A quirky and offbeat open world biking RPG that works nicely until races get more taxing, at which point its mechanical limitations make it frustrating to play

A thrillingly uncompromising racing simulator, that is easily the best endurance racer of the modern era, even if it’s got a way to go before it’s feature complete.

Mixing Pac-Man with Metroid seems like an enjoyably strange idea at first, until you realise just how bland and unimaginative the end result is.

An inspired new point ‘n’ click adventure that proves impressively daring with its dark storytelling and retro style presentation.

Another loving homage to the glory of RoboCop and despite only being a standalone expansion this features quite a few new ideas, as well as some hugely satisfying combat.

An engrossing stealth action game, featuring incredible scenery and facial animation that shames many triple-A games, never mind other indie titles.

A triumphant return to centre court for Donkey Kong, with the best destruction effects in gaming and mountains of bizarre and wonderful ideas - and a surprising amount of jank when it comes to the camera.

A relaxing, minimalist and deceptively complex puzzle-style city builder, with surprisingly challenging gameplay if you decide to test yourself against its global leaderboards.

A welcome new remaster of two of the PSP’s most iconic exclusives and while they’re as flawed as ever this is arguably the definitive version of the games.

Another excellent remake, in the vein of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, this retains the glorious character of the original games, while adding a coat of modern polish and a smattering of new content.

There’s such a huge range of combinations of brawlers, perks, attacks, status effects, and buffs that you’ll keep discovering new approaches to even after many hours of play. A genuinely deep and complex mobile strategy game, with pleasing handcrafted visuals.

If you love Persona, this supplies a new set of interesting characters and successfully translates the flair of Persona 5 into a portable format, although it also features cross-save functionality with the PC version.

A meticulous and polished remaster of the classic sci-fi survival horror, which retains the original’s atmosphere and complexity while adding new mod cons, most of which enhance the experience.

A clever and hugely enjoyable online team game, even at this early stage in its career -although it feels more like a rival to Rocket League than EA Sports FC.

A disappointingly drab Tron tie-in that wastes some interesting ideas on dull and repetitive combat and an unequally unengaging story.

A thought provoking yet funny retro style adventure, that offers one of the most complex and versatile branching narratives in gaming.

A management game where you have to handle people as well as just spreadsheets, but while its sci-fi elements add intrigue the survival gameplay isn’t all it could be.

A surprisingly iterative sequel that’s nonetheless superior to its predecessor and despite some dull moment, and an incoherent narrative, this is still the best Metal Gear game in a decade.

To a casual observer it looks almost identical to the PlayStation 5 version and while careful comparison shows it has less effects and the resolution is clearly being upscaled, the important thing is that multiplayer matches are all 60fps. That’s a big achievement for a launch game, especially as it supports rollback netcode and cross-play. The latter is vitally important in terms of ensuring a steady supply of opponents and while Nintendo’s online infrastructure won’t be put to the test until there are more Switch 2 owners in the world, it seems to work fine right now.

It’s stacked full of options, including a story mode, the chance to play both games individually, and the all-important crossover mode. This mixes the rules from both games and since they’re similar enough it works pretty well, as your screen becomes filled with tetriminos and… whatever Puyos are supposed to be.

As simplistic and shallow as it is, the game is still as much fun as ever, with this version also adding a time attack mode and allowing for rewinds and VRR support.

It’s not the plot that’s important in Deltarune but the bizarre range of characters and the surreal situations you find yourself in. Although at the heart of it all is a very pacifist ideology, that celebrates the power of love and the need for empathy without ever seeming mawkish or patronising. And while also paying homage to old school Japanese role-players and having a cracking soundtrack.

The problem is that the strategy elements are shallow and underplayed and while the game is fun and interestingly weird, it really doesn’t add up to much. We were interested to see how the mouse controls work, but while they’re fine on a technical level they’re really not necessary, given how little of the map you can see at any one time.

The Switch 1 version of Sonic X Shadow Generations is undeniably the worst one, if only for its locked frame rate of 30fps. Fortunately, the Switch 2 version is a solid revision that’s almost on par with the PlayStation 5 version.

There’s no question that this is a great game, but the problem is that this is not the ideal way to experience it. The frame rate is uneven and while this isn’t a straight action game there’s a constant sense that it’s only barely managing to work on the Switch 2. The occasionally blurry visuals are also less impressive than other launch ports and while some of that may be fixed with a patch, it’s clear this is a fairly compromised port.

The main advantage of the Switch 2 version, if you casually ignore anyone who has played on a PC this century, is mouse controls. You can jump between the dual analogue setup and mouse functionality by flipping one Joy-Con on its side, and it transitions seamlessly between them whenever you want. There’s a mouse sensitivity slider which you can attune to your speed and, after some adjustment in nailing down the spell configurations with the buttons twisted sideways, it quickly became our preferred way to play.

For a start, it’s the only current gen-only game available at launch. And while that’s not a particularly good indication of the Switch 2’s power, given that Split Fiction isn’t a very graphically demanding game, it’s still impressive that it works as well as it does. It’s capped at 30fps when docked but it looks almost indistinguishable from the PlayStation 5 version.

A dull and frustrating co-op puzzle game, that has little chance of entertaining a younger audience and is too simplistic and repetitive for adult gamers.

One of the worst video games of the modern era, that clearly isn’t finished – but just as clearly wouldn’t be worth even a moment of your time if it was.

The definitive version of one of Nintendo’s most astounding technical and design achievements, that expands and refines the world of Breath Of The Wild in new and unexpected ways.

An excellent Yakuza game with some Switch 2 benefits, but the bonuses fail to justify the high price tag.

The best F-Zero clone since Fast RMX, with some extremely impressive visuals for a Switch 2 launch game, although the structure and track design lack Nintendo’s finesse.

One of the best video games ever made gets a substantial performance boost on the Switch 2 and provides the perfect opportunity for new players to jump in or for veterans to hoover up every last Korok.

An excellent follow-up to Mario Kart 8 that takes the series into exciting new directions, although the open world element is surprisingly undercooked and almost irrelevant.

A bizarre attempt to celebrate the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 in the most boringest way possible, with a limp collection of unentertaining minigames made even duller by suffocatingly clinical presentation.

Charming, silly, and occasionally profound but Keita Takahashi’s latest lacks the gameplay hook of Katamari Damacy, even if it is surprisingly well written.

FromSoftware struggle to force the square peg of Elden Ring into the round hole of a co-op roguelite, and while they just about manage to make it work the whole game feels like only a half-successful experiment.

A flawed but interesting attempt at a mash-up of everything from God Of War to Dark Souls, but where crafting weapons is often more fulfilling than using them.

Startling realism mixed with clever fantasy elements create one of the most compelling motorsport games of the current gen.

An effective expansion of the original’s deck-building roguelite structure, that adds lots of enjoyable new features and becomes one of the few games to rival Slay The Spire.

A spruced up, lightly streamlined refresh of the classic Ukrainian shooter-meets-survival horror series that retains every bit of its uncompromisingly bleak character and individuality.

A fine attempt at turning 80s cop shows into a video game, that wisely uses PS1 era GTA games as its gameplay template.

Another excellent compilation of forgotten Capcom fighters, with the revival of Power Stone and Capcom Vs. SNK being especially welcome – even if it’s a shame these aren’t the Dreamcast versions.

Another mini-reboot for the father of FPS, but while it’s less complex and challenging than Doom Eternal it’s still a fine homage to the seminal original.

One of the most visually distinctive games of the year, that proves you don’t need realism or gore to be scary – in this enjoyable mix of stealth, puzzle-solving, and surreal horror.

A complex interconnection of influences results in a game that’s both familiar and interestingly unique, with a few rough edges compensated for by excellent combat and role-playing systems.

Players who’ve been around the free-to-play block will immediately recognise Kingshot as a reskin of Whiteout Survival, which itself is identical in gameplay terms to Top War: Survival, Age Of Empires, and a host of other games cynically designed to exploit unwary players financially. Do yourself a favour and give it a wide berth.

The destructible scenery and different map sizes keep you on your toes, even if gameplay can lack depth, with matches heavily dependent on the quality of teammates and enemies.

It’s been enhanced on practically every level from the original, and while its text-only conversations tend to go on a bit tool long, and the jaunty tune it plays when you die quickly becomes mildly enraging, it’s a compelling game whose crafting recipes and research build into a significant array of construction options. You’ll also upgrade your spacesuit, making you faster, stronger and harder to kill; its role-playing elements prove as addictive as ever and it features cross-platform saves for those who also own it on Steam.

Katamari’s gameplay hasn’t really changed since its 2004 PlayStation 2 inception, and apart from the faux influencer window dressing and slightly wonky touch controls, for better or worse this is essentially the same game it always has been.

One of the best 3D Metroidvanias ever made, with the same endearing sense of humour as the original but several welcome improvements and a more substantial adventure.

Thrilling open world driving peppered with a massive variety of challenges, events, racing styles and carefully orchestrated, motoring mayhem, as one Xbox’s tentpole exclusives arrives on PlayStation 5.

An excellent remaster that preserves the original’s eccentricities and old school character, while instituting a complete graphical overhaul and adding a suite of modern conveniences.

An extraordinary debut release from a French indie studio that has managed to make the best JRPG of recent years, with some of the best combat the genre has ever seen.

An ambitious and visually arresting double-A adventure, that blends Assassin’s Creed’s stealth with Halo’s epic scenery, but which is compromised by a litany of minor technical issues.

An excellent return to form for one of the most respected 2D fighters in the business, that makes a solid impact despite some gimmicky guest characters.

A fast-moving and savagely difficult 2D platformer that draws equal inspiration from Limbo and Soulsborne games, with its own restless sense of invention that never falls short.

A brilliantly realised and atmospheric first person action game, that turns the spirit of Raiders of the Lost Ark into a fully-fledged adventure with role-playing trimmings.

A beautifully made first person puzzle roguelite that demands tenacity and patience (and writing things down) to unravel its fascinating mysteries.

An extremely workmanlike throwback to early generations of platform adventure, that completely wastes its interesting setting and gorgeous visual design.

The way it layers plot and characters around playing the made-up handheld – which at one point you have to repair when it breaks – works beautifully, the physicality of the handheld brilliantly realised on your phone screen, even if the simulated Kid Cosmo game itself is only okay.

It’s fun, and its script wonderfully acerbic.

With a downbeat art style and a plot that gradually reveals all that lurks beneath, there’s plenty of exploration and ship upgrading to undertake on your way to finding out what’s going on. It felt a bit too slim on consoles and PC but while it works better on mobile the price tag is more than most are likely to pay for the full thing.

Whether it has the staying power Supercell traditionally aims for remains to be seen, but it’s an interesting new direction for the studio.

Given its cute good looks it’s surprisingly tough, with fights easily able to blindside you when spell-casting enemy Wielders are involved. If you don’t mind a few retries, and make sure you scour the countryside for power-ups, this will keep you busy for weeks.

A well executed VR port of Hitman World of Assassination, that brings motion control and higher resolution visuals to Agent 47’s lightly comedic sandbox of global contract killing.

A very competent Soulslike, with excellent combat and an attractive art style – it’s just a shame it barely even tries to do anything new.

An alternative to Fallout rather than a homage, with a more freeform approach to open world gaming that offers more meaningful freedom than many other bigger budget titles.

If you’ve never liked Assassin’s Creed this won’t win you over but Shadows is a well-made and exciting iteration that’s impressively well-polished, even if it lacks any significant new ideas.

A fantastic open world role-player, with a mountain of content and interesting diversions – although the unengaging storytelling remains its main weakness.

In terms of gameplay, it has little in common with the 37-year-old original but the fact that this is a generic and unremarkable copy of other, better games unfortunately makes this a very authentic sequel.

A fascinating cosy experiment, packed with memorable characters and sharp writing, but which occasionally stumbles in the execution.

The mobile version is solid enough but the touch controls aren’t up to the job, despite generous auto-aim, meaning you’ll need to use a Bluetooth controller to navigate its twitchy, fast-moving scenarios.

The interface is silky smooth, rounds are quick and rewarding, and without the need to try and profit from you, unlocks arrive frictionlessly, making for a pleasing golf-themed mobile distraction.

Coming with all three tranches of DLC, this is another roaring success from the team at Feral Interactive and a welcome return for a spin-off that is considerably more entertaining than some of the mainline entries.

It’s at least as much about exploration, across several huge and detailed mountains, as it is about time trials and pulling off tricks, and its touch controls are wonderfully intuitive. All that’s missing is the glühwein.

It had a tough task following up last year’s incredible effort, but with the injection of The Bloodline this new entry becomes another top notch wrestling game.

Another cracking co-op extravaganza that successfully blends collaborative puzzling and spectacular action sequences into a breathless, occasionally moving and often hilarious, two-player-only experience.

A very welcome remaster of one of gaming’s most carefully hidden secrets, whose charming retro simplicity is as entertaining today as it was 22 years ago on the Game Boy Advance.

Another excellent addition to the Two Point series, bringing the customary levels of refinement and charm to simulating the business of museum creation and management.

An excellent follow-up to Monster Hunter World, which expands the formula in a number of useful and exciting ways, without streamlining the heart out of the franchise.

Not the most polished of officially licensed golf games, but its passion for the sport and wide variety of options make it a very playable and fun experience.

A disappointing follow-up to Life Is Strange, that tells its story in the most frustrating way possible, but there’s some signs it could turn things around in the second half.

A semi-successful pirate take on the Like A Dragon formula, held back by its lack of focus, drawn out length, and surprisingly weak story.

The three worst Tomb Raider games, remastered for a modern audience but unable to overcome their archaic systems, dull action, and uninspired design.

A modestly ambitious action role-player, that’s very good at making you feel you have an impact on the world, but it’s let down by endless reams of mundane dialogue and predictable mechanics.

Each run sees Turnip Boy battling through different zones of the bank, twin stick shooter-style. You need to help him steal as much as possible, then head to the exit before the law arrives. Initially that’s quite a short process but runs get longer as you purchase better equipment. The relatively compact map and swiftly (for a roguelite) acquired list of upgrades are nicely suited to mobile play.

The touch controls work well, and while it’s not particularly complex or involving, it’s a nice bit of snack-sized phone entertainment to while away a few minutes.

There are hints to help prevent mental blocks ending your progress, which given the game’s refusal to explain itself is at least fair, and its puzzles strike an elegant balance between challenge and satisfaction.

If you didn’t play the first game this may be worth a look, but we feel as though we’ve already had a lifetime’s dose of Archero.

Unfortunately, as with plenty of triple-A ports, its touchscreen controls don’t work well enough, their complexity making it all too easy to squeeze off shots when you don’t mean to, which for a silent assassin is a problem. Still, with a controller this is the unabridged Sniper Elite experience, and has its complete list of DLC available, although none of it is included in the initial purchase price.

An excruciatingly underdeveloped take on the life of a paramedic in a fictitious American city, ruined by rote action, terrible AI, and lifeless mini-games.

A very disappointing sequel that features a few interesting new ideas but either streamlines the rest or leaves it out on purpose, for you to buy later as DLC.

A complex and wildly ambitious medieval life simulator that basks in historical detail and will happily take over months of your life, even if its radical sense of freedom can create unintended impasses.

A fantastic sequel which succeeds in providing a mechanically deeper role-playing experience, while still being one of the best-written games around.

You can’t fault its ambition, but this is too little game stretched across too much open world map, with repetitive enemy encounters and tedious storytelling.

A fully-featured mid-generation slab of enjoyable Nazi-shooting, that has only a few unique ideas but still manages to remain compelling throughout.

Some very minor improvements to the Dynasty Warriors formula but this is just as vapid and repetitive as it was back in the PlayStation 2 era, only now with relatively modern graphics.