite is definitely the game that will make 343 Industries. After a few rocky attempts, this is a fun and much needed return to form for the franchise. While the campaign feels a little empty, there’s huge potential for things to come in DLC and despite some of the issues with multiplayer, the core gameplay itself is extremely enjoyable. I look forward to seeing where 343 takes the series from here.

A Storied Life: Tabitha offers a formula that unfortunately should work better than it does in practice. Players become stuck between creatively crafting Tabitha’s life only to end up with a nonsensical outcome or adhering to a rigid, predetermined path, resulting in a better ending but less joyous experience. Even still, there are some delightful puzzling elements within this short, bite-sized experience that is really exquisitely presented. I enjoyed A Storied Life: Tabitha despite its shortcomings, but it didn’t tug on the heartstrings as I perhaps expected it might.

Overall the positives outweigh the negatives, and if you're into the genre then The Cruel King And The Great Hero is still an RPG very much worth playing - and it's also worth a look if only to experience the storybook aesthetic and the tear-jerking story. I only wish the training wheels had been pulled off, letting me explore freely, skip battles, rush bosses, and die again and again. I would have enjoyed testing out my ability to stack damage and observe weaknesses, instead of being forced to wear my water wings.

Persona 3: Reload - Episode Aigis is a decent finale to a game I adore, but there were too many times where I felt it was taking away more than it was giving. The story is absolutely worth finishing, and if your favourite part of the base game was Tartarus you’ll have a blast, but if you’re like me and prefer a balance between business and pleasure, you may be disappointed by what the DLC offers.

There’s no denying the beauty held within the pixel graphics here. The first game has its charms in visual design, but the second game improves in every department, bringing more detail and a range of colours that make practically every scene look like a work of art. There’s also much more joy in building your army of 108 characters here, purely due to the added depth for each member. It’s hard to overstate just how much better this game is, even many years after its release. If you’re an RPG purist, you’ll get a lot from this remaster package, but don’t expect too much.

Overall, FIFA 22 is more or less what you'd expect from the latest title in such a series. In some areas it impresses, while in others it falls short. The visuals look better than ever and the accessibility options are relatively varied, but the imagery doesn't always hold up and the removal of the single-player mode 'The Journey' seems like a misstep from the developers. While it may not feel as innovative as previous instalments, FIFA 22 is still a worthy sports game that scratches your football itch.

All in all, it's the experience of Amnesia: Rebirth that has oozed into my veins and into my memories of last week. The corrupted monsters whose wails reverberate in your skull, the hazy discovery of a world beyond our own, the pulsating vision as you step into the darkness not knowing who or what you will meet. Frictional Games has infused Rebirth with the lessons learned from SOMA and The Dark Descent, the new tools at its disposal, and its passion for this apocalyptic world. Throwing everything at the wall like this, it's understandable that some things might slide, yet its scares are something I can't shift from my mind. With Halloween approaching, maybe it's not so bad that we'll be stuck inside, if we've got Amnesia: Rebirth to send shivers up our spines.

The console port of Phasmophobia could have been a little bit more, but in many ways it’s exactly what it needed to be. How you play it will come down to personal preference and how many friends you have who also own a copy of the game, but if you’re a fan of spooks, scares and a little bit of silliness I’d say this is a game for you.

As it stands, I don't think I can recommend Cyberpunk 2077 to you if you plan to play it on a last-gen machine, at least not right now. Based entirely on my own experience of running the game on the PlayStation 5, I still think you might be better holding out until 2021 and the "true" next-gen versions of the game, at which point I've no doubt many of its more glaring issues will have been fixed...For now, Cyberpunk 2077 on consoles - on new-gen consoles, that is - is a good game. It's often a truly great game - one that I've been having a ton of fun with.

Perhaps it's the writing, or those aforementioned best moments, or more likely some potent combination of factors, but Sable is special. I can feel it, still, hours after putting the pad down; the sensation of riding a geyser to a mountain peak, the crack of the crystal pillar under my avatar's feet. That golden sunrise breathing warmth back into this world. At the risk of repeating myself, it absolutely deserves to be played - just maybe not right now, and not quite like this.

I’d still recommend waddling down the streets of this world, but with the caveat that it’s the briefest of journeys over far too soon for such a big personality as the Duck Detective.

With Magic Inn receiving regular patches in an attempt to fix the teething problems that launched with the game, I would still recommend giving it a shot as players will find a cosy, life simulator with that touch of magic. It may not be as polished as others in the genre but, issues aside, it still offers an enjoyable experience with heaps of replayability.

When the writing works, it really works. And when it doesn’t, it painstakingly doesn’t. From the looks of it, it seems as though Metal Head Games is planning for further expansions later down the line. I hope this gives the developer an opportunity to build on what makes the game good, while improving upon some of its more unsteady aspects.

As a diverse story featuring wonder and beauty, I cannot recommend this game enough, but the nuts and bolts need tightening for it to truly soar.

When Europa simply allows you to unwind and explore at your own pace, it’s one of the most captivating experiences I’ve had this year. There is real beauty to be found here, for sure, but it’s all-too fleeting.

You won't want to leave Lake when the credits roll, such is the splendour of its setting and the welcome warmth of so many people who call this place home (assuming you weren't a dick to everyone). But you'll wish its flashes of understated majesty and its softly spoken introspective exchanges weren't compromised by performance that's woefully inconsistent. But if Gamious manages to patch this into a steadier experience, you can add a point, or even two, to the score below. Because there's something special here, beneath the creaks and the cracks.

Plenty of its in-game elements are executed perfectly, as demonstrated by the depth of each character. Nonetheless, this wholesome journey ends all too soon, with that conclusion mired in predictability.

There are moments when you’ll take control of another character when the narrators go off the traditional path, and these are welcomed because they add new layers to the gameplay, like melee combat, something that Antar doesn’t rely on. But, because so much of the game is told while you’re in Antar’s shoes, there’s a sense of missed opportunity. Thankfully, the game isn’t very long at all, so while this is a sore point, in the grand scheme of things it’s over relatively quickly and I was left with a fondness for the odd interludes with different characters, set dressing, and accompanying audio design.

NBA 2K23 is a solid basketball game that drops the ball with too much emphasis on microtransactions and poorly-thought out design in its main mode.

Piczle Cross: Story of Seasons doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel. It does what it does to a decent standard, nothing more, nothing less. It won’t be held in hallowed acclaim by all who play it, but that doesn’t negate the entertainment it offers, nor the power of well executed simplicity.

For fans of anime fighting games, Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles is a compelling experience. Even if you're a newcomer to the series, this is a game that is fun to play, with a bold narrative that grips you early on. It may feel light at times, but it's a fine example of what CyberConnect2 does best.

Technically speaking, I'd recommend playing the game on something other than a Switch because I did see significant frame rate drops and the UI would benefit from a big screen, though I did enjoy sitting in the sun and checking off a few tasks for the day. Furthermore, the touch controls were a little finicky, and it's difficult to place objects exactly where you want them, unlike Animal Crossing. But, it's the curious text that accompanies the various odds and ends that intrigues me. Letters that arrive on the island, apparently unanswered, probing the appearance of a wrecked boat on the shores. As my collection of resources grows, I want to know what else is out there on this weird haven where the boundary between worlds is thin. It doesn't offer the very same adorableness of other games in the genre, yet its muted colours and purposeful pace is welcoming. If you're looking for a low impact and narratively engaging life sim, then spend a while on Cozy Grove.

If you're curious and you have a PSVR headset otherwise collecting dust right now, there's a demo of the game available on the PlayStation Store. It gives you the whole crashing-plane sequence, which will be enough to determine whether this is worth more of your time and, more importantly, any of your money.

Little Nightmares 3 feels like a sequel in name alone. As a co-operative experience with either a friend, family member or partner, it’s a good time and should give you sufficient spooks and scares as well as a few laughs here and there. Visually, the game is on point with some gorgeous and intriguing settings, but they lack depth and get moved along too quickly. The story is the biggest drawback though, and if you’re expecting a story on par with the first game’s, look somewhere else.

With Disco Elysium being one of my all-time favourite games, I was eager to check out Rue Valley with all of its similarities and although it does not stand side-by-side with it, it does have its own merits. As such, I encourage you to give it a go and see how you can make your 47-minute time-loops make a difference in a town filled with drama, looming corporations, family feuds, and even a possible alien or two.

Ghost of Tsushima is a fine open-world game. It ticks all the boxes of what you would expect it to do - but it doesn't do anything more than that. This is one of the last exclusive games for the PlayStation 4, and it's disappointing that it has nothing new to say.