Phantom Liberty is an incredible expansion that boasts a gripping story, compelling characters, engaging moment-to-moment gameplay, and significantly improved progression mechanics.

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.

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).

Almost six years after Gris, Nomada Studio delivers another emotional masterpiece with Neva that tugs at your heartstrings while offering a smorgasbord of vibrant sights and sounds.

Tales of Arise is a well-made, consistently enjoyable JRPG, and though its storytelling tends to be inconsistent, its gorgeous world and consistently enjoyable combat are more than enough to keep you hooked until the end.

Even though it has flashes of games that came before, Hi-Fi Rush is a unique, masterful game that accomplishes everything it sets out to with plenty of style and charm to spare.

If you haven’t already heard about Marvel’s Spider-Man, it’s a great game, and the new PC release is basically the best way to play it. Alongside great performance, the PC version also supports some niche PC options, including Steam Controllers, and the Steam Deck verification means that it can also run on Linux.

Taken as a whole, Halo Infinite is an amazing package.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition lives up to the name and delivers the best version of the legendary game, with almost across the board improvements.

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.

Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is an excellent game. With its wonderfully realized fantasy pirate setting, it instantly pulls you into its world, and with a combination of tight and perfectly implemented mechanics, excellently designed stealth sandboxes, and a colourful cast of characters that's an absolute blast to play as, it delivers a consistently fun and inventive adventure where the stealth, tactics, and experimentation never lose any of their charm, right up until the credits roll.

Great use of its setting along with the usual dose of charm, humor, smart writing, and a great cast of characters help The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles deliver an incredibly strong package, one that ends up being well worth the very long wait.

Diablo 4 will provide dozens, if not hundreds, of hours of entertainment for those seeking a solid action RPG looter. However, some may be left wanting by the power fantasy and some of the endgame.

OlliOlli World excels in delivering smooth gameplay and complicated tricks to deliver an intriguing skating experience.

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

Rise's first expansion isn't a revelation for the series but adds to almost everything fun from the base game while adding some much-needed challenges.

Monster Hunter Rise isn’t as ambitious as its predecessor, but it still manages to build on the franchise in meaningful ways.

While the core gameplay behind Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is still as fun today as it was when it first came out on the PS5 two years ago, the fact that this is the first time a game in the franchise has been playable on PC is definitely worth noting.

Bloober Team and Konami’s remake of the 2001 classic is easily one of the best survival horror games out there. The new Silent Hill 2 easily stands amongst the likes of Resident Evil 2 and Dead Space, making it a must-play game for veterans and newcomers alike.

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.

Mario Kart World boldly reinvents the genre with open-world racing, fresh mechanics, and incredible charm..

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.

The Lost Crown is a fantastic game. Not only does it capture the biggest strengths of Prince of Persia's earliest sidescrolling instalments, it also reinvigorates the series in spectacular fashion with its Metroidvania design structure. From level design to combat, from the platforming to its visual style, from the exploration to the soundtrack, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an impressive accomplishment in more ways than one, and one of Ubisoft's best games in years.

If you’re a fan of the genre, this is a must play.

Trails to Azure only really suffers from being a sequel to Trails from Zero, since you need to know quite a bit about that game before truly understanding the characters and their motivations.

Horizon Zero Dawn has aged quite gracefully, and while the remastered release might feel unnecessary to some, thanks to the boost in visual fidelity, it’s the definitive way to play the game.

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.

Mixtape nails its presentation and story, making it a music-focused adventure that takes you back to simpler times.

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

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

Despite two years having passed since its original release, Returnal still feels as good and fresh as ever. Its strong gameplay and art direction are certainly bolstered by the fact that it made the leap from console to PC quite gracefully.

Sons of the Forest can fumble with its narrative, but its survival crafting fundamentals and sandbox still warrant a look.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle captures its source material's vibe down to a T, delivering an authentic, swashbuckling Indiana Jones adventure that can stand toe-to-toe with the original trilogy, while strong level design, compelling exploration, smartly designed puzzles, and enjoyable stealth and combat also combine in a well-crafted gameplay experience that might just be MachineGames' best outing to date.

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.

Genshin Impact remains an unbelievable proposition as a free to play title, and the PS5 version of it remains the best way to check it out on consoles for now, in spite of several missed opportunities for obvious and meaningful upgrades.

This version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake isn’t as huge a step up from the PS4 or PS5 version as it should be, but it is still more than a suitable way to experience it outside of the console space.

Whether you seek an addictive platformer, a substantial action experience with incredible presentation, or a new challenge, Nine Sols offers all this and more.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is a landmark release for open world action RPGs. From its thoroughly immersive world and its stellar combat to the incredible emergent gameplay its bevy of systems enable, Capcom's long-anticipated sequel delivers spectacularly in more ways than one. By definition, it's going to turn some people off with its many eccentricities, but it's those eccentricities exactly that make it such an utterly unique and unforgettable experience.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is a wonderful return to form for a franchise that has been dormant for a very long time. Its unique mission structure that encourages experimentation, coupled with an insane level of customization is one of the game’s major highlights, and while its story takes time to get started, no two missions ever really feel the same thanks to varied objectives and excellent encounter design.

While the likes of Terraria and Valheim continue to hog headlines, Core Keeper offers strong competition. Its compelling gameplay, excellent art style, and extensive range of content make it worth diving in.

Returnal is an astounding game, one that easily and instantly claims the proud title of being Housemarque’s best game to date, and is an unmissable killer app very early in the PS5’s life.

Braid Anniversary Edition isn't just a celebration of the indie title that surprised the industry in 2008 - it's also the best version of an incredible platformer.

Humanity delivers some excellent puzzle gameplay in a weird, unique setting, and constantly ups the complexity and challenge in new and creative ways that should be experienced by all fans of the genre.

Minor flaws aside, Cyberpunk 2077 on PC is an exciting and enthralling open world experience. It doesn’t set a new industry standard, but it does most of the things it aims to do with great success.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is a massive leap over its predecessor, making a whole host of changes and improvements and delivering an utterly charming and mechanically dense tactics experience.

World of Warcraft: The War Within is a breath of fresh air. The expansion feels like it has put World of Warcraft back on track after a few years of sub-par storytelling, and the gameplay additions like Delves also add quite a bit to look forward to for new players.

Bold, ambitious, and stirringly unique, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is shockingly excellent, and a game that demands that you immerse yourself fully in it, in return for a rich experience quite unlike anything else on the market.

Echoes of Wisdom is a great maiden adventure for Zelda, marrying old and new convincingly, and setting up a foundation for 2D Zelda games to thrive alongside their bigger 3D cousins.

For first-timers, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut is the definitive way to experience one of the greatest action-adventure games ever made.

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.

Technical issues mar its appeal on PS5, but the eagerly awaited sequel delivers a strong story, great combat and spectacular exploration.

Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition is a solid introduction to the ray-traced future of gaming, barring minor technical hiccups.

For those who've never played Control before, Ultimate Edition is a must-buy.

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

Frostpunk 2 is much more ambitious than the original, which may dissuade some fans. Nevertheless, it's a brutal experience that reminds one of humanity's illogical yet endearing social turmoils.

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

Tunic executes the ideas of classic RPGs with such confidence that it’s nearly impossible to not enjoy it.

Night Springs may not be essential, but it's still an absolute blast.

As developer Neowiz gears up for a sequel to Lies of P, fans get one more chance to dive back into its twisted world with the Overture DLC.

All said and done though, Football Manager 2022 is unsurprisingly excellent.

Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels is a worthy addendum to one of the best racing games ever made.

Cyberpunk 2077’s on the Switch 2 is visually striking, content-packed, and the best handheld version yet.

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.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe improves what was already a great game in small but smart ways.

The Alters is more than a fascinating concept, mixing strong characterization and impactful decision-making with an enthralling quest for survival, even if the gameplay doesn't always excite.

Return to Monkey Island is well worth the wait. This is a quest for booty you don't want to miss.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key doesn't completely rewrite the series' rules, so much as expand and improve on them. It's still a relaxing traipse with Ryza and friends, but evokes a sense of nostalgia and hope for the future.

With Football Manager 2021, Sports Interactive have once again delivered a game that countless fans will happily be pouring hundreds of hours of their lives into.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a masterful translation of the series' longstanding formula and merits into the 3D space.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen is yet another reason Bungie’s epic living world has this type of staying power, and new and existing players alike have every reason to jump in here.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a great modern re-release of the later half of the original Ace Attorney series. The narrative and gameplay choices in these games make them well worth playing, and the bonuses and QoL features included make these the definitive way to play these games.

Some of Death Stranding Director's Cut's new additions are a little disappointing, but the experience's core mechanics remain intact. Though it is an inessential purchase, those who enjoyed the original game and want to dive in again will find plenty to like here.

Many developers tried to make Crash Bandicoot games after Naughty Dog moved on, and all of them failed to varying levels. The bar for Crash 4 was low in that regard, so Toys For Bob could have just given us something half-decent, and it would already have been the best new Crash game in 20 years. But they didn’t do that. They went above and beyond, and then some, to deliver a finely crafted platformer that can easily claim to stand among genre greats. Firing on all levels, and missing on practically none, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is a must play for everyone.

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.

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.

Retaining everything that made the original great while enhancing its presentation, System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is well worth it for newcomers and longtime fans.

A staggering scope of ambition paired with a frankly absurd amount of mechanical depth make Shin Megami Tensei 5 a great game, and a must play for any and all fans of the genre.

While its story and characters aren't the most memorable, this prequel makes up for it with the combat and abject freedom.

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

Halo 4 might be the black sheep of the family, but it's still a great game and an excellent way to send off The Master Chief Collection.

Turn 10 Studios' flagship racing series has never been better. With exceptional gameplay, gorgeous graphics, a compelling Career Mode and a swathe of options, Forza Motorsport is simply incredible.

Yakuza is reborn in this brilliant and compelling new addition to series canon that recontextualizes series tropes and mechanics for an entirely new genre, delivering one of the best outings the series has ever seen.

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.

Paying homage to the classics while simultaneously serving as a breath of fresh air, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound masterfully builds on the side-scrolling format of the older titles while adding its own twists.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a prime example of enhancing a classic without taking away the things that made it so endearing. It's a must-play experience and well worth diving into for fans of the original.

The PC release of Final Fantasy 16 is fantastic, with decent performance and stable frame rates. The fact that it also manages to be a fun action game in its own rights also helps.

Though not without design and story issues of its own, Hogwarts Legacy ultimately comes across as a densely packed and well-made RPG that players will find incredibly easy to enjoy.

Risk of Rain Returns is an incredible game and a well-rounded package that will have you running it back to an unhealthy degree.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak establishes its own identity in the extensive franchise, offering fun new characters, compelling combat and a relatively strong presentation despite some familiar flaws.

Resident Evil Village expertly combines tense horror, thrilling action, engaging exploration, and compelling storytelling in a single sublime experience, delivering one of the best games in the history of Capcom's beloved survival horror franchise.

As improved as Diablo 4 has become since its launch, Vessel of Hatred feels like the best and worst of it. The new end-game activities may be worthwhile, but story fans might want to think twice before jumping in.

Senua's PS5 debut brings a lot of nifty improvements over the original release but suffers from the same limitations that held Hellblade II back from true greatness back in 2024.

Miles Morales is a meaningful expansion to 2018’s Spider-Man that, while perhaps not quite as polished, gives Spidey fans more than enough reason to check it out.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective isn't looking to overhaul what made the original version so memorable. It offers sleeker HD visuals and rearranged music while retaining the same great music, writing and characters. Some of the newer features feel superfluous, but the game's core is still strong.

Despite some issues, Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection may appeal to longtime fans; for everyone else, there are better options on the market.

Whether you appreciate the genre or loved its predecessor, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist is a must-play experience.

Football Manager 2024 builds on its predecessors with a number of granular improvements that come together to elevate the experience in notable ways.

DOOM turns back the clock for an incredible prequel that'll get your blood pumping.