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Boasting a profound reinvention that overhauls the game's core player power routes and lacklustre endgame options, Lord of Hatred is a masterful recalibration that replaces "more of the same" with genuine mechanical depth, making it an essential evolution for veterans and the perfect demonic olive branch for the sceptics.
Generic boomer shooter gunplay and a stretched-out runtime could be make this a cold case for some, but the incredible rubber hose aesthetic and entertaining noir setting should help see most detectives through to the end.
Easily the game with the highest meme potential of 2026, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream's combination of zany (if repetitive) writing and player input makes for a memorable time. The open-ended play is balanced with a steady flow of bite-sized activities for structure, and while the game could have used a bit more substance, it's surprisingly addictive nonetheless.
With its fusion of heartfelt narrative, giant robot combat and flexible flavour-driven cooking system, Dosa Divas serves up a hearty genre mashup that more than lives up to its ambitious premise. It's a beautifully crafted journey where the only thing more satisfying than the snappy dialogue and deep character bonds is the undeniable joy of saving the world one home-cooked meal at a time.
Bungie successfully makes a grab at the extraction shooter crown with Marathon. Rook is a revelation for solos, and Cryo Archive is the best endgame experience in the genre. It is mean, yet fair, with more than ample flair. The biggest issue is that you're currently not playing it, hence my matchmaking woes.
The Occultist has a strong premise, interesting narrative, and engrossing atmosphere, but unfortunately it fails to capitalise on this with some pretty tedious gameplay, a lack of scares, a boring protagonist and out-of-place voice acting.
People of Note is an ambitious turn-based RPG which shines in many ways but ultimately fails to hit all of its high notes. While the soundtrack and turn-based combat are individually strong, there's a persistent disconnect between the gameplay experience and the power of song that the narrative is trying to sell you, leading to a weird sense of musical emptiness that undermines the core selling point of the game.
South of Midnight's second run on new platforms finds it just the same as the first – a stop-motion spectacle with a vibrant world of dark fables and killer original tunes. It may not match its own lofty aesthetic heights when it comes to gameplay, but it's absolutely worth the journey.
Charming and occasionally engaging, Darwin's Paradox! Is an uneven and sometimes irritating stealth platformer with a few too many quirks and inconsistencies to outright recommend.
John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is a loud, proud, and stylistically sharpshooter that shines brightest when you're tearing through hordes of gunk zombies with a group of friends.
An addictive and lovingly crafted adaptation of Star Trek Voyager that will keep fans on the hook. Expect a lot of reading, menu diving, and a steep learning curve, but the payoff is an experience that puts you in the captain's seat for one of the franchise's most unique stories.
Set in a vibrant cartoon world and exploring relatable themes, Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale is a hidden gem in the adventure genre that sees you saving the Kingdom of Yogurt while finding out more about yourself in the process.
Tight controls, excellent fighting-game-inspired mechanics and an anime aesthetic that can't be overlooked are all reasons to start the engine, so it's a shame Screamer's story mode is so stuck in first gear.
Proving that looks aren't everything, Crimson Desert's stunning visuals and strong performances aren't enough to save it from being a disappointing experience. Jam-packed with content and systems that make it feel like a Jack of all features, master of none with an unenjoyable gameplay loop, Crimson Desert is really just a single-player MMORPG in all but name.
Nioh 3 makes minor updates to the formula that was so successful in Nioh 2 but transplants it into a time-travelling open-world adventure. Asset recycling is a little egregious, but it's a tough new Nioh outing that fans of the series will eat up.
With its gorgeous visuals and punchy character arcs, Twisted Reflection supercharges the Monster Hunter Stories formula into a whole different beast. This isn't just a sequel – it's a total glow-up for the series, packed with dazzling world-building and more iconic monsters than you can shake your Kinship Stone at.
While the gameplay tweaks are welcome and the new match types are fun, the aggressive monetisation makes WWE 2K26 a hard one to recommend for those who pick up the games annually
Ratcheteer DX taps into nostalgia for simpler times, but it largely fails to translate to a modern console experience. Beyond the low-res pixel graphics that come with a free helping of eye strain, the experience is weighed down by a shallow narrative, humdrum combat, and excessive backtracking.
Under The Island is a fun little jaunt that is brimming with personality. The game's excellent balance makes explorationthe consistently rewarding, while solid puzzling and a bright narrative help to round out experience.
Key Fairy's striking hand-drawn visuals and quirky score are accompanied by tight and satisfying gameplay mechanics to create a truly unique experience.