The Precinct is an impressive sandbox romp. Fueled by a dynamic crime system that offers up hours of fun, bite-sized objectives, it's a very difficult game to put down. Every patrol is different, and although tedium does start to set in as the campaign approaches its conclusion, it's still easy to appreciate the intricate and tight design of this ode to old cop movies.
If you have a burning nostalgia for early 2000s action titles, you might be able to squeeze some semblance of enjoyment from Captain Blood, but even then, you've got to wade through tedious, weightless combat and bafflingly overlooked audio issues.
Oblivion Remastered is a welcome reminder of just how special the 2006 RPG can be. Performance issues and tedious design elements aside, Virtuos and Bethesda deserve real credit for bringing Oblivion back in such a way that doesn't detract from the original vision, and the meme-worthy identity that it's fostered over the years. This is, arguably, the definitive Oblivion experience - or at least it will be, once the awkward wrinkles have been ironed out.
Lushfoil Photography Sim is a deeply relaxing, lovingly crafted excursion that's so easy to get lost in.
The Lunar games embody everything that's nostalgic about 90s JRPGs, from the fun characters and colourful fantasy worlds, to the glorious spritework and catchy music. That said, Lunar's underlying grind can make it difficult to stomach here in 2025 - especially when the Lunar Remastered Collection doesn't do enough to mitigate the series' most tedious aspects. It's great to experience these games again - a fully deserved revival - but it's a real shame that the collection isn't flush with more helpful features.
There's something really compelling at the core of Bleach: Rebirth of Souls, but it struggles to emerge amidst half-baked mechanics and a general lack of depth. The game wows over the first few hours with slick visuals and a varied character roster, but it just doesn't have the content to keep anyone but the most hardcore Bleach fans hooked. While it's great to see Tite Kubo's edgy blockbuster back in action, Rebirth of Souls will go down as a flashy fighter that never realised its potential.
While Assassin's Creed Shadows is unlikely to win over those who struggled to push through Odyssey or Valhalla, this is still one of the strongest overall entries in the series - and arguably the best of the open world RPG bunch. The storytelling is largely fantastic, the main characters are deeply likeable, and the open world itself is a thing of beauty.
Few games can match the satisfaction of Monster Hunter - and Monster Hunter Wilds might just be the most satisfying instalment yet. Capcom has fine tuned the act of felling colossal foes, creating one of the most rewarding games of the generation in the process. While the overall package is held back by a stalling story campaign and questionable performance, Wilds is an outstanding action RPG at its core, and a worthy successor to the almighty World.
Trails through Daybreak 2 is a surprisingly experimental instalment in Falcom's long-running RPG series. Gameplay-wise, it improves upon its predecessor with tighter combat systems, and a greater degree of interactivity during side quests. However, its epilogue-like storytelling is very hit and miss. Some fantastic character development is contrasted by padded narrative beats and a plot device that grows tediously predictable as you progress. Still, with the right expectations, this is another enjoyable romp with Van and the gang.
In many ways, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is the series at its best. The gigantic, jaw-dropping battles, the tense wartime drama, the player-driven power trip - it's a thoroughly impressive return to form for a franchise that came so close to dismantling itself seven years ago. Origins isn't just some water-testing spin-off - this is both an evolution of the formula and a fantastic realisation of what Dynasty Warriors has always strived to be.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is a welcome reminder of just how engaging Raziel's tale of vengeance can be.
Really, it's 8-Bit Adventures 2's straightforward, but tidily balanced gameplay that ties the package together. Turn-based combat is, of course, the order of the day, with each party member bringing their own unique abilities to the fray.
That eternal Dragon Quest charm is especially potent in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake - a thoughtful repackaging of a classic RPG. With its quality of life additions and delightful 3D visuals, it's easy to argue that this is the adventure's definitive form - even if some of its structural weaknesses remain in place.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard isn't quite BioWare back to its absolute best, but it is the most cohesive and emotionally engaging RPG that the studio has delivered since Mass Effect 3. Its shift to crunchy action combat is an improvement over Inquisition's middle-of-the-road approach, and although the game feels a little light on meaningful player choice, the storytelling pulls no punches when it actually matters. This is a gorgeous and gripping adventure, backed by a cast of endearing heroes and deliciously devious villains.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is an impressively robust celebration of all things Dragon Ball. It's just about as bombastic as arena fighters get, and while the game could do a much better job of teaching players the ropes, there's a technical depth to combat that makes the learning curve feel incredibly rewarding. Boasting a colossal character roster and some of the best anime-based visuals in gaming, Sparking! Zero is an absolute blast.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of the most memorable RPGs we've played in years. In pursuing a new property, complete with a fantasy setting, Atlus has allowed its creativity to blossom, resulting in a brilliantly rich experience - both in terms of narrative and audiovisual design. While Metaphor takes obvious gameplay and structural cues from the developer's previous projects, it combines and refines those elements to make an epic, kingdom-hopping adventure that feels unique and deeply fulfilling.
Episode Aigis is one for the super fans. Its worthwhile story beats are rare and buried beneath a lot of all-too-familiar dungeon crawling, and it's undeniably expensive in terms of asking price. At best, it's an intriguing but flawed epilogue; at worst, it's a completely unnecessary addition to a fantastic game.
Caravan SandWitch is just a really pleasant video game. It can be a bit rough around the edges in terms of animations and technical performance, but its story intrigues, and its atmospheric brand of exploration is largely a delight.
Gundam Breaker 4 is a return to what the series does best. It doubles down on its core gameplay loop, offering hours upon hours of fast-paced grinding, topped off with impressively deep customisation and build options. Repetitive, but undoubtedly addictive.
As a nostalgia-driven retread of the classic Mana adventure, Visions of Mana is rock solid - but it struggles to be anything more than a reminder of how magical those old RPGs could be. If you can look beyond the game's monotonous storytelling and tragically bland characters, the essence of an old-school excursion is here, in the exploration of wonderful environments and in battles against burly boss monsters.