Includes PushSquare
Last reviewed: Mina the Hollower · 6 days ago
Luna Abyss is a AA shooter that holds its own against some of the elite of the genre. Its enticing and ominous sci-fi world is a delight to look at artistically, even if its muddy graphics let it down on closer inspection. Its story is fine, but a slick sense of progression keeps its action and platforming interesting from start to finish.
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.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is so close to being the definitive way to play what remains a masterful game to this day. Square Enix's unfortunate decision to axe content introduced in The War of the Lions stings, but if you can get past that, the raft of quality-of-life improvements, additions, and upgrades make it a fantastic way to revisit, or experience for the first time, one of the most influential video games ever made.
By truly dividing the gameplay between two very distinct presets, EA Sports FC 26 is trying to appeal to everybody. The more methodical Authentic toggle will attract offline Career mode tinkerers, who want to work hard for those scrappy 1-0 wins. Meanwhile, the snappier Competitive option is built for online sweats, who want to force their opponents into submission by burying them in goals. Both feel good in their own ways, and when paired with several new features and refinements, you get a flexible game of football that should please everyone – well, aside from those who simply can't jive with the franchise's over-reliance on monetisation.
Baby Steps is more than it first appears, offering up a heartfelt story about a man grappling with his insecurities as he's forced to keep going. The intentionally tricky walking and climbing is a lot of fun to grapple with, and there's plenty of silly stuff to discover in the open world setting. Your mileage may vary due to various factors, not least the amount of punishment you'll take as you scramble up the mountain, but it's a journey worth taking for those willing to persist.
Silent Hill F takes the survival horror series in a new direction, which pays off for the most part. It's quite different, and hardcore fans will have to accept that. Combat is a heavy focus, and the move to Japan means there's a different kind of tone and atmosphere in the air. Technical problems aside, it marks a bold new chapter in the Silent Hill saga. Accept it for what it is, and you'll find one of PS5's most intense experiences.
Earthion is an outstanding achievement – a blissfully retro shmup experience with just enough modern sensibilities to make it appeal to an all-new generation of players. With sublime pixel artwork, a scorching score, and a creative campaign that keeps you on your toes, this is an absolutely outstanding effort from 90s dev Ancient.
Overall Rise of Industry 2 offers a refreshing challenge and will appeal to players who love detailed business and factory sims. However, the game is not for everyone, and its overwhelming complexity, micro-management and cumbersome UI make it unsuitable for more casual players.
An open world was the right move for a Borderlands franchise that's on its back foot. If you can grin and bear through some bad console performance, Borderlands 4 rewards you with a whole lot more looting and shooting. Some small new additions around the edges and a solid slate of bosses and side-quests spice up this fourth numbered entry that's still as brazen and immodest as ever.
Some small gripes aside, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a rock solid kart racer that carves its own path. The dimension-hopping races are fun, varied, and fast, and the robust customisation allows players to really tinker with how the game feels. With energetic action, a good range of race types, and plenty of post-launch content on the way, this is an entertaining entry for casual players and hardcore Sonic fans alike.
The game is very straightforward and only a couple of hours or so in duration, which is all the time it needs, really. It's a joyous little thing while it lasts, but smartly ends before it runs out of new things to show you.
Falcom has outdone itself with Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter. This is an incredibly heartfelt recreation of a classic RPG - a remake that retains all of the charms of the original game, while also delivering one of the best, most polished adventures in the entire franchise.Whether you're a Trails veteran or a curious newcomer, 1st Chapter is a must-play instalment.
There are the bones of a decent game in here, but its issues prevent it from being the compulsive factory puzzler we were hoping for.
If you're interested in a laidback co-op experience with a friend, LEGO Voyagers fits that remit. It isn't doing anything truly groundbreaking, and there are some finicky controls that may get in the way, but overall it'll win you over with its clever design and a surprisingly emotional narrative.
Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection is Atari and Limited Run bringing back some pretty bad games and bundling them together with features that make them minimally better, but not good. If you are a Bubsy mega fan who has played any of these games since the '90s, you will likely enjoy this collection. For anyone else, the only real reason you’ll want to buy this collection is curiosity about how bad this series has been.
However, if you're just looking for a few more hours with your favourite quipping archaeologist, then The Order of Giants offers up just that, with a fun storyline, great visuals, and some fantastic puzzles.
The love, care, and attention that's gone into making Hollow Knight: Silksong is already very evident in its vast array of gorgeous environments, earworm audio, and tough but fair platforming challenges. Pharloom is a land we just can't get enough of, and we can't wait to see where Team Cherry will take us as we work towards the conclusion of the campaign.