What you need to know now is that despite the elevator pitch for this one being all sorts of I’m Sorry What, Arcade Paradise is hugely compelling. Lunchtimes, evenings, sneaking a virtual day’s work in when the real job’s demands are left to the side: I’ve become completely wrapped up in its spin cycle of weirdly rewarding menial labour and magical multi-game good times. It really won’t be for everyone, and perhaps my own lived-through-the-’90s experience is a factor in my enjoyment here, but if you’re after something that’s really unlike any other game you’ll play in 2022 - or, y’know, ever - Arcade Paradise is as much of a no-brainer as breaking down that first wall into the neighbouring storage space and covering it in puke-concealingly colourful carpet.

Where the likes of Dying Light offers slick parkour and Resident Evil gives us smart survival horror gameplay, Dead Island 2 has nothing of substance to balance out the endless waves of flesh munchers. It’ll undoubtedly satisfy your bloodlust, but it won’t be long before you’re craving something a bit meatier.

Strategy games often take themselves way too seriously whereas Minecraft Legends does the exact opposite. It’s an enjoyable, lighthearted hybrid that prioritises exploration as much as tactical battle gameplay. It’s accessible for younger audiences and RTS newbies while still being challenging at later stages in the campaign. The Minecraft Midas touch has turned another genre to gold but a few hiccups mean Legends isn’t quite a diamond.

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.

Still, the time I’ve spent with Terra Nil has been an absolute delight, and a much-needed antidote to the hustle and bustle of modern life. Get yourself under a blanket on a rainy day with a cup of chamomile and I promise you this reverse city builder will hit just right. You might even learn a thing or two.

We all get so bogged down by problems both big and small in our loud confusing world but Tchia reminded me that that doesn’t have to be the case. When Tchia would get out her ukulele to play along with friends, family or during village ceremonies prompting me to play along as a form of mini-game, the game would remind me that it didn’t matter if I missed a note - or even partook at all. The joy lies in listening or having a go - not in seeking perfection. What Tchia discovers on her journey wouldn’t be possible without the kindness of strangers and friends. Tchia is also a girl with a powerful gift but this is a game that shows you what happens when you use such a gift for good - and what can befall you if you only seek power. Since I finished playing, I’ve noticed that I'm focusing more on the joy and beauty in my own life. What greater gift could you ask for from a game? Thanks Tchia.

WWE 2K23 might not be perfect, but the series trajectory continues to evolve into one of the best wrestling video game franchises there ever was, then, now and forever. Simply put, WWE 2K23 is a must-buy for fans of the squared circle.

After a 16-hour initial playthrough on Standard difficulty, and a New Game+ run on Hardcore, I can happily say that Resident Evil 4 has benefited hugely from the remake treatment. The visuals are superb. The sound design is exquisite. The character redesigns are fresh yet retain the charms of the classic models. Most impressively, though, the 2023 game plays on your knowledge of the previous iteration, punishing and pleasing you in equal measure.

Wo Long is a game that I suspect is going to be truly adored by the usual crowd of people who get very excited about games that secretly hate them and want to see them die. If you love Nioh, Sekiro, or indeed Ninja Gaiden, you’ll eat this adventure up. As for everyone else? Well, it’s very much a hardcore action game in the old school mould, and that simply means it’s not for everyone.

Scars Above is exactly what you’d hope it would be - a reasonably priced and hugely entertaining third-person sci-fi action-adventure shooter. The team at Mad Head Games have crafted an exceptional game that I’m certain will delight those who pick it up. The developers were clever in their approach - very much aware of what Scars Above could and couldn’t achieve. It isn’t a game that’s dragged down by having ideas beyond its station. It perfectly mixes enjoyable combat with an intriguing world and a compelling story. Add in the immersion of the DualSense controller if you choose to pick the game up on PlayStation 5 and you’re in for a real treat. Scars Above isn’t revolutionary, but it executes what it does very well. When I hit the credits, I was sad that the game had drawn to an end - and that’s all you can really ask for.

Playing Clive ‘N’ Wrench certainly isn’t a smooth experience, but perhaps that’s what the quintessential 90s platformer is all about. I oftentimes felt lost and frustrated by the game’s lack of instruction and difficulty that I was forced to take time away, but those inviting 3D worlds just kept drawing me back in. Clive ‘N’ Wrench isn’t just a warp through space and time. It was a journey into my own childhood nostalgia. If you stick around for the journey, you’ll be rewarded for your perseverance. I worry though that Clive ‘N’ Wrench may be too lacking in fluidity and intrigue for those who fail to notice its tributes and inspirations.

This is a game that’ll make you smile. It’s impossible to play through one of the jolly stages or even simply wander around Merry Magoland without feeling a warmth in your heart, and that’s not something that every game can do.

Irreverence works when you yourself have that playful perspective too, not just as a set of jigsaw pieces that actually don’t make any sort of picture at all.

While fans of the series will undoubtedly get more out of this game than newcomers, it’s a fantastic title that’s worth checking out, both as a samurai story and as a sandbox RPG in general. If you love cinematic cutscenes, frenetic combat and simply killing time in a beautiful virtual realm, then Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a must-play game.

As I said at the very top of this review though, Octopath Traveler II is overflowing with heart and soul, and is an absolute joy to experience. Ever since I loaded up the game, I’ve wanted to do little more than explore Solistia, perfect my team and fight all the tough bosses I can find, even if only to listen to the outstanding music that will surely accompany the fight. If you’re going to dedicate your time to any long RPG this year, let it be this one.

Metroid Prime Remastered is the Nintendo Switch game I’ve been waiting for since the console launched back in 2017, and the surprise release has somehow only managed to exceed every expectation I had for it. This is the perfect version of one of the few truly perfect video games. I only hope that everyone who wrote it off as a clunky fps or Nintendo’s answer to Halo way back when will give it another chance, and discover just how good it really is.

Vaguely stale combat and an open world with little to offer beyond the castle grounds aside, it’s hard to consider Hogwarts Legacy as anything other than a success for the Harry Potter fans who have waited this long for their letter. This is a strong adventure with more than enough magic to ensure players will be attending classes long after the credits roll.

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.

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.

With this Dead Space, the developer welcomes not only faithful players but fresh-faced recruits and stunningly enough, neither of them know what they’re in for. They will love the ride though. Scream if you want to go faster, and all that.

In a different world I feel like Season could have been an incredible mystery adventure in the style of Return Of The Obra-Dinn, completely letting go of your hand and leaving you to slowly piece together why the world is the way it is. As it stands, it’s kind of like that, but is far more concerned with making sure you feel guided and, more importantly, relaxed at all times. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Season has a vibe, and that vibe is all about brewing up a chamomile, settling down under a blanket, and enjoying the ride.

Did we really, really, really need a cat taming minigame? And you already told me the story of Athia at the start of the game. Why am I now ‘learning’ it again at the end of the game, strolling from point to point, pressing triangle for exposition. It’s a gorgeous game, but God if it’s not like a minorly insipid make-up artist’s Instagram grid. Loads of things to look at but no actual meaning in any of them.

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.

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.

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.

In short, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is a very fun action-RPG with a remarkable story and a loveable hero in Zack Fair. There’s plenty of side content and the combat is satisfying with a welcome hint of uncertainty. While its appeal is big enough for a total newcomer to play, its true brilliance is only really visible to fans of Final Fantasy VII. When you know what comes after, everything in Reunion becomes more meaningful, resulting in a must-play title.

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.

The Callisto Protocol is a lucid dream of a game. You want to escape the terrors flickering before you but once the game gets hold with both tentacles, you’re trapped in the hostile environment of the best horror game of the year.