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.

There are few open world games in which you can move so easily from one adventure to another, but Capcom does it by cleverly bringing together all kinds of well-known gameplay systems. Dragon's Dogma 2 offers fantastic combat and a wonderful sense of discovery, and above all a series of unforgettable moments.

Look, this is exactly what you want from a WWE game, especially if you grew up in the '80s and '90s. Plays well, looks good and a wonderful trip down memory lane.

Sons of the Forest offers one of the most exciting, mysterious adventures of the year, perhaps thanks to the many challenges of surviving in the beautiful forest, the fact that you are regularly frustrated by technical limitations, the minimal narrative and the high difficulty level . Since it is also a lot of fun to play with friends and the survival aspect apart from the story missions is also entertaining, Sons of the Forest really offers you tons of janky fun.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a stunningly good JRPG and in many ways better than you ever dreamed. The potential is just not fully realized due to the poor technical condition of the game, and unfortunately I do not believe that Square Enix can or will fix this.

After the excellent pirate game Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, you would think that Ubisoft did not have much work to do to deliver a good standalone title, but the developer is hopelessly drowning. Outside of the nice ship combat and customization, Skull and Bones is rudderless: uninspired, superficial and, above all, extremely boring. A one-way gangway, please.

Helldivers 2 is a spectacular, hugely entertaining, surprisingly tactical and brutal multiplayer game. Especially now that the server problems have largely been resolved, the game is practically indispensable for anyone who wants to have fun with three friends. Making progress in the battle passes feels a bit grindy, but because this is also the case for players who buy their in-game currency with real money, it continues to make fair progress for everyone. For Democracy, Liberty, and Freedom!

The timeless essence of Mario vs. Donkey Kong is honored in this faithful remake, while retaining the somewhat dated gameplay. However, with a visual upgrade, multiplayer options, and a relaxed play mode, the game receives a fresh appeal, making it still worthwhile in 2024.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden will undoubtedly hold players with its emotional and diverse stories, but the game unfortunately falls short when it comes to combat and RPG elements. On the one hand, you want to learn more about New Eden's lore and about Red and Antea themselves. At the same time, this is somewhat hindered by the boring combat, fairly monotonous game world and the lack of valuable upgrades. Maybe an action RPG wasn't the best genre for Banishers, but this narrative adventure certainly deserves a place of honor in Don't Nod's portfolio.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has so many different faces, which makes me ready for a personality test. One moment I'm enjoying Rocksteady's art design, the next I want to hurt myself because of the excruciating gameplay. Then laugh at the voice acting, and then get angry about the boring boss fights. The open ending of the story makes me a little curious about the upcoming seasonal content, but I'm pretty sure: I'm already dropping out.

Yes, Persona 3 Reload is missing some content, but it more than makes up for it with the new additions and improvements, especially to Tartarus. And the beautiful presentation, voice acting and equally unforgettable characters are also reasons enough to pull the trigger.

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is not the most beautiful, coolest or most revolutionary JRPG ever made, but it is one of the most fun. There is so much fun to be had that you can easily last until the summer. What a masterful start to 2024.

Tekken 8 is, in line with its reputation as a highly technical fighter, a strict teacher. At the same time, it is also the gentlest possible remedy for players who struggle with the demanding controls. It is sometimes said that the latter category causes stinking wounds, but Tekken 8 actually prevents them from arising through the truckload of help it offers novice players. Add to that the quality-of-life improvements, the most immersive story modes in the series, eye-catching graphics and the enormous amount of content, and Tekken 8 is without a doubt the most accessible installment in the franchise.

I'm not going to claim that The Last of Us: Part 2 Remastered makes the existing game even more indispensable than it already is. That's not really possible, because the game was already indispensable upon its original release. But for ten euros this is a great expansion with some interesting behind the scenes material, a lot of skins and at least one very nice extra mode.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown makes it difficult to put down the controller. The fluid action, the beautiful animations and designs, the creative levels and ways you can use the map... I could go on and on. Platforming and action are masterfully balanced and braving the game world and its secrets is as challenging as it is rewarding. There are some bugs here and there during boss fights, and the occasional lack of button responsiveness, but that really doesn't make the game any less fun. This is the Prince of Persia game we deserve in 2024.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a game of extremes. On the one hand, it has one of the most beautiful game worlds you've ever seen, infused with interesting lore for true Avatar fans and the casual gamer. On the other hand, it's an uninspired open-world game with crappy combat, AI and mission design, which will leave anyone tired of Far Cry blue-balled.

Gangs of Sherwood is hardly recommended in its current state. It's a fun co-op action game that doesn't take itself too seriously and provides (online) players with fast, fluid and simple battles. At the same time, the game is currently plagued by crashes, bugs, illogical upgrades, random side missions and a lack of varied enemies.

Super Mario RPG is a perfect remake of the SNES classic with just a few smart improvements. It's amazing how much of the game is still rock solid and it proves once again that Squaresoft was in its golden era at the time. However, the game is too short to belong among the elite Triple-A RPGs these days.

Modern Warfare 3 does not offer much more than extremely smooth multiplayer and a dose of nostalgia. The game feels incomplete, is often boring and disappoints in many areas.

The gameplay of UFC 5 is rock solid and has visibly improved compared to the previous part. For example, the new damage system ensures that there is more strategy (and blood) involved in the battles and the polished ground game offers more depth. It's a shame that career mode remains the neglected child for EA Sports, because there is so much more to it.

Lords of the Fallen lacks refinement in every respect, but is nevertheless a nice addition to the soulslike genre. The choice for Unreal Engine 5 is unfortunate, the difficulty level is anything but balanced and the number of excruciatingly bad bosses cannot be counted on one hand, and yet everything together forms an entertaining whole packed with content and also a nice stepping stone to a really good soulslike.