Gears of War: Reloaded is the perfect way to experience one of the finest games of all time, with superior combat and a cover system that still hasn't been matched.

Donkey Kong Bananza is a true showcase for the Nintendo Switch 2, offering an almost unmatched platforming experience that makes collectibles feel important. An absolute joy to play.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance features exceptional combat, compelling exploration and gorgeous visuals, and I couldn't recommend it more.

Satisfactory is a superb example of the factory sim, delivering a deep, comprehensive experience where it really feels like the devs have thought of everything.

As a follow up to Returnal, Saros is excellent. It builds on the foundations of Selene’s adventure is a sensational slice of bullet-hell shooter goodness.

Monster Hunter Wilds feels like a true evolution of the series, maintaining everything that gives it its identity but tweaking multiple elements to improve and streamline systems.

The Switch 2 is now my console of choice for playing Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, and it's still one of the best RPGs of all time.

I can’t quite believe how incredible Vampire Crawlers is. This fast paced deck builder is almost impossible to put down, and might be the best the genre has to offer full stop. With so many builds and synergies to uncover, unlockables to tick off, and combat that just never gets old, Vampire Crawlers is an effortlessly compelling, fever dream of a game. Even if you don’t particularly like Vampire Survivors this game has to be played, just try to put it down sometimes to touch some grass: it’s just that addictive.

Ball x Pit is a game that I never want to stop playing, thanks to its clever fusion of Breakout bouncing and Roguelike randomness.

Blue Prince is a superb puzzler that joyfully challenges and deceives with every layer of its design and execution. You've not played anything quite like this before.

The best roguelite of recent years, Hades 2 will repeatedly beat you down but leave you gasping, desperate for more. With hours of frenetic gameplay beautifully wrapped in spectacular graphics, captivating voice acting and an incredible soundtrack, Hell has never looked nor felt so fantastic as this.

Mewgenics is one of the densest and most entertaining tactics games ever made, and I'll be discovering new stuff in it for years to come.

Whether you spent your youth hanging around in a record shop or just wish you had, Wax Heads is going to speak to you and your love of music.

Ghost of Yotei is a genuine masterpiece that takes up the mantle dropped by Tsushima and runs with it.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is one of the greatest games of all time, blending freedom in its gameplay with a story and soundtrack that will be remembered for decades.

Mixtape is one of those games that leaves a lasting impression and reminds you of your own experiences growing up, featuring excellent music throughout.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is the best kart racing game you'll play in 2025, with tons of fresh ideas and more content than you could shake a Chao at.

In all the ways that matter, Doom: The Dark Ages is a pure power fantasy, loading you up with outlandish weaponry and lethal powers and unleashing you on the horde.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza is a wonderful new addition to the series, offering a huge game with plenty to do, all while allowing players to dive into the mind of the anti-hero and Mad Dog himself, Goro Majima.

A treat for both veterans and newcomers, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 shows why the series is still just as relevant all these years later. A modern classic.

CloverPit is the Balatro of 2025. It's an incredibly clever Roguelike with a creepy setting, loads of build options and compelling slot machine action.

With a story that really goes places, a massive roster of monsters, and a stack of interlaced systems that combine to give the player a huge amount of choice and agency, Monster Hunter Stories: Twisted Reflection is the best in a trilogy of superb titles.

Battle Suit Aces blends together everything from Gundam and Mass Effect to Yu-Gi-Oh, to create an RPG that absolutely must be played.

With smart, witty writing delivered by top tier talent, Dispatch tells a gripping story that will have you laughing out loud and gawping at the consequences of your decisions in equal measure.

Forza Horizon 5 was already a masterpiece, but now players get to witness is greatness on PS5, with so much to do and so much to see.

TetherGeist is the best precision platformer I've played since Celeste, with some seriously unique movement mechanics and perfect controls.

Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor is the most genuine threat to Vampire Survivor's rule yet.

Resident Evil Requiem continues to breathe life into the series, making excellent use of new and old ideas to tell a story that fans will love every second of.

WWE 2K25 is about as good as it gets. From the plenty of modes to its staggering presentation, Visual Concepts has not only made the best entry in the series, but one of the best games of the year so far.

Everhood 2 is one of the most pleasantly surprising games I've ever reviewed. With sensational combat, bizarre vibes and banging tunes, you'd be a fool to skip past this out of this world RPG.

Super Meat Boy 3D is a wonderful take on the 2010 classic, with that same “one more try" hook that makes it impossible to put down.

Resident Evil 7 Biohazard is still the high point of the series when it comes to horror, and it runs wonderfully on the Switch 2 for bedtime scares.

In Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition the setting is the star, and Planet Mira remains one of the most dangerous yet inviting worlds you can experience.

Chained Echoes: Ashes of Elrant is sublime DLC that gives you a fantastic reason to play one of the greatest RPGs in recent memory some more.

Time Flies may seem like a silly distraction at first, but its heartfelt message and compelling speed-running gameplay make it a masterpiece.

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo lived up to all my expectations, and is one of the very best Metroidvanias I've ever played.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is an absolute triumph. An addictive adventure in a stunningly provocative open world, and an absolute must play.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A mega evolves the series in an exciting new direction, and is one of the best games I've played on the Switch 2.

Powerwash Simulator 2 is an easy sell to those who have never tried the original, and an even easier sell to those who loved it. Relaxing and hypnotic, you’ll lose hours to this game every time you pick up the controller, and you’ll come back time after time for more.

Directive 8020 is by far one of the best games Supermassive has made, with an engaging story and characters and choices that carry a lot of weight.

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is an utterly unhinged game, with incredible characters, exceptional combat and a whole lot of style.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is an exciting and satisfying side-scroller that never gets dull, and offers amazing combat set in a gorgeous world.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 feels truly unique and artistic, and reminds us how moving, exhilarating, and provocative big-budget adventure games can be.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a wonderful adventure in a gorgeous world, and deserves to put River End Games well and truly on the map.

Despite a few very minor complaints, Pragmata is one of Capcom's most interesting and enjoyable adventures to date.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star Crossed World is the best Kirby game ever made, and on the Switch 2 it's better than ever.

Pokémon Champions is the perfect starting point for anyone who wants to be the very best, making competitive Pokémon so much more accessible.

Urban Myth Dissolution Center is a seriously compelling adventure game, thanks to its intriguing narrative and spooky elements.

Monster Train 2 will be the new obsession for all of you deck building fans, with so many build options and limitless replayability.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a unique and compelling game that everyone should play, and the Switch 2 is the perfect place to do so.

Street Fighter 6 still has so much to give, and is perfectly suited tothe Switch 2 Despite a few issues with world tour, it's still a banger.

Gecko Gods is a charming and friction free 3D platformer that's a joy to explore, with tasty bugs to snack on and a whole lot of walls to climb up.

Bionic Bay is a superb and challenging physics platform game with a beautiful visual design, and clever puzzles within.

Monsters are Coming! Rock and Road is your next new Survivors obsession, with a clever tower defence twist and that “just one more run" hook.

MotionRec is an expertly made puzzle platformer, with a seriously clever central mechanic and a whole lot of charm packed into its short runtime.

Much like games like Portal and Blue Prince before it, Viewfinder is a puzzle masterpiece that is appointment gaming for absolutely everyone.

Galactic Glitch is yet another fantastic and innovative addition to the twin-stick genre, one that it is fair to say has had a fair few belters so far this year.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a sometimes frustrating yet always impressive adventure that expands on its predecessor in every way, and is another must-play experience for any fan of Hideo Kojima.

Hell Clock is one of those games that cherry picks so many ideas from so many different sources that it manages to feel original when taken as a whole.

Pokémon LeafGreen is one of the best Pokémon games full stop, and even in 2026 it's an absolutely delightful experience.

No Sleep for Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files is another great entry in this great series, now with added escape rooms.

Rogue Factor have created something truly special in Hell is Us, combing head-scratching puzzles with fun, challenging combat. This is an unexpected treasure.

Into the Restless Ruins effortlessly combines dungeon building and dungeon crawling into a Roguelike package that I couldn't put down.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties is an exceptional entry in the Yakuza series, with a strong story, great combat, plenty to do, and gorgeous visuals.

Clockwork Ambrosia is a Metroidvania throwback that does everything right, and the gun mods make for some seriously exciting collectibles.

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is an absolutely first class re-do of what was an already excellent game.

Despite a couple of duds in Capcom Fighting Collection 2, there is so much good stuff on offer here and a couple of legit all-timers.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is an amazing Musou game, and one of the best Switch 2 games available currently.

s.p.l.i.t is a brutal and powerful game unlike anything else I've ever played, but its dark themes will be too much for some to experience.

Everybody's Golf Hot Shots is a massive hit, offering plenty of fun and exciting modes along with gameplay that's easy to lean yet tricky to master.

Core Keeper is a ridiculously compelling survival game that's great on the Switch 2, and I lost so many hours building the perfect base.

There will be those that aren't fans of its pace, but Keeper is a stunning game both visually and in the poignant story it tells.

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a wonderful collection of Slimy goodness, packed full of charm and quality of life improvements.

NBA 2K26 features a ton of tweaks and additions to make it the best in the series, with stellar presentation and important gameplay improvements.

WWE 2K26 is one hell of a game, featuring tons of variety across matches and how they play out as well as game modes, giving players plenty of freedom to enjoy.

The Midnight Walk is one of the best games of 2025. It looks so wonderful, has excellent sound design, and a story that keeps you gripped all the time.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is so faithful it missed out on a few opportunities to bring it into the present, but it's still a fantastic game nonetheless.

Once again Two Point Studios have delivered a bright, fun, and likeable management sim that is simple to get into it, but deep enough to keep you invested – and I can’t wait to see what they do next.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is beautiful, but no cake-walk. It will challenge you, with sudden decisions, genuinely difficult dice rolls, and the inability to just save-scum your choices. You’ll fail things and roll with the consequences, which in turn has the power to change how you approach the game. Sometimes you may just find that the easy route is more attractive, even if it ultimately dooms the people around you. This, like the first title, is a special game, one that will shape itself around your decisions and map your fate by chance as much as choice. It may test you, it may frustrate you, but my advice is to stick with it, because until you reach a fail state there’s always a way to keep going, keep exploring, and keep surviving in the harsh, unforgiving vacuum of space.

Wanderstop's gorgeous visuals, solid character writing, and relaxing workaday gameplay routine brew up a wonderful experience.

Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a gloriously traditional JRPG, with compelling combat, fun new minigames and many hours of content.

Shadow Labyrinth is a dark and gritty Pac-Man spinoff that somehow manages to be one of the best Metroidvanias in recent memory.

Pokemon Pokopia is a fantastic entry to the cosy and townbuilding genres, and easily one of the greatest Pokemon games I’ve played.

Crimson Desert is frustrating and buggy and can be very player-unfriendly, but it's also beautiful, deep, seemingly endless and monumentally, perhaps detrimentally, ambitious.

Split Fiction is a superb platformer. Hazelight has managed to deliver once again with varied and exciting gameplay, featuring a story that will make you laugh, cry, and get completely emerged in.

The Super Bomberman Collection is a wonderful bundle of games, whether you were a Bomberman kid or want to try something new.

Kirby Air Riders shakes up the kart racing genre in a massively refreshing way, and has a ridiculous amount of content to explore.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a finely crafted experience with an effortlessly charismatic lead, and some wonderfully exhilarating set-pieces.

Dead Take is a fantastic psychological horror that pulls no punches, delivering superb acting and some great puzzles that keep you engaged until the very end.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is addictive and has numerous quality of life improvements for the genre. It might suffer from a slow start and repetitious voiceover work, but that’ll fade away and you’ll soon find yourself lost in its systems and loving every minute.

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die has some of the best combat I've ever experienced in a Roguelike, and has loads of clever tricks up its sleeves.

Silent Hill f is genuinely unnerving, with a strong story and intense combat that earns its place as a worthy entry in the series.

The First Berserker: Khazan has a massive focus on rewarding the player’s perseverance, whatever their skill level.

Wheel World is an excellent game, bringing a realistic weightiness from the bike handling and merging it with a beautiful world that's a joy to explore.

Promise Mascot Agency blends driving, money management and talking blocks of tofu to create a gleefully weird game that demands your attention.

Stratogun is a beautifully executed piece of work that fully deserves to join the pantheon of twin stick lore, and is going to be a near-permanent fixture on my Steam Deck for some time to come.

Videoverse is a ridiculously charming coming of age narrative game, with an early internet setting that slaps you hard with nostalgia.

Planet of Lana 2 improves upon its predecessor in every way, bringing an engaging story to its forefront with puzzles that amaze and excite throughout.