An outstanding achievement from start to finish. Octopath Traveler II takes what made the original such a success and builds on it. It may feel more of the same but why fix something if it isn't broken. The additions made to exploration and combat are all for the better. The only real issue is that not much effort went into making the game less grandy or addressing the various difficulty spikes Octopath Traveler II suffers from.

The best 2D fighter on PS4 with superb cross-buy and cross-play functionality.

OlliOlli World's Finding The Flowzone DLC is an absolute marvel, with every single new level somehow a breath of fresh air among the high level of creativity already included within the main OlliOlli World campaign and the Void Riders DLC. The newly introduced Wind Zones add a new layer of complexity to levels that makes them all the more fun to explore. Discovering new paths and new ways to a high score never feels dull, and it's all topped off with arguably the best level across the entire game.

With this remake, Motive has managed to treat the original Dead Space with the utmost respect whilst rebuilding it to be perfect for today. Almost every improvement serves to enhance the reputation of a horror classic. Dead Space should be the blueprint for creating a truly exceptional remake.

It's incredibly tough to critique Potionomics: Masterwork Edition in any major way; an already fantastic management game has made the jump to console and has done so with an enviable landing that solidly puts its best foot forward as a console management game. Stunning visuals, slick animation and intricately woven gameplay mechanics all come together in a delightful combination that has well and truly sunk its hooks into me. While the game doesn't hold your hand with tutorials, you're encouraged to learn and play around with what you're given, which is a refreshing feeling. Masterwork Edition is absolutely a definitive update that addresses major criticisms while keeping what was so strong.

If not for a rather significant bug that dragged back my progress, Marvel’s Midnight Suns would have been an absolute joy from start to finish. A nice twist on the RPG format that lets you get up close and personal (platonically) with some of the biggest names in the Marvel universe.

Whether you enjoy it or not will depend on your expectations. Walk into it with a clear mind and you will get lost in this magical fantasy world.

Even with its shortcomings, which are few and far between, I loved my experience with Max Mustard. Moss and Astrobot have the advantage of experience and age in the space, but for a first attempt, Max Mustard really shines. From level design and visual presentation, Mustard oozes style. However even with a name like Max Mustard it's missing that special sauce to separate it from what has come before. Although Astrobot and Moss are VR games I enjoyed more, Max Mustard has an incredible base to grow on and I'm so excited to see what Toast Interactive can do next.

Trine 2: Complete Story is a grand embellishment of one of the most charming and accomplished adventure platformers in recent years. Bolstered by a wealth of additional content, multiplayer modes and the gorgeous 1080p/60 fps veneer that PlayStation 4 allows, this should be the next game to find a home on your PlayStation 4.

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is easily one of the PlayStation Vita's niche gems with rock solid presentation and a gripping story that doesn't let you go till the end.

Stimulating, frustrating and visually spectacular, MotorStorm: Apocalypse takes arcade racing to a whole new thrilling level.

In every way that a remake of a classic property can be, Pac-Man 256 soars.

Destiny 2 has never felt, looked, or been in a better spot than it is with Shadowkeep. This is not only the most accessible Destiny has ever been, but with the introduction of New Light, it is also more in-depth than ever with a new focus on hardcore players. Shadowkeep is an elegant blend of nostalgia mixed with the discovery of a new direction for the universe of Destiny. If you have ever been on the fence about Destiny, it's a perfect time to try.

El Paso Elsewhere serves up an incredibly balanced gameplay experience with an addictive loop on top of a compelling story. This is one not to be missed.

If the dazzling production values don't win you over, the storyline, characters and engaging combat will.

Though some aspects of DOOM Classic are crusty by today's standards, there's no denying that DOOM Classic is an absolutely ultra-pure distillation of the FPS genre and this PS4 port easily ranks as the best console port ever made. Get on this.

Epic Mickey is a stunning-looking game packed with memorable locations, a cast of unforgettable characters, and solid meat-and-potatoes gameplay. The paintbrush mechanic is satisfying and feels right at home in the Wasteland without every coming across as too gimmicky. There's a few annoying hiccups here and there, but overall, Epic Mickey is an adventure worth your time.

Hitman’s first season is a full-blown triumph. IO Interactive has masterfully pulled off this gamble with relatively few hiccups along the way. The world of assassination has never been a finer place to visit than it is right now.

Shifting the action from both the muddy trenches of the Western Front and the snow-dappled rural expanses of the Eastern Front to the blood-soaked peaks of The Great War's arguably most sophisticated theatre of conflict, developers BlackMill Games and M2H have excelled themselves with Isonzo. A thoroughly thoughtful and visceral first-person shooter where tactics and strategy are valued equally to a quick trigger finger, Isonzo isn't just the best entry in the WW1 Game Series to date, it also happens to be one of the best tactical multiplayer shooters full stop.

A unique experience with plenty of replay value, Eagle Flight is as fun as it gets right now on PlayStation VR.

A charmingly well-crafted marriage of co-operative play and Metroidvania esque mechanics, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is quite unlike any PS4 game currently available and is absolutely worth the price of admission for those looking for their next long-term co-op fix.

Layers of Fear is everything a mature, modern horror game should be. Subtle, smart, unnerving and genuinely intriguing.

With a serious tone, and a drama laden cast, Q.U.B.E. 2 is simply a cerebral experience. You'll be able to sit down, calm your nerves, and look at things from a different perspective, if only for the time it takes to master a sliding Q.U.B.E. jump.

Whether it's delivering chaos or absurdity, grim drama or theatrical villainy, Wolfenstein II handles it all superbly.

Even though it stands as more of a refinement over its immediate predecessor than a genuine leap, this latest entry in the BlazBlue series stays true to form by overwhelming players with a deliciously deep combat system, brilliant cast of characters and a veritable avalanche of content.

Lara Croft GO is that rarest of beasts; a puzzle effort that not only elegantly distills the core essence of the franchise with which it shares its namesake, but one which is equally at home on PS4 as it is on PS Vita. There's no getting around it; this is one of the best puzzlers of the year.

I had a blast playing through Slayaway Camp. A simple puzzle game that lets me play through some of my favorite horror movies and franchises. The blocky graphics have a great charm to them even though it sometimes gets in the way of the kill animations.

BioShock 2 is a worthy follow-up to the critically acclaimed odyssey in Rapture. While there is only a modest amount of updates, the game stands well on its own through a new and exciting story, online multiplayer, and tremendous presentation.

Piccolo Studios has once again managed to take something dark, desolate, and painful and find the beauty in it. After Us is a haunting tale of humanity's atrocities against the planet that hits closer to home than most people would want to accept. The game's mesmerising imagery haunted me at times and at other times had me in awe with its gorgeous vistas and art direction. It may be a simply platformer but it has a power message that everyone should pay attention to.

Overflowing with replay value, engaging characters and great writing, the end result is that Harmony: The Fall of Reverie offers up some of the most compelling storytelling Don't Nod has ever come up with and in doing so gives visual novel fans a superlative offering that is without peer.

Tales of Xillia 2 boasts a constant feeling of progression through the entire game, and though the leveling has a new, and somewhat particular, skill-based development, the complete RPG package can be found within this wholehearted sequel.

Fallout 3 is an outstanding title that sets a new standard for action role-playing games, and will appeal to fans of either genre.

It's always great to see a sequel improve on the original while keeping the spirit of the original alive. I loved my time in the crazy world of Blasphemous 2, with plenty of secrets to find and great combat that keeps you on your toes. Though its story could be a little more cohesive, it doesn't take much away from the overall product. Blasphemous 2 is easily one of the best indie titles of the year.

Outer Wilds is a furiously imaginative work that elevates storytelling and player discovery to a whole new level. Though less than inspired puzzles and some technical issues threaten to take the sheen off the experience, Outer Wilds nonetheless sits in a class all its own on PS4.

A subtle, immersive upgrade to an already brilliant game. The Dualsense really shines in making your traversal and combat feel more alive. The game runs brilliantly, looks beautiful, and has a great score to match. You cannot go far wrong with The Pathless, no matter what version you play.

A brilliant expansion to an already unmissable gaming experience.

The congregation of turn-based strategy, stealth and roguelike seems like an odd grouping, but my word, it works so very, very well.

XCOM 2’s PS4 port is hobbled by some turgid technical issues, but it’s a testament to how magnificent a game it is that it still rises above them. Outstanding, brutally challenging and endlessly enjoyable, XCOM 2 is a legitimate triumph.

When My Friend Pedro is in full flow, it's like watching a ballet, the game rewards skill and finesse and it is truly beautiful to see. Just go and play it. You will not regret it.

We're only at the end of first quarter 2019, but Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is pulling out all the stops as a heavy hitter. Minor issues aside, Sekiro will occupy thousands of PlayStations for a long, long time.

Demon's Souls is everything we've been looking for on the PS3 - a stellar action RPG boasting a killer online component. The game's uncompromising difficulty may not be everyone's cup of tea, however.

One of PlayStation's finest franchises continues to age like a fine wine improving incrementally with each passing year. San Diego Studios manages to improve an already stellar game with enough tweaks and improvements to keep the franchise from stagnating, but players of last year's outing may still have a difficult time justifying purchasing MLB The Show 20.

Unlike other seemingly similar efforts that want to tempt players down 3D platformer memory lane for a concentrated hit of nostalgia and leave it at that, Ruffy and the Riverside doesn't just take that well-worn idea and repackages it, but instead adds something refreshingly compelling to the formula. Though some minor flaws and polish issues do abound, they aren't enough to take the shine away from one of the most charming and thoughtful 3D platformers in ages.

An insanely addictive action RPG.

PlayStation All-Stars is a deeply engaging fighter and love letter to PlayStation fans that ultimately triumphs over shallow single-player content and a few design quirks.

The only offering of its ilk on PS4, Stellaris: Console Edition squeezes a galaxy of emergent strategy, discovery and story onto Sony's home console with very little compromise. Stellaris is certainly the biggest, if not one of the best pure strategy titles you can get on PS4 right now.

A sprawling and beautifully executed monument to the Castlevania titles of old, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night feels like a promise delivered for fans of not just the series, but intricately structured action adventures too. The king has returned.

Imaginative gameplay meets tactical depth in this pure arcade shooter with enough content and competitive thrills to distract from infrequent quirks.

While Broken Age doesn't break much new ground in the genre, it does deliver a wonderfully enriching adventure that’s buoyed by sharp writing and likeable characters.

Hazelight further hones its craft as ambitious creators of unique co-op experiences with It Takes Two. A clever, inventive procession of ideas and concepts that gel together to form a spellbinding co-op game.

Fez is a resounding success, marrying a stunning score, innovative gameplay and a gorgeous art direction into a complete interwoven package. Little Gomez's journey is one of discovery and wonder and should rightfully find its home on PlayStation 4's across the land.

One of the most gorgeous and timeless JRPGs of the last decade has now been resurrected on PS4, and if you missed it the first time around you really have no excuse now. This is how you pay tribute to a classic.

Multi-layered in its sophistication while being drenched in aesthetic bombast and effortlessly entertaining, Nuclear Throne isn't just Vlambeer's finest work to date, it also happens to be the best twin-stick shooter since Helldivers; even in light of its relatively minor transgressions.

A Plague Tale Innocence set the beautifully grim tone, and A Plague Tale Requiem goes beyond it and tells a captivating tale of hope and misery that builds on the original’s promise in almost every way. It may struggle to match its ambition in places, but Requiem is nothing short of a remarkable achievement.

One of the most satisfying and fulfilling games i’ve played this year. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a great game that makes you think three steps ahead. I was hooked from the very first kill to the very last.

Well thought out puzzles and a fantastic art style really propel The Pedestrian to the top of my list of recently played puzzle games. It is so different and that is something I really admire. While it will not be for everyone I think it does enough to even tease non-puzzle game fans into trying it. Striking and clever, The Pedestrian never overstays its welcome. It's short, sweet and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Warm, direct and with simple, hassle-free gameplay The Last Campfire is a breath of fresh air. It will not take too much of your time, it will respect your intelligence and overall is just a rewarding and fun gameplay experience. In a world of heavy, AAA titles, games as service titles and bloated RPGs, The Last Campfire is a beacon of hope that small, wonderful, single-player experiences will carry on. Well done Hello games, I loved it.

There's no getting around it - Helldivers 2 is a supremely fun, frequently unintentionally hilarious and bombastic squad shooter that builds upon its predecessor and deftly sets up a long-term future in the process. Though the lack of split-screen is keenly felt and Helldivers 2 is by and large identical to its predecessor in so many ways, Arrowhead Studios highly anticipated sequel nonetheless does a great job of repackaging a shooter that not nearly enough people played into a thunderous current-gen offering that sets a new bar for extraction shooters everywhere.

Thanks to Nightdive Studios, that ultra reliable bastion of remastering excellence, Heretic and Hexen have never, ever looked this good or played this well on console. Certainly then, Heretic + Hexen might just be Nightdive's best remastering gig yet and that really is saying something when you consider the heady calibre of their output to date. They don't make em' like they used to - luckily, we have Nightdive Studios to make sure that they do.

An ambitious and yet more elegant evolution over the first Banner Saga, The Banner Saga 2 fires on all cylinders and provides one of the newest and most enthralling strategy series money can buy with an absolutely belting middle act.

Boasting stellar gameplay and looking better than ever, the games in this second Kingdom Hearts collection are essential and great fun, even if the remaster itself is less polished than HD 1.5 ReMIX.

Super heroes assemble for the best entry in the LEGO series to date. TT Games are the best at what they do and LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is fantastic fun with masses of replayability - nuff said.

DUST 514 is easily the most in-depth FPS game out there and with an admission fee of $0.00 there is no reason at all for you not to check out what could be your go-to FPS for the next 5-10 years.

Miles Morales is a great game on PlayStation 4 just as it's a great game on PlayStation 5. The difference between the two when it comes to performance is marginal at best and if you delt with issues of its predecessor like long load times you should be able to handle them here as they are much improved. The PS4 version is a great addition to the library for those who aren't ready to jump to the next generation but it's also a great look at what you can expect when you finally make the jump.

The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season on PS4 is the definitive version of this stunning, narrative-driven adventure.

Cat Quest 3 will be too breezy and simple for some. I scoff at these folks and can simply enjoy a game that makes me feel so warm and wholesome inside. Cat Quest 3 is beautiful, well written and funny. It's trimmed to perfection with zero fat or waffle. Sometimes I just want to have fun and the world of Cat Quest is a place where I can make this happen.

With little in its way, Monster Hunter World smashes expectations with its organic, living, beautiful world. Matchmaking has its quirks and qualms, but little stands in the way of what’s been created here. Monster Hunter World raises the bar high without distilling what made the franchise special in the first place.

The football is sublime in PES 2016. There are small improvements made to other areas of the game, and some are still needed, but on the pitch the series is in title-winning form once again.

NIS shows us tradition can easily hang with the Hollywood blockbusters of the video game world. The best game in the series, Disgaea D2 has humor, depth and story that will keep players entertained for weeks on end.

Wonder Boy: Asha In Monster World is a gorgeous remake of a much overlooked Sega platforming adventure classic that everybody should play. It's that simple.

There might be some sensory overload at the start, but once you settle in, everything comes naturally. It is the ideal old-school arcade shmup that should appeal to nostalgic and contemporary gamers alike.

MLB 11: The Show delivers a homerun thanks to new analog controls, authentic and detailed stadiums, and overall terrific presentation.

The Alters is a unique narrative experience all its own, asking you to survive by manipulating your own history to create clones and escape from a fiery fate. As far as the genre goes, The Alters makes for a very accessible survival experience. With that said, hardcore fans of the genre may see gameplay in The Alters as far too simplistic. The other potential issue is that the Sun's looming danger isn't quite as looming as it initially feels, with most of the game progressing naturally without much actual danger. Either way, the combination of strong narrative and accessible gameplay makes this the perfect game for anyone who even remotely interested in trying survival-builder games. The Alters is a definite recommend title, even at its $40 launch price.

Hitman 2 is an absolute masterpiece of emergent, sandbox game design. Retaining all the key elements of the 2016 original, developer IO Interactive has instead restricted itself to a handful of minute but important changes. Streamlining the overall experience and producing what is, hands down, one of 2018’s most entertaining and satisfying titles.

Spiritfarer is a truly gorgeous game in every aspect. A stunning art style, gorgeously melodic music, and a lighter and less punishing take on the management sim genre make it one of the best indie games of the year and a title that will be remembered for years to come.

Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is a supremely assured offering that is better than its predecessor in virtually every way, layering just enough mechanical depth on top while never losing sight of the beating heart underneath.

Horrendously entertaining, boundlessly violent and with one eye on ancient history, Wulverblade provides an exceptionally thoughtful and enticing roadmap for the growth of the side-scrolling brawler. Pick up your controller and prepare for war; the North beckons.

DiRT Rally is hands down the best rally game I have ever played – stand aside Richard Burns Rally, in fact it’s the best Codemasters racing game I have ever played.

MLB 15 The Show takes the field with equipment, experience, and an improved network. All in all, gamers are bequeathed with a finished product that’s, universal, immersive, and also accompanied by a one-of-a-kind Diamond Dynasty mode that will certainly inspire game modes from now on.

Horizon Chase 2 is a phenomenal package for arcade racing game fans. It makes great improvements over the original game, both in visuals and in gameplay. This feels like the definitive arcade racing experience for anyone that is interested in chasing high scores, playing a game with friends, or just enjoying a race or two to unwind. This is easily a game that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre.

The definitive version of Cities Skylines on console brings quality-of-life improvements and a fresh coat of paint to the visuals. A worthy upgrade for one of the best sim games on PlayStation.

While I can’t say I would recommend this for every player, I think you should give this game a chance if you enjoy turn-based combat. This game showcases so many different and interesting aspects of its world, a combat system that I find to be one of the most engaging in a turn-based game that I have found in a while, and a gripping mystery that only has more layers added to it throughout the runtime. The colorful pirate robot style is enough to get someone interested, but the journey is enough to make anyone a fan of the series.

With FIFA 14, EA Sports has the reigns of the soccer industry firmly within its grasp, delivering a prominent title that will appease the large majority of fans of The Beautiful Game.

Honestly, it feels churlish to chide Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew for being too similar to Mimimi Games previous output, not least because this enormously talented studio has a track record of kicking out superb stealth strategy offerings and has once again fashioned a relentlessly engaging tactical stealth effort that is absolutely at the apex of the genre. With Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew however, I'm not sure the concept has ever been executed with this degree of charm and that's something Mimimi Games should be roundly congratulated for.

NBA 2K11 is by far the best basketball game on the market, and arguably the best sports game in years. Take some time to master the control mechanics, and you will be rewarded with the glory of Michael Jordan.

Funny, charming and challenging, the Vita version of this quirky SRPG series is totally compelling. Vita needs more games like this.

MIO: Memories In Orbit is a deceptive experience that lulled me into thinking that it might be retreading some of the roads that had already been masterfully done by its genre-siblings, but only a few hours had me appreciating every crevice and finely realised detail throughout its lush world. It manages to stand all and establish itself as a fantastic metroidvania that draws upon the strengths of the genre, while creating a world all its own.

Romeo Is a Dead Man is yet another belter from a director who marches to the beat of his own drum. It's unapologetically weird, well-conceived and just downright fun to play, and that's all I could really ask for. Every small detail forms a tapestry that can't really be described, only experienced with your own eyes. Where every design idiosyncracy might not land, it doesn't apologise for that. Why should it?

Despite colossal expectations, The Last Guardian is a triumph. The tale of Trico and the boy is profound—a beautiful, affecting journey grounded by their relationship.

No Man’s Sky’s PSVR2 upgrade fills in a significant missing piece of its existence-spanning puzzle. Hello Games has managed to make this love letter to classic sci-fi even more poignant and romantic than ever before. An already impressive game has reached a new high in player immersion with a fantastic overhaul of its VR capabilities.

The addition of 12 underplayed Game Gear Sonic titles and a playable Amy Rose are more than welcome in this beefed up version of Sonic Origins.

Destiny 2: Lightfall is my favorite entry into Destiny. This is a tall order with how amazing expansions like The Taken King, Forsaken, and The Witch Queen have been. Nevertheless, Lightfall has surpassed my expectations in almost every way. The gameplay is even more fun and fluid, the location is fresh and new, and while the story has holes, I'm excited to learn how Bungie fills them over the following year and on. Lightfall is as fantastic as it is mysterious, and I love every minute.

Shinju Mikami does it again, this time in a new genre. Ghostwire: Tokyo brings inspirations from the horror genre into the open world, finding great success with this combination. Despite its hiccups, Ghostwire: Tokyo is another compelling experience from the mastermind behind Resident Evil.

Moving Out's accomplished blend of pick-up-and-play mechanics mixed with the sincerity in which it delivers its humour and aesthetic make it some of the best local multiplayer fun you’ll have this year.

Housemarque has broken its own quality barrier with Nex Machina. This pulse-pounding twin-stick arcade shooter is the developer’s finest work. Brutal, compelling, enthralling and layered with hidden depths, Nex Machina is awash with retrotastic glory, and serves as the new benchmark for twin-stick shooters.

Shadowbringers delivers on all fronts, offering up great new instances, vast new zones to explore, and a new storyline worthy of almost any best-of list. Despite its few early day hangups and minor missteps, Stormbringers excels on almost all counts.

There is absolutely nothing like Crusader Kings III on console. By including such deeply embedded and emergent role-playing elements in Crusader Kings III and thus making it much more approachable than any of its more decidedly hardcore strategy predecessors as a result, Paradox have also created something of a gateway to bring traditionally non-strategy fans into the genre at large. Oh and it's basically a Game of Thrones simulator to boot. Which is nice.

Oozing heart, wit, charm and adventure from every digital pore, Ghost of a Tale is a beautifully crafted and warmly affecting adventure that deserves a place in the collections of PS4 owners everywhere.