In its best moments, Killing Floor 3 delivers absolute shooter fever dreams. The rest is standard stuff that squanders any potential.

This social simulation will disappoint more than just Lord of the Rings fans. It could have used some fine-tuning.

No, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers certainly does not reinvent the wheel. Leenzee clearly draws inspiration–in many aspects, even meticulously–from the acclaimed works of genre pioneers FromSoftware. However, Wuchang implements its obvious inspirations extremely competently, enriching them with a handful of interesting ideas of their own, thus keeping genre fans thoroughly entertained for 30 to 40 hours.

Donkey Kong Bananza delivers tons of creative fun and is the first compelling reason to buy Nintendo's new hybrid console.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a thrilling stealth game in which you creatively combine the abilities of up to three active characters. Fair puzzles and a great story make this game a real insider tip.

Islanders: New Shores is a simple but creative city builder in which you score points by placing buildings mindfully, while allowing you to construct beautiful cities without restrictions in sandbox mode. With subtle building interactions, powerful advantages and more challenging island variations, the simple strategy game offers a surprising amount of depth.

As a unique 3D platformer in both visual presentation and gameplay systems, Ruffy and the Riverside doesn't quite reach its full potential.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is just as controversial and masterful as its predecessor. The tough challenge has given way to a tough story. A change of focus that won't pick everyone up, but will definitely make everyone think.

Expectations for Rematch may have been somewhat exaggerated in the run-up to its launch – the hype was evident in the high registration numbers for the open beta. However, Sloclap has actually succeeded in breathing new life into the football simulation genre. After years of homeopathic FIFA ‘upgrades’ at best, we should be grateful that a development studio has dared to try something new. The game may still be a little rough around the edges, but it's a lot of fun right from the start. The skill-based system provides plenty of motivation to learn the different moves in the matches. (The name ‘Rematch’ is therefore very apt.) It remains to be seen whether Sloclap has a game here that offers enough depth in the medium term. First, the studio should get the glitches under control – and add the much-desired cross-play mode.

Tron: Catalyst expands the popular sci-fi universe with an exciting story. However, in many areas, the game remains nothing more than average.

Successful, skilful and gripping. These three adjectives summarise Fast Fusion well, the adrenaline rush for the launch of the Switch 2. If you're in the mood for high-speed racing, you can't really get past this game. Despite all its strengths, however, it is not without its weak points: The fluctuating picture quality due to aggressive DLSS upscaling could annoy purists. Particularly in handheld mode, you have to make compromises. However, I can't really be mad at the game for this, precisely because Shin'en offers an otherwise flawless arcade experience despite its small team size, of which there are unfortunately not that many today.

Splitgate 2 offers solid, fast-paced gameplay and intelligently encourages team play. The portal mechanic rewards intelligent play and opens up possibilities not seen in other shooters. The large selection of game modes might spread its community a little too thin in the long run, and may dilute the game's identity too much. In order to keep players engaged for the long haul, there need to be more unlockables, upgrades, some form of measurable progress. The upcoming ranked mode is a step in the right direction, but it likely won't appeal to less-competitive users.

Mario Kart World on Switch 2 is a blast, especially the Knockout Tour with friends! The cow character is already iconic, and the animations are top-notch. However, the open world feels a bit like a sticker hunt, the costume unlock system via "Dash Food" is confusing with unequal outfits per character (some get none!), and it disappoints regarding the single-player focus. Some tracks are too wide, and no 200cc at launch is a bummer. Still, it's charming, chaotic fun with potential to be the GOAT - albeit with updates.

For dating sim fans with a sense of humor, Date Everything is a real home run, full of exciting characters and quirky stories. The excellent writing in particular helps to overcome a few longueurs in the design and makes the dating simulation an entertaining adventure.

I am deeply impressed by The Alters. With its clever story, emotional depth and addictive gameplay loop, the game held me firmly in its grip - until the early morning hours. The bold blend of so many genres has been pulled off with flying colours, creating a unique, unforgettable whole. The Alters is also an invitation to self-reflection. It asks the big philosophical questions about identity, destiny and the impact of technology on the human condition - exactly what outstanding science fiction should do. Despite minor technical flaws, this is a masterpiece that will resonate for a long time to come. Definitely one of the very best games of this year.

A wonderfully atmospheric adaptation of the Dune license. The survival mechanics are motivating, while the combat system offers solid standard fare. The framework for future expansions is built on solid foundations, while the genre, like the desert sand, remains in flux.

Wicked Isle is a successful story DLC for Atomfall. Rebellion builds on the strengths of its genre mix without greatly changing the player experience. The strengths (freedom, scenario) and weaknesses (AI and endings) remain the same.

Galactic Glitch is a physics-based twin-stick shooter with roguelike progression that impresses above all with its straightforward and fluid gameplay. Even though a lot depends on luck, the fast-paced arcade shooting is captivating thanks to the wide variety of exciting weapons and upgrades.

The story of King Arthur in the dark suffers from the poor execution despite its great atmosphere.

FromSoftware steps out of its comfort zone and impresses with an exciting genre mix that weaves together time-tested systems and mechanics of the original with a refreshingly new and captivating gameplay experience.

Oddsparks is a strategic automation game that relies on well thought-out production chains. You use buildings, paths and connecting elements to guide your Sparks towards working all by themselves. A complex task - despite the cute and innocent look - that requires you to think a lot and get creative.

Even 23 years after its initial release, Onimusha 2 still lives up to its name. Improved visuals and numerous quality-of-life improvements make the game a truly immersive experience.

Charming destruction madness with retro flair, absurdly creative missions and an anything-goes mentality that works unexpectedly well.

The Precinct is a police simulator that quickly runs out of steam. Too much monotony meets a world that can't tell good from evil.

Doom: The Dark Ages returns to the uncompromising action roots of the series without overloading it with unnecessary game systems, as was the case in its predecessor. It still feels like work at times, but the new melee combat system in particular makes up for the occasional hiccups.

The horror adventure The Midnight Walk impresses with its dark, grotesque atmosphere and exciting stories – but don't expect any tough brain teasers.

Spirit of the North 2 is a scenic open-world adventure with an incredibly dense atmosphere that transports me to a world of Nordic legends. Even if some of the game mechanics seem bloated or not fully developed, the story and the urge to explore keep me going.

While Post Trauma creates excellent horror through its environments, camera work and sound design, it sadly misses the survival part of the survival horror genre. Great puzzle design alone isn't enough when you still have to endure the clunky combat without real item management.