Tunic is a great game, plain and simple. It feels like so much love, so much passion has been poured into it, and the final product is something truly beautiful and joyful to experience. Don’t let this be a sleeper hit, go take it for a spin and see for yourself. For me, I imagine this will be one of my games of the year.

Few studios are as well-named as Team Asobi. They have put the ‘play’ back in PlayStation. Astrobot is simply an exceptional example of a genre that almost everyone but Nintendo treats like yesterday’s news. Live-service shooters are dead; long live the platformer!

Those who are fortunate to have a next-gen console will be able to experience Control at its best, but even those who are playing on the last generation still have the benefit of an awesome game that has had the annoying issues fixed from the original release. If you haven’t yet experienced Control, now is a perfect time.

If you’ve never played Animal Crossing before, New Horizons will suck you into its ostensibly calm island world like nothing else. For series veterans, you will eagerly surrender to this whirlpool, only to emerge in time for the next entry in the series.

The storytelling, art and music masterfully connect to create a real sense of the world that the Eastward characters inhabit.

Deathloop is both unique and familiar, subverting time, gameplay and expectations in equal measure. A mystery worth solving and experience worth having, there is nothing on this planet quite like Deathloop.

It’s been a hell of a month for RPGs. Romancing SaGa 2 still carves out some brain space and made me want to keep coming back for more. Even with its minor issues, this is a bloody good game.

Making something new when fans have sky-high expectations isn’t easy, but Atlus has done it again with what I truly hope becomes a franchise. This is an RPG that people should absolutely play... if they have a spare hundred or so hours, of course.

Ori & The Will of the Wisps is a wonder to behold, a joy to play, and a must-have for anyone with the means to play it.

If you are the type of person who liked the tactical aspects of Rainbow Six: Siege but was put off by the PvP elements then Extraction is just the tactical experience you will really enjoy.

Detective Pikachu Returns is an anomaly for both the Pokemon series and adventure games at large, but the marriage of the two makes it into something special. It’s earnest, fun, and at times downright satisfying, and even though it’s undoubtedly weird, it’s also the perfect title for introducing new players to the world of mystery games.

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 were already two of the best games ever made, and now they’re better than ever before. Just go out and buy them, whether this is the first time you’ve played them or not.

In my eyes, this is a new era for not only Armored Core, but I also hope for mech games. The combat is tight, the differences in your builds feel meaningful and have an impact. Hell, even the narrative is great here. I hope people give this a shot, because to me, this is a great game that I think might be seminal for future titles in the genre.

When it comes to chronicling gaming history, there tends to be a focus away from the days of home computing to focus more on arcade and console gaming, and for me that’s the main draw with Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story. It’s a chance to show those curious about gaming history a side that’s rarely explored.

The Drifter is a great entry in a genre that doesn’t really see too many of them these days. What it lacks in obtuse puzzle difficulty it makes up for with a smart, pulpy narrative that kept me engaged the entire time, with characters endearing enough that many players will likely return for a second or third lap.

Everything about the game flows well and feels satisfying to play. Where some games tread like honey, making you aware of every minute you’re spending in their world, Len’s Island feels like a bare-foot beach break, and not a second spent with it feels wasted or lost.

Forza Horizon 5 proves that even the best games can get better. An unparalleled driving experience that also happens to be a graphical showcase like no other.

A hearty slice of Viking pie, goes great with a new console and a flagon of mead. Ubisoft have taken the Creed to a new level with their trip to the Nordic settlement of merry old England.

While it’s certainly disappointing to see The Last Of Us return without its iconic multiplayer, Factions, players are so incredibly fortunate to get to re-experience a game that is widely considered one of the all-time greats, remade from top to bottom, and given the tender love, and care that it deserves. Every pore is as it should be, every texture perfected, and every moment, something to savour. Many will look at The Last Of Us Part I and consider it an unnecessary investment from Sony, the original still looks great – but Naughty Dog have pulled off the impossible in making the definitive video game of the last decade, somehow, even better, and in doing so they’ve also opened it up to millions of new players, of a variety of needs and levels of experience. It turns out that you can improve upon perfection.

A masterclass in worldbuilding, the punk aesthetic of Umurangi Generation is a sight to behold. Snap your way through a series of increasingly provocative spaces, soaking in every facet of this incredible journey.

Not only is Alan Wake II Remedy’s best game, it is an experience that sets a new high bar for narrative horror titles that is unlikely to be passed anytime soon.

The perfect next chapter in Aloy’s story, Burning Shores embodies what DLC should be. Featuring epic battles, new foes, and a whole lot of heart, it expands the world of Horizon in every way.

If you’ve never really gotten into the cozy game scene, not touched the likes of Stardew, Story of Seasons, or all the rest, this is the one. If those are part of your favourites already, then prepare for a new one to join the list. Start here, and just be spoiled by something amazing. Take your time with it. Heck, even slow the game time down so you can get every second out of it possible.

Street Fighter 6 honestly feels like the best game of the series in every facet possible. The long term will prove or disprove this though as these games tend to morph and change over their lifetime. But for this game to take that title, it’s done everything right from the outset to cement its legacy as the best of the best. This game is a recommendation for people interested in fighting games at any level, go check it out now.

Expelled! is a rapid roleplaying experience built on experimentation and manipulation that shouldn’t be missed.

A bold technical marvel that celebrates science and exploration, propelling you into the unknown and letting you forge your own path among the stars. Starfield is Bethesda at its best.

I’ve believed for a long time that the games industry doesn’t value its history the way other media does, and collections like this serve as a shining light that perhaps this attitude may change in the future.

Thought provoking, confronting and gripping – Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is a triumph of interactive storytelling.