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Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is a fantastic expansion that offers plenty of thrills and genuinely pushes the overall story forward. This isn’t just some minor side endeavour for Aloy, but a meaningful quest that doesn’t only highlight the threat that the world faces but also strengthens her resolve to defeat it. Add to that the exciting missions to complete, the vicious new enemies to face off against, a cool new ally in Seyka, and the wonderful LA setting to explore, and it’ll become clear that this is an unmissable piece of content for Horizon fans (even if it doesn’t try to expand upon the core gameplay formula too much).
Cassette Beasts is a captivating monster-collecting adventure that has a clear inspiration, but thrives thanks to its own unique and charming ideas. Combat is strategic and deep, the world offers a satisfying sense of discovery, the narrative is quirky and mysterious, whilst the monster design is top notch… what more could you want? It does have a few little technical bugs that I ran into playing on the Steam Deck, but they didn’t stop me from having a brilliant time as I embarked on Cassette Beasts’ remarkable adventure.
Remnant II improves upon the original game in every way, with the frantic action, deep character-building, and impressive visuals all brilliant to experience. There’s a lot more depth and creativity found across the board, and whilst I’ll admit the narrative doesn’t feel as interesting this time around, it’s easy to find yourself fully immersed in the dark and tantalising world. It’s an absolute blast and has quickly established itself as one of the best co-op titles I’ve played this gen. If you’ve got a couple of buddies to play with, believe me, you won’t want to miss out on Remnant II.
Blasphemous 2 is absolutely brilliant, with the game maintaining the core mechanics that made its predecessor so good whilst evolving upon the combat in a deep and strategic way. Alternating between weapons always feels satisfying, whether that’s when strategically switching up when facing off against a hulking enemy or utilising their unique traversal methods, whilst simply exploring the beautiful yet haunting world and discovering all of its secrets is just as tantalising as before. It’s a case of ‘why fix what isn’t broken’, with Blasphemous 2 introducing plentiful changes to make it feel fresh, but also offering the same sense of familiarity that players would’ve loved the first time around. Just play it, seriously, it’s THAT damn good.
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.
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.
Stellar Blade is another sublime PlayStation 5 exclusive that showcases the power of the console with its thrilling action and mesmerising visuals. I’ll admit, I wasn’t fully sold on the game before playing, but after spending twenty-plus hours partaking in Eve’s action-packed antics, I’ve been blown away. Sure, I wasn’t too keen on the storytelling, but when the gameplay packs such a punch, it’s hard to complain too much. With its, uh-hum, ‘stellar’ combat mechanics that feel like a blend of Dark Souls and Bayonetta, captivating set pieces and level design that really pull you into the world, and some of the best visuals seen on the console, Stellar Blade is one PlayStation 5 release that you’d be a fool to miss.
Indika is uniquely brilliant in its own peculiar way, with the bizarre yet enthralling narrative unlike any that I’ve seen in a game before. It’s suspenseful, thought-provoking, and bizarre in equal measure, yet it had me utterly enthralled from start to end. It looks absolutely gorgeous too, and whilst the slower pace of the gameplay won’t be for everyone, it has enough ideas on show with its interactivity and puzzling to keep players engaged. It’s just a compelling experience that I adored being a part of. I don’t want to give too much about Indika away because its constant surprises are one of its greatest strengths, but believe me, you wouldn’t have played anything quite like this before.
If you’re a fan of the classic games you’re going to be in platforming heaven with Sonic Mania. On the flipside, if you’ve been living under a rock for the last twenty five years and haven’t played a single Sonic the Hedgehog game, Sonic Mania is an absolutely fantastic place to start. You might not appreciate the nostalgic elements as much as a long-time fan, but you’ll certainly appreciate the incredibly fun gameplay that’s on offer from start to end.
Despite the series setting some serious high standards in previous games, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony manages to exceed them in almost all facets of design. The story is exciting and full of twists, the Class Trials are spiced up with some all-new features, whilst it also happens to be the best looking game in the series so far – seriously, it’s just brilliant. Whilst I’m not sure it’ll be the case for everyone, for me Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony has earned its place as my favourite entry in the series. Its brilliant combination of bizarre murder mysteries mixed with a great variety of different gameplay elements made for a fascinating experience that I simply loved being a part of.
Remedy are undoubtedly masters of their craft, and Control is another fantastic title to add to their repertoire of fine releases that focus on bold action and deep dives into the unknown. It kept me captivated from start to end with its mysterious yet rich narrative, its solid combat mechanics that blend together satisfying gunplay with fun telekinetic abilities, and its peculiar allure and sense that just about ANYTHING could be around the corner of The Oldest House’s mysterious hallways. Control’s weird yet wonderful approach may not be for everyone and some of the performance issues could be disappointing. Overall though, they are minor hitches in what is otherwise an amazing experience; Control is simply a must-own title for action fans or those who appreciate games that aren’t afraid to be a little different.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition’s brilliant world and thrilling combat help it stand tall as a remarkable RPG ten years on from its initial release. It does have some imperfections, most notably with the lower resolution in handheld mode and some sketchy party AI, but for the most part it offers an adventure of the highest standard. If you missed out on MONOLITH SOFT’s epic adventure back in 2010, you really couldn’t pick a better time than now to dive in. It’s as simple as this: Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is an unmissable release for RPG fans.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is a brilliant and wild platforming romp that is sure to please series veterans thanks to its fun nostalgia-fuelled gameplay. That’s not to say that complete newcomers won’t enjoy the ride too though, with everything in the game feeling finely crafted – each level offers satisfying platforming challenges, a good mix of kooky enemies to defeat, and plenty of variety thanks to the use of additional characters and the Quantum Masks. It’s just a really, really, REALLY fun game. It’s tough though, which may be off-putting to a number of players (particularly younger ones) who were hoping for an easier time. With an array of settings to make life easier though (including a landing indicator and the option to play with unlimited lives), even the most frustrating levels won’t see you rage-quitting this exquisite platforming adventure. There’s simply no doubting it: Crash Bandicoot is back and he’s better than ever in Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. The future sure looks bright for gaming’s mightiest marsupial… and who knows, maybe we’ll see a little purple dragon make a grand re-appearance soon too?
I have to be honest, I was a little surprised at just how good Nex Machina is. I felt like I’d seen everything twin-stick shooters had to offer, and whilst the game doesn’t really invigorate the genre nor does it do anything you wouldn’t have seen before, it just feels so damn good to play. I’ve spent hours with it already and find myself constantly coming back for more. If you’re a fan of twin-stick shooters you really need to give Nex Machina a purchase. If you’re a fan of classic arcade experiences that push your skills to the limit you need to give it a purchase. Hell, if you’re a fan of gaming, just buy Nex Machina – you’re not going to regret it.
Streets of Rage 4 marks a superb return of the famed franchise, with the stylish combat, the slick visuals, and the nostalgic charm proving incredible throughout. The story mode is a little short in length and a few tough difficulty spikes caught me off guard, but it’s still packed to the brim with enough unlockables to keep you hooked in for a long, long time – well… provided you’ve got some friends to experience it with over and over again, that is. Whether you’re a new face to these deadly streets or a returning fan that wants to dish out some more beatings, you’re going to have one HELL of a good time playing Streets of Rage 4.
Far Cry 5 never re-invents the wheel throughout its lengthy open-world adventure, but it doesn’t need to. Fans know what to expect from the game, and that’s a thoroughly entertaining action-packed escapade that sends you through stunning environments as you partake in countless chaotic missions. It’s full to the brim with character and never stops being satisfying to play, whilst the freedom offered allows you to approach the game in your own way. I had an absolute blast with Far Cry 5 and, even after finishing the campaign, still have plenty more to see thanks to the infinite possibilities offered by the Far Cry Arcade. Its only real flaw is that it could be a bit easy at times, though at least it didn’t come at the expense of the fun you’ll have overall. Ubisoft have delivered a truly great game in Far Cry 5 and have left me genuinely excited to see where the series goes next.
The team at Coldwood Interactive have took what was already a delightful platforming experience and improved it ten-fold thanks to the addition of a second character. Swinging your way through Unravel Two’s impressive levels with a friend is just a blast, whilst the improved level design and tighter controls just add to the experience. Unravel Two was a really pleasant surprise when it was revealed at E3 2018, and after playing it through to its conclusion, it’s actually exceeded my already high expectations. Whether playing on your own or with a trusty co-op partner, Unravel Two is simply a stunning adventure that you don’t want to miss out on.
Much like its predecessor, Resident Evil 3 offers a remake that’s both revolutionary and brilliant in design. It is shorter and more condensed than last year’s Resident Evil 2 remake, but it comes with a bigger focus on action-orientated set pieces and, of course, the epic showdowns with Nemesis. Add to that the all-new ideas that the game implements as well as the inclusion of a multiplayer mode (which admittedly we haven’t got to play a whole lot of yet), and you’ll quickly find that Capcom have something special here. The shorter length and some frustrating moments here and there do see Resident Evil 3 feeling a little inferior when compared to the Resident Evil 2 remake, but only just – it still just so happens to be a brilliant survival horror experience that fans of the series are sure to love.
Bravely Default II’s epic adventure will keep you glued to your Nintendo Switch thanks to its satisfyingly strategic combat, its beautiful world, and its deep job system. There’s simply so much to invest yourself in within the land of Excillant, and honestly, it was a joy from start to end. Sure, it does have some frustrating moments here and there (especially with the unpredictability of some boss encounters) and the narrative can be guilty of overusing typical RPG tropes in places, but there’s more than enough enjoyment in every other element of the game to make that easy to look past. Bravely Default II is simply another brilliant RPG to add to the Nintendo Switch’s ever-growing collection.
Tekken 7 shows why Tekken is one of the most beloved franchises around, with its fast-paced yet calculated combat, impressive visuals, strong cast of customisable characters, and zany nature coming together to offer one of this generation’s finest fighting games. It offers something a little different to the popular 2D-plane fighters that are in abundance right now, with a fun focus on utilising the space around you to unleash massive combos on your opponent. It doesn’t only look great in-game, but is a hell of a lot of fun to pull off. It isn’t quite perfect thanks to the slightly lacking story mode not really offering enough from a gameplay perspective, but it doesn’t stop Tekken 7 being a must own title for fighting fans. The King of the Iron Fist Tournament is back, and it’s better than ever…