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Hubris VR is a game well worth picking up if your PC can handle it. Its story serves its purpose, but the beautiful graphics, and engaging gameplay make it a standout title in the VR space. As I said earlier there may be aspects I would have liked to see tightened up, but these are small gripes for a product that has really delivered on its vision. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or new to VR, you’ll find plenty to love.
The foundations of Dragon Quest Treasures are something that could be fine-tuned, polished and improved for a truly great title in the future.
Picked as #5 in my Pure Dead Gaming GOTY, Chained Echoes is an absolute masterpiece. Everything you love about classic JRPGs is here with the addition of some newer and welcome mechanics. A gentle reminder, ONE man, Matthias Linda, made this game, mostly in his spare time. Incredible, really. Final Fantasy fans, Chrono Trigger fans and Dragon Quest fans – you know what to do.
Hi-Fi Rush opened 2023 with a very promising start and it’s hopefully a sign of things to come in the future. There are several difficulty options available; so don’t be afraid to drop it if you aren’t having fun. For fans of Viewtiful Joe, No More Heroes or the various River City titles, you will definitely find something to love here.
This is a good game, and it’s fun and rewarding once you’ve unlocked those second, third and fourth magic sources. I firmly believe Forspoken will in time be given the Days Gone treatment, people who once sneered will be changing their tune. But like any proposed Day’s Gone sequel, I see Forspoken suffering the same fate…
If you’re a fan of Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing or Dreamlight Valley and looking for a similar title to play, this is a very easy recommendation. For everybody else, there is an incredibly solid game here; but the twee nature can be off-putting, depending on your tastes
I really hope that DigixArt can put their energy into creating a true sequel to Road 96 which returns to the incredibly rich narrative style which made the original game so much fun and satisfying. This prequel falls far short of the high bar they set previously.
Sherlock Holmes The Awakened is a thoroughly enjoyable detective adventure which is well written and explores some dark themes. The gameplay, mostly notably the absence of action, will not be to every player’s taste but for those who appreciate this style, it will deliver an exceptionally rewarding experience.
For now, I advise leaving The Last of Us PC port on your wanted list. I can’t recommend anyone spend their hard-earned cash on a port that might struggle to work, depending on their current hardware. In 6 months, this could be a must-own game from PC, but only time will tell, unfortunately.
Forza Horizon 5 is fantastic; everyone should play the game on whatever platform they can. Even if driving games are not your thing, I implore you to try it
Tin Hearts is a puzzle game that challenges players to manipulate the environment and guide tin soldiers to their destination, while also offering a thought-provoking story and exceptional world-building.
Respawn set themselves a challenge: follow up and improve on their surprise smash hit Jedi: Fallen Order in only three years. They should have, though, taken four.
Walkabout Mini Golf is a fantastic package. The game is an absolute joy to play, managing to strike the perfect balance between being inviting for newcomers and constantly rewarding for hardcore fans. I have been a big fan of VR dating back to the launch of the PS VR in 2016, playing most big titles in the years that followed. Walkabout Mini Golf is hands down my favourite VR game to date. A must-buy.
I’m a positive person when it comes to games, happy to overlook minor issues when the overall result is worthy of both my and your time. Unfortunately, Gollum is not a game I could recommend to anyone, even if you were the world’s biggest Lord of the Rings fan.
Super Mega Baseball 4 is a highly addictive, arcade sports game that removes the fat and delivers a truly fun experience that is as customisable as it gets. The EA Sports BIG banner may be gone, but under its new publisher, Metalhead Software is doing a fantastic job of carrying the legacy it left behind.
Needless to say, this is a Game of the Year contender. It took one of the best games on the market and improved it in ways we wouldn’t have thought possible until we got a controller in our hands and played it. A joy from start to finish.
Diablo IV is an excellent game that delivers on the promise of being a worthy successor to the Diablo series. It has all the elements that fans of the series love, such as fast-paced combat, a deep loot system and a compelling story.
Those two stick around more than half a dozen hours will likely just be playing exhibition matches with friends or against the AI. If that doesn’t sound like enough, AEW Fight Forever may not be for you. However, if like me you are here for the gameplay then you will likely get many hours of grappling fun from a title that successfully pays tribute to the golden age of wrestling games.
Aliens Dark Descent is currently my favourite game of 2023, which is a massive surprise as it’s one of the most challenging games I’ve played in ages. That’s not usually my style of game. It has exceptionally well-realised game mechanics paired with challenging difficulty, all wrapped up in an engaging little story that adds to the ever-increasing lore of the Alien franchise. If you get the chance, please try this game but be warned, be prepared for pain!
DAVE THE DIVER begins off pleasantly and lays out new mechanics at a steady pace. The joy never dwindles and it’s a pleasure to play through. Whether you’ve settled in for a long or short session of play, you will get a sense of achievement thanks to the structure of the day and night cycles. I played this primarily on Steam Deck and it feels right at home there. An incredibly endearing adventure and one of the easiest game recommendations of the year.