The Messenger (PS5)

I’d been craving a good old-school platformer with a twist, and this game’s shift from 8-bit to 16-bit graphics mid-level totally caught me off guard in the best way. The ninja’s movement feels tight, and the dialogue is surprisingly funny for a game about delivering a scroll through a cursed world.

The way the gameplay flips between 8-bit and 16-bit styles as you progress is a brilliant touch. It kept me guessing and made every new area feel fresh.

I was hooked right from the opening cutscene, and the way the story weaves between past and future as you play is incredibly clever. The platforming feels precise, and the 8-bit to 16-bit visual shifts during time travel are a treat.