Shubhankar Parijat
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is exactly the sort of sequel you'd want it to be, and though it stumbles here and there, ultimately, it improves on its predecessors in almost every way that matters most.
Assassin's Creed Mirage looks to the franchise's past, and delivers a strong, focused entry that is exactly what it says on the tin, nothing more and nothing less.
The on-pitch gameplay in FC 24 remains as fun as ever, but its failure to make any real, meaningful changes is a real disappointment, especially because almost none of the few changes it does make come anywhere close to sticking the landing.
Separate Ways builds on the strengths of Resident Evil 4 and delivers yet another compelling package with thrilling combat and a fun story.
After nearly three years of updates and improvements, Cyberpunk 2077 is – at long last – a legitimately good game, one that builds on its flawed past with more than a few radical changes and overhauls.
Phantom Liberty is what Cyberpunk 2077 should have been three years ago. It's an incredible expansion that boasts a gripping story, compelling characters, engaging moment-to-moment gameplay, and significantly improved progression mechanics. It's so good that it uplifts all of Cyberpunk 2077, finally making good on the lofty promises CD Projekt RED made for the base game all those years ago.
The Crew Motorfest embodies the spirit of the Forza Horizon franchise in more ways than one, and though it doesn't ever quite touch the same heights, it does deliver what is easily the most enjoyable game in Ubisoft's open world racing franchise.
Baldur's Gate 3 is a landmark release in the RPG genre that has instantly cemented itself as one of the best games of its kind, and an absolute must-play for all PS5 owners.
As unfathomably vast and boundless as the subject matter it covers, Starfield raises the bar for its genre and for the medium as a whole in countless ways - much like the best of its Bethesda-developed forebears did in their time.
Though light on engaging gameplay mechanics (and gameplay in general), Fort Solis is an accomplished narrative experience. Boasting a compelling story, an atmospheric setting, and excellent acting performances, it's an accomplished first outing for indie studio Fallen Leaf.
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is an excellent game. With its wonderfully realized fantasy pirate setting, it instantly pulls you into its world, and with a combination of tight and perfectly implemented mechanics, excellently designed stealth sandboxes, and a colourful cast of characters that's an absolute blast to play as, it delivers a consistently fun and inventive adventure where the stealth, tactics, and experimentation never lose any of their charm, right up until the credits roll.
Atlas Fallen has legitimate strengths in its quick, snappy sand surfing, its fascinating setting and worldbuilding, and deep and flexible progression mechanics, but with clunky movement, inconsistent combat, lackluster storytelling, and just an all-around lack of polish, it ends up being weighed down by far too many issues to be able to live up to its proper potential.
Disney Illusion Island is a charming, enjoyable, easygoing Metroidvania platformer that should appeal to everyone regardless of how familiar you are with the genre or how skilled you are on the sticks.
Pikmin 4 is well worth the long wait, and the best iteration of Nintendo's unique and charming strategy series to date.
Killsquad can be passingly fun in short doses, but it has too many significant issues to be an easy recommendation for even the genre's biggest fans.
You can roll credits on Oxenfree 2 in 4-5 hours, but every minute of that brief runtime makes a lasting impression. It spins a captivating tale that masterfully balances its horror elements against the story's more intimate side, and combines that with a simple yet engaging gameplay loop, with an excellent dialogue system serving as the centerpiece. The end result is a short yet memorable game that you definitely shouldn't miss out on.
Pikmin 1 and 2's Switch ports might not be much of an upgrade in a technical sense, but the games themselves have stood the test of time wonderfully well, thanks to their timeless game design, addictive loop, intuitive controls, and healthy dose of charm.
Pikmin 1 and 2's Switch ports might not be much of an upgrade in a technical sense, but the games themselves have stood the test of time wonderfully well, thanks to their timeless game design, addictive loop, intuitive controls, and healthy dose of charm.
Park Beyond delivers a fun and addictive theme park builder and management sim experience, and elevates it with its delightful impossification mechanics. Some technical issues and console-specific problems do hold the experience back somewhat, but this is still an easy game to recommend for fans of the genre.
Layers of Fear is gorgeous to look at, but its beauty is skin deep. From rudimentary, repetitive gameplay to predictable attempts at scaring you, this definitive reimagining of Bloober Team's horror franchise stumbles too often to be able to make a meaningful mark.