GameSpew's Reviews
One of the best arcade racing games in years, Star Wars: Galactic Racer is a stunning debut for Fuse Games. With its thrilling racing action that feels like a cross between WipEout and Burnout and its engaging runs-based campaign mode, this is a triumph. The only let-down is that it doesn't have a more standard Arcade mode to let you set up your own events.
Bigger and better than its predecessor, Minecraft Dungeons II is still very much 'Diablo for Beginners', but that's no bad thing for newcomers of the ARPG genre. A sprawling, open world makes this more engaging than ever, with only the odd glitch and difficulty spike bringing the experience down somewhat.
Ghost of Yotei Complete Edition is the definitive way to play one of the best games available on PS5, with Echoes of Sekigahara offering a new glimpse into the life of Atsu, and Most Wanted mode offering a new way to enjoy its thrilling combat. If you already own the base game, consider the Complete Edition upgrade a must-have.
Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered achieves its goal of breathing new life into a classic Dynasty Warriors experience, but with no changes to the gameplay, it soon begins to feel too basic and repetitive.
Like last year's Absolum, Mexican Ninja combines the roguelike and side-scrolling beat 'em up genres, resulting in a fun gameplay experience with added longevity and depth. There are some issues, though, with performance being iffy on PS5 at times, and the action occasionally being too hectic for its own good.
It may play it safe and is perhaps a little too similar to its predecessor, but TOEM 2 is another fantastic adventure game that has you taking photos to solve puzzles. Presented in black and white and an absolute joy to play, what TOEM 2 lacks in colour it more than makes up for in charm.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is yet another brilliant entry in the Ace Combat series, with a lengthy campaign and fun multiplayer. There are some minor annoyances, but once you're in the air dogfighting, they're easy to overlook.
A satisfying and surprisingly relaxing management sim that's as deep as you want to make it, Transport Fever 3 trades city-building for a more focused but equally fulfilling logistics-based experience.
Doggy Don't Care doesn't offer anything original, but it's a fun sandbox of cute chaos. Keep your play sessions short and you'll be ridiculously entertained as you destroy everything in sight as an adorable little doggo.
If you're not puzzle-minded, Rivage is going to be an absolute nightmare with its lack of handholding and direction. But if you've got an analytical mind and thrive when challenged, you're going to absolutely love this immersive sci-fi experience.
Kickstarted back in 2018, it may have taken eight years for Nighthawks to crawl out of its coffin, but it was worth the wait. Enthralling, entertaining and with rich, razor-sharp writing, if you have even the slightest interest in vampires or the supernatural, you'll want to sink your teeth into this gothic gem.
Silent Hill: Townfall is yet another unique and brilliant entry in the Silent Hill series, placing more emphasis on stealth and puzzle solving. It's the story at the heart of the game that's its biggest asset, though, keeping you wondering what exactly happened in the picturesque town of St. Amelia.
Control Resonant might frustrate you at times, especially in its early hours, but the more you dig into it the more enjoyable and rewarding it becomes. Weird in the most wonderful of ways, its creativity makes it one of the highlights of the year.
Sniper Dan is the hidden object game for those who typically don't like hidden object games, with you having to shoot at objects rather than simply find them. Throw in lashings of humour and multiple ways to play, and you have a game that's fun and accessible for all.
After perfecting Spider-Man, Insomniac Games turns its hand to Wolverine and achieves similar success. Marvel's Wolverine is a cinematic action game with frenzied, brutal combat that really captures the essence of the character, and its globe-trotting story will keep you hooked from beginning to end.
Like It Takes Two and Split Fiction, Switch 2 exclusive Orbitals is a co-op only experience that demands players work as a team. And while it's not quite as finely-tuned or inventive as Hazelight's titles, it's still a great deal of fun to play.
Rita is a very clever, engaging blend of word puzzle and adventure, and if you enjoy a crossword puzzle, it's well worth your time. The platforming elements are a little scrappy, but it's not enough to ruin this unique experience.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword perhaps doesn't make the best first impression and takes a little time to warm to, but once all of its system are in play, it becomes pretty enthralling. Ultimately, it's a game worth picking up – even if only for its spectacular, and challenging, boss fights.
Putting you in control of a popular character from A Plague Tale: Requiem and letting you experience an important chapter of their life, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy exchanges rats and stealth for combat and puzzles, and is captivating from beginning to end. As long as you don't mind puzzles that involve reflecting light, anyhow.
From its engaging puzzles to its thrilling combat, with The Sinking City 2, Ukrainian developer Frogwares has demonstrated that it is perfectly capable of creating a captivating survival horror adventure.