DarkSwitch represents a new, fresh take on a genre that largely focuses on a flat 2-dimensional axis. Fans of the city-building genre, as well as newcomers, will find plenty to enjoy here.

Housemarque strikes gold once more, building on Returnal's foundation to deliver a rogue-lite/bullet hell title unlike any other.

The Cosmic Abyss has enough variety to make the runtime never feel overly long, and the optionality within each chapter provides a significant amount of replay value.

Cliches and homages abound in MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, and it gleefully embraces them while offering a compelling detective mystery wrought with over-the-top violence and a cast that's having the time of their lives.

For those who enjoyed the first game but always felt it could have been so much more, Regions of Ruin: Runegate is an improvement on every single level, and a compelling game in its own right.

It has been a long time coming, yes, but it’s fair to say that Pragmata is worth the wait.

Starfield lands on PS5 close to three years on from its original release, and delivers its most polished and packed version to date. Though it’s unlikely to convert past skeptics, for sci-fi RPG fans on PS5, it’s well worth a look nonetheless.

Clover Bite is back with a bang, and Grime 2 is a worthy sequel to the original title thanks to some great gameplay and excellent designs.

Unorthodox controls, surprising mechanical depth, and on-track carnage underscore this narrative-heavy racer out of Milestone’s leftfield.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach continues to be a phenomenal game that is easy to recommend to anyone regardless of their preferred platform.

From a suite of real-world data to on-field animation expansions, MLB The Show 26 promises authenticity on stat screens and in stadiums alike.

Crimson Desert is as expansive as promised, dwarfing pretty much every other open world currently with its scale. Its content doesn't always stick the landing, but the combat shines, and the sense of discovery is hard to deny, even with the lackluster story.

Ghost of Yōtei: Legends doesn't significantly reinvent the gameplay loop present in Tsushima: Legends, instead offering new mechanics and mission types to go with a familiar gear grind. Despite some difficulty pains, it works very well and serves as a strong foundation for what's to come.

Monster Hunter Stories 3 isn’t exactly where I’d want the series to be just yet - but it’s very nearly there, and I think, for many, this will be one of the most satisfying monster collection RPGs on the market at the moment.

There are some games that are conceptually perfect, at which point, once they exist, the only thing standing in the way of them and impeccable perfection is their execution of their pitch. Pokopia is the rare game that has a perfect concept, and then nearly pitch-perfect execution and follow-through on that concept.

Bungie delivers a compelling extraction shooter in a trippy new setting, though whether that will be enough remains to be seen.

World of Warcraft: Midnight is off to a fantastic start, with a campaign that, while uneven in places, ends on a strong note. Paired with an excellent new casual gameplay pillar in player housing, as well as more dungeons, delves, and class options, it already feels like a strong expansion.

WWE 2K26 nails the theatrical chaos of wrestling inside the ring, even if many of its surrounding modes still feel sluggish and awkward.

While retaining the same fundamental gameplay, Wishfully's gorgeous sequel improves on the original in almost every single way.

For survival horror fanatics who own a Nintendo Switch 2, Resident Evil 7 is incredibly easy to recommend.

Resident Evil Village is an essential Switch 2 pick for anyone who wants survival horror tension with blockbuster action.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance has finally escaped the shackles of being restricted to last-generation console performance thanks to its new upgrades.

With potent scares and thrilling action, Resident Evil Requiem delivers a memorable experience that successfully combines the series’ action and horror sides, while also telling a compelling story that expands the Resident Evil mythos in fascinating ways.

Sons of Sparta delivers tight platforming and genuinely satisfying combat.

Fresh challenge systems and a slick new story make 91Act's rogue-lite that much more compelling, even if some aspects could be better.

Reanimal is exactly what you might expect from the original Little Nightmares team, and yet, wondrous in its own right. Like venturing down the rabbit hole of unrelenting terror, it's an experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

RIDE 6 is the motorcycling series at its most complete, where worthwhile onboarding, progression with momentum, and an overall passion for two-wheel machinery outshines uneven presentation and a festival setting which misses the mark.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a great way to experience one of the more fun stories in the series thanks to the new and improved gameplay.

Nioh 3 doesn’t settle for iterative improvements. Instead, it pulls together Team Ninja’s best mechanics from past entries, folds in welcome touches from its other games, and backs it all up with genuinely strong new additions that feel mechanically sound and consistently engaging.

By rebuilding and streamlining the classic adventure, Reimagined stands as one of the series’ strongest entries.

From the presentation and controls to the core gameplay focus, The Game Bakers' survival climbing game is absolutely incredible.

2XKO is a phenomenal free-to-play fighting game that balances impressive depth with accessible tutorials that ease newcomers in rather than overwhelm them.

The Avalanche crew heads to the Nintendo Switch 2 with excellent results.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on Xbox is every bit as good as it was on PS5.

Serafini Productions’ take on bullying and the impact of social media on troubled minds is not just relevant, but quite the entertainer when its systems manage to come together.

Ice-Pick Lodge's time-bending adventure of overcoming an outbreak is its most involving, deftly written and compelling adventure yet.

From the Ashes is the latest expansion for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, adding a new area to explore and a fresh story to experience.

LEVEL-5’s football RPG has far more strengths than weaknesses, and its charming presentation more than makes up for its flaws.

Pioneers of Pagonia has made several meaningful improvements since launching in Early Access nearly two years ago, and it’s now well worth your time.

ROUTINE may have been a long time coming, but it’s definitely well worth the experience now that it’s finally here, especially for fans of the horror genre. It keeps you immersed at all times thanks to its lack of UI and full-body awareness.

Skate Story is worth checking out if you want a skateboarding experience with an excellent trick system and responsive controls, but also incredibly out there with its narrative and atmosphere.

While still imperfect on PS5, MSFS 2024’s methodical simulation pushes even casual flyers toward piloting zenith.

Kirby Air Riders realizes the full potential of its predecessor, delivering a chaotic, colourful and vibrant experience that is not only overflowing with enough content to keep you hooked for dozens of hours, but is unique and enjoyable enough to make sure that you don’t question whether the time you’re clocking in is time well spent.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is one of the finest beat ’em ups in years, and that’s saying something, even with the pedigree of those involved. It may have some slight blemishes here and there, but if you’ve been looking for something to complement Absolum and deliver a more traditional retro arcade experience, this is it.

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl on PS5 combines hardware-specific features, sonic ambience, and enhanced NPC behaviour to create a gameworld laced with immersive, emergent brilliance.

You would think that a Telltale-style episodic adventure game wouldn't take off in this day and age, but Dispatch will prove you wrong (and offer an incredibly endearing story to boot).

Lumines gets the Tetris Effect treatment, and it's incredible. Is anyone really surprised? Don't worry - the gameplay is enough to sustain you through the trippy synesthesia and then some.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a fantastic new entry in a relatively niche genre that offers more accessible gameplay without sacrificing the depth that the city-building genre is known (and loved) for.

Where Winds Meet is a free to play epic with fair monetization, tons of content, and outstanding overall value.

This is a fantastic DLC with a fun story and strong production values, capping off a strong run of post-launch support for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.

Bandai Namco's effort to bring back a classic does just about enough to preserve the original experience's magic while making it more fun for new and returning players.

Whether it's with teams and battling other players or running solo and measuring each encounter, Embark Studios has struck gold.

Once Upon A Katamari delivers an amazingly fun time. It may be derivative with its graphics and story, but the impressive level variety across nine eras and sheer wealth of content ensure fans and newcomers will be rolling until they're sick of smiling.

Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD2D are not must-play RPGs in 2025, but both are still very good examples of the genre that most fans will get something out of.

Football Manager 26 lays down a solid new foundation for the series’ next era with engaging tactical systems and addictive management simulation, even if it stumbles with UI issues.

Tormented Souls 2 excels in polished visuals, haunting atmosphere and classic survival horror mechanics.

A refined, feature-rich sequel that deepens park management while honoring Jurassic magic.

Plants Vs. Zombies Replanted is a faithful recreation of the original game that brings every bit of its charm and fun gameplay loop to modern platforms.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a more expansive, more choice-heavy, and more satisfying western RPG that stands above most of its recent peers.

Ninja Gaiden 4 has its missteps, especially during the story and with Ryu's sections, but it's still a triumphant comeback for the franchise.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A may not surpass Arceus in innovation, but it delivers an exciting adventure with plenty of nostalgic charm that make it a worthy follow-up in the series.

Keeper is another unique Double Fine creation, excellently executed with incredible art direction and fun puzzles, even if it doesn't push the envelope.

Blue Prince blends puzzles and roguelike exploration into something refreshingly original, clever, calm, and unlike anything else you’ve played.

Color me surprised but the newest Battlefield is genuinely good.

Absolum is absolutely recommended for beat 'em up fans thanks to the pedigree of its developers. It's also a surprisingly deep rogue-lite with a well-developed world, bolstered all the more by its incredible presentation.

Little Nightmares III is definitely worth a try, bringing a unique brand of horror and platforming puzzle action to the table in an instalment that builds on the franchise's best features.

Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 return in stunning 4K, proving that nearly two decades later, Mario’s greatest adventures remain unmatched.

Tokyo Xtreme Racer feels like an absolute blast from the past in terms of its gameplay mechanics, overall structure, and how it tells its campy story.

Slime Rancher 2 not only feels like a great sequel that builds on foundations laid with the original, but also a great game in its own right.

Nearly three decades later, Final Fantasy Tactics still stands tall as the pinnacle of tactical RPG design. The Ivalice Chronicles refines its strengths with modern updates, even if a few minor flaws hold it back from perfection.

While fans of the original may initially find it more iterative than evolutionary, Atsu's quest for vengeance is an incredible new tale from Sucker Punch that expands on Tsushima in all the best ways.

Improving and expanding on everything that made the first game so memorable, Hades 2 is an even more epic rogue-lite journey and Supergiant's best work yet.

A fine addition to a young genre, Survivor adds smart twists, most notably its level-based structure; however, unlike the mainline Deep Rock Galactic, it’s single-player only.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a great remake, but it's truly elevated by almost perfectly channeling the original's charm.

Despite its simplistic combat and clunky combat animations, Silent Hill f still delivers one of 2025’s quintessential horror experiences.

Helldivers 2 is an increasingly rare live service success story that leans into what it does best on the ground and makes quick missions fun and easy to play.

EA Sports FC 26 refines the formula with Authentic mode and better defending, making it a strong entry for fans. Still, it’s an iterative release with limited appeal for newcomers or those seeking major changes.

CrossWorlds is a thrilling, chaotic, and endlessly replayable racer that finally gives Sonic a karting identity of his own.

A solid title that brings the best of the franchise to the table while offering more than enough to stand on its own merits.

Assassin’s Creed Shadow: Claws of Awaji feels like an excellent refinement of the base game with a small but dense new island, more focused story, and most of the fat from the base game trimmed out.

The latest DLC for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 takes a more concentrated approach, centering on crafting while telling its own story.

Indy is back for another adventure and while this new chapter does a lot of things very well, it could have been so much more.

Gearbox's latest is a return to form and a reminder of everything that made its looter shooter so unique, nagging issues aside.

NBA 2K26 delivers sharper on-court gameplay that shines despite the weight of heavy microtransactions holding it back.

There's a lot to love about this year's NHL game. From the redesigned Be A Pro mode to the enhanced NHL EDGE authenticity, it's a notable step up from previous years. NHL 26 has perhaps the best 'superstar' mode of EA's current sports lineup, which is shocking considering how stuck in the mud it's been prior to now. If you've been on the fence about EA's pro hockey series, now's the time to jump in.

Challenging, frustrating, invigorating, and oh-so fulfilling, Silksong is simply a masterpiece in almost every way.

Forgotten Land gets the polish it always deserved, plus Star Crossed World as a sweet extra.

The Bloober Team's latest outing is a trip to places of the past you might not choose to visit. But duty calls, and the Travellers must answer.

A decent action platformer bursting with nostalgia and charm, Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening delivers a stylish retro ride.

Between Dead Cells and other rogue-lites, The Rogue Prince of Persia may not hold hardcore fans over in the very long run. Nevertheless, its premise is incredibly solid, backed by strong gameplay that channels the essence of its gameplay in all the right ways.

Gears of War: Reloaded is a great trip to the past for franchise veterans while newcomers will certainly enjoy its current-gen take on the adventure that started it all.

Black Myth: Wukong works well on the Xbox, and is well worth the effort that Game Science has put into bringing it to the console. It's a game that has continued to remain relevant in the year since its release, and is probably going to be back in the news as soon as its rumored DLC becomes available to its players. It's worth every penny you pay for it, and it is definitely an experience that could remain among your favorites for a long time to come.

Channeling everything that made the classics great while enhancing with new mechanics, stunning visuals, and sublime controls, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an incredible revival and stellar action side-scroller in its own right.

Herdling continues Okamotive's reputation for unorthodox titles that resonate in unique ways. Desolate and survival-driven, yet warm and freeing, it's an adventure unlike any other despite the occasional hiccups.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a faithful, gorgeous remake with modern polish, tighter gameplay, and fun extras.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Definitive Edition lives up to its title, delivering the best way to experience the classic RTS, even if it could use a bit more polish.

Every mode, except Ultimate Team, has been enhanced with more engaging systems and streamlined features. The presentation feels livelier and more dynamic, with a welcome dose of college football DNA. Unfortunately, sluggish load times and a few poor interface choices continue to plague the yearly series.

Echoes of the End offers an engaging couple of days of play, thanks to its well-paced mix of combat and puzzles.