Straftat's hyperkinetic 1v1 gunfights are fun enough on their own, but its massive map roster and array of inventive weapons instantly make it a multiplayer must-play.
Planet Coaster 2 may not be the deepest management sim you can buy, but its powerful creation tools and newly added water attractions make a sufficiently satisfying splash.
Blowing out Factorio's scale and reinventing its factory systems multiple times over, Space Age is an immediate contender for the best expansion ever made.
Starship Troopers: Extermination's cooperative battles are mechanically innovative and can be enormous fun, but a general lack of polish and a slapdash single-player hold it back from greatness.
Ingenious, unstable, and uncompromising in pursuit of its goals, Shadows of Doubt truly is the ultimate hard-boiled detective sim.
Space Marine 2's campaign is a spectacular and mostly thrilling follow-up to the original, but the game's grisly combat shines best in its cooperative Operations mode.
Stormgate's weak campaign and messy pricing system make for an awkward introduction to this StarCraft-inspired RTS, but multiplayer strategy fans might find something to enjoy in mastering its tactically diverse factions.
Concord's snappy combat and colourful character abilities make it a perfectly playable shooter. But muddled hero designs and unimaginative maps and modes leave it struggling to stand out.
Guide a mismatched team including a Navy Seer and a necro-medic through this smart, funny, and resolutely empathetic espionage thriller
Skald is a propulsive throwback RPG that exudes grisly character, though its commitment to tradition holds it back in a genre rife with competition.
Possess ladybirds and rollercoasters in Moonloop Games' quirky, inventive take on the afterlife
A more uncompromising version of the first game, Hellblade 2 offers a well told story and immaculate presentation. But it's also even simpler, to the point where it treats interaction like an inconvenience.
Homeworld's operatic space combat is as engrossing as ever in its third outing, although a weaker story and a slightly odd cover system dim the shine of its star.
There's half of an amazing game in Broken Roads. Trouble is you have to play the other half.
The stars are lost in a swamp of poor writing and buggy combat in this wearisome reimagining of the 1992 survival classic
More offroading excellence from the series formerly known as Spintires, although its scientific theme is not as interesting as it could be.
Dark Forces emerges from Nightdive's bacta tank refreshed and ready for action, combining classic FPS mayhem with thrilling espionage-themed missions.
KillPixel's shooter demonstrates breathtaking ambition in its 3D level design, but that can come at the cost of pacing and fun.
"The way bugs burst and robots rupture is a masterclass in damage feedback"
Embark Studios' multiplayer shooter dazzles in the moment, but its AI voices are symptomatic of a broader issue with artistic vision.