With incredible aesthetics and an ever-expanding soundtrack, Synth Riders continues to dominate the rhythm game beat. It’s accessible, fun, and an absolute must-have for anyone with a VR headset. Come on in – join the neon-soaked party.

Scars Above is unfortunately bland, with dull combat and very few puzzles. It has hints at interesting ideas and ambitions, but couldn’t execute on those.

Souls of Chronos is a mediocre experience that will get lost in the shuffle of the plethora of fantastic RPGS we have available today. The potential for a fantastic visual adventure with an endearing duo is replaced by a mystery that’s hard to become emotionally invested in. Hopefully, a sequel can take the good bits at the game’s core and expand them into a fully fleshed out experience.

The Last Clockwinder is one of the more chill games to check out on your new PSVR2, and it’s worthy of the purchase. This is the definitive version, with crisp visuals and motion controls backed by an emotional story you connect with even without seeing any of the characters. If you’re looking to decipher a few puzzles with the help of a few cute little robots, this is the game for you.

Wo Long: Fall Dynasty is a near flawless game and what I hope is just an intro to this fantastic world. Team Ninja have crafted a game that takes the basic structure of Nioh and other Souls-likes and creates their own unique, rewarding, and brutally challenging experience. In its almost forty hour campaign I was constantly surprised by the amount of new locations, creative boss fights, and sheer ambition of the game. It may be early in the year, but I’d be surprised if any game beats Wo Long for the top of my year-end list.

A solid improvement over the Meta Quest 2 version, Cities: VR - Enhanced Edition brings with it improved visuals, rebuilt UI and controls, and a far larger build surface. Virtual city building may sound like watching paint dry on paper, it may be precisely the relaxing activity you need after a long day in the real world.

Tentacular is a fun little sandbox game that manages to be as genuinely fun as it is funny. Filled to the brim with moments, it’s great for VR newcomers, or those who just want a break from all the super-serious shooters and world-saving simulations.

At the time of launch, I’m incredibly impressed with what Vertigo Games has delivered. I want to spend some time hunting zombie-sicles with my friends to really get a handle on how the game plays with friends, but this already feels like a can’t-miss entry into Sony’s PSVR2 platform.

Kayak VR: Mirage is a testament to the power of the PlayStation VR2 and a showcase for those who want to show their friends and family what VR is all about. While more of an experience than a full-fledged game, Kayak VR manages to provide a gorgeous, realistic, memorable, and relaxing experience which accurately mimics real kayaking and is almost certain to make you begin plans for your next vacation.

Theatrythm Final Bar Line is a good celebration of Final Fantasy’s musical history. While a few key songs are behind a paywall or missing entirely, fans will find a lot to like here.

It’s obvious that Pharaoh: A New Era was a labor of love by Triskell Interactive and Dotemu. I am sure there wasn’t a massive demand for this title, but there are some die hard fans out there (like me) who enjoyed and appreciated this game beyond comprehension. It keeps the heart and soul of the original Pharaoh, while making just enough tweaks to improve upon a timeless classic. The nostalgia factor is high on this one, and if you liked any of the late 90s to early 2000 city-building titles, then picking up Pharaoh: A New Era is a must. My only request: please consider remastering Zeus & Poseidon!

The Pale Beyond is a masterclass in tone and atmosphere informing gameplay. As Captain Robin Shaw, you’ll need to make tough decisions constantly, but this stressful journey is well worth seeing through to the end.

Gun Jam fails to capitalize on a novel idea through its unpolished and at odds mechanics. There’s not much content here and what is there isn’t particularly fun.

It’s crazy to say that Tetris, a game from 1984, feels brand new, but with Tetris Effect: Connected and a dash of virtual reality, it really does. The new single players offer a handful of new modes beyond simply trying to set a high score, and the multiplayer provides an ever-expanding set of new ways to play. It’s a worthy addition to the PSVR2 launch lineup.

Demeo is a fantastic dungeon-crawler, and a perfect addition to the PSVR2 library. Demonstrating a visual clarity not seen on any other platform, the PlayStation VR2 version is the best possible platform. This is an easy recommendation and a must-have for any PSVR2 owner.

Rez Infinite is a throwback to an amazing 2001 on-rails musical shooter made fresh once again with an entirely new way to control the action. The PSVR2 version’s new features make it new and exciting again thanks to the hardware’s new features.

We Were Here Forever is a step back from the rest of the series. It’s hard to find the motivation to keep playing when you’re completing the same puzzle three, sometimes four times. Quantity doesn’t mean quality, and when you’re in control of a unique genre like coop puzzlers you don’t want to step on the quality of what made this series great. Plus, the lack of a compelling story is disappointing when it’s the only thing that’s meant to encourage you to keep playing.

Symphonia regenerated the traditional RPG structure with smartly designed battle mechanics and well-fleshed out cast of characters. It remains a favorite of mine to this day and I’m glad to get the opportunity to experience it again, even if this re-release can never truly recapture the original effect it had on me. The remaster translates the regenerative nature of Symphonia competently, but this is the kind of game that deserves a remaster that goes the extra mile.

With fresh factions, two campaigns, significantly more options, and a refreshed skirmish mode, Company of Heroes 3 exceeds the impossibly-high bar set by its predecessor by a shockingly wide margin. It’s a masterpiece.

2023 has already been strong with Game of the Year contenders, and Atomic Heart is another one of them. It lives up to all of the hype and all of its promises; an amazing debut game for Mundfish. Nailing down a few things Atomic Heart is phenomenal at is nearly impossible because it’s extraordinary in all of them. This isn’t just my favorite game of this year, it might be one of my favorites of the decade.

While bad load times and mediocre visuals make its Switch port far from perfect, Life is Strange 2 still provides an impactful experience.

Metroid Prime Remastered is an amazing update to a classic game. Despite some remaining issues like clunky combat and platforming, the new control scheme and visual updates make this a must-play in the Switch’s library, even for those who didn’t enjoy the original. This is how you update a game for modern audiences.

Like A Dragon: Ishin! is a great game, but doesn’t do much to stand out against other games in the series. The story and setting are novel and interesting, however, the combat lacks any sort of balance. Even so, the excellent melodrama is worth seeing through to the end.

Wild Hearts brings a uniqueness to the monster hunting genre that keeps the experience feeling refreshing. The Karakuri and different weapon options are very fun to experiment with and present interesting combat opportunities. The game never felt repetitive and performance issues were minimal. Overall, Wild Hearts capitalizes on what made monster hunting games so much fun in the first place while still giving fans of the genre a new reason to get excited and dive back into the fight.

Sony needed a system-seller for their PlayStation VR2, and Horizon: Call of the Mountain is it. Scale, interactivity, haptics, and satisfying combat that matches the main games makes for a must-have for anyone picking up Sony’s newest hardware.

While the early game’s repetition doesn’t match the second half, there’s something to be said about the experience of evading dinosaurs while solving puzzles. I just wish they’d have taken more advantage of Sony’s new hardware with this port.

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge takes full advantage of Sony’s PlayStation VR2, breathing new life into the game with updated visuals, awesome haptic feedback, and a story worth remembering.

Returnal is a great game on console and on PC, and its brilliant fast-paced gameplay will give daring players a highly entertaining experience despite its frustrating elements.