Mick Fraser's Reviews
For anyone craving a test of their mettle in bite-sized chunks and lacquered over with Team Ninja's trademark combat genius, Nioh 2 is utterly essential.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is simply stunning, and a breath-taking masterclass in recreating something beloved for a new – and old – audience.
112 Operator may not look particularly exciting to an observer, but to put yourself in the hot-seat and actually play is exhilarating.
Borderlands Legendary Collection is an incredible port, suffering very little slowdown or visual impairment. If you missed this series before, now's the perfect time.
It's dull yet vibrant, clever but convoluted, thrilling and idling, beautiful and grim. It swings between supremely satisfying and maddeningly frustrating, and though it's trite to say it, it isn't a game made for everyone.
Neon Abyss' pixel art graphics and superb soundtrack round off a perfect addition to the Switch's formidable catalogue of indie treasures.
Risk of Rain 2 is an excellent time that takes you from a scrappy fight with some pesky aliens to a desperate battle for survival in a 3D bullet hell every run
Crusader Kings III is an excellent kingdom management game, more intimate but no less intricate than the likes of Civilisation VI, it's as unforgiving a simulation as you're going to find while still being more fun than you'd expect it to be.
BPM: Bullets Per Minute is an addictive, innovative, and punishingly hard roguelite shooter-slash-rhythm game - and it's great
Ghostrunner is built for that subset of gamers who enjoy the steepest challenge. The story is solid, the world is beautiful, and the precision insane - but this is a hardcore experience from start to finish
Despite some worryingly customary bugs, Assassin's Creed Valhalla serves up a treat for both series fans and RPG afficianados. Eivor is a great protagonist, while rural England and the snowy climbs of Norway provide some of the best adventuring in the franchise to date.
On PS5, Control is sublime. The atmosphere is almost palpable, helped by sound direction that keeps you on edge all the time.
Curse of the Dead Gods is an excellent rogue-like, and the massive variety of curses, weapons and buffs creates a different experience each time.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids presents a good 12 to 18 hours of new story and side content, with loads to get stuck into.
If you fell in love with all over again with Cloud and co. in FF7 Remake, you'll fall in love with Yuffie in Intermission.
The Last Friend is a likeable, charming little game with some funny dialogue, and a big pile of lovely fluffy doggoes to fall in love with.
Thanks to the AI Director, incredible atmosphere and great pacing, Back 4 Blood is a triumphant return for Turtle Rock.
Those expecting a revolution may be disappointed, but Age of Empires IV is still a confident, deep, and hugely compelling return.
If you already played Roki, there's nothing to bring you back in. But if you missed before, then it's absolutely worth getting lost in.
Explosive, exhilarating and endlessly entertaining, Rainbow Six Extraction is arguably Ubisoft at their best and most confident.