Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer is another excellent addition to developer Hamster’s collection of preserved arcade classics. Having the arcade version of the original Ridge Racer on Switch 2 is a real blessing, and its support for online leaderboards allow for quickfire, moreish handheld play. It’s certainly not the most feature-rich game in the series, but a handful of modes and satisfyingly simple gameplay have kept me coming back.

Fast Fusion is a very impressive showcase of the Switch 2’s graphical capabilities. A decent range of tracks and the awesome fusion mechanic definitely make it worth checking out (especially at its unbelievably low price tag), though some frustrations with progression and borderline unfair AI rubber-banding hamper the overall experience.

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.

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.

Just like real-life golf, PGA Tour 2K25 is a hearty mix of satisfaction and frustration. The former comes from its excellent shot crafting and wonderful shot-to-shot golf play which is moreish and multifaceted. The latter comes in the form of disappointing commentary and audio, a dizzying amount of transition screens, some missteps in skills, and the glaring absence of the most famous courses and tournaments which still keep it firmly in EA Sports PGA Tour’s shadow.

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.

Miasma Chronicles brings all of the right ingredients to the table; it’s raw and gritty yet earnest and charming, built around an engaging narrative and an endearing host of characters. The issue is, it’s undercooked. Stuttering animations, a gappy tutorial, and untapped RPG potential make for an occasionally grueling, albeit still very enjoyable game.

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.

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.

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.

If you can look beyond some janky fights and want to experience a unique setting, there’s fun to be had in Black Myth: Wukong.

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.

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.

Days Gone Remastered looks and feels better than the original, offering welcome accessibility features, more challenge, and enhanced visuals. But the old issues, primarily poor pacing, underwhelming story, and repetition, plague this open-world adventure. If you're looking for a decent zombie-slaying survival game, you'll be satisfied with this but don't expect a bump-free ride.

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.

Every night in Hinterberg ends with a Stardew Valley-esque recap of your day that encapsulates the game’s innovative blend of dungeon crawling and social simulation. You’re reminded of the undead Miner’s Widow you conquered, alongside the HP you gained from meditation. Staring down the barrel of another day of dungeoneering can be offputting, especially with the prospect of an over-familiar puzzle or frustrating fight on the horizon. Still, Dungeons of Hinterberg’s personable cast and stunning environments provided the necessary pockets of reprieve that kept me wanting to wake up and face the day every next morning.

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.

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.

The First Berserker: Khazan is one of the toughest action games and soulslikes in recent years. It's relentlessly punishing, with challenging spectacle fights and bosses to overcome. However, each challenge you do topple leads a sense of satisfaction that harkens back to the genre’s origins when everyone was less experienced at these games. That combat is only let down by a somewhat overwhelming story for newcomers to the Dungeon & Fighter (DNF) universe, a lack of accessibility options besides an easy difficulty, and a gear crafting system that feels unnecessary.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is finally a definitive way to play Retro Studios first Donkey Kong adventure that’s untethered from forced motion controls of the Nintendo Wii or the performance of the Nintendo 3DS. However, outside of that, it brings nothing new to what is probably the weakest entry in the series, apart from a high price point.

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.

There’s a lot of fun to be had in F1 25, largely thanks to the excellent Braking Point 3 campaign and a very welcome upgrade to the My Team career mode. That said, most modes remain practically unchanged from last year’s entry, leaving the series feeling like it's spinning its wheels somewhat. Here’s hoping Codemasters has some big changes planned for next year’s game in line with the sport’s real-world regulation changes.