A sympathetic interpretation of the trials and tribulations of a Syrian refugee. An unexpected surprise.

Find My Frogs is a lovely little confection of a game. Yes, it’s brief and you’ll likely be done inside an hour as we were, but we defy you to be anything but charmed by it by the time you’re done. Plus the night time lighting is gorgeous. Get to it.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 2 continues where the previous game left off in every regard. Bar some minor changes, the gameplay remains largely the same but the story continues to develop which will please fans. Don’t start here if you’re interested but look forward to this after you’ve experienced the similarly excellent original.

New Star Manager is a bit of a triumph as a console game. It doesn't need the pomp and circumstance of the big football games. Instead it just relies on being a lot of fun, giving just enough complexity and realism to make it recognisably a football game but adding a big dollop of enjoyment that this genre has maybe forgotten about in recent years.

Spider-Man is very much a blockbuster on PS4 as Homecoming was on the big screen. The game captures the web-head brilliantly and services fans with by far the best example of Spidey related shenanigans yet.

Need For Speed Heat takes the series back to its roots which means night time racing, angry cops and plenty of car customisation and is all the better for it.

Loretta is a stylish thriller that does well to make decisions feel impactful. The presentation is top-notch and makes playful nods towards its inspirations whilst delivering some flourishes of its own. The story feels tight and thoughtful whilst giving the player plenty of chances to influence proceedings. I was satisfied with my ending but the others feel equally believable. I do think the dreamy interludes can feel occasionally superfluous and the puzzles don't really allow for much thought. Despite this, the intriguing narrative pulled me through.

Don't get your hopes up if you're looking for a great skateboarding game. This isn't it. But it is a very good game that has a lot of skateboarding in it.

Deadlink is a polished cyberpunk FPS arena shooter with fast kinetic gameplay. As is so often the case these days, there’s roguelite elements. Due to the fixed progression, replaying the first few levels can get a bit overfamiliar and a little stale, but it merely adds impetus to progress further into the game. Great weapon balance and nicely done upgrades make for compelling reasons to keep playing.

Super Mega Baseball 3 is a good baseball game that does well despite not having the MLB licence. It remains addictive and will reward you with hours of play if you want it.

To a T is the latest from the wonderfully out-there Keita Takahashi. It might even be one of the best games to depict a disability and how human nature prevails no matter what. It might be a little short, but we didn't stop smiling throughout.

Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Editions are fantastic games that put a lot of modern equivalents to shame. The graphics are massively dated and the controls are compromised compared to the PC but the content shines through and boy is there a lot of it.

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.

We liked Nuclear Blaze's atmospheric mix of platforming and firefighting back in 2023 but it didn't offer a ton of longevity, so having a free PS5 upgrade and a fresh trophy set to conquer was a welcome bonus and a great reason to jump back into the game.

The first FIFA in a long time to introduce something new. FIFA 17’s The Journey mode starts strongly but maybe needs a bit more story to make it truly engaging but overall its a nice addition to what is a very good, and immensely detailed, football game.

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.

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One puts the detective into an open world setting whilst giving him plenty of murders and side cases to investigate. There is the odd bit of action here and there but those who like to explore, examine and deduce will get the most out of this adventure.

After twenty-six years in the dark, it is amazing to see Streets of Rage 4 finally come to fruition. Dotemu, Lizardcube and Guard Crush Games have delivered a great entry to the series, incorporating a fresh art style, brilliantly simple gameplay that fans will slip straight into and a soundtrack that authentically harks back to the classic soundtrack that made the series so memorable. It captures everything that made Streets of Rage great in the first place and doesn't mess with that formula, for the better.

Somber Echoes is a very well done Metroidvania set on board a spaceship populated by characters inspired by Greek mythology. It’s really rather good and while it might lack the bells and whistles of big budget titles, it’s definitely worth a look.

While EA continues to leave no stone unturned when it comes to bringing football to gamers, it would be wrong of us to condone the lootbox mechanics that still dominate the Ultimate Team mode. But if you're happy to swerve that and just stick to regular matches, and the game's two enormous career modes, then FIFA still sets the bar incredibly high for football games and indeed sports games everywhere.

This is remaking done right. Take a title from gaming history and give it a gorgeous glow up. It might be too tough for some but it's worth persisting with.

NBA 2K25 is a solid entry for the series. It is a small move forward with a great feel on the court. Shot making felt reliable to me with only a couple of head-scratching defensive plays letting the experience slide. It is a refinement of what's came before it with MyNBAEras offering a wealth of teams throughout time to play with. It's not quite historically accurate but I enjoy seeing those teams battle it out in anger. MyPlayer feels streamlined with only a brief venture into high school with the main focus being on the big league. It's a very accomplished simulation with great polish.

Jackbox Party Pack 5 is likely going to be one of our staple party games from now on and is a great addition to the series.

As the cheaper of the two recent snooker titles released on the PS4, Snooker Nation may lack all of the official licensing and real life venues and players of its main competitor but if you want a really playable snooker game with great controls and none of the fuss, this is the one to go for.

WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship manages to build upon its predecessor in some smart ways. The handling remains sharp and focused whilst options are there to dumb it down or tune it up in a manner you see fit. The stages remain the star of the show with the new rallies adding variety to an already diverse calendar. It’s all rendered in an engine that still handles detail and lighting very well. With the new clubs mode and forthcoming free updates, this should be well supported and keep rally fans challenged.

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.

MXGP 2020 – The Official Motocross Game is a great racing game, just don't be expecting to win races quickly. All the fun of the real life sport and then some. Perhaps a little on the harsh side for those unfamiliar with this particular facet of motorsport, especially in terms of it assuming you're up to speed with key mechanics.

At its best Mortal Kombat 11 is everything we want. It's enjoyable, deep, violent and funny and it has enough content to keep players entertained for way longer than the usual fighting game. When it's doing what it should, this is the best Mortal Kombat yet and up there with Mortal Kombat X as the best fighter of this generation. Unfortunately, the other stuff the game does is an issue. The customisation is locked behind a lot of random grinding and the multiple in-game currencies complicate the experience enough to spoil the party a little.