The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 3 is still an exceptional RPG after all these years, even if its PS5 port doesn't offer many enhancements.
Silent Hill: The Short Message isn't going to set the horror genre ablaze, but it doesn't have to. As a free offering, it's a solid showcase with a heavy atmosphere and heavier subjects, even if its narrative could have been more subtle.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League isn't the worst live-service title ever made, but its mediocrity is hard to deny, especially from a developer capable of so much more.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink's plot falters in several ways despite some impressive combat, bosses and gorgeous visuals. Nevertheless, it's a solid holdover for action RPG fans who don't mind grinding.
Tekken 8 is a shot in the arm for the series, advancing the story while offering addictive combat, exceptional presentation and a suite of features to attract new and experienced players.
New Cycle is nowhere near delivering a mix of resource management, city-building and humane stories like, say, Frostpunk. As repetitive as its core gameplay can get, it is appealing, and hopefully, early access will expand on it while ironing out all the issues.
Palworld is equal parts charming and dark, with a massive world and no restrictions on exploration. Combat needs some fine-tuning and the survival crafting may not be for everyone, but it's early access release is a solid starting point.
With a shiny presentation and swashbuckling charm, Gangs of Sherwood portends to be more than your average co-op title. Unfortunately, it turns the legendary outlaw's tale into even less than a placeholder beat 'em up.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising improves on the original in almost every way, and while not quite at the level of the very best in the genre, it still offers enjoyable fighting experience.
There's a reason the phrase "Buyer beware" remains relevant, and it's because of games like The Day Before. The only bright side to its miserable existence is you can no longer purchase it.
Final Fantasy 16: Echoes of the Fallen offers some high-octane boss fights and a gorgeous environment to explore, but the exploration remains as linear as ever. Those looking for something more substantial in terms of story may want to wait, but there's plenty for combat fans to enjoy.
THE FINALS has room to improve, but it shines in all the ways that matter. If you're keen on a new first-person shooter that mixes chaos with strategy in a sleek package, it's worth a look.
Paying extensive homage to the source material while weaving a compelling tale of its own, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is an involving experience with fun combat and memorable characters.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora may not be for those suffering from open-world fatigue, but it delivers an immersive experience for fans with some solid gameplay and storytelling.
The Awakened King isn't a terrible addition to the base game, even if its highlights don't quite reach the same highs. While the content is decent and offers some fun new gameplay options, it's nothing amazing.
Whether you're a fan of the series or looking for a well-made city-builder, SteamWorld Build has much to offer, even with the odd annoyance or two.
Flashback 2 could have channelled the first game's spirit while presenting a new spin on the action. It fails spectacularly, lacking polish and nearly any redeeming qualities.
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria offers an intriguing set-up, and Moria is a compelling location to explore. However, even with decent progression, the fundamental gameplay - from building to combat - leaves much to be desired.
Better-than-expected Zombies, decent Multiplayer with flaws and one of the worst campaigns in the series mar this year's Call of Duty, making it difficult to recommend, even to the hardcore.
Dungeons 4 is pretty safe as sequels go, adding new features and bigger maps while upping the visual quality. The story is forgettable, the humor dreadful and the performance on Xbox Series X is questionable, but it still offers some addictive gameplay.