Screamer looks great and has some neat ideas. But this anime-inspired arcade racer is let down by inconsistent and unbalanced competitor AI and controls that can often feel overcomplicated for the sake of it.
It has some minor issues that might frustrate some, as well as some elements that feel a little underbaked, but Project Songbird is an engaging narrative-driven survival horror experience on the whole. If you like the idea of Firewatch crossed with Silent Hill, you should give it a try.
Being a yearly franchise, WWE 2K26 features the usual assortment of tweaks and upgrades to its many modes, and combined with its enhanced gameplay it makes for the most authentic wrestling experience yet. It's somewhat ruined, however, by a new Ringside Pass system that forces players to grind to unlock content. Unless they're willing to pay real money for tier skips, of course.
With a lengthy campaign offering plenty of high-octane racing action across a variety of events, Trail Out is easy to recommend to arcade racing games fans who are also fond of a little destruction. It has some technical issues that pull it down a little, and there's no online multiplayer, but if you can live with those things, you'll have an absolute blast.
Don't Mess With Bober has a humorous premise, but its gameplay isn't all that enjoyable with stealth sections that ultimately rely on trial on error. It's also very, very short.
A retro-styled first-person shooter, Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! is excellently presented with live-action sequences that are genuinely funny. Unfortunately, it's let down by repetitive mission design and just isn't as much fun to play as it should be, with its third-person bug missions being particularly bland.
Gameplay-wise, there's not much here to win over those who aren't already fans of this Monster Hunter spin-off series, but thanks to numerous gameplay enhancements, a more mature story and full voice acting, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is undoubtedly a cut above its predecessors.
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake successfully builds on the original game, adding new mechanics that enhance the gameplay and more. It's just a shame that its inventive camera-based combat can be frustrating at times, and its stealth sections can feel a little trial and error.
Lana finds herself in yet more trouble in Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf, a game which proves to be a bigger, bolder sequel with more gameplay variety. Needless to say, it's a must-play for fans of the first game.
Tales of Berseria Remastered takes an already great JRPG, tidies up its visuals, and adds some welcome quality of life features. It's the fact that it also includes most of the game's DLC and brings it to more formats that should make it particularly appealing though, especially to newcomers.
With its dual-protagonist setup, Resident Evil Requiem caters to both those who love traditional survival horror as well as action horror. Throw in a fantastic range of truly terrifying enemies, including zombies that feel freakier than ever thanks to their unique behaviours, and you have one of the best Resident Evil games yet, especially for those who can appreciate both of its distinct gameplay styles.
Letting players take control of a young Kratos, God of War Sons of Sparta is a retro-styled 2D Metroidvania that offers a large, interconnected world to explore. It's both engaging and rewarding to do so, too, though repetitive combat that can feel a little scrappy brings the experience down somewhat.
Styx, the Master of Stealth, is back, and in his latest adventure he has more freedom than ever as he hunts down valuable Quartz. The openness of the levels is perhaps the highlight of Styx: Blades of Greed, though the new tools and skills available to Styx are also welcome. It's just a shame there are no maps to help with your navigation, and the combat remains something that will frustrate.
Paranormasight is back, and The Mermaid's Curse has another supernatural tale to tell that's full of twists, turns and horrifying events. The non-linear format here makes piecing together the story ever so rewarding, and once again it's a title that's not afraid of breaking the fourth wall to great effect.
While it lacks online multiplayer, you might want to pick up Gear.Club Unlimited 3 if you like the idea of developing your HQ in Japan, competing in races to unlock new features and put together an impressive garage of cars. You'll have to put up with a handling model that isn't all that impressive, however, and some will rue the lack of assist and difficulty options.
Its fast-paced combat system is one of the best in the genre, and BlazBlue fans will love the large number of playable characters. Throw in some truly eye-catching visuals and BlazBlue Entropy Effect X is a must-play for action roguelike fans.
Go along with its absurd story, and chances are you'll have lots of fun with Romeo is a Dead Man, even if its combat can be scrappy in places. This is Grasshopper Manufacture's most polished game yet, and as ever it's full of amusing quirks and gameplay features.
A first-person survival horror game with a story steeped in Spanish history, folklore and religion, Crisol: Theater of Idols may borrow from the likes of Resident Evil but it manages to stand out thanks to its creepy enemies and clever blood bullet mechanic.
With its new open field format, Nioh 3 is undoubtedly the best entry in the series yet, giving players more freedom to explore and making the experience feel more seamless. Add on top of that additional new features, such as the ability to switch between samurai and ninja styles on the fly and being able to freely respec, and you have a stellar example of just how good the Soulslike genre can be. This is an early game of the year contender, without a doubt.
My Hero Academia: All's Justice truly is a treat for fans of the franchise, offering multiple substantial game modes and a huge roster of playable heroes and villains. It's not very welcoming to newcomers, however, and its Team Up Mission mode isn't always all that exciting to play through.