A nearly perfect game for all to enjoy. New gamers will be enamored with the Little Candle that could, while longtime gamers may just remember why we love what we do all over again. An inspiring tale of self discovery that is revealed lovingly through gameplay and experimentation, and a small gem of a game you definitely don't want to miss.

The Alto Collection whilst somewhat repetitive is a joy to play. It successfully captures an ethereal beauty, which makes for a relaxing and enjoyable experience. It combines being an addictive score chaser with accessibility, creating perhaps the best endless runner out there.

Minoria offers up an interesting story all its own that is contributed to with both dialogue and world-building. The lack of significant difficulty and limited AI make this an especially simple game. At the same time, the simplicity allows for an accessible narrative with little in the way. Minoria has the potential to be a good Metroidvania, but its simplicity makes it more of a filler game than a must-own.

Trails Through Daybreak II tells a great story with many twists and turns. NIS has also made quality-of-life improvements throughout the game to make everything flow as smoothly as possible. With excellent writing and entertaining combat, Trails Through Daybreak II shows it can stand on the same mountain as the biggest titans in the genre.

If you're looking for a spicy action game with an unashamed bravado and an excitably challenging gameplay loop, then Anger Foot is an absolute treat you won't hesitate to lap up in all its colourfully weird glory. The thin character interactions as well as the repetitive and overwhelming enemy compositions can grate, though when you're in the midst of the action you won't care. Anger Foot aptly puts its best foot forward as it capably produces a reverberating destructive impact, one you owe it to yourself not to miss out on despite its flaws.

Despite its flaws, Assassin's Creed Syndicate is a great action-adventure romp featuring a stunning backdrop in 1860s London and a brilliant cast of colorful characters.

Believe me, blowing the hell out of your friends online hasn't been this much fun in years.

NBA 2K22 does many things well, most of which has already been done well in the past. Exceptional, challenging gameplay keeps the strength of the game close to its chest, and NBA 2K22 offers an impressive spread of modes to complement that gameplay. Apart from a few misguided choices, the biggest crippling factor this year comes from how The City takes a good idea and stretches it way too thin. NBA 2K22 is great for hardcore fans of the franchise, but it doesn't leave the door open for many others.

Windjammers offers up a healthy dose of what made great arcade games great: tight controls, fast pace, and room to grow.

Probably the best Sonic game ever made, and the perfect celebration of everything Hedgehog for any type of fan. Happy Birthday, Sonic!

A real labour of love, Masquerada is a highly enjoyable RPG effort that is absolutely drowning in audiovisual style and spectacle, even if the overly linear structure and sometimes convoluted world building detracts from the final result.

Control AWE does a great job of bringing the events of Alan Wake into a shared universe, without ever breaking its own identity or gameplay conventions. Almost all of Control’s technical issues are gone, leaving behind a great nugget of gameplay that pushes the universe forward into interesting new placed. Highly recommended for fans of either franchise.

A lovely, bloody and bullet-riddled trip down memory lane is soured somewhat after reaching the weaker second act that serves to remind how much nostalgia is too much. Thankfully, The Old Blood is still an ultimately satisfying addition to the Wolfenstein family.

Dragon of the North could have been a great DLC, but at the end it fails to live up to the expectations. Dragon of the North is good, but it doesn’t add enough content to make it an absolute necessity and only the most hardcore players will find the difficulty spike to their liking, others will probably cry in a corner.

Familiar boss battles and a few frustrations don't cloud this typically addictive and visually outstanding PixelJunk shooter.

MAG is one of the most ambitious games we've played in a long time. While at its core it's nothing more than a basic FPS, what sets this game apart is the volume of players who can compete together.

SingStar Vol. 2 offers up more of the same, but at $40 isn't worth the purchase price when you may only tolerate half the tracks available, if that.

Dying Light 2: Stay Human has been a long time coming, and thankfully it's worth the wait. I loved the time I spent exploring Villedor; finding random events and scaling buildings took me back to the old days of Assassins Creed II. While I wish I wasn't being timed on the occasions I went into a dark building or decided to explore at night, it's a minor issue to overlook when most of the game is so brilliantly executed and fun to play.

Ultimately, The 7th Guest VR is the best sort of surprise. A great mix of entertaining puzzles, compelling exploration and some unexpectedly cutting edge visual design, for this Halloween there's probably no better reason to get out your PS VR2 headset than this.

Out of all the launch games for PS Vita, Everybody's Golf is the title we've found the most difficult to put down. Courses are well mapped-out, gameplay is totally addictive, and even the most mature of gamers will soon find themselves dressing up Isabelle in cute outfits and spending their hard-earned points in the shop.

2K comes out swinging with TopSpin 2K25, with this being the return to the popular tennis franchise. Presentation and gameplay meet the 2K Sports' standards that fans of the games come to expect, and TopSpin fans can feel comforted in the fact that the game still feels like it should. Controls ask you for more precision and discipline than the previous entries did, but this makes for a more satisfying experience once you nail down the control scheme. Some visual oddities, a rare gameplay simulation, and the lack of depth in setting customization ask you to forgive a few things along the way. Nonetheless, the experience far outshines any competition and leaves the door wide open for future success with a formidable foundation the franchise can firmly stand on.

Battle Axe offers a nostalgic arcade hack & slash experience with it's beautifully created sprites, levels, and bosses. Beating your high scores in Battle Axe's arcade mode and infinite mode will keep you busy for hours. The levels offer a diverse variety in enemy types and obstacles, but the game can get somewhat repetitive after a few playthroughs. Where the game ultimately falls short is in the controls and camera, which further adds to the game's challenging difficulty. Also, the absence of online multiplayer is a shame.

Darkest Dungeon 2 does a lot right. My fear is that is so different in places to its predecessor that it may alienate its fan base a little. The combat is improved, the visuals, cinematography and sound work is top notch. This game does so much to make the game smoother, simpler and easier to play, unfortunately it loses a little of what made the first so amazing along the way.

Despite a dearth of original ideas, Pumpkin Jack is a highly accomplished paean to the classic 3D platformers of yesteryear from a solo developer. It's packed with variety, beautifully designed and highly playable so highly recommended for fans of the genre.

Despite some small hiccups with the general presentation of the game, Marble It Up! Ultra offers a fully featured package of over 100 intricately designed obstacle courses for players to learn and overcome.

Lawbreakers has a decent foundation with high-action gameplay, but many fundamental things go amiss, and many decisions sacrifice its universality.

Despite an underwhelming story and a few hiccups here and there, the stunning world of Oros makes Far Cry Primal an experience worth going through.

The Evil Within 2 is a great addition to the survival horror genre. It improves in a lot of aspects from its predecessor, but also makes some sacrifices that made the original so memorable from a horror standpoint. The Evil Within 2 is a damn good game and any fan of the genre should give it a shot.

A promising twist on turn-based strategy games, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is more than the sum of its parts. The addition of stealth and ambush mechanics to the familiar turn-based strategy formula, forces the player to think about their approach to combat in a new way. This "Tactical Adventure" is definitely worth the journey.

A jack of all trades and master of some, though Rise of the Ronin feels like a melting pot of influences from other games, it is also quite the surprise of the year for me thus far as it clearly shows that Team Ninja has a confident grasp of compelling open world design in a way that many of its genre stablemates do not. Though the visual presentation might be comparatively a little rough around the edges, Rise of the Ronin nonetheless is simultaneously the most accessible and ambitious game Team Ninja has done to date and one that both hardcore action RPG fiends and open world adventure aficionados will surely embrace.

We Are OFK is not only a dazzling game about music, but a captivating story about the struggle found in juggling creative ambitions with the complexities of everyday life.

Samurai Warriors 4 delivers endless hours of fun in a visually appealing silky-smooth package.

SkyDrift is a fantastic plane racing game that stands out among its inspirational peers. While a lack of local multiplayer is noticeable, it doesn't detract from the charm and balance that gives it such great potential.

FIFA Street's focus on one-on-one humiliation is a blast, especially if you can master the controls. There is nothing better than tricking past an opponent, and EA makes it look so good despite some rough A.I.

An RPG classic makes its way back to the front lines. Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne HD Remaster has all the bells and whistles that came with the original fan favorite title. The minimal additions that come with this remaster do little to help or hurt the formula. Merciless difficulty drops the challenge too much to capture the game's magic, visuals only offer slight clean-up, and audio is still the same PS2 audio. While the game deserves better enhancements, getting Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne in a more contemporary accessible form is still worth the price of admission.

A solid debut title for La Cosa Entertainment, KLAUS looks good and tells its story very well. A bit too easy for seasoned players, which feels unrewarding, but still plenty to like about this quirky platformer.

New Super Lucky's Tale is a fun and entertaining platformer that takes you to varied words and changes some of its gameplay mechanics to keep things fresh. New Super Lucky's Tale is a bit on the short side and It's not the most innovative platformer, but it has a lot of heart and soul that kept me entertained from start to finish.

Though its vision might be restrained somewhat, The Heist nonetheless makes a compelling case for itself as a hugely satisfying and essential continuation of Marvel's Spider-Man.

Though the technical presentation of the three games encompassed in the Shadowrun Trilogy is modest, each of them nonetheless provides an entertainingly told narrative wrapped up in an old-fashioned CRPG shell with involving, but not especially sophisticated turn-based combat. If you're after a whole lot of cyberpunk RPG goodness with a very unique cyberpunk setting, great world building and entertaining writing, then the Shadowrun Trilogy is just the fix that you need.

A Little to the Left is a satisfyingly methodical puzzler that had me feeling relaxed from the minute I started shifting items around. Every part of the game feels intricately crafted to feel as relaxing as possible and each puzzles offers a real sense of satisfaction that I don't often get from other games.

With layered yet totally approachable gameplay mechanics and a fully-realised world to put those mechanics in, Penny's Big Breakaway is a breakout success that should be experienced by absolutely everyone with a passing interest in 3D platformers. Every moment I spent with this game was utter bliss and learning the intricacies of movement and learning my way around imaginative levels was a treat. Genuinely phenomenal.

One of the most polished dungeon crawlers in years, Victor Vran is an easy recommendation to anyone with even the slightest fondness for the genre.

The remarkable gameplay of Ratchet and Clank's first three adventures holds up in this great HD package, but don't expect a pitch-perfect port.

Great art, a brilliant soundtrack and a challenging, rewarding survival experience awaits those who have the patience.

Final Fantasy XVI Echoes of The Fallen serves as a refresher into the realm of Valisthea, bringing with it increased level cap, new gear, and some new bosses. It doesn't last long, clocking in at around two hours, but it does just enough to keep you curious for what comes next.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War takes you back to the past, not only in setting and theme, but in its gameplay style and more. It all feels so classic. Between multiplayer, Zombies, and the return of a proper (and surprisingly less-linear) campaign, there is plenty of value for the soldier in all of us.

With its balanced class-based, teamwork orientated gameplay, great graphics and slick mechanics that keep you playing into the wee hours of the night, Evolve itches that competitive urge and feels a lot more evolved that your standard, run-of-the-mill shooter.

A solid title that ends the Dusk trilogy on a positive note. New and altered gameplay mechanics will determine if you rank this above or below Escha and Logy, but either way it is still a must-have for Atelier and TK RPG fans.

Despite an aggravating interface, this is one of the best space-strategy games I've played in a long time. The battles are epic, the story is engaging and thought provoking, space has never looked so good, and the music is top-tier. I hope Black Lab and Slitherine Studios produce more like it, as there are tons of franchises to choose from, perhaps Babylon 5 or The Orville. Battlestar fans will get their fill of Cylon battling action, and I'm sure will love to add this gem to their collection.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War on PS4 is an ever-so-slightly worse looking version of the PS5 release, but with disappointing performance. If you can ignore those shortcomings, the same game with its summer blockbuster-style campaign and classic CoD multiplayer is still here.

You can always depend on the indie game scene to try new things, and Withering Rooms is no exception. A thoughtful implementation of the rogue-like formula into a horror scenario makes for a great combination. Combat offers an up-and-down experience that leaves an imbalance between magic and melee, especially since melee leaves you suffering cheap shots from time to time. Despite the snags along the way, Withering Rooms adds its own ideas into the genre, making this a must-buy for any fan of the spooky stuff.

Full Throttle Remastered is a no-nonsense package that does exactly what it sets out to do by updating the audiovisual experience whilst retaining the original game. It has its faults, borne of its age and shift towards what would become the modern adventure game style, but it remains a fine game, and an important part of the history of point n’ click adventures.

Unfortunately, Mortal Shell just feels like a bad Dark Souls game, while I enjoyed it initially, the more I played the more it wore away my enjoyment. The few unique features it has do make the game feel slightly unique but its world-building, combat and enemies pale in comparison to its inspiration. The bad AI and other small issues do little to complement what could have been an enjoyable title. There are far better games in the genre.

Madden 25 is what Madden fans want: updated rosters, controls, and schemes, but it's not a game changer. Consider this more of a preview for what's coming in the next generation rather than an equated version.

There is an exceptionally solid foundation here for some great racing, especially in multiplayer with friends. And if you take the game on that value alone, The Crew Motorfest is a fantastic game that has some great tracks and scenery to soak in as you race around this truncated version of Hawaii. Unfortunately, the single-player experience and general annoyances throughout the game took away from this focus and left me feeling small doses of frustration throughout.

World of Horror uniquely combines roguelikes, horror, and point-and-click into one delectable package. While the formula creates a significant amount of repetition and the controls aren't as refined to consoles as they could be, the final package is still a worthy look for fans from all three genres.

Batman: Arkham Origins has refinements the series deserves, but core elements are missing the imagination they need right now.

Stardust Odyssey is a game of true beauty, transporting the player to a fantastical world as hauntingly familiar as a recurring dream. While the Stealth gameplay can become frustrating due to escalating difficulty and some checkpoint issues, Stardust is still a game that every PSVR fan should experience for its world-building alone. A true step forward in VR gaming.

Firewatch really gets you thinking, plays on your emotions, and delivers a unique experience that stays with you long after the final credits roll.

Destiny 2 Beyond Light has turned the universe we know and love on its head by removing four major locations, five raids, outdated activities, and the sunsetting of weapons and gear. While the removal of content may seem negative, this is what the game needs to grow. Destiny 2 Beyond Light gives us a great story and an exciting new subclass with Stasis, and a huge new location in Europa. Bungie has made some hard choices to restructure Destiny 2 rather than restart the game completely with Destiny 3. What's on the horizon is something I truly cannot wait for, and I am excited to experience everything the game has to throw at me. While the Darkness is finally here, the future is bright for Destiny 2, and Beyond Light is only the tip of the iceberg.

Reach VR is a confident leap forward for nDreams and for virtual reality on PS5. Its tactile movement, convincing world, and expressive design make it one of the most engaging uses of the medium this year. There are moments when repetition and polish issues hold it back, but its highs easily outweigh the rough edges. This is the kind of game that reminds you why VR matters — not because it’s a novelty, but because it makes the impossible feel real.

Forget about graphic fidelity, and find a strong narrative and character development alongside a universal combat system that Tales of Hearts R can only deliver to the PlayStation Vita.

Sports Champions provides a terrific introduction to Move for both hardcore and casual gamers. The game is at its best when played with others; however, the single-player experience leaves a bit to be desired.

A fun but short detective game that utilises the Wonderbook in great ways.

We've had a blast playing MK vs. DC Universe, despite its uninspired storyline.

Near the end of the game, Isaac Clarke tells John Carver, “Good men mean well. We just don’t always end up doing well.” Ironically, the statement is exactly how I feel about Visceral Games’ work on Dead Space 3. The elements they chose to add were in hopes to attract a larger audience yet in a questionable direction. What’s left is a game that is mildly fun, but filled with flaws.

.hack//G.U. Last Recode is a great attempt to modernize an older franchise. All the improvements made by CyberConnect 2 were not only needed but welcomed. Sure it still suffers from designs of its time but that shouldn’t deter you from a good overall experience.

I had a lot of fun playing through the game, and exploring all the different locations around the world. The story was interesting, especially the main character being such a blank slate. It took me a few hours to get used to the combat style, and I will admit I got lost a few times during the story. But that was fine because I got to do some dungeons, explored the world and got buffs before falling back into doing the main questline.

Generously awash in heart-warming whimsy and charm, together with puzzles that encourage the sort of playful ingenuity that really captures the imagination, Tentacular is simply great fun that anybody, regardless of skill or age, can easily get stuck into. Tentacular is a true PSVR2 indie gem and a feel-good VR experience that everybody should play.

There's a great deal of cool traits to Strayed Lights, including thoughtful enemy design, strong premise, and charming visuals. However, pacing suffers greatly, and combat forces its way into the forefront with memorization and inconsistent parry windows. It's short and can be sweet, but there's an overarching bitterness that's hard to ignore.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft is a superb collection of some of the PSOne's best adventure games. Whether you're a newcomer or veteran fan, the games remain hugely enjoyable and challenging, and the extra improvements really shine, particularly if you're new to the series and are intimidated by the old-school mechanics. Dive in and discover Lara Croft at her very best.

The landscape of the beat ‘em up genre may have altered in the ten years since Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game first released, but it’s return is wholly welcome. A wonderful compliment to the graphic novel series, and a stylish throwback to the delightfully gaudy brawlers that boomed and bloomed loudly in 90s arcades. Add friends for maximum impact.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania boasts a triumphant return for everyone’s favourite primate puzzler, bringing along with it potentially 100s of hours of gameplay that long-time fans and newcomers alike will easily go bananas for.

A thunderous Metroidvania effort that sublimely marries the timeless design of yesteryear with some of the best decisions of modern game design, The Mummy Demastered is not only a great title but also one of the genuinely best surprises of the year.

Despite high production values, Modern Warfare II is a tad underwhelming. A pretty yet predictable campaign, decent multiplayer that is unsure about how it’s supposed to play, and the sweet taste of Spec Ops mean this is an uneven, but enjoyable enough package. What’s clear is Call of Duty really, really needs a proper break to reset.

What The Escapists 2 does do is improve its look, expand your options for escape, and throws in a hilarious multiplayer. What The Escapists 2 does not do is make itself significantly more accessible and forgiving. If that put you off the first time, there’s little to convince you to play the sequel, but for fans, this is a rather pleasant upgrade.

Horizon Chase 2 is a phenomenal package for arcade racing game fans. It makes great improvements over the original game, both in visuals and in gameplay. This feels like the definitive arcade racing experience for anyone that is interested in chasing high scores, playing a game with friends, or just enjoying a race or two to unwind. This is easily a game that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre.

Pure Pool offers a beautiful and accurate game of pool, featuring a large amount of various games types and difficulties to accommodate all players. The network works enough to get the job done, but there are a great deal of flaws that keep the servers from being a constant stomping ground. Regardless of the online issues, Pure Pool has a great sense of progression that embodies a stellar pool mechanic only beaten by actually playing pool.

A reassuringly solid trilogy third act, Shadow of the Tomb Raider will certainly prove familiar. Nevertheless with better tombs to raid, improved underwater exploration and a more brutally framed narrative, enough adjustments have been made to underscore everything that fans have loved about the series for years.

Despite its flaws, DMC4: Special Edition is still fantastic hack-’n-slash romp made all the more enjoyable thanks to a silky-smooth frame rate and three new playable characters.

Reinvigorating the twin-stick shooter like few before it with a veritable masterclass of design, you absolutely do not want to sleep on Iron Crypticle.

DOOM 64 deserves another bite at the apple, not least because it presents a clever and atmospheric twist on the classic DOOM formula that was previously thought lost to time. Able to stand on its own merits, DOOM 64 comes highly recommended to fans of both DOOM and retro shooters at large.

PSVR feels like it was made for this simply because Superhot VR is indomitable proof of life for Virtual Reality as a gaming platform. If you have PSVR this needs to be your next game.

The Surge 2 is a much better, engaging, and rewarding experience than the first game. Dozens of quality of life improvements, more interesting environments and characters, and the addition of parrying makes The Surge 2 a must-play for anyone who even slightly enjoyed their time with the first game. However, the game holds itself back from being an excellent souls-like with some poor lighting in areas, intense difficulty spikes, and a final area that is just plain unfun.

The Legend of Nayuta Boundless Trails doesn't have the kind of depth many RPG fans may want. At the same time, there's a universality to the gameplay loop that still works well when compared to the modern mobile game formula. While combat gets finicky and the aesthetic is somewhat dated, the complete package makes for a fun diversion and an intriguing spinoff from the Trails franchise.

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare is surprisingly adept at multiplayer mayhem and character balanced, making for a seriously enjoyable diversion from military shooter ad nauseum.

While NHL 18 still features that pristine, refined gameplay with plenty of game modes to jump into, it still needs that special something to keep itself relevant with the changing times. Despite that, NHL 18 has enough to keep any hockey fan enthused for months.

Ginga Force is one of those shoot-em-ups that gives you exactly what you want all while giving just enough variety to the formula to keep things feeling fresh. A few choices along the way don't meet the mark, but nothing gets in the way of Ginga Force's fantastic gameplay.

A great 2D Acton Platformer with some impressive art design and animation. With plenty of collectibles to find and some strong level design, Magic Design Studios has a winner on their hands.

For what Paper Trail sets out to do - it does so with a clear passion and mastery of craft that is rarely seen in the industry today. While not everyone might resonate with the story in the same way that I have, those who do will feel every fold and every step of Paige's journey through a whimsical and wonderfully designed world that manages to mix an inventive new twist on top-down puzzling with a heartening premise that will sit with me for a long time.

Re-Elected is a bumper bundle of joy whichever way you want to cut it. Anyone in possession of a last-gen copy need not upgrade though as there is no significant upgrade in technical terms to warrant a re-purchase on these grounds. For those new to it, you’re in for a treat.

Pretty much the same, boringly dependable Just Dance experience at heart, but the addition of a kid friendly mode makes this far more worthy a purchase for front room dance fans than the last few iterations.

For a game that should not be fun, PowerWash Simulator is very addictive. The 'ding' you get when each piece gets cleaned is so satisfying and rewarding, as is seeing a massive area go from being dark brown and dirty to shiny and new. In a world of very similar games that fail to offer anything new, PowerWash Simulator achieves this with aplomb and makes me happy for future unique titles. There's nothing quite like this game on the market and that in itself means you should give it a try.

EA Sports UFC 3 is the best the series has ever looked, sounded or played and, despite a small handful of minor shortcomings, is quite simply the best UFC title to date and a very real contender for the fighting game throne in 2018.

If you are new to MMOs then New World Aeternum may be the perfect jumping off point for you into a New World. An approachable, satisfying experience that could well give you the bug for this beloved game genre.

NBA Live 09 delivers a respectable game of basketball in a series that has displayed questionable quality in recent years. I see even brighter days ahead for EA Canada's basketball title.

Almost completely rediscovering the lightning in a bottle that made the first season so compelling, The Walking Dead: The Final Season is starting out as strongly as we could have hoped.

Hohokum’s worth greatly depends on one’s ability to revel in simple, charming discoveries. There’s no lasting impact, meaningful message, or even resolution to its shallow core mechanics, but a playful aesthetic and relaxing music make being in its spaces enjoyable for a time.