If you’re up for a fantastic yarn and gorgeous sights, Mafia: The Old Country is outstanding, meaning you’ll be totally sold by its presentation. The moments, the story and the characters are top-notch, and there’s not much to criticize on that front. However, The Old Country is old-fashioned with forced and bland stealth sections, predictable gunplay, and a lack of newness when it comes to the game’s mechanics—also the knife fights are unexciting and rote. You can have a blast with The Old Country if gameplay isn’t your utmost concern, but if it is, you may need to absolve it of its sins, because while the gunplay is functional and enjoyable enough, it lacks nuance and weapon variety. Altogether, The Old Country is definitely worth taking in, but when gameplay is king, you may feel underwhelmed that it spends more time focusing on its visual and storytelling qualities than it does on crafting a sophisticated playable experience.

Greedland has lofty goals, and it mostly succeeds. Unfortunately, some poor translation and some other bugs get in the way of this game being the best it can be.

Heartworm is a love letter to survival horrors of the 90’s, with a great look and feel that apes those older games brilliantly. Boring boss fights, an uninspiring tale, and some user interface niggles stop this being a full-hearted recommendation, but if you’re in the market for old school Resident Evil-like gaming, then this should fit the bill nicely.

A fantastic cast brings a very real light to harsh realities of the entertainment industry, accompanied by some brilliantly realised puzzle/horror gameplay that oozes tension and atmosphere throughout the entire story.

Some stunning pixel art and music compliment a fun action platforming roguelite title. The aesthetics can occasionally mask enemies, but gaining upgrades and knowledge of what’s to come remains rewarding for its brief runtime.

Altogether though, Ready Or Not is satisfying and has been created with attention to detail at its forefront — though its gameplay could’ve done with more excitement and variation.

ISLANDERS: New Shores is an absolute treasure that improves on everything set up before. Amazingly, it also ends up being a great entry point for newcomers by remaining soothing and unstuffy even with the added bells and whistles.

Fans of tough platformers will revel in Through the Nightmares’ challenge, but I found the difficulty spikes a little too overbearing and far too quickly did I find my attention wandering to the next game.

Worms Armageddon Anniversary Edition was already packed with enough game to last forever, but the recent update adding even more wormage to the deal is too hard a deal to pass up. An excellent game packaged in a loving way by Digital Eclipse as only they can.

God of Weapons may not be as refined as Vampire Survivors to knock them off their perch as the best rogue-like survival game. But I think it does plenty to provide a fun alternative. I like the variety of characters, unlockables and objectives as it keeps the game fresh and interesting. It’s very easy to pick and play, and not difficult to master.

I am Your Beast is lean, well paced, and full of style and humour. An essential purchase for anyone that loves to chase a perfect murder run.

Rematch may not knock Rocket League off its perch for a competitive soccer game, but if you are not a fan of cars and prefer the instant arcade action then this is a game that can get you hooked. I am a massive football fan, and I also like Rocket League and Rush from EAFC, so I am impressed with this offering. I have played many times with friends, and it is so easy to lose hours of fun to this game as it’s a joy to win and not that painful to lose.

It happened, it finally happened! It’s been too long since I’ve enjoyed a good TMNT game but I am so happy to say Splintered Fate delivered a good time. Roguelites have been hot for a while now and throwing the TMNT skin on top of one makes a lot of sense. I think more recognizable IP’s should branch out and try new genres like Splintered Fate here. Easy recommend for Turtles fans and roguelite enthusiasts alike.

Star Overdrive is a big open world, with big ambitions, but lacks a little bit of synergy in my opinion. I think comparisons to the giants of this type of game are fair and some of what Star Overdrive does different, like the hoverboard, are great, but I don’t think they mesh together in one package that presents a game that I want to spend a great amount of time with.

MindsEye is the worst kind of failure, a soporific one.

Another detailed, super niche, hobby specific game that didn’t sit well with me, but this time it wasn’t because it was bad necessarily! Rooftops & Alleys was fine for what it was, but it wasn’t right for me despite being excited to play it. Mostly a mixture between the controls not aligning for me and not finding much to do (I am glad to see the time trials and trick battles exist, but other stuff being options comes to mind; think collecting letters ala the S-K-A-T-E challenges from THPS or finding lines and gaps) lead me to my final opinion. I would definitely need some multiplayer motivation for this to have any longevity as well which isn’t present for me. If you have those things and the will to “get good” at games, then this might be for you and your friends. Don’t let my bad gameplay sell the game short either!

Blades of Fire has all the elements to be a memorable action-adventure game but a few questionable decisions in my eyes have made it slightly fade in the crowd. Great graphics, complex combat, and interesting forging mechanics but the lack of direction sadly steers the game into becoming repetitive.

A too short affair with a real threat at the conclusion of Siren’s Rest means a lot of the game is spent swimming and gathering narrative exposition rather than fighting for survival as in Still Wakes the Deep. Luckily, the story told is engaging enough to pull us through the few hours it takes, and the sense of being at the bottom of the North Sea is convincing enough to be its own threat for those of us who aren’t super keen on the water as it is. I’m not sure if it helped or hindered my preparation for real life though…

Vinebound is bright, colourful with a fiendish challenge. It brings a fantastic co-op spin on the Survivors-like genre and should not be missed by fans, especially if they have a friend.

Technical issues aside, we’ve had a great time playing The Alters. It poses tough choices and requirements to the player, and gives us a tight time limit and a thousand other things to keep track of, all while teasing us with new exposition or areas to explore that we’ll never get to in one sitting. It’s a tough game, but give it the time it deserves and you find yourself deeply invested in Jan(s) home.

What a zero-stress game Disney Illusion Island Starring Mickey & Friends was! Gaming doesn’t always have to have strict limits and fast paced action and this proves that. Is it going to move the needle for the platforming genre? Probably not, but it was fun and didn’t overstay its welcome. Throw in co-op, accessibility for all skill levels, and it’s a metroidvania and as far as I’m concerned that’s always a winning combo. If this sounds like something that would fit your gaming lifestyle at this point in your life, I say check it out.

Listen, I am usually the first to play “weird” games or at least give them a go. This one was no different. It wasn’t quite what I expected and that’s okay. And the story has heart so I would encourage players to try it and see for yourself just what others can come up with in the creative space like videogames. If it had more gameplay elements, I’d probably be more keen on it but you may find a hidden gem in this one for yourself. You never know.

It’s been a while since I’ve had this much fun in a cooperative focused title and I think POPUCOM has found a great balance between difficulty and player choice without sticking around for more than it has to. Throw in a lovely presentation and you’ve got a fantastic cooperative puzzle-platformer that can be enjoyed by all.

I’m encouraged by the work that has gone in to improve and launch My Team 2.0, but I can’t help but feel short-changed with too many customized options being locked behind a paywall. That being said, I can see myself putting a lot more hours into F1 25, exploring the different outcomes in Braking Point 3 and delving into a long-term save in My Team.

It has some good, almost great aspects, in its world design, vibe, and atmosphere. The basis is there for a great survival horror, but at every turn it feels hamstrung by dodgy technical aspects or simply bad puzzle planning. It’s the exact type of game that appeals to me, but I also can’t wholly recommend it over countless better examples already out there.

Whether you’ve come for a good yarn, intense drama, or intriguing puzzles, American Arcadia has you covered nicely without ever overstaying its welcome. Experiencing Trevor’s story and the interplay between Trevor and Angela is engaging and high-quality entertainment. It’s brief, and the characters aren’t particularly interesting, but American Arcadia is a game with plenty to say – an inspired, brief, but pleasurable title that deserves attention.

There is a certain type of player who is going to love this game. That person is not me. I’ve not been this disappointed by a Fromsoftware game in a long time. And I’ve played Murakumo: Renegade Mech Pursuit.

The Precinct offers a look into the life on the other side of crime and violence, a side often portrayed in our beloved videogame hobby. It does it in a well-balanced way that has just enough simulator like details without being overwhelming which I can appreciate. I looked forward to logging in each day to knock out a few shifts. The monotony of resolving crimes did eventually wear on me so I wish the story progression were a bit faster other than seemingly RNG but even then, it’s a game that respects your time. If you think you’d enjoy it by the looks, then you have the same feeling as I did and you probably would!

EcoGnomix I thought looked like a novel tactical strategy game but it just reiterates the saying looks can be deceiving. It has a lot of charm about it and graphically looks interesting. But the deep difficulty curve will just turn people off.

Knock on the Coffin Lid is a solid entry in the roguelite deckbuilder category. Anyone sick of the other big contenders will have plenty of things to do. Those looking for a bit more story than usually found will get the most out of it.

If you’re up for a disturbingly enjoyable tale for an evening or two, do yourself a favour; pick up Cooking Companions with as little prior knowledge as possible and just revel in the places it takes us. Just don’t let the kids watch.

As a remaster, it’s well done if basic; some upspuffed visuals, a few QoL improvements, and an easier way to revisit the game. But unfortunately the game itself is showing its age, with obtuse objectives and maps and combat that rarely feels fun or exciting to engage in. One for old fans, and cautious new players looking to see what the series is all about before the new Onimusha: Way of the Sword next year.

If you took the journey five years ago to Journey to the Savage Planet, you’ll want to book a trip to Revenge of the Savage Planet as well. Marmite humour and low-key exploration pleasures aside, Revenge of the Savage Planet is a good and enjoyable time that allows you to scan to your heart’s content and mosey through unknown landscapes to complete objectives and challenges en route to your ultimate revenge. Revenge of the Savage Planet won’t take up much of your time either, but just know that this brand of revenge is a dish served with a slice of weirdness and a platter of squirt burgers—meaning you should just go and have fun for a while.

Bleach: Rebirth of Souls had the potential to be a great game for fans of the anime, but it falls short in several key areas. Way to many cutscenes disrupts the flow of gameplay, and the combat, while solid, lacks the depth and excitement needed to keep me wanting more. It’s a game that might appeal to die-hard Bleach fans just to try it out, but for others, it may not be worth the time. Watch the anime instead, it’s so much better!

Kiborg has crunchy combat and a fantastic sense of adventure to its progression system. Anyone looking for a character action game that delights in the absurd should give it a try. That said, you will need to be content to deal with the unfinished nature of some aspects.

City of the Wolves is a solid instalment in the series, and a game that is in love with its past, while adding new layers everywhere that counts. There is substantial single player content, multiplayer of value and considerable roster. SNK fans will be eating well today – as long as they are prepared to pay extra for content.

Thanks to a brisker pace and slightly shorter runtime, I found myself enjoying Tape 2 a bit more than Tape 1. It feels more exciting and engaging, and even the modern day parts pay off finally as we get to the bottom of the mystery that was frustratingly teased throughout the last episode. As a whole, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is one of the better choose your own adventure style games in recent years, and a welcome return for Don’t Nod indeed.

Despite some early potential, we came away from Steel Seed underwhelmed by its muddled gameplay style and not all that compelling tale. It has its moments, but players looking for either stealth or action gaming are best off looking elsewhere.

I absolutely adore Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It’s the first game in some time that I’ve found myself utterly lost in, so much so that I genuinely did not want to put the controller down. Any minor gripes there might be to have (some areas can get a little confusing to navigate at times, though none are so big that it remains a problem for long) are easily outnumbered by the sheer brilliance of the full product from start to finish. Combat, presentation, exploration, story; it’s all so damn good that I cannot recommend highly enough that you go play this game. We’ve still got a long way to go this year, and a few big hitters to come, but man, it’ll take something special to give Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 a run for its money.

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds: Ultimate is a loving remaster/reworking of the original title, it is bursting with content and all of the originals wide-eyed excess. For those revisiting this will be everything they could possibly want (bigger roster, more modes, better multiplayer). For hardcore beat ‘em up fans the combat might not be deep enough for them but they aren’t the target audience for this title.

Techno Banter is a wonderful little title with tons of Berlin charm. Part text adventure, part Papers, Please, and a handy dousing of EDM.

For those willing to overlook its flaws, Atomfall offers a unique and immersive adventure. But if you’re looking for polished combat and a more guided experience, you might find its rough edges frustrating.

After being drawn in by some eye-catching artwork, Leila backed it up with an engaging story and fun puzzles, albeit hampered by controller inputs rather than a mouse. This niggle aside, Leila is an easy recommend for those looking for an evening of puzzles alongside some heartfelt, thought-provoking storytelling.

Little Droid was an okay, short experience once I got over a small rage-inducing death cycle that I got myself into. Is it tough? Yes. But is it rewarding? Eh. I am very mediocre on Little Droid and there are only certain gaming enthusiasts I can recommend this to and those are players who want to play all the metroidvanias and those who love a “retro-hard” game. If you aren’t in those camps, this one is likely a pass.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is everything I thought this game was going to be and I enjoyed the ride immensely. It’s possible purists may not like the tone of the game too much but as a fan I can always get behind Majima being the main protagonist. His attitude and antics from previous games suit the farfetched nature here and you don’t even need to have played any of the previous game to dive in and enjoy this title.

All in all, Croc The Legend of the Gobbos Remastered does what it says on the tin – remaster a 1997 video game with an upspuff in visuals and improved controls. Keeping the rest of the game as was is great in theory, but too many 90’s sensibilities remain in terms of wonky level design and difficulty spikes. It’s certainly more enjoyable thanks to the improvements made, and I’m all for reviving old games for a new lease on life, but this game is far from the best of the era and it certainly can’t challenge the modern greats that have come since.

A beautiful and wonderful surprise, South of Midnight is a delightful fantasy adventure title that crafts a uniquely southern story about connection and rebuilding harmony in a way that’s rare in videogames today. Hazel and the cast of characters are pleasant, the powers and abilities Hazel uses are plentiful and pleasing, the world is rich with engrossing natural environments, and the breeziness inherent within the game’s storytelling and accessibility makes it a stunning experience. The repetition does grate, and scrapping against haints could use more sparkle and empowerment, but otherwise South of Midnight is one of the best games this year and thoroughly deserves your attention.

Split Fiction is a fantastic game, polished to perfection, I can’t imagine how the developers are going to top this.

There isn’t much to say about a game like this other than you get what you see. Looking for a relaxed hour of gaming? Look at Cats & Seek. Looking for that game to play after you spent dozens and dozens of hours completing that huge RPG? Look at Cats & Seek. Looking for a fast and easy 1,000 gamerscore? Look at Cats & Seek.

It’ll be over in a few evenings, but what a few evenings it’ll be with KinnikuNeko SUPER MUSCLE CAT. The anime styling is very cool, and only enhances a solid set of levels and abilities that we have to play with. A few more opportunities to switch between buff and cat Neko at will would have been great, but as it is KinnikuNeko SUPER MUSCLE CAT comes very highly recommended indeed.

I wanted to like Sledders, I really did, and it was fun for a little while! However, not having objectives or goals made this sandbox feel so empty. Simulation being the focus or not, this game feels too bland to strongly recommend at least at launch. Keep an eye on updates if you are interested otherwise, I think we should keep on waiting for a new “snow” game.

It’s fine. A short description of a game set 30 plus years after its predecessor is really how I’m feeling. It’s not bad but it’s not … for me. In my opinion Beyond the Ice Palace II keeps its retro hardness alive in this installment (which I’m not knocking) but in 2025 I want smoothness to my platformers. This one really takes me back to SNES days where a game was hard because it meant you had to put the time in to master it and I’m just not into that in this day and age which I realize isn’t necessarily the opinion of all gamers. I know some metroidvania fans who would love this one so if that’s you, at least give Beyond the Ice Palace II a double take.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is everything I wanted from the series and more. The world is stunning, the combat is thrilling, and the dual-protagonist system adds so much variety to gameplay. Playing as both characters sometimes feels like experiencing two different games, thanks to their unique playstyles. The deep storytelling kept me completely immersed, and I never once felt bored. For me, it’s an absolute must-play for any fan of the series.

All in all, WWE 2K25 is pretty much all you’ll need for your pro wrestling fix in gaming. It has more modes and superstars than any one person can reasonably play with in a year, and while the Island is underwhelming, there is so much other good stuff it’s easy enough to overlook this. That it looks and plays better than ever in the ring is just icing on an already dense cake.

Atelier Yumia’s first bout is a fun, open world crafting game that offers more than just clearing icons on a map—its verticality while offering player creativity through movement and housing tools make for a good time. It’s everything its developer has been building towards, and I’ve come away quite impressed with what they’ve got to offer.

If you loved the remastered Tomb Raiders I-III released last year, then you’ll definitely want to grab IV-VI remastered as well. The nostalgia and the novelty of revisiting the old Tomb Raider games is certainly worthwhile, but with IV-VI you’re witnessing three Tomb Raiders that gradually lose track of what the series was all about. The Last Revelation and its new ideas are successful, and you’ll enjoy your explorations in Egypt, but Chronicles and Angel of Darkness reek of missed potential and both of them come off as rush jobs. The remaster efforts are good enough in terms of uplifting these relics visually, and the framerate is crisp as well, but you’ll still need to wrestle with terrible design choices inherent within these three games, and the pounding desire for these Tomb Raider games to be remade for a contemporary audience.

Sorry, We’re Closed is going to hit a set of people in their early 2000s nostalgia. For the rest there is a weird and compelling game that feels like a throwback that is also fresh.

This was a fun, short, nostalgia-based trip for me and it really was a see what you get type situation. I can see the Carmen Sandiego games I played as a kid, reimagined for a 2025 audience and this game fits that mold. Were the cases super hard for me? No. Did I expect them to be? No. For the younger audience however, this game poses some good critical thinking skills and closer to the end of the game, even some strategy. The options of a campaign and random “trimmed down” cases this one provides a fair bit of replay value if you are in the mood to collect clues and piece them together whenever otherwise you can get through the game under 10 hours, I’d imagine with the content available at launch.

After a slow start, things pick up nicely, doing a great job of recreating that teenage feeling of the 90’s, with no mobiles or internet but more random happenstance that leads to unforgettable adventures. Bloom & Rage – Tape 1 ends at a point that I’m now chomping at the bit to see what’s next, and I just hope the big mystery gets the pay off it deserves.

Much in the same way as the previous two Two Point entries, Two Point Museum is a delightful and cheeky, yet deliciously approachable management sim that’s top of the class when it comes to comedy, irreverence and accessibility. While Two Point Museum continues the series momentum rather the delving into something entirely unexpected, it still contains many subtle and not-so-subtle new features that improve the entire Two Point franchise. The variety of exhibits, the discoveries and treasures you can uncover from undertaking expeditions, as well as items, structures, personnel, and children, keep Two Point Museum plodding along as an entry that fascinates as memorably as attending a real museum. Although you’re continuously extinguishing the problems of running a successful gallery of grand exhibitions, you’re rewarded with unlimited progression, and you can move along at a pace that serves you more than ever before. Now that’s the third great Two Point experience in a row to savour. Undoubtedly, Two Point Museum is a Jurassic success.

Consider me a Monster Hunter convert. Wilds is a great entry point to the series for someone like me who’s never really gotten into it in the past, but there’s plenty of depth and nitty gritty here that fans will no doubt find enjoyable to get into. A lengthy and enjoyable campaign leads into a vast end-game that will keep me coming back for some time yet.

Avowed gets better the more you commit to it, but when there are many RPGs that fly out of the gate with memorable opening gambits, it’s comparatively a bad indictment for Avowed to drone along in an uninteresting way until you plough a handful of hours into it. Don’t allow these negatives to diminish the positives though, Avowed is a strong RPG that will please anybody looking for a good and tasty role-playing steak to tuck into, it just deserved to shine as bright as its beautiful setting, instead of wallowing in middle-tier purgatory.

It won’t be for everybody, and even the ones it will be for will no doubt find grievances within its systems, but there’s no denying KCD2 is an incredibly deep and dense game that will reward those willing to invest the time and energy into getting the most out of it. A strong story pulls us through parts that otherwise might have been too much to persevere with, but there have certainly been enough times that we have found ourselves enjoying the game that we’d offer a cautious recommendation.

SYNDUALITY has plenty of solid ideas, they just aren’t particularly original, and they are asking full price for a bunch of content that is weighted down by the kind of exploitation you see in Free-to-Play.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a very impressive addition to this franchise, and would even be a great entry point for anyone new to series as you don’t need to have played any of the previous series to understand or follow the story. With the variety of weapons, skills and many hours of gameplay I would say this is great value for money and a great game to relieve some stress with.

There is some fun to be found in Moons of Darsalon at times, and some of the more balanced levels offer a decent challenge. But too often I found myself cursing at the game for yet again killing me or making me fail more due to the fiddly mechanics than actual game design.

When all things are considered, Sniper Elite: Resistance is a commendable entry in the Sniper Elite franchise, granting us more insights into Harry Hawker by shining the protagonist spotlight on him, which gives us a respectable reprieve from wearing the militaristic boots of Karl Fairburne. Most of what the series has established is present and accounted for, and although there are various new locations to be in awe of, and navigational options to test out, Resistance fails to truly push the envelope in exciting directions despite shifting the focus onto a new hero and a new story. If you loved previous Sniper Elite games, Resistance has got all the bang you could want from its particular buck, but Resistance is a day late and a nickel short as far as exciting and explosive new features are concerned. The bugs and garish seventh-generation character textures don’t help either, but thankfully Resistance is gratifying enough due to its strategic essences, even though it could – and should – have been so much more.

Eternal Strand is an immense start for Yellow Brick. There are so many perfect parts in this tapestry of ideas from other games, and its approach of letting players explore and figure out ways to use their powers is amazing. There are a few glaring flaws here, but I think it is a case of the rest of it being so good that those weaknesses are put into stark contrast.

Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders is a brilliant follow-up to Downhill, refining the flow of the gameplay and ironing out most of the issues we had with that game. A perfect blend of chill and rage inducing gaming that we can’t seem to put down.

All in all, Things Too Ugly is a short, fun detective mystery, with a well written story and brilliantly designed puzzles.

Liberté in theory is where Hades meets the French Revolution. However, this is not as fast and varied as Hades and it is only very loosely based on the French Revolution. Although deckbuilding and using cards as skills in combat is not a new idea, the way it has been delivered is still different and fresh. The combat separated from the bizarre plot is enjoyable but it just needed more variation to keep it interesting.

Legacy of Kain™ Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered is one of my childhood games brought back to the modern day but just not in the way I imagined. With such a cool story and concept, a remake combining the two with modern controls and a bit more direction would have made this awesome. But just a graphical touch up isn’t enough to bring these games to the modern era. It needed more love and for me that’s a shame.

As a debut DLC, The Problem Child does pack in a good bunch of fighters and attires, but foregoes gameplay refinements or bigger new additions in order to satisfy roster cravings. If the assortment of fighters in this DLC impress you, then that’s a promising sign for the game’s future downloadable content, but otherwise you don’t need to pay a third of the game’s RRP to experience it, unless you can’t resist Jake Paul and his alluring social media musk.

Flint: Treasure of Oblivion is an interesting turn-based pirate adventure, to say the least. The storyline is interesting even if it does go a bit supernatural. The comic book-style dialogue is wonderfully drawn and well-written. I know turn-based combat is hard to keep fresh and interesting but I think this game went a bit too complex with it. Maybe with a bit more on-screen hand it would make more sense but I found it too easy to get lost with the dice roll meanings and the upgrade configuration.

Cuisineer is a cute, comfy social sim with some Action RPG added in there. That said, this might be one of the most transparent versions of the genre, which does not feel rewarding to unlock new content.

VED has a strong combat system, but its story doesn’t hold the rest of the components together, which is a fundamental flaw for a game so focussed on it.

All in all, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley and it’s new DLC Fuddler’s Courtship are both charming, easy going experiences that are perfect for parents and children to sit down together and explore, with a light hearted take on themes such as friendship and the importance of looking after nature.

Power Ranger fans have had their share of hits and misses when it comes to the videogame space but with Rita’s Rewind, I feel the best is here. I had a smile on my face the entire time while playing this one. Upon initial completion my only negative was how short it was because I craved more. Are there areas of improvement, sure and do I wish I could more easily play with my online friends, yes but that has barely taken away the enjoyment I can get with this game as is. Don’t miss out Power Rangers fan, this one is worth the play. Gamers in general, this is one to look into as well!

All of this amounts to the exact type of praise we hoped we’d be left with; this is Xbox’s definitive game this year, and a perfect love letter to the original films. It captures what made them great in the witty tone, sense of adventure, and captivating mystery and expands it into a full on 30 hour videogame packed with fun and meaningful things to do in addition to the story. Some smarter enemies and a bit more of an expansion to the freedom to solve certain areas our own way would have been welcome, but other than a few minor quibbles Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is a brilliant adventure from start to finish.

Tri-Breaker: A Sacred Symbols Odyssey is more retro styled goodness from the minds behind Last Stand and Lilimo Games. The constant switch up of gameplay styles keeps things fresh, it has a charmingly retro story, and is quite simply a fun few hours of gaming.

Ravenswatch is a superb. Complex, innovative, and just downright satisfying to play.

Neon Blood was still an enjoyable ride despite the issues listed, mainly again due to that stellar presentation and a tale that, while not exactly original, was executed well (and briefly) enough to keep our interest high throughout.

Slitterhead is a fascinating game, with an over-the-top plot, routed in strangely grounded characters. The combat is good, with some genuine new additions to the character action genre. However, it goes on for just a bit too long.

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is a game that I enjoy playing for a few hours at a time. While I do enjoy the game for what it offers, it can get tiring at certain points and put a strain on your hands and fingers. I’ve been playing rhythm games for years so for beginners it may be a bit daunting and irritating at first. It sucks that 500+ songs are behind DLC and you shouldn’t get it unless you’re absolutely sure that this is something you want to sink your time in. Given that Xbox doesn’t have that many rhythm game options I would recommend Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival as a perfect jumping-off point for those looking to get the beat moving.

All in all, Once Alive is a promising first outing for solo dev Cem Boray Yıldırim, at least in the potential they show at being able to craft a world that is intriguing and somewhat unique in the crowded genre of the post-apocalypse. Unfortunately, the finished product here leaves too much of that promise on the table, with mechanics introduced and forgotten immediately in favour of slow walking and linear progression, and technical aspects that punch above their weight in not being optimised effectively.

Soul Stalker was a fun palate cleanser of a game as I like to call them. With it’s short or long form game modes and one-more-run feeling it gives you, this is a great game to just pick up and play. “Auto-battler” fans will find something familiar here but with enough variances to give a little bit of a fresh take on the genre.

Wildermyth is unlike anything else on the market. A roleplaying game that really emphasizes embodying a character and a story, that also happens to have a good combat system in there. Quickly repeating story elements diminishes that vision a bit, but there is still so much that the game understands about generating drama and investment – this is a must-play that I hope gets a refined and honed sequel.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is exactly what I wanted from a Dragon Age game. I just wish I didn’t have to wait 10 years for it. It ticks all the boxes for me in that it has a great story to tell, there are tough decisions to make, the voice acting is great and the gameplay is enjoyable. My only gripe was that my rogue playthrough involved a lot of evading but that was my choice and it only makes me want to play it through again as a different class.

Park builders have come a long way in recent years, and Planet Coaster 2 tops the bunch for us as a game packed with possibilities. The menu system suffers on a gamepad for sure, and we found it quite laggy too, but if you can persevere and get round the shortcomings of this, then the parks of your dreams are just a few thousand button presses away.

If there was one thing to make an RTS game out of it would be ants and bugs! To me, it made a lot of sense and I’m glad we not only have that, but we have that in an absolutely stunning way. This game is one of the best-looking games which I think helps it tremendously. The game isn’t bad itself, but it can be slow at times so making it nice to look at is really great. Top that with a controller layout that works pretty well, and you have a good RTS on console which is not an easy feat. Empire of the Ants is a pleasant experience that RTS fans should not look past.

Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream Story Mode acted more like an extended filler episode than anything. Nothing to “Wow” a casual SAO enjoyer and nothing I’d personally believe would make a hardcore fan’s jaw drop.

A strong opening set of chapters set up an intriguing mystery with the return of Max Caulfield, new powers and friends, and a fantastic setting with some excellent audio/visual work. Unfortunately, it all falls apart by the end, with a confusing mess of threads that sweep the interesting stuff aside in favour of a side story that feels rushed, and a final choice that is set up poorly, leaving us underwhelmed and not entirely sure what fate we assigned ourselves too.

Phasmophobia has hit the Xbox and brings all its scrappy charm along with it. I think there are people who are going to love this multiplayer horror game, but once the scares wear off, there isn’t a lot to keep coming back.

Red Dead Redemption is a bona-fide gaming classic that until now had missed the PC crowd baying for it to come to the platform. If you’ve yet to play it, this is simply the best way to play if you have even a passable PC or laptop, and puts a shine on a game that we can’t recommend enough.

Technical issues aside from the moment this game has potential. I love the fact that the Turtles have been given a bit more complexity in this game, but the mark is just a bit off. I honestly would have called this an okay game but had to knock it down with all of the hoops I had to jump through to finish the game. This won’t be the end for TMNT games and after some patches and maybe even a good sale, a fan of the reptilian ninjas may enjoy this but for now, I don’t think I’d recommend to my friends.

The Tunes are back in videogame form, which is great to see however this compilation of sports mini-games falls a bit short for the wacky world in my opinion. I love getting to see and play as some of the Looney Tunes but the sports themselves feel too basic and sometimes even clunky to really want to go back or even introduce it to friends or my kids. Golf was good and tennis was not bad but at a 50% okay rate in terms of fun, it’s a hard recommend to seasoned gamers.

Necro Story made some bold decisions on ways to make the game challenging. The soul-catching mechanic is particularly interesting and adds a unique twist to the gameplay. The variety of characters with random perks and the comical undertone of the story provides a refreshing take on the dark fantasy genre. However, the game’s lack of clear explanations for certain mechanics, like the different coloured souls and plot direction can be frustrating. If you enjoy a mix of real-time and turn-based combat with a spooky humourous story there is plenty of content to be had here.

All in all, this year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 had a lot riding on its shoulders; big return after a poor showing last year, and the first big release straight into Game Pass. That it has come out this well in campaign and MP is no small feat, and no matter if you buy it or play on subscription, you’re almost guaranteed to have a good time. The campaign is the usual action blockbuster but shows promise for the future in its slower, more open-ended areas, and the MP is the best it’s been (in my casual eyes) for over a decade.