In many ways, Darkest Dungeon 2 is an upgrade, but some may think it went too far. When you boil it down to exploring and fighting, it’s a joy even when the enemies are slamming you around. And you will sink many hours into working your way through the various biomes in the hope of surviving this nightmare world.

Small issues aside, Borderlands 4 should give fans of the series most, if not all, of the experiences they were looking for. It's bombastic, spectacular fun that puts the emphasis on the player to go out and have a brilliant time. Playing through the story for the first time is one aspect (and again, an enjoyable one), but it's what you do after all that's said and done that really drives home what this game is meant to be. Whether taking on a raid boss with other players or free roaming the world in search of adventure, I sat there with a big, stupid grin stuck on my face for literal hours afterwards. Any game that delivers out-and-out fun at the rate of Borderlands 4 deserves its flowers, and it lives up to the reputation that the previous games so carefully built.

Capcom Fighting Collection Vol. 2 boasts an impressive roster of games and pairs well with the first collection for a varied, comprehensive trip through Capcom’s fighting game history, and even then, it doesn’t feel like the journey through time is over yet.

Taken purely as a fishing game, Dredge is good fun for a few hours - if nothing new. But when that already engaging loop of upgrades and new discoveries is expertly woven into an atmospheric Lovecraftian tale of unfathomable horrors, it suddenly becomes one of the best video games of 2023. A must-play for those who find themselves wondering why more fishing games don’t have your character desperately clinging to their sanity.

Life is Strange: True Colors is exactly what Deck Nine meant it to be. It's difficult, even when you know exactly how someone feels to say the right thing, encourage the right path, and keep hold of your own emotions too. It's tender but funny. It's cheesy yet sincere. And those of you that loved the original Life is Strange will likely love this, too.

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.

It’s without a doubt the best Dragon Ball game I’ve ever played, and if I ever stop playing it over the next few months it won’t be because I’m not enjoying it, it’ll be because I’ve broken my PS5 controller trying to win too many clashes.

It’s an incredible sport and action game, with fun lore pieces to ponder while you’re not catching air, grinding lips and shotgunning opponents. To put it simply, don’t miss out on Rollerdrome.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns proves that when the right developer is given the keys to the Marvel toy box, something very special can happen. Like Insomniac Games and Eidos-Montréal before them, Firaxis have been unafraid to put their own stamp on a beloved universe, taking gameplay elements it’s already known and loved for and giving it a Marvel makeover that just works. What could have been a simple XCOM reskin is genuinely the best superhero game of 2022, and an adventure that no fan of costumed do-gooders should miss.

It’s a joy to watch as Jemma disappears off one side of the level to appear on the other, dragging along any NPCs or furniture that might be on that row. It never gets old and with each new area that brings in new mechanics, Arranger manages to feel fresh often. With a genuinely enjoyable story carried along by wonderful puzzles, Arranger manages to be one of the best puzzle games released this year.

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.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings Of Ruin is an excellent turn-based RPG for Nintendo Switch. Raising monsties is a rewarding experience thanks to a variety of ways to strengthen your creatures. Battles are always satisfying, with great rewards for when you perform well. The world is beautiful and fun to explore. This is a marvellous game and a must-have for Switch players.

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.

Age of Empires IV is an excellent return for the series and it feels like a base from which the series can grow again. I really hope future expansions follow the same model, coming packaged with well-produced documentaries, and with a similar focus of following the history of the period. Though, hopefully we'll see the team lean more into the special abilities and faction bonuses that are teased at in this base game.

Stellar Blade wasn't initially a game on my radar but it’s ended up being one of my favourite games of 2024 so far. Aside from all of the potentially-polarising outfits, this is an epic action adventure from start to finish that kept me engaged and wanting to come back for more. It doesn't do a great deal to reinvent the wheel but it doesn't need to. This gorgeous and fun game knows exactly what it is. Stellar Blade is an absolute blast and I’ve not had this much fun in the genre since Devil May Cry 5. If for whatever reason Stellar Blade flew under your radar, it needs to be added to your 2024 to-play list right now.

I think the final takeaway from Planet Coaster: Console Edition is that you already know what you're getting, and what you're getting is really very good. An excellent time sink where you can meticulously craft your ultimate theme park. If management sims interest you and you haven't checked the game out before, now is a great time to pick it up. If you already have the game then there's not much that will draw you towards buying this version, simple as that.

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.

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.

Hellblade II is the absolute pinnacle of visual and audio design which in some part makes up for the lack of gameplay evolution. Depending on how you approach games, like me, you could easily spend 10 hours being fully immersed in its story and tracking down hidden collectibles. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II knows what it is and that’s a cinematic experience with a rich story that will keep you engaged throughout that strives to not outdo its welcome and it will have you thinking about Senua’s journey long after its completion.

While Gears Tactics could serve as a great introduction to the more traditional and brutal turn-based tactical games that inspired it, it shouldn't be seen as just a stepping stone. It's a brilliant adaptation of the Gears universe into a new genre, and the freedom of movement and action that comes in its late-game is hard to find elsewhere. Developer Splash Damage has found a wonderful sweet spot of thoughtfulness and violent reward, where the battlefield becomes a challenging puzzle which once cracked unravels with bayonet charges, chainsaw dismemberments, and exploding heads.

Being as succinct as I can, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is the finest collaboration between Nintendo and Omega Force to date. The life sim elements are masterfully done, feeling identical to Three Houses. The hack and slash action is sumptuous, with plenty of characters and playstyles to choose from. Lastly, the levels of choice are remarkable, adding plenty of replay value. Fire Emblem fans won’t want to miss this gem, and newcomers who would otherwise be put off by the core series’ tactical gameplay are all set for a grand adventure.

The combination of strategy battles and social sim gameplay is more than enough to make Fire Emblem Engage a standout in the already bustling catalogue of Nintendo Switch titles. But when you consider details like the Emblem characters, the multiplayer modes and the fact that it’s just a gorgeous game to look at, it’s hard to imagine this fantastical tale won’t be included in game of the year talks later in 2023.

Being able to watch my character nestled in a beanbag by a crackling fire, the static softly hissing from a vinyl spinning in the background while they knit is *chef’s kiss*. That will always be a winning combination for my cosy-at-heart soul. The life that’s depicted in Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is the one I want, and right now, the game is the only way I can (momentarily) realise that wish.

Moonstone Island is destined to become your favourite, snuggly jumper, the one you always return to each winter because you know it’ll keep you warm, and it’ll make you smile despite the raging weather lashing the pane. It offers versatility in that it’ll adapt, as demonstrated by the much-anticipated October update, but it’ll also be a reliable balm, never changing to such a point you don’t feel at home in its embrace. That’s what this game delivers. In a way that few sims have managed since the likes of Stardew Valley; it wants to grow with you rather than limit your experience, which, in an age where games come to an end before we’re ready for their inevitable conclusions, Moonstone Island offers continuous sanctuary.

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.

Back in 2013 I dreamed of the day Sonic Generations got a sequel featuring levels from Sonic’s history that didn’t make it into the final game, and even further back in 2005 I hoped SEGA would give Shadow another chance to shine following a frankly messy spin-off. Sonic X Shadow Generations has turned those hopes and dreams into reality, and I’m ever so thankful for it.

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]

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.