Halcyon 6: Lightspeed Edition produces a nexus of meaningful, distinct strategic choices within a well-considered narrative and audiovisual package.

A superbly original and exceptionally presented colour matching tactical game that's all too brief. This should be remedied when the extra episodes are released.

There’s something about a solitaire card game that really does it for me, and Card Crawl is one of the best I’ve played.

This is the Enlightenment in video game form, and that’s a perspective I can really appreciate in moderation.

Hadean Lands is an endlessly clever experience.

Having not played Planescape: Torment before, it took a while for the game to really get its hooks into me. It all felt a bit too sprawling and slow moving, and the complicated interface did not help matters. Then you get into a fight and discover that watching the tiny, blurry characters take laboured swings at each other is hardly the stuff of legend. But keep playing and eventually something magical happens, as your character and supporting cast spring to life. My advice is to put aside any initial negative impressions and throw yourself into this engrossing story, with its excellent characters, strange happenings, intelligent plot twists and even a smattering of philosophical debate.

It’s a nearly perfect port of a classic PC game, something we haven’t really seen since Firaxis brought us XCOM.

Metroid Prime is one of the best games in action history, and now it gets an upgraded release that sets a new high-water mark for remasters across the industry. Gorgeous visuals, fantastic control options, and stunning sound design, all make this the best way to play Samus’ stellar sci-fi epic.

It can be convincingly argued that Rodeo are the Blizzard of mobile gaming at this point — their commitment to polish and detail is like no other mobile-focused game dev studio going.

Shards of Infinity is a polished deck builder that's perfect for two. A great app of a great card game.

Skate Story is an emotional triumph. It's not just about the art of skateboarding, but the community and shared space within it. Between woes about doing laundry and helping a pigeon finish their manuscript, it blends a realistic approach to tricking with a sensational sense of momentum. With an incredible soundtrack and haunting visuals to shred through, it's an incredible odyssey about what it means to be human.

Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On is the best card game on Apple Arcade, the best sports game on Apple Arcade, and, well, it might just be the best game on Apple Arcade. With exhilarating mechanics, hours of content, and idiosyncrasy like no other sports or card game, there’s no reason not to try your luck with the ponies.

An excellent sci-fi SRPG that will provide countless hours of fun once you get over its initially intimidating scope.

With a touch of endless runner, a dash of MMO, and just a sprinkling of puzzles, Sky: Children of the Light soars to lofty heights.

Evolution is a brilliantly thematic and enjoyable experience that does an excellent job of simulating the struggle for survival.

Reigns: Her Majesty is perhaps the perfect time-filler. A game that's as fun played for a second with the swiping of a single card as it is for an hour or a day. And, like all the best games, it taught me something. That even when you're caught between two choices, a rock and a hard place, it's important to stay true to your ideals.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is itself and loudly. It is what it is without a hint of doubt. It’s the perfect videogame, inasmuch as it takes everything that makes the series special and turns it up louder, down darker. It does what it wants.

Kick back, relax, and get completely stupid, wacky, and weird, because the best game of 2026 is here. I can’t put this game down, and if you’re a fan of life simulators, I just know the same will be true for you, too.

The most addictive and polished way to live out your fantasies of taking the Iron Throne in Reigns' best version to date.

A frankly phenomenal attention to detail, alongside a variety of interesting additions to level design, powers, and the brilliant new badge system, make this Mario’s finest outing in a generation. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is pure Nintendo magic, and an A-Team of veteran Nintendo talent with a fresh injection of younger developers is responsible for the most refreshing, satisfying, and addictive Mario game since Super Mario World. This is the Mario game the Switch deserves and the start of Mario’s new legacy.

Many may dismiss Flipflop Solitaire as yet another solitaire game but happily it is possible to find sparks of genius in the most mundane of places. If you have no interest in Solitaire then this isn’t going to change your mind, it may also struggle to attract a casual audience, as it is a barebones app with no gimmicky mascots or tacked-on theme. For players familiar with the traditional version there will initially a bit of a learning curve as your brain gets accustomed to the demands of taking a more flexible approach. However, the effort is well worth it, so download it for free; you have nothing to lose - apart from hours of your life.

After what seems like forever, we’ve finally got Pikmin 4 and it does not disappoint. Head into the undergrowth armed with a planty platoon and your trusty dog Oatchi to uncover mystery and treasures in a delightful adventure.

For those with an interest in the period or the temperament to appreciate its pitched battles, Pike and Shot’s mix of the cerebral and the visceral make it a compelling and unique game, and its range and longevity of content make it an essential purchase.

Initially obtuse but ultimately highly rewarding spiritual sequel to one of the App Store's biggest hits.

ARC Raiders doubles down that Embark Studios is force of nature in the shooter space. It runs great on handheld PCs and is ideal for newcomers and veterans alike. With best-in-class sound design, gripping firefights, and a brilliant social system to explore, no match is the same within the Rust Belt.

Rogue Wizards is an excellent tactical RPG. The line-of-sight graphical style is appealing and the game is easy to play and understand. If you enjoy tons of loot and optimizing a character's gear, it is the game for you. It really scratched the Diablo 3 itch for me right from my phone. What's more, the game is free and its monetization system is smart and respectful of players. I hope the developer finds success with it and that more freemium game makers experiment with these types of approaches.

Taking many of the best elements from both Animal Crossing and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Lil Gator Game tells a beautiful story and provides countless enjoyable experiences along the way. This is easily the most wholesome game of the year, if not the decade.

Eastward is a beautiful love letter to old school RPGs and arcade games, bursting with unique characters, amazing attention to detail, stunning retro-pixel artwork, and a moving story that is bound to stay with you.