Inertial Drift benefits from a port over to the PS5 and this DLC offers more of the twin-stick, drifty madness of the main game. However, some of the original issues we had in 2020 with the difficulty curve and lack of variation haven't been fixed and, worse, have been continued in this DLC. However, if you're a fan of the original then this will be a welcome addition.

Pinball meets Horror in this niche, but enjoyable, side project from the masters of Pinball, Zen Studios.

This port of Age of Empires II has lots of content and plays nicely on the PS5 but it's quite repetitive and frustrating too.

While this is the shoot 'em up port we most wanted to see (alongside Gradius V at least), it's also such a straight, unambitious port that it doesn't really do justice to such a beloved game. Sure, the original magic is still there but they've done very little to enhance or modernise it, beyond a quick and dirty upscale.

Yomawari: Midnight Shadows is a terrifying game with a claustrophobic and oppressive atmosphere. Whilst the moment to moment gameplay may be repetitive the overall style of the game does more than enough to drag you in. If you're looking for a real fright then this could be the game for you.

Starfield is a great port of the previously Xbox and PC only spacefaring RPG from Bethesda. And it’s pretty damn solid. The sheer scope is staggering and us PS5 owners should be kept busy for a long time. Yes, there’s a few issues with bugs that persist from the original 2023 version, but we can only hope they’re resolved post-launch. Sidequest overload is probably more of an issue than being overencumbered if we’re honest. Still great, so get to it.

Little has changed between the previous generation and now. UMVC3 returns in a warts and all package that provides all of the characters, special moves and matchups that keep the series being as chaotic and fun as ever. Fans of the series will be right at home of course, particularly those that circumvent the drama of long distance by duking it out on the sofa. However if you weren’t interested in the series before then this release will do little to change that, Newcomers may want to wait for the fresh unplundered Marvel Vs Capcom: Infinite.

If Pac-Man Championship Edition and DX were enjoyable sugar rushes of arcade pleasure, this is the inevitable sugar headache. Lacking the perfect gameplay of its prequels, and also the charm, Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is good but it was supposed to be great.

Othercide brings some great ideas to the table to differentiate it from similar titles. Unfortunately what content is here gets repetetive quite quickly. It does have its moments, such as the boss battles, so fans of the genre should give it a try.

Capcom return, once again, to their vast library of arcade titles and there are plenty of coin-op classics here for retro gamers to choose from. Your enjoyment will be dependent on your own level of love and nostalgia for these titles and if you're not a shoot 'em up or fighting game fan then you aren't well served here. Thankfully though we'll be happily playing Giga Wing and Progear for a long, long time.

Shu is my personal sleeper hit for 2016. I had no idea it had even been made but it charmed me with its look and hooked me with its gameplay. As someone who loves a challenge, it certainly provided the odd twist and turn but it was probably the most relaxed and fun ten hours I’ve had with a game in recent memory. It’s just so darned charming that it’s hard to really find fault, which isn’t to say that it is perfect but more to say that it is a fantastic game, that I had plenty of fun with, and I can’t wait to see what developer Coatsink produces next.

There is no doubt Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a fantastic game, unfortunately the PS4 version is not the best way to play it. The load times along with other technical issues make it difficult to get into at times. It's not broken so you will get enjoyment out of the masses of content, but you'll have to have plenty of patience.

Kaze and the Wild Masks is a cleverly executed effort that leans perhaps a little too heavily on time-pressured challenges. The controls are responsive and precise which leads to a very tricky game across some diverse stages. With a colourful aesthetic and some charming character designs, it's a shame the ramp up in difficulty comes so soon but it is satisfying to overcome.

Little Red Lie is a well-written think-piece that takes the economic strife of the middle class and lays it bare. There is an unrepentant nihilism to it that makes some parts hard to stomach. Persistence is key and, whilst this game doesn't use the medium's interactive nature to its fullest, it does provide a story that will linger and gnaw at you.

Super Cane Magic Zero is an utterly daft game with a surprising amount of depth. Some minor technical issues and oversights get in the way of the fun, but overall this is an enjoyable adventure to play when you have a few friends over.

Observer: System Redux creates a miserable vision of the future that will appeal to sci-fi and horror fans. The game is essentially just an evolved point and clicker but it sucks you in and at the very least does a good job of showing off some clever PS5 tech.

New Super Lucky’s Tale is largely the same game as was released on PS4 in August 2020, only with 4k and 120Hz implementation. It’s still good, but the tilt controls on the challenge levels feel slightly off now. That might be down to the DualSense, but it makes the tilt levels feel like an even more unforgiving gauntlet than they already were. This being released in 2026 has us wondering if we’ll ever see NSLT2. Don't worry though, New Super Lucky's Tale is still worth playing and if it leads to a sequel eventually, it's all good.

LEGO Builder's Journey is a very welcome departure from the typical licenced fare we've come to expect otherwise from a LEGO game. It's tight focus, beautiful graphics and wonderful tactile feel make for a great puzzle game. Don't let the fact that this has its roots in mobile put you off. Get building!

Pacer delivers a fairly accomplished attempt at a futuristic racer. Whilst I do wish the campaign had some difficulty options, the racing has a good aesthetic and handles responsively. The ease at which you can switch load-outs is a lovely touch and the presentation manages to realise a very corporate super-future. I do wonder if the online options are enough to keep veterans interested but what R8 studios have achieved here is admirable.

SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE is more SUPERHOT with a semi-roguelike twist. The skills and new enemy types keep things interesting even as things can get more furstrating towards the tail end. Those who are invested in the story get more of that too, the rest of us can just shoot and slash in slow motion as the whole world shatters around us.

Giant Squid starts the new generation strong with The Pathless. A short, sweet, and simple adventure that marries contemplative exploration, with uniquely satisfying movement mechanics that function in both a visually stunning open world and the setpiece boss encounters. While the experience may be too easy for some, this game is worthy of attention in the crowded launch line up. Not only as a great title, but a shining example of what indie developers can bring to next generation gaming.

20XX offers a rogue-lite twist on Mega Man X gameplay. It suffers from the randomly generated levels and doesn't quite hit the heights of its inspiration but there is plenty of content and challenge to sink your teeth into, either solo or with a friend.

Platypus Reclayed is an unexpected remaster that has worked wonders with the original game's visual style and, following a patch, now offers up some enjoyable shooting too.

Geared primarily for the online, esports crowd, Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown is an excellent way to get back into the franchise that started 3D Fighting. AM2 and Ryu-Go-Gotaka has given the fifteen-year-old game a successful visual facelift without sacrificing the sublime gameplay for window dressing. However, more love for offline and single players would have been appreciated.

Empire of the Ants is a luscious looking game but, as much as it pains us to admit it, it's not always all that much fun to play.

Free from the restrictions of franchises LEGO City Undercover has flourished into a really enjoyable and very funny game. The open world is a ton of fun to play with and the addition of a co-op mode adds a whole new dynamic to this game. LEGO City Undercover manages to succeed in the rarest of things and has successfully created an enjoyable open world.

Nuclear Blaze is an atmospheric firefighting platform puzzler that's interesting enough to keep your attention for the couple of short-ish playthroughs it takes to see everything. There's plenty of fun to be had with it.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is a prime example of why there’s never been a roguelike based on the Turtles IP. Repetition breeds familiarity and ultimately contempt. Don’t play this unless you’re a massive TMNT fan. Everyone else, play a decent roguelike instead of this. Like Hades for example.

Accessible but with a surprising level of depth, Super Mega Baseball 2 has managed to improve on the original with a very customisable experience. Some AI fielding anomalies aside, the sport is well represented in a bright fashion whilst remaining grounded enough to appeal to fanatics. It's a shame the online component is so limited but solo players can enjoy what is robust package.

Koira is a cute exploratory puzzler with a wordless story in which you find a dog and tackle some lightly ecologically themed encounters. It’s not massively long, but it is fun. Plus that dog is so damn cute.

I always worry if time is going to be kind to old games. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered have delivered a faithful recreation. The upgraded visuals help bring a more cohesive look across both games and I simply adore the way the story is told. At it's heart, it's a fairly forgiving platformer with a lenient approach to death. Despite that, things like the save system in Soul Reaver show an industry still trying to figure things out. Set against modernity, it feels more like a historical artifact but I can't deny that it still manages to work.

Ys Origin may be over a decade old by this point but the quality shines through. It plays very well, moves at a fair pace and there’s enough content to keep you busy for a long time.

Remnant: From the Ashes is an addictive loot shooter, especially in multiplayer. The bosses are a let down and exploring for the sake of exploring is dull but when you're blasting enemies with your range of weaponry and are rewarded with new gear or upgrade materials you just want to keep playing.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage has the air of an Insomniac game in some ways, but its lack of refinement and rough edges make for a frustrating journey. He’s cute at least, but the incessant chatter from his talking skateboard gets older quicker than Walter Donovan choosing the wrong Grail. The ugly character design and the mean-spirited upgrades make this a tough game to recommend, let alone play for an extended period. The combat is a bit generic but is fun enough. We just don’t see ourselves replaying this lots to unlock everything.

The Ascent is cyberpunk done right. It might just be the best looking game on PSN and with its excellent action and wide range of weapons and upgrades, The Ascent is truly a joy to play.

Hue is a unique puzzle platformer that will keep you entertained to its conclusion. There’s no real replay value but the design and the steady introduction of new obstacles make it worth a look if you’re a fan of the genre.

While it may not be the most original game ever, Immortals: Fenyx Rising is a great experience that offers plenty to do in the lush, vibrant and brutal backdrop of Greek mythology. On each fundamental aspect of the open-world action-RPG genre, this experience delivers to a capable degree, it just may take some players a few hours to find their footing.

Hotshot Racing (formerly known as Racing Apex) is a great arcade inspired racer that harks back to classic blue sky Sega arcade racing games. What it lacks in depth it more than makes up for in sheer fun. Split screen multiplayer and extra modes serve to make this a more than worthwhile purchase. Get on it.

A shoot 'em up clearly made by fans of the genre for fans of the genre. It's both accessible and hardcore and packs in enough content to keep you interested for quite a while.

GNOG is an incredibly well presented VR experience with the audio and visuals combining perfectly. It’s easy to get into and enjoyable for the entirety of its short length, though it’s lacking a little in the gameplay department.

Darksiders Genesis changes the camera angle but brings a lot of what fans enjoy about the main series. It does get a little repetitive but the road to 100% is addictive and everything's better in co-op.

Aaero is the mixture of Amplitude, Rez and Gitaroo Man that we never realised we wanted. Taxing gameplay, bold visuals and a bombastic soundtrack combine to make this the best rhythm action title in years.

Electronauts is a fun musical and visual tool that might be a bit much for beginners and not enough for experienced musicians.

UNO Ultimate Edition is a great value proposition for new players, though existing players should be aware that it’s the same game as came out in 2016 with all the DLC included. It’s UNO at the end of the day so you can’t really go too far wrong.

What MotoGP 22 lacks in excitement, it makes up in nostalgia. The Nine campaign really helps comprehensively tell the tale of the 2009 season and the remainder of the package is solidly done. It's not inspiring or ground-breaking but it does take small forward steps. There's a sense that these games are trundling along but the core remains decent, if not particularly inspiring.

Blasters of the Universe asks you to weave your head through a barrage of bullets. It works great on a technical level and the gun customisation is a strong point, but at only four levels it's over too quickly and despite being 'bullet hell' it doesn't feel too different to what you've probably played already.

If you can get past the unrelenting darkness and harsh combat, Unto The End is probably right up your street. For us though, it sometimes feels like a misery simulator. Despite that, we feel compelled to battle on.

Bonkies is a solid cooperative effort. Story and presentation is kept light-hearted and the building doesn't feel hectic enough to ruin friendships. Some of the stages are kept fairly straight forward but the increasing complexity of the campaign does give a crew enough to consider. It's a shame the levels roll out in such a linear fashion and I do feel the time limits are an unnecessary addition. Solo players will feel short-changed but Bonkies feels good with friends.

Blazblue: Cross Tag Battle is a fun yet ultimately flawed fighting game. It manages to make more complex anime fighters into something more accessible, However the DLC-locked character roster and story mode sour the overall experience.

Pode's a fantastic effort. The colourful world that you spark into bloom is well presented with a wonderful soundtrack complimenting the visuals. The platforming works well as you utilise each character's abilities and the pace is nicely maintained from level to level. Sometimes the camera can conspire against you and some puzzles can initially appear obtuse, but there's so much charm to this.

MotoGP 20's promise of smarter AI hasn't really materialised but the handling model feels tough and rewarding to master. It's a little too tail happy and understanding braking requires plenty of practice. On the whole, it rides well which leads to some compelling time on track. I would've loved to have seen more imagination taken with the historical content and online modes. It's a package that, whilst good, can feel a little stale.

Assassin's Creed Mirage is a nice reminder of what this series can do well. Movement through the densely populated cities can feel kinetic and slick whilst stealth is straight-forward and easy to plan. Combat is serviceable, if a little clumsy when multiple enemies arrive. There's a sense of nostalgia I get from what is ostensibly a more complete and considered take on the series' first steps. I wish the story had more weight to it but the actors do a good job of delivering what they're given. It's not a stellar example of the genre but a rather solid one.

Torment: Tides of Numenara is a text heavy CRPG with great writing. The world is surreal and interesting and the many characters are rich and varied. The huge amount of choices and interactions you make have consequences both big and small which help to enhance the feeling of a living world. The battles aren’t great and it doesn’t run perfectly on the PS4 with slight hitching and long load times but it’s certainly an adventure worth taking.

Cosmic Star Heroine is a great game that succeeds in its goal of providing an old school JRPG experience on pretty much every level. The battle system is an interesting and enjoyable one and the ability to save anywhere and retry instantly from deaths is very welcome. I can’t recommend it enough.

PGA Tour 2K21 is the start of a new era of this venerable licence made famous by countless EA games, this time with The Golf Club engine underpinning matters. It's as good a golf game as we've personally played and is even in danger of having us watch an actual tournament on TV sometime. Recommended.

The extra year has done WWE 2K22 a world of good as the game appears more stable and enjoyable. The time in the ring has been simplified although might still appear more complex than some would like. Countering windows seem tricky to get a hold of and there are times when you feel the game is playing for you. Despite this, the wealth of content and gameplay should keep people interested. Not quite a return to form but definitely a step in the right direction.

Kylotonn continues to improve with WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship. It remains a great drive and the career mode, whilst a little stagnant, does offer you plenty to get on with. The anniversary content feels like a well-rounded mode that, although steep in difficulty, allows you to enjoy the series' more iconic vehicles. The DualSense is put to good use and it's nice to hear your co-driver has some more personality this time around. It's not taking large strides but remains a fantastic rally experience.

2064: Read Only Memories is a difficult game to recommend. Whilst the story being told is decent, the sheer quantity of text and somewhat overdone approach to sexuality distracts from the actual limited gameplay present. The art style and presentation of the game is also spectacularly retro, and whilst it stands out from the crowd its not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.

The changes have certainly made Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed a more fluid experience. It doesn't bring a lot of challenge but the new visuals have given plenty of life to the environments, even if they're mostly grim and dark. The control changes feel natural. The backtracking in the middle can slightly dampen the pace but, on the whole, I found the experience to be straight-forward. The presentation shines as a wander through some of Disney's vintage heyday but behind the nostalgia is a competent platformer.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 could be great but ups the ante with an overly aggressive AI implementation that makes the campaign mode a joyless experience in the second half. Coupled with zero use of the Dualsense functions, you’d just as well be playing the original against pro-level players online. It's still a great game but the absurd AI kills it for all but the most hardcore players.

Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials wears it's influences proudly and, at times, it pays an effective homage whilst building a blueprint of its own. The visuals look deliciously detailed and animated with plenty of life. It's accompanied with a wonderful soundtrack but I just don't quite enjoy playing it. There some clever puzzle-platforming involved but the large map is packed with screens of tricky jumps. It leads to a game lacking in momentum and frustrates me. It'll appeal to those wanting more of a challenge but it's not clicking for me.

Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories presents and interesting plot that is accompanied by some smart and clever visuals. Whilst it does pay homages to old RPGs of the past, the strictly narrative experience helps keep focus on the charming characters and themes. It's a lovely, well-paced effort that manages to feel cohesive and complete. The writing can be pun-heavy and the aesthetic might be tough to adjust to but I warmed to the tale.

Tethered is a fresh and welcome idea for PSVR that provides a worthy and challenging RTS experience. It capably proves that the genre is not only functional but also an incredibly good fit for VR hardware. If you were ever a fan of god sims then Tethered is worth your time.

As a bit of a super fan of the original, Chime is overly familiar while being ever so slightly worse thanks to visual improvements that slightly mar the gameplay at the highest level. The additional modes, and number of levels, offer a fleshed out package though and Chime is still the uncrowned king of the genre as far as we are concerned.

Tropico 6 is an incredibly enjoyable management sim with a lot of charm and a great sense of humour. It's not too different from the rest of the series but you'll still find yourself playing it for hours on end.

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined is a tasteful but ambitious remix of a SNES favourite that should appeal to shoot 'em up fans and retro gamers generally. It might be a bit too tough for casual players though.

We're not surprised to see the classic Spy Hunter concept updated for modern audiences but we are very surprised to see it done as well as this. Agent Intercept is a game created with heart and imagination and a strange fearlessness that has allowed them to create something quite special here.

As someone who really likes the original, this new take on System Shock doesn't stray too far from the source. Nightdive have updated the visuals and made things just a little more friendly for new players. Visually, it's very atmospheric and polished. The interface can initially be tricky to read but combat feels punchy and can be tactical. The conveniences are welcome but it still has one foot in the clunky possibility space of 90's PC gaming. Rather than entirely sand off the things that appeal to me about System Shock, it refines them in a way I really admire.

Cake Bash is a delightful party game with a good variety of minigames and unlockables. Couch based as well PSN multiplayer is a given, this deserves to be played by many.

Trigger Witch is a great mechanically sound dungeon crawler with lots and lots of guns. It's really quite good, even if the story is all sorts of nonsense.

Golf Club: Wasteland has a nicely executed narrative that is let down a little by withholding too much. The background radio calls do a lot to flesh out a barren, broken Earth and it helps that the golf on offer is decent, if a little simple. When the holes get more complex, frustration can creep in but I feel the penalty for failure is minor enough for people to persevere.

Blazing Chrome does a really good impression of a Contra game but 32 years later, Contra is still king and that probably says as much about the granddaddy of run and gun games as it does about this very capable, but not quite as good, upstart. It will definitely have its fans though.

Mutazione is an intriguing adventure with a soap opera plot and may well end up being your game of the year but if you need your games to offer more than a bit of wandering around and a lot of pressing X to advance conversations then this might not be for you.

NeuroVoider isn’t going to stand out in a sea of retro-flavoured roguelikes but it’s one of the better ones. While the shooting mechanics aren’t perfected, the upgrade system is pretty addictive and makes a fairly ordinary game hard to put down.

Fans of the visual novel genre should definitely check out Chaos;Child. There are some pacing issues but the dark tale will eventually take hold of you, helped by its strong presentation and unexpected concepts.

I came out of Wulverblade feeling broadly positive. The historical aspects add a lot of context. Combat can be simple but frustrating as you charge through Caledonia's woodland. Some curious design choices undermine battle but it does provide something different. It's worth a look if you want a little more substance to your beat 'em ups.

Candleman's got plenty of big ideas and they're executed well. The simple platforming coupled with some interesting mechanics do result in a tight experience. The inclusion of the DLC does offer you more bang for your buck but it does undercut the pacing of the original story. Still, there's a beautifully crafted game here with a lot of charm.

Minoria is a good Castlevania game with some difficulty spikes that may trouble some. It's generally a great experience. Burn the witch!

NBA 2K22's basketball feels more refined than last season. The revamped stamina meter leads to a more tactical team game and shooting is consistent and reliable. It looks as sharp and well-presented as ever and those wanting some quality time on the court will be well served. Unfortunately, the familiar encroachment of microtransactions dominate the MyCareer and MyTeam modes. The old problems with judging your performance also still persist.

Windjammers is a solid port of the original disc-throwing arcade game and while an update to the modes and visuals would have been welcome, this is still a great way to revisit a true Neo Geo classic.

Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight ticks all the boxes. It is a game with bags and bags of charm and the animation is wonderful to look at. With excellent weighty combat and some particularly memorable bosses, every aspect of the game feels crafted and tailored to near perfection. Whilst the short running time and 2D graphics will put some people off this is a game which I can easily recommend.

The Golf Club 2 builds on the original's interesting blueprint and adds more social integration whilst delivering an impressive engine. The improved feedback ensures more precision and a steeper learning curve. The technical issues and server problems undermine the excellent golf on show. It's not perfect but it does improve on its predecessor and provides a sound golf simulator.

Dying Light 2: Stay Human takes a while to hit its stride but once it does you'll be running across the rooftops with speed and grace. If packed open world games aren't for you then stay away, otherwise this has incredibly fun mechanics after a slow start.

Expand is a decent game and one with a bold, vivid style. Some of the mazes are wonderful to experience and the way the moving pieces just always work together at the right time is very satisfying. I enjoyed my time with it even if it was short lived. It's hard to peg a genre to Expand or even to be totally convinced that it isn't some kind of art installation, but whatever it is doing, it does it well.

Pumpkin Jack is a well done throwback to 3D platformers of yesteryear. Unfortunately it also has some of their bad habits such as on-rails minecart sections and a final boss you'll hate more than our burning disdain for the music of Simply Red.

Risk System is a well-presented shoot 'em up with a lot of potential but the boss battles ruin the flow of the game, instantly switching the gameplay from a satisfying mix of intuitive action and risk vs. reward mechanics to tedious and difficult encounters that rely on memorisation. There's something here but the difficulty is just too uneven.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is a great stealth tactics game with a wonderful setting. The high difficulty may put some off but it's an experience worth having.

A Tale of Paper: Refolded combines the 2020 PS4 original with the Unfolded Melody bonus content, but still remains a slight package. Plus the final boss perfect trophy can get in the sea.

As a solid puzzle platformer title with an innovative dimension shifting mechanic, World Splitter almost has everything it needs to be a new Indie darling. However, overly simple presentation and occasionally frustrating moments hamper things somewhat.

New Super Lucky's Tale is a great 3D platformer suitable for both young and old alike. The plot is daft but you're here for the gameplay. Don't kid yourself otherwise. Collectibles are a mild chore sometimes, but not disastrously so.

Operencia: The Stolen Sun is a user friendly but still challenging first person, dungeon crawling RPG. The voice acting isn't the strongest and the puzzles might have you scratching your head but the overall experience is an enjoyable, slightly shorter, adventure.

A Little to the Left offers you the chance to clean up someone else's clutter and that's either going to be right up your street or the worst thing you can imagine. If you're in the first camp then this is for you.

There is a lot of game in Victor Vran: Overkill Edition and it is a great overall package. As a fun action-RPG, this really shines in multiplayer but is also able to offer a decent single player experience thanks to an engaging loot cycle and customisable combat options.

The Flame in the Flood is an enjoyable game and the survival and crafting elements work really well together. The random aspects add a degree of difficulty which can spike in unexpected ways. Happily though the wonderfully realised river helps the game rise above it’s flaws.

Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX is a good combination of great shoot 'em up fundamentals, improved visuals, excellent music and gameplay elements that are a bit less fussy than later games in the series.

With its smartly constructed levels and deep customisation options, JYDGE is 10Tons' best twin-stick shooter yet.

Fans will certainly enjoy what Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock has to offer. Despite the slight offering, there's a faithfulness to the source material that's appreciated. The tough race against time that is the campaign will keep players enthralled for hours. It's hard to justify the price, particularly with the lack of multiplayer, but what's here is executed well.

Withering Rooms is a fair 2.5D roguelite exploration game that we found interesting enough at the outset, but it didn’t really get its claws particularly deep into us. It’s very much a game to while away a wet afternoon with, but if it’s sunny out you’ll find something more fun to do, like fixing your Flymo for example.