A highly polished remaster of the almost-classic action role-player, that is still stuck with some of the original flaws but allows the thoughtful, and very humorous, script to shine.

Baby and bathwater are thrown screaming from the tub as Square Enix strip Final Fantasy down to the marrow.

One of the best of the bit Generations puzzlers returns with its take on the art of traffic directing.

It's unlikely to ever outsell Angry Birds, but Bad Piggies certainly outthinks it – with a clever mix of physics-based puzzling and experimentation.

The name and anime aesthetic may seem off-putting, but combined with the original this is some of the most engaging interactive storytelling of recent years.

There is still a long way for me to go, and lots of areas Black Ops 6 can drop the ball from here. That’s even before we get to multiplayer and Zombies. All of that will come in our full review. However, often you get a ‘vibe’ for a good Call Of Duty game early on. A feeling that this could be one of the more important entries in the franchise. Right now, I’m starting to get the tingling. [Campaign Review]

It was always the definitive scrolling beat 'em-up but this Xbox Live Arcade release goes the extra mile with a loving revamp of one of gaming's great co-op experiences.

A surprisingly successful mash-up between two completely different franchises, whose quiet charms offer a welcome alternative to incessant action and overbearing storytelling.

There are still some pacing issues, but this is the best version of Lumines yet and an artful mix of music, graphics, and puzzle gameplay.

It barely classifies as a sequel, but even if you’ve played the original this is still one of the best online shooters ever made.

Shovel Knight’s first spin-off is just as good as his mainline games, with a clever take on tile-matching puzzlers that offers an enjoyably unique challenge.

A brilliantly strange, neon-lit survival horror that mixes 90s style visuals and gameplay with a very modern take on love in the 21st century.

A strikingly beautiful, sci-fi alternative to Hollow Knight: Silksong, but one which is consistently off the mark when it comes to the balance between difficulty and frustration.

A peculiar mix of cyberpunk dystopia and whimsical platformer that is just about held together by some excellent visuals and a very cute cat.

A slightly underwhelming end to the legend of Kazuma Kiryu, but the changes in gameplay and graphics do hold a lot of promise for the future.

An unnecessary but well-made expansion for what remains Kirby’s best platform adventure, with plenty of neat new extras and a peculiarly difficult final boss.

PC gamers needn’t worry they missed the first game, as the superior sequel’s endless loops of addiction feel far more honest and rewarding than the flawed original.

Another improvement after two stellar editions in 2022 and 2023, WWE 2K24 feels like the culmination of a WrestleMania-sized comeback for the franchise.

The perfect Sam & Max episode is still yet to be made, but in terms of puzzles this one is hard to beat.

At last a Fallout download that's genuinely worth the bandwidth, with a sparkling script that's better than either of the main games.

A rare chance to play a thoroughbred visual novel, with a multi-layered plot that explores everything from Japanese pop culture to the ripple effect of everyday decisions.

Its rapid-fire sequence of perfectly designed puzzles is a constant source of joy, as is its simple and elegantly-designed interface.

A disappointing way to end an otherwise epic series (especially if you take into account Showdown) but the retro visuals and excellent 2D platforming can still delight.

This co-op tale of two delinquent young girls feels particularly at home on the Switch, in what is one of the best story-based games of recent years.

Wave 6 is an excellent set of courses in what has been an excellent season pass, for an excellent parent game. Some might talk of Mario Kart 64 or Mario Kart Wii but for us Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is clearly the best entry in the franchise and by virtue of being so it’s also one of the best video games ever made. Almost a decade later and it’s not only as much fun as ever but it’s almost impossible to imagine how Nintendo might improve it.

Although this is a considerably more interesting and accomplished game than any of its predecessors it's still nowhere near the cutting edge of the first person shooter genre. And we say that not just because of its abandonment of all that Halo introduced to the concept a decade ago.

One of the best Tower Defense action hybrids so far, with considerably more depth than the original - even if it still looks like the same game.

One of the best remasters so far makes surviving the Russian apocalypse more horrifying than ever, although none of the changes address the games’ more fundamental issues.

Heartbreakingly short, and not really very different from the first game, but the quality of puzzles and wordless storytelling is still absolutely stunning.

A fantastic balancing act between old and new, creating a Japanese role-player that’s full of charm, innovative ideas, and clever nods to the past.

The experience is especially well suited to the 3DS, and although this is supposedly the last of the series we do hope some kind of compilation can be made for the Switch. We won’t mind if there’s never another sequel though. For in a world where no franchise is ever allowed to die a dignified death it’s nice to know that Qbby has been all that he can be, and that his final adventure was his best.

A visual novel that offers the occasional diversion into some engaging turn-based strategy but would’ve been infinitely better if it had curtailed it’s long-winded storytelling aspirations.

There have been far more than just three Ratchet & Clank games over the years but it's still a franchise worth celebrating, in one of the better HD collections so far.

Another enjoyable addition to the Fallblox family of puzzle games, with a fun new gimmick and a generally fair and above board use of DLC.

A worthy alternative to Braid with its own unique personality and some of the cleverest puzzles around.

One of the best action puzzlers for several years, made all the better by some surprisingly distinctive storytelling and visuals.

The best game on DSiWare is a puzzle platformer hybrid reminiscent of the very best of the 8 and 16-bit era.

There are minor improvements here but the next gen versions of Lego Marvel still rely on charm and fan service more than technical finesse.

It’s spooky rather than scary but with a great script and characters, and some smart puzzles, this is a must-play for anyone who enjoys the kind of stories only video games can tell.

Exactly as entertaining as you’d expect from a collaboration between two of Japan’s most talented developers, and a relatively good – if extremely belated – PC port.

It's rare to criticise a game for being too long, but some judicious editing could have turned this long-needed reboot into a real God Of War beater.

What starts as a sweet and endearing homage to 90s gaming evolves into a sophisticated and, at times, dark exploration of two troubled youths, in one of the best indie games of the year.

The offspring of Zelda and God Of War can't hold a candle to its parents but it's good fun nonetheless.

A disappointingly low-tech space exploration game that relies too much on the legacy of Skyrim and Fallout and lacks the innovation and imagination to do its concept justice.

An inspired mix of skateboarding and 2D platforming that manages to combine a surprising level of realism with some enjoyably impossible level design.

Not necessarily the best version of the game, but it's definitely the cheapest – and a still superb mix of role-playing, puzzle and strategy action.

A hugely impressive use of last gen tech that is only slightly inferior to the Xbox One version, and as such one of the best online shooters of the last several years.

One of the best ever multiplayer stealth games and one of the most successful attempts yet at the perfect heist game.

Not all of the game’s bold ideas are entirely successful but in terms of the visuals, music, and storytelling ambition this is one of the most absorbing indie adventures of the year.

A delightful and hugely entertaining journey of puzzles, battles, and exploration that makes you feel a part of both its story and the living, breathing, miniaturised world of Moss.

If anything a step back from the already generic original, with combat and powers as underdeveloped as its characters.

Still gaming’s most realistic crime drama, as well as being the natural heir to both Shenmue and Streets Of Rage – even if this entry shows little real innovation.

Like everything to do with No Man’s Sky, the VR and multiplayer additions aren’t without their problems, but this is still a clear step forward for the constantly evolving sci-fi epic.

A successful conclusion to one of the most underrated storytelling franchises in gaming, even if some of the presentational changes are too ambitious for their own good.

The combat might never feel as clever as the visuals and narration but this is still an engrossing and distinctive action role-player.

Deciding when to make a run for base camp with your loot is an exercise in brinkmanship, in this highly addictive and touchscreen-friendly game.

Despite a few pulled punches this is the best Call Of Duty has been in years, and the multiplayer in particular is the most innovative since Modern Warfare began.

A stunning visual achievement and a mediocre Metroidvania but despite that unevenness this is still an affecting interactive journey with real emotional resonance.

A well designed, entertaining, and black humoured roguelite that does a great job of balancing long-term progress with the need to extend individual runs.

Proof that WiiWare can be a genuinely interesting and innovative service, with the best version yet of this imaginative and innovative indie platformer.

A viable alternative to the old guard of driving simulators, that values freedom of choice and gritty realism over needless feature creep.

A peculiar but well-conceived concept that brings together multiple disparate gameplay elements, to create a highly customisable, but occasionally somewhat shallow, vampire sim.

It might be a clone but none have copied Diablo more expertly than this bargain-priced tribute.

A great simulation game that recalls the glory days of Theme Hospital et al. Although at times it almost feels like a psychology study of the player rather than the inmates.

The best new Mortal Kombat for years, with a fighting game experience that’s as generous with the content as it is with the gore.

The loss of London Life leaves a nasty taste in the mouth, but its absence doesn't affect the main game which is probably the best of the series so far.

A very welcome compilation of two of the best story-based games of recent years, that manage to transcend their anime presentation and apparent absurdity.

In some ways a backwards step from its immediate predecessor, but this is still a fascinatingly complex Japanese role-player with the best open world since Breath Of The Wild.

So far Shadowlands does not disappoint, with the question of which of the four covenants to soul-bind to being a particularly tricky one, as you get to grips with the endgame content of world quests and dailies. Shadowlands is reminiscent of aspects from earlier expansions, such as Wrath Of The Lich King (even including the grind), but it has a style all of its own and a good sense of momentum that, so far at least, makes it great fun to play. [Review-in-Progress]

An excellent remake of one of the best strategy games of all time, that is as accessible and versatile as an action game but has some of the most deceptively deep tactical combat ever seen in a console release.

Playing one of the decade’s most influential video games on a handheld proves a welcome novelty, as the Switch version of Dark Souls makes the most of the existing remaster.

Something close to a minimal effort, but with FIFA 10 powering the action it's still hard to resist.

Its flaws are frustratingly obvious, but this has some of the most enjoyably original gameplay and visuals of any game this year - on the PS Vita or otherwise.

A perfectly good 3D remake of Ruby and Sapphire, the only problem being that Ruby and Sapphire were never that great – and this is still not as good as the recent X and Y.

A generous expansion that through its stunning visuals and inspired creature design showcases the best features of the original, even if it doesn’t fix many of its flaws.

It may well end up being Nintendo's last game on the Wii, but it's an impressively subversive swansong that is neither as crude - nor as easy - as it looks.

With myriad graphical touches, from the creepy crawlies that infest many levels to your character’s tiny, bloody footprints as she wanders away from the scene of a battle, it’s clearly a labour of love.

Some may see it as dumbing down but for most this will be the most accessible and fun Ninja Gaiden yet.

A slightly disappointing sequel, but still an addictively bizarre musical mini-game collection.

Another excellent addition to the Two Point series, bringing the customary levels of refinement and charm to simulating the business of museum creation and management.

A superb mix of action and strategy that should be enough to convince everyone that turn-based doesn’t have to mean slow or serious.

It’s a battery annihilator, especially with the graphics settings turned up, and it needs some balance tweaks – casual mode offers no challenge, while hard and expert are possibly a little too slow burn – but this is the nearest we’ve ever been to a proper touchscreen city builder.

In many ways Absolution is as effective a franchise reboot as we've ever seen, retaining almost everything that was good about the originals and while making the game more accessible for new players. It also has most of the same problems, or at least swaps them out for new ones, but maybe that at least will convince sceptics that IO hasn't sold out.

There’s still a lot of room for improvement but this is easily the best Pokémon game for several years and a positive new direction that the mainline games would be wise to follow.

A surprisingly fitting end to Nintendo's legacy on the DS, with one of the best ever uses of the touchscreen and the best Kirby game since Epic Yarn.

For a game five years in the making this is a disappointingly trivial and repetitive actioner.

Although relatively short and easy, Donut Country is an immensely satisfying and warm-hearted game that’s quite unlike anything else available on the App Store, or indeed anywhere.

One of the best survival horror games of the year and an impressively disturbing mix of EarthBound and The Thing, that also happens to be one of the best bargains of 2025.

A fabulously imaginative and unique take on the budding detective genre, that mixes clever investigation work with an unpredictable but gripping story.

Punishingly and infuriatingly hard, but also the best retro-inspired platform puzzler for years, and a very successful port to the 3DS.

A welcome but very minor improvement for the best Animal Crossing game and while the free Update 3.0 adds plenty of new features the time seems ripe for a full-blown sequel.

An elegant blend of 2D action and cyberpunk storytelling, that manages to make a very distinctive experience out of some very familiar indie tropes.

The story campaign and, arguably, the fighting are the best they’ve ever been for Mortal Kombat, although there’s currently a lack of other modes and Invasion is a disappointment.

A beautiful looking 2D side-scrolling puzzle game whose lack of challenge and regularly recycled mechanics prove disappointingly bland, with no significant improvements over the original.

A loving remake of a JRPG classic, with pitch perfect graphics and charming, if simplistic, storytelling and combat.

A flawed but brilliant mountaineering game that splices survival gameplay and a fascinating four-limb climbing system with exploration, risk-taking, and the emotional fallout from a climber’s loved ones.

This release includes all seven DLC packs, comprising challenge tombs, new weapons, and outfits, making it a real value for money proposition. It’s great rediscovering Lara’s swift journey from ingénue to casual mass murderer, via a whole lot of looted historical relics.

The best version of the worst Disgaea might be for fans only but it's still a great strategy role-player.