Whether you’re returning to Raccoon City after a number of years, or, this is your first trip to the ill-fated locale, there’s no better way to experience Resident Evil 2 than this remake. While remaining true to the overall arc of the original game, everything here has been tweaked, updated, and twisted into a truly brilliant survival horror. One that proves that no one does it quite like Capcom. Make no mistake about it, this, is a must-have.

While I’m sad that this will be the last we see of Sam & Max, The Devil’s Playhouse does an amazing job of wrapping up the story of my favorite duo. The remaster has been done with care and looks terrific. It’s important that if you want to jump into the playhouse, you need to play the other two games first to understand some of the topics being discussed. You won’t be disappointed. Saddle up little buddy and get ready to ride with the Freelance Police for one last time.

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.

Cairn is thoughtful in its mechanical exploration of being a climber and it also delivers a story that pushes back on the mythology of the sport and the people that reach the highest levels. This is an essential game.

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.

FromSoftware has combined everything they learned while designing their past games and created something that will stand as a benchmark for years to come. Elden Ring is probably the most accessible game in their Soulsborne series, but it is very difficult. This difficulty and the esoteric nature of their design isn’t for everyone, but if you like fantasy RPGs there is no question as to whether you should give this a try. The amount of enjoyment, excitement, wonder, and reward I have felt while playing this game is unmatched. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like it before. Elden Ring is easily the best game I’ve played so far this year, and I know it’s early but it should be in the discussion when talking about the greatest games of all time.

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is an incredible amalgamation of everything the series has done so far, and produces not only the best Trine game yet, but also one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played this year. The freedom we’re granted with the tools on offer is excellent, and combined with stunning presentation, this make Trine 5 utterly essential playing in my eyes.

Fantastic level design and brutally hard challenges remind us of what made the base Art of Vengeance title so good. Add in plenty of love for iconic Sega series and we have an absolute winner on our hands.

Virtually perfect in its storytelling, performances, presentation, authenticity, fun factor, and respect for its unfathomably important and historic entertainment licence, Jedi: Fallen Order stands not only as the greatest Star Wars game of all time, but as one of the greatest games ever made. This is the Star Wars game we were looking for.

As I stated before Formula Retro Racing is a straightforward game. Coming into this game I twas expecting a better, newer version of Virtua Racing – and I was right. It doesn’t need to have a bunch of new features to top the older game. All it needed to do was visually enhance it and to keep the same charm that the game had in the ’90s. If you haven’t played Virtua Racing, or just want to play a fast-paced arcade racing game for a reasonable price, then Formula Retro Racing is the game for you.

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus is a title that more or less has impacted me as a gamer and shown me to not be afraid to try something new. As off-putting as visual novels are to some people I highly recommend giving DDLC Plus a try as you can tell that the hearts and souls of everyone on the team went into this project. Maybe it’ll become a part of your reality as I let it become a part of mine.

Monster Hunter: World effortlessly meets its high expectations and delivers what may well be the best RPG of this generation. The world is as fascinating as it is beautiful, jam-packed with wonders and dangers of equal measure. Each and every system within has been carefully crafted and seamlessly feed into one another magnificently well. The game remains in-depth yet surprisingly accessible throughout the entirety of play, welcoming and uniting newcomers and returning fans alike. It’s a truly breathtaking adventure. Simply put, and I don’t say this lightly, Monster Hunter: World is a masterpiece.

Deep, complex, but easy to get into. Roguebook is a phenomenally good game.

Tekken 8 is a game in which I can’t find any glaring flaws in terms of gameplay or online matchmaking. Sure it’s a pain when playing against an opponent at 200 ping, but those are rare for me. With its amazing story mode, graphics, and improved gameplay mechanics, I find myself always coming back for more. No other fighting game has a chokehold on me as Tekken does. Whether you are new or a veteran to the franchise do yourself a favor and enter the ring. You won’t regret it.

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.

Warhorse have developed a game that’s not only massively in-depth, but equally as intriguing and captivating. Their care and attention to detail pulls through in each and every sequence within. This level of realism isn’t going to be for everyone, but for those that want the authentic experience, Deliverance delivers, and then some. It’s engaging, it’s deep, and it’s thoroughly entertaining.

Streets of Rage 4 was already fantastic, and the Mr.X Nightmare DLC just improves it immensely. New characters Max, Estele and Shiva are great, while the Survival mode offers endless options for replayability as well as new unlocks to use throughout the game. It’s an utterly brilliant DLC all round, now excuse me while I head back to get working on those unlocks…

As Dusk Falls is a stellar example of the narrative adventure genre. A fantastic cast of characters are used brilliantly throughout, with twists and turns galore. The sheer breadth of choice and consequence mean there is scope for several playthroughs, and even when we’re bouncing between characters there’s cohesiveness to the story rarely found in gaming. Top it off with a stunning art style and soundtrack and we have not only one of the best examples of the genre, but one of the best titles of the year so far.

After Streets of Rage 4, I wasn’t sure bringing back another of the 16-bit classics would have quite the same impact, but I was wrong. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an incredibly fun action platformer, with fantastic combat design, enemy encounters, optional challenges, and the audio visual presentation to really make it sing. I’m done with the story but am already itching to get back and play the unlocked Arcade and Boss Rush modes, and whether you have nostalgia for the old days or not, this is quite simply one of the best games of the year, so get it played.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Is everything I expected from the game and more. I can totally see why it won awards as just for pure content alone it’s top tier. For storytelling, it is top tier and the gameplay is as complex as you want to make it to appease the long-term fans and the newcomers. It is very involved and not some you can play in short bursts. You need to clear your schedule to lose yourself in the game properly.

Overall, I loved my time with Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus. I never got the time to play it when RAIN CODE first dropped on the Nintendo Switch and now it got me craving for more. One thing to note is that the Xbox Series S version was giving me performance trouble with frames constantly dropping. I’ve played the Steam version as well and didn’t encounter it at all so keep that in mind. All in all at the end of the day, I felt like a master detective.

Celebrating the 90’s, excellent music and how it impacts and marks our lives, and the joy of growing up with a few close friends, Mixtape is a stellar experience from start to finish.

Easily the best Resident Evil game in many years, with inspirations from both RE2’s survival horror and RE4’s more action horror. Paced perfectly, and with plenty of surprises to discover, I can’t recommend Resident Evil Requiem highly enough.

Rockstar knows quality like no other. Developers across the world will be learning from Red Dead Redemption 2 for a great many years to come. The care and attention to detail within is second to none, and the depth throughout the entirety of the game’s stunning open world, as well as every component that it encompasses, is unrivaled. Simply put, Red Dead Redemption 2 is not just ambitious and revolutionary, it’s a masterpiece.

Alan Wake 2 masters the art of storytelling, and how that can reshape reality around us and push the boundary of lighting in videogames. The game is physically dark as it is thematically. The story is a lot to grasp, but simple enough with how many times things are repeated, so playing the other connected titles is not required. The developers have already fixed 200+ issues with update 1.0.0.8, most being minor things but some more rare crashes or progression issues. The creators of this game have immense passion for what they do, and it clearly shows in a variety of ways. Onward to the DLC.

Promenade is as charming and colourful as it is clever and challenging. It manages to keep the surprises coming throughout, offering more to the player than it has any real right to do.

Whether you’re a fan of the originals or not, Streets of Rage 4 is a blast from start to finish. Satisfying combat, incredible music and visuals and tons to unlock mean this should be sticking around on your hard drive for some time yet. A lack of 4 player online is a disappointment, but otherwise what’s here more than makes up for the long wait.

Without wanting to sound preachy, just know that you’ve never played anything like The Stanley Parable, and this Ultra Deluxe edition just expands on that in ways I couldn’t have foreseen. There are a lot of titles that gain short term notoriety thanks to the memes or streamers reacting, but this will outlast anything else that has come before and deserves to be considered one of the very best game experiences of all time.

Dead Cells is easily the best rogue-lite action-platformer game this gen. Developer Motion Twin’s care and attention to not only the game’s visual and audio detail, but its wonderfully developed multi-tiered systems, goes hand in glove to produce an outstanding experience throughout. The sheer amount of enemy, weaponry and functional variety within is as dizzying as it is impressive. Simply put, Dead Cells is epic.

If anything, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey showcases Ubisoft’s commitment to strengthen the franchise and keep it relevant. Not only does Odyssey successfully expand and build on the systems and foundations that made last year’s entry so compelling, but it also relays more character, depth and world engagement throughout. Make no mistake about it, this is the finest entry in the series so far.

Dying Light 2 is an even better-looking game that the previous instalment in the series. I can quite easily see myself spends hours hunting down resources, exploring the game during the night and just finding everything that Dying Light 2 has to offer Not to mention that the story has layers upon layers, so you really do see and feel the consequences of your choices and actions. The game is so unique because of having such an expansive and multi layered zombie survival expereince. If Dying Light got Techland noticed, Dying Light 2 puts them squarely on the map as a big-time developer! If the game can live up to what I have experienced so far then we have a new benchmark for ambitious open world RPG-like Zombie Games.

F1 Manager 2024 is the most feature rich experience to date in the franchise and just like last year I can see Team principles being glued to their chair once again trying to improve their team’s fortune. Whether it’s creating your own team or taking charge of one of the current Formula One teams, F1 Manager 2024 is close to being a 10/10 experience for any sports management game.

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 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.

Dispatch is a refreshing piece of gaming. Bringing back the Telltale-style choose your own adventure is great, but doing so with such brilliant style, technical proficiency and excellent script and performances has won me over entirely. Engaging from start to finish, Dispatch is easily one of my favourite games of the year, and a new standard in the genre.

Tinykin has utterly caught me off guard in all the best ways. It’s a joy to play from start to finish, with simple yet fun mechanics letting us explore this giant house and find something new and exciting in every nook and cranny. A lack of real challenge lets it down a fraction, but that’s a small gripe in what is otherwise an excellent experience.

Forza Horizon 4 is the most stunning, deepest and most engaging Forza Horizon game to date. The sheer volume of utterly diverse and wildly interesting content pushes the game’s longevity through the roof. There’s no shortage of activities to take to, set across a sprawling, vividly detailed representation of Britain. Safe to say that if you enjoy the series, you’re going to love this.

Surprising no one, Hades II is a stellar example of the roguelike genre, with excellent combat, rewarding loops and progression, and for those that are willing to spend the time a dense and expansive story and lore to dig into.. Packed with more game than meets the eye, Hades II is something we’ll be playing for a long time to come.

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

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.

As narrative adventures go, Last Stop is easily one of the best I’ve played. From setting and characters, to story and presentation, it is a joy to experience from start to finish. Whether you’re a Game Pass subscriber or not, this is one title not to miss out on.

I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing some great games this year, and I’ve played dozens of other releases, but right now Unsighted might be my favorite game I’ve played in 2021. It’s truly a love letter to Metroidvanias, Zelda games, and action-adventure/RPGs. Studio Pixel Punk went above and beyond packing the game with interesting and unique content, taking design elements that work from classic games, and combining them with their own ideas. They also went out of their way to accommodate all sorts of players, by implementing multiple difficulty levels, assists, and additional gameplay modes. This game is a steal at $20 and for those of you with a Game Pass subscription, you’d be committing a crime by not trying it out.

Starfield for me is very easily the game of the year, it would take something phenomenal to knock it off the top. Is it perfect? Not by any means, there are bugs and exploits to see but you have to go out of your way to do so, albeit to the detriment of your own experience. I think calling it Fallout in Space with Mass Effect tones and elements of No Man’s Sky is a cheap description. I think this is the massive space adventure we have needed and I am addicted to it and with so much content I feel very spoilt. It is so much fun and an RPG lovers fantasy to explore and I cannot recommend it enough.

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.

Supraland has come out of nowhere and absolutely blown me away. Taking inspiration from some of the best games ever, it manages to somehow blend them all together into a cohesive whole, constantly surprising and delighting us in equal measure. Combat is a bit weak, and the solutions can at time be a bit too obtuse, but these are small blemishes on what is otherwise an incredibly fun adventure that is funny, rewarding and something that’ll keep us coming back for sometime yet. That it also launched on Gamepass means that it’ll hopefully gain the love and success it clearly deserves.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps had some lofty expectations coming into it, and it’s safe to say that it more than met them handsomely, Some difficulty spikes can frustrate, but overall it’s a charming, beautiful, brilliantly fun title. Gamepass subscriber or not, you absolutely need to experience this game.

Nexomon: Extinction is amazing and I have been playing it non-stop. As a big Pokemon fan I was a bit sceptical about trying something different, but oh my God I am so glad I did. It was glorious, so much fun and I can’t wait to dive back into it. For anyone who has been recently let down by Pokemon Shield/Sword like I was, I can’t recommend this enough.

Blizzard has proven that AAA games CAN launch in a ready state and be a game of the year contender straight off the bat. It’s going to have to be something special that beats Diablo IV to the top of my list.

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

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.

Backbone isn’t an overly long game, maybe 5-6 hours at most, but what it does in its trim time frame is craft a world and characters that we care about, a narrative that is constantly intriguing and surprising, and offer us just enough interactivity that we can progress almost without having to worry about any challenge. It’s a marvellous example of what the indie game space can do, and a title that everyone with – or without – a Game Pass subscription should check out.

Remnant II improves on its predecessors in every way, adding depth and variety in all the places it needed to. Whether played solo or with friends it is a polished and accomplished sequel that Gunfire Games should be proud of.

This title is a true example of a game being considered art. The use of loops, light vs darkness themes, the music and score, all whilst building a lovable cast of characters makes it a memorable game. I would consider this remaster a general success with the exception for PC, consoles seem to be running the game with only one serious known issue that should be fixed soon.

A Plague Tale: Requiem has improved on the already great Innocence in basically every way, giving a game that feels, plays, looks, sounds, and flows absolutely brilliantly. A worthy sequel, and one that is not to be missed.

Across all aspects of the experience – gameplay, story., audio, and visuals – Planet of Lana II is a resounding success. A joy to play, a touching story, and incredible soundtrack make for what will be a top contender for my favourite game of the year.

The Holy Gosh Darn has utterly won me over with an excellent time loop mechanic paired with an engaging, humorous story and clever puzzles. It’s been an absolute joy to play, and comes recommended as one of my favourite games this year.

The Dark Pictures games so far have set high bars in terms of story and production quality, and House of Ashes easily hits and even occasionally surpasses them. While I wasn’t so keen initially on one aspect of the tale, it turned around completely on a second play, but even to begin with it was nowhere near enough to ruin what is a fantastically acted and put together story, wrapped up in some of the most stunning audio visual work to date. Horror games are hardly in short supply, but very few reach this level of brilliance.

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.

Cooking Simulator has delivered on all ends. When I play a simulator game I look to see if the game lives up to its name and this one has exceeded my expectations. If this were an actual restaurant it gets five stars from me on its Yelp review. Now it’s time for me to put my virtual skills to the test and try them out in the real world. Totally won’t end badly, right?

This is the most in-depth look into the wizarding world of Harry Potter we’ve ever seen and being able to explore with hours of content to discover, quest, and fight through. Hogwarts Legacy is worth the price point and is a well polished addition to the wizarding world.

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.

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.

Screamer is quite simply an incredible arcade racer, with stellar presentation and gameplay. It’s a rare racer that can hold my attention for more than a few hours, but I’ll be playing this for a long time to come.

When I looked at the trailer for Ball x Pit I was immediately intrigued but I didn’t think it would grab my attention like it did. Whether it was getting a few more resources or inching closer to the end of the level it seemed like there was constant progression during my time with this one from beginning to end. Even if I failed a run, there was some kind of progression being made to make me have a better chance on the next go. It’s not often I have to think about how a game was bad and I think that deserves some kudos. Ball x Pit has definitely solidified itself as one of my top games of 2025!

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.

F1 2020 is easily the best F1 game Codemasters has released. My Team is a great addition to the franchise and could quite have easily been released as a stand-alone title. The racing action is as solid – and good looking – as ever.

Sekiro is quite simply outstanding. It’s stunning, it’s deep, it’s diverse, and it’s wholly engaging across all aspects of play. However, what truly speaks volumes is the developer’s ability to constantly encourage its players’ capacity for improvement. Here, in Shadows Die Twice, due to its punishing difficulty alone, you’re either all in or you’re all out. If you’re of the latter, you’re missing out on what may well be one of the best games of 2019.

Chernobylite is an amazing, well put together survival game that has some mind blowing plot twists, some truly difficult decisions and a stunning backdrop to experience. Add in the constant sense of unease as you take every step in the exclusion zone and The Farm 51 have made one of my games of the year!

ONRUSH is nothing short of remarkable. Its fast-paced and innovative functionality never buckles under the pressure of its constant action-packed personality. This is unlike any other racer available and manages to effortlessly stand out as a result. Its gameplay systems feed into one another exceptionally well, ultimately producing a robust and distinct experience that comes jam-packed with heaps of replay value.

It seems like there is a new Souls-like game coming out every other week but they always fall short of the real thing. The Last Hero of Nostalgaia is the best Souls-like I have played, it doesn’t stray too far from the source, and it doesn’t try to do too much in terms of its core mechanics. However I think it has a wider appeal than just Souls fans; long time gamers will love all the references, which range from the classics like Mario and Zelda to more modern games like Halo, Dead Rising, and Bioshock. Some people might be turned off by the difficulty, which ramps up somewhat in the second half, but if you’re hesitant then keep in mind that you can play the entire game in co-op. The Last Hero of Nostalgaia is a must-play title for any action-RPG fan and is definitely near the top of the list of my favorite games I’ve played this year.

As someone who plays horror titles as often as I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there have been few titles to truly give me a scare, but MADiSON is one that has delivered in every aspect. It’s not often you’ll find me raving about a near-perfect horror game but for me, this one may well be up there for me as one of the best horror titles available hands down, and without a doubt one of the best titles of 2022.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider offers an epic journey that’s jam-packed with heaps of fan service. There’s more depth and gameplay diversity here than in any game before it, spanning a lush, rich and deep world that’s crammed with activities, secrets, and an impressive variation of deadly tombs. Despite some minor issues with the otherwise solid story, this is Lara’s most defining adventure yet.

Jusant has utterly wowed me these past few evenings. The simple but effectively done climbing mechanic is supremely rewarding to use, giving us a great sense of accomplishment even though really it’s probably harder to fail than succeed. Combine this satisfying gameplay with a touching, well told tale and some stunning audio visual work, and you have a game that is all but essential playing in my eyes – Game Pass subscription or not.

Owlboy sets a new standard. It’s a gorgeously crafted adventure that’s jam packed with detail, endearing characters and a memorable heart warming story. Rarely do we see platformers donning such care and attention to detail, further upheld by fluid well rounded gameplay that doesn’t let go once it captivates you. Owlboy is a must have.

Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales slots into the world in which it’s set magnificently well. The game’s writing and its pacing is top notch, collectively pushing forward a story that’s deep, unique, and thoroughly engaging. Minor and infrequent framerate issues to the side, Thronebreaker offers an exceptional adventure, a compelling RPG, and above all else, a rich and entertaining card battling experience.

Not For Broadcast is unlike anything I’ve played before. The tv-editing simulator gameplay presses all the right buttons, keeping you engaged in a well-written story packed with humor. The writing really clicks with many elements, riffing on real-world events over the past few years. I don’t know how well the story will age, but the gameplay is so unique that I have no doubt it will stand the test of time. I give Not For Broadcast my full recommendation. I know some of the games I get behind can be somewhat niche and might not be for everyone, but I really believe Not For Broadcast has mass appeal, scoring high in all demographics.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a wonderful sequel and I can’t speak highly enough about how this game looks and plays. The story plays with your emotions like always, but it keeps you enthralled throughout. Even if you want to take it easy the game just can be played for the side activities which can just as easily keep you busy. The fact there is so much content in here is honestly staggering, and I can see players both new and old finding at least something in here to enjoy.

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.

As of right now, Death’s Door is definitely in the running for my game of the year, probably at the top spot. I think it will appeal to many other gamers as well. A wonderful action-exploration adventure filled with humor and bizarre characters, all taking place in a fairy-talesque land with a gorgeous low-poly aesthetic. If this has even slightly caught your attention ahead of launch, you should pick it up. I hope Acid Nerve will expand this IP because they’ve made something special here. I’d love to see it continue.

Samurai Warriors 5 is definitely for veterans and for those who want to see what all the hype is about for the franchise. There’s a lot to accomplish throughout the title and many different combinations and play styles to choose from. So why not jump in and find one that’s right for you.

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.

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!

Borderlands 4 is easily the strongest entry in the franchise is years. It refocuses the core, fun gameplay, build creativity and exploration. The narrative is better anchored, and the polish in many systems shows growth. It’s not without its blemishes, where it does have some performance and optimization issues, however overall it is a very, very good game.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles is both an enjoyable and amazing experience for those who are familiar with the series and for those who want to get into it for the first time. Even after I found myself 100% completing the game I still go back to it to play online as there’s just something so addicting with the flow of combat. Even though the roster may not be up to par with games such as the Ultimate Ninja Storm series we can expect DLC down the line to fill that gap and add another set of characters into the fray. In the meantime take in the wonderful story and gameplay that The Hinokami Chronicles has to offer.

Overall, there is plenty to explore within the confines of its vast yet linear areas and it rarely has a dull moment with plenty of enemy variety, incredible boss fights, and some truly spectacular visuals. If you’re a fan of From Software, then I expect you to now be a fan of Lies of P as it has all the right notes and feels like From Software themselves have been in the backend having a tinker on a fresh I.P and for that, we can only praise the solid work put in from Neowiz Games and Round8 Studio.

Far Cry 5 is a masterpiece. Ubisoft has refined the core formula and delivered what may well be the best shooter we’ll see this year. The story, writing, and voice acting, remains remarkable throughout. The gameplay is every bit as energetic and chaotic as it ever was, with more depth than ever before. Far Cry 5 is stunning, well designed, and thoroughly engaging.

Frontier have worked their magic to ensure it’s the best F1 Manager game out there and have another smash hit on their hands. With the Race Replay feature and the ability to change teams coming down the road, F1 Manager will keep fans pinned to their team principle chairs.

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.

Dragon Ball FighterZ is an outstanding game, and for fans, it doesn’t get much better than this. The excellent and highly detailed visuals sit perfectly with the diverse combo-heavy gameplay mechanics, with cleverly implemented nods to the show throughout. There’s more than enough content to keep you going for hours on end, along with a new story that’s every bit as captivating as it is exciting. This game effortlessly relays the iconic personality from the popular anime and dishes up an experience that’s energetic, faithful, and thoroughly entertaining.

It’s a vast and fascinating open world asking to be explored, populated by deadly animals who owe their existence to tasty encounters. The fighting is exciting, and the vocations are all excellent options, regardless of how you play. While there will undoubtedly be some learning curves as you gain accustomed to its brutal environment, the heady feeling that Dragon’s Dogma II provides is well worth the effort.

Outside of some cheap boss battle tactics that arbitrarily crank the difficulty up, Huntdown is an excellent retro styled action game. The combat is fun, brutal and often funny, the visuals and audio are top notch and each stage is just short enough to keep us feeling like we’re moving along nicely.

Cyberpunk 2077 for me is the whole package of what I want from a game like this. Great looking, great controls, great storyline and plenty of choices, content and replay value. This was marked as many players game of the year before it came out. Regardless of the outside noise, I didn’t suffer any game-breaking issues and only a couple of graphical glitches. I am not saying its perfect, but I am saying its wonderfully immersive and addictive. There is a lot here to be impressed with and when the Series X version is released and all the bugs are worked out I am sure more will agree how great this game actually is.

Trusty ol’ Game Pass does it again. Flynn: Son of Crimson is a joy to play, look and and listen to. It’s difficulty is nicely paced (even if the bosses can give us a good kicking), there’s more to explore than meets the eye, and Studio Thunderhorse keep the game moving brilliantly with new powers and abilities dished out frequently. Whether you’re into these kind of retro adventures or not, Flynn is well worth a look.

Chances are that you’ll already know what you’re getting into with FIFA 21; while it may be broadly similar to last years effort in its game feel, with a few good tweaks and subtle changes, that’s kind of to be expected with an annualised sports franchise. The improvements that have been made across some of the modes are welcome, and offer up new ways to enjoy the series. It’s also rather lovely to look at, and should be a fine showcase for the upcoming Series X|S come launch day!

If you are an Xbox gamer and have any interest in action roguelites and platformers I think it’s a no-brainer that you give Dead Cells a try – it is on Game Pass after all. The base game has a ton of content to enjoy, and if you like what you see then definitely consider picking up the DLC. Each one is only $5 USD and you can get them all together in a bundle at a reasonable discount. Motion Twin might have moved on from Dead Cells, but Evil Empire plans to stick with it and I look forward to seeing them make a fantastic game even better.

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.

The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa is clearly inspired by many games, but this brooding, slice-of-life brawler has its own voice – that voice is profane, deadpan but honest. There is nothing else really like it in the mainstream.

Despite Breaking Point not hitting the mark with me, F1 2021 is an exceptional game for their first entry onto the Series X consoles and will keep F1 fans happy for another year.