Two Point Museum manages to stand out among the crowd as a management simulator that actually feels good to play on a form-factor that traditionally makes them a true struggle. Beyond that - it’s a phenomenally layered and engaging game in its own right, with a brilliant balance of mechanical depth and humour that never felt like it wore thin or strayed into silliness. The two elements are married together in a way that’s incredibly moreish, and delightfully self-aware, despite some of the mechanics being a bit more random than I’d like for this game.

Endlessly ambitious and full of detail, Monster Hunter: Wilds manages to deliver on everything that it sets out to do and then some. I have complete faith in Capcom to keep building off of this launch as one of their strongest foundations yet. Putting the game down genuinely seems like an impossibility with just how much there is to do. The wait has been long and tense, but Capcom haven't missed the mark with their latest and arguably, greatest.

Tape 1 of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a solid prologue for what might hopefully "bloom" into a memorable story of reunion and reconnecting after decades apart. There are some bold new steps for the genre here, that are unfortunately held back by design choices that already felt archaic back when we first encountered them a decade ago. For now, I'm intrigued and interested to see what comes next, despite the obligatory wait.

Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is totally bonkers in places, but don't let that put you off; there's a surprising amount of heart in its narrative, and the game effortlessly captures the thrill and spirit of adventure. With tons of content, rewarding and cinematic combat, and a memorable cast of characters, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is nothing less than a triumphant spinoff.

Ultimately, I enjoyed my time with Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip. The combination of writing and premise make this a funny game to waste away an afternoon with. The way the game puts things together and then subverts expectations is nothing short of special. Unfortunately, gameplay itself feels more like a means to an end instead of an engaging experience in its own right.

Turbo Overkill proudly wears its influences on its sleeve to weave together a ferocious blast through a cyber retro world. It's chock full of charm with plenty of viscera to boot, and reminds you exactly why you loved all the games it doffs its cap to while simultaneously feeling like its slick modern counterparts.

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.

For many like me, seeing Ninja Gaiden emboss a game basically guarantees a purchase. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is no exception. On top of its stapled blisteringly challenging combat, the entire game receives a visual level of polish that makes it feel new again. That said, the problems still exist, like enemy projectiles flying through objects and still hitting you. Above all else, though, the camera issues remain the most frustrating element of the game. Still, there's enough fun, gore, and challenge that will outweigh the outdated traits, even for newcomers.

Though not without some flaws inherited from the previous game, Warhorse Studios has nonetheless done it again with Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. An eye-wateringly authentic, historical open world RPG that will utterly take over your life with its evocative depiction of Medieval Europe and frequently hilarious side quests, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is the single most immersive medieval power fantasy there is and the first essential RPG of the year.

2025 is off to an excellent start with Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector; as it improves upon its predecessor in every capacity. In large part due to its stellar characters and writing, Citizen Sleeper 2 stands as a remarkable achievement not only in the video game space, but in the sci-fi genre as a whole.

Altogether, Sniper Elite: Resistance is a fine entry in the Sniper Elite franchise which gives us more insight into Harry Hawker, as well as a shiny protagonist spotlight for him to be recognized in. The meat and potatoes (or should that be bullets and bones?) of the Sniper Elite experience is all here and accounted for, and although there are various new locations to be in awe of, and navigational options to test out, Resistance fails to truly push the envelope in exciting directions despite shifting the focus onto a new hero and a new story.

Tails Of Iron 2 is an accomplished follow-up that builds on the elements that its predecessor brought to the fold. Whether you're familiar with this series or a newcomer to the fray, there's a lot to be impressed by here.

Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles has pleasantly survived times with this remaster. While it doesn’t alter too much from the original game it does enough to make sure it's not showing its age too much. To port a game as old as this and allow it to feel and look how nostalgia paints it in our minds is something very impressive. Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles may not rock your socks off if you don't have fond memories of the game, but if it was something you enjoyed in your youth, then it's definitely worth a punt.

Tactical RPGs are always a hit and miss with gamers but Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a fun and accessible title for anyone looking to get into the genre and those who already enjoy it. With a fun cast of characters and entertaining, if somewhat simplistic combat, I found myself addicted and had a hard time putting it down.

Tales of Graces f Remastered maximizes its own potential by utilizing many options that already existed in the game. By adding boosts to practically everything, players can customize their experience to cater to their wanted playthrough. Throw in nearly all the DLC seen in the PS3 original, and this remaster is essentially the perfect version of Tales of Graces f to experience.

Dynasty Warriors Origins is easily the best title in the franchise yet. Its responsive gameplay and deep levelling systems are complemented by a compelling story with twists, turns and interesting characters.

While Freedom Wars Remastered doesn’t offer many updates to the original game, the updates it does make enhance the experience for the better. A full English voice cast combined with updated controls and an improved upgrading system make this game a gear hunter’s delight. While the resolution increase to 4K helps a bit, the 60 frames-per-second refresh rate completely changes the game. For what it’s worth, you still play the same mission types over and over in the same handful of maps, leaving the original repetitive formula untouched. As long as you know what to expect from Freedom Wars Remastered, you will find a compelling IP “monster hunting” RPG that begs for a sequel.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana might not light the world on fire in a modern landscape, but still stands as a formidable remaster of a classic action-RPG that would have otherwise been lost to the sands of time. This entry cuts a lot of the complexities that have become synonymous with the genre and offers an easily understood romp that is a great palette cleanser after a glut of dense RPGs in the last year. While I found this to be a bit too simple in the long run, others may find this to be a compelling return to one of Ys' lesser recognised shores.

Alien: Rogue Incursion has a lot for Alien fans to love and appreciate, with surprises that'll truly delight fans the way they delighted me. But repetitive gameplay that doesn't really evolve dulls down the tension and scare-factor significantly by the time you're wrapping up this initial part of the story, and far too much jank pulls you out of the atmosphere that is working overtime to immerse you in the Alien universe. And yet, for Alien fans, it's one of the better games to come since Isolation, but it's not the new number one.

If you were hoping that The Thing Remastered would fix many of the issues of the original 2002 game, you will be semi-satisfied. The Thing Remastered preserves the twenty-year old PS2 game without tarnishing it, and improving some presentation aspects, as well as tidying up the formerly broken Infection System. However, if you expected refinements to game's shooting mechanics or many of its old foibles then you'll be disappointed.

Farewell North is a wonderfully introspective experience that truly feels like it nails the concept it sets out to achieve. Not once did I feel like being a dog was a gimmick or made for the sake of standing out - this truly feels like one of the first games to capture that unspoken and ironclad bond between a dog and its owner. As well as that, Farewell North is an incredibly beautiful game about saying goodbye and that's a universal problem that feels articulated smartly here. Up there with the very best of the genre, without any shadow of a doubt.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind leans heavily into the arcade era of video games with its look, sound and gameplay. It's a tonne of fun especially in co-op, but its short runtime will leave you wanting for more. If you're a fan of the MMPR series then this will definitely put a smile on your face.

Skydance's Behemoth offers a huge amount of spectacle with the four giant creatures you'll take down over the course of your time with it, but spectacle is the majority of what's on offer. It's a shallow game with a combat system that never challenges you to evolve your tactics (even when/if it's working properly), a repetitive gameplay-loop, runtime bloating encounters and box-pushing puzzles, and a story that does nothing new with uninteresting characters. Traversing around with a grapple hook and climbing the giant beasts at least proved both consistently fun and an interesting gameplay experience in VR, and it has its fair share of visually striking moments, but that isn't enough to recommend it.

With only two major games in the franchise starting at the end of the Fairy Tail story, Fairy Tail 2 seems like an odd choice. While it's perfect for franchise fans, people looking to jump in for the first time will lose out on many stories and content. The game features an intense combat system, even though it's a tad on the easy side and has plenty of worlds to explore. Overall, it's just a shame that almost all of Fairy Tail 2 feels rushed and budgeted compared to developer Gusts' more recent titles.

Among Ashes is a breath of fresh air in a packed genre of first-person survival horror titles. A game within a game with an interwoven story hits a lot more than it misses with great puzzles and fantastic sound design. It's just a shame the combat isn't up to par with the rest of the experience.

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered holds the franchise and its potential future on its back. Its exceptional writing, story, and sound design continue to remain some of the best on there. It's just a shame that more love wasn't put into the quality of life changes it so dearly needs as Aspyr's other remasters.

The Thaumaturge does so much right. From the voice work to the narrative to the customizability of combat, your time with Wiktor will be time well spent. Still, combat can feel like more work than it should in the first couple hours, and short-lived performance glitches tend to appear after most cutscenes. Finally, in some areas, the isometric angle of the game does not compensate for tall buildings in certain areas, making it hard to navigate in those places. Regardless, none of these things bring down the experience. Wiktor makes for a fantastic lead character in a strong combination of narrative and concepts. The Thaumaturge is a more-than-worthy purchase, even for non-fans of isometric RPGs.

Fantasian Neo Dimension may suffer from a hefty grind, a control oddity, and a rather tropey story, but it also shines in ways that made the now-retro RPGs so special. Combine the dioramic backdrops with engaging combat and just enough modernization without going too far away from its retro inspirations, and Fantasian practically demands that all RPG fans give it a chance.