SAND LAND looks phenomenal, recreating the late Akira Toriyama’s style with ease, but it’s charming looks can’t balance repetitive gameplay that stretches even minor quests into heavily grating tasks.

Brimming with style and boasting slick combat, Zenless Zone Zero’s few stumbles are easy to look past. While it’s much smaller than the massive open world of Genshin Impact or the galaxy-spanning tales of Honkai, it's all the better for it.

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.

Backbone is a simple game to play, meaning that the dialogue and theme development had to carry the experience. While the narrative rushes to an uneasy finish, the story gives you a lot of meat to sink your teeth into.

Nintendo Switch Sports is an admirable attempt to fill the void left by the Wii Sports series, but a lack of offline progression and small selection of sports means it doesn't quite reach those heights.

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

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.

As much as I want to love this game as a whole, the story lets it down. As a newcomer to the Final Fantasy franchise, the storyline would put me off of playing any more if I didn’t know that some of the other games are renowned for being incredible. Having a story that I can be invested in from the very beginning is what makes a great RPG. That being said, the combat and build up to the various boss fights were unarguably brilliant. I haven’t experienced such joy from the intelligent use of repetition in any other fighting game. From being able to tailor the intensity of each battle to my own experience level to building Jack to be a character I enjoyed, combat is truly where this game shines.

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

Greak: Memories of Azur is certainly a game platformer fans will want to check out, especially at a low price point.

Steelrising is a familiar game with just enough to really stand on its own two feet. It's not a revolution but it could have been the start of one.

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.

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.

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.

Soul Hackers 2 is a light journey into the vast Shin Megami world with vibrant characters and a new story, though it is a little transparent for long-time fans wanting a deep JRPG.

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.

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.

Lake will appeal to those who like their games chilled and their pop with an alternative country twang. There’s little more to do than deliver packages, hang out with locals and admire the scenery, but when the setting is a town as beautiful and scenic as Providence Oaks, that’s more than enough. A few minor bugs aside, Lake is a great way to spend 5 or so hours. It’s even better if you simply want to unwind and go for a drive. If you do give it a chance, you’ll find that by the end of it you’ve made your mark on the town. There are certainly worse places to call home, after all.

Overall, Tides of Tomorrow stands on its own as a very interesting narrative-driven game that will take you roughly 10-15 hours to complete on your first playthrough (there are several endings based on the choices you, or the person you're following, make). The Story-Link is a neat novelty, but the concept doesn't hit as hard as I would've wanted.

I have no doubt that Dawn of Ragnarok will be enjoyable for some. In truth, however, it only takes a hesitant half-step towards offering a full fantasy experience, and in not committing fully, it ends up being a shallow expansion that does little to justify its price point or its existence. I'm not sure who these Assassin's Creed fans are, the ones clamouring for a full-fledged fantasy RPG, with monsters and lighting boat cosmetics and new skins for their warbird, but clearly, Ubisoft is hoping to capture that market. If anything, Dawn of Ragnarok has made me realise that I'd much rather be fist-fighting the Pope, than taking down a fire demon with eyes made of lava.

In the end, Blades of Fire is an intriguing blend of old-school charm and modern design, like a game forged out of time. Its deep combat and weapon forging shine, even as its 3D Metroidvania structure occasionally falters. Backtracking and vague direction can frustrate, but the game’s heart and ambition stand out, especially with plenty of secrets to uncover in its sprawling dark fantasy world.

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

Grandia HD combines two stunning timeless RPGs into a shoddy package that still suffers from framerate problems, graphical bugs, audio issues and glitches, but as some of the best PS1/Saturn RPGs, it’s worth figuring through these issues to experience something great.

While Wrath of the Druids isn’t Assassin’s Creed at its most exciting, it’s certainly passable in a month as quiet as this. Burn a weekend burning druids and make the most of it all, before waiting to see when they'll get back to the actual plot. Seriously, I need closure on that ending, Ubisoft.

The crowd who’ll be left out in the cold with New World are those looking for a rich narrative adventure akin to your typical MMO. That’s not really here right now, and it's unclear what plans Amazon has in store for it. Maybe in the future, with ongoing updates, New World can evolve into something truly special.

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

Mario Golf Super Rush is a fun way to spend a few hours with friends on the course, but it struggles to maintain any momentum after that. Adventure mode is short and a little dull, and while Speed Golf (and to a lesser extent, its Battle-based sibling) are fun, I found myself wishing there was more to see and do here.

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.