My search for a monster-hunting game I actually enjoy, regrettably, continues. Clearly, plenty of people love the heavy, sluggish movement and combat - some might even like the characters and story. But for me, everything is just too hard in all the wrong ways. The difficulty itself is fine, but every action feels like wading through mud: the sheer effort required to do anything - progress quests, rush through lifeless dialogue, and of course the combat - are just draining, not engaging. And, like always with this franchise, hunting feels more like an endurance test than an actual thrill.

A solid follow-up with a “refined” UI (which I’m still not sure whether I like) and quality-of-life “improvements” (which I didn’t really feel necessary), atop weaker storytelling and puzzle design. The mystery unfolds a bit too predictably, and some puzzles feel like busywork rather than meaningful deduction. Still enjoyable, but an unfortunate step down.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle captures the spirit of the franchise with gorgeous and detailed environments, solid puzzles, and engaging first-person exploration. While stealth mechanics feel a bit basic, it’s fine, and overall this is a faithful, at times thrilling tribute to the series.

A worthy sequel to the original, expanding its oppressive, atmospheric world with stunning detail. Slow, deliberate pacing rewards careful exploration and strategy. A love letter to fans of the series, blending nostalgia with modern mechanics for a deeply immersive survival shooter. Not free of jank, but if you’re up for its pacing, you’re set for dozens or even hundreds of hours of apocalyptic adventure.

[Early access] Path of Exile 2 is a bold next step for the ARPG genre. With intricate - at times overwhelming - buildcrafting, refined combat, and a robust, creative endgame, it’s a rich, engrossing experience. Classes feel well defined, more deliberate combat is rewarding, and its dark atmosphere, boss fights and drive for one-more-map keep you hooked. It’s going to be great to watch this develop toward full release.

Balatro isn’t just a great game - it’s a revelation. Its inventiveness and razor-sharp design all but set a new standard. With perfectly balanced mechanics and inspired, creative decisions, every moment feels deliberate, rewarding, extraordinary. A true masterpiece. Even in a year with lots of great releases, an easy pick for game of the year.

SULFUR is a roguelite extraction shooter that offers surprisingly tight gunplay, inventive weapon customisation and an awesome, striking artstyle. Though not everything fully clicks, it’s a fun, amusing and engaging experience that oozes passion and creativity. It’s just super cool.

Neva is gorgeous to look at and… “fine”, but doesn’t quite meet the high standard set by GRIS. While its art style and sound design are captivating, the story and gameplay mostly feel a little derivative. The narrative lacks coherence, and a surprisingly simplistic theme is ultimately underwhelming. Combat and puzzles add variety but feel underdeveloped. Ultimately, Neva impresses aesthetically but lacks the thematic depth and compelling drive that made GRIS so good.

Sigh, it’s happened again. I love Metaphor: ReFantazio’s worldbuilding, atmosphere, cinematics, and a genuinely breathtaking UI, and I can see why it’s critically lauded. But, much like their other games, I just couldn’t get hooked for much the same reasons - laborious busywork and constant interruption to the actually-engaging parts of the gameplay. Outside its cutscenes, the world surprisingly feels oddly drab and empty (I often felt like I was in Pokémon Legends: Arceus), lacking the visual richness to match its ambitious themes. Despite admiring its vision, I sadly found it hard to stay engaged or connect deeply with its characters.

Destiny: Rising has been officially announced. A free-to-play mobile RPG shooter, is set in the Destiny universe. Developed by NetEase Games, the creators of Diablo Immortal, with Bungie overseeing, it launches its closed alpha on November 1. Expect campaign missions, multiplayer modes, and both old and new characters in an alternate post-Dark Age timeline. Feels like a bit of an oof.