Dominic Leighton's Reviews
Ruffy and the Riverside takes us back to a time where the 3D platformer was king, controllers had three prongs, and analogue sticks were a new-fangled invention. There's the same vibrancy and creativity here as classics like Banjo-Kazooie and Mario 64, cribbing a few of their tricks along the way while making something that still manages to feel fresh and unique.
After a day of playing Mario Kart World and Fast Fusion, Welcome Tour was a light, engaging way to wind down from high speed thrills. While it could arguably be a free pack-in exhibit, the £8 asking price is low enough that you shouldn't feel too hard done by for the curious. If you want a undemanding and easily digested introduction to the way the Switch 2 works, then look no further. If you want an actual game, buy one of the other launch titles.
Fast Fusion should be an instant buy for new Nintendo Switch 2 owners, providing an incredible dose of futuristic racing and a great graphical showcase for the new console at a bargain price.
The spirit of Gorkamorka lives on in Speed Freeks, with a frantic blast of multiplayer mayhem the perfect antidote to the grim dark realities of other Games Workshop titles.
F1 25 is a clear improvement over last year's entry, with improved handling, the returning Braking Point story mode and more all coming together to create an excellent F1 racing experience.
RoadCraft is the current culmination of the MudRunner ethos, balancing the series' tough vehicular action with new mechanics, improved multiplayer, and a renewed focus on fun. Slow fun, but definitely still fun.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a near-perfect compilation. Each of the games brings something unique to bear, whether in the systems they employ, their arcade-perfect visuals or the participating characters. Whether you're a newcomer to these titles or someone who loved them the first time around, this is an incredible collection of some of the best fighting games of all time, on modern hardware, for an unbelievably reasonable price.
Lunar Silver Star Story Complete pulls together two classic RPGs that are as endearing and enjoyable as they were two decades ago.
Revenge of the Savage Planet is a fitting follow-up to the excellent original. Its impact is mildly diminished by being a little too forgiving, and it's a surprisingly chilled experience despite everything wanting to murder you, but one thing is for certain; Revenge of the Savage Planet is a great time, and I want to see more from the Savage Planet franchise.
Star Overdrive has bags of heart and a huge amount of ambition, and it manages to bring those things together with enough style to cover up some of its less-polished elements.
The Southern Gothic aesthetic is wholly under-explored in gaming. Because of that, South of Midnight feels utterly refreshing and genuinely magical and mysterious. In turn, Hazel is an undeniably compelling character, and you can't help but want to see how her journey plays out. It's yet another unmissable step on Microsoft's path to redemption.
Wanderstop is beautiful, difficult, easy-going and complicated. It's a showcase for what games are capable of on an emotional level, and a heartfelt indie ode to finding yourself when everything looks lost.
With a smattering of improvements as it jumps to Nintendo Switch, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition offers up an epic sci-fi tale set in one of the very best open worlds.
Monster Hunter Wilds is the best Monster Hunter game we've ever had. The best storyline, the best visuals, and changes to the combat that revolutionise the way the game plays. That said, striving for the widest audience yet has dulled some of the series difficulty, and you may have to wait for the toughest parts of Wilds to fully reveal themselves.
Dog Man: Impawsible Mission is a light and breezy platformer that will keep fans of the books happy for a number of hours. However, parents might need to be on hand to get past some of the trickier sections.
Avowed is an incredible RPG. Its vibrant world and stellar cast make every moment a joy to take part in, enhanced by a script that gives equal measure to drama, action and humour. Coming hot on the heels of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, Microsoft's software revival is well underway.
Eternal Strands weaves its myriad influences into something memorable, beautiful and utterly enthralling.
Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is a blast with friends, but returning fans may find that not enough has changed to warrant a return visit.
IDUN – Frontline Survival is an RTS/Tower Defence hybrid that sells the concept incredibly well. While there's a few rough edges, if you're a fan of either genre, it's an edge-of-the-seat blast.
Freedom Wars Remastered offers one of the more intriguing visions of the future, but where its setting is thoroughly futuristic, its gameplay remains firmly in the past.