Without straying from the excellent formula they gave us in Returnal, Housemarque has delivered a spiritual successor in Saros that achieves the rare feat of improving in almost every aspect. At the same time, it is far more accessible and respectful of the player's time, without ever diluting the level of challenge and adrenaline the studio is known for. Frenetic from start to finish, Saros leaves us with that "just one more run" itch while simultaneously inviting us to discover all its secrets through a narrative that starts slow but ends up being truly surprising.

Replaced is a beautiful retro cyberpunk adventure, with visuals that suit it down to the ground and world-building that pleasantly surprises. Despite a few flaws, the combat and platforming sections are competent and satisfying, even if they fail to lend a more consistent pace to the narrative, which drags in its slower moments. Even so, Replaced isn’t long enough to irreversibly tarnish what is a highly recommended experience.

Beyond being a strong contender for the Guinness record for the longest video game title ever, Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park is an excellent example of what a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition should be. It offers more than enough content to surprise veteran players with new features and encourage them to approach the original adventure in fresh ways, while also standing as a complete and absolutely essential package for those who have never played it.

Crimson Desert is an ambitious game that tries to be (almost) everything at once, only to ultimately buckle under the weight of its own complexity. Although its story is disjointed and uninteresting, the game is ultimately saved by a complex and almost always entertaining combat system, which rewards us as we master it better. Added to this is an overwhelming and visually stunning world, which only needed a bit more narrative coherence to become memorable.

Timberborn is a fantastic city builder that hides surprising complexity behind its adorable beaver aesthetic. Although its systems are not always clear at first glance, building dykes and dams to tame waterways proves to be an incredibly satisfying and addictive experience, capable of keeping you mesmerised for hours on end. Essentially, each map is a survival sandbox that begs to be solved, subtly transforming into a game of management and automation.

All things considered, Crisol: Theater of Idols is a pretty competent horror game. Its AA budget means it can't escape a certain lack of polish (or "jank" in more endearing terms), but that doesn't stop it from demonstrating enormous ambition and a very distinct identity. The gloomy atmosphere of Tormentosa Island is very appealing and interesting, the combat is satisfying, and the game's story is enough to grab us, making it a fantastic proposition for fans of the genre, especially since it has an incredibly competitive price that is rarely seen nowadays: €17.49.

Pokémon Pokopia is one of the year’s biggest wins, a game where the motivation isn’t about defeating some looming antagonist, but about the calm, deliberate restoration of order, reclaiming a space that was once beautiful, a process that feels within reach of our own hands. There’s no combat and no urgency, just a therapeutic hypnosis carried by the gentle brushstrokes of the adorable creatures that have captivated multiple generations. It’s probably the best Pokémon spin-off to date.

Resident Evil Requiem is a conscious exercise in reconciliation, bringing face to face two fundamental ideas that have always defined the series: vulnerability and competence. Capcom revisits the traumatic memory of Raccoon City and attempts to stitch together narrative threads that for decades seemed scattered, placing that weight on the shoulders of two dichotomous protagonists. Grace embodies fear, scarcity, and psychological burden. Leon symbolizes legacy, experience, and the inevitable erosion of terror in someone who has already seen too much. This duality is not merely narrative, it is mechanical. Requiem builds two distinct rhythms and alternates between oppressive tension and controlled release, in a carefully designed cycle that draws from the franchise’s own history and intersects it with an intelligent evolution of design. The result is a succession of memorable moments, not always staged with the restraint horror requires to fully assert itself.

Mewgenics is an ode to feline chaos. The game triumphs by mixing tactical precision with the unpredictability of roguelikes and Edmund McMillen's characteristic scatological humour. Although the meta-progression may seem obtuse and slow at first, and the interface lacks management tools, these flaws are quickly forgotten when the music starts playing and the battle unfolds. It is a title that shines for its ability to create emergent stories and trap us in the cycle of "just one more run." Progression is not fast or linear, but it is delightful and unmissable for fans of turn-based strategy who are not afraid to sacrifice a cat or two.

The latest entry in the historic Mario Tennis series features an adventure mode with varied challenges, a key online mode to test your persistence, and 30 fever rackets with different effects.

I’ll admit I was hesitant at first, but I ended up liking Metroid Prime 4: Beyond more than I expected. It carries a density and maturity that the series deserves and that’s increasingly rare to find, especially within its genre. It’s a deliberate continuation, built with care and respect for its own legacy, a design that favors subtlety over forced innovation, and a story about returns, about the weight of waiting, and about how the past, when properly unearthed, can still cast light on the future.

Digimon Time Stranger has, at its core, almost everything a Digimon fan could want. A huge range of over 400 Digimon with the best 3D models ever, gameplay mechanics that celebrate the franchise's history, depth in the digivolution system, and even the possibility of improving the relationship we have with our Digimon. I don't believe, therefore, that the uninspired story, generic characters, and lack of real challenge will deter hungry Digimon fans from Time Stranger, which remains one of the best and most promising entries in the franchise.

Kirby Air Riders immediately earns the merit of standing on its own, putting to rest the fears of those who thought it might try to compete with Mario Kart World. It’s not a technical triumph, but rather a creative manifesto from a designer who continues to challenge conventions within a company known for playing it safe. Not everyone will have the patience for its disorder, but those who let themselves be carried away will find a genuinely free-spirited game, more interested in provoking smiles than in ensuring stability.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a fantastic strategy game that can swallow you up for hours on end. The simplicity and ease of the construction system allows you to create beautiful cities and hides a complex system of production and trade. Even for a newcomer to the franchise, it is quite welcoming, with a campaign that, while not brilliant, teaches you everything you need to know to start building your empire.

Over eight episodes, Dispatch doesn't waste a single second. There's no filler here, just quality, in a touching narrative told at a perfectly paced rhythm, brought to life by animation quality that rivals the best productions. Aaron Paul and Laura Bailey stand out in a cast marked by surprising performances, bringing to life a group of villains who have become heroes in my heart. The writing and dialogue are so superb that they immediately made me forget the odd narrative cliché. What remains is the mark of a story and a team of superheroes that I will not soon forget.

In the post-apocalyptic and ruthless world of Arc Raiders, the human touch gives this extraction shooter a fantastic soul. With a unique and well-executed aesthetic, the focus on player interaction makes Arc Raiders greater than the sum of its parts, which, by the way, are also brilliant. Each trip to the surface has the potential to become a unique and exciting adventure, between ambushes, betrayals, or unexpected rescues, which at the end of the day showed me that there are more players with hearts of gold than I thought.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a fantastic RPG and a good example of what a sequel should be. It learns from its past, builds on its strengths, and confidently forges its own path, establishing a very strong identity. It is the game that the original promised to be, although far from perfect, because in correcting the past, it has uncovered other challenges, which I hope will be corrected in the future.

An exciting new game engine and a wider range of tactical options are not enough to hide an ineffective and, in most cases, dysfunctional interface, as well as numerous features that have disappeared since the last edition. The fans waited two years for this game, but Sports Interactive is telling us that we'll need to wait a bit more until it grows on us. We're then left waiting, and wanting.

Almost thirty years later, Final Fantasy Tactics stands as both a mirror of its era and a lesson for the present. The Ivalice Chronicles isn’t a nostalgic love letter, it’s an act of respect that proves a classic can be rewritten without losing its soul. It’s absolutely essential for fans of the genre, even for those who, unlike me, devoted the hundreds of hours it deserved in its original form. For everyone else, trust that it’s still possible to learn strategy through repetition and pain, a certain kind of integrity from another time, when suffering wasn’t frustration or bad design, it was part of the fun.

Don't let Battlefield 6's single-player campaign put you off: the multiplayer action is absolutely phenomenal, from the first shot to the last. Chaos and destruction are the watchwords, intensity is guaranteed and each map offers a fantastic stage for varied and dynamic combat, with no dull moments. Even with a few bugs and hiccups here and there, none of this has affected the tremendous fun I've experienced over the last few days in Battlefield 6, which celebrates a return in a big way.

Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 return on Nintendo Switch as two historic giants of video game design. These are works that not only withstood the test of time but remain perfectly relevant today, still capable of raising the eyebrows of even the most veteran players. They took risks, played with gravity, reinvented the power-up catalogue, and delivered characters and moments forever cemented in the plumber’s history. Eternal extras may be missing, but the essential is here: games that still feel like they came from the future. Do they hint at a third entry to complete a trilogy on Switch 2? We don’t know, but they fit perfectly into the anniversary celebrations.

EA FC 26 presents remarkable improvements in terms of gameplay. Once again, it doesn't revolutionise football, but smarter goalkeepers, fluid movements, better ball control and more precise passing - all these small improvements help establish one of the best on the pitch gameplay of the series. However, with one exception or another, the changes to the other modes are conservative and don't change much, although it is clear that monetisation is becoming more aggressive.

Ghost of Yōtei is a love letter to feudal Japan, its contradictions, its aesthetic rigor, and the fantasy that has inspired generations. It is not just a competent sequel, it proves that Sucker Punch's formula has room to grow and mature. The transition to Hokkaido gives it its own identity, both because of the colder and more isolated landscape and because of the cultural weight of the protagonist Atsu, whose personal journey changes but never loses relevance amid the visual spectacle. The evolution of combat is one of the great triumphs: refined, varied, visceral, and always demanding, it is the spice of a world that breathes life and that you will want to explore to the limit, full of interesting characters and arcs that contribute to a narrative mechanism that, with a little more audacity, would live forever in our hearts.

Dying Light: The Beast refines the best elements of Dying Light, with a more concise, frightening, immersive and challenging world, without the chaff we saw in the previous one. The combat is visceral and bloody, and even with a monster inside Kyle Crane, you never feel invincible, thus maintaining a palpable tension from start to finish.

Borderlands 4's new approach to the franchise's classic formula is expertly crafted. Unexpectedly, the open world fits like a glove into the shooter's irresistible dopamine-fuelled loop. There's always exciting loot to discover, builds to create and enemies to vanquish, in an endless gale of violence, with exponentially greater numbers crushing anyone who dares to stand up to us. A positive point also goes to the tone of Borderlands 4, much more serious and restrained than its predecessor, but without losing its trademark humour. I never thought I'd say it, but even Claptrap is bearable this time around.

Metal Gear Solid Delta is one of the best examples of what a remake should be. Without disrespecting the original masterpiece, it introduces graphical and quality of life improvements that make the game more accessible to a modern audience, accustomed to some advances in the genre, freed from the technical restraints of the PS2. All the changes are subtle and optional, making Delta an experience capable of pleasing purists and novices alike, something that few remakes are capable of achieving.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World is a good addition to the Nintendo Switch 2 catalog and meets different requirements. It gives Nintendo gamers the chance to revisit one of the good games from the previous console in a more muscular format and with new content, it's a good chance for those with younger offspring at home to enjoy a good cooperative adventure that's light on commitment and it still works beautifully for those looking for a new experience on the Switch 2 and who don't know Kirby yet. Get used to the pink ball, he's coming back into our lives soon, and at great speed.

Drag x Drive has Nintendo's innovative ‘feel’, it works beautifully as a use case for the mouse functionality of Nintendo's new console, but despite being very well polished, it relies on a naturally stuck gameplay, a victim of its apparent simplicity, which adds a difficult entry level and makes it limited on a tactical and strategic level. It's hard not to imagine what it would be like with “normal” controls, it certainly deserved more aesthetic diversity and options; but It's a good option to have at home if you like to embrace new experiences with friends and, by the way, it would fit in beautifully as a permanent Nintendo Switch Online offering.

Donkey Kong Bananza was a pleasant surprise on first contact, it made me forget the absence of a new 3D Mario in the initial line-up of the Nintendo Switch 2, and now a pleasant confirmation of the excellence of the Nintendo EPD team, in this case led by Kazuya Takahashi. It manages to revamp and revitalize a franchise in one fell swoop, it's an irrefutable proof of concept for a technology that we'll certainly see return and the second major exclusive to grace Nintendo Switch 2 in less than two months. In the meantime, it has even resulted in the strengthening of the partnership with Universal for another movie, meaning you can be sure that we'll be seeing more adventures from DK and Pauline.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is confirmation that Kojima's radical vision was not a cosmic accident, but rather a new way of thinking about what video games can be and do. It is a game that trusts in the inherent genius of Death Stranding's central formula, and the good news is that there is no tension between these two perspectives. For those who fell in love with the original, this sequel is a deepening and refinement of everything that made that experience special. For skeptics, it's a second chance to understand a work that time has validated as visionary, with far fewer barriers to entry to embrace that vision. It's not a game for everyone, and it never intended to be. It's a deeply personal work about human connection, disguised as a futuristic delivery simulator. It's ridiculous and sublime, frustrating and transcendent, familiar and alien. It's unique.

With a few additional online options and perhaps more rewards added to Free Play for the open world, Mario Kart World would be perfect. In every other respect, it's an absolute win for Nintendo and the plumber. The visuals are incredible on a TV or in portable mode, the gameplay is extremely polished, easy to learn, and deep to master, with new options and a remarkable fluidity that blends beautifully with the new Knockout mode. I predict a long and prosperous future for it on the Nintendo Switch 2, now with even more options that serve solo play, in a franchise where it's not easy to uncover new ways to play and where Nintendo still manages to innovate.

Elden Ring: Nightreign swaps the expansive and striking world of Lands Between for a shorter, more intense experience designed with multiplayer in mind. While the combat remains as incredible as you'd expect, the roguelike nature upsets the balance of Elden Ring, not always in the best way, thanks to an underwhelming meta progression. Some performance problems affect the PC version, but when you're in the company of friends, it's hard to resist the Limveld's appeal, even when you taste defeat.

Like a well-tuned train, Monster Train 2 doesn't deviate from the tracks it laid in the first game. The experience of the sequel is familiar to those who already know the franchise, but the new mechanics and new game modes translate into (another) hundreds more hours of fun.

DOOM: The Dark Ages gives you a whiff of the brakes, but only to fool you. The combat is still deliciously intense and violent, even more visceral, than its antecessors thanks to its melee combos, paired with a satisfying gunplay. The best compliment I can give DOOM: The Dark Ages is that it's a fantastic DOOM, which, without escaping the formula of the last few games, shakes it up enough to offer a fresh and equally violent experience, inviting us to rip and tear demons apart with our bare hands.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took me by surprise and I'm glad it did. Sandfall Interactive has managed to create a delightful RPG that combines modern influences with an irresistible old school sensibility. The story is another of its great assets, enhanced by an excellent cast who, with a fantastic performance, help paint this canvas that I won't soon forget.

South of Midnight is a game with a very strong identity of its own, which prioritizes its artistic and narrative vision above all else. Its moderate length (around 10-12 hours) prevents the repetitive elements of combat from becoming tiresome. Although the narrative doesn't reach the emotional depths that its themes suggest, it makes up for it with a stunning world, a magnificent soundtrack and enjoyable movement mechanics. It's like an illustrated storybook: maybe the story isn't revolutionary, but the pages are visual delights and a window into a fascinating world. For fans of adventure games with a strong narrative and visual component, South of Midnight offers an enchanting experience through a journey full of magic. Its distinct and coherent identity makes it a good addition to any gamer's library.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is a visual spectacle that captures the essence of feudal Japan, but fails to realise its potential. Despite stunning art direction and historical detail, the game is held back by its own ambition to appeal to different types of players. The duality of protagonists, which promised innovation, ends up creating more obstacles than opportunities, with stealth and combat mechanics that don't evolve significantly from previous titles. While the open world invites exploration due to its beauty, it quickly reveals the repetitiveness of its missions. For fans of the series, there are rewarding moments, but Shadows leaves the feeling that it doesn't intend to change the Assassin's Creed formula, remaining hostage to a design that shows signs of fatigue.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition has made a splash among the must-have games on the Nintendo Switch, bringing back a sleeping giant from the Wii U era with various technical and gameplay improvements. It's the ideal RPG for lovers of good micromanagement, it really encourages exploration of a gigantic open world and it knows how to guide the moments of reward with real amazement, either through the dramatic development of the narrative, with surprise attacks and unexpected heroic acts, or through the spectacular combat and the gigantic Skells.

Hazelight Studios gained more attention after It Takes Two, a fully co-op game, surprised the world by winning the 2021 GOTY. Split Fiction is an evolution of that model that made Josef Fares' studio stand out, more refined and much more varied aesthetically and in terms of mechanics, interspersing antagonistic magical worlds with problems and challenges from different gaming genres, all very well structured in a story with a huge heart, that celebrates creativity and friendship.

Overwhelming at first, but incredibly enjoyable throughout each hunt, Monster Hunter: Wilds is a fantastic action RPG. The gameplay is great and relies on various finely crafted elements by the Capcom team, from the monsters to the weapons, not forgetting the game world, which is as big a protagonist as the former. The PC version only suffers from a few noticeable performance issues, but these aren't enough to affect the fun of Wilds, at least in my experience.

Avowed presents itself as a deliberately traditional RPG that, although it doesn't risk innovating, offers a well-executed experience. Its strengths - engaging characters, satisfying exploration and accessible mechanics - make up for its lack of originality and technical limitations. It's the kind of game that, without pretending to be more than it is, manages to provide dozens of hours of fun for fans of the genre looking for something familiar and comfortable.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is an improvement on every aspect of the first Warhorse game and is an action RPG in its own right. With an epic story, delightful sidequests, a fantastic hand-to-hand combat system and a world that grips you from the very first moment, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is the crowning achievement of Warhorse Studios.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII is a fearless evolution of a formula that risked becoming static over the years. The result is undeniably positive, but the idea remains that the studio has kept a couple more weapons in its pocket to stretch out the experience with DLCs and expansions. Even so, and despite a few bugs, Civilization VII is an unmissable experience and is more than ready to stand the test of time, turn after turn.

The introduction of a roguelike element in Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap results in a somewhat contradictory fusion. Setting up a defence with traps and tearing apart entire columns of Orcs remains highly entertaining, especially with friends, with constant pressure forcing you to adjust your strategy, wave by wave, map by map. However, progression through the levels is inconsistent and outside of combat it's simply uninteresting. Even so, Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap offers many good moments of gameplay, if its slow progression doesn't bore you.

Made up of highs and lows, great moments and dull ones, Eternal Strands is a real rollercoaster. Still, even its less successful moments aren't enough to drown out the tremendous fun of taking down giant foes, armed with a pocket full of spells and a whole lot of creativity. The pace of the narrative isn't always constant and enjoyable, but the amazing work of the voice cast gives it a lot of vivacity, and fortunately, Eternal Strands doesn't stretch too far to the point of losing its magic.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fine addition to the Nintendo Switch catalog, the second port of the main series after Tropical Freeze. It's true that it includes very few new features apart from the resolution to justify replaying it if you've played some of the previous versions, but it's also a great experience if you like the genre and are looking for a different, more raw challenge within the platform universe. It has another merit, probably the most important, which is that it reminds Nintendo, especially as we approach a new era, that the world deserves a new Donkey Kong.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins gives us back the strongest and most basic premise in videogames: it's a kind of fun that makes you want to pick up the controller and invest hours in it. On top of that, it fulfils one of the promises made by Koei Tecmo, to present something new from a series that was already well known for a formula that became more boring and stagnant with each iteration. It does, however, fail to deliver on some quality elements for players, and the pace of the game is often overwhelmed by a slow story that takes its time to develop. But make no mistake, once you've finished the campaign, there’s enjoyment to be had as many times as you have enemies to face.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a testament to the perseverance of its creators in the face of extreme adversity. The technical problems are undeniable, but the unique atmosphere, tense combat and deep immersion it offers are unrivalled. It's a game that demands patience and understanding, both of its mechanics and its development context, but rewards the player with one of the most distinctive and memorable experiences of recent years. With the promised updates and fixes, including the full implementation of the A-Life 2.0 system, it has the potential to become something transcendental. For now, it remains like a diamond in the rough - hard around the edges, but brilliant at its core. For those willing to accept its imperfections and fully immerse themselves in its hostile and fascinating world, Heart of Chornobyl offers something that few modern games can.

As far as LEGO's forays into the world of video games are concerned, LEGO Horizon Adventures is a clear positive evolution of the gameplay model and the collaboration between two universes dear to popular culture. PlayStation enriches one of its main brands and introduces it to new audiences, while LEGO evolves the formula of its video games, while studying a few more possible Horizon sets. I wish it was longer, without quickly becoming repetitive for the most demanding players, but it's well worth the hours of cooperative fun. All in all, it's certainly a remarkable representation of the world of Horizon in the plastic format we all love so much.

In short, it was a pleasure to get to know and revisit the different islands of Concordia, but I wasn't enamoured with its inhabitants, too many plug heads and not enough memorable creatures. In terms of new characters, the highlight goes to Concordia's special forces, but the truth is that Mario & Luigi: Brothership shines most brightly when it uses a few powders from the mushroom kingdom. I'm not sure I could do without them, at least not until the combat starts to get really challenging and the interesting choices multiply, a good ten hours into the adventure.

Slitterhead demonstrates admirable creative courage, and functions less as a final product and more as a creative manifesto - a glimpse of future possibilities. However, the forced cyclicality raises questions about how such a promising concept - a time loop of supernatural horror - can be simultaneously so expansive in its ambitions and so claustrophobic in its execution. For an independent studio on its first flight, there is something courageously poetic about creating a game about a formless entity that seeks to define itself through others. Perhaps, in the end, that's Slitterhead's real victory: not so much what it achieves technically, but what it tries to suggest.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a return to form for BioWare. Assuming itself to be more of an action game, some RPG elements have been pushed into the background as a result. The history of the world of Thedas mixes with the history of Solas and our companions, in a plot that seems unappealing at first, but blossoms in the middle of the game. With breathtaking scenery and a very competent combat system, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is yet another fantastic RPG in a big year for fans of the genre.

It's true that Sparking Zero becomes repetitive once you get to know the different characters and their methods, but the advantage is that with so many characters and modes, it'll take a while to get to that point. I don't think it's ideal for long sessions, but it's one of those games that, within its genre and style, is guaranteed to be relevant for years to come.

Mario Party is the Monopoly of videogames, we don't always dedicate many hours to it, but it's important to always have one "on hand". I believe that the main stage for this Super Mario Party Jamboree will be the living room with groups of friends jostling for scraps of digital glory, the pinnacle of the social gaming experience, but investing in the online element makes sense in order to increase its relevance and longevity. It's already the third in the franchise on the Nintendo Switch, a console that continues to enrich its catalogue for this Christmas. Regardless of the rumours, if you don't have one yet, this should be the best option.

Silent Hill 2 Remake is a masterful modernization of a survival horror masterpiece. The depressing narrative and oppressive atmosphere combined with the haunting audio design creates an experience that is both nostalgic and refreshing. It's an uncomfortably striking, psychologically challenging experience and just like the original, its influence will be felt for decades.

EA FC 25 is a fickle title. For every two steps forward, EA takes one step back and one step sideways. Although it's still an improvement on last year's release, it's not a significant enough evolution to dispel the idea that it's the same game every year. That's what you get when you play to manage the score.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has a lot of merit and begs to be played, especially by fans who have been clamouring for something new in the series. It's also a proof of concept, courtesy of a new studio, showing that Nintendo intends to explore new avenues of gameplay, which in the future may result in iterations that further separate Link and Zelda as playable characters. Maybe with another character who shall not be named, you know, to complete the Triforce.

Even if it loses some of its lustre in its final stretch, it's impossible to deny the magic and charm of The Plucky Squire. Full of surprises, charming moments and homages to classics, it goes beyond a simple tribute to the games that inspired it and still manages to be genuinely funny, for adults and children alike.

Emio - The Smiling Man struggles to remain as interesting as its premise, a battle it loses over the course of the more than 10 hours of gameplay it has to offer. The simplicity of the narrative adds nothing to the linear and predetermined gameplay, diminishing the initial interest I had in seeing an answer to the interesting mysteries presented at the start of the game. On the other hand, this safe, simple and even quite competent path could serve as a gateway for those interested in taking their first steps in a thriller visual novel with a subdued horror narrative.

Warhammer 40,0000: Space Marine 2 is a brilliant third-person shooter and although it doesn't break the mould of the genre, the combat is a visceral delight. The campaign is short, but it doesn't lack epic moments and impressive landscapes, mired in both violence and beauty. The PvE and PvP modes aren't particularly deep at the moment, but mechanically, they're fun enough to keep me up to my knees in Xenos and heretic guts.

The secret of Astro Bot lies in its aesthetic and mechanical variety, and the reason why we can easily lose hours with its animated charm.

Star Wars Outlaws will continue to occupy my time over the next days, fortunately with the advantage of becoming an experience shared with many other people. Personally, it's one of the good surprises of the year, it takes different styles of gameplay and stitches them together into a very well-tuned amalgam, without exaggeration and with protagonists that it's impossible not to like. All this, in the Star Wars universe, is an excellent example of how Lucasfilm's world has much more to offer than lightsabers and Jedi.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is above all a nostalgic journey through the challenges of the 8-bit era, offering players the chance to put their speedrunning skills, acquired through a lot of trial and error, to the test online or locally. For the more casual players, or even new players, although it's a way of getting to know 13 NES classics, it could be short-lived given the limited and repetitive range of challenges on offer. Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition seems to me to be an excellent idea that will quickly become a title only appreciated by the niche of speedrunners and more competitive party gamers.

Exophobia is a short but focused and conscious experience. Complexity gives way to simple, intense action, where exploration is the main course, with plenty of secrets to discover, without neglecting the shooting moments. All this is accompanied by a phenomenal soundtrack, which takes Exophobia far beyond the precepts of a typical Boomer shooter.

Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion that offers more for those who weren't satisfied with Elden Ring. More than a complement to the base game, it's an extension of what the base game offers, a kind of new endgame, built in a compact world, absurdly dense and unbelievably, better than the original. Robust and incredibly solid, it's an essential expansion for anyone who wanders the Lands Between in search of a new challenge.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, recognized as one of the great GameCube classics, is back, this time on the Nintendo Switch. The improvements are clear to see in a remake that highlights the original's greatest qualities, without ever losing the charm of the GameCube's unique atmosphere. The sublime art direction and delightful soundtrack are still present and make this the best way to experience what will go down as the biggest and best Super Mario epic to date.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is yet another masterful testament to the talent and ingenuity of Ninja Theory, which has once again created a frighteningly tangible world with some of the best sound design I've ever experienced. Even though the studio closely follows the formula of the first game, Hellblade 2 is an experience you absolutely cannot miss.

Although it has some flaws, Stellar Blade is nonetheless a remarkable effort by Shift Up, which has had its biggest challenge to date here. Fundamentally, Stellar Blade is well realised in its core elements, with the only flaw being its inconsistent execution, which translates into boring open-world areas and an uninteresting story. The studio promises that Eve's story won't end here and I personally look forward to seeing what she can achieve in the future.

Princess Peach Showtime isn't Peach's solo debut, nor will it be the game she'll be remembered for in the future, but it feels like the ultimate start to a new and promising career for this cherished character from the Super Mario universe. For older players who have grown up with Nintendo and Super Mario, the novelty of Princess Peach Showtime wears off quickly, feeling repetitive and lacking in challenge. All in all, it's still not Yoshi's Crafted World or Luigi's Mansion, but judging by this release, the character and this new world have the potential for more and better.

The fact that Unicorn Overlord is both accessible to new players of the tactical genre while still managing to please the most experienced and demanding fans of the genre through its complex and extensive customisation of strategies and units is an achievement. With five regions to explore, more than 60 characters to unlock and 7 or 8 dozen hours of gameplay, the it's only real problem is the emptiness it leaves behind once you've finished it.

In an attempt to expand its player base, Team Ninja ends up diluting the formula it spent so many years refining. Rise of The Ronin stands out for its incredible and precise combat experience, combined with an enticing level design that stands out in an open world stuck in an overly familiar and beaten structure, without any major surprises in store. The story has its ups and downs, caused above all by an inconsistent pace, with characters constantly entering and exiting the stage. The game's performance also leaves something to be desired, especially considering that it's a PlayStation 5 exclusive released in 2024.

Last Epoch is a fantastic ARPG that cleverly introduces interesting new features to a genre that tends to get stuck in its roots. Deep and at the same time accessible to less experienced players, it has a surprising diversity of gameplay, anchored in ingenious gameplay loops that will keep you hooked for days.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has been both a respite and a surprise, and this for someone who didn't play the Remake but finished the original several times. It's much more than a remake, even though it shares the same themes and motifs, centered on Sephiroth's manipulation and uncertainty regarding Cloud's memories. It's a gigantic title, with a remarkable visual scale and a fantasy world where we would be able to live in and therefore want to get lost in. It's also one of the best games of early 2024, packed with content that's bound to keep you engaged for many hours.

With Pacific Drive, Ironwood Studios has achieved a game with an intoxicating and mysterious atmosphere, which introduces something new to a rather saturated genre through a fresh approach, anchored in systems that complement each other in an extremely intelligent way. Apart from one frustration or another, Pacific Drive is a highly recommended experience for all Survival fans.

Helldivers 2 is a brilliant, merciless and precise co-operative shooter. Freedom isn't just a battle cry, it's an authentic motto that guides every moment of its gameplay. The result is a fiendishly addictive mix, capable of keeping anyone hooked on the screen for hours and hours.

After a long voyage on a rough sea, Skull and Bones has reached a safe harbour. It's not the disaster many were expecting, but it doesn't offer an outstanding experience either. There are positive and genuinely enjoyable aspects, such as the combat or the artistic direction, but these are swallowed up by the swamp of live-service elements and the time it demands from players.

Simple, fun and recommended above all for younger players or those with little contact with the Super Mario franchise. Unfortunately, some of its most notable flaws are still present, such as unchallenging levels, again running the risk of putting off the more experienced players. To compensate, and perhaps unintentionally, the remake has a lure for these players: the addition of a robust co-operative mode that makes Mario vs. Donkey Kong more fun and even challenging when played with a friend, making us forget about its imperfections.

Persona 3 Reload is a worthy and fabulous remake, packed with numerous improvements that turn the original into an even more appetising RPG. Although it has some dated aspects, Reload exudes style, thanks to its revitalised visuals, a well-paced turn-based combat system, an infectious soundtrack and a cast of actors who bring unforgettable characters to life. It's just a shame that the FES and Portable content isn't included.

All in all, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown proves that less is more, and although the story is a bit convoluted, not granting much room for the characters that fill it, everything else is excellent. The combat is exciting, precise and challenging, while maintaining a surprising simplicity, without ever being unfair. On the same level is the level design, which oozes style and offers dozens of puzzles to solve with a handful of acrobatics, thanks to a fluid and very well executed movement system.

Ubisoft delivered what it promised. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is another beautiful canonical piece for the stunning Avatar universe. With a new storyline and characters on a yet unseen continent, the open world game offers a unique experience in terms of exploration and combat, giving the player the exciting experience of becoming a true Na'vi.

WarioWare: Move It! has a vast and diverse range of mini-games to be enjoyed solo, with friends or family, ensuring many hours of chaotic fun. Although there are more than two hundred games and a humorous narrative to support them, the very short duration of 3 seconds per mini-game wears you down quickly, leaving you feeling like you're spending more time waiting for the mini-game than actually playing. The mini-games are easy to master, significantly reducing the challenge and replayability. Despite its poor longevity, WarioWare: Move It! oozes creativity, shining in the competitive modes, but above all in the cooperative ones, proving to be a fun team party game.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare III is the ultimate proof that the franchise's annual release schedule is breaking down. The campaign feels uninteresting and rushed, the multiplayer mode appeals to the nostalgia of the community and isn't fundamentally different from its predecessor, while the zombies mode comes across as a PvE version of DMZ, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. All in all, Modern Warfare III struggles to justify its price and each of these elements would have benefited from a modular release rather than the hastily put together package we have on our hands.

Being a fan of RPGs is not a prerequisite for enjoying a well-done remake of an unlikely cult classic. Super Mario RPG might not have the deep narrative or challenging combat that the genre is known for, but it does offer a very entertaining, epic and timeless journey of good versus evil, starring Mario and and his friends, which will delight any fan of the franchise.

Football Manager 2024 doesn't revolutionise the franchise, at a time when Sports Interactive is probably thinking more about the next iteration, which will introduce women's football. Even so, the improvement to the game engine is the most significant in the last three years, the new negotiation system makes squad management more attractive and the creation of dead-ball tactics has never been so intuitive. FM 24 has a 1-0 lead, but is already thinking ahead to the big clash in the next fixture.

EA SPORTS WRC is a notable improvement in the saga of World Rally Championship games. The introduction of the builder mode, along with a well-structured career mode, makes the single-player experience fun, motivating and immersive. The driving system caters for all types of players, from those who play with controllers and in a more casual way to those who prefer a simulation environment. Codemasters presents a robust game, with a few rough edges but a truly fun driving experience. Now it's time to get behind the wheel and tear up the gravel.

Lord of The Rings: Return to Moria doesn't mess with the formula we already know from survival games. The focus on Tolkien's narrative offers good moments, but still leads to a relatively linear progression, lightly sprinkled with references to the journey of the Fellowship of the Ring. The bugs and the overly basic combat bury too much of the fun that the game can offer, yet fans of the genre and The Lord of the Rings willing to sift through these problems may find some golden nuggets.

With Devolver Digital's seal of quality, Wizard With a Gun cleverly combines the gunplay of Twin-Stick Shooters with the mechanics of survival games. The result is a fun isometric adventure with a double-edged sword in its simplicity - although addictive, it ends up being too easy, which shortens its duration and limits the challenge. Even so, it has enough creative possibilities for a few brave forays to save the world, five minutes at a time.

After 13 years of waiting, Alan Wake II is everything fans could ask for, and more. Despite some bugs and performance errors, Remedy delivers a memorable experience, full of moments of terror, action and, above all, mystery. The cast is charismatic, the environment fascinating, and the combat fun. Not only is it the best technical production from the producer, it is also an example of how a game should be presented in 2023.

Song of Nunu continues the "A League of Legends Story" series, proving once again the incredible experiences that the rich and deep world created by Riot Games can provide. It's hard not to get the feeling that the game could have been more, especially considering the quality delivered in Convergence and The Mageseeker, two titles that survive on their own merits, without needing League of Legends to exist. Despite some of its flaws, as well as serving as a cute adventure game for the younger set, Nunu and Willump's heart-warming adventure is even capable of melting the icy hearts of League of Legends players.

What Metroid Dread ultimately represented for Metroid, Super Mario Bros. Wonder achieved for 2D Super Mario titles. The comeback is more than triumphant, effortlessly dominating the genre it helped create, with refreshing ideas and stunning aesthetics. It definitely raises the bar for what the gameplay and aesthetics of a 2D Super Mario game should be. I see Wonder as a solid starting point, a sort of "Super Mario Bros." so that one day the "Super Mario World" masterpiece of this new era of two-dimensional Super Marios can emerge. The foundations are laid, the base is established, the door is open and the carpet is rolled out. Now it's onwards and upwards.

I could label Marvel's Spider-Man 2 as one of the best PlayStation 5 games, but the truth is that would be an understatement because Insomniac's sequel has gone straight into my top of the best games ever. The depth of the city, which has been expanded with additional districts, is impressive, the gameplay is always enjoyable and so is the combat. Marvel and Insomniac have outdone themselves on the narrative side, with a story about tragedy, overcoming, friendship and love. I can find room for improvement, in the AI of some opponents and in certain facial animations, for example, details that don't detract from what is an absolute masterpiece that we as gamers should applaud, hoping for more.

Forza Motorsport is back. The driving is muscular, the emotion is very present and the visuals are capable of giving us a truly fun, accessible and complete experience on the asphalt. Whether you're using a controller or a steering wheel and pedals, Forza is ready to take you trough high speed, well-designed and modeled circuits. Despite a meager single-player experience, the multiplayer mode has grown in size and strength and is capable of providing hours of fierce competition. There are several aspects that can be improved, but this title strikes an interesting balance between casualness, simulation and competition that builds a solid foundation for an excellent racing platform in video games.

Detective Pikachu Returns arrives on Nintendo Switch with the promise of concluding the narrative than was born in 2016. The story is indeed told to the end, but at the cost of one of the great qualities that defined its predecessor: puzzles as a visual representation of reasoning. Gameplay has become an automated, unnecessarily simplified process, capable of insulting even the youngest players. If you're expecting Detective Pikachu Returns to be a step forward in this line of Pokémon spinoffs, through a narrative evolution and a deepening of the detective mechanics, you'll be disappointed. It's just another Pokémon game that validates the feeling Nintendo has left us with: the comfort of the franchise's success and popularity allows it to produce titles without soul or effort.

Assassin's Creed Mirage is a return to the past in more ways than one. More focused and cohesive than its recent predecessors, it leaves the chaff aside to focus on what's really fun. The reduced size suits it perfectly and anyone who missed the classic Assassin's Creed action will feel right at home in the city of Baghdad, which is possibly one of Ubisoft's most captivating recreations.

There's never been a better time to take a look at Cyberpunk 2077. Phantom Liberty is what any content expansion or DLC should be: meaningful, relevant and deep. It adds tremendous value by adding an engaging story, a vast cast of captivating characters and mechanics that revolutionize the gameplay. Added to this are dozens and dozens of hours of secondary content, a new place to explore and an impressive direction that switches between gameplay and cinematics, putting us in the driver's seat of a spy movie. It doesn't do it without stumbling slightly, but I feel that Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty are CD Projekt Red's ultimate redemption, finally presenting the Cyberpunk 2077 they always wanted to deliver.

In a year of change, EA Sports FC 24 doesn't revolutionize the series. Even with the goal at its mercy, EA has decided to bet on the game's new image, tidying up the wrapping paper and maintaining the same experience that all fans already know so well. Graphically it has never looked better, but there are few new features in terms of gameplay. New jersey aside, the gameplay of FC 24 is very similar to that of FIFA 23, for better or for worse.

The Crew: Motorfest is a solid and capable title, but it can easily be labeled as a clone of its competitors, such as those in the Forza franchise. Despite this, it still offers a mature arcade experience with plenty of customization and attention to detail. It has taken a few steps backwards, but all the ones it has taken forwards have been in the right places.

Telltale has delivered yet another thrilling experience, but this time they've gone all out with the choice system. The player's decisions carry a very fine line between life and death, and every stage of the story can be altered depending on the actions of the player. The Expanse: A Telltale Series not only serves as a testament to the evolution of Telltale's game design, but also boasts stunning visuals that keep the pace with constant technological development.