For longtime fans, if you loved Tales of Symphonia and want to play it on a modern console - great. It’s still the classic JRPG you always loved. However, if you were looking for anything beyond a barebones remaster, you’ll be disappointed.
When paired with the “so bad, it’s good” story and dialogue, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a good time for the partly the wrong reasons. Critically, it’s not great. You’ve still got a car crash of a game on your hands. But, it’s a car crash you can’t look away from. In the meantime, the combat and job system is a rollercoaster ride which takes you right past it, being a wild ride in its own right.
Accessible, fun, and full of ambition, Rise of the Ronin will have you hooked on its combat no matter what type of player you are - with an exciting story of engaging characters being bloodied icing on the cake. Sure, some of its RPG systems won’t be for everyone, but Team Ninja’s first open-world effort is almost everything you could want from an action-packed samurai game set in Japan.
Although continued technical issues and the grinding of its quests can be irritating, the finale to the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero expansion makes its imperfections far easier to ignore by doing more to excite all manner of players. Whether you love catching Pokemon or simply want more challenging battles, The Indigo Disk marks a clear step up from The Teal Mask and ties a nice bow around the whole package. Despite not exactly being the treasure its name implies, it still has enough sparkle to keep Pokemon fans happy.
A fun tactical RPG for newcomers and veterans to the genre, Persona 5 Tactica is a must-play for any Persona 5 fan thanks to its wonderful cast of new and returning characters, alongside an approachable yet deep combat system. Whilst the story and gameplay aren’t as gripping as its source material, Tactica is still the best Persona 5 spin-off by far. If you’re starting to feel the itch waiting for Persona 6, this latest stint with the Phantom Thieves will help make the holdup a little bit easier and will have you come away smiling.
Whether you’re a diehard Potterhead or casual Wizarding World lover, you’ll have an epic time no matter what level of fan you are. Even though there is optional padding, it’s optional nonetheless. The core experience of Hogwarts Legacy is still not only the best game in the entire franchise but a seriously fun RPG that will take your breath away in its pinnacle moments. All in all, 80 points to Hufflepuff.
In a time where there’s more open-world crime games out than ever since the series’ last game, the Saints Row reboot still manages to carve out an identity for itself even in such a crowded landscape.
Before Your Eyes allows you to experience a heartfelt journey by reliving a person's memories through the power of real-world blinking. Guided by the Ferryman, a being who escorts souls into the afterlife, you're made to recall life's most happy, beautiful and heartbreaking moments.
Lies of P is a brilliantly enchanting Soulslike for both those new and experienced with the genre - bringing together the gameplay of counterparts and its source material for a unique experience altogether. Albeit with some obtrusive difficulty spikes along the way, an extraordinary combination of its world, combat, and narrative will still make you want to see more when you've overcome its obstacles. For a game based on a story that's been told what feels like an endless number of times, Lies of P feels one of a kind.
An even more gripping and heartfelt story than the last, incredibly broadened combat, immersive exploration, and a much deeper assortment of customisation and RPG elements make this Jedi experience your own whilst simultaneously remaining the intimate tale of Cal Kestis and his crew. All in all, with small gripes aside, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is everything you could want from a Star Wars game. The only thing truly holding it back from perfection are some bugs, but this truly feels like the best Star Wars game in decades.
With new high-resolution graphics, 60FPS, and the more than welcome quality of life features, it all combines to modernise a classic for a new generation - with only a few nitpicks in translation. In short, it raises the bar for remasters altogether - now looking almost as breathtaking as the story and its writing, both of which have aged like a fine wine.
The Quarry reinvigorates storytelling in horror by giving you more agency as the player, branching off into so many outcomes thus making you want to play again immediately after the credits roll. Backed by clever humour-laced writing, stellar cast performances, interactive depth, this is the new horror game that everyone should be talking about.
Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the most enjoyable games you’ll play all year.
Persona 3 Reload is one of the best remakes I’ve ever seen - a faithful but stunning reimagining of a classic JRPG that will please Persona veterans and newcomers alike. With the only small negatives coming from Atlus’ dedication to recapturing the experience of the original, fans will without a doubt debate this being the best in the series after being reminded why Persona 3 is so spectacular.
God of War Ragnarok raises the bar for blockbuster storytelling in gaming - a reminder of what single-player games can be in today's standards.