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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.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a masterpiece, with the re-imagined storytelling, world design, and combat even bettering that found in its predecessor. It’s absolutely massive too, with the world packed full of exciting showdowns with enemies, intriguing side quests to complete, fun mini games to indulge in, and secrets to uncover. Add to that the riveting narrative that delves into the world and its characters deeper than before, the stunning visuals that bring so many familiar locales to life, and a soundtrack that easily stands out as one of Square Enix’s best, and you’ll quickly find that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is simply one of the greatest RPGs that has ever been released.
DOOM Eternal offers more of the same brilliant and brutal action that made the series so beloved to begin with, but also evolves upon the traditional formula by bringing bigger and more open-levels to the fray that encourage a lot more acrobatic manoeuvres from the player. It comes together perfectly to make for a fantastic first-person shooter that not only lives up to the DOOM name, but boasts a more fleshed-out and expansive experience than any other release in the series before it. It’s f*cking awesome. DOOM Eternal is simply one the finest shooters that has released in this generation of gaming, and if it wasn’t for some sketchy platforming sections here and there it’d be pretty close to first-person shooting perfection.
After loving ‘Injustice: Gods Among Us’ so much, I’d been eagerly anticipating Injustice 2. There was just this little part of me that was worried that it wouldn’t live up to the hype. You know what though? It exceeded all of my expectations, in turn providing one of the best fighting experiences I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing in my lifetime of gaming. I’m often guilty of riding high on a video game after I’ve enjoyed it, but everything about Injustice 2 is simply fine-tuned to perfection. The slick and accessible fighting mechanics, the fantastic roster made up of DC super heroes and villains, the addictive customisation options, the multiple game modes that offer something new every day, and the jaw dropping visuals – they all come together to create one of the finest fighting games that has ever been released.
Following the success of the first game and the sheer hype that’s built ever since the initial reveal, my expectations were exceedingly high going into Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom. Thankfully, it’s managed to absolutely smash them, with the game’s perfect amalgamation of clever gameplay mechanics and it’s charming story coming together to make for what is one of the most entertaining RPGs I’ve ever played. You could be building your own little Kingdom, taking part in strategic showdowns between armies, battling an onslaught of colourful monsters in the wild, or simply taking in the beautiful sights of the finely crafted world – whatever you’re doing, you’ll be having a blast and will simply be left in awe of how perfectly everything manages to come together. Bravo to Level-5 and Bandai Namco. With Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, they’ve embraced everything about the RPG genre that’s made it so loved by gamers worldwide and managed to take it to the absolute pinnacle. Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is simply an unmissable game.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales is an outstanding example of what the PlayStation 5 is capable of, with the thrilling adventure brought to life by some stunning visuals and an emotionally-driven tale. I loved the new combat mechanics brought on by the Venom powers and the cloaking, whilst the streamlined mission design made everything feel a little bit more meaningful. Add to that the instantaneous loading times and the Activity Card integration and you’ll quickly find that Spider-Man: Miles Morales is easily one of the best launch titles available on the PlayStation 5. It’s worth noting that it’s a lot smaller in scale that its predecessor, but Spider-Man: Miles Morales still improves upon its greatness. Whether you’re a fan of the web-slinger or not, you won’t want to miss out on this one.
Dragon Quest Builders 2 is simply fantastic. It improves upon the original game in so many ways, with the charming narrative, the intricate building mechanics, and the sense of adventure that comes with exploring each island coming together perfectly to make for a truly remarkable experience. I really enjoyed the first game and in many ways its gameplay mechanics don’t change up all that much in Dragon Quest Builders 2, but the things it does do differently and the new quality of life improvements it introduces really help make it stand out as another brilliant addition to Square Enix’s much-loved RPG series.
There’s a reason that Final Fantasy VIII was remastered, and that’s because it was a masterpiece in its own time that many people loved. You can add me to that list of people too, as I firmly believe that this is one of Square Enix’s finer outings in a long history of RPG excellence. With its updated and beautifully rendered new character models and environments, its enhanced FMVs, and added game features, you can be sure that whether this a return to a classic or a new beginning in the world of Final Fantasy VIII, it’ll be a defining experience that will stick with you for years to come.
Spiritfarer offers a memorable emotionally-driven journey that’s complimented by some brilliantly varied gameplay mechanics and a stunning world to explore. It really is a fascinating title that’ll keep players completely hooked in throughout thanks to its engaging gameplay mechanics, whilst helping folk in need reach the end of their mortality was as bittersweet as it was beautiful. It’s just a really special and unique title and one that resonated with me throughout the entirety of the experience. I can’t WAIT to go through it all again… I’ll just remember to keep a stock of tissues on hand the next time around.
Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is a must-buy if you don’t already own the game, with the next-gen enhancements and plethora of content making for a brilliant package. There’s so much to see and do across the base game and its ‘Aftermath’ expansion, whilst having all of the DLC characters (including the newly released Mileena, Rain, and Rambo) is a real treat. It also helps that the game is brilliant anyway, so it’s great to be able to play it in its ‘ultimate’ form. Already own the game? Upgrade for free to the next-gen version and enjoy sharper visuals and much faster loading times. It’s a win-win really, so even existing players can benefit from the improvements brought by this fantastic fighting package.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is a must-own package for Switch owners, with each of the games included offering fantastic platforming experiences that players simply won’t want to miss out on. I absolutely adored playing through Super Mario 3D World, whilst Bowser’s Fury brings something unique to the fray that sees Mario face a whole new type of challenge… a Kaiju-like (and very, very angry) Bowser. There’s a ton of variety to be found across both games too, whilst the brilliant multiplayer of Super Mario 3D World will always keep players coming back for more even after they’ve found every collectible. It’s THAT good. There are some imperfections here and there, especially with the performance of Bowser’s Fury when playing handheld, but they don’t stop Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury from being another stand-out release in the Nintendo Switch library.
NieR Replicant is another brilliant remake to add to the ever-growing collection, with its touching narrative and fantastic combat making it a true RPG gem. Where it really shines though is in the way that it does *unexpected* things. NieR Replicant is constantly changing things up, whether that’s through the gameplay or with a twist in the plot that changes your understanding of the events that are playing out. It’s full to the brim with surprises and they’re all so magnificently presented – it’s what helps make the game feel so special and memorable to play. It’s not completely flawless and seeing everything it has to offer can feel a little bit repetitive, but it’s worth it. NieR Automata might have brought the series into the limelight, but NieR Replicant proves that it was already special to begin with.
Judgement was already a brilliant game on last-gen consoles, but the PlayStation 5 enhancements see it moving close to perfection. It is renowned for its excellent story, action-packed battling, and wealth of content, but the revamped visuals and slick performance really take it to the next level. It’s a real shame that it’s not available as a free next-gen upgrade, but it’s the only real sticking point in what is otherwise a stellar release. If you missed out on Judgement the first time around, don’t make the same mistake again… play it now!
The Mass Effect titles were magnificent back when they originally released, but the Legendary Edition makes them even better and more fitting for modern consoles. There really hasn’t been a better way to experience Bioware’s epic sci-fi trilogy, with the original game’s refinements particularly standing out as being something special. There’s more consistency than before and it makes all of the decisions you make more impactful by the time you reach the third game’s finale. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is simply an outstanding experience and one that returning gamers are sure to love. Never played the series before? Now is the perfect time to jump in and see why it’s so fondly remembered by gamers worldwide.
Scarlet Nexus is a thrilling action-RPG that offers a surprised-filled narrative, slick action-packed combat, and stunning visuals… what more could you want? It really ticks all boxes as far as the genre is concerned and, outside of some repetitive moments here and there, rarely steps a foot wrong throughout its meaty adventure. It’s just thrilling throughout and offers some of the best combat I’ve seen in an action-RPG in some time. Bandai Namco have set the bar high for future action-RPGs in this generation of consoles, with Scarlet Nexus proving to be one mighty fine release in the genre.
F1 2021 continues the trend of superb racing from the team at Codemasters, though the improved Career Mode and narrative-focused ‘Braking Point’ really take it to the next level. There is something for everyone here across all game modes, whilst the varied difficulty levels and diverse selection of assists ensure anyone can feel comfortable speeding around in a Formula One car. It just so happens to look outstanding too, especially on the PlayStation 5 where the DualSense is also taken advantage of in an immersive way. It really is a special game. The only caveats come with the lack of Sprint races, the missing tracks, and the fact that the main driving formula hasn’t been evolved upon that much from previous entries, but it doesn’t really matter. This is still the best that the F1 series has ever been, with enough varied content on offer to suit both newbies and veteran fans.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD improves upon the original massively, with its new control scheme and impressive visuals making it feel like a whole different game. It was already one of my favourite games in the series anyway, but playing it with more traditional controls at 60fps was astounding, whilst the new quality of life improvements go a long way in streamlining the overall experience. It really is a brilliant game. Admittedly, some aspects of the game haven’t aged all that well – the repetitive fetch quests particularly stood out, whilst there were some aspects of the world that felt vacant when compared to modern titles. Between all of the enhancements, the engaging narrative, and the brilliant dungeons that have stood the test of time though, it’s easy to recommend The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD to newcomers, existing fans, or just those who were simply put off the motion controls the first time around. It’s another must-own title for your Nintendo Switch library.
Hi-Fi Rush is an awesome rhythm-based adventure which looks stunning, feels great to play, and has some amazing music… what else could you want? Whilst I’ll admit that some of the explorative elements of the game didn’t hit the heights seen in the combat and world design, every other aspect of Hi-Fi Rush is just top notch. 2023 was already shaping up to be an exciting year for Xbox thanks to some upcoming high-profile releases, but it’s already started off with one hell of a bang with Hi-Fi Rush. I don’t know how they managed to keep the reveal (and the release) a secret, but Tango Gameworks Softworks have given Xbox fans a real treat with what is easily one of the console’s best exclusive releases.
Monster Hunter Rise is an absolute joy to play on the PlayStation 5, with the addictive gameplay loop and visual enhancements making it essential for fans of the series. It’s newbie friendly thanks to its more streamlined approach, whilst some of the new additions ensure the experience will remain fresh for long-time series veterans. Whether you’re looking for a story-driven single player experience, some fleshed out co-op action with friends, or simply a wonderful world to explore that’s full of incredible yet vicious creatures, Monster Hunter Rise has it all.
Octopath Traveller II is a brilliant RPG that improves and expands upon every aspect of the original game. The narrative feels deeper thanks to the newly introduced Crossed Paths, exploration is fleshed out thanks to the day-and-night cycle, whilst combat feels more strategic than ever thanks to the secondary jobs and Latent Abilities. And don’t get me started on the visuals, which are simply gorgeous throughout. It does have a few minor missteps, most notably with the narrative tying together and some battles dragging out longer than they need to, but they don’t stop Octopath Traveller II from being another unmissable RPG hit from Square Enix.