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.

Overwatch 2 is a soft reboot of the hero shooter, enabling a quicker pace thanks to 5v5, well-designed maps, and extensive rebalancing. There are still some progression and monetization issues to sort out, but this update/sequel establishes a solid foundation for the series' future.

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.

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.

Pacific Drive can be broken down easily into other genres, but it's unlike anything available in terms of tone, atmosphere and execution.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black isn't the most definitive version of the classic but it will remind you why it's so well-regarded in the first place.

Sniper Elite: Resistance delivers more of the excellent tactical stealth shooting action that Sniper Elite 5 boasted three years ago. It might be a familiar experience, but for genre fans, it's still an easy recommendation.

A Pirate’s Fortune is a short but meaningful return to Star Wars Outlaws, proving that with the right fixes, there’s still an adventure worth chasing.

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.

Grand Theft Auto 5's new-gen upgrade is solid and effective, but much too conservative, especially for a game that's long overstayed its welcome.

Even with a few issues, Death's Door is a tightly designed, challenging game that does wonders with its classic Zelda-inspired formula.

Packed full of excellent action, blistering combat, a solid cast of characters, and astoundingly beautiful visuals, Gears 5: Hivebusters is unmissable for anyone who considers themselves a fan of the series.

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.

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.

An experience which promises much and delivers on some, F1 25 is without doubt a worthy entry but the feeling is its innovations could be greater.

Serial Cleaners offers up an incredibly unique premise, some fun characters, and a lot of great levels with a surprising level of interactivity to tell us stories that aren’t really told too often. Couple that with a great sense of style to evoke the 90s and Serial Cleaners becomes a surprisingly interesting game.

Take away the technical issues, and Sable is a pretty good game. It's not great, because some fundamental design issues do hold it back, but it would still be worth checking out. As it stands, however, the game is a mess technically speaking, with frame rate drops, pop ins, crashes, hard locks, and long loading times. If there is a good game in here, it's really hard to get to, and it might be best to wait till after some of the technical issues have been ironed out.

To be able to enjoy No More Heroes 3, then, you need to be able to not take the story seriously while still being fully invested in it and all that it has to offer, and you need to be willing to put up with the distinctly low budget jank that permeates the game without letting it get in the way of your enjoyment of all that the game does well.

Despite its sometimes-awkward writing, Miasma Chronicles manages to tell an interesting story full of twists and turns in a world that’s incredibly interesting and well thought out.

Bravely Default II is a well made, mechanically expansive, JRPG.

WWE 2K23 successfully builds upon the foundations laid down by its predecessor. While it’s still far from the best pro-wrestling game out there, it’s the only one we really get with a modern roster anymore. With that caveat in mind, however, WWE 2K23 remains a blast to play. It’s got a great roster, a host of new features and match types, and its new take on the MyRise career mode is incredibly fun.

The Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade of Breath of the Wild is a technically impressive but content-light update.

Monster Hunter Rise knows exactly why its formula works and emphasizes it to a more accessible and rewarding degree.

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.

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.

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.

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

The Entropy Centre is a surprisingly great game with well made puzzles and unique ideas, though it could have done with some much needed modern features.