With Injustice 2, NetherRealm Studios has leveraged its work on its Mortal Kombat franchise and taken on board feedback about the original Injustice, allowing it to craft its finest and most feature-rich release to date.

The biggest disservice you can do to What The Golf? is to simply assume it’s some kind of arcade golf game. Not even close. It’s one of the most creative, hilarious and unique games you’ll find. A mix of puzzle solving, arcade fun and downright zany concepts, it’s pure entertainment at its finest. What The Golf? is exactly the kind of joyful experience we all need in our lives right now.

There may not be much new in Forza Horizon 5 beyond its location, but that doesn't stop it from being yet another action-packed, adrenaline-fuelled open world racing extravaganza. This is the biggest and best entry in the Forza Horizon series yet; it's just lacking that spark of originality that has made each entry prior a clear step up from the one before it. But for the huge majority of players that really won't be an issue. Forza Horizon 4 raised the bar to an impressive height, and Forza Horizon 5 nudges it that bit higher. It's hard to imagine how Playground Games will raise it substantially in a future Forza Horizon entry, but let's hope it does find some magic, or the formula might become a little bit stale.

Killing Floor 2 is an amazing example of how to take a gameplay element often pushed to the wayside in other blockbuster releases, and refine it to such a degree that hardcore fans of the experience can’t help but be impressed and have plenty to do.

If you’re after an experience like no other, that will challenge your problem-solving skills in logical and believable ways, you absolutely need to play Observation. It’s one of the most compelling and surprising games I’ve played in recent years. Its biggest achievement, though, is that it didn’t make me feel like I was playing a game; it made me feel like I was genuinely assisting a crew member in distress.

If you’re a roguelike fan, Hades II is a no-brainer. With a compelling gameplay loop, beautiful visuals and a fantastic, fully-voiced narrative to enjoy, it’s the gold standard of roguelike action games, and one that you’ll find yourself going back to time and time again. It’s been worth the wait to get the game on home consoles, and enjoying it on a big screen is undoubtedly the best way to play.

It’s a simple game in its approach: its mechanics are not over-wrought or complicated, but it’s top quality fun. Headlander is of the few games in recent memories to garner a true belly laugh.

If you’re a fan of rhythm games or simply love quirky adventures, consider Rhythm Sprout an essential purchase. This is a game that has snuck up on us from nowhere but has thoroughly rocked our worlds. Combining comedy with rhythm-based gameplay, it’s tickled our funny bones and tested our timing while also making us tap our feet and bob our heads. And we’ll certainly be revisiting it for a long time to come.

A game like Dark Souls 3 is best gone into blind so as to heighten the sense of wonder and accomplishment you feel when you discover things for yourself, and I don’t want to rob you of that. All you need to know is that without any shadow of a doubt, I believe Dark Souls 3 is the finest game in the Souls series to date. It looks amazing, sounds amazing, plays amazing; the only things that let it down are the minor technical issues and perhaps the sometimes inconsistent difficulty level.

Zero Time Dilemma is a must-play for any fans of the franchise, or indeed for any puzzle game fan.

Any Final Fantasy fan, no matter how many past titles they’ve sunk their teeth into, would be a fool to pass World of Final Fantasy up; this is fan service done exactly how it should be.

There’s no doubt that this is the best version of Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 available. It still has the issues that it always has, such as being unbalanced and having what has got to be one of the most aggravating final bosses in a fighting game ever, but the sharper visuals, improved performance and snappier load times more than make up for it.

Arcade Paradise is something rather special. Its mixture of playful management sim and arcade gaming works incredibly well, and it’s all so nicely presented that you’ll easily forgive its few flaws. Whether you get swept up in keeping your laundrette and arcade running as well as possible, or whether you find yourself addicted to a particular arcade cabinet, you’re going to love your time here. And considering its bargain price, it really doesn’t get much better than this.

Escape Academy may be a fairly brief experience for some, then, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that the puzzles here are thought-provoking and masterfully crafted. They test your ability to spot patterns and problem solve without ever being too obtuse. Throw in a surprisingly engaging story and co-op, and you have one of the most enjoyable experiences of the year so far. It might even make you want to do some real-life escape rooms – imagine that.

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged isn’t all that different from its predecessor, but it is bigger and better in just about every way. A brand new range of environments and additional vehicle types help to keep things feeling relatively fresh. And new event types are also very much welcome. It’s the new moves at your disposal that really elevate the experience, though. Being able to jump has allowed Milestone to get even more creative when it comes to track design, and it also adds yet more depth – you have to think more about how to use your boost. This is a very worthy sequel, then. It’s just a shame you can’t carry over your vehicles from the first game.

With its entertaining story that you have a surprising amount of control over, [Late Shift is] definitely a triumph in a genre that is steadily making a revival.

Thank Goodness You're Here! is a game that's quintessentially British, inviting players to explore a Northern English town and rub shoulders with its bizarre locals. It's weird, it's clever, and it's utterly surreal at times, but it's always entertaining. It's just a shame that your visit is over so soon, but there's perhaps reason to return to it a time or two. In any case, it's an absolute delight while it lasts.

Reminiscent of Link to the Past but with enough charm and ingenuity to boldly stand out, Under the Island is a gorgeous and imaginative action-adventure that tasks you with saving your home island. It's utterly joyous, and even the odd spike in combat difficulty isn't enough to spoil your fun.

Outlast 2 on Nintendo Switch is pretty amazing. It looks almost as good as its console and PC counterparts, runs very well despite not being 60 frames-per-second, and the new Story Mode difficulty gives you more room to explore.

If you already own Persona 5 Royal on PS4, then, there might not be enough here to convince you to buy it again. It’s a more pleasant, nicer-looking experience, sure, but beyond that it’s exactly the same game. For newcomers though, it should be a no-brainer. One of the best RPGs of the last decade, perhaps of all-time, now looks and plays better than ever before. And while it hardly transforms the experience, the inclusion of a substantial amount of DLC sweetens the deal.

Super Mario Party manages to perfectly blend nostalgia with brand new gameplay, and no party’s going to be complete without it.

Darkest Dungeon offers a robust and efficient experience that is not afraid to let the player truly go through the trials and errors that would come with such a mission.

Dwarf Fortress is, initially, a little daunting. Not because it’s inaccessible, but because you just know that it’s going to turn into a real time-sink. Is it the prettiest game around? No, but it’s wonderfully, ridiculously deep and a sheer joy to play. If you’re prepared to put the time in, Dwarf Fortress will drag you into its depths and you won’t regret it for one second.

The Bunker isn’t a game to rush through but rather savour every moment spent in its incredibly well-crafted setting.

A sequel, but also a celebration of the series so far, Streets of Rage 4 doesn't disappoint. That's amazing considering the many years of anticipation and excitement leading up to it. Fans couldn't have asked for more in a new entry in the beloved series. And even better, Streets of Rage 4 proves that there's still life in it. It's a tour de force of sumptuous art, mesmerising music, and trance-inducing action. Take nostalgia out of the equation, and Streets of Rage 4 is the best entry in the series yet.

I’ve always kind of enjoyed Lumines, but it always lacked a certain hook. While its music and changing colour palette was endlessly exciting, its gameplay just didn’t have the same long-lasting grab. With Tetris, though, that enticing gameplay is there. And when you couple Tetris‘ classic gameplay with enticing sound and visuals, you get something pretty special indeed.

With an expanded campaign, new characters and more customisation options, this is the best Plants vs. Zombies game yet.

Beautifully presented and intelligently put together, TR-49 is a masterclass in puzzle games done right – although coming from the developer of Heaven's Vault, that's not at all surprising. This delve into curious and forgotten literature is far more compelling than it has any right to be, and it's a must-play for any puzzle fan.