More than a quarter of a century since the cuddly critters were first sent in to battle, the magic of those early adventures has finally been recaptured
For those feeling worn down by the daily grind, this calming skater, with popping pastel colours and a soothing soundtrack, is a charming alternative
This unquestionably beautiful game about saving a planet from an encroaching black hole boldly goes where few have remained awake
Ugly, unpolished and ultraviolent – Suda51's kitsch curio fires on all cheaply made cylinders
The Ascent is an atmospheric power fantasy, a cinematic cyberpunk escape where you can disengage your brain and indulge in copious virtual violence. If you’re a Game Pass subscriber, it’s worth a try – at £25, it’s harder to recommend.
While it may not push the franchise in a bold new direction, Let’s Go feels like the perfect stopgap before next year’s brand new Pokémon Switch outing. And with a whole new generation of kids now discovering Pokémon for the first time too, we can’t think of a better way to introduce them to the wonders of Kanto.
Thanks to both its shocking cruelty and its awe-inspiring potential, this stunningly well-realised recreation of the Wild West is the first game world that truly mirrors our own. Rockstar’s latest playground is a place that’s equal parts brutal and beautiful, and somehow, like in our own reality, the weight of your decisions in this game world have just as much potential to delight you as they do to terrify.
Marvel’s Spider-Man is an undeniably flawed game. Its voice acting elicits more cringes than smiles, it regularly sends you on bland filler missions, and in a post-RockSteady world, its approach to stealth feels positively PS2-esque. Yet, despite all of this –it’s a game we can’t bring ourselves to put down.
Despite some early concerns, Overcooked 2 is an undeniably brilliant co-op experience.
If you can endure the game’s more tedious aspects and embrace the bad with the good, Detroit’s branching endings will undoubtedly compel you to dive into countless chapter replays and spark heated conversations for years to come.
In short, God of War (2018) is a triumph, let down only by some unnecessary midgame bloat and a disappointingly lazy slew of boss fight repetition. Despite its fleeting flaws though, Kratos’ return is a highly enjoyable and surprisingly moving tale — and one that you won’t want to miss.
Ropey dialogue may keep this from being a must-play experience, but if you’re looking to embark on a compelling and surprising co-op adventure with a friend, A Way Out is more than worth the price of entry.
Ultimately, these are two of the most enjoyable and finely crafted action games ever released. While the lack of meaningful new content or resolution bump is a bit disappointing, if you’ve yet to experience these bats–t crazy but beautiful brawlers, this is the perfect time to discover what makes the Bayonetta series so bewitching.
It may lack the mechanical variety and elegant sophistication of say, What Remains Of Edith Finch, but despite that, Before The Storm still manages to be one of the finest gaming experiences in undoubtedly one of the medium’s best years.
Destiny 2 may well be worth playing again in the future, but as it stands, you’re better off waiting for the inevitable Taken King–style year two refresh.
As an overall package, there’s a surprising amount to love about Battlefront II. Starfighter Assault aside, its individual modes are arguably not strong enough to carry their own games, but the variety on offer here does feel fairly generous. Yet, despite being chock-full of some brilliant Star Wars moments, it’s EA’s instance on putting profit over the player that leaves such a sour taste in our mouths.
Blasting your way through hell on the go is still an experience we can’t quite get over. With FPS games largely being a bit rubbish on portable systems, playing DOOM in all its glory on the train or during a flight has been a bit of a revelation.
If you’re tired of empty-feeling open worlds and soulless grinds, do yourself a favor and pick up one of the most inventive and enjoyable video games in recent memory.
The Fractured But Whole is still undoubtedly one of the funniest video games ever made. Packed full of more hilarious moments than most gaming franchises manage in a decade and boasting a surprisingly deep combat system, this is undeniably a great little game.
If your main gripes with the last game were its lack of mission variety and poor story, Destiny 2 might just be the sequel that turns you into one of the engram-obsessed horde.