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The Southern Gothic aesthetic is wholly under-explored in gaming. Because of that, South of Midnight feels utterly refreshing and genuinely magical and mysterious. In turn, Hazel is an undeniably compelling character, and you can't help but want to see how her journey plays out. It's yet another unmissable step on Microsoft's path to redemption.
The Talos Principle Reawakened isn't just a fancy remaster with tarted up graphics, it truly is the definitive edition of one of the greatest puzzle games of all time and is a must play for any fans of the genre, or indeed any fans of quality gaming in general. The new additions are welcome, with the editor mode being particularly exciting. While you may not ever find out your true purpose, playing The Talos Principle should become part of your journey.
Commandos: Origins is probably very good; an interesting historical setting, charming visuals, and deep and varied strategic options. You won't notice any of that if playing on console however, you'll be too busy wrestling with the terrible controls to be having much fun. That, and the buggy visuals, make this one to be missed unless you're on PC.
Blue Prince is an excellent, intricate, and intriguing puzzle game that will have you thinking about solutions even when not playing it. While there's some minor foibles, coming across a puzzle and scrolling through your notes for an answer from previous runs is very satisfying. Blue Prince is one of the best puzzle game available.
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos remaster is a good look at how 3D platformers were put together in the 90s, but the gameplay falls seriously short of modern standards. There is just so much that could be better when it comes to the gamplay that would have made the experience more tolerable and enjoyable, but what we have is a bang average 3D platformer.
Bleach: Rebirth of Souls is the game that Bleach fans have deserved for such a long time. It's a fresh and inventive arena fighter that combines the classic energy and atmosphere of the series with a fresh, stylish, and modern coat of paint.
Wanderstop is beautiful, difficult, easy-going and complicated. It's a showcase for what games are capable of on an emotional level, and a heartfelt indie ode to finding yourself when everything looks lost.
The First Berserker: Khazan is a great action game that's not reinventing anything by any means, but is consistently fun to play. The visuals are lovely, the action is a lot of fun thanks to ever-evolving skill trees, and the boss designs are great too. If you're after a Soulslike challenge, it can fit that bill in some ways, but it should also have a broader appeal thanks to the easy mode and more.
Atomfall is an interesting game. It might not be wholly unique in anything it does, but it combines its core ideas in a way that feels fresh. A big part of that comes through the drip feed of the underlying story, whilst another is the glorious British countryside that makes up its maps. It likely isn't going to blow your mind, but it's an enjoyable journey and you would still be missing out if you didn't give Atomfall a go.
With a smattering of improvements as it jumps to Nintendo Switch, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition offers up an epic sci-fi tale set in one of the very best open worlds.
Fans of Assassin's Creed have waited an era or two for a series entry that lets you be a ninja and explore Feudal Japan. Thankfully, the wait has been absolutely worth it. Assassin's Creed Shadows is an astonishing achievement. Vast, impossibly detailed, immaculately researched, and enormously fun, Shadows is easily one of the best games in this storied franchise.
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land is a fresh step forward with just as much charm and joy as the rest of the series. It's an incredible starting point for newcomers and an exciting change of pace for long-time fans.
Split Fiction is an excellent continuation of the split-screen co-op joys that Hazelight has made their own. It takes a little while to get going, both in terms of gameplay and narrative, but once it hits its stride, there's just so many moments that will fill you with joy and delight.
Suikoden I&II HD Remaster is a polished window into JRPG history with only a few minor flaws that keep it from feeling absolutely perfect.
Even in its remastered form, Glover is really frustrating to play, and not an enjoyable experience at all. With the amount of games out there and the limited amount of time most of us have, you would be better off getting something else, unless you really want a nostalgic trip to experience a rather bland re-release of a 3D platformer.
Knights in Tight Spaces is an incredibly follow up to an already amazing game. It fuses a wonderful amount of style with plenty of tactically strategy, and the party mechanics at play and side quests all help to make it almost feel like a solo tabletop role-playing game, which I mean as an incredible compliment. If you like the sound of this game at all, or hanker for more Fights in Tight Spaces, then you'll probably love it.
Like Aa Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a fun spin off that has allowed RGG Studio to indulge in silliness. Majima as a pirate captain is a perfect fit, and the new characters are a good addition. But the actual piracy can quickly become a bit too repetitive and unsatisfying.
Afterlove EP is a heartfelt project that looks to explore the theme of loss, grief, and moving forward after the death of a loved one. However, it is marred by some bugs that cause loss of key conversations, and you can get softlocked out from seeing the ending.
Whilst these remakes bring the second Tomb Raider trilogy to modern systems, but they simply can't match up to the original trilogy – Chronicles and Angel of Darkness in particular were let downs when they released originally. I can't see this remaster gaining these games any new fans, especially since they control like some kind of device that exists to torture game developers that specialise in traversal mechanics.
While not striking the same feeling of EA's golf games of old, PGA Tour 2K25 is HB Studios' best effort yet. There's enough here to keep you going for a while and if the PGA Tour 2K series continues on this trajectory, might just have the best take on golf games in years to come.