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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an achievement for so many reasons. As well as being the little game that could, given the team's real-world challenges, the game doubles down on the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. way, delivering a sublimely realised sense of place with the Zone. Unfortunately, so much of the console experience is rendered so disappointingly undercooked.
Farming Simulator 25 is a pleasantly surprising experience that builds upon its predecessors to feel as expansive as ever while remaining authentic. While it's no revolutionary change for the series, Farming Simulator 25 is both rewarding and immersive if you stick with it, even if it won't hold your hand for most of the journey.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a delicious serve of JRPG comfort food. It's got depth that kept me experimenting with new party setups, challenging enough situations to really test them, and an overall story that's keeps things interesting from start to finish with a beautiful visual style and music to match.
In many regards, LEGO Horizon Adventures accomplishes what it set out to do: it effectively summarises the story of Horizon Zero Dawn into an approachable all-ages adventure. However, in simplifying the mechanics of Horizon Zero Dawn, they have omitted what makes Horizon and LEGO games special. The Horizon world has been lovingly reimagined in LEGO but overly basic combat and a lack of interactivity hold it back. LEGO Horizon Adventures is salvaged somewhat by a gorgeous art style, a fun retelling of the story and well-executed cooperative features, but the pieces don't quite all click into place.
Metro Awakening is a capable, haunting jaunt through the familiar, post-nuclear world beneath Moscow I've grown to love. It cleverly harnesses VR to emulate the scrappy, resourcefulness of the underground, however its combat is a bit of a slog and struggles to find the fun, leading to a somewhat disjointed campaign.
Slitterhead offers a refreshing and unique experience that pays homage to Bokeh's pedigree while still establishing its own identity. Despite some minor flaws, the game makes great use of its weird but wonderful narrative and ingenious possession mechanics to bewitch you from the beginning. With such a distinctive sense of direction and style, Slitterhead is an incredibly strong debut that firmly establishes Bokeh as a studio to watch.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the classic Mario & Luigi experience that fans have been clamouring for since Bowser's Inside Story. While there are significant pacing issues that means the game takes a while to get going, a simple but engaging battle system and incredibly intriguing second half of the story helps to keep Brothership on course.
Call of Duty Black Ops 6's multiplayer suite is excellent, complimented by the great (and often hilarious) omnimovement system and the return of classic prestige. This is the best Call of Duty has been in a long time.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is the best way to play one of PlayStation's defining games. It's improved visually in every way, with a great amount of love and care put into every detail and will be a joy for newcomers and fans alike.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a triumph for BioWare in practically every way. It brings together the best bits of all the games that have come before it, pairing an intricately woven narrative ripe with genuine choice and consequences with a fast, frenetic and endlessly satisfying combat system. The Veilguard is, without a doubt, Dragon Age at it's best.
Deck Nine's delivered their best Life is Strange game to date with Double Exposure. Barring some bugs and narrative nitpicks, Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a great continuation of Max Caulfield's story, taking the series in an interesting direction while ensuring the bones of what makes the series so memorable remains intact.
Batman: Arkham Shadow feels like the virtual reality experience that Batman deserves. A fully-fledged triple A title that successfully translates so many industry defining elements into a VR framework with the utmost success. Camoflaj have delivered a unique and fantastic addition to what is already a sublime series of games.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's campaign is a worthwhile successor to Cold War that continues to push the cart along with its exciting geopolitical thriller-branded espionage. Treyarch better than anyone understands better than anyone having found a few, ingenious means of incorporating Call of Duty's larger suite of modes into this punchy, mind-bending ride. More than that, it should serve as a beg-pardon for last year's unfortunate business.
By backseating Kong and having a drab human narrative serve as the vessel for this game's monotonous action, Kong: Survival Instinct ends up feeling like a colossal, kaiju-sized dud that does little to lick the wounds of last year's Skull Island and, if anything, further dampens the great ape's reputation.
Despite working with the same killer premise as the movies before it, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead struggles to sustain tension over the course of its fairly predictable journey. With a tighter focus its glacial pacing and deliberate systems might have made for something special but as it stands, this one is for fans of the genre only.
Fear the Spotlight delivers a nostalgic, classically-inspired horror game that places story, its sense of place, and the breadcrumb trail of a mystery you pursue ahead of combat while maintaining a true sense of unease throughout. From the moment our trembling hands touched the planchette, we were spirited away on one hell of a thrill ride.
On its own merits, Sonic Generations does its best to bring the best of both Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic together in a fun and creative adventure that's sure to please Sonic fans all around. However, it tries too hard to fit itself into the same mould while attempting to keep true to the 3D Shadow experience, ultimately falling short of the lofty heights it aims for. Die hard fans might enjoy, but more casual players may find themselves overwhelmed by the sense of speed.
Unknown 9: Awakening is a thoroughly AA gaming experience. Like a lost gem from the Xbox 360 era, its charm and jank are intermingled in interesting ways, but its commitment to a unique cultural perspective and killer remixing of the stealth/combat loop elevate it above its slightly unpolished wrappings.
Neva is a profoundly moving, interactive work of art. It's as pleasing to the eye as it is the ear, and the effort this still young studio has gone to in developing upon ideas cemented in their first game, Gris, is commendable. Without eclipsing it, Neva matches the stirring catharsis of Gris with another flash of brilliance.
Super Mario Party Jamboree lives up to it's name in practically every way. It's equal parts lavish and boisterous, offering up a selection of boards with novel and fun gimmicks that make it a constant joy to come back to. Adding a wide variety of ways to play, including heaps of customisable rules, only sweetens the deal. Without a doubt, Super Mario Party Jamboree is Mario Party at it's best.