It’s hard not to be awestruck by what Monolith Soft has achieved in revitalising this classic Wii title, bringing it to a new generation and giving it the tender love and care that it so obviously deserves.

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.

All of these options can seem overwhelming, but somehow feel less daunting than a Fire Emblem entry or even the recent Tactics Ogre, and that may be because I did not feel the same pressure to be invested in the individuals and their narrative. As much as Vanillaware and Atlus may not want to hear it, Unicorn Overlord allowed me to step back from the emotional responsibility of the characters in its narrative.

Be prepared for a game riddled with opportunities to build the best flippin’ ensemble that you can build. Take that team and exist in a beautiful world for more hours than is conventionally reasonable. Experience one of the best stories I have ever had the privilege to experience in a JRPG.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is a sensational package. It reintroduces the world to an often forgotten (or straight-up missed) classic Mario platformer, while lays the groundwork for a new type of Mario experience, one that, with some further refinement, could be one day looked back upon as yet another defining moment in perhaps the most decorated franchise in the industry.

It's an improvement on its already beloved predecessor, hilarious, heart-filled and left me wanting more.

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.

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.

A stunning car adventure that tears through its Japanese location with style and panache, Forza Horizon 6 won’t offer many surprises, but it is still best in class when it comes to a car-focused title for everyone.

The simple fact of the matter is, The Final Shape made me care about Destiny again, something I didn't think was possible. Bungie has pulled out all the stops to send this story arc off in fine style with an engaging campaign, welcome tweaks to progression and some fantastic new shared events. The story grabs hold and the conclusion is satisfying in a way I didn't think was possible after all this time.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 on the next-gen systems is the ultimate way to play this fantastic revival. Smoother, faster and more fluid, it will have you reliving your youth with a big smile on your face.

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.

The best way to play Aloy’s most recent adventures... if you have the PC that can do it justice that is.

An absurd, insane and all-round mental JRPG that will have fans wrapped from its opening to its heartwarming close, Infinite Wealth is the best game in the franchise and the perfect way to experience this well-loved franchise.

A playing experience like no other, with Dream Shaping tools that revolutionise the way we need to look at game development. Dreams is something truly special.

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.

If Ghost of Tsushima is something you have already experienced, then the PC version probably isn’t enough to get your money for a second time. If you missed it the first time around though it is a fantastic adventure that is even better on a powerful computer.

While it’s certainly disappointing to see The Last Of Us return without its iconic multiplayer, Factions, players are so incredibly fortunate to get to re-experience a game that is widely considered one of the all-time greats, remade from top to bottom, and given the tender love, and care that it deserves. Every pore is as it should be, every texture perfected, and every moment, something to savour. Many will look at The Last Of Us Part I and consider it an unnecessary investment from Sony, the original still looks great – but Naughty Dog have pulled off the impossible in making the definitive video game of the last decade, somehow, even better, and in doing so they’ve also opened it up to millions of new players, of a variety of needs and levels of experience. It turns out that you can improve upon perfection.

Neon White feels at home on the Switch. The short, replayable levels, stylish art style, cool soundtrack and generous difficulty means that you can feel awesome and satisfied without hitting a difficulty wall.

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.

After some missteps in later incarnations, the remaster of THPS 1+2 returns the game to its strong roots, providing the addictive mixture of challenge and fun that will keep people coming back to shred for a long time.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is every bit the shining gem in the PS5 launch crown. There are a couple of extremely minor drawbacks in the form of a sometimes-cluttered screen, the sense of humour taking more of a backseat, and some very rare crashes, but Rift Apart delivers one of the strongest entries in the franchise to date.

A far more brutal experience than its predecessor, Doom Eternal isn’t for the weak, but master the ruleset and you’re in for a hell of a time.

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.

Everything about this game just feels good. It’s beautiful, narratively complex, empowering, and a true testament to what the PS5 can do.

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.

Deathloop is both unique and familiar, subverting time, gameplay and expectations in equal measure. A mystery worth solving and experience worth having, there is nothing on this planet quite like Deathloop.

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.