Where Beyond Light and Shadowkeep felt like foundational expansions, The Witch Queen is the fully realized, feature-rich pay off that players have been waiting for. While it's easy to see that PvP is still comparably neglected to PvE, a superbly focused campaign, an excellent raid, and reinvigorated Void subclasses are just a few of the inclusions that build The Witch Queen up as the best Destiny expansion thus far.

Highwater is definitely one for fans of Demagog Studio's other work, presenting yet another distinct gameplay experience set in the shared world. It's also a great little game in its own right with fun turn-based strategy encounters and charming characters.

Mullet Mad Jack is a blistering, balls-to-the-wall throwback to 90s anime and violent, dystopian sci-fi that marries boomer shooters with speedrunning and roguelike aspirations to form an absolutely intoxicating brew. It's short, and there's not much to keep you invested even with infinite floors to climb, but you'll be having a good fucking time while you're in it.

Fortnite no longer feels like a second-rate experience on a Nintendo console. It shines bright on the Nintendo Switch 2, offering endless entertainment on the go, without compromising on fidelity or framerates. The beating heart of Fortnite remains the incredibly refined and genre-defining battle royale experience, in the different forms it now comes, but the entire platform is rivalled perhaps only by Roblox in the breadth of experiences it has on offer. With an endless supply of content, even if it's not all the same quality, it's no surprise to me that the game has enjoyed the long-term success it has, and keeps attracting new fans.

Botany Manor is a delight. It's sweet, succinct and serene, packed with clever puzzles that reward thoughtful exploration and engagement with its narrative. At a little under three hours it's the perfect lazy weekend getaway for those that like to stop and smell the flowers as much as they like to enrich the soil of their mind.

Romeo Is A Dead Man is a strong adventure filled with great and kooky action. And while it has some rough edges, especially with its performance, it makes up for that with a whole lot of heart. The result is a game that’s entertaining from beginning to end, if not a little nonsensical.

Make no mistakes; Far Cry 6 is, without a doubt, the best Far Cry game in a long time. The game brings back the exotic locations we’ve been missing since Far Cry 3 and Far Cry 4 and adds yet another charismatic antagonist to its storied pantheon of villains. But more importantly, it’s a joy to play, with a unique arsenal full of character and breadth of content that is not only comprehensive but engaging.

Despite Team Ninja falling into the same pitfalls suffered by prior titles, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is another deeply satisfying Souls-like. A steep learning curve and frustrating amounts of loot don't do much to keep Wo Long back from offering another finely tuned combat system, blended with a unique setting and new systems that break new ground in the subgenre.

For a launch title, the worth of Spider-Man: Miles Morales is undeniable. It offers an expensive-TV-justifying visual feast – not to mention a tantalising “What Dreams May Come” glimpse at the sugar encrusted future of eye-candy. (Console hasn't even launched yet and I can feel my eyes getting the diabeetus.) Likewise, it delivers super-fast load times and an immersive, tactile DualSense experience you simply can't 'feel' anywhere else.

The Artful Escape, aided by its ultra-accessible mechanics, is more of a visual journey. As an escape into Francis’ preoccupation, it does make sense for there to be no real challenge. He’s intentionally a Gary Stu in the story he’s weaving for himself and, because of the simplicity, The Artful Escape disarms the player with incomparable visuals, a terrific soundtrack, and a focus on themes like public image and the overlap of fantasy and reality. It’s not interactively demanding and variety is scarce, but at around four hours, it’s an afternoon well spent to vitalise the body and soul.

Just like the Daewoo Lanos I inherited from my sister when I eventually got my license, Pacific Drive is an imperfect but undeniably charming experience. It’s filled to the brim with sensational atmosphere, intriguing mystery and edge-of-your-seat cinematic adventure. If you can buckle up and push through the foibles of this otherwise fantastic survival ‘roadlite’, I guarantee you won’t regret getting behind the wheel.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle delivers both high calibre adventure, story and performance in spades, to the point it feels as though it’s wading into “uncharted territory” for its publisher. The decision to bop a Nazi should be a foregone conclusion, however the lack of balance in stealth and combat systems kept me in limbo, and left Indiana Jones and the Great Circle just a stone stele’s throw from true greatness.

The Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered brings back two cult classics with great care and attention to detail – sporting enhanced visuals, modern controls and improvements that only improve the pacing of the games. Everything great about these games is still great today. But while some aspects of both games still persist, these remasters are fitting tributes, offering a captivating revisit to Nosgoth that fans have been pining for for years.

It feels like cheating to call Somerville a debut indie title when its creator’s individual pedigree is so strong, but it’s a tremendous spiritual successor to both Limbo and Inside. It takes an ordinary setting, quickly removes all normalcy, and takes the player on a fleeting sci-fi thrill ride that makes use of every second of your attention that it has.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World is ironically a mouthful of a title, but it does signify what this package is. There's a lot here to love, whether it's the significant visual improvements to Forgotten Land or a bunch of new levels to waddle through as Kirby with a brand new aesthetic. But as an expansion, it plays it extremely safe. As such, Star-Crossed World is more of Forgotten Land, which is hardly a bad thing, but it might upset fans looking for something dramatically new.

It mightn’t be as faultless as the iconic video games it attempts to emulate, but, in attempting to do things no action-horror game has done before, Cronos: The New Dawn etches its deserved place at, at least, the honourable mentions board at the foot of the horror game Mt Rushmore. Bloober has ensured that, no matter what they try next in this genre, we will be seated. Such is our calling.

WWE 2K24 is such a full, feature-complete wrestling game that it makes me thankful for the franchise capitulation from a few years ago. Without it, the digital squared circle likely wouldn’t be what it is today, it certainly wouldn’t have benefited from the three years of care, respect, and foundation we enjoy today. Instead, it'd remain a story unfinished.

Ghostrunner might be standing on the shoulders of games like Mirror’s Edge, and even Dishonored, in terms of inspiration with its parkour and slick swordplay. But it also separates heads from those shoulders and stands proud as the far better application of both disciplines—Ghostrunner is a sleek, fun exercise for deft hands.

With a thoughtful message, soulful world, and beautifully imaginative design to push things along, Compulsion delivers a classic adventure seemingly beyond their weight class with South of Midnight. It’s the exact, elusive story-driven diamond in the rough that Xbox has been in search of for generations now.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales web-slings on to PC with ease. Packed with a great array of graphics options, a fun story and fantastic gameplay, this is an excellent way to experience an Insomniac classic.

Planet of Lana is a profoundly moving title that couples its clever, companion-driven puzzle-solving with an irresistibly gorgeous presentation to create what is, so far, the year’s prettiest, heartrending indie.

Pikmin 4 brings together engaging cave exploration and a charming world to explore to offer up the most complete Pikmin experience so far. While the multiplayer offerings feel like a step back from Pikmin 3 and the game is too easy to begin with, Pikmin 4 more than makes up for these shortcomings with its adorable canine companion, vast sandboxes and gripping strategic combat.

World of Horror is a must play for fans of the sickly and macabre. It’s a confronting title on several fronts, from its haunting one-bit tales to its, at times, overwhelming role-playing systems. Once you get your head around it though, it’s an endlessly replayable source of supernatural horror that more than honours the works of H.P Lovecraft and Junji Ito.

Fear the Spotlight delivers a nostalgic, classically-inspired horror game that places story, its sense of place, and the breadcrumb trail of a mystery you pursue ahead of combat while maintaining a true sense of unease throughout. From the moment our trembling hands touched the planchette, we were spirited away on one hell of a thrill ride.

What impresses me the most about Lost Signals is how it takes everything Oxenfree did and dials it up, delivering a bigger story within a grander, still familiar, framework that keeps player choice at the centre of it all. Riley’s story is a brilliant footnote to the strange things that have returned to plague small town Oregon once more.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is another must-play Nintendo Switch game. It still stands the test of time and in no way feels outdated, which is impressive for a 20 year old game. Don't let performance issues and a high price point stop you from playing this absolute classic.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance doesn't just feel like the definitive version of Shin Megami Tensei V, it also feels like a new potential template for ATLUS's future re-releases. Between a much improved narrative, the same addicting gameplay loop, heightened visuals and a smorgasbord of content, it's hard to find a lot to dislike in this package.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles brings together two volumes of one magnificent story that no Ace Attorney fan should miss. The characters are fantastically kooky, the plot is as compelling as ever, and the writing is the series at its funniest. While there are some minor pacing issues with some of the cases, it’s a fantastic package for fans both new and old.

Mario Kart World is truly a supremely competent kart racer, and it delivers on the trademark chaotic fun that the franchise has delivered for generations. Even with the open world, which feels like a smokescreen for players to tinker and learn the new mechanics, the online will be where it's at and, fortunately, that's as great as it's ever been.

The PS5 provides crisp 4K visuals and insanely fast load times. It's worth a play for Crash fans and those that haven't had the joy of taking control of everyone's favourite Bandicoot.

Outriders combines immense variety, aggressively geared combat and fun abilities to offer a third person shooter like no other. It’s filled to the brim quality content – bringing a stellar campaign that’s constantly throwing new things at the player and a compelling well-designed post-game experience in Expeditions. Teething issues with online aside, Outriders is poised to be one of the biggest surprises of the year, and you should definitely give it a go.

Alien: Isolation is close to a survival horror masterpiece that, while unforgiving, carries itself with an unbridled sense of style and class. It authentically recreates the look and feel of the original 1979 film while still feeling incredibly rewarding. Through some wizardry, the game plays just as well, if not better, on Switch, and is to be commended as one of the best ports the platform has ever seen.

Horizon Call of the Mountain is exactly the killer app that the PlayStation VR2 needed to really sell the promise of its hardware and feature set, even with a couple of stumbles. Clever VR spins on the series' staple gameplay systems, a compelling campaign, ridiculous production values, decent replay value and a genuine sense of wonder make it essential playing for absolutely anyone picking up Sony's next-generation VR headset.

Alien: Rogue Incursion blends stealth, horror and action to deliver an immersive and satisfying VR experience. While the dynamic Xenomorph AI will keep players on edge for the entirety of its runtime, some of the objective variety can be lacking. Regardless, the games and balance between Alien's horror and Aliens' action make it an engaging Alien experience from beginning to end. While Rogue Incursion may not reach Isolation's heights, it's an impressive, atmospheric ride with a gripping cliffhanger that leaves me eager for Part 2.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land takes the Kirby franchise to new heights in new and interesting ways. Whilst it's not the full step forward that I was hoping for, it's still super enjoyable and excites me for what could be next in the Kirby series.

Hideo Kojima has long been a visionary auteur, his feted career stands as proof. With no walls to contain him, he has given birth to Death Stranding. It's an experience that will be remembered for a long time, from its early hype to the untethered lunacy of its narrative. It's an art installation of a game that filled me with rage as often as it did joy. It is sweeping in both lustre and purpose, though it wears a few warts on the pleasant, bare bones of a game about deliveries that has no right to be as memorable as it somehow is.

Sonic Origins keeps the focus on the hedgehog's early core entries, polishing them up to a fine sheen and creating an addictive ecosystem around them that breathes new life into each title. There are a few missteps and grubby mechanics to forgive, but otherwise this is well worth diving into for old-school Sonic fans.

As an experience more in-line with the pre-Fates era of Fire Emblem, Engage is a worthy celebration of one of Nintendo's longest running and most storied franchises. Despite many flaws, none of them offset the experience so drastically to sour the overall experience, making for another great entry into the gilded halls of Fire Emblem.

Much like its predecessor, The Banner Saga 2 finds an excellent spot in the Switch’s library. It’s a sequel that refines rather than evolves any of the key gameplay elements, but still manages to feel like an important piece of the series’ narrative puzzle.

Exoprimal earnestly attempts to bring together engaging single-player style encounters that Capcom is known for with an unexpectedly solid multiplayer offering reminiscent of games like Lost Planet. It’s a joy to play and a great melding of PvP and PvE elements. While it’s a shame that what it has to offer is dealt to players so opaquely, Exoprimal is a pleasant surprise that’s well worth a look and not to be underestimated.

Age of Empires: Definitive breathes new life into an absolute classic, and allows us to put on those rose-tinted glasses for another long campaign across the map, dominating through any means possible and constructing an empire very few could dream of.

While it might be a hard sell for those that have already experienced the intergalactic highs of the original, Sonic Colours: Ultimate is packed with value and tweaks that make it well worth your time if you haven’t jumped into it before. It sports a simple yet entertaining narrative, great gameplay and a visual facelift that unleashes the potential of its namesake. All of this combines to further cement Sonic Colours as one of the best entries in modern Sonic.

Marvel's Deadpool VR is another great get for the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S. In keeping true to its source material, it's an absurd and exciting romp through the Marvel universe in the shoes of one of its most popular characters.

As a well-rounded gaming experience, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare takes steps in the right direction to give itself some serious realism. Offering more grounded gameplay than instalments such as the Black Ops or Advanced Warfare games, the gunplay and controls are tight and very balanced for both the experienced and casual player alike. The only thing that the game and Infinity Ward themselves seemed to truly struggle with was the narrative – where it works in some cases, often you’re left feeling like you’re stuck in a half-concocted American political propaganda piece.

Arizona Sunshine 2 is a bloody, pulpy and, most importantly, meaty experience that turns undead dismemberment from a somewhat dated trope into a fun workout that gives you more than enough toys to play with. And with a loyal pup at your side, this sequel is not only a blast but it feels like the killer app the platform has been needing.

Hideo Kojima has long been a visionary auteur; his feted career stands as proof. With no walls to contain him, he has given birth to Death Stranding. It's an experience that will be remembered for a long time, from its early hype to the untethered lunacy of its narrative. It's an art installation of a game that filled me with rage as often as it did joy. It is sweeping in both lustre and purpose, though it wears a few warts on the pleasant, bare bones of a game about deliveries that has no right to be as memorable as it somehow is.

Pepper Grinder is a rollicking platformer that combines some classic level design with revitalised traversal mechanics akin to Ecco the Dolphin’s nose-first ocean-cruising, except on this occasion the nose is a big, bad-ass drill that makes short work of terra and pirate terrors alike.

Aviary Attorney has it all – well-written characters, a great sense of humour, compact but digestible cases, and a simple gameplay loop wrapped in a striking artistic style. Its willingness to let players fail, and feel the consequences of their shoddy investigating, is to be commended and is what separates Aviary Attorney from its contemporaries. It can be a little bit simple and straightforward, however, and that may leave some feeling disappointed.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction thinks outside of the box to provide a well-realised PvE experience that builds upon Siege’s already solid core tenets. While its longevity has yet to be proven or seen, Extraction’s addictive blend of cooperative, rogue-like, and stealth mechanics offers an engaging Rainbow Six experience, even if it’s a bit out there.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is the hessian hero's best outing yet. Tighter platforming controls and a fresh perspective go a long way to reinvigorating the franchise, and it helps that the whole thing is positively stuffed with charm from beginning to end. Levels that feel lonely when played solo, and worse, levels that aren't accessible at all in single player dampen the experience, but not enough for platforming fans to dismiss it. If you've just brought home a shiny new PlayStation 5 there's also a lot here to showcase what the console is capable of in both visuals and the user experience, making it well worth considering as part of your launch library. Viva la Sackboy!

Assassin’s Creed Mirage makes great effort to simplify the Assassin’s Creed formula and bring it back to when it first found popularity. The solid stealth mechanics lend themselves well to creating satisfying infiltrations and the open-ended assassinations are some of the series' most engaging contracts. It’s just a shame that in scaling so much back, the optional content is lacking and the story ultimately goes nowhere. Still, if you’re here for an experience akin to the original Assassin’s Creed, you’ll find little wrong with Mirage. It’s an endearing callback to what made us fall in love with the franchise over a decade ago, for better or for worse.

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an earnest first video game effort from a studio that's destined for great things. Weak exploration and a lack of combat variety are minor flaws in an overall package that offers up fluid platforming, some great gameplay hooks, an emotionally-resonant story and a rich tapestry of sights and sounds that's like little else in the space. It's almost the perfect pairing to the recent Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, offering a succinct and approachable take on the concept that offers even more story, worldbuilding and visual flair.

Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story is another successful Riot Forge project that expands the reach of Runeterra beyond the confines of the wildly successful MOBA. A rough opening chapter segues into an impeccably paced experience that's short, sweet, wholesome, and all too easy to play.

Octopath Traveler is truly a charming and wonderful J-RPG that has reminded me that there's still a place for old classics. Some might call it dated, I'd call it ageless and even peerless when held up against a recent generation of watered down, Westernised role-playing games. Square Enix delivers a nuanced, tactical game and an endearing cast to boot.

The Teal Mask is a great first part to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's pair of DLC packs. While it suffers from the same presentation issues of the base game, The Teal Mask offers a digestible standalone experience that simultaneously satisfies and teases you with the promise of more. A more condensed open world, great characters, and fantastic new Pokémon designs make for a worthwhile return to the world of Scarlet and Violet.

Thirsty Suitors is a little thirsty with its mechanical ambitions but never fails to charm in one way or another. With a beautifully diverse cast, mature writing, and unmatched expressiveness, it breathes new life into the genre.

UFC 3 is a rare sports sequel that probably does enough to justify its existence.

You might occasionally be distracted by the cluttered UI though, which to be honest could be toned down significantly and sometimes had me chasing through menus to remember where things were.

Iterating on what Call of Duty diehards know and love, Vanguard has the potential to stand up alongside some of the series' best. Whether it be a bombastic, action-flick inspired campaign, endlessly addictive multiplayer or now-staple zombies mode, the game feels like comfort food. However, I remain doubtful that the game's new and updated modes will do enough to win over anyone that wasn't convinced with earlier iterations.

Croc’s levels feel dated amongst it’s contemporaries today but that doesn’t stop it from being a cheerful journey from the adventure’s beginning to it’s triumphant conclusion.

The Frog Detective games are arguably essential playing for anyone who's ever enjoyed an old-school adventure game or wants to know what kind of wholesome and hilarious shenanigans Aussie developers are capable of, and The Entire Mystery means that console players can finally get around it. The added bonus of a Tony Hawk-esque minigames adds the perfect little sweetener to an already-scrumptious treat of a series.

Refinements to core aspects of NBA 2K23’s gameplay make for some of the most fluid and enjoyable action seen in some years, and it’s all capped off with the excellent Jordan Challenge. It’s not perfect by any means, but this year’s NBA 2K is certainly a big step up from previous entries.

Were it not for a lack of polish, Shadow of the Tomb Raider would stand right alongside the other action-adventure giants in truly defining the genre. It has a lot of heart, all of the pulsating set pieces that series has become known for and a primal Lara Croft at the height of her powers. As it stands, Shadow is still one of the best conclusions to a trilogy I’ve come across as it respects what it has always done best rather than muddy the waters with needless gimmicks.

Until Dawn is a thrilling experience. For horror fans, this will be one of the best horror experiences that gaming has seen in years. It’s a perfect balance of story telling and gameplay and doesn’t drag on at all. I constantly found myself wanting to go back to find out what happened next which is rare in gaming narrative. Those looking for constant action may be disappointed, but I’d advise anybody who wants a unique and new experience to give it a go.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of those double A titles that blurs the lines between it and the industry's biggest hitters. It isn't without issues, but as a debut title for Sandfall Interactive, it's an incredibly impressive showing that's well worth checking out.

Gunbrella is a wonderful, quirky noir-punk shooter that, like the abominations confronting the hero gunman, is made up of what should be many discordant parts. Yet what we get is a lore-rich world with slick movement in its bedrock that’ll spawn an unlikely love of umbrellas not heard of since the day that Tom Holland splashed about in fishnets.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is far and away the best Dark Pictures game so far. It blends intriguing characters, compelling drama, and a killer twist to offer up what can only be described as the most honed experience Supermassive has put out in this series so far. It's got a few minor issues here and there – namely relating to the diversity of its cast and how much each of them plays into the overall story – but it's a horror experience that no fan should miss even if they weren't fans of Man of Medan or Little Hope.

This is the definitive Crash Team Racing experience. Nitro-Fueled is everything I hoped it would be, a faithful recreation of the classic game with added flair and personality. A lack of custom race settings and some superficial gripes are not enough to dissuade me that this is among the best kart racers available. Crash is absolutely back, baby.

Venba is a sweet, short-lived episode that presents the place held by food and cooking within our lives and cultures as near-on divine. It explores familiar relationships, as well as the ones we keep, for better or worse, with food itself, and left me with plenty to ponder as the credits rolled.

Paper Mario: The Origami King is another exceptional Nintendo game. The story is laugh out loud hilarious, the world begs you to explore it and the art style is absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, the battles get in the way of its successes and ultimately let it down.

Kirby Star Allies is a cute and chaotic traditional Kirby game with fantastic buddy AI and strong potential as a co-op experience. It pays fantastic homage to its roots while adding in new mechanics that work well. Unfortunately, the length of the experience will have some doubting whether it’s truly worth it, but Kirby Star Allies is one of the most wholesome Switch games you can try right now.

Diablo III: Eternal Collection for the Nintendo Switch represents the best way to play Diablo III right now, whether it be with friends or by yourself with whatever controllers you have. While the exclusive gear and equipment are superficial and not a sole reason to buy on the Switch, Diablo III is a perfect fit for the platform, as cliché as it sounds. Sure, it’s starting to show signs of ageing, but it still plays as well today as it did all those years ago.

Completing the updated trilogy, Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition breathes new life into the franchise with the impending fourth instalment on the horizon. Fans of the original are sure to love the tweaks to the gameplay and graphics as well as the addition of two new civilizations, while new players will be able to dive right in to learn the mechanics of the game as well as jumping into the historic battle story mode. Now, all that’s left is an Age of Mythology revamp.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter was always a cult favourite but Aspyr’s native port of the classic adventure comes adorned with modernised controls and polished visuals making it a must-play for fans of the original and a fun bit of history for newcomers.

The Outlast Trials successfully co-opts the Outlast formula into a multiplayer experience. It does a great job at offering what Outlast does best – macabre gore and tense horror with some genuinely gruesome objectives. But while it's fun to experience with friends, the solo players will find little reason to continue playing after the first program, and reusing some of the stalkers feels like a missed opportunity.

The Division 2 is the complete package and sets a new standard in the 'loot shooter' sub-genre. It includes almost everything I have come to expect from games of its ilk and packages it up with solid gameplay and an addictive grind for loot. The Division has come a long way, and in doing so puts pressure on its competitors to step it up.

Another great Wii U game that is made better by the Nintendo Switch's portability. It's a fun experience that doesn't overstay its welcome, but definitely does feel repetitive in certain areas.

Project Cars 3 is bustling with things to do. It’s as accessible as the series has ever been, and while marred by some inconsistencies in its presentation, is for the most part a joy to play.

With a team based approach to racing Team Sonic Racing is a very unique addition to the Sonic franchise, solidly executed across the board. It especially excels in larger multiplayer groups.

Just as it was ten years ago, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a succinct, yet economical, adventure that wastes no time in delivering a beautiful and devastating co-op experience that, through this remake, can now be shared with another—even if that dilutes the game’s novel concept as a result.

This year's FIFA is a comprehensive package for football fans thanks to HyperMotion 2, big reworks to FIFA Ultimate Team and the introduction of the FA Women’s Super League and the French Division 1 Feminine.

Live A Live leverages a fantastic visual overhaul with an already compelling and inventive narrative structure to offer an RPG experience like no other. It’s aging for sure – the slower nature of the turn-based battles and some strange logic to get the story moving – but it’s such a unique experience that any RPG fan owes it to themselves to try.

Overall, the five games on offer in The Jackbox Party Pack 10 represent a nice variety of experiences with some genuinely interesting innovations and ideas. Crucially there's no total stinker in the mix, with only Timejinx feeling a touch bland. FixyTest holds up the stupid, pointless chaos end of the bargain while Tee K.O. makes a fantastic comeback and Dodo Re Mi proves that Jackbox can do real-time gameplay. Just give yourself time to properly figure out Hypnotorious before you write it off entirely.

The Banner Saga is an excellent game, driven by a wonderful score and a moving story. It’s a perfect fit for the Switch too, and the port itself is handled well.

TopSpin 2K25 is without doubt the best tennis game since the last Top Spin game. It succeeds at finding the all important balance of risk versus reward that the foundation of Tennis is built on, and whilst it's not perfect, it provides a solid base for 2K to build on.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition brings together everything that was lost all those years ago to dreaded licensing issues to remind us of why we missed it so much. It's a fun and quirky beat-em-up, though the lack of online in all the modes offered feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.

AO Tennis 2 is a huge improvement on the original game and extremely close to being the perfect package. The lack of star players and unbalanced difficulty levels are the only things that hold it back from rivalling the best tennis games throughout history.

A rich and thoughtful independent darling that delivers on a story that respects its characters and remains grounded, hardly ever resorting to nonsense action just for the sake of it. Though we predicted the game's ending before it happened, the conclusion hit us like a truck. With its extremely reasonable pricing and share play, A Way Out is a must play from one of the industry's most talented small teams.

Tekken 8 shows just how easy it is for a long-running franchise to remain fresh and relevant, while still offering a familiar experience to established fans. An engaging Story Mode coupled with Character Episodes keeps the narrative running, while Arcade Quest and Tekken Ball gives newcomers the opportunity to learn the ropes. While some fans may not like that their favourite character is missing from the roster, Tekken 8 fills the gaps with fresh new faces and the hint of more characters on the horizon. It’s time to get ready for the next battle!

Like Unravel before it, Fe is another triumph for the EA Originals program as Zoink don’t hesitate to flex their creative muscle. Despite a few foibles, the core mechanics are sound enough. Though it’s in its world-building and artistic direction that Fe truly shines, with a spacious map that sparks the kindling of exploration and ignites that love for adventure.

Paladins fills a fairly significant gap in the Switch’s library, and should hopefully continue to grow as a great multiplayer shooter on the system. Some general bugs and long queue times aside, what’s here is - generally - an excellent experience.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a love letter to one of the most charmingly chaotic RPGs ever made. It’s not perfect and it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it embraces its jank with open arms, wraps it in beautiful new visuals, reminding us why Cyrodiil still holds a special place in RPG history.

Hangar 13’s remake of Mafia is great. The story is as interesting as ever, and only minor technical issues take away from what is otherwise a welcome reintroduction to Tommy Angelo and the Salieri crew.

Choosing which mode to play first every time I launch the game is a struggle, with each being unique and impressive in their own way. Black Ops 4’s individual components may not be groundbreaking, but as a package, it’s one of the most refined Call Of Duty games.

While Tiny Tina's Wonderlands doesn't offer a vastly different experience from what came before, it does venture outside of its comfort zone enough to establish its own identity. It's an excellent extension of the already great Assault On Dragon Keep, and is a worthwhile adventure for any fan of the series, with extensive build crafting, an entertaining cast of characters, and a world worth exploring.

Blood & Truth features fun, over the top shooting, an entertaining story that flows effortlessly and delightful characters. It's a fantastic VR experience, that we can't recommend enough.

At the end of Curse of the Pharaohs, I was very happy to have spent another weekend in Bayek's world. Ubisoft have offered exactly what you loved about Origins plus some fun twists from the afterlife on the side.

Contra: Operation Galuga brings the essential Contra experience into the modern era. It retains the classic’s white knuckle challenge, awesome level designs, boss creativity and firepower while adding some modern touches to make the game palatable and enjoyable by more people. It’s not particularly long, but playing through once has never been the draw of a Contra game. It’s a game that begs to be re-played and perfected. If you’ve ever been curious to try Contra, this is a great way to get into the franchise.