It’s not without its problems, then, but Chernobylite offers an intoxicating blend of horror, survival, base-building and FPS action. Repetition could be an issue for some, and shying away from playing with the poorly-acted English dialogue is highly recommended. Once you’ve settled in to your quest to find out what happened to your long-lost love, however, it’s hard to not feel the urge to do one more mission before turning it off, ever in the hope of finding valuable resources or a crumb of information.

Austin Wintory’s masterful and emotive score is ultimately the perfect accompaniment… the soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful from start to finish.

For fans of otome games, Bad Apple Wars may feel like a love-it-or-hate-it experience that will mostly depend on how much you’re able to put up with. If you’re able to find aspects of the characters you like, its romance subplots will probably pay off. Yet, even if you can’t, there’s an interesting enough plot that will make its few hours long of a campaign feel justified.

It has some minor issues that might frustrate some, as well as some elements that feel a little underbaked, but Project Songbird is an engaging narrative-driven survival horror experience on the whole. If you like the idea of Firewatch crossed with Silent Hill, you should give it a try.

It’s hard to be too mad about it though, given that PGA Tour 2K21 is the best golf game in years. In fact, it’s the best golf game of this generation. It looks absolutely gorgeous, caters for all skill levels, and is simply a joy to play. There are areas which could be improved, and I’m sure they will be in subsequent releases, but for now, let’s just relish the fact that the PGA Tour licence has been put to good use. A deeper career and the ability to play as pros can be delivered at a later date.

There’s no question that Narita Boy is epic. As though it jumped right out of an arcade machine from the 80s, it has exciting, fast-paced combat and some of the most beautiful pixel art that will ever grace your screen. Though the story is rather complex, it does nothing but help fuel the unique tone of the game. You might not understand exactly what’s going on, but when the action is this much fun, it doesn’t really matter.

Being a yearly franchise, WWE 2K26 features the usual assortment of tweaks and upgrades to its many modes, and combined with its enhanced gameplay it makes for the most authentic wrestling experience yet. It's somewhat ruined, however, by a new Ringside Pass system that forces players to grind to unlock content. Unless they're willing to pay real money for tier skips, of course.

Has a way of masterfully mixing together silly and scary in that way that makes you feel like you should be giggling, but instead you’re crying in the corner.

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.

Thanks to meaningful new additions such as crossplay, rollback netcode, and a meaty single-player mode, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage cements itself as one of the very best fighting games currently available.

The dungeons are well designed, but it’s the cartoon sprites with real character that really make the game come to life.

Often contrasting a white background with bright block objects, there could not have been a better mix for a game all about avoiding things.

Takes the very best aspects of the genre, cuts out most of the tedium and delivers an exciting, stirring and compelling trip through memory lane.

Despite its difficulty, Flywrench never lets up. While it’s not casting a particularly wide net, for those that fell in love with the games of its kind it is without a doubt one of the best in its class.

Despite its few faults however, Slime-san‘s quirkiness, its fast-paced gameplay, the soundtrack from over 10 acclaimed chiptune composers, and the 5 colour palette of a wonderfully vibrant world all culminate in a delightful game.

Everybody’s Golf‘s lack of visual splendour shouldn’t put you off playing what is the most accessible and enjoyable golf game there is on the market though. Creating and developing your own comical golf avatar is wonderfully addictive, and while there are only five courses available, the vast array of gameplay options and features means it’s hard to ever tire of sinking balls until the early hours of the morning, whether online or off. Everybody’s Golf on PlayStation 4 is the best it’s ever been, and that’s all you really need to know.

Unlike anything I’ve ever played before, its unique mixture of fantasy and reality makes for a thought-provoking, sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes funny journey that often touches too close to home.

The characters are silly and unique, as is the setting in which the game takes place. The switching between real-life and game isn’t necessarily seamless, but if you’re a patient person it isn’t likely to affect you. With only some other minor issues, Chook & Sosig: Walk the Plank is a fun bite-sized adventure that would work as a great entry point into the point-and-click genre.

If you’re a Picross fan, there’s a lot to like in Depixtion. It’s a worthy addition to an ever-growing picture puzzle library on Switch. The nice twist on the colour format makes it feel like something slightly different, and its intuitive controls and easy-to-navigate menus make it one of the better options out there. For $7.99, it provides excellent value for money, too – it’s just a shame it’s missing a couple of accessibility options.

While the free update adds enough changes to be worthwhile on its own, Europa Universalis IV: Emperor is an an essential purchase if you want to feel the real struggles of power in Europe.

By largely sticking to its own tried-and-tested formula, Let’s Sing 2021 is yet another opportunity to have an enjoyable time belting out some tunes to the best of your ability. Is it worth buying if you have last year’s version? It depends if you think its selection of songs is any good, and if you like singing alone. If the answer’s no on both counts, then don’t bother. Otherwise, it’s probably worth adding to your collection.

If you’re a fan of 3D platformers, then Mail Mole is definitely worth your time. It’s no Super Mario Odyssey or Super Lucky’s Tale, but it hits plenty of the same notes, offering a fun and inoffensive adventure that’ll provide several hours of entertainment. Plus, considering its budget price ($15/£12.50), most of its missteps can be forgiven. And who doesn’t love a mole in a fancy hat?

If you have a Switch and love metroidvania games or revel in brutal combat, Death’s Gambit: Afterlife deserves your attention. With its beautiful visuals, pleasant soundtrack and enjoyable gameplay, it’s pretty much the full package. Only the crushing nature of the combat will be a bone of contention here for some, but others will love it.

Evil Genius 2: World Domination was a great game on PC and thankfully it’s equally as great on console. If lair building and managing a criminal empire is your thing, consider this an absolute must-play. Rebellion has done a great job ensuring that pretty much every action you could want to perform is at your fingertips on a controller. And with a robust tutorial system, this is a game that’s accessible to all, regardless of their skill level. Evil Genius 2: World Domination really does make it dangerously fun to be bad.

Inertial Drift: Twilight Rivals Edition has all the same issues we had with the original release, such as poor options for those who want to race online, but thanks to the addition of another campaign and a selection of cars and tracks, those who loved it before are likely to love it even more. It’s those who have not yet played Inertial Drift that will perhaps get the most out of this new PS5 edition, however. A host of improvements mean it has never looked or played better on console.

Thanks to being able to jump in for free, you can’t really go wrong with Pinball M. Featuring the same solid physics as found in Pinball FX along with its its comprehensive list of play modes and features, this is yet another stellar pinball offering by Zen Studios. Jump in and give the free table a go, then if any of the DLC tables pique your interest, expand your game as you see fit. Best viewed as a companion to Pinball FX, it’s going to be interesting to see which tables based on more mature properties are added in the future.

It’s true there’s not much to Minami Lane, but this is a fine example of wholesome gaming: simple, engaging and wonderfully relaxing. The fact it’s been made by such a small team makes it all the better. Don’t come here expecting an in-depth city building experience, but if a few hours of cosiness appeals, we’re pretty sure you’ll have a fine old time.

Available on their own or as a double feature, RetroRealms: Ash vs Evil Dead and RetroRealms: Halloween both provide fun old-school platforming experiences reminiscent of classic Castlevania titles. There are some unique mechanics and features, however, such as being able to switch between realms and using playable characters in any RetroRealms games that you own.