With a handful of iconic characters and brutally satisfying gameplay, this Reloaded edition is a stellar PS5 upgrade for Gears of War. Sure, its Xbox 360 roots occasionally show, but Gears remains one of the best cover shooters ever made. An absolute must-play.

The Outer Worlds 2 doubles down on witty dialogue, clever character building, and the offbeat humor that made Obsidian’s RPGs stand out. Its branching choices and quirky personality shine, but clumsy AI, overwhelming menus, and garish visuals hold it back. A solid yet uneven space adventure that entertains more for its charm than its polish.

Kirby Air Riders is a uniquely bold combat racer that hides surprising depth behind its cute exterior. Its tight, demanding mechanics and massive variety of machines, modes, and unlocks create a fast, addictive experience that rewards skill and experimentation. The steep learning curve and slow matchmaking won’t suit everyone, but players who stick with it will find one of the most distinctive and satisfying racers on the Switch 2.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment refines the Zelda spin-off formula with faster combat, flashy Sync Strikes, and clever use of Zonai tools. Playing as Zelda and other ancient heroes feels fresh, while the story expands the Tears of the Kingdom lore in satisfying ways. Despite some repetition, its polished visuals, smooth performance, and exhilarating battles make it the best Hyrule Warriors yet.

Dying Light: The Beast is the franchise’s most cinematic and polished entry yet, blending intense parkour, brutal melee combat, and grotesque gore with a darker story set in the Alps. Its skill trees and Beast powers lack depth, but the survival intensity and nightmarish atmosphere make it a bloody strong comeback.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond marks a strong return for Samus, delivering atmospheric exploration, tight combat and polished visuals that honor the classic trilogy. The new psychic abilities and refresh the formula, even if some additions - like talkative NPCs and the open-hub area - dilute the pure Metroid feel. A confident, modern comeback that largely sticks the landing.

Bend Studio delivers the definitive version of its underrated zombie hit on PS5. More stable, better-looking, and with a solid new Horde Assault mode. Now we’re secretly hoping for a sequel. Pretty please, Sony?

A great deep dive into the history of the most infamous fighting series ever made. The collection delivers strong nostalgic value with tons of extra content that easily make up for the fact that not every game has aged perfectly. A must-have tribute for long-time Mortal Kombat fans and fighting-game historians alike.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A revitalizes the series with real-time battles, a vibrant Paris-inspired Lumiose City, and the triumphant return of Mega Evolutions. Game Freak trades visual spectacle for silky performance and delivers a fresh, modern twist on the classic Pokémon loop. A few dated quirks remain, but this tour de force proves Pokémon still has plenty of joie de vivre.

Borderlands 4 expands the formula with its first true open world, smoother movement options, and a host of quality-of-life improvements that make it the most streamlined entry yet. The chaotic combat and endless loot remain as addictive as ever, but the many technical issues prevent it from reaching its full potential. Fans will find plenty to enjoy, though it falls short of being the definitive next-gen Borderlands experience.

An intriguing experiment—perfect for multiplayer fans who don’t shy away from a tough challenge. But whether the Souls niche was really craving this? We’re not so sure.

EA Sports FC 26 makes a confident return with its best career mode in years and dynamic Live Points scenarios. Dual gameplay styles add variety, though familiar flaws and Ultimate Team’s shadow persist. It’s not Champions League material yet, but a strong return to form.

Hell is Us isn’t without flaws, but it’s one of those rare games that dares to be different. This sci-fi survival adventure thrives on atmosphere, tension, and mystery, pushing players to figure things out on their own instead of spoon-feeding answers. The combat could definitely use more depth and variety, yet the overall experience feels refreshing in a landscape crowded with safe sequels and predictable formulas. As a debut, it’s bold, ambitious, and brimming with vision. This is the kind of game that might not please everyone, but deserves attention and respect.

Cronos: The New Dawn shows Bloober Team stepping out of the shadow of Silent Hill and proving they can deliver original horror of the highest order. With its oppressive atmosphere, inventive mechanics, and grotesque enemy design, it’s a fresh yet familiar survival-horror experience. Some technical hiccups and a lack of difficulty options hold it back from true greatness, but make no mistake: this is one of the strongest new entries in the genre in years.

The captivating visual style, rich atmosphere, and cast of strong characters easily make you forget the mediocre gameplay in this one-of-a-kind action platformer.

Jamboree TV brings some fun new Switch 2 features to an already great party game. The motion-controlled mini-games and all-new Frenzy Mode are definite highlights, but the clunky game structure and camera-based Bowser mini-games don’t quite hit the mark.

Baby Steps is absurd, clumsy, and oddly heartwarming all at once. Its hilarious ragdoll physics and painfully precise controls turn every step into a slapstick struggle, while the underdog charm of Nate keeps you rooting for him through the frustration. Not for the impatient, but a unique ode to failing, falling, and getting back up again.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a solid in-between title for Soulslike fans. But if you’re looking for the next big step in the genre, or a Soulslike with a truly memorable identity, you’re better off looking elsewhere.

Rebellion puts forward an interesting concept with Atomfall, but doesn’t flesh it out enough to make it truly memorable. Despite a pretty — yet static — game world, Atomfall stays shallow across the board. Maybe Atomfall 2 will get it right?

Mafia: The Old Country is a cinematic and atmospheric journey into the heart of the Sicilian mafia. But behind its beautiful façade lies outdated, uninspired gameplay that leaves much of its potential untapped.

While Rogue City was the ultimate RoboCop game, Unfinished Business feels more like a watered-down rerun — albeit one with a few extra hits of sweet nostalgia.

Little Nightmares III looks great but lacks bite. Its haunting art direction and eerie atmosphere still impress, but the short runtime, predictable puzzles, and dull AI partner make this sequel feel smaller in every sense. Play it in co-op if you can — alone, it’s only half as fun.

This sequel is a clear step backward. While the developers aim for a more emotional story, the empty, lifeless world and one-dimensional characters undermine that ambition. The gameplay is serviceable, but lacks the impact and refinement expected from others in the genre.

Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow delivers an immersive return to classic stealth, with intuitive VR controls, clever sandbox-style missions and plenty of freedom in how you infiltrate and steal. Visual quirks and occasional bugs get in the way, but the tense atmosphere and strong mission design make it one of the standout VR stealth experiences of the year.

Aside from a few original ideas, Shadow Labyrinth ultimately falls short as a Metroidvania. The combat is overly basic, the platforming gets repetitive fast, and the game is brutally difficult. Our advice? Just rewatch that episode of Secret Level instead.

While its co-op-only campaign disappoints, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 rebounds with blisteringly fast multiplayer and one of the strongest Zombies modes in years. With sharper mobility, punchier progression, and some of the series’ most chaotic maps yet, this entry proves there’s still plenty of life left in Black Ops.

A moody, atmospheric vampire RPG with strong narrative moments and memorable characters, but held back by dated visuals, clunky combat, and a hollow open world. Beautiful ideas, flawed execution.

Lost Soul Aside delivers flashy, Devil May Cry-inspired combat, but stumbles everywhere else. The story is a cliché-ridden mess with weak characters, awkward cutscenes, and cringeworthy English voice acting. While the weapon variety, mid-combo switching, and magic abilities make for stylish and versatile fights, the lack of impact, clunky controls, and uneven difficulty spikes hold it back. Despite a decade of development, this long-awaited action game feels unpolished and far from worth its price.