One of the reasons for its best-in-class performance is that while Ultimate Team is here, and sound, other modes – and those rivalries! – are given the space to outshine it.
"Go gung-ho and you swiftly lose match after match, along with your patience."
Where in-ring action is concerned, this is right on the cusp of being a five-star wrestling sim. But it has to lose a star for its cash-grab modes, which land as snugly as a Logan Paul brass knuckle shot to the jaw. In which you're the recipient, rather than the mega-rich Youtuber.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is more of a live service than a standalone game, one that continues to recover from a catastrophic launch. It relies so heavily on streaming its assets and world textures from the cloud that it's plain to see how its offerings could disappear should the service ever shut down. Nonetheless, Asobo Studio's developers have worked tirelessly to recover this visually breathtaking but temperamental simulator into something that appeals to a broader audience rather than a tight-knit niche. It could become a category-leading example of post-launch improvements if it continues its upward trajectory, and I encourage everyone to try it at least once.
Combat and platforming controls remain unchanged, which benefits Soul Reaver 1 but hinders Soul Reaver 2 and its clunky movement tweaks. Both games flaunt lavish character upgrades and stunning re-renders of the original's cutscenes. Still, environment texture upscales are often unnoticeable, and the lack of video options is a sore point, especially as the all-new map screen misbehaves on 16:10 screens at launch.
FC 25's gameplay familiarity may trigger initial disappointment, but career mode tweaks and the brilliant Rush mode soon pull you back in for another year. Ultimate Team, meanwhile, remains divisive as ever – but fans of that mode will love its myriad fan-service additions.
An improved year for the big dog of Gridiron games – but unless you have to play as a pro, there's simply no reason to choose this over College Football 25.
The best American football game in a decade, with a career mode which will take over your life – along with fabulous levels of college pageantry and authenticity.
The most accomplished wrestling game of the last decade – only held back by gnawing MyFaction concerns. A shame.
The most playable FIFA – oops! – in years. This is an encouraging new start for the EA Sports FC franchise, with Ultimate Team innovations truly standing out, and PlayStyles adding a smart new wrinkle to the on-turf action.
An encouraging debut for the big new rival to WWE, with loads of welcome throwback nods to No Mercy and Fire Pro, and a career mode you won’t be able to resist playing through multiple times.
Enjoyable in almost every department, WWE 2K23 serves up joy for wrestling fans young and old, dedicated or casual. There really is so much to love here.
EA and FIFA part company with a game packing fresh content both on and off the park – but FIFA 23 is ultimately hamstrung by a pair of longstanding frustrations.
A stellar first WWE outing on PS5 and XBox Series X, but legacy flaws hold it back from true greatness.
A disastrous start to the post-PES era. The only consolation? It surely can't get any worse from here.
A superb second next-gen season on the digital turf – but subtle Ultimate Team tweaks amplify the 'pay to win' criticisms that stalk this series annually.
The Six Nations Championship brings fresh hope that we might finally get a great rugby game, but this engaging effort fails to convert where it counts.
The restoration (in all but name) of FIFA Street and long-awaited upgrade to career mode finally make FIFA a game worth exploring beyond Ultimate Team
Like an old friend come back to life. Ace Combat 7 feels like a neat and tidy resurrection, bringing back everything you missed from flight simulator games, while consequently reminding you why the industry lost interest in them.
Have you wanted to play Valkyria Chronicles again? Without actually playing the exact same Valkyria Chronicles again? But still have it exactly the same? But still different?