If you can figure out how to balance the environment systems and survive the winter, Of Life and Land offers an enjoyable settlement-building experience.

Free, great DLC for an incredible game is a no-brainer recommendation from me.

A fantastic return for the venerable fighter, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves manages to play with the big boys of the genre without ever looking out of place.

Take on alien creatures big and small as you try to find your way home in this sequel that improves on the original in almost every way.

She’s janky and a little bit broken, but she’s the Oblivion we all know and love.

Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall is an ambitious sequel with new gameplay and a familiar cosy-danger vibe. Presently, management systems are somewhat unbalanced and difficult to fully enjoy.

A power fantasy in the purest sense, The Dark Ages gives players the Slayer at his peak and all of hell should tremble at his arrival.

A nostalgia kick that doesn’t simply copy its inspiration, it improves on it. Tempest Rising is the RTS return that genre fans have been waiting for.

This is a game that has a pile of problems, thankfully, the core combat loop is so satisfying that those problems take a backseat to all the brutal fun you are having.

Dinkum is a solid addition to the farming sim genre and will especially appeal to players who love decorating and terraforming, but it also has some glaring gaps that are difficult to look past.

Forza Horizon 5 is the first time that PlayStation owners can access the franchise, but you’re entering at the very best time, at a point where the game has never been better.

Clair Obscur is artistry for the senses. Visuals, soundtrack, acting, storyline and gameplay are all top tier, and I cannot urge you to play this game strongly enough.

Khazan had its hooks in me so deep that I kept throwing myself at the game, pushing myself to get better. When playing most of the games in this genre, I would just grind until I was powerful enough to overcome the boss fights. Not this time. I had to get better. I had to win. And there is no better feeling than conquering that mountain.

A must-play for anyone who loves clever special puzzles and good soundtracks.

Aggressively average and ultimately forgettable, Chains of Freedom is neither bad nor good, it just is.

The king of the popcorn action-adventure experience comes to PlayStation, and he does so in the grandest of ways.

What’s left, when you strip back all the improvements and baggage (both positive and negative) of an established title is still amazing. There’s a reason these games used to go for a lot of money on the second-hand market. Suikoden, even after all these years, is still an amazing set of RPGs.

South of Midnight has so much soul that the specifics don’t matter. It told a story that has been criminally undertold in the games landscape so far, with fresh characters, in a darkly intriguing world. I’d take all the underwhelming combat in the world if it meant we got more games like this one.

A few graphical hiccups stop The Last of Us: Part 2 Remastered on PC from being perfect, but even still this is a watershed moment in gaming that should be experienced by everyone at least once.

Tiny Garden is a cute game that encourages players to make a short experience their own through experimentation, optimisation, and customisation.

Breakout Beyond updates the classic formula to make it interesting where Atari's prior attempts at modernisation stumbled. But it's let down by the lack of leaderboards in its main mode, and a potential slog to unlock the hidden modes which offer more challenge.

I have no doubt that after another month or so, this game will be in a much better place but as it is, I cannot in good conscience recommend this to anyone who doesn’t have an absolute beast of a PC. The experience is just too compromised on anything less than the latest and greatest gear.

Wanderstop truly is beautiful. The illustrations are stunning, the music is transportive, and the 3D art and animation are full of life. Walking through this game is like walking through a beautiful forest; you can’t stay there forever, but the experience stays with you and you return home a little changed, hopefully for the better.

Look Outside is truly exceptional in places, is full of creepy character and mostly juggles multiple plates with success. It’s wild just how much missing some basic features slowly drags it underwater.

There were hardly any faults in the Xenoblade Chronicles X experience to begin with, but the Definitive Edition elevates the game in every respect. It’s MonolithSoft’s finest work, revitalised.

Shadows is a stunning return to form for both the franchise and Ubisoft as a whole. Beautiful locations, engaging combat and an unrelenting attention to small details make this one of the best Creed games ever.

With a solid Showcase mode, plenty of content to engage with and tons of wrestlers to unlock and play with, WWE 2K25 may not be a technical jump forward, but an instalment that will be well worth your time if you are a fan of the WWE.

Expelled! is a rapid roleplaying experience built on experimentation and manipulation that shouldn’t be missed.

It’s rare that a story this nuanced can be experienced co-operatively in a game, particularly in a way that feels equal between the participants. But we were truly partners in this game. We did this together, as Mio and Zoe did, and it added a layer to the time spent playing this game that makes it all the more unforgettable.

Two Point Museum takes everything from the series and makes it better. It’s still lacking a bit in the management metrics side, but everything else is exceptional.

Some minor imperfections hold Monster Hunter Wilds back from reaching its next level potential, but players will still have plenty to celebrate with this latest franchise epic.

Two top-tier, nostalgic adventure games that will delight both old and new Tomb Raider fans…and a third game that won’t do any of that.

The best round of virtual golf you can play, PGA 2K25 is a wonderful improvement over the previous entry and is sure to keep players walking the course for months and months to come.

Despite a few shortcomings in traversal and some repetitious elements, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an enjoyable way to ‘tide’ oneself over until RGG can put together the next main series entry.

The Sniper Elite franchise itself is a whole lot of fun and a very different take on the World War era than most first-person shooter games. With the freedom to tackle each mission in whichever way you want, not to mention that it is already on Game Pass for Xbox and PC players, you have no reason not to jump in, have some fun, and shoot some Nazis in the testicles.

Avowed is a solid RPG offering from a studio that clearly knows how to flex its narrative muscles, and who have leaned into their strengths hard to produce a game that might not be groundbreaking, but that will certainly make you think.

The good and the bad of Freedom Wars returns with this Remaster, but its a shame that more wasn’t done to modernise the game even further.

When thinking back on my experience as a whole with VED, I just feel hollow and confused.

This is not so much an experience as Wonka, but a Wonka Experience. No unknowns are waiting around the corner, but mathematics, chemistry, and disappointment.

If you missed Spider-Man 2 on PS5, the PC version will be a great way to experience it, just not yet. I just wish Sony would learn from their mistakes and stop these sorts of releases from happening, but sadly their PC port rollercoaster just keeps on rolling.

This isn’t an RPG for everyone. It’s fairly hardcore, it leans into history (albeit out of order) and it is mechanically very dense. What matters most, and after playing a hundred hours of this damn thing and planning on diving back in, is that it’s an RPG for me.

Fresh yet familiar, deep yet welcoming, Civilization VII offers turn-based strategy that is hard to resist. A good game already, expect it to only get better with time as Firaxis adjusts to community discoveries.

Eternal Strands has some excellent ideas that are only in need of a few layers of polish, that would make the game a must-play. This is a fantastic starting point and I’m eager to see what Yellow Brick Games does next.

Tales Of Graces isn’t the franchise’s finest entry, but this once overlooked entry gets a definitive version that must be experienced by any genre fan.

Sure, gaming has evolved since its initial release, but those nostalgic for games and Star Wars films of another time might find this humble adventure worth their time, even if it won’t blow their mind.

The PC version of FF VII Rebirth is certainly a solid one, especially for those with lower-spec systems or handhelds, but it is a little on the disappointing side for those looking for something special on their higher-end rigs.

As a re-release, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is pretty lacklustre, but as a video game, it’s still from the very top shelf, and cannot be missed.

Ultimately though, Planet Coaster 2 does amazing at a lot of things, and will likely get better over the upcoming years. Frontier has shown they care about the community and their games, and they’ve poured a lot of love into this title. I think this is their best game yet, and should just get better.

In the end, Dragon Takers is fine. I didn’t hate it, but it also didn’t excite me. There are worse ways to spend your time, but there are also a lot better ways too. Welcome to the death zone. It’s ok here.

Despite inhabiting a rich and detailed world, the journey of Captain James Flint is buried beneath complex systems and design issues that can seriously hamper a player's enjoyment.

I like Fairy Tail 2. It’s competent but not great, and there are a few things that irk me; like locking exploration behind specific characters that join much later. If you’re not a fan of the series, the game lacks quite a bit of backstory, and even the stuff that is in the game can be locked behind late game campfire scenes. If you are a fan of Fairy Tail in manga or anime form, this is a fun jaunt through the final arc of the series.

This is the best version of a great game. It’s got its flaws for sure, but that doesn’t stop it from being an action-packed rollicking good time.

Overall, Everholm is a slightly spooky farming sim packed full of content and adorableness. I’ve already dedicated many hours to decorating my isometric homestead and solving mysteries in this beautifully crafted environment, and I’m not done yet.

If I were to describe how the game feels to me, it would be “death by a thousand paper cuts”. Each of the things wrong with the game is a very minor annoyance in what is a good game, but it’s enough to make the player come away feeling disappointed and like it wasn’t worth their time. It’s hard to think about the future when you are regretting your past.

Fantasian feels at home on console, Sakaguchi and Uematsu are completely at home with Square-Enix, and players will feel like they’re going on a journey home to their nostalgic 90s era as they delve into the game. Fantasian is an inspired mobile effort that is now better than ever in the form of Neo Dimension.

Tri Breaker builds upon a solid foundation to deliver a brick breaking experience that is a must-play for long standing genre lovers.

With lots to love for new fans, and a tonne of respect shown to existing diehards, Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is the first strong step towards what will hopefully be a full franchise revival in the future.

From the opening notes of the Indy theme, I was transported to the realm of one of my favourite fictional characters of all time and that is the Great Circle’s greatest achievement in my eyes.

It is hardcore (and genuinely challenging), but the light, rhythmic feel of gameplay moderates the experience. Dungeons of Dreadrock is slated to be a trilogy. You can absolutely count on me playing one hundred more levels.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership was on the verge of greatness, and it was largely due to some content balancing flaws that prevented the game from firing on all cylinders.

It is a unique experience that isn’t comfortable, but never tries to be. It encourages exploration, contemplation and, when required, swift brutality in equal measure and most of all it is a game that believes in its world so wholeheartedly it is impossible to avoid being drawn in. I won’t say I loved every minute of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, some of those minutes I was an absolute nervous wreck, but I will say that I am incredibly glad I got to experience it.

Everyone experiences grief at some point, but I did not think a game would help me come to terms with it and the emotions it causes.

It’s goofy, and earnest, and consciously inclusive in a way that makes me, a queer person, scared to talk about it on the internet (even after all these years). It’s bold, and comfortable in itself, and even in its weaker moments, It does feel different to the past games, but for me, it’s a good kind of different.

If you are fan of the retro, slower, turn-based JRPG systems of yesteryear, then you’re going to love Dragon Quest III HD-2D, but if not, then this game is probably going to test your patience pretty quickly and probably won’t be the game to change your feelings towards the classic way to play.

It’s not the best LEGO game, nor is it the best Horizon game, but there’s definitely a charm to the combination of the two. Even when they’re not at their best, these are two IPs that shine, and I’d happily jump into some co-op for this game any day.

A massive return-to-form and a huge step forward for the annual series, Black Ops 6 is the best that COD has been this generation by quite some way.

If you want to start a new life in industrial agriculture but can't afford to move to the country, this game is the next best thing.

Digital Eclipse's Gold Master series of interactive documentaries have gone a long way in giving an in-depth view of many a classic game, and Tetris Forever joins them in covering the thrilling story about one of the most iconic puzzle games released.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve enjoyed playing a Sonic title this much, with both halves of Sonic X Shadow Generations combining to make a great package.

This is the best version of an amazing game but the asking price considering its age is something that may put buyers off. But if you do lash out, know that Red Dead is as good as it ever was, if not better.

Trails Through Daybreak both refines and expands the series’ formula to produce one of the years best JRPG’s, providing a sorely needed entry point after concluding the Crossbell/Cold Steel heptalogy.

In the immortalised words of a fellow reviewer, “Too much water”, but beyond that, Steamworld Heist II delivers in all the places that count the most.

Wild Bastards aims to mash up frantic first person skirmishes with board game exploration and a roguelike structure. Though it works, it might be a bit bloated and unnecessarily complicated for some.

Worryingly repetitious early missions are quickly left in the rear-view mirror as the best of Space Marine 2 takes hold. You may be experienced with the IP, or brand new to it, but either way, you’re in for a great time.

Are adventure games always about solving one selection of puzzles? As far back as the early 1990s, the genre has experiment with ‘paths not taken’. The Crimson Diamond encourages snooping, and punishes laziness, just by making you feel kinda bad. There’s a lot about this game to miss, and misunderstand.

NBA 2K25 is a big step in the right direction for a franchise that was fast losing its appeal.

Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade allows you to relive your youth in this collection of fantastic arcade games that works as it should and looks great to boot.

Ale & Tale Tavern is a mess of mechanics and writing. There’s some fulfillment to be had if you can sift through the rough bits, but I was left with an empty stomach and maybe a bout of gastro.

Look, the sports themselves work, but there’s not much fun to be found despite the loveable cast of characters that are present.

There is a lot greatness to be found in Neva, it’s just that the game isn’t paced well enough to enjoy the ride to its fullest.

MechWarrior 5: Clans takes the core of its predecessor and expands upon it by giving you on interesting cast and story to explore alongside the combat. Though some of it might be overpowering at first, you’ll find a lot to enjoy, despite the challenge of some of its missions.

Despite some rough edges and a forgettabole single player component, Starship Troopers: Extermination perfectly captures the big battles of the movie in a way that will have fans coming back for a long time to come.

A flawed but phenomenal exploration of grief, agency, and the weight of our decisions, Life Is Strange: Double Exposure is the perfect next chapter in the book of Max Caulfield.

Horizon: Zero Dawn Remastered is a superb remaster of an incredible title, but the question must still be asked... was it a necessary upgrade?

Hollowbody is a love letter to early turn-of-the-century horror. It’s not the most elegant at dealing with the pieces; some of the puzzles vary wildly in difficulty, enemies are fairly generic and the game is pretty short but you know what? I think, for the fact that this is a solo developer and it’s not highly priced it’s still a solid recommend from me. Even if you’re wanting to wade into the muck of survival horror, this makes a great entry into the genre.

Nikoderiko is the perfect amalgamation of everything that makes Platformers great. It does nothing new, but that doesn’t matter because it nails the best elements from the best examples of the genre and puts them together in one satisfying package.

All in all, Forgive me Father 2 was a welcome surprise that tested my very rusty skills with fast-paced action sequences and a very cool Lovecraftian vibe. Even after finishing it once, I’m very keen to check out the other story paths, and to try and 100% all the levels. If you like fast FPS games then put this on your radar, because much like Cthulu, you should not sleep when there’s mayhem to be had.

If you’re expecting Ara: History Untold to be a new Civilization competitor, I think you’re looking at it all wrong. There’s aspects, sure, but this leans a lot more into economy, production, and politics. This feels like a game that’s made with passion, so I have every faith this will get better with time. Right now it’s still a bit clumsy in places, but if you take the time to learn it I believe you’ll find that this is a very fun title that stands on its own.

It’s been a hell of a month for RPGs. Romancing SaGa 2 still carves out some brain space and made me want to keep coming back for more. Even with its minor issues, this is a bloody good game.

If you are a fan of Dragon Ball games, then Sparking Zero is a no-brainer. It looks great, plays well and contains plenty of characters to unlock and experiment with while only using the money you earn within the game to pay for character and customisation unlocks.

Dead Season is a short zombie romp through a tactical lens. It walks the line between tactical and accessible and doesn’t feel like it nails either side of the coin, so in the end, it comes off feeling a bit toothless.

The impact of some excellent new additions is dampened somewhat by some other lacklustre ones. All said though, Super Mario Party Jamboree is an excellent title and the ultimate Switch party game.

While FFXVI is a fully functioning PC Port without any glaring technical issues, it is a very basic one that misses a lot of the features that PC gamers have come to expect. It is hard not to be disappointed with what could have been a technical showpiece but is instead just acceptable.

Making something new when fans have sky-high expectations isn’t easy, but Atlus has done it again with what I truly hope becomes a franchise. This is an RPG that people should absolutely play... if they have a spare hundred or so hours, of course.

I can say without a doubt that Ragnarok takes advantage of the PC’s power better than any of the other games from the Playstation family.

The definitive version of a colourful adventure that will charm you from start to finish, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is an edgy Mickey Mouse tale to be remembered. This version is much more than just a new coat of paint!

The perfect evolution for the Zelda series. It feels, in every way, like this is Zelda’s story, and this game does a great job of proving that there are many different ways to be a hero.

Only some incredibly infrequent and immensely minor technical hiccups interfere with Jot’s wonderful debut adventure. Here’s hoping there’s more to come.