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Motorcycle fans will gorge themselves on Ride 4's 250+ obsessively detailed motorcycles and one of the best track lists to be found in a modern racing game, but the pizzaz needed to keep playing is sadly missing and the career gameplay can be duller than counting your own eyebrow hairs.
Star Wars Squadrons has taken an impressive first step in revitalising the Star Wars fighter pilot game. With a tale that feels like a genuine part of the galaxy far, far away, and space combat that gives you the tools to be an X-Wing or TIE fighting ace. Whether you're on the light or the dark side of the force, this is a game that Star Wars fans need to play.
Genshin Impact needs to be played to be believed. This is an addictive open-world adventure with gorgeous art and unique combat...and it's free! The character designs are sharp and beautiful, while the pastel-style world itself is full of jaw-dropping colour and natural vistas...and it's free! Sure, there's the admittedly stingy gacha system, but if you just want an immersive and peaceful world to climb and fly around in for hours, then Genshin Impact is for you.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time really is the definitive Crash game. Toys For Bob have taken all the series' trademarks, refined them into a challenging and polished experience and given us tons of levels to play and secrets to hunt for. There's new characters to play as and masks that shake up the gameplay when they appear, but Crash 4 is the same old Bandicoot who's learnt a few new tricks.
Paradise Killer is a pure, unguided detective mystery that doesn't dare hold your hand. You, and you alone, are in charge of seeking out not only the truth of this locked room murder, but the truth of the wild and cosmically corrupt world that the game takes place in. The open ended nature of the investigation can be daunting at first, and while some clunky platforming and frequent periods of downtime can sour the experience just a bit, Paradise Killer still manages to be one of the most well put together and utterly satisfying mystery games I've ever experienced.
Hotshot Racing is a nostalgia-tickling delight that doesn't have quite enough depth to keep pulling you back for any real length of time.
If you've been eyeing up RPG Maker for a while, then MZ is the best version of RPG Maker. Just don't expect MZ to do everything you want or even need it to do to match your vision.
Honestly, it's difficult to recommend Crysis Remastered. Its premise and design remain impressive to this day, but poor optimisation makes it difficult for players to enjoy the new graphical additions. If you already own a copy of Crysis, you aren't going to miss out on much here.
Port Royale 4 starts off strong, but its solid trading and management gameplay just become repetitive over time, eventually turning into a waiting game as numbers slowly get bigger. Managing cities and trade routes also never really overcome the somewhat awkward controls on console, and combat never becomes interesting. Still, if you absolutely love trading and seeing your empire grow is all the reward you need, Port Royale 4 might be for you.
Given the quality of other zombie games such as Saints and Sinners and Arizona Sunshine it's really difficult to recommend Onslaught to anyone other than hardcore The Walking Dead fans. The best parts of The Walking Dead almost always revolve around the human interactions, but the game is a grind, the story is utterly disposable and it no longer feels relevant to a TV show that is now a couple seasons ahead.
Despite abandoning the series' all-too-iconic red-haired hero, Ys Origin is one of the most memorable and enjoyable entries in the franchise. With multiple characters, incredibly tight controls, and rewarding unlockables and bonus modes, it's a perfect entry into the series for newcomers as well as an absolute treat for veteran Ys players. The lack of a map and the simple combat can sometimes be a bit of a frustration, but they're ultimately minor annoyances in an otherwise incredible old-school action RPG.
Party Hard 2 riffs off the Hitman formula, mixing it with a pixel art style and humorous flourishes wherever you look. It can be frustrating when you're caught and sent back to the start of a level, but so long as you don't find the premise too extreme, there's enough here to scratch your stealth action itch.
Tennis World Tour 2 is a solid all-round tennis game, and the inclusion of the wildcard system offers an additional and entertaining tactical layer to consider as you play. It's just a shame that some minor issues hold it back from being great.
Serious Sam 4 is a natural evolution for the series. There is nothing groundbreaking here but it is just such silly and extravagant fun to play.
RollerCoaster is a great little title to add to your collection if you're either a nostalgia buff or fancy having a classic management sim on the go. Otherwise, you might be best sticking to something a little more current.
Evergate has the potential to be an incredible game to play, with its beautiful artwork and animation, and intelligent and well-planned gameplay. Unfortunately, every level feels like a struggle, needing pinpoint precision to complete and move on to the next. It ends up a frustrating experience more than an enjoyable challenge.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps arrives on the Switch in exceptional form. Though there have been a few nips and tucks here and there in order to squeeze it into a considerably more modest form factor, it still showcases Moon Studio's incredible vision from the moment it starts to the tear-jerking finale.
FitXR is BoxVR 2 in all but name. That's not a bad thing – BoxVR was a great VR trainer – and the fact that previous owners get the upgrade for free is a nice move in this age of nickel and diming customers. The new social aspect, and the refined action, ensure that FitXR is a VR fitness class well worth booking in for.
Tamarin may look like the ideal nostalgic fix - evoking fond memories of Rare's Jet Force Gemini - but this is not the game you are looking for. Tamarin's external charms hide flawed and deeply dull gameplay. What's most frustrating is the squandered potential of Tamarin, this could have been a game worth playing, but sadly you're best keeping a safe distance from this particular monkey.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a phenomenal game with hundreds of hours of deep CRPG and kingdom management gameplay, but at the time of review it's hampered by bugs that impact how you can enjoy the game, and with reports of progression halting issues and save file corruption. Our advice would be to wait for the bugs to be patched, but ready yourself for a serious commitment to this vast CRPG.