A story like no other; both very grounded in reality, yet at times other-worldly beyond imagination. It’s touching and thought-provoking; daring to explore dark subject matters rarely delved into by video games. It may only take a few short hours to complete, but every moment is so packed with significance that it hardly matters.

I’ve no hesitation in saying that Tell Me Why is Dontnod Entertainment’s best game yet. Its narrative may be somewhat small in scope, but the subject matter it deals with packs a punch much greater than any tall tale of time manipulation ever could. Its characters are some of the most well-realised I’ve come across in a game yet, and their story is one that’s not going to leave me any time soon. Dontnod deals with difficult subject matter bravely and commendably, but that’s not why Tell Me Why is so special. It’s the combination of everything altogether – its characters, actors, visuals, story – that makes this an experience I’m not soon going to forget.

Playing Returnal, it feels like next-gen has truly begun. The way it seamlessly moves from third-person to first-person; how you move from biome to biome without loading screens taking you out of the action; the DualSense implementation; the fluidity of the gameplay; the phenomenal visuals and audio; all of these elements, and more, come together to create an experience that is truly like no other. This is not only Housemarque's best game to date, but perhaps also the best game currently available on PS5. It's a genre-defying delight that raises the bar on so many levels. If you own a PS5 you need to play Returnal. It's as simple as that.

Breath of the Wild is a marvel of design; it’s a wonder of ingenuity, and it has completely changed the standard when it comes to open world game creation.

This re-imagining of Resident Evil 2 is everything a Resident Evil fan could ask for, taking the series back to its roots without feeling old. It is single-player survival horror at its finest, and quite possibly the best Resident Evil game ever made.

For PS5 owners who have yet to take a chance on the Nioh series, The Nioh Collection is a must-have, providing they’re up for a challenge. Nioh Remastered – The Complete Edition and Nioh 2 Remastered – The Complete Edition, both also available separately, are expertly-crafted games that are hard to pick fault with. Across both titles there’s literally hundreds of hours of adventuring to be done, and thanks to leveraging the power of the PS5 the action has never looked or played better. It’s those with TVs capable of high frame rates that will get the most out of it though; these games really display the benefit of 120fps.

The Evil Within 2 is good old-fashioned survival horror with a little bit of an open-world bent, and it works beautifully. It’s tense, it’s scary, it’s exciting, it’s absorbing – it’s everything I hoped it would be and more.

Think of it as a more focused sequel instead, as that’s what it actually feels like. It’s free of story bloat, and the gameplay has most definitely been expanded upon and improved. Plus, since when has an expansion looked so much nicer than the game it’s building upon? This is a timely release that demonstrates the power of the PS5 with style, and if you aren’t picking it up alongside your console, you’re simply doing things wrong.

It's hard to write about – and indeed review – Marvel's Spider-Man 2 without spoiling it. Just know that this takes everything from the previous games and improves on each aspect considerably. It looks nicer, plays better, and is packed with much more variety. It's the story here that's the biggest delight, though, filled with genuine surprises, heartfelt moments and epic scenes that will stick in your mind for a long time to come. Spider-Man is no stranger to adjectives such as "amazing" and "spectacular", both of which can be applied to Marvel's Spider-Man 2. More than just an accomplished sequel, it's the best superhero game ever made.

Capcom has taken a gamble with Pragmata, blending together multiple genres to create something that feels fresh and unique. At the heart of it is hacking-infused third-person shooter combat, which remains engaging and exciting throughout. And when paired with a story that tugs on the heartstrings, the result is something rather special. Ultimately, Pragmata is not only game of the year material, but also one of the most exciting new IPs in recent years.

Pick up Tumblestone if you love matching puzzles games but are bored of the same old thing. And don’t forget, you get to play as a sausage so it automatically gets extra points.

Already one of the best JRPGs available, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is truly impressive on Switch 2. The visuals are astounding whether you play handheld or docked, and while it's not flawless, performance is solid. Throw in new Streamlined Progression features which make the game more accessible than ever, and you have a must-play, especially for newcomers.

This is effectively Ninja Gaiden cranked up to eleven with RPG elements and your own custom created character; one that has a demonic past that inexplicably provides them with otherworldly abilities. And if that doesn’t make you want to play Nioh 2, I don’t know what will.

Combining the deep and challenging combat FromSoftware is known for with a vast and varied world that's always a pleasure to explore, Elden Ring is quite simply incredible. From the moment you step foot into The Lands Between you'll be engrossed, and while you'll no doubt experience some setbacks on your adventure – such as a boss that at first seems impossible to defeat – there's always somewhere else to go to cool off, pick yourself up, and perhaps power yourself up before returning to have another go. That is to say, you don't just play Elden Ring; you live in its world for hours at a time. It will consume you, but you'll willingly throw yourself into its maw with fervour.

With its new open field format, Nioh 3 is undoubtedly the best entry in the series yet, giving players more freedom to explore and making the experience feel more seamless. Add on top of that additional new features, such as the ability to switch between samurai and ninja styles on the fly and being able to freely respec, and you have a stellar example of just how good the Soulslike genre can be. This is an early game of the year contender, without a doubt.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is sensational. It’s Capcom’s best retro collection yet, in fact, packing in not only one the best fighting games ever made, but also one of the best side-scrolling beat ’em ups. The truth is, each and every game included here is a classic in its own right, though, and all play absolutely flawlessly and have been enhanced with additional features and more. What more can I say, other than it’s Marvel-ous.

Shu is the ultimate example of how a game should take its desired platform and then shape it into the most perfect game that platform has seen.

If you like tense mysteries and slow-burning thrillers, Conway: Disappearance at Dahlia View really ought to be high on your most-wanted list. Expertly written and fantastically acted, its story is simply the decadent cherry on top of a thoroughly engaging dark investigative adventure.

Its fast-paced combat system is one of the best in the genre, and BlazBlue fans will love the large number of playable characters. Throw in some truly eye-catching visuals and BlazBlue Entropy Effect X is a must-play for action roguelike fans.

Bundling up the base game along with the Phantom Liberty expansion and many, many updates, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition offers tens, if not hundreds, of hours of engrossing open world action. Now a launch title for Switch 2, while its visuals are a little blurier than elsewhere and performance not as stable, it remains an impressive port, especially if you mainly plan to play in handheld mode.

It’s a game I’ll certainly be coming back to again and again, hoping to perform just that little better each time.

Yakuza 0 was brilliant when it released on PS4, was even better when released on PC, and remains brilliant now that it’s on Xbox One. If you’ve never played a Yakuza game before, this is the ideal place to jump in, and the budget price along with its inclusion in Xbox Game Pass means the barrier to entry is low. Yakuza 0 is addictive, zany, compelling, funny… I could go on for a very long time. All you need to know is that you should play it. So do it. Now.

Cute but morbid, Cult of the Lamb quickly won us over with its varied gameplay and, many hours later, still has its hooks in us. It’s not very often that a game has you sacrificing new friends to a demon, but then Cult of the Lamb isn’t like anything else we’ve ever played. Its town building gameplay works seamlessly alongside its roguelite combat, both keeping you absorbed in their own ways. This is innovative indie gaming at its finest, and we can’t get enough.

If you’re a PC gamer with a thirst for adventure, or you’re simply keen to finally check out the Uncharted series if you haven’t owned a PlayStation console, it’s definitely worth investing in Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End may seem like a strange place to jump into the series but it works, while Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is pretty much worth the asking price alone as it’s such a well-rounded adventure. Sony continues its streak of putting out top-quality ports, and we’re here for them.

As a lover of strategy card games, I was extremely pleased by Nowhere Prophet and am excited to go back to it again. It has everything you’d want from a card game: combat, strategy and a huge plethora of options for your decks. It can be very difficult to begin with until you’ve mastered the game’s rules, which may initially turn some players away, but stick with it and you’ll find an excellent adventure lying in wait.

Before Your Eyes is a short journey, but it is one that you’ll likely find yourself playing again and again. You’ve never heard a story like this before and you’ve certainly never experienced it in this way. Not only is it truly innovative, it’s also heartfelt, filled with love, and will likely leave you mopping up your tears before the credits roll.

For PC gamers who are fans of everything Marvel, or at least the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man, this PC port of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered is pretty much essential. It’s as fun becoming Spider-Man today as it was back in 2018, with his web-slinging antics wonderfully brought to life. Factor in the enhanced performance and visuals, as well as the wealth of content, and you have one of the best superhero games ever made.

For the most part, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is the same game as it was when it released back in 2020: a great deal of fun for fans of both Tetris and Puyo. But the addition of a new mode and the implementation of Switch 2's excellent GameShare functionality make this absolutely the best version yet.