9 Years of Shadows will draw you in with masterful pixel art and irresistible music, then keep you hooked with its glorious halberdy action and overall strength of character. Despite some overly forgiving map design and limited replay value, this is a Metroidvania you might just fall in love with. An ideal entry point for newcomers to the genre, a must-play for long-time fans.

I'm very glad I got to play Blue Wednesday. It makes me want to play the piano again! Seriously, I enjoyed listening to the excellent soundtrack, playing through the well-told story, learning about all the interesting characters, and playing on the keys and all the other mini-games. To be honest, I'm having a bit of hard time finding anything bad to say about this game! If you like narrative games and also musical rhythm games, you should really give Blue Wednesday a go.

At the end of the day, NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition pretty much satisfies the itch of what a basketball fan wants in a video game. The flow between the different elements of the game is consistent with one another, and the game tries not to lose anyone along the way. If you are a sports fan, a basketball fan, or especially an NBA fan...I'd give this one at least a single run-through.

Killer Frequency is a cheesy homage to the 80s slasher genre. You will feel the tension rise with the stakes as it is down to you to solve puzzles and save lives. While there are a few instances of flawed solutions, problem solving is genuinely rewarding as each success results in a thwarted murder. Encompassing the 80's vibe through its story, stylised graphics and electronic audio design, Killer Frequency will leave you laughing with the canned laughter on your soundboard, then feeling guilty for it straight after.

Assassin's Creed Mirage isn't just a throwback to the classic entries, but a celebration of what made this franchise stand out in the first place. The stealth gameplay is fully embraced as a lot of the classic moves are back in action. There’s still some minor quibbles with the map and the repetition of some of the collectibles. Still, if you’re a fan of any of the past games, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a must buy.

Arcaxer is an awesome VR journey with unified aesthetics and a fully fleshed out campaign. The aforementioned story content and post game, along with mechanics that shine and are unique in VR, makes this title worth adding to VR libraries, especially those who are fans of flat screen JRPGS. Additionally, updates are still rolling out for the title, offering new areas, spells, and enemies to conquer. The downsides include an overly linear story that teases dialogue options, but offer no branching paths.

The Callisto Protocol is a gripping science fiction horror game and a worthy spiritual successor to the Dead Space franchise. Some of the gameplay and mechanics choices may be off-putting but do not detract enough to ruin the terrifying experience. In the same vein as cult classic horror movies, The Callisto Protocol prioritizes doing things well enough to be fun and approachable.

The remake of Mario vs. Donkey Kong breathes new life into the classic title, enriching what was achieved nearly 20 years ago. This format aligns seamlessly with the franchise's essence, where platforms and puzzles merge effortlessly to create an environment where Mario truly belongs. The enhancements in this new version serve as a welcoming invitation for newcomers and a compelling reason for veterans to revisit the world they once cherished. With gameplay and visuals elevated to new heights, it's evident that the experience has been refined for modern audiences. Of course, while some mechanics may show signs of age, they underscore the notion that a renewed, unreleased installment would seamlessly complement Nintendo's renowned catalog.

Before I Forget is not just a thoughtful narrative experience, but an educational one as well. As video games are an ever-evolving medium, their capacity for building empathy and understanding shines bright in titles like this one. Simple and straightforward, the title effectively communicates the harrowing and beautiful moments of real life.

The Super Mario RPG remake goes beyond nostalgia and captivates the player from the first playthrough. Overflowing with humor yet masterful in every aspect, the game reaffirms its status as a cult classic among the best SNES JRPGs, showcasing the genuine Mario spirit beyond platforming. Its triumph is not solely in updating the original's visuals and gameplay but in unequivocally bringing these features to Nintendo Switch players. Nintendo not just remade the game for aesthetics; it made it accessible to everyone: new Mario fans, long-time players, and even those wary about the "RPG" label could find an exciting gaming piece this time.

Sam & Max Save The World is a fantastically realised remaster with a razor sharp script, brilliant soundtrack, and decent graphics. Some puzzles can be a little too convoluted and absurd for their own good, and being presented in this package does make the game feel more repetitious than it otherwise would have. But at its heart it is a must by for fans of Adventure games.

Rat Cliff Games has knocked Among Ashes out of the park with their unique premise and cleverly placed scares. The switch between both games is fantastic and would love to see other games take a similar approach. Among Ashes may have a few loose pieces to its structure but luckily it never fell too deep in the pit of bugs. For anyone wanting a new horror experience, look no further than Among Ashes.... Did I mention it's set around the Christmas season?

I Am Your President: Prologue is a short and sweet story-driven political game that leaves you wanting more. It is brilliantly conceptualised and I definitely expect I Am Your President to take it up a notch once it releases. The game offers a fresh take on the very generic political genre of other titles and manages to make politics fun and everything else other than politics. I do wish the Prologue was a little longer as the cravings I now have won't let me rest until I play the main game. But all in all, a very good package.

A smattering of small niggles ultimately prevents Ghost of Tsushima from reaching the upper echelons of PS4 folklore, but it's still an absolute must for your game collection, and a fitting end to the PS4's line of exclusives. Ghost of Tsushima is a fantastic journey through the trouble and strife of 13th Century Japan and is complimented perfectly by a set of great characters, a likable main character, and a loathsome villain. Some repetition in the game's side-missions and a lack of polish in some areas just bring the score down a tad, but these issues can be overlooked in favor of the jaw-dropping visual dessert that will keep you coming back for more.

Despite its rocky road of development, Dead Island 2 succeeds in bringing more of the same mindless, mind-bashing fun as its predecessor. While not flawless, Dead Island 2 leans into its gory silliness by bringing dark and well-timed humour into its cut scenes. Intricate details in the environment make exploring engaging and all aspects of the infected have been lovingly designed, including the weapons you use to destroy them with. If you are looking for some zombie-bashing goofiness, then Dead Island 2's gruesome tour of LA is worth a visit.

The story in Digimon Survive is an example of why fans of Digimon flock to the series. Fans enjoy the themes of the series presents to fans about the pressures of growing up. While the gameplay in this outing is limited and lacking in complexities when compared to its predecessors. As a visual novel, it more than holds up as a Digimon anime entry and is a great game that any Digimon fan could enjoy.

If there is only a game that's worth playing in this year, it would be Diablo IV. There's a lot to do, a lot to explore whether its the game's world or its skill and Paragon tree combinations, lots of monsters to slay and loot their items, and so much more. It might be priced steeply, but once you understand the core fundamentals of the game, it's without a doubt worth the investment.

While the original stories remain intact, they have been reworked and new ideas have been interspersed among them. Layers of Fear doesn't shy away from the dark side of the human mind, representing emotions and thoughts in sinister art forms. The visual enhancements are impressive, and a perfect excuse for fans wishing to visit the game again. The all-in-one package style of the reimagined Layers of Fear is also an effective way of introducing newcomers to the unsettling series.

The first half of Maquette is close to flawless, with its puzzles and narrative sharing a symbiotic relationship that whilst brilliant, makes the flaws of the second half glaringly obvious. Full of character, ambition and love, Maquette is a unique experience. If you enjoy story-driven games, Maquette is a must. Maquette is a wondrous exploration of human relationships and packs an emotional weight that will leave a lasting impression on its players and it'll be interesting to see what Graceful Decay does next.

Gaming is at its best when players are met with experiences unique to the medium. With intelligent writing and a thought-provoking handling of themes around death and regret, Before Your Eyes comes through as a concise and rich first-person experience, evoking something in anyone who plays it. Once you accept that its unique selling point is far more optional than originally intended, appreciating the love that undoubtedly went into this story becomes far easier. Put the webcam away, and you'll definitely cherish this short yet unforgettable tale, enough to even revisit in the years to come.

In conclusion, Fuser is more a musical toolbox than it is an actual game. While Harmonix's previous games were about playing songs that already existed, this title actually lets you create something unique. It almost feels like magic when you combine two songs that you know shouldn't work together, but Fuser somehow makes them sound incredible. While I am still enjoying booting it up and thinking about songs I would like to have added to the library, I worry that if new music is not released frequently, then interest in the title may wane.

A cartoon in the best way possible. Despite some hyperactive side games that take away from the full experience, The Wonderful 101 is an exciting romp that brings the laughs and serves the audience a unique and fun combat system. If you want something to lift the spirits this game gives you that times 101.

Luciform is a great and maddeningly tough platformer. It manages to balance the difficulty of its levels with some well-chosen anti-frustration features which generally helps to keep it challenging rather than infuriating. It’s not going to be for everyone, though, and even the ‘easy’ mode has plenty of hard moments. The only thing missing, really, is a bit of extra polish for the Switch port to really make it shine.

Darkest Dungeon II is a game that no one needed. The impact of the original Darkest Dungeon is still palpable and still holds to this day, but Red Hook set out to take the soul and essence of the original game, and polish it and polish it until they came up with this beauty of a game. The changes in gameplay mechanics are enough to make it feel more like a different game with the same core, rather than an actual sequel, and it's unfortunately fighting against its bigger brother, but Darkest Dungeon II brings enough to the fight to make it a compelling and well-worth experience for grim, Lovecraftian Roguelite fans.

Just like a solid road trip, Road 96 is filled with ups and downs. As you strive to survive Petria’s worst roadblocks, you’ll find yourself making defining decisions. Even if the world of Petria isn’t as defined, the characters more than make up for the long, empty stretches of road. Road 96 is game that makes you think long and hard about both the journey and the destination.

Total War: Warhammer III: Thrones of Decay is a meaty update that easily eclipses its predecessor at launch. With a host of new units and features for each of the updated factions it makes each of them feel decently feature complete. And whilst I still feel that the Maggot Host faction is the lesser of the updated factions there is still a lot to enjoy regardless of which of the packs you decide to buy.

Animal Rescuer has a lot to offer and it mostly ticks all the correct boxes, barring a few. The world is incredibly well-detailed. Animals have been given digital lives that makes you wish they were real. A basic storyline does set the premise but I would love for the story to expand in the future. The music is a masterpiece but the text-to-speech dialogues reduce the game's overall appeal. The soon-to-launch Prologue on Steam should definitely help players get an idea of the game and see the game for what it truly is. Animal Rescuer is a truly unique concept and has been wonderfully executed by Turquoise Revival Games.

Star Overdrive is a thrill of a game that was a joy to play almost from start to finish. Yes, there are issues here and there with the grinding and some questionable control decisions. But over looking that we are treated to a fun adventure title with a unique twist on the genera. I do wish the world (and our lead) had a little more personality. But if you're looking for a game in the tradition of the most recent Zelda titles this might be for you.