Ultimately, if you love horror games, in particular P.T., simply know that you need to play MADiSON. This is the best pure horror game in years, shredding the nerves of even the most brave of souls. It can be a little frustrating when you get stuck on a devious puzzle, but when you finally find the solution it’s very rewarding. No game has horrified us quite as much as this debut from Bloodious. We just hope the studio is ready to follow up with something else even scarier.

Islanders truly is a relaxing, immersive experience that’s so easy to get lost into. The challenge of working out the best location to place a building is endlessly enjoyable, and for puzzle fans there’s even a hint of Tetris as you rotate differently-shaped buildings in order to make them fit perfectly within a space. For players looking for something a little lighter to play, I can’t recommend it highly enough – Islanders is the perfect way to switch off and unwind from the stresses of real life.

City of Lights has some of the best storytelling that Telltale has ever accomplished; it’s no wonder story is what they’re most known for.

In an age where countless games are trying to imitate the past, there’s nothing like having Dragon Quest back where it belongs.

Trials Rising offers phenomenal value for money. The tried and tested gameplay has been refined to perfection, there are more than 100 events on offer, and its multiplayer modes are a blast. Any Trials fan should expect to get dozens of hours of gameplay out of Trials Rising, which is not to be sniffed at.

Proving that a simple concept can be a highly enjoyable one, especially when the element of competition is added into the mix, it’s a game more than worthy of being added to your growing library.

For the budget price that’s being asked for VASARA Collection, it’s an absolute steal.

There's nothing else quite like it on Switch - in terms of presentation nor gameplay. If you're a fan of music rhythm games, Floor Kids sits alongside the likes of Voez and Superbeat Xonic EX as being a 'must have'. In fact, scratch that, if you're simply a fan of games you need to have Floor Kids in your life.

With solid mechanics, one of the most imaginative game worlds we've seen in a long time and a killer sense of humour, Journey to the Savage Planet is pure joy from start to finish.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a unique game that brilliantly blends together action and strategy, resulting in a game that makes you think and keeps you on your toes. Add in sublime enemy design and a wonderful soundtrack, and you have a game that rubs shoulders with the best of 2024 so far.

Put simply, Specter of Torment is absolutely brilliant. It’s a slice of classic platforming action that puts a smile on your face from beginning to end.

If you like the idea of a game that defies genres and will constantly take you to places you don’t expect, pick up Inscryption. If you enjoy card-based roguelikes (with some other stuff thrown in), pick up Inscryption. If you want to play something unlike anything else, doing things that most other games wouldn’t dare to, pick up Inscryption. Just… be prepared for the unexpected. Time and time again.

We expected Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge to be good, but instead it’s absolutely outstanding. It’s got character, it’s got charm, and it’s got gameplay that puts up zero barriers. It’s just an absolute blast to play through from beginning to end, whether you’re alone or accompanied by friends. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans will love it. Side-scrolling beat ’em fans will love it. And those who simply like fun will love it. Cowabunga indeed.

The final two games step forward and show their well-polished improvements with graphics that laugh in the face of many 2015 releases.

EA sports F1 25 features the usual iterative improvements when it comes to visuals and physics, and LIDAR technology has been used to make a number of tracks as accurate as can be. But it's the return of Braking Point as well as a substantial overhaul of My Team that really makes this an impressive package, and a must-have for both casual and ardent F1 fans.

Fun, challenging, creative, rewarding; bust out your old sketchbooks and build that dream machine from your childhood.

Lovely Planet Arcade is a twitch shooter that will kick your butt, pat your wounds, and give you butterfly kisses that turn into literal butterflies.

What Darkwood does best, though, is give you a feeling of complete helplessness. The atmosphere, the darkness, the eerie soundtrack, and the design of the monsters you encounter are what make Darkwood one of the most memorable survival horror games I’ve played in recent times. Even after preparing as best you can, you’ll still always feel as though you could’ve done more. Death is always inevitable, but you’ll definitely be ready to jump right back in to try again.

Horizon Zero Dawn might not have needed a remaster, but Nixxes has put in some serious effort to bring this great game bang up to date and make full use of the capabilities of the PS5. And so, whether you're a fan wanting to jump in for another playthrough, or a newcomer to the series, it's a no-brainer.

The thing that really stands out about Rise of the Tomb Raider is that you care about the characters at all.

Borealys Games, the developer of Mages of Mystralia, has really created something special here in my eyes, and it deserves to be played; if not for its spell designing system that truly is extensive, then just for the sheer joy of a hearty and extremely enjoyable unadulterated adventure.

Once the credits roll, you truly get a sensation of closing out the thrilling finale of an action movie. There are very few parts of Blood & Truth that left me wanting.

The Casting of Frank Stone is a surprising treat in numerous ways. It’s longer than I expected, taking somewhere between six and eight hours to complete depending on how thorough you are in exploring each area. I was expecting Dark Pictures length, but this is more on par with The Quarry. It warrants that running time too, packing in a lot of thrills, adventuring and storytelling. It’s also surprising in that it does a fantastic job of pulling you into the world of Dead by Daylight: it might not rely on you knowing much about the universe, but there’s a good chance you’ll come away wanting to play. When it was announced, a collaboration between Supermassive and Behaviour sounded strange, but seeing it come to fruition, it’s nothing less than a stroke of genius.

Avalanche Software and Portkey Games have done an impressive job of creating something original within a much-loved franchise. Hogwarts Legacy is the closest any of us are ever going to get to actually attending Hogwarts, and what a magical experience it is. It’s clear that it’s been created with love, and the attention to detail here is phenomenal. It’s not without its issues, of course, but there’s few that get in the way of the overall experience. It looks gorgeous, it’s a joy to play, and being a wizard is just about as fun as we’d always hoped it would be.

Battlefield is back. While the single-player campaign of Battlefield 6 has its moments, it's pretty mediocre on the whole. Thankfully the game's extensive multiplayer offerings make up for it. The action here is fast-paced and wonderfully intense, making each match rewarding whether you win or lose. Some maps could do with some tweaks, but other than that there's not much to complain about.

The perfect bite-sized adventure that you can pass away an evening or two with, A Tiny Sticker Tale is a must-play for anyone who wants something cosy, laid-back and whimsical to get lost in. Forget violence and fast-paced action: moving stickers around to solve puzzles, while you’ve got a nice cup of tea to hand, is our idea of an ideal evening.

It’s fun because it is good. It’s fast, sharp, intuitive, and an absolute blast. For the price and the replay value, it’s a steal.

One Piece Odyssey is going to be most loved by people who are already invested in the One Piece franchise. Its clever approach to storytelling feels like a ‘greatest hits’ of sorts, and revisiting familiar places and faces is sure to be a joy for any fan. That said, this colourful, lively world is such a pleasure to be part of that even if you’re not well acquainted with Luffy and co, you’ll soon warm to their charm. An excellent blend of combat, adventure and storytelling, this is a JRPG not to be missed.