Press Start Australia

Saros is an utterly sizzling romp through a sci-fi cosmic horror show that showcases Housemarque’s pedigree for spectacular, arcade action. Not only is Saros a user-friendly evolution of Returnal's core systems, which were already near-perfection, but it’s an exceptional, technical showpiece for a console that makes faultless performance seem magical. If Returnal was a reason to invest in next-gen, Saros pays that belief off again in what is currently a one-horse race for Game of the Year.

Replaced is spectacular in so many respects. It’s an audiovisual triumph, with best-in-class pixel art, animation, and cinematography, while its America, hardly a land of the free, feels real, dangerous, and all too familiar against today’s landscape, is a hotbed of fascinating history and complex characters. Disappointingly, combat and exploration don’t quite live up to what the game achieves in story and presentation.

With an atmospheric world underpinned by a lively, thumping soundtrack, Nullstar: Solus is a tight, frenetic, precision-focused platformer that brings a few new tricks, however imperfectly executed, to the genre. With one hundred levels, including a particularly punishing set of master levels that beg for your blood, sweat, and tears, Nullstar: Solus is a homegrown indie gem.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, won't be for everyone, but the people that it is for, will adore it. It's squarely and solely focused on putting power into the hands of the player through customisation and the ability to manipulate the lives of these little Miis. You can always count on it for a laugh, and if you enjoy sims, I have zero doubts you will sink hours into this game.

Mouse: P.I. for Hire is a tremendous, modern take on the boomer shooter. It has wonderful level design and gives you the right tools to explore it without restriction, mostly. Despite serving up meaty cases that have enormous ramifications within Mouseburg’s social and political landscape, the player is given zero agency to work them and, as such, Mouse falls agonisingly short of being a true detective fantasy.

Despite having to wait almost six years, PRAGMATA is another win for CAPCOM. It's unique, experimental, and there's nothing quite like it in the medium right now. It does feel like there's some missed potential in the narrative department, but I suspect many will enjoy PRAGMATA for how experimental it is and for how it succeeds in ways you wouldn't expect.

From what I’ve been able to experience, Forza Horizon 6, much like each game in the franchise that precedes it, seemingly achieves exactly what it sets out to do. It’s clearly a big celebration of car culture; in fact, it’s a rev head’s dream. But it’s also yet another beautiful encapsulation of a country outside of our own that we’re able to drink up from the comfort of our living rooms. As someone who perhaps didn’t get to see a lot of Japan on a recent whirlwind trip, I feel almost fortunate to be able to visit again through Playground’s latest entry in its car racing phenomenon. [Hands-On Impressions]

Life is Strange: Reunion is excellent. It’s a beautiful love letter to Max and Chloe’s story that provides closure in a way that makes sense. Technical issues aside, this is Deck Nine’s best Life is Strange game by some margin.

Although it maintains the spirit of the original Super Meat Boy, Super Meat Boy 3D, as a reimagining, doesn’t quite evolve on its ideas enough to strike a chord. Rather, it reframes them, and it’s these new perspectives and angles on Meat Boy’s frenetic platforming that prove to be the biggest bother of all. It’s still fun enough for the most part; however, I struggle to look beyond the compounded frustration and needless death—in a game about dying, no less.

Meetup In Bellabel Park doesn't reinvent Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but it goes to great lengths to remind you of why it was so special in the first place. The Koopaling battles add some welcome boss variety to the adventure, the Training Camp offers a much sharper challenge and Attraction Central is strong enough to earn a permanent spot in your party game rotation. While it remixes more than it transforms, Meetup In Bellabel Park is an easy recommendation whether you play it solo or with mates.