Still, minor gripes aside, I thoroughly enjoyed my time on Starsand Island. It really feels like an “everything” life sim, with enough in there to keep you invested all the way through the early access period as they no doubt refine existing systems and add more. What sets it apart though is the presentation, and the island itself really is the star of the show. Whether you want to get stuck into farm life or just strap your skates on for a little jaunt around the city, it’s a game that all fans of the genre will love. [Early Access Score = 80]

Romeo is a Dead Man is an absolutely wild ride, and although it has some duller moments I'm seriously glad I saw it through to the end.

BlazBlue: Entropy Effect X is a superb side-scrolling action game. The sheer amount of content on offer is enticing enough, but the animations and combat feedback are on-point throughout.

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.

The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest isn't going to light the world on fire, but if you're looking for a platformer without any frills you may enjoy it.

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.

My Hero Academia: All's Justice is the perfect way to say goodbye to an anime titan, with so much content and flashy as hell combat.

Nioh 3 moves beautifully with smooth, glowing, brutal combat and a huge array of special abilities to equip and call upon.

Hermit and Pig is a unique and charming RPG, with engaging and fast paced combat, cozy vibes, and plenty of scrumptious mushrooms.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a comfy blanket of JRPG nostalgia, and despite having some pacing issues I never wanted it to end.

Cairn is a deceptively brutal climbing game at times, but the beautiful visuals, varied story threads and tactile mechanics ensure it's a climb worth making.

I Hate This Place has some great visual flair and interesting lore but unfortunately it's bogged down in an obtuse and often uninspired survival stealth adventure.

Don't Stop, Girlypop! is a pretty pink FPS full of diamonds and flip phones, and it also has the fastest gunplay you could ever handle.

Steel Century Groove is a wonderful blend of rhythm game and RPG, with all those wonderful hooks and a killer dance battle system.

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.

Grid Legends: Deluxe Edition is a standout among a relatively small roster of Nintendo Switch 2 racing games.

There's a lot going on in Code Vein 2, so much that it arguably loses some of the charm of its predecessor, and yet it's still quite a fun experience.

Escape from Ever After is the Paper Mario style game I've been waiting for since the GameCube, with a seriously charming fairytale setting.

Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven adds a whole host of new wintery content to one of 2022’s best games, and is a great reason to go back.

Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is a unique approach to the zombie genre, and while it can become repetitive, I still had a lot of fun playing.

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

Cozy Caravan is real low stakes stuff, but if you can put up with the slow tempo then you’ll find yourself enjoying this warm and whimsical world.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a stunning metroidvania with satisfying gameplay, set in an interesting science fiction setting.

BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW is far and away the most ambitious title in this series, and despite some faults it tells an engaging story.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is still my favourite Musou game, and getting to play it in handheld mode with few concessions is amazing.

Evocreo is a perfectly competent monster collecting game, but its lack of charm and derivative nature make it tough to recommend.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is wonderful alternative to normal person football games, with all the anime nonsense you could ever want.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - From the Ashes is a solid, good-looking, well-paced standalone story that's well worth playing through for fans of the main game.