Happy Home Paradise gave me a lot of freedom to make choices then act on them without too many repercussions. Ultimately, I could do what I wanted and when I wanted (within reason). I like New Horizons, it’s a good game, but there is a limit on what I can do without needing to spend a lot of Bells or spend hours grinding for one simple change which could end up being a mistake. In contrast, The DLC thrives by offering players total control over their designs, and by setting the stakes low. From designing an entirely pink house for a fabulous Flamingo to remodelling the Cafe into a 50’s style Diner, there were few limits on my designs or on the potential to have fun.

Asgard’s Wrath 2 is hands-down the most impressive adventure available on Quest hardware. As the start of a new generation of Meta Quest headsets, Sanzaru Games’ melting pot of Norse and Egyptian mythology is a must-play for anyone who is a fan of VR gaming.

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.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a fabulous addition to an over-saturated Metroidvania genre, bringing fresh mechanics, engaging combat, and entertaining characters back to the series. It’s a throwback to the glory days while still ringing in a new era.

An amazing learning tool and an even better game, Shujinkou is an ambitious JRPG that's well worth your time, given what's already an incredible year for independent games.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a therapeutic and immersive sequel that elevates its predecessor’s strengths while doubling down on Kojima’s signature weirdness. With stunning environments, refined traversal, and deeper combat, it offers a meditative experience unlike any other. Despite its awkward pacing and overcrowded cast, the game’s themes of grief, healing, and human connection shine through. It won’t win over everyone, but for those it reaches, it’s an unforgettable journey that transcends its interactive medium. Keep on keeping on.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is dripping with admiration for the franchise, and immortalises these games with astounding polish.

If you’re along for the somewhat clunky ride, Dungeons of Hinterberg is a surprisingly thoughtful, unique, and incredibly stunning RPG that more than justifies its asking price - especially for Game Pass subscribers.

If you’ve never played Warframe and are looking for an opportunity to jump in, then the PS5 version provides an excellent opportunity to do just that. It’s beautiful, complex, and offers a free-to-play business model that offers content in spades without prompting you for your bank details on a regular basis.

Battlefield 6 marks a triumphant return for the franchise, delivering an experience that not only honors the roots of the FPS genre but also pushes it forward in meaningful ways. With its immersive combat, stunning maps, satisfying gameplay, and a healthy balance between authenticity and fun, it feels like the fresh start fans have been waiting for. Despite a few minor bugs and an underwhelming Campaign, it stands as a content-rich shooter that caters to a wide range of playstyles. More than just a great game, Battlefield 6 feels like a much-needed course correction for the genre, and a clear message to its competitors: the Multiplayer bar has just been raised.

Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV brings the ultimate party experience to the new console, enhancing the already content-rich base game with innovative Switch 2 features like microphone and camera integration. While the core game's visuals show their age, the "Jamboree TV" expansion shines, offering fresh minigames, new modes like Frenzy to shorten playtimes, and robust multiplayer options for endless fun with friends and family.

There’s little else like Ni No Kuni 2. It might not match the original’s sense of wonder, but there’s an inescapable warmth and charm in Level-5’s sequel wrapped up in a serious fantasy tale. With its improved approach to worldbuilding and combat, this is one Switch RPG not to miss.

While it may not win over every fan of classic 2D Metroid, MercurySteam’s approach keeps Dread from feeling like a rehash of what we’ve grown accustomed to. The map design and pacing have never been better, and Dread’s stellar combat justifies MercurySteam’s action-heavy overhaul to the series. Ultimately, Dread was worth waiting two decades for. If this is the way forward for Samus — and, with additional accessibility options, I sincerely hope it is — Metroid has a bright future ahead.

Bear and Breakfast offers players a pleasant collection of activities, interlaced with a wholesome story and loveable characters in a whimsical nature-filled world.

Cult of the Lamb is a masterpiece of an action roguelike game. It's fun, engaging, has a beautiful but brutal aesthetic, and is absolutely worth a playthrough. It's missing some replayability in my eyes, but it's overall a stellar title.

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.

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.

Dispatch’s first two episodes are a strong start to AdHoc’s vibrant episodic series. It may not reach the heights of Telltale’s classic titles yet, but it’s slowly shaping up to be a strong superhero adventure with a lot of heart and soul packed into its characters. With 6 more episodes left, I can’t wait for it to break my heart.

Despite its age, OFF is a veteran game that can still hit a home run. The simple visuals and obtuse puzzles might alienate some, but its fun turn-based combat and deep themes can win over RPG fans as long as they don’t mind writing down clues or possible solutions on a piece of paper.

Two Point Campus is a delightful treat. Consistently funny, enormously satisfying, and challenging to boot, it'll take you right back to the best years of your life, or make the worst years of your life better.

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.

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 Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gets a much-needed upgrade on the Nintendo Switch 2, transforming a good game into a truly great one. With buttery-smooth performance, enhanced visuals, and clever new quality-of-life features like in-game navigation and build sharing, this is undoubtedly the definitive way to experience Hyrule's latest adventure. If you haven't played it yet or are looking for a true showcase for your new console, the Switch 2 Edition makes Tears of the Kingdom shine.

As you can probably tell, Recompile is rather special. The mix of the stunning aesthetic, beautiful music, fun combat, and interesting hacking systems all make for something that feels different to any other Metroidvania I've played before. I really like it, and the fact that it's so open and full of potential means this is the kind of game people will be telling their own stories about for ages to come.

Monument Valley 3’s brevity does not diminish how much the series has evolved over the years. Its intricate level designs, paired with a spellbinding soundtrack, continue to captivate its niche playerbase and anyone who enjoys puzzlers. For $20, you can experience how UsTwo has mastered the art of perspective, shapes, and sound, delivering one of gaming’s most beautiful and memorable puzzle adventures.

It's a must-play, the perfect next step for existing FM fanatics, and the ideal place to start if you've never dipped your toe in the deep end of management simulations. You'll be able to get started easily and stop playing after just one more game. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to lose 6-1 to Liverpool in a failed attempt to implement a Gegenpress at Reading FC.

Horizon Forbidden West improves upon the original in almost every way, making smart tweaks without reinventing the wheel. If the evolution of the Horizon series in this game is a taste of the future of the franchise, then I am definitely hungry for more.

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.