Joe Harby
Tekken 8 is the pinnacle of the series. There has never been a better Tekken and few fighting games could be considered this good. It is an absolute treat for fans, both old and new, and I can’t see myself putting it down for years to come. I have scarcely enjoyed any game on PS5 this much.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is a solid effort from FromSoftware. The problem is, we’ve come to expect a lot more than “solid” from this company. It does most things right and performs like a dream, but there’s an unmistakable sense that FromSoftware considered it less important than, say, Elden Ring and Bloodborne.
If the original Modern Warfare 3 represented the culmination of a genre-defining FPS trilogy, then Modern Warfare III encapsulates everything wrong with contemporary Call of Duty.
This compilation isn’t quite what it could have been, but it is a worthy tribute to an iconic series beloved by millions. While it won’t blow you away, rest assured that it delivers the exact Metal Gear experience you remember.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a decent way to spend a few hours if you want a few simple scares. Although, I imagine that is all it will provide for most players.
Layers of Fear is an acceptable package of horror stories, but that's about it. Its few scares do just about enough to earn a title that includes the word "fear", however it isn't in the same ballpark as other genre titans.
After such a bumpy road, it’s wonderful that Dead Island 2 has arrived in such a commendable state. This is a game you can pick up and play and get exactly what you came for. Good ol’ fashioned zombie chaos with personality and an ambition to get it all right. And what more can you want after all these years?
Hogwarts Legacy is a testament to the dedication of its creators and is worthy of its source material. But it could’ve been so much more. Instead, it settled for everything we expected and is destined to be remembered for the poisonous debate that preceded it.
It says so much that Dead Space 2023 changes very little yet remains just as impressive as it was in 2008... It was a sheer pleasure to revisit one of my all-time favourites. Dead Space is a fitting tribute to a disrespected but ceaselessly beloved series.
The end result is a God of War Ragnarök that stands among some of the best PlayStation games, but falls ever-so slightly short of the greatest. This is far from a disappointment. But it doesn’t quite reach the lofty heights of what came before.
If it’s a blazing hot few hours of combat you’re after, you’ll find it in Modern Warfare 2. This is an enjoyable campaign buoyed by deep pockets and good looks. But it plays it too safe. Perhaps the inevitable third Modern Warfare 2 will bring change more akin to the first. Because the second missed its golden opportunity.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands delivers a worthy Borderlands experience. Its action is as fun as ever, and its setting provides the series with fresh direction.
Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure is an action-packed few hours that’s showing its age. But if you’re a Borderlands fan and didn’t check it out nine years ago, you probably won’t be disappointed.
Call of Duty: Vanguard does everything except Zombies very well. The problem is, we’ve seen it all before. Over and over and over again. While WWII can still be enjoyable in CoD, it very much feels like Activision relies on the same bag of tricks.
I’d say wait until Deathloop is on sale. I’m sure plenty of people out there will enjoy its chaotic gameplay and wacky humour. But this isn’t the perfect game some are saying it is. And it certainly didn’t blow me away.
The Last of Us Part II's core mechanics are refined to such a degree that I’d be remiss to say it isn’t sublime. This, in addition to its incredible graphical achievements and brutally impactful story, make it a once-in-a-generation epic. Games like this don’t come along often, and we’ll be talking about it for years to come.
While there’s a notable lack of plot and some frustrating performance blips, I’m glad I gave it a chance. If I hadn’t, I’d have missed out on what’s undoubtedly one of the more memorable co-op experiences of the year.
In trying to capture the best of both worlds, Resident Evil Village is a game of two halves. And they are equally hindered by their jarring differences and incompatible foundations.
Wreckfest is a distinctly average racing game, with some notable fun to be had in its demolition-focused game modes. You might get a few laughs out of the novelty vehicles, too.