Lies of P comes closest to capturing FromSoft's signature style, and in some ways, it pushes the genre forward with its innovative weapon-building system and expanded customisation options. The reimagining of a familiar folktale is novel, and the sheer density of content on offer is more than generous. Sometimes it feels like the designers are creating a game that could be their final masterpiece, pouring everything they have into it. Nothing is held back, and every step of the way it surprises with something new.

If there is one thing Be Missed and Remembered: The Letter from Mayoiga gets really well, it is the ageless nature of a problem many claim is a modern thing. By mixing in themes of old theology with the modern concept of unemployment and the hikikomori phenomenon, it unmasks it as a problem for all of humanity to solve, and not just those affected. It gives empathy and hope to outsiders, and hopefully, will encourage others to dare to take their hands despite what society tells them. However, at times it could have trusted its depiction of humanity to keep the reader turning pages. The story here is too good for cheap tricks like cliffhangers.

Is Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass worth splashing out for? Players craving more Pokopia areas to build and friends to meet will feel right at home with the first part. There is a surprising amount of depth, literally, with content that feels fresh - yet familiar. With just how much care has gone into Part 1 of the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass, it's exciting to see what is in store to round out the post-apocalyptic Pokémon experience. If you enjoy the base Pokopia experience, the DLC is an absolute no-brainer.

Dream Echo serves as a strong core to build upon. While it currently has too little variation because of the specialised builds it asks players to make, there is enough here to create most classic ARPG builds desired, such as defensive melee builds, ranged chaos, and summons. The roguelike elements also enhance the ARPG wonderfully thanks to the amount of control given and the fact that they prevent runs from feeling repetitive.

As with the previous games, the Switch 2 upgrade makes this the ultimate version of Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Previously an eyesore when played portably, the higher resolution and framerates massively enhance a game that badly needed the improvements. The additional Merc Assault mode helps to speed up certain missions, while the other additions are merely nice-to-haves. There is the lingering thought that there could have been other helpful boosters to speed up gameplay, however. This grand RPG may suffer in parts, with the expansion papering over a few cracks, but one thing is certain: this is the best version of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to play.

Despite some minor issues, Hollow Knight: Silksong is a brilliant game, but it won’t hesitate to punish poor preparation or lazy mistakes severely. The wait was long, but it was worth it to have such a polished final product.

There may not be enough here to get people to jump into the origins of the Tekken franchise, but it has to be said that there is still something satisfying about a fighting game that is devoid of flashy effects, super meters and ridiculous combos that require intense thumb movements and memorisation to pull off. Just know that the content most will be used to seeing in the PS1 version isn’t present here.

A suitably epic next step for the Digimon games, Digimon Story: Time Stranger is an amazing JRPG that suffers only from some lack of flare. More animated battles would be good; however, the exploration and story are entertaining enough to make that a tiny gripe rather than a huge issue. Definitely a must-have for fans of Digimon or even just fans of monster collecting JRPGs.

Runt is a real roller coaster in terms of quality. At first it seems like the storytelling will be poorly written, preachy, and indulging itself in violence. However, after the first twenty minutes, those fears disappear and reveal a very engaging story with characters who are impossible to ignore. On the other hand, the minigames are at times painful, and the lack of very basic QoL features for the genre, such as an auto feature for the text, makes replaying painful. This is damning for a game that seems to expect the player to replay it multiple times and pursue the mystery.

Panic Panda’s creation delivers a charmingly weird simulation that values atmosphere and personality over depth. Its satisfying cooking mechanics, memorable PS1-inspired aesthetic and horrifyingly ridiculous premise make it a worthwhile curiosity for those looking for something different. That said, those expecting genuine horror, meaningful exploration or deeper mechanical experimentation may leave disappointed, making Meat Grinder a neat novelty that, while recommended, ultimately falls short of its deliciously twisted potential.