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?
A spectacular throwback to the era when wrestling games were must-own. Add live – or even quarterly – updates to 2K20 and it'll be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
The Champions League expands FIFA's exhaustive selection of licences – but thanks to lessons learned last year there's plenty to love out on the pitch, too.
Do you want to feel like a detective? Do other games keep giving you ‘all-seeing vision'? Do you wish you could actually solve problems on your own (more-or-less)? Look no further.
Frostpunk is a bleak and challenging colony builder/survival title that will either give you more respect for your boss, or have you rallying your co-workers to oust them.
Yakuza 6 delivers the series' signature poignant story, and is probably the best Yakuza has been narrative and production-wise. However, the game's trademark diversions have been trimmed back.