Gris on PS5 is an absolute marvel, because it truly delivers an experience that cannot be had anywhere else. Nomada Studio's excellent incorporation of the DualSense's feature-set amps up what is already an emotionally charged time to new heights, and made my first experience of Gris even more beautiful than it could have been on any other platform. Whether you've played it a hundred times or not at all, PS5 is the place to best experience Gris.

Whatever minor flaws Strider might have are very well hidden amongst exciting gameplay, great platforming, and epic boss battles.

Survival Horror has never been so thrilling.

The enticing narrative, interlaced with gripping story-mechanics, all culminating in a fittingly poignant finale make Transistor a game that deserves to find its home in as many PlayStation 4's as possible.

While playing World of Final Fantasy, all I wanted to do was jump into the world of Grymoire just so I grab and hug the adorable characters. Sure it may not look like your typical Final Fantasy but it’s got the depth of a Final Fantasy. In a way, World of Final Fantasy is a celebration of the franchise, and I personally feel like it’s a thank you from Square Enix to its fans.

Street Fighter 6 comes out of its corner swinging and delivers a three-hit combo of modes that will leave fight fans floored.

Though it might lack typical challenge, 11-11: Memories Retold is a journey that is absolutely worth taking. An affecting and tragic look at war from the perspectives of two soldiers who seem least keen to wage it, this is pretty much essential for anybody with a heart.

Life Is Strange 2 Episode 2: Rules moves at a slower pace than the first but still manages to take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions that will have you feeling all kinds of things including a bit of ill will towards DONTNOD for making you wait for the next chapter.

World of Tomorrow is the best slice of Hitman for a decade. Sapienza holds so many deliciously dark secrets within its Mediterranean walls, and it’s worth exploring every single one of them.

Castlevania Dominus Collection almost flawlessly brings back a collection of games that were previously trapped on hardware that was tough to bring to new platforms. Extensive effort has gone into making sure that they suit the form factor of a home console and the effort is admirable to say the least. Some incredibly mild and brief frustrations with the remaining touch controls isn't enough to properly dethrone this game from being essential for Castlevania fans to invest in, especially with the deep cuts included here.

With stylish motion comics and ridiculous levels, Renegade Ops is a fantastic co-op game that you will find yourself playing with friends again and again.

Another swing and a hit from Square Enix and the Dragon Quest franchise. Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined streamlines the entire experience and provides plenty of quality-of-life updates that I wish every studio would implement into their games. The visuals and sound design are once again in the higher echelon, and game's combat is still just as enjoyable as Dragon Quest combat always is.

There are so many addictive and enjoyable gameplay elements in Final Fantasy XIV that WoW-schooled veterans and MMO rookies alike will love. It's been a long time coming, but A Realm Reborn is finally here, and Square Enix makes the most compelling case for subscription-based gaming in almost a decade.

A familiar but defining moment for Deck Nine, Life Is Strange and Max Caulfield alike; Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a high point for the series, and given the chance, will surely resonate with fans.

Whether you're a Fables fan or not, you will love this superb adventure, which combines the best elements of film noir and the Brothers Grimm. Telltale Games has done it again.

The NieR franchise has easily become one of my favorites. After NieR Automata, my need to replay the original NieR grew and grew, and thankfully, Square Enix has answered my prayers for an updated version of the original title. NieR: Replicant tells a fantastic story that's carried by great writing and a soundtrack that stops you in your tracks to listen to its incredible melody. The only thing that holds Replicant back from true greatness is its old-school take on fetch quests and the horribly constant backtracking.

San Diego Studio continues to show love for baseball with MLB 16 The Show, taking its historic limelight and bringing to it a multitude of new options, features, and enhancements. Every annual release should be better than the last year, but MLB 16 The Show expands on all fronts with dividends and adds even more reasons to crack the bat.

Beautiful, bright and bold. Wargroove is a fun, tactical war title with a lot of content. It's deep, rewarding, and never overwhelming. Its art style is something to die for and the presentation is beautiful. It does a great job of explaining everything gradually to the player and drip new content and features. Wargroove is a must-buy for fans of the strategy genre.

For the myriad of things that Promise Mascot Agency sets out to do, I never felt like it was overreaching or losing its sense of self. Every aspect of this game feels tailored to a curated experience that feels equally inspired and trailblazing its own direction. Everything comes together in an almost flawless symphony that I can’t help but love.

Emotionally powerful and engaging, Life is Strange Episode Four: Dark Room cements Dontnod's teen drama as a real contender for Game of the Year.

As far as visual novels go, Witch On The Holy Night stands among the best in the genre. Strong writing, great characters, and stellar world-building make this a memorable experience. While chapter length is all over the place and some plot points feel a bit forced, Witch on The Holy Night keeps you well-invested and rewards you with a strong body of work from beginning to end.

Fall Guys is one of the best online party games of the generation, offering a hilarious and intense battle royale with a ridiculous amount of customisation. A speedy pace and a substantial amount of different modes at launch mean that the game is always fresh and exciting. Even the Battle Pass and store are some of the fairest and less money-grabbing I have seen. Fall Guys is a must-play.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a blast to play, no matter where you play it. Its PS4 shortcomings only lie with with graphic fidelity and loading times. Apart from that, Sackboy is back and better than ever on all fronts and generations.

Iron From Ice could have been The Walking Dead in a Westeros winter coat, yet it is a fresh and faithful addition to the Game of Thrones universe. The story, is of course, as well written and compelling as we’ve come to expect of Telltale, but it’s the frantic decision-making that makes this latest series another hit in the making.

While the relatively laid-back and plodding pace likely won't be for everybody, it's fair to say that Bilkins' Folly represents an almost perfect storm of engaging characters, gorgeously framed visuals and refreshingly non-combat focused adventuring that gamers of any age can fully enjoy.

A fiendishly constructed zombie mashing roguelike with a veritable mountain of stuff to do, Death Road to Canada is the hilarious, ever-compelling road trip odyssey you never knew you wanted.

A fantastic action adventure that taps directly into the root DNA of the Yakuza franchise, Lost Judgment not only manages to simultaneously boast both the darkest and the goofiest storylines of any title in the series to date, but it also stuns the player with an absolute avalanche of hugely entertaining side quests and activities. More than that though, Lost Judgment also provides solace for those who found themselves turned off by the turn-based combat system that the mainline Yakuza series now seems to favour, while welcoming newcomers to one of the best new Japanese franchises of the last two decades.

We Love Katamari ReRoll continues to spread the word of this wonderful series to a fresh audience. Tongue-in-cheek meta jabs at itself and a greater focus on what makes the King of All Cosmos tick just adds extra flavor.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is something magical. Not only does it provide a grand experience for long-time fans, but it also has enough quality-of-life improvements for those looking to start their Dragon Quest adventuring. This is quite possibly the gold standard of classic RPG remake.

Va-11 Hall-A is one of those games that comes out of nowhere and blindsides you with what it has to say. It beats the hearts and minds of the creators in special ways all while delivering a wonderful stylized world through its unique list of characters. Despite its few shortcomings and hefty reading, Va-11 Hall-A offers up something all its own rarely found in this industry.

At its apex, Tom Happ's brainchild unequivocally proves just how far video game development has come in such a short space of time and that you can in fact teach an old dog new tricks.

Fun Train has delivered a game that, for a franchise title, is surprising in its quality. Though there are some minor technical hiccups, content-wise, this game stands with the best offerings of its legendary franchise. It is often said that The Exorcist is the scariest film ever produced. The Exorcist: Legion VR is scarier.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is as ambitious PSP game, and a worthy follow-up to previous entries. Snake is back, and with Hideo Kojima exploiting our political apprehension and love for espionage thrillers, Peace Walker easily offers one of the best experiences on Sony's handheld.

The shifting good vs. bad storyline provides a solid foundation that the gameplay builds upon, and therefore missions and side objectives feel genuinely refreshing. Empire City provides an excellent base for exploration and Cole's skills make the third person "shooting" feel fresh and exciting.

The Elder Scrolls Online: The Gold Road is brimming with new things to see and do, and the Scribing mechanic is a fantastic addition to the base game. With new enemies, solid visuals and a compelling narrative to follow, The Gold Road is a path worth traversing.

EA Sports UFC 5 is the Ultimate MMA experience of this console generation. With great attention to detail, over 300 fighters, and plenty of game modes, there is something here to enjoy for all MMA & fighting game enthusiasts.

Separate Ways is a fantastic addition to the Resident Evil 4 Remake that is packed with great bosses, a new spin on familiar locations, and some meaningful narrative progression.

Far Cry 5 is the best Far Cry to date. The great additions and refinements made to the franchise are fantastic. Along with the inclusion of Far Cry Arcade, which extends your play time, Far Cry 5 is the ultimate open-world first person shooter.

Overall, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered brings plenty of welcome changes to the original formula while still maintaining the quirkiness of the original game. This is a prime example of a loving remaster: improve the original concept without veering away from it completely. It's not completely perfect, since it still features some of the glitchy nature of the original game, like asset pop-in. Nonetheless, "perfect" isn't what fans want out of Elder Scrolls. They want exploration and fun, and that's exactly what you get from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.

War of the Chosen overhauls the already fabulous XCOM 2 and turns it into absolutely essential fare. The introduction of the Chosen, the soldier bonding system, and the photobooth mode, are perfect additions in that they amplify the base game’s best qualities. It’s just a shame the shine is dulled ever so slightly by a bunch of needless technical issues.

Putting the few slight issues aside, Final Fantasy VII Remake stuns with how it expands on the original. At the same time, it takes its own risks and creates its own footsteps. FF VII Remake is beautiful, engrossing, and hard to pass up. This game is meant for both fans and newcomers, no matter how learned, and the sheer level of time and effort put into this reimagining truly shows through and through.

Sorry, We're Closed does a lot of things well: storytelling, organic world building, and writing. It even adds in its own twists on the horror genre, like the neon presentation and the way it delivers combat. The Third Eye makes for a nice touch as well. Aiming can be a finicky problem unless you turn on aim assist, and the game likes to throw a lot of enemies at you. Even with all that, Sorry, We're Closed is an easy recommendation and necessary content for anyone even claiming to be a horror fan.

Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition is one of the most addictive games to date and offers a massive amount of content with Diablo 3 and the Reaper of Souls expansion pack in one engrossing package.

With Tales from the Borderlands, Telltale Games has struck gold. Easily its best effort since the first season of The Walking Dead, Tales marries the series cheeky humour and laugh-out laughs with some properly touching and poignant moments. This is as essential as it gets.

Resolutely challenging without ever being unfair, frequently gut-bustingly humorous and stuffed with all manner of unexpected twists and turns, The Messenger one of the most essential platformers on PS4. It really is that simple.

FIFA is reborn with an all-new defense system and physics engine that puts complete control in the player's hands. It's not just an evolution in soccer games; it's a revolution in sports games.

Nightdive Studios has done once it again with Blood: Refreshed Supply. Not only has the developer lavished its typically heady amount of polish and care on Blood: Refreshed Supply, but so too does it deserve a whole heap of credit for refreshing (pun intended), one of the best shooters of the 1990s for contemporary consoles. Boasting some incredible level design, massively satisfying weapons and a wealth of additional content, Blood: Refreshed Supply deftly mimics its resurrected protagonist by still holding up so darn well all these years later.

Burial at Sea: Episode Two is a great slice of DLC and a fitting end to the BioShock: Infinite universe.

With a well-written story, fantastic world building, and great, bloody combat, The Walking Dead Onslaught is a fantastic companion piece to the beloved AMC show and a great VR game in its own right. Supply runs provide a perfect mix of speedy action and tense combat, while the narrative portions feel carefully and artfully constructed. While the VR-level budget peaks through on occasion, this is an amazingly well-made and entertaining game.

The greatest shooter to hit the PlayStation Network.

Joe Danger 2 was already a highly charming, addictive and enjoyable title on PS3, but much like its predecessor, it finds its true home on Vita. It contains more than enough variety and challenge for those willing to give it a shot.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War delivers a moving story that will surely leave an impression on you. The UbiART engine delivers another great artistic showpiece telling a story through animation, a powerful and harrowing musical score and documentary-like narration. Valiant Hearts doesn't depict what war may have been like, it makes you feel it.

Grindstone is one of the most addictive games I have played this year. A beautiful presentation melded with a rewarding, visceral gameplay loop makes you not want to put it down. Grindstone is a bright, Saturday morning cartoon where you can meet weird people, and chop up endless amount of cute characters, what's not to like? I cannot recommend it enough, Grindstone is brilliant.

Wreckfest on PlayStation 5 is arguably the best way to play one of the most enjoyable racers of the previous console generation. A delirious mix of arcade racing and smashmouth vehicular carnage, Wreckfest's gorgeous next-generation facelift is enough to ensure that Bugbear's ramshackle racer stands shoulder to shoulder with the best racing games on PlayStation 5.

Quite simply, this is the most fun we’ve had killing monsters since carving up freaks with God of War III’s Blade of Exile.

There is a lot to love about Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising. From its excellent story mode, simple yet complex combat that's made accessible to every type of player. But what steels the show is the extremely fun Grand Brute mode. There is a lot to love about Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising, and it's easily the sleeper-hit fighting game this year.

Dauntless comes bursting out of early access with one of the best, most original, and most polished games in the free-to-play space. With tons of content, amazing battles, a great matchmaking system, and endless room to grow, Dauntless is going to be around for a long, long time. Beyond highly recommended, Dauntless is compulsory, obligatory, required gaming.

Mankind Divided is a thoroughly satisfying Action RPG that understands how to make stealth play enjoyable, flexible and challenging. The design of its near-future world is remarkable, and the stories held within it are compelling. The only sour taste here is an ending at odds, and the slightest whiff of over-familiarity.

A confident resurgence of one of the FPS genre’s pioneering efforts; DOOM not only manages to boast perhaps the finest single-player campaign in the genre but also a blissfully entertaining multiplayer suite and map editor to boot. Make no mistake, this is DOOM 2.0 and it’s one of the very best shooters you can buy on PS4 right now.

Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus is an absolute blast. Each mystery kept me on the edge of my seat as I franticly tried to solve the case with my team of colorful, though sometimes insane, fellow detectives. There is a lot to love about Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus, and fans of mysteries and the Danganronpa franchise will fall in love with it.

Neon White is overall a very good, even exceptional game, with addicting, thrilling, and wonderfully crafted gameplay. The characters are all incredibly endearing in their own way, even if the overall narrative doesn't break any molds. It's easily one of the best 3D platformers today, and one game from 2022 that is not to be missed.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist is the pinnacle of stealth action gaming and easily the best Splinter Cell outing to date.

Heavy Rain looks fantastic on PS4 and still has the power and sophistication to leave a lasting impression. Despite not fixing the glitches and awkward, robotic crowd scenes for this remaster, Quantic Dream’s interactive drama is an absorbing experience not to be missed.

From its nerve-wracking combat to its dense puzzles, from grotesque enemy designs to quiet moments of reflection, it's a consistently engaging experience. Silent Hill f proves the franchise still has the power to unsettle and surprise. It's a brilliant return that respects its roots while boldly moving forward.

Bungie has delivered an amazing experience with its PS5 update. From the silky-smooth frame rates to the field of view sliders, Destiny 2 has never felt this good. All the enhancements the PC community has been able to experience and take advantage of are finally on consoles. Cross-gen support along with the same content drops means that regardless of what console you play on, you're getting the best version of Destiny 2 that your system can run.

Moss: Book II is everything I look for in a game presented in an astounding VR package. While some aspects of the game feel held back by the current hardware of PSVR the journey and world make up for any shortcomings. I truly loved my time with Moss: Book II and cannot wait to see what is next for Quill.

A unique cross of visual novel, RPG and strategy with fun and addictive gameplay. Learn some historical names and geography as you delve into a fun, laid back story, with ample amounts of combat and quests to keep you occupied. New game+ gives you a reason to come back and take alternate routes to glory to test your strategic senses.

Quantic Dream's ambition is truly realized through a game that has interesting controls, stunning graphics, and a masterfully accomplished change to current gaming trends.

Conquering the battlefield with new improvements and a neat new magic system, Warriors Orochi 4 is a welcome addition for the series and stands as one of the best overall games in Koei Tecmo's beloved hack n' slash genre.

A great remastering of two of the previous generation's most legendary action titles, the Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle gives a whole new generation of PlayStation gamers an opportunity to experience these games in their definitive form.

Teardown is superb. The perfect mix of creative gameplay, sandbox destruction and a rewarding gameplay loop add up to something truly special. I could not put it down, as I was constantly thinking about how to complete each objective and it let my creative juices flow. Teardown is one of my favourite games this year and is truly unique in an increasingly repetitive medium.

2K Czech serves up an ace with Top Spin 4 through authentic gameplay and animations, plus a new streamlined approach throughout the entire game.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy sets the gold standard for game compilations going forward as it brings all three of these well-loved titles under a single banner. Both newcomers and veterans have every reason to keep their eyes on this trilogy; with a bounty of extra features to dive into, this is far more than just a port of three visual novel adventures. This is a love-letter to the Ace Attorney community that should be enjoyed by all.

Koira is a charming game that delivers in spades. It's a beautiful symphony of visuals and audio that should absolutely not be missed.

Filled with action, Just Cause 3 offers a massive and realized world with engrossing scenes inspired by works like those from Michael Bay. Skill development aside, this sequel delivers on all fronts.

Tearaway is a brilliant mix of creativity, stunning visuals and joyous platforming. Make no mistake - this is PS Vita's must-have game.

Pyre’s world is full of dynamic characters with unique motivations, darkly vibrant backdrops that look like paintings, and a soundtrack that you’ll be humming for days, weeks, even months to come. It might be slow to start, but once it picks up it never looks back. The Rites are exciting and addictive, and you’ll always want to play “just one more round.” Even when the game is over, you’ll want to have at least one more round through the whole thing, just to see how things might turn out differently. Pyre is an admirable addition to both Supergiant’s repertoire and any gamer’s collection.

Great art style, impressive track design, competitive racing and infinite replay value.

Rayman Origins provides a picture perfect port of the console version and shows off the under-the-hood power of the PlayStation Vita.

Rogue Legacy 2’s long gestation has benefitted it immensely. It comes to PS5 in the shape of its life, and it is easily among the best Metroidvania-style games on the market today.

Brilliantly simple and beautifully stripped back, TOEM is what an indie game should be. It's different, a palette-cleanser if you will and takes me back to where games were just fun. No grinding, no monthly online events, just find this bloke's cat and take a photo of it. There's beauty here in the pure simplicity. TOEM runs well, plays great, and most people will find joy within its black and white walls.

I must have played through Patapon 2 five or six times now and it is still amazing. One of the most original, unique games you will play and brilliantly addictive. The soundtrack buries itself into your mind and does not want to let go. The gameplay is surprisingly deep, a truckload of fun and extremely rewarding. It's beautiful and animated amazingly. Patapon 2 is the perfect length, long enough to get sucked into but never overwhelming and never overstaying its welcome. Get out there, assemble your one-eyed army, and reach Earthend! Pata Pata Pata Pon!

A literary masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of video games being legitimate art with its suspenseful, thrilling, and unique narrative that takes the horror genre to a new level. It is a classic for those Halloween fright nights but just make sure to double check the doors are locked when you turn the lights out.

Star Ocean: Second Story R takes what made the original so great and, instead of reworking it, went out and built a better experience around it. The excellent art design, the fantastic action combat, and the striking visuals come to life in what is easily one of the best RPGs of 2023 and a blueprint on how to make a great remake while keeping the spirit of the original alive.

Iron Man VR succeeds wildly in its mission to put players into Tony Stark's iconic suit of armor. Flying and doing battle is amazing, and even more amazing is the way that players are immersed in Tony Stark’s narcissistic psyche. With story-telling without peer in the VR space, and amazing battle sequences, Iron Man VR verges on being the perfect VR game. Only the ridiculous load times are preventing this from being the greatest of all time.

Grid might have been gone for 5 years, but in those years it developed into a truly great and unique racing game. From the wide variety of cars, to the insane level of detail and the great audio, Grid 2 offers something for all racing fans. While simulation racing fans might not prefer the mix with arcade, Codemasters did a an excellent job blending the two styles and making something quite unique.

Pixel Ripped 1995 pulls off a remarkable magic trick, slamming players back in time to the gaming days of the mid-90s. With brain-twisting challenges and a solid dose of nostalgic delight, Pixel Ripped 1995 is an amazing romp through the games of yesteryear, combined with amazing modern mechanics. Highly recommended.

With its well-designed stealth mechanics, unique setting, captivating story and stifling, often terrifying atmospherics, in Innocence: A Plague Tale, Asobo Studio might well have crafted the best and most pure horror title of the year.

Challenging, fun and hypnotic, Velocity is one of the best mini games you'll experience.

Occasionally stupid AI and the lack of split-screen play aren't enough to dull the formidable lustre of Warhammer End Times: Vermintide as one of the most entertaining and flat out enjoyable online co-op games you can get on PS4. Killing rats has never been so much fun.

Coming up with the best golf game took a while, but EA Tiburon's Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 is undoubtedly the pinnacle of the series. With a new caddie system, a revamped career mode, and the superb Augusta course, 'The Masters' is masterful on many levels.

Rise of the Tomb Raider is a brilliant adventure romp that fans and newcomers will want to lap up immediately. With all the extra content thrown in for good measure, Lara’s latest outing is an absolute steal.

Pig Eat Ball is a unique proposition in modern gaming – a classic-feeling arcade game with a completely original mechanic at its core. The puzzles, characters and world built around this mechanic are delightful, despite giving a first impression of being a little gross. Arcade and puzzle fans will find a lot to love here. Pig Eat Ball is utterly unique.

Though its vision might be restrained somewhat, The Heist nonetheless makes a compelling case for itself as a hugely satisfying and essential continuation of Marvel's Spider-Man.

A fantastic tribute to The Lord Of The Rings franchise and one of the best LEGO games to boot.

Visually astounding with a weighty handling model and some super clever design, Need for Speed Unbound is easily the best Need for Speed in years. Though the single-player story campaign is a little less inspiring than it needs to be both in terms of its plot and content, Need for Speed Unbound nonetheless sets a resoundingly solid foundation for the Need for Speed franchise to evolve into the future and is essential for fans of both the series and the street racing genre at large.

PSVR feels like it was made for this simply because Superhot VR is indomitable proof of life for Virtual Reality as a gaming platform. If you have PSVR this needs to be your next game.

In a glorious, minimal style, Entwined delivers an experience that’s deep, engaging, and rewarding way past experience points and in-game rewards.