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.

While Mario & Luigi: Brothership doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it’s a solid RPG with fun mechanics and lovable characters. New additions like Luigi Logic and Plugs make for satisfying combat, while overworld exploration benefits from the new Bros Moves and ample puzzles with a decent amount of variety. However, the game does suffer from what is emerging as the Nintendo Switch generational curse; frame rate drops, as well as some pacing issues in the late game.

Slitterhead won’t be for everyone due to its quirks, it’s a bit clunky and reuses content frequently. But behind its issues lies one of the most unique titles of the past few years. With a great mystery story, impressive world-building for a debut, and a possession mechanic that adds an extra strategic layer to combat. Slitterhead lives up to its pedigree.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is an outstanding first-person shooter package that offers a thrilling blockbuster campaign with some of the best graphics on the market. Its polished multiplayer is fast-paced and intense, bringing the franchise to new heights despite a few poorly balanced maps, and the cooperative zombies mode is the absolute best it’s been in years.

Batman: Arkham Shadow is a full-on AAA VR experience that everyone with a Meta Quest 3 or 3S should try, and people who don't have either headset need to get one to play this game.

Horizon: Zero Dawn Remastered may not have been entirely necessary, but for just a few dollars it remains a great showcase of the PS5’s graphical prowess. Whether that’s enough for anyone who’s beaten it already will be down to your preference.

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.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a mightily impressive return to the fantasy series offering engaging combat and a charming cast of supporting characters - but it never quite escapes the orbit of its predecessors.

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.

Sonic x Shadow Generations bundles the original Sonic Generations and a new Shadow Generations campaign in one thrilling package. Whether you’re a fan of Sonic’s rival-turned-ally or not, his side of the game is filled with some of the best, most well-designed levels in the series’ 3D history.

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.

Just Dance VR would have been perfect a few years ago, but the dated track list and the fact that it doesn't take full advantage of the VR medium leaves me wanting more.

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.

Whether you’re familiar with Atlus’s flavor of turn-based RPGs or not, Metaphor: ReFantazio is an essential play. The developer has built on its legendary ‘press turn’ combat with the innovative Archetype system, allowing for an unprecedented amount of customization and party composition when compared to its other popular series. Throw in a constantly gripping, politically-charged narrative and a diverse cast of wonderful characters and you have what is absolutely the best RPG of the year and a certified modern classic.

Super Mario Party Jamboree doesn’t break new ground but takes the best of the series’ past and present to make a big celebratory package, best experienced at get-togethers where the real magic (and carnage) happens.

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.

Silent Hill 2 is a visually stunning remake that captures much of the original's ambiance, but it could be more delicate with its difficult themes and pacing.

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.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a charming follow-up to Link's Awakening that builds on that game’s beautiful aesthetic while introducing just enough new mechanics to feel truly distinct. The dubious performance and repetitive combat can drag, but this is largely an excellent adventure throughout.

Frostpunk 2 is a brutal but beautiful city builder that laughs with you as you try and fail to survive in a treacherous, icy purgatory.

For many, all Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics needs to be is a functioning, accessible way to play some of Capcom’s most beloved classic fighting games on modern hardware. The great news is that this seven-game compilation is just that, with feature-complete arcade versions of each game fitted with all-new training modes as well as casual and ranked online play. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is the clear star of the show, with quality varying between the other featured games, but all are worth checking out regardless.

Astro Bot combines engrossing platforming mechanics across masterfully designed levels that are filled with fun obstacles and collectibles. It stands up to gaming’s biggest giants like Mario and Sonic as a result and is a joyous Game of the Year contender.

Space Marine 2 is a well-crafted power trip elevated by stellar combat and awe-inspiring visuals. Though it lacks depth in some places and overreaches in others, fans of Warhammer 40,000 or third-person action games will find themselves well served here.

One of the weakest (but still entertaining) games in the franchise coupled with one of the best, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is an inconsistent pairing that remains thrilling throughout.

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.

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.

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.

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.