Whether you're brand new to The Last of Us Part 2 or already own it on PS4 and are upgrading to this remastered version for the extra bells and whistles, you're in for a treat. Thanks to the visual and performance improvements, there's no better way to experience the grim, shocking and sometimes uncomfortable story of The Last of Us Part 2. And once that ordeal is over, a great effort has been made here to allow you an interesting insight into the game's development. It's the elements here that allow you to extend your play that really make the difference, though. From new unlockable outfits to the brilliant No Return roguelike mode, chances are you'll keep playing The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered long after the credits have rolled.

Having been away from our consoles for some 14 years, we’re glad that Prince of Persia has made a return. And while we’d welcome another 3D action adventure entry with open arms, Ubisoft’s choice to adopt a 2.5D Metroidvania format for this foray is a shrewd one. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has everything you’d expect of a Prince of Persia game, from tense, thoughtful combat to challenging platforming. Yet thanks to its youthful flair and genre-shift, it feels fresh and unlike anything else currently in the Ubisoft library. For Prince of Persia fans and those who enjoy Metroidvanias in general, this is very much worthy of a recommendation.

That’s really the problem here – Detective: Stella Porta Case is just too rough around the edges to really stand out. To say this is a solo dev project it’s a commendable effort, but it doesn’t make for the most fulfilling experience as a player. It’s janky and barebones, and the frustration of figuring out each crime’s timeline outweighs any satisfaction you might feel from cracking the case.

But if you’ve played Saints & Sinners, and can forgive the Quest 2 version’s occasional graphical shortcomings, you’ll be in zombie-wrangling heaven with this follow-up. Being knee deep in the dead has rarely been this much fun.

The lack of VR features is disappointing, but Per Aspera VR is still a rewarding experience. If you want something truly immersive from your headset, this might not be for you. But if you’ve not tackled Per Aspera‘s PC incarnation and you’re a fan of hard science, you’ll have a space whale of a time making Mars your own.

Is Iron Man VR the best VR superhero game out there? No – that honour has to go to Megaton Rainfall. But it’s still up there, and thanks to the Quest 2’s superior tracking, this is a much better experience than it was on PSVR. And so, you’re a Meta Quest 2-owning Marvel fan, you won’t regret stepping into Tony Stark’s iron underpants.

A few niggles aside, PowerWash Simulator has translated very well to virtual reality. Getting into the nitty-gritty of cleaning the town of Muckingham is just as enjoyable and relaxing as ever, offering upwards of 20 to 30 hours of gameplay in the main campaign alone. Despite a few wonky controls and mechanics, PowerWash Simulator VR is just as fun as its flat screen counterpart – and every bit as addictive. Just don’t look down when you’re standing on a ladder.

All in all, Trinity Fusion is an engaging roguelike that has plenty to offer to fans of the genre. It doesn’t have the charm of the likes of Dead Cells, but it stands out thanks to its multiple protagonists. It’s also great that you get to choose which worlds to explore in any particular run, adding some variety. Add in a Hyper Mode that allows those who are struggling to make things more manageable, and you have a title that’s well worth a look even for newcomers to the genre.

It has its issues, but action RPG fans can’t go far wrong by picking Astlibra Revision up. It feels antiquated in ways, and it’s not particularly intuitive, but thanks to its rewarding character development and unusual story that will keep you on your toes, once it’s got its hooks in you chances are you’ll want to see things through. It’s especially impressive given that it’s a labour of love, and its budget price sweetens the deal.

Whether you should pick up Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising ultimately depends on how you plan to play it. While there is enough content and modes here to keep single-player focused gamers entertained for a good number of hours, it’s those who are unafraid to go up against others online that will no doubt get the most out of it. From its rollback netcode to its new lobby system and Grand Bruise mode, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising’s online offerings are comprehensive, making this an attractive package for those with a competitive streak.

With the Metroidvania genre seemingly being one of the most popular right now, fans are stacked with choices when it comes to what to play. And while Cookie Cutter might not be at the top of the pile, it does stand out for a number of reasons. Its hand-drawn art is wonderful to behold, and its punk spirit will no doubt be very attractive to some. Then there’s the combat, which has its issues but is mostly chaotic in the best way. Ultimately, then, while it’s not going to win any awards, you could do a lot worse than spend time with Cookie Cutter.

A marked improvement over the already-beloved House Flipper, House Flipper 2 allows you to get more immersed in the relaxing thrill of house renovations than ever before. Some quality of life changes take previous frustrations away, streamlining processes and allowing players to focus on what’s important. That, coupled with a face lift that makes House Flipper 2 look absolutely gorgeous, makes this a must-play for any sim fan. If only cleaning and renovating my real-life house was so enjoyable.

Would I call The Sims 4: For Rent a must-have expansion? Not quite: this is certainly one for more advanced players with a learning curve steeper than most other Sims expansions – although some of its features make for very welcome additions to the game. Finally being able to rent before buying leads to more realistic play, for example. And the town of Tomarang is simply beautiful. If you’ve ever dreamed of being an evil landlord or nightmare tenant, For Rent offers the tools to live out those twisted fantasies.

Providing you have the skill – or patience – for it, there’s a hell of a lot to like about Laika: Aged Through Blood. It’s a great-looking title with a beautiful soundtrack, an interesting world, and gameplay that is refreshingly unique. Make it through a challenging encounter unscathed, pulling off backflips mid-air to reload your guns, block incoming projectiles and take out multiple enemies in one cunning stunt will make you feel like an absolute badass. It’s just a shame that at times it feels a little bit too demanding and punishing simply for the sake of it. Would it really have been all that bad to let you reload your guns out of combat, for example?

It’s a shame that the combat of Born of Bread only feels half-baked, as it brings down what is otherwise a relatively entertaining adventure. Though while it might prove to be too irksome for some players, those who can at least tolerate it will find that the positives of the game outweigh the negatives on the whole, resulting in an RPG with plenty of charm and some genuinely funny moments.

If you're a fan of Ubisoft's open world formula, you're going to love Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. No, it doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it doesn't have to. The gorgeous world of Pandora makes for a fantastic playground that simply begs to be explored. And if that's not enough, you've got some epic set pieces, an enjoyable story and a great variety of side content to look forward to, too. It's open world game 101, and I'm just fine with that.

Whether you’re having a gathering with your friends over the holidays or arranging an online games night, make sure Make Way is top of your playlist. This wonderful little game turns a very simple idea into a moreish, devilish and absolutely riotous multiplayer experience that will keep you coming back for more. It’s just a shame that not everything is unlocked at the outset so we can go full-on carnage right away – but we can’t have everything.

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.

A lengthy game with puzzles around every corner, The Talos Principle 2 is another triumph for Croteam. We wondered how the developer would top the phenomenal first entry in this mind-boggling series, and it’s done so by providing a veritable feast of varied and engaging puzzles, backed up with thoughtful philosophy and stunning visuals that heighten its light exploration elements. If you play just one puzzle game this year make it this one. In fact, we’d go as far to say that The Talos Principle 2 is one of the best puzzle games of all time.

Thanks to the change in genre, some fans of the original Valfaris might not get on all that well with this sequel. Being a side-scrolling shooter, no longer can players control the pace or take time to explore. Those who mostly charmed by the game’s metal-themed visuals and head-banging soundtrack, however, will be similarly won over by Valfaris: Mecha Therion. This is a fantastic shooter that never lets up. And thanks to its varied arsenal and upgrade options, you’ll likely return to it time and time again.

A great city-building game for beginners who don’t want to be bogged down with complicated systems, there’s a lot to like about SteamWorld Build. It isn’t so simple that it’s boring: the balance between your surface-level town and the mines below means there’s always something to do. Add in the fact that objectives always give you something to work towards, and you’ve got an engaging little timesink with a great sense of progression.

There’s not much to Evil Diary – it’s simple to a fault – but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t somewhat enjoy it while it lasted. It’s less than an hour of action, but shooting your way through apocalyptic enemies is always fun – and it turns out sawing through them as a duck with a chainsaw is even better.

Pick up Gangs of Sherwood and you might get a few hours of entertainment out of it, especially if you play it with friends. Ultimately, though, this is a mediocre action game with a litany of issues ranging from unbalanced characters to sub-par presentation. For that reason it’s difficult to recommend, even if you’re intrigued by its visually fresh take on the legend of Robin Hood. Though to be honest, this doesn’t feel like a Robin Hood game at all. There’s little stealing from the rich to give to the poor here. And aside from Friar Tuck, his band of merry men doesn’t really seem all that merry.

It’s simple: if you enjoyed Dredge, you’ll enjoy The Pale Reach. While this DLC doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it offers a solid reason to return to one of this year’s best indie games. It’s a fairly small expansion, but for a budget price you’re getting new mysteries to unravel, new fish to catch and a new area to explore – what more could you want?

Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection is a bit of a disappointment on all fronts. The games themselves just aren’t all that fun to play any more. And even if you do manage to eke some entertainment out of them, the package overall is very basic, with no museum-like content or extras to make the games more appealing to return to. Unless you’re an ardent Jurassic Park fan hellbent on having access to these games on modern formats, you’d be wise to think twice before parting with your hard-earned money.

Invincible Presents: Atom Eve proves to be an enjoyable journey whether you’re familiar with the world of Invincible or not. It’s got good writing, beautiful art, and challenging encounters that really make you think about your actions. Sure, you’ll get more out of it if you’ve read the comics or watched the show, but anyone that appreciates a good visual novel or wants to delve into the life of a teenager with the added burden of super powers will find a lot to love here.

The farming/life sim space is bursting, and with many games offering a similar premise it’s hard for anything to truly stand out. Indeed, on paper Coral Island sounds very much like any other. But in practice, it’s one of the most satisfying games in the space and one I know I’ll be going back to for months to come. It looks fantastic, it offers a robust mission system coupled with endless player freedom and has some genuinely unique ideas to boot. What more could you want?

Something a little bit different from Puppet Combo, Christmas Massacre puts the shoe on the other foot, putting you in the position of power in a retro-horror setting. You’re the killer here. You’re the villain. Instead of fighting for your own life, you’re seeking to put an end to others’. It proves to be a challenging and morbidly enjoyable endeavour, even if the the game itself isn’t the most mechanically robust. If you’ve got the stomach for it and enjoy the macabre, Christmas Massacre is definitely worth giving a go. At the very least, it’ll let you release some steam if you get stressed this Christmas.