In FC 25, FC IQ provides a welcome strategic overhaul for several FC modes, and Rush is apt to be a big hit for FC online community now with more social options. FC 25 is not a largest leap from FC 24, but definitely a step in the right direction for the franchise.

Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a heartfelt love letter to the early days of Disney and the delightfully weird shorts that built the house of Mouse brick by brick. More than that it’s the kind of lovingly crafted platformer, with a unique hook, a gorgeous world to explore, and new adventures around every corner. There’s a word to describe it, its just on the tip of my tongue – monumentous?

Kazimir’s journey handles topics like loss, and the frailty of humankind and nature, with such sincerity that makes Selfloss a journey worth shedding a tear or two for.

GB4 is truly a builder's delight. With more models than ever, a diorama mode and intense focus on building. It's perfect. Where it falls flat, it the repetitive nature of gameplay. A one trick pony, but it aces that one trick!

For players looking for a casual and low-pressure simulation, Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 might be worth a try. But for those seeking a more varied and polished experience, the game falls short of what you’d expect from a title on the Xbox Series X. With some improvements to gameplay mechanics, deeper tool upgrades, and more stable performance, it could have been so much more. As it stands, Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 is an enjoyable but ultimately shallow experience

Hide The Corpse is a thrilling VR game where time is of the essence as you race to find a hiding spot for a body before the cops make it to the crime scene. Withhold evidence and wash away your fingerprints to get away with your crime and unlock more puzzling and demanding levels.

Cricket: Jae’s Really Peculiar Game is a JRPG where you assume the role of a group of kids with parent problems, raging hormones, and a yearning for something more. Accompany Jae and his friends during their trip to the moon while learning the complexities of friendship and life.

Emio – The Smiling Man tells a thrilling and engaging story. It’s a visual novel, so don’t expect complex gameplay there – and I’m sure you’ll be satisfied.

Yars Rising is a non-rebellious Metroidvania with satisfying gameplay and cheesy dialogues. The game doesn’t have a mind-blowing plot or innovative mechanics, but it provides fun – and this in itself is enough to get your interest.

The original Dead Rising shows its age these days but it’s still a fantastic experience for those who can adapt to it. Deluxe Remaster addresses this, adding a whole host of small additions, quality of life improvements and a beautiful graphical overhaul that keeps the core of the game intact. As much as I did miss the original voice cast, Deluxe Remaster cements itself as the way to play Dead Rising.

Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is a charming romp though a bright and colourful world that makes fantastic use of its mechanics in order to fully engage the player.

The Casting of Frank Stone is a great introduction to the world of Dead by Daylight for newcomers and a love letter for long-term fans. Even if you’re only looking for a decent survival horror game, I recommend checking it out. It’s well-written, engaging, and tells a well-paced and creepy tale without overstaying its welcome.

The Plucky Squire is a delightful action platformer with a brilliant hook that feels like witchcraft the first time you see it and continues to be absolutely magical throughout. It tells a heartfelt tale about the power of art and creativity, set within a bright and beautiful world packed with wit and whimsy that the whole family will enjoy.

Arty games like Copycat are two a penny, but clearly this one is one that’s had some serious effort put into it. Atmospheric and poignant, Dawn’s chronicles will tug on your heartstrings like a Spanish guitarist – and most likely make you want to hold your own cat as close as you can if you have one. Amidst the many cat games that the industry has birthed, this one is definitely one of the finer felines of the litter.

Far from a throwaway offering, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is a genuine surprise. The representation of the famed Harry Potter sport here is impressively realized thanks to dynamic and thrilling gameplay, a pleasant artstyle, and a pick up and play allure that gives it a satisfyingly accessible edge. Career and customization options are slim, the commentary is tacky, and you might forget about it quickly, but the temptation to dive into a game of Quidditch in any position is irresistible, and what may look like an underweight and throwaway title, is actually ruddy good if you give it a chance and you keep on playing. The return of videogame Quidditch isn’t without a few hiccups, but it’s definitely a worthwhile option for anybody curious, or who can’t get enough of chasing down Snitches.

If you’re a Castlevania fan chances are you snapped up the Dominus collection as soon as it shadow-dropped. If you missed these classics the first time and are looking for a pure-blooded Metroidvania to sink your teeth into, Castlevania The Dominus Collection is one package I highly recommend.

NanoApostle is a top down fast paced boss rush game that causes a lot of fun rush of blood moments with its wild and intricate gameplay.

Arguably the best Capcom retro collection to date, Marvel fans should run not walk to add this to their Switch collections.

Gears meets the sons of Guilliman, in this epic sequel that would make the Emperor proud.

Concord is a game that has tons of potential, that sadly doesn't capitalise on any of it. A by the numbers hero shooter, that while occasionally fun, failed to make any inroads into an already packed genre.

As an arcade game, Astro Bot ticks all the right boxes and really challenges the medium but in a good way with its crazy mechanics, sturdy controls and next-gen experience, particularly with the DualSense Controller. As the game delves into the history of PlayStation, there are some fantastic cameos that you will encounter during your adventures that nicely bring its homage all together.

House of Golf 2 is a gorgeous entry into the mini-golf genre. Featuring some a vast array of creative stages to get through, only let down by a lack of online multiplayer and little in the way of variety.

Marble Abduction! Patti Hattu is a fun puzzle platforming game that's challenging without being too demanding. The quick pickup and play style is perfect for the Switch and makes the already entertaining game even more addicting. The funny script adds flavor and makes this perilous journey unique.

Ultimately, it’s a bit of fun and has some interesting ideas… just don’t expect to need to put a lot of time into it or to be scared. Maybe worth a look if it’s on special (it is reasonably cheap… but as mentioned, very short).

For a remake Shadow of the Ninja: Reborn is everything a fan of the original could ask for, the addition of an extra stage and the addition of a Time Attack mode gives the game plenty of replayability. Whilst the overall difficulty may put off a lot of casual gamers I do believe this game is well worth the try; even if its just to soak in the visuals and audio which I will say again are close to perfect. The only real downside I had was the item changing which could have been implemented better, whilst clunky is does not massively take away from the overall game.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is the definitive way of experiencing the Investigations spin-offs, a faithful re-release bundle with quality of life additions and can be enjoyed without prior experience of the mainline games.

Age of Mythology may have been a risk some 20 years ago, but remaking it was a no-brainer. Retold feels familiar but fresh, and the changes made all feel like they only improve on one of the franchise's best entries.

The triumphant return of the Mana series! A wonderful RPG that mostly keeps things light and enjoyable while having fun combat and lots to see and do in the world.

A fun, and funky platform brawler fans of Mystical Ninja will adore.

A fun, easy to play, budget arcade title, Monster Jam fans of all ages will enjoy the experience even with its limitations.

More than just being a great open-world game, Star Wars Outlaws is possibly one of the best Star Wars games ever made. It’s a clear labour of love for everyone involved at Massive, and it’s obvious from the team shows a clear understanding of not only what makes for a great open-world adventure, but what makes the Star Wars universe so compelling and enduring, not the blasters and lightsabres, but loveable characters and heart.

A solid update to the F1 Manager franchise that adds some much needed mechanical depth with the mentality system and new Create A Team mode.

A tough game for tough guys. I’m not tough (well, I’m not even a guy), but I like it anyway. A new upgrade provides some additional content to current-gens. It’s OK, though at 60 FPS it would be even better.

Rock and roll with the indifferent, outcasted, and unwanted miscreants born from the dust! Words have power (literally) in this narrative based adventure across a broken country that houses unimaginable secrets. Even if the game suffers from poor design decisions and bad gameplay mechanics, there's no way to gaslight it's original take on the genre that expresses a sentiment no word can fully capture.

An interesting take on the Souls-Like genre that makes some effort to mix things up a little. It doesn't do anything especially new, but is well put together and an enjoyable entry into the genre.

Madden 25 is slightly better than Madden 24 in every way, but with only Franchise Mode and presentation truly noticeable upgrades. If you own College Football 25, feel will be familiar, and its rosters capable of import.

Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse Remastered is a masterful remaster of a highly entertaining game. The game has a unique narrative structure, inventive gameplay, and engaging new elements.

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is an amusing adventure game where you run around all summer and nothing is as important than what you want to do. Bounce on plants, explore caves, and kick a tree in this open world game where your freedom is the only thing that matters.

An enthralling slice of life sim about love, loss and moving on.

A brief but fairly enjoyable platformer that doesn't mind poking fun at the current state of gaming.

Creatures of Ava isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. If you are looking for a more relaxed gaming experience with a bit of adventuring and exploration involved then this might be something that you’ll enjoy. If you want something with a bit more depth and serious, perhaps look elsewhere. Of course if you are after a game where you get to hug the wild life… maybe give it a look.

All-in-all, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a beautiful and wholly pleasant adventure with a gentle spirit, a meaningful story and delightful little Rot creatures. You'll be hard-pressed to find a more pleasing-looking game on Xbox hardware, and that's a wonderful attribute to have.

One Piece Odyssey is a straightforward RPG crusade with the infamous Straw Hat Pirates. While the game doesn't do anything excitingly new or impressive, this escapade is still a noteworthy adaptation of the admired adventures of Luffy on his search for the One Piece.

For those who enjoy a tough but fair platformer, Volgarr the Viking 2 is a must-play. It’s a game that demands and rewards mastery, offering a sense of accomplishment. Whether you’re a veteran of the first game or a newcomer to the series, Volgarr the Viking 2 is a thrilling adventure that will test your skills and keep you coming back for more.

CYGNI: All Guns Blazing is a space shoot'em up that has evolved amongst the rest. Use your Orca ship to devour the oncoming alien-machine hybrid takeover in this beautiful action packed journey where what you reap is what you sow.

The Mortuary Assistant: Definitive Edition is a horror game that will actually send shivers up your spine and have you clutching your chest. Now, with new features and being better than ever, you must juggle with preserving dead bodies and fighting off demons in this unnerving panic induced trip through purgatory.

Nobody Wants to Die is a gripping, thought-provoking cyberpunk thriller that’ll sink its claws into you from beginning to end. It may not be the most action-packed experience, but fans of a good slow-burn mystery, with a penchant for the philosophical will love it.

An enjoyable game at its core that is riddled with bugs that suck that fun out of the experience, making it a difficult sell at the moment.

A true and faithful port to a masterpiece game. It's not for everyone, but it's a true Ace Combat experience and it's finally portable. What could be better? Nothing.

With a few adjustments and a little more time in the oven, Bloodhound could have been a fun if janky shooter, but everything feels so rote, so slapped together, so inconsistent, and ultimately bland that I can’t recommend you sniff this one out.

Even with a new coat of paint, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter wasn't a particularly amazing game to begin with, with odd controls and a woefully underutilised and fiddly bounty-hunting system that really should have been its USP.

A slow burn, Minds Beneath Us is a memorable dystopian sci-fi thriller in every individual component besides its gameplay.

Overall TMNT: Splintered Fate is an enjoyable roguelike that wears its influences unabashedly, even blatantly at times. But if you make a modern Roguelike, it makes sense to crib from one of the best. What is most impressive though is that Splintered Fate manages to save itself from being derivative thanks to some superb coop play and clever use of the TMNT license to create something, that though not wholly original in its mechanics, is still an absolute joy for fans of both roguelikes and the Turtles alike.

Tense, atmospheric and foreboding. Darkest Dungeon 2 is a Lovecraftian RPG that's worth hitching a ride for.

Despite its limited appeal, there's plenty packed into Nintendo's speedrunning challenger - if you've got the patience for it.

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos is a throwback, different, and quirky title that looks, sounds and plays just like its original 21 years ago. It’s a more obscure entry into both series, thus not a must have, with some unique translation, characters, and art style.

Ultimately the game is well put together, intelligent but doesn’t take itself too seriously… it finds a good balance between presenting serious therapeutic notions and how they can be applied… with moments of humour. If you ever wondered what it was like to be a Vampire Therapist… grab a copy and find out. A good bit of fun and the potential to shed some light on ways of thinking.

Mists of Noyah is a survival rpg with some fun gameplay elements that should make sense, but bites off more than it can chew creating an inconsistent, intolerable, and confusing experience.

A thoughtful Indie puzzler that's worth lurking in the shadows for.

Cyber Citizen Shockman Zero is a bright and breezy 2D beat 'em up that sees the side-scrolling series go out with a bang.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a unique action strategy game that basks in its clever and entertaining design. Conquer the mountain and yourself in this courageous dance between good versus evil.

Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III (aka Rainbow Islands 2) is a fantastic action platformer, with a unique hook, bright visuals, bonkers character design, and catchy tunes that will leave you twirling your umbrella and singing in the rain.

An otherwise solid school management game that is let down by a poor UI and unclear feedback from almost all actions.

Monster Train is a rougelike deckbuilding battlefield that provides searing strategy and gallivant gratification to allow you to have a never-ending enjoyable experience.

Exophobia is a Metroidvania styled first person Boomer Shooter that envelopes the crux of its gameplay and design beautifully with its mechanics creating an entangling interplanetary voyage you won't forget.

As a concept I give the game full marks… the idea of learning a language via something as fun as gaming is brilliant. Unfortunately it’s a little rough around the edges and that might put some people off… but if you are keen to learn a new language (and there are a number on offer here)… this just might be good for helping supplement other forms of learning. I’m not sure it would be enough on its own… but it would certainly be a nice break from book after book after book. Worth a look if you want to get into learning other languages… but don’t expect it to be a total solution.

A shockingly great college football a decade in the making, College Football 25 is arguably the best modern console sport title to date.

A well-written narrative puzzle adventure that shines through the darkness with its great graphics, fun puzzles, and interesting story telling.

A fun and surprisingly deep racing game that pays homage to titles like the early Gran Turismo games.

An exploration of the immigrant experience straight from the horse's mouth, Venba tackles a Tamil family's struggles of a loving and living in a strange land, and the turbulence that follows, with a heartwrenching flair.

A substantial DLC add-on for Wartales that offers a fun new region to explore, with a well-realized pirate and sea-faring backdrop.

A love-letter to older JRPGS, pushed through a modern filter that manages to hit the sweet spot between nostalgic and new.

Despite its sometimes gruelling difficulty, Crossover is something of a genius idea. Taking three relatively simple ideas that couldn’t be further apart on the gaming spectrum and merging them into one, on paper, sounds like a recipe for disaster, but there’s something about Crossover that just keeps me coming back for more. Even when it frustrates me, surviving a round with my health battered, my armour gone and only my most basic attack left is wickedly satisfying stuff, pushing me to continue to see just how far I can get. Crossover: Roll for Initiative is casual gaming, there’s no escaping that, but it’s casual gaming for gamers.

Ultimately, it’s a bit of fun, it’s pretty low stress… the crime scenes aren’t particularly gruesome and the art style is a bit like a more realistic version of Job Simulator… which is kind of fitting given the main characters. This setting with these protagonists/antagonists works well with the AI chat format… I’m not sure it would work quite so well with human suspects without starting to sound a bit artificial… but here it works.

The Operator is a fun three hours of your time which aims to break free of its desk-bound administrative labour and take you on a stressful (in a good way) journey through corruption and deceit, all the way to the heart of the web that’s being spun around you.

Angry Foot is the most fun game you can play this year. It is fast, funny, punishing, and rewarding all at the same time. It has a great level design, with simple mechanics and a high value of repeatability. There are a few minor technical issues, but it shouldn’t stop you from playing this gem of an action game.

If you're at all curious and don't mind plunging into a unique adventure game from 2003 updated for modern audiences, Beyond Good And Evil-20th Anniversary is a worthwhile way to experience this classic.

This unnatural spiraling quandary is an exciting plummet into fear and insanity. The pulsating anxiety you feel while walking to the next exit to see if you made the right choice is like no other. The complementary audio design and graphical style really ups the ante in virtual reality by creating a space that feels lived in. The ease of the gameplay is alluring and the quick style challenge of finding the anomalies is compelling. The Exit 8 VR’s strong points exemplify the beauty of VR in a pronounced way and is so appealing that it may keep you from exiting the headset.

A large, gorgeous world filled with interesting things to find and defeat, that is well worth the time investment, despite the frustrating start.

The Road to Elysim is exactly what you want in a DLC. More mind bending puzzles and challenges, a deep story and fantastic, varied world building and atmosphere. The stunningly detailed environment and solid 60fps performance help create an immersive and extremely enjoyable world to explore between puzzles. I would have loved to see a return of the mines and recorder mechanic, but maybe we could have this in a 3rd Talos Principle game? I can only hope for the series to continue.

Exo One is solid fun once you have mastered the controls and mechanics.

If you loved the original, Windstorm Start of a Great Friendship Remastered almost feels like a different game and best of all its an affordably priced title. In the end, it is tailored at the younger gamer who loves horse riding of the Windstorm franchise that has been nicely recreated on the XSX.

Yum Yum Cookstar, though made from the remains of a Cooking Mama game, does its job as a low-price cooking game well enough, for better and worse.

The Luigi's Mansion series lives on with this HD reconstruction of the second game that successfully coats on a new paint that assures the games will never give up the ghost.

Baby's first Monster Hunter bounces onto Switch with the same sense of wide eyed joy that made the overlooked 3DS original such a pleasure to play.

The Night Springs DLC is a decent but flawed expansion. Among the three different episodes, only Time Breaker was truly a Remedy experience and others lacked the quality in terms of gameplay and world-building. It was a fresh experience but wasn’t appealing enough for me to go back to it again.

Riven is an island hopping puzzle adventure VR game that tells the age-old tale of forsaken prophecy while making you use all of your brain's power in the best possible ways.

If you fancy a rumble that's not in a jungle, then this latest Super Monkey Ball offering will make you go bananas. There plenty on offer here that'll please returning fans and newcomers alike, with outstanding accessibility options, a lovely smorgasbord of levels spread across diverse and vibrant worlds.

If you’re a 40k fan with an itchy trigger finger and a hatred for heretics, chances are you already own Boltgun, and if you don’t, well, you really should. But If you already have Boltgun, Forges of Corruption is a decent epilogue to a superb shooter for those of us who can’t get enough of one of the best 40k games since Space Marine.

Downward Enhanced Edition is a curious mix of Mirrors Edge and Prince of Persia, that doesn’t quite stick the landing.

My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery respects younger gamers well and complements the My Little Pony Lore!

In total, Shadow of the Erdtree is up there with the best add-ons FromSoftware has released (yes, including Bloodborne: The Old Hunters). A must play for hardcore fans and new players who (wisely) waited for the full package, and highly recommended overall.

MudRunner VR provides a new perspective in this vehicle towing extravaganza of a franchise, but missing features, pedestrian design, and lack of creativity transports your vehicle that's stuck in the mud into a stick.

The potential for Multiversus is incredible. Fix some technical hiccups and you have one of the most exciting games of 2024.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is an incredible expansion that adds a slew of new content and previous DLC for free, well-needed gameplay improvements and quality-of-life changes. While they don't solve most of the game's core issues, the added content more than makes up for it and provides a stellar experience that quickly proves its superiority to the base game.

A wealth of single player and multiplayer content sadly wrapped in an always online requirement. Men of War II entertains but doesn’t do anything new.

SKALD is loving, expertly crafted, niche experience. It's Commodore 64 games and H.P. Lovecraft stories, so you'll have the best experience if you love both.

Horizon Chase 2 revs up its engine and fires on all cylinders to become a template of what a sequel should be.