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Civilization VII is a newcomers ideal Civ game. Packed full of streamlined systems and approachable design choices, VII gives players access to a fun, gorgeously realised sandbox in which history is (mostly) theirs to decide. While some of its smoothed edges hinder player-driven storytelling, the effort to onboard new players and refresh the game for veterans is ambitious and stacked with potential.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II effortlessly builds upon the original game to offer a true open world in every sense of the concept. While some obtuse systems and unforgiving design choices may put some players off, Deliverance II feels like a game that better achieves all the potential that the original game had. It's engaging, exciting, and a lot more inviting. And for that, it's a truly successful sequel.
Like Citizen Sleeper before it, Starward Vector feels like a tremendous coming together in so many senses. The marriage between the original's core concepts and the new mechanics feels natural, while the motley crue you take to the stars with, their stories included, are an exceptional cast of characters whose place in my sleeper's own journey I'll never forget.
Despite initially being a first-party title for a Sony handheld, the decision by Bandai Namco Entertainment to expand Freedom Wars Remastered to other consoles is a masterstroke, as the game is definitely more deserving of audiences with a potential to a sequel in the future. While some of the graphics feel quite dated, and there is an awful lot of wandering that takes place at the start of the game, Freedom Wars Remastered is a game that will have you coming back for more and wanting to fight for the Greater Good.
Sniper Elite: Resistance offers up just as much, if not more than Sniper Elite 5 did. But despite a new campaign, a new story and a new protagonist, it still doesn't take enough steps to right any of the notable wrongs from Sniper Elite 5. But regardless of its shortcomings, Sniper Elite: Resistance is a fun and satisfying shooter. Just don't expect it to do much more than the previous games.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth makes its way to PC packed with a range of technical improvements. It plays great, looks fantastic and is easily the best Final Fantasy PC port in recent memory.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a welcome return to form for a franchise that's felt stagnant as of late. It strips Dynasty Warriors back to all of its best fundamentals with a fresh approach to narrative and progression that delivers on the promise and core power fantasy of this franchise.
While it's not as strong a game as Tropical Freeze, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a great way to introduce younger or less skilled players to the wonderful world of Donkey Kong Country. However, those familiar with the game already through its two previous releases may struggle to find much value in another revisit, even if the visual improvements are numerous but sparse.
Out of all of the Power Rangers games I've played in the last decade, Rita's Rewind is the one that most honestly captures the cheesy fun, flashy martial arts, and attitude of the series' first few iconic seasons. It is to the Rangers what Shredder's Revenge is to the Turtles, a celebration of a dorky thing so many people loved as kids-and perhaps still do as big kids.
Alien: Rogue Incursion blends stealth, horror and action to deliver an immersive and satisfying VR experience. While the dynamic Xenomorph AI will keep players on edge for the entirety of its runtime, some of the objective variety can be lacking. Regardless, the games and balance between Alien's horror and Aliens' action make it an engaging Alien experience from beginning to end. While Rogue Incursion may not reach Isolation's heights, it's an impressive, atmospheric ride with a gripping cliffhanger that leaves me eager for Part 2.
Marvel Rivals is a rare example of a live service launch done right. Some aspects might feel more derivative, but the promise of future content that'll build on what's already a solid foundation is proof that Marvel Rivals is here to stay.
The Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered brings back two cult classics with great care and attention to detail – sporting enhanced visuals, modern controls and improvements that only improve the pacing of the games. Everything great about these games is still great today. But while some aspects of both games still persist, these remasters are fitting tributes, offering a captivating revisit to Nosgoth that fans have been pining for for years.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle delivers both high calibre adventure, story and performance in spades, to the point it feels as though it's wading into "uncharted territory" for its publisher. The decision to bop a Nazi should be a foregone conclusion, however the lack of balance in stealth and combat systems kept me in limbo, and left Indiana Jones and the Great Circle just a stone stele's throw from true greatness.
Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer continues to push the series' presentation and accessibility options but can't quite overcome the inherently limited range of exercises the Joy-Con can offer it. Light and fun enough for a beginner, it's more fitness toy than fitness trainer.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is an incredible feat when you look behind at all the issues it currently has. It's ambitious and quite possibly a leap in terms of simulations but your experience will often differ a lot depending on how lucky you are with the bugs and cloud streaming issues.
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.