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Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a wonderful blast to the past that gives players a reminder of just how fun old-school Assassin’s Creed can be. There’s a greater focus on stealth and the world is more streamlined, but there’s still plenty of creativity on offer as you figure out the best way to take out your targets. And when you do pull off the perfect silent kill? It’s really, REALLY cool. I just really enjoyed my time with the game, and whilst I’m still a fan of the more expansive and RPG-centric approach taken in modern Assassin’s Creed titles, there’s still plenty of room for this old-school take on the gameplay as well. Here’s hoping it’s not just a one-off, but something we’ll see embraced again in futures releases in the series.
Lords of the Fallen is an impressive release that trumps the original in every way, all whilst introducing some splendid mechanics that help it stand out in the crowded Souls-like genre. The parallel worlds idea is really, REALLY cool, whilst simply exploring the land of Mournstead is always satisfying thanks to its wonderful environmental design and sense of unpredictability across both Axiom and Umbral. It gets all of the basics right too, with combat slick and varied throughout and each epic boss encounter putting your skills to the test. Whilst I’ll admit there were some areas which lacked the polish for it to fully match up to the likes of Elden Ring, Lords of the Fallen is still a very good game. The difficulty spikes can be a little bit unfair in places, especially when the game overwhelms you with a high enemy count, but it doesn’t stop Lords of the Fallen from being another Souls-like release that REALLY deserves your attention.
Long Gone Days offers a desolate representation of war, but the engaging storytelling and neat RPG mechanics ensure that players will be hooked into its perilous adventure. Rourke and his allies stand out as believable characters who find themselves in the midst of the devastation, whilst it’s easy to find yourself wanting to take The Core down – even IF the odds are firmly stacked against you. With a clever twist on combat and some unique ideas in gameplay, it makes for an enjoyable RPG experience. It might not be as meaty as some of its counterparts and there are some aspects of its design that can feel a little repetitive towards the end, but Long Gone Days still stands out as an eye-opening release in the genre that isn’t afraid to tackle dark and sombre themes.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the best games ever made… do I need to say anything else? Its storytelling is amazing, the combat is enthralling, and the world is one I love being a part of. It plays wonderfully on the PlayStation 5, both from a technical perspective and with its controls, whilst the sheer amount of content here will easily keep players hooked in for a long, long time. 2023 has already been a wonderful year for gaming, but Baldur’s Gate 3 really is the crème de la crème. Don’t be surprised to see it rule over the ‘Game of the Year’ lists this year…
Station to Station is a delightful puzzler that kept me hooked in with its addictive gameplay loop and charming vibe. It was always a lot of fun to plot out my railway networks and bring colour to the world along the way, whilst the introduction of additional mechanics as you progress ensures that there’s always a new challenge to face. It’s never a hard game, but you’ll still have to think things through carefully – especially if you want to complete the optional objectives. The game wasn’t even on my radar before I started playing it for this review, but now, it easily stands out as one of the most charming and enjoyable puzzles I’ve played this year. If you’re looking for an easy-going puzzling experience that’s as pretty as it is enjoyable, you needn’t look any further than Station to Station.
Phantom Liberty is a brilliant addition to the world of Cyberpunk 2077, with the intriguing narrative and exciting missions playing to the game’s strengths perfectly. Add to that the fact that the recently released 2.0 update has brought an impressive evolution to the core gameplay experience and it’ll be easy to see that Cyberpunk 2077 is better than ever right now. It has been a bit of a bumpy ride, but Phantom Liberty is the perfect way to cap off what has been one of the best comeback stories in the world of gaming.
Fate/Samurai Remnant is a lot of fun, with the compelling narrative and slick combat making for a very enjoyable action-RPG experience. There’s a lot to discover when exploring the world , whilst the Spirit Fonts mini-game adds an additional strategic element to what is otherwise a very action-driven experience. Sure, it could be argued that the core gameplay experience doesn’t offer too much you wouldn’t have seen before, but with Fate/Samurai Remnant offering plenty of thrills across the board, it’s hard to complain too much. It’s just a really cool game and one that’ll appeal to both long-time fans of the Fate series and complete newbies.
The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is a charming action RPG that’ll keep player hooked in with its slick combat and swift pacing. I loved playing through levels, completing all of their objectives, and continually upgrading my skillset, whilst the satisfying combat mechanics ensure it’s always fun to battle enemies – especially the boss encounters which offers some strategically fun showdowns. Add to that the charming presentation that manages to hold up well despite being an eleven-year-old PSP game, and it’ll be easy to see that The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is well worth the attention of action RPG fans.
Separate Ways adds its own unique spin to the excellent Resident Evil 4 Remake, with Ada having some cool tricks up her sleeve that make her a treat to play as. Of course, seeing the story play out from a different perspective is intriguing too, whilst the new additions ensure players will be kept on their toes as they re-visit the world of Resident Evil 4 once more. It’s another hit for the Resident Evil series and will keep players even more excited to see where the series will go next.
Paleo Pines’ dinosaur-themed take on the farming sim is enjoyable, though it does require a bit more patience than other releases in the genre. There’s a bit of a slow burn during the opening hours, whilst the focus on offering a player-led experience can leave you muddled as to where you need to go next or what you need to do to progress. When you do get the ball rolling though? It can be a lot of fun, with a real satisfying sense of discovery felt as you explore the world, uncover its secrets, and, of course, bring new dinosaurs back to your farm. There are areas in which it can improve, but Paleo Pines still offers a charming and unique take on the genre.
Mortal Kombat 1 is a glorious fighting experience that offers some of the best combat and storytelling seen across the series. The new Kameo system offers a whole new way to approach battles with your foes, whilst the way that the game leans into both the new and old with its overall theming ensures that it manages to feel both fresh and familiar at the same time. The Story Mode remains as excellent as expected, whilst the Invasion mode gives players a creative way to experience the game’s brutal action. There are some disappointing omissions, such as the lack of the Krypt, interactive environments, and new characters, but they don’t stop Mortal Kombat 1 from offering some of the most exciting (and gory) thrills that the series has ever seen.
The Crew Motorfest is packed full of thrills, with the varied event types and enthralling island of O’ahu ensuring the racing action is always a lot of fun. Whether speeding through the assortment of events on offer, grabbing a photo-op to show off your ride, or spicing things up by taking to the sea or skies, there’s ALWAYS a good time to be had in the game. The arcade-like driving feels slick too, whilst the fact you can almost always rely on a nitrous boost means you’ll never be stuck behind your rivals for too long. It does have some issues here and there, with the overwhelming HUD and confusion with ghost vehicles being the most obvious, but they don’t stop The Crew Motorfest from being a great racing experience that takes the series in a very exciting yet effectively streamlined direction.
Moonstone Island is a delight to play, with its blend of farming, monster-collecting, and deck-building proving to be a real treat for fans of the life-sim genre. It didn’t take me long before I found myself completely invested in the lives of the townsfolk I met during my time on the island, whilst collecting all the Spirits and building up my homestead felt equally engaging. There’s so much to see, do, and discover, with every moment I spent with the game feeling full of joy. It could be argued that the game doesn’t necessarily do anything to evolve upon the varying ideas that it embraces, but it didn’t really need to – especially since everything it offers is just a whole lot of fun and all complement each other. It’s just a fantastic little experience and one that I’m looking forward to spending even more time with over the coming months.
No Sun To Worship is a short experience, but it packs plenty of cool ideas into its levels to ensure that its stealth action is a lot of fun. There are plenty of little intricacies on offer such as absorbing enemy bodies for health, approaching enemies in different ways, or balancing your health when hiding your footsteps, whilst the varied levels each bring something different to the fray to change up the way you play. It’s a versatile experience, and whilst it is simple in design, there are a lot of cool things going on to keep players hooked in. There are some instances where it can feel a little slow-paced and formulaic, whilst re-playing levels when you die can be a pain (especially when you were SO close to completion the first time around). It didn’t stop me from having a really good time with the game though, so much so that I wish it was a more fleshed out experience that really let me dive into its intriguingly dark world.
Gunbrella might keep things simple, but its brilliant gunbrella, creative level design and set pieces, and enticing visuals ensure that it’s a blast to play. I found myself surprisingly invested in the hero’s plight for revenge too, with the colourful characters he meets on his journey proving to be a comical bunch – even if the game can be equally dark in places. It’s just a lot of fun to play and doesn’t try to overcomplicate the 2D platforming-shooter formula. You’re just a man with a gunbrella, and sometimes, that’s all you need to have a f*****g good time.
Starfield might have imperfections, but it more than lives up to the hype with its wonderful sci-fi world that gives players full control of their journey. The storytelling is rich with intricacies and depth, the quest design is brilliant and lets players approach each objective in their own way, there’s a vast universe to explore that’s full of surprises, and, most importantly, it gets all of the basics right to make for a very, VERY fun experience. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find space exploration a little disappointing with its automated sense of discovery, but it didn’t stop me from being fully invested in this sci-fi spectacle. And best of all? You can play it on Game Pass. Xbox players have been waiting for that killer, unmissable AAA hit for a while, but in Starfield, they finally have it.
Sea of Stars is an unmissable RPG that blends together wonderful storytelling, captivating gameplay, and dazzling audio and visuals into one masterful package. Honestly, I was utterly enthralled by the whole experience from start to end, with every aspect of the game’s design perfectly crafted to ensure it keeps the player completely hooked in. Whether you’re encountering one of the game’s charming characters for the first time, fighting through a challenging boss battle that puts your skills to the test, or simply admiring one of the many majestic sights of the world whilst some beautiful music plays in the background, it’s hard not to be blown away by the wonders of Sea of Stars.
WrestleQuest is a wonderful love letter to the world of wrestling, but some repetitive combat and awkward mechanics hold it back from stardom. It’s a shame because there are some really cool ideas on show that give a greater emphasis to the wrestling aspects of the RPG adventure, but the execution doesn’t always hit the mark – especially when you’ve got to complete awkward objectives in what can already be challenging combat scenarios. It's certainly not a bad game and it’ll definitely keep a big jolly smile on the faces of wrestling fans, but I can’t help but to feel like WrestleQuest is more of a mid-card showdown as opposed to a main event spectacle.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a thrilling experience that blends together destructive mech combat and with deep customisation options in a rewarding manner. Combat feels great and offers plenty of strategic options thanks to the depth offered when putting together your mech build, whilst the missions are perfectly designed to cater for some epic set pieces and battles with your enemies. And sure, there can be a bit of a learning curve (especially when dealing with the tougher boss encounters), but nothing in the game ever feels overwhelming. Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is simply a triumphant return for the series – here’s hoping we won’t have to wait another ten years for the next entry…
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy offers a wonderful world to explore and some clever puzzles, but it might feel a bit too familiar for those who’ve experienced the previous games in the series. Don’t get me wrong, it does introduce some new ideas here and there, but it still follows the same formula players would’ve seen four times already. Still, a bit of familiarity certainly doesn’t make Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy a bad game, and it didn’t stop me from having a ton of fun playing either. It might be more of what you’ve done before, but this latest escapade with the trio of heroes still offers plenty of brain-teasing amusement across its beautiful world.