It isn’t perfect, but it’s much better than what existed before. The new content, namely the raids, subclasses, and progression systems all land exceptionally well.

While other games may offer a laborious grind to the end, OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood brings you a new kind of grinding that never gets old and keeps the sparks flying for hours to come.

An incredibly polished and satisfying racer.

Take up the Monado and put down the Mechon who dare to stand against you, you are Bionis’ only hope in this expansive, spectacular handheld RPG.

Birthright may be the best place to start out of the two versions, as it’s easily accessible to anyone regardless of their experience with the series. Some story beats may be a bit cliche, but Birthright still has a captivating tale about family, love, and duty. By the same token, the gameplay and presentation is tighter than its ever been.

The game is bursting at the seams full of smart nostalgic references that hardcore fans would pick up on, while also managing to feel like a genuine new entry. Sonic Mania is not only everything fans of the classic Genesis games could have wanted and more, but it’s one of the best 2D platformers of this generation, and of all-time. It has taken awhile, but with Sonic Mania, the series is finally back in the club of truly remarkable and exemplary games.

Cadence of Hyrule might not be the challenging follow-up that Necrodancer fans were looking forward to, but it serves as a charming homage to the music of The Legend of Zelda series, and as a celebration of its classic 2D formula.

Monster Hunter Generations feels like it pulls off exactly what Capcom was going for.

Overall, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is able to captivate with its worlds and pull you down rabbit hole after rabbit hole of side quests, treasures, and battles. You’ll find yourself wandering off course to help a Rabbid in need or rescue a Spark who will then help you on your journey.

At the end of the day, there were always some risks involved with Return to Monkey Island, and opinions are going to be divided among the hardcore fans and relative newcomers. What cannot be denied, however, is that this is an amazing point-and-click adventure that retains much of the beloved charm, while still updating the experience to be a more well-balanced affair. This is an excellent return, to say the least, and I can only hope this is the beginning of a new age that Terrible Toybox will be leading from the front.

Don’t let the fact that this is a remake fool you; it’s a fresh experience, and hopefully one that means even more Metroid is on the way.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has a lot going for it. There is a lot to do and discover without being overwhelming. The visuals are vibrant and fun, and the characters are cute. Although the controls can be annoying at times, it is satisfying when you finally get past an obstacle. It will be interesting to see where Nintendo takes us for the next Zelda installment in the future.

While I have certain issues with the variety in the game's design, its story and narrative were consistently engrossing. I'd be remiss to not say I was hoping the Outer Worlds might be more than it is, but I still really enjoyed what's there.

Respawn’s approach has been proactive and positive to the point of creating a Star Wars story that, even taking into account the wider fan base’s undoubted divisions, looks set to delight new players and those that are already emotionally invested in the Galaxy far far away.

The beauty of Starfield lies in its humanity, and how deeply it cares about the Earth we live on and what we'll do to survive as a race. It's a game about breaking through the final frontier, about appreciating what we have, about the lengths we'll go to advance, and while it has its flaws and missteps, Starfield explores these themes with a sense of earnestness and authenticity that's hard to find in most other titles. And maybe that's all that matters.

While TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge isn’t going to revolutionize the genre, it honestly shouldn’t have to. The modernized upgrades it received to its combat, style, and co-op are more than enough to warrant praise. As they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and that’s exactly what you’ve got with TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge.

I still highly recommend that anyone who loved the original mod that inspired The Forgotten City or anyone that just likes a good story-driven title play this game. The time loop mechanic, evolving dialogue, and myriad of choices and scenarios that occur make for one hell of a narrative ride, just keep your expectations of the combat low, or else you may be disappointed.

While it might not be the most approachable city builder in the world, Frostpunk 2 is still an exemplary entry in the genre. Its challenge leads to some really rewarding moments of triumph, and the sheer number of options for how you can help your band of survivors thrive is a great selling point for anyone who wants their day to day decisions to matter. I'll be braving the icy wastes of this game for months and years to come, and I doubt I'll be the only one.

While not everyone has access to a Quest 3 headset, everyone needs to play Batman: Arkham Shadow – it’s that much of a must-have that it’ll be a guaranteed system seller. It admirably transposes the Arkham gameplay loop to VR in a way that harnesses the medium’s idiosyncracies while also retaining the DNA that made the previous games so special. It’s the best VR game I’ve ever laid hands on, and one of 2024’s biggest surprises.

Every once in a while, a true indie gem comes along. A classic for the ages lauded by critics and players alike. One inspired by classics, taking their best mechanics before refining and crafting something wholly unique and simply unforgettable, for better and occasionally, for worse. After more than 15 hours of deciphering cryptic clues and losing myself in its meticulously-crafted, mysterious world, Tunic has cemented itself in that bracket of all-time indie classics, and one that you simply have to play.

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun will have you plotting the art of war like a master tactician. You will forge elaborate plans and test them in the fires of a a beautifully realised Edo-period Japan.

Intense, punishing, and filled with a ton of great content and fun, over-the-top upgrades and enemies, Roche Fusion brings so much to the table that I can’t possibly think it’s not worth the price of admission.

A sequel isn’t always guaranteed success, but Wargroove 2 builds on its predecessor in meaningful ways that make it a must-play for veterans and newcomers to the genre. The main campaigns are meaty and challenging, the new Conquest mode has vast potential, and the map editor will see plenty of use down the road, even if the current product suffers from freezes and crashes every once in a while. Polishing an already shimmering diamond, it might not make a huge splash like the first game did, but it is still an experience that generates waves of excitement.

I liked it back in 2018, and sure, I like it in 2022, as well. It would be disingenuous not to highly recommend it to JRPG fans, or single-player gamers in general. But make no mistake; should a third entry spring forth, I will be expecting something definitively new and unique. Call it selfish if you must, I just want to see the true Latent Power this franchise holds.

In the end, Zenzizenzic is a great game for those who like the twin stick shoot-em-up genre, but may be looking for something with a little more to it.

It has the challenging combat and wacky humor that you’d expect, and the story is top-notch. Also, who can pass up on a chance to see Majima while he’s still relatively sane? If you’ve never tried one, it may be a bit weird to you at first, but if you’re willing to wade through it all, there’s an enjoyable experience to be had.

Even with its grueling final boss fight, I absolutely adored every second of Death’s Door. The world developer Acid Nerve has created still feels rife with secrets I’m still yet to uncover after 10 hours with the game. Outside of a minor technical blip and a significant difficulty spike towards the end, Death’s Door is simply sensational. It may not have that AAA budget or cutting-edge super realistic graphics, but it’s jam-packed with charm, style, and challenging, rewarding action that it’s an absolute must-play this year.

But here, in Destiny 2, from the moment I took control of my Warlock, whom I missed dearly, I was legitimately enjoying myself. From each story beat to every public event where players refused to trigger Heroic, right down to all the engrams that became everything I didn’t want, I’ve had fun.