A perfect swansong of a DLC, Finding the Flowzone is a beautiful little finale to OlliOlli World. New locales, more eccentric friends and a gusty mechanic, it only enhances the formula already established. Have fun, get frustrated, go back for more in this high-flying adventure.

An exhilarating 2D soulslike set in a remarkably charming world, Tails of Iron is a surprise GOTY candidate. You’ll croak and die often due to the formidable combat but the narrative and systems will keep you coming back for more, like a rat does to cheese.

The hugely anticipated Hogwarts Legacy does not disappoint. An early GOTY contender offers interesting storytelling parallels with the Harry Potter franchise, beautiful and glorious fan favourite locations, and an array of exciting combat and collectibles for hours of entertainment.

Trails Through Daybreak takes the series to new heights of drama without losing any of the series’ strengths or structure, and features a fun double battle system that somehow doesn’t get in the way of itself. It’s also a viable jumping-in point that hasn’t come along in a while for those looking to dip their toe into this long-running series and finding it daunting. The dawn of a new era.

As with most ports, Ghost Trick is mainly going to appeal to those that hold it in esteem since its first iteration. For them, this is the perfect port. For the uninitiated, however, there’s no reason not to dive into the unknown if one enjoys their kooky, off-the-wall puzzle-adventures. With added spirit(s).

Be prepared should you decide to take the plunge into this fast-paced, conspiracy-ridden epic. If it can win over even me, it’s surely doing something right. It has the odd issue and stumbling moment, but on the whole, this is one of the better indie games you’ll likely play this year. Me, enjoy a pixel-art point-and-click game? Madness.

Over its five-or-so hours, Lost in Play barely puts a foot wrong, delivering cerebral gaming and effervescent entertainment. In doing so, it makes many of the genre’s design challenges look easy. Here’s hoping it inspires and influences future graphic adventures – or at least gets a sequel.

Mediterranea Inferno is unafraid of tackling a multitude of serious themes and exploration of the more immoral, shadowy parts of human desires. It has moments where it’s too brash and its themes won’t sit comfortably with many. But, for those who descend into this psychological character study, there’s a host of beautifully rendered, disturbing imagery to feast upon.

News Tower reaches the heady stressful heights of the Tycoon genre, challenging you to keep a newspaper in print and filled with stories every week, to manage a tower of reporters, cleaners, and typesetters, and to satisfy a town of opposing factions, all wrapped up with a lovingly vibrant 1930s golden age string ready to be hawked on a street corner.

Doom: The Dark Ages sees id Software pivoting away from their floaty bullet hell formula and into being the hell for bullets in a new "stand and fight" approach to combat, with tremendous results. The new hefty design makes the Slayer feel like the one man army he's always been portrayed as and delivers on being a Doom for the ages. Whilst there's some slight missteps in storytelling, music, and new gameplay elements that don't fit as well into its design, the moment-to-moment hook and metal aesthetic proves why the franchise is still the gold standard of modern FPS.

Ghost of Tsushima is Sucker Punch’s masterpiece. With the depth of its combat, its incredible open-world design and its rich historical authenticity and cultural legacy, it’s a heady contender for the most incredible release of this console generation. It’s definitely the best samurai game ever made.

Taking design cues from a whole spectrum of sci-fi games, The Alters has crafted a wholly unique and engaging survival management adventure. With a thought provoking narrative and an addictive gameplay loop, I couldn't help but be lost in space, just like Jan.

Despite looking pretty impressive the first time round, the visual upgrades alone to Metro Exodus make it a worth entry in the PS5’s catalogue. It might help to play the others first, but when this is the conclusion, it looks and plays too good not to. Just work on those trigger-pulling muscles for the haptic feedback.

If you thought that OlliOlli World couldn’t expand on its charm offensive, then you’d be a fool. Retaining that charm with an absolute challenge of a game behind it, this new DLC is more of the same with a lick of extra-terrestrial paint to it. If you’ve got the patience and the passion for it, then OlliOlli World’s Void Riders is the out-of-this-world trip for fans of persistence and point-based perfection.

Age of Wonders 4 is a triumph of a game, and an easy recommend for any players looking for a fun 4X game. There is a lot to celebrate here, and the number of options the player has makes for many hours of content to look forward to. A couple of problems here and there do raise their heads, but overall there is an extremely strong and well crafted game to look forward to for any who are tempted to give it a try.

Red Dead Redemption returns and is only marked down a single point due to the near-perfection of its sequel, this is nevertheless the definitive way to experience John Marston's story, with a fresh lick of paint and an update that may just transport you back to when you got off that train the very first time. Just brilliant.

An excellent return to form for the series, Battlefield 6 is a military shooter that perfectly balances being 'fun' while basing it in 'reality'. While the campaign narrative lacks real depth, it's an explosive joyride that's ripe for a sequel. It's the multiplayer that will keep players coming back however, setting players loose in an explosive playground and letting them shoot out their own stories of the front lines. This is an easy recommendation, and a strong contender for 'Shooter of the Year 2025'.

Dirt 5 feels like a game designed for the new generation of consoles, but there’s still plenty here for those not upgrading in the short-term. Whilst it has some technical issues and frustrating AI, the driving is as solid as ever, Playgrounds is a great new addition and there are some genuinely stunning moments to be experienced. It’s one of the best rally games in recent memory and I can’t wait to try it on a new platform.

Desolate but beautiful metroidvania MIO: Memories In Orbit nails the fundamentals of a lot of inspiration. Whether its precision platforming, finding shortcuts, soulslike bosses or wonderful evocative soundscapes, this one is well worth your time if you are a fan of the genre.

Dead Rising 4 might have almost buried the series, but Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is breathing life into something we thought had died long ago. You know, like a zombie.

Let’s Build A Zoo is just as wonderful on console as it was on its initial release on PC. As with any building management simulator, some controls will never feel completely intuitive moving from mouse to controller, and Let’s Build A Zoo is no different, but only in minor areas. The Dinosaur Island DLC takes all the highlights from the base game and amplifies them in a fantastic addition to an already extremely enjoyable game.

Despite not having the production values of some of its contemporaries, Robobeat would have Basshunter himself chasing this drop. Weighty, satisfying combat mix into a hyper-charged melody of excitement, head bops and intense rogue-like runs. A lack of real story and limited variety mean the mixtape slightly tails off, but the core of this setlist can keep you raving long into the night.

A bespoke table top adventure brought to digital life, Betrayal At Club Low is incredibly well designed and a lot of quirky fun. Like a battle of whits against a dungeon master that’s determined to make you smile as much as they are to defeat you, Betrayal At Club Low is a dark horse for sleeper hit of the year.

A Space for the Unbound shoots for the stars and lands in the Milky Way, making it a 2023 stand out already. Whilst the gameplay wanes in the final hours, the story, characters and plot conclude in an immensely satisfying and emotional way.

Starfield lives up to the hype and more, bringing a fully realised universe to our TV screens with a captivating, intriguing story and worlds that are begging to be explored. Damn near every Bethesda trope you can imagine is present and correct here though, and it’s up to you if you can power through them to find the greatness within or if they’re just a bit too irritating to genuinely fall in love with the game completely. We’re in the latter, but boy is there plenty to enjoy here regardless.

A magical, meditative experience that blends a surrealist painterly art style with majestic choral music and an imaginative narrative delivery, Sunlight is quite a special game. It won’t be for everyone but if you’re looking for a 30 minute diversion from the trials and tribulations of modern day life, Sunlight is a fantastic diversion.

No one is doing it better than Two Point Studios management sim series. Seamless, innovative in design and endlessly replayable, Two Point Museum is packed with laugh out loud charm, clever mechanics and whilst keeping its identity intact with its evolved formula we all know and love. Two Point Museum is a masterclass and the finest exhibit in the management sim world right now.

Riding that 2D renaissance wave, SANABI is another neon-soaked platformer that deserves a look at. Gorgeous pixel visuals, fast-paced gameplay and a cracking soundtrack, there’s something for old-school fans and newcomers alike.