Despite its minor camera and screen tearing issues though, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is great for those looking for a challenge. Its mix of stealth, strategy and action is a highly enjoyable one, and with its wealth of missions and bonus objectives there’s plenty to go at.

Short as it may be, my time with The Gunk has been wonderful. Image & Form’s move into the 3D realm has solidified it as a truly talented developer – and this may just be its best game yet. Beautiful, satisfying and engaging from start to finish, The Gunk is definitely worth getting stuck into.

Its weightlessness takes some of the nuance and impact out of its Dark Souls-inspired combat, and its difficulty is more of a wavy line than a gradual curve at times, but it’s got a lot of heart.

It’s a shame that Steel Defier doesn’t last much more than an hour; we’d have gladly played through many, many more levels. This is a simple little game, but one that absolutely nails the concept of a fulfilling challenge. More please, Viridino Studios.

The Ace Attorney Investigations Collection takes the action away from the courtroom, with players instead poking their noses around crime scenes and interviewing bystanders in the hopes of putting together a solid case. What's more, the two games included here have been brilliantly remastered, bringing their characters to life like never before. It's just a shame that progression sometimes feels like it relies on trial and error.

It’s hard not to be charmed by The Shapeshifting Detective. From its presentation – with an eerie local radio station playing spooky stories in the background – to its alluring characters and enthralling narrative that dances with supernatural themes, there’s a lot to love.

If you’re already a fan of The Expanse, you’re undoubtedly going to get more out of this than a newcomer. But don’t write The Expanse: A Telltale Series off even if you’ve never seen it before – this prequel makes a great starting point, thanks to its cast of new characters and focus on space exploration. As great as the story is, filled with thrills and tense moments, the highlight has been digging through the eerie, empty wreckages of spacecraft and space stations. It’s safe to say that Telltale’s return is a strong one, and we’re excited to see what the company does next.

If you’re a fan of simulator-like games, and want something a little more different and fantastical, it’s well worth giving Hardspace: Shipbreaker a try. It can feel very much like work at times, but there’s also something strange therapeutic about it. After all, it’s rewarding doing a good job, right?

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.

You can finish the game in two to three hours, but it’s just the right length for this slice of suspense (and the game’s £8.49/$9.99 price tag). Engaging and shocking in equal measure, Bahnsen Knights is a wild ride you won’t regret taking.

While Fox n Forests is never going to be remembered as a classic, it’s certainly just as good, if not better, than many of the platformers of yesteryear that people cling to with rose-tinted glasses.

Ultimately, how much fun you’ll get out of Ragnarock depends on how much you like the type of music it’s centred around. If you don’t like loud, crunchy riffs and the occasional bit of screaming, then you might not be able to stomach it for too long unless your love for drumming is greater. For those fully invested in the ridiculous antics that Ragnarock offers though, a jolly good time can be had time and time again.

Its gameplay may not be quite the evolution from previous LEGO games that you were expecting, but it's clear TT Games has put a lot of time and love into making LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. It's the biggest LEGO game yet by a mile, and the shift to making it more cinematic makes it perhaps the most engaging. It's certainly a huge improvement in terms of visuals; this really is a gorgeous-looking game on PS5. A few bugs may let it down somewhat, but they're easy to forgive and forget. Ultimately, whether you're a Star Wars fan or a LEGO fan – or even better, both – you're going to find a lot to love here.

Neo Cab is a captivating story-driven game that gives a glimpse at what a world practically run by robots might look like. With a wonderful art style, a fascinating setting and a story that’ll instantly grab you, it’s well worth taking a ride with.

The variety in Enigmatis 2 is perhaps the most impressive, and the introduction of the evidence board adds yet another string in their steadily-expanding bow.

You could argue that Horizon Chase 2 plays things safe, but when what’s on offer is this much fun, does it really matter? Developer Aquiris may have stuck to its tried and tested formula, but with a bold new visual style and improved gameplay across the board, there’s enough here to make the experience feel fresh. And whether you like to race alone against the CPU or online against others, there’s something for you here. For arcade racing game fans eager for something new to test their skills with, this is very highly recommended.

Even as frustrating as some of A Little to the Left‘s more obscure puzzles can be, we still find ourselves going back to it, picking up a Daily Tidy or trying to figure out those last few solutions. Yes, there’s a big difference between the best and the worst puzzles here, but really, it doesn’t matter: you’ll revel in the good, and you’ll feel challenged by the ones whose solutions elude you. Coming from a two-person design studio, A Little to the Left is a breath of fresh air and exactly the sort of wholesome game we need more of.

We can’t get enough of Synth Riders, and we’ll certainly be jumping back into it time and time again – both as a bit of a workout, but also because it’s just so mesmerising. Its standard levels are immersive enough, but its Experience levels take things to a whole new level – perhaps one of the best things we’ve seen in PSVR 2 yet. It’s just a shame the majority of them are locked out as DLC. Still, this isn’t a game to sleep on if you’re a fan of pumping tunes and getting your groove on.

Although definitely still a niche title, Severed takes one of the oldest and inaccessible genres in video games and reinvigorates it, giving it much wider appeal than its contemporaries such as Demon Gaze and Operation Abyss.

The role of Chris in Life is Strange 2 can only be speculated, but if he turns out to be an important figure than this short title gives us a more readily available connection to him. And even if he’s only a passing character we still get the feeling of a more realised world that Dontnod has created.

If you have inhuman hand/eye coordination or really do like inflicting inner turmoil upon yourself, then you probably should consider picking AFTERGRINDER up. You’ll probably get a kick out of it, you sick bastard.

Aimed at those who are yet to experience The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for the first time, this Anniversary Edition offers exceptional value for money, and is easily the best way to jump into one of the best role-playing games ever made. It may not quite look current-gen, but the fast loading times and reduced storage footprint are both meaningful gains for PS5 players, while the included Creation Club content adds yet more meat to the game’s bones which are already heaped with flesh. For those that have already played Skyrim to exhaustion, however, there’s not much here to draw them back. Though being able to upgrade from the Special Edition for just £15.99/$19.99 makes it very enticing.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is more complex than one might expect, which is a pleasant surprise. The delicate and relaxing art of rice farming juxtaposed against the smooth and fast-paced combat makes this a unique but wholly engaging adventure. While combat can be a bit of slog until Sakuna has more abilities up her sleeve, it’s worth persevering with, because the result is a side-scrolling action title unlike no other.

The Journey Down is an unexpected delight. While point-and-click games can often be frustrating, The Journey Down manages to remain fun and engaging throughout. Its excellently-told story, beautiful art design and humorous characters certainly help in keeping you hooked. If you love classic point-and-click adventure games, make sure The Journey Down is on your radar.

Take its unfortunate performance issues in your stride – which will hopefully be ironed out by Team Ninja post-launch – and you’ll have a hell of a lot of fun with Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. Its story may be ridiculous and not particularly easy to follow, but you’ll enjoy trying. And besides, the real draw here is the combat, which is not only highly entertaining but so, so deep thanks to the brilliant job system. This is a new type of Final Fantasy game, one that puts action at the front and centre, and it’s a blast from beginning to end.

Like other great roguelikes, the more of Roguebook you play, the more you want to play. Each death is simply a nudge to continue; to assess your strategy and try something new. Exploring the game’s world is a joy, and combat is easy to get to grips with while still being deep and engaging. There’s a lot to love here, all wrapped up in a package of sumptuous art.

It’s a joyful, relaxing compilation that provides a pleasant respite from our hectic, stressful lives.

Project Warlock is a blood-splattered love letter to retro-shooters, but still there’s plenty here to hook you even if you’ve never experienced the titles that inspired it. A glorious, gruesome outing, Project Warlock is sometimes unforgiving, but once you push past the first few levels, it’s a bloody joy to play.