Metroid Prime 4: Beyond proves that Nintendo did a good job returning the series to Retro Studios. And they, in turn, claim to know exactly what they're doing. Capture a bit of the magic of the past, borrow lessons from previous installments here and there, and—unfortunately—never add anything new worth mentioning. But just as Metroid is a relatively small series for Nintendo alone, a relatively "regular" Metroid Prime game is still a fantastic title.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion feels a little less fluid than Shredder’s Revenge due to the Cosmic Swap mechanic, but that same feature actually makes fighting in this beat-’em-up more enjoyable overall. It also fits perfectly within the Marvel universe that Tribute Games has created with such love and attention to detail.

Kirby Air Riders is a playful, chaotic mix of races and minigames. The game is charming and energetic, but can sometimes be a bit too much.

Lumines Arise combines strong puzzle gameplay with beautiful visuals and music. It's a blast from start to finish, especially in VR. But don't expect to be reminiscing about it for months to come.

No, I didn't see this score coming myself, even though it's mainly due to that "rollercoaster on mushrooms" single-player and the hours I expect to waste on Zombies. Endgame has something, but "something" doesn't survive in today's extraction shooter landscape. And the carnivalesque, bunny-hopping, TikTok-dancing, slip 'n' slide 140BPM ADHD simulator of the multiplayer... I'll gladly and respectfully leave that to those bunny-hopping, TikTok-dancing, slip 'n' slide 140BPM ADHD players.

Dispatch continues a trend of unique superhero stories with enthusiasm. The dispatching is deceptively layered and compelling, the characters aren't all incredibly deep, but they are all memorable, and your choices within the story transform even a man without powers into a full-fledged superhero—or not.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a delightful strategy game that combines so many cool elements (building, production, combat, diplomacy) that you can lose yourself in it for dozens of hours. It's the kind of game that could almost become a hobby in itself. The two settings (Romans and Albion) aren't dramatically different, but offer enough variety to allow for truly diverse gameplay. Pax Romana is well-designed graphically and runs without any significant issues, even on a less powerful PC (we played with a 2070GTX).

Arc Raiders is an exceptionally tight extraction shooter, offering plenty of atmosphere alongside the necessary tension. Even though you're constantly being hunted by robots or suspicious fellow Raiders, life as a post-apocalyptic looter is a beautiful experience. Arc Raiders is at its best when excursions take unplanned turns, and you unexpectedly make new friends (or even bitter rivals).

In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, we get a unique look at the history of Hyrule, making it an interesting complement to Tears of the Kingdom. If that appeals to you, it's easier to push through the flashy yet repetitive gameplay.

Powerwash Simulator 2 is literally like a high-end pressure washer: sleek, powerful, and equipped with all sorts of attachments. But if you don't get that relaxing feeling of cleaning, it's still a mandatory cleanup. This is why I still wanted to check my phone every ten minutes while playing. With the right partner by your side in co-op, it suddenly becomes fun. So, co-op? Absolutely! Solo? Meh.

Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake is a fantastic compilation. This is the best way to get acquainted with the founder of the JRPG.

There's no way you're not playing The Outer Worlds 2 with a big smile on your face. Unless you're bothered by the bugs, of course. Although those are annoying, it's ultimately the fun that takes center stage, and the enjoyment of all the different ways to approach missions.

There's no way you're not playing The Outer Worlds 2 with a big smile on your face. Unless you're bothered by the bugs, of course. Although those are annoying, it's ultimately the fun that takes center stage, and the enjoyment of all the different ways to approach missions.

Ninja Gaiden 4 relies on the phenomenal action you expect from PlatinumGames but falls into repetition far too often. Environments, enemies and even bosses are recycled endlessly in a game world that feels constantly empty and clinical. That makes it hard to enjoy the combat because you almost always know what's coming.

Keeper looks stunning and tells a sweet story. Unfortunately, that's about it. It's certainly not a treat to explore the beautiful game world, but ultimately, you get what you'd expect from lighthouse gameplay, which is very limited.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A has a clear mission and, despite some shortcomings, it absolutely succeeds in doing so.

The singleplayer isn’t worth your time—unless you enjoy incomprehensible writing and insanely bad endings. Luckily, that hardly matters, because Battlefield 6 features one of the best multiplayer modes in the series. I would’ve liked to see one more Conquest map, but the military feel, tight action, and incredible destruction will make sure I keep playing this game for dozens more hours.

Because the atmosphere and presentation hold up, Little Nightmares 3 is a game you can comfortably play if you already love the series. Temper your expectations about the co-op though. It’s nothing more than a half-baked step… and moreover in the wrong direction.

Returning players won't find much new here, but that shouldn't spoil the fun. Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 remain timeless classics and are a must-have for any Nintendo fan.

EA Sports FC 26 has a distinct DNA. Action and spectacle are deeply ingrained in it. Even in authentic mode, almost every goal is a slam dunk, and rarely do we see ugly, scrappy goals that even a self-respecting striker would dare cheer. But that's FC. If you accept that, or even appreciate it, FC 26 is a very complete and diverse package.

Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is overflowing with everything. The entire trunk is crammed with so many ideas, options, neon, chaos, and mayhem that the quantity comes at the expense of quality. To a certain extent, that's exactly what you want from a kart racer/party game, and the game is a surefire hit for anyone looking for something to fill up nights with friends. Step one accomplished, in that respect. But the classics of the genre, the true greats, also possess a precision that will have you spending hours shaving off hundredths of a second on your favorite track, even solo. It's a level Crossworlds unfortunately never reaches.

This is the definitive version of an iconic classic, which for a long time was difficult to play if you didn't own a PlayStation 1 or PSP. A few more improvements to the playability and difficulty would have been welcome, but Final Fantasy Tactics effortlessly maintains its status as one of the very best games in its genre.

Ghost of Yōtei certainly has its beautiful moments when everything does click: when the moonlight falls just right, when the battles reach their climax, and admittedly—even the predictable story contains a few moving moments. But on the other hand, there’s a long list of elements that aren’t necessarily bad, but mostly outdated, old-fashioned, or at best far from groundbreaking.

Hades 2 improves on its already near-perfect predecessor in every way. It deepens the delightful formula with more variety, countless surprises, even more beautiful environments, and a flawless sense of progression. A roguelite with this much variety is an unprecedented achievement. Perfection has been perfected.

Borderlands 4 is a safe Borderlands game, but that's why it barely makes any mistakes. The action feels great thanks to the new movement speed, the game is packed with fun missions featuring unique locations and characters, and there are many play styles to master. Developer Gearbox is deliberately returning to the series' foundations, likely to win back long-time fans. There's a good chance this installment will actually succeed.

Lost Soul Aside is the definition of "what you see is what you get." No mind-blowing plot twists, graphical masterpieces, or revolutionary control systems, just a super-linear action game with tons of bosses, interspersed with simple platforming and puzzle challenges. While the story, lack of challenge, recycled level design, and sloppy pacing are disappointing, Lost Soul Aside is a straightforward, action-packed game for the enthusiast.

It's been a long wait, but it's been so worth it. Silksong is, on the surface, "just" a metroidvania and more like Hollow Knight, but the love poured into this world goes deeper. Thanks to Hornet, the battles reach new heights. The sense of adventure that Silksong evokes resonates in your soul, even though your life is constantly hanging by a thread.

With Cronos: The New Dawn, Bloober takes a step forward compared to its earlier original games like The Medium and Layers of Fear. However, what lingers most after the beautiful story is the thought that they need a blueprint—like Silent Hill 2—in order to truly shine in the survival horror genre. As a result, Cronos ends up being nothing more than a decent horror shooter with a very interesting combat hook. Unfortunately, the execution falls just short, which means the real tension doesn’t arrive until the very final part of the game.

Hell is Us has a clear vision and translates it effectively into a captivating adventure. The game rewards curiosity and independent thinking in a way that almost no major contemporary game dares to do. Hadea is therefore a joy to explore, even if the writing sometimes feels a bit rushed. The combat is its biggest Achilles' heel: it's too simplistic and repetitive for the significant role it plays.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land remains a wonderfully varied and cheerful platformer on Nintendo Switch 2. The new content feels like a fun bonus that easily stands alongside the rest of the game.

It's a nice touch for the annals that long-time system seller Gears of War is now also available on PlayStation, but of course, anyone who ever really wanted to play Gears could have bought an Xbox at some point in all those years. Gears of War has been well past its sell-by date for quite some time now.

I’m absolutely delighted with Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. This is the more beautiful, modern version of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater that my heart desires. While Delta doesn’t innovate in the way the recent Resident Evil remakes do, that’s understandable given the weight of the original. Another great touch is that purists can dive into the settings to make the game as ‘faithful’ as possible. Unfortunately, a 60 frames-per-second cap on PC is downright absurd, especially since frame drops—though rare—can still occur.

Tiny Bookshop is truly made for book lovers. By featuring both familiar and niche titles in the game, every reader will find books they'll also find on their own shelves. Because the calendar changes every day, no two sales days are the same. The varying locations and weather also contribute to this. The interesting characters and their quirky tasks give you a little respite from selling, without losing focus. The range of genres, however, could have been a bit broader.

Drag x Drive originated from a fun idea, but its execution falls flat. Online matches are rarely exciting, while the game frequently frustrates due to flawed controls. A shame, considering the wheelchair basketball concept is well-conceived. The fact that the multiplayer game brings a smile to your face, especially in the offline mode, packed with challenges designed to teach you the deeper mechanics, speaks volumes.

Mafia: The Old Country is narrative-driven, short, and linear. That was exactly what I needed at the time, and it’s nice that the atmosphere, setting, and story are up to the standard you expect from a Mafia game. Unfortunately, the shooting mechanics are mediocre and become very repetitive in the end. Fighting, racing, and sneaking are rarely genuinely enjoyable either. At times, I really enjoyed this game, but I was just as often bored.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound takes a different approach compared to previous installments. This results in a beautiful new two-dimensional Ninja Gaiden with incredibly refined gameplay mechanics. The flow of the action is so good, it feels like it was designed in a laboratory. It's a shame that the platforming can be a bit of a drag, but otherwise, I had a hard time putting my controller down.

Robocop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business simply offers more of the original's bloody bombast. Teyon knows what works for the game version of the iconic film universe and goes all out. Fun gunplay and skills, combined with the variety of weapons and a few pleasant surprises, make Unfinished Business a fantastic expansion that fans of the original shouldn't miss.

Donkey Kong Bananza not only gives the franchise a fresh boost, but also reinvents the platforming genre with clever level design and innovative gameplay. It combines classic platforming elements with a layered, interactive world that rewards creative and strategic thinking — but above all, it's just incredibly fun to explore.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 has a different developer than its remake predecessor, but it's just as much fun to play. The somewhat weaker soundtrack and stripped-down levels of THPS 4 dampen the fun a bit, but you'll instantly forget that once you've pulled off 52 tricks and a random passerby yells "Do a kickflip!" These timeless games are now even more timeless.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a beautiful-looking, but ultimately uninspiring stealth game that falls back on predictable gameplay. It's perfectly fine to sneak through in a weekend if you're really into stealth, as it's never unbearably bad or distracting. Perhaps Eriksholm is simply a little too good at what's expected of you as a stealth player: remaining inconspicuous.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach balances between genius and madness, but above all, it defies comparison. There are no other games like Death Stranding 2. Even Metal Gear* was never this bizarre, full of contrast and—yes, I’ll say it again—cool, and that includes Metal Gear Rising. Honestly? You could give this game any score, and it would be justified. That’s what pure art does to you. If that’s not cool, then I don’t know what is.

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition on the Switch 2 can rightly be called the most complete edition of the game. Okay, visually it's not comparable to playing the game on a PlayStation 5 Pro, but those who don't obsess over graphics will get a game with multiple control options and the ability to play it in handheld form at a fine resolution.

Toby Fox manages to create a layered story with unique game mechanics with the first four Chapters of Deltarune. Even with half a story, this already forms a unique celebration of the game medium.

I'm going to wonder for a long time how this could have happened. Remedy stumbles like a bunch of toddlers out of the starting blocks of their shooter ambition and delivers the least fun shooter I've played in years. Yes, even that one other game was more fun than this. That's saying something.

Mario Kart World proves that clever innovation not only keeps a classic franchise alive, but also prepares it for the future. The open game world full of surprises and personal choices gives the classic Mario Kart feeling new strength and a fresh, daring twist.

Fast Fusion could be a great snack for many Switch 2 owners. It’s not nearly as extensive as Mario Kart or as expressive as F-Zero, but it goes down like a tasty bonbon: presented like a true delicacy and with more depth than you might expect. Don’t expect months of fun, but a nice snack around the release of Nintendo’s new console. However, online multiplayer would have extended the lifespan of this game considerably.

The question isn’t whether Nightreign is fun enough — that part’s a given. I hate to admit it, but it’s a real rollercoaster ride. Nerve-wracking action capped off with a spectacular boss fight, just like in The Baron. It shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does. This is a game I can see myself playing again and again for a long time — as long as there’s enough interest to keep it going.

Doom: The Dark Ages introduces some innovations that too often disrupt the rhythm of the action. The action itself, which is considerably more static, also falls short compared to the two previous installments. Doom: The Dark Ages is certainly worth playing — the levels are stunning and the combat is at times immensely satisfying — but I can’t shake the feeling that it had the potential to be more.

A Days Gone remaster wasn't really needed yet, but the result is generally impressive, especially on the PS5 Pro. And if this means that the door to a possible successor is ajar again, we can only applaud it.

Bionic Bay is a creative, humorous and atmospheric ode to old-school puzzle platformers. Despite using many recognizable gameplay mechanics of the genre, it is in its own way incredibly unique and entertaining. Due to the painful lack of story, freedom of exploration, worldbuilding and music it is just not the complete package, but for those looking for a polished challenge Bionic Bay is definitely one to try.

If you have even the slightest bit of love for racing, you have no choice but to play Forza Horizon 5. It’s still a little weird that games like this are coming to the PS5, but ultimately it’s a case of, ‘don’t ask how it’s possible, just enjoy what it is.’ Forza Horizon 5 is still the best open-world racer ever made.

With Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive delivers an impressive debut game. In this unique RPG, the French measure themselves against the Japanese, by combining an imaginative, fascinating and downright strange story with compelling combat and a memorable party. It results in a special and unlikely melting pot of Western and Japanese RPGs in one pleasant package.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the most stunning entry yet. Parkour is tight, combat hits hard, and managing your Creed feels nostalgic. Japan’s world kept pulling me into photo mode—I can’t wait to explore more. This is Assassin’s Creed in Japan done right.

Visual Concepts has surpassed WWE 2K24 with this new release. Thanks in part to small gameplay and presentation additions and extensive game modes, it is a true pleasure to play for the WWE fan. Unfortunately, in some modes you are bombarded with attempts to earn extra money from you through microtransactions, which does detract from the experience. WWE 2K25 does almost everything right, but wants you to pump extra money into it just a little too much. As a result, the game misses out on a Gold Award.

With Split Fiction, Hazelight consolidates its position as the king of the co-op game with grander, stranger and downright dizzying gameplay situations. While film and game history is celebrated with the utmost sincerity, you experience an adventure with two players that you will definitely not forget. A must play for anyone who can't get enough of (couch) co-op, but actually everyone should free up fourteen hours to experience this. A big fat Gold award.

The tech behind Two Point Museum needs a good dusting off and works against the game, but the setting and addictive gameplay almost make up for everything. It is the most entertaining, accessible and relaxed management game there is, in which you can spend a hundred hours laughing. And that for only 30 euros!

Capcom seems to be going a bit too far in its obsession with attracting new players with Monster Hunter Wilds, but fortunately it recovers enough in high rank to still leave with a positive feeling. The story is the biggest blemish on an otherwise fairly familiar experience - although it is a lot less hardcore than before.

I too could not have predicted that the most fun pirate game in years would be a Yakuza spinoff. Fine for once. Let's hope that RGG leads the franchise to quieter, deeper waters.

I love Avowed, which excels at being nearly flawless. This is largely due to making safe choices in terms of gameplay systems and a story that is never allowed to become grander than the characters themselves. The downside is that on paper, heavy story choices feel like something out of a children's book in practice. For some, this risk aversion is a price they are unwilling to pay, despite the reward being highly entertaining writing. But since the rest of the game flows along at a comfortable quality level, the average Obsidian fan has little to complain about.

Civilization 7 is an excellent 4X game that will have you saying “ah, just one more turn” until the wee hours of the night. There are plenty of possibilities now that we can mix leaders and civilizations, and the way your empire grows automatically makes for a wonderfully smooth experience. However, the game becomes more confusing with every turn, and there is little quality of life. It will be a few years before Civilization truly deserves to wear the 4X crown again.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 surpasses its predecessor in every way. With stunning visuals, refined gameplay, and a more consistent experience, it delivers the ultimate medieval simulator—provided you're ready for Warhorse’s hardcore RPG elements.

There's a lot to gripe about when it comes to Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, but at the end of the day, it's still hard to put into words just how sublime the action is.

Despite my admiration for this ambitious project, I can't give The Spirit of the Samurai a higher score. The unique stop-motion animation, atmospheric music and genuinely scary monster designs are very impressive, as is the ability to play as a cute kitten and Kodama. But as a full-fledged game, it falls short. Platforming issues, bosses that are too easy and rigid control systems, in my opinion, too often trade fun for unnecessary, time-consuming frustration.

The Great Circle perfectly captures the essence of Indiana Jones: a mix of mystery, adventure, and humor. The immersive story, beautiful locations, and gameplay experience make you feel like you're truly part of an Indy adventure. This is not only a tribute to the franchise but also a strong addition to the genre. A title you shouldn't miss.

Metal Slug Tactics does several things that seemed impossible. It combines tactics and roguelike with a 2D shooter. The result is as crazy as it is horrific. Those who climb over the threshold will find an hour-slinger that will make any busy schedule cry.

Aspyr bundles two games together instead of releasing them separately in a more profit-driven approach, adds some great behind-the-scenes and deleted content, and otherwise keeps everything largely intact. Whether fixing up a bit more would have been a better choice is something we’ll never know. But it’s no coincidence that I fell in love all over again with these two legendary games and their unforgettable game world. Never change a winning team. [Issue#361, p.12]

Now is the time for aspiring developers to come up with a competitor for Farming Simulator. It seems as if Giants Software has done a straight copy-paste of the previous edition for FS 25, with minimal additions. You wonder how this part justifies the existence of the series. Giants can only hope that the modding community can still put some love into this, because they really have their hands full with this base game.

Metro: Awakening is what happens when a now proven professional VR studio gets involved with triple-A game series. It delivers a truly next-level experience that is indispensable for Metro fans and VR enthusiasts who want to experience the tension and oppression of the legendary rotten post-apocalyptic metro system. More VR games of this caliber, please!

On the one hand, 2: Heart of Chornobyl offers exactly what I was hoping for: delicious Eurojank. Newcomers will find an old-fashioned RPG with a beautiful world and a nice survival gameplay loop, and unfortunately also stupid AI, a lot of graphical problems and extremely frustrating bugs. It is impressive that the developer is able to release the game under these circumstances, but it will not become more than a cult hit in this form.

Planet Coaster 2 has a lame interface and still struggles with incomprehensible bugs, but in other areas it takes a step in the right direction. It is a disappointing and fantastic game at the same time.

Lego Horizon Adventures harmoniously brings together two inspiring worlds, including the signature gameplay of both franchises, along with plenty of humor. However, it does lack some depth in terms of world exploration.

While The Veilguard takes me back to the familiar world of Dragon Age, it also dares to experiment. Because that works out well (apart from some cringy writing), here is a satisfied fan. The heart of Dragon Age still beats, and with that mine too.

When the wind is in the sails, Mario and Luigi: Brothership is a particularly nice adventure with a wonderful holiday feeling. Unfortunately, developer Acquire regularly changes the wind, causing the pleasure trip to come to a standstill. Unnecessarily much dialogue and bad pacing prove to be heavy anchors, which meant that I could never really hang on to the holiday feeling for long.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a good overall package that mainly implements refinements. Omni-movement is a fine addition and the single-player mode is a nice afternoon snack, but it is the Zombies mode that takes the cake with delicious improvements and a return to basics.

Practically the only downside to the Silent Hill 2 remake is that the story is already familiar. In every other respect, Bloober Team has created something fantastic.

The new modes and minor improvements make Super Mario Party Jamboree a highly entertaining pastime and the perfect way to humiliate your annoying 8-year-old nephew in front of the rest of the family. Provided you turn on Expert rules.

Metaphor: ReFantazio may resemble Persona, but it definitely elevates itself to an evolution of those games thanks to a unique setting and a mix of turn-based and real-time gameplay. What's more: character designs, overall art direction, and the fantastic story turn Metaphor: ReFantazio into something more than just a game. This is an experience.

God of War Ragnarök for PC is the ultimate way to experience this epic Norse adventure without the need for a monster PC. In terms of graphics and performance, the game rarely drops a stitch, but the PC port manages to elevate the already sky-high level of the PlayStation version to an even higher standard.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom gives the princess a worthy game, with a brilliant gameplay mechanic that, despite technical flaws, stimulates your brain in a classic way.

EA is playing a better game than last year. That’s not to say that EA Sports FC 25 is suddenly a classic footie or anything – far from it; this is no Fifa 17, let alone PES 5 or Sensible Soccer. But hey, the bar is just not set very high in 2024.

I could go on and on about this for a long time, but short and sweet is more than enough: Dead Rising Remaster Deluxe is just awesome.

The Plucky Squire does a lot of things right. It juxtaposes a delightful animation style and fun game mechanics with childlike wonder and an unsubtle but well-delivered set of life lessons. The most remarkable achievement, however, is not to be found in a review, but somewhere in my heart. With every page and puzzle, I forgot more and more about the world around me. And there, in the land of Mojo, I was ten years old again for a moment.

The Plucky Squire does a lot of things right. It pairs a delightful animation style and fun game mechanics with childlike wonder and a set of life lessons that, while not subtle, are well delivered. However, the most remarkable achievement is not found in a review, but somewhere in my heart. With each page and puzzle, I forgot more and more about the world around me. And there, in the land of Mojo, I was ten years old again, if only for a moment.

Astro Bot is everything you could wish for from the Playroom demo and so much more. With unparalleled style and immense love, Asobi delivers one of the best platformers in years, full of fantastic details, nods, and music.

Kay Vess is a perfect starting point for a unique story in the Star Wars universe. Unfortunately, after the starting shot, originality is hard to find and the game stumbles over its many contradictions and a large dose of repetition. Ironically, what makes Star Wars Outlaws fun is shamelessly but well stolen from other games. Together with a few bright spots, this keeps Kay and Nix's spaceship in the air, but it will never become a real high flyer.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 reinvents the wheel in every way, but also smashes your brain in while screaming at you about brotherhood. A flawless action game that lets you live out the ultimate power fantasy, and more than makes up for its meager content with a deliciously bloodthirsty gameplay loop.

The beauty of Phantom Spark lies in the simplicity of the gameplay and the clever design choices. A little more variety in the tracks wouldn't hurt the game, but once you start the game and get back into the dreamy time-trial hypnosis, you don't care at all.

Black Myth: Wukong is imperfect, but it lives up to the hype. You feel a little more powerful every five minutes than you did before, and the excellent combat is not only addictive, it also communicates why Sun Wukong is one of the most legendary mythological characters of all time. If this quality is any indication of what the coming years will bring for Chinese games, we are in for a very good time.

Schim has a fantastic concept that immediately appeals to your inner child, and wraps it in a beautiful, clearly Dutch world with a wonderfully simplistic art style. It just doesn't surprise at all as a game, and after an hour it starts to feel like a repetitive exercise.

The subdued Realm of Shadow is reminiscent of Dark Souls and is wonderfully atmospheric, with beautiful visuals and compelling music. The new weapons are exciting to try, the enemies, bosses and other NPCs breathe character and the enemies are wonderfully ruthless. Above all, the Escherian level design shines in this smaller world, and you will enjoy getting lost in it. An unforgettable DLC for an equally unforgettable base game.

Just like real-life Formula 1, the F1 franchise is struggling with the direction it should take. Is Codemasters increasingly catering to the casual, or does the loyal, serious (SIM) target group remain the most important? In any case, F1 24 did not make that choice, resulting in a sometimes split game.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a monument, and the Switch version a godsend. One that even brings improvements in the form of a new hint system, a partner wheel and unprecedented localization.

Did Ninja Theory manage to recreate the same impact and blow me away again? The answer is a resounding yes. Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is an improvement on all fronts. The game retains its respectful representation of psychoses, but now also shows that there is not only darkness in Senua. Add to that the cinematic quality and you have a new champion: a new realistic, emotionally charged and oh-so-immersive experience to surpass.

Stellar Blade is a well-finished action game that has a lot to offer. There is extensive combat that tests both your thinking and reaction skills, spectacular graphics and performance, a fascinating story in a world with a lot of lore and, in addition to the more serious moments, also a good dose of fun with collectibles and side missions. It may not be for everyone due to the over-the-top fanservice, lifeless NPCs, and character and boss reskins that are quite unnecessary. If this doesn't really matter to you and you're looking for challenge, splendor and splendor, then you've come to the right place.

TopSpin 2K25 is not the return of the old games in a new guise. Instead, the developer has tried to make the game more realistic by adding a new gameplay mechanic, which unfortunately is not perfectly developed. It takes the arcade fun out of the game.

House Flipper 2 is mainly a refinement compared to the first part. Not much has changed in terms of gameplay and some more content in the form of more furniture could be added. Still, that doesn't spoil the fun. The enormous freedom and extra polish make this a pleasant and creative experience.

Peach takes the lead role and proves herself in a unique and idiosyncratic setting. Show time! is a refreshing addition to the Nintendo games lineup.

Rise of the Ronin isn't the dream entry into the realm of open world games that Team Ninja might have hoped for, but it delivers a very competent gaming experience. The open game world is completely dedicated to the blood-curdling combat, so there is more than enough to discover. Add to that Team Ninja's clear love for national history and you have a wonderful piece of entertainment that also immerses you in an interesting, historical setting.