Considering how much of challenge there can be in Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, there’s no denying it is a consistently rewarding and satisfying game to play. The three areas on offer are huge but packed with interesting terrain to traverse and conquer, and there are more objectives to tackle than you could ever realistically need. The non-driving parts are a let-down but are brief enough to not sour things too much over all. A niche-but-worthwhile experience awaits those who are willing to tackle the wilds.

Anyone that loved the original will delight in playing Windjammers 2 (and that is unabashedly me). For those coming to this game for the first time would do well to look for good video tutorials.

If you ask me, if you’re not willing to play MyCareer or even MyTeam, then save your money as NBA 2K23 is not worth it in the long run. You’ll just end up spending more money than you initially thought you would while potentially playing anything but basketball.

I was pretty much sold on Art of Rally the first time I saw it, but perhaps what might have truly sealed the deal was the line the large buddha statue laid on me in the intro, “we are in a parallel universe, where Group B was never cancelled”. Art of Rally is coming to Game Pass and there’s no excuse for anyone not to give it a try, unless you absolutely loathe racing games. It should appeal to any one with even the slightest interest in racing games, but will also satisfy the racing game veterans. The art style is sublime – I know some players might not be into the non-realistic graphics. It doesn’t get better than this in terms of pure art, and overall fun, and Art of Rally is both.

King Arthur: Knights Tale is a good but not quite great medieval take on the tactical RPG genre. The Skirmish and Local PVP modes add value and longevity to a game that can feel repetitive if you stick solely to the campaign.

Hypercharge: Unboxed for its price is definitely a title many should consider picking up. It’s cute, charming, and most importantly it’s nostalgia bait done right. Everything from the gameplay elements and the scenery feels like it was done with care. Being able to relieve a piece of my childhood has been a treat and I’m always itching to put toys back into their boxes.

If you are fond of classics from 30 years ago getting modern updates, System Shock will be a commendable trip to take. Plenty has been done to make System Shock an appetizing choice for the curious, and those who wonder where Bioshock‘s influences came from. However, the frustrations of exploration, the monochrome environments and the lack of interesting enemies smushes this remake’s momentum. Your enjoyment of this System Shock Remake will likely hinge on whether you can tolerate the rigidity of this classic’s design and how much you enjoy the story and the intrigue that exists within. Lamentably though, this remake sells itself on regression, meaning you’ll need to erase all the strides the genre has made in 30 years in order to fully appreciate it. Try this remake then if you’re curious, you might enjoy it, but although this remake is commendable, it’s still too disappointingly archaic to fully recommend.

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.

Mutant Year Zero’s robust gameplay elements blend together magnificently well, collectively sitting on a story backdrop that’s intriguingly desperate, yet oddly comedic at just the right times. The game’s openness encourages experimentation and daring, with no shortage of lore and rewards dished out to keep its pace at a steady flow. The end result makes for one of the best tactical adventures of the gen.

Despite that these games have aged about as well as leather in a desert, and overlooking a few omissions, Konami’s Castlevania Anniversary Collection is well worth the investment if you’re a fan of the series, or, are curious about the franchise’s roots. Throw in the fact that this compilation will soon see the addition of the Japanese versions for each title included, picking this up truly is a no brainer.

All in all Forgone has been super fun for me. Sure, I could nit-pick at some very minor changes but what Big Blue Bubble has made is something awesome and that all platforming fans should give it a look. I think it provides the right amount of challenge for all gamers approaching it.

For its asking price, you should definitely give Akane a try. Just because the game is lacking on the content side it doesn’t mean that there isn’t any enjoyment to be had. If you play the game in a short burst or for maybe an hour or two at a time, you’ll come to love the hack and slash brawler to its full potential.

With a fresh take on the Aliens game franchise and a deep understanding of what made that movie tick, Aliens: Dark Descent is a great Real Time Strategy.

Overall a wonderful game to play, very much like Kanata Zero (must play FYI). Graphic were very good, audio was good and controlled well.

A massive improvement over Double Exposure, and an excellent send off for the two characters that the Life is Strange fanbase are obviously hugely fond of. The core mystery kept me guessing throughout, the performances are excellent, and the investigative nature of the story encourages us to dig deep rather than just follow a checklist. It’s just all-round brilliant stuff.

Valfaris isn’t so much full of surprises as much as full of bad guys. No matter which way you face you will have some enemies coming at you – though you’l also have piles of enemies at your feet before too long! I did however find it really tough, it’s punishing difficulty almost too much at times. If you like a challenge then you’ll be right at home here, but those after a more serene experience will do good to look elsewhere.

For people that love Stardew Valley and wanted to see it collide with a kaleidoscope of other genres with a Sci-Fi coat of paint are in for a ride. For those that shudder at the sound of the words ‘Stardew Valley’ avoid.

Offers a wonderful compilation of classics. Each game performs as well as you would expect, upheld further by neat additions such as online play and a range of filters. That’s not to mention its interesting history-rich museum mode. Sadly, not all of the games within get to enjoy these modern features, though with that being said, there’s absolutely no denying its value for content.

Fury Unleashed manages to bring some fun combat and exploration to the rogue like genre that, even when a run fails, feels rewarding. A well-executed upgrade system, as well as plentiful loot found along the way, means that it’s rare to not find something new to play with, or a new tactic to use on each go. The comic styling works well too, though the music could’ve been a bit more impactful; a small knock on an otherwise brilliant title.

Constantly tense and surprisingly varied, Darkwood offers a new take on the tired genre, one that never relies on needless scares and cheap tactics to set its captivating, grim atmosphere. Here, you’re simply thrown to the unknown and left to fend for yourselves by any means necessary, with no hand-holding whatsoever, and no easy way out. Despite a few issues, Darkwood offers everything a great survival horror should, and more besides.

Overall, if you’re after a classic platformer that harkens back to the good old days of platforming past, then Pumpkin Jack is certain to bring you some joy. The story may not be one I, or anyone else, will be telling their children about (as I did with Crash Bandicoot as if it were a true story) but it’s not a totally inept offering either, and if you simply want something that can return that nostalgic charm, and some Halloween festivities, then there are many worse options you could choose than a shot with Pumpkin Jack.

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.

The combat and traversal in Kingdom Hearts III is simply outstanding, with each massively in-depth system intertwining perfectly to produce a widely compelling basis that constantly excites. There’s a fantastic amount of variation as far as the game’s worlds, its enemies, and its activities are concerned, bolstering its already impressive value. Unfortunately, some sloppy development choices and a convoluted plot hold it back from greatness.

Between the art style, the core gameplay and the humor that lands, there’s a lot of fun to be had here. It’s a little too heavy handed on the in-jokes and references at times, undermining the successes elsewhere. The lack of enemy variety and the world level layouts hurt this the most, but overall, the game is well deserving of your time.

The game’s enhancements and quality of life improvements are wonderful, not only making it look much better and more refined, but giving it a management fluidity that the original version lacked. You’ll need to forgive some delayed rendering and the odd drop in framerate, but for the most part, the entire package holds up remarkably. Putting it simply, Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition is the best way to play Borderlands on console.

Children of Morta has a very compelling story and the way they use death in the game to help progress the story is refreshing. However, there is so much that you need to unlock in the game to try and balance the difficulty in your favour to even complete the first dungeon. This, in turn, ruins the experience by having to play the same dungeon over and over. It is a shame that the same level of effort that was put into the story line was not put into the gameplay, things becomes repetitive quite quickly.

Don’t you love when a game delivers on the hype? I certainly do and The Plucky Squire lives up to its promise. I was grinning the whole time playing it and really enjoyed what it had to offer. This is a game that while not providing a ton of challenge in the combat arena, it brought forth some clever puzzles that sometimes made me stop to appreciate what I had to do regardless of if it was actually difficult to figure out or not. A game like this comes around only so often and it is actually one I’d recommend to all gamers.

This “Rebrush” of Epic Mickey paints a successful picture for the iconic mouse, simultaneously celebrating the brilliance of the original game, whilst lifting it up to modern videogame standards in what is a really beautiful remake that is delicious to look at. If you squint, you may find undesirable remnants from its original existence on the Wii, but otherwise Epic Mickey is preserved and improved lovingly here. The reworked controls, revamped visuals, and the numerous ways Purple Lamp have refurbished Epic Mickey shows you the true love the developers have for what they’ve created, and it shines through in just about every way. Platforming can be a tad stodgy at times, and the morality system is a bust, but otherwise this is a real treat for fans of the original game, and an even bigger treat for new audiences, so go and give this gem a shot and you should fall in love with its painterly aesthetic without it wearing thin.

The Golf Club 2019 is as close to real world golf as you can get. HB Studios goes above and beyond to strike a fine balance between accessible and challenging. With its repetitive commentary and its plastic avatars to the side, there’s very little to scoff at. The game’s functions are remarkably fluid, precise and deep, allowing players to immerse themselves in an authentic and faithful representation of the sport.

Episode 1 really is a journey that tugs on your heartstrings and plays with your emotions, so much so that I can’t wait to see how the brothers and their relationship develops over the coming episodes. No doubt there will be many more horrific challenges in their way, but I am eager to see how things pan out. Life is Strange 2 is off to a great start.

Superliminal pulls us in with a fun looking gameplay hook, holds our attention while it twists our expectations, and brings us out the other end with something to truly reflect on. Easily one of the best puzzlers out there, and one that deserves all of the success in the world.

I was very surprised by Endling – Extinction is Forever. I enjoyed it for the most part, with a lovely visual style and story, although the gameplay felt a bit repetitive at times which held it back slightly.

Pirates Outlaws is a solid deck-building roguelite that adds tons of content and lots of interesting spins on familiar formulas, it is an easy recommend for fans of the genre. For those that are new to this style – there are better places to start.

Despite very slight niggles over control and getting myself lost, the reality is that Piccolo Studio have delivered an incredible debut full of rich storytelling, tear-filled beauty and unforgettable moments. Their own attention to detail and the obvious love they have poured into this game lift it far beyond the heavens their hero seeks. Whether a debut outing or otherwise, the game is outstanding. They may have also just delivered my game of the year.

Young Souls is a scrolling beat ’em up with a few more ideas thrown into the mix. You can change the path you take slightly, and you have to earn your increase in stats. The twin’s functionality is a cool touch and playing with a friend is way more fun than by yourself. The game is meant to test your skills and patience but the added option to make it an easier ride will make it more accessible.

With the release of Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin, Frontier now has two games released this year that will be in contention for my GOTY. There is so much to do, and Realms of Ruin will keep fans of Warhammer and RTS games busy for a long, long time with Frontier proving you CAN have quality and quality in a video game if done right.

It would be all too easy to compare this to the Souls series, but in truth, Salt and Sanctuary deserves a spotlight entirely of its own. It’s a dark and twisted journey that constantly relays a remarkable amount of depth, variety, innovation, and detail. Its greatest achievement, however, is not that of its outstanding structure, but its ability to frequently entice its players, despite how often it screws them over. This, is a punishing must have.

Lost Judgement is in my eyes a superb addition to the Yakuza series and is jam-packed with content. The graphics are great, the voice acting is great and the amount of activities that will distract you from the main quest is mind-blowing. It used the same formula which made its predecessors so much fun to play and improved on it. Even as dark and gruesome as the main story is there is always something around the corner in this game to put a smile back on your face.

You can tell a lot of time and effort has gone into making F1 Manager to be as polished and as detailed as it is, I genuinely wasn’t expecting this much detail and depth as a first entry into the series. F1 Manager can easily be labelled as the best F1 Management game ever and I hope all fans of management and strategy games pick this up and enjoy it as much as I am!

Omega Strike is fun, thrilling and more importantly, rewarding. The game’s well designed interconnected map gradually opens up as progression is made, which further bolsters the game’s steady pace. More encouragement to swap between characters would have been welcoming, though overall, Omega Strike is a well rounded action-platformer that’s jam-packed with varying enemies and challenges throughout.

Slime-san: Superslime Edition is packed full of exciting and diverse content. Not only does this game cater for those that relish a 2D platforming challenge, but it offers a decent learning curve that’s suitable for newcomers too. The controls are tight and responsive, the game’s mechanics are unique and function well, though above all else, it’s fun, thrilling and addictive. For its price, this game is an absolute steal.

The shame of all this is that without these practices, NBA 2K20 can stand tall as the best basketball sim available. Even running unopposed with the retirement of the NBA Live franchise, it continues to get better and better on the court, but serious issues surrounding that experience leave it feeling less and less impressive year on year. Here’s hoping 2K can end that trend.

As overGame put in their email to me, Gaijin Charenji 1 : Kiss or Kill is more of an experience than a traditional video game. If you are up for an hour spent questioning what you see before you, before having your mind melted by the mad antics on display, then absolutely pick it up. I fear many people won’t be willing to give it a chance however, and that’s a shame, as it is a unique experience that will stay with you for some time.

As unlikely as it may appear, New Super Lucky Tale is a punchy and polished platformer that does a great job of thrusting you into its luscious worlds. While there’s nothing truly astonishing here, New Super Lucky’s Tale does a splendid job of giving its players a joyful and fun platforming adventure game with lots of puzzles and challenges to keep one busy for the duration of its six-seven hour runtime. Youngsters will certainly find a lot to love here and in this vein New Super Lucky’s Tale is a triumph. Everyone else will find a nice and pleasant platformer but might want more excitement and memorable moments that they probably won’t find here. Ultimately Lucky’s tale is one worth taking in no matter your age, just keep in mind that you may not find enough excitement or story for your liking.

Islanders is effortlessly sublime. A city builder that is easy to understand and continues to grow with each playthrough.

Despite its flaws Miasma Chronicles is a good but not quite great game that sucks you back in for more and will be a decent pickup for anyone who enjoys tactical turn-based games.

Simply said fans of Moving Out should love Moving Out 2. This is everything a sequel should be. Doesn’t over complicate the formula that worked so well in the first game and in a sense is just more of it which is what I personally want most of the time. With its wealth of accessibility options, it’s a great game for newer gamers and veterans alike. I can’t wait to play more of this game co-op via online play with friends.

Crow Country is top-tier retro survival horror. It has fun, engaging puzzles, some excellent presentation work, and is a tightly paced affair that keeps the gameplay flowing nicely. Easy recommendation for players familiar with the genre and new players alike.

KING OF FIGHTERS XV may not be the best game when it comes to the story but the fighting aspect fills those missing holes. Being able to feel this excited about a fighting game almost feels unreal in a way. With my little experience with the genre, KING OF FIGHTERS XV makes me want to improve in every way that I can. The fluidity of the combat, the strategic big brain plays, the beautiful and handsome character designs, it all comes together and shatters all my expectations I had going into KING OF FIGHTERS XV and I look forward to putting more countless hours into the game.

Far Cry 6 is as Far Cry as Far Cry gets. It may be cut from the same cloth as previous entries almost identically, but when the action is this fun and the world is this expansive and full of things to do, I’m not going to complain. The title alone will let you know if that’s for you, but if it is, you’re in for one hell of a ride.

Overall, if you want a game that brings back the type of horror that seems to have become lost to time in recent years, Tormented Souls will definitely provide. It’s creepy, it’s dark and it has an enjoyable story within its moody setting. Sure, it essentially rips off the features of the classic experiences, but it also feels like a fresh new experience thanks to a surprisingly enjoyable story that holds its own. If you’re missing an experience that properly gave you a thrill, then Tormented Souls should be able to reintroduce that excitement in your life.

I’ve used the term fun a lot in this review, simply because that is the most accurate work for Hotshot Racing. I had an absolute blast playing it, and appreciated its retro arcade feel and looks. Those looking for more in depth racing might come away wanting, but then that is pretty much the opposite of what Hotshot Racing sets out to do – this is pure, simple, captivating gameplay, and a title you can’t miss out on, especially as it’s in GamePass!

While I wouldn’t say Little Nightmares 2 is a ‘fun’ time, it’s certainly an entertaining one. Creepy visuals and audio suck us in, and some smart, well-paced puzzles and set pieces keep us hooked for the duration. A few of these teeter on annoyance at times, but are also short enough to never actually make us want to stop playing. A strange, creepy delight of a game, Little Nightmares 2 deserves to stand out as one of the best releases of the year.

The chill nature of the gameplay, the exploration of the oceans, finding new fish and completing quests for the townsfolk meshed together to make a really rather enjoyable time. Moonglow Bay is the perfect palette cleanser in between other grittier titles, and another solid addition to the Game Pass service.

Amnesia: Collection is a must have for horror fans. The game’s performance remains on point throughout, and although the visuals are somewhat dated, this surprisingly adds to the game’s eeriness in the grand scheme of things. The bottom line here is that for its asking price, you’re getting plenty of terrifying content in return, content that’s arguably a staple for survival horror as we know it.

As I mentioned earlier I’ve played everything Warhammer from the Xbox 360 on and I can recommend most of them, but this is the first title I can recommend for both Warhammer enthusiasts and novices alike, as there’s enough story and lore content and plenty of interesting and challenging gameplay to satisfy both groups.

Boy, did I enjoy A Juggler’s Tale. It was a palate cleanser of a game that in my mind only suffers from it’s longevity – or rather lack there of. From the voicework, to the music and the gameplay, it was all well done with care from the developers, and something that you can experience in just a couple of hours. A definite recommendation to new gamers and veterans alike.

Overall, I had a great time with Cursed to Golf. The golfing mechanic is simple to learn, but between the random course layouts, hazards, and Ace Cards, actually beating a hole is anything but. Constantly fun, with the only drag being the boss battles, this is an easy recommendation.

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.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties was always going to be a hit with me as a fan of the series. A lot of the amendments to modernise the game and make it more fun and interesting have hit the spot with me. Although its not the strongest story in the series, coupling it with the Dark Ties side story brings an interesting dynamic on the story which I enjoy. But a horrifically bad casting choice has completely tarnished the game and left me with mix feelings.

A downer to end with, but I do want to reiterate that the game otherwise is excellent in terms of quality. The roster (at least what is unlocked to start with) is stacked, the match types are more varied than ever, and there are so many modes here to play with I am honestly staggered how anyone could find the time to explore them all properly. Showcase does CM Punk justice, while MyRise is a great character builder for our custom superstar, and the creation suite is even more mind boggling in its scope than ever. If you’re even remotely into the world of professional wrestling, then WWE 2K26 is an absolute no brainer as the best game of graps out there.

An absolutely enjoyable puzzle platformer that has charm, style and enough funny, well written dialogue to propel a simple, yet effective story. Beautiful art and designs round out the package neatly, however, some poor physics-based puzzles and repetitive music lets the experience down a little. That said, it’s certainly worth a play through nevertheless.

The Council is ambitious, unique, and serves up some truly in-depth functionality. However, the otherwise intriguing story is let down by poor voice acting and daft character animation. The game also puts an awful lot of pressure on the player to learn so much in a short space of time. The Council is off to a good start, but it should have been refined more.

Project Warlock is a fun and exciting shoot em up FPS with a variety of weapons and magic spells. Basically, if you enjoy games like DOOM as much as I do, you won’t be disappointed.

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.

Despite its difficulty fluctuations and some minor design issues with its procedurally generated content, 20XX offers a solid Mega Man-like action platformer that plays well and is distinct enough to stand out. There’s a lot of diverse content to work through, with heaps of upgrades to chase after and several enemy variations to keep you on your toes. It’s just a shame that its few issues hold it back slightly in the long run.

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.

Routine grounds the player within this lunar base, and trusts them to get out alive with a fantastic diegetic presentation, compelling narrative and setting, and genuine creeps and tense atmosphere.

Skies Unknown, quite simply put, is aerial combat at its absolute finest. The jaw-dropping graphical power that supports the experience is second to none, consistently upholding the game’s tight and responsive action-packed gameplay. Whether you’re here for its explosive campaign or its deep and intense multiplayer, Ace Combat 7 will not disappoint. It doesn’t get any better than this for flight game enthusiasts.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy stays remarkably faithful to the originals in nearly every way, warts and all. Vicarious Visions has implemented a few subtle tweaks here and there, which ultimately goes on to bolster the overall experience. There’s a vast amount of stunning, vibrant, challenging and diverse content to work through, with heaps of replay value waiting beyond that. Simply put, this is classic platforming at its absolute finest.

Stories Untold is an experience more so than a game, and one that should be experienced by many. Through simplistic mechanics a fantastic story is presented. Perfect for when you are in a spooky mood and still want to avoid things like jump scares. While a short experience that should be enjoyed in as few sittings as you can, it’s a wonderful one.

All in all, Pacer is about as close as we’re likely to get to a new Wipeout; that is to say, its fantastic sense of speed and style evoke the same feeling I got when playing the 1995 classic. Even on the slower speeds things move briskly, but up it to the Elite class and we’re in for a eye-wateringly fast racer that looks great and controls perfectly. A few confusing UI elements aside, this is well worth a look.

Riders Republic dropped in at the busiest time of year. There are many games vying for gamers’ attention at the moment, and I think the full price, AAA price tag could cause some people to bail. Overall I’ve had a blast during my time in the Republic. It has an insane amount of content and replayability, and I think most people could easily rack up enough playtime where they felt like they got their money’s worth. There are a few issues, like the awkward trick controls, but none of them get in the way of the pure fun I had while playing this thrilling extreme sports bonanza. Book your tickets, but don’t bother buying round trip because once you get a taste of the Republic you won’t want to leave.

Grow: Song of the Evertree feels like a mobile phone time-killing game that has been plucked out spruced up with some gorgeous graphics, added some great orchestral background music, pumped the game full of things to do and gives you free license with how you want to play create your worlds. As with these types of games, some things can get quite repetitive but if you want a stress free pretty looking game then you could easily lose some hours with this game.

So I am actually impressed with Nobody Saves the World. Drinkbox Studios have a very fun and interesting graphical design about their games although on first impression they can seem a bit childish when you see the haunting eyes of some of your forms you realise it is for a slightly more mature audience. The way they have handled progression in this game is a breath of fresh air and I look forward to playing this game through to completion.

Severed Steel is a must have for this year, nothing else has come close in a long time to distilling the definition of ‘fun’ into a video game.

South of the Circle is an enjoyable experience. If you are looking for something where you can chill out and let the story do most of the work, then this is for you. You will grow to love Peter and Clara and I thoroughly enjoyed my playthrough.

Pathfinder: Wraith of the Righteous is a worthy sequel as it’s packed full of lore and interesting storylines. The customisation involved in the game is off the scale and allows users to tailor the experience to their own tastes. I think they could have done more to create a really simple approach for those not familiar with these games as some of the choices can become overwhelming and complex. But there are hours of exploration, story, loot, and fighting where this game delivers well.

The Devil In Me is a solid round-off to Season One of The Dark Pictures Anthology. It has some of the best character and story work so far, with gruesome, inventive horror that kept us on our toes. Once the online woes are sorted we’ll be jumping back in for another go, and can recommend fans alike do the same.

Nuclear Blaze is an absolute joy to play, be it taking it easy on Kid Mode or working through the 2 hour campaign on one of the multiple difficulty modes. The action and level progression is almost perfectly paced, it looks stunning, and only very, very rarely did we encounter a moment where we had anything less than great fun extinguishing flames.

As someone who enjoyed Hot Wheels Unleashed I was excited to give Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged a try and it did not disappoint. Is it more of the same? Yes but every aspect of the game has improved. The new modes and individual car upgrade systems really give some depth to what could have been cash grab reskin of the previous game. Happy to say I don’t think that is the case and I look forward to playing this some more and seeing what kind of DLC awaits us as that is something I thought the first game did well.

As I mentioned earlier it’s hard to review games like The Quarry without spoiling the story, but I hope I’ve been able to whet your appetite enough with what could easily be Supermassives best entry to date. With the beautifully crafted scenery, soundtrack and great cast it’s certainly one I’ll be playing again and again once I get my Series X version!

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.

Cris Tales is a beautiful 2D JRPG with an interesting story and great use of time manipulation. Each of the characters are unique and bring something different to each battle. The way the screen splits to show you the past, present and future is delightful to see and invests you into the game to try and improve the future, while using time powers in battles is well executed and kept me keen on trying different strategies. Hopefully the slow movement outside of battle and the fact there is no difficulty slider doesn’t put people off as there’s a lot to enjoy here in this stunning looking JRPG.

I was concerned that revisiting such a highly regarded game almost a decade later might turn out for the worst, but it’s safe to say that GTA V is just as fun, chaotic, witty, and engaging as it was all those years ago. With the new Performance RT mode it looks better than ever while also allowing us the pleasure of playing at 60FPS on console for the first time. I’ve had a blast so far going back through the story, and I can’t wait to get back into the rest of the adventure.

I loved the SteamWorld Dig games and was excited for SteamWorld Build to give Xbox fans another opportunity to play in this fun universe. SteamWorld Build took what some might consider a niche genre and made it super easy to get into no matter the player’s prior experience. The fun persisted and the progression was constant which made for a great time even in my replays. I recommend this to anyone looking for a chill game to help pass the time.

The Oddworld has finally graced the Xbox platform with it’s newest entry into the franchise with Oddworld: Soulstorm Enhanced Edition. This is a reimagining of the classic Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus. It improves on the prequel remake, Oddworld: New ‘n Tasty, in every way. Hands down the best 2D Oddworld game and I think fans of the franchise will love it.

Nova Lands is exactly what you need if you need a less stressful session of gaming. That is not to say it is not frustrating as at times you will feel like an underappreciated supervisor when the bots are not doing what you are expecting them to do. But you are the master of these bots and they are as only as good as your strategy. It is a neat little game but something you will only play through once.

Ultimately, I feel that the yearly model for releases is perhaps starting to become outdated. Of course, the moment to moment gameplay is still as solid as ever, and fans will no doubt find enjoyment here. But, in the age of live service games, something like Madden seems a natural fit. I’m not saying what’s here is bad, as such, it just feels like the value proposition is getting lower each time.

Is GRID the perfect racer? I have to say it comes close. It definitely checks off a lot of the boxes that I look for in a game. There may be a few features from other titles that I would have loved for Codemasters to have borrowed from but that’s a moot point. The car count is decent, the locales are gorgeously rendered, the audio is spot on, track layouts are interesting, and the racing at higher difficulty levels is incredibly intense. I would have liked to be able to set the length of the race in Career mode as I feel the races are a bit short but that’s probably the only gripe I have with this game. If video racing is your thing do yourself a favor and pick this up. Right now.

Wizard of Legend is easily one of the best dungeon crawlers of this gen so far. There’s a plethora of challenging content to get through and no shortage of magical combinations to enjoy. The gameplay itself, despite the occasional minor drop in frame-rate, remains fluid and precise throughout. This is further upheld by its natural charm, its energy, its general depth and its vast replay value.

Song of Horror is a wonderful psychological horror title with an even better story, the fixed camera and unique gameplay will keep players on the edge of their seats to avoid the perma-death feature.

While these issues can take the sheen off things at times, when we’re in the flow of a level, stunning pixel art whizzing by our retinas, cracking music filling our ears, and the thrill of the platforming keeping our palms busy, Freedom Planet 2 is a wonderful time. The levels are well designed, the boss encounters tough but fair, and there’s enough here to have people coming back for more, be it a new character or simply beating their best times.

I found my time playing Lunar Lander Beyond to be good fun in short bursts, usually in between something a bit meatier. At around 5 hours to complete it doesn’t outstay its welcome, though there are harder difficulties (and permadeath) to consider should you really want to test yourself. If you’ve not gelled with the previous releases then this make good strides to win you over, though the same tricky controls and movement are present as ever.

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.

Burnout Paradise is already available through backward compatibility, however, if you’re yet to try out the original game, this remaster is certainly the definitive version of it. It looks great, it plays well, and above all else, it comes packed with heaps of additional content. With some minor issues to the side, this is one hell of an arcade racing experience.

The lack of enemy variants is a let down, which is surprising seeing as this was the chief criticism from the core game. I also found the story to be somewhat less interesting than it could have been. Outside of those two flaws, this new content is brilliant.

Tandem is a unique puzzle game that uses shadows on top of character swapping to help each character get through the levels. Emily is in search for Thomas Kane and chases after the only source of information she has. The story seems to be more an explanation to why you are solving these puzzles than a true adventure. If you enjoy a great puzzle game, then this game warrants a though I would personally recommend waiting for a small sale. The game does have value, but most will be done with the game in less than 10 hours fully and most likely not wanting to return for more unless a sequel is announced.