While Hunt: Showdown gives players a high caliber atmosphere to play in, the steep learning curve and difficulty for new players to survive encounters with veterans may give it problems in gathering a larger player base.

Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV features new modes of play atop an already exhaustive number of mini-games. The game maintains its same strike-rate as well, propelling an already excellent game to new heights.

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.

A great idea that never quite reaches its full promise, Watch Dogs: Legion is still a cracking bit of techno fun. Come for the hacking and stay for the engaging story and cockney accents.

Dead Take is an ambitious commentary on the state of a dark and often desperate industry. While its stellar performances are let down by some less imaginative horror troupes, it remains an intriguing take on the world of entertainment.

An engaging mixture of combat, exploration, and puzzles, Immortals is an excellent debut from Ascendant Studios that hits at even more promising things to come.

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

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.

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.

Some dated game design cannot be painted over, however all other aspects from visuals, to lighting and controls have been improved significantly, making this remaster a must-play.

Horizon Chase 2 is blisteringly fast and honestly pretty fun. Its progression may feel borderline automated and its audio mixing lacks energy to an honestly bizarre level, but in a sea of very few fish it remains a solid and entertaining enough choice for what it is.

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.

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.

This is a game that tries a lot but can never commit. Still, it's a fun enough jaunt through a world otherwise lost to a mobile game, with some nostalgic call-backs to other games in the series

There’s an undeniable thrill in exploring your house from a lowered viewpoint and while the racing itself is nothing new, the versatility of the experience means you don’t even have to pull out the gates to have a bit of fun or to give the kids a novel distraction.

Endless Dungeon may not be a tech powerhouse or groundbreaking experience, but then not every game has to be. What it does do is take the core of three different genres and mash them into an enjoyable and fresh experience that can be enjoyed solo or with a friend on just about any PC out there.

Some refinements are needed in only a few select areas, otherwise Visions Of Mana is a wonderful return for the IP.

It’s a refreshing change compared to other entries I’ve played in and around the genre and one that ensures I’ll keep coming back to Descenders regularly for the foreseeable future. After all, a few more runs and I might just be able to make it through the forest completely unscathed.

While there’s a lot to enjoy about Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny, it feels like you’re just playing the game via backwards compatibility, and nothing more. This is the second consecutive time I’ve had to say this about the Onimusha franchise, but it deserves better than Capcom has given it via these remasters.

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.

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.

Star Wars Outlaws is a great way to live the outlaw fantasy and become the most likeable criminal you can possibly be. Kay Vess is the perfect Star Wars protagonist, and though there are some gameplay and graphical frustrations, there’s a strong heart to this game that is hard to deny.

Excessive F2P systems hold Multiversus back from greatness. As it is, there is a lot of fun to be had, but it is hard not to imagine something greater had the game received a more traditional release.

An excellent game, but a rough port, Wild Hearts S is held back by poor performance and sloppy visuals. Play it for the gameplay experience but not the aesthetics.

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.

The Falconeer: Warrior Edition, fails to inspire. It’s a game that says its piece in the first hour but then meanders on for another dozen hours without saying anything more.

After the 8th pack, one might be wondering if these games are losing steam or continuing to improve whilst offering new and fun experiences. Having played countless hours of these with friends, I couldn’t be happier to report that the latter seems to be the case.

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.

There’s no denying that they’ve nailed the atmospheric feel of this game, and every second I spent playing it was appropriately spooky, but it also didn’t give me much of a reason to get to the end beyond the challenge itself. If you’re someone who can revel in the challenge, who can savor it and use it to fuel you towards the conclusion, then you’ll find a lot to enjoy here. If you can’t find that, then I think you’ll struggle.

To be clear, this game is super weird. Just… so very, very weird. It asks you to do things you’d never expect, and uses the joy-cons in ways that frighteningly creative minds must have dreamed into existence – but it’s also a true showcase of what they can do. It’s so simple that it’s genius, and it flaunts a particular kind of weirdness that few games manage to successfully achieve. It’s one of those games that makes me want to invite everyone I know over to my house to play it with me so that I can show them just how weird it is, and have them experience it for themselves – and it also gets me moving in ways that a game hasn’t done in ages. It’s a true feat of creativity and chaos, and it’s definitely going to be one that I go back to for laughs and a pretty serious workout.

The Medium is an atmospherically creepy psychological thriller that puts a new spin on the genre while evoking feelings that fans of Silent Hill will find familiar. If you’ve been looking for a tense horror game that’s largely without jump scares but will still leave you with chills, this one’s for you.

Lords Of The Fallen doesn’t mess around. It’s a no-holds-barred, unapologetic rollercoaster ride from start to finish, and I can’t wait to go again.

If Ghostwire: Tokyo appeared bewildering in promotional coverage it’s not because it’s unlike any other game so much as because it’s like so many all at once. Mechanically unfocused though it may be, it still earns stripes through sheer dint of atmosphere.

Despite some rough edges, Projection: First Light casts a bright light with both its mechanics and presentation. For those who love their puzzle platforming, it offers a something unique amongst a wide field.

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 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.

There are many steps forward, and some small half-steps back, and while Axiom Verge 2 is certainly worth your time, it was on the verge of being something even greater, and just couldn’t quite get there.

Awakening changes a lot and not always for the better. If you can handle a very management-heavy game and want something to really sink your teeth into, Nobunaga’s got you covered.

Samurai Warriors 5 is a perfect slice of junk food gaming. It knows it isn’t an award winner, breaking new ground or pushing gaming forward, it simply aims to provide an entertaining ride, nothing more, nothing less. In that light, it is impossible to see Samurai Warriors 5 as anything but a success.

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 odd-ball of the AoE family is back and is better than ever. This remake won’t change the minds of people who didn’t like it upon its original release, but it does celebrate an RTS that dared to try something new.

For fans of the series though, it’s a no-brainer, you know what to expect here and you’re going to love it, for everyone else it might be hit or miss.

For advanced players, it may be more of the same with a different paint job, but as someone who has had less engagement with RTS titles as a whole, Iron Harvest has been a really solid introduction for me. With a unique well-researched universe and context, and interesting combat mechanics, I look forward to diving further into multiplayer and to seeing more of the 1920+ universe down the road.

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.

If I had to summarise the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 into a single word, it would be inconsistent. There have been great efforts by Konami to provide the most complete experience of the original Metal Gear Solid here, but this contrasts strongly with how little has been done to attempt the same for MGS 2 & 3 in terms of preservation and breadth of content.

While Chrono Cross doesn’t hit the high notes that its predecessor does, it’s a sensational title given the facelift it deserves. Maybe Chrono Break can be willed into existence yet.

Everything feels well balanced, nothing feels unfair when encountering a Prime Asset, and the Trials are varied, with mazes, puzzles, and grotesque elements all combining to offer a unique experience that horror fans should absolutely take a chance on.

Not a perfect comeback by any means, but still the best game of virtual tennis for years. TopSpin 2K25 represents an excellent foundation that 2K can build from in entries to come.

Greak: Memories of Azur doesn’t necessarily set out to cut new ground when it comes to puzzling platformer adventures, but what it does, it does pretty well.

Emio - The Smiling man is a dark and gruesomely gripping mystery that’s held back from reaching greatness by its lack of improvement on the series’ existing flaws.

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

For the most part, you’re in for a few solid crime-solving sessions in the shoes of an absolutely unqualified amateur detective – a role most of us are pretty familiar with playing (in life, and in games). There are mysteries to be found in these solid remakes of the old Famicom Detective Club series, and they are well worth solving.

Despite a few notable missing features and courses, PGA 2K21 is as good as virtual golf gets at this very moment. Drive for show, putt for dough in this cracking sports title.

While it can be very challenging for solo players at first, when playing with others Conan Chop Chop is a great party game that will have you coming back for more.

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.

Though I have issues with its visuals and the controls not being as tight as I’d prefer, I still had fun with it, and providing you’re not expecting a 1:1 replication of the original, then I believe you’re likely to as well.

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.

An oddball shooter from the 90s that turns everything up to 11 making for a frenetic ball of chaos, with a distinct sense of tone that stands out in the crowd of the boomer shooter revival.

Jackbox Party Pack 10 has its flaws, but the creative depravity it offers makes up for the weaker games in the pack. A solid entry in their 10 year catalogue.

It’s hard to imagine moving house being this enjoyable. It’s equally hard to tell if Moving Out will serve as a cathartic release from cabin fever, or act as a depressing reminder of a more carefree reality.

While Neon Abyss lacks plot depth and environmental variety, it makes up for it with some wild item combinations and chaotic enemy encounters. You can never be quite sure how your next run of this roguelike is going to pan out, but you can always be confident it’s going to be hectic, brightly coloured, and filled with mixed-quality puns and pop culture references.

Despite being a small indie developer that was only formed three years ago, Typhoon Studios have put out a game that is of wonderful quality with no graphical or technical issues that I have experienced. While I do have a few gripes about certain aspects of the game, overall it is a very successful first outing.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a must play for souls fans. Come for the combat, stay for the lore and the environments. It’s hell, but you’ll relish it.

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.

Pac-Man World 2: Re-Pac takes its original counterpart and brings it into the modern day, but platforming has evolved a lot since then, and its inconsistent difficulty, tedious boss-fights and lack of refinement mean this one is really for fans of the original.

It is sad that Obsidian didn’t take the chance to shake things up but at the same time, anyone that enjoyed The Outer Worlds is going to get a kick out of this 5ish hour adventure that is chock full of great characters and snappy writing.

I loved Dungeon Defenders Awakened. Chromatic Games have got the core gameplay down pat. Maps are short and sweet, and there are extra modes for when I feel like I am ready to play for longer or try a different strategy.

For the most part, you’re in for a few solid crime-solving sessions in the shoes of an absolutely unqualified amateur detective – a role most of us are pretty familiar with playing (in life, and in games). There are mysteries to be found in these solid remakes of the old Famicom Detective Club series, and they are well worth solving.

While Minecraft Dungeons may not satisfy everyone, those who enjoy all things Minecraft will enjoy hacking and slashing their way across the different biomes on the journey to save the world.

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.

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

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.

A tight and memorable tale chock full of high-quality writing, charismatic characters and exciting story twists. Mafia: The Old Country may not break new ground on the gameplay front, but it succeeds in being one of the best interactive movies I have ever played.

If you are the type of person who liked the tactical aspects of Rainbow Six: Siege but was put off by the PvP elements then Extraction is just the tactical experience you will really enjoy.

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.

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.

All in all, I have great respect for what the team have tried to do here with Eternal Threads. The narrative is fairly compelling, and the way this game plays with time mechanically is still quite unique for games. It didn’t quite hit all the marks I was hoping for, but Cosmonaut Studios have created an interesting narrative experience here that fans of walking simulators and narrative exploration games will find a lot here to enjoy.

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.

Kingdom Rush Frontiers isn’t breaking any new ground, but it really nails the staples of the tower defense genre. It's simple to learn but tricky to master, has cute graphics, and gives enough variation to sustain you through the whole campaign.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun aims to be the kind of FPS throwback to get your adrenaline pumping, and almost hits the mark, if not for the overly expansive levels which don’t quite land the old-school feel that the rest of the game nails.

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.

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.

This game will not leave you feeling indifferent. It’s a gripping narrative that has a great world to enjoy. Not for the faint of heart, but sometimes the best stories aren’t.

For fans, these throwbacks aren’t to be missed, but if you’re looking for a reason to see what Pokefuss is all about, you’ll find better avenues into the franchise than these remakes.

Yes, it is just more “Outriders” but it is also a more refined, more balanced, more polished Outriders that really shows the potential this franchise has.

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.

While DBZ:K is a great way to relive the original series with enjoyable combat and dead-on aesthetics, it’s saddled with an open world two generations behind that detracts from the promise it shows.

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.

In the end, it is just more Watch Dogs, but it is also equal to the best Watch Dogs has ever been and that is something no one expects from a piece of DLC.

Metal Eden delivers on its promise of fast-paced combat and fluid movement, but its generic world and shallow narrative hold it back. A fun, albeit short, experience that leaves you wanting more than it’s able to deliver.

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.

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.

Iron Danger feels like a breath of fresh air for CRPGs. While not a perfect game, its unique, time-based combat system is a pure joy to play with and worth the price of admission alone.

Outriders confidently swaggers into your life with sense of bravado and bombast that goes a long way to making up for a host of little niggles and rough edges. A blast of a game that will only get better with time and support.

Go in expecting the classic with a couple of added extras, and your time with Sonic will be action-packed and enjoyable.

For fans, these throwbacks aren’t to be missed, but if you’re looking for a reason to see what Pokefuss is all about, you’ll find better avenues into the franchise than these remakes.

It took 15 years to get Battle League but we might not see the next one for another 15 since we’ll still be playing this entry for years to come!

Despite the decades-old formula Garden Story pulls from, it still manages to feel novel. Can’t ask much more than that.