Gods Will Fall doesn’t hold your hand. It can seem difficult when first playing, but it’s one of those games where you get better as you learn the mechanics and which bosses to tackle first, as well as their weaknesses. Eventually you’ll be breezing through most levels, picking up weapons and chucking them at enemies, parrying them and launching them off cliffs to their deaths left and right. You’ll feel like maybe you’re the god, and if something does happen to you, you have seven more chances. If you like hack and slash games but want more than an average challenge then this is the game to try. Clever Beans has done a great job designing a harsh and atmospheric world while also providing an excellent set of tools and mechanics to conquer it.

Earthlock: Festival of Magic was a solid, colorful and well rounded RPG. Earthlock not only defines the adventure, but further emphasizes how wonderful and endearing its world is. Earthlock has all the markings of franchise potential; memorable characters, fluid combat, interesting mechanics and above all else, a story that’s alluring and thoroughly well written.

Ultimately, you likely know what you’re in for with Just Dance 2022. There are a great range of new songs here, with some fun and challenging choreography and nice new visual styles that freshen things up somewhat. Add in Unlimited and you’ve potentially a game to last you a lifetime – if you’re willing to pay up. If you’ve not been won over up to now then this isn’t the game to change your mind, but fans of the series can expect yet another solid entry to enjoy until next year’s release.

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.

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.

Underwhelming ending aside, Amnesia: The Bunker is an excellently crafted survival horror, with plenty of tension, dread, near misses and clever puzzles to keep us coming back for more.

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.

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.

It seems so rare to come across a game that can truly achieve its objective, but with the combination of tranquil adaptive music, beautiful scenery and the mesmerising, flowing movements and colours, Lumini seems to genuinely allow the stress and worries of life to melt away.

It’s been a longer time coming than we’d hoped, but Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II manages to live up to expectations rather nicely. Vastly improved (and brutally presented) combat, a captivating story and incredible technical work mean that even the few slower moments can’t bring down what will surely be a jewel in Xbox’s crown for some time to come.

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

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.

To sum it up as spoiler-free as I can, if you like a bit of off the wall gaming with something to say, and are willing to spend an hour just going along for the ride, then ITaW is an easy recommend. Just do others a favour and tell them to play it with no prior knowledge as well.

Moonlighter is easily one of the best action RPGs of the year so far. Its mashup of shop management and dungeon crawling results in an experience that has magnificent pacing, interesting mechanics and fluid gameplay. This may sound like a cliche, but Moonlighter is the definition of easy to pick up and hard to put down. It helps that it’s so accessible, making it suitable for both genre fans and newcomers alike.

For the majority of Neversong I was constantly engaged, in awe of the weird and wonderful sights and tales being shown to me. Brush seems to be a master at crafting darkly engaging narratives that not only get you thinking, but leave an impression long after the credits roll. That warning at the start sets expectation perfectly, and while it may not be for everyone right now, you’d do yourself a disservice if this isn’t added to your library at some point down the line.

Open Roads is another excellently crafted experience from Fullbright and Annapurna. With a strong, emotional, and well-performed story, as well as plenty of room for fleshing out the tale via the exploration sections, it’s something that had us compelled to play from start to finish in a single sitting – and will live on in our thoughts for quite some time.

These minor things aside, Paper Trails is stunningly crafted, cleverly designed and simply great puzzling action. Each new locale offers a fun, challenging new twist, and more insight into the sweetly told narrative pinning everything together. Extra challenges are there in the form of hidden collectible origami figures for those looking to maximise their time with the game, but that the hint system is so well implemented means even players unsure about their puzzling abilities can see if through.

The “one more go” Trials formula that we all know and love is back, and it’s back at its absolute finest. Rising is the deepest, lengthiest, and most enthralling entry in the series to date. Everything from its refined trademark difficulty and its addictive physics-based play, right up to its epic track design and its truly sensational camerawork, is nothing short of outstanding. That being said, RedLynx really needs to address its screen tearing, and fast.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is one of the best metroidvania games of the gen, sitting in a league shared only by an elite few. Everything from its deep story and its diverse combat systems, right through to its remarkable gameplay variation and mechanical depth, is quite simply outstanding. Despite the occasional bug, this is as close to perfect as a game of this type can get, and one that’s certainly been worth the lengthy wait; this, is a must have.

What a ride that was! Viewfinder was pretty much exactly what I expected going into it and fortunately stayed that way the whole time. No matter how hard or easy a puzzle or chapter was, I always felt great completing a level. There aren’t a lot of negatives to say about the game, just an easy recommendation for those who enjoy puzzles and particularly ones that make you think outside the box.

Escape from the Past sticks true to what made Escape Academy brilliant, and expands it with five tough but fun new challenges. Well worth a look for those who’ve already had the joy of the previous work, but equally recommended to those even mildly curious.

Retromania Wrestling is a brilliant throwback to the 90’s when wrestling games were simple and fun, and it ticks all the right boxes. The art style is fantastic and I had so much fun playing it. If you are a wrestling fan you must grab this – you will not be disappointed!

All in all Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is a stellar game and I have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy every minute of it. Despite being tough as nails at times, the brutal challenges are optional so newcomers or those with lesser skills can still enjoy the great storyline and main set of levels.

Alisa is as retro-accurate as they come despite being a modern release, and it’s a brilliant reminder of how we used to play, though also of some of the limitations we used to work under. One for older gamers who grew up with the birth of survival horror, but also new players looking to get a taste of where it all began.

Despite its announcement on April Fools Day, Return to Monkey Island is no joke, even though the game is full of them. Crafted with respect for veterans and newcomers alike, Return to Monkey Island shows that the puzzles in puzzle games can be just as memorable as the story and characters. Yes, the ending is a squib, and clicking on items in tight-knit spaces is annoying, but otherwise this is a true belter of a puzzler. An exceptional love letter to 90s point and click adventuring, and a faithful-but-remodelled experience from top-to-bottom, Return to Monkey Island is definitely worth this return visit and then some….no disguises necessary!

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.

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.

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is easily one of the best kart racers of the gen so far. It’s gorgeous, it’s deep, it’s sensationally remade, and it’s wholly entertaining across all aspects of play. The only real drawback sits with its constant loading screens. If, however, you’ve the patience to forgive such a niggling issue, the game sports plenty of exciting content, and heaps of multiplayer modes to keep you going for hours on end, and then some.