Phil Iwaniuk

“Polished city-building that goes the extra mile to create character and meaning to your block-dropping feats.”

“SI's gap year was well spent on a fantastic match engine update, but progress is still too slow between games.”

“Bursting with ideas, enthusiasm, and a solid physics model, but JDM seems more preoccupied with throwing another idea in than polishing what's already there.”

“A witty take on sci-fi and co-op that's teeming with life and begging for you to get creative with its gadgets.”

“Old school strategy, sensibly modernised. Creaky cutscenes and character art aside, the visual overhaul works wonders.”

“A rough-edged but worthwhile spin on historical 4Xs that oddly leaves Civ's greatest flaws untouched.”

“The show's trademark knack for satire staves off the sameness in this wintry brawler”

“It was never going to be a revolution, but you feel the new features on and off the pitch.”

“As mechanically polished as driving sims have ever been on PC. Stately and familiar, but finely crafted.”

“No, really-they've actually changed things this year, and the football feels better.”

“Forza mimicry aside, the improved handling and visuals, along with Grand Race mode, are a revelation.”

“Nacho Rodríguez's point-and-click is like an old kid's cartoon, a cavalcade of imagery where Lucasfilm meets Dalí”

“The beginnings of a PvPvE cult hit. Extinct animal slaughter is fundamentally fun, but the foundations are sparse.”

“The PlayStation classic remains out of reach on PC due to debilitating performance issues.”

“A slow-paced and overly simplistic take on city building and war waging, but blessed with wholesome looks and a relaxing atmosphere.”

“A serious display of sci-fi storytelling talent, even if the production falls short of space age.”

“Some well-judged bold calls in both mechanics and visual direction elevate a familiar arcade racer above NFS's previous monotony.”

“Football Manager is still the best sim of its kind, but FM23's serious lack of major improvements shows an annual release schedule taking its toll.”

“Tense and involving, if just slightly lacking smarts and spectacle. A firm foundation to build a series on.”

“Moral murkiness helps preserve the tension across Swansong’s duration. There’s always something at stake – your life, the masquerade, your integrity – and that does a lot to infuse some meaning into all the talking and scouring rooms for notes. I doubt that Swansong is set to become a vampire RPG of legend, like 2004’s Bloodlines, but it nonetheless makes vampires scary again.”