Blasphemous 2 is a fantastic sequel. The smooth gameplay, wonderful world building and awesomely gory and strange art make this a must play for fans of the genre and new acolytes looking to test it out. It improves on the original with some excellent streamlining and platforming to go with the combat. It plays, looks, and sounds great, and is a must play for anyone even slightly intrigued.

Splatoon 3 remixes and refines what makes Splatoon so fun and wraps it all in a style infused lavish of color and creativity. Many shooters these days lack the spirit that is shown so well. Even comparing to Splatoon 2 this entry blows it out of the water with how much more it has going for it, from entertaining to fresh there's no shortage here! No matter how much content is not new, what the game does to mix things up really makes the game feel unique. With plenty of Splatfests and updates to come I am excited for even more content for this already Inkredible game. Splatoon 3 manages to continue to show that Splatoon is one of Nintendo's best new IPs, and it's shining rainbow of colors will only get brighter and better going forward!

I really enjoyed playing Strange Horticulture. Although at times the puzzles were a little too challenging, it’s certainly a game I would—one—play again, and—two—absolutely recommend to others. It’s not simply filled with puzzles, but the educational aspect is really entertaining, as you learn useful facts about the many different plants. I may not have a green thumb, but this game certainly makes me want to get one—even if only virtual!

Yoku’s Island is worth exploring. There is the odd critique (dying at pinball?) - but the charming atmosphere and a well implemented mix of gameplay styles provide a very good time. The island of Mokumana has plenty of exploration, coupled with a few cool upgrades for Yoku to make it easier. Taking into consideration the right amount of collectibles and a story mode which doesn’t overstay its welcome and you’ve got a breezy, enjoyable adventure on your hands.

All in all, it's playable and enjoyable; however, the game will need some more content and definitely more bug fixes in future updates. In other words, it's not entirely polished. Although it may not be polished, it's highly recommended for arcade racers, no doubt about that. If you've been on Forza Motorsport or Project CARS 3 before, then this might be something for you. Great track layout and astonishing graphics makes the game special. Dirt veterans may also recognise the similarities between this and the older games.

Unpacking is not a game for everyone, but the people it appeals to will fall in love with it. The game has its own unique charm, and players will find themselves breezing through the whole thing before they know it. However, that does mean the game is way shorter than it should be. With only 8 levels, they definitely could have made it to at least 13-15. The beautiful pixel art enhances the game's aesthetic, though certain items don't translate as well, leading to some confusion.

Forgive Me Father 2 is an amazing experience for anyone looking to get into the horror first person shooter genre. Being a take on world war one's traumas, you'll be thrown into the depths of asylums, trenches, and strange manors uncovering the horrors of yourself. As a sequel title it improves greatly on the graphics and gunplay of the previous game while offering new and unique weapons for your person enjoyment! Make sure to keep your audio on, as the killer soundtrack will have you coming back time and time again!

Stray is a true ode to both adventure games and cats. The game is expertly crafted with satisfying gameplay, a brilliant art style, and an even better story. A strong contender for indie game of the year, Stray will dig it’s claws into you from the very beginning and it wont let go.

A thrilling ride through the gentle and the macabre. Little Nightmares II is carefully packaged with a heartrending punch, tender flashes and bitter twists – all the while expanding on the already captivating mythos of the series.

Betrayal At Club Low does a great job at providing a new take in the point-and-click adventure genre. Being able to choose your own methods of resolving the situation is fun and gives the player a sense of control. Failure is rarely permanent, and you can always keep trying until you succeed. There isn’t much in terms of replay value unless you are someone who aims for 100% completion. It’s a nice game for 2-3 hours, but you are likely not revisiting the game for anything remarkable later.

Whilst very brief and slightly obsolete in its gameplay, Sunlight provides an ambitious and rich narrative experiment, offering keen insight into concepts of impermanence, sensation and mortality.

V Rising is an incredibly solid RPG that is set within a gothic world where we must battle through against mankind and the sunlight through the lenses of a vampire, trying to restore the glory that once was theirs. The combat and environment within V Rising are highly addicting and satisfying that roaming around the map will always yield positive results. V Rising has almost everything that I want within an RPG game, and those who seek a game to spend their summer this year might want to take a look at V Rising.

Road to Empress presents a thrilling tale of political intrigue and infighting that keeps you hooked. Every character's acting is top-notch and you feel the emotions that they express. The game's story is slightly hampered by the fact that there is only one viable path despite having multiple choices during events. You shouldn't miss out on this story if you are a fan of FMV games.

Total War: Warhammer III: Forge of the Chaos Dwarfs is a great expansion on the base game. Adding a long-requested faction to the title in a near-perfect way. With many new and brilliantly designed units, a fine selection of lords, and some cool new features there is a lot to enjoy with this new content. However, the extra levels of economic micro-management that the DLC adds may be too much for some.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a well-needed breath of fresh air into the Pokémon franchise. It's exciting and entirely brand new, and has introduced several elements players will want to see in future releases. There's enough content to see you through until the next big title, and a large enough world to find yourself not getting bored easily. It's a stunning game and stays true to everything gamers love about Pokémon.

The easiest way of summarising how well Beacon Pines works is by saying that it is abundantly clear in every frame that the developers cared. The story is sad, and funny, and intriguing, and the art style is unforgettable. The gameplay, while simple, introduces such a unique concept to facilitate its story that it doesn’t matter the entire thing can be played with a grand total of five buttons. This game is dripping with heart, and if you’ve any interest in mystery stories, I cannot recommend it more highly.

Mortal Kombat 1 takes the original formula of a tournament between realms and enriches every step. As a hard reset to the universe, the game goes back to the beginning and re-establishes the beloved story and pieces of lore in exciting new ways. With only a few flaws, the gameplay is intuitive and enjoyable. All of this is further heightened with masterful graphics and audio design.

Sam & Max The Devil's Playhouse is an almost perfect last adventure for the comedic duo that combines a thrilling narrative with hilarious and smart dialogue. The puzzles feel more accessible, the new cast are entertaining, and the psychic abilities are fun to play with. Though there's definitely some absence in different forms of gameplay, it doesn't take away too much for The Devil's Playhouse to become boring. Overall, my journey through this trilogy is something I'll never forget and will cherish the memories I made with Sam & Max. Now that Skunkape Games are done with the remasters, I think its time for the duo to make a comeback.

Post Void is an acid trip disguised as a boomer shooter. When the trippy visuals aren't messing with your mind, the twitch-based gameplay kicks your butt six ways from Sunday. Post Void's roguelike mechanics provide depth and variety to each playthrough. It's an adrenaline rush like no other, one where its surrealism hides a challenging but rewarding old-school FPS.

Pine Hearts is a good choice if you want to play a cozy game that incorporates a little adventure, exploring, and storytelling. The storytelling side is surprisingly heart-tugging and told very well. Adventuring isn't too frustrating or difficult; there's enough to be action-packed while at the same time relaxing and easy-going. Exploring the Pine Hearts Caravan Park is also good fun, thanks to how beautifully crafted the world is and how alive it feels. The cutesy graphics and perfectly complementing music complete this charming cozy game.

This triple pack of Atelier games will offer any fans of the series exactly what they're looking for, though they aren't the best starting point for a newcomer. In the time since their original release, the games have only gotten older, and poor load times and occasional framerate issues are something they really shouldn't suffer from. Still, these are cosy, quiet, heartfelt, and imaginative games, and it is nice to see them back.

I have to admit, this is amazing value for money. I'm slightly dismayed by the bugs that are present, and I feel they should have updated some of the mechanics of the original games, but ultimately, Command and Conquer Remastered sets the bar against which future remaster projects will be measured. If you need one line to sum up this entire article, here it is. Mission Accomplished.

As an interactive album, Sayonara Wild Hearts excels. Simplistic gameplay, paired with the amazing music from Daniel Olsén Jonathan Eng, creates a memorable experience. As a game, though, the story didn't resonate with me, and the sometimes overly busy visuals bring it down a notch.

A great port of an even better game. No More Heroes is an extremely unique character action game with an amazing cast of characters whose dialogue is as entertaining as it is cheesy. While the combat system lacks the depth of its peers in the genre I enjoyed every second of it. This combined with a rock-solid port to the Nintendo Switch, with a new button control scheme and great motion controls, makes this a must-play before the release of No More Heroes 3.

Escape Simulator is fun. It's just challenging enough to make the puzzles satisfying, without being so obtuse you're certain the creators are just trying to show off their wasted university degrees. With free DLC and player created options, there's a ton of replay value. It feels good to poke at multiple puzzles at once, just for one to unlock the key to one of the others and so on. I lost hours on this game, bingeing it for 7 hours straight in one session! It's fun to pick up, hard to put down.

Exo One, be it on the PC, Xbox, or now PS4/5, is a must for gamers that appreciate a quiet, meditative experience with finely crafted audio and graphics, as long as you can forego of a detailed story, since you won't find any here. The game is essentially the same awesome experience I had in 2021, with the amazing addition of the DualSense capabilities for immersion. Based on that alone, this entry would have received a higher score than my original 9, but the occasional stutter right when you hit the highest velocities or impacts forces me to dock some points off.

Not For Broadcast is a great experience of a game. While some may be bored by the lack of action and the fact that you're mostly watching TV, the engaging story and characters are more than enough to boost the game into being a true hidden gem in the large sea of indie games.

PowerWash Simulator 2 doesn’t pretend to be epic — and that is its greatest strength. It recognizes that there is a quiet joy in the repetitive, in the ritual of cleaning. By polishing its tools, refining its pacing, and offering cooperative progression, it builds a cozy, rewarding sandbox for anyone who appreciates calm, tactile satisfaction over high-octane thrills.