A year after it originally launched on Xbox Series X/S and PC, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has landed on PS5 thankfully in a much better state. A challenging open-world experience, this finally feels like it fulfils its potential, and on PS5 Pro it's a real treat thanks to stunning visuals and solid performance.

It’s got to be said that an immersive ‘light gun’ experience is perhaps the perfect use of VR, and Rush of Blood is a brilliant showcase of how well the technology works.

It’s more than just TT Isle of Man – Ride on the Edge with additional content stuffed in: it’s an accomplished sequel. So, if you’re gutted that you can’t watch the real thing this year, pick this up. It’s sure to soften the blow.

Hitman: Blood Money – Reprisal is a superb Switch stealth outing, especially if you get your kicks from hiding in plain sight. Its price tag, a good chunk of cash more than the mobile version, may raise an eyebrow or two. But with so many ways to dispatch your thoroughly deserving targets you’ll get your money’s worth out of this murder-em-up.

From its brilliant visuals to its utterly unique gameplay, there’s little here that disappoints.

The movement is incredibly fun to navigate with, and provides an additional layer of challenge that will surprise and go against expectations.

Using Joy-Cons to play Samba de Amigo may not be quite as good as replica maracas, and buttons even less so, but the core experience here remains as entertaining as ever. With its eclectic selection of songs and a wide variety of modes, Samba de Amigo: Party Central has a little something for everyone, and is fun whether you’re playing it alone on a rainy day or with others at a party. If you’re a fan of the series or simply love rhythm games, chances are this will put a big smile on your face, even if you feel like you’re sometimes cheated of a perfect score.

As a whole, Home Safety Hotline doesn’t outstay its welcome, and it’s an absolute treat for lovers of folklore or fans of the uncanny. I never thought I’d say it, but this is one call centre I’ve absolutely loved clocking into.

This port of Wild Hearts for the Nintendo Switch 2 is about what you'd expect. The visuals have been downgraded a little and performance isn't particularly stable. It remains one of the best alternatives to Monster Hunter around, though, and you can now team up with more players than ever before. Seriously consider picking this up if you want some monster-slaying fun.

It doesn’t provide an experience that’s free of frustration or hiccups, but that doesn’t stop In Sound Mind from being one of this year’s biggest surprises – an action-horror game that delivers not only scares, but also head-scratching puzzles and plenty of engaging combat encounters, all wrapped up in a story that makes you think. With this sort of creativity, it’s exciting to see what We Create Stuff comes up with next. But until then, if you’re brave – and clever – enough, you’d be wise to throw yourself into In Sound Mind.

Its creepy art style and unsettling atmosphere will immediately draw you into Buckshot Roulette — but it's its quick-and-dirty Russian roulette gameplay that will keep you coming back. It's easy to play, but to succeed you'll need to keep your wits about you, and that makes for a really successful little game.

A presentation reminiscent of Hades is the cherry on top of Devil Jam, a Survivors-like brought to life with metal music and a beat that will keep you headbanging from start to finish. Only the bosses are going to get in the way of your fun here, but you're absolutely going to want to keep trying to best them.

As long as players know what they’re getting into With Neon White, chances are they’ll have a brilliant time. It’s got a clean visual style, a brilliant soundtrack, and gameplay that’s challenging but moreish. Add in a story that will keep you interested in uncovering the fate of Neon White and his acquaintances, and you have one of the most interesting releases of the year so far.

What Flinthook might lack in lore, story, and cohesion, it more than makes up for with its boatload of personality and style, all of which find themselves backed up by some of the smoothest 2D platforming gameplay around.

Fans of the comic books will surely love this addition to Michonne’s story, as it gives a glimpse into what went on during her disappearance in the comics. Others will enjoy it for its easy to learn gameplay, terrifying post-apocalyptic world, and its cast of unique characters.

Potion Permit is the sort of cosy, welcoming game we can find ourselves playing for hours on end, its satisfying gameplay loop never getting old or repetitive. It won’t be for everyone, but if you love games like the Atelier series and Stardew Valley, and can somehow imagine a marrying of the two, you’re going to find yourself right at home here.

Throw in additional unlockable Crumblings (and the promise of more), and you’ve got a game that’s wonderful wall-to-wall whimsy. Crumbling is best enjoyed in bites – you’re not going to spend an entire day pottering around the toy shop – but it’ll leave you with a smile every time. If you’ve got so much as a single action figure, Skylander or Amibo sitting on your shelf, Crumbling is for you.

No better words can sum up Fire Tonight than ‘short and sweet’. It’s over before you know it, but for its low asking price, it packs in just the right amount of puzzles, nostalgia and heartening narrative. Add to that a rocking soundtrack and a wonderful art style, and you’ve got a great little package.

Drifting Lands takes two fantastic genres and marries the best aspects of them together with flair, creating an original and massively addictive experience that deserves to be on your radar.

With some serious talent behind its creation, Dungeon Encounters deserves much more fanfare than it has so far received. This might not be as flashy as a typical RPG from Square Enix, but it’s clever, it’s engaging, and its simple but deceptively deep gameplay loop will keep you coming back for more. Add to that a killer soundtrack overseen by Nobuo Uematsu, and you’ve got something rather special on your hands.

So, Star Wars: Squadrons is yet another sign that EA can do good – actually, scratch that – great things with the Star Wars licence. It’s not the biggest game in the world but its price reflects that. And besides, with a core so strong, it doesn’t really matter. Once you’re done with Star Wars: Squadrons‘ truly enjoyable single-player campaign, there’s tens of hours of fun to be had in multiplayer if you’ve ever wanted to jump into the cockpit of a Y-Wing, A-Wing, TIE Interceptor and more.

Phoenix Point’s blend of combat, research management and global exploration is thoroughly compelling, even if the factions can be a little trying. Whether you’ve got fond memories of Julian Gollop’s original game or not, he and his team have taken old school strategy and dragged it kicking, screaming and gurgling into the modern day.

I will never doubt Nintendo in its pure, honest pursuit of making gaming a labour of love, passion, and enjoyment.

Easy to play but far harder to master, Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2‘s cast of ridiculous characters, improbable moves, heavy rock soundtrack and accessible fight mechanics will keep you engaged and challenged.

Throw in the fact that Mario Kart World costs more than your usual release, and while it’s undoubtedly the best entry in the series yet in most regards, it’s hard to call it utterly essential. That might change further down the line, depending on what Nintendo does with the game post-launch, but unless you’re buying it bundled with your Switch 2, you might want to wait for a bit of a discount. For those not all that concerned about splashing the cash for it, though, Mario Kart World offers hours upon hours of thrilling karting action, especially for those who love racing online against other like-minded folk.

If taking a trip back in time with an old-fashioned platforming game sounds like a good time to you, Panzer Paladin won’t disappoint. Its excellent visual direction and soundtrack definitely helps it stand out from the crowd, and once you get a handle around its core weapon system, it becomes clear that there aren’t many other games out there that play quite like it. Panzer Paladin sticks hard to its old school influences, even if sometimes to a fault, but it mostly pays off.

Bringing back all of the modes from last year’s WRC 9, including the unique co-driver mode, while adding a new Anniversary Mode and some welcome new features, WRC 10 is the biggest entry in the series yet. It can be punishing at times, perhaps overly so, but it’s hard not to be impressed by the game’s authenticity. Racing through stages is always exhilarating, thanks largely to the impressive visuals and reliable physics model. And whether you want to sink your teeth into a meaty career or dive in for a quick challenge, there’s a mode for you. There’s still a little room for improvement, but WRC 10 is undoubtedly the best rally game you can buy right now.

It may be short, but TOEM delivers heart by the truckload. This gorgeous hand-drawn adventure will have you fully invested in its quaint little world, taking photos of everything you see – whether it’s for a mission or just for the sheer joy of it. It’s the sort of game that makes the world seem like a better place – even if only for a few hours.