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

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.

There is a reason the Trails series is held in such high regard by a large portion of the JRPG audience – their worldbuilding is second to none, the scope admirable for such a small development team. Trails of Cold Steel III is no different, continuing the legacy of the prior games despite being a little too similar to Cold Steel I in some regards. The battle system stands out as one of the more engaging and flexible I’ve ever experienced in the genre, and I simply cannot wait to get my hands on Cold Steel IV later this year. That said, I do feel for Switch owners keen to dip their toe into the world of Trails, as this is not the most ideal place to start.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Jusant is a bewitching experience; a meditative ascent which conveys its themes of hope, inevitability and perseverance effectively alongside puzzling gameplay that pushes players forward with just the right amount of challenge.

Super Mario RPG is a delightful remake of an underappreciated classic that will thrill new and old fans alike. It’s filled with wonder, whimsy, and wit, and respects its origins while easily carving a new place in Nintendo’s current line-up

The world is enormous, filled to the brim with rich content to explore. It can be a bit much sometimes with the number of artefacts you can find or haikus to sit and devise bloating things a little bit, but players will be blown away by the deep storytelling and unbelievable style and personality that Ghost of Tsushima brings to the table.

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.

As well as being an excellent demonstration of the future ahead for owners of the PS5, Astro’s Playroom serves as an excellent, albeit brief platformer. You’ll find that just as the game really begins to come into its own, it ends, and that’s an almighty shame, but will likely you leaving salivating at the prospect of what is to come for Astro Bot and friends.

Persona 5 Strikers is one of the best spin-off titles I’ve ever played and gave me everything I wanted from a Persona 5 follow-up; a chance to revisit these characters in a much less bloated fashion and further modernising its combat system to complement the shift from randomised dungeon layouts to bespoke creations that P5 was praised for.

If you haven’t player either Bayonetta or Vanquish, now’s the best time. Despite the visuals showing their age at times, both games play brilliantly on an Xbox One X. Most importantly, the action is just as thrilling now as it was back in 2010.

While the single player is a bit flaky, the core online tilt of Splatoon 3 is strong and refined, offering simple, addictive, and enjoyable matches for casual players and pros alike. With promised support for years to come, we forward to enjoying what Nintendo brings to expand and round out the experience.

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.

A sedate yet engaging experience, Wayward Strand weaves serious subjects with threads of respect and care. While time marches on, you never feel pushed to worry about it, with a short length and plenty of concurrent events creating a welcome environment to re-experience if you so wish.

In general, Two Point Campus is a fun game. It’s quite relaxing on the whole for a management game, but there is a good bit of challenge to be found later in career levels and three starring levels if you’re itching to really flex your management muscles.

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.

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.

A near purrfect throwback to a beloved gaming era, Stray tugs on heartstrings, whilst it also delivers an enjoyable playing experience lined with superb production value.

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.

Little Nightmares II is a masterclass in suspense and audio design that feeds on your childhood fears. This unsettling mix of whimsy and the macabre will urge you to push past your fears and a few frustrating mechanics in order to discover the secrets hidden in its grotesque world.

This all leaves me with the feeling that while WWE 2K24 is a solid outing, it is hard not to feel a little disappointed with its current state. It is a very safe sequel with some new features and a few gameplay tweaks, but there is nothing that screams “must-play” in regard to any of the additions.

A stone cold classic has returned looking and playing better than ever before. Age of Mythology is a must play for all strategy fans and the perfect example of how to re-release a 20+ year old game.