Shaun Prescott

“A brilliant climbing adventure that siphons the rage out of navigation puzzlers like Death Stranding and Baby Steps, resulting in something prickly, but warmly approachable.”

“A stylish metroidvania with crunchy combat and a delightfully melancholy mood, but some will find it too safe and frictionless.”

“Little Nightmares 3 adds a welcome online cooperative mode and some freshly bizarre environments, but the series' formula is becoming a little staid.”

“The Drifter is a gorgeous and moody point 'n' click adventure with impeccable art, but its pulp leanings undermine its best qualities.”

“Raidou Remastered isn't the best Shin Megami Tensei game on PC, but its live-action take on a familiar turn-based combat system is as fun as it is fascinating.”

“Labyrinth of the Demon King offers familiar first-person retro dungeon crawling, but distinguishes itself with its overpowering-almost unbearable-mood of dread.”

“Bigger than it first appears, Avowed is an engrossing and gorgeous action-RPG set in one of the most engaging fantasy worlds going, though it lacks the complex systems of its most beloved contemporaries.”

“Both blissful and demanding, Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders is one of the most beautiful skiing games on PC.”

“Tiny Glade is a stress-free building game with some lovely ideas, but it too often feels restrictive rather than meditative.”

“A charming meowtroidvania.”

“A sleep-destroying puzzle metroidvania of baffling depth, Animal Well may go down in history as one of the genre's best.”

“A bizarre, confronting and darkly funny descent into hell, Indika takes a lot of risks and mostly sticks the landing.”

“Combining moody and gratifying ship-on-ship combat with shallow live service trappings, Skull and Bones is great within the claustrophobic parameters of what market forces allow it to be.”

“Gory and moody, The Callisto Protocol doesn't mess with the survival horror formula, instead embracing all its beats and clichés to tell a grim sci-fi tale that drips with menace.”

“Elsewhere, there's a mission to reach the stratosphere, as well as five "high-speed, low-level" challenges that are also focused on navigating tricky, mountainous terrain without crashing and exploding and dying.”

“Spelunky 2 doesn't advance the original's formula, but there's more stuff to sink your teeth into.”

“The pixel-art is faultless and the gameplay is pleasingly reminiscent of the classics, but Timespinner doesn't offer much that feels new.”

“A prickly 2D Metroidvania with a curious twist, Dandara admirably finds something new to do with the genre, but it's tough work to get onboard.”

“An engaging, vibrant and challenging platformer that adds narrative to a genre often shy of it.”

“A satisfying, moreish take on the roguelike formula, and one that's most likely to appeal to genre naysayers.”