Digimon Survive's uniquely dark take on the standard Digimon storyline is enough to carry a title that's sometimes poorly paced and basic in its approach to gameplay. A visual novel with RPG elements bolted on, it's difficult not to feel as though the creature taming and combat aspects of Survive could have been bigger and better. But ultimately, a mix of endearing characters and eye-opening plot points make this another worthwhile adventure in the digital world.
Planet Zoo is, ironically, a relatively toothless park building game. It doesn't have the delicious chaos of the Jurassic World Evolution games or the thrills of building your own rollercoaster and then hoping it'll stay on the tracks in Planet Coaster. But it's a pleasant and charming game. There's an airy joy in creating a peaceful home for animals to live in, and the earnest conservationist slant of Planet Zoo is hard to fault.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black reminds us of our younger years, essentially playing through a cheesy action movie with over-the-top violence, cool looking vistas, and a ridiculous story. In parts, it’s fun to play something you can just enjoy for what it is, without the need to delve into overly deep combat systems.
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.
Overall, you have a game that doubles down on what fans loved about Tails of Iron while expanding in smart ways. There are some rough edges, but it's ultimately a superior sequel and a fun, challenging adventure.
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.
