A referential and joyful deep dive into the world of Batman, the latest LEGO effort from TT Games is elite brick gaming. Legacy of the Dark Knight just wants to be an enjoyable time, and it refuses to falter from that commitment. This new LEGO Batman will be some of the best fun you have all year.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is an excellent action RPG that offers an even more hardcore take on the increasingly popular Soulslike formula. It's fast, frenetic, and hits like a truck, with one of the most mesmeric combat systems we've ever had the pleasure to master. It might scare off more casual players, but those looking for a challenge, well - you can stop looking.
The four levels of Hell you'll be carving a path through are well-defined if not terribly interesting, and can get ludicrously cluttered with effects at times; so much so that brief frame rate dips can occur during particularly hectic moments.
A thoroughly enjoyable side game that looks to offer familiar Like a Dragon action with a swashbuckling twist, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a flamboyant distraction between mainline entries. The story doesn't compare favourably to the mainline entries and the new island areas quickly become repetitive, but the novelty of Goro Majima at the helm of a pirate ship never quite wears off. Stay for its frenzied action and jolly pirate ship battles and you'll have a good time.
Despite its UI issues and missing features, Civ VII is still an enjoyable and addictive experience. Its new mechanics provide a fresh foundation which will no doubt be expanded on over the coming years with more content. If they can get over the substantial formula changes, hardcore fans of the series are more likely to be forgiving of the game's shortcomings and probably won't regret their purchase, but more casual players may want to sit tight until the title has been patched and padded out with more content for a more complete experience.
The game ultimately has strong, important messages about loss and mental health. Add in some great music and wonderful navigation, and it becomes difficult not to recommend Afterlove EP despite its rough edges.
The writing is genuinely amusing, the story rather sweet, and the slapstick physics plenty of fun to engage with. Only some minor technical hiccups interrupt the otherwise smooth gameplay, and while finding the last remaining collectibles can be difficult (even aided by a special Junk-detecting hat), the game succeeds due to its brevity and playful tone.
Trails through Daybreak 2 is a surprisingly experimental instalment in Falcom's long-running RPG series. Gameplay-wise, it improves upon its predecessor with tighter combat systems, and a greater degree of interactivity during side quests. However, its epilogue-like storytelling is very hit and miss. Some fantastic character development is contrasted by padded narrative beats and a plot device that grows tediously predictable as you progress. Still, with the right expectations, this is another enjoyable romp with Van and the gang.
Fortune favours the brave, the family motto of the noble Capon line and the creed of developer Warhorse Studios. In daring to deliver its singular vision for a game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 transports even the most grizzled genre veterans back to a time of truly immersive video game experiences. Challenging, uncompromising, and thoroughly engrossing, it's in a league almost entirely of its own.
Gratifying combat, enjoyable platforming, and an impressive list of abilities help Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist comfortably overcome any minor missteps, however. Aided further through vibrant graphics and flawless technical performance, Adglobe and Live Wire have once again come together to showcase Metroidvanias at their best.
The main thrust of gathering a motley crew and exploring a small slice of the game's universe is great, and with various classes and upgrades to choose from, there's plenty of reason to replay too.
Sniper Elite: Resistance serves as more of a stopgap than a full-blown sequel to Sniper Elite 5, so much of that experience - including its highs and lows - carries over two and a half years later. Its sniping action truly is elite, but the gunplay surrounding it still needs work. Equally, the Invasion Mode is again a standout while enemy AI remains frustrating at times. It is more of the same. However, when that similarity is a fairly unique model in the first place, Sniper Elite: Resistance just about gets away with it.
Tales of Graces f Remastered is a fantastic action-RPG where an array of quality-of-life improvements make this a fun adventure for both new and returning players. Push through the sluggish opening hours and you’ll find an entertaining tale with characters who are full of charm.
In many ways, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is the series at its best. The gigantic, jaw-dropping battles, the tense wartime drama, the player-driven power trip - it's a thoroughly impressive return to form for a franchise that came so close to dismantling itself seven years ago. Origins isn't just some water-testing spin-off - this is both an evolution of the formula and a fantastic realisation of what Dynasty Warriors has always strived to be.
Freedom Wars Remastered is an excellent way to relive the restrictive action game. In 2025, the game's forward-thinking multiplayer components have a greater chance of capturing a dedicated community, and graphical and technical enhancements make it the definitive way to play. But it's a PS Vita game at its core; constant loading, dull characters, comparatively simple combat, and endless busy work have somewhat dented our rosy memories of the original game.
Wuthering Waves is launching on the PS5 at the perfect time, as its new quests are action packed and its improvements over the likes of Genshin Impact are obvious to appreciate. Its story is unfortunately infested with the worst of gacha game writing, so you'll need a strong stomach to get through the abundance of proper nouns. But stick with it and you'll find a beautiful, anime-inspired experience with quality combat, rewarding team building, and hundreds of hours of excellent exploration.