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Featuring a terrific turn-based battle system, eye-popping pixel-art, a colourful cast of characters and engaging exploration mechanics to boot, this prequel to 2018's The Messenger is more than worth the 30-hour time investment.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is absolutely phenomenal! The story does start out a little slow, but once it picks up, it becomes one of the more interesting narratives in the franchise. Ditching the cumbersome RPG stylings of Valhalla, Odyssey & Origins, Mirage will finally make you feel like an Assassin again! The map may not be as large as some of the earlier entries in the series, however, this only serves as a benefit as you won’t be traversing through a mass of unused space just to get to your next objective. Overall, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is the title that many AC fans have been waiting for, and serves, to some degree, as a bit of a nostalgia trip as well.
Alan Wake II is a fantastic follow-up to the 2010 original. The combat is more intense, the survival horror is peak and the story is even wilder. Just ensure you have a beefy enough rig (or patience) to keep up with all the hi-res spectacle on PC—and checkpoint-restarting glitches too.
Tevi is one of the best Metroidvanias of the year. Not only does it bring its own superb, anime-inspired aesthetic and RPG mechanics to the forefront, but Tevi also features some of the most lovingly crafted exploration and platforming segments we’ve ever seen from this genre.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown wears the Metroidvania belt with panache. The protagonist, Sargon can whip out a whole range of stylish assaults thanks to his handy teleportation maneuvers and flow through the difficult platforming hazards of Mount Qaf like an Olympic gymnast. It’s just a pity that the story isn’t anywhere near as strong. You can’t win them all, I suppose.
Whether it’s the tactical Heat system that raises the aggressiveness of play, or the noob-friendly Special Style controls that make complex combos a cinch, Tekken 8 has almost everything you could ask for in a modern fighting game.
Becoming a bullet and strategically eliminating targets across the map is a blast in Children of the Sun. The levels are challenging and dynamic, and will surely entice players to keep improving their scores. It's a shame that the story isn't anywhere near as good, but it doesn't take away from the addictive puzzle-shooting action.
Grapple Dog combines some fantastic 2D platforming with an awesome grappling hook mechanic that's a cinch to pick up n' play.
The Cruel King and The Great Hero is as classic as JRPGs get, but its little touches of modernisation truly shine through. As the gorgeous art style and chirpy soundtrack complement the thought-provoking battle system with grace. Some story and character moments are left wanting, and there are a few missteps with the general gameplay. But overall, The Cruel King and The Great Hero is a timeless 15-hour adventure that demands at least one playthrough.
Weird West is exactly that, a weird yet interesting adventure set in the wild west. Featuring many supernatural creatures to hunt and many stories to uncover, it has an immense world to explore and many characters to talk to. The abilities and perks system help dramatically as well – especially when not playing on PC – and the game looks absolutely incredible. A 20-hour experience that could easily take 50 hours to complete.
While there aren’t too many memorable moments like the games Tormented Souls is based on, the general horror elements work incredibly well in heightening the tension and keeping you on the edge of your seat. The puzzle segments aren’t mere throwaway either and do serve as a great change of pace from the adrenaline-pumping fear. The story is quite intriguing too, although the voice-acting does leave a lot to be desired.
You may be a little sceptical at first, but don’t hesitate. 2021’s Vertigo has such excellent story and character moments which are bound to leave a strong, lasting impact long after the credits roll. The acting/cutscene presentation is a bit wonky at times, and the gameplay is relatively simplistic. However, Vertigo’s Hitchcockian influences ultimately shine through and help to create an experience that’s more than worth the price of admission.
Halo Infinite features the same great gameplay and control from past campaigns, merged together with some awesome new additions like the Grappleshot, slide mechanic and AI field scan ability to bring the series up to modern FPS standards. The story and open-world design ultimately feel a bit lacking, but it’s still tonnes of fun regardless. Let’s finish the fight!
Chorus is an exceptional space shooter, especially when it comes to the gameplay. It has such tight controls it’s ridiculous. Once you add in the superhuman powers and an incredible universe to explore, then there is even more fun to be had here. The one problem however, is the narrative. Even though it’s a lot of fun to play, there just isn’t enough story content to drive you on, leaving the player feeling empty well before the credits roll.
Far Cry 6 sets its player up for hours upon hours of unadulterated, open-world, action-adventure goodness. While it does contain some very rough glitches and a few story beats that fall a little flat, the over-the-top charm of the series has never been as refined as it is here. Far Cry fans, make sure you’ve got the 6th entry in your shopping cart.
Diablo 2: Resurrected proves that you can’t really improve upon perfection, but you can make it look really pretty. Despite some combat that hasn’t aged quite so well, the overall experience is well worth a step back in time for the atmosphere and unparalleled freedom it provides.
Aragami 2 improves on many aspects of the original. Listen mode enhances the flow of gameplay, moveable bodies grant the player additional stratagems and the modernised controls feel much better overall. Even though the combat mechanics are absolutely horrendous and the story/characters are as basic as it gets, Aragami 2 is still a great time for action and stealth game fans alike.
Tales of Arise is a classic case of almost is never enough. It nails nearly every open-world JRPG staple; the gameplay, exploration, characters, music and presentation are all top-notch. It’s just a pity that the story wrestles with a litany of issues that keep this entry in the Tales of series from reaching legendary status.
Card Shark features a surprisingly deep story with much mystery surrounding its fascinating, and somewhat dubious characters. The simple game mechanics and stunning art style really makes for a title that is really unique. The minimalist approach to the gameplay is welcomed and the 8 hour play time ensures that no part of Card Shark feels overused or repetitive! This is definitely one for your Nintendo Switch library!