Cities Skylines 2 is more of the same in the best possible way, giving players an abundance of quality-of-life improvements and new adjustments to keep the city-building fun going for years to come. While it doesn't quite have that one new blockbuster feature, nor does it revolutionise the genre in the same way that the original did back in 2015, it is still a brilliant game that you should not miss out on. Unfortunately, it does come with a barrage of performance issues that dampen the experience in a number of ways and only get worse the bigger your city grows.

While Hellboy Web of Wyrd is not the strongest example of a roguelike, the depth of its combat and themes more than make up for it. As perfect a representation of the Hellboy comic art as you could get in a 3D video game, Web of Wyrd is the best Hellboy game ever made, and an excellent entry point for new fans.

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.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is the triumphant continuation of an already spectacular series that raised the bar of superhero games. With a story that takes turns that I wouldn’t have expected, fluid combat with haptic feedback considerations, and an expansion of an already flawless and dynamic way to traverse the map, I was smiling all the way to the end from a thwipping great time.

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.

COCOON is a triumph, and if it's a benchmark of what to expect from its development team going forward, then they're about to be the smartest video game team on the planet.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage is the definition of a return to form. It’s stripped out all of the franchise's accrued bloat and brought everything back to basics, resulting in the first truly stealth-focused Assassin’s Creed game in years.

Presented in a way that is truly player-first, and wrapped up in one of the most fully-fledged packages of cars and tracks I’ve seen for a long while, Forza Motorsport sets a whole new standard for racing games.

There still remain many of the progression problems with Ultimate Team that are likely to never leave though, and while we are all used to them now, it doesn't make it any less frustrating to deal with as a 'free-to-play' player. Menus are also a big sticking point that I hope improves soon, and fans of Career Mode and Clubs will once again likely feel left out in favour of the bigger brother that is Ultimate Team.

Overall, there are better games that achieve the same and more. Deceit 2 is worth picking up perhaps, once there have been some balancing adjustments and once more maps, Terror mutations, roles and skins get introduced.

The Lamplighters League is a fun turn-based strategy game that keeps things fresh with its pulpy aesthetic and characters, boasting a solid gameplay loop that's not afraid to dish out the consequences of your actions. While the decision to add a real-time element to missions doesn't fully pan out, it's not enough to diminish the game's best qualities.

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.

The Resident Evil 4 Separate Ways DLC is a polished piece of fan service that delivers the promise of the original DLC, and more.

Comparisons to the Forza Horizon series are excruciatingly apparent in The Crew Motorfest, with it almost sharing more DNA with its competitor than its own predecessors. That said, the learnings are almost all for the better, with Ubisoft presenting an arcade racer that’s very close to being just as fun and comprehensive. If you’re an Xbox player, Forza Horizon remains top dog. However, The Crew Motorsport is undoubtedly one of the more pleasant surprises of 2023, cementing itself as the best arcade racer option for those on PlayStation.

From its breathless opening hours to its twisting narrative, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty would be worth the price of admission for its plot and characters alone. That it also offers an impressive new district, open-world dynamic events, and even more ways to build your own Cyberpunk mythos makes it an even easier recommendation.

Mortal Kombat 1 is the most complete package I have ever seen in a fighting game. It is an excellent new chapter for returning fans and a great jumping-on point for new players. In this new golden era of fighting games, where more people are playing them than ever before, Mortal Kombat 1 is exactly what we need. A fighting game for everyone, and a beautiful reminder of why we play.

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.

To some, Starfield may feel like more of the same in space. To others, that’ll be exactly what they’re looking for. When you give it time to breathe, the game shows you its strengths and invites you to play the way you wish. Not all of its features work out but most do, and the control you have over your journey makes it an excellent trip all the same.

For a game based on a story that's been told what feels like an endless number of times, Lies of P feels one of a kind.

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.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series Episode 4 is largely forgettable, following the same blueprint of the previous episode: a slog of dull gameplay that occupies most of the runtime before a brief end finally picks up enough momentum to jolt you awake for the credits. However, this time you aren't even presented with a single meaningful choice set piece to ground the events in your own interpretation of the character, displaying such a stark lack of player agency that it doesn't even feel much like a Telltale game.

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.

All in all, Armored Core 6 is an exceptional return for the series after such a long hiatus - keeping the core of the game true to its mechanical origins while integrating much of what has thrust FromSoftware into such overwhelming critical acclaim.