For £7, you have one of the finest examples of not just a shoot’em up, but of any small-scale arcade-style experience game out there.

Tales from the Borderlands can easily compete against the hottest contenders on TV, not just on account of its writing, but also its cinematic beauty.

For shoot ’em up fans, the decision whether to purchase Raiden IV x MIKADO Remix or not on Switch should be a no-brainer. Not only is this one of the best shoot ’em ups around, but here it’s enhanced with additional modes, global leaderboards and a brilliant remixed soundtrack. Throw in co-op, an abundance of options to fiddle with, and TATE mode, and you have a game that will keep fans of the genre entertained long into the future.

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.

Yakuza 0 remains among the best Yakuza games, and this Switch 2-exclusive Director's Cut is essential for those who are yet to play it. The extra content here, including additional cut scenes and a new Red Light Raid mode, isn't all that impressive, but it doesn't matter much when the base game looks and plays better than ever.

Those familiar with BlazBlue lore will likely relish the lengthy episodic cutscenes, filled to the brim with snaking character subplots, but the rest of us humble gamers will be left itching for some actual gameplay.

It's a shame that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor isn't a little more polished, as it really takes the sheen off this bigger, bolder sequel. The story may take a while to really get going, but once it does, it has some fantastic, explosive scenes that truly make an impact. And while there is some fan-service, it tries to keep it to a minimum. Ultimately, this is a must-play for any Star Wars fan, and it leaves us excited about what's next for Cal Kestis.

Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is something a little left-field from Square Enix, but we’re very glad it exists. With its budget price, this should serve as an enticing intro to the visual novel genre for many, while those who are already fans of the genre will simply lap it up. A dark narrative with lashings of humour and some clever gameplay touches make this one of the best surprises of 2023 so far.

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 latest entry in the DOOM series effectively turns the Doom Slayer into a tank, mowing down literal hordes of enemies with a varied range of chunky weapons. There's more of an emphasis on melee, too, and combined with a new focus on parrying enemy attacks with a nifty Shield Saw to get the upper hand, it feels entirely unique. Put simply, there's nothing else quite like DOOM: The Dark Ages out there. It's both epic and essential.

With Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Konami has achieved what it set out to do: breathe new life into a classic while keeping it as authentic as possible. With that in mind, its only real faults are some mechanics which now feel a little awkward and dated. The visuals here are phenomenal, bringing more nuance to the game's cutscenes, and the new modern play style is great for newcomers and those annoyed by the restrictive camera of the original game.

Frostpunk 2 takes the already excellent original and improves on it in some suitably satisfying ways. It's an excellent city-builder, especially if you're prepared to take lessons from failure.

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.

With a stream of post-launch content bolstering what it is already an epic 50-hour-plus adventure, Assassin’s Creed Origins is one of the most engrossing and awe-inspiring experiences of the year, especially on Xbox One X where the visuals are pushed to the max. You can nit-pick all you like about the odd funny glitch here and there and some duff NPC dialogue, but Assassin’s Creed Origins is a near flawless open-world gaming experience.

No game will bring you closer to actually being Batman, and exploring the world of Batman: Arkham Shadow is an absolute joy. Throw in a mixture of detective work, seriously satisfying combat and thrilling traversal, and you have one of the best VR games to date. The only problem? If you're prone to motion sickness, getting through it might be a struggle.

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.

At first glance, Tunic might look like your typical breezy indie adventure. How wrong you’d be to think that. Underneath its cute exterior lies a tough-as-nails experience, designed to truly test your mettle. But here’s a game that also sports some of the most thoughtful, wonderful design elements you’ll ever find, all laid out in an interconnected, sprawling world that begs to be explored. Better yet, a range of accessibility options mean that absolutely anyone can experience Tunic, regardless of their skill level. And by god, they should. It really is something special.

This is the beautiful game in its greatest digital form, oozing gameplay from every sweaty pore. If someone wants to pass on the experience because the names aren’t right, more fool them, I say.

Put the essence of the Fallout, Mass Effect and Borderlands series into a blender, and what you get is The Outer Worlds. It’s an open-world adventure that lets you visit run-down planets and face their hostilities. There are people to recruit, relationships to maintain and difficult decisions to be made. And it’s all wrapped in a lighthearted tone, although not at the expense of a strong story; The Outer Worlds really does have good dialogue. It’s just a shame that you spend so much time running though environments that feel deader than Fallout’s wastelands.

There’s nothing really new or overly exciting to be found in Flynn: Son of Crimson, but its well-executed blend of platforming, combat and light puzzle-solving keeps you occupied from beginning to end. It’s a fairly short, easy-going adventure (though it does have difficulty levels if you want more of a challenge), and one that’s sure to please fans of old-school platformers – just as long as they’re not expecting anything revolutionary.

The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a hugely engaging narrative adventure, even if you have little actual interest in the tarot. Sporting multiple endings, it tells a tale that will stay with you well after you’ve set your virtual deck down. Just don’t make deals with any space lobsters, okay?

If you’ve enjoyed stylish adventures like Rime and Journey in the past, you’ll undoubtedly enjoy Jusant. What it lacks in narrative it makes up for in environmental design: this is a world teeming with imagination and signs of life. Ultimately though, your goal here is to simply keep moving upwards. As repetitive as it can get, there’s still a sweet joy to be found in ever edging closer and closer to the top, and puzzling to find the best route to get there is enjoyable enough to keep us playing.

I Am Your Beast is a simple game in principle, tasking you with completing basic objectives across many bite-sized levels before making your way to an exit. Its breakneck pace means you have to think and act fast, however, and the forces you're up against escalate as you progress. Throw in a story that's gripping from the outset, and you have a first-person shooter that makes you feel a little bit like John Wick whenever you play.

Very short but powerfully sweet, Pieced Together is a cosy scrapbooking game that reminisces over the course of a childhood friendship. It's not only fun to play, but a powerful reminder of how precious childhood friends can be.

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.

Ploughing through both games is going to take at least 100 hours, probably closer to 200 if you’re thorough. They may be close to 20 years old now, but these Final Fantasy games still have charm.

If you enjoy Forza Horizon 5 and want more, this Hot Wheels expansion comes highly recommended. The track-based antics here are more restricted, which may put off players who enjoy the off-roading freedom that the base game provides, but in turn it’s a whole new experience with a completely different feel. As long as you like driving really fast and performing insane stunts, you’ll love Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels. You don’t even need to be a fan of actual Hot Wheels cars to appreciate it.

To play Yakuza 0 is to deeply fall in love with its characters and world; a challenge that many games try to conquer, but only a handful ever manage to actually achieve.