Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a throwback in the best way possible, highlighting the series' strengths and offering a fun time.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is not only the best entry point for newcomers, but one of the best offerings the series has had in recent memory. The intimate zoomed-in story portrays the Three Kingdoms figures as likeable and complex characters with compelling motives. Combat can be hit or miss, but there's no denying the unmatched scale and spectacle of the 1-v-1000 battles.

Version 2.0 is a momentous occasion for Kuro Games' open-world action RPG, and it's worth jumping back in for the new story and content.

Pine Harbor's bland quest design and underwhelming voice acting makes it one of the most disappointing early access games of the year. [Early Access Score = 50]

Supernatural offers a unique horror experience with an interesting story, multiple endings, and a short runtime that encourages replayability. Just be warned that there’s plenty of gore to deal with.

The Forever Winter is an addictive extraction shooter, albeit with a few flaws. [Early Access Score = 70]

Even if The Spirit of the Samurai does little to endear you to its story, the animation provides a decent jumping on point. Unfortunately, it's squandered by the terrible quality of everything else.

Infinity Nikki is a cozy exploration game with solid dress-up mechanics and appealing visuals, despite its iffy console performance and annoying gacha system.

The Thing was worth playing in 2002 and it still holds up today with all the convenient bells and whistles included in this faithful remaster.

Going toe-to-toe with Overwatch is a tough ask, but Marvel Rivals brings an impressive roster and its own nuanced action to the table, competing with and even exceeding Blizzard's efforts.

Path of Exile 2 is everything you could want in a sequel, providing nearly unmatched build-crafting, stunning environments, and engaging boss fights. Even in its current state, the title of "ARPG King" is only a matter of time. [Early Access Score = 80]

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.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - Secrets of the Spire might entice some players with its new gimmicks, but the DLC won't do much to keep them entertained once the novelty wears off.

The PS5 release of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide essentially acts as a celebration of the game reaching its current state of being one of the best co-op shooters out there.

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

Star Wars Outlaws boasts strong open world design and the swashbuckling and improvisational vibe of a classic Star Wars scoundrel story, but from technical rough edges to some dated design decisions to clunky movement, it's got more than a few significant issues that weigh it down.

Star Wars Outlaws' Wild Card DLC is a short, above-average experience for what it delivers. Nothing more, nothing less, and certainly nothing that warrants a look for those still on the fence with the base game.

Towers of Aghasba initially made an impression with its striking art style and approach, yet its inherent design and mechanics are frustratingly flawed. It may look radically different in the coming years, but for now, it's difficult to get into. [Early Access Score = 40]

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is packed full of content with exceptional visuals and improved physics but it desperately needs patches focused on optimization for a smoother experience.

G.I. Joe Wrath of Cobra delivers a neat nostalgia trip for beat em' up lovers, but fails to provide anything worthwhile for the mainstream audience. It falls behind other old-school competitors in the genre due to its poor enemy and stage variety, but is solid fun for a popcorn game with some friends.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl masterfully combines multiple genres to deliver an unmissable and entirely open world horror experience. Touting unparalleled emergent gameplay, stellar atmosphere, a captivating story, and gorgeous visuals, this is easily one of the best games available on Xbox Series X/S, even with the technical issues that hamper it.

Farming Simulator makes a less-than-triumphant return, with its latest entry buckling under the weight of bugs, performance issues, and bad UI.

Frontier Developments finally follows up on Planet Coaster, but despite the gorgeous visuals, it falters in truly baffling ways.

LEGO Horizon Adventures successfully adapts and abridges Horizon Zero Dawn for a younger audience, delivering a fun, charming, and straightforward experience in a delightful post-apocalyptic world.

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.

Mario and Luigi: Brothership delivers yet another solid Mario RPG outing. Riding high on waves of clever writing, charming humour, engaging exploration, and addictive combat, this is an odyssey well worth undertaking.

There are few games that commit to their central conceit and framing as much as Empire of the Ants does.

If you've never played it before, then Red Dead Redemption's re-released state is the best on PC. Just make sure you're not paying full price for it.

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a great excuse to experience the simple and bombastic joys of a proper cult classic.

Slitterhead is weird and rough around the edges, but boy am I glad it exists.

Kinetic Games' Phasmophobia is a surprisingly scary experience, solo and with friends, though several features - like the lobby browser - need more work.

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.

Clock Tower Rewind brings the cult classic horror game to western shores for the first time with some added convenience features and bonuses to boot. However, the game's intrinsic point and click adventure game DNA feels outdated and flawed. If you don't mind using a guide to help in your pixel hunt and solve archaic solutions, this remaster of one of the most influential horror games of the 90s comes recommended.

Whatever vision the development team had for No More Room in Hell 2 is squandered by bugs, a dismal gameplay loop, awful permadeath implementation, and more. Even if it's eventually technically sound, the concept needs a lot more work. [Early Access Score = 50]

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 doesn't reinvent the wheel nor does it rise to the genre's greatest heights.

Alan Wake 2 signs off on a typically strong note with The Lake House, which is a strong expansion that delivers an engaging new survival horror chapter while also setting up the future of the Remedy Connected Universe.

Both a worthy sequel to the beloved original and an excellent game in its own right, Life is Strange: Double Exposure is one of the series' most engrossing outings to date.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 is a superb remake of the best officer game in the long running 'Three Kingdoms' series. Lack of multiplayer is a misstep, but there's a lot of streamlining and tons of new content here that are well worth your time and money.

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is a solid effort initially, but pacing issues, iffy creature AI, repetitive gameplay, and other issues hamper it.

New World: Aeternum has made some great changes in time for its console release, and while the endgame might not have too much to offer yet, the leveling process is plenty of fun, especially if you go deep into the crafting system.

Offworld's chaotic co-op shooter collapses under the weight of its ambition while fumbling in the gameplay department.

With an enhanced version of one of the series' best 3D outings to date, as well as a legitimately great brand-new adventure starring a returning fan-favourite, Sonic X Shadow Generations is well worth a look for fans of Sega's platforming franchise.

Unknown 9: Awakening is generally solid action-adventure mystery let down by irritatingly repetitive combat encounters in the game's later half. The character dialogue and environmental exploration are a highlight, keeping me playing even when other aspects annoyed me.

A solid campaign and realistic BattleMech combat with heaps of customization elevate Piranha Games' latest MechWarrior title.

Ys 10: Nordics isn't a bad game and offers plenty of action RPG fun for newcomers and veterans. However, some design elements feel off, leveling off what should be the series' next ascent to greatness.

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.

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.

Europa is a peaceful experience while still managing to be a compelling 3D platformer in its own right. Despite the utter lack of any threat, it never stops being fun thanks to its gorgeous visuals and simple gameplay.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO isn't perfect, with Episode Battle falling somewhat short in its ambitions, but it's an excellent recreation of the series' power fantasy.

The first licensed boxing game in a decade is finally here and it delivers an impressive punch, though not the KO fans were hoping for. It's still worth picking up if you've been desperate for some ring bouts but consider waiting for a sale due to the dearth of modes and light launch content at the moment.

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.

Shattered Space is a fun and meaty addendum for those who enjoyed what Starfield's base experience had to offer, but those hoping for any significant improvements will be left disappointed.

Though it's hard not to see the validity of criticisms over its pricing and and questions over whether it even needed to be made, the Until Dawn remake is ultimately a solid and enhanced new version of a modern horror classic.

NHL 25 is a solid hockey game bolstered by improved AI and small incremental improvements, but its changes don't feel as substantial as other titles in EA's lineup.

Throne and Liberty might end up being a fine MMORPG in the long term, but currently, it has little in the way of new or interesting ideas to draw players away from other heavyweights in the genre.

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.

The third and final paid DLC for Remnant 2 is a step up in some ways, but it's still nowhere near as good as the base experience.

Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns is not without its flaws but it will appeal to most hardcore fans thanks to strong performance by the actors behind Havik and Noob Saibot, excellently directed cutscenes and the brutal animalities.

Thanks to a couple of key improvements and changes, EA Spots FC 25 is one of the better iterations that EA Sports' annual football franchise has seen in recent years.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed successfully improves upon the flawed original in some key ways, thus allowing its strengths to shine much brighter, but significant lingering issues in other areas hold it back from greatness.

Enotria: The Last Song is a decent Soulslike if you can withstand the bugs and slow combat.

Keeping with PlayStation Studios' tradition, the PC version of Ragnarok is the definitive way to play and enjoy the epic adventure, regardless of whether you have a beefy high-end gaming rig, or your primary PC is your Steam Deck.

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.

Whether it seems too complex or monotonous, Satisfactory delivers an excellent factory-building and automation experience that will motivate you to optimize, enhance, and fundamentally rewrite your thought process.

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.

Yars Rising delivers a fine platforming experience mixed with some retro Atari elements.

The Plucky Squire is charming, offering an involving story and enjoyable gameplay with unique hooks, even if it takes some time to open up.

Overhauled visuals, gameplay tweaks, and a bevy of quality-of-life improvements come together in a spectacular return to the land of the living for Dead Rising.

Evotinction has solid stealth fundamentals, and Unreal Engine 5 provides a sleek aesthetic. However, the soulless story and characters hamper the experience.

Pay-to-win issues notwithstanding, Visual Concepts' NBA 2K25 is the premier basketball title, packed with enjoyable content and notable improvements.

Squirrel With a Gun is a quirky, hilarious and a memorable title that provides fun platforming and surprisingly innovative combat.

The Harry Potter license and intriguing gameplay do little to save Quidditch Champions from faltering in multiple ways.

Akimbot wears its PS2 action-platforming inspiration on its sleeve and it delivers on the experience. The screen tearing issues and foggy environments may push some players aside, if Shipset's quippy dialogue doesn't; but Akimbot's brisk pacing and frenetic action is well worth experiencing regardless.

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.

The presence of Ace Attorney investigations 2 in this collection alone is reason enough to recommend it - this is one of the better titles in the entire series, available globally without hassle at last. Add on all the bells and whistles, as well the first game also being part of this package, and it's a no-brainer, especially if you are a series fan.

Astro Bot is a wonderful love letter to all things PlayStation, and an exceptional platformer in its own right. If you own a PS5, you need to play this game.

Brutal action, mind-boggling scale, spectacular set-pieces, and a bevy of content come together in what is one of the best action games in recent memory. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is unmissable.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown doesn't scale the heights of other virtual tourism open world racers in recent years, but it's an enjoyable driving game in its own right, even with its rough edges.

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.

The Casting of Frank Stone sounds like a good idea in theory, especially for Dead by Daylight fans craving more storytelling, but the execution needed much more time in post.

Monster Jam Showdown is a fun, physics-based monster truck game which is wrapped in a dreadfully underwhelming campaign structure. All your favorite licensed monster trucks are here, but their similar driving characteristics and sounds deflate the excitement.

Level Zero Extraction is a flawed title not worth investing much time in at this point. [Early Access Score = 40]

Enthusiasts of the series will find plenty to like about the Gundam building and mindless combat, but those seeking a more well-rounded title will be disappointed.

Even without everything against it, Firewalk Studios' entry in the live-service hero shooter genre fundamentally underwhelms.

Like an NFL team’s high new draft pick, Madden NFL 25 provides the franchise hope for the future with its great on-field gameplay, phenomenal presentation improvements, and streamlined gameplay modes, as long as it irons out the predatory microtransactions in the meantime.

Haphazard at times and calmly cacophonic at others - Dustborn has much going on, and it's far from harmonious. Nevertheless, the characters and intriguing setting help sustain interest.

Black Myth: Wukong delivers breathtaking combat, stellar production quality, and unforgettable boss fights. Its few quirks don’t hold it back from being one of the genre’s best games in recent memory.

DOOM 1 + DOOM 2 is simply one of the best video game compilations out there and an excellent tribute to id Software's legendary shooter.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits was never a revelation, and it still isn't, but it is, nonetheless, a gorgeous, engaging action-adventure title that Xbox players now have the perfect opportunity to dive into.

It's worth playing for fans of the genre, and it hints at the developers having a lot more talent than this game ultimately lets on. However, Bleak Faith: Forsaken does have a lot of caveats for it to be universally recommended to everyone.

Deathbound is a fresh new Souls-styled action RPG with rewarding combat that might have too steep of a learning curve for some players out there.

As a worthwhile experience that's only improved over the years, Valorant is a great option for competitive shooter fans on consoles.

The Mortuary Assistant's console re-release is the perfect excuse to dive into what's genuinely one of the scariest horror games in recent years.

As far as sequels go, SteamWorld Heist 2 expands on its predecessor's compelling gameplay in multiple ways while providing a compelling new setting. Some aspects need further tidying up, but it's still an enjoyable journey.

The missteps and fumbles associated with Deadlink – whether inherent or inadvertent – are ultimately an unconvincing argument against playing the game.

Stormgate is an interesting new entry in the RTS genre, and while its visuals might be divisive, the gameplay is definitely good enough to get both fans of the genre, as well as newcomers hooked. [Early Access Review Score = 80]

Aspyr has polished the graphics and fixed some of the camera issues that plagued the original, but all the janky problems at the core of the 2002 game remain.

Sylvio: Black Waters is a short horror game that doesn’t really tell a story as much as it offers up an experience thanks to its excellent atmosphere created by the use of clever lighting and great audio design.