They include Dave the Diver, Construction Simulator, Raji: An Ancient Epic, Nour: Play With Your Food and Deliver Us Mars, all playable on PS4 and PS5. PS4 players can look forward to The Crew 2, Oddballers, The Lego Ninjago Movie Videogame and Lego Marvel’s Avengers. Finally, Miasma Chronicles and Stray Blade are playable exclusively on PS5.

PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers can look forward to three classic titles – Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare, Star Wars: Rebel Assault 2: The Hidden Empire and MediEvil, all from the PlayStation One era and playable on PS4 and PS5. Stay tuned for more updates on the Game Catalog in the coming weeks.

Greyhill Incident

What could have been a B-movie horror game turns into an unfunny, painfully unaware low-budget horror game. Aliens invade your small town, and you go around “saving” people. You fight the aliens sometimes, and they’re as threatening as inflatables at a pool party. Throw in lots of awful dialogue, dumb objectives that are difficult to parse, a nonsensical plot, terrible voice acting and bugs galore, and the Greyhill Incident is just one of the absolute worst games of the year.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

How do you mess up a Lord of the Rings game, that too with one of its most recognizable characters? The Lord of the Rings: Gollum makes it look easy, focusing on bland events in Smeagol’s life with asinine mechanics and tedious objectives. The stealth is poor, and Gollum’s character is nothing like the books or films, not that the script does a good job of delivering something original. Such was the failure of this game that Daedalic Entertainment has stopped game development entirely, halting another Lord of the Rings title (rumored to be a sequel to Gollum) and focusing instead on publishing.

Stray Blade

Stray Blade does have some potential with its lore and art style. Unfortunately, this is quickly undone thanks to the annoying protagonist, frustrating combat where you can dodge some attacks and parry others (not both), poor and limited enemy design, progression-blocking bugs and more. Improvements have reportedly been made to the combat post-launch, but its other flaws still stick out.

Redfall

Arkane Austin’s Redfall could have capitalized on improved communication and paved the way for other high-profile Xbox exclusives like Starfield and Forza Motorsport. Instead, it crashed and burned, packed to the brim with bugs, dumb AI, a sparsely populated and boring world, lackluster enemy variety, stupid vampires, terrible weapons, horrible dialogue – and, of course, performance issues on PC. Playing on Xbox Series X/S is torturous, thanks to no aim assist or advanced control settings. Top it off with no matchmaking, and this “co-op experience” just sucks.

Crime Boss: Rockay City

With the initial announcement, Crime Boss: Rockay City appeared to have poured most of its budget into big-name Hollywood stars. Unfortunately, it didn’t give them much direction or compelling dialogue, and the gameplay feels completely superfluous. Missions feel like little more than shoot-outs against tanky foes, and the campaign is forgettable at best. What could have been a pulpy take on Payday’s heists ends up as a bug-riddled, cheesy mess.

Ravenbound

Despite Systemic Reaction’s previous titles, like Generation Zero, being middling, I was genuinely stoked for Ravenbound. A rogue-lite set in a fully 3D open world based on Scandinavian folklore sounded interesting. The actual game was a different story, with baffling design decisions for combat, the Hatred system, exploration, long-term progression and more. Underwhelming performance and bugs didn’t help either, and it all just felt so poorly put together. Like Stray Blade, there have been improvements, but it’s got a ways to go.

Beyond Contact

Though published by Deep Silver, Beyond Contact passed completely unnoticed when it was released last April. It’s a sci-fi survival open-world title with base-building and real-time combat with a bright aesthetic, which is all good, but it messes up so much. Most materials do nothing, base defense is poorly balanced, farming is way too much work for little rewards, and the less said about the combat and tanky enemies, the better. Beyond Contact could have been interesting and settled for being fundamentally mediocre.

Rendezvous

With titles like A Space for the Unbound highlighting the game development talent in Indonesia, it hurts to see stuff like Rendezvous. It’s marketed as a “2.5D cyber-noir pixel art action-puzzle adventure.” Sure enough, its aesthetic is very sharp and eye-catching. However, it offers little beyond that than annoying puzzles and stealth to go with its boring combat and half-hearted narrative.

Mia and the Dragon Princess

Wales Interactive has a reputation for FMV-style games, with some standouts (The Complex) and duds (I Saw Black Clouds). Mia and the Dragon Princess sadly falls into the latter category. The story, about Mia and the mysterious Marshanda as they meet and go on the run, is baffling and full of throwaway characters. There’s a lot of fight choreography courtesy of – I kid you not – “Ginger Ninja Trickster”, and you can make some choices which don’t lead to any satisfying conclusion. Is it a good or bad thing that it’s over quickly? You decide.

The Last Worker

In The Last Worker, players control the last human worker who struggles in a world of automation and corporate greed. So it’s a shame that the protagonist Kurt isn’t particularly likeable or the writing very interesting. Some solid gameplay could have saved it, but unfortunately, The Last Worker offers awful mini-games and some poorly handled themes. Not even VR and unique mechanics can help.

Clive ‘N’ Wrench

Dr Daucas has stolen Professor Nancy Merricarp’s blueprints for time travel. It’s up to Clive (not that one) and Wrench, a monkey and not a talking wrench, to venture through time to stop Daucas. Making a compelling 3D platformer can be challenging, and Clive ‘N’ Wrench sadly fails where it counts. Controls and combat are terrible, and the performance leaves much to be desired (watch out for projectiles from enemies running at a different frame rate). It may have been something with more time and polish, but unfortunately ends up awkwardly skirting by.

Colossal Cave Reimagined

A 3D remake of the 1979 text-based adventure, Colossal Cave Reimagined comes from Ken and Roberta Williams, known for legendary adventure games like the King’s Quest series under Sierra Entertainment. Sadly, it’s let down by underwhelming visuals and outdated design, like annoying mazes and instant deaths. While the puzzles are decent, the remake feels unnecessary at best and downright frustrating at worst.

Curse of the Sea Rats

A Metroid-style title with hand-drawn animations and somewhat cute visuals, Curse of the Sea Rats ultimately wastes its potential. The rats may as well be human, without any unique mechanics designed around them (much less interesting scenarios for each of the four playable characters), and the world design is as confounding as it is boring. Cap this off with balancing issues, where some enemies are far more challenging than the bosses, and you have a fairly lop-sided, dull adventure.

Farming Simulator 23

At first, I did a double take on seeing Farming Simulator 23 rated so low. How could this be, especially when the previous entries were so beloved? It’s because this year’s iteration launched on mobile devices and ported to the Nintendo Switch. The result is a pared-down experience with limited freedom, fewer features, horrible performance and visuals, and a much higher price tag than the mobile versions.

The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR

Considering how well-received Until Dawn: Rush of Blood was on PlayStation VR (read: not very well), there was concern that The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR could repeat those mistakes on PlayStation VR2. Unfortunately, it’s worse, even with powerful technology and new features like eye tracking for scary blinking moments. It doesn’t present an interesting story or offer much beyond rudimentary rail shooter segments. Performance issues also bog the entire thing down, which isn’t something you want to highlight on Sony’s next-gen VR.

REDFALL

Redfall always looked like it was going to be very different from Arkane’s traditional offerings, but the general expectation was that, given the studio’s innate talent and impeccable track record, it would at least be a good, well put together game. In the end, it definitely wasn’t. Not only does Redfall almost completely lack the strengths one usually associates an Arkane game with, it’s not even good at the new things it tries, with everything from its open world and its co-op gameplay to its loot mechanis coming with major issues. Add to all of that some significan technical hiccups, and what you have is a game that woefully falls short of expectations for an Arkane joint.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: GOLLUM

Let’s be fair here, no one really expected The Lord of the Rings: Gollum to be anything more than middling or passably enjoyable at best- but we also didn’t expect it to be literally one of the worst games in recent memory. Daedalic Entertainment’s stealth action-adventure game took its sweet time to finally release, and when it did, it stumbled with its first step and fell flat on its face. Nothing about The Lord of the Rings: Gollum works. It has boring quest design, little to no exploration, broken combat and traversal mechanics, and a deluge of technical and performance problems that make it nigh on impossible to get through. You don’t play The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. You endure it.

LAYERS OF FEAR

For a while, Bloober Team has been pumping out psychological horror games that range from middling to genuinely good, and this year, the studio went back to the very beginning to bring back Layers of Fear. Combining, connecting, and reimagining the first two games while adding its own new content on top, the new Layers of Fear looks excellent and has a fascinating premise- but as is often the case with Bloober, it doesn’t do justice to that premise. It ends up being a fairly dull, repetetive, and rote game that relies on its visual prowess to the exclusion of almost everything else. We can only hope the Silent Hill 2 remake fares significantly better.

TCHIA

We’d had our eye on Tchia for a while before it launched, with Awaceb’s tropical action-adventure game looking increasingly promising with each of its pre-launch showings, and though the final product is certainly not without its merits, it didn’t quite live up to our expectations. Yes, it has a gorgeous setting, and making your way around the island is fun, for the most part. But the game’s mechanics and systems never quite manage to get their hooks in, leaving us with a pretty but fairly unremarkable experience.

CRIME BOSS: ROCKAY CITY

Over the years, many have tried their hand at the co-op first person shooter heist genre, and very few have managed to enjoy the kind of success that the Payday series has seen. Crime Boss: Rockay City was certainly eyeing that throne, and with its star-studded cast of actors, it looked like it might actually take a big swing. The actual game itself, however, was not only disappointing, it was just downright terrible. Whether you’re playing its single player roguelike campaign or diving into its co-op offerings, the game’s aggressive mediocrity taints every second you spend with it, with its awful voice acting, bland design, repetitive loop, and boring core gameplay dragging down the experience into the doldrums.

RAVENBOUND

Ravenbound has a promising premise on paper as an open world roguelite set in a world inspired by Scandinavian folklore, but when you actually get down to playing the game, you realize that it’s woefully underbaked in almost every way that matters. Its world is a vast one, but given how empty, bland, and vapid it generally feels, exploration ends up being significantly de-emphasized. Combat can get repetitive instead of decent enemy variety, while the game also does itself no favours with its poorly balanced difficulty curve. Add to that an unfortunately healthy dose of technical issues, and you get a pretty underwhelming game.

FORSPOKEN

A big new AAA open world IP from Square Enix? To say that people were curious to see how Forspoken would fare would be an understatement, even back when it was called Project Athia, though unfortunately, it didn’t even come close to matching expectations. A premise that’s interesting on paper is let down by annoying characters and poor writing. An open world that should have been begging to be explored ended up being empty and uninteresting. The combat system, while flashy and enjoyable, failed to make up for deficiencies in boring quest design. The fact that Forspoken failed to meet Square Enix’s commercial expectations was, ultimately, not surprising in the slightest.

THE LAST OF US PART 1 PC

Frankly, we’re still baffled that this was allowed to exist. Naughty Dog, more than almost any other studio in the entire industry, is associated with an obsessive level of attention to detail and quality assurance. Polish and Naughty Dog go hand-in-hand- which is why it’s so surprising that The Last of Us Part 1’s PC port might be one of the worst PC ports in recent memory. Even looking at brief clips and individual screenshots, it was hard to believe that something this broken had been allowed to release. When you actually played it, it quickly became apparent that the state of the game was somehow even worse. It’s a real shame, too, because this will forever be remembered as the manner in which this legendary franchise made its PC debut.

LEGO 2K DRIVE

Unlike many other games on this list, LEGO 2K Drive is not without its merits. Its world is vibrant and colourful, it has an impressive suite of customization options for building any kind of car you want, and, as you’d expect from a LEGO game, it’s very kid-friendly and easy to get into. It is, however, also quite vapid. What you see is very much what you get, and with that lack of depth, LEGO 2K Drive ends up like a shallow experience that runs out of steam too quickly, whether that’s because of its how uninteresting open world exploration is, or its lackluster optional content, or any number of other issues.

LEAP

LEAP isn’t exactly a game that’s grabbed a whole lot of headlines, so to say that expectations were high wouldn’t exactly be fair. But this is still very much a game that doesn’t do justice to its interesting premise. The sci-fi competitive FPS boasts slick visuals and cool traversal options, but all of that gets bogged down in its tedious gameplay loop and how unsatisfying its moment-to-moment gameplay largely feels. Especially in a genre that’s this competitive, LEAP fails to make a mark in any meaningful way.

STRAYED LIGHTS

We don’t want to be unfair on Strayed Lights here, because for a game developed by a small team with a unique vision, it does actually get some things right. The story, the music, and the aesthetic, for instance, are legitimately solid and worthy of praise. There’s plenty else in the game, however, that drags the experience down, from its frustrating combat to the lackluster platform to its technical issues. The fact that there are parts of the game that are genuinelty good makes the parts that aren’t feel that much more frustrating.

STRAY BLADE

You’ll never see us turning down the chance to play a new Soulslike, especially one that’s trying to shake up the genre’s formula the way Stray Blade was promising it would. But though there’s something to be said about the idea of viewing the genre through a less gloomy lens, the actual execution of many of the game’s core pillars leaves a lot to be desired. The clunky controls, uninspired level design, and technical issues combine to make Stray Blade quite a frustrating experience, even if it isn’t one that’s totally without its merits.

CRASH TEAM RUMBLE

Again, in the name of fairness, it’s worth pointing out that Crash Team Rumble is definitely a game that you can have plenty of fun with- especially for fans of the series, given how well it translates that Crash feel into a MOBA experience. As it stands right now though, it’s also pretty barebones, with its launch offerings, especially in terms of the modes on offer, being quite limited. Of course, we’re hoping that Crash Team Rumble will be supported so well that including it on this list in retrospect feels like a mistake- but with live service games, you can never tell how long of a lifespan to expect.

GREYHILL INCIDENT

A small production in every way possible, criticising Greyhill Incident would almost feel unfair under most circumstances- but unfortunately, there’s plenty to criticize in this game. The core premise of a survival horror game where your main enemies are aliens is certainly an interesting one, but from its awful dialogue to its painfully shallow mechanics to the mind-numbing level design, Greyhill Incident messes up (to say the very least) in too many ways to be anything more than a disappointment. And even that might be a generous description.

RISEN (PS4)

In the many, many years since its launch, the original Risen has amassed a reputation as one of the RPG genre’s proper diamonds in the rough, though with its 2023 port, there was way more of the rough than there was of the diamond. Janky animations, disappointing and minimal updates to the gameplay and visuals, clunky combat, and technical problems combined to paint the ageing experience in what wasn’t exactly the most flattering light. Maybe this is one flawed gem that should have been left in the past.

Stray Blade feels like it’s on that same cusp. Its animated visuals are appealing, striking a balance between fantasy and cartoony. The biomes aren’t super-inspired, but they’re not terrible-looking either, and some of the latter ones can be striking in some ways. Unfortunately, these positives and the various genre buzzwords don’t coalesce into a good game. It’s a shame because Stray Blade can be enjoyable when it’s not constantly tripping over itself.

"I can’t decide if they’re easy-going, awkward or goofy. But odd bloodlust in combat aside, Farren’s personality feels pretty dull throughout."

The story concerns Farren, a supposedly low-class explorer venturing to Acrea, the Lost Valley. After messing with something they shouldn’t have, they die. Not long after, they’re suddenly revived without any clue what happened and a mysterious stone in their chest. Unable to leave the land, Farren ventures forth, learning more about a mysterious ancient race, and the mandatory bosses that must be beaten.

I’m being non-descript with some things, and it’s not just to avoid spoilers. Stray Blade’s story starts out promising but is quickly let down by none other than Farren, who is constantly conversed. You could argue that Aloy or Geralt do the same, but Farren isn’t all that interesting. I can’t decide if they’re easy-going, awkward or goofy. But odd bloodlust in combat aside, their personality feels pretty dull throughout.

Sooner than later, Farren runs into Boji, who is searching for his master. While his motivations are interesting enough, backed by solid voice acting and decent lore drops, Stray Blade thinks it necessary to have Boji stop and speak to you whenever he needs to talk. No conversations on the go – stay a while and listen, instead. However, when it happens a half dozen times in minutes, I just start spamming “Skip” to get back to the game.

"You can’t dodge an attack that should be parried (unless you’re far enough away), and you can’t parry an attack that must be dodged. As enemies start mixing up the two, it becomes a headache to keep track."

Even worse is that Farren’s dialogue seems to deteriorate further after meeting Boji. Expect to hear about the “living backpack” a lot, which is and never will be funny. You’ll also have to get used to several repeated lines as you perform actions, from Farren’s “There’s so much to collect!” to Boji’s “May their souls be guided to the Flux” after slaying enemies.

If the Flux is Hell, then yes, by all means. While Boji does have some clever lines when dragging Farren’s corpse to a respawn point, having the option to skip these – since they also tend to repeat – would be nice. If nothing else, I want to return to the action after dying instead of watching the same animation, overtly long cutscene play out.

If the combat in Stray Blade were solid enough, I could forgive the story-telling, lame dialogue and subpar protagonist. There are things to like as you go further along, but it initially feels sluggish owing to the sheer energy drain required for each swing. Then there are the Parry and Dodge mechanics. You can also block, but that’s only for weapons with shields, and the energy cost makes it not worth it.

You would think that the Parry and Dodge would function similarly to Dark Souls or even Bloodborne. Use the Parry button at the right time to stun an enemy and deal damage or Dodge their attacks, which also requires proper timing but can be more forgiving. For the most part, Stray Blade follows those tenets, except that all attacks must be either parried or dodged, denoted as blue and red. You can’t dodge an attack that should be parried (unless you’re far enough away), and you can’t parry an attack that must be dodged. As enemies start mixing up the two, it becomes a headache to keep track.

"Hilariously, due to the lacklustre enemy variety – wild beasts apparently fit into every type of climate in Acrea – you can often predict when the next attack is coming, such are the repetitive combos throughout."

Maybe this is to give fights that feeling of coordinated dance. Parry and Dodge restore energy with the right timing, so it helps compensate for the slow energy regen. While it works out in boss fights, where the attack tells are decently sized, it’s annoying in regular fights, especially with spear-wielders. Even more annoying is that if you miss parrying a multi-hit attack, all the other hits land with no opportunity to parry, block or dodge.

It’s an annoying system, and the energy gains are often not worth it past the opening parts. Parrying doesn’t give that much of a window for counter-attacking anyway, but you have to do it or eat some free damage. There are also break gauge-like mechanics for enemies, where depleting their stamina opens them up to finishers. Which is fine, if their stamina didn’t recover almost immediately upon backing off.

Many enemies also seemingly have no hit stun threshold at times – I’m not sure if it’s weapon-based or due to their armor. Depending on the enemy, I’m likely to take a hit right after my initial attack. Hilariously, due to the lacklustre enemy variety – wild beasts apparently fit into every type of climate in Acrea – you can often predict when the next attack is coming, such are the repetitive combos throughout. Sadly, it doesn’t invalidate the various criticisms of the combat system, and nearly every enemy having delays to their attacks like they’re Margott the Fell Omen is certainly a choice.

It’s all a shame because when you get into it, the combat in Stray Blade has a decent heft. Sure, it’d be nice to have the infinite energy that some enemies do, constantly dodging and unleashing powerful hits (shout out to that one shove attack that almost every human enemy has, which takes off nearly a segment of health, every time). But some of your hits feel nice and chunky, and the finisher animations are appropriately visceral, if somewhat buggy.

"Since there is an RPG element here, Farren – the protagonist, in case you forgot, because I did – can acquire skills in a skill tree. Except they can’t, sort of."

Now, if only we could get some of the little things superior titles implement with their combat. Like enemies that aren’t immediately performing an attack after being caught off guard, or dancing off a cliff because they’re so into dodging. Or even that one random enemy stuck in an animation loop, or those others that failed to react, even as I was up in their grill.

Since there is an RPG element here, Farren – the protagonist, in case you forgot, because I did – can acquire skills in a skill tree. Except they can’t, sort of. You must actually equip a weapon, earn enough kills for mastery and unlock its “special attributes,” which are other skills in the skill tree. Why must I use and level the awful Firemace to carry more healing items? Your guess is as good as mine.

Furthermore, you don’t even get the weapons for free – their blueprints unlock on leveling up and must be crafted. The game is usually good about handing out materials, though you’ll need to travel off the beaten path for Bonedust, an essential element for anything. But it’s also required for armor, and sooner or later, you’re going to run short. So you’ll have skill points just sitting around, waiting to be spent until enough materials are gathered, a weapon accrues enough mastery or both.

There are also Arcane Forges to build super-cool weapons like the Crescent Twins, using Intium and Artifacts. They even provide access to two more skills on the skill tree, instead of one. Oh, and if you somehow forget how to reach the one Arcane Forge, don’t worry – you’ll probably never find another one, so it’s all moot.

"As you defeat generals, Farren also learns some traversal skills, including a teleport and a slam that creates paths from molten rocks."

As weapons gain mastery, they also unlock Rune Slots, allowing you to attach temporary buffs like restoring health on finishers, more critical hit chance and increased weapon XP per kill. You also gain access to its special skill, which ranges from decent – see the Assassin Blade’s two-hit attack – to questionable, like that one sword-and-shield’s rising uppercut that deals damage into a falling stab that does nothing. You can’t swap skills on similar weapon types with each other.

When you’re not in combat, exploration can be fun. There are all kinds of nooks and crannies, providing some interesting lore. The latter also grants Lore Points, which are necessary to increase the duration of Runes and upgrade Boji’s skills, including an Arcane Blast to “stun” enemies and a chance to revive Farren on the spot. There’s some platforming and almost no puzzles, but admiring the environment and learning more about the world can be a nice change of pace.

Along with Acrean Trees of Life, which don’t heal you and only serve as checkpoints if you die (but also require manual activation), there are giant fungi which act as fast travel points. There are never quite enough of the latter, so you’ll often have to do some hefty back-tracking to reach places. On the one hand, the Souls-like equivalent of a bonfire, with every Tree of Life serving as a fast-travel point and heal station, would have been ideal. Some Metroid-style games keep the fast travel points and save rooms separately. In the case of Stray Blade, I would have preferred the bonfires just to cut down on the time I had to deal with enemies.

As you defeat generals, Farren also learns some traversal skills, including a teleport and a slam that creates paths from molten rocks. Both look cool, though the former is susceptible to breaking. You need to target a point and teleport to it, then to the next, which is fine. Sometimes, you can’t lock on and manually targeting it does nothing, leaving you stuck in some places. Both skills are usable in combat, and while it’s cool at first to teleport to a target to catch them by surprise, it’ll mostly open you up to free hits.

"Stray Blade is a game that could have been something more. With additional polish, it could at least be more fun to play, ensuring smoother exploration and less problematic enemies."

However, the slam does some decent stamina damage. Oftentimes, I would slam, then use Boji’s Arcane Blast to nearly deplete an enemy’s stamina and then finish them. While it sounds like a fun mechanic, it’s more to circumvent some annoying enemies later.

Overall, the world is pretty sizable, and there are plenty of things to discover, even if you don’t care about the story (and rest assured it’s skippable). Some areas suffer from being little more than backdrops for plain stretches of combat, instead of lending some nuanced mechanics of their own, but the traversal skills do make up for it at times. The world does tend to change as you progress further, but all I really noticed were more difficult enemies popping up in some previously peaceful areas. By then, I had just given up on fighting them and running. The combat had become that tedious by then.

Stray Blade is a game that could have been something more. With additional polish, it could at least be more fun to play, ensuring smoother exploration and less problematic enemies. However, even if some of the design choices with the combat warrant some significant overhauls, you’re still left with a fairly average story, above-average to decent exploration, and a nice-looking aesthetic. It just isn’t worth dealing with, given all the other issues.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Everspace 2

In early access since January 2021, Everspace 2 is finally getting its full release for PC. Taking an open-world space combat approach compared to the original, it sees protagonist Adam Roslin returning to explore Cluster 34. It can get pretty chaotic due to rival factions and gangs, and new high-risk, high-reward areas encourage more dangerous tasks for that sweet loot.

Everspace 2 was already pretty big when early access began, but it’s grown significantly with new ships, loot, systems, missions, activities and story missions. More enemies, bosses, equipment, customisation, and the final star system, Khione, are also coming. Story-focused players dabbling in the side quests will take roughly 30 hours, but if you explore everywhere, rack up reputation bonuses and do everything, that’s about 90 hours of gameplay to look forward to. With how well received the early access version has been, we can’t wait to see how the full release performs.

EA Sports PGA Tour

Suffering a slight delay for the sake of polish, EA Sports PGA Tour is out on April 7th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC. Offering 30 courses and playable golfers like Im Sung-jae, Cameron Champ and Lexi Thompson, there are 20 shot types to master, backed by features like Pure Strike, with golf swings mirroring real life. Course Dynamics ensure various environmental factors influence ball behavior and that no two courses are the same.

This is all in addition to the Career Mode, where you create a character and work up to the pro level. Will it be enough to counter the addition of John Cena to rival PGA Tour 2K23? Time will tell, but as the first PGA Tour game from EA Sports since 2015, it has much to live up to.

Minecraft Legends

What if you took Minecraft’s crafting, world design and memorable mobs, fused them with action strategy gameplay and added a story about world-ending threats? That’s Minecraft Legends, developed by Mojang and Blackbird Interactive of Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak fame. As the hero, players explore the Overworld and rally other mobs like zombies, wolves, Creepers and whatnot to fight for them against the Nether’s piglins.

Along with running around and fighting, you can issue commands to your units to attack, build structures and much more. The aesthetic and unique mob designs will appeal to long-time fans, and there looks to be a strong amount of replay value thanks to co-op and competitive multiplayer. Minecraft Legends arrives on April 18th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC, and will also be playable on day one on Game Pass.

Dead Island 2

Dead Island 2 releases on April 21st for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC, something we wouldn’t have believed a year ago. Stuck in development hell for the better part of its lifespan, the first-person action RPG focuses on six Slayers struggling to survive and escape from post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. There are famous landmarks to visit and hordes of zombies to fight, but you can craft and modify weapons to gain an edge.

What sets the sequel apart is the lack of an open world, the new Skill Deck for customizing and swapping out different builds on the fly, and the new FLESH System. Now you can slaughter zombies in ways that look and feel natural, whether it’s breaking jaws or melting skin. Even with a 20-hour or so playtime, three-player co-op, collectibles, and side quests provide enough incentive to return.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

A lot has changed in the five years for Cal Kestis. Now a full-fledged Jedi Knight, he’s fighting against the Empire at every turn with little hope of winning. However, things are taking a turn as a mysterious new Jedi emerges, an Imperial Senator seeks a “dangerous deal,” and new allies emerge. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a bigger game than Fallen Order in almost every way.

New enemies are available, from Separatist Droids to massive creatures. Five Lightsaber Stances with new abilities and new Force Powers are also available. If you enjoyed the first game even a bit, then Star Wars Jedi: Survivor should be on your radar when it releases on April 28th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Road 96: Mile 0

Some will probably remember Road 96 as a procedurally generated adventure game with alternating routes against the backdrop of unrest in Petria. Road 96: Mile 0 is a prequel that takes a more hand-crafted narrative approach, focusing on the relationship between Zoe and Kaito. Alternating back and forth between the two, players learn how they met, and their vastly different circumstances as Petria’s more harrowing side is revealed.

The biggest new feature is the musical segments, as we explore the inner worlds of both characters, dodging obstacles and traveling down a surreal path while making choices. Road 96: Mile 0 is out on April 4th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Sherlock Holmes The Awakened

A remake of Frogwares’ 2007 adventure game, Sherlock Holmes The Awakened sees the famed detective and his cohort John Watson versus the Cthulhu Mythos. While investigating mysterious disappearances, the duo will venture to locations like Switzerland, the wetlands of Louisiana and much more to discover the truth. The visuals and animations are vastly improved thanks to Unreal Engine, and there are new side missions, storyline content and much more to experience.

However, the most intriguing aspect will be how Sherlock’s sanity is affected by the events and the impact on investigations as the storyline proceeds. We’ll find out when Sherlock Holmes The Awakened arrives on April 11th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores

Like Horizon Zero Dawn and The Frozen Wilds, Forbidden West is getting a paid expansion with Burning Shores. It takes place in an archipelago formed in the ruins of Los Angeles, where volcanic eruptions and tremors are commonplace. Aloy must investigate a new threat, with trailers confirming an encounter with an awakened Metal Devil.

Almost no gameplay has been showcased for the $20 expansion, which is out exclusively for PS5 on April 19th (due to the PS4 being unable to handle it). However, Guerrilla Games has promised new stories, characters and Machines to fight along with “highly detailed” environments. You’ll need to finish the base game’s story first, so get that out of the way before jumping in.

Stray Blade

505 Games’ Stray Blade doesn’t have tons of hype behind it, which is crazy given how smooth the combat and art-style look. The action-adventure game is set in Acrea, the Lost Valley, and how you find it, die and are somehow resurrected. Now trapped, you must explore the region and overcome powerful enemies while learning more about its mysteries.

By honing skills, unlocking new talents and gaining abilities from the entities that ruled Acrea, players can expand their combat options. Of course, you’ll discover new weapons, materials and recipes while exploring, as your choices can affect the world. Stray Blade arrives on April 20th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Bramble: The Mountain King

Inspired by Nordic folklore and fables, Bramble: The Mountain King is about Olle, who embarks on a quest to save his sister. The task is easier said than done as various entities roam the land, many hostile and larger than Olle. A special fragment called the Spark of Courage can help even the odds, but “courage without kindness” is implied to lead to a “dark path.” Bramble: The Mountain King is out on April 27th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection

Fans of the underrated Mega Man Battle Network series – the time has finally come, as it gets the Legacy Collection treatment. Releasing on April 14th for PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection consists of two volumes. The first contains Mega Man Battle Network 1, 2 and 3 (with Blue and White being separate versions). The second offers Mega Man Battle Network 4 Red Sun and Blue Moon, Mega Man Battle Network 5 Team Protoman and Team Colonel, and Mega Man Battle Network 6 Cybeast Gregar and Cybeast Falzar.

You can pick up both volumes as part of a package deal, but that’s not all. It also includes all 499 patch cards previously exclusive to Japan, 15 chips available from events, an art gallery with over 1000 items to view, 188 songs from the series to listen to in the music player, and even a 3D MegaMan for menu navigation. That’s not including online NetBattles and Trade, a High-Resolution Filter, and Buster Max Mode, which increases the power of Buster Shots.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox

If you’re interested in a different kind of Lovecraftian mystery, The Last Case of Benedict Fox may be worth checking out. The Metroidvania title sees detective Benedict Fox and his demon companion venturing into a mansion to investigate a couple’s murder and the fate of their missing child. Fox can venture into the minds of the deceased, exploring vivid areas formed by memories and emotions, to obtain testimonies.

However, the mansion also has its share of secrets to uncover. As you explore areas, there will be plenty of monsters, human and non-human, to fight with firearms, melee weapons and demonic powers. With a gorgeous art style and accompanying jazz score, The Last Case of Benedict Fox looks to be an intriguingly dark adventure. It’s out on April 27th for PC and Xbox Series X/S, along with Game Pass.

TRON: Identity

Bithell Games’ latest visual novel-style narrative adventure is set in the TRON universe, more specifically in a brand new Grid where a strange crime has occurred. Something has been taken, and as a detective program Query, it’s your job to find out who’s responsible. Speak to different programs to learn more about them, defrag Identity Discs to complete puzzles and learn the truth, and make decisions that could lead to various endings. Who you choose to doubt, trust or derezz is all up to you when TRON: Identity launches on April 11th for PC and Nintendo Switch.

Ghostwire: Tokyo (Xbox Series X/S)

Tango Gameworks has found success with Hi-Fi Rush on Xbox Series X/S, and on April 12th, it brings first-person action-adventure Ghostwire: Tokyo to the platform. Also available for Game Pass at launch, it’s set in Tokyo, which has undergone a supernatural transformation rendering most of its population into Spirits. As Akito, possessed by the spirit K.K., players must take down the hostile Visitors and stop the mysterious Hanya.

A new big update, The Spider’s Thread, is out on the same day for all platforms. It adds a new rogue-lite mode, tasking players with fighting through a 30-stage gauntlet. There are also new areas, quests and story scenes, along with new Visitors to battle and new skills, like dodging and Charged Strike.

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

As someone with a love-hate relationship with Monster Hunter, Sunbreak is essential for any fan of Monster Hunter Rise. It’s out on April 28th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 and PS5, and features tons of new content, as players venture to a new region and Elgado Outpost to investigate The Three Lords.

The expansion introduces Master Rank Quests, providing even tougher challenges and rewards like higher rarity armor and stronger skills. Along with brand new monsters like Malzeno, an Elder Dragon, there are returning monsters from previous games like Espinas, Seregios, Astalos, Gore Magala and Shagaru Magala. New Follower quests allow solo hunters to battle alongside NPCs and unlock some cool armor and weapons.

More than anything, the end-game is significantly expanded thanks to Anomaly Investigations. Add the extensive post-launch support, including the addition of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne’s Velkhana, and there’s more than enough to keep Xbox and PlayStation players happy (or raging) until the next Title Update.

Stray Blade will launch in a little over two months from now, on April 20, as announced by 505 Games via a (very) brief trailer, which you can check out below. Set in the ancient land of Acrea, players are accompanied by the Xhinnon wolf Boji to uncover the mysteries of the kingdom’s destruction long ago, while crossing paths with a number of deadly foes in what’s being touted as a “challenging” and “hyper-responsive” combat system.

A closed beta test for the game has also been announced exclusively for PC, for which you can sign up through here.

When it launches, Stray Blade will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Stray Blade is set in the valley of Acrea, a once-peaceful land that has now become a war-torn place of death. The protagonist finds himself bound to the valley, and to break the connection, he partners with a magical beast companion called Boji, with the two deciding to work together so they can not only leave the valley, but also uncover its history and discover what led to its current state. The trailer also offers several glimpses of combat, enemies, and a number of different locations- check it out below.

Stray Blade is set to launch for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC sometime in 2023.

Its lineup includes Rabbit and Bear Studios’ Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes with Suikoden series veterans Yoshitaka Murayama and Junko Kawano appearing along with Junichi Murakami and Osamu Komuta. There’s also Gunfire Reborn, Duoyi Games’ rogue-lite looter shooter that releases in October for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S while releasing later this year for PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.

ION LANDS’ cyberpunk simulation Nivalis will also be present, along with Point Blank Games’ Stray Blade and Miasma Chronicles from The Bearded Ladies of Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden fame. Digital Bros Group’s indie publishing label HOOK is also set to have some exclusive announcements.

Tokyo Game Show 2022 takes place from September 15th to 18th. Stay tuned for more details and coverage in the coming days.

The trailer starts off with throwing the spotlight on resource collection and crafting of new equipment, before moving on to progression systems. The more you use a weapon, the more proficient you’ll become with it, also unlocking more sections of what are looking like elaborate skill trees at a glance. The trailer also touches on cosmetic customization, and something referred to as an arcane forge, which can apparently be used to make some of the most powerful weapons in the game. Check out the trailer below.

Stray Blade was recently delayed and is now due out sometime in 2023 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Combat in Stray Blade is continuing to look punchy, with various different weapon types and enemies shown off. Players will be accompanied by Boji, a magical creature that will fight alongside you. With the ability to cast spells and bring you back from death, Boji will serve as a crucial cog of the game’s combat.

Details on progression have also been revealed. The player character and Boji will both their own separate skill trees, while Stray Blade will also feature a weapon mastery system, allowing players to upgrade specific weapon types and switch back and forth, in an effort to make finding new gear more satisfying.

Publisher 505 Games has also announced that Stray Blade, originally set for a 2022 launch, has now been pushed back to 2023. It is in development for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.