Neva is a stunning game with incredible art and visuals that showcase a Nomada Studio team that's much more refined since it's last game, "Gris." The much-improved gameplay experience on offer in Neva paired with a deeply emotional story that's expressed in the art, the score, and the wonderfully detailed animations hit deep within you, charging you towards the credits until you're weeping while watching them roll. It's more simplistic puzzle-platforming and combat design do leave something to be desired, and a pacing deficiency dampens the mood, but those issues don't stop it from being a must-play game and one of the best indie's in 2024.

Dragon Age: Origins is a stunning fantasy RPG that will draw people in with its compelling storyline and realistic characters. Aside from the occasional visual hiccup, this is one of the best and most expansive games we have played in a long time.

Deeply emotive, intimately crafted and bursting with freedom, Road 96 takes interactive storytelling to a whole new frontier and provides players with a timely reminder that developer Digixart is one of the most underappreciated studios in the industry today.

If you’re looking for a semi-realistic FPS that offers superb online play and a light-hearted single-player experience, Battlefield: Bad Company should be your #1 choice.

Battlefield 1 is a triumphant return to form for the series and a must-have for any first-person shooter aficionado.

A fittingly bombastic end to one of the best tactical RPG series on PS4, The Banner Saga 3 closes the book on a trilogy that fans of strategy and epic, sprawling stories should embrace immediately.

All told, Jot’s maiden adventure is a resounding success, a confident melding of mechanics, personality, and charm, all executed with a degree of confidence that few developers can match for a first release. The seams of its ambition are seldomly seen, certainly not to the degree where it would overly detract, and as result within the eye-catching pages of The Plucky Squire lies a story that everyone should give a read.

The Farewell bonus episode of Life Is Strange: Before the Storm is short but should be required playing for fans of the series. A thoughtful well written glimpse into Max and Chloe’s life before it got so strange.

Dynasty Warriors 8 adds in new features and options to the long-running franchise to breathe new life into the game. Fans, get ready for the best experience in the series since DW3. An instant buy for any KOEI fanatic.

For anyone drawn to open-world shooters, survival games, or atmospheric horror, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is an absolute must-play. It’s tense, beautiful, and deeply immersive, with a world that feels alive and unpredictable. Challenge, exploration, and narrative are balanced with skill, delivering moments of genuine fear, discovery, and triumph. On PS5, the game runs smoothly and presents the Zone in all its haunting glory. After experiencing it firsthand, it’s clear this is a major milestone for the series — a game that fully deserves attention and respect.

If you're hesitating about whether or not to pick up inFAMOUS: Second Son, this is a great sample and precursor. Those who have already played it will enjoy learning about one of Second Son's most interesting characters.

A thrilling marriage of Uncharted, Dark Souls and Metroid, a few technical hiccups aren't nearly enough to derail the best Star Wars game in years. Rewarded, your patience has been.

Trails Through Daybreak II tells a great story with many twists and turns. NIS has also made quality-of-life improvements throughout the game to make everything flow as smoothly as possible. With excellent writing and entertaining combat, Trails Through Daybreak II shows it can stand on the same mountain as the biggest titans in the genre.

Unravel is a gorgeous, tender, heartwarming experience. Endearing to the last thanks to a well-designed world and achingly sweet protagonist.

The perfect starting point for those not already into the series; it balances out the problems Atelier Ayesha had, while delivering a package of risk and reward that can keep RPG fans wanting to keep replaying the game.

Resident Evil HD is a stunning recreation of one of survival horror's all-time classics. While some aspects may appear outdated, Capcom's zombie killer is one of the toughest, most rewarding adventure games you'll play, and the HD makeover ensures it looks better than ever.

Digimon Survive is an emotional, gripping, action-filled adventure that kept me invested from the moment I entered the Digital World. While the gameplay isn't vast, the combat is deep, and both compliment the Visual Novel style of the game. Digimon Survive may not be for everyone looking for a more direct influence on the story outside of dialogue options, but it delivers on what it promised. An amazing Digimon adventure for a whole new generation.

A deliriously entertaining mish-mash of roguelike platform shooter, mini-games and Pokemon style mechanics, if Neon Abyss feels like Roguelike Shooter 2.0 - that's because it is.

The Unfinished Swan is a fairy tale told beautifully through the cooperative effort of the game's graphics, sound, and intuitive gameplay. Polished beyond belief, its hard to believe that this Picasso is going for a PSN price.

Blue Prince is an exquisitely designed game that stays in your brain between play sessions. It is the video game equivalent of a Rubix Cube where every move you make can shape your path to success. Do not let this gem pass you by.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall is a game on an epic scale in every sense of the word. Both a world-building strategy sim and a turn-based tactical RPG, Planetfall offers a wealth of content to keep players engaged for a long time to come. While some initial commitment is needed to get past the learning curve, playing becomes smooth and intuitive within a couple of hours. Armchair generals with a penchant for lasers, robots and mysterious planets will find plenty to enjoy in this tremendously deep title.

A beautiful abomination that almost breaks under the weight of its thick but ultimately compelling worldbuilding, Paradise Killer is a stupendous detective yarn that reimagines the genre in bright sun-kissed colours with a cast of truly bizarre characters all living in a world that feels like a microcosm of sci-fi storytelling for the last thirty years. Exceptionally constructed, boundlessly enjoyable and fiendishly stylish, Paradise Killer is your new favourite detective game.

Madden's back with the best football experience in years. Casual fans will love the simpler, quicker games, while hardcore fanatics will have plenty to sink their teeth into with Ultimate Team and Online Franchise.

Same Stitch is a rip-roaring conclusion to Batman: The Enemy Within, and absolute confirmation of the fact that Telltale's second season chronicling the adventures of the Caped Crusader rank among the studio's best efforts.

Not much keeps MLB 14 The Show on PS4 from being the very best it can be on almost all levels. Though some uncommon visual and network discrepancies linger, San Diego Studios raises the bar that it's set for the last eight years in baseball simulation.

A relentlessly savage take on survival that puts players in control of the fleshy collateral damage that other war games merely gloss over, This War of Mine is a bleak, grim and ruthlessly entertaining affair quite unlike any other.

GRID offers up an enthralling experience of fast-paced action and realistic tendencies in order to create the perfect hybrid racing formula.

A stunning and hugely satisfying digital representation of Pool, Cherry Pop Games has done it again with Pool Nation, this time providing PS4 with the finest take on the sport seen to date. This is essential.

Clever, rewarding and a lot of fun, I have always wanted to control a family up to the neck in crime and now I can. Peaky Blinders: Mastermind performs well, never overstays its welcome and makes you feel great when things go your way. The levels are well designed, compact, short and very sweet. If you're up for some tactical planning and light puzzle work then this is the game for you.

Arkham Knight has some flaws, but they generally pale in comparison to the wondrous spectacle Rocksteady serves us up. A fine end to the Arkham trilogy.

Destiny 2 improves upon its predecessor in every conceivable area, resulting in a content-packed, enjoyable FPS that will keep you entertained for months on end.

Easily one of the best visual novels available, Steins;Gate Elite is a stellar and beautifully framed retelling of its source material and one that is grandly suited to series newcomers and stalwarts alike.

Metro Last Light manages to create a rich and engaging world that holds onto the player's attention with a vice grip.

An assuredly robust and spectacular remake of the PS2 original, Yakuza Kiwami 2 learns from the lessons of Yakuza 6 to create one of the best entries in the franchise to date.

One of the few games that gets player decision-making right. While it's not quite a revolution in gaming, it does provide a fresh experience and an engrossing approach to the sub-genre.

Genshin Impact is still one of the best and most accessible free to play titles on the PlayStation ecosystem. The PS5 upgrade is a technical achievement providing even better visuals at a silky 60 FPS, and 4K support. The game's load times are so fast you won't even have time to look away from the screen, allowing you to continue your journey without any stoppages. It's just a shame that the PlayStation 5's unique Activity Cards and DualSense controller didn't get much love, especially since the DualSense is one of the best pieces of next-generation hardware on the market.

Marathon is further proof of Bungie's pedigree and ability to create enthralling, engaging, and addictive shooters. While Marathon is brutally challenging and unforgiving, especially for the solo or casual player, it begs to be experienced.

For a mish-mash of genres, Cult of the Lamb does an excellent job of making both parts feel significant and dependent on each other. It's gorgeous, rewarding and made me laugh throughout. As your cult progresses and you move on from cleaning up everyone's poop, you will see your followers flourish. Designing and maintaining your base is excellent and I enjoyed the rogue-lite runs that can be completed in easily in under 15 minutes. Highly recommended, cult-based, rogue-lite shenanigans.

A great package with one brilliant game and two half-decent ones. The added extras bulk up the package nicely.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag reinvigorates the series after its patchy performance over the last few years, making it the best game since Brotherhood.

Despite some frustrating combat moments, Assassin's Creed II secures its place among 2009's finest and is sure to keep you entertained well into the New Year.

Tales of Xillia gives JRPG fans an addictive experience that's hard to ignore. Linked combat alongside clever leveling schemes and a narrative told in a big way will have players aching to play through as both Milla and Jude.

There's no better way to play this series than the PS5 release of Layers of Fear, combining both stories under one cohesive umbrella. It also shows fantastic early potential in Unreal Engine 5, showcasing exactly what it can offer the rest of the gaming industry.

Rayman Legends is the latest platformer in the Rayman franchise. Loaded with characters new and old, as well as brand new levels, and some from Rayman Origins, it is a must have for anyone who did not get play it on previous generation consoles.

Despite changing the name of the franchise for us in the West, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is more of the same that we've come to love. A huge variety of content to dive into and an ambitious, heartening story help to bring this package into one that fans of the series will absolutely adore. RGG Studios have polished the foundations of the new RPG battle system to a shine in this new entry and the result is a game full of personality and refreshing spirit that is a joy to experience from beginning to end. This game is an ambitious jump into a new frontier for the Like A Dragon franchise and is all the better for it. For those who have experienced the story of Like A Dragon up until now, you be doing yourself a disservice to miss this.

A wizard, a Thief, and a Knight walk into a Prince’s Nightmare and the result is a dream game come true. The fourth installment of the Trine series has gone back to its 2.5D roots after going full-blown 3D in 2015’s The Artifacts Of Power. The clever platform-puzzle adventure offers an enchanting experience for the single player or collaborate with up to four players in co-op which can be played locally or online. Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince is an unforgettable adventure that should not be missed.

For newcomers though, this is an absolute must-have.

The Outer Worlds 2 excels on almost all fronts, presenting you with an open RPG that lets you choose how you progress while still keeping you on a clear path. The in-game systems allow you to customize how you play and give you versatility in the choices you make along the way. Combine that with great writing, and you have a recipe for success. Equipment menus are a bit clunky, enemy encounters can be manipulated, and the act of looting takes some getting used to. Still, none of these issues will keep you from enjoying the game. The Outers Worlds 2 is worth every penny of the $70 it asks for.

Samurai Warriors 4 delivers endless hours of fun in a visually appealing silky-smooth package.

Maquette is just fascinating. It is a game that has one central mechanic and ties it into a narrative not often told by games and media. That unique blend of challenging, but mind-boggling recursive gameplay, jaw-dropping set-pieces, and heartfelt narrative moments really crafts an experience that mesmerises and stuns at every turn and is another great title from Annapurna.

While Mass Effect Legendary Edition isn’t a spectacular remastering of a frankly superb trilogy, it does enough right to make it an essential collection. The original Mass Effect benefits most from the overhaul whilst retaining most of its scrappy charm, while Mass Effect 2 and 3 are generally better-looking versions of already great games. At the very least, it’s a great excuse to visit or revisit one of gaming’s greatest sagas.

Taking the game as a whole, it’s hard not to be massively impressed by what Pipistrello manages to do with the toolkit it gives itself. Every piece works together to make for a distinctive adventure game that will grab you from the very first minute and refuse to let go. While I might take some convincing on the “Yoyovania” as a genre, it’s clear that there’s an unparalleled creative vision here that should be admired.

A sizeably riotous spin-off to Sega's Yakuza franchise, Judgment combines the series penchant for balancing seriousness and absurdity with a hyper-engaging central protagonist whose deeply charismatic persona freshens the whole affair up massively. Judgment is a toweringly good offering then, and one that we hope leads to its own series with leading man Yagami at the forefront.

Intimidating, tough and thoroughly overwhelming, Divinity: Original Sin is no easy sell for those into a more modern RPG. Yet looking past that, you will find one of 2015’s deepest and most rewarding titles, full of wit, charm and deadly challenge, all within a world that is a joy to exist in.

If you have a PS5 and have always been curious by Grounded when it was shoehorned to Xbox/PC exclusivity, you'll find Grounded: Fully Yoked Edition to be a fantastic surprise. There's a lovely and expressive attitude and plenty of meat on its crafting and survival bones.

Another great achievement from Image & Form. SteamWorld Dig 2 takes everything that made the first game good and ups the ante in every way. Easily a must-buy game.

For $3.99, how can you afford not to find out why over 50 million people have downloaded Angry Birds?

A creative and invigorating shooter that excels in expletives, over-the-top action and gratifying kills.

It doesn't rip up any trees in terms of the horror genre, even in VR, but The Persistence is a game that understands how to deliver proper terror and tension for Sony's virtual reality hardware. Finally, we have a horror game that is fully designed for PSVR and the end result is something pretty special.

An epic adventure in absolutely every sense, Pillars of Eternity arrives on PS4 in highly impressive form and confidently stakes its claim as one of the best RPGs of the year.

Everything in Indivisible – from the colorful visuals to the “Oooom” noise when you save your game – is calculated to delight. Despite some uneven difficulty, both the platforming and battle systems entertain. But it’s the character design and voice work that is really the star of the show here, making Indivisible a strong contender whether you are a genre fan or not.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection more than proves its worth in quality and depth. It masterfully translates the core of Monster Hunter into a single-player RPG that encourages deep engagement with systems and the world itself. This is far more than just another monster-catching RPG; it's an intelligent, layered and moreish adventure that delivers an impactful, mature story that has sat with me for a long time. Consider me well surprised with this one.

After several years of seemingly going through the motions, PES 2015 absolutely nails the football side of things whilst making small advances other departments. There is still work to be done for next year, but for now, where it matters most, PES is on the up.

Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order finds its true home on PS5, with Sony's monstrously powerful hardware bringing out the most in Respawn's evocative visual design, all the while reminding us just how good the game is. Even in 2021, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order is one of the best Star Wars games of the last decade and this is by far the best way to play it.

Signalis is a brooding, atmospheric slice of survival horror that unfurls its dread in a slow, tantalizing manner. Its bleak retrotech world is a fine backdrop for the disturbing mysteries that must be uncovered in the frozen wastes of an ice planet.

Grab your friends and family, plug in, stand up, and get ready to experience The Beatles reborn in front of your very eyes.

If you don't like Monster Hunter this expansion will not change your mind. However, if you do then this expansion is a must-buy. New Monsters and maps are a given but the updates to the switch skills, the follower system and various tweaks really add to the whole experience. Plus, with all the updates released so far already available, there is a massive amount of content here with more to come. Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak may not be perfect but it skirts incredibly close to it.

A game full of options, Dishonored puts choice in the hands of the player in nearly every element--gameplay, level progression, even storytelling. Dishonored is one of the greatest new IPs in recent history, and one of the best games of the year.

A classic arcade puzzler with gameplay compounded by a tremendous amount of scope for mastery and blistering retro aesthetics, Pix the Cat is one of the most essential pressure-puzzlers that you can buy on PlayStation right now.

Kingdom Hearts gets a robust, satisfying collection, with the definitive versions of four great games on offer. It’s a perfect entry point and a welcome moment of cohesion for the series.

An excellent return to the Prince of Persia franchise. The Lost Crown takes the classic Metroidvania-style and builds on it with excellent puzzles, platforming and combat. The Lost Crown is easily the first must have title of the year and shouldn't be missed.

A fantastic way for newcomers and lapsed series fans to get back into the Devil May Cry franchise alike, Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition is a value stuffed offering that lays a coat thick, next generation paint across the surface of one of the best hack and slash yarns of recent years. If you've not played Devil May Cry 5 before and you're looking for something new to show off your shiny new PlayStation 5 console, you really, *really* cannot go wrong with Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition.

Rage is the complete package that fans of shooters, RPGs, and buggy racers have been waiting for. Combined with its jaw-dropping visual presentation, Rage easily one of the best games of the year.

Little Nightmares 2 is a game that pulls together every aspect of a game's presentation and pulls it off miraculously. Everything here is amplified from the original and moments feel like true cinematic wonders, unlike anything you have seen before. Combat doesn't always work, but the whole package is truly impressive and a showcase of the talent Tarsier Studios possess.

Developer Spike Chunsoft knocks it out of the park with The Nonary Games. The puzzles in both 999 and Virtue’s Last Reward are challenging and rewarding, but it’s their stories that really make you stop and think while trying to figure it all out.

EA Sports keeps its football/soccer franchise at the top with more realistic Match Days and gameplay in FIFA 13. The formula hasn't changed much, but the overall package is once again as good as it gets.

Though the remastering effort is perhaps not as extensive as some might like, Dark Souls Remastered is without a doubt the best way to play one of the finest action RPGs ever and is nothing short of essential for newbies and stalwart Dark Souls fans alike.

Atlus and Vanillaware make a strong case for the greatest tag team in modern gaming. Dragon's Crown is a brilliant reimagining of a classic genre that wields the depth of an RPG while keeping core elements intact.

Black Ops 4 is easily the best Call Of Duty has been in years. The game plays almost flawlessly, and despite it not having a single player campaign still offers lots of content including the new Battle Royale mode Blackout. The only thing keeping Black Ops 4 from a perfect score is that the multiplayer maps, while being well designed lack originality and rely too heavily on remaking the past. If you haven’t played Call Of Duty for a while, Black Ops 4 gives you plenty of reasons to return.

Unique, funny and so entertaining, Lil' Guardsman has all the traits I want from games in my old age. Lil' Guardsman is like nothing else on the market, it's beautiful and so well written that its world will swallow you whole. It's not often you get to play a game that makes you smile from start to finish but Lil' Guardsman stole a Lil' piece of my heart. I cannot recommend it enough.

Undead Nightmare is a thrilling and entertaining addition to one of 2010's biggest games. With an all-new story that introduces zombies to the open-world Wild West, two new multiplayer modes, and more brilliant voice acting and dialogue, this is a must have for any RDR fan.

A fiendishly clever and enduringly charming Wild West take on the stealth strategy formula that Mimimi Games previous effort Shadow Tactics did so well, Desperados 3 does a fantastic job of cloaking what is a supremely clever stealth puzzlebox as a narrative driven tactical effort that everyone should try.

While it doesn’t address some longstanding degradation of ingenuity in certain areas, PES 2018 provides the best pure football found in a videogame, and the additions it has made only amplify that.

A stunning and must-have PlayStation 5 launch title, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a beautifully digestible superhero yarn that not only maintains the formula of its 2018 predecessor, but which also lays down an enticing blueprint for a full blown sequel to follow. This is essential stuff.

Omensight is an action-adventure murder mystery that traverses time and genres to deliver a fun and balanced game perfect for coming down from your God Of War high.

Genesis Alpha One is an extremely rare beast. A confident marriage of FPS, space sim, roguelike and strategy elements, it is quite simply the first essential indie title of 2019.

The Artful Escape takes you on a trip with Francis into the cosmos, marrying music and visuals into a beautiful gameplay experience. Small things pop up a time or two, but absolutely nothing keeps The Artful Escape from being entertainment brilliance. Place this among the top indie titles on the PlayStation platform.

An exceedingly well crafted title that wears its influences proudly on its sleeve, Abathor delivers in all departments. Clever thoughtful design, beautifully detailed pixelart and a killer retro soundtrack that is the cherry on top.

More so than ever before, Nioh is a great choice for players who have since exhausted the superb Demon's Souls. Sure enough, even in its remastered form, Nioh cannot hope to match the visual magic that developer Bluepoint Games performed with From Software's opus, but in every other way that counts Nioh Remastered is a tremendous action RPG that holds up strongly even today.

DUSK is that rare throwback effort that not only demonstrates an intimate understanding of why we loved those retro shooters from 1990s, but also puts carefully implemented wrinkles in place that all feel like a natural progression of that classic formula. One of the most satisfying and atmospheric retro shooters available, you'll find no stronger or better love letter to the halcyon days of PC shooters than DUSK.

An accomplished mixture of sophisticated story sci-fi story beats, off the wall absurdity and satisfying tactical battles, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a rare sort of genre crossover that ends up being far more than the sum of its parts. Vanillaware's latest is simply unmissable.

There's no getting around it, this is an astounding proposition. Bringing together two of the best action RPGs of the PlayStation 4 era with a range of eye-opening PlayStation 5 enhancements, Nioh Remastered: The Complete Collection is absolutely essential for anybody who has even the slightest interest in great action RPGs with hugely rewarding combat systems and hundreds of hours of challenging gameplay.

Sure enough, while it doesn’t seek to reinvent the roguelike wheel or provide an especially captivating story or cast of characters as Hades does, [REDACTED] nonetheless provides enough clever adjustments to the formula while embracing some incredible combat fundamentals to come out of seemingly nowhere and secure its spot as one of my favourite roguelikes of the year.

Though Lil Gator Game isn't especially long, it leaves an indelible mark on you, like a high-five with a loved one that leaves your hand with a pleasant soreness to remind you of the fact. Lil Gator is restorative in a way that many games just aren't - it slowly strips away your layers of resistance until you fall in love with its straightforward, though greatly satisfying adventure platform beats. Lil Gator Game is unreservedly pure, distilled happiness and innocence all in one glorious concoction and couldn't we all do with a bit more of that these days?

The best game in the DmC series looks fantastic on PS4. A great action game and one of the best re-releases of the past couple of years.

Renegade Kid took to Xeodrifter with the retro scene in heart, and the end result reflects that. The charm of exploring each planet far outweigh that it’s all over a little too quickly.

While not too much has changed, everything we love about Isaac has been expanded on. With a massively improved multiplayer mode, new bosses, items, paths and challenges, Isaac is at his tearful best. The PS5 version is the best console version of Isaac and contains everything ever made, and while it may be pricey, you get a hell-load of content for your money. If it sucks you in - and it probably will - you'll be treated to one of the best roguelikes ever made.

The Walking Dead table does its job at including the survival and morale-driven themes of the console game and delivers yet another expertly produced addition to the addictive virtual pinball simulator.