The Drifter is a stunning achievement in narrative game design.
Crushed in Time is an interesting and entertaining puzzle game with a unique control scheme and puzzle mechanics. While not all of the puzzles are winners, the vast majority are, even when they're so difficult you think you'll never solve them.
Bluey's Quest for The Gold Pen is a perfect game for families. It'll keep mums, dads and kids happy while telling an original Bluey story that's every bit as good as the episodes.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is effortlessly charming, deceptively deep and incredibly playable for the whole family.
Directive 8020 is the strongest release for Supermassive Games since Until Dawn, and it proves there's still plenty of gas in the tank for these types of games. I can say with confidence that Directive 8020 is a must-play/watch for 2026.
Ninja Gaiden 4 is pure, unadulterated video gaming. It's fast, it's slick and, most of all, it's incredibly satisfying.
For a cosy game to play, cuddled up on the couch and to unwind after a long day, look no further than Keeper.
With Atomfall, Rebellion has delivered an exciting survival game with brilliant story hooks and a world you never want to stop exploring.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is not a bad game, but it is a flawed one. It's also a beautiful one, an interesting one, a frustrating one, a janky one, a thrilling one and sometimes even a great one. It's a game undone by its own desire to be multiple things all at once.
Avowed is a genuine triumph and one of the first major releases from Xbox game dev buying spree that will pay dividends. It's a deep, complex and though-provoking RPG from masters of the genre. It revels in being played and tugs at the back of your lizard brain beckoning you back when you take a break.
As a non-racer, I have been incredibly impressed by what's on offer. While I still prefer the open-world shenanigans and quirky Burnout-inspired Horizon series, I can see what's so appealing about these types of games thanks to this latest entry.
Overall, Assassin's Creed: Mirage is a decent game in the series, but a largely forgettable one. After the dizzying heights of Odyssey and Valhalla, Mirage takes too much of a step back and relies too much on gameplay the series has long moved on from.
Under the right circumstances and with the right people (and possibly the right alcohol) Samba de Amigo: Party Central is a smash.
Starfield is a less interesting Fallout in space with some serious design issues. It’s still very playable and easy enough to pick up and play for short bursts but it certainly doesn’t have the staying power of Skyrim or Fallout 3. It simultaneously tried to do too much and does too little.
Being inspired by and ripping off is a fine line and Lies of P does not tread it well.
At this early stage, Payday 3 is good, but not great. It’s got a lot of potential and will undoubtedly grow with the fanbase over time. The eight heists on offer, provide a range of missions and objectives and, as mentioned, are highly replyable.
Diablo IV is absolutely essential gaming.
Showgunners consistently delivers thrills, strategy, violence and a pitch-black satire of capitalism, social media and fame.
Redfall is not the second coming of first-party AAA games on Xbox and it was never going to be. It's an average co-op shooter with half-baked ideas that never fully come together. It's fun for a few minutes but it wears thin very quickly. Give it a try on Game Pass but don't expect too much.
Jedi: Survivor, in spite of everything I've written here, isn't a bad game. It's just ok and it's suffering an identity crisis but it's still quite playable and entertaining. Hampered by some baffling design decisions, Jedi: Survivor doesn't know what kind of game it wants to be nor what kind of game it is.