11 Bit Studios strikes again with a fresh take and setting that borrows from the brilliant mechanics of This War of Mine and sends them into space.
Ninja Gaiden II Black is an impressive remaster in terms of sheer visual fidelity, but the gameplay and design haven't aged quite so gracefully. It's an important relic of the past, but just that.
With a fresh and varied campaign and the fantastic omni-movement system, Black Ops 6 is another solid entry in the juggernaut franchise that refuses to go gentle into that good night
A slick visual presentation and serviceable if uneven action stealth can't elevate this mildly baffling mishmash of sci-fi tropes that suffers from a lack of atmosphere and identity
Nobody Wants To Die punches well above its weight as an visually stunning if flawed interactive story in an intriguing future noir setting
Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has more meat on the bones than many full releases, and if you miss the beauty and punishment of the base game then the Shadow Realm beckons.
Paper Trail is a neat bit of puzzling whimsy with a unique folding mechanic and thoughtful design that hides just the right amount of difficulty beneath its beautiful exterior.
Rise of the Rōnin's open world is vast and content-rich, but it's a case of quantity over quality that's only partially rescued by the unambitious but technically adequate combat.
A significant visual upgrade makes this faithful remake the best way to engage with this tragic tale, even if its simple themes still lack a little nuance.
Modern Warfare III does even less this year to shake up the multiplayer formula, but mechanically it's the same finely honed beast that sets the bar for fast-paced multiplayer shooters
The Invincible absolutely looks the part, jampacked with stunning alien vistas and a brilliant retrofuturistic aesthetic, but its premise can't quite maintain the momentum of suspense and intrigue generated in its opening act
Ghostrunner 2 is ninja leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor, and though the challenge can be daunting, the expanded toolset at your disposal makes it more than surmountable, with every innumerable death an invitation to better emulate the cool cyborg ninja you truly are.
Enchanted Portals copies almost everything about Cuphead, except for the precision of its mechanics, the tightness of its design and the enjoyment gleaned by mastering it. All the good bits really…
While this sandy action RPG is somewhat lacking in technical and visual polish, Atlas Fallen is still a strong outing from Deck13, with the outfit continuing to prove it's got the chops when it comes to crafting interesting mechanics and fun combat.
Burning Shores may not feel essential in the grand scheme of things, but a solid self-contained story and dedication to character depth make this the perfect excuse to return to this brilliant action-adventure RPG
Curse of the Sea Rats' charmingly nostalgic art direction can only partially hide a Metroidvania whose mechanical shortcomings are numerous, and whose substandard technical stability is irredeemable in its launch state.
Wo Long is another solid entry into the hardcore hack and slash RPG genre, but some wonky difficulty and questionable enemy AI spoil some of the design nuances and mean it doesn't quite hit the heights of Team Ninja's previous efforts
Ragnarök chooses iteration over innovation, but continues to operate in a league of its own in terms of its nuanced gameplay and otherworldly technical execution. This is the new posterchild for what the PS5 is capable of, and the passionate product of a development outfit that can seemingly do no wrong.
Metal: Hellsinger enlists some all-star musical talent to bring its dream of metal-based FPS mayhem to life, but stumbles in finding its gameplay rhythm.
This interactive crime drama packs a unique visual style and some gripping moments dealing with mature themes. The choices you make are crucial to the fates of two families, but the impact is more keenly felt in the first act than the second.