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.

Although derivative in its approach to the Soulslike formula, Lies of P stands out from so many other games in the genre thanks to a captivating world setting, satisfying combat and an in-depth weapon and customization system that lets you let your imagination run wild.

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.

Alone or with friends, Chivalry 2 is one of the most fun experiences that I had in recent times. It’s incredibly accessible, and brilliantly blends the theatrics of an epic Hollywood movie with humour, while not taking itself too seriously. Even though it has few maps, at least for now, the ones it has are enough to guarantee you countless hours of fun.

Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream managed to captivate me as a beginner of the JRPG genre. There's a story that, though it doesn't truly stand out, left me just interested enough to be able to experience the hours of alchemy, in a sort of Next Gen Connect 4 game. The turn-based combat system is also incredibly welcoming for newcomers, and the whole campaign has this unique ingenuity about it, even when we're fighting interdimensional threats or water dragons.

Stray is the perfect game for all cat lovers. Not only does it gives us a full experience of a cat's life, but also a narrative that is impossible to ignore, especially when the mission is to save the world. In a city with vibrant colors, enigmatic sounds, unlikely friendships and full-fledged mischievous threats, what keeps Unity together is the resilience of an orange cat who doesn't give up hope of finding his family. Stray has an implicit lesson or moral, just like any good story told to a world in constant wave of skepticism, disbelief and uncertainty.

With charm to spare, Cult of Lamb blends various unlikely elements in an exquisite way without ever becoming complicated. The result is a fresh, addictive and tremendously fun 'Roguelike/Life Sim' experience.

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.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla isn't a light, fast and pragmatic Viking ship. It's a Titanic, magnificent, massive, and majestic, made to lead players through a 9th-century epic. With enough content to keep players busy for hours and hours, it's not threatened by any iceberg but rather by the weight of its own size. For the most dedicated, this can be a treat, but for many others, it could be a game they'll leave unfinished, living forever in the backlog.

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.

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.

The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story isn't just another Riot game exploring the Runeterra universe. It is the first to open the curtains of Demacia and make us travel to a kingdom with a strong history of magic and militarism. It is all about two forces in constant struggle, which we now have the opportunity to lead as Sylas, in front of the sorcerers. The visuals are absolutely stunning, the mechanics live up to the original champion we know, and all the elements around it enrich the story that promises to win the hearts of fans of League of Legends lore, even those who are not fans of pixel art.

The proof of concept is approved, as it serves on an emotional connection that we have with a galaxy far far away, it's a cheap shot, but it reaffirms a so long asked modernization of all TT Games' titles by the fans that we can only guess will be honed on the years to come. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is in that fashion a fun charm trap that holds on to us thanks to the constant changes in gameplay, snowy AT-AT encounters, and spectacular lightsaber battles where the dramatic flare is replaced by the adorable and unpredictable reactions of the main figures of the saga.

Overall, F1 23 is in good health and is recommended to all fans of the sport. It positions itself on both the arcade and sim racing sides as a competent and improved game over its predecessors. With the ability to provide a more authentic and immersive experience for players, as well as a unique perspective through Breaking Point 2. It might be far from perfect, but it's a big step in the right direction. We look forward to the future of the franchise.

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.

Disguised as a simple space sim, Everspace 2 hides an engine full of solid and very well accomplished ARPG systems. The story leaves something to be desired, but there is no shortage of options when it comes to the variety of builds possible. Combat is a real pleasure at every stage of the game, propelled by systems that are easy to understand and deep enough to let your skill and imagination run wild.

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.

Sifu will age us as the main character ages, but it also gives us some of the best martial arts moments in video games, which make us say, like Neo in the Matrix, "I know Kung-Fu".

Convergence: A League of Legends Story is another success story in the League of Legends universe. With Ekko at the forefront, Double Stallion has managed to create a solid and fun Metroidvania, perfectly combining precise platforming with intense combat, without losing a drop of the personality of this intrepid hero.

Rollerdrome is an experience deeply focused on its action. With no tricks to unlock, no passive abilities, a story that we can ignore, we are placed directly in the heart of the action. Rollerdrome knows precisely what it wants to offer players and doesn't waste a single second in getting them into the arena. The action is glorious, incredibly stylish, and tremendously addictive. Though short, countless hours of gameplay are assured in the pursuit for the highest score.

Fundamentally, Jagged Alliance 3 aims to please the fans of the franchise. They are the ones who will have the most fun with the game, full of references to previous titles, and systems that quite frankly, didn't need to be so stuck in the past, especially the user interface. With a great mod compatibility, it's quite possible that this problem will be solved in the near future, because as a starting point, Jagged Alliance 3 offers a pretty solid, competent and fun base for any turn-based tactics fan, as long as they're willing to endure its initial period. There's a lot of granularity in the various gameplay systems, from weapon crafting to squad management, and a respectable dose of randomness that helps make each run unique and interesting, especially if you play it with friends.

Even with its wrinkles of age, Skyward Sword is a mandatory title to all its fans, with the HD version becoming the best version of the game and an excellent excuse to adventure in the skies of Skyloft, a different perspective from the standard in the franchise while we wait for a certain sequel. The celebrated bosses, unforgettable dungeons and a glorious original soundtrack allow you to forget all the problems that the game has, which are polished in this new iteration of the 2011 classic and is representative of a real turning point on the iconic series from Nintendo.

We are enjoying Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin more than we should. It looks like Capcom may have well found a franchise bestseller. It matches beautifully the world of the series, filled with enigmatic monsters and a JRPG model filled with customization and progression potential and a unique random element that incites our curiosity and our most adventurous side. It does not have a story to fall in love with but it’s filled with memorable character. It would gain with better fluidity within the world navigation, but it is something that is easily forgotten as soon as we meet Gatovan and losing ourselves in a turn style battle that is much deeper than we first 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.

In short, Age of Empires IV is first and foremost a throwback to the past, for a history lesson that we already know well. Anchored to the classic formulas and mechanics of the franchise that defined the genre, it bets on presentation quality to convince a new generation of real-time strategy game lovers. Veterans, on the other hand, have here a new battleground where they will certainly feel at home.

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.

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.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is the game that was missing to end 2021 in the best way possible. This title pictures a reality not far from ours, where the corruption is imminent and the salvation of the land demands a path that challenge us and makes us grow into a better version of ourselves. As a Spirit Guide, Kena took the compromise of freeing every soul that needed her. She felt fear, failed to have decisions but with the help of her Rot friends she was able to accomplish her mission, in which is the perfect balance between duty and passion.