I suspect Riders Republic might be something very special indeed. We’ll have to wait and see what the community does with it, but early signs look promising. There’s a rock-solid foundation to build upon, and such a wide range of events to take on that each set a high bar in terms of what could come next. It does feel a little directionless at present. There's simply so much on offer that it's difficult to find focus within the noise. This direction and focus will likely be shaped by the community in the coming months, as user-created content takes over from the events on show at launch...Whether you want to race on a bike, fly through rings with a rocket strapped to your back, or simply explore the gorgeous natural views, Riders Republic has you covered. If you can handle the incessant hipster speak, that is.

Despite its 'bite-sized' diorama aesthetic and fragmented episodic structure, Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined is a masterclass in JRPG fundamentals. While the main narrative takes its time to find its footing, the game triumphs through its gorgeous visuals, a sweeping orchestral score, and modern quality-of-life features that respect the player's time. It is a charming, customisable, and deeply endearing adventure that proves even in the shadow of the Final Fantasy giants, Dragon Quest remains a premier franchise that demands your attention.

The Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch 2 Edition is the definitive version of the 2023 hit, adding 4K clarity and the social-heavy Bellabel Park DLC. Featuring new mini-games, Rosalina as a playable character, and family-friendly additions like Assist Mode, it’s a must-buy for newcomers and social players, despite minor visual upgrades and familiar progression hurdles.

Despite its shortcomings, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a fantastic time for beat 'em up fans and Marvel enthusiasts alike. Arcade adds a bit of replayability, but the dull stages and lack of charm hurt its longevity.

Life is Strange: True Colors has an intriguing mystery and strong cast of characters. The implementation of the protagonist’s superpower is also the most creative than it has ever been. While the fundamental choice-based narrative structure is largely the same, the game feels fresh with unique new ideas and presentation. Fans of the series and newcomers will definitely enjoy this.

Bungie’s Marathon reboot successfully transforms a sci-fi classic into a tense, visually stunning extraction shooter. While a steep learning curve and punishing seasonal resets may alienate some, the satisfying gunplay, unique Runner Shell abilities, and addictive loop of high-stake runs make it a rewarding experience for those who brave the dangers of Tau Ceti IV.

Screamer is an amazing game for those yearning for a classic arcade racer with an anime-inspired coat of paint that includes high production values and very deep mechanics that will be hard, yet satisfying to master. A puzzling lack of a proper tutorial, a lackluster narrative despite strong character designs, and uneven track selection bog down the experience a smidge.

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.

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.

Whatever its faults, there’s really nothing much like R-Type Final 2 on the market right now. It’s unabashedly old school in its approach and delights in letting you go hog wild with its dozens of weapons. Frustration and visual crowding aside, there’s plenty to love here for space fans.

Lost in Random is easily one of the more unique games I’ve played recently. Offering an entertaining fusion of deck-builders and real-time combat, Zoink’s done well in realising their vision. Thanks to chance-based combat, lack of enemy variety and some long-winded dialogue with NPCs, it's not perfect, but ultimately, the positives outweigh these points. With some strong combat customisation, a captivating story and excellent art style, Lost in Random comes highly recommended.

Crimson Desert is an ambitious open-world epic that succeeds through its dense, rewarding exploration and weighted combat, even while stumbling over a generic story and a flat protagonist. While unintuitive controls and momentum-killing puzzles can cause occasional frustration, the sheer scale of Pywel and its deep progression systems offer a level of discovery unlike anything seen before it. Ultimately, the game’s narrative shortcomings are overshadowed by its immendepth and breathtaking world, making it a flawed but deeply memorable adventure.

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.

Ultimately, Boiling Point is a masterclass in atmosphere that successfully pushes Ready or Not into its most immersive and chaotic territory yet. While the three new missions are some of the most visually and mechanically impressive levels to date, the lingering performance jitters on PS5 and the relatively slim offering of new playable content leave a slight shadow over an otherwise solid expansion.

Playing in VR for the first time is a thrill, but the other new features haven’t been implemented well.

While it starts out slowly, Stonefly grows into something truly special – a heady mix of beautiful graphics and fun gameplay that feels strangely relaxing to play, and entirely unique to look at.

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.

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.

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.

MLB The Show 21 doesn’t quite knock this one out of the park. Instead, it’s one of the most well-hit doubles I’ve ever seen. The foundation San Diego Studios has cultivated over the years has allowed them to almost seamlessly transfer over to the next-gen and has me excited to see where the series goes from here.

At launch, Halo Infinite is a somewhat uneven bundle. The multiplayer is outstanding, and free to all players, even those without a Game Pass subscription. It recaptures that classic Halo magic from the early 2000’s, and has managed to inch out its competitors with its cleverly re-imagined gameplay. The campaign is less consistent, and harder to recommend unless you are really itching for yet another Chief/Cortana story. It’s a step up from Halo 5, absolutely, but its experiment with a larger map doesn’t quite land as well as it should. There are few memorable moments throughout, but its excellent gunplay makes it worth a try, even if you just mainline your way through the story missions.

With its unique hook, surprisingly in-depth gameplay, and fascinating mystery, Card Shark is an absolute delight.

Gibbon: Beyond the Trees tells a hugely important story wordlessly and effortlessly, combining the gameplay and story in ways that inspire both powerlessness and hope.

Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League delivers a solid looter shooter experience wrapped up in an actually hilarious narrative, with incredible performances from the cast of misfits. While live-service elements and repetitive missions muddy the experience, Suicide Squad is solid fun that, even after 30+ hours, I’m still jumping back into every night.

A rinse-and-repeat of other Ubisoft titles, but still undeniably enjoyable thanks to gorgeous visuals and engaging story-telling.

King of Meat is a serviceable co-op dungeon crawler that's best played with friends. Combined with a generous monetization model and plenty of replay value for $29.99, it shows a lot of potential for growth. However, entering a saturated multiplayer market, the game's greatest risk is failing to attract a consistent player base. Its unique aesthetic and player-made dungeons are its best hope for avoiding the worst-case scenario of being quickly abandoned.

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.

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.