Beyond Galaxyland takes a fairly inoffensive story and marries it to something startling presentation. At times, it can be a treat to watch but there is also some mechanical depth to the turn-based encounters. I found it to be a very linear experience but one that never lacked forward momentum. It's a pleasant surprise that I quite enjoyed, despite some of the narrative not hitting. I didn't find much of a challenge here but there's some clever ideas on display.

I think Sorry We're Closed has a great sense of style. It's not for everyone and I do think the ubiquitous androgyny is overdone. The survival horror comparisons quickly subside due to combat and the narrative lacking in substance. I do enjoy the quick and snappy gun play but, atmospherically, there's no dread. Narratively, I find the cast to be lacking in nuance. They're all loud, just like the visuals. I think there's some ideas here and it's certainly a memorable game, it just seems more style over substance.

Cities: Skylines – PlayStation 4 Edition is a great port of a great game. If you just want to sit down and build a city from scratch then this gives you a lot of control over how you want your city to look and operate. If you want a more guided experience then you may struggle to stay motivated but there's no doubt that watching your city grow and prosper is a worthwhile and rewarding experience.

FutureGrind is a fantastic, addictive stunt-racer that you really need to play.

Overcooked 2 feels as fresh as the original and the generous seasoning of online multiplayer and additional modes sweetens the deal considerably. This is one of the best multiplayer experiences out there right now and one well worth picking up if you have three friends who want to cook up a storm.

Bloodroots is yet another great indie game you need to play. Go on, get to it. Gory as hell and addictive with it, this is a score attack brawler you'll want to play over and again.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is a great Metroidvania style game. A little easy and on the short side but that just means it leaves you wanting more. Unlocking the upgrades and using those abilities to discover new areas is incredibly enjoyable and is only heightened by the high quality and charming presentation.

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.

It seems coming at this game late has given me a more positive perspective on Sifu. Whilst the Student difficulty wasn't available at launch, it does help wash away some of the repetition that can potentially grind a player down. Honestly, I felt the combat more than pulled its weight and controlling an encounter can feel incredibly rewarding. There's a challenge to be had but it's one that can be overcome with patient observation and persistence.

In a series that is quickly running out of fresh ideas, World Brothers 2 leans into being fast, fun and cheery. It might struggle to find an audience with both casual players and hardcore EDF fans but it certainly offers up some enjoyable alien blasting action.

Final Fantasy XV is a great open world game. The combat has its flaws and the final few chapters are upsettingly poor but that didn’t stop me having tens of hours of fun exploring and ticking off side quests.

Assassin’s Creed Origins manages to breathe new life into an old franchise. By going back in time it has found a way to reinvent itself and move forward. The shift to a more action RPG style suits the game well, but the reduced emphasis on stealth may well upset some.

Robobeat is a game packed with ideas. Aside from the rhythmic element, the sheer variety within combat makes for a thrilling experience. As a roguelite, it's short enough to forgive some of the randomness ruling out certain builds or simply leaving you in a place where playing perfectly is your only way forward. It's got a solid soundtrack with fluid presentation that can make the action slick.

Minit is a short game with a great hook. The sixty second lifespan mechanic is surprisingly fun to get to grips with and the game world oozes charm from the moment it begins. If you are looking for a new hidden gem, then this is the one.

Arranger's clever game mechanics and puzzle design make it a true indie gem.

Ubisoft may still be playing it safe but Far Cry 5's mix of spectacular visuals, great combat and strong story make it one of their best games yet.

Sword and Soldiers 2: Shawarmageddon is an enjoyable, strategic effort. The campaign can provide the occasional spike in difficulty but the array of options at your disposal give players plenty to consider. Presentation is simple, if a little forgettable. The campaign offers a handful of hours but the multiplayer might provide some longevity for what is a decent effort.

We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie is a great remaster of the 2005 original and remains as fun now as it once was. The new levels, while welcome, are a slight addition. Get to it at any rate as it’s still the last Katamari game before Keita Takahashi called it a day with Namco and the series lost the wide eyed innocence it once had.

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.

As a visual novel game this lacks any kind of real interaction other than the X button. You’re coming here for the story and Steins;Gate 0 tells a great one, with multiple endings and loads to get your teeth into.

As an utterly original take on both the Dungeon Crawler and Pinball genre’s, Creature in the Well is a fascinating adventure with stark visuals and soundtrack to match. A few minor details such as the sparse story and repetition do not take away from what is a unique experience, but these aspects may leave you wanting more than what is on offer.

Redout is a very credible challenger to Wipeout's crown and while it doesn't quite usurp the genre's king, it offers some of the fastest racing action on PSN.

A fine mix of Takeshi’s Castle absurdity and nail-biting Battle Royale action. Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is the ultimate palate cleanser, almost always fun and enjoyable over long or short bursts of gameplay. Time will tell whether this hilarious and silly game will have longevity but with new levels, costumes and features on the way, the good times are sure to keep on rolling.

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.

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.

Toem is a frequent delight with a wonderful photo mechanic and excellent music. Just a shame it's not longer. It's pretty great though. Get to it.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla is another open world game from Ubisoft and if you've played one before then you know what that means. There are some changes from the last Assassin's Creed game but nothing major enough to make it any better or worse. I like exploring an open world, ticking off quests and filling the map so if you're like me you'll have fun. Just know that this is, again, a huge time investment.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is another great addition to the Ys series of JRPGs. The gameplay loop does settle in very quickly with some repetitive environments but the combat is superb as always and the new traversal abilities are a lot of fun to use.