Though a tad slow to get going, Gears 5 has reinvented itself in ways many of us didn't dare dream was possible, blending what we loved about the franchise with a fresh story, personable protagonists, and some of the best visuals and shooting mechanics we've seen.
Without saying a word, FAR: Lone Sails conveys a poignant tale of hope and perseverance, masterfully balancing style with substance for an experience that feels every bit as sublime as it looks. Sure, you could grumble about the shortness of the experience, the occasionally obtuse puzzles and the very, very minor control issues, but these problems dissolve away once you're invested in the journey. We highly recommend that you give this a spin.
Watch Dogs 2 is a solid, satisfying sequel that successfully addresses the weaknesses of its predecessor.
Simultaneously both full of heart and unapologetically in-your-face, it takes everything you loved about its predecessor whilst gently – almost invisibly – buffing the things you didn't like so much, too. What a treat.
As the credits roll on this brief but powerful experience, you'll realise a lot is left open to interpretation. For some, that's to be expected. For others, it'll be infuriating. Prospero rarely seems to be in a hurry – even when he bloody should be – and as such, his plodding pace is very much a gamer's Marmite; you'll either love it or hate it… but good grief is this a mystery worth solving.
Never before have Guardians had such agency, and the ability to choose between well-balanced PvE components and PvP modes means there’s now good options for all, regardless of individual play style or weapon choice. Whether you play as a clan or as a lone wolf, there’s plenty to do… and best of all, a myriad of ways to do it, too.
It’s beautiful, it’s polished, and it will likely be a smash hit for anyone who’s been waiting all these years for a complex and challenging Mario tennis game.
Despite the strikingly different premise from Life is Strange studio Dontnod, the team’s expertise in characterisation and world-building dovetail neatly into this vampire romp.
Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time lacks originality, but it's stuffed with colour and charm, bringing Luna Nova and its students to life with affection and humour.
Despite the bolstered vehicular options and the novelty of beaching a boat in Central Park, sadly there’s just not enough here to keep you on the starting grid.
Short and simple, Donut County is absolutely sublime.
A stern yet scintillating 2D adventure that makes a point of not holding your hand.
A smart, witty adventure that makes a virtue of its self-imposed constraints.
Aggelos treads a path many others have followed in recent years, but it does it all with a charm of its own.
A slight but smart adventure it's hard not to be charmed by.
Colourful, characterful and disarmingly charming, Guacamelee 2 is a hit.
Swery's brand of wonky mechanics underlined with impeccable writing and atmospherics proves just as effective in the 2D platformer field.
An artful puzzle platformer that'll stay with you long after its short running time.
An over-familiar follow-up, perhaps, but New Dawn whittles away the rough edges of Far Cry 5 for something extremely enjoyable.
A devastating story unfolds across text messages in this unforgettable piece of interactive fiction.