Thomas Hughes
Cat Quest 2 is a fun and simple experience that's designed to be enjoyed on the settee with friends and family. It's not as complex or vast as some of action RPG titles, but it's one that is enjoyable from start to finish.
Warlords of New York is a welcome addition to The Division 2 and it probably marks the most fun I've had with the series to date. While some content falls a little flat, each one of the special encounters is a manic and explosive experience that will bring you to the edge of your seat. The quality of life changes, including the refined loot systems, also breathe life back into one of last year's more enjoyable looter-shooter titles.
Deliver Us The Moon really surprised me. It's a bit rough around the edges, but it's a fantastic sci-fi thriller that kept me gripped throughout. Deliver Us The Moon is a stellar experience which will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Regardless of your history with the series, the XCOM 2 Collection is an enticing offer for strategy fans. With the game bundled together with its sizeable War of the Chosen expansion, plenty of DLC and the option of playing while on the toilet, this is probably the best way you can choose to play XCOM 2.
Lonely Mountains: Downhill is a new, minimalist kind of extreme sports experience. Whether you're popping on for a quick run or spending longer riding across numerous mountains, Lonely Mountains provides a challenging but ultimately relaxing experience.
West of Dead shakes up the roguelite formula with its fantastic cover system, but it's more than that. With the addition of Ron Pearlman voicing William Mason, a stylistic cel-shaded art style and a captivating story to uncover, West of Dead is a winning combination that will have you as happy as a pup with two tails.
Burnout Paradise for the Nintendo Switch is a great port of a fantastic game, it's just a shame how expensive it is. I can only hope that the popularity of these recent ports encourages Criterion and EA to finally commit to a full new entry in the series, or at the very least, a Burnout 3: Takedown remake!
Anodyne 2: Return to Dust is an unusually captivating experience. The way the developers mix and match various gaming tropes shouldn't work, and yet the absurd narrative and overall aesthetic binds perfectly. If you're looking for something completely different, make sure you check out Anodyne 2.
The Ramp is a minimal skateboarding experience that acts as more of a tool than a video game. At face value, it is an enjoyable experience that's perfect for a quick skate, but those looking for a bit more depth might be better off looking elsewhere.
Exo One is an enjoyable other-world experience that challenges players with the mastery of an alien spacecraft. Tight controls and great physics more than make up for the odd repetitive spot, making Exo One an absolute must for anyone with an Xbox Game Pass subscription. Even without one, I’d still recommend picking it up.
A colourful world, an emergent soundtrack and tight controls make Ynglet one of the most memorable indie games I've played in some time. On occasion, the level design could be a little confusing, but it was never enough to ruin my experience. From start to finish, Ynglet is an exhilarating adventure based in a stunning world.
I went into Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel Review quite skeptical at first, but what met me was a solid fighting game. The story is a big naff, but it looks great and plays well. That's all you need from a fighting game right?
Steep is a solid experience that accomplishes what the developers set out to do. They have a created an impressive world that is both fun to explore and addictive to conquer. The multiplayer feels like a bit of a letdown due to a lack of variety but it is still fun exploring the world with friends
For those wanting a game where stealth is the focal point, and not a subclass you choose, Aragami is most definitely for you.
At its best, Yooka-Laylee reminds me why I fell in love with colourful platformers, it's a love letter to childhood nostalgia. At its worst, Yooka-Laylee reminds me why we moved away from platforming games: odd design choices and occasional bugs sour the experience.
Death Squared is an intelligent puzzler that challenges single and multiplayer gamers alike.
Sébastien Loeb Rally Evo is a game that exceeds expectations. It never fully outshines the competition, but it does enough on its own to make it worth your attention.
MXGP2 is a step forward for the series, not a huge leap forward by any means, but the improved bike and rider controls bring enough to the table to keep things fresh. Motocross fans are likely to be pleased, but those not into the extreme sport might not find it as enjoyable.
Headlander is a funny, well designed game with an excellent aesthetic, it's a shame that a few shortcomings let it down in the long run
Dead Rising HD Collection is a great experience for those wanting to get into the series before Dead Rising 4, unfortunately the Collection offers little more for fans of the series.