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Cronos: The New Dawn is easily Bloober Team's best original work, delivering a challenging sci-fi survival horror experience with brutal combat in an immersive and tense setting. It's just a shame that it doesn't quite nail the resource management that would elevate it to greatness.
Borderlands 4 realises the full potential the series has always had, delivering that unmistakable Borderlands experience but with a ton of modern sensibilities to establish itself not simply as a fun co-op shooter, but as the definitive example of what a fun co-op shooter should be.
Rosewater combines the Wild West and traditional point-and-click mechanics with relative success, taking players on a road trip that is more about relationship building than the trip's purpose. Which is both its biggest selling point and frustration. Rosewater is full of well-written and performed characters, but it's hard to care about all of them when they're not your headline.
Fully invested, second screen, or idle in the background, no matter how you interact with Cast n Chill it calmly meets you on your own terms and provides a serene, relaxing experience.
Ritual of Raven is a cosy, witchy farming simulator that attempts to offer a fresh take on the genre. While the game has technical glitches and a couple of subpar design choices, it does enough right that it is hard not to enjoy one's time with the game.
Undoubtedly the best Gears of War has ever looked, the continuous finessing of the title has only set to highlight some of its eccentricities in an unflattering light. Charming jank of yesteryear is instead jarring to behold by modern standards, even if the gameplay experience still nails the brief in the lofty year of 2025.
While it mostly nails its signature vibes, Killing Floor 3 is mired by a confusing live service experience and crap performance
From start to finish, the resurrection of the Shinobi franchise is one well deserved – with gorgeous visuals and a stellar ninja power fantasy that confidently (and silently) stands on its own two feet.
With Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Konami has crafted a visually arresting re-release so fawning and reverent that it reads entirely incurious. Fans of the source material will no doubt relish the opportunity to play a more modern-feeling take on a generational piece of art, but such a seemingly important work should inspire more.
Herdling's brisk walk through a wild world manages to charm from beginning to end, with just enough drama and beauty to make waving a makeshift cane at a horde of hairy beasts into an unforgettable journey.
Short and sweet, Is This Seat Taken? manages to make a joyful puzzle game out of classically uncomfortable social situations. It could have done with a bit more variety, even in its short runtime, but this is one that will speak to a lot of folks.
A clumsy and mechanically inert effort to capture the majesty and thrills of mob cinema, Mafia: The Old Country finds no promised land in either its routine tale of crime or its linear, hyper-focused gameplay. Impressive facial capture and a unique setting can't sustain this poor, if well-intentioned, emulation of far greater works.
Wheel World is an enjoyable enough game that gets right to the point of riding a bike and saving the world. The cycling challenges and narrative require nothing but a desire to work away at customising your bike to best go up and down hills, slide around corners, and jump ramps. While its creativity and riding mechanics are minimal, its vibe-based world is perfect for a casual player who likes the premise of a bike-based society.
Drag x Drive offers engaging, fast-paced sports action with a reasonable assortment of single-player challenges in addition to online matches. The control scheme, while imperfect, is better than expected, although the ergonomics leave something to be desired. While the game might have benefited from a bit more content, there's plenty of fun to be had.
MakeRoom is a simple interior designer sandbox that allows you to explore three distinct modes. Despite having no story, the endless creative freedom will have you hooked for hours, all while providing a cozy, stress-free experience.
This dark fantasy reimagining of the late Ming Dynasty doesn't succeed at every trick it copies in the crowded hardcore action RPG genre, but it's got enough tricks of its own to set it apart and represents another Chinese studio looking to go large with Western audiences.
Misc. A Tiny Tale is not a game I enjoyed. The narrative tone is awkwardly patronising to play through as an adult, and while the level design has its occasional moments, the relatively bland gameplay does not make up for this. While the game mostly handles sensitive topics around mental health in a way that is appropriate for young children, some of the supplementary material is at odds with this otherwise child-friendly tone, and it's hard to recommend to any age group.
I didn't think it was possible, but Ready or Not's unique thrills and overwhelming controls have adapted well to the PlayStation 5.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 is still a Tony Hawk game at heart, and as expected, plays brilliantly. As a package, the plethora of content on offer is easily the best way to revisit the masterful skating experience that was THPS 3, even if it entirely overshadows the meek representation of THPS 4 within the title.
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a story-rich, isometric stealth game that features heavily realistic close-up cutscenes, simple controls, layered depth and detail that creates an immersive experience. As you traverse through various locations, plan your strategies, sneak, and knock out many enemies, you'll uncover just how far siblings will go for each other.