Jess Lee

“While there were a couple of things that didn't quite work for me, the stories that the machine holds, the strong writing, and the novelty of the game itself elevated TR-49 into something that really pulled me in.”

“Silksong won me over. As someone who didn't have strong feelings towards Hollow Knight, I'm glad I gave the sequel a chance.”

“Consume Me offers an inventive take on narrative design in gaming. In how it blends mechanics and story, it uses the power of the medium to create something that's uniquely engaging and empathetic, and leaves a lasting impact that helps to cement it as one of the year's best indies.”

“The two halves make for a whole that may have an amount of 'content' on par with other expansion packs, but that whole feels less than the sum of its parts.”

“The remaster wants to remind you of what it was like to play Oblivion in 2006, but some changes make it lose sight of this and it feels just enough like a different experience to be jarring.”

“Old Skies is an engaging point-and-click. It may not deviate heavily from the genre's formula, but the way the game bakes the time-travel aspects into some of the puzzle-solving provides a number of highs, and Fia's touching story and the twists along the way are worth experiencing.”

“Expelled! follows a similar blueprint to Overboard!, but ambition in its narrative design helps the game to feel rewarding in a different way. There's more to the story than trying to clear Verity's name. How Verity develops as a character across several playthroughs is the reason why Inkle's latest is able to stand out on its own.”

“Businesses & Hobbies' disjointed nature ultimately means it doesn't realise its full potential – though this can be somewhat mitigated if you have invested a fair bit into The Sims 4. Having a decent range of packs helps to take full advantage of the customisable side of business gameplay and make up for some of the expansion's flaws.”

“Keep Driving brings together all of its systems to create narratives that unfold organically and that are easy to get lost in. You may encounter the same hitchhikers or the same quests across two different runs, but the stories won't be the same. It's about the journey, not the destination.”

“Rift is another great entry in the NecroDancer series. It may be a more 'traditional' lane-scrolling rhythm title, but how the game incorporates Crypt's elements to create its own spin on the formula is noteworthy.”

“UFO 50 may be inspired by an era that's several generations ago, but an incredible amount of imagination and work went into making this collection of games more than just about evoking nostalgia. The collection also manages to feel fresh and innovative, delivering thrills and the feeling of discovery at nearly every turn. It's unlike anything I've played, and represents a passion and love for the medium in such a special way.”

“There are things I could nitpick, but they're easy to forgive as this is the most engaged I've been playing the game in a long time.”

“If you've never played Until Dawn, the remake is a good time to experience this cult classic. It's as fun and thrilling as it was in 2015. However, while the remake improves upon the original in some ways, the overall improvement isn't vast enough to the point where this version is a must for those who've played through the game once before.”

“While I would argue that Lovestruck is guilty of some missed opportunities, it is an expansion that both deepens and freshens up romance-based gameplay and I did find plenty of enjoyment playing out my Sims' romantic (mis)adventures. It's a cohesive (and pretty saucy by the game's standards) expansion that doesn't quite nail all of its ideas.”

“The struggle to portray a vivid world and a sense of place results in the game failing to make much of an emotive impact. Once the credits rolled, there was very little about the experience that stuck with us.”

“It's easy to get a kick out of seeing how high the scores can get, but the game is as much about the gambles you take and the planning along the way. There's a deceptive simplicity to Balatro due to its roots in poker, and it uses that to its advantage to reel you in while regularly finding new ways to surprise you.”

“Lil' Guardsman is charming and novel enough that it's worth playing, but a flawed approach that skirts around aspects of the core idea holds the overall experience back.”

“There are glimpses in here where some of the potential shines through, but not enough. Held back by a lack of depth and polish, the big selling points of the expansion struggle to flourish, resulting in a pack that's underwhelming despite its initial promise.”

“Fortuna's journey undoubtedly ranks as one of my highlights of the year, and shouldn't be overlooked.”

“A satisfying blend of high-speed action, chaos, and strategy makes this glorious revival of the F-Zero franchise stand out. Let's hope it won't be another 19 years before we get another game in the series.”