Richard Wakeling

Mouse: P.I. For Hire's cartoon world, hand-drawn to recreate the rubber hose aesthetic of classic cartoons, is the star of the show, but its absurd combat is none too shabby either.

Crimson Desert's spectacular open world and thrilling combat are only let down by a few narrative and quality-of-life issues.

Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is a fantastic remaster of a flawed but decent game.

High On Life 2 improves on its predecessor with a skateboard, biting satire, and boundless creativity, but middling combat and an uneven hit rate hold it back.

With compelling new additions and refinements to its already excellent combat, Nioh 3 sees Team Ninja return to the series at the very top of its game.

Despite fantastic build flexibility, Code Vein 2 struggles to improve upon its predecessor as it fails to avoid many of the same aggravating pitfalls.

A new tactical interface and improved match engine are title-worthy, but a frustrating UI, missing features, and numerous bugs drag Football Manager 26 into a relegation battle.

A few issues hold it back, but Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment marks a high point for the spin-off series, iterating on its riotous hack-and-slash combat with depth and variety.

Ninja Gaiden 4 brings the series back with a bang, building on its intoxicating foundations with smart additions that further elevate its brutally brilliant combat

Battlefield 6 plays it safe but marks a return to form for the long-running series, delivering chaotic, large-scale multiplayer that's as familiar as it is uproariously fun

EA Sports FC 26 suffers from a few growing pains with its shift to two distinct playstyles, but there are enough improvements throughout to consider it a positive step forward for the long-running series

Ghost of Yotei is shaped by Atsu, its new protagonist, as you're propelled on a gripping tale of revenge amidst the backdrop of Feudal Japan's contrasting beauty and violence

The Order of Giants is a small-scale Indiana Jones adventure, taking you on an enjoyable side quest that nevertheless feels like it's missing The Great Circle's freedom and scrappy improvisation

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance revitalizes a classic by combining excellent combat and platforming with a gorgeous art style, reaching new heights for the long-dormant series.

Shadow Labyrinth takes the fascinating premise of blending Metroid with Pac-Man and fumbles the execution, offering a bland narrative with one-note combat and tedious exploration