A clever and well-structured interpretation of the classic TV series as a co-op brawler, that would be a fun diversion even without the licence.
An object lesson in how to turn an old classic into a modern masterpiece, that surpasses even Final Fantasy 7 Remake in terms of appealing to both veteran fans and complete newcomers.
Arc System Works aren't exactly pushing themselves out of their comfort zone, but this is another polished and highly enjoyable 2D fighter that is not nearly as insular as you'd think.
A charming, whimsical and very soothing life simulator that makes good use all of all its many influences and still feels refreshingly unique in itself.
It's not the world's most radical sequel but Train Sim World 4 is a sizeable update for the virtual train set, with plenty to please new fans and old.
The slickest, smoothest and most technologically advanced not-FIFA game ever made, that makes an encouragingly positive start to a new era of football video games.
Impressively well produced and extremely playable, but there are few changes from last year and the microtransactions are still obnoxious.
A significant improvement on the original and undoubtedly the best 2D Soulslike game so far, with a macabre and imaginative style all of its own.
Classic co-op party-gaming fare that's unpretentious and very quick to pick up. It may be just a little too similar to Overcooked. but given how rare local co-op games are this is a welcome riff on a familiar theme.
Not the high-end remake that some fans would have been hoping for but even as a, at times, too faithful remaster this is a fascinating second look at one of gaming's great unsung heroes.
Slick, high-tech, and impeccably well designed; this is the best golf game of the modern era and the new standard for others to aspire to.
A prequel to Road 96, that adds skating mini-games but removes the procedural generation of the original – but it's still engagingly written, and has a lot to say.
An entertaining and fiercely satirical evocation of a future corporate dystopia, that manages to be both genuinely funny and surprisingly varied in its gameplay.
A short but sweet VR romp that replicates the Peaky Blinders universe perfectly, even as it runs up against some of the intrinsic limitations of VR gaming on the Meta Quest 2.
What starts as a sweet and endearing homage to 90s gaming evolves into a sophisticated and, at times, dark exploration of two troubled youths, in one of the best indie games of the year.
A bonkers collection of epic adventures and side-quests sprinkled with puzzles that fans of the Japanese pop-cultural behemoth have been crying out for
Easily the best of The Dark Pictures anthology series, with a horror story that is deliciously chilling, surprisingly well acted, and far more interesting to play than its predecessors.
A welcome sequel to the original Tales From The Borderlands, that negotiates the franchise's loud mouth humour to deliver a surprisingly nuanced and intelligent slice of interactive storytelling.
The basics of gameplay work tremendously well, but the game is bogged down by too many niggling faults and the sense that it'll take until at least next year to fulfil its potential.
The most approachable and the most realistic train simulator ever made, and it does a good job of making that more appealing than it sounds to non-fans.