Dominic Leighton's Reviews
Madden 23 is still Madden, but little more. If you've been wanting an NFL game that offers something wholly new, or one that can match the NBA 2K series for production values, then this isn't the place to find it. However, there's some key incremental improvements happening here which make Madden 23 a tighter, more engaging experience for fans, and one which will happily see you through this year's NFL season.
We Are OFK is a musical narrative experience that perfectly justifies its genre-defying position; the music is hot, the cast are hotter, and not only will you care about them, you'll care about hearing the next thing they do. It's exceptional.
GigaBash is a love letter to Kaiju cinema, assuming that a love letter can involve throwing buildings at each other. Raucous, entertaining, and brilliantly designed, GigaBash deserves to stomp its way into players' hearts around the globe.
The arrival of Marvel's Spider-Man on PC brings one of PlayStation's signature stars to a new platform. It looks fantastic, plays well across a variety of setups, and is one of the best games of the last five years. It is, in other words, essential, though you might want to wait for it to go on sale.
Endling: Extinction is Forever is a poignant piece of emotive short-form storytelling, telling a tale of survival that isn't just a conversation starter, but one that asks for immediate change.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is another impressive and entertaining RPG experience from Monolith Soft. Its ever-deepening mystery plays out across one of the most beautiful fantasy landscapes of recent years, while its approach to party building and classes means that the experience continually evolves. For a game that asks questions about how you spend your time, you won't want Xenoblade Chronicles 3 to finish.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is a nigh on perfect expansion, bringing meaningful gameplay change, charming new cast members, and most importantly, more monsters to hunt. It is, for those in the know, absolutely unmissable.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is another enjoyable slice of Musou action, even if it does little to advance either franchise. Fans of Fire Emblem will adore chatting to the huge cast of returning characters as much as going into battle with them.
Redout 2 is brutal, beautiful, and insanely fast. This is the first anti-grav racing sim, and we didn't even have to wait until 2048 to get started.
An absorbing, interactive Doctor Who-style time mystery, which is, without a doubt, wholly unique.
Kao the Kangaroo is an often-delightful throwback to a simpler time, paying homage to the 3D platformers of yesteryear while retaining just enough of its own identity. Most importantly, its platforming and combat are both on point, and thanks to its likeable characters you'll want to see it through to the end.
I was hoping for something unique in the pantheon of Koei Tecmo's long-lived franchise, but it's a step backwards. Fans of the Touken Ranbu franchise may get a kick out of seeing their beloved swords in 3D, but for the rest of the world you have to hope that it isn't indicative of where Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is heading.
Parkasaurus is a delightful park management sim. Its cute dinosaur designs and relaxed pace will suit all Jurassic fans, despite the obvious lack of Jeff Goldblum.
Soundfall is a whole heap of rhythm-action, loot-driven, Discord-smashing fun. It's also one of the indie highlights of 2022.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the most ambitious Lego game yet, and despite the occasional technical mishap it delivers a daring and often delightful romp through the most iconic film franchise of all time.
Shredders is a breath of chilly mountain air in the face of snowboarding fans everywhere. If you miss the genre's heyday of Cool Boarders, 1080 Snowboarding, and Amped, then it's definitely time to strap on a new pair of digital bindings.
Triangle Strategy is a beautiful and authentic tactical RPG. Fans of Fire Emblem in particular will love the involving narrative on top of the strategic action - just be prepared for a slow start as it sets its expansive story in motion.
King of Fighters XV marks an excellent return for the series, modernising it at nearly every turn. While we await a story that'll finally do justice to the characterful roster, it stakes a claim to SNK's past with an eye firmly on the future.
Retro Bowl is pure gaming joy, wrapped with a nostalgic little bow. It's also the best American Football game in years.
Growing the burgeoning 'serotonin snapper' genre, Pupperazi is as relaxed as gaming gets. Aimed at pretty much everyone that isn't a cat, this is another indie gem that's sure to leave you with an almighty grin on your face and, as an added bonus, you won't get dog hair on your sofa.