Housemarque enhances their already lofty reputation with a title that even surpasses their efforts with Returnal. The prospect of putting down the controller is almost as terrifying as the world of Carcosa.

With a fantastic foundation, but a ceiling that wasn’t quite reached, Saint Slayer is an excellent playing experience that will leave you wanting just a little bit more from it.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream reintroduces Nintendo’s zany life-sim to modern gamers. Though it feels a little too similar to the 3DS version at times, there’s plenty of entertainment waiting for both seasoned and new fans to sink their teeth into. Its new customisation tools also ensure it has a long and healthy life ahead as it will no doubt prove to be popular with creative gamers.

Mouse P.I. is a game dripping with style. Excellent quality animation, sound design and voice work makes this a game that stands on its own, and I hope we see more from this detective in the future.

Exactly the sort of game that this old reviewer needed to refresh his love of the medium. Pragmata uses a classic, almost-lost formula along with some brand new and exciting gameplay to create an absolutely epic adventure that deserves everyone’s attention.

There’s nothing groundbreaking about Reanimal, but what it does, it does very well. There are still some nagging frustrations in Tarsier’s design that have again reared their heads, but don’t let them interfere with your enjoyment of this moody world.

The ultimate monkey’s paw. We should be reveling in the return of more Legacy of Kain, but instead, poor design decisions blunt the impact of this franchise return in nearly every conceivable way.

Dosa Divas is an entree sized meal, with the heart the size of a main menu item. A good meal can sometimes do a lot with little, and Dosa Divas is a perfect gaming example of that.

I must admit that I was of the mind that this Switch 2 version of the original release was simply going to be a bit of lip service. A title with a small sprinkling of new content to justify the decision to re-release the game and sell another few million units. Thankfully, I can report that Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Meetup in Bellabel Park is even better than it was before. It is loaded with fantastic additions to both the core game as well as to its previously quite limited multiplayer suite, and for players both experienced and inexperienced, there is an abundance of additional content to chew on.

For all its quirks, I do hope that Screamer finds a regular and loyal fanbase. The story may be naff, and some tracks are better than others, but there remains an enjoyable core at the centre of it all. The potential for online play, particularly in all-out team races, is highly promising, but it’s a promise that can only be fulfilled if Screamer can entice enough an audience to purchase and persevere. It’s an excellent, flawed, unique, undercooked racer that just may yet manage to become a simply great one.

Whilst it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the greats, this is still a compelling experience that’s more than worth your time. Come for the visuals, stay for the gripping combat.

Only the mildest inconveniences dampen the experience. Make no elder dragon bones about it, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is the best in the sub-franchise, and one of the best JRPGs on the market at present.

Hamstermind is a game made by puzzle lovers, and it shows. Whilst it’s not a perfect experience, people who have the patience for deceptively simple but ultimately extremely challenging puzzles should absolutely check this out.

A classically styled CRPG that is welcoming to newcomers without dumbing things down, Disciples: Domination has both the gameplay and the story to keep fantasy fans enthralled for the entirety of its 40+ hour runtime.

While My Hero: All’s Justice does a great job of putting the player in the climactic battle against Tomura Shigaraki, All for One and the remaining members of The League of Villains, having to trudge through the disappointing Team-Up Missions to access the Archive Battles and the one dimensional combat that reduces controls to spamming a single button makes this game hard to recommend to all but the most die hard MHA fans.

Is it the best Nioh game? Despite how overwrought it is in some areas, it’s the Nioh title I’ve felt the most driven to keep returning to.

The gameplay is superb and the action a joy, but there is just not enough to do to keep players coming back for more, especially if your friends and family aren’t willing to join you for a match.

Despite some minor design flaws and an excess of information and systems thrown at the player, Code Vein II is a respectable entry in the Soulslike genre that will keep fans happy and perhaps even bring some new ones in.

An already outstanding title can now be taken natively on the go, has all additional content bundled in it, and now possesses new modes to make the game more approachable to all. Final Fantasy VII Remake was a sensation in 2020, and it’s only better now in 2026.

MIO: Memories In Orbit is abstract, quirky, brutally hard, and stunning all at once, and outside of those awful tremors, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Visions has some amazing highs, and challenges players in way they might not have felt for a long time. It’s more of Origins, and I mean that in the best possible way.

A wildly uneven entry in the COD franchise, Black Ops 7 offers a lot for a certain type of player, but as a result of certain changes, it may have left its traditional fans out in the cold.

It is difficult to grade Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector. There are moments where you feel you have control of how you want to play the game and what you want to do, but so too are there moments where you feel you are just following along on a predetermined story, where the choices don’t matter, and the free agency you have as the Sleeper is just an illusion.

Demonschool is a perfect mix of all the things I love - cheesy retro horror, tactics-based role-playing, kicking bad guys in the face, and hot characters I can chat up. What’s not to love?

Sektori is brutal; it looks to crush you under its sheer force at every turn, such that getting to the game’s end will be one of the most satisfying moments that you’ll find in gaming in 2025. It looks beautiful, is incredibly overstimulating, hates your guts, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Road to Empress was a surprise. Despite having no vested interest in the genre or period going into the game, I came out a massive fan. Is it enough to make me want to watch a bunch of palace dramas? No. I like the interactive nature of this game, and it does make me want to play me want to play more. If you’re after a dramatic, sometimes silly and overall great fun FMV experience, this should be at the top of your list.

Somehow, what looks like a vibes-rich self-indulgent arthouse piece turns out to be a game than not only nails the vibes it is chasing, but also manages to keep pretty well balanced on its actual mechanics. Skate Story may appeal to a very specific audience, but they will likely devour it like a cookie in the night sky.

The additions made to the franchise’s core, spliced in with Champions Of The Content and the changes made to its DNA, make Octopath Traveler 0 an incredibly engaging and constantly enticing prospect. The Path Of Restoration begins now, and I hope you’re along for the ride.

While Metroid Prime 4 suffers from some poorly implemented hub-region design, and a grating Myles MacKenzie, every other part sings, and Nintendo fans should celebrate the return of this video game icon.

Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition is a sensational product, a love letter to some of the most iconic encounters in history, and a wonderful playing experience. The game has continued to improve and expand with each DLC, and the newest slice of content to come with the Anniversary Edition makes this Age of Empires IV package even more enticing to explore.

Never before has a Kirby game made me feel so inadequate as a gamer while also making me want to become better. Enjoyable in short bursts, those who dive into its systems and challenges will find their efforts rewarded.

Winter Burrow gives players with a beautiful world to explore, but doesn't do enough with it to keep players coming back.

Possessor(s) combines an engaging narrative that will hit you in the feels with solid combat and a huge map for you to explore. Yet another solid entry in the Metroidvania genre.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a wonderfully engaging, deep and satisfying strategy experience that will keep players, both new and old, engaged for dozens, if not hundreds of hours as they become a Governor in Ancient Rome.

Some tired writing tropes of the 1980s stick out in sometimes frustrating ways, but Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a masterful reworking of two genre pioneers. It’s amazing to have them back.

If spatial puzzles with colour-mixing seem like something you would enjoy, then Shroomtopia is an easy win.

Wreckreation not only gives you a thrilling open-world arcade racer with a varied world to explore along with an expansive multiplayer mode that allows you to build challenges for your friends. Though the final experience has a few too many rough edges in parts, it's still worth it for arcade racing fiends craving something to get their motors running.

If you have an itch for a fixed-camera horror and the patience for punitive controls, this is your game. If not, the Tormented Souls experience will feel less like a nostalgic embrace and more like a frustrating relic.

The Outer Worlds 2 is by no means a perfect game, but it is a memorable one. Its commitment to the concept of choice and consequence, along with the sharp and satirical writing, makes it a unique, unforgettable RPG that is easy to recommend, despite its flaws.

Platinum and Team Ninja have joined forces to not only capture the spirit of the Ninja Gaiden franchise, but to bring it into the modern day with rare skill and style. An absolute action master piece that will have fans hooked for its entire blood-soaked runtime.

Ultimately, Keeper is a relatively short experience (depending how long you spend wandering off the beaten track), but a memorable one. It has strange, surreal and thoroughly emotive characters, stunning art direction, and it tells a powerful wordless tale in ways that feel simple, but that are only possible in the hands of truly talented artists. Though hampered by some gripes with controls and pacing gameplay-wise, artistically, Double Fine have done it again.

With challenging controls and a confusing narrative, Little Nightmares III will be best enjoyed by those familiar with the previous entries over newer players to the franchise.

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.

Individual skill gets kills; squad play wins the war. Battlefield 6 is revived, resupplied and ready to roll.

Yooka-Re-Playee takes the solid, if flawed foundation of Playtonic’s original game and enhances it in just about every way imaginable. A good game in 2017, Yooka-Laylee has become a great one in 2025.

Fans of the series will enjoy testing themselves against the orc hordes on the new maps, along with the added rogue-like elements, but between the lack of a real narrative to keep players engaged and difficulty increases that only equate to increased health for enemies, it is not likely to be as fondly remembered as some of its predecessors.

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 were already two of the best games ever made, and now they’re better than ever before. Just go out and buy them, whether this is the first time you’ve played them or not.

Ghost Of Yotei is a triumph of all artistic disciplines in the video game medium. A devastating narrative hook will quickly lead to 50+ hours of riveting adventure.

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

The lack of War Of The Lions additions holds back the game from being the perfect re-release, but nonetheless, Final Fantasy: The Ivalice Chronicles is still a pre-eminent title in the Tactical RPG sub-genre, and cannot possibly be missed if you have even a passing interest.

The best game in the franchise, The Beast brings all the best parts of the previous two Dying Light games together into one irresistible, blood-soaked package.

A reminder of a more innocent time, Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition is the same great game it always was, just released in a more cynical and jaded world.

A unique and charming strategy title that won’t change the world, but will give players an entertaining spin on game concepts and tropes they have enjoyed before.

While rough around the edges, the Roguelike core of Star Fire: Eternal Cycle provides the hit that keeps the player coming back for one more run.

This year’s edition of NBA 2K has been polished, refined and improved in both subtle and important ways, making it the best edition of the franchise in recent memory.

While it won’t win any new fans, Borderlands 4 is a return to form for the original looter-shooter and a must-buy for fans of its particular brand of madness.

I hope Kaizen aren’t done with Promise Mascot Agency, because even though the credits rolled, I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to Kaso-Machi.

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.

As a remake, it can be mildly jarring as the new clashes with the old, but if you’re able to transport yourself back to 2004, and appreciate an iconic title with a stunning coat of new paint, Snake Eater is undoubtedly worth checking out.

For the most part, Star-Crossed World is just more Kirby and the Forgotten Land, but with a slightly different aesthetic. Given it’s been three years since the initial release, it mostly gave me an excuse to jump back into a game I loved so much and experience some of that joy again – something I wouldn’t have necessarily expected after all this time.

Different audiences will appreciate Gears of War: Reloaded to differing degrees, but nonetheless, this is the best way to enjoy the franchise’s opening chapter yet.

Story Of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is like a warm hug, but it's also a reminder of a series that needs to adapt and change in order to keep up with the genre it was so foundational in building.

A beautiful and exciting action platformer that will test your skill as it stuns you with its looks. Welcome back, Shinobi, welcome back.

The Rogue Prince of Persia is an absolute success in both doing justice to the well-loved property and in taking the foundation of Dead Cells and moulding it into something new and just as exciting.

Ultimately, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with Ready or Not. The gameplay is satisfying, the focus on teamwork and realism is appreciated, and the satisfaction of nailing a difficult mission is something lots of games could learn from.

Drag X Drive delivers some engaging gameplay, and fun gameplay options, but technical concerns dampen the excitement.

Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy has so much personality, and if you’re familiar with the series or this style of game, I think you’ll have a lot of fun. The upbeat, quirky sense of humour is a real selling point for me, and though I found the gameplay loop a little repetitive, I was laughing and smiling all the way through it.

Everything about the game flows well and feels satisfying to play. Where some games tread like honey, making you aware of every minute you’re spending in their world, Len’s Island feels like a bare-foot beach break, and not a second spent with it feels wasted or lost.

The Drifter is a great entry in a genre that doesn’t really see too many of them these days. What it lacks in obtuse puzzle difficulty it makes up for with a smart, pulpy narrative that kept me engaged the entire time, with characters endearing enough that many players will likely return for a second or third lap.

For every fun mechanic Return from Core has to offer, it comes with an equally frustrating or confusing system. The best parts of Return from Core could be found with more depth in other games, and the unique elements of this game are lacking polish.

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.

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.

Eriksholm is a puzzle game first, stealth game second, and the sooner a player cottons on to this, the more enjoyment they are likely to eek from its rigid sneaking puzzles and character swapping system.

Not only is it full of bugs, glitches and physics problems, it treats the sport it is trying to emulate with utter disdain and contempt. Rugby League 26 is more than a bad video game, it approaches its target audience with disrespect.

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.

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.

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.

Neverwinter Nights 2 is the game you loved from nearly 20 years ago, almost as you remember it, with multiplayer restored, and bugs for good measure. As a remaster, it’s a pretty by-the-numbers effort, but it gets the job done.

A beautiful attempt to incorporate South American culture into a familiar genre, but hindered by game-breaking bugs and issues that make it difficult to find your flow.

Shadow Labyrinth isn’t a bad game by any means, it is just one that carries with it a sense of missed opportunity and sometimes that stings a little more.

The Birdman is back with another example as to why he was, is and always will be the king of the extreme sports game.

Donkey Kong Bananza is a throwback filled adventure that, while riddled with joyous moments, is at times held back by the own freedom it provides.

Against the Storm is nothing short of a revelation. The perfect marriage of a City Builder with a Roguelike and a game that is sure to become your next addiction.

Despite all the warts, the original STALKER trilogy is still incredible. By extension, these games are also incredible, but they’re held back by some weird choices, strict modding guidelines and some rough optimisations. Time will tell how they turn out.

It needs some time to find its place in the world and refine the solid foundations, but FBC Firebreak is a fun way to return to The Old House with mates without having to commit thousands of hours in the process.

The Gex Trilogy bundles up a trio of middling to good platformers together and places them on modern platforms, with the perk of playing them with modern features like rewind, screen ratio adjustments and more. For fans of the games in their day, there’s some nostalgic fun to be found here, but if you’re new to the IP and are considering picking them up, well, in the immortal (and well-worn) words of Gex himself – Fuhgeddaboutit

Star Overdrive may take inspiration from Zelda, but it is by no means a clone. A cracking sense of style, awesome hoverboard and some genuinely entertaining puzzles make this an adventure worth having.

If true love is accepting flaws, then I suppose I loved Death Stranding 2, its foibles and peccadillos apparent but of no real consequence during my time with it. A few days out from full release, I still haven’t quite digested everything Kojima and the many, many other people that worked on Death Stranding 2 are trying to say, and maybe I never will.

TRON: Catalyst shows tie-in games don't have to be rushed out the door. They can instead offer some fantastic action combined with a story that feels appropriate, yet also important in its own small way.

I didn’t necessarily believe it at first, but after spending some time with it, I feel like maybe Mario Kart World was the perfect launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. It reminds us of the pure joy that can come from just sitting around, talking smack, and playing video games with your friends, whether together or apart.

Addictive and engaging in a way that not many games can lay claim to, Monster Train 2 is a must buy for anyone looking for that perfect roguelike experience.

An unrivalled adrenaline-pumping platformer, Sonic X Shadow Generations arrives as a launch title for the Switch 2 in perfect condition. Fans of the franchise or genre should, without doubt, have this on their must-buy list.

No Way Home takes the frenetic action of a twin-stick shooter and marries it to a space-faring adventure, but while these two concepts should make for a thrilling experience combined, the final result is sadly less than the sum of its parts.

An inferior version for sure, but not a bad one. Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2 makes some necessary sacrifices, but still retains everything that makes this a great game.

A mash-up of everything that makes video games great, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is probably better than real life.

Not much in the way of additions or quality-of-life updates, but when the original release is so good, who cares? Yakuza 0 is still a fantastic experience 10 years after its release and the perfect launch title for the Switch 2.

Street Fighter 6 honestly feels like the best game of the series in every facet possible. The long term will prove or disprove this though as these games tend to morph and change over their lifetime. But for this game to take that title, it’s done everything right from the outset to cement its legacy as the best of the best. This game is a recommendation for people interested in fighting games at any level, go check it out now.

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.