The Tartarus Key is a very novel survival horror title, with forward-thinking game design to complement old-school aesthetics.

With proper cross-play, cross-progression, and gamepad support, Diablo 4 perfects almost every worthwhile aspect of its namesake, generating a multiplayer dungeon crawler with laser-focused objectives that never feel like a waste of time. It’s to the point - and the point is damn sharp. Monetization, while not immediately egregious, is still hard to trust.

From top to bottom, Street Fighter 6 is an absolute triumph by Capcom. A genre-defining fighting game that oozes charm and polish in almost every aspect, barring some minor gripes with World Tour.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, like the titular character, is ugly, malformed, and infested with bugs.

Humanity is a creative puzzler that adds meaningfully to the inspirations it takes from. Though it can slow to a halt in unsatisfying ways and there's a bit of a grind, it feels so honest and unabashedly sincere in what it wants to be.

Darkest Dungeon 2 takes a great many things from the original whilst adapting it creatively into a new world. Whilst not all of its choices feel as weighty as the first, that thematic core is just as oppressive.

If you’ve yet to step foot into the open world of Hyrule, Tears of the Kingdom is the best way to experience it, with just enough new ground to keep things interesting. But if you didn’t gel with the 2017 release, the story alone might not be worth the second attempt.

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly makes me want to open a late-night cafe and serve drinks to demons and aliens. It's a real treat.

There are significant performance issues, but the exciting story, improved combat, and satisfying platforming mean Star Wars Jedi Survivor is a great second adventure for Cal and his eclectic crew.

With existential theming and some nice visuals, De-Exit - Eternal Matters is a game I want to like. Unfortunately, imprecise controls, tedious sections, and a litany of bugs leave it reaching for so much more.

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a delight for existing fans to jump back into an old favourite, but the timeless gameplay makes it fantastic to pick up for those new to the series.

Dead Island 2 is an excellent sequel packed with brutal gore, an eccentric character roster, and a million ways to dismember a zombie.

PGA Tour’s roster of stunning courses is complemented by perfectly balanced golf sim mechanics. It’s the best golf game in years.

The effort made to offer a wide range of units across the player and piglin faction is appreciated, but these old bones yearn for a more traditional Minecraft RTS instead. Minecraft Legends is certainly worth a try if you're subscribed to Game Pass already, but like Minecraft Dungeons, this one truly is for the franchise fans out there. There are stronger alternatives for the older gamers who simply enjoyed Minecraft for its early survival RPG vibes.

The Dead By Daylight Tools of Torment DLC is great conceptually but a strict meta and many mediocre perks leave it a couple of tools away from a full toolbox.

Switchback VR is an impressive showcase for PSVR2 and its new features, I just wish it was scarier.

Dredge’s blend of relaxing fishing and unnerving Lovecraftian horror fuels a unique atmosphere and makes for a game that’ll charm you one second and terrify you the next.

Justice League: Cosmic Chaos is a surprisingly deep dungeon crawler mixed with RPG, that clearly comes from a place of deep love for its superpowered cast of heroes.

Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded is a decently fun light-gun-style VR game that fails to offer anything new or groundbreaking. It's a good way to spend a few hours but not much more.

Resident Evil 4 remake breathes fresh life into the beloved game, delivering a perfect upgrade on the gameplay, story, and aesthetics of a horror classic.

Demeo is a wonderful approximation of what it's like to take down the big boss at the end of a campaign. It has some slower moments but its peaks are truly wonderful.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a fresh dawn for the franchise, spinning expectations on their head to great effect. It's a bright and charming storybook blast.

Before Your Eyes’ ingenious use of PSVR 2’s eye-tracking technology adds another level of emotion to a wonderfully told story about family and the need to appreciate life.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty's shaky story and reliance on grinding let down one of the most satisfying soulslikes on the market. This proves Team Ninja is more than just the sum of its parts, even if it may need a sequel to get the most out of it.

Scars Above is an interesting toe in the water for many different genres but as you start to descend, you realise how shallow that puddle really is. An interesting world and decent elemental mechanics are held back by poor exploration and an unwillingness to push the boat out.

Atomic Heart is an interesting approximation of better games that is slowed down by a tedious open world, messy writing, and jarring tonal shifts.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land is a much-welcomed entry in the beloved series, remastering the game with brilliant tweaks and unlimited charm.

Forspoken is both ambitious, yet incredibly flawed. It pairs hammy dialogue and some poor pacing with a world I want to explore. Forspoken is a game tied between two worlds - losing out by never quite understanding either.