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.