If you’re committed, RIDE 5 can be a helluva lot of fun. Its challenging yet rewarding racing mechanics are best in class for this genre of game, and the selection of tracks and bikes on offer are second to none. Despite being marketed as easy to learn and hard to master, Milestone still has a long road ahead if it truly wants to make the RIDE series properly accessible to the wider market. A lack of a training mode is a sore oversight for the fifth iteration of the series. However, if you’re deadset on becoming the best motorcycle racer you can possibly be, then you’ll find no better game to get your knee down in.

Through all the beauty and bloodshed, Blasphemous 2 is a game that demonstrates why the pixel style endures and should be recognised as one of the best-looking games of the year. As you find yourself entrenched in its eerie environs, you will undoubtedly find it hard to put down.

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.

Atlas Fallen isn’t a game that will push the action RPG genre forward, but it's so much fun to play it doesn't really matter anyway. The gameplay loop is satisfying and the aerial dash and sandglider mechanics are smooth enough that you'll be happy just exploring the world of Atlas, even if you're not progressing through the main story. Its clunky plot holds a certain charm, and with enjoyable combat and traversal it's worth a look for anyone looking for a meaty adventure before the Fall deluge.

Pikmin 4 is a tiny titan, another triumph from Nintendo on a console that has gradually become the best place to play many of its most esteemed franchises. It looks great, plays great, and should appeal to all players regardless of their Pikmin proficiency. With captivating gameplay, a beefy postgame and tons of things to collect, this game has earned its place as one of the best Nintendo games in years.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a triumph on PC and should set an example for how ports should be - not just for PlayStation games, but for every other game on the platform, too. The game wrapped up in the port is very close to perfect, too. After finishing the main story, I’m still aching to go back to grabbing collectables, zipping around the planets and mashing enemies with ridiculous weaponry at the same time. Boss design can get a little stale in the closing stages, and the illusion of dimension jumping is broken slightly on even relatively powerful PC specs. However, there’s no doubt that Rift Apart is a must-play on PC if you haven’t had the pleasure of trying it on PlayStation yet.

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.

Frontier has consistently one-upped itself throughout the development process of F1 Manager 2023, making for a consistently engaging, impressively nuanced take on a sport that's all about sweating the small stuff. F1 Manager 2023 is a lap ahead of its predecessor in nearly every way, and one of the best management sims around.

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.

Jagged Alliance 3 brings back the franchise's classic blend of strategy and RPG gameplay, with a distinctly millennial aesthetic and feel. All the while, the game plays like a modern game, incorporating the best elements of the past and the present to make a worthy successor that fans will love.

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.

With a stunning art style, unique puzzles, and a one-of-a-kind concept, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a puzzle game. While not without its frustrations, it’s a journey to the afterlife worth taking - and one you’ll be coming back to.

Despite the weight of expectations from a series full of gaming hallmarks, Final Fantasy 16 stands tall as an outstanding experience that you won't want to miss out on.

If you’re looking for a slick John Wick-style shooter to delve into, this game will be right up your street. If you’re looking for a successor to F.E.A.R, with action and horror combined in one package, it’s all here too. In the moment-to-moment action, Trepang2 pretty much delivers on all fronts. It's sheer fun, a joyous bloodbath where creativity in combat reigns supreme, and well worth a look if you’re not averse to a few scares.

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.

Whether you're wanting to get down to the nitty-gritty of it all and submerge yourself in graphs and statistics or kick back without restraint and build to your heart's desire, the sky is the limit in Park Beyond.

While F1 23 mostly feels iterative in its execution, it’s still the best F1 racing experience you can get for your money. The racing experience feels more lifelike than ever, with the subtle tweaks to the car handling resulting in a far more engaging drive. Breaking Point 2 is a bit of a melodramatic dud, but then again, so is the source material that it’s based on. There’s definitely more scope for innovation, but fans of the series will likely feel satiated with this year’s entry into the F1 racing series.

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.

Decarnation is an impressive journey through a difficult lens of strife and toxicity, and despite its more passive gameplay, is an easy recommendation for psychological horror fans. Its topics are handled well, and given enough room to breathe that there’s reverence paid to each, while not overwhelming the player.

Shifting toward a more open-ended structure, Amnesia: The Bunker's dynamic encounters and emergent gameplay allows it to remain freshly terrifying and tense throughout the several hours your first run will likely take. Beyond just claiming the title of the best Amnesia game to date, it's also one of the best survival horror experiences of recent times, and a perfect entry to spearhead the future of the franchise into a new direction.

Diablo 4 has taken everything that fans love about the ARPG format and elevated it to new heights. With a fascinating world to explore, a strong cast of characters, and purposeful combat, it sets a new standard for the genre…The wheel hasn’t been reinvented, and it remains to be seen how the series will adapt to a live service model. Nevertheless, anyone picking up Diablo 4 at launch will find themselves playing a very strong package with plenty of promise.

Return to Grace is an immersive yet charming retro sci-fi adventure, engaging you with its plethora of personality and lore from start to finish.