The future of MultiVersus remains to be seen, but if it is aspiring to become a go-to fighting game for both offline and online gatherings, nothing spoils the party more than the free-to-play shell it’s encased in. This model might make it more accessible to players in the short term, but when it’s weighing down the overall experience like this, it’s hard not to see history repeating itself sooner or later – even if you can butcher Shaggy with a machete.
A successful evolution of Yakuza: Like A Dragon, which makes great use of its Hawaiian setting and an almost endless array of distractions and mini-games.
An occasionally spectacular follow-up to one of the best action platformers of the last few years, which unfortunately dilutes some of its appeal by shooting for a wider audience.
An affectionately crafted prequel to The Expanse which, while worthwhile for fans, fails to evolve Telltale's tired gameplay design in any meaningful manner.
An ambitious magic-themed shooter which, despite its impressive, flashy combat, buckles under the weight of its influences and slapdash execution.
A surprisingly lean and mean sequel which amplifies the bloody thrills of the original through its impressive presentation and flexible mechanics.
A fantasy musical adventure which has big laughs to match its big heart, while being built around charming, if shallow, gameplay mechanics.
An ill-conceived attempt at bringing competitive deathmatch to Resident Evil, that has turned out to be just as terrible as everyone always assumed it would be.
A stylish replication of survival horror's roots, which manages to capture and refresh the unsettling horrors of the genre's 90s origins.
An uninspired retread of Resident Evil Village's best moments, which squanders the opportunity to experiment or provide a hint about the franchise's future.
A sleek skating hybrid with plenty of compelling ideas and some stylish presentation, but the longer it goes on the more frustrating it becomes.
MultiVersus has some shortcomings; stages feel uninspired and the controls don’t feel quite as tactile or satisfying compared to Nintendo’s fighting king, but this is an impressive foundation for what could become a genuine competitor.
The best and most balanced Mario Strikers title yet, undercut by limited modes and a lacklustre sense of progression.
An absorbing mix of tabletop inspirations and sci-fi storytelling, that makes for one of the most unique and well-written games of the year.
An appealing riff on the Pokémon role-playing formula which, while a little too safe, has enough small deviations and improvements to justify its existence.
A perfunctory kart racing spin-off that has a few unique charms but falls well short of its far superior competition.
An admirable refresh of a cult classic, with excellent presentation and thoughtfully implemented new mechanics, but it's held back by its reluctance to modernise in other areas.
After being an obscurity for years, Guilty Gear Strive should turn the franchise into the juggernaut it always deserved to be. The online lobby system isn’t ideal and there are limited modes for offline play, but planned updates should make these short-term grievances. As it is, Guilty Gear has never been so accessible, addictive and deliciously bombastic. Step aside Tekken and Street Fighter, your reign is over.
If Virtua Fighter’s future depends on Ultimate Showdown's success, this barebones revitalisation might be too thin to have long-term impact. With few modes and a basic approach to online, this feels like a quick fix to get Virtua Fighter back into the FGC spotlight. If you’re after a fighter with significant brains however, the incredible mechanics might be enough to rope you in.
There’s plenty to love about Oddworld: Soulstorm, but it’s a recommendation bundled with caveats. The occasionally bad design and frustrating bugs hold it back from the blockbuster Abe adventure it strives to be, but if you can stomach the annoyances, there’s a compelling, puzzle platformer here which breathes new life into Oddworld’s charms.