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.

Dynasty Warriors Origins is a new formula that dares to take risks, and we think it's going to pay off! To reach a wider audience, it was certainly necessary to break with the codes that kept the series somewhat stuck in the past. Here, new players will have the opportunity to discover the world of the 3 Kingdoms and the advantages of a “Musou”-style game, while fans will rediscover what made the series so strong: its story, its satisfying gameplay and its generosity. Technically, the title is very solid, packed with content, beautiful at times and, above all, generous. We regret the absence of the free mode, which didn't cost much to install, and the uneven graphics. Origins is a great new departure for Koei Tecmo, and 2025 is off to a great start with a game that's sure to be one of the best action games of the year!

Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle is unquestionably the best game based on the license, and we can legitimately wonder whether it will be entitled to another title of this quality in the future. It takes all the charm of the first films and combines it with the strengths of the JVs to offer us a new, almost perfect adventure. It's beautiful, it's funny, it's varied, and apart from a few little hiccups here and there, it's hard to find any real flaws. For those who missed out on the first trilogy, this is an opportunity to put that right, and enjoy The Ancient Circle to the full.

Path of Exile 2 is very polished and much more down-to-earth than its competitors, allowing it to stand out from the crowd and offer something fundamentally different without denying its origins. Even so, it could suffer from being too similar to Diablo in particular. It's the Souls-Like of Hack'n'Slash and other ARPGs, and you need to bear this in mind before diving in. If difficulty doesn't scare you and you like dark, even unhealthy worlds, there's no doubt that Path of Exile 2 is made for you. Otherwise, it's best not to risk it, especially as long as you have to pay for it! [Early Access Score = 85]

STALKER 2 Heart of Chornobyl is a difficult, immersive and often frustrating game. Few compromises have been made, making the gameplay as brutal as the universe in which it takes place. Progress is slow and painful, especially with the many bugs present, while death can be as sudden as it is unfair. It requires a solid dose of patience, but it has to be said that exploring the area is well worth it, with all its dangers and mysteries that we try to unravel. The tools and interactions at our disposal are far too limited. This reduces gameplay and options to the bare minimum, sometimes destroying the immersion the game has worked so hard to build.

Artdink and Square Enix bring us a near-perfect retelling of a game that's over 30 years old. The Japanese publisher proves once again that it is the king of remakes, with a version that combines HD-2D, more resplendent than ever, with life-saving comfort options. It's modern, but never scratches the heart of the Dragon Quest series, which remains intact in this remake. A must-have title for all fans of old-school JRPGs.

Graphically very pleasing and with excellent fluidity, the new LEGO game is a real technical breakthrough for the red-brick versions. With its roguelike-style gameplay, Horizon Adventures is a real delight to play solo or with others, but suffers from an all-too-short lifespan. Linear in spite of everything, and without an end-game worthy of the name, the title feels more like a trial run than a complete game, and that's frustrating because we'd have loved to play it for a few extra hours.

Friendly as it may be, Mario & Luigi Brothership will have a hard time making an impression. Overly talkative and riddled with technical problems ranging from long loading times to poor framerate, Acquire's title never really gets off the ground. What's left is gameplay with fun combat and a sibling cast that's more animated than ever, helping to sweeten the trip to Connexia.

First of all, its campaign: exceptional and very long-lasting, the developers have succeeded in mixing gruffness and subtlety, and we're not in a race for action at any price. The HQ system is a nice touch, allowing you to learn more about past history and characters, and the storyline is admittedly out of the ordinary. What's more, the work done on the environments is quite insane, and on PS5 we had no texture problems whatsoever. As for Multiplayer and Zombies, there will certainly be some happy and some unhappy players, but as far as we're concerned, there's not much to say except that we loved them! They both have a lot of potential, and the changes like TTK and the new maps are great. It remains to be seen whether the developers will support them in the future.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a welcome sequel: the narrative is rich and the characters engaging, but the experience remains limited by poorly-exploited gameplay mechanics and uneven technical realization. Fans of the series will find pleasure in an older, even more nuanced Max, while new players can immerse themselves in an emotionally intense plot. The art direction succeeds in differentiating the two parallel realities brilliantly, and the integration of social networks allows us to discover subtle aspects of the story and the characters.