The Plucky Squire on PC

There is a kind of magic when reading a good book, where you find yourself transported into the worlds created by the author and wishing that the characters, setting, and the narrative could come alive right in front of your very eyes. That is precisely what you’ll get from The Plucky Squire. However, this irresistibly charming action adventure casts the storybook characters in the limelight instead of playing out from a reader’s perspective, and thus begins the page-turning journey of Jot and friends, one that proves quite hard to put down.

Like most fairytales, the story of Jot, the titular Plucky Squire himself, always ends with him on the winning side, saving the day by defeating the evil sorcerer Humgrump. But after discovering that there was an entire world outside of the storybook, the villain casts out our hero in a bid to rewrite his ending, and it will be up to players to right that wrong to ensure a happy ending.

NBA 2K25 on PlayStation 5

Annualized sports games are always facing an uphill battle when convincing players to put down the cash for what many see as a roster update with minimal improvements. And often, that is the case, but with NBA 2K25, Visual Concepts and 2K Games have surpassed the subpar efforts of NBA 2K24, and once again becomes championship contenders in the world of video game basketball.

This year’s most significant improvements come on the court, powered by ProPLAY, the technology that translates authentic movements from captured footage into actual, immersive gameplay. This means even more dribbling animations, signature shots, and off-ball movement that will make any coach happy. Needless to say, NBA 2K25 delivers the most true-to-life basketball experience you can have without lacing up your shoes.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 on PlayStation 5

It has been 13 long years since we last saw Captain Titus and the Ultramarines in action against the enemies of the Emperor. The extended wait meant many fans would have given up hope on any possible sequel to one of the best third-person action experiences out there for visceral, gory action, so when Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was revealed by Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment, it set the stage for a grand return of something fabulously familiar.

After fighting against the Tyranid hordes and the inevitable reach of Chaos, not only has Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 provided hours and hours of entertainment, but it also made me feel at ease that games where action and worldbuilding took precedence over everything else are still possible in this day and age. Whether you are new to the series or a returning veteran of ancient campaigns, the trials and tribulations of Titus and his team are one to savor regardless.

The cat’s finally out of the bag; eight years since the world was treated to a colorful and entertaining world of theme park management and roller-coaster building with Planet Coaster, Frontier Developments has finally unveiled the highly-anticipated sequel. The appropriately titled Planet Coaster 2 has had plenty of time to gestate, and from what we saw as part of a hands-off preview with the developers, the ultimate coaster park experience has found a way to whet the appetite of aspiring park owners even more.

That’s primarily down to the addition of all-new water park gameplay, giving players yet another dimension of thrills and spills to oversee as part of their purview. If the depth of the simulation was impressive before, with all sorts of rides and amenities to keep your guests happy, then there is even more to look forward to when water is involved.

Another Crab’s Treasure on PlayStation 5

The souls-like genre has always tended to veer towards the dark and moody, forcing players to confront the things that go bump in the night and are capable of leaving nightmarish impressions in the psyche for years to come. While gameplay is perhaps the most important aspect of the adventure, having the right aesthetic can also do wonders. This is why Another Crab’s Treasure from Aggro Crab is such a breath of fresh air, even if the core ideas remain familiar.

Transporting players into an underwater world, it will be up to players and the meek hermit crab named Kril to make things right again. In this case, venturing across the seabed to get back the shell that was wrongfully taken away from you and slicing and dicing all who stand in your way into sashimi. It is clear that the game doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it makes for an entertaining jaunt that is full of charm and fun from start to finish.

Stellar Blade on PlayStation 5

When it comes to console exclusives, the PlayStation 5 certainly hasn’t been short of them. In fact, it is this particular avenue that has allowed the platform to build upon its successes in recent years. Following the likes of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Rise of the Ronin in 2024 comes Shift Up’s Stellar Blade, an action role-playing extravaganza that prizes aesthetics above all. A stylish adventure awaits, even if there’s room for improvement in many other aspects.

With Earth now desolated in the aftermath of a great war, humans are no longer the masters of the planet. In their place stands the Naytiba, alien creatures that are as deadly as they are intimidating, and it is up to the 7th Airborne Squad to try to wrestle back control by slaying the Elder Naytiba at the heart of the chaos. Naturally, things don’t go according to plan, and the explosive introduction sets the tone pretty well for what comes next.

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU on PlayStation 5

The Metroidvania genre is full of gems that have strong gameplay foundations, keeping players engaged in whichever world they find themselves in, and incentivizing them to keep coming back for more. That said, not many of them feature stories that touch upon more poignant themes that require more emotional investment from the player. This is where Surgent Studios’ Tales of Kenzera: ZAU shines brightly, even if there are several issues that dim its brilliance along the way.

With the central core of the story being about the love of a father and son, players will join Zuberi, a child who is now mourning the loss of his father, in the distant future. That sense of loss is profound, and the only way to placate the unnerving swell of emotions is through a book written by his father, of a shaman called Zau who is facing the same predicament in the lands of Kenzera. Yet, the healer is able to strike a deal with the God of Death, Kalunga. By overcoming three lost ancestral spirits, Zau wants the deity to bring his Baba back from the dead.

MLB The Show 24 on PlayStation 5

Some things never disappoint, and when it comes to video game baseball, San Diego Studio’s MLB The Show series has always been a top performer out on the bases. This year’s entry is no different, with MLB The Show 24 building on the previous great work, especially on the storytelling front. While there is still room for improvement in certain areas, the stage is set for yet another homerun entry.

The standout feature of the The Negro Leagues returns with season 2, with four more outstanding stories available to players at launch. Once more, players keen to learn more about the history of the sport in the early years are treated to an experience unlike any other. From the fantastic video packages to the narration provided by the president of the Negro League Museum, Bob Kendrik, it is pretty impossible not to be pulled into this trip down memory lane for those who have prior knowledge and an even more enlightening journey for those of us who are discovering it for the first time.

If you ever thought that the amazing Dead Cells by developers Motion Twin would work better as a 3D game, then you are in luck. At The Game Awards 2023, the studio revealed its latest project in the form of Windblown, a lightning fast roguelike positioned as a “hyperactive, sugar-rushed” sibling to Dead Cells.

Players will take on the role of one of the Leapers, heroes who are tasked with the unenviable mission of defending the Ark, a floating village that orbits around a dangerous and threatening Vortex. Needless to say, that peace isn’t going to last very long. However, you can absorb the memories of fallen warriors and infuse their skills into your weapons, giving yourself a fighting chance against the invading Sentinels.

While the Iron’s Hot on PC

Crafting games has certainly become a genre that has built up quite a community, allowing players to immerse themselves deeper in the worlds where the next big adventure awaits. For those seeking the opportunity to work up a sweat forging items near the hustle and bustle of a blacksmith’s hammer, Humble Bundle and Bontemps Games’ While The Iron’s Hot should provide plenty of satisfaction in that regard.

Players will journey to the distant lands of Ellian, which has been home to a legacy of legendary artisans who have perfected their craft over the years in all kinds of disciplines. Yet, conspicuously, blacksmithing has become a lost art, and as the new face, it is up to you to take up the mantle of the masters of old and forge, smelt, and craft this world a collection of useful and interesting items.

Risk of Rain Returns on PC

As with most things, progress when it comes to a video game series can be clearly demonstrated in several ways. Better gameplay mechanics, an upgrade to the visuals, and a continuation of a story, these are just some avenues in which a sequel can build on previous foundations to theoretically make things better. However, for Risk of Rain Returns, Hopoo Games has gone backwards in a sense, pursuing a remaster of the original game instead of creating a sequel to Risk of Rain 2, and fans can count themselves lucky.

With a decade having passed since the original, it may be fair to say that the original may be unfamiliar to many modern gamers. Thankfully, Risk of Rain Returns serves as an excellent point of entry into the franchise, delivering a whole host of improvements and tweaks to elevate an already wonderful gameplay experience made very much for the present.

Ghostrunner 2 on PS5

The first Ghostrunner game was a pleasant surprise for many, bringing a brand of high-octane parkour action that is hard to beat, especially set against the dystopian cyberpunk aesthetic that just leaves players wanting more.

Naturally, that makes the sequel something to look forward to, and although Ghostrunner 2 continues to shine where it matters the most, some of the risks One More Level has taken have not exactly paid off, resulting in a fast-moving adventure that grinds to a halt at various junctures.

Cities: Skylines 2 on PC

It is not often the idea of better roads and traffic is a feature that is highly anticipated, but that is exactly what I was looking forward to with Colossal Order and Paradox Interactive’s Cities: Skylines 2. A more organic way of laying out a city comes with easier road placement, and the improved way in which traffic is simulated was a welcomed sight. Unfortunately, even the best layouts can suffer from jams and backed-up traffic, a reflection of how this sequel delivers smooth-flowing enjoyment and frustrating times in equal measure.

Considering it’s been eight years since the first game, the expectation for Cities: Skylines 2 was to arrive with groundbreaking innovations and ideas that will build on the strong foundations established with years of support and community mods. In a sense, it does, with plenty of new mechanics that bring a sense of realism to the economy and how a proper urban metropolis is brought to life.

Wargroove 2 on Nintendo Switch

Strategy games have not always been at the forefront of players’ minds. After all, when the original Wargroove was released in 2019, it was widely lauded for bringing back the turn-based tactical genre that had been missing for an extended period of time. Now, Wargroove 2 arrives in a market full of other strong competitors like the resurgent Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp and Fire Emblem Engage, building on its foundations and delivering a robust, solid experience that will keep fans happy albeit with some niggling issues.

Wargroove 2 picks up a few years after the end of the first game, where new combatants and factions are now vying for control over relics of a bygone era. This allows for five distinct campaigns for players to chew through, including a prologue, three unique adventures that cover the nuances of land, air, and sea combat, and finally, a combined campaign that will test everything you have learned thus far and bring the story full circle.

It has been two years since 11 bit studios revealed to the world that the team is working on Frostpunk 2, with the highly acclaimed society survival game set to get a sequel that will hopefully build on everything that has made it so special. And based on a hands-off preview led by the developers, there is a growing belief that it will do just that and more, testing players’ ability to build, manage, and juggle all the responsibilities of a post-apocalyptic world.

Rather than focus on the narrative-driven experience that will await players in the main campaign, 11 bit studios took the opportunity to show off its Utopia Builder, the sandbox gameplay imbued with unique Frostpunk elements that will create tales of survival and failure alike.

The indie space has always been full of surprises in the gaming space, taking risks and making changes that established players are more reluctant to try, and that has provided plenty of gems down the years. Now, there’s one more addition to the list, with the 12-person team over at The Astronauts delivering a diamond in the rough that is Witchfire in Early Access on the Epic Games Store.

A roguelite first-person shooter might not seem like the kind of game that the folks behind The Vanishing of Ethan Carter will create, but the team’s experience with both Bulletstorm and Painkiller is put to good use for this outing into a magical medieval world, full of dangerous creatures and environments engineered to do just one thing – give the player hell.

While layoffs are often an unfortunate and regular sight in the gaming industry, it is not that often to see a co-founder and beloved member of the team depart with no clear reason. That is what is happening to PlatinumGames, where Hideki Kamiya will take his leave soon.

As announced on Twitter/X, the studio tweeted the news, with Kamiya parting ways with the studio he co-founded with current CEO Atsushi Inabata and former employees Shinji Mikami and Tatsuya Minami on October 12 next month.

Mortal Kombat 1 on PS5

When it comes to fighting game royalty, the Mortal Kombat series surely has to be up there with the likes of Street Fighter and Tekken. After all, it has brought us over three decades of bloody combat, with each new entry finding new ways to surprise and astound. Mortal Kombat 1 is no exception, and could easily make the case for bringing the most significant addition to the formula of vicious combat in a long time. The series may boast a decorated legacy, but this sets the stage for a new era to kick off in the goriest of ways.

That star attraction is the new Kameo mechanic that will spice things up aplenty for the meta of the fighting game. For the very first time ever, players will be able to count on the help of a secondary character during a bout in Mortal Kombat 1, potentially turning the tide and filling in the gaps that the main fighter possesses.

Lies of P on PS5

The gaming world can seemingly not get enough of the souls-like genre, and while not every effort can come close to the likes of Elden Ring or Bloodborne put out by FromSoftware, Lies of P competently marries the core pillars of the experience with plenty of innovative ideas to help it stand out from the rest. Neowiz Games and Round 8 Studio have indeed created an impressive adventure born out of a classic children’s story, and one that will undoubtedly carve out its own audience in due time.

For veteran players who are familiar with souls-likes, it should come as no surprise that Lies of P maintains many of the signature features that fans have come to both love and hate. The challenging enemies, precarious level designs, and the need to collect Ergo as a currency for leveling up and making purchases should make everyone feel at ease. It helps form a solid foundation in which the game continues to grow and shows off its chop, like a master puppeteer preparing for the next big scene.

First revealed back in June as part of Microsoft’s showcase at Summer Game Fest 2023, the latest project coming out of Life Is Strange creators DONTNOD is peculiar, to say the least. Rather than being narrative-heavy with impactful choices to make, Jusant is a much more meditative affair as an action-puzzle climber, where the journey is of your own making.

The mysterious nature of the overall narrative of Jusant, with its focus on the secrets of a bygone civilization, depends heavily on environmental storytelling, with the main character functioning as more of a lens for players to view this world through. Scattered letters and notes provide contextual clues about the people that once were and a time before now, but only if you make the effort to find them, oftentimes requiring venturing off the beaten track.