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.