Overall, I am thoroughly impressed with everything I've seen in Forza Horizon 6 so far. The game looks great; the map is dense and diverse, the racing still has that trademark Forza Horizon feel, and the progression system seems much more interesting and engaging than in previous games. I can't wait to get to grips with the full game, including other features such as The Estate and the Collection Journal progression tree. [Hands-On Impressions]

It's a little late to the party, but Super Meat Boy 3D represents the most seamless jump from 2D to 3D ever achieved by a mascot platformer (even if Meat Boy himself is kind of an anti-mascot). Series fans will find adapting to the game's new axis effortless, while newcomers will find a brutal, yet rewarding 3D platformer ahead of them. I loved every moment of my time with Super Meat Boy 3D, and I can't recommend it enough.

Screamer doesn't just harken back to a specific, lost era of arcade racing games — it marks a beautiful evolution of the arcade racer. It's not just faster and more engaging than other racers, but it's also more innovative, with ingenious systems assembled by designers with evident passion for the genre. A sequel might tighten up shortcomings in its presentation, but as it stands, it's already pretty much the ideal arcade racing package. If you're a racing game fan, do not miss it.

With a game design that encourages players to invest in its numerous complex, rewarding, and addictive systems, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection proves itself to be one of the finest JRPGs around. Small quibbles about its writing and combat aside, you'll find few games out there can match its quality. Just don't try to rush it. Enjoy it over a few months' worth of shorter gaming sessions — you'll soon find it comfortably becoming one of your favorites.

Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is a fantastic sequel that confidently builds on its predecessor with smarter, more complex puzzles and expanded abilities for both Lana and Mui. Combined with the gorgeous Ghibli-like visuals of the first game, an enthralling story with a big mystery at its heart, and a phenomenal soundtrack, Planet of Lana II is a gem of a game that is a must-play for puzzle-platforming fans.

One of my personal favorite games of all time, Kingdom Come: Deliverance's upgrade for Xbox Series X|S and PS5 fixes pretty much every performance-related issue I had. With load times effectively erased, and the game's visuals looking clean and crisp in 60 FPS, I've got all I could ever want from a KCD upgrade. The sequel might outshine it in every regard, but if you haven't played this RPG yet, there's never been a better time.

My Hero Academia: All's Justice is an exceedingly generous fighting game that, unfortunately, disappoints in a lot of key areas. If you've got a tolerance for some sloppy fighting mechanics, or if you're enough of a My Hero Academia fan to look past the issues, you can still have a good time here! However, there are definitely better 3D arena fighters out there.

Battlefield 6's new Redsec battle royale mode is grounded by strong gameplay from the main game and mechanics lifted from Warzone, Apex Legends, and Fortnite. However, with clunky menus and UI, some poor HUD, and bereft of its own ideas, Redsec needs to start building a house on these foundations as quickly as possible to become more than a pitstop for me.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a glorious outing that provides some of the best RPG mechanics that I have experienced in a while. Its world, exploration, and combat are perfectly executed, providing a sequel fans will be overjoyed to sink their time into. While it has a few flaws in terms of story and companion depth, you'll find few RPGs that deliver such a robust and addictive experience.

We can call it now — Ninja Gaiden 4 is the best action game of 2025. Brutal, rewarding, beautifully presented; it's a return Ninja Gaiden fans could once only dream of. While it disappoints in a few places (mainly with its level variety and story), you'll find few action games have ever delivered gameplay as refined and cathartic as Ninja Gaiden 4.

Overall, Keeper is a pretty uneven experience. The first act doesn't offer much in terms of excitement beyond the initial wow factor of its gorgeous environments that are teeming with life and interesting vistas. Things pick up in the second and third acts, but Keeper takes a little too long to get to the good stuff. Outside of the basic puzzles and a short platforming section, the first few hours could have done with a little more to keep the player interested. That said, for those who do manage to stick with Keeper, you will be rewarded.

Explosive, dynamic, and gorgeous… Battlefield is back! Battlefield 6 hits all the right notes with multiplayer, setting the franchise up for a promising future after its previous blunder. While the single-player is a short experience following a similar story we’ve seen many times before, it introduces us to the brutal war bubbling between NATO and Pax Armata. Newcomers and veterans will find a lot to love about this latest shooter.

Viewfinder's puzzles are both impressive and intuitive — a very hard balance to find! That said, I felt like the game failed to explore its many cool ideas to the fullest, and unfortunately its attempt at a story was a buzz-killing distraction. It's a fun puzzle game, but I expect a sequel would really blow people away.

The Toaplan Arcade Collection is an absolute must for arcade gaming buffs and action game purists alike, and it offers a great opportunity for newcomers to check out some two-player classics. However, it is a bit disappointing that the collection comes with no supplementary materials. Plus, there's no getting around the fact that some of these arcade games just aren't very good!

The Toaplan Arcade Collection is an absolute must for arcade gaming buffs and action game purists alike, and it offers a great opportunity for newcomers to check out some two-player classics. However, it is a bit disappointing that the collection comes with no supplementary materials. Plus, there's no getting around the fact that some of these arcade games just aren't very good!

It pains me to have to score Rematch so low. As an online action game fan, my heart was an open goal here. However, a rushed launch has led to a mountain of problems that make this a recommendation only for Game Pass subscribers. Do not spend money on this game in this state. My hope is that we can revise this score at a later date, should Sloclap address the issues.

Doom: The Dark Ages might be a prequel, but it feels like an evolution for the franchise. Packed into a tightly crafted campaign that ramps up the stakes at every turn, it's without a doubt the most bloodthirsty and satisfying Doom to date. With fresh additions like the Shield Saw, Atlan, and Cyberdragon, there is a ton of variety to keep you engaged and hooked to the very end. Another fantastic win for Xbox and Bethesda.

Despite its fantastic visuals, superb voice acting, and a gorgeous, intriguing world filled with character and charm, South of Midnight sadly falls flat. A lack of variety in enemy types and some dull combat make combat encounters tedious and frustrating towards the end, whereas the story, which starts off so promising, ultimately gets lost in the hollers along the way.

Should you play Atomfall? Absolutely, yes! It's a gorgeous romp across the British countryside that's easy to pick up and extremely difficult to put down. Filled with richly detailed environments, simplified systems that will appeal to players new to the survival genre, and accessible combat, Atomfall is a superb adventure that proves survival games don't all need to be complex and brutal experiences.

Assassin's Creed Shadows feels like a rejuvenated new entry for the series: more polished, more streamlined, and more feasible in terms of completion than some of the recent games. I appreciated how quickly this game gets going — especially when compared to slower openings, like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. It still boasts a massive open world, something which those older games struggled to make as rewarding to explore as they could have been, but I'm itching to see everything Shadows has to offer. It really does feel like that feudal Japan setting is more worth the wait.

The result of all this is that I’m pretty much obsessed with Avowed. After overinflated maps, exploration without reward, and other frustrations encountered in the last few years, Avowed feels like a dream to play. It fully embraces the fantasy elements for a wonderfully old-school RPG, and I can’t wait to keep playing.

Sniper Elite: Resistance is a safe follow-up to Sniper Elite 5 that doesn't add much in terms of new features and gameplay mechanics, and while it would have been nice to see Rebellion be a bit more ambitious, Resistance is still a fantastic game that gives the player so much choice and freedom. Each campaign level has been expertly designed to offer as much fun and replayability as possible, and the long-range sniping the series is famous for just never gets old, thanks to that gloriously gory X-ray kill cam.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is the franchise's best entry since The Last Crusade. Machine Games' "adventure-action" game is one of the most alluring experiences on Xbox and delivers one of the best games of the year. Despite a few small faults, it's an adventure that could entice an introvert to leave the house. To me, that warrants a perfect score for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle!

It’s a miracle that we’re even playing Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl right now, yet GSC Game World has crafted a world so packed with detail and excitement that you’ll yearn to explore its mysteries from the moment you step foot in The Zone. While bugs are as rampant as its mutants, Stalker 2 outshines its adversities in every way, forcing you to face its darkest moments with courage and resilience — something its developer knows all too well. If you’re looking for a challenging survival shooter to lose hundreds of hours of your life to, this is it.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is yet another great example of Capcom's ability to breathe new life into a dated game. While it doesn't add any significant new additions to the original content like we've seen the company do with Resident Evil, the visual and quality-of-life improvements make this a fantastic game for Dead Rising veterans and a must-play for new players. If you're yet to experience the thrill of literally mowing down zombies with a lawn mower while suited and booted with a horse mask on your noggin, now is the time to dive in.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 lives up to the precedent set by the original Space Marine for the most part, offering a storyline and co-op experience filled with gore and action brought to life with excellent visuals. It's held back by irritating AI companions and a campaign optimized for co-op, leaving an un-balanced experience for solo players. However, if you're looking for a game to live out a Space Marine fantasy, and want some co-op fun, you'll be in for a real treat.

Ninja Theory has created an outstanding sequel with Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2. An unforgettable narrative adventure that is brought to life through impeccable sound design, gorgeous visuals, and a story that will stick with you long after the final credits roll. Hellblade 2 is one of the best Xbox games out there and is absolutely worth your time if you enjoyed the original.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a fantastic entry into the platforming and Metroidvania genres. While it falls short in some areas, which can leave you feeling somewhat frustrated, the overall experience is a sequence of satisfaction-inducing challenges. As the first new entry into the franchise we've seen in some time, The Lost Crown is a fantastic place for Ubisoft to start, and I'd like to see more.