The latest PixelJunk Monsters lives up to the series' pedigree, making no concession on punishing trial-and-error gameplay while delivering undeniable fun over dozens (hundreds?) of hours.

Children of Morta is a handsomely crafted dungeon crawling effort with a stirring narrative that freshens things up on account of its familial theme and structure. The gorgeous presentation and resolutely solid hack and slash beats are supported by some surprising mechanics and flourishes that help to ensure that Children of Morta is one of the most pleasant surprises of the year.

Avowed on PS5 is a focused, polished RPG that thrives on combat variety, skill depth, and companion-driven encounters. Expanded progression systems and gear upgrades make your chosen playstyle feel consistently rewarding, while companions add tactical and narrative depth to every fight. Though Obsidian has kept some story beats and familiar design elements safe, the meaningful tweaks and updates bring more out of your experience, making exploration, combat, and progression more engaging than ever. Limited enemy variety remains a minor restraint, but overall, the PS5 version feels complete, confident, and satisfying from start to finish.

A great rendition of an old IP by using the functionality of the PS Vita in the best ways.

Soul Calibur VI has the heart and soul of what makes a great fighter great. However, Reversal Edge is a mixed bag, and some presentation elements lack visual investment. Regardless, Soul Calibur VI is the complete package, accommodating to newcomers and veterans alike.

Taking inspiration from Jet Set Radio, this game effortlessly carries on its legacy. With great gameplay mechanics, a deep story, and fantastic music Bomb Rush Cyberfunk raises the standard for indie games and making it one of the best indie games you'll play this year.

Kingdom Two Crowns is an immersive and frequently surprising strategy game that is quite unlike any other. Fans of slow-burning, atmospheric strategy efforts with emergent discovery will find much to enjoy here - as would newcomers to the genre at large.

Amplitude manages to be both a throwback, and as relevant as ever. This feels like a Harmonix with the shackles off, free to unleash their creative side onto the rhythm-action genre once again. With its initial simplicity, mesmerising visuals, and a great marriage of music to game mechanics, Harmonix have given the world a better Amplitude. One that is simply a superb title.

ZEN Pinball is one of the PlayStation Network's best releases this year.

Football Manager 23 brings the iconic football sim to PS5 with all the engrossing charm and immersive obsession that made it such a hit elsewhere. It’s a lot to take in, but it’s absolutely worth the time sink for wannabe managers.

Risk of Rain 2 is fast, fluid and a lot of fun. This is amplified vastly in multiplayer, which works flawlessly and is very enjoyable. If you enjoy roguelikes you will enjoy Risk of Rain 2, even if you don't, you may want to try something that is quite different from what is currently on the market.

Catherine is a mind trip, blending the impact of real life decisions, the nightmares of finally growing up, and the fear of dying young. While the core puzzle-platforming offers nerve-wracking excitement, players are likewise gifted with an engaging, authentic story.

Though it disappoints with some poorly designed maps and a lack of game modes at launch, Modern Warfare is one of the best games in the Call Of Duty franchise featuring a haunting and memorable campaign that is probably the best looking game this generation.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla - Dawn of Ragnarok is a sizeable expansion offering a gorgeous new realm to explore, memorable characters, while new abilities such as the Hugr-Rip adds a new dimension to combat and traversal. Beyond that it's more of the same however, so that'll determine whether or not you'll want to dive back into Valhalla once again.

Kentucky Route Zero is a game for those who are happy to slowly digest the measured nuances of a text heavy, but visually stunning and thought provoking adventure. Narrative weirdness abounds but it is anchored by a cast of charming and gentle characters who you will grow to love.

Distilled from the composite parts of developer Team Ninja’s prior efforts, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty opts to delve deep into the fundamentals of high-stakes combat and delivers a pulse-pumping experience that rewards anyone willing to step up to the plate.

Despite falling shy of true greatness, Tethered is nonetheless just what Sony's new gaming platform needs to convince the naysayers of its suitability for ‘traditional’ gaming experiences. This is one PSVR title that you’ll want to hold onto.

Yakuza 4 is the thinking man's brawler. Grab a drink, preferably in a very large glass, settle down and immerse yourself in the violent neon-lit streets of Kamurocho. Give it a chance and you'll find it hard to put down.

Wasteland 3 is a stunner of a game. All the strategic combat and twisted story choices the series is known for are present here -and done better than they ever have been before. Some technical issues hold the game back, but with time to patch things up, Wasteland 3 will be a stone cold classic.

Advanced Warfare gently shakes up the series’ conventional play with the new exoskeleton and enhances previous establishments, as is the case of the Pick 13 system. Overall, these are small steps in the right direction, despite its not becoming a tremendous evolution for Call of Duty.

Visions of Mana is a bold new step for the series and manages to almost totally stick the landing in the process. The DNA of the series is still here for legacy fans to enjoy, and yet it stands as a remarkably approachable and digestible RPG that can be enjoyed by those looking to dip their toes into this genre. A visually stunning, heartfelt and lovingly crafted world awaits those who jump into this new entry and I'm surprised by just how much it resonated with me in the long-term, despite some pacing issues and some small cut corners.

Madden 15 gives veteran and rookie players something to take with them, as the overall package reaches a balance point worthy of the annual cost.

A highly original puzzle-platformer from Lithuanian developers Flazm which combines an emotional time-travelling storyline with some intricate and very relaxing exploration filled with highly ingenious level design. Another indie gem which offers a very memorable and loveable gaming experience.

Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is another fantastic entry into this much-loved series, proving that Kiryu has more than enough gas left in the tank to continue fronting the series. Despite some combat gadgets feeling a bit gimmicky and some obvious grinding to lengthen the story, The Man Who Erased His Name is a compelling time sink and proves that Kiryu isn't a spent force.

A formidable twin-pack of classic RPGs guaranteed to wreck your social life, it's really the manifestation of Planescape: Torment on console for the first time which stands as the real highlight - bringing its stellar writing, extraordinary setting and deep characters to a whole new audience. This twin pack is a must-have for fans of RPGs everywhere.

Assassin's Creed III builds strongly on the series but fails to take a giant leap of faith into any real new territory. A new plot, the Colonial America setting, and sheer volume of things to do outweigh the disappointing bugs and glitches.

Krillbite should be commended for what the achieve with Mosaic, crafting an experience that wholly commits to its themes, atmosphere, and narrative. Each moving part of the game contributes to the whole journey and creates an exceptional replication of the bleak, hostile, and depressing lifestyle that is modern capitalist-fueled city-life. It isn't a particularly enjoyable game to play, but that lack of gratification is just another part of the magnificent mosaic that is, Mosaic.

Other than the poor quality of the cutscenes, LocoRoco is filled with oodles of charm, a soundtrack that delights, and the most adorable characters in any game ever. There’s no escaping the happiness you feel when playing LocoRoco.

A deliberately slow, and sometimes frustratingly patient, start aside, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles revamps the Ace Attorney formula by injecting it with a take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Great Detective stories that is recognizable, and yet oh-so-perfect for this series in how it changes it. If the Phoenix Wright games have lost a little of their luster for you, then this double header Victorian-era spinoff may well be worth investigating.

A sequel that does the franchise proud. Being free-to-play means no-one has a reason not to try it out. Established fans will have incentive to keep playing their PS3 during the PS4 generation, while rookies have a great platform to get their feet wet in the series.

Blacklight: Retribution can easily stand tall with the competitive online shooters on the PS4. Zombie Studios' focus solely on multiplayer makes for a surprisingly good game highlighted by its balance and gameplay that also just happens to be free-to-play.

The Warriors franchise has always had a strong following and Samurai Warriors 5 keeps that following going. With an entertaining story, strong characterizations and a gorgeous cell-shaded art style, Samurai Warrior's 5 is the best entry in the franchise in a long time. If you've never had an interest in jumping into a Warriors title before, Samurai Warriors 5 is the best time to jump in and see what makes these games so addictive and fun.

If a harsh climbing simulator is your thing, Cairn does a great job of providing you with the treacherous conditions of an ambitious mountain climb. It's an outstanding little game in respects to how strategy and perseverance can assist you in reaching your goals and ultimately the Mount Kami summit.

One could easily dedicate hours and hours into perfecting each character and making any opponent look like a complete tool without even hitting triangle, square, or circle...It'd be hard, and require a lot of discipline and practice, and luck in my case, but it's possible.

The remarkable gameplay of Ratchet and Clank's first three adventures holds up in this great HD package, but don't expect a pitch-perfect port.

Musicians finally have a game to call their own. Rocksmith delivers the most realistic music experience with a great track list, tons of options to tweak your sound, and progressive difficulty to test all abilities.

It took two troubled years, but Street Fighter V is finally where it should be with the Arcade Edition update. If you haven't gotten round to it yet, there's never been a better time to tackle this true king of the fighters.

Despite the game’s ease, Tales from the Borderlands Episode Two continues its strong narrative with improved gameplay.

An admirable, if problematic, port of a fine strategy game, XCOM Enemy Unknown Plus gives the PS Vita a welcome, posthumous, shot in the arm.

Injustice 2 goes to great lengths to be a fighting game with longevity in mind without ostracizing a more casual audience. A superb story, a great roster, and a smart, if overly complicated, Gear system all contribute to that, and the result is arguably the best overall fighter of modern times.

The murder mystery puzzler makes the jump to PlayStation as Capcom successfully revives Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective. Captivating characters, an engrossing mystery, and inventive puzzles ensure Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective's appeal is alive and well in 2023.

Dead or Alive 6 is the first great fighter of the year. It proves that once you strip the "fan service" away, you see how deep and masterful the core combat can truly be.

Much more than just a sterling evolution of arcade legend Gauntlet, Heroes of Hammerwatch melds superbly robust dungeon crawling gameplay together with ingenious roguelike design to create the genre's next must-have title. If like me you missed out on Heroes of Hammerwatch when it first released, now is the time to correct that mistake. You won't regret it.

Blurb: Even though the visual remastering is a touch on the modest side, Sega have nonetheless done great work here. With reworked localizations, improved sidestory finding and smoother gameplay overall, the Yakuza Remastered Collection nonetheless proves itself as the definitive way to play Sega's PS3 trio of core Yakuza games.

Whether you create a rookie to take through the paces, or start off with a professional team in season play, NBA 2K12 is easily the most enjoyable basketball game on the market.

Gorn 2 doesn’t reinvent the series, and it doesn’t need to. It refines the original in smart, deliberate ways: tighter progression, sharper visuals, and more variety through new weapons and absurd traps. The core loop remains that gleeful, physics-fuelled violence, now smoother, better paced, and more reliably fun. For fans of the first entry, Gorn 2 delivers a more polished and engaging experience — a true sequel that earns its place in the arena.

Despite an underwhelming story and a few hiccups here and there, the stunning world of Oros makes Far Cry Primal an experience worth going through.

A thoughtfully crafted love letter to the sort of titles that many of us forged our gaming mettle with.

Easily the best looking anime fighter on the market today, the fourth and final entry in the Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm series proves to be a highly entertaining one as it parallels its stupendous presentation with substantial longevity and an easily accessible brawler.

Lighting Returns takes to the end of the world with vivacity and conviction, reshaping the way that RPGs can and should be in many great ways. Even if the game engine is well past its prime and the voice acting is weak at times, the overall package is an entanglement of nostalgia and intrigue for fans of Final Fantasy XIII and the RPG genre.

NBA 2K14 rewards those willing to learn a new way to use the right joystick and takes from still existing modes everything great that they have to offer. Though the experience may be narrow, the beautiful, immersive gameplay stands on its own among the rest of the sports gaming genre.

A clean and realistic presentation with addicting game modes makes this game a must-have for college football fans.

Every kart racer from this point forth needs a track editor, enough said.

A refined and polished sequel to a brilliant skateboarding game.

Ravenswatch has the hard stuff nailed down - the combat is sophisticated, the roguelike mechanics are spot-on and there is no shortage of progression avenues and opportunities; it just needs more content than it currently has to really shine. As it is, Ravenswatch is a roguelike overflowing with innovation and potential, it just needs a bit more content to turn a very good experience into a great one.

Ultros is ultimately an excellent game, and I loved almost every minute I spent with it exploring what is really a giant work of art. The storytelling, the music, the art, the design and exploration are all wonderful to experience, even if its biggest puzzle mechanic is also its biggest frustration. But those frustrations don't overshadow the things that make Ultros shine, and they are all why it is a must-play game for Metroidvania fans, or anyone that just wants to be awed by what they're looking at every five minutes.

A stellar compilation of games from the industry's most legendary fighting franchise, Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is a must for fans of the series and newcomers alike.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles is an experience that never overstays its welcome. While the map may be simplistic and outdated, the combat, visuals, voice acting, and story more than make up for anything the game lacks. New and old fans will find something to enjoy here, while the versus mode will keep players engaged long after the credits roll.

Written by and starring the original cast of Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered is simply the best video game based on a movie property ever created. With fun gameplay and bizarre events, this is the closest you’ll ever get to strapping on a real proton pack.

A charming and well-constructed take on the twin stick shooter, Flame Over endears itself greatly with easy to play, yet difficult to master mechanics which neatly avoid the frustration usually associated with roguelike titles.

Buckets of adorable charm and solid platforming fundamentals win out over some minor shortcomings to cement A Hat in Time as one of the best surprises of the year.

Biomutant is a fun title with some amazing visuals and a huge open world to explore. Experiment 101 have gone out of their way to make you feel like you're a first-time visitor to an unknown landscape. Though its morality system leaves a lot to be desired there is plenty here to enjoy. Despite suffering from some technical issues, none of it hindered me from pouring hours and hours into the game. If you're looking for something fresh, unique, and exciting, Biomutant is a brand new IP that you should play.

The best point and click adventure effort to come along since Thimbleweed Park, Lucy Dreaming is a relentlessly entertaining genre effort that deftly blends well structured puzzle design with the sort of delightfully irreverent and offbeat humour that will have you grinning and quietly chuckling like a loon throughout its duration. A great point and click offering that you can enjoy with a nice cup of PG Tips, though I suspect that a cuppa of Yorkshire Tea would be more in line with what the creators intended.

Riders Republic is at its core a fun game that only wants you to have fun, more than most games. Its UI isn't the best, and there still seem to be some bugs that need to be ironed out, but there are no issues that really break your fun along the way. On top of the gorgeous presentation, Riders Republic is easy to recommend for anyone with a liking towards a game where they can flip around three times on a pair of rocket ski's mid-air while dressed as a giraffe.

Sumo Nottingham's fresh take on the asymmetric multiplayer genre is greatly welcomed. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre offers an intense horror experience when playing as the victims, and is equally as fun as chasing them down as the twisted Sawyer family. Faithfully capturing the iconic characters, and what made the original film so great, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a best in class of the genre.

Yakuza: Like A Dragon is an impressive and quality JRPG that successfully acts as a jumping in-point for new fans and also ties itself to the series' past in exciting and engaging ways. The turn-based combat has been infused with some mechanics that help retain the action and over-the-top hilarity the series is known for. Mini-games once again shine and there is a lot packed into Ijincho. Like A Dragon paves the way for a bright future for the franchise.

The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets is so packed with charm that one might underestimate some of the sharply clever puzzles involved. Though it you will probably only play it once, that’s no reason to skip on a game of this quality. A complete delight that could only exist in VR, Stolen Pets bursts with nostalgia and fun.

Grip: Combat Racing offers an enormous amount of fun content for a reasonable price. Frankly, this game could go toe to toe with a lot of AAA racers and come out on top. Blistering speed, amazing track design, wild action; if you can get past some mild frustrations, Grip fully delivers and intense, jaw-clenching good time.

Representing a T-Virus level shot in the arm for Capcom’s venerable survival horror franchise, Resident Evil 7 combines old and new alike to create the most essential entry in the series since its fourth core instalment.

Polished. With the exception of some shaky network issues, Resistance 2 is incredibly refined. The gameplay, visuals, and features all scream high production values, and more importantly, great execution. With the risk of being entirely cliché in mind, you shouldn’t resist the urge to pick this one up.

Providing an evocative look back at some of history's most visceral pre-modern battles and conflicts, Ancestors Legacy is a superb PS4 RTS that fans of the genre shouldn't miss out on.

An intricate and entertaining amalgam of BioShock, comic book visuals and roguelike design with hefty dose of dark comedy to boot, Void Bastards is one of the most refreshing shooters to come along in a good long while.

One of the best shooters this year, Call of Duty: World At War is an explosive and powerful cinematic experience.

The addition of 'The Journey', the engine shift to Frostbite, and the strides towards a more unpredictable, methodical representation of The Beautiful Game render FIFA 17 a game certainly worth playing.

Samurai Warriors 4-II is an excellent addition to the Warriors franchise, but could have done with a bit more change to differentiate itself from its predecessor.

Steep refines the winter sports template in a way that no other title has managed to this extent; skillfully marrying open-world and social aspects to create one of the freshest genre entries around. Steep is the most fun I’ve had on the digital slopes in a long time.

Utterly absorbing and rarely anything less than completely fascinating, The Forgotten City is an intoxicating microcosm of Ancient Roman society embedded in a dialogue heavy adventure and wrapped around one of the most smartly designed mysteries and sleuthing yarns to come along in a good long while. Occasional technical creakiness and issues aside, it's a deeply pleasant irony that The Forgotten City will remain long in your memory after the credits have completed their roll the first, second, third and fourth time.

With sharp graphics, easy to learn controls, and realistic gameplay, Fight Night Champion delivers a knockout blow to the competition. Unfortunately, it is a little lacking beyond the stellar Champion Mode.

A great collection of some of the hardest and most enjoyable titles in the past twenty years. The Mega Man X Legacy Collection features plenty of great content not just with the titles included but also the extra content that Capcom have lovingly packed into it.

No Longer Home wishes to retell a point in two people's lives that impacted them both. Its minimalistic style and thoughtful writing carry the day hands down, even with its odd control choices. Even if point-and-click games aren't your thing, I still highly recommend giving No Longer Home a shot.

This is very much more Everybody’s Golf with a few extra brush strokes and a overtly pleasant online portion to round it out. The result of that is easily the best version of the game to date, and with a good price point and welcoming structure, it’s a fine place to visit for a few holes.

From its smooth tunes, to its hypnotic shape matching,Chime Sharp is a lean, mean music puzzling machine.

In a year when Sony's marquee first-party offerings seem to be almost distressingly thin, Stellar Blade's dogged pursuit of an engaging and polished single-player action adventure experience is more welcome than ever - even if much of it feels like a loving greatest hits interpretation of past genre luminaries. Nonetheless fans of gorgeously rendered, high-octane action adventures with style to spare will find much to enjoy in Shift Up's stellar PlayStation debut.

The Jackbox Party Pack 7 brings us a collection of five games that make for one of the better packs to release in recent memory. Talking Points and The Devil And The Details should be new mainstays for how frantic and fun they are, with Champ'd Up and Blather Round complementing them nicely. Quiplash 3 disappoints with its changes, but the package as a whole is a thrilling collection for any party or group gathering.

All issues aside, Minecraft brings to consoles what PC gamers have had for a long time, and the challenge this time around is only trumped by what can be created. The modern-day libertarian's dream has finally landed on consoles, and newcomers and veterans alike would be foolish to pass it up.

A small handful of flaws aren’t quite enough to dull the appeal of For Honor’s peerless combat and deceptive depth. For Honor looks like it’ll be my go-to multiplayer game for quite some time and if you give it a go, chances are it’ll be yours, too. For anyone with even the slightest love of melee combat, For Honor is a must-have.

Prey gives you a luxurious sci-fi playground and a great set of tools to use within it. Combat may be underwhelming, and the main story equally so, but the level of immersion on display is still absolutely stellar.

It's maddening, beautiful and downright frustrating all in the same utterance; an unpredictable, oftentimes surprising, experience that gives and takes in the same breath. It's more like the sport that it's trying to replicate than ever before and oddly enough that's not always as laudable as one might think. Though not as refined as optimally as one would hope, there is undoubted progress in this year's FIFA.

Ultimately then, PowerSlave: Exhumed is a throwback to an earlier era - that much is true. However, while it clearly and proudly wears its retro design sensibilities on its digital sleeves, so too does its satisfying blend of frantic shooter action and Metroidvania design provide us with a bittersweet reminder that so few others have seen to follow in its largely forgotten footsteps.

A wildly unusual but nevertheless highly accomplished distillation of the Hitman formula into a turn-based puzzler, Hitman GO's mobile origins do little to dull the allure of what is a confident reinvention of its parent franchise.

Little Kitty, Big City is a great little adventure that had me grinning from start to finish. It harnesses the inherent charm that cats have and brings that to an experience that can be enjoyed by almost every type of player looking for a relaxed experience. Exploration and fun are at the core of what Little Kitty, Big City sets out to do and some clunky platforming controls are the only obstacles to total triumph. For now, this is the most "cat" game that you can possibly buy.

Eye of the Storm is a tremendous finale to The Pillars of the Earth on PS4 and one which underscores the series commitment to grounded storytelling, sophisticated characters and mature storylines.

When people talk about wanting remakes, Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake is exactly the quality of remake they have in mind. Overall, this is a fantastic way to experience a beloved classic on modern hardware.

A commendably opulent remastering of one of the PlayStation 4's better action RPGs, Nioh 2 Remastered: The Complete Collection is the best way to play Team Ninja's furious, Soulslike sequel. That said, even on PS5 Nioh 2 Remastered still inherits the flaws from its original PS4 incarnation, such as overly punishing difficulty and repetitive design. Regardless though, for those new to Nioh 2, there really is no better time to get stuck into the game - just make sure that you've finished the first game beforehand; otherwise you're in for pain. A lot of pain.

Battlefield 6 is a spectacle with jaw dropping visuals and sublime audio, while delivering their best multiplayer offering in many years. However, despite it being predominantly a multiplayer experience, its campaign plays it far too safe, and feels all too familiar.

Tales of Graces f Remastered maximizes its own potential by utilizing many options that already existed in the game. By adding boosts to practically everything, players can customize their experience to cater to their wanted playthrough. Throw in nearly all the DLC seen in the PS3 original, and this remaster is essentially the perfect version of Tales of Graces f to experience.

Carly and the Reaperman is a PSVR title like no other. It encourages co-operation in a way I have not experienced before in VR. If you have another person to play it with you will have a lot of fun. It's a great experience that will bring you closer together and test your communication skills. It's attractive, well designed and a few niggling issues aside, a great experience. Get out there and save some souls.

Ground Zeroes is a great slice of stealth-action gaming, filled with heaps of content and strategic value -- even if it isn't quite the epic adventure some had hoped for.