Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is an exceptional sequel, improving on every gripe fans had with Fallen Order while adding countless new features in that’ll keep players engrossed for a long, long time. It’ll take something really special to come out to stop Survivor being the best action/adventure game of 2023.

In having a minimalist approach to its storytelling and game mechanics, Herdling is able to bring closer attention to its overarching message about hardship and found families within nomadic, unhoused groups. It does an excellent job at balancing these themes in a digestible way, leaving you room to sit back and really take in what it’s trying to say. That it also manages to be an interesting survival game is just the cherry on top.

Bayonetta 3 is a near-perfect game. I’ve never considered that the combat in Bayonetta or its sequel was missing anything in particular, but the third game’s new inclusions are so well refined that it may be difficult to return to the previous titles having experienced this one. Furthermore, the story, despite a few confusing points, has easily cemented itself as my favourite of the three. Not only is this one of the Switch’s best titles of the year, it’s truly one of its strongest to date.

I find myself totally blown away by what Paper Trail offers. It’s a simple story told via, what appears on the surface to be, a rather simple gameplay mechanic and yet Paper Trail is anything but simple. From relief to joy, this is a game that elicits so many complex human emotions all via the simple art of virtual origami. It’s a charming game that I hope to see on many year-end lists and easily my favourite indie of the year so far.

I’ve never been so in love with a game that downright hates me. A game that, on some level feels archaic and overtly obtuse, but also features so many ways to try and solve the puzzle of survival that it's more engaging than a lot of roguelikes coming out today.

So far this year, I’ve played several cosy games, each of which brings their own nuances and unique traits. However, few have captured my attention like Pine Hearts. I didn’t just enjoy it, I felt it. I had tears in my eyes as Tyke’s emotions resonated with my own, the language of loss and grief palpable yet free of foreboding.

If it’s not already clear by my words, or by the score at the bottom of this review, I think Wanderstop is a true gem. It may seem, at times, like the antithesis of a video game, but at other moments it’s perhaps the most quintessential variety, in that what it does can only be achieved through this artform. Much like the tea shop itself, Wanderstop is a place to stop, sit back, put down the frenetic games, and breathe. It’s a point to rest, to recharge, to enjoy life and all of its eccentricities. Wanderstop is joy, distilled into a lovely cup of tea.

It’s early days of course, but OlliOlli World ranks amongst my favourite games of the year so far. Its sleek, satisfying gameplay coupled with luscious graphics and sounds both pristine and punchy make it a must-buy for fans of the skating genre. But beyond that audience, it’s also highly recommended for anyone who loves finding a sense of flow, of rhythm, in their lives. Deep breath then, in through the nose, out through the mouth… And then drop down that ramp into the wildest, weirdest, and friendliest sports game you’ll play in 2022.

There is no other way to describe Tiny Bookshop than delightfully cosy and a game which you can spend hours getting lost in, much like the very books the game is based around. With beautiful colours, smooth gameplay and relatable characters, you will feel at home in Bookstonbury-by-the-Sea and the magical world that Neoludic Games has managed to create.

Harvestella is an incredible game. Everything about it just clicks, delivering a farm sim/JRPG hybrid experience that I hope never ends.

Much like Elden Ring, and Breath Of The Wild before it, Tunic offers yet more proof that there’s still a place for games that let go of our hands and allow us to figure things out for ourselves. Even as I write these words, several hours after rolling credits on the challenging and consistently surprising 10-hour adventure, I can’t help but wonder what secrets Tunic has left for me to discover.

As a game, Immortality is tailor-made for those who like to call movies "films" because it makes them feel superior. Those who exit the theatre and step into the bright light of the halls, instantly initiating a one-sided discussion of how they expected more from that actor given his pedigree, failing to notice crusty popcorn stuck to the back of their trousers. It's for the know-it-alls that realise, diving into these three lost films from Marissa Marcel, they might not know that much about cinema after all.

In a year of genuinely terrific indie games, including Lake, Death's Door, Chicory and more we're not allowed to talk about just yet (but please, do watch these pages), The Artful Escape has made me smile like nothing else. I can still feel the beaming grin on my face as I type these words. It's the one game in 2021 that I really couldn't put down as the clock ticked past midnight and I knew I had to get my head down, the one game where I knew what was coming next would be unmissable. It's the one game where I felt like I was playing something else, even as it adhered to certain gameplay conventions - and that feeling comes from its spirit, its personality, the drive of the artist behind it. An artist who quite evidently didn't do what they did here to fulfil expectations, but to shatter them into a million crystals - each facet reflecting a vision quite unlike anything you'll see, hear or play in this year, or any other.

Metaphor ReFantazio is another truly amazing game from a developer who rarely put a foot wrong. Everything from the recognisable mechanics to the broad variety of themes marks this experience as one I’ll remember for years to come. While it doesn’t reach the heights of Persona 5, it’s certainly biting at its heels and becomes a brilliant entry in an already staggering lineup of video games.

While its less well-executed ideas drag it down, it’s great to see Sega try to evolve the series past being a basic platformer, and while it’s no Sonic Mania, it’s a hell of a good Sonic game and one that’s absolutely worth trying if you’re new to the series or have been a lifelong fan.

Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is a game that rewards the patient, observant, and curious. Its visual novel-esque gameplay isn’t going to thrill the casual Nintendo Switch player but should you be someone who relishes in the nuances and turns of a good story, you’ll feel right at home here. Emio - The Smiling Man is a tragedy just as much as it is a thriller, with a variety of complex and sensitive themes handled well. If you fancy yourself as an amateur sleuth, then I implore you to give it a go. Just prepare for the game to simultaneously tug on your heartstrings as it sends a chilling shiver down your spine, with both feelings staying with you long after the credits roll.

By the end of my adventure, I’d questioned so much about friendships, how society treats each other, and how emotions shape our outlook on the world. I was sad when it ended, I could have stayed here for many more hours. Citizen Sleeper 2 asks big questions, but never bludgeons you over the head with subtext, it simply asks you what you’d do in a certain situation, playing a chosen role. It does so, bolstered by a robust dice-rolling system, and some genuinely astonishing writing, as if you were playing a TTRPG with your best friend guiding your hand.

I'm convinced Fall Guys is going on to be absolutely massive. The game has been out for a matter of days, and already seems to have cultivated a massive community of players who, even as I write this, are rushing to social media to share their own hilarious blunders and last-minute victories. Mediatonic have created a party game that's equal parts unpredictable, accessible, maddening, and laugh-out-loud funny. The most thrilling thing about it all? I suspect things are only going to get bigger, better, and infinitely more bananas from here on out.

Cattle Country defies the odds and certainly manages to make its mark on the life sim genre. It’s charming, fun, and packed with unexpected surprises and a thrilling sense of adventure that sets it apart from many of its competitors. The only question mark surrounding the title concerns its longevity. Post-launch content is key if Cattle Country is to become a titan of the genre, but if developers deliver on that front, this one could really go the distance.

Grunn really is one of the best surprises of this year. It’s a testament, I think, to both the central mystery of Grunn and its genuinely brilliantly designed simulated gardening, that a video game about trimming the same three hedges over and over again could be this good.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a masterful game that not only reminds veteran fans of the series that this franchise is alive and well, but it also welcomes in a new legion of fans, regardless of whether they have experience with the series or not. It takes the challenging counter-gameplay of Bloodborne infused with high-octane combat and a heavy dose of the signature difficulty that fans of FromSoftware have come to love. Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is yet another must-buy from the famed developer and another strong contender for Game of the Year.

Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition is the best game released for Switch so far in 2020. Its roots might be a decade long, but its excellence in the context of the here and now, in comparison to other role-players on the platform, cannot be undersold.

There is a lot in here that will keep you busy for days and weeks on end, in the best way possible. This game builds on everything that already made this series such a success and leaves you inundated, in a good way, with so many activities. It’s fun to play, stunning to watch, and even while writing this all I want to do is jump straight back into it. Whether you’re a fan of racing games or not, Forza Horizon 5 is a must play, as it really is a unique experience.

As Long As You’re Here is a heartfelt and emotional reminder of both the fragility and the resilience of the human mind, the importance of family, and the stories we are capable of telling through the medium of art. Coming in at just around an hour of playtime, this is one which you can easily finish in one sitting and yet it will stay with you long afterwards.

Some dodgy UI and inventory management aside it’s a well-made title that packs a lot of content, and spares no time in getting you stuck right into the action. The open-worlds feel like the perfect arenas to slay an near-endless number of monsters, and there’s more than enough to do in between the hunts to keep you occupied and feeling like you’re progressing and improving as a hunter.

Overall, TOEM is a remarkable take on the photography game genre, if it is a genre at all. You take pictures both to progress in the game and for your own pleasure, with each shot further strengthening your link to the in-game world and its delightful characters. While it's predominantly a happy-go-lucky experience, there are some poignant moments, and it's a game that could stay in your heart long after you beat it.

Eastward feels comfortably familiar and strikingly fresh all at once, remixing the best elements of classic RPGs to produce something bold, brilliant, and altogether new.

WarioWare: Move It! is a brilliant evolution of the kind of party game that families would gather around the Wii to play over a decade ago. The Switch’s massively superior motion control tech opens up a whole new world of possibilities, making for an incredibly silly game that will have you doubled over - either in laughter or because you’re attempting to clean a Koala’s teeth while squatting.