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.