While Death Stranding 2 is overall a better-finished and more engaging game than its predecessor, it's also a less memorable experience. The grandiose environments presented with a beautiful soundtrack and the major improvements linked to progression fail to hide a Hideo Kojima who overdoes it and doesn't seem to know where he's going with this sequel. Despite all the pleasure we've taken in playing this second game, it's hard not to feel that it's undermining the legend of the first episode.

Whether you're a soccer fan or a football hater, if you like team games where individual skill is as important as knowledge of the game and trust in your partners, chances are you'll have a great time with Rematch. By bringing together everything that makes soccer a popular and enjoyable game, and changing the zenithal point of view for a much more immersive approach, Sloclap has once again succeeded in revolutionizing a genre that has been well established for years. Rematch is a shot of instant fun that will surprise any skeptic and make you feel like a pro right away, but will also remind you every two minutes that you need more practice. But while it's absolutely exhilarating to play Rematch, this pleasure is marred by a glaring lack of finishing touches, the absence of local multiplayer and server problems that we hope will soon disappear.

Although many elements of Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma remain fairly classic, this spin-off is perfectly suited to players who want to discover the universe of this franchise. And it doesn't forget the fans of the early days, since they'll be able to discover village management or the changes made to make the experience more enjoyable, even if many of the codes you're already familiar with are still present. After all, it's worth mentioning that it comes at a hefty price, which may put a damper on your desire to buy it.

With its open-world bias, Mario Kart World stands out directly from the rest of the series with a structure that destabilizes, and it's double-edged. The sublime panoramas offered by the arrival on the circuits and the extensive search for shortcuts clash with the long transition straights and a free roam mode that lacks true rewards. Nevertheless, this is still a high-quality title, with gameplay of unprecedented depth for the series, supported by a new Survival mode that is clearly the star of this new episode.

Elden Ring Nightreign is aimed at the most dedicated of FromSoftware's titles, as it condenses the best and the worst into a new, original format. At last, a Soulslike designed for true cooperative play. It's an intense, non-stop race, requiring you to concentrate for 45 minutes, while taking on difficult bosses and having to avoid making almost the slightest mistake. It's very addictive and you literally can't see the time go by, but it's exhausting and clearly not for everyone. It's a lot of fun, but you can't help but be frustrated by the studio's bad habits: an archaic interface, missing features, dubious balancing, but also a massive amount of recycling from previous titles, without offering the rich content we'd expect in return.

Doom The Dark Ages is a game of contrasts. It experiments with mechanics new to the license and a new historical context, but their integration is superficial or poorly thought-out. The shield overshadows everything else in combat, while the dragon and mecha are simply disappointing. Nor does the game give us the impression of being plunged into a dark age. This new opus isn't bad, however, since it contains all the basic elements we've come to appreciate in modern Doom games. Players looking for intense combat against a backdrop of consistently excellent heavy metal should still find something to enjoy.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the best surprises of recent years. An XXL production from a small, passionate team, immersive, polished, addictive gameplay and told to perfection. A real lesson and a new benchmark for all JRPG enthusiasts, it should satisfy all fans of the genre, and particularly the generation that grew up with FF7, 8, 9 and 10, and that has less and less faith in Square Enix to make a really good new JRPG. A slap in the face we won't soon forget, and what's more, it's French - not bad, eh?

With its rare intelligence, Blue Prince is a title with a unique concept that clearly won't appeal to everyone. Demanding a great deal of patience on the part of the player, its roguelite structure also adds randomness to the mansion's various mysteries, which is likely to cause some frustration. But if you can hang in there, you'll discover one of the most innovative and enjoyable puzzle games of recent years.

If we had to describe Bleach Rebirth of Souls in a few words, it would surely be a solid foundation for the sequel, because yes, even if it does have its flaws, it's still a pleasure to discover if you're a fan of the license, and above all a source of hope if other opuses ever see the light of day. Its story mode is very complete, even if we would have preferred it to be more balanced. The gameplay is fun to play once you've mastered it, despite the slowness of the movements, and the roster is adequate, even if there are a few absentees.

South of Midnight is one of those little games you remember long after you've finished it, no matter how short it is. Visually, it's unique, and its music is also brimming with personality. Although it clearly lacks variety and depth, the gameplay remains effective, both for combat and for platforming. It's a pleasure to play before moving on to other things.

Atomfall is a likeable game, managing to offer an interesting adventure despite a few clumsinesses and flaws stemming from its limited resources, such as combat and an infiltration system with superficial mechanisms. Exploring every nook and cranny of the zone is at the heart of the experience, and is unquestionably the most successful and engaging aspect. The possibility of finding multiple ways of progressing to complete the story is also appreciated. This is a game worth discovering, if you're waiting for a sale or a price reduction. Waiting for future DLC and updates, which should enrich the gaming experience, might also be wise.

Khazan is pure hardcore souls-like, with gameplay and progression systems that add to the classic formula, and the final result is really enjoyable to play. Neople's game is visually appealing, with a dark fantasy universe halfway between Dark Souls and Berserk, and very well-polished Tales of art direction. An excellent, addictive game that doesn't reinvent the formula, but remains solid enough to be one of the best games of the new year. It will nevertheless slow down some players who get tired of being destroyed by certain bosses, but the satisfaction at the end is well worth the hundreds of times you see the Game Over screen.

With its sublime open-world and highly complementary character duo, Assassin's Creed Shadows is a good addition to Ubisoft's flagship saga. Unfortunately, all its good ideas are scratched in the medium term by an overload of content and combat that shows its limits halfway through. The journey is worthwhile, but it would have benefited from being shorter.

While Xenoblade Chronicles X has received a minor graphical facelift, at most, in this Definitive Edition, it's the opus as a whole that's to be acclaimed. Whether it's its version from 10 years ago on Wii U or this new entry to finish off the franchise's remasters in style on Nintendo Switch, Xeno Cross has all the makings of a great one and is, for many, the best opus in the saga.It shows just how much Monolith Soft knows when it comes to charming, content-filled open worlds. If you missed out on this JRPG and exploration smash over the last decade, this Definitive Edition is probably the best option.

With Atelier Yumia L'Alchimiste des Souvenirs and La Terre Rêvée, Gust shows us that the choice of appropriating a formula that works elsewhere can also be beneficial for a franchise like Atelier, taking it into a new era. Admittedly, not everything is perfect, as there is a lack of optimization in certain locations, but overall, the journey that awaits us is well worth the detour, whether for the trinity (combat, exploration and synthesis) or the story of our heroes, which is accompanied by a quality soundtrack.

Slightly less memorable than It Takes Two, Split Fiction is still one of the best cooperative games around. With its fast-paced gameplay ideas and two themes that follow on perfectly from each other, right through to its astonishing finale, Hazelight once again proves that they are the kings of 2 player games with this new title.

This new opus from Two Point Studios is a very good title, and above all, we have the impression that it's even more complete than the previous games. It's diversified and offers a variety of experiences, some of which are mind-boggling. It's sure to win you over if you're a fan of management games, but be warned: it can be a bit tricky to get the hang of at first. On the other hand, Two Point Studios' sense of humor and graphic style are back, which is always a pleasure for those who appreciate the studio.

Monster Hunter Wilds is unquestionably the best game in the series for a new player. The gameplay is simpler to get to grips with, yet richer than ever. All the weapons have their charm, the new monsters are interesting and vast regions to explore await you. There's even a semblance of a story, clumsy though it may be. Unfortunately, we're left wanting more, as the current content is far from sufficient for players of previous titles. There's little doubt, however, that Capcom will remedy this situation with future updates.

Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a pleasant, if not unforgettable, adventure. While we're always happy to find Majima and his gameplay, the storyline of this episode isn't up to scratch, just like its particularly empty and under-exploited maritime zones. Nonetheless, the game boasts solid side content: crew management, side quests, mini-games galore... There's plenty to do.

Unfortunately, Avowed isn't that famous new Skyrim made-in-2025, with its vast, intoxicating universe, updated gameplay and narration worthy of the greatest games. The result is rather mediocre and dated, both visually and in terms of gameplay, taking us back a decade, and not for the right reasons.A disappointment considering the game's potential and the solid foundations on which it could have been built, and which is one of those games where you think “with X more months of development, maybe we've got something solid”. In any case, the PC version of Avowed is currently a failure, and fortunately the game is available on Game Pass day1, which we strongly advise you to take advantage of if you want to make up your own mind.

All in all, Hello Kitty Island Adventure offers a surprisingly pleasant routine, almost as enjoyable as that of Animal Crossing New Horizons, with the desire to return each day to offer daily gifts, complete missions and explore the vast open world. The RPG feel of the game, with a main storyline, side quests and puzzle dungeons, ensures that the player is anything but bored. Add to this a genuinely interesting multiplayer mode and you have the perfect recipe for a cosy game. Unfortunately, the non-availability of cross play (and cross save!) can be a stain on a basic edition priced at 40 euros all the same.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is a game like no other. Although it's far from flawless, with its questionable balancing and notable lack of polish at the time of writing. It nevertheless manages to improve on the first title in many areas. The choices made in the direction are to be commended. It really does give the impression of being plunged into the Middle Ages, with all that is dirty, vulgar and repulsive, but also with all that is glorious. We discover all this with very human characters and a ton of bawdy humor that has been all too rare in recent years. To conclude in the spirit of KCD2: if you're not afraid of stepping in shit, this is the game for you.

Civilization 7 strikes the right balance between retaining everything that has made recent titles so successful and innovating. It's not just another game in the license, the age system revolutionizes the way the game is played, encouraging new ways of thinking and playing. Each age is unique, with its own challenges. Add to this the efforts made to reduce micromanagement and make progression simpler and more intuitive without detracting from its depth, and it could well appeal to new players. However, not everything is perfect: even on PC, there are technical problems to be noted, and the usual AI and interface issues to complain about. Some popular features and options are also missing. As always, Civilization 7 will probably need a few years to reach its full potential, but that won't stop us spending hundreds of hours on it right now.

A redundant roguelite with no real character upgrades (apart from equipment) and no rewards worthy of the name, a farm game with no plantations or romance with the characters, and a restaurant simulation that goes no further than serving customers. Although it doesn't go far enough in the three genres Cuisineer draws on, this cosy game does live up to its promise. Addictive despite its redundancy, it embodies this perfect blend of styles, offering a lightness that feels good and makes you want to finish it 100%.

Overall, Tales of Graces F Remastered is the best version available for this title. However, the fact that it's a game from 2009/2010 still makes itself felt in terms of gameplay, environments and graphics, even if this doesn't prevent you from enjoying the game. In particular, combat is dynamic enough, and the game's comfort level has been greatly improved, allowing us to modulate numerous parameters to follow the story as we wish.

SMITE 2 succeeds where many sequels fail: modernizing a formula while respecting its essence. With dazzling graphics, gameplay with a few new features including Aspects and some welcome innovations, the game lays a solid foundation to appeal to newcomers. Nevertheless, SMITE 2 is still a good time to be played solo or in a group, with gameplay that's quick to pick up and effective, and dynamic games with characters whose chara-design is really well done. The game has potential to be exploited, but it's going to take some convincing on everyone's part. [Early Access Score = 80]

Seeing Donkey Kong return is always a great pleasure, even when it's just the return of a 15-year-old title. Donkey Kong Country Returns was a great title in 2010, and it's still a great title in 2025: its unique gameplay sets it apart from the competition, its art direction hasn't aged a bit, and its content, though identical to the 3DS version, should quench your thirst for platforming in the new year.

With a tedious grip that clashes horribly with the relaxing nature in which Infinity Nikki excels, I wonder whether the choice to turn it into a Genshin Impact-style “gacha game” was a wise one. Fortunately, the sheer number of menus and the difficulty of mastering them, in addition to the annoying style contests, are the only major negative points to highlight. For the rest, the latest addition to the Nikki saga is probably one of the best cosy games I've played in recent years. Graphically very pleasing, with rich gameplay and a more than honest lifespan for a free game, I can't wait to discover what the next updates have in store.