While the character and world design offers an intriguing playspace, the puzzle and combat mechanics are so simple that I was left unimpressed by the end of my ten-hour playthrough.

While Madden 25 feels like a great improvement on last year's game, it still feels like much of its core is standing in place. While that leads to a feeling of "Maybe next year" that the series has fostered before, it's definitely a better game than last year's effort.

Star Wars Outlaws is a perfectly playable experience that will only be enhanced by a player's potential love of the series and its world.

Black Myth: Wukong infuses the cultural heritage of China, its rich mythology, and one of its most important pieces of literature with an action RPG structure that's as deep as it is grand in scale. However, this same scope leads to some inconsistency across the board that is a detriment to the overall quality.

Splintered Fate is a great Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles roguelike that possibly sticks a little too closely to the template set by one of the genre's finest. And yet, as I played through run after run with a co-op partner, I didn't care one bit.

Offering the best way to play Luigi’s Mansion 2, but falling short of the crown of best game in the series thanks to its superior supernatural sequel, this HD remake is an ideal pickup for any Switch owner who didn’t own a 3DS.

The Monster Hunter Stories remaster is a very faithful rendition of the original game. It adds a fresh coat of paint, better performance and English and Japanese voice acting. With the core experience still very much intact, this could well be the definitive way to experience Monster Hunter Stories going forward.

More casual players of the series who just want to experience the racing on offer will find much less to write home about in F1 24. To an unseasoned eye, the experience here is largely similar to last year’s offering, with one track fewer and sans the continuation of Braking Point, which is a bi-annual affair. As such, F1 24 is a mis-season refresh, and a much harder sell than usual with this yearly release.

The sweet heart of Toriyama beats here, but it alone can’t help to make Sand Land compelling for most.

Although the novelty of swiping wears off pretty quickly, Reigns: Beyond is an impressive game for its price point. For less than £5, it’s not a risky investment - and it's probably worth the entry fee just to experience the unique gameplay and hilarious script. It’s definitely more suited for short bursts on mobile, but if the Apple Arcade isn’t an option for you, then the Switch version is a nice alternative.

There is - or at least, I want there to be - a great game here, with combat that structurally emulates what made Suikoden so memorable and recognisable and a world filled with countless varied characters.

If you’re looking for a new rogue-lite to sink your teeth into, Beat Slayer offers an excellent rendition of the genre, with the rhythm-based combat only elevating it further. I’d have liked to have seen a little more innovation in the game’s upgrade system, and the character work here falls a little sub-par of what I’d expect in a game like this.

The game certainly gets better as time goes on, and the story is well-told enough that it's worth experiencing for survival horror fans. However, it comes with the caveats that the overall gameplay leaves a lot to be desired, and its survival horror contemporaries just do a better job on nearly every front.

Mario vs Donkey Kong is a charming puzzler that’s great in short bursts, but the repetitive formula, short length, and occasionally frustrating controls leave it paling in comparison to other top-tier Mario outings on Switch.

Classified: France '44 is a strong debut from Absolutely Games that's worth a go if you're looking for hours of well-designed turn-based combat, varied missions and encounters, and a highly replayable campaign. However, it doesn't quite hit the potato masher on the head when it comes to exploring its WWII setting and creating a narrative about the human cost of war.

Bandle Tale feels like a game some people will thoroughly enjoy, but others might grow tired of when the systems start piling on top of each other. It’s surprisingly complex, and about as long as the average big-budget RPG, but whether players will have the same patience for it remains to be seen.

With a poor story mode offering, wildly expensive microtransactions, and visibility issues that really hamper gameplay, I can't see Foamstars making waves in the sea of multiplayer shooters that already exists.

Airhead has redeeming qualities, including stunning art direction, an amazing soundscape, and a steady drip-feed of upgrades that serve to keep the gameplay loop fresh. Metroidvania fans who have the patience to stick out the frustrating gameplay will find themselves an incredible world to explore, and one that’s filled with an interesting story, concept, and secrets. However, the core gameplay loop quickly spirals from being an interesting gimmick to an infuriating irritation, and it’s not one that I can see most casual players enjoying all that much.

Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League, live service ambitions aside, is a fun shooter that feels like the closest you’ll get to a virtual DC Comics theme park; it looks great, and it’s full of recognisable characters. And, like a theme park, much of it feels hollow, designed by a committee for a focus group that may not even exist anymore to keep them engaged and coming back. Despite this, and like every time I've been to a theme park, I've come away feeling like I've had fun, as forgettable as the specifics may be.

Ready or Not is a game that is designed to make players feel uncomfortable. In one way, its tense gunfights and the uncertainty of what's behind the next door achieve that in spades. On the other, the locations and missions will cut a little too close to reality for some.

With new crafting recipes, a new Royal Tool that makes you feel like Doctor Strange, and new companions to adventure with, while A Rift in Time ends up feeling just as grindy as the original content does, it's more cosy game content that is perfect to pick up and play this holiday season.

Born of Bread is a lovely little RPG with gorgeous Paper Mario-inspired visuals and a great sense of humour that helps elevate its by-the-books gameplay. I had a lot of fun with it, but also quite a few frustrations with glitches and soft-locking, which is a shame as it’s a real gem outside of those problems.

There are lots of design choices I didn’t mesh with in Frontiers of Pandora. I love the world, but barriers blocked me from fully immersing myself in it, and it’s littered with activities and outposts plucked straight out of the 2010s and planted in Pandora’s soil.

Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer is the shining light of this year's Call of Duty offering and is without a doubt the glue holding the whole package together. Unfortunately, it's hard to ignore the glaring cracks in what should have probably been an expansion for MW2.

The Invincible might have its minor problems, but they don’t do much to draw from the fact that Starward Industries has proven that the direct adaptation of The Invincible was always destined to be a video game.

My Time at Sandrock is a game that you’ll have no trouble getting into if you’re a fan of the genre. If you’re new to cosy games on the whole, though, it’s also one that is easy to pick up and play - making it a great entry-level title for those checking out something slower in the colder months and dark nights.

From the moment you fire up Robocop: Rogue City and see his cruiser’s bumper scrape up the ramp, it is clear who the game is for - if you’re a fan of the 1980s classic you’re in for a treat. Otherwise, the poor performance and uninspired gameplay make it hard to recommend the game to someone who isn’t already a fan of OCP's finest. One thing you can’t take away from Teyon is they have delivered a true-to-the-film Robocop experience, but whether you'd buy that for a dollar is up to you.

Overall, Little Goody Two Shoes is a lot of fun, but may not be what you’re looking for if you’re on the hunt for a more traditional horror experience lending more to a slow-burn style of game with a lot of different elements tossed into the mix, from resource management to quests, and mini-games. It's a little unfocused, and while that works for its unique visual stylings, I found myself wishing for more horror than the constant diversions it offered.

Song of Nunu will certainly be a fun and cosy adventure for players looking to get started with League of Legends, veterans of the series excited to see the story expanded, or a younger audience looking to experience a family-friendly platformer.

For hardcore competitive players, the gameplay improvements might be enough to coax them across. As for the regular fans who want the next evolution in UFC games, I'm not so sure they will find enough here to justify the purchase. If you have been away from MMA games for as long as I have, UFC 5 is a fantastic way to jump back in - but UFC 4 might be just as good.

Endless Dungeon is generally a quality rogue-lite adventure. It’s constantly throwing hordes of enemies at you and feels genuinely challenging. With more variety and better weapons and upgrades it could’ve been an excellent sci-fi romp to replay. It's still a lot of fun at times, but some restrictions hold it back. Descending each floor of the dungeon and reaching the reactor will keep you hooked for a while, but at its core Endless Dungeon’s flaws hold it back from being a truly memorable advancement for the genre. It does more for tower defence than it does for rogue-lites, which certainly isn’t a bad thing, but it never quite makes the impact I was hoping it could.

Lords of the Fallen has a lot to offer but is largely held back by technical issues throughout, and the further I progressed through the game, the more striking these problems became, escalating from a few dips in framerate to hard crashes and glaring pop-in.

Sonic Superstars ultimately gets bogged down in how it regularly sidetracks the player, tripping them up at almost every conceivable opportunity. There are glimmers of brilliance that occasionally shine through, but the overall experience was a tiresome one to play through.

Total War: PHARAOH presents an interesting window into the time and place of a tumultuous historical period while handing you the reigns to make your own story out of it.

Detective Pikachu Returns is a charming sequel that relies on its beloved IP to get by, delivering a story that's more engaging than most Pokemon adventures but falling flat with uninspired gameplay and dated visuals.

Time will tell if Starbreeze can build upon the baseline it has built. As it stands, PAYDAY 3 is worth dipping your toes into for the curious, but almost certainly worth waiting a while longer to see if it reaches its full potential.

If you’re the type of Pokemon player who isn’t bothered about a game’s technical shortcomings, you’ll have a good time regardless. Otherwise, you might want to wait for the next batch of patches Game Freak have surely added to its to-do list.

NBA 2K24 showcases a franchise in need of going back to the fundamentals. Its clumsy implementation of VC is nothing new, but it's now actively hampering the rest of the game - especially given the disappointment of MyCareer. And yet, on the court, NBA 2K24 remains the finest basketball sim I've played in years - it just needs to find its form again.

While far from shallow, Under the Waves doesn’t quite reach the depths that it could have. Its ambient score, gorgeous stylised visuals and emphasis on tackling issues such as mental well being, ocean conservation and how we deal with grief illustrate just how much love has been put into the game. However, some of its more striking moments quickly come undone as a result of a lacklustre protagonist, whose monotone line delivery and poor lip-syncing can break you out of the seafaring spell, as well as the occasional bug. Nonetheless, despite Stan and some technical hiccups here and there, Under the Waves shines when you are roaming around the ocean, taking photos of the various ecosystems and cleaning up the environment to later put to use for crafting materials. Spending your days exploring the ocean may seem like a quiet task, and it is, but it is a meditative one that you should allow to wash over you.

Fae Farm is an incredibly cute cosy game that makes for a great title to play alone, and while we didn’t have the opportunity to play multiplayer, we’d wager it’s even better when exploring with others, too. From farming to cooking, decorating, getting to know and build relationships with NPCs, and a beautiful art style that gives Fae Farm plenty of individuality, there’s likely something here for everyone. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel and some activities like fishing and navigating dungeons can feel a bit of a slog, this is one cosy game that knows what it’s trying to achieve and something fans of the genre should absolutely check out.

While The Texas Chainsaw Massacre's longevity will likely be drawn into question - and only time will tell if it will stand tall in the genre six months from now - for now, taking up the mantle of victim and family is raucous and riveting. Maybe this won't be the last hitchhiker we pick up, after all.

Madden NFL 24 feels like it needs a team talk that'll ruffle some feathers, but without it, the franchise feels like it'll be doomed to repeat the same season again, and again. It's time for EA to break the cycle, but if history is anything to go by, we could be approaching a redemption story.

While its choice-based gameplay is starting to feel meaningful, it's all dragged down by a narrative hook that's already been presented arguably better in the show and dull gameplay. Sadly, my confidence in the direction of the series is not going in a positive direction anymore - and most of my thoughts are looking back on what could have been, rather than ahead on what could happen next.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series Episode 2 is a step up from its predecessor as the series begins to settle in and takes advantage of interpersonal drama to really elevate the choices. It does suffer from some of the same issues as Episode 1 and doesn't quite land an attempt to try something new with its gameplay, but it highlights what makes Telltale unique, and why I'm glad they are back.

In Aliens: Dark Descent's best moments, it's a rich real-time tactics game that represents the Alien mythos from a refreshing gameplay perspective, revelling in stressing the player out with difficult choice and consequence gameplay. If the game managed to consistently ride this line, it would be in with a shout of dethroning Alien: Isolation as the best adaption in this medium yet. However, cracks begin to reveal themselves in a few key places that can drag down the gameplay, and sometimes outright contradict Dark Descent's goal of seemingly challenging the player to accept their actions and the results that come about from them. It's not enough to negate the best Aliens: Dark Descent has to offer, but it is enough to lament how it just missed the mark.

Overall, while The Expanse: A Telltale Series Episode 1 doesn't get off to a great start, it shows enough promise and faithfulness to the franchise that has intrigued me as to what twists and turns it will inevitably take later on. While some choices here feel like they kneecap the purpose of Telltale's choose-your-own-adventure formula, there are enough well-needed improvements that I can see the game opening up as time goes on. We'll have to wait and see how The Expanse shaped up with the release of the next episode.

Ultimately, The Sims 4 Horse Ranch feels more like a Game Pack than an Expansion. If you're mad about horses, then you'll get immeasurable joy from the DLC, and it will be well worth your time just to see your foals take their first steps on your ranch. However, if you're expecting a full-fledged Expansion with everything that comes with that, full neighbourhoods, activities, storylines and more, you may feel disappointed.

With a shortage of co-op games to play, we need to take what we can get, and Remnant 2 handily fills that role. You’ll find plenty of fun here if that’s all you want, but it’s not quite as masterful as the games it’s so heavily influenced by.

Exoprimal isn't something anyone really expected, but landing on Bikitoa Island with no expectations may have made the game more enjoyable - at least in the earliest hours. Sadly, it doesn't tend to evolve past that, with its explosive opening volley followed by repetition that, while still fun, feels unfinished. While I'm hopeful more game modes are on the way, what's here right now that's enough bite to convince you to stick around for long.

If you’re looking for a couch co-op game that’ll bring your loved ones closer together for a sweet-natured bonding session, Manic Mechanics probably isn’t the one for you - but what I can say is that if your family is anything like mine, then bonding over the anger and frustration will definitely make for the perfect night in...With a little bit of patience, some engine oil and a whole lot of vendetta against Betty and the gang, Manic Mechanics is a perfect addition to your family Switch library.

All in all, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals provides an experience that fans of the original will no doubt love. With refined gameplay features and a truly stunning presentation, there’s a lot here to keep fans of the genre happy for hours…However, a few technical issues and new-generation oversights keep Oxenfree II from being a game that truly stands out from the crowd, which is disappointing given the rest of its potential.

Crash Team Rumble is fun in short bursts, and if you and your friends are looking for a new multiplayer title to check out, it’ll definitely keep you entertained for a few nights. Much of its longevity will be decided by its support, however, and while what’s here is fun at launch, it’s hard not to feel like it’s a little barebones.

At its heart, AEW: Fight Forever feels like a celebration of the AEW brand and a culmination of the promotion’s achievements. While it may be hindered by its graphics and sparse career mode, AEW: Fight Forever shines when it is paying homage to the history of the company. It may not be the game changer like the wrestling promotion it is based on, but it is certainly fun and feels like the classic wrestling games from a bygone era.

There are things to love here, and there is visible potential within reach. A lot of the major problems with this game could be fixed. That said, with combat as poor and as prevalent as this, Stray Blade is very difficult to recommend to anyone.

MotoGP 23 is a completely competent motorbike racer that those who know and love the sport will likely get all the enjoyment out of it that they can hope for. A fabulous customisation system and best-in-class racing mechanics mean there is very little competition out there right now. However, a lack of beginner-friendly tutorials keeps this game from being enjoyable to the masses. It’s a sim racer by design, and as such, casual fans are better off looking elsewhere.

Blooming Business Casino is very fun and has a lot of potential, especially with the story elements and its unique and charming art style. Here's hoping the rough edges of its tutorial can be smoothed out to make it a more consistent experience throughout.

Miasma Chronicles is a promising strategy game with satisfying but challenging combat, a generous skill tree with sci-fi elements and intriguing lore. The characters and writing are somewhat cheesy which you'll either love or hate and the story doesn't set any new ground in the crowded post-apocalyptic space, but it's still a fun romp.

De-Exit is a game with some things to say, which is always refreshing to see. It has a positive message about life and accepting death and says that the most important thing in life is to do as much good as you can with the time you have. It is a very sweet game, with excellent voice acting and some truly beautiful music. There is a visual juxtaposition between the fairly simplistic voxel graphics and the lighting and cinematography. These things come together to create an otherworldly feel that serves the game. The unusual visual style reminds me of seeing Another World for the first time, not fully understanding why it looked so different but knowing there was something special about it. There are a lot of parallels to be drawn between De-Exit and Another World, so much so that the game could have been called "Another Life". Fans of one of the most classic adventure games in history are likely to find plenty to like if they check out De-Exit.

As it stands, Meet Your Maker is a really fun game. It is a new and unique concept, one that is executed excellently. Invasion gameplay is fun, building gives plenty of room for creativity. There is a concerted effort here to make sure neither mode is ever frustrating, whether you are robbing or being robbed, you are never losing out. The game as it is pre-launch is more than interesting enough to have me excited to see what players will come up with.

Dead Island 2 could have been the Return of the Living Dead of zombie video games, making for an irreverent, B-movie romp through an undead-filled LA, but it just ends up marginally better than the original game without ever approaching its full potential. The improved combat is the game's main saving grace, but it isn't enough to redeem the shallow progression mechanics, inconsistent tone, and unfocused story.

Nothing in Minecraft Legends is entirely unique, and its most memorable aspects are its commitment to the series’ art direction and its PvP matches. Between the two, there’s a formulaic campaign that feels like a fun social space in co-op but lacking in variety and direction when played solo. It’s Minecraft, but not as you know it - for better and worse.

There is plenty of quality in the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection, but it is stretched over a lot of quantity. Ten games for the price of one sounds great, but if those ten games are almost identical, that changes things considerably. To reuse that Pokemon comparison, this is like buying a bundle of ten older Pokemon games, which seems like a bargain, but those ten games are spread over just two or three generations. That quantity is what you are really paying for, so you should be aware of that going in. If a heck of a lot of Mega Man Battle Network is an appealing prospect to you then by all means, jump right in. If that water looks a little deep, then you might want to hold off for now.

Wildfrost is an incredibly charming game that’s easy to like. It maintains that “one more go” mentality, despite its two main systems not connecting in an organic way. With some updates and tweaks, the experience could flow more naturally, but instead, it feels like two disconnected elements. Its devilish difficulty may be offputting for many, but if you can buy into its charm and take the time to understand the combat, Wildfrost can be an extremely rewarding experience.

We knew very much what to expect from Kirby's Return to Dreamland Deluxe, and it doesn't disappoint. Perhaps not the boldest Kirby title we've seen, especially on the Switch - but it's a chirpy, charming throwback that brings the core of what Kirby is all about to the Switch after the frustrating misstep that Star Allies proved itself to be. For fans of who Kirby is, what Kirby has been, and what Kirby may become, Return to Dreamland is potentially a precursor to a new, changing era of the pink puffball, and may very well be the last of its kind as Nintendo looks to the future of the series. It's good news, then, that it's such a rosy treat.

Wo Long is a hair's breadth from cohesiveness, but much like the game's antagonists, it slips through your fingers just when you think you've got it. Come on, Team Ninja. You've almost got it.

In years to come, Scars Above may be the sort of game you find in a “games you missed” list, or ones that deserve more attention. It’s rough around the edge, isn’t the prettiest, and doesn’t reinvent the gaming wheel, but what it does deliver is an enjoyable sci-fi romp that may gain a cult classic status one day.

Every system in SEASON seems to just be encapsulated by highs and lows. There will be something I'm really enjoying like the act of cycling, but then simultaneously an annoyance or disruption will creep in and spoil it. That is not to say there is nothing to enjoy within SEASON - quite the contrary, with the form of a great game clearly here. Aspects like the haptic feedback and active preservation excel within the game, but there is far too much clasping on the brakes to get the rhythm going, even in such a short game.

Despite reservations about the levels and combat in particular, there’s still a lot of fun to be had here. The platforming feels great and every frame of the game is gorgeous to look at. We just hope the next adventure takes a bigger leap in the gameplay department.

A challenging but immersive game that it always ways - feeling more rewarding the more you invest in its unique combat system and story with larger-than-life characters.

The content in this game seems plenty for the price, and anyone who plans to play online will get more than enough value for their money. As someone who had never touched the game before I can absolutely see myself playing more of this, I might even be tempted to pick up a few models and a board.