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Minecraft Dungeons II adds depth without losing the approachable chaos that made its predecessor work. The Sift and expanded gear game broaden the formula, while a reduction in start-and-stop co-op menu faffing is greatly appreciated. I just wish its teasing glimpses of an open world went further.
While it doesn't feel as impactful as Ghost of Tsushima's Director's Cut, Ghost of Yotei: Complete Edition is a definitive repackaging of Atsu's vengeful tale. Echoes of Sekigahara's place against the broader story can make for some awkward delivery, but the Ashoro Foothills and Most Wanted mode end up balancing it all out.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is a fast-paced thrill that successfully captures the spirit of the Star Wars racing classic and delivers it in droves. While the story is drab and the longer runs can grow frustrating, everything else makes up for it. The unique rogue-lite structure, excellent handling and constant risk-reward choices make every run feel worthwhile and addictive, even in the face of failure. It's this perfect combination that makes Galactic Racer anything but - it's a strong success in every sense of the word.
Though fault can be found with its meaningless side quests and examples of knuckleheaded dialogue, Gears of War: E-Day gets so much of its core loop right. It's hard to recall a game nailing the desperate, helpless feeling of invasion quite like this, and E-Day sets a new benchmark for Gears' iconic gunplay. More than anything, E-Day is a technical crown jewel that delivers an audiovisual experience that, on Xbox, is unrivalled.
The core gameplay of EA Sports FC 27 is as good as it's ever been, while a range of new additions to Career Mode and Ultimate Team show promise. However, The Grounds is a slog, and the game itself is marred by badly designed menus and technical issues.
Ultimately, when it came time for me to eject from AC8, I was left with the impression of something fun but not flawless. Target-selection nonsense, overcooked dialogue and some not-so-novel decisions that decelerate the pacing keep it from being a perfect sortie. But when Wings of Theve is firing on all afterburners, it delivers exactly the kind of high-speed, high-altitude blockbuster nonsense I wanted from it.
Well Dweller's simplistic approach to the metroidvania genre creates a neutral void that the Kyle Thompson adventure ultimately lingers in. On one hand, it's beginner friendly and won't deter gamers not hungry for a Soulslike challenge, while on the other, it's simply not bold enough to break new ground within the genre. Well Dweller remains an enjoyable folk tale romp that, for anyone looking to take a chance on a metroidvania, is safe as houses.
Silent Hill Townfall blends stealth, action and tense horror into another compelling take on the Silent Hill formula. Its monster designs and scares disappoint, but strong combat, excellent puzzles and a well-written story make up for those shortcomings. It may not reach the series' greatest heights, but Townfall comfortably earns its place in Silent Hill's ongoing revival.
Control Resonant continues the Remedy tradition of offering an ambitious experience filled with incredible ideas. The game controls beautifully, the combat is fun and flexible, the side stories are strong and the presenation is, of course, excellent. But repetitive encounters, beautiful but underwhelming boss battles and an uneven open-world structure all make Resonant feel uneven. Regardless of its flaws, Control Resonant is both bold and enjoyable, though it doesn't reach the usual heady heights established by the illustrious Remedy canon.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is another slam-dunk for the Nintendo Switch 2. A bona fide evolution of what came before it, combining the best elements of its recent entries with spectacular results. Perhaps most impressive, is just how well paced this enormous adventure is despite its lengthy runtime.
Marvel's Wolverine is an explosive, fiery comic book video game that wears its gratuitous violence as a refreshing badge of honour. Sadly, the violence's vehicle, the game's combat, amounts to little more than mindless slashing, waning a while before the game's credits roll. Its narrative, which does peak in the final act, shows flashes of heart in an otherwise predictable, paint-by-numbers arc. I can confidently say that Insomniac's Spider-Man is hands-down the best Spider-Man game ever created-I can't say the same for their Logan here.
It might be far and away bigger than any Hot Wheels game that has come before, but a certain dash of magic has been sacrificed at the open-world altar. Milestone's care and reverence for these die-cast 1:64 scale miniatures is utterly unmatched, and their ability to deliver a brand of fun in keeping with the Hot Wheels name is commendable.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is an incredible RPG that sinks its fangs into you from the moment you start playing, signalling an incredibly strong start for Rebel Wolves. Choices feel meaningful, combat is satisfying, and the time system makes you stop and think about just what you're doing when you play games. While some quests drag and there were some technical hiccups along the way, nothing made me want to stop playing this adventure that trades breadth for depth. As such, The Blood of Dawnwalker is easily one of my favourite RPGs in years and well worth a taste.
It's hard not to think about what Onimusha: Way of the Sword could've been in the context of prior entries - especially the first game. What is here, though, is still a thrilling action game (once it takes the training wheels off) with a loveable cast of characters and unique identity amongst CAPCOM's other goliath franchises.
Orbitals is a brisk, enjoyable interstellar romp that will perhaps, at the end of the day, be more fondly remembered for its authentic approach to vintage Japanese animation than its ability to bring friends together. That's not to say it doesn't succeed as a co-op puzzler-it does-although I think it falls a hair short of its contemporaries in terms of chaotic creativity and scope.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is a strong adventure that delivers a clever twist on Greek mythology rather than the games its spun off of. It combines strong combat, exploration and atmosphere with some gnarly creature encounters in a clever way, though the puzzles are uneven and the mechanics are largely derivative. Regardless, Sophia's journey is intriguing from beginning to end, making Resonance a memorable adventure even if its resemblance to the Plague Tale games are fleeting.
Star Wars Zero Company is an incredible debut title from Bit Reactor. A tightly paced 30 hour tactics game with some of the best Star Wars storytelling in recent years. Star Wars and tactics fans alike would be remiss to not check out Zero Company.
While it feels like the impact of Breath of the Wild is waning as the open world genre starts to stagnate again, Elden Ring stands out as not only an achievement in FromSoftware’s hall of fame, but also as an open-world RPG. Elden Ring is without a doubt, FromSoft’s most ambitious undertaking yet, and like Dark Souls before it, I believe it will leave a permanent mark on both the open-world genre and the games industry in general.
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is a strong fighter that manages to channel the chaotic energy of Marvel vs. Capcom while also carving out its own niche in the genre. While the roster feels small for the kind of game that it is, and the single player offerings feel underwhelming, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls provides a strong foundation on which I have no doubts Arc System Works will build for years to come.
Pro Jank Footy is a tremendous mess of a game, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. It boils down a complicated sport into its purest, fundamental arcade form before breaking it through a chaotic overloading of its simple systems. It's fun, it's hilarious, though its biggest flaw, if it even is one, is that it's best played with mates.