PlayStation Universe

“Nioh 3 represents the series at its most refined and confident. Combat is precise, expressive, and endlessly rewarding, while open-field design gives the world room to breathe without sacrificing focus. Crucibles deliver punishing, carefully balanced challenges that reward preparation and mastery in equal measure.”

“Another swing and a hit from Square Enix and the Dragon Quest franchise. Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined streamlines the entire experience and provides plenty of quality-of-life updates that I wish every studio would implement into their games. The visuals and sound design are once again in the higher echelon, and game's combat is still just as enjoyable as Dragon Quest combat always is.”

“If a harsh climbing simulator is your thing, Cairn does a great job of providing you with the treacherous conditions of an ambitious mountain climb. It's an outstanding little game in respects to how strategy and perseverance can assist you in reaching your goals and ultimately the Mount Kami summit.”

“Code Vein II is fine, functional and can be fun-especially if you're able to get the A.I to do the dirty work for you. The Formae system is potent and definitely gives combat encounters a zesty sense of empowerment, and if you're invested you'll want to lap up Code Vein 2 with vigor-just go in expecting a largely safe soulslike and you'll be content with this one.”

“MIO: Memories In Orbit is a deceptive experience that lulled me into thinking that it might be retreading some of the roads that had already been masterfully done by its genre-siblings, but only a few hours had me appreciating every crevice and finely realised detail throughout its lush world. It manages to stand all and establish itself as a fantastic metroidvania that draws upon the strengths of the genre, while creating a world all its own.”

“The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is a bittersweet ending to a story that started over 20 years ago. Beyond the Horizon has mastered its combat system, offering a near-perfect balance between action and turn-based combat. Meanwhile, the story at times had me glued to the screen. It's just a shame some of the franchise's most glaring issues still haven't been addressed, and the game's pacing could have used a lot more work.”

“BrokenLore: Unfollow is a bit up-and-down with its delivery. It explores worthwhile themes of self-betterment but utilizes some conflicting messages to do so. Then, enemy scares are more jump scares than anything else, which get old quickly. The second half of the game proves more cohesive, and the experience only lasts a couple of hours. $30 isn't an unfair asking price for BrokenLore: Unfollow, but it will likely keep people on the fence if they already are.”

“Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow on PSVR2 is modest in ambition but confident in its chosen identity. It doesn't offer the sprawling systemic depth of its ancestors, nor does it push stealth AI into new territory, yet the tactile VR experience elevates what could have been forgettable into something surprisingly satisfying. The repetition, the shallow enemy behaviour, and the occasional technical hiccup undeniably pull the game down, but the undeniable charm of physically inhabiting the shadows pushes it back up. What's left is a VR stealth experience that works because it leans into the strengths of the medium, even if it can't fully escape its weaknesses.”

“Though Skate Story may be a barebones skateboarding game, the rest of the game is a stunning visual and audibly experience. The game's soundtrack is incredible and perfectly fits the abstract, psychedelic visual style.”

“When you put all of Total Chaos' myriad of gameplay elements together, a lot of the fear factor quickly disappears, giving way to something more akin to Doom than to survival horror. There's definitely an audience for this game, but it's more of a survival horror-adjacent experience. It has elements of the survival horror genre, but it leans too hard into the Doom formula. This combination creates a fun concept that needs editing to be a cohesive product. $25 is a fair price tag for what Total Chaos offers, but it may make some hesitate if they don't know what they're getting into.”

“Nightdive Studios has done once it again with Blood: Refreshed Supply. Not only has the developer lavished its typically heady amount of polish and care on Blood: Refreshed Supply, but so too does it deserve a whole heap of credit for refreshing (pun intended), one of the best shooters of the 1990s for contemporary consoles. Boasting some incredible level design, massively satisfying weapons and a wealth of additional content, Blood: Refreshed Supply deftly mimics its resurrected protagonist by still holding up so darn well all these years later.”

“Plenty of players feared Black Ops 7 might fall into the same expansion-like pattern that Modern Warfare 3 did after Modern Warfare 2, and for some that concern may feel justified once the campaign's uneven execution becomes clear. The story has flashes of ambition, but its pacing and structure stop it from reaching the impact it aims for, leaving it feeling more serviceable than essential. Multiplayer steadies the ship with the sharpest and most rewarding action in the package, delivering the consistency and momentum the rest of the game struggles to match. Zombies offers a decent run with enjoyable pockets of tension, yet it also settles into familiar rhythms, creating an overall experience that lands solidly but never pushes the series forward in the way fans hoped.”

“Old School Rally may not have as much meat on the bones as modern rally games, and on a technical level it's not going to wow you at all. Having said that, Old School Rally pays gracious homage to the past and is definitely a rally-racing game for those who love late 90s and early 00s titles such as Colin McRae Rally and the early WRC titles.”

“Rennsport doesn't leave a positive impression at all by overcharging players for a flimsy racing game package that's clearly unfinished. Yes, the car handling is nuanced, the featured track selection is nice, and while the car selections come up short, they are hulking and sound as impressive as they look; however, Rennsport falls very short in just about every way and will not hold racing game aficionados' attention for very long until they drop off and find a better and fairer alternative to spend their time with.”

“Neon Inferno looks and sounds great, and while it plays well enough, its biggest flaw is leaving you for dead just for trying to take down a foe in the background. It would have been great to see some additional game modes, but as it stands the two-hour campaign and the hardcore difficulty, even played on the game's easiest setting, make it just too hard to recommend.”

“Where Winds Meet does a lot of great stuff that should be commended for its freedom of choice, characters interaction and fantastic combat. However, it also struggles with its Free-To-Play mechanics, resulting in a grindy and stalled progression system.”

“For anyone drawn to open-world shooters, survival games, or atmospheric horror, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is an absolute must-play. It's tense, beautiful, and deeply immersive, with a world that feels alive and unpredictable. Challenge, exploration, and narrative are balanced with skill, delivering moments of genuine fear, discovery, and triumph. On PS5, the game runs smoothly and presents the Zone in all its haunting glory. After experiencing it firsthand, it's clear this is a major milestone for the series - a game that fully deserves attention and respect.”

“Much like its grizzled and long dormant protagonist, Outlaws + A Handful of Missions has been pulled out of the doldrums of retirement to lace up its boots, load up its guns and ride into the sunset. It's old, gruff, unapologetic and certainly not for everyone. For me however, the opportunity to replay one of my favourite cult PC shooters of the 1990s in arguably its definitive form, easily makes Outlaws + A Handful of Missions worth the price on its head. For everyone else, a snappy and surprisingly clever Wild West retro shooter beckons.”

“The Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy is arguably the series of games that put Atelier on the map for a lot of players, and this remastered collection manages to do what it needs to do to sand down the edges to make for an approachable and digestible best-hits of what many consider the peak of the franchise. While I would have liked to see this collection go a bit further in their effort to bring all the games to the same standard, I can't really argue with what's been included here.”

“If you want a new superhero episodic series with great dramatic moments and laughs, Dispatch is fantastic. However, if you want a game that plays as whimsically and enjoyably as it presents itself, then you may be disappointed. Give Dispatch a shot though because it's definitely an enjoyable ride you'll want to play repeatedly.”