Iwakura Aria is an incredible and ominous journey I won't soon forget. The blend of dark subject matter and gorgeous character art leads to one of the most refreshing and engaging visual novel experiences I've ever had.

Hollowbody does a great job of capturing the mood and feel of survival horror classics whilst removing some of the genre’s more annoying aspects and sits at the very top of the indie horror tree alongside the likes of Crow Country and Signalis.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park is a great upgrade to the original game if you’re going to take advantage of the multiplayer modes, but it is far less essential if you’re mostly a solo player. There are some nice additions for the main campaign, but the £17 price point feels excessive without party play. Taken as a complete package, however, this makes the already fantastic game even more wonderful and addresses most of the issues that we had with it.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is an exceptional take on the tactical RPG and the addition of a stealth system certainly sets it apart from the crowd. Both genres blend together in a way that’s satisfying, challenging and well designed, while an engaging and well-written narrative drives the player forward. The difficulty might be an issue for those new to the genre, but for those seasoned in turn-based tactics, this is an absolute must buy.

As a collection, or individually, Bayonetta and Vanquish remain perfectly formed examples of PlatinumGames' exquisite mastery of action gaming. Here, in 4K, they’ve never been better.

A wonderfully unique and well presented title, the presentation is wonderful, the action fast paced and the experience is an addictive one.

Fans of Assassin’s Creed have waited an era or two for a series entry that lets you be a ninja and explore Feudal Japan. Thankfully, the wait has been absolutely worth it. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is an astonishing achievement. Vast, impossibly detailed, immaculately researched, and enormously fun, Shadows is easily one of the best games in this storied franchise.

When it comes to visual novels, VA-11 Hall-A is king. Never before have I seen such a perfect balance of sharp writing, gorgeous visuals and downright delicious music that also manages to pack in hours of engagement without ever overstaying it's welcome. Furthermore, the combination of drink-mixing action and visual novel storytelling creates an addictive gameplay loop that makes the game even harder to put down once you pick it up. VA-11 Hall-A is a gem of creativity from the most unlikely of places, and I can't wait to see what the team has up their sleeve next.

Whilst Nocked! The True Tales of Robin Hood isn't for everyone - this choose-your-own-adventure-strategy-text-video game is clearly a niche within a niche - it is an absolute necessity for anyone hankering for something unique. This is a video game that does character creation, role playing and moral choices properly. It took developer Andrew Schneider six years to craft Nocked! and the result has been worth every minute. A phenomenal achievement.

Catherine: Full Body has aged like the finest of wines. For fans of the story, the new characters and plot threads fold in fantastically after an awkward start, and they're coupled with a wealth of new dialogue and beautifully animated cutscenes. For fans of the gameplay, new remixed levels and difficulty options add brand new challenges for even the most hardcore Catherine enthusiasts, and with support for the game's niche competitive scene to boot. And if you've never played the game before, all of these additions make an already classic video game even more of a must-play experience.

Bloomtown: A Different Story is everything I want from a video game. A hugely enjoyable story, slick script, bombastic battles, and the freedom to interact with the world in odd and inventive ways. It's pretty much essential.

Far Cry 5 is another improvement to a series that hit its stride quite a long time ago. It gets a recommendation not because of any of its individual features, but because they all combine together into a game that becomes paradoxically funny and horrifying, occasionally at the same time. It depicts a part of America lovingly with its tongue very firmly glued to its cheek, but when I close my eyes, I still see Joseph Seed staring back at me.

Katana Zero is an incredibly stylish title, from the great looking pixel art to the fantastic soundtrack that accompanies the fast and brutal action. You really get to feel like you're a master swordsman as you overcome the challenges put before you, or die trying.

An unforgiving, unrelenting classic reborn for a new generation, Demon's Souls is no more accessible now than it was back in 2010 (though the frame rate is much better). If you've ever been the slightest bit curious about the Souls series then you can revisit ground zero in all its glory, making for one of the best PlayStation launch titles of all time.

If you’re a fan of rhythm action games, Thumper is amongst the most intense, pure, and singular experiences within the genre, and its release for the PSVR should make it utterly essential for anyone that owns Sony’s headset.

Resonance of Fate is definitely for hardcore RPG fans only, but at the same time the map and combat systems make it substantially different from anything you’ll have likely played before.

Fights in Tight Spaces is a really unique and stylish take on the deck building genre with a level of strategy on offer that will be enough to keep people coming back for a long time. Fights in Tight Spaces is worth your attention.

Kentucky Route Zero is a game that I’m still thinking about days after reaching its conclusion. Though it’s slow (maybe too slow for some) and introspective, it’s also an exceptionally engaging interactive experience. If you are into the slow burn kind of story then this is definitely for you, but if you’re not then you may bounce off of the Zero.

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.

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.

A brilliant, hugely enjoyable racer - certainly the best on the PS3 so far - and one that we reckon no fan of the genre can afford to miss. It's deep, involving, fun to drive and an absolute blast with mates.

At just under five quid it's extraordinarily good value, there's lots of game here and the trophies hint at at least two new festival bundles, potentially expanding what's already a considerably beefy game into one that might threaten to make the rest of the line-up obsolete for some time...I love this game.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is a generous and inspiring remaster, finally bringing the game’s visuals in line with its outstanding narrative. It truly feels like this is now the game Monolith Soft always intended it to be, cementing its position as one of the greatest RPGs of all time.

Supergiant Games continue to burn brightly as an independent studio, with Pyre being their latest imaginative and fantastical adventure. It casts aside many of the trappings of an action RPG from Bastion and Transistor in favour of something more akin to a real time tactical game, wrapping its fast paced and often fraught battles up in a world and cast of characters that gradually draw you into its cyclical tale.

It's a really, really good shooter - although it's a shame there's only one multiplayer mode - and we have no hesitation in recommending it for anyone remotely interested in the genre. Great stuff.

SNK vs Capcom Card Fighters' Clash was a brilliant game two decades ago, and the passage of time has done nothing to diminish that. If you’re a fan of DCCG’s, or the rosters of these two fighting game powerhouses, then Card Fighters' Clash is more or less essential.

Ghost of Yōtei is an excellent game with an engrossing story, a great lead, deep combat and a land that has so much to discover with a lot of details. This is a truly worthy successor to Ghost of Tsushima.

Daemon X Machina sets the bar for robot action games. The addictive mecha fighting is almost flawless, but it's complemented by so many other incredible parts to the game. There's a rich, unique world filled with incredible and memorable characters, endless and addictive customisation, gorgeous visuals and a jaw-dropping soundtrack. Daemon X Machina rarely stumbles, and even when it did, I still couldn't help but be impressed by this amazing new experience.