Ultimately, Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is a polished version of a fairly mediocre game. If you’ve got some fondness for the original I’m sure you’ll have a great time playing through this new version - but without the benefit of nostalgia it didn’t really do much for me. It’d make a perfectly fine rental, if that were still a thing!

While I don't think Ghost of Yotei quite reaches the heights of its predecessor, it is another worthwhile trip to a lawless Japan. It sports a tonally distinct and cinematic story, a visually diverse open world chock full of activities, and is another fantastic showcase for the power of the PlayStation 5.

Baby Steps is exactly all it’s advertised to be. A clumsy, physics-first walking simulator that places an unwashed oaf at the heart of a very odd world. I don’t feel like it’s as punishing as Getting Over it, but the game’s singular goal of getting through it, step by step, makes for a surprising experience that makes walking, of all things, a lot of fun.

Hades II is bigger and bolder than the original Hades. It's another adventure that will no doubt see players happy to welcome Melinoë and her unique moveset to the Hades family with open arms. It ambitiously but successfully doubles the content offering without sacrificing any of the quality we've come to know Supergiant for. And while it's different beast to the original Hades, Hades II builds such a strong identity for itself that it stands strongly beside its predecessor in ways you'd never expect.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds far exceeded the expectations I had for it. After feeling like Team Sonic Racing was taking Sonic racing games in the wrong direction, CrossWorlds is a confident showcase of what makes these games so appealing to begin with.

Silent Hill f resoundingly demonstrates a clear grasp of what makes Silent Hill work. Its storytelling is equal parts sinister and restrained, bolstered by a combat system that’s simple but satisfying. Throw in some challenging boss battles, and you’ve got a Silent Hill experience that meaningfully expands on the original games. It’s a subtly scary adventure that dares to be different, while at the same time retaining the core that makes Silent Hill so special. While some elements and the difficulty might be grating for people and the skill system is bizarrely undercooked, Silent Hill f is an enjoyable and chilling experience from beginning to end, and unlike anything you've ever played.

We haven't had a Borderlands game this packed with changes and new ideas since Borderlands 2. In many ways, Borderlands 4 feels like a natural continuation of the franchise's trajectory. It isn't without faults, but what it does deliver on makes for an evolution unlike any other game in the series.

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.

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.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a strong return for the series, bringing together incredible art direction, strong level design, and a combat loop that's both endlessly satisfying and addictive. Sprinkle in some light Metroid-inspired backtracking and some incredibly challenging optional content, and you've got an experience that goes above and beyond anything offered by previous Shinobi games. And while the original soundtrack is average, the voice work is sterile and the story even more so, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an incredibly entertaining and satisfying action platformer that's well worth your time.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater makes great effort in updating the original games' presentation with some truly next-gen visuals. However, in that process, performance issues and changes in art direction are bound to be divisive with fans of the original. This remake then, while not quite definitive, is bound to be an acquired taste. Regardless, it's almost impossible to ignore that the game underneath Delta's slick presentation is still one of the strongest experiences you can play, and that's still worth celebrating.

Dead Take is a game about actors, made for actors by actors. While the plot and mystery surrounding the narrative turns shoulder the burden of keeping up interest throughout, sound puzzle design and a blanketing atmosphere make it a worthwhile play for horror fans.

While there is a distinct lack of things to do in Drag x Drive, it’s still worth noting that once you get the hang of it, it is an enjoyable little experience that you literally cannot find anywhere else. But once your friends are done playing with you, and you admittedly have great fun doing so, there’s not a whole lot left to do. And that’s a huge shame, because there is potential here for Drag x Drive, but the game in its current state doesn’t quite reach it.

Mafia: The Old Country is an excellent prequel to the Mafia series. There’s so much to like in the 10-15 hour experience, whether it’s the excellent writing, stunning cutscenes or the enjoyable moment to moment gameplay. While it has its flaws, Hangar 13’s latest is a well-crafted love letter to a series I’ve loved for many years.

WWE 2K25 on Nintendo Switch 2 is excellent - it’s the full-fat experience that you can take on the go without compromise. Gripes aside, this is the definitive wrestling game for Switch players.

Grounded 2 is shaping up to be another win for Obsidian Entertainment in the survival space. Despite some difficulty worries, this early access launch is a confident showcase of Obsidian's newfound familiarity with the survival genre.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is another good and worthwhile Souls-like with a rich setting and moreish combat. It might not capitalise on all of its potential, but it's an experience any hardcore fan of Souls will enjoy.

Super Mario Party Jamboree lives up to its name in practically every way. It's equal parts lavish and boisterous, offering up a selection of boards with novel and fun gimmicks that make it a constant joy to come back to. Adding a wide variety of ways to play, including heaps of customisable rules, only sweetens the deal. Without a doubt, Super Mario Party Jamboree is Mario Party at its best.

An uninspired effort to infuse nostalgic IP with edgy nonsense, Shadow Labrynth offers up some fine enough Metroidvania action but fails to give players much of a reason to care about it beyond sheer novelty. Tucked away in its sprawling maps are beacons of joy in the form of classic Pac-Man mazes, but there’s only a ghost of a game built around them.

The Drifter is not only one of the best games of the year, so far, I’d consider it one of the best adventure games period. Not only does it buck the genre’s conventions through new, bold ideas, its story is a start-to-finish thriller that blends mystery, horror, and science-fiction while effortlessly dripping cool.

With Donkey Kong Bananza, DK is back in a big way. It blends new tech with old-school Nintendo charm for a destructive experience that is both intoxicating and addictive. While Pauline's storyline is underdeveloped, this is easily Donkey Kong at his absolute best. Regardless of some minor blemishes, Donkey Kong Bananza deserves a place in any self-respecting Switch 2 owner's library and, much like Super Mario Odyssey before it, sets an incredibly high bar for all that will follow.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 is yet another tremendous celebration of skateboarding, the video games that catapulted it into the mainstream, and the sport’s current slate of stars. I’d argue it has some curious design choices, both necessary and not, that perhaps leave one half of the package feeling a little slightly lesser than.

Were it a bit more feature complete and fine-tuned, Rematch would be undeniable in its claim for Rocket League’s long-held crown. There’s a high, albeit achievable, skill ceiling here, but intuitive controls means anybody can header, rainbow flick, or bicycle kick goals from the box’s edge in short, exhilarating, and most importantly, moreish games of soccer.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach does everything it can to eclipse the original in practically every way, improving on the systems surrounding the already solid core of the original. The result is a livelier world to explore, an engaging story to experience and an overall much better paced adventure through Australia that I struggled to put down. It's well worth your time and more respectful of it too.

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is a worthwhile throwback to a time where ATLUS was doing anything and everything with Shin Megami Tensei. Some changes may take away from the original experience, but this remastering makes for a novel adventure that I sincerely hope ATLUS expands on in the future.

Yakuza 0 Director's Cut may not be worth the double-dip for those who've experienced it before, but it's a no-brainer for first timers. It's a great upgrade to arguably the best entry in the Like A Dragon series, despite some questionable new additions.

Although Tron: Catalyst doesn't capitalise on all of the potential of its many ideas, it does still present another worthwhile experience from Bithell Games. It's a joy to engage with their interpretation of this world and the ideas it represents, even if some of the execution falls flat.

FBC: Firebreak features an unexpected mechanical depth that gives it longer legs than a game launching with five levels perhaps deserves. With regards to set up, I think it somewhat squanders its place in the coveted Control universe, however, the parts that do break on through from the other side, like its humour and creativity, make for a surprisingly fun live-service shooter.