NME

The core, simple and colourful appeal of 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved – battling your way through chamber after chamber and canyon after canyon of ever-intensifying alien and mutant hordes with zero concern for XP, skill trees or equipment upgrades – brilliantly survives this stunning visual update. The drama and atmosphere of the original is hugely enhanced by its otherworldly textures and cinematic cut-scenes. It’s only let down by old-school transportation mechanics, so unwieldy that they drag you straight back to 2001.

Where 2020’s Sea Of Thieves sets you and your mates up for multiplayer, grog-chugging hijinks, Resynced cements Black Flag’s place as the quintessential story-driven pirating epic. By being a plunder-led adventure first and an Assassin’s Creed game second, it remains a treasure-nabbing triumph, even with a few flaws. Put simply: this rum-soaked remake is a swashbuckling good time.

Mixtape is easy to play – and even easier to fall in love with. Its interactive graphic novel gameplay might put off some diehard gamers but the deliberately messy coming-of-age story and the killer, curated soundtrack will tug at your heartstrings. At £15.99, it’s an all-killer, no-filler experience.

Do a barrel roll! Nintendo’s Switch 2 Star Fox 64 revamp might be creatively unambitious, but it sure is a hell of a ride. From the icy wreckage of Fichina Outpost to Macbeth’s industrial heartlands, every moment of this souped up cosmic expedition will make you want to hoot in delight.

Calling this the best ever James Bond game doesn’t feel like high-enough praise. The story straddles the line between far-fetched thriller and believable spy adventure while the globe-trotting missions leave enough space for you to decide if you want to be the world’s greatest super sleuth or a swaggering bruiser. There are playful nods to 007’s long history but IO aren’t afraid to try something new with this origin tale either.

Broadening the scope of Lego’s licenced games – certainly in the wake of 2024’s half-baked Lego Horizon Adventures – Legacy is a darkly enjoyable plastic romp through Bat-history leaving little out and cramming a huge amount in.

If you liked Returnal, you will love just about everything about Saros. This is a true elevation, with Housemarque confirming their genius in the ‘bullet hell’ genre. As games mature as an artform, there’s a particular joy in following developers so steeped in the medium’s mechanical history. An easy recommend.

Pragmata is a fun, thrilling sci-fi romp. The combat/hacking mechanic evolves the shooter genre in a refreshing way, while the tale of villainous AI, rogue 3D printers and unlikely human connection blends the horror elements with something more wholesome. This is a sleek, polished package from legendary developer Capcom that makes every minute of its to-the-point 12-hour playtime matter.

There’s no denying that Crimson Desert is a massively ambitious game. Bringing together the most inventive parts of Breath Of The Wild, The Witcher, Elden Ring and a dozen more fantasy games means you can still be surprised after sinking hundreds of hours into exploring the beautiful, varied land of Pailune. However, trying to cram so many different mechanics into a game that also offers players total freedom means it often feels a bit hollow.

More of a show than a game – imagine Alan Wake taking place in Dawson’s Creek – Life Is Strange: Reunion works wonderfully as an involving continuation of Max Caulfield’s web-like, multi-timelined story, for fans already engaged with the weaving franchise plots and concepts. Newcomers may feel dropped in midway though, and there’s little intellectual or skill-based challenge to keep you hooked. The stakes are low, the action slow and there’s little to get either pulse or brain cell pumping. Maybe wait for the TV show…