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.