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WWE 2K24 is a brilliant experience that offers an authentic take on the wonderful, wild, and wacky world of the WWE. The wrestling itself feels better than ever, there’s a fantastic roster spanning current superstars and legends that’s only going to get bigger, whilst the new match types and refinements go a long way in making this the most fleshed out entry in the series so far. Whether you want to play as a GM, re-live some of the most iconic moments from across forty years of WrestleMania, take your created superstars on a path to stardom in their own story, or build a deck of WWE superstars and earn bonuses along the way, WWE 2K24 has you covered. And hey, you might not be able to play as Edge anymore, but you’ve got Mankind, Dude Love AND Cactus Jack all together here… what more could you want?
Balatro has taken a simple concept and turned it into one of the most tantalising and addictive deck builders that I’ve ever played. Playing the perfect combination of Jokers to pull off a victorious hand is always rewarding, whilst seeing your deck build up with each successful blind gives a satisfying sense of progression that makes the puzzle-like gameplay all the more captivating. And when you do fail? It’s hard not to just dive into another playthrough, with Balatro taking that ‘one more game’ concept and turning it into the cancellation of your plans for the rest of the day just so you can keep playing. It’s that damn good. It can have some sharp difficulty spikes and losing can be frustrating when you feel you’ve built up a special deck, but that’s par for the course as far as the roguelike genre is concerned. It certainly won’t stop you having a blast with the game, and believe me, once Balatro pulls you in, you’ll find it hard to stop playing.
Berserk Boy is an old-school platforming treat that’s a lot of fun to play through thanks to its stylish quick-paced action. It’s super satisfying to flick between your abilities and utilise them to smash through enemies or conquer the game’s platforming challenges, whilst the slick level design ensures the experience is varied as you battle through each level. There’s even a Metroidvania-style aspect to the gameplay when re-visiting previous levels to get all of the collectibles, so there’s plenty of replay value on offer if you want to get everything. It does have some underwhelming boss battles, some levels go on longer than they need to, and the upgrades are overpriced, but they’re small issues in what is otherwise a very impressive 2D platforming release. It’s a bit of a crowded genre these days, but believe me, Berserk Boy is certainly worth your attention.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake offers a fantastic way to experience the bedazzling 2013 puzzler all over again. The unique twin-stick approach to controlling characters feels as intuitive now as it did back then, the creative puzzles are still a treat to solve, whilst the world looks better than ever thanks to the facelift the remake has been given. And the storytelling? It’s still top notch and tells an emotional tale that’ll stick with you long after playing. It is a bit on the short side and the main characters’ faces look a little weird, but they’re minor issues in what is otherwise a wonderful and memorable experience.
Skull and Bones is an enjoyable sea-faring romp that has thrilling naval combat, but the grind-heavy gameplay loop can get a little tiring over time. It’d be something if there was a bit more to do on land to give the gameplay loop more variety, but with most of your progression based upon your antics at sea and grinding for resources, it doesn’t take long before you find yourself doing a lot of the same things over and over again. Did it make Skull and Bones a bad experience? Definitely not, with the naval battles offering plenty of thrills and exploration across the seas proving to be a real treat. Progression is rewarding too, whilst playing with friends makes a lot of the flaws a lot more forgivable. It just needs that little something extra to make the grind a bit less repetitive right now – hopefully it’s something Ubisoft can work on with the upcoming Year One content, because the foundations are in place for Skull and Bones to stand out as a mighty impressive pirate experience.
Penny’s Big Breakaway is a wonderful 3D platformer that captures the vibe of the classics of the genre perfectly with its creative level design and vibrant visuals. It manages to feel really unique thanks to its clever yo-yo mechanics too, which certainly help set it apart from similar modern releases – even IF it can make for some clumsy situations, especially with the lack of camera control. It’s just a really fun game that has a lot going for it, with the wealth of collectibles, bonus levels, and additional challenges ensuring it’ll keep players hooked in for some time. Some of the team at developer Evening Star are best known for their work on Sonic Mania, but their first original platforming release proves that they don’t need to rely on a recognisable mascot to show off their platforming prowess.
Ultros is a slick Metroidvania-style experience that doesn’t only introduce plenty of unique ideas but also looks absolutely breath-taking with its surreal visual style. It does a good job of getting all of the basics of the genre right, whilst the looping, eating, and gardening mechanics each add their own unique twist to the formula. Sure, these mechanics don’t always hit the mark (especially with the focus on eating GOOD body parts getting repetitive over time), but they never stop the game from being a lot of fun to play. With so many Metroidvania-style releases available, it’s nice to play one that does something that feels genuinely different to the norm – and believe me, Ultros is a game that isn’t afraid to be different.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is a nostalgic treat, with the remastered adventures of Lara Croft standing the test of time over the last twenty-plus years. Of course, it helps that Aspyr have done an absolutely fantastic job of bringing the classic adventures into a modern light, with the revamped visuals, cool gameplay additions, and inclusion of all expansions ensuring this is the definitive way to experience three of the most iconic video games of the 90s. There’s no doubting that the old-school gameplay won’t be for everyone and the modern control scheme does feel like a misstep, but Tomb Raider I-III Remastered still stands out as one of the most impressive remastered releases that I’ve ever played.
Persona 3 Reload completely reinvigorates the original release, with excellent improvements made across the board to help the game hold up to modern standards. The combat is more enjoyable and strategic than before, the daytime activities are more substantial and easier to track, whilst the visual upgrade is top notch, with the game arguably looking better than Persona 5. And sure, there were some things that couldn’t be fixed (such as the somewhat dated dungeon design of Tartarus), but most aspects of the game have seen significant improvements that make it even better to play. There are some unusual omissions made that prevent Persona 3 Reload from being the definitive edition of the game, but it still stands out as an exceptional RPG that fans of the series are sure to love.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden blends together captivating storytelling and compelling gameplay mechanics into one heck of an enjoyable experience, with the pacing of the adventure balancing out its combat, explorative, and investigative elements perfectly. Best of all? It feels unique, with your role as a Banisher making for plenty of morale dilemmas that’ll keep players hooked in until the very end. It could be a bit guilty of being on the easy side whilst the frame rate hitches were a little bit annoying, but neither issue stopped me from having a really good time with the game. Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden might not have been on everyone’s radar, but it stands out as one of the early surprise hits on 2024.
Foamstars is a unique and fun shooter that has some really cool ideas, but it’ll need to see regular content updates if it hopes to survive in the busy world of multiplayer shooters. Having it release on PlayStation Plus Essential instantly gives it a pretty strong player base, but whether or not it’ll sustain that will come down to how often we see new game modes, characters, and arenas. And sure, what’s on offer can be a ton of fun (especially when playing with a good team), but it needs a more extensive offering of content if the game hopes to stick around for the long-term.
Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior blends together time-bending puzzling and hack-and-slash combat in a creative and satisfying fashion, with players having to carefully plot out their actions if they hope to survive. It’s all well and good to slash away at enemies to defeat them, but with your past actions determining your immediate success, you’ll have to be methodical in your approach if you want to succeed. It might sound overwhelming (and yes, it can be difficult) but it actually makes for a really rewarding experience that’ll keep players hooked in until the very end. It can be a little repetitive in places and the difficulty can be frustrating at times, but it never stops Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior from being a unique and creative experience that adds its own fun twist to time manipulation.
Helldivers 2 is absolutely brilliant, with the strategic yet action-packed gameplay complemented by the unpredictable madness that can unfold at any minute. Between the powerful weaponry and Stratagems at your disposal, the co-op focus that sees you working with three other players, and the sheer ferocity and overwhelming nature of your opponents, the game is packed with thrilling moments that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat as you barely scrape through each encounter. I’m completely hooked in, and with the developer promising free additions to the game in the future, I think I will be for a long, long time. There is one big caveat at the moment though: public multiplayer is broken. Whilst you can play with friends in private games, I haven’t had any success joining a public game. I’ve been lucky enough to have friends to play with so it hasn’t affected me so far, but it is definitely worth bearing in mind if you don’t have others to play with. It is due to be fixed soon though, and when it is? You can bump my score up a notch.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the best entry in the series, with it fine-tuning the formula of the previous games to perfection. Combat is more dynamic and strategic than before, the narrative will hook you in with its effective pacing and emotional beats, the world is beautiful and packed with surprises, whilst the side-tasks and sub-quests are more engaging than ever thanks to their fun (and often wacky) tasks. It’s simply phenomenal and should DEFINITELY be kept in mind when Game of the Year conversations start later this year.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League can be repetitive, but the excellent storytelling, fun gunplay, and gorgeous visuals save it from mediocrity. I’ve had a really good time with the game, especially when playing with friends, whilst seeing the unique and dark spin on what remains of the Arkham-verse is really refreshing. It doesn’t always embrace its protagonists’ strengths, missions can get repetitive, and I don’t know if the live service aspects will keep me coming back in the long-term, but Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League still deserves credit for delivering an entertaining experience that feels befitting of the titular band of anti-heroes. It’s not perfect, but you’ll still have a good time saving the world as you kill the Justice League – especially if some friends join you for the ride.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a wonderful RPG that offers a tantalising narrative, wonderful visuals, and epic action-orientated battling. I found myself completely hooked in from the moment I started playing, whilst the streamlined approach ensures that the adventure feels perfectly paced and never forces players to grind. And don’t worry – even those who haven’t heard of Granblue before will be able to appreciate it’s storytelling. I know that the PlayStation 5 has a few high-profile RPGs releasing in early 2024, but honestly, if you’re a fan of the genre, you REALLY won’t want to skip Granblue Fantasy: Relink.
Lil’ Guardsman adds a fantasy-fuelled, Saturday morning cartoon twist to the Paper’s, Please formula, and believe me, it’s a whole lotta fun. I loved using every trick at my disposal to learn the intentions of the bizarre folk trying to make their way into the city, whilst there was nothing better than getting the perfect score in each interrogation. Add to that the funny little side tasks, the wonderful visuals that make up the charming world, and the excellent voice acting that brings each interrogation to life, and you’ll quickly find that this quirky puzzler definitely deserves your attention.
The Cub is a very exciting platforming romp that never slows down thanks to its rich variety of gameplay and manic set pieces. It looks gorgeous too, whilst the radio station that plays throughout your journey adds a dash of realism to the catastrophic plight that Earth faced prior to your adventure. It isn’t perfect, with a few little issues with the controls early on and the occasional frustration here and there, but I found myself completely hooked in from start to end. You’ll probably beat it in one sitting, but those few hours playing will be a hell of a lot of fun.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is absolutely brilliant, with the excellent combat and traversal of the game complemented by a wonderful world to explore. Whilst it doesn’t necessarily try to re-invent the Metroidvania genre, the way that it delivers every aspect of its design is simply sublime, whether that’s when leaping across the expertly crafted platforming segments or taking on enemies in intense action sequences. The allure of the world design encouraged me to explore every corner of it, whilst the boss battles offer some jaw-dropping sequences that bring each element of the experience together in spectacular fashion. It’s just an amazing game and a wonderful new direction for the Prince of Persia series to take. It’s left me genuinely excited to see what’s next for the series – here’s hoping it won’t be another fourteen years before we get to see it…
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank isn’t too original from a gameplay perspective, but the manic action and quirky setup ensures players will have a good time pulling off their veggie-themed heists. There’s a fast and rewarding sense of progress to the game that keeps you pushing forward through the bank and unlocking new goodies to play around with, whilst the core gameplay loop offers plenty of fun as you hack and blast away at any enemies in your path to pull in some cash. And sure, it could be a bit easy in places (with exception to a few later sections), but the exciting loop of each run ensures it doesn’t hold the game back. It keeps things simple and doesn’t have too many fresh ideas, but there’s a lot of fun to be had committing unlawful acts with everybody’s favourite turnip in Turnip Boy Robs a Bank.