Persona 5 Tactica is a great tactical RPG that uses the series’ signature battle mechanics to perfection. While the story has pacing issues and isn’t friendly for newcomers, this spin-off still succeeds thanks to an addictive battle system and simple customization options. You may have seen this coming.

A short-but-sweet bridge between Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Like a Dragon Gaiden packs a lot of punch into a small package. Returning to the smash-mouth style fans love about the series, there's plenty of additional content to keep you occupied beyond the game's story.

Although the addition of new and heavily-requested features earn Football Manager 2024 the title of the best sports simulation game out there, hardcore fans of the series may find the game to be light on meaningful new content.

While it ticks all of the boxes for a decent MMA fighting simulator, UFC 5 fails to improve by any significant margin from its predecessor. It will enable you to play as your favourite fighters in the organisation, but will not likely be a memorable title from 2023.

WarioWare: Move It is another great installment in the WarioWare series and the Wii-style motion controls are a lot of fun. Just make sure you have friends to play this with.

RoboCop: Rogue City is the biggest surprise of the year, and one of the best shooters I've played in a long time. Fans of the franchise will delight in the story and world-building, all of which are completely loyal to the 1987 original.

An expertly crafted narrative and two fascinating main characters make for a lovingly crafted sequel that is well and truly worth the 13-year wait.

Ghostrunner 2 is a very solid sequel that’ll appeal to its target niche but might require some research if you haven’t played the first one. Nonetheless, if you’re a hardcore gamer and like your chances as a futuristic ninja, you can’t go wrong with Jack’s blade in hand.

Hellboy: Web of Wyrd has great combat and some stunning visuals, but it's bogged down by frustrating mechanics and a progression system that rarely feels rewarding.

While it doesn't break the mould like its predecessors have, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the perfect refinement of 2D platforming, and one of the most polished and engrossing games you'll play all year.

Milestone’s follow-up to 2021’s Hot Wheels Unleashed is a worthy successor, but the lack of the first game’s DLC cars is an uncomfortable sore spot.

By overhauling the first game's already spectacular exploration and Arkham-like combat, as well as creating the series’ best story yet, Insomniac has made Spider-Man 2 the pinnacle of open-world action games.

Total War: Pharaoh asks you to spend a lot of time learning its new and complex mechanics, but if you do, you'll feel like a true Bronze Age battlefield commander.

While ticking all the boxes of another strong Soulslike title, Lords of the Fallen's difficulty will be off-putting to those lacking expertise in the genre.

Assassin's Creed Mirage tries to combine the stealth-focused gameplay of past games in the series, while also integrating the more action-oriented style of more recent titles. Sadly, it fails to deliver on both fronts.

Forza Motorsport's 2023 reboot is definitely the best one yet. Improvements to graphics and audio result in a fully immersive racing experience. Despite a few niggles, the race against Gran Turismo is truly back on.

Wargroove 2 is a challenging love letter to strategy RPGs that have inspired decades of gaming. Brilliant aesthetics, strong sound direction, and easy to grasp but difficult to master strategic gameplay makes Wargroove 2 a game worth coming back to.

With its dreamlike visuals, great writing, and addictive gameplay, El Paso, Elsewhere it's an action-packed odyssey by way of David Lynch. The compelling narrative, mature themes, and engaging combat make it a standout title that should not be missed.

The Crew: Motorfest is by far and away the best Crew game yet. Yes, the Forza Horizon comparisons are hard to ignore, but Ubisoft has done a great job of ensuring Motorfest stands tall on its own with a gorgeous world, varied catalogue of events, and general sense of fun.

While the future is still exciting for EA Sports’ FC series, this year’s game is new in little more than name. The merging of male and female players in Ultimate Team is a fantastic addition, but with various returning issues dampening the enjoyment of the fast-paced gameplay and the spending of real-world being pushed harder than ever before, EA Sports FC 24 is frustratingly familiar.

Playing Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty expansion in 2023 is by-and-large a wonderful experience. It genuinely feels like CDPR has managed to zero-in on a lot of what the base game did well, as well as finding ways to polish up some of the aspects of it that didn’t quite live up to their potential.

Mortal Kombat 1 is, from a newcomer's perspective, a perfect entry to the series. It's packed with gorgeous visuals and battles to enjoy, and I already can't wait to get back to the action.

Chaotic good fun with surprising depth and variety, Party Animals only falls short with its progression system. Look no further for a game that will have everyone on the sofa yelling, laughing, and swearing all at once.

Neowiz took something well-known and really made it their own with stunning results. Lies of P is a game you can easily get lost in - provided you don't lose your cool.

The Isle Tide Hotel is a mightily fun detective adventure packed with interesting characters and choices to make, though the gameplay itself can be occasionally clunky.

A great family introduction to the sublime space of wholesome RPGs, Fae Farm successfully simplifies the cosy crop ‘n craft genre but accidentally dilutes the whole experience, resulting in an average adventure that struggles to stay engaging for solo players beyond the first few sessions.

As a huge fan of the franchise, Texas Chain Saw Massacre absolutely nails the tone and atmosphere - and is a damn fun asymmetrical multiplayer game to boot.

Despite some repetitive combat mechanics that can start to feel stale during its final act, Sea of Stars manages to be an extremely wholesome and gorgeous retro RPG that is bound to keep you smiling all throughout its 30-hour campaign.

Madden 24’s year-on-year revisions are a mixed bag. It still feels like a somewhat directionless team just kind of going through the motions in the mushy middle of the NFL pecking order.

If you can overlook a messy story and some awkward dialogue, Immortals of Aveum’s magic based action is a lot of fun. If you’re looking for a first-person shooter that’s a bit different, it’s the perfect pick-up.

A solid take on the Metroidvania genre, Blasphemous 2 stands apart by managing to create a highly atmospheric mechanically demanding experience that will satisfy the needs of those looking for a good challenge.

The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a game that feels distinctly and unapologetically human in the best way possible. Despite some teething issues, its charming characters and enthralling branching narrative make it an excellent follow-up to The Red Strings Club.

Atlas Fallen is a solid if unspectacular addition to the much-loved open world RPG genre.

With interconnected stories, brilliant writing, fascinating characters, and a living, breathing world full of choices and consequences, Baldur's Gate 3 sets the standard for today's RPGs. You owe it to yourself to experience it.

Despite the ho-hum design of its action sequences, The Expanse is a solid return to form for Telltale’s adventures. Those looking for an emotional narrative with branching choices and a unique protagonist, will definitely find something to chew on.

Pikmin 4 is a blast, and a game I never expected to be quite as intensely engrossing as it is. From stunning visuals to hugely endearing gameplay, it's a fresh return for the series.

The characters and writing aren’t as strong as they are in the original, but Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals still tells an interesting story that’s punctuated by some truly intense and creepy moments.

Gimmick is a delightful retro platformer, brimming with challenge and quality-of-life features to make it worth trying.

Synapse is at its best when you are flinging enemies around and shooting them from the sky. Unfortunately, poorly paced-difficulty changes and an unsatisfying endgame left me wanting a little more.

With strong characters, a captivating narrative and the best combat in the franchise, Final Fantasy 16 is a wonderful continuation of a series that has only gotten better with time.

Layers of Fear is an enjoyable horror romp, but fans of the series may be left yearning for a bit more innovation and narrative satisfaction.

F1 23 is a major step forward from its predecessor. The handling overhaul combined with new modes make this entry the best F1 game there's been in years.

Lego 2K Drive is an interesting experiment that takes just enough from the likes of Burnout Paradise and Forza Horizon to be interesting, but is held back by poor rubberbanding, a downright predatory in-game economy, and a grindy world.

The Tartarus Key is a very novel survival horror title, with forward-thinking game design to complement old-school aesthetics.

With proper cross-play, cross-progression, and gamepad support, Diablo 4 perfects almost every worthwhile aspect of its namesake, generating a multiplayer dungeon crawler with laser-focused objectives that never feel like a waste of time. It’s to the point - and the point is damn sharp. Monetization, while not immediately egregious, is still hard to trust.

From top to bottom, Street Fighter 6 is an absolute triumph by Capcom. A genre-defining fighting game that oozes charm and polish in almost every aspect, barring some minor gripes with World Tour.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, like the titular character, is ugly, malformed, and infested with bugs.

Humanity is a creative puzzler that adds meaningfully to the inspirations it takes from. Though it can slow to a halt in unsatisfying ways and there's a bit of a grind, it feels so honest and unabashedly sincere in what it wants to be.

Darkest Dungeon 2 takes a great many things from the original whilst adapting it creatively into a new world. Whilst not all of its choices feel as weighty as the first, that thematic core is just as oppressive.

If you’ve yet to step foot into the open world of Hyrule, Tears of the Kingdom is the best way to experience it, with just enough new ground to keep things interesting. But if you didn’t gel with the 2017 release, the story alone might not be worth the second attempt.

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly makes me want to open a late-night cafe and serve drinks to demons and aliens. It's a real treat.

There are significant performance issues, but the exciting story, improved combat, and satisfying platforming mean Star Wars Jedi Survivor is a great second adventure for Cal and his eclectic crew.

With existential theming and some nice visuals, De-Exit - Eternal Matters is a game I want to like. Unfortunately, imprecise controls, tedious sections, and a litany of bugs leave it reaching for so much more.

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a delight for existing fans to jump back into an old favourite, but the timeless gameplay makes it fantastic to pick up for those new to the series.

Dead Island 2 is an excellent sequel packed with brutal gore, an eccentric character roster, and a million ways to dismember a zombie.

PGA Tour’s roster of stunning courses is complemented by perfectly balanced golf sim mechanics. It’s the best golf game in years.

The effort made to offer a wide range of units across the player and piglin faction is appreciated, but these old bones yearn for a more traditional Minecraft RTS instead. Minecraft Legends is certainly worth a try if you're subscribed to Game Pass already, but like Minecraft Dungeons, this one truly is for the franchise fans out there. There are stronger alternatives for the older gamers who simply enjoyed Minecraft for its early survival RPG vibes.

The Dead By Daylight Tools of Torment DLC is great conceptually but a strict meta and many mediocre perks leave it a couple of tools away from a full toolbox.

Switchback VR is an impressive showcase for PSVR2 and its new features, I just wish it was scarier.

Dredge’s blend of relaxing fishing and unnerving Lovecraftian horror fuels a unique atmosphere and makes for a game that’ll charm you one second and terrify you the next.

Justice League: Cosmic Chaos is a surprisingly deep dungeon crawler mixed with RPG, that clearly comes from a place of deep love for its superpowered cast of heroes.

Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded is a decently fun light-gun-style VR game that fails to offer anything new or groundbreaking. It's a good way to spend a few hours but not much more.

Resident Evil 4 remake breathes fresh life into the beloved game, delivering a perfect upgrade on the gameplay, story, and aesthetics of a horror classic.

Demeo is a wonderful approximation of what it's like to take down the big boss at the end of a campaign. It has some slower moments but its peaks are truly wonderful.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a fresh dawn for the franchise, spinning expectations on their head to great effect. It's a bright and charming storybook blast.

Before Your Eyes’ ingenious use of PSVR 2’s eye-tracking technology adds another level of emotion to a wonderfully told story about family and the need to appreciate life.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty's shaky story and reliance on grinding let down one of the most satisfying soulslikes on the market. This proves Team Ninja is more than just the sum of its parts, even if it may need a sequel to get the most out of it.

Scars Above is an interesting toe in the water for many different genres but as you start to descend, you realise how shallow that puddle really is. An interesting world and decent elemental mechanics are held back by poor exploration and an unwillingness to push the boat out.

Atomic Heart is an interesting approximation of better games that is slowed down by a tedious open world, messy writing, and jarring tonal shifts.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land is a much-welcomed entry in the beloved series, remastering the game with brilliant tweaks and unlimited charm.

Forspoken is both ambitious, yet incredibly flawed. It pairs hammy dialogue and some poor pacing with a world I want to explore. Forspoken is a game tied between two worlds - losing out by never quite understanding either.

Though certainly one of the stronger hunting games to come from a rival, Wild Hearts might only truly shine with a sequel that will live or die by how players respond to its convoluted, but impressive, main gimmick.

Like a Dragon: Ishin is a great standalone work that holds its own in a fantastic series. An exciting whodunnit plot is the basis for a whole lot of action, some solid storytelling, and characters you sort-of know and will grow to love.

The Dead Space remake is a near-perfect game - brimming with terror, laced with great combat, and slowly unearthing an intriguing story. This is how to do a remake.

Inkulinati is a wonderfully quirky strategy game with a great sense of humour and plenty of room to grow. Yaza Games have certainly done something interesting with medieval manuscripts.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is a competent 3D platformer that doesn't reinvent the wheel, but provided plenty of fun.

Lone Ruin is a game all about replayability that I saw little reason to replay after the credits.

From a solid score to a rapturous cast of characters, Fire Emblem Engage refines the strategy format into a worthy successor to what kicked off the West’s obsession with the series. The story is barebones at best, but the Emblem system is bound to ignite a call for more remakes and releases. And we’ll take them.

Though it has plenty of great ideas, High on Life is too overbearing and never quite commits to its best moments.

The steam release may have a few rough edges that need work, but everything from the original has been drastically improved upon and is a joy to lose at.

The Callisto Protocol gave me nightmares. It's the best horror game of the year, and a bright new contender in the survival horror genre.

Marvel's Midnight Suns definitely has some growing pains but the form it takes after this is wonderfully nuanced, with an interesting cast and a sandbox of great moves to try out.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is a great game, that shakes up the standard Pokemon formula to incredible success. Despite all the good, there are some glaring issues that were definitely avoidable.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is a great game, that shakes up the standard Pokemon formula to incredible success. Despite all the good, there are some glaring issues that were definitely avoidable.

Evil West isn't a hugely complex game but it's fun enough to recapture both the nostalgia and fun of the early '00s. Though its story and performance can dip, its gameplay doesn't.

Sonic Frontiers wrangles with a muddled plot and messy technical performance, but the innovation and sheer ambition make it a joy to sprint through.

Finding the Flowzone is another great addition to OlliOlli World. The new wind mechanic fits perfectly and the increased focus on exploration makes the most of the beautiful levels.

Pentiment’s incredibly compelling characters, immersive ambience and impactful choice and consequence make it a masterfully crafted RPG. Josh Sawyer and the team at Obsidian have created a truly special game.

Gotham Knights is worth playing for its story and characters, but its RPG stylings feel counterintuitive and clunky compared to the Arkham games.

Sony Santa Monica has created something special. To take one of the best action games of the last decade and improve it to such a degree, in every single way, is mind-blowing. It tells an epic yet intimate story about connection, trust, and ambition while letting you tag along for the ride with combat that is flawlessly varied, fluid, and so much fun. God of War Ragnarok is the perfect sequel.

Modern Warfare 2 delivers thanks to incredible detail and gunplay but the repeatability of some missions takes the edge off an otherwise polished single-player experience. [Campaign Review Score = 80]

Bayonetta 3 may not reinvent the wheel, but its lightning-fast action and engaging gameplay push the Switch to its limits.

A Plague Tale: Requiem serves up a sprawling adventure across a plague-ravaged, rat-infested France, though the simple tale and mechanics at its core can’t bear this sequel’s bloat.

Mario and Rabbids Sparks of Hope is a worthy sequel to the first game with tonnes of meaningful changes and challenges. Whilst it loses steam a little the more you get on, it is still an enchanting title.

The full £55 price tag is hefty, but if you’re new to the franchise, it is a worthwhile investment for just how much this game gives, and that it runs very well on the Nintendo Switch. Now, wake up, get up, and get out there and change some hearts.

Lila's one night of adventure provides a delightful few hours of relaxed gameplay in the chilled-out village of Sainte-et-Claire on a fateful rainy night. Highly recommended for those without much time, and in need of a respite from normality.

More reliable passing, improved defending, and balanced attacking options mean FIFA 23 is a lot of fun to play. It’s an improved overall package, even if FUT’s main additions are underwhelming and the other modes have been given little love once again.

Though a lacklustre story and uninspired enemy variation may bring it down somewhat, Metal: Hellsinger is the best a rhythm FPS has ever felt.