Richard Wakeling

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