There’s something very compelling at work in Bladesong. The sense of desperation, danger and destitution run through the opening hours of the Campaign with alarming force, and in some ways the smithing and swordmaking is simply the means to explore and experience more of this world. I love the writing, and the classic adventure threads that run through each moment really help to pull you onwards. [Early Access Review]

A welcome and massively enjoyable return to Pandora, From The Ashes is an ideal accompaniment to Avatar: Fire and Ash, and one which should further cement the series in sci-fi fans’ hearts.

The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy VII Remake Integrade arrives in stunning form, with very few compromises made bringing it across to Nintendo’s newest hardware. It’s an essential purchase for RPG fans who haven’t had the chance to play this reimagined saga.

MIO: Memories In Orbit is an early contender for one of the most memorable games of 2026. It is an incredibly challenging game to play, with combat being a highlight, even if some platforming section can be frustrating. It looks fantastic, though, and the story is well told. MIO: Memories In Orbit draws you in, and does not let go easily. It is hard game but the journey is worth experiencing.

It's not often I see a game that has one interesting idea that it leans on it so heavily that it snaps. "No creation without destruction" or not, there isn't enough game here to wrap around the cool visuals and the issue is so egregious that you grow tired of those visuals very quickly. Boring and frustrating, the only dream you'll have here is of playing another game.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a serious return to form for the series after the wayward Dynasty Warriors 9, and it's thoroughly enjoyable on Nintendo Switch 2. This version of the game retains all of the key gameplay elements that made it such a triumph, and while the 30fps locked frame rate may disappoint some diehard fanatics, this is an excellent port of one of 2025’s best games.

Ultimately, Let It Die: Inferno has too many flaws to look past, especially when so many of those flaws are related to the base gameplay loop and experience. It can be fun and sometimes rewarding to dig through a janky game for a satisfying gameplay or story experience, but that isn't the case here. While the game looks and feels just like the original at a glance, it isn't a game I see myself putting nearly as much time into, or remembering nearly as fondly.

Unlike anything you’ve ever played before, Popucom is the inventive family fun the Switch was made for. With a unique charm and smart accessibility choices that mean everyone can join in, this third-person puzzle ‘em up is going to keep our family occupied for some time to come.

DuneCrawl is an interesting game that blends together giant crab combat, dungeoneering and multiplayer shenanigans. It's fun enough, but I really wish it did a little bit more with the more unusual aspects of its game design.

Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- is an incredible non-linear roleplaying experience, and the ultimate game to lose yourself in. The lack of direction and open-ended storytelling can be overwhelming at first, but if you dive into it and take your time with it you'll end up crafting an incredible adventure that's all yours.

There are some interesting ideas in War Sails but there’s a good reason why naval warfare was never a core part of the Bannerlord package. Sea battles just aren’t that appealing, lacking any kind of rewarding strategic depth or enjoyability. However, for those wanting a fresh way of tackling the campaign map, War Sails introduces new tactical opportunities and a layer of ship management some Bannerlord players will find themselves engrossed in. In short, this isn’t a must-buy expansion and for new players we’d recommend sticking with the base game.

Big Hops is a good new 3D platformer that will draw plenty of fans with its fun abilities and locations to explore. My playthrough was affected by bugs, with patches coming to address some of these issues in the run up to launch, but there seem to be some teething issues that remain.

Rogue Trader on the Switch 2 is a bad port of a fantastic game. If you have the patience, it’s just about playable, and there’s still some enjoyment to be found in its epic narrative and compelling characters. However, it needs a cavalcade of patches to reach the level of performance on Switch 2 that the game deserves.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is a sports drama, a JRPG, a town builder, an Ultimate Team-like, and even (occasionally) a football game. It’s also brilliant, charming, and thoroughly good-natured, and a fantastic game to head into 2026 with.

If you enjoyed the base game like I did, the best bits of Pokémon Legends: Z-A are still present in Mega Dimension. The combat is still engaging, the characters you live and work with are still endearing, and the new Pokédex is fun to complete. This DLC, much like Z–A itself, feels like it will be a Marmite one.

Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked is a thoroughly enjoyable crossover sequel that takes the dungeon crawling of Demeo and wraps it in the warm blanket of Dungeons & Dragons themes, tropes and light RPG storytelling. There's a few nagging annoyances with the controls and only minimal hero customisation, but there's a cosiness to playing with friends and "accidentally" catching them in the blast radius of an explosive barrel.

If you’re a fan of old-school 2D gaming, but you hanker to see what a truly modern take on it would be, look no further than Neon Inferno.

Aaero2 is a sci-fi slice of synaesthesia, mixing music, pattern recognition and blasting into an enveloping high-score-chasing experience.

The Last Case of John Morley is a detective game without any detecting. This walk-through of what could be a fantastic mystery story is let down by wooden voiceover performances, dated character visuals and mind-numbing mechanics.

There's a lot of promise to Sleep Awake, which makes its short runtime all the more frustrating. The fusion of visuals, music, and narrative are reminiscent of peak Remedy titles and the inevitable cliffhanger ending definitely leaves me wanting to find out more about Katja’s story. I’ll be listening to that Robin Finck soundtrack in the meantime and crossing my fingers.

Getting through the world of Thief VR is natural and intuitive, and there's times where it all comes together as you knock out guards and pilfer, but there's so many small details and poor AI that drag you back out of the moment. A decent thievery game, but not as good a Thief game.

Routine is one of the best linear narrative experiences I’ve played this year and is well worth the lengthy wait for release. The atmosphere and aesthetics combine to create a game that oscillates between unnerving and genuinely terrifying whilst the surreal and philosophical storyline will hook you all the way to the game’s conclusion. I’m looking forward to a host of video essays dissecting the narrative in the near future.

A classic 90's film turned in a classic 90's side scrolling shooter, with a few lashings of modern techniques, what's not to love?

So far, Aethermancer is proving to be a fun roguelike that seems to have a lot of potential depth to it, essentially forcing you to experiment with different party members to find different ways in which they can support each other in battle. I am looking forward to what will come next for the game, and anyone who enjoys roguelikes, creature collecting and battling should be keeping an eye on Aethermancer too. [Early Access Review]

Cloudheim’s first steps into Early Access are very enjoyable, and there’s a lot more here than you might find in other games taking that step. As it stands, this is a great-looking action-adventure, with seriously enjoyable combat, and one which is already well worth getting on board with. [Early Access Review]

UNBEATABLE is a good rhythm action adventure game, with it highlights being its visual style and the arcade mode. The story is fine, but can feel all over the place at times with a script that isn’t the best, but the music through the game is good and there are a couple of standout tracks. It has been a while since a decent rhythm game came out, so it is worth giving UNBEATABLE a shot.

Titans of Tide is another strong SpongeBob platformer from Purple Lamp and has plenty of fan service for those even slightly familiar with the cartoon. The Plankton Challenges are really fun, so it’s a shame that they are locked behind either busywork or microtransactions. As a total package it doesn’t quite reach the heights of Cosmic Shake or Battle for Bikini Bottom but it’s still a solid game.

Death Howl has a strong central theme to it, the cards are well made, and there's a decent variety to build out decks. But it is also a game that can require a lot of repetitive grinding to make small amounts of progress, and the quests could have been better designed.

Skate Story is a perfect indie game, beautiful, off-kilter and unreal, with an absolutely killer soundtrack. Sam Eng can forget about eating the moon; he’s achieved something incredible down here on Earth.

Renegades does a good job of bringing some fun back to Destiny 2 with some great campaign missions and new hub area. The Star Wars elements are close enough for you to spot the homage, but not so conspicuous as to pull you out the world of Destiny. Enjoyable while it lasts, but Bungie still need to do a lot more work to rescue the game as whole.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Nintendo Switch 2 retains all of the core experience of Ubisoft’s premier open-world game, but it is a cut-back version compared to its more powerful rivals. While it doesn’t reach the same heights as the Star Wars Outlaws port, it's still a decent way to experience Naoe and Yasuke’s epic story.

Octopath 0 maintains the series’ gorgeous pixel-art aesthetic, while its adapted and evolved take on Champions of the Continent’s gameplay ensures that it feels like a worthy console release.

Metroid Prime 4 is a great return and new beginning for a series which has spent far too many years away. It's not the strongest in terms of narrative, but the new psychic powers add a refreshing layer alongside familiar abilities and the general feel and tone that makes this series so beloved.

Duskpunk is an easy to grasp dice-based RPG with a good story to carry you along. It does make your character, who starts off with nothing, into someone that's far too important for too many factions very quickly, which undercuts the simple struggle to survive, but this does provide for some good story beats. If you enjoyed Citizen Sleeper, then you will probably enjoy Duskpunk.

Having found Tribute Games' previous release, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, to be one of the best scrolling beat ‘em ups I’d ever played, I had high expectations for Marvel Cosmic Invasion. How could Shredder’s Revenge with Marvel characters go wrong? Sadly, Marvel Cosmic Version is entirely OK but fails to be anything more than that.

Cross Blitz is a beautifully made deck builder that feels not only incredibly inventive, but also mechanically dense, and just very satisfying to sink into. On top of that, the looks are exceptionally charming, the music is good, and the vibes are just on point. If you love a good deckbuilder, then you’ll love this, but the campaign modes also mean that this could be the one that grabs you if you’ve only ever bounced off of others due to the roguelike focus.

Ultimately, Sweet Surrender is too repetitive. It's fun shooting and slicing up robots with a wide variety of weapons, but the environments and upgrades quickly become repetitive and it lacks the variety and meta progression that roguelites use to entice you back into another run.

Arc Raiders reminds me of Destiny at launch; the core gameplay is excellent, and there's a heartwarming sense of community, but there are many aspects that need refining and expanding. Managing your stash on consoles is a chore and there are not enough in-game events to spice up each run.

Black Ops 7 really demonstrates the difficulties of Call of Duty's yearly release schedule and going back-to-back with its sub-series. It's not as rushed-feeling as Modern Warfare III was, that's for sure, but it's also not a consistent experience. The multiplayer and Zombies are solid continuations from last year, but there's not too much excitement in that, especially after the energy-sapping co-op campaign and Endgame.

GigaSword is a monumental achievement, proving that a one-person studio, with the support of a passionate fanbase, can deliver one of the best metroidvanias of 2025.

Lynked: Banner of the Spark is a hot chocolate of a game. Sweet, sumptuous and oh, so cosy. It offers an intriguing and fresh experience thanks to combining roguelite dungeon crawling with town-building, and it keeps you engaged from beginning to end. It's just a shame that, on PS5 at least, it’s a resolutely single-player experience rather than the multiplayer one that it’s intended to be.

Xenopurge is an auto-battler that is well worth picking up and playing. It captures the tense feeling of trying to keep a squad alive as they carry out their mission, while the odds get increasingly worse the longer they are exposed. If you love the vibe of the Alien franchise, and want to try and command squads on runs to fight back against an alien threat, then Xenopurge should be on your list.

Tomb Raider Definitive Edition may offer returning fans a nostalgic run through one of Lara Croft’s best adventures, but in 2025 it’s still a remarkably solid experience, especially on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Monsters Are Coming! Rock and Road is a fun riff on various run-based subgenres, building itself upon the foundations of roguelite, bullet heaven and tower defence, slapping some wheels on the corners and seeing how far it can go.

Kirby Air Riders is a charming addition to the racing genre. Its unique outlook might not appeal to everyone, but it's still liable to find it a raft of fans, just like its GameCube predecessor.

On the whole, I’m enjoying Moonlighter 2’s Early Access release. It’s a decent mechanical upgrade over the original game in the majority of areas, but it’s also fair to say that it’s losing a little something in the transition, and I find it a bit less whimsical. If you want more stuff to do and love a meta-grind though, then this game should satisfy that nicely. [Early Access Review]

Umami is a very well crafted puzzle game that lets you take things at your own pace. Each of the puzzles is very well put together and look great, while the levels themselves provide a relaxing atmosphere. A couple of minor issues with the puzzle pieces do not totally detract from a game that lets you just sit and enjoy yourself.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is an incredibly rich historical strategy game that adapts to whatever the player needs it to be. Whether that’s a cosy city-builder offering boundless customisation, a deep economy management sim, or a competitive RTS, Ubisoft Mainz ticks all the boxes with flair.

You can't go wrong with the Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack. It's the best way to experience an already incredible trilogy of heartwarming JRPGs.

Forestrike is an entertaining blend of puzzle game and martial arts brawler, allowing you to experiment with different tactics. The different masters also provide variety with ability combinations that make each run unique. Running into some impossible fights that you simply can't beat and the crashing issue on Switch 2 do take some of the shine off the experience, though.

Reach won't win any awards for plot or graphics, but that's not the point. You've played this style of game before, but you've never played it like this in VR, bounding from ledge to zipwire, leaping over chasms and playing insinctively rather than cautiously. Reach raises the bar for VR gaming, and it's a great reason to dust off your headset.

Lumines Arise is the culmination of Mizuguchi’s works, returning to his original creation and perfecting it. For fans of puzzle games, fans of Tetris Effect, or, indeed, fans of pure and evocative gaming experiences, this is essential.

Tales of Xillia Remastered is a wonderful showcase for why the Tales franchise has thrived for the past three decades. It's packed full of charm, strung together with incredible battles, and has me so excited for whichever entry in the series gets remastered next.

Painkiller is a shame not because it's especially bad, but because some of the fun weapons and combat are buried beneath the dull, uninspired and repetitive mechanics, and a surprisingly short 6-hour runtime. It can be fun to shoot demons with cool weapons and a friend or two, but this just feels a bit too disposable, and ultimately uninspired.

Rise of Industry 2 isn't bad, really. It's actually rather good at what it does, it's just that what it does isn't that entertaining. The long periods of waiting for your businesses and decisions to bear fruit. If you're okay with waiting around for the money to come rolling in exchange for some really quite involved logistics and industry construction, then you'll likely enjoy this. If that doesn't sound too promising to you then you might want a broader city builder, where there's more stuff to focus on.

Football Manager 26 is the first step of a new era, and as we're seeing with some of the biggest clubs in the country, any new era comes with the challenge of rebuilding and both setting and meeting expectations. Football Manager 26 can get better with updates, but I doubt that this entry will be the one to make the most of the switch to the new engine, overhauled UI and new features. It might take one or two more years for this rebuild to really meet its potential.

This is a playful and enjoyable piece of Legend of Zelda lore, and one that will be essential for fans of the series, but it doesn’t break the same ground as Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, or even Age of Calamity.

I am left conflicted with Hotel Barcelona. It absolutely oozes the kind of style you’d expect its leading creators and there is real potential in the setting and story, but the actual game just isn’t that fun to play. The clunky controls stand out against the many similar action platformers and the multiple currencies make upgrades an unwelcome grind. I can’t help but think the story would be better suited to an anime rather than its current form. It’s worth a look if you can see past the jank (and many longtime fans of Swery and Suda51 are well used to that) but its shortcomings make this a booking you might regret.

Do you enjoy playing co-op games with your partner, child, friend or assorted loved one? Then please, in the name of Zeus himself, don’t play Biped 2. The intense challenge of this sequel can ruin your relationships with those closest to you as you shout and yell at each other in a desperate, but futile, attempt to make it through the most masochistic level design I’ve ever encountered.

Whilst the eponymous Red Strain itself is predictable, the other stuff surrounding it is pretty interesting. The same could be said of Oberon and the main game, though, and the interesting stuff is enough to pull you through here just like it was there. This expansion feels about same quality as the main game did, whilst Wicked Isle felt lacking, so this is a return to form in a way. It might not be enough to trigger a new playthrough, but it's a good addition if you decide to do one anyway.

Europa Universalis V marks the start of a bright new age for Paradox's Grand Strategy series, rebuilding the core, while retaining so much of the breadth, detail and regionality. There's some slight rough edges, which aren't surprising for a game of this scale, and room for expansion to better explore certain ideas and regions, but isn't there always?

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake elevates some of the most iconic and inspiring games in JRPG history into modern unforgettable adventures that are just as rich and rewarding as any other entry in the long-running Dragon Quest franchise.

Slime Rancher 2 is filled with charm, joy and adorable creatures, but the fun doesn’t translate to every aspect of the gameplay. In seeking to expand and add content to the game, the developers have made what should have been an effortlessly delightful experience a somewhat monotonous one.

We’re only two episodes in on the eight-episode arc, but Dispatch is already making a bid for one of my favourite games of the year. If you’re into Invincible or a fan of Telltale’s best works – that’s The Wolf Among Us, just so we’re clear – then you owe it to yourself to get onboard with Dispatch. You’ll still be in time for the water-cooler chat. [Episodes 1-2 review]

Escape Simulator 2 is a great sequel and an easy recommendation for puzzle game and escape room aficionados. There's some rough edges, but the environments are great, the puzzles satisfying, it's fun to share with others, and there's bags of potential for DLC and fan creations.

Two Point Museum on Switch 2 is a fairly straightforward port to Nintendo's latest console. The minor glitches and crashes should be ironed out quickly, but it's clear that the game simulation does hit the limits of the Switch 2's CPU and larger museums do drop the frame rate. Still, it remains a thoroughly enjoyable and endlessly quirky management sim that's an easy recommendation for fans of the genre and this series in particular. If you can't accept a few compromises, the other platforms are ready and waiting.

Once Upon a Jester is surprising game for me and I do recommend it, especially if you are looking for something comedic and that is only a few hours long. It might be over rather quickly, but will stay with you for quite a while.

Slots & Daggers is a very entertaining and fun game that thrives on the one more turn aspect, while also making you think tactically. The story's not the point here, and power up pricing feels a bit hard, but those weaknesses are easy to overly when the gameplay is this satisfying.

Yooka-Replaylee isn’t just the definitive version of the game; it’s one of the most enjoyable 3D platformers this side of Nintendo first party titles or Astro Bot. The levels are now packed with things to do, the range of different challenges keeps things interesting, and the upgrades and equippable tonics enable you to customise the difficult to suit your playstyle. All in all, this is now an essential purchase for fans of 3D platformers.

Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch offers up compelling tactics and enjoyable storytelling, while the Roguelike elements work startlingly well. If you’re a fan of the genre, this is one of the year’s essential entries.

Fading Serenades is a nice, chill courier game on a nice little island where life is pretty laid back. But there are hints of something more sinister that the story explores in a bit of detail, but not enough. The game can get repetitive quite quickly, but it looks and sounds good.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a thoroughly enjoyable game, but as sequels go, it's largely more of the same. While the overarching story isn't terribly interesting, the world building around it and the colony of Arcadia is great to explore. What's disappointing is a lack of improvement in too many areas. It looks better and gunplay is better, but old snags and weaknesses from the first game remain and, more importantly, it's not as exciting and new as it was the first time round.

The Beast is the Dying Light sequel I always wanted. It's dark, literally and tonally, focuses on zombies instead of warring human factions, and expands on some of the more outlandish and interesting ideas hinted at in the original. If this is indicative of what to expect in the franchise going forward, and it certainly looks that way, then I am excited.

Bye Sweet Carole is a curate’s egg of a game, with the presentation being truly superb and the storytelling excellent, but the bulk of the game experience just isn’t fun. The frustrating platforming and stealth, combined with the review build being quite buggy, led to me finishing the game with gritted teeth rather than enjoyment. The bugs can be fixed (and the devs are working on patches) but the imbalance between the two gameplay styles is a more fundamental issue. If you can see past this then the game has a lot to offer in terms of aesthetic and story but, ironically, these can be enjoyed through watching a playthrough without subjecting yourself to the frustration.

NASCAR 25 has proven to be a very welcome surprise, giving you a rendition of the sport that absolutely shines on track. Some of the supporting elements could do with a tune-up, but if you’re looking for heart-pounding racing action, NASCAR 25 delivers.

If Jackbox Party Pack 11 is anything to go by, then the second decade of Jackbox is going to be great. There's a familiar feel to the pack as a whole, but it's really well put together and there's a great injection of noisy new ideas.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is exactly what you’d want from a JWE sequel. More dinosaurs, enhanced options and new systems that make your stunning dinosaur menagerie more realistic than ever before. Life finds a way, and you have a direct hand in it.

Persona 3 Reload on Switch 2 is a great opportunity to play an incredible game on the go. While there's compromises to the game on more powerful consoles, and it needs a performance patch, my commutes got a lot more interesting having this in my bag.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a shock to the system that reminds us of a time before Souls-likes. It's a high-octane, unrelenting, and effortlessly cool action game experience that newcomers and franchise fans alike need to play.

Nine years on from the original, Lumo 2 writes another love letter to 80s gaming. While it branches out from isometric gaming with its many enjoyable diversions and asides, they're connected by too many rooms and sections that suffer from your sluggish movement and imprecise platforming.

Keeper captures the essence of Double Fine, packaged in a heartfelt and surreal world where you never quite know what will happen next. The gameplay regularly surprises, but the lack of challenge in even the more elaborate puzzles is a bit of a drawback, along with not being able to control the camera.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is a good game, but one that's held back by the expectations of being a sequel to an all-time classic. If you can step away from the baggage of the Bloodlines title, there is a lot here to enjoy in terms of narrative and atmosphere, though the combat is too repetitive.

As literal a walking simulator as you could want for, Baby Steps makes no secret of being a challenging, punishing game. It's enjoyable in a way, and the awkward sense of humour laced throughout both the gameplay and the story will appeal to some, but that enthusiasm drains after the opening couple hours.

Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening has a lot going for it, a charming cartoon aesthetic, great storytelling, and solid gunplay. Unfortunately, these positives are often undermined by dull level design, inconsistent controls, and unpleasant difficulty spikes, resulting in a distinctly average overall experience.

Ball X Pit carries the spirit of an arcade classic, while imbuing it with modern roguelike ideas. It’s immediately one of the best indie games of the year.

With its barmy riff on a medieval dungeoneering game show, there's something very likeable about the odd world of King of Meat. The platforming, puzzling and combat is a bit too woolly for my tastes, lacking a bit of staying power, but with UGC gaming more relevant than ever, King of Meat provides a great onramp for players to explore their creativity in a constrained setting.

Unlike the most recent Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a game that really holds your attention. The spiritual successor to Legends Arceus, it’s learned from the mistakes of the distant past and beautifully shows what city life is like in the Pokémon universe. I can see myself playing this for another hundred hours as I finish my Pokédex, shiny hunt and generally have a great time. This is easily the best Pokémon game on the market.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is the gold standard of JRPG remakes - a perfect blend of the charm and nostalgia of the original with all the right elements of a modern-day masterpiece.

Ratatan is exactly what I wanted it to be. In Early Access this is a fresh, modern take on Patapon’s iconic action with an invigorating visual design and awesome soundtrack. All I want now from the journey to 1.0 is even more of this. [Early Access Review]

Battlefield 6 is a return to form for the large scale shooter, with a great blend of infantry classes, mechanised warfare, some clever new game modes, and without too much nonsense wrapped around it. It's a true successor to Battlefield 4, right down to the naff campaign.

If I could have Absolum without the roguelite elements – and admittedly, a few less glitches – then I would have my ideal 2D side-scrolling beat ‘em up, the best I’ve ever played. As it is, the roguelite structure and its inconsistent delivery unfortunately lowers the overall experience. It’s still a very enjoyable game, even with these issues, but this was so close to being a classic of the genre.

Whilst offering bombastic fun in online multiplayer, this Hades-like roguelite is oddly muted in single-player, an issue likely exacerbated due to the developer failing in making the most of the game’s iconic mythological setting. A decently reliable experience then, but one so similar to so many other roguelites you’d have sworn you had already played Sworn before.

Little Nightmares 3 is a gorgeously crafted collection of grim visuals, memorable creatures and fear-inducing horror. The co-op play is a natural and understandable evolution for the series, but it does alter the overarching atmosphere, albeit it subtly.

Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact is a dodgy fighting game with oversimplified mechanics, a thin roster, and barely any game modes. As far as full-priced modern fighting games go, you can do far better with almost any other game.

I’ve been waiting for Skate. Tony Hawk’s frantic take on the sport is cool, but it doesn’t feel as good as this. The freedom, the variety, and the community, are already in place, the only thing missing, is you. [Early Access Review]

Blood of Mehran is a bit of a throwback, taking its inspiration from games a couple of generations back. The foundation has been put in place, but Blood of Mehran is a distinctively average eight hour experience with combat not reaching the levels it could, voice acting that could be better, and various performance issues that need addressing.

Disgaea 7 Complete clearly is the ultimate version of Vows of the Virtueless. The story is as quirky and fun as ever, and the bonus content is an absolute must for die-hard fans. Being able to play it on the Switch 2 on the go is also great, with the game looking and feeling fantastic in both handheld and docked mode. The only knock is the uphill struggle for newcomers with reams of tiresome tutorials – hopefully NIS will have figured out by the time Disgaea 8 rolls around.

LEGO Party is everything you want for a Friday night in with the family. Silly, funny, and accessible, finally Mario Party has some competition.