Spooky vibes and believable characters make Oxenfree II an atmospheric and immersive mystery from start to finish.

A joyous blend of stealth tactics, swashbuckling adventure and whimsical humour, Shadow Gambit is Mimimi Games at their very best and considering their history, that is saying something.

It’s a light meal compared to the later games in the series, but Marie retains much of the same charm with nowhere near the same time investment.

The gameplay loop is easy to immerse yourself in, and you will get from the story what you put into it, but some rough edges prevent Gord from hitting the big leagues.

Moving Out 2 improves on its predecessor in every single way. The addition of online multiplayer, more level variety and a host of accessibility options make Moving Out 2 one of the best same screen coop multiplayer experiences.

When you break it down, there is nothing in Atlas Fallen we haven’t seen before. Everything it does, someone else has done in another game. That being said, what Deck 13 have done is bring these elements together into a rollicking adventure that hits all the right notes for action fans, tells an engaging (if cliched) story and never outstays its welcome.

I do agree that visual novel is the best label for it. And if we’re judging it as a visual novel, I think it’s got a lot to offer – far more than it does as a ‘roleplaying musical’. But as interesting and unique as it is, I also think it’s fair to say that the game’s development went in a different direction to what we originally expected when Chorus: An Adventure Musical was announced back in 2019.

Viewfinder is a success like few others in its genre. It’s a challenge that all of us should be taking on.

The game is sublime and, if you have the rig, it runs well on the PC. It just has a host of small niggles and irritating problems surrounding it that are not an indictment on the game at all, just an indication that Sony still doesn’t get PC games. As a result, the PS5 version is still the best one available as of right now, though that may change as the game is inevitably patched to solve a few of these issues.

Supremely satisfying and undeniably addictive, Remnant II takes the solid foundations of the first game and elevates them in every single way creating one of the best games of the year.

Venba’s story will draw heightened emotion from players no matter their background, while the cooking systems are fantastically fresh.

Disney Illusion Island is a fantastic opportunity to introduce younger players to the Metroidvania genre, but it’s too light-on for content for players already versed in the genre.

My feelings about Master Detective Archives: Rain Code are complex. There’s some incredible gameplay at its core, mixed with some tired and unnecessary sexist and immature tropes that feel out of place in the current media landscape. If nothing else, it’s definitely a game I’ll remember, for reasons good and bad, which in itself is an achievement.

Exoprimal has some indefinable quality that makes me believe it will be around for a good long while and I couldn’t be happier. The combination of inventive exosuits, tight combat and a bonkers concept does more than enough to paper over a myriad of issues that would normally put me off.

While there are some areas of of Pikmin 4 that have played it safe, and stuck to the established (and proven successful) formula, there are other aspects of Pikmin 4 that have done what fans have been pleading out for for years, and these evolutions and additions make Pikimin 4 definitively the best in the franchise.

I wish I could say it wasn’t a foregone conclusion, and I’m ready to be proven wrong, but the demise does feel inevitable. Assuming there aren’t any big changes, I don’t know that this is going to find a lasting audience.

The moment-to-moment combat is satisfying, the meta of mercenary management engaging and the structure of the world a pleasure to take part in. Haemimont Games has taken their years of experience in strategy gaming and moulded a fantastic experience that is very nearly a must buy and while it falls short in a few areas, I am positive that past JA players as well as strategy gamers in general, will find a lot to like here.

Hampered by a limited selection of wrestlers, customisation options and a career mode that falls on the short side, it is another one of those games that could be great if given more time and development.

I find it hard to believe that any fan of the FPS genre wouldn’t have a good time with Trepang2. The gameplay is tight and satisfying and the level design is first-class, making a wonderful playground in which to decimate those capitalist soldiers. There is no doubt that this is a fantastic effort by such a small team and I can’t wait to see what they have coming next.

Aliens: Dark Descent is, simply put, a wonderful addition to the franchise as a whole. It feels authentic to the movies in a way that surprised me given the type of game it is and it captures that trademark tension and fear.

Final Fantasy’s first crack at pure action-RPG combat plays exceptionally well, and has the worldbuilding and cinematic flair to ensure that you’ll want to push through even the occasionally bloated encounter.

While there are missteps in the narrative, Miasma Chronicles is a solid enough game that can scratch both the RPG and tactical turn-based combat itch, with some solid ideas that aim to tweak the genre in ways that keep the combat fresh.

If you’re patient enough to accept the 90’s experience, you can certainly have some fun with Terminal Velocity: Boosted Edition. But if you’re not, then the lack of attention and polish makes it tough to justify going back too.

LEGO 2K Drive provides plenty of excitement with a few bumps along the way, combining kart-racing action with open world exploration that might ask a tad too much from younger players.

Octopath Traveler II expands and improves upon the established formula of the original game in incredible new ways that will appeal to JRPG fans old and new.

8-Bit Adventures 2 triumphs as both a loving tribute to classic JRPGs as well as a unique must-play game for fans of the genre. It’s exciting, emotional, and features fantastic gameplay that merges the best of retro and modern JRPG features.

Whether you’re a veteran of the series or a newcomer, Company Of Heroes 3 offers a captivating gameplay experience that will keep you strategizing, adapting, and immersed in the chaos of war.

Diablo IV is everything fans could want and more. An amazing world, engaging story and mountains of captivating content make this the best game in a franchise filled with amazing experiences. Diablo IV, simply put, is amazing.

A visually stunning but too faithful recreation of a cult classic held back by its dedication to the source material.

The very few redeeming values present in Lord Of The Rings: Gollum buckle under the enormous weight of mediocrity that it carries. It tries, but the game is about as forgettable as one of the thousands of orcs slaughtered in the films.

Entertaining, yet joyless. Beautiful, yet dire. After Us builds itself upon contrary subversions of videogame norms, and in many ways it succeeds. It’s just a shame that in its desperation to convey the importance of the planet's soul, it sacrificed a little of its own.

A masterfully crafted journey that encourages exploration and experimentation while guiding you on an epic adventure. The perfect next step for the beloved Zelda franchise.

What Demeo delivers, it does so superbly, it only labours under the weight of what is missing and through the ways that it embraces new players.

Showing age through design rather than visuals, Ishin’s period setting and historical elements help elevate it above being ‘yet another remastered Yakuza game.'

Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate presents a great premise and first impression and squanders all of it.

Terra Nil may initially seem like a city builder in reverse, but it’s more than that, it’s a challenging title that is, at its core, built on puzzle elements. Challenging and intrinsically rewarding, Terra Nil is the kind of game that ticks all the right boxes for having a fun time.

A great core gameplay loop, great enemy design and art, and a more run-based approach sets this game apart as one of the greats in the roguelike genre. The Stress and relationship system might not be for everyone, but it reinforces the strong focus on the choices you make in a run.

The perfect next chapter in Aloy’s story, Burning Shores embodies what DLC should be. Featuring epic battles, new foes, and a whole lot of heart, it expands the world of Horizon in every way.

It’s the Valiant Hearts storytelling that you’ve been looking for, but without the gameplay to match it.

Rooftop Renegade is an accessible arcade runner with more depth than first appears, but won’t have a huge amount of longevity for those uninterested in challenging themselves.

Curse Of The Sea Rats earnestly tries to build upon the core ideas of a Metroidvania, and though it offers a lot for the player, it’s missing that final round of tuning and polish which would have let it shine amongst a crowded field.

A tight, turn-based take on classic 80s cinema, Showgunners is a bite-sized blast that is sure to appeal to fans of Xcom. It doesn't reinvent the wheel in any way, but it does nail both the core gameplay loop and the aesthetic and you can't ask for much more than that

The crime of mediocrity is often more disappointing than the crime of simply being terrible and that feels especially true here.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is bigger, better, and more bombastic than its predecessor, while it also challenges you in ways that few other Star Wars works have done to date. It’s beautiful and begging to be played.

Be curious about the new looks, be reassured by the care taken to bring Advance Wars to a new generation, and look forward to precious minutes or expansive hours honing your tactical mind within a morning cartoon aesthetic.

Coffee Talk 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly floods you with emotions and does not really ever let up. Whilst some people may be turned off by the lack of interactivity, if you want a laid back, chill game where you just talk to people and make drinks, this is best in class.

A delightfully gory surprise, Dead Island 2 rises above its hellish development to deliver the sort of horror comedy romp that is rarely seen in the industry. It doesn't break the mould, but it does deliver pure blood-soaked campy joy from start to finish.

Minecraft Legends has potential, I don’t know if it will have the same level of longevity as the original Minecraft has had, and while it is very simple to command your mobs to go to a certain place and have them attack whatever is in the area, kids may struggle to adapt to the controlling of the mobs in more nuanced ways that will help get the most out of combat.

EA’s long-awaited return to the golf course is a solid effort, not an outstanding one. There are some structural and balance issues that hold the game back from greatness but there is still an enjoyable walk around the virtual course to be had.

There’s every chance more recent Sherlock converts might find themselves severely underwhelmed by The Awakened, which doesn’t really stand up against The Sinking City or Chapter One, but I nevertheless enjoyed traipsing around period locations for a few hours a night across the span of a week, the sort of popcorn gaming that isn’t appreciated enough in amongst larger, more bombastic titles that demand endless hours across their poorly paced open-worlds.

Sadly, a series of missteps along the way means it never reaches its true potential and is left languishing behind other more accomplished titles in the genre.

While it isn’t the gigantic leap forward that the previous game was, it does solidify the WWE 2K franchise as something people should be looking forward to, not something that should be avoided.

While the story is confusing, the moment-to-moment gameplay made Dredge a game that kept me wanting more.

If you’ve enjoyed Resident Evil games before, you’ll enjoy this. If you’ve sort of enjoyed them but wished there was more combat involved, you’ll enjoy this. If you loved the original, you’ll get to do what many of us dream when playing remakes of our favourite games – you’ll get to experience this story for the first time all over again, due to some interesting changes.

The upgrades are all very welcome and the fact that all of the Outer Worlds content has been bundled into one package is also appealing. Once the performance issues have been sorted (hopefully soon) I have no doubt that this will be the best version of a game that is the best version of a particular game style. Until then though I have to say, buyer beware.

It’s not going to change your view of VR, but the view from Cosmonious High is pretty great.

Caverns Of Mars: Recharged is a solid enough throwback, but it lacks the spark of inspiration from its source material to truly push the experience forward.

The best version of an already great game, Returnal on PC is a fantastic rogue-like experience if you have the hardware to handle it. It also serves as proof that Sony is really starting to understand the PC platform as a whole.

Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded is by no means a transformative game, but it is exactly the sort of game that the launch of PS VR2 needs.

There is a lot to like here, but expectations can be a double-edged sword. If you’re expecting fluid combat and myriad enemies, this is not that game. If you want to see how Bayonetta came about, and to learn some more lore about the games then this is the right game for you.

Forspoken may be a game of squandered potential, but there remains an argument that it’s still worth playing, not just for the simple joy of zipping through its world, but for the occasional glimpse at the potentially genre-defying tentpole it could have been with clearer vision and better collaboration. Because, in this world of stagnation over innovation, even just the groundwork can be worth savouring.

I don’t think this game is art, and I don’t think it’s revolutionary, I think it’s a huge cultural step backwards – no matter how pretty it may look – that is based on mediocre gameplay mechanics.

Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line is without any doubt one of the greatest love letters that this industry has seen.

Tentacular does a lot of things right. It has a tonne of heart, it supports players in the puzzling aspects, is a great laugh, and is empowering in all the best ways, but for all of that, its own enormous size can get in the way and times, making for an at times infuriating experience.

With gorgeous settings and a beautiful rousing score that fit the epicness of the battles I faced and a satisfying combat style, I highly recommend it if you are a fan of the genre or just a fan of traditional martial arts.

Blanc is a prime example of innovation leading to a memorable gaming experience, and shows that even when a game’s mechanics aren’t perfect, the story can still stick in your heart and make an impact.

Scars Above is AA game design at its absolute best. A tight Sci/fi adventure that is perfectly paced and entertaining from start to finish. Proof positive that a smaller, tighter scope is often a wiser road to success in the world of video games.

Wild Hearts is a solid entry in the “kill giant creatures and harvest their parts to craft new gear” genre, and with plans to add new Kemono to hunt and room for new areas to be added this is a game that you can sink your teeth into for a while to come.

Kirby’s Return To Dream Land Deluxe is much more than just a remake, offering plenty of new content to fresh and returning players alike. It’s impossible not to smile while playing this game, especially alongside friends.

I wish I could sing the praises of this game, but the flaws were a little too frequent to ignore. The narrative is strong but the delivery of it often flounders, despite the convincing voice acting of some of the cast. Some puzzles fit right into the world and add to the immersion, while some feel like banging your head against a wall as you endure them. The environments are often stunning, but the shine is taken away when travelling through them reveals pop-in and an overuse of invisible walls. It feels like a game that’s almost there, and I wish it had stuck the landing.

It's not for everyone, but I feel it's a great introduction to an interesting slice of gaming's lost past and also to the unique arcade-esque fare in which Llamasoft specialises in.

A trip back in time in both good and bad ways, Wanted: Dead is bad, but intentionally so. There is sure to be a crowd that will enjoy this PS2 throwback, but it won't hold the attention of modern gamers for long.

I can absolutely tell that there are kids who will fall in love with it, and adults who are going to enjoy the nostalgic trip back to the occasionally surrealist world of Bikini Bottom.

Not only has Microsoft made one of the best RTS games of all time enjoyable using nothing but a controller, but they have even improved on the original release in some key ways. Age of Empires 2 is just as good as ever on the Xbox and should be a must-play for strategy fans everywhere.

While there are a few issues that will frustrate, One Piece: Odyssey is a great romp with the Straw Hat crew featuring a brand new tale that incorporates some of their best story arcs so far.

With the Dead Space remake, we have a very faithful and utterly stunning recreation of the original genre-leading masterpiece. Little has changed apart from presentation aspects and while some may feel that is a missed opportunity, I am more than happy to re-experience this classic title as it is.

One or two unnecessary chapters and some half-hearted multiplayer can’t get in the way of what is a sensational Fire Emblem experience.

If you love your management games then you will enjoy the different take on the genre in Honey I joined A Cult. Whether you want to get into the nitty-gritty and micro-manage everything, or just do the basics and let your cultists do what they do best, you will be able to spend many hours building a cult that just might one day take over the world.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn really set the gears in motion for a genre. Since the first launch of this game in 1995, a lot has changed and this title has been staunch in both keeping to its roots and also making some needed changes to modernise the game.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are a wonderful foundation for future Pokémon adventures, but what’s been put atop this foundation for now is rather shaky in a number of ways. Poor performance this far into the Switch’s lifecycle doesn’t bode well for GameFreak or the pressure they are put under to meet holiday deadlines, nor does the phenomenal sales success mean they have much incentive to refine what’s here, when such time and resources could be better spent on whatever pair of titles succeeds Scarlet and Violet.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are a wonderful foundation for future Pokémon adventures, but what’s been put atop this foundation for now is rather shaky in a number of ways. Poor performance this far into the Switch’s lifecycle doesn’t bode well for GameFreak or the pressure they are put under to meet holiday deadlines, nor does the phenomenal sales success mean they have much incentive to refine what’s here, when such time and resources could be better spent on whatever pair of titles succeeds Scarlet and Violet.

NFS Unbound is another step in the right direction for the veteran racing franchise. Always challenging, always intense and always fun, Unbound is a big return to form.

An excellent game in its own right, and one of the PSP’s best, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII’s remaster stands shoulder to shoulder still with some of the best and most enjoyable JRPGs of the modern day. There are certainly some aspects that have aged poorly in relation to other aspects, but the core pillars of the experience sing as loudly and as strongly as they ever have. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII was already one of the great JRPGs, and a major player in advancing the genre, but now, 15 years on, it’s still right up there with the very best. With Final Fantasy VII hype greater than perhaps it has ever been, now is absolutely the time to check out this all-important prequel chapter.

The Callisto Protocol reaches for what Dead Space once achieved, and falls dishearteningly short. It re-creates all of the brutality and tension that drained the blood from our faces whilst playing Dead Space, but once you then find yourself actively fighting for your life, leaves you quickly frustrated and let down. 

Firaxis, in its first new IP since taking on Xcom 10 years ago, have only further cemented its position as perhaps the best strategy game developer on the planet. Midnight Suns, simply put is a must-play, even for those not used to turn-based tactics.

When all is said and done, Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a fantastic port of a fantastic game. It runs well on a range of systems, including the Steam Deck, and really captures the feel of this younger, less experienced web-slinger.

If you don’t think the idea of becoming best friends with horses and just hanging out with them on an island sounds fun, you won’t enjoy this game. But if it’s going to tap into that same part of childlike wonder that I felt from the moment I loaded it up and chose my first horse, then it could be for you.

The whole experience is outdated and poorly designed which leads to nothing but frustration and regret. To add icing to the terrible cake, the game lacks any sort of coherent story or even likeable characters to help get players through the rest of the problems. When the only nice thing you can say about a game is that it works, well things are rather bleak I am afraid. Gungrave G.O.R.E is, simply a bad experience and one I can’t recommend for anyone, even those with a deep love for the IP it is based upon.

If you’re a true crime fan, this is going to be the one for you, while also showing you the dangers of letting a true crime obsession go too far. Sometimes, I guess we all need a reminder that going to an exact replica of a place where gruesome murders happened is a terrible idea, even if it is in the name of ‘art’.

The team at Coffee Stain know exactly what the title is and how it should be played, cranking up the insanity for an outrageous time and optimum enjoyability. Goat Simulator 3 is pure absurdity, nothing more, nothing less.

What it boils down to is, we have seen this game before. Be it as WW2 soldiers or Orc stomping space marines, this is an experience that has been around for quite some time now. That being said, The Valiant is still a welcome addition to a genre that is currently underserviced. It has been put together by a talented team that knows exactly what they are doing and as a result, have created a game that fans of the genre will undoubtedly enjoy. The Valiant won’t change the world, but it will entertain its target player base for some time to come.

I’ve believed for a long time that the games industry doesn’t value its history the way other media does, and collections like this serve as a shining light that perhaps this attitude may change in the future.

Somerville is a tight experience that tells its tale, doesn’t leave you hanging too long, and gives you plenty to ruminate on. Some rough edges hold it back from hitting the heights of those that inspired it.

A truly innovative murder mystery that really makes you consider the consequences of not only your actions, but the actions of those that came before you. The narrative is at times a little too bogged down in complex lore, but it's a story to be remembered.

Valkyrie Elysium brings the series into the modern era, even though the story is rough, and the levels are a bit bland. I want to see more of this, but hopefully with some of the more major faults fixed.

Sonic Frontiers is a solid core experience stretched far too thin, proving that sometimes more is less.

If you’ve never really gotten into the cozy game scene, not touched the likes of Stardew, Story of Seasons, or all the rest, this is the one. If those are part of your favourites already, then prepare for a new one to join the list. Start here, and just be spoiled by something amazing. Take your time with it. Heck, even slow the game time down so you can get every second out of it possible.

The DioField Chronicle doesn’t nail the landing but I think that there is still some fun to be had here. I’m just not convinced it’s worth the full price of entry.