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If Avowed didn't scratch the RPG itch for you earlier this year, The Outer Worlds 2 surely will. This is a confident and ambitious sequel that feels like Obsidian's vision has been fully-realised. It isn't without many of the issues that plague modern RPGs today, but ultimately makes for an experience that's all too easy to sink many an hour into.
Ninja Gaiden 4 is a worthy successor to the best games in the franchise thus far. It modernises the combat without losing the spirit that made the original games so strong. While the handoff to Ryu is undoubtedly clumsy and a bit of a dip overall, Ninja Gaiden 4 is an outstanding action game that's punishing in all the rights ways.
Keeper is an arresting, emotionally resonant, and experiential title which shelves the company’s regular yuks for something genuinely poignant. Despite some bothersome gameplay hang-ups, Keeper remains a beautiful must-play for the “games are art” crowd.
BALL x PIT is an unexpectedly addictive roguelike that throws a few well-worn ideas into a pot to meld them into something bizarre, captivating, and unique. While there’s a rhythm to firing, fusing, and evolving balls that’s moreish and hard to put down, things like the city-building complement the package so well, it’s the ultimate “one more run” game. And just like the balls you’ll spend hours branding the enemy with, you’ll keep coming back again, and again, and again.
Like so many other modern Pokémon games, Pokémon Legends: Z-A paints a promising picture of what the future of Pokémon could look like. It's an enjoyable return an underappreciated region in Pokémon that fans are sure to appreciate.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is almost a tale of two games; the original holds up extremely well gameplay-wise, while is obviously let down by its dated graphics, while the remaster feels almost like a new game with its quality of life improvements. This definitely isn’t a half-baked package and is well worth it for original fans and newcomers alike - with the depth of the tactical RPG system that Square built many years ago, you’ll be obsessing over the best way to win a battle even when you’re not playing.
Battlefield 6 is the revival the franchise desperately needed, blending nostalgia with modern polish to deliver its best multiplayer in years. With a strong launch and more content on the way, it feels like Battlefield is finally back where it belongs.
Yooka-Replaylee demonstrates resoundingly what needed to be fixed with the original game, offering an experience closer to Banjo-Kazooie rather than Banjo-Tooie, and being a better game because of it. Smart quality of life adjustments streamline exploration and progression, sharpening the pacing. Not all changes are equal, however, as Rextro still feels like a bit of a slog, and I still wish there were more worlds to explore. But the overall improvements to the experience are undeniable. With strong performance, great presentation and clever tweaks, Yooka-Replaylee delivers on the promise that Playtonic made so many years ago. It feels like the true successor to Banjo-Kazooie that we always wanted.
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a straightforward compilation that brings two of the most celebrated platformers to modern hardware. Together, they form one of the strongest adventures in the Mario canon. But with some barebones upgrades and inconsistent visual improvements, these are hardly the definitive versions of either Galaxy or Galaxy 2. Regardless, despite the visual presentation, it's hard to deny the strength of the core at this compilation. Both games boast inventive and engaging level design that, with (mostly) improved controls, are easy to enjoy today.
EA Sports FC 26 makes a handful of great changes to the core gameplay and animation systems, making the game play as good as it looks. New additions to manager career are welcome, while Ultimate Team continues to be an enticing prospect for those that want to invest their time and cold hard cash on the prospect of assembling a top tier squad. It’s not always perfect, but there’s no doubt FC 26 is the best footy sim out there.
In terms of quantity, Dying Light: The Beast deserves the upgrade to standalone release, having first been earmarked as DLC. It’s carried mostly by excellent game feel, combat and parkour as enjoyable as ever. However, its quality is where the game suffers, skimping on meaningful upgrades that would set it apart and push the franchise forward. It's worthy of your time, but otherwise a missed opportunity.
Hades II is bigger and bolder than the original Hades. It's another adventure that will no doubt see players happy to welcome Melinoë and her unique moveset to the Hades family with open arms. It ambitiously but successfully doubles the content offering without sacrificing any of the quality we've come to know Supergiant for. And while it's different beast to the original Hades, Hades II builds such a strong identity for itself that it stands strongly beside its predecessor in ways you'd never expect.
Ultimately, Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is a polished version of a fairly mediocre game. If you’ve got some fondness for the original I’m sure you’ll have a great time playing through this new version - but without the benefit of nostalgia it didn’t really do much for me. It’d make a perfectly fine rental, if that were still a thing!
While I don't think Ghost of Yotei quite reaches the heights of its predecessor, it is another worthwhile trip to a lawless Japan. It sports a tonally distinct and cinematic story, a visually diverse open world chock full of activities, and is another fantastic showcase for the power of the PlayStation 5.
Baby Steps is exactly all it’s advertised to be. A clumsy, physics-first walking simulator that places an unwashed oaf at the heart of a very odd world. I don’t feel like it’s as punishing as Getting Over it, but the game’s singular goal of getting through it, step by step, makes for a surprising experience that makes walking, of all things, a lot of fun.
Silent Hill f resoundingly demonstrates a clear grasp of what makes Silent Hill work. Its storytelling is equal parts sinister and restrained, bolstered by a combat system that’s simple but satisfying. Throw in some challenging boss battles, and you’ve got a Silent Hill experience that meaningfully expands on the original games. It’s a subtly scary adventure that dares to be different, while at the same time retaining the core that makes Silent Hill so special. While some elements and the difficulty might be grating for people and the skill system is bizarrely undercooked, Silent Hill f is an enjoyable and chilling experience from beginning to end, and unlike anything you've ever played.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds far exceeded the expectations I had for it. After feeling like Team Sonic Racing was taking Sonic racing games in the wrong direction, CrossWorlds is a confident showcase of what makes these games so appealing to begin with.
We haven't had a Borderlands game this packed with changes and new ideas since Borderlands 2. In many ways, Borderlands 4 feels like a natural continuation of the franchise's trajectory. It isn't without faults, but what it does deliver on makes for an evolution unlike any other game in the series.
It mightn’t be as faultless as the iconic video games it attempts to emulate, but, in attempting to do things no action-horror game has done before, Cronos: The New Dawn etches its deserved place at, at least, the honourable mentions board at the foot of the horror game Mt Rushmore. Bloober has ensured that, no matter what they try next in this genre, we will be seated. Such is our calling.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a strong return for the series, bringing together incredible art direction, strong level design, and a combat loop that's both endlessly satisfying and addictive. Sprinkle in some light Metroid-inspired backtracking and some incredibly challenging optional content, and you've got an experience that goes above and beyond anything offered by previous Shinobi games. And while the original soundtrack is average, the voice work is sterile and the story even more so, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an incredibly entertaining and satisfying action platformer that's well worth your time.