Whether you’re a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or not, the Cowabunga Collection is without a doubt the most impressive gaming compilation there’s ever been. Collecting 13 hard-to-find games with every possible bit of extra content is an incredible effort, and the fact that most of them are still a blast today is just the icing on the cake. The Cowabunga Collection is truly a shellebration of everything TMNT.

Paper Trail is a beautifully crafted adventure that utilises origami techniques to create a unique puzzle game with cosy vibes, stunning illustrations, and a captivating storyline. It had my attention from the first fold to the final destination, and the journey was beautiful.

Stranger of Paradise is violent, dark, and brilliantly captivating. It’s a must-play for Final Fantasy fans. Steeped in sentiment and lovingly crafted homages to our favourite games, it offers a new mystery to unravel and breaks the mould of what you’d expect from the series. You might miss having a wide world to explore, proper side quests, and all the usual trimmings, but there’s a lot to love about Stranger of Paradise that you won’t find in your back catalogue of FF games.

Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition is a remaster that should have happened years ago, and I’m so glad that the JRPG classic has finally received the respect it deserves in the modern landscape. You seldom see it discussed alongside other genre greats in the mainstream zeitgeist, but perhaps that perception will change now Serge’s iconic adventure is available on a selection of platforms with myriad improvements. Not all of its changes are for the best, but are easy enough to accept when the underlying game is still so masterful.

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider stands shoulder to shoulder with the greats, and all fans of pristinely crafted action games owe it to themselves to give it their attention.

Total War Warhammer 3 is a gift to its fans, a fitting send-off to the trilogy. The real going-away party arrives whenever Mortal Empires shows up, but for now, you can delve into the twisted Chaos Realm and get lost in sprawling battles and text-heavy menus, like any Total War fan.

Gloomhaven is a solid version of the classic tabletop experience that offers turn-based combat, unique classes and abilities, and detailed quests.

The Quarry is an excellent survival horror experience with a strong cast of characters and a startling horror narrative that delights with campy scares and unexpected twists. Fans of Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures need to pick this up, or even those after a spooky outing either alone or with friends. It isn’t the alien abduction story I’ve been waiting for, but it still proves that Supermassive Games is the undisputed king of the genre when it matters.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is a Godsend for AA fans, finally compiling and localising two games that the fanbase have been begging for. While the Ace Attorney formula hasn't actually been changed much, what is here is what the fans adore. Interactions with Herlock Sholmes manage to be a highlight, and uncovering mysteries through twisted testimonies is as satisfying as ever.

What it comes down to is a game that is easy to recommend for fans of the first, but a little hard to review in general. It's a lot of the same stuff and while I enjoyed the co-op more, I can't definitively say this is a better experience. It's still a really great game and one that fans of Castlevania and Bloodstained are sure to enjoy, so don't hesitate to grab it if you liked the first.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space is one of the best asymmetrical horror games so far, standing side-by-side with the likes of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. It’ll be interesting to see if it fares better under the enormous shadow of Dead by Daylight than Sumo Digital’s efforts, but it’s stepping out of the gate with some interesting concepts that reinvent the way the genre plays, making survivors more formidable and killers more tactical, encouraging teamwork and adding so much more depth to each match.

Burning Shores first seemed lackluster in comparison to previous expansions in the series. Frozen Wilds was a refreshing addition to Zero Dawn, and Forbidden West was an even bigger step up, so the slow start in treading familiar territory made me feel like Horizon had potentially lost its flame. I’m so glad to be proven wrong, as it still burns as bright as ever, and with a dauntless new character taking part in one of the most momentous fights we’ve ever seen Aloy face. After this, I’m even more excited to see where the story goes next.

From stoner oracles to gods who have been turned into trees, to the sheer batshittiness of its entire cast of gods and monsters, Immortals Fenyx Rising is a genuine joy to play, and a real treat for Greek mythology lovers. It’s got personality to burn, and both puzzle and combat design capable of mechanically backing it up. It’s a shame that the platforming can be so unforgiving, and that crashes happen far more than you’d like them to, but these are both problems that can be rectified in future updates. Once that happens, Immortals could easily - and surprisingly - go down as one of the best games of the year.

I may not know much about Jotun or tomtes, but I can say for certain that Roki is one of the most magical experiences you can have this year.

Metamorphosis offers a short, but memorable experience for gamers. Exploring the surreal insect world hidden around us is a genuine treat, and uncovering the story of Gregor's disappearance will keep the player hooked until the end credits. Metamorphosis definitely isn't for those who are scared by bugs, but it offers an unforgettable experience for those with the stomach for scuttling around on the floor.

Battle Axe is a hard game, but it never felt frustrating or unfair to play. I can appreciate a game that takes a lot of practice and technical skill, but my favorite thing about Battle Axe is the way that it engages your memory and map knowledge. Once I mastered a particular level’s layout, I felt like the hero of a time loop movie, casually advancing through each zone and deflecting attacks with ease. It’s a beautiful game created by developers that have a genuine love and talent for pixel art. Visually speaking, Battle Axe is pixel perfect. My biggest problem with the game is that I want more of it, and that’s never a bad problem to have.

Overall, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time on Nintendo Switch is well worth picking up if you liked the version that came out on console earlier this year and want a portable copy. It holds up very well on Nintendo’s system, and springs a few surprises with how well it handles everything. As for newcomers, this is probably as close to Warped as we’re going to get, so classic Crash fans should grab it too, even if it’s not quite Crash with all the trimmings.

Forza Motorsport is a beautiful and fast experience, but one that slows itself down to the pace you need while still keeping you solely behind the wheel. You can opt for as little or as much assistance and realism as you desire, and players of all kinds will find exactly what they want from the game. Whether it’s a simulation that you will have to master, or something where you just want to hold accelerate and feel the thrill of racing in a high-speed competitive sport without having to think too much about it, Forza Motorsport is prepared to suit those needs.

PowerWash Simulator 2 proves itself a worthy successor, following a strong first game and a wide range of DLC, and offers a whole host of relaxing and enjoyable gameplay. With a few new quirks thrown in to make it more exciting, and a couple of much-needed changes, it’s easy to say that - even with a couple of niggles, some of which are returning frustrations - if you loved the first one, you’ll love the sequel as well.

Final Fantasy 16 is a bold new benchmark for the series that puts emotional complexity and courageous world building at the forefront. Clive Rosfield’s epic journey is defined by constant bouts of hurt and tragedy, but it’s also lined with an inescapable aura of hope in how our heroes are fighting for a world worth saving. Every person you meet and village saved from ruin are worth protecting, with heartfelt dialogue and ferocious combat mixing together in service of an RPG that, while flawed and glacial in some spots, I’d struggle to label as anything other than a triumph.

Astro’s Playroom asks you over and over to fondly remember the memories that you and Grandpa PlayStation made together. But, more importantly, it’s a promise of new and treasured memories to come.

All in all, Nightdive has done right by System Shock 2, and with this remaster, the next generation of players can enjoy this classic with all of the bells and whistles of a modern release: It's a net good for gaming, and, as a result, something worth doing.

Don’t Stop, Girlypop will not be for everyone, but far too many games are seemingly made for everyone these days and lack a sense of personality and flavour. Don’t Stop, Girlypop certainly doesn’t lack for that, and is all the better for it. A great shooter with a lot of flair, I wish it followed its own ‘don’t stop moving!’ tagline a little more consistently, but it’s still a fantastic experience. A glitter-soaked, midnight raving, psychedelic pink fantastic experience that could be the shake up the shooter genre needs.

Otherwise, Tanuki Justice is an absolute delight. The 8-bit graphics are about as detailed as you can get, with backdrops and background animations that are brought to life, thanks to the game’s vibrant colors and smooth animations. There were moments when I forgot I was playing a Switch game, since Tanuki Justice does a great job of providing a NES feel while playing, with a shoot ‘em up factor that brings the gameplay into the modern era.

The Star Force Legacy Collection brings back the underrated spin-off in the best way possible. It looks and plays better than ever while also featuring a number of worthwhile bonuses both hardcore fans and newcomers alike will appreciate. There are a few remaining flaws to take into account, but seldom did these truly infringe upon the experience.

What I find most remarkable about Sea of Stars is that, despite not caring all that much about its characters, the gameplay was good enough that I was invested throughout. Managing the meters of each battle, and exploring the colorful landscapes and dungeons that connect them, is so entertaining that my quibbles about other aspects couldn't bring the experience down. The story isn't especially compelling, but it perfectly serves the purpose it needs to: getting you from the fun of A to the fun of B without any real hiccups in between. Howard Hawks once said that a movie needs "three good scenes and no bad ones" to be great. That's what Sea of Stars has going for it. Nothing that'll bother you too much, and plenty of good.

Nightdive had almost an impossible task revitalising System Shock, and yet it’s done so effortlessly. The level to which it manages to remain faithful to the original while also very much being a modern game released in 2023 is impressive. It may be let down slightly by wonky cyberspace and some less-than-Shodan-level AI, but this is easily the best way for people today to experience one of the most genre-defining games of all time.

Hayfever might not be a revolutionary platforming experience, but it strikes a solid balance of fun and difficulty that makes it worth picking up, especially with it’s replayability and appeal to completionists. Cabin fever may be running rampant right now, but Hayfever can certainly help combat some of that boredom.