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.

The game itself looks fantastic, with each contained level allowing for a huge amount of detail that would be impossible if this was a large open-world game. [Hands-On Impressions]

Still, Aphelion is simultaneously riveting and isolating outside of these weak spots. The pacing is sublime; the game only takes about eight to 10 hours to complete, and each chapter doesn’t overstay its welcome. Ariane and Thomas demonstrate that even when people are physically apart, absence only makes the heart grow fonder.

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss doesn’t truly excel at anything, chucks in a few unnecessary mechanics, and can be technically wobbly, but fans of cosmic horror and in-depth puzzle-solving will surely enjoy it as a perfectly competent investigation game that offers a sinister and spooky edge.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is a delight, with superb character customization and plenty of charming humor. Its hands-off nature won’t be for everyone, and the lack of a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 version is a missed opportunity, but there’s still no other game that offers its special brand of unapologetic weirdness.

From the intriguing narrative and wonderful Lunar setting to its multifaceted and moreish combat, Pragmata is a joy to experience. Hugh and Diana’s trek through an AI-powered moonbase gone bad is full of satisfying combat encounters and puzzles in some exceptionally cool environments, with only a few wrinkles.

It’s a lovely celebration of Japanese car culture, complete with little references to popular racing manga Initial D and many other petrolhead details that I’m sure I missed. [Hands-On Impressions]

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.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park is the definitive way to play the greatest 2D Mario game in a generation. With revamped visuals, entertaining new boss battles, and an Assist Mode for younger players, there’s a lot to love here. The new multiplayer minigames are, admittedly, a bit hit-and-miss, and some single-player content, like decorating Bellabel Park, may not entice owners of the Switch original to upgrade. But still, this is a strong overall package, and a must-buy for those who have never played Super Mario Bros. Wonder before.

Marathon looks great and benefits from some excellent moment-to-moment action, especially if you’re playing with friends. Even so, the clear lack of content, terrible cosmetics, and abundance of repetitive fetch quests give you few compelling reasons to keep coming back for more once the initial burst of excitement wears off.

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.

A handful of ill-conceived alterations prevent Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake from being quite as compelling as its legendary predecessor, but it’s still a strong survival horror game elevated by a memorable narrative and impressive production values.

Despite awful PC performance dragging down the gorgeous visuals, 1348 Ex Voto excels at offering satisfying sword combat in an enjoyable, bite-sized adventure. However, as a whole package, it wasn't able to keep me invested in a story that I would otherwise love had there been more time spent developing its central relationship.

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.

GreedFall: The Dying World could have been a triumphant fresh start for a setting with a rocky foundation - providing Spiders with a true breakthrough mainstream hit. While offering a trek through some beautifully realized forests and cities, it unfortunately fails to deliver either an engaging strategic challenge or a narrative that competently handles the difficult themes it wants to explore.

God of War Sons of Sparta offers a fresh take on the iconic action franchise that won't be everyone's cup of tea. On top of representing a significant – and undoubtedly scaled-down – departure for the beloved series, it also suffers from a slow start. That said, Sons of Sparta comes into its own a few hours in, delivering a compelling prequel story supported by a solid metroidvania structure. It also "clicks" on the PlayStation Portal, looking and playing like a game that was made for the portable device.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is a visually striking expansion of Capcom’s beloved series, artfully adapting its core combat principles while maintaining the gnarly monster designs. A pool of side quests muddies the pacing somewhat, made worse by inconsistent platforming across the open world. Still, warm writing and lively vocal performances more than make up for what it lacks. If you’re looking for a rich world to sink hours into, look no further.

Avowed was already a pretty great action role-playing game when it arrived on Xbox platforms and PC last year, but its PlayStation 5 port is even better largely due to its excellent integration of the DualSense controller's adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. Coupled with an anniversary update absolutely brimming with fresh features and compelling content, the added immersion delivered through the gamepad easily makes this the best way to brave the Living Lands and battle the Dreamscourge.

WWE 2K26 once again sees 2K improve on its yearly release, but like with other years, there's always a downside to go along with it. This year's MyRise feels undercooked, and the Ringside Pass locks paid DLC behind progression that takes an age to move forward. It's still a top-of-the-line grappler, but frustrating choices hold it back.

Pokémon Pokopia was always bound to be up there among my most-played games of 2026, but even I underestimated how well Nintendo would tackle its latest town-building / cozy life sim. It’s story-driven, offering a great gameplay loop, inventive mechanics, and very few friction points; Nintendo clearly learned from some of Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ quality-of-life hiccups. My only wish would be for a little more individuality in Poké-personalities, but it’s still plenty charming as it is.

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.

Resident Evil Requiem shines in its incredible first half, which masterfully blends pulse-pounding horror with intense action. Unfortunately, that winning formula isn’t maintained throughout the latter sections, which devolve into fan-service moments strung together by an increasingly sloppy plot. Still enjoyable, but ironic that an instalment about moving on from the past would be so weighed down by it.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In truth, I wasn’t all that sure Mewgenics could win my heart the way its predecessor, The Binding of Isaac, did, but I’m glad to have been proved sorely wrong by this inventive and complex turn-based roguelike. Beneath the veil of crassness and feline fornication lives a well-paced and content-packed adventure that demands strategic thinking. Yes, its humor feels dated in places, but it stands as a testament to the enduring charm of whimsical, tongue-in-cheek indie games.

Nioh 3 is a brilliant evolution of the series’ formula. This third entry mostly heightens the strengths of its predecessors, while simultaneously streamlining and improving things that didn’t work so well. Meanwhile, its emphasis on switching between Samurai and Ninja styles - in addition to a successful shift to a semi-open-world format - makes Nioh 3 the franchise's most fleshed-out and polished experience to date.

You could tell me Dragon Quest VII Reimagined was an entirely new game released for the first time in 2026 and I’d believe you. At the same time it stays undeniably true to the original, with still enough tweaks to feel more approachable than many other RPGs.

Cairn is an extremely good and beautifully made climbing game that is exceptional at executing the one specific thing it's trying to recreate. If you go in knowing that and are on board with it, then you'll find a tough yet massively rewarding experience, but some frustrations could cause others to completely bounce off it.

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.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on the Switch 2 is the second-best way to play the best way to play FFVII. It's wonderful to be able to take this game on the go, but the graphical downgrades might not appeal to folks with access to more powerful hardware.

MIO: Memories in Orbit doesn't quite hit the highs of the genre greats, but developer Douze Dixièmes clearly understands what makes a Metroidvania sing, with a stylish, thoughtful, and enjoyable adventure. It starts slowly, and a few elements aren't fully realised, but this is a fabulous game for newcomers and fans of the genre who will feel right at home.

Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition is an incredible port that delivers smooth performance in addition to a formidable level of detail and impressive ray-tracing effects. With all the game’s significant downloadable content included at a fantastic value price, this is a must-have experience for any Nintendo Switch 2 owner.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows feels surprisingly at home on Nintendo Switch 2. Despite some understandable cuts to the visual quality it remains an immersive, satisfying, and well-rendered gaming experience. Unfortunately, small issues with the frame rate and input lag can frustrate throughout the game, but following a very successful first patch, the road to optimization is clear.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 has been ported effectively to Nintendo Switch 2, with performance that compares well with the PS4 version in both handheld and docked mode. Sure, some of the technical issues from the past still stand – the targeted 30fps framerate and occasional drops cause gameplay to lack the fluidity of the first Yakuza Kiwami – but the streamlined combat, engaging story, and typical zaniness of the series is strong here. The Dragon of Dojima still gets a solid outing on Switch 2.

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.

Yakuza Kiwami feels great on Nintendo Switch 2, and performs at a smooth 60fps, displaying at 1080p. Loading times are kept snappy, and with a rare exception, cutscenes look as good as you’d hope. Kiwami itself is an excellent remake of the first game in a legendary series, and its simplistic yet addictive combat, engaging story, and surreal substories mean it's still a smash hit.

Dispatch is no repeat of the tired, mature superhero story, but rather a heartfelt adventure about former villains looking for a second chance. With a cast of lovable characters voiced by an all-star cast, impressive interactive gameplay, and all wrapped in a gorgeous animated art style, AdHoc Studio's debut title is the underdog of the year that has reopened the door that I thought was long closed on the episodic, choice-based narrative genre.

Octopath Traveler 0 is another excellent RPG in this new-era classic franchise. But while there's an awful lot to love here, this entry also shaves off some of the unique identity that Octopath has carved for itself. Tell me this is Final Fantasy, and I'd believe you.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond can't possibly live up to years and years of anticipation, but that's not to say it's a disappointment. Drop-dead gorgeous visuals pair with stunning environments and a uniquely alien atmosphere. Its massive open desert is a slog to get through, however - even on Samus's new bike - but Beyond is nonetheless an adventure that's tough to put down, flaws and all.

Having braved the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone on Xbox last year, I was already won over by Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl's unique blend of first-person shooter, survival horror, and punishing open-world. But thanks to the PS5 version's bug-free, polished launch, notable graphical upgrades, and immersion-cranking DualSense integration, those feelings have been solidified.

With stellar gunplay and great maps, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has some of the best multiplayer and zombies action in the series so far. The intriguing new Endgame mode is also a highlight, so it’s a huge shame that the rest of the co-op campaign is a rushed and sloppy mess that drags the overall package down.

Kirby Air Riders feels like a combination of Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. at their most chaotic. You’ll have to carefully balance battering rival riders while also out-speeding them, all while mastering seemingly simple controls – controls that actually require significant skill to master. The game is vibrant and visually stimulating, and also offers a great line-up of characters and customization tools. But it’s not quite perfect.

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.

The pre-launch hype, understandably, got wildly out of control for Football Manager 26, and even though Sports Interactive was somewhat transparent about features being removed, nobody expected just how buggy and half-baked the final product would be. It's still Football Manager, and there's still a lot to love, but it's abundantly clear this game was only released because it had to be contractually. Keep playing Football Manager 2024, and wait until Football Manager 27 if you don't think you'll be able to stomach missing features and buggy UI.

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.

Arc Raiders is the first extraction shooter that truly feels built for everyone. It blends tension, atmosphere, and unexpected humanity into a world that begs you to risk it all for one more haul. Arc Raiders captures the magic that made us fall in love with multiplayer in the first place. It’s polished, accessible, and impossible to put down. This is truly one of the year’s absolute best.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a beautiful and refined city builder that’s almost impossible to put down. It’s more approachable than its predecessor and is full of quality of life changes that fans will love, but it undeniably lacks the same level of depth and complexity - especially if you’re starting out in the Albion setting.

Despite some audio issues and janky animations, Tales of Xillia Remastered proves the classic game was worthy of being brought back in 2025. The smooth graphics and fluid gameplay make for a very enjoyable experience, even for fans of the original. For newcomers, the stellar cast of characters, intense plot, and excellent customization are worth the price of admission.

Battlefield REDSEC is a pretty uninteresting and derivative take on the battle royale genre, one that makes me wonder whether there's much life left in this particular style of game. There's no doubting how well Battlefield fits into a Battle Royale, however, with awesome class-integration, impressive destructibility, and a streamlined launch offering that harkens back to better times.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage is the latest edition of the two-decades-old (yes, really) 3D fighting game, and one that finally makes it available for modern consoles. It plays as well as it ever has, with a steep but mega satisfying learning curve, and an incredibly diverse roster of characters. World Stage mode is a fun little single player addition, but lackluster customization and long matchmaking times remain as the game’s weak points.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a huge improvement over Age of Calamity. It offers more characters with interesting move sets, decent performance, and a story that doesn’t relegate itself to being a meaningless ‘what if’ scenario. Said story here does miss some open goals here and there, and the inevitable Musou repetition can set in during longer sessions. But overall, Age of Imprisonment delivers an incredibly satisfying Warriors experience with delectable Zelda flavor.

Despite small nitpicks such as recycled events and an at-times rough user interface, Europa Universalis 5 is a fantastic grand strategy game. Extremely complex but well worth the effort it takes to learn, this game feels like developer Paradox has learned the lessons of the last 15 years of its games.

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is an absolute triumph. It brings a gorgeous visual overhaul, addictive turn-based combat, and top-tier quality of life updates to the table. I was wowed by its orchestral score, and by the high-reward exploration throughout. Voice acting is brilliant too – I just wish there was more of it. Overall, this is a shining example of what a remake should be, and playing through this duology has been a real highlight of my year in gaming.

All of the groundwork is there for this Hobbit life simulator to be a delightful jaunt through the rolling hills of Tolkien’s imagination, but the execution is lacking on almost every front. From bugs and poor optimization to uninspired dialogue and ill-paced progression, Tales of the Shire takes what should be a reflection on the lessons we might learn from Middle-earth’s most humble of races and mangles it into a bleak reminder that the “simple life” is no fun at all.

The Outer Worlds 2’s collection of medium-sized immersive sim-like sandboxes are brimming with detail and avenues for creative exploration. There are some minor missteps, however, namely in moments where the pacing slows down to a trudge, making for uneven momentum in how the adventure plays out. Like Obsidian’s finest games, its latest offering teems with brilliant, witty dialog, strong anti-capitalist themes, and a plot where your decision-making can lead you down truly unpredictable paths.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is a behemoth park management sim. It offers an engaging campaign, the opportunity to revive, breed, and genetically upgrade dinosaurs, and the ability to build your own scenery from scratch. But I’d still like more scope to flex my creative muscles, and certain mechanics like managing dinosaurs’ comfort become a bit of a chore. A satisfying evolution, but it’ll require some tweaks to become truly great.

Just Dance 2026 Edition is a confident and innovative entry in the long-running party series. With beautiful music videos, strong choreography, a varied track list, and fantastic new camera controls, this instalment is the best yet.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is the best game Team Ninja has put out since Nioh 2, and for co-developer PlatinumGames it’s easily its strongest project since 2019’s Astral Chain. A boisterous, blood-drenched character action game, Ninja Gaiden 4 combines the rock-solid difficulty of its predecessors with Platinum’s prowess for satisfying, fast-paced combat. Some levels do drag on with dull platforming sections, but few games this year match the unapologetic thrills of Ninja Gaiden 4’s brutally brilliant combat.

Keeper is a refreshingly creative game out of Xbox-owned studio Double Fine Productions, where you take control of a sentient lighthouse to journey to the top of a mountain with the company of a bird friend. Simple puzzles, tight camera angles, and varied traversal keep the game ticking along, but a lack of extra depth to the world or the story made Keeper feel a little one-note and not as weird as it might think it is.

A cobbled-together walking simulator with a dead world and poorly paced linear narrative that’s unconvincingly pretending to be an action RPG. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is a disaster and not the sequel its legendary predecessor needed or deserved.

People often say you can't reinvent the wheel. Pokémon Legends: Z-A proves that sometimes you can improve on perfection, and while some changes need some fine-tuning, the experience it delivers is one I hope I'll see again from this franchise.

Battlefield 6 isn’t the most exciting or innovative entry in the series so far, but it still delivers one of the strongest multiplayer offerings yet. Well-designed maps and the returning class system elevate matches, which especially shine in the new Escalation mode. It’s just a shame that the quality of the online play does not extend to the single-player campaign.

Trials in the Sky 1st Chapter is a fantastic remake and a wonderful introduction into the wider series. Overhauled combat is executed with finesse, while quality of life and visual improvements make the world feel so much more immersive. There are some small localization issues and offbeat, partially voiced segments, but that doesn’t detract all too much from the engaging story and charismatic cast. This is a must-play for JRPG devotees, and one of my personal favorite releases of 2025.

Star Wars: Beyond Victory has all the parts required to be an amazing VR game. It just assembles these components in an unsatisfying way that leads to an experience I can’t recommend, even to a mega fan.

Rarely does a sequel so perfectly develop upon its predecessor's excellence as Hades 2 does while still retaining everything that made the original so great. While adding meaningful features, building upon the world, and mixing up the gameplay, it manages to remain balanced and free from bloat.

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.

The definitive way to play two of the best Mario adventures of all time. If you've never experienced either Super Mario Galaxy or Super Mario Galaxy 2, now is the time to do so: Two magical adventures with addictive level design and an incredible soundtrack. Both games could be on any Mount Rushmore of Nintendo titles.

Ghost of Yotei feels a little like the PS5 exclusive we’ve been waiting for, and a truly great sequel - though not quite a perfect one. Its visceral, bloody combat, wonderful world and map, sense of exploration, and gripping epic tale are true highlights. And while there are a few imperfections, and it really does wear the influence of its predecessor boldly on its sleeve, it's an adventure and landscape to sink hours and hours of enjoyment into.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a faithful, yet expanded remaster of a genre-defining classic that gets it right where it matters most. Upgraded visuals, a fast-forward option, and auto-saving go a long way in making Tactics accessible for returning fans and newcomers alike. The voice acting is, at times, a little underwhelming, the camera can still be a touch awkward, and some difficulty spikes can be crushing. But still, an epic story, great score, and pleasingly deep combat make this a must-play for tactical RPG fanatics.

It may not be set in the titular town, but Silent Hill f undoubtedly encompasses the essence of the series with a dark, twisted, and emotionally weighty tale of psychological horror. It also takes plenty of imaginative and creative risks that are fantastic and flawed in equal measure. It would be an even more special game if only it weren't plagued by an inconsistent atmosphere and some of the most miserable combat I've ever experienced.

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.

Dying Light: The Beast went from potential expansion to a fully-fledged sequel, and although its origins are on full display in its narrative and protagonist, it never feels constrained by them. This is a fresh entry into the popular zombie-smashing franchise, taking the action from the city streets to a sleepy Alpine resort, but it's a welcome change of pace that opens up new and exciting ways to kill truckloads of infected Z-heads - it's just a shame that the human enemies still aren't all that interesting to fight.

The visually stunning world of Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is compelling and full of heart, staking its claim in the bustling roguelite genre with its unique dual-character mechanic. Its cast of vibrant characters, both in your party and in the hub area, fills the journey with depth, though sometimes a little at the expense of the pacing, but still makes for a thoroughly enjoyable adventure.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds isn’t just the best racing game of the year; it brings a confidence and energy that the genre has rarely seen over the past decade and a half. Especially as arcade-like experiences have largely given way to more straight-faced sim racing affairs. CrossWorlds offers a metric ton of things to do, with loads of tracks, characters, vehicles, and unlockables. The racing itself is also plenty addicting, thrilling, and - most importantly - blazingly fast. Some side modes feel a little underbaked, but this is an incredibly strong package where you absolutely get what you pay for.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is so much more than I expected from a sequel, deftly avoiding the pitfalls that come with following up from one of the best indie games. Team Cherry’s second masterpiece is not for everyone, but it’s absolutely proven to be worth the wait. It rewards patience in its combat, platforming, and exploration, before daring the player to take big risks during boss fights. Frustrating map design decisions and a tendency to punish the player early on dampen the experience from time to time, but make no mistake, Silksong is every bit as great as its predecessor.

Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush gives you a neat, though largely empty, rendition of DK Island to explore and a cool side mode to master. It’s a fun little extra that would’ve made for a fantastic free update, but it's certainly not worth the relatively steep asking price.

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.

Borderlands 4 surprised me. After not gelling with the series’ prior two entries, the fourth mainline instalment provides some of the most fun I’ve ever had with the quirky looter shooter. Its characters are well-written and not lacking in charm, but most importantly, Gearbox has achieved something I thought impossible: making Claptrap likeable. Some performance issues do need ironing out - especially on PC - and I wish some of the side challenges were a bit more fulfilling. But overall, this is easily the best Borderlands has ever been; yes, even when stacked up to the iconic first sequel.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion clearly takes inspiration from the Xenoblade Chronicles series with huge open maps and deeply customizable mech suits. The game nails the customization and has some cool ideas all its own, like the superb fusion system. Unfortunately, it does very little with its open spaces, and they aren’t particularly visually interesting. With bland interior levels, shallow side missions, and rather listless combat, it’s ultimately a game that feels half-baked.

Sword Of The Sea takes the vivid template drawn in previous titles Journey, Abzû, and The Pathless into boundlessly creative new territory. Across eight levels, you traverse landscapes ablaze with life and reawaken vibrant imagined worlds. It’s a majestic, immersive – and mostly convincing – celebration of extreme sports and a reflection on Earth’s disintegrating environment in an era of climate change.

The NBA series has never been short of things to do for long time fans, but the way NBA 2K26 knits together its vast array of online and offline modes now makes for some of the best on-court action the series has ever seen. I grew to enjoy last year’s game, but I’m enraptured with this one right from the first tip-off.

Lost Soul Aside is a competently made action game filled with phenomenal combat and cinematic battles. It has some compelling visuals and environments, but PC performance is lackluster, resulting in frequent hitches and distractions. The story isn’t the most engaging and has awkward platforming mechanics too.

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.

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.

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.

If you’ve never played Helldivers 2, the game is now somehow even more fun than it was last year. A third enemy faction, new vehicles and mechs, a ton of new guns and customization options make it feel much more fleshed out than it was when dropping in at launch. With that comes some minor issues, however, many of which could be fixed with some kind of cross-save functionality. Still, if you’ve not enlisted to defend Super Earth yet, it’s time to do your part.

Hell Is Us feels like a game that can't quite decide whether it wants to be a soulslike or not, but the result is still a fantastic experience that is compelling and worthy of high praise. The game borrows FromSoft's excellent combat and dark world-building to create a solid action-adventure game with a twisted real-world setting, filled with memorable moments and stunning - if bleak - vistas. I just wish there was a little more substance; a lack of weapon and enemy variety, plus an all-too-short finale, hold it back from true greatness.

It might not be the most challenging platformer around, but this updated version of Kirby and The Forgotten Land is a worthwhile upgrade for existing owners or a fantastic starting point for newcomers. The new Star-Crossed World expansion makes excellent use of the base game, though I’d have still appreciated trickier boss fights and maybe some more Mouthful abilities.

Beneath all of the enhancements, Gears of War: Reloaded is the same ultra-violent adventure starring everyone's favorite group of gruff, foul-mouthed soldiers and their chainsaw-sporting guns. The fact that this previously Xbox-exclusive game is now available on PlayStation for the first time is a clear sign of changing times, but one thing hasn't changed a bit: it's still just as fun mowing through grubs now as it was in 2006.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance triumphs at what it sets out to achieve. A side-scrolling action game, it brings intense, fast-flowing combat and some very light metroidvania elements for brief bouts of exploration. If you’ve played developer Lizardcube’s previous game, Streets of Rage 4, expect a similarly stunning hand-drawn art style here, as well as an excellent soundtrack that keeps the action feeling suitably engaging. Make no mistake, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a game of the year contender and essential play for action game fans.

Herdling is undoubtedly an indie gem, but not without its flaws. While it's visually stunning and creative, the gameplay needs work in certain areas. However, Herdling finds its stride when racing through the more open passages of the game, and there's decent replayability to this quick adventure.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a fantastic version of an absolute masterpiece, and one I’d wholly recommend to anyone. As a remake, it’s incredibly beholden to the original, to a point that is almost too faithful outside of minor tweaks to gameplay and a visual overhaul. That isn’t inherently a bad thing, but does mean it won’t have too much fresh to offer those returning to it.

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.

Easily the definitive version of the game, and the one I craved for since playing it the first time around, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced on PS5 is a triumph. Senua’s bleak, miserable, and absorbing Icelandic tale gets some excellent graphical upgrades and is a staggeringly beautiful with incredible levels of immersion, thanks to its audio-visual execution and exquisite performance and quality on PS5 and PS5 Pro.

WWE 2K25 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition finally brings the thrill of the wrestling ring to handheld, allowing users to battle on the go with similar performance and gameplay to their home console. With a wide variety of game modes to choose from, including The Bloodline’s 2K Showcase, My Rise, and Universe, to name a few, WWE 2K25 on Switch 2 is the wrestling game fans have always dreamed of: the best of sports entertainment in your pocket.