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.