EA Sports FC 26 is a veritable smorgasbord of well-refined modes, improved gameplay mechanics, and never-better player likenesses. No single upgrade defines the experience, but offline players will feel particularly grateful for this year's litany of realism-focused changes.

Synapse is a substantial, somewhat interesting FPS adventure and a compelling PSVR 2 exclusive that lets you become a mind-trawling mayhem merchant with psychic powers.

Tales of Berseria Remastered shows that risks do pay off when breaking from tradition. A dynamic combat system and darker storyline work wonders to separate it from other entries. Going on an adventure to reclaim what’s been stolen from you is as entertaining as it is dramatic and thanks to great additions like map markers and updated framerate, it’s the best way to experience one of the franchise’s strongest stories yet.

Persona 5 Tactica preserves the style and sophistication of its predecessor, offering a slick and sharp tactical experience that continues to reward after hours of play. Full of familiar Persona 5 hallmarks, fans of the series are in for a treat, but newcomers may find themselves left out in the cold.

Crimson Desert manages to capture the essence of pure open-world exploration and delivers incredible combat that is unlike anything you've played previously, while offering an engaging story that keeps you engaged as you progress through its massive map. It's not perfect due to some of its quality of life issues and unfair boss encounters, but this is a game that deserves very high praise.

Like stumbling upon a haunted floppy disk next to the old Mac computer gathering dust in your parent’s attic, World of Horror is constantly surprising, genuinely unsettling, and truly unlike anything you’ve played.

Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered is the new gold standard that all modern remasters should strive to achieve. Developer Aspyr has taken Crystal Dynamic’s classic tale about a betrayed vampire seeking revenge and delivered an impeccable visual overhaul while maintaining the brooding gothic majesty that won Soul Reaver a legion of fans back at the turn of the millennium.

Much like the game’s creatures that assemble from the bits and bobs of the deceased on their path, Cronos: The New Dawn also amalgamates the prime cuts of Resident Evil 4, Dead Space, The Last of Us, Alan Wake, and more survival horror classics. At least the result isn't a hulking monstrosity that I want to kill with fire. However, despite traces of genuinely inventive ideas, it's a flawed patchwork that just about gets away with competently imitating all of its absorbed parts.

South of Midnight has razor-sharp controls and a stunningly unique audio/visual presentation that stands out as one of the most memorable in gaming this year, despite having some predictable combat and exploration.

Zenless Zone Zero is a great free-to-play title made with Hoyoverse’s exquisite presentation and attention to detail. While the early game’s story is slow going and the usual free-to-play progression blocks can be irksome, what’s here in Version 1.0 is an excellent springboard for future content.

Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition is a decent port of an incredible stealth game, bringing hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of entertainment to Nintendo Switch 2 in a very well-rounded package. Performance could be better, and there are a few bugs in need of patches, but it's nevertheless a joy to pick up and play and almost impossible to put down.

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile offers engaging modes and near console-quality visuals in a free-to-play portable format that’s perfect for taking out and about - provided you have a phone powerful enough to run it.

Tom Clancy's The Division Resurgence is a supreme example of a major console series making the jump to mobile and sticking the landing. Gripes like level-gating and the need for powerful hardware to get the most out of the game do hold it back a little, but translating the core Division experience to the small screen with a wonderful recreation of post-apocalyptic New York, a moreish loot-to-improve loop, and satisfying cover-shooter action means that long-time fans of the series and newcomers are very well served.

Mario Tennis Fever builds on its predecessor's solid presentation and arcade tennis action with more content than before and a new mechanic that's a recipe for Mario Kart-style courtside mayhem. Although the underwhelming Adventure mode doesn't last long, it doesn't mean you won't have fun during a match.

Robocop: Rogue City is low-budget and wonky in places, but the art direction will make you feel like you’re in the movies, and the gore-soaked shootouts offer a retro first-person shooter experience not to be missed.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage returns the series to its roots with enormous success. Basim’s well-paced journey from street thief to master assassin is full of stealth-focused action and enthralling investigations, and should please fans of the series with its intrigue and heart.

It’s easy to dismiss EA Sports FC 25 as a glorified reskin of EA Sports FC 24 – and in many respects, it is – but the customarily small tweaks made to graphics and gameplay add up to a near-perfect sports game experience. This is total football.

Metro Awakening is a solid first VR entry for the series. It's not going to be loved by everyone, but it will be by fans of the Metro franchise who want to explore the horror-filled passages in a more immersive medium as well as those who like a more gradual plot.

Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army serves as a faithful, yet significantly refined take on its source material. It stays close to its PS2 roots visually, while adding much-needed quality of life improvements like a fresh UI and enhanced 3D environments. Expressive voice acting and a fantastic array of demons also add color to an engaging, mysterious plot. Unfortunately, there are some aspects that don’t quite land – demon investigations feel a little flat and combat, though improved, can feel a tad clunky at times. All in all, though, this is a lovingly crafted remaster that had me hooked throughout.

While surely a joy for series fans, as a newcomer, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening can, at times, be unwieldy and lack direction, with core tenets that should work to balance out the game, like diplomacy left flying half-mast. That being said, it’s a rewarding game to master, offering ample replayability and a healthy dose of Japanese history.

While the Mario vs. Donkey Kong remake expands upon the original’s content and adds replayability, its clunkiness leads to even the simpler puzzles feeling frustrating, especially with a slow start that drags on for longer than it should.

Marvel's Deadpool VR is the latest Meta Quest 3 exclusive to hit our VR headsets, and it's exactly what fans of the anti-hero will want, and everything his haters will despise. From the humor to the action, I had a blast, but it isn't the must-play experience that previous Meta Quest exclusives were for that reason.

Planet Coaster 2 offers great new content, gorgeous updated graphics, and some much-needed quality-of-life updates. Pools and flume rides add a torrent of fun to your parks and offer the same kind of creative freedom the series is renowned for. Meanwhile, updated pathing and scenery tools help to smooth some of its predecessors’ rougher edges. There are still some wrinkles and quirks to ride design but Planet Coaster 2 is definitely a step forward.

Fired from your job and abandoned on a distant planet, Revenge of the Savage Planet is a competently put together action-adventure game with Metroidvania progression that's entertaining enough on the whole. Thanks to its formulaic structure and tacked-on co-op mode, however, you’ll occasionally get the feeling that you would be better off doing something else with your time.

Rise of the Ronin is a robust and enjoyable open-world adventure across 19th-century Japan. It features superb combat, an intriguing Bakumatsu-inspired setting, and a world with so much to do. However, its identity feels a little unclear at times and some repetitive missions, plus bumpy visuals, hold it back.

Jamboree TV offers some more and varied uses of the Switch 2's unique features with a charming game show format that will be fun for breaking out at parties. Its new content, however, doesn't integrate with the base game and makes for an awfully pricey package if you don't already own the original game.

The Crew Motorfest has plenty of moments of joy and wonder as you traverse its open world rendition of Hawaii. The massive variety of events and stunning presentation, however, are held back by a general lack of polish, an unsatisfying handling model and some truly outrageous AI behavior.

Stray Gods successfully summons a hefty portion of theatrical flare within its visual novel format. While some choices may not feel as weighted as you’d hope, a likeable cast, earnest writing, and catalogue of tunes make it a moreish musical experience worth the price of admission.

Off the pitch, EA Sports FC 24 struggles to establish an identity, but the addition of HyperMotionV and key upgrades to fan-favorite modes including Pro Clubs and Ultimate Team makes this franchise-starter an objectively better football game than its de facto predecessor.

Endless Dungeon may look sleek and polished, but this isometric rogue-like offers little depth. Despite a strong opening, the paper-thin narrative, stock characters, and repetitive combat mechanics do little to maintain interest.

The first original Mana series game in over a decade and a half is a pleasant romp through a visually stellar fantasy world. Fun combat quirks such as class switching and malleable builds offer plenty of customization, too, that’s all really quite easy to understand. Unfortunately, some stiffer elements of movement and a story that doesn’t quite realize its full potential have Visions of Mana falling short.

Like its predecessor, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 - Turbocharged is a solid racer elevated by its stunning life-like visuals. With few new additions, however, this sequel struggles to justify its own existence.

While Homeworld 3 looks the part and is a competent strategy game, the chaos of battle obscures much of the nuance of its new features.

With its satisfying sneaking and intricate, highly replayable levels, Styx: Blades of Greed is comfortably the best proper, old-fashioned stealth game of the last decade. Unfortunately, a wealth of bugs and technical issues on PC, not to mention the often cheap-feeling voice acting and cutscenes, reduce its appeal for those that aren’t genre die-hards.

A varied and engaging experience moment-to-moment, The Expanse lives or dies on how much time the player invests in exploring its setting and engaging with its characters.

Star Wars Outlaws serves up an extremely enjoyable open-world Star Wars experience that proves the wait for such a game was worth it. While there are a few frustrations, the mix of beautiful worlds, a crime-rich underworld, compelling and tense missions with multiple routes to success, a strong cast, and a fun narrative to boot, makes it a superbly fun experience.

Under The Waves is a heartfelt story-driven adventure set in a beautifully crafted underwater world. While there’s a lot to love, such as the magnificent locations and the bizarrely beautiful dream sequences, there are also some flaws that pull it back from perfection.

Wild Hearts S gives Switch 2 owners the chance to play Dynasty Warriors developer Omega Force’s monster-hunting game. It’s far from a perfect port, with a noticeable visual downgrade and choppy performance. But it’s still perfectly playable, and the game’s fantastic Karakuri system and interesting take on weapons and armor sets remain as refreshing today as they did in the original release.

Savage tactical strategy and effective use of the license make this a must-play for fans of Xenomorphs or think-’em-ups. Some jagged edges and jank mar things a bit, but it’s the most terrifying strategy game you’ll ever play.

Ride 5 is a stunningly realized motorcycle racing sim with excellent attention to detail that is held back by frustrating controls, a steep learning curve, and the fact that it barely iterates upon the previous entry in a meaningful way.

With this much care and love being put into refining this trilogy for modern audiences, the time is now for audiences to put some Justice on Apollo’s name, and thrust him out of Phoenix Wright’s shadow into a much-deserved spotlight.

Engaging and approachable, New World: Aeternum mostly nails the modern MMORPG experience with its refined and cohesive game world and intuitive combat system. Crafting and gathering remain a highlight here but all types of players will find this game worthy of its upfront price of admission. That said, those looking for a wide range of high-end raiding content will be better served elsewhere and the game also suffers from an unfocused and muddled art style.

Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is the definitive version of the original game, combining 2009’s PC version with content from the console and mobile releases. Some tweaks in the art style might not appeal to purists, and some bugs at launch needed weeding out, but it’s still a seminal tower defence and puzzle game that’s well worth playing today.

WarioWare: Move It! is hilarious and engrossing, and truly ambitious and successful when it comes to its utilization of the Joy-Con controllers’ unique features. However, it’s severely let down by its poor accessibility options meaning some folks may be locked out of the fun before it even begins.

Lords of the Fallen is an expertly crafted soulslike with innovative mechanics that add risk and reward, and wonder to exploration. Combat occasionally feels unpolished and some enemy placement is cheap but there’s a fascinating game here that ticks most of the soulslike boxes while adding some tricks of its own.

AK-xolotl is a must-play if you’re a fan of roguelikes and bullet hells. Its various enemies offer interesting attacks and are distinct enough that you can customize effective defensive strategies against them with a range of weapons and abilities. However, some of the runs can get quite repetitive.

A sterling example of the newly-resurrected 'boomer shooter' genre, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun offers extremely tight shooting, excellent sound and world design, and one of the best guns I've ever fired in a video game. Yes, it's the boltgun.

Fragpunk isn’t perfect, but it’s still a lot of fun. The game-changing Shard Cards and unbalanced Lancer abilities are a blast in a casual setting, but its poor side modes and lack of competitive appeal mean that it might be a short-lived thrill.

The granddaddy of stealth returns in a no-thrills rerelease that lets a whole new audience experience the superlative sneak-’em-ups. A few “of their time” moments make the story awkward, but there’s no denying every game in this collection still has the magic.

Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club might not reinvent the visual novel genre, but it still offers a fantastic mystery elevated by brilliant writing, a memorable cast of characters, some truly excellent visuals, and a phenomenal final chapter.

Alien: Rogue Incursion is one of the better survival horror VR games I’ve played, with a superb setting that's let down by monsters that are scary in not quite the right ways.

Total War: Pharaoh offers satisfying battles and challenging empire management, but undermines itself by pushing the player towards half-baked diplomacy, trade, and intrigue systems that feel authentic but aren’t consistently fun.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a solid action-packed package that impressed me with its cathartic, overhauled combat. Performance is consistent, the fleshed-out Morning Glory content is addictive, and the Dark Ties episode offers a comprehensive look into the motivations of antagonist Yoshitaka Mine. However, some underwhelming side content, graphical quirks, and questionable narrative changes stop this entry from hitting the heights of other titles in this phenomenal franchise.

Fear the Spotlight relies on tension and atmosphere, delivering a quick gaming experience that's reminiscent of 90s slasher movies. It's appealing to both newcomers and seasoned horror fans, making it an impressive little game.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is the best soulslike game since 2023’s Lies of P. Developer Leenzee has handled almost everything expertly, from intricate level design that intelligently loops back on itself to thrillingly fast-paced combat that introduces some very fun defensive elements. It’s also a game that really makes you think about your loadout on a per-level basis, with status afflictions and damage types playing an important role. Some frustrating moments aside, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is an essential soulslike experience.

Endlessly creative and adorably cute, Princess Peach: Showtime! is an uncompromising but approachable adventure that’s an absolute blast for kids and adults alike.

There’s a lot to like about Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior - the tactical, set-piece hack‘n’slash combat often feels satisfying and snappy. However, a forgettable story and uninspiring skill progression cement Lysfanga within the shadows of its mechanical and narrative contemporaries.

Still Wakes the Deep is an incredibly atmospheric, tense, and gripping first-person horror game. With a tremendous sense of place, superb voice acting, and creepy horror elements, it’s a small but punchy experience that we fully recommend despite some hand-holding, simple puzzles, and the story being a little too short.

Cities: Skylines 2 has lofty ambitions. Several interlocking systems come together to convince you that this isn’t just a city-building game, but a way to build lively neighbourhoods full of small stories and intertwining threads. There’s a lot to love here, and if you fall for it, you’ll be hooked for a long time.

Atomfall reimagines a jolly trip to the Lake District as a fight for survival, a unique idea that leaves a lasting impression. Not every decision you make feels like life and death but its British sensibilities and stunning visual design make up for those weaker points, delivering an engaging jaunt in the countryside… with guns.

Lego 2K Drive is a tectonic shift for the kart racing genre, Featuring tight driving controls, energetic races, and an expansive open world, it speeds into pole position past its Mascot-dominated contemporaries.

Mafia: The Old Country offers a compelling mob story, complete with great voice acting and beautiful cinematics, that’s undermined by some bizarre mechanics. Shoddy stealth segments, familiar set-pieces, and vanishingly few opportunities to explore its stunning world make for an entry that’s far from the worst in the series, but falls short of the best.

A competent strategy outing, Dune: Spice Wars provides a range of strategic systems that offer engaging decision points for players. However, without a narrative campaign, options for play are limited, and immersion into this classic sci-fi setting is held back by samey environments and shallow combat.

Arizona Sunshine 2 offers up satisfyingly tactile gunplay, a brilliantly well-paced campaign that’s filled to bursting with wonderful environmental design, huge hordes of zombies to slay, and some of the most impressive set pieces I've seen in a VR title.

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is one of the most haunting and atmospheric survival games of this generation. Small bugs and AI issues here and there mean that it is a little rough around the edges but the game’s world, atmosphere, and combat are breathtaking. Stalker 2 holds nothing back and forces you to play by its rules and is all the more refreshing because of it.

NHL 26 is the best ice hockey game you can buy, but don't go into the experience expecting a casual pick-up and play experience. With incredible realism and excellent presentation, NHL 26 is the closest thing many of us will experience to playing in the intensity of arenas like the Bell Centre. It's a very good sports game, but sometimes you just want to have fun.

Failing to take the franchise into new territory and held back by its ties of the past, there’s simply nowhere for Life is Strange: Double Exposure to go except aimlessly in circles.

Excellent shooting, fluid parkour, and plenty of variety electrify this brief sci-fi adventure. The visuals are superb, but it’s undermined by rocky performance and awkward dialogue throughout.

Small-scale combat and excellent character work combine for a memorable turn-based strategy game. The Lamplighters League doesn’t have the scope or depth of its genre stablemates, but it has a whole lot of heart.

Layers of Fear is a shiny remake with the same dull and slightly uneasy story that plagued the original titles. While it masters elements of a hallucinogenic game with smooth transitions and creative mind-boggling settings, I was never even slightly scared, surprised, or excited.

I can’t help but wish Nintendo offered a skew for the game in the West similar to what has been offered in Japan, where players had the chance to buy the otherwise Switch Online-only NES/Famicom replica controllers with the game in a package not too dissimilar to what we see with controller bundles for Super Mario Party. As a freebie with a controller, this game would feel like a neat curio, and while still not wholly satisfying as a standalone experience would likely offer just about enough to satisfy as a pack-in title. Otherwise, this feels more like a first-round knockout than a championship-winning shot at glory.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is an underwhelming port of a great game. The addition of a single new mode and a handful of hardware features isn’t enough to justify the steep asking price, especially given its online matchmaking limitations. Had Sega offered a cheap upgrade path for existing Puyo Puyo Tetris owners, it would be much easier to recommend.

Mouse P.I. for Hire hits a lot of the right notes with its fast first-person gameplay and brilliant rubberhose-style animation. But on Nintendo Switch 2, the constant frame drops and other technical hiccups hold it back from greatness.

Another Code: Recollection is a modernized way to experience two brilliant puzzle adventure games, but its slow pace makes it harder to recommend to those who aren’t already fans of the genre.

Sonic Superstars brings the series’ 2D formula back in spectacular fashion. It’s brought back physics and momentum that are strikingly close to the Genesis / Mega Drive originals, and combines them with original zones that all offer fun, unique gimmicks. However, boss fights are tedious, and the lack of online co-op stings.

Throne and Liberty is at its core an old-school player-versus-player MMO with a defined focus on world and large-scale group combat. While graphically stunning, an average combat system and a potentially divisive monetization model hold back this otherwise extremely competent MMORPG.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is frustrating. I’ve never seen a game that looks as brilliant as this, but the game’s art direction is let down by so-so combat, awful AI, and weapons that just aren’t satisfying.

John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is a satisfying spiritual successor to World War Z and a moreish co-op zombie shooter with enough new mechanics to stand out. The shift towards larger, more open maps and the addition of vehicles are both enjoyable twists that add more gameplay possibilities than ever and, although the campaign is a little brief, there’s plenty of room for the game to grow like the studio’s previous effort.

Directive 8020 is a welcome evolution of Supermassive’s The Dark Pictures Anthology survival horror series, offering a more forgiving gameplay experience, improved visuals, and new stealth elements. While the core of the gameplay remains, fans may feel divided on these new additions, as the game leans into more traditional survival horror elements than previous titles, but doesn’t quite hit the mark when weighed up against other heavyweights in the sci-fi genre.

Like any game in Grasshopper Manufacture’s offbeat catalog, Romeo is a Dead Man isn’t for everyone. On the surface, it’s a hilariously violent action game with bizarre pop culture references, and the story might alienate players who are more used to titles with straightforward narratives. But dig down a little, and you’ll find that Romeo is a Dead Man deals in immensely rewarding combat, irreverent and varied art styles, and above all, a ton of soul, all in spite of a short runtime.

While it makes for a fun, relatively short co-op jaunt, Little Nightmares 3 doesn’t live up to its predecessors. Puzzles lack complexity, the story lacks heart and, though it’s still a grim world for our protagonists, the fear factor just doesn’t pack enough punch.

The appeals to nostalgia can’t save Life is Strange: Reunion from seeming like a low-budget cash grab that clumsily undermines the narrative of not only the previous instalment, Double Exposure, but also the beloved first game in the series. It mostly functions on a technical level, albeit while looking pretty hideous at times, but its egregious plot leaves me wishing I could "rewind" this sloppy new entry.

Everybody's Golf Hot Shots is honest-to-goodness, pure golfing fun. Better than any recent Mario Golf title, and with enough depth to satisfy those looking for a richer experience, it's a game suitable for a surprisingly wide audience. There are tons to see, do, and unlock, but the game is certainly hampered by extremely slow per-character progression.

Wizard with a Gun promises a sandbox survival experience, but it relies slightly too heavily on its crafting mechanics as you get set up which takes away from the combat side of the game. It's got a few flaws for sure, but it's still fun as long as you're prepared for a bit of repetition.

F1 24’s fantastic Career mode overhaul is the evolution the series’ single-player content needed. New elements like playable real-world drivers, secret team meetings, and on-track objectives all add much-needed depth. Unfortunately, some rather pedestrian AI and minimal updates elsewhere make F1 24 a mild upgrade overall.

Phantom Abyss is a mediocre-at-best roguelike 3D platformer. If you’re desperate to grind an unforgiving game, then you may want to give this a go, but, if not, then this may not be for you.

Manic Mechanics is the perfect game to sit down and play after a long day, that is, if you need an adrenaline boost. The couch co-op’s simple premise is equally exhilarating and frustrating, resulting in a game you just can’t put down.

The Invincible deploys its source material brilliantly in terms of style, aesthetic, and story, however a lot of slow parts, empty spaces, and over-simplistic mechanics and puzzles mean it never really hits truly stellar heights.

At its best, this blacksmith action adventure endears with great characters, engrossing action, and retro simplicity. Attempts to chase industry trends often hold it back.

Lego Horizon Adventures is a funny platformer that avoids adapting the source material’s complex lore and opts for simple, repetitive levels that become tiresome quickly. However, despite heartfelt vocal performances and beautiful world design, Lego Horizon Adventures fails to reach its full potential.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered delivers a welcome visual overhaul to The Last Revelation, Chronicles and The Angel of Darkness with excellent character models, detailed textures and revamped lighting working together to wonderful effect. The modern control schemes across the collection are frustratingly cumbersome but some great quality-of-life improvements and the excellent photo mode features make this remaster a must for longtime fans.

Enotria: The Last Song’s stacks of gameplay systems and offbeat terminology make for a fairly convoluted soulslike experience. However, it brings some cool ideas to the table when it comes to combat and traversal. That, and it’s a simply gorgeous world set against a backdrop of Italian folklore, makes for an incredibly compelling experience. The relatively short length compared to most soulslikes also makes it a digestible game that's worth playing at least once.

Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer gets a lot right, and it’s an addictive, well-thought-out boxing experience with a virtual workout planner that's perfect for beginners. At its best, you can tailor it to create an engaging daily workout, and even I struggled to keep up with its harder difficulty levels. However, it suffers from the same issues as many movement-based games that came before it: it’s easy to cheat yourself out of the experience based on shoddy movement controls.

Code Vein 2 is the very definition of a dream sequel. It improves on almost every aspect of the promising yet flawed original to deliver a surprisingly unique soulslike experience. The shift to an open world is (mostly) successful, experimenting with different builds is a breeze thanks to the revamped Blood Code system, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with this world, its characters, and the tragic stories they tell. If it wasn’t for the game’s shoddy performance on console, I’d say Code Vein 2 is a must-play.

Sniper Elite: Resistance is another great entry into a relatively overlooked stealth franchise. While the game feels a little more like an expansion pack to Sniper Elite 5 rather than a full-fledged sequel, it still hits the highs of the previous entry with great level design and satisfying sniping. Meanwhile, the new Propaganda Challenge mode offers a nice arcade-style distraction.

High on Life 2 boasts an inventive FPS campaign that kept me hooked throughout its runtime thanks to varied level designs and excellent setpieces and bossfights. But skateboarding and its effect on both the speed of the game and the pace of the combat were the real stars of the show. And while there are some groan-worthy jokes, I found the humor to be stronger this time around, mostly thanks to some less obnoxious characters. However, a litany of performance and glitch issues holds it back from true greatness.

King of Meat delivers heaps of content at a reasonable price. It’s a lot of fun when you’re exploring a great dungeon with friends, but the cumbersome platforming means that others can be a slog. The level making and character customization options are top-notch, too, though you’ll have to put up with no shortage of annoying dialogue as you play.

With a strong focus on visual upgrades, this rebuilt take of the 2015 horror romp can feel more like a remaster than a remake. Still, if you've never played the original – or you're a seasoned Blackwood Mountain survivor seeking the game's definitive version – Until Dawn is an easy recommendation.