Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is undoubtedly the best opus in the licence, as well as being an enjoyable reboot of the series that quickly plunges us into the core of its plot. Despite being incredibly rich and offering everything that fans of the series have come to expect, it may well put off new players with its obscure technical terms, more arcade-style approach and astonishing difficulty.

We’ve been looking forward to finally getting our hands on Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and we’ve been amazed with TT Games’ take on it. For the first time, all nine films are gathered in one Lego game and nothing has been left out. The title retains the solid foundations that have made the licence so strong, but brings a lot of welcome new features to modernise its gameplay. True to the rest of the Lego games, the humour is always present and regularly makes us smile. Whether you’re a newcomer or an avid fan of Lego titles, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is without a doubt the best episode of the license to date. We can only hope that the next games will continue to build on this momentum.

If its big brother had already pleasantly surprised us in 2020, Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic manages to surprise us once again. It uses the same “Where is Waldo?” principle of searching for objects, but improves on its recipe with prettier, more detailed and livelier settings and environments. Offering the same scene at different times of the day or with changes in the weather is also a good idea. However, we regret that the campaign is too short and that the soundtrack is barely noticeable.

The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story is in many ways, quite a surprise. By adopting the pixel art style, Digital Sun Games presents the story of Sylas as a “miraculously rediscovered genesis” of the video game phenomenon that inspired it. Embracing the pitfalls inherent in these technical choices, we more than gladly accompany our unshackled rebel in his battles, both physical and ideological. It's all there: a gameplay without frills but not without panache, an adjustable difficulty adapted to all and a rich scenario that should satisfy fans and neophytes alike. However, we regret the repetitiveness of certain phases of the game, which would have deserved a little more polishing.

Ninja Gaiden has nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to its legacy. Thanks to its gameplay and technique, the blade in this episode is as sharp as it is fine, and the school of skill is on a roll. Quite simply, it's been a long time since we've had so much fun with a title of this genre. However, the overall presentation is far from the most stylish. In terms of its structure and ambition, it is not as spectacular as expected and does not deliver the slash we were hoping for. What remains nonetheless is the pleasure of quite a virtuous game.

We thought we would only spend a few summer afternoons with Wuchang, especially since it is available on Game Pass. It should have been nothing more than an already forgotten holiday fling by the time school started again, which may be true in part because of its story (which is not unpleasant, though), but it is hard to be picky given the game's systems, which give players a lot of freedom. Very generous in terms of content, ticking many of the boxes of the Souls-like genre while inventing its own formula, the title shows that Leenzee Games has understood the essence of the genre and has managed to add its own touch. In a nutshell, yes, Wuchang may stay longer in our hearts than we initially thought so.

After a promising first instalment, this second one struggles to reinvent itself, repeating the same strengths and weaknesses of its predecessor. The pace remains slow and uneven with an onset that is slow to get going and lacks originality. As for the ending, it is vague and overly predictable, leaving several questions unanswered while raising new ones, which only adds to the frustration and may disappoint. Despite its undeniable qualities, the experience ends on a mixed note, leaving a bitter aftertaste as our expectations were so high.

Succeeding on many levels, Weird West is a very good first game that bodes well for the next titles from the WolfEye studio. We clearly enjoyed the universe and the narration and the different ways of approaching the action phases are quite ingenious. Unfortunately, several small flaws darken the picture, starting with a controller gameplay that doesn’t really match the title’s ambitions. A lack of precision is quickly felt and makes certain actions, such as the infiltration phases, completely impossible. Nevertheless, this dive into the horrific desert remains convincing, and we particularly recommend it to fans of Arkane’s previous productions.

MotoGP 22 doesn’t revolutionise the recipe and simply heats up its old leftovers gameplay-wise. It brings some improvements here and there, but its visuals are getting outdated. However, its playable documentary NINE, which is a nice surprise, avoids the shipwreck. The addition of a local multiplayer option and cross-gen feature that was long awaited by players and no longer divides the community must also be mentioned. It’s high time for the studio to move up a gear and offer something completely new with an updated career mode and a refined presentation.

Thanks to an impeccable art direction, Kena’s journey to the sacred mountain left us both amazed and impressed. Additionally to adding the right amount of ingredients to its recipe, Ember Lab has also brought a real sense of harmony to it.

Dungeons Of Hinterberg is a breath of fresh air, so much so that it is a pleasure to play and an ideal escape from everyday life. With its gorgeous settings, soothing melodies and stimulating challenges, the title manages to create an immersive and relaxing experience. Microbird perfectly managed to combine action-RPG and reflection, thus offering a story with many twists and discoveries, despite a few technical hiccups. This promising first title suggests a bright future for the studio, and it will be interesting to follow their next creations.

The first part of Lost Records: Bloom and Rage won us over thanks to its careful artistic direction, its remarkable writing quality and its endearing characters. The skilful staging of the dual temporality brilliantly mixes a very successful nostalgic atmosphere of the 90s with an immersive narration carried by a classic but effective gameplay. The music perfectly exacerbates the atmosphere and gives the title a strong and captivating identity that reinforces its emotional impact. However, a few shadows darken this picture, such as the sometimes excessive use of the camcorder which breaks the rhythm and can get redundant after some time, the scenario which struggles to get going, and a notable drop in framerates. In addition, we would have liked more enigmas. Despite these negative points, we cannot wait to find out more.

Past its lengthy and monotonous introduction, Marvel’s Midnight Suns finally becomes interesting when it gives the player full control. Offering a great deal of relationship management between characters while exploring the Abbey, labelling it simply as a tactical combat game would be too reductive. The result is an atypical experience, more akin to a Fire Emblem or Persona, with day-to-day management and activities gift-wrapped in a Marvel suit. Despite a pleasant combat system, it might be more enjoyed by fans of comics and the MCU than by those fond of tactical games.

With F1 22, Eletronic Arts gives more backbone to its sports games’ catalogue. The arrival of the new Formula 1 cars with their technical complexities and a different way of driving them is very well reproduced with the controller. Graphically speaking, the previous game was already gorgeous, and now it is simply exquisite. Nevertheless, why add the possibility of driving supercars, which will be completely set aside once you have played with them for an hour? F1 fans will focus on the My Team career mode, and particularly on the multiplayer. We were expecting a bit more from the pit stop –a mandatory part of all racing games. As regards the more than realistic new features, the AI is THE strongest point. F1 22 is without a doubt a roaring success!

Go Mecha Ball is quite a nice surprise, and its original concept works perfectly. The gameplay is exhilarating and dynamic, and it is a real pleasure to eliminate enemies with the rich arsenal available. It is a shame, however, that the arsenal takes a long time to unlock before you have access to its wide variety, and that the action can be utterly confusing at times. Still, the title should please fans of the genre and perhaps even convince a few curious onlookers.

We can say with full certainty that Blacktail will remain engraved in our memories. The Polish studio managed to captivate us with the story, the integration of our childhood tales and the beautiful art direction. The interactions between Yaga and the ever-present voice that accompanies her are a real added value in terms of immersion in the universe surrounding us. Unfortunately, not everything is perfect: the bestiary and the AI tend to tarnish the game’s overall image. Despite this, we had a really good time with Yaga. What a success for THE PARASIGHT’s first title!

Genesis Noir voluntarily chose to focus on the visual and auditive experience even if it meant compromising the player’s interactivity. This decision results in an experimental storytelling nuanced with jazz rhythms where the unknown limits of its own realm mingle with the invigorating pace of this mysterious investigation resembling a film noir. We are slightly disappointed by the gameplay that happens to be quite fastidious whenever one of the rare interactions happens; this could dishearten more than one player. Considering how generous the game is artistically speaking, this would be an understandable but damaging problem.

Viewfinder is clever, there is no denying it. Its rudimentary premise is surprising and leaves room for imagination, where we believe that anything is possible. What remains is an experience halfway between narration/contemplation and the challenges on offer, which, in our opinion, is due to the decision to target the widest possible audience. Let us be clear, the title is a (very) good choice, that is for sure, but it is not a cult classic.

Embarking on an adventure with MIO is a journey into the unknown. The latter has been enhanced by unique artistic direction, offering a proper feast for the eyes and ears. Exploration is engaging and natural, gameplay is fluid and airy, and battles are very intense. Be warned, however, that the experience can also be abrupt and frustrating at times. The ingredients used are all familiar, but even though the formula is classic and simple, Douze Dixièmes has nevertheless gifted us with a high-quality Metroidvania game for its second release.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden blew us away and is an excellent surprise. The studio's expertise in storytelling is once again confirmed, and the overall quality and attention to detail are astonishing. There is a very good balance between storytelling, combat and exploration, each of which is mastered and continues to evolve throughout the adventure. For us and so far, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden truly is the action-RPG of the year.

Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm has certain qualities. It has a pleasant storyline supported by a relevant soundtrack and polished graphics. Alas, despite the various inspirations from The Legend of Zelda licence, which may appeal to some, one tends to feel frustrated by the confusing menus and an unfortunately outdated gameplay. However, even though we were not able to fully complete the game due to these shortcomings, we still enjoyed the main storyline for the ten hours or so it took.

With Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, Microsoft and Ninja Theory have produced a masterful sequel following the first one’s footsteps. The atmosphere is as incredible as ever, the work on the technical and artistic side leaves us breathless, and the graphical fidelity reaches heights rarely seen on home consoles. Regarding the main issues worth mentioning with Hellblade I, they have been toned down but not completely eradicated. These include, for example, the feeling of playing through an interactive film punctuated by slightly tedious puzzles, and a lifespan that is likely to disappoint many. Fortunately, there are other revisions to counterbalance this feeling, such as the more intense confrontations and the adventure’s overall faster pace. There is no doubt that die-hard fans will be delighted, and that the game will find its audience. And for the rest of us, in the worst-case scenario, some of its magnificent landscapes will be fantastic wallpapers material.

Four years after its predecessor, Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy still is very much bathing in its comfort zone. It is a particularly enjoyable game to play on your own, of course, but playing with others is the bee’s knees. It would be criminal to miss out on the multiplayer experience, which guarantees many hours of fun, laughter, grunts of frustration, name-calling and even temporary misunderstandings that fade into a big smile when you finally get the hang of it. Too few games today offer this explosive mix of action, platforming and thinking to share with friends, whether they are on the other side of the world or on the sofa beside us. And when we are faced with such a qualitative, there is no reason why you should not want to join Trine’s heroes on their adventures for the first or fifth time.

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is an ambitious action RPG with solid art direction and deep character customisation. The richly detailed world, increasing difficulty, multiple gameplay systems and numerous secrets hidden throughout the levels make for a captivating game. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, Mandragora suffered from a major save issue, which made the game unplayable. Additionally, the difficulty may discourage some players, but it is possible to adjust enemy damage and health. All in all, the title remains very interesting for demanding RPG fans, and we can only recommend it since the update.

Uncompromising, Cronos: The New Dawn stands out as a demanding survival horror game aimed at purists. The beauty of its retro-futuristic universe, its gloomy and chilling atmosphere all wrapped up in a compelling narrative that unfolds across multiple timelines are quite captivating. Its clever mechanics, such as time paradoxes, corpse fusion, and rigorous resource management inject constant and oppressive tension that act as a nice homage to Dead Space. Despite its sometimes frustrating rigidity and demanding combat, the title offers a dark and intense immersive experience that will delight fans of the genre.

As neophytes of the licence, we set out to play Expedition: A MudRunner Game, and it won us over. Equipped with a truckload of experience, the developers at Saber Interactive have retained the quality of their gameplay to give us an exhilarating hands-on experience where the physics of the vehicles and the game terrain are impressive. The content is very generous and, although the objectives are not very varied, the journey is so enjoyable that it doesn’t really matter. Visually, the title is actually gorgeous, despite a problem with the way certain textures are displayed, impacting on the contemplation of the environment.

With a co-op mode more fun than a barrel of monkeys, Windjammers 2 ranks as one of the best party games on the console and it’s available in the GamePass. Dotemu has once again succeeded in capturing the feel of the original game while adding qualitative extra content. Unfortunately, the single-player aspect is less interesting due to a quite poor arcade mode and the absence of a training option. It will therefore be dedicated for evenings with friends.

A slamming gamble for Digital Cybercherries. Hypercharge Unboxed offers a complete, customisable, fun and uninhibited experience. For those nostalgic among us, the game makes you want to invite your friends to an old-fashioned crips and soda party. For younger players, you will discover a little piece of what the toy market was like in the 1990s and 2000s through a blasting shooting game.