Lords of the Fallen looks and plays great but frustrating difficulty spikes and an undercooked narrative hold it back from reaching the heights of its Soulslike counterparts.
For fans of Bloodborne (and Sekiro, to an extent), Lies of P is absolutely going to deliver on all those dreams of a spiritual sequel. It's a masterfully crafted Soulslike that doesn't do anything innovative but simply doubles down on what works - and shoots for the stars.
Mortal Kombat 1 takes a back-to-basics approach to its combat, characters and story that rewards both newcomers and long-time fans in equal measures. It's a narratively satisfying, fresh restart that the series desperately needed after nearly three decades.
Baldur's Gate 3 is a once-in-a-generation masterpiece made with care and passion by the talented Larian Studios that elevates not only the RPG genre, but the entire gaming medium - packed with creative spins on classic fantasy tropes, excellent writing, terrific world-building and some of the most well-written characters in gaming.
It's not a deep experience and many might leave unsatisfied by its sluggish pacing, dialogue and story. Atlas Fallen is an easy recommend on sale but for now, 2023 has a lot more to offer.
Synapse makes good use of virtual reality and the DualSense controller through its mind-bending action and distinct visuals but repetition sets in far too quickly.
Final Fantasy XVI is not perfect and won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it personally hit almost all of the right notes for me to consider it an absolute must-play and a refreshingly mature take on the franchise. The combat is highly addictive, the story is captivating and the Eikon battles are jaw-dropping spectacles.
Diablo 4 is undoubtedly one of the best games that Blizzard has ever made with a well-written story, though the company's poor handling of post-launch content has dampened what could've been an otherwise phenomenal experience.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a worthy successor to Breath of the Wild and one of the best games on Nintendo Switch. While it won't win over players who weren't swept away by its predecessor, the sequel does everything in its power to be a true evolution of the formula. Inventive gameplay, a gorgeous presentation, beautiful soundtrack, and incredibly immersive exploration all add up to create a near-masterpiece of endless possibilities.
We know Arkane is capable of so much more which is why this feels like such a disappointment and a step back for the studio. Some inspired ideas and a creative concept can't hold Redfall up from buckling under its own blood-drenched weight. On the bright side, it's on Game Pass.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a bigger but not necessarily better sequel to Fallen Order. However, it excels in key areas including slightly improved combat, locations that are larger in scope, more nuanced and introspective character writing, and a terrific, gripping narrative.
If you can get over the often daft AI, mild learning curve with systems that might be pretty complex for younger players, and few performance issues, then you might be swayed by its charm. It has a lot of heart and that's where it shines the brightest.
It's a welcomed change of pace for the Bayonetta series that not every fan will find as fulfilling as the main games, but as a smaller project bursting with heart and creativity, Bayonetta Origins is a fun, charming diversion.
Capcom have done the impossible and made a remake that not only stands toe-to-toe with the original, but outshines it in plenty of areas too. The Resident Evil 4 remake is an extraordinary reimagining that honours its counterpart while giving it a more impactful coating of horror and suspense.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is another highly enjoyable effort from Team Ninja that wears its Sekiro inspirations proudly on its sleeves, but it may lack the brutal challenge that usually accompanies these games.
The foundation is strong enough for the game to flourish into something truly special and I can't wait to see how it evolves over time. That said, Wild Hearts is a visual stunner with smooth and stylish gameplay, incredibly designed Kemono and beautiful landscapes despite its few shortcomings.
Forspoken has plenty of faults (most of them justified), but I'll be honest, the basic story is effective, the gameplay is flashy and addictive and the visuals are outstanding for the most part. Unfortunately it also fails to live up to its true potential which is constantly derailed by questionable writing and dialogue, lifeless environments and a protagonist that I tried my hardest to like, but just couldn't.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is a terrific remaster that brings this must-play prequel into the modern era. Almost everything that I hoped would be updated was given attention, including a more fluid battle system and combat, cleaner UI, high-quality textures, lighter controls, and (to my everlasting surprise) an untouched story that doesn't take any daringly divisive risks like Remake.
Need for Speed Unbound ended up feeling like a step sidewards for the franchise instead of forward. It’s still trailing behind other arcade racers in the genre despite having a strong, stylish presentation.
The Callisto Protocol isn't going to go down as a survival horror classic that some were expecting, but it might go down as an entertaining, technically brilliant way to spend a few afternoons across its roughly 8-10 hour journey. It's elevated by superb visuals and atmosphere, and an engaging combat system that really opens up once you learn its rhythm.