Conscript takes its evident passion for survival horror and infuses it with purpose and grit through a harrowing depiction of war. More than just homage, Conscript comfortably sits alongside the best, and more unique, of the genre.
Despite a dazzling art direction and one killer new hook for the Souls-adjacent combat loop, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn struggles under the weight of unnecessary RPG systems and an overarching lack of refinement to its many ideas.
An intensely personal examination of how we can fail those we love and the uncomfortable truths about why, The End of You is a fascinating and strange sophomore effort from Memory of God. Through its brilliant use of analog horror aesthetics and considered writing, it's the kind of indie experience that reminds us of the power of a weird, little game.
The Rogue Prince of Persia enters its Early Access stage with a little less punch than you might expect but Evil Empire's pedigree means the foundation is rock solid. Thanks to fluid and responsive movement and an overarching commitment to vibe, this is a prince with eyes set firmly on the crown.
An unapologetically cinematic descent into the darkest parts of the human mind, Indika is a unique and crunchy little experiment that comes alive in its ideas and tone if not always its gameplay.
POOLS is an impressively immersive and harrowing trudge through waters that threaten to drown you in its high fidelity, unsettling take on the limenal space horror genre.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is an achievement in visual fidelity but fails to define itself amid clumsy retreads and unengaging new ideas.
Stellar Blade's remarkable core combat and overwhelming commitment to style carries the weight of its uneven exploration and muddled narrative.
A stunningly realised rendition of Akira Toriyama's work, Sand Land matches its aesthetics with fun, breezy systems and a charming, if clumsy, tale of war, friendship, and hope.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU infuses the action platformer with earnest, emotional storytelling and a vibrant, compelling world to explore.
Broken Roads is a gorgeous Aussie world undone by incurious writing, ambitious but poorly implemented ideas, and unstable performance issues.
Alone in the Dark marks a fine attempt at contemporary survival horror mechanics but is completely adrift with an incoherent narrative, dull design, and baffling tonal choices.
While its ship customisation revels in aesthetic delights, little else here allows for the kind of pirate fantasy we've been waiting for since 2013. Despite some early promise and admirable endgame ideas, Skull and Bones charts a fairly unremarkable course through its gorgeously empty ocean.
Another Code: Recollection is a solid repackage of two classic adventure titles that manages to celebrate the Cing games despite some lacklustre puzzles and clumsy camera controls.
Polished, functional, and visually stunning, The Last of Us Part II Remastered is every bit the product it sets out to be, betraying the game's art and dealing a blow to its dignity in the process.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an expertly executed series revival that displays the best of Ubisoft Montpellier's pedigree while pushing the action-platformer to new highs.
Super Mario RPG is a gorgeously realised remake that brings the classic turn-based adventure to modern audiences but stops just short of recapturing the magical uniqueness of the original.
Thirsty Suitors is a little thirsty with its mechanical ambitions but never fails to charm in one way or another. With a beautifully diverse cast, mature writing, and unmatched expressiveness, it breathes new life into the genre.
Jusant's melancholic world may be built on the absence of life but through its methodically refined climbing mechanics and richly rewarding thematic work, it carves a path that rarely ever leaves you looking down.
Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 is a comprehensive and considered omnibus that, despite dearly missing its creator's input, makes for a definitive way to play one of gaming's greatest series.