My experience with Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is an odd one. I love the vast majority of the gameplay it offers, but having played a clearly inferior version on Nintendo Switch 2 really soured me on its otherwise incredible visual presentation. The story and its characters are better than you'd expect if you've played or even glanced at previous Stories games, but it's not the sort of tale you'll be reminiscing about once you put the game down.

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.

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.

It all meshes together into a game that's far too difficult and without the satisfaction that comes from making progress in a difficult game. It's like bashing your head against the wall, and unlike other games with this approach, the wall isn't starting to crumble. The wall has grown a smug, laughing face as it prepares to take away one of your character's most important abilities, just in time for the final boss battle.

Berserk Boy is a wonderful throwback to the GBA and Genesis era, with gorgeous pixel visuals and lightning-fast gameplay. There’s nothing ourightly original about this 2D platformer, but that shouldn’t deter anyone looking for a quality throwback.

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.

Ninja Theory hits its apex with Hellblade 2, combining decades of cinematic experience with a thought-provoking action drama that you’d never expect to see as a console exclusive.

Bridge of Spirits tackles the question of whether a game is worthwhile if it doesn’t innovate, and the answer is yes. Ember Lab’s biggest sin with Kena is just not following up on the unique identity hinted at throughout the journey, but never developed fully. That aside, Bridge of Spirits is still a rich and beautiful adventure with smart combat and superb platforming, and hopefully, it's not the last we hear from Ember Lab.

With endlessly stylish and deceptively simple skirmishes at its core, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is a surprisingly well-rounded power trip that, needlessly deep systems and sluggish opening chapters aside, should easily captivate franchise fans and anyone looking to finally meet its popular cast of characters. It’s the most genuine fun I’ve had with a story-driven game in ages, and one that’s a great entryway into a beloved franchise.

With an excellent story, tight mechanics, and tons of customization available for players, Dark Deity is a game that any SRPG fan should have in their library. It is unfortunate that outdated and over-sexualized depictions of women slightly tarnish such an otherwise beautiful gem.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ready or Not is more than just a game; it's a harrowing yet deeply satisfying journey into the unforgiving world of tactical law enforcement. Its meticulous detail, varied missions, and high replayability ensure that the "one more mission" feeling persists long after you've completed the main objectives. For anyone seeking a challenging, immersive, and genuinely impactful tactical shooter, Ready or Not stands as a resounding success on consoles.

Super Magbot is a fiendishly difficult game that builds upon its simple premise with layers upon layers of new variables to manage and timings to master. It relies on your becoming flustered and messing up, rather than making the levels all that difficult. It never asks you to do anything more than time your button presses and use the correct magnet, but that never stops it from breaking you. It's a delight, but it's also not going to be for anyone who's not interested in taking a break every ten minutes to scream at the sun.

An intense adventure through a lesser-known historical struggle, Gerda: A Flame in Winter tells its story with charm and empathy, whilst driving home the brutality of living as a civilian in wartime.

In short, NEO The World Ends With You is massive. It’s a grand, modern epic with impeccable writing and almost as impeccable style that’s got as much heart as it does twists and turns in the plot. This is easily one of the year’s finest RPGs.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax offers a fun celebration for Persona 3 and 4 that’ll appeal to series and fighting fans alike, proving why Arc System Works maintains such a strong following. I do have to question Atlus’ decision to re-release Ultimax first, given how Persona 3 and Persona 4 aren't available on PS4 or Nintendo Switch, but it’s still a welcome sight. While poor pacing and repetition issues sadly hold back this story, it’s still serviceable and I genuinely enjoyed seeing these characters once again. Ultimax still packs a mean punch eight years later and even if you aren’t a hardcore Persona fan, it gets my recommendation.

Ruined King: A League of Legends story is one of the best turn-based RPGs released this year. Featuring extremely smooth mechanics and exquisite visuals, Ruined King can keep players glued to their gaming chairs for hours at a time. How much League of Legends lore Ruined King reveals is easily the cherry on top, too. There's a thrilling story within for everyone who chooses to give the game a try, one that comes highly recommended.

While it misses the mark in its single-player offerings and the online experience is still not up to competitors' standards, City of the Wolves is one of the most mechanically deep and fun fighting games to come out in recent years.

So what we're left with is a slightly uneven collection. The core material is still brilliant, made exponentially more so with the stellar soundtracks and built-in music player, but you'll be a bit disappointed if you were hoping for anything other than the core material.

Despite having amazing core gameplay, 2K25 offers half-baked content that brings down the experience, with The Island being an egregious example of a predatory mode designed to make players spend even more money than they already did for a full priced game.

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.

It may be late to the party, but the extra time for the Switch version of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time has not gone to waste. It’s an excellent port with the mountain of content contained in the initial release all present and correct. Long-time Crash fans will be more than happy with what’s on offer, a continuation of the series they love that introduces some excellent new ideas. However, platforming fans new to Crash may find the way his movement echoes his wild personality rather frustrating.

Diablo 2 Resurrected should have been a remake. The approach might be more streamlined than most modern RPGs, and combat is just as enjoyable as it ever was. However, it's also difficult to recommend for those unwilling to push back against the game at almost every turn. If you're familiar with the original and know its quirks already, the visual refresh is enough to warrant yet another playthrough.

While Velan Studios has created a competent multiplayer experience, Knockout City’s not especially thrilling. There aren’t many games that use dodgeball as a core mechanic, making it somewhat unique, but it feels afraid to take risks, creating an entertaining but ultimately safe experience. If you can gather up some friends, there’s silly enjoyment within and considering it’s got a free trial – to say nothing of Game Pass/EA Play – I’d recommend at least trying it.