Mark Isaacson
Tempopo stands as a puzzle game full of heart and joyful melodies, easy or hard enough for any kind of player. It's satisfying gameplay loops and adorable designs help it shine, but hopefully there's even more content to come in the future.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a confident new IP, bold in its execution and not afraid to mix old and new ideas. It's a stunning achievement, born from passion and raised within technical excellence equal to the best in the business. Go in unspoiled and be ready for a truly rewarding experience.
The journey taken across Koira's musically emotive world is exactly what my soul needed in these dark times, and it's one you'll likely enjoy in equal measure too.
Carmen Sandiego is a welcome addition to a franchise that continues to educate in all the right ways. For better or worse it doesn't mix the formula up too much, but any young one should find much to like. Just be sure to stick with a portable platform to enjoy it best.
Sniper Elite: Resistance is a reasonable continuation of the franchise, its sniping highs remain as amusing as ever thanks to some neat environmental gameplay, but much of its content rehashes what came before instead of evolving the series concept for a true next-gen sequel.
Lego Horizon Adventures will find an audience in its target demographic of young kids wanting something easy to pick up and play. But a short campaign and a lack of originality hurts the finished product for everyone else.
As Dragon Ball games go, Sparking! Zero stands as one of the better translations of what it feels like to be a super powered hero, Goku or otherwise. It's not for everyone, but with a great set of modes and roster of characters, fans should find plenty to enjoy.
Chock-full of 80's vibes and sci-fi fun, Beyond Galaxyland is a grand old time. It does stumble occasionally, but the overall package gels together to make Doug and Boom Boom's debut a memorable one.
Despite some troubled animations and controls, Copycat plays its emotional journey excellently. As a cat owner and someone who has lived somewhat similar events in recent times, its tale of love and loss hit hard, but was a journey worth taking.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster does enough to warrant its existence, ensuring the original experience remains gleefully intact with new quality-of-life improvements and a lavish visual upgrade in tow. It's maybe not quite as deluxe as it could be, but it remains as good as it always has been.
Taking everything learnt from Void Bastards, Wild Bastards is an inventive spiritual sequel, blending strategy and shooter perfectly within its space cowboy antics. It's a must play, no doubt.
Enjoyable and engaging, The Garden Path is all about taking your time and simply existing within its charming world, letting go of the anxieties of life to make your own place without constant objectives bogging you down.
The Sacred Acorn does a lot of things right, an enjoyable hand-drawn world and some fun ideas within its squirrel-led adventure, but the fun is lost between a sea of familiarity and an ocean of awkwardness, leading to an okay journey that needed that extra spark to truly shine.
2024's incredible lineup of indie titles continues to grow, and Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus deserves to be right near the top. It's a picture-perfect Metroidvania, impeccably designed and gorgeous in motion. Do not miss this.
Luigi, the loveable scaredy-cat that he is, returns for another outing that holds up well in its transition from 3DS to Switch. Despite being a straight port without any new features, it remains a gorgeous and inventive world worth exploring for old and new fans alike.
David Lynch would be proud of Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. It's wild, clever and compelling in the best of ways, absurd in its visual style and challenging in its puzzles. Do not let this one pass you by.
Sand Land manages the tough task of translating an enjoyable story without overdoing the open-world mechanics in the process. It's rough in places but is a respectful adaptation of Toriyama's work and a pleasant experience throughout.
As a fan of the Turtle's arcade roots, I'd happily recommend TMNT Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants for a run or two, but despite the new levels the lack of online support and barebones presentation spoils this pizza party.
MLB The Show 24 loads its bases with plenty of options for beginners and veterans while exploring a legacy that should be played by all. It's the best licensed sports title on the market, and there's no close second.
An engaging cast drives this short but ultimately sweet journey down a well-worn emotional road, though the chance to spend more time with Tess and Opal Devine on some detours would have been welcome.